Abstract: Process for the production of an olefin from a hydrocarbon, which process comprises contacting the hydrocarbon and a molecular oxygen-containing gas with a catalyst under auto-thermal conditions sufficient to produce the olefin. The catalyst comprises a component (a) and a component (b), wherein component (a) is at least one metal selected from Group IIIA, Group IVA, Group VA and the transition metals and component (b) is at least one transition metal. The catalyst does not comprise either palladium or platinum.

Abstract: Process for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon comprising partially oxidizing in a reaction zone, a mixture comprising a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting oxidation of the hydrocarbon. Prior to the partial oxidation, the mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and the oxygen-containing gas is passed through a heat exchanger which provides a pressure drop which acts to even the velocity profile and ensure that the reactants flow uniformly over the catalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst capable of supporting combustion beyond the fuel rich limit of flammability comprising a catalytic component and a metallic support wherein the support is a metallic structured packing comprising a multiplicity of open-ended channels and which has been loaded with a non metallic coating, and a process for the production of an olefin, said process comprising passing a mixture of a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas over said catalyst to produce an olefin.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin comprising partially combusting in a reaction zone a mixture of a hydrocabon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting combustion beyond the fuel rich limit of flammability to produce the olefin. Prior the partial combustion, the mixture of the hydrocabon and the oxygen-containg gas is passed through a heat excahanger, and the heat exchanger provides a pressure drop.

Abstract: A method and a system for providing transparent Quality of Service (QoS) and reducing bandwidth usage in an ATM access network uses that uses VC-merging and delivery of content directly through the access network. Root-initiated join proxy messages sent from a service gateway include a merge-eligibility indicator that prompts an access module to merge content delivered through the access networks into a virtual circuit link (VCL) provisioned for the subscriber. TCP splicing is also supported to further improve overall QoS.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon, said process comprising partially oxidising in a reaction zone, a mixture comprising a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting oxidation of the hydrocarbon, wherein prior to said partial oxidation, said mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and the oxygen-containing gas is passed through a heat exchanger. Preferably the heat exchanger is a compact heat exchanger. Prior to passage through the heat exchanger a mixture of hydrocarbon and oxygen-containing gas may be passed through a baffle zone which comprises a housing containing at least one baffle plate. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process for the production of an olefin such as ethylene by the catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon or mixture of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process such as an auto-thermal cracking process in which a hydrocarbon feed and a molecular oxygen-containing gas are contacted in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to produce an outlet stream having an oxygen concentration which is at, near or above the flammable limit and in which process a loss of reaction is detected and used as a signal to activate means for mitigating the risk of explosion downstream of the reaction zone. The loss of reaction may be detected for example by a sudden increase in oxygen concentration in the outlet stream and/or a sudden drop in temperature of the outlet stream.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin comprising partially combusting in a reaction zone a mixture of a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting combustion beyond the fuel rich limit of flammability to produce the olefin, wherein the superficial feed velocity of said mixture is at least 250 cm s?—1? at standard temperature and operating pressure with the proviso that where the catalyst is an unsupported catalyst, the superficial feed velocity of said mixture is at least 300 cm s−1 at standard temperature and operating pressure.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin from a hydrocarbon, which process comprises: partially combusting the hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst, characterised in that the catalyst comprises palladium and at least one further metal, said further metal being a Group IIA, Group IVA, VA or a transition metal.

Abstract: A software product is modified so that it can be freely distributed while limiting its use to authorized subscribers. The modification includes replacing calls to relocatable subroutines in the software product by calls to redirection software, which is added to the software product together with authorizing software. A table of information on the replaced calls is supplied securely to an authorization agent, with which the authorizing software communicates on execution of the modified software product. An authorized subscriber supplies local data specific to its environment to the authorization agent, which encodes the table in dependence upon the local data and the authorizing software and supplies it to the authorized subscriber. Tampering with the authorizing software, or different local data of others, prevents use of the table.

Abstract: A process for the production of olefins from a hydrocarbon comprising the steps of: a) providing a first feed stream comprising a gaseous fuel and an oxygen-containing gas; b) contacting the first feed stream with a first catalyst under conditions so as to produce a product stream and unreacted oxygen; c) providing a second feed stream of hydrocarbon feedstock; and d) contacting the second feed stream, the product stream of step b) and the unreacted oxygen step b) with a second catalyst which is capable of supporting oxidation, thereby consuming at least a part of the unreacted oxygen to produce an olefin product.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for contacting (a) at least one gaseous reactant and (b) at least one liquid selected from the group consisting of reactants, coolants and mixtures thereof in the presence of a fluidized bed of catalyst, in which the liquid is introduced into the reactor through at least one inlet located within the fluidization zone and the gaseous reactant is introduced into the reactor through at least one inlet located within the fluidization zone adjacent the support means.

Abstract: A reactor and process for using same, for containing a solid catalyst for heterogeneous gas-phase reactions into which reactor there extends at least one inlet pipe for a molecular oxygen-containing gas which has means for surrounding a substantial portion of the pipe in the reactor with an inert fluid and optionally also has means for suppressing ingress to the inlet pipe from the reactor of flame, reagents, products, catalyst or combinations thereof. The reactor and process are particularly suitable for fluid bed reactions.

Abstract: A method an a system for providing transparent Quality of Service (QoS) and reducing bandwidth usage in an ATM access network uses VC-merge and delivery of content directly through the access network. Root-initiated join proxy messages sent from a service gateway include a merge-eligibility indicator that prompts an access module to merge content delivered through the access networks into a virtual circuit link (VCL) provisioned for the subscriber. TCP splicing is also supported to further improve overall QoS.

Abstract: A tap has a hollow body (6) having an interior threaded portion (18) and (9). A manually turnable spindle (7) having an exterior threaded portion (19) is threadably engaged with the interior treaded portion (18) to advance and retract to spindle (7) relative to the tap body (6) to respectively close and open the tap. A seal (28) seals the spindle (7) relative to the hollow body (6). A locking mechanism including mutual abutent portions (27, 13) on the body (16) and spindle (7) to limit the retraction of the spindle (7). The relative lengths of the threaded portions (18, 19) and the relative locations of the mutual abutment portions (27, 13) are selected so that continued turning of the spindle (7) in the retraction direction disengages the threaded engagement prior to abutment of the mutual abutment portions (27, 13).

Abstract: A method to create, distribute and install on an installation computer a uniquely customized instance of a software application that is authenticable and traceable to a particular user. A secure distribution agent resident on a distribution computer collects identifying information, and calculates a cryptographic signature of the software application and identifying information. The identifying information and cryptographic signature are embedded in the software application by the secure distribution agent. The software application with embedded data is transmitted via a distribution channel to the installation computer. A user installation agent resident on the installation computer manages the installation of the software application with embedded data on the installation computer. Prior to installation, the user installation agent may use the cryptographic signature to verify that the software application, and the identifying information are authentic and have not been tampered with.

Abstract: The invention provides for a E-Mux and a method for encapsulating/segmenting ATM cells into/from an Ethernet frame at the boundary between an ATM and an Ethernet network. An Ethernet end-station on the E-Mux is addressed using multiple MAC level identifiers, which are dynamically assigned according to the ATM virtual circuits which terminate on that end station, and have only transitory significance on the Ethernet. A unique ATM OUI identifies the frames carrying ATM-traffic.