Abstract: Method of contactless measurement of the conductivity of semiconductors, said method being implemented by: a first assembly comprising a signal emission/reception system —a second assembly comprising at least one semi-conducting target and an inductor element, —a third assembly, said method comprising at least the following steps: a) the first assembly emits a multifrequency signal, b) the second assembly reflects or transmits at least one part of the multifrequency signal emitted, c) the first assembly receives the reflected multifrequency signal reflected by the second assembly, d) the third assembly calculates the coefficient of reflection or of transmission of the emitted signal, e) the third assembly provides the conductivity of the semiconducting target.

Abstract: A sun-tracking light distributor for a photosynthetic culture in an aqueous liquid, comprising: two light distribution walls made of a transparent material, creating an elongated V-shaped channel adapted to receive the sunlight and to be partly immersed in the aqueous liquid, the sun-tracking light distributor has a center of buoyancy, a vertical passing through the center of buoyancy defines an axis of flotation, and a pivot axis of the sun-tracking light distributor is offset relative to the axis of flotation. Owing to the offset pivot axis, the orientation of the light distributor is changed by varying the level of aqueous liquid, thus allowing a tracking of the sun's altitude.

Abstract: Method of contactless measurement of the conductivity of semiconductors, said method being implemented by: a first assembly comprising a signal emission/reception system —a second assembly comprising at least one semi-conducting target and an inductor element, —a third assembly, said method comprising at least the following steps: a) the first assembly emits a multifrequency signal, b) the second assembly reflects or transmits at least one part of the multifrequency signal emitted, c) the first assembly receives the reflected multifrequency signal reflected by the second assembly, d) the third assembly calculates the coefficient of reflection or of transmission of the emitted signal, e) the third assembly provides the conductivity of the semiconducting target.

Abstract: A sun-tracking light distributor for a photosynthetic culture in an aqueous liquid, comprising: two light distribution walls made of a transparent material, creating an elongated V-shaped channel adapted to receive the sunlight and to be partly immersed in the aqueous liquid, the sun-tracking light distributor has a center of buoyancy, a vertical passing through the center of buoyancy defines an axis of flotation, and a pivot axis of the sun-tracking light distributor is offset relative to the axis of flotation. Owing to the offset pivot axis, the orientation of the light distributor is changed by varying the level of aqueous liquid, thus allowing a tracking of the sun's altitude.

Abstract: Described is a method for the culture of microalgae, comprising: providing a consortium of at least two living species of microalgae; culturing under illumination the consortium in a controllable bioreactor and under non-sterile aqueous culture conditions; and controlling the culture conditions for affecting at least one of the following output: (i) flocculation and/or settling of said consortium of microalgae; and (ii) adhesion of the microalgae to surfaces of the bioreactor; wherein said culture conditions are controlled to promote (i) and/or to minimize (ii), without adversely affecting growth of the consortium of microalgae. It is also possible to control the culture conditions for affecting iii) the protein, carbohydrate, and/or fat content of the said microalgae consortium. A system for carrying out the method is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and process for combined and simultaneous treatment of methane and of nitrogenous liquid effluent, inter alia, landfill leachates. Principally, the invention provides a biofiltration system and process for the combined and simultaneous treatment of gas containing methane (CH4) and of nitrogenous liquid effluents by virtue of synergy between nitrifying and methanotrophic microorganisms. The use of a single biofiltration system according to the invention avoids recourse to two treatment lines specific to methane and to the effluent. Furthermore, the exothermic reaction for biological oxidation of methane enables temperature regulation of the biofilter even during winter periods.

Abstract: A sun-tracking light distributor for a photosynthetic culture in an aqueous liquid, comprising: two light distribution walls made of a transparent material, creating an elongated V-shaped channel adapted to receive the sunlight and to be partly immersed in the aqueous liquid, the sun-tracking light distributor has a center of buoyancy, a vertical passing through the center of buoyancy defines an axis of flotation, and a pivot axis of the sun-tracking light distributor is offset relative to the axis of flotation. Owing to the offset pivot axis, the orientation of the light distributor is changed by varying the level of aqueous liquid, thus allowing a tracking of the sun's altitude.

Abstract: Described is a method for the culture of microalgae, comprising: providing a consortium of at least two living species of microalgae; culturing under illumination the consortium in a controllable bioreactor and under non-sterile aqueous culture conditions; and controlling the culture conditions for affecting at least one of the following output: (i) flocculation and/or settling of said consortium of microalgae; and (ii) adhesion of the microalgae to surfaces of the bioreactor; wherein said culture conditions are controlled to promote (i) and/or to minimize (ii), without adversely affecting growth of the consortium of microalgae. It is also possible to control the culture conditions for affecting iii) the protein, carbohydrate, and/or fat content of the said microalgae consortium. A system for carrying out the method is also described.

Abstract: A method of biofiltration of a liquid effluent by simultaneous nitrification and denitrification uses the adding of an oxygen source at a predetermined rate and optionally the adding of a carbon source (such as whey) thus enabling the complete transformation of the nitrates (NO3) present in the effluent at the time of treatment through a biofilter. The specific operating conditions favoring the simultaneous nitrification and denitrification include the controlled injection of a slight quantity of air, adjustment of the level of nitrogen load (TKN+NO3) and the level of carbon load thereby making possible elimination for the most part of the release of unwanted nitrogen in the form of NO3 or NO2.

Abstract: A method of biofiltration of a liquid effluent by simultaneous nitrification and denitrification uses the adding of an oxygen source at a predetermined rate and optionally the adding of a carbon source (such as whey) thus enabling the complete transformation of the nitrates (NO3) present in the effluent at the time of treatment through a biofilter. The specific operating conditions favoring the simultaneous nitrification and denitrification include the controlled injection of a slight quantity of air, adjustment of the level of nitrogen load (TKN+NO3) and the level of carbon load thereby making possible elimination for the most part of the release of unwanted nitrogen in the form of NO3 or NO2.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the wall thickness of a hollow part, of the turbomachine blade type, at least at a point having a determined radius of curvature at this point, within determined ranges of radii of curvature and thicknesses, including the determination of impedance values of an electrical circuit formed by an eddy current detector applied to the wall, and the insertion of these values into a digital processing unit with a neural network, wherein the network parameters have been defined in advance by learning on spacers having a determined radius of curvature and thickness in the ranges.

Abstract: The biofilter is used for the purification of a waste liquid using layers of filtering material, wherein the waste liquid moves downwardly by gravity while an O2-containing gas moves upwardly therein. The biofilter comprises a gas collector to capture at least a portion of the gas moving upwardly therein to mitigate the problem of biofilter clogging due to a microbial seal at the surface of the uppermost filtering layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for evaluating the wall thickness of a hollow part, of the turbomachine blade type, at least at a point having a determined radius of curvature at this point, within determined ranges of radii of curvature and thicknesses, comprising the determination of impedance values of an electrical circuit formed by an eddy current detector (20) applied to the wall, and the insertion of these values into a digital processing unit with a neural network, wherein the network parameters have been defined in advance by learning on spacers having a determined radius of curvature and thickness in said ranges.

Abstract: The biofilter is used for the purification of a waste liquid using layers of filtering material, wherein the waste liquid moves downwardly by gravity while an O2-containing gas moves upwardly therein. The biofilter comprises a gas collector to capture at least a portion of the gas moving upwardly therein to mitigate the problem of biofilter clogging due to a microbial seal at the surface of the uppermost filtering layer.

Abstract: An eddy current detector includes two poles aligned in the direction of extension of partitions located behind a wall, wherein the thickness must be measured, but which interfere with the measurements. The influence of the partitions is decreased by the core of the detector including two poles aligned in the direction of the extension of the partitions and by using a logical system to correct the results obtained according to preliminary results obtained on a reference surface.

Abstract: An eddy current detector (4) comprises two poles aligned in the direction of extension of partitions (3) located behind a wall (2) wherein the thickness must be measured, but which interfere with the measurements. The influence of the partitions (3) is decreased if the core (6) of the detector (4) comprises two poles aligned in the direction of the extension of the partitions (3) and if a logical system is used to correct the results obtained according to preliminary results obtained on a reference surface.