Abstract: A solar thermal installation and method for operating a solar thermal installation includes a solar collector arrangement which defines a solar collector fluid passage so that a first heat quantity can be supplied to a fluid, and which has a first fluid infeed connection and a first fluid output connection. A heat exchanger fluid passage permits a second heat quantity to be supplied to a fluid. A heating fluid receiving device is fluidically connected with a first fluid output connection and fluidically connects a second fluid output connection to the first fluid output connection by bypassing the solar collector fluid passage. A consumer device is connected to the heating fluid receiving device. At least a portion of the first heat quantity and second heat quantity can be supplied to the consumer device. A control device controls an operation of the gas turbine depending on the first heat quantity.

Abstract: A cartridge for use by print-disabled users to play digital audio content and a player having a receptacle for receiving the cartridge are provided. The cartridge includes a random-access digital storage device storing the digital audio content and having a connector providing access to the digital audio content; and a casing permanently housing the digital storage device and allowing access to the connector of the digital storage device. The casing has a form facilitating handling of the cartridge by the print-disabled users which includes bevelled edges, and has dimensions comparable to dimensions of a standard compact audio cassette. Preferably, the cartridge has a hole extending through the casing at its back end and a sloped surface on the bottom side of the casing at the back end. The receptacle has a form and shape facilitating insertion of the cartridge therein. It has a lower surface defining an elevated ramp along which the cartridge slides as it is inserted into the player.

Abstract: A cartridge for use by print-disabled users to play digital audio content and a player having a receptacle for receiving the cartridge are provided. The cartridge includes a random-access digital storage device storing the digital audio content and having a connector providing access to the digital audio content; and a casing permanently housing the digital storage device and allowing access to the connector of the digital storage device. The casing has a form facilitating handling of the cartridge by the print-disabled users which includes bevelled edges, and has dimensions comparable to dimensions of a standard compact audio cassette. Preferably, the cartridge has a hole extending through the casing at its back end and a sloped surface on the bottom side of the casing at the back end. The receptacle has a form and shape facilitating insertion of the cartridge therein. It has a lower surface defining an elevated ramp along which the cartridge slides as it is inserted into the player.

Abstract: In a process for granulating thermoplastic polymers, in particular thermoplastic polyolefins, the polymer powder prepared in the polymerization reactor is introduced into an extruder, melted and homogenized in the extruder, then pressed through an extrusion die and granulated. According to the invention, an organic solvent or suspension medium is added to the polymer powder in an amount in the range from 0.001 to 20% by weight, prior to introduction into the extruder. The invention is particularly useful for granulating polyethylene or polypropylene, thereby increasing the polymer throughput at constant energy consumption or decreasing the energy consumption at constant polymer throughput.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the thermal treatment of powdered or granular solid substances with gas flows (7, 16, 22, 23, 24) by means of a body (2) moved about its axis of rotation (1).

Abstract: A system for the identification of commercials within a video.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the polymerization of gaseous olefins, in particular of ethylene and at least one &agr;-olefin, in the gas phase in a stirred or fluidized, catalyst-containing polymerization zone (2) and at least one decompression zone (6, 10) downstream of the polymerization zone (2). The mixture of solid (co)polymer and unreacted monomers leaving the polymerization zone (2) flows through a settling zone, in particular in the form of a settling leg (14), before the decompression zone.

Abstract: In a method for granulating thermoplastic polymers, in particular thermoplastic polyolefins, the polymer powder prepared in the polymerization reactor is melted and homogenized in an extruder, then forced through an extrusion die and granulated. In accordance with the invention, the polymer powder is subjected to heat treatment before introduction into the extruder, resulting in the introduction of the polymer powder into the extruder being carried out at an elevated powder temperature. The invention is particularly suitable for the granulation of polyethylene or polypropylene.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for drying and degassing polyolefins in which the polymerization product leaving a polymerization reactor is brought into contact with a degassing medium and simultaneously decompressed. The degassing medium employed according to the invention is the monomer to be polymerized, which, in particular, flows through a decompression tank in a circulation process and which is preferably also enriched with ethylene or other low-boiling olefins in an amount in the range from 0 to 100 mol %, based on the total amount of circulating gas. A polymerization in an amount of up to 10%, based on the total polymerization conversion, takes place in accordance with the invention inside the decompression tank.

Abstract: A device for igniting a combustion in a combustion chamber of a gas turbine has a housing fitted with an end piece and with a head piece. Hitherto, an ignition conductor comes into contact with combustion air. Moreover, fragments of a partial ceramic insulation can lead to damage. To improve the quality of ignition, the ignition conductor and a gas conduit are disposed to run parallel to one another within a housing. The ignition conductor is surrounded by a protective sleeve, and an annular space between the ignition conductor and the protective sleeve is filled completely with a ceramic material. An annular disc serving as an ignition electrode is mounted on that end of the protective sleeve that projects into the head piece.

Abstract: In a steam power station, the condensate used as feedwater is preheated up close to the boiling temperature by means of partial steam mass flows from the turbine steam quantity. Due to the steam extraction, the following steam-turbine stages can draw less power from the steam fluid. To avoid the reduction in the power output at the following steam-turbine stages, provision is made for the waste heat from fuel cells to be used for preheating the condensate. Due to the preheating of the feedwater from the waste heat of the fuel cells and the associated increase in the steam quantity participating in the expansion, an increase in the efficiency of the steam process is achieved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for data management related to managed service and health care systems and more particularly a managed insurance system which diminishes the associated burdens with insurance companies by putting the essential information on a credit card-like medium that is inexpensively produced by the insurance company and easily scanned into the office, hospital, or respective lab's computer. The device has a visible portion with data and insurance information contained at one or more locations. The card may be coated with a transparent protective laminate material.

Abstract: A continuous process for preparing bead-form expandable styrene polymers in which the styrene is prepolymerized in bulk to a conversion of 10 to 80%, the prepolymer is dispersed in liquid form in an aqueous phase in the presence of suspension stabilizers, and the polymerization of the prepolymer is completed in an aqueous suspension to a residual styrene content of less than 2000 ppm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to expandable styrene polymers containing recycled polystyrene, having a recycled material content of from 10 to 50% by weight, based on the total weight of the polystyrene, to which alkyldi(2-hydroxyethyl)amines have been added during the polymerization.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of bead-form expandable styrene polymers by polymerizing styrene, if desired in the presence of further comonomers, in aqueous suspension in the presence of organic molecular colloids as suspension stabilizers and conventional styrene-soluble polymerization catalysts and with addition of a blowing agent and, if desired, conventional additives in effective amounts, wherein the aqueous suspension contains at least one olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid or a water-soluble salt thereof in an amount, based on the organic phase, of from 0.002 to 0.3% by weight of carboxylate anions.

Abstract: Expandable styrene polymers containing recycled polystyrene have a content of recycled material of up to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the polystyrene, wherein, in the course of the polymerization of the reaction mixture, from 100 to 500 ppm of a molecular weight regulator and/or from 0.05 to 1.0% by weight, based in each case on the polymerization solution, of a finely divided polyethylene wax are added.

Abstract: Bead-form, expandable styrene polymers containing, based on the styrene polymer, from 0.005 to 1.5% by weight of polyethylene wax and from 0.005 to 1% by weight of dimeric .alpha.-methylstyrene, and a process for the preparation thereof.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of expandable thermoplastic polymers by post-impregnation with a blowing agent in aqueous suspension in the presence of a mixture of magnesium pyrophosphate and a sulfonate group-containing extender as suspension stabilizer, in a reactor comprisesa) preparing the magnesium pyrophosphate in the same reactor at below 50.degree. C. by adding a solid magnesium salt in an amount corresponding to an at least 3% stoichiometric excess, based on pyrophosphate, to an aqueous solution of the pyrophosphate,b) heating the suspension medium to from 70.degree. to 140.degree. C. andc) adding the blowing agent in this temperature range.

Abstract: Expandable thermoplastic polymers in particle form comprising a) at least one organic boron-silicon compound, b) at least one thermoplastic polymer and c) a blowing agent, a process for their preparation, and the foams produced using these expandable thermoplastic polymers.