Abstract: A dilution refrigerator includes a still; a mixing chamber; a pump to pump coolant from the still through a still outlet port and a heat exchanger connected between the still and mixing chamber whereby coolant flows under the assistance of the pump from the still to the mixing chamber and from the mixing chamber to the still through respective first and second adjacent paths in the heat exchanger. An access path extends to the mixing chamber. A probe is provided for insertion along the access path, the probe having a displacer which substantially fills the cross-section of the access path in use. Any coolant from the mixing chamber which flows along the access path past the displacer can flow from the access path into the still. The still outlet port is separate from the access path.

Abstract: Computer-based industrial control systems and methods employing object oriented hardware elements. An object oriented hardware element may comprise a processor core coupled one side to a universal real-world interface circuit, and on the other side to an open bus interface. In a preferred embodiment, the open bus interface provides downloading software programming objects to the microprocessor core. A computer-based control system in accordance with the present invention may comprise a personal computer or central processing unit coupled to a communications network, at least one zone interface module coupled to the communications network and to an open bus, at least one zone device module coupled to the open bus and, if required, one or more zone processor modules coupled to the open bus. Software object may be downloaded from the personal computer or central processing unit to the various modules to achieve modular, exception-based, distributively intelligent (MEDI) I/O control within the system.

Abstract: A method for oxidizing organic material in an aqueous stream containing one or more inorganic salts, inorganic salt precursors or mixtures thereof comprises oxidizing the organic material in a reactor at a temperature at least equal to the critical temperature of the aqueous stream so as to form a single homogeneous fluid phase and at a pressure sufficiently high to solubilize the inorganic salts in the single homogeneous phase.

Abstract: A supercritical water oxidation reactor is alternately supplied with a feed stream and a flushing stream. The feed stream contains organic and inorganic materials. The organic materials are oxidized under supercritical conditions in the reactor and the inorganic materials precipitate out of solution under the same conditions. The flushing stream is a solution in which the inorganic material is soluble. More than one supercritical water oxidation reactor may be connected so that the feed stream is alternately supplied to each reactor. During the period when the feed stream is being supplied to a reactor the effluent from the reactor is cooled to a temperature at which inorganic precipitates are soluble and is then supplied as a flushing stream to one or more of the remaining connected supercritical water oxidation reactors.

Abstract: A supercritical water oxidation reactor is described having first and second reaction zones connected in series and through which an aqueous feed stream to be oxidized can be passed in either direction. A self-contained heat exchange fluid system allows supercritical and subcritical temperatures to be maintained in either reaction zone. When supercritical water oxidation is occuring in one reaction zone the effluent is being cooled to a subcritical temperature and used to flush the second reaction zone to remove inorganic scale.

Abstract: A supercritical water oxidation reactor is described having first and second reaction zones connnected in series and through which an aqueous feed stream to be oxidized can be passed in either direction. A self-contained heat exchange fluid system allows supercritical and subcritical temperatures to be maintained in either reaction zone. When supercritical water oxidation is occuring in one reaction zone the effluent is being cooled to a subcritical temperature and used to flush the second reaction zone to remove inorganic scale.

Abstract: A supercritical water oxidation reactor is alternately supplied with a feed stream and a flushing stream. The feed stream contains organic and inorganic materials. The organic materials are oxidized under supercritical conditions in the reactor and the inorganic materials precipitate out of solution under the same conditions. The flushing stream is a solution in which the inorganic material is soluble. More than one supercritical water oxidation reactor may be connected so that the feed stream is alternately supplied to each reactor. During the period when the feed stream is being supplied to a reactor the effluent from the reactor is cooled to a temperature at which inorganic precipitates are soluble and is then supplied as a flushing stream to one or more of the remaining connected supercritical water oxidation reactors.

Abstract: A method for oxidizing organic material in an aqueous stream containing one or more inorganic salts, inorganic salt precursors or mixtures thereof, comprising oxidizing said organic material under supercritical conditions in the presence of an oxidant and a mobile surface of particles to which inorganic salts insoluble under the reaction conditions can adhere.

Abstract: A supercritical water oxidation reactor is alternately supplied with a feed stream and a flushing stream. The feed stream contains organic and inorganic materials. The organic materials are oxidized under supercritical conditions in the reactor and the inorganic materials precipitate out of solution under the same conditions. The flushing stream is a solution in which the inorganic material is soluble. More than one supercritical water oxidation reactor may be connected so that the feed stream is alternately supplied to each reactor. During the period when the feed stream is being supplied to a reactor the effluent from the reactor is cooled to a temperature at which inorganic precipitates are soluble and is then supplied as a flushing stream to one or more of the remaining connected supercritical water oxidation reactors.

Abstract: A gripper rod for shuttleless looms has a toothed rack made of fiber reinforced composite material. The prepregs are stacked in such a way that the fiber orientation in one layer crosses the fiber orientation of at least one neighboring layer. A sufficient number of layers are preferably stacked relative to a central plane of symmetry. The so prepared stack is then placed into a pressing die to form the toothed rack configuration. Due to the pressing, the initial fiber orientation changes so that the fibers after the pressing extend approximately in parallel to the surfaces of the toothed rack, especially at the tooth flank forming surfaces and along the edges, whereby the strength of the toothed rack and the wear and tear resistance, especially of the tooth flanks is improved. The angular orientation of the fiber directions relative to a longitudinal edge of a prepreg may be within the range of about 15.degree. to about 25.degree.

Abstract: A process is provided for the bleaching of wood pulp with hydrogen or sodium peroxide. The process includes the steps of adding to a wood pulp a bleach liquor having an effective amount of hydrogen or sodium peroxide bleaching agent and, by weight of the diluted wood pulp, 0.5 to 6% sodium hydroxide, 0 to 5% sodium silicate, 0 to 1%, preferably 0.02 to 0.05%, magnesium sulphate, and a chelating agent in an amount sufficient to sequester heavy metal ions in the pulp, to produce a pulp consistency of 1 to 16% at a temperature in the range of the bleach liquor freezing point to 25.degree. C., uniformly mixing the bleach liquor with the wood pulp, and immediately thickening the diluted wood pulp to a consistency in the range of 20 to 70% for bleaching of the thickened wood pulp.