Abstract: A solar panel (1) includes: a plurality of semiconductor substrate based solar cells (2), a transparent front side plate (4), and a rear side plate (6). The transparent front side plate (4) is stacked on top of the rear side plate (6) and the plurality of solar cells (2) are arranged in an array in between the rear side (6) plate and the front side plate (4). Each solar cell (2) has a light receiving surface facing (8) towards the front side plate (4); the solar cells (2) being embedded in an encapsulant layer (10) between the front side plate (4) and the rear side plate (6), wherein the solar panel includes an internal light redirection unit (12; 20) for guiding light received on the solar panel (1) but not captured by the solar cells (2), towards the solar cells (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal leach and recovery process. The process involves subjecting a metal bearing material to a reactive process by combining said metal bearing material with a leaching agent to liberate at least one metal value and forming a first aqueous leach pulp. This first aqueous leach pulp is subjected to a solid liquid separation step thereby providing a first clarified aqueous leach solution and a second aqueous leach pulp. The first clarified aqueous leach solution is then subjected to solvent extraction thereby obtaining the first aqueous raffinate. The second aqueous leach pulp is subjected to at least two further solid liquid separation steps of which some or all are in a counter current decantation (CCD) arrangement.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner comprising a vac-motor for drawing dirty air in through a floor-engaging cleaner head on the vacuum cleaner, a separating apparatus for separating dirt from the dirty air, an elongate air duct for carrying air to or from the separating apparatus, and a suction wand which is stored on the vacuum cleaner and which can be connected to the separating apparatus via a hose as required to clean above the floor. The external surface of the air duct defines an elongate recess for receiving the stored suction wand such that the air duct partly surrounds the stored wand. This provides a compact configuration.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solar cell module that includes a solar cell based on a semiconductor substrate with front and rear surfaces, includes—fabricating a solar cell from the substrate, and—depositing on at least the rear surface a coating layer. The deposition step includes applying a coating powder on at least the rear surface, forming an adhered powder layer on said surface. The method includes after the deposition step: performing a first annealing process on the solar cell module for transforming the adhered powder layer in a pre-annealed coating layer. Further the method includes—creating open contacting areas on the solar cell by removal of the adhered powder layer at locations of contacting areas on the solar cell , wherein the removal precedes the first annealing process, or by masking contacting areas on the solar cell 1, wherein the masking precedes the deposition step.

Abstract: A microprotrusion array for use in transport of a material across a biological barrier, wherein said array comprises a plurality of microprotusions composed of a swellable polymer composition.

Abstract: A method for determining biological indicators, the method including, in a processing system causing at least one radiation attenuation measurement to be performed and determining at least one first biological indicator using determined radiation attenuation. In addition to this, method includes causing at least one impedance measurement to be performed and determining at least one second biological indicator using a determined impedance measurement.

Abstract: The present invention is a process and the product produced by that process for solid, particulate animal feed premixes, characterized by having a certain particle size range, physical stability, hardness range, and rapid dissolution, wherein the premixes contain various drugs and other, pharmaceutically and nutritionally acceptable diluents, binders and formulation aids as needed, or desired.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of calibrating apparatus for optically characterising samples of particles of small size. Also disclosed is a method of estimating the concentration of particles in a population of small size particles.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for detoxification or measurement of the concentration of at least one compound in a host body, wherein said host body comprises a sorption material of at least one phase over a certain period of time, where sorption of said at least one compound in at least one phase of said sorption material is effected and the content of the at least one compound in said sorption material is optionally analyzed. Use of a sorption material for providing an estimate of the concentration of compounds present in a host body, use of a sorption material for detoxification and sorption material for diagnostic use is also comprised in the present application.

Abstract: A method of producing an explosive composition comprising a liquid energetic material and sensitizing voids, the sensitizing voids being present in the liquid energetic material with a non-random distribution, which method comprises: providing a flow of liquid energetic material; and delivering sensitizing voids into the flow of liquid energetic material in a series of pulses to provide regions in the liquid energetic material in which sensitizing voids are sufficiently concentrated to render those regions detonable and regions in the liquid energetic material in which the sensitizing voids are not so concentrated.

Abstract: A mobile manufacturing and delivery platform that is adapted to provide in a blasthole an explosive composition comprising a liquid energetic material and sensitizing voids, the sensitizing voids being present in the liquid energetic material with a non-random distribution. The platform comprises a storage tank for the liquid energetic material; at least two delivery lines for conveying respective streams of the liquid energetic material from the storage tank; a void delivery system for producing sensitizing voids in at least one of the streams of liquid energetic material; a mixer for mixing the streams of liquid energetic material to produce the explosive composition; and a blasthole loading hose. The mixer may be provided at the end of the loading hose. A blasting method employs the platform to manufacture and deliver the explosive composition into a blasthole, which composition is subsequently detonated.

Abstract: An adapter bushing is supported on a furrowing opener of an agricultural implement. The adapter bushing includes a bushing body received by interference fit within a transverse opening in a shank body of the furrowing opener. A cooperating aperture is formed in the bushing body so as to be arranged for alignment with a corresponding pin receiving aperture of a replacement tip body of the furrowing opening such that a retainer pin is arranged to be received simultaneously within the cooperating aperture of the adapter bushing and the pin receiving aperture of the tip body.

Abstract: A solar panel is provided with a stack including at least one back contacted solar cell and a back-sheet layer. The back-sheet layer has a patterned conductive layer of a first material. The conductive layer is arranged with contacting areas each located at a location corresponding to a location of an electrical contact on the solar cell. The solar cell is arranged on top of the conductive layer with the rear surface of the solar cell facing the patterned conductive surface. Each electrical contact of the solar cell is in contact with a corresponding contacting area on the conductor circuit by a body of conductive connecting material. The conductive layer includes at the location of the contacting area a patch of a second material. Each patch is arranged in between the body of conductive connecting material on one electrical contact and the layer of the first material.

Abstract: A bearing preset system for inhibiting movement of bearings in a construction comprises a first plate (1) having an upper and a lower surface wherein the upper surface (3) of the first plate is adapted for mounting onto and being secured to a lower surface of a first bearing member and a second plate (2) having an upper and a lower surface wherein the lower surface (5) of the second plate is adapted for mounting onto and being secured to an upper surface of a second bearing member and wherein the conformation of the lower surface (7) of the first plate and the conformation of the upper surface (9) of the second plate are such as to prevent movement in at least one shear direction between the first and second plates.

Abstract: A production control system for an underwater well, comprises: first electrically operated means for supplying first hydraulic fluid, for opening a first control valve of the well; second electrically operated means, for supplying second hydraulic fluid at a higher pressure than said first fluid, for opening a further control valve of the well; electronic circuitry (SEM1) for providing electrical power for operating said first and second means; and means for controlling the sequence of closing said control valves as a result of a loss of electrical power from said electronic circuitry. The controlling means comprises: electrical power storage means; detection means responsive to said loss of power from said electronic circuitry; and means coupled with said detection means for using electrical power from said storage means to keep said further control valve open for a period after closure of said first control valve and close it after said period.

Abstract: A photochromic polymer comprising at least two photochromic moieties linked by a straight or branched chain polymer selected from the group consisting of a homo-polyester, a co-polyester, and a co-polyester-polyether.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for increasing the melt flow index of a propylene polymer, the process comprising melt mixing the propylene polymer in the presence of aqueous hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A solar panel includes a stack of at least one back contacted solar cell, a first encapsulant layer and a back-sheet contact layer. The solar cell includes back side electrical contacts. The back contact sheet layer includes a patterned conductor circuit, which has contacting areas located at locations corresponding to locations of the electrical contacts on the at least one solar cell. The encapsulant layer has a pattern of openings at locations corresponding to the locations of the electrical contacts. The solar cell is arranged on top of the first encapsulant layer that is positioned on top of the back-sheet contact layer, with the rear surface of the at least one solar cell facing the patterned conductor circuit surface. Each electrical contact is connected through a corresponding opening in the first encapsulant layer with a respective corresponding contact area of the conductor circuit by an interconnecting body.

Abstract: A method of characterising the structure of a void sensitized liquid energetic material, which method comprises defining the material in terms distribution function, the distribution function representing the fraction of liquid energetic material that occurs at a given point within the void sensitized liquid energetic material.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to plastic wall panels. Wall panels are formed by rotational molding processes and may be used in sound attenuation barriers or other wall or building structures. Some embodiments include reinforcing structure. The reinforcing structure may be configured to effectively support a plastic shell of the wall panel in a way that allows some relative movement between the plastic shell and the reinforcing structure.