Abstract: For tempering the surface of a body, the body is covered with a sheath of at least one meltable active substance and binder material and heated under vacuum or in an inert atmosphere first to a temperature whereby the sheath is transformed into a porous cover layer with outer crust. Then the temperature is raised until the meltable active substance contained in the cover layer is evaporated. On the one hand, the meltable active substance seals the outer side of the cover layer, and on the other hand, the meltable active substance produces the tempered surface of the body. After the body has cooled, the residues of the cover layer are removed. The body is provided with a pore-free resistant surface.

Abstract: For the production of a shaped body of graphite with a reaction-bound Si/SiC coating it is proposed to bring the shaped body--provided with a slip layer of a homogenized mixture, heated and gassed under vacuum with gaseous silicon or impregnated with liquid silicon--to a form of predetermined dimensions. To this end the shaped body is treated after the coating by cutting or brushing or by electronically controlled laser erosion or by several of these measures.

Abstract: A safety system controlling extremely unlikely disturbances in high temperature reactors in addition to and independent of the normal reactor protection systems. Accident instrumentation located in the high temperature reactor monitors certain characteristic process parameters (hot gas temperature, cold gas temperature, cooling gas pressure), for values of which clearly exceed limiting values of the reactor pressure system. The measured data is evaluated electronically and power supply to the cooling gas blowers, feed water pumps and absorber rod holding devices is interrupted if predetermined limiting values are exceeded. The power supply interruption is further actuated by temperature and pressure sensitive devices located in the nuclear reactor. A manually operated emergency switch is provided to turn off the aforementioned sensibilities.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generator has a cylindrical high temperature reactor as a heat source. A carbon-fiber reinforced graphite lattice structure supports a multiplicity of thermoelectric units which surround and receive heat from the core of the reactor. The reactor core is composed of fuel rods made of graphite in which nuclear fuel particles are embedded. The central portion of the core contains reflector elements. Power regulation is provided by control rods that are insertable into the core in openings among the fuel rods.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for convertion of steam and hydrocarbon, or steam and coal, into a product gas which contains hydrogen. The conversion rate is augmented by effective extraction and removal of hydrogen as and when hydrogen is generated. Within a reaction vessel wherein the conversion takes place, a chamber for collection of hydrogen is formed by the provision of a hydrogen-permeable membrane. The chamber is provided with a hydrogen extraction means and houses a support structure, for example, in the form of a mesh providing structural support to the membrane. The membrane may be of a pleated or corrugated construction, so as to provide an enlarged surface for the membrane to facilitate hydrogen extraction. Also, to further facilitate hydrogen extraction, a hydrogen partial pressure differential is maintained across the membrane, such as, for example, by the counter pressure of an inert gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the separation of hydrogen and/or euterium and tritium from an inert gas flow which is contaminated with hydrogen and/or deuterium and/or tritium, wherein the inert gas which is to be purified is conducted along the primary side of an exchange wall for hydrogen isotopes.The secondary side of the exchange wall has applied thereto an agent which so chemically reacts with the permeating hydrogen isotopes that the hydrogen isotope or the hydrogen isotopes which are to separated out of the inert gas flow which is to be purified, are bound in a reaction product which is transportable in a gas flow which is not capable of permeating through the exchange wall, and wherein along the secondary side of the exchange wall there is conducted a carrier gas flow which conveys off the reaction product.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for the separation of hydrogen and/or terium and tritium from an inert gas flow which is contaminated with hydrogen and/or deuterium and/or tritium, wherein the inert gas which is to be purified is conducted along the primary side of an exchange wall for hydrogen isotopes. The secondary side of the exchange wall has applied thereto an agent which so chemically reacts with the permeating hydrogen isotopes that the hydrogen isotope or the hydrogen isotopes which are to be separated out of the inert gas flow which is to be purified, are bound in a reaction product which is transportable in a gas flow which is not capable of permeating through the exchange wall, and wherein along the secondary side of the exchange wall there is conducted a carrier gas flow which conveys off the reaction product.

Abstract: A process for obtaining hydrogen and oxygen from water in a two stage process including a first electrolysis stage performed in a two chamber cell wherein the chambers are separated by a membrane. Iodine is introduced into the cathodic chamber and hydrogen iodide is formed therein. Oxygen is formed in the anodic chamber and is removed as a product. The membrane conducts hydrogen ions and prevents the passage of the products HI and oxygen. In a second phase, hydrogen iodide is separated and removed from the cathodic chamber and is thermally decomposed into hydrogen and iodine. The iodine is recycled to the cathodic chamber and the hydrogen is recovered as a product.

Abstract: For separation of hydrogen and its isotopes by diffusion through a membrane irtually impermeable to other gases, a non-porous hydrogen-permeable metallic membrane is provided on the gas access side with a coating of an alloy of palladium with at least 45 atomic % Cu or at least 50 atomic percent Ag or at least 7 atomic % Y, the membrane itself containing Cu, Ag or Y respectively in a concentration at least equilibrated with the coating at operation temperature. Preferably the membrane consists of a metal of niobium and/or tantalum bases especially of an alloy containing from 10 to 30 % Ti, 3 to 10 % V, 0 to 25 % Nb and at least 30 % Ta, all by weight, and preferably it is of a composition of 20 to 25 % Ti, 5 to 7,5 % V, 0 to 25 Nb, and at least 50 % Ta, being saturated with copper and or silver, while a copper and/or silver palladium alloy coating is used.

Abstract: A gas-cooled nuclear reactor whose nuclear-fuel elements are constituted by graphite-encapsulated nuclear fuel particles and have graphite coatings is shut down in accordance with the present invention by introducing into the primary coolant gas circulation, a gadolinium-containing substance which is dispersed in the primary cooling gas before the latter enters the space between the fuel elements within the reactor core so that the gadolinium-containing substance is at least partly deposited on the free graphitic surfaces of the fuel elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen or oxides wherein electrolysis of an aqueous system is carried out using, in the cathode compartment of the electrolysis cell, a hydride-forming liquid metal, the resulting hydride being thermally decomposed to produce the hydrogen.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen and oxygen or oxides wherein electrolysis of n aqueous system is carried out using, in the cathode compartment of the electrolysis cell, a hydride-forming liquid metal, the resulting hydride being thermally decomposed to produce the hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention comprises a recirculatory process for producing hydrocarbons and oxygen in which sulphur dioxide is reacted with iodine and water to form a hydrogen polyiode or a hydrate thereof and sulphuric acid, the sulphuric acid is separated and thermally decomposed to form water sulphur dioxide and oxygen, the polyiodide or its hydrate is decomposed to form iodine and gaseous hydrogen iodide which is concurrently or separately reacted with a carbon oxide or mixture of carbon oxides to form hydrocarbons especially methane and water, the hydrocarbons and water being removed from the system and the remaining reaction products recirculated.

Abstract: The invention comprises a recirculatory process for producing methane and oxygen in which iodine and an oxide in a lower valency stage are reacted with methanol, dimethylether or a mixture thereof at an elevated temperature to form the corresponding oxide having a higher valency stage and methyl iodide, the methyl iodide is reacted with water to form hydrogen iodide and reform the methanol and/or dimethylether, the hydrogen iodide is reacted with carbon dioxide to form methane and water and the oxide in the higher valency state is decomposed to release oxygen and reform the oxide having a lower valency stage, the methane and released oxygen are removed and the remaining components are recirculated.

Abstract: In a process for the electrolytic production of sulfuric acid by oxidation of sulfur dioxide in the presence of water in an anode compartment of an electrolysis cell and of hydrogen in the cathode compartment of the cell, the cathode compartment containing aqueous sulfuric acid as catholyte and being separated from the anode compartment by a hydrogen-ion transfer permitting membrane, the improvement which comprises introducing sulfur dioxide, water and hydrogen iodide or iodine, removing a mixture of aqueous sulfuric acid and hydrogen iodide from the anode compartment, separating the sulfuric acid from the mixture, and removing from the cathode compartment the hydrogen set free therein. The process gives a substantially lower overvoltage than prior art processes.

Abstract: Hydrogen and oxygen are obtained from water using a multi-step circulatory process using iron compounds and chlorine as adjuvants. Using three beds, respectively containing magnesium chloride, iron oxide and cuprous chloride, and by a four-step process involving passing steam through the magnesium bed, carbon monoxide through the iron bed, carbon dioxide through the copper bed, and steam through the iron bed one obtains hydrogen and oxygen as end products and is left with the starting materials in the respective beds. An efficiency of about 60% can be achieved by the process.

Abstract: A process for the dissociation of water into hydrogen and oxygen in a multi-stage closed cycle process using a system involving at least one metallic element having multiple valency and at least one halogen, characterized in that a halide of the multiple valency metallic element is subjected to a mixture of steam and hydrogen converting the halide to a mixture of the metallic element and at least one oxide thereof, said latter mixture is subjected to steam to produce a mixed valency oxide of the metallic element accompanied by the liberation of hydrogen, and said mixed valency oxide is then subjected to a hydrogen halide to convert it back to the said metallic halide with the liberation of oxygen.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen and oxygen by splitting water in a thermocical cycle, according to which in a first method stage a gas mixture of from 1 to 50 parts by volume of steam and 2 parts by volume of sulfur dioxide is reacted at a temperature within the temperature range of from 200.degree. to 400.degree. C with an oxide of one of the metals manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, zinc or cadmium for forming a metal sulfate and for freeing hydrogen gas. Thereupon the hydrogen gas is in a manner known per se separated from the residual gas mixture and in a second method stage after conversion of the metal oxide to a metal sulfate, the metal sulfate for purposes of decomposition or disintegration and for forming a metal oxide, sulfur dioxide gas and oxygen gas, is heated to a temperature within the temperature range of from 700.degree. to 1000.degree. C. Thereupon the oxygen gas is separated from the sulfur dioxide gas in a manner known per se.

Abstract: A method of obtaining hydrogen from water in a multi-stage circulatory process avoids the need to use solid inorganic salts as auxiliary products by using only gases and liquids in the reaction stages. Carbon monoxide is reacted catalytically with steam producing carbon dioxide and hydrogen; the carbon dioxide is reacted with steam and sulphur dioxide to give sulphuric acid and carbon monoxide; the sulphuric acid is split into sulphur trioxide and steam; the sulphur trioxide is dissociated into oxygen and sulphur dixoide. The CO and SO.sub.2 are fed back into the process, and hydrogen and oxygen obtained as end products.