Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for growing zeolite crystals from an aqueous solution in a metallic pressure tank for admitting pressure to the aqueous solution. Devices for feeding microwave energy into the aqueous solution comprise a capacitor between whose plates the aqueous solution is situated, one of the capacitor plates being formed by a wall of the pressure tank and the other capacitor plate being arranged in the interior of the pressure tank.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for maintaining a particular temperature differential and/or adjustable temperature gradient between two, possibly variant domains on a first glass, ceramic or synthetic plate, includes a first active thermal element (heater or cooling element) in contact with that plate for adjusting the temperature of a first domain; a ferrofluid, liquid metal, solder etc. droplet and made of a material that has a thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of the plate, rests on a second plate and in thermal contact therewith; a second active temperature means (heater or cooling element) on the second plate determines the temperature of the droplet; and the droplet is flattened to different degrees to thereby vary the area of contact between the top part of the droplet and the first plate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for handling liquid under conditions of weightlessness or near weightlessness includes a small tube being open at one end and closed at the other end except for a passage; normally the open end sits on an elastic nonwetting seal; the tube is moved towards and away from that seal; a plunger on a rod is movably disposed within the tube, and a liquid is kept in the space between the plunger and the open end; the rod is provided with two adjustable, spaced apart stops; and a stationary abutment limits plunger movement to range given by spacing between the stops, so that following evaporation of liquid of a drop that has formed on lift off of the tube, only the residual drop is sucked back into the tube without formation of bubbles.

Abstract: A reflector surface furnace includes an open ended ellipsoidal or near ellipsoidal reflector segment having two focal areas, there being a source of radiation in the one focal area, the material to be processed being placed into the other focal area, the furnace is completed as inventive improvement by two end segments of parabolic or near parabolic configurations each having an axis of symmetry that coincides with an axis of symmetry of the central ellipsoid and interfaces with the ellipsoid in these focal areas, the two parabolical end segments have focal points which namely coincide with the focal points of the ellipsoidal segment, but for control purposes there may be separation.