Abstract: A heating element for heating gases to high temperatures includes at least one tube arranged for the flow of gas to be heated and an electrical heating wire in the tube, which transfers heat to the gas flowing past. A process heater and a corresponding heating element are provided to permit generation of gas temperatures up to 1000° C. or above and having a lifespan 10 times longer than conventional heating coils. The heating wire is formed as a heating rod extending along the tube axis, whose maximum clear distance to the inner wall of the tube does not exceed a value of 10 mm over at least 80% of the circumference and/or at least 80% of the overlapping length of the tube and heating rod.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing phthalic anhydride by gas phase oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons, in which a gas stream comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon and molecular oxygen is passed continuously over a thermostatted catalyst and the supply of the at least one aromatic hydrocarbon to the catalyst is temporarily interrupted after putting the catalyst on stream.

Abstract: A process for producing an aqueous polymeric dispersion may include coextruding a copolymer of an ?-olefin and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid to form a combined polymer, and a wax. The process may include emulsifying the combined polymer and wax to form a dispersion, and adding an adhesion promoter to the dispersion. Also disclosed are coatings including the aqueous polymeric dispersion and coated glass articles having the aqueous polymeric dispersion coated thereon.

Abstract: A process for coating a glass article of manufacture may include providing a glass article at an initial temperature of above about 105° C., and depositing a coating onto a surface of said glass article. The coating may include an adhesion promoter and a compounded polymer that includes a copolymer of an ?-olefin and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid and a wax. The process may include heating said glass article to a temperature above said initial temperature sufficient to promote adhesion of said coating to said glass article. Glass articles having the coating adhered to the glass article are also described.

Abstract: A process for preparing carboxylic acids and/or carboxylic anhydrides by gas phase oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons, in which a gas stream comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon and molecular oxygen is passed continuously over a catalyst thermostatted by a heat carrier medium, which comprises keeping the temperature of the heat carrier medium constant during the startup of the reactor for at least 24 hours, during which neither the loading of the gas stream with hydrocarbons nor the gas stream volume is increased by more than 3%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible LED strip, comprising modules that include light-emitting diodes (3) arranged successively at intervals, in particular equal intervals longitudinally, wherein the light-emitting diodes (3) of each module are electrically interconnected on one circuit board (2) each, in particular together with other electronic modules (4), and the LED strip can be severed between the modules, in particular without destroying the electrical functionality of the modules, wherein each module has at least one contact region at which a power supply can be connected to the module and all circuit-board sections (2) are mounted in a flexible enclosure (1), wherein the at least one contact region of each module extends through the enclosure (1) and can be electrically contacted outside the enclosure (1). The invention furthermore relates to an end piece (7), a coupling piece (8), and a connector piece for power-supply lines (6) or control-signal lines (6) of this LED strip.

Abstract: A heating element for heating gases to high temperatures includes at least one tube arranged for the flow of gas to be heated and an electrical heating wire in the tube, which transfers heat to the gas flowing past. A process heater and a corresponding heating element are provided to permit generation of gas temperatures up to 1000° C. or above and having a lifespan 10 times longer than conventional heating coils. The heating wire is formed as a heating rod extending along the tube axis, whose maximum clear distance to the inner wall of the tube does not exceed a value of 10 mm over at least 80% of the circumference and/or at least 80% of the overlapping length of the tube and heating rod.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.

Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving information that describes an issue with a building; accessing data that identifies (i) a plurality of components that are included in the building and (ii) features of the plurality of components; identifying one or more candidate components that have at least a threshold likelihood of being a cause of the issue; selecting a candidate service provider from among a plurality of service providers based on a comparison of (i) the one or more candidate components and (ii) information identifying technical qualifications for the plurality of service providers; transmitting a service request for the issue to the candidate service provider; receiving a response from the candidate service provider; and scheduling, based on the response, a service appointment with the candidate service provider to resolve the issue.

Abstract: A hydrocyclone with an inflow region providing tangential inflow for a feed slurry and with a separation region following the inflow region with an underflow discharge pipe to carry off heavy materials and with an overflow nozzle in the form of an immersion tube projecting axially into the interior of the hydrocyclone. Another inflow is provided in the area of the tangential inflow to supply the barrier fluid, where the barrier fluid and the feed slurry are separated from one another by a lamella in the hydrocyclone before they are brought together. The separation region includes a conical section and a subsequent cylindrical section above the underflow discharge pipe.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible LED strip, comprising modules that include light-emitting diodes (3) arranged successively at intervals, in particular equal intervals longitudinally, wherein the light-emitting diodes (3) of each module are electrically interconnected on one circuit board (2) each, in particular together with other electronic modules (4), and the LED strip can be severed between the modules, in particular without destroying the electrical functionality of the modules, wherein each module has at least one contact region at which a power supply can be connected to the module and all circuit-board sections (2) are mounted in a flexible enclosure (1), wherein the at least one contact region of each module extends through the enclosure (1) and can be electrically contacted outside the enclosure (1). The invention furthermore relates to an end piece (7), a coupling piece (8), and a connector piece for power-supply lines (6) or control-signal lines (6) of this LED strip.

Abstract: A degerminator having a base, a plate with a plurality of protrusions, and a clamp that engages the plate to removably secure the plate to the base. A degerminator having first and second plate assemblies and an enclosure that surrounds the first plate assembly. The second plate assembly has a seal that moves between deflated and inflated positions. The second plate assembly moves between a first position, in which it does not engage the enclosure, and a second position, in which the seal engages the enclosure when inflated. A degerminator having a frame, first and second plate assemblies, supports and guides each coupled to the frame or the second plate assembly, and actuators each coupled to the frame and the second plate assembly to move the second plate assembly relative to the first plate assembly. A removable wear ring may protect a side wall of the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for extracting electrical and mechanical energy from stored magnetic energy. The apparatus includes an axial flow turbine defined by a body having an increased magnetic density from a first exterior edge along a surface of the body to a second exterior edge. Also included is a magnetic element rotatably operable about the body of the axial flow turbine. The magnetic element is configured to cause increasingly level of the magnetic attraction from the first exterior edge to that of the second exterior edge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst system for oxidation of o-xylene and/or naphthalene to phthalic anhydride (PA), comprising a plurality of catalyst zones arranged in succession in the reaction tube, which have been produced using antimony trioxide comprising a noticeable proportion of senarmontite wherein some of the primary crystallites have a size of less than 200 nm. The present invention further relates to a process for gas phase oxidation, in which a gas stream comprising at least one hydrocarbon and molecular oxygen is passed through a catalyst system which comprises a plurality of catalyst zones arranged in succession in the reaction tube and which has been produced using an antimony trioxide comprising a noticeable proportion of senarmontite wherein some of the primary crystallites have a size of less than 200 nm.

Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving information that describes an issue with a building; accessing data that identifies (i) a plurality of components that are included in the building and (ii) features of the plurality of components; identifying one or more candidate components that have at least a threshold likelihood of being a cause of the issue; selecting a candidate service provider from among a plurality of service providers based on a comparison of (i) the one or more candidate components and (ii) information identifying technical qualifications for the plurality of service providers; transmitting a service request for the issue to the candidate service provider; receiving a response from the candidate service provider; and scheduling, based on the response, a service appointment with the candidate service provider to resolve the issue.

Abstract: A method for removing mercury from flue gas in a flue gas desulfurization plant, in which the mercury concentration in the FGD gypsum is reduced without increasing the size of the waste water treatment plant, by increasing the volume-related mercury concentration in the wash wastewater and feeding this more concentrated flow of waste water to the waste water treatment plant.

Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a computer system, information that indicates that a fire has been detected in a building and that a fire suppression system within the building has begun dousing the fire; monitoring sensor information from one or more sensors located within the building; determining, by the computer system and based on the sensor information, whether the fire has been extinguished; activating, in response to determining that the fire has been extinguished, a feature to turn off a water supply to the building, the feature being presented on a computing device for a user who is associated with the building; receiving, after activating the feature and from the computing device, a command to turn off the water supply; and transmitting, by the computer system, a control signal that causes an electromechanical device to close a water valve within the building.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for extracting electrical and mechanical energy from stored magnetic energy. The apparatus includes an axial flow turbine defined by a body having an increased magnetic density from a first exterior edge along a surface of the body to a second exterior edge. Also included is a magnetic element rotatably operable about the body of the axial flow turbine. The magnetic element is configured to cause increasingly level of the magnetic attraction from the first exterior edge to that of the second exterior edge.

Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a computer system, information that indicates that a fire has been detected in a building and that a fire suppression system within the building has begun dousing the fire; monitoring sensor information from one or more sensors located within the building; determining, by the computer system and based on the sensor information, whether the fire has been extinguished; activating, in response to determining that the fire has been extinguished, a feature to turn off a water supply to the building, the feature being presented on a computing device for a user who is associated with the building; receiving, after activating the feature and from the computing device, a command to turn off the water supply; and transmitting, by the computer system, a control signal that causes an electromechanical device to close a water valve within the building.

Abstract: A process for preparing carboxylic acids and/or carboxylic anhydrides by gas phase oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons, in which a gas stream comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon and molecular oxygen is passed continuously over a catalyst thermostatted by a heat carrier medium, which comprises keeping the temperature of the heat carrier medium constant during the startup of the reactor for at least 24 hours, during which neither the loading of the gas stream with hydrocarbons nor the gas stream volume is increased by more than 3%.