Abstract: The present invention provides a method of culturing plant material comprising a layer of floatable granular substrate in a culturing vessel, plant material and culture medium. Also, the invention provides a culturing kit comprising various combinations of floatable granular substrate with plant material, culturing solution and a culturing vessel, adapted to the specific requirements of hobby, science or industrial uses.

Abstract: A vertical cylinder for drying and heating granules which includes an inlet at the top of the cylinder, a conically tapered outlet at the bottom of the cylinder, a rotatable screening ring beneath the inlet, a chute beneath the screening ring and a scraper above the ring inlets for gases in the downward extending section of the cylinder, a shell and tube heat exchanger located coaxially in the bottom quarter of the cylinder, a horizontally movable grid as flow control device below the heat exchange and a discharge zone below the grid.

Abstract: A process for achieving a uniform flow profile of very viscous liquids when flowing through tubes or reaction chambers, wherein the very viscous liquid is passed through annular spaces extending concentrically with increasing diameter over the entire cross-section of the tubes or reaction chambers and having the same depth in the direction of flow, and this procedure is repeated once or several times, the annular spaces being staggered with respect to each other as viewed in the direction of flow, and an apparatus consisting of a combination of two or more discs arranged at axial intervals within a tube transversely to the direction of flow, each disc consisting of a plurality of ring-shaped bands of increasing diameter, the bands being arranged freely of one another and concentrically at intervals on a grid supporting means to provide correspondingly concentric open spaces between the bands over the entire cross-section of the tube, with the walls of the bands running parallel to the direction of flow, and t

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the regulation of cathode current density in electroplating baths, so that optimum deposition characteristics are obtained. The apparatus includes at least one controllable power supply unit, by means of which the plating current or voltage can be adjusted in accordance with the optimum current density J.sub.O, for the particular electroplating bath involved. The method includes the steps of measuring and adjusting the values of the plating current or voltage of the power supply unit in accordance with values determined from a graph F defined by the function U = F(I)J.sub.O, having the optimum current density J.sub.O as a parameter. The function defines the interdependence between the plating voltage and the current, with the J.sub.O as a parameter.The method facilitates the regulation of cathode current density to optimum deposition conditions, for electroplating articles having unknown and difficult to determine surface areas.

Abstract: In a process for drying and heating nylon granules, in which the granules flow downwards through a vertical zone, hot inert gases which are free from molecular oxygen are passed in counter-current through the granules and the cooled granules are then intermittently discharged in part-streams, the improvement wherein the wet granules, or a suspension of the granules in water, are fed into the zone at the top, the granules are deposited as a layer, the water is led away, the layer of granules is then transferred into the next-lower part of the zone, the granules are there allowed to flow under gravity downwards through the zone, and inert gases which are free from molecular oxygen are passed in countercurrent upwards through the granules at from 70 to 200.degree.

Abstract: An extraction tube for the continuous removal of low molecular weight components of polylactam granules by means of hot water by the countercurrent principle of operation, the water being fed upwardly and the granules downwardly, the tube being provided with inlets and outlets for the granules and the water and exhibiting baffles within the tube, wherein there is provided, within the tube, a heat exchanger whichA. divides the tube into two sections bearing a ratio to each other of from 50:50 to 85:15 by volume, the smaller section being at the top of the tube,B. exhibits ducts for the granules over the entire cross-section of the tube andC. has top surfaces facing the stream of granules, which surfaces are inclined toward the ducts to an angle .beta. to the horizontal, this angle being equal to or greater than the angle of repose of the granules but less than 90.degree.,Further similar heat exchangers being provided beneath said heat exchanger if desired.