Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow in the device. The device includes an upstream chamber having an outlet, a downstream chamber including a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion and including a first port disposed in the distal portion and a first conduit which connects the outlet of the upstream chamber to the first port of the downstream chamber. The first conduit extends radially inwards to a crest and radially outwards from the crest to the first port of the downstream chamber. A distance between the axis of rotation and the crest is greater than or equal to a distance between the axis of rotation and the outlet of the upstream chamber.

Abstract: A device for the descending flow of a hydrocarbon-containing liquid containing solid particles at the bottom of an item of equipment (1) and a process for the conversion of hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks implementing said device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for converting heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks of which at least 50% by weight boils at a temperature of at least 300° C., and in particular vacuum residues. The feedstocks are subjected to a first step a) of deep hydroconversion, optionally followed by a step b) of separating a light fraction, and a heavy residual fraction is obtained from step b) of which at least 80% by weight has a boiling temperature of at least 250° C. Said fraction from step b) or the effluent from step a) is then subjected to a second step c) of deep hydroconversion. The overall hourly space velocity for steps a) to c) is less than 0.1 h?1. The effluent from step c) is fractionated to separate a light fraction. The heavy fraction obtained, of which 80% by weight boils at a temperature of at least 300° C., is sent to a deasphalting step e).

Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow. The device includes a vented upstream chamber having an outlet port and an unvented chamber including an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the upstream chamber and an outlet port radially outward the inlet port. The device further includes a vented downstream chamber having an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber. A downstream conduit connects the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber and includes a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber. An upstream conduit connects the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed and includes a can, which has an end wall incorporating a vent panel and a pouring panel, both panels being breakable and presenting a contour defined by a rupture line. A first actuation tab is externally affixed to the vent panel and manually and angularly displaceable, in order to be separated from the can jointly with the vent panel. A second actuation tab, which may be actuated after the vent panel is removed, is externally affixed to the pouring panel and provided with an end lower tooth, which is pressed against the rupture line of the pouring panel, when the second actuation tab is displaced so as to break, initially, the confronting spot region of the rupture line and, subsequently, to separate the pouring panel from said end wall.

Abstract: A vessel for the downflow of a preferably hydrocarbon liquid, containing solid particles: a bottom comprising a cylindrical upper part (11), a lower part (12) with a decreasing cross section and a varying angle of inclination ? with respect to the vertical axis (Z), and an outlet pipe (9); injections (5) and (6) of recirculated and/or of makeup liquid into the lower and upper parts respectively; injections (5) inclined with respect to the tangent to the wall of the lower part at the injection point by an angle ?1 in the vertical plane (xz) and by an angle ?2 in the horizontal plane (xy); injections (6) are inclined with respect to the wall of the upper part by an angle ?1 in the vertical plane (xz) and by an angle ?2 in the horizontal plane (xy).

Abstract: A phased array receiver can include a plurality of antennas, a plurality of compound analog-to-digital converters and a beam former. The plurality of antennas can be arranged in an array. The plurality of compound analog-to-digital converters can include respective inputs coupled to respective ones of the plurality of antennas. Respective output of the plurality of compound analog-to-digital converters can be coupled to the beam former. Each compound analog-to-digital converter can include a plurality of time interleaved sub-analog-to-digital converters. Sampling by the sub-analog-to-digital converters can be random between the sub-analog-to-digital converters within respective compound analog-to-digital converters and random between the plurality of compound analog-to-digital converters. In addition, dynamic element mismatch using a random bitstream generator can be employed in digital-to-analog converters and analog-to-digital converters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for hydroconversion of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of hydrogen, at least one supported solid catalyst and at least one dispersed solid catalyst obtained from at least one salt of a heteropolyanion combining molybdenum and at least one metal selected from cobalt and nickel in a Strandberg, Keggin, lacunary Keggin or substituted lacunary Keggin structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for converting a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock containing a fraction of at least 50% with a boiling point of at least 300° C., and containing sulfur, Conradson carbon, metals, and nitrogen, comprising at least two successive hydroconversion steps, which may be separated by an intermediate separation step, and at least one step of deasphalting a heavy fraction of the effluent resulting from the hydroconversion, with recycling at least one portion of the deasphalted oil (DAO) during the hydroconversion, downstream of the first hydroconversion step. The DAO is either recycled at the outlet thereof from the deasphalter, or after having undergone a fractionation step that produces a heavy fraction of the DAO that then constitutes the portion of the DAO that is recycled. This process makes it possible to simultaneously improve the degree of conversion and the stability of the liquid effluents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a three-phase reactor for the reaction of a hydrocarbon feedstock with hydrogen and to a hydroconversion process, for example of H-Oil™ type, employing it, comprising a chamber with an upper end and a gas/liquid separation device comprising: a recycle cup, above the catalytic reaction zone and delimiting, with the upper end, a recycle zone, comprising a cylindrical upper part extended by a lower part of decreasing section and of variable angle of inclination, provided with vertical pipes for the passage of a gas/liquid mixture originating from a catalytic reaction zone, and having a fixed angle of inclination ? of between 50° and 85° with respect to the axis of the cylindrical part, a pipe for recycle of the liquid at the apex of the lower part, in fluidic communication with the lower end of the chamber by recirculation means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for hydroconversion of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of hydrogen, at least one supported solid catalyst and at least one dispersed solid catalyst obtained from at least one salt of a heteropolyanion combining molybdenum and at least one metal selected from cobalt and nickel in a Strandberg, Keggin, lacunary Keggin or substituted lacunary Keggin structure.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for converting heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks of which at least 50% by weight boils at a temperature of at least 300° C., and in particular vacuum residues. The feedstocks are subjected to a first step a) of deep hydroconversion, optionally followed by a step b) of separating a light fraction, and a heavy residual fraction is obtained from step b) of which at least 80% by weight has a boiling temperature of at least 250° C. Said fraction from step b) or the effluent from step a) is then subjected to a second step c) of deep hydroconversion. The overall hourly space velocity for steps a) to c) is less than 0.1 h?1. The effluent from step c) is fractionated to separate a light fraction. The heavy fraction obtained, of which 80% by weight boils at a temperature of at least 300° C., is sent to a deasphalting step e).

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed and includes a can, which has an end wall incorporating a vent panel and a pouring panel, both panels presenting a contour defined by a rupture line. The apparatus includes an actuation tab with an extracting end portion affixed to the vent panel. The actuation tab includes a punching end portion affixed to the pouring panel and a lower end tooth to be pressed against a spot region of the rupture line of the pouring panel. The actuation tab includes a grip portion affixed to the extracting end portion and is designed to be manually and upwardly actuated for detaching the vent panel from the end wall. The grip portion is designed to punch and rupture the spot region of the rupture line of the pouring panel and, subsequently, detaching the latter from the end wall.

Abstract: A device for the descending flow of a hydrocarbon-containing liquid containing solid particles at the bottom of an item of equipment (1) and a process for the conversion of hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks implementing said device.

Abstract: Downflow hydrocarbon liquid device having a cylindrical upper part, a frustoconical lower part, an outlet pipe and a vortex-limiting system or vortex-breaker, with at least one flat blade and a hydrocarbon feedstocks conversion method employing the device.

Abstract: A description is given below of an intelligent semiconductor switch and also a method for operating an intelligent semiconductor switch integrated in a chip package. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the method comprises, in a first mode, in which a state control signal having a first logic level is received at a control terminal of the chip package, driving a first and a second semiconductor switch of a half-bridge in accordance with an input signal received at an input terminal of the chip package. In a second mode, in which a state control signal having a second logic level is received at the control terminal of the chip package, the method comprises setting an operating parameter depending on a pulse pastern of the input signal received at the input terminal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing pancreatic endocrine cells and uses of the cells obtained using the methods. The method utilises inhibitors or combinations of factors to provide increased quantities of endocrine material, for example for transplantation purposes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for converting a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock containing a fraction of at least 50% with a boiling point of at least 300° C., and containing sulfur, Conradson carbon, metals, and nitrogen, comprising at least two successive hydroconversion steps, which may be separated by an intermediate separation step, and at least one step of deasphalting a heavy fraction of the effluent resulting from the hydroconversion, with recycling at least one portion of the deasphalted oil (DAO) during the hydroconversion, downstream of the first hydroconversion step. The DAO is either recycled at the outlet thereof from the deasphalter, or after having undergone a fractionation step that produces a heavy fraction of the DAO that then constitutes the portion of the DAO that is recycled. This process makes it possible to simultaneously improve the degree of conversion and the stability of the liquid effluents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a three-phase reactor for the reaction of a hydrocarbon feedstock with hydrogen and to a hydroconversion process, for example of H-Oil™ type, employing it, comprising a chamber with an upper end and a gas/liquid separation device comprising: a recycle cup, above the catalytic reaction zone and delimiting, with the upper end, a recycle zone, comprising a cylindrical upper part extended by a lower part of decreasing section and of variable angle of inclination, provided with vertical pipes for the passage of a gas/liquid mixture originating from a catalytic reaction zone, and having a fixed angle of inclination ? of between 50° and 85° with respect to the axis of the cylindrical part, a pipe for recycle of the liquid at the apex of the lower part, in fluidic communication with the lower end of the chamber by recirculation means.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed and includes a can, which has an end wall incorporating a vent panel and a pouring panel, both panels being breakable and presenting a contour defined by a rupture line. A first actuation tab is externally affixed to the vent panel and manually and angularly displaceable, in order to be separated from the can jointly with the vent panel. A second actuation tab, which may be actuated after the vent panel is removed, is externally affixed to the pouring panel and provided with an end lower tooth, which is pressed against the rupture line of the pouring panel, when the second actuation tab is displaced so as to break, initially, the confronting spot region of the rupture line and, subsequently, to separate the pouring panel from said end wall.