Abstract: The invention relates to methods for land improvement (soil reclamation), preferably for soil remediation comprising the steps of (i) placing a material useful for improving soil, and an explosive in the soil, and (ii) mixing the materials useful for reclaiming the soil and the polluted soil by explosion. The invention also relates to methods methods for providing microorganisms useful for decomposing hydrophobic pollutants, mineral oil components and derivatives by selection and isolation from soil, the microorganisms, their uses and kits for land improvement and soil remediation. The invention is useful in particular for remediation of soil polluted with oil components and derivatives.

Abstract: A pipe connection comprising a tube of plastically deformable material has an expanded end section received in a hole in a tube plate with a sealing ring received in an annular seat in the hole sealing the tube to the plate. The extreme end of the tube may be deformed conically into contact with one side of the plate to provide a rigid structural joint therebetween. More than one sealing ring may be employed. Methods of making the pipe connection may involve constricting a portion of the end section to provide a space between the end portion and the tube plate hole to permit the seal to be inserted, followed by expansion of the tube end to compress the seal and engage the tube plate wall in metal-to-metal contact. Other variations of the process are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stuffing box for the sealed passage of a shaft with undesirable deflection through connecting branch, provided with a casing, a stuffing box sland containing packing rings, as well as with a tubular spring compensator, one end of which is rigidly and releasably engaged with the connecting branch, the other end with the casing of the stuffing box. At least one guide bush (10) is arranged in the casing (8) centering the stuffing box (7) to the shaft (2). This guide bush can be arranged between the packing rings (9, 9a) and over (11) of the casing, and it is made of material, suitably of bearing material with low friction coefficient.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a plurality of parallel pipes arranged in lines and strips of fin plates fixed to the pipes perpendicularly to the lengths thereof. Turbulence-forming structures are cut out of the fin plates and are bent up at 90.degree. with respect to the planes of the plates, such structures functioning as fin plate spacers and as baffles to direct a fluid medium of inferior heat transfer coefficient which flows in a direction parallel to the planes of the finned plates and perpendicularly to the pipes. The pipes are adapted to conduct a fluid medium of superior heat transfer coefficient. The turbulence-forming structures are disposed in lines on each side of the lines of pipes and in rows which are substantially tangential to the opposite sides of the pipes. The heat exchanger may have a plurality of lines of pipes spaced equally transversely from each other and transvetsely of the direction of flow of the fluid medium of inferior heat transfer coefficient.

Abstract: A helicoidally finned tube for use mainly in heat exchangers. The tube comprises a cylindrical tubular member which carries or is integral with a helical member the turns of which form the fins of the tube. The fins are provided with ripples which extend from the outer rim of the fins inwardly and the depth of which diminishes toward the tube center. The ripples serve for diverting a cooling medium inwardly to hotter parts of the tube thereby improving its heat transfer performance. The helicoidal member has rippled sections alternately with level sections, the rippled sections subtending an angle not exceeding about 90 degrees and both types of sections on successive turns registering with one another in the direction of the axis of the tubular member.

Abstract: A ribbed construction assembled from sheet metal bands for improved heat transfer, suitably built into the pipes of heat exchangers forms the arrangement of the invention. The ribbed construction assembled from toothed metal bands ensures the improved heat transfer primarily by slowing down the velocity of the medium flowing in the center of the pipe; furthermore it improves the temperature distribution of the flowing medium by means of metallic contact and mixing. Although the ribs are easily movable in the pipe, a significant portion of the tooth-ends is in loose contact with the inner pipe wall, which likewise improves the heat transfer.

Abstract: An internal fin tube heat exchanger comprises a cylindrical tube having on its inside a continuous heat exchange member with a plurality of legs branched from a central longitudinal extending member. The heat exchange member can be metal strip cut with a plurality of ribs disposed at an acute angle thereto, so that when the member is pulled into the tube, the ribs do not resist movement in one direction but do resist reverse movement in the opposite direction, which opposite direction is also the direction of flow of the fluid within the tube. Thus the fluid does not dislodge the heat exchange member. The ribs can be cut in various patterns and the strip is rotated when being drawn into the tube so as to impart a twist thereto, thereby to position the ribs all about the periphery of the tube. The ribs can have feet thereon that extend either peripherally of the tube or longitudinally of the tube.