Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a plug in a passageway, comprises a carrier which in use is lowered into the passageway, the carrier comprising an elongate body of material resistant to creep which supports first and second spaced apart portions and a body of material supported on the carrier, the material having a melting point which is higher than the temperature within the passageway and which expands as it solidifies. The carrier may comprise a skirt that extends axially from a lower end of the carrier, the skirt being dimensioned to define a clearance between the skirt and the passageway; and a heater for melting the body of material such that melted material fills a space defined between the first and second portions, and flows into the clearance defined between the skirt and the passageway. The heater may be a removable heater.

Abstract: Described is a pyrolysis system including an entrained flow pyrolyzer having an opening through which biomass can be added. The pyrolyzer also has an inlet for hot exhaust gas, an outlet for pyrolyzed biomass and an outlet for syngas. The system has a burner for producing hot exhaust gas and a conduit between the burner and the hot exhaust gas inlet. A syngas extraction means for extracting syngas from the pyrolyzer. The syngas extraction means extracts syngas from the pyrolyzer at a rate such that the internal pressure within the pyrolyzer never exceeds the pressure external to the pyrolyzer.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for forming a plug in a passsageway, the apparatus comprising a carrier which in use is lowered into the passageway, the carrier comprising an elongate body of a material resistant to creep which supports first and second spaced apart portions and a body of material supported on the carrier, said material having a melting point which is higher than the temperature within the passageway and which expands as it solidifies. The carrier may comprise a skirt that extends axially from a lower end of the carrier, the skirt being dimensioned to define a clearance between the skirt and the passageway; and means for melting the body of material such that melted material fills a space defined between the first and second portions, and flows into the clearance defined between the skirt and the passageway.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pyrolysis system comprising an entrained flow pyrolyser having an opening through which biomass can be added. The pyrolyser also has an inlet for hot exhaust gas, an outlet for pyrolysed biomass and an outlet for syngas. The system has a burner for producing hot exhaust gas and a conduit between the burner and the hot exhaust gas inlet. A syngas extraction means for extracting syngas from the pyrolyser. The syngas extraction means extracts syngas from the pyrolyser at a rate such that the internal pressure within the pyrolyser never exceeds the pressure external to the pyrolyser.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor and method for using such a sensor to monitor signals generated by biological cells. The sensor comprises a first well for receiving a culture medium including biological cells, the first well including a working electrode a portion of which is exposed to any liquid introduced into the well. The exposed surface is capable of supporting a layer of biological cells. An adjacent second well receives an in situ reference electrode or can receive an inserted electrode, the two wells being separated by a wall. The wall is arranged such that, if the first well is filled with an electrochemically conductive culture medium to a first level sufficient to immerse the working electrode, and the second well is filled with an electrochemically conductive culture medium to a second level, electrochemical continuity is established between the liquids within the wells.

Abstract: A waste gas burner (10) comprises burner means (12) into which waste gas is fed through injectors (15), each leading to an open end of a conduit (17) to cause natural aspiration of primary air (20). The primary combustion takes place in a reaction zone (19) surrounded by a peripheral wall (16) which is pierced by ducts (23) so as to introduce recirculated combustion products under natural draught. Secondary air intakes (25) surround the peripheral wall (16) of the reaction zone (19) and promotes secondary burning of the recirculated gases. The reaction zone has a high temperature short duration combustion without excess air and the secondary combustion takes place at a lower temperature with a longer retention time and in the presence of excess air so as to reduce nitrogen oxide formation and ensure combustion of impurities in the waste gas.

Abstract: An intrauterine catheter used in conjunction with an ultrasonic scanning apparatus to improve the resolution of the ultrasonic scan. The catheter consists of a catheter having an input orifice and a plurality of output orifices. A balloon substantially surrounds the entire catheter and is filled with a fluid through the catheter. A cervical sound stop is used to ensure that only the uterus is filled with the solution.