Abstract: The invention provides a heater station (2) for heating fluids flowing in an undersea pipe network, the station comprising at least one heater duct (6) made of conductive material designed to be connected to an undersea pipe (4) for transporting fluids, and at least one solenoid (8) wound around a portion of the heater duct and electrically powered to heat the heater duct portion by electromagnetic induction.

Abstract: The invention provides a heater station (2) for heating fluids flowing in an undersea pipe network, the station comprising at least one heater duct (6) made of conductive material designed to be connected to an undersea pipe (4) for transporting fluids, and at least one solenoid (8) wound around a portion of the heater duct and electrically powered to heat the heater duct portion by electromagnetic induction.

Abstract: There is described a marine turbine assembly comprising a frame having a receiving surface and a front end; at least one turbine mounted to the receiving surface of the frame and comprising a rotor and a plurality of blades projecting therefrom, the rotor being operatively connectable to an electrical generator for generating electrical energy from a water current. A ballast system is coupled to the frame and balancedly distributed around a perimeter thereof. The ballast system has at least one compartment with at least one aperture for selectively receiving and selectively expelling pressurized fluid from a source of pressurized fluid, thereby controlling at least one of a trim and a buoyancy of the marine turbine assembly.

Abstract: A heat regenerator comprising at least one matrix made of a refractory material, to ensure the storage and recovery of heat. The matrix includes at least one through-channel capable of enabling the circulation of a fluid, said channel comprising at least two projections projecting into the space defined by said channel, said projections being positioned on two opposite surfaces of the channel.

Abstract: An installation for storing and returning electrical energy having first and second enclosures containing a gas and porous refractory materials suitable for transferring heat by contact between said porous refractory materials and a gas flowing through said enclosures, and a compressor and an expander for the gas flowing in pipes between each of the ends of an enclosure connected to an end of the other enclosure. Methods are also disclosed for storing electrical energy in the form of heat energy in which an installation of the invention is used, and for a method of returning electrical energy from heat energy stored by a method according to the invention. The electrical energy is stored in the form of heat within masses of refractory material, and the stored thermal potential energy is returned in the form of electrical energy.

Abstract: An installation and methods for storing and returning electrical energy. First and second lagged enclosures containing porous refractory material are provided through which a gas is caused to flow by causing the gas to flow through first and second compression/expansion groups interposed in the pipe circuit between the top and bottom ends, respectively, of the first and second enclosures, each compression/expansion group having a piston moved in translation in a cylinder, each group operating in a different mode, either in compression mode or in expansion mode, one of the two compression/expansion groups receiving a gas at a temperature that is higher than the other group, such that in compression mode it is driven by an electric motor that consumes electrical energy for storage E1, and in a thermodynamic engine mode it drives an electricity generator enabling the electrical energy ER to be returned.

Abstract: An installation for storing and returning electrical energy having first and second enclosures containing a gas and porous refractory materials suitable for transferring heat by contact between said porous refractory materials and a gas flowing through said enclosures, and a compressor and an expander for the gas flowing in pipes between each of the ends of an enclosure connected to an end of the other enclosure. Methods are also disclosed for storing electrical energy in the form of heat energy in which an installation of the invention is used, and for a method of returning electrical energy from heat energy stored by a method according to the invention. The electrical energy is stored in the form of heat within masses of refractory material, and the stored thermal potential energy is returned in the form of electrical energy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an installation and to methods for storing and returning electrical energy, comprising first and second lagged enclosures containing porous refractory material through which a gas is caused to flow by causing the gas to flow through first and second compression/expansion groups interposed in the pipe circuit between the top and bottom ends respectively of said first and second enclosures, each compression/expansion group comprising a piston moved in translation in a cylinder, each group operating in a different mode, either in compression mode or in expansion mode, one of the two compression/expansion groups receiving a gas at a temperature that is higher than the other group, such that in compression mode it is driven by an electric motor that consumes electrical energy for storage E1, and in a thermodynamic engine mode it drives an electricity generator enabling the electrical energy (ER) to be returned.

Abstract: The present invention relates to wind generators installed off-shore, in particular at sea, to support structures forming a part of such wind generators, and to methods of making and installing such wind generators. The technical field of the invention is that of making, transporting, and installing wind generators for producing electricity, more particularly off-shore, and in large numbers, so as to form wind “farms”. The wind generator of the invention comprises a wind turbine and a deployable telescopic pylon or support supporting the turbine, and a gravity base supporting the pylon or support.

Abstract: A method for purifying iron carbide begins by feeding ore to a reaction chamber. A mixture of iron, iron oxides, gangue, and iron carbides is extracted from the reaction chamber. The temperature of the mixture is then adjusted to a range of 400.degree.-500.degree. C. The mixture, at the adjusted temperature, is subjecting to a first magnetic field for separating the mixture into a magnetic fraction including iron and iron oxides from a non-magnetic fraction including gangue and iron carbides. This is followed by a cooling of the non-magnetic fraction of gangue and iron carbides below the Curie temperature of iron carbide. The gangue and iron carbides are subjecting to a second magnetic field for separating the iron carbides, that become magnetic, from the gangue that remains non-magnetic.

Abstract: An electromagnetic inductor for producing a rotating magnetic field for use with an ingot mold for continuous casting of metal and provided with an apparatus for sensing the upper level of liquid metal in the mold. The inductor, of the static polyphase type, comprises an annular magnetic yoke provided with a plurality of radially inwardly projecting poles having each an exciter winding and at least two adjacent poles are spaced further in the circumferential direction of the yoke from each other than the other pole. The yoke may be provided in the region between these two poles with a cutout and beneath the cutout with a portion of increased thickness. The inductor may be used around an ingot mold for the continuous casting of metal provided with a gamma ray emitter and a gamma ray receiver located at opposite sides of the mold for detecting the position of the level of the cast liquid metal.

Abstract: A method of continuous centrifugally casting of metal strands of non-circular, preferably substantially square cross-section, in which the metal continuously passing through an ingot mold of corresponding cross-section is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the mold by means of a rotating magnetic field which may be created by a stationary multi-phase inductor, and wherein the metal in the mold is continuously replenished by a jet of liquid metal impinging on the free surface of the metal in the mold at a point of impact in the neighborhood of one corner of the mold, preferably at a point located on the diagonal substantially midway between the mold wall and the center of the mold. This method causes any slack contained in the metal to concentrate at the center of the free upper metal surface in the mold, from where it can be easily removed.

Abstract: A jacketted mold for the continuous casting of molten metal is surrounded by an enclosed cooling space holding an electromagnetic inductor for moving the molten metal in the open-ended mold. A cooling liquid is supplied to the cooling space through an inlet chamber and is removed therefrom through an outlet chamber after it has passed through a primary circuit along the tubular mold element. The outlet chamber is divided into two liquid flow circuits, one circulating the liquid from the primary circuit across the inductor at a reduced flow velocity, and the second one being arranged in parallel with the first one for directly, removing the liquid from the primary circuit to the discharge conduit immediately after it has circulated along the tubular mold element.