Abstract: Disclosed are power distribution systems and methods in which a power distribution unit (PDU) includes a residual current monitor (RCM) to detect the presence of downstream leakage current in the PDU. The RCM can include a current sensor with a core that has power conductors passing through the core and drive windings about the core. Drive circuitry of the RCM produce alternating drive signals through the drive windings to drive the core into and out of positive and negative saturation. Sensing circuitry of the RCM produce a response signal that is filtered by a high-order current signal filter to isolate characteristics of the downstream leakage current.

Abstract: Disclosed are power distribution systems and methods in which a power distribution unit (PDU) includes a residual current monitor (RCM) to detect the presence of downstream leakage current in the PDU. The RCM can include a current sensor with a core that has power conductors passing through the core and drive windings about the core. Drive circuitry of the RCM produce alternating drive signals through the drive windings to drive the core into and out of positive and negative saturation. Sensing circuitry of the RCM produce a response signal that is filtered by a high-order current signal filter to isolate characteristics of the downstream leakage current.

Abstract: Disclosed are power distribution systems and methods in which a power distribution unit (PDU) includes a residual current monitor (RCM) to detect the presence of downstream leakage current in the PDU. The RCM can include a current sensor with a core that has power conductors passing through the core and drive windings about the core. Drive circuitry of the RCM produce alternating drive signals through the drive windings to drive the core into and out of positive and negative saturation. Sensing circuitry of the RCM produce a response signal that is filtered by a high-order current signal filter to isolate characteristics of the downstream leakage current.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for the removal of mercury and selenium from sulfate-containing waste water. The method may include the following steps: a) a mercury- and selenium-contaminated waste water with a known sulfate concentration is provided, b) barium sulfate (BaSO4) is precipitated from the provided waste water by the addition of a predefined amount of Ba2+ ions to the waste water, c) BaSO4 (if necessary together with other solids) is separated obtaining a low-solid waste water, d) the low-solid waste water is fed to an ion exchanger for the removal of mercury obtaining a waste water with a reduced mercury content, e) selenium and/or selenium compounds are removed from the waste water with the reduced mercury content and f) a sulfate-containing solution or solid is added to the waste water with a reduced selenium and/or selenium compound content in order to precipitate barium sulfate.

Abstract: The method according to the invention provides a method for treating a waste water, where (a) the waste water is provided having specific sulfate, chloride, mercury, and selenium concentrations, (b) the waste water (WW) is fed to a high pressure separator 1 using a high-pressure pump (P1) in which the waste water (WW) is separated into a permeate volume (PV) containing reduced sulfate, chloride, mercury, and selenium concentrations and a concentrate volume (CV), (c) and where the concentrate volume (CV) is separated using a cleaning apparatus 4 that reduces both mercury and selenium in the concentrate volume.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for the removal of mercury and selenium from sulfate-containing waste water. The method may include the following steps: a) a mercury- and selenium-contaminated waste water with a known sulfate concentration is provided, b) barium sulfate (BaSO4) is precipitated from the provided waste water by the addition of a predefined amount of Ba2+ ions to the waste water, c) BaSO4 (if necessary together with other solids) is separated obtaining a low-solid waste water, d) the low-solid waste water is fed to an ion exchanger for the removal of mercury obtaining a waste water with a reduced mercury content, e) selenium and/or selenium compounds are removed from the waste water with the reduced mercury content and f) a sulfate-containing solution or solid is added to the waste water with a reduced selenium and/or selenium compound content in order to precipitate barium sulfate.

Abstract: A system and method for pooling of investment funds enables a multinational corporation to cause its employee benefit plans from multiple international jurisdictions to pool their investments into a single entity, which invests in various financial products including exchange traded debt and equity securities as well as other securities. The entity is preferably structured as an offshore pooled vehicle, which may have one or more sub-funds that vary by investment objective and/or eligible investments. Each pooled vehicle is preferably organized as an Irish CCF, a Luxembourg FCP, a Dutch FGR or other tax-transparent vehicle. The investors in such pooled vehicles and sub-funds are preferably the employee benefit plans of the multinational corporation. A banking or trust organization that is duly qualified and licensed to act under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction as a management company for the pooled vehicles will act on behalf of the applicable pooled vehicle.

Abstract: A vending machine for vending a plurality of bottles each of which are supported in an upright position only at a top portion of each of the bottles include a planar dispensing rack having a plurality of elongated slots therein for storing and dispensing bottles. The elongated slots each include a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart side walls which are spaced apart a distance less than a diameter of the top portion of the bottle to be supported in the slots. The side walls of each of the slots terminate in an opening at one end of each of the slots which opening has a diameter larger than the diameter of the top portion of the bottles supported by the slots to enable bottles which move from the slot to the opening to drop through the opening from the planar dispensing rack to a dispensing station. A gating member is provided to control movement of the bottles from each of the slots to the opening to effect movement of a bottle from the dispensing rack to the dispensing station.

Abstract: A vending machine for vending a plurality of cans includes a storage means for storing plurality of cans to be vended, an article dispensing rod which is both pivotable and moveable in a vertical direction to control the movement of cans from the storage means to a dispensing station. A coin mechanism is provided having an output shaft operatively connected to the dispensing rod to effect both vertical movement of the dispensing rod and pivotable movement thereof. The movement of the dispensing rod by the output shaft of the coin mechanism enables the dispensing rod to control the movement of cans from the storage means to the dispensing station where the cans can be received by a user of the vending machine. A lockout mechanism is provided to prevent actuation of the coin mechanism and the dispensing rod when there are no cans present to be vended in the can storage means.