Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of a syngas suited for further conversion to fine chemicals and/or automotive fuels from biomass by a thermochemical process conducted in a several steps procedure, said process comprising; a) Providing a stream of biomass material; b) Providing an aqueous alkaline catalyst stream comprising sodium and/or potassium compounds; c) Mixing comminuted biomass and alkaline catalyst and optional additives to form an alkaline biomass slurry or suspension; d) Treating alkaline biomass slurry or suspension in a hydrothermal treatment reactor at a temperature in the range of 200-400° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of a syngas suited for further conversion to fine chemicals and/or automotive fuels from biomass by a thermochemical process conducted in a several steps procedure, said process comprising; a) Providing a stream of biomass material; b) Providing an aqueous alkaline catalyst stream comprising sodium and/or potassium compounds; c) Mixing comminuted biomass and alkaline catalyst and optional additives to form an alkaline biomass slurry or suspension; d) Treating alkaline biomass slurry or suspension in a hydrothermal treatment reactor at a temperature in the range of 200-400° C.

Abstract: In a nuclear reactor of the safety type, density locks constitute an important safety function. Two liquid systems can be kept apart by means of density locks. During normal operating conditions, the density locks prevent the warmer water from a primary cooling system from being mixed with the colder water from a secondary cooling system. At an increased temperature level, the density locks permit water to flow through so that the warmer water is mixed with the colder water to reduce the increased temperature level. To prevent an undesired transport through the density locks, for example boric acid leaking in from the secondary cooling system during normal operating conditions, the density locks are provided with a honeycomb consisting of tube pieces assembled in parallel. The honeycomb tube must be much longer than four times the tube diameter. To prevent the occurrence of a resonant interaction between internal waves in the honeycomb tube, the Brunt-Vaisala frequency ##EQU1## must vary through the tubes.