Abstract: Provided are a method and a device for characterizing a resonator element, a method and a device for providing an optical frequency reference, a LIDAR system and a gas sensing system. The method includes coupling a laser light into the resonator element, the resonator element having multiple carrier resonances for the carrier frequency of the laser light.

Abstract: A polarization alteration device includes a resonator cavity having a resonance mode at a resonance wavelength and a linewidth. The resonator is configured to exhibit no intensity-independent birefringence or an intensity-independent birefringence, whose effect on a light wave confined in the resonator cavity is smaller than the linewidth of the resonance mode. The polarization alteration device is configured to exhibit a Kerr nonlinearity adapted to generate an additional polarization component due to symmetry breaking for a light wave confined in the resonator cavity having a light intensity exceeding a threshold intensity. The polarization direction of the additional polarization component is orthogonal to an initial polarization component of the light wave coupled into the resonator cavity. A polarization control device, a polarization sensor, a method for adjusting the polarization of a light wave and a method for sensing a change of a polarization of a light wave are further disclosed.

Abstract: A reformer tube for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming of hydrocarbon-containing input gases is proposed where an outer shell tube is divided by means of a separating tray into the reaction chamber and an exit chamber, a dumped bed of a steam-reforming-active, solid catalyst is arranged in the reaction chamber, at least one heat exchanger tube is arranged inside the reaction chamber and inside the dumped catalyst bed whose entry end is in fluid connection with the catalyst bed and whose exit end is in fluid connection with the exit chamber, wherein gas-contacted parts of the reformer tube, in particular the at least one heat exchanger tube, are fabricated from a nickel-based alloy and coated on their inside with an aluminum diffusion layer.

Abstract: A single-component exchanger permitting a transfer of heat between a first fluid and a second fluid is provided. The heat exchanger includes, from bottom to top in the direction of manufacture; at least two distribution regions, at least two collection regions, at least two inlet connectors adjoining the at least two distribution regions and at least two outlet connectors adjoining the at least two collection regions. The heat exchanger also includes at least one inlet located on each inlet connector, at least one outlet located on each outlet connector, and an exchange region permitting a transfer of heat between the channels of the first fluid and the channels of the second fluid. Each connector includes supports in the inner upper part thereof.

Abstract: A single-component exchanger-reactor including, from bottom to top in the direction of manufacture a distribution region, an inlet connector and an outlet connector, each in the form of a half cylinder and adjoining the distribution region on either side; an inlet located on the front face of the inlet connector, an outlet located on the front face of the outlet connector; an exchange region consisting of reactive channels and product channels; with each connector including supports in the inner upper part thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microstructure of an alloy for a tube for reformers, having an austenitic matrix structure, characterised in that: i) primary micrometric precipitates in the form of M23C6-type carbides, where M=Fe, Ni or Cr, and/or M(C,N)-type carbides, where M==Nb or Ti, are formed during the solidification of the alloy; ii) secondary nanometric precipitates in the form of M23C6-type carbides, where M=Fe, Ni or Cr and/or M(C,N)-type carbides, where M==Nb or Ti, are formed during the activation of the tube; and iii) between 0.1 and 0.3% of Ni16Si7Nb6-type intermetallic precipitates is formed during the use of the tube.

Abstract: A reformer tube for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming of hydrocarbon-containing input gases is proposed where an outer shell tube is divided by means of a separating tray into the reaction chamber and an exit chamber, a dumped bed of a steam-reforming-active, solid catalyst is arranged in the reaction chamber, at least one heat exchanger tube is arranged inside the reaction chamber and inside the dumped catalyst bed whose entry end is in fluid connection with the catalyst bed and whose exit end is in fluid connection with the exit chamber, wherein gas-contacted parts of the reformer tube, in particular the at least one heat exchanger tube, are fabricated from a nickel-based alloy and coated on their inside with an aluminum diffusion layer.

Abstract: A single-component exchanger-reactor including, from bottom to top in the direction of manufacture a distribution region, an inlet connector and an outlet connector, each in the form of a half cylinder and adjoining the distribution region on either side; an inlet located on the front face of the inlet connector, an outlet located on the front face of the outlet connector; an exchange region consisting of reactive channels and product channels; with each connector including supports in the inner upper part thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a direct-fired heating method and to a facility for implementing same, According to said method, a load is heated in a furnace with heat generated by burning fuel with an oxidant; the smoke generated is evacuated from the furnace, the evacuated smoke containing residual heat energy; residual heat energy is recovered from the evacuated smoke and introduced into a synthesis reactor wherein syngas is produced; and at least part of the syngas is burned in the furnace in order to heat the load.

Abstract: Process for depositing a corrosion-protection coating on at least one portion of the surfaces of a metallic substrate having at least one cavity with an equivalent diameter emm<2 mm and a length/width ratio of greater than 150, using an aqueous suspension comprising powder of the metal to be deposited on the substrate combined with an agent for protecting the surface of the metal powder, a diluent, and at least one additive, the particles of the suspension each having an equivalent diameter d such that d?emm/10.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger-reactor or heat exchanger including at least three stages with on each stage at least one area of millimetric channels that promote the exchange of heat and at least one distribution area upstream and/or downstream of the area of millimetric channels. The invention is characterized in that: said heat exchanger-reactor or heat exchanger is a component devoid of assembly interfaces between the various stages; and the channels in the area of millimetric channels are separated by walls less than 3 mm thick.

Abstract: A catalyst for catalytic reactors of which the outer shape is a helix with n blades, where n is greater than or equal to 1, wherein the stack void fraction percentage is between 75% and 85% and the surface area/volume ratio is greater than 1000 square meters/square meters.

Abstract: Reactor-exchanger comprising at least 3 stages with, on each stage, at least one area promoting the heat exchanges and at least one distribution area upstream and/or downstream of the area promoting the heat exchanges, characterized in that the area promoting the heat exchanges comprises cylindrical millimetric channels, there being 1 to 1000 of said channels with a length of between 10 mm and 500 mm.

Abstract: Process for producing an element comprising a multilayer architecture, the layers of which comprise primary channels on their upper faces, said process comprising the following successive steps: (a) producing secondary channels on the lower faces of each layer, each secondary channel being intended to be facing a primary channel of the neighboring lower layer within the architecture, (b) depositing a coating that protects against oxidation at a temperature of between 500° C. and 1000° C. and against corrosion over all of the lower and upper surfaces of the layers, (c) sanding or mechanical cleaning of the surfaces intended to be assembled, and (d) assembling via superposition of the various layers so that each secondary channel of a lower face of an upper layer is facing and is centered on a primary channel of the neighboring lower layer, the width of each secondary channel being greater than the width of the primary channel which it is facing within the architecture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microstructure of an alloy for a tube for reformers, having an austenitic matrix structure, characterised in that: i) primary micrometric precipitates in the form of M23C6-type carbides, where M=Fe, Ni or Cr, and/or M(C,N)-type carbides, where M==Nb or Ti, are formed during the solidification of the alloy; ii) secondary nanometric precipitates in the form of M23C6-type carbides, where M=Fe, Ni or Cr and/or M(C,N)-type carbides, where M==Nb or Ti, are formed during the activation of the tube; and iii) between 0.1 and 0.3% of Ni16Si7Nb6-type intermetallic precipitates is formed during the use of the tube.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reactor-exchanger or an exchanger comprising at least 3 levels, each of which includes at least one region with millimeter channels promoting heat exchange and at least one distribution region upstream and/or downstream of the region with millimeter channels, characterized in that the reactor-exchanger or exchanger is a unit that has no mounting interfaces between the various levels.

Abstract: A catalyst for catalytic reactors of which the outer shape is a helix with n blades, where n is greater than or equal to 1, wherein the stack void fraction percentage is between 75% and 85% and the surface area/volume ratio is greater than 1000 square meters/square meters.

Abstract: Process for depositing a corrosion-protection coating on at least one portion of the surfaces of a metallic substrate having at least one cavity with an equivalent diameter emm<2 mm and a length/width ratio of greater than 150, using an aqueous suspension comprising powder of the metal to be deposited on the substrate combined with an agent for protecting the surface of the metal powder, a diluent, and at least one additive, the particles of the suspension each having an equivalent diameter d such that d?emm/10.

Abstract: The invention relates to a direct-fired heating method and to a facility for implementing same, According to said method, a load is heated in a furnace with heat generated by burning fuel with an oxidant; the smoke generated is evacuated from the furnace, the evacuated smoke containing residual heat energy; residual heat energy is recovered from the evacuated smoke and introduced into a synthesis reactor wherein syngas is produced; and at least part of the syngas is burned in the furnace in order to heat the load.

Abstract: An apparatus and technique are used to fabricate optical microresonators. A fabrication chamber contains all fabrication materials and devices. The microresonators are fabricated from a glass preform mounted on a motorized spindle. A laser is focused onto the preform to partly or fully impinge on the preform. The laser's focus position is controlled by changing the positioning of a lens mounted on a translation stage. Piezoelectric control elements may be mounted to finished microresonators to control of nonlinear parametric oscillation and four-wave mixing effects of the microresonator, control of nonlinear optical stimulated Brillouin scattering and Raman effects of said microresonator and wideband tuning of the frequency spacing between the output modes of a nonlinear-Kerr-effect optical frequency comb generated with said microresonator.