Prepn. method of Nb3Sn cpd. superconductive wire is claimed Nb or Nb alloy material and bronze (Cu-Sn alloy) material are processed to combine them. Then combined material is treated by the diffused heat treatment to prepare Nb3Sn superconductive wire. The bronze material is prepd by the semi-solidfying process.    (1) The bronze material is heated at 800-950 deg.C, and drawn simultaneously with the Nb alloy material to combine them together. (2) The bronze material is heated at 800-950 deg.C, and drawn, then quenched to make single hole pipe, or multi-hole pipe. Nb or Nb alloy material is inserted into the pipe to combine them together. (3) Sn concn. in the bronze material is 10-24 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for prepn. of Nb3Sn cpd. superconductive wire. Constriction or breaking of the wire can be avoided in wire extension. Jc of the material is improved. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Prepn. method of Nb3Sn cpd. superconductive wire is claimed Nb or Nb alloy material and bronze (Cu-Sn alloy) material are processed to combine them. Then combined material is treated by the diffused heat treatment to prepare Nb3Sn superconductive wire. The bronze material is prepd by the semi-solidfying process.    (1) The bronze material is heated at 800-950 deg.C, and drawn simultaneously with the Nb alloy material to combine them together. (2) The bronze material is heated at 800-950 deg.C, and drawn, then quenched to make single hole pipe, or multi-hole pipe. Nb or Nb alloy material is inserted into the pipe to combine them together. (3) Sn concn. in the bronze material is 10-24 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for prepn. of Nb3Sn cpd. superconductive wire. Constriction or breaking of the wire can be avoided in wire extension. Jc of the material is improved. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Prepn. method of Nb3Sn cpd. superconductive wire is claimed Nb or Nb alloy material and bronze (Cu-Sn alloy) material are processed to combine them. Then combined material is treated by the diffused heat treatment to prepare Nb3Sn superconductive wire. The bronze material is prepd by the semi-solidfying process.    (1) The bronze material is heated at 800-950 deg.C, and drawn simultaneously with the Nb alloy material to combine them together. (2) The bronze material is heated at 800-950 deg.C, and drawn, then quenched to make single hole pipe, or multi-hole pipe. Nb or Nb alloy material is inserted into the pipe to combine them together. (3) Sn concn. in the bronze material is 10-24 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for prepn. of Nb3Sn cpd. superconductive wire. Constriction or breaking of the wire can be avoided in wire extension. Jc of the material is improved. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Prepn. method of Nb3Sn cpd. superconductive wire is claimed Nb or Nb alloy material and bronze (Cu-Sn alloy) material are processed to combine them. Then combined material is treated by the diffused heat treatment to prepare Nb3Sn superconductive wire. The bronze material is prepd by the semi-solidfying process.    (1) The bronze material is heated at 800-950 deg.C, and drawn simultaneously with the Nb alloy material to combine them together. (2) The bronze material is heated at 800-950 deg.C, and drawn, then quenched to make single hole pipe, or multi-hole pipe. Nb or Nb alloy material is inserted into the pipe to combine them together. (3) Sn concn. in the bronze material is 10-24 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for prepn. of Nb3Sn cpd. superconductive wire. Constriction or breaking of the wire can be avoided in wire extension. Jc of the material is improved. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Prepn. method of Nb3Sn cpd. superconductive wire is claimed Nb or Nb alloy material and bronze (Cu-Sn alloy) material are processed to combine them. Then combined material is treated by the diffused heat treatment to prepare Nb3Sn superconductive wire. The bronze material is prepd by the semi-solidfying process.    (1) The bronze material is heated at 800-950 deg.C, and drawn simultaneously with the Nb alloy material to combine them together. (2) The bronze material is heated at 800-950 deg.C, and drawn, then quenched to make single hole pipe, or multi-hole pipe. Nb or Nb alloy material is inserted into the pipe to combine them together. (3) Sn concn. in the bronze material is 10-24 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for prepn. of Nb3Sn cpd. superconductive wire. Constriction or breaking of the wire can be avoided in wire extension. Jc of the material is improved. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
To form reaction layer of gas diffusion pole, esp. reaction layer for fuel cell, reaction layer arranging source material powder is adhered onto the base sheet, such as carbon paper, to form reaction layer of gas diffusion pole. Powder and air are injected out from the feeding pipe having nozzle tip, and the powder is impinged onto the scattering ball near the pipe tip, and scattered powder is deposited onto the base sheet.    ADVANTAGE -   Uniform distribution of the powder is attained giving uniform layer. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
(A) An electricity generating plant has a H2-rich gas-emitting unit (A) connected by a H2 feed line (2) to the anode chamber (8a) of a fuel all system (B); a combustion chamber (17), esp. for catalytic combustion, with gas feed lines (4,6) from the anode and cathode chambers (8a,b) of the fuel cell system (B) and with a combustion gas outlet connected by an off-gas line (18) to the inlet of a gas turbine (19); and a compressed air generator (C) which is operatively coupled with the gas turbine (19) and which is connected at its outlet by a compressed air line (3) to the cathode chamber (8b) of the fuel cell system (B).    The novelty is that the H2 feed line (2) is the single fluid connection line between the H2 unit (A) on one hand and the fuel cell system (B) and the compressed air generator on the other hand.    (B) In an electricity generating process, the anode chamber of a fuel cell is fed with H2-rich gas and the cathode chamber is fed with O2-contg. gas (esp. air) of similar pressure, the anode and cathode off-gas streams being subjected to (esp. catalytic) combustion to produce combustion gas as energy source for compressing the O2-contg. gas.    The novelty is that the compressed O2-contg. gas is used exclusively for feeding the chamber of the fuel cell and, if required, partially directly for producing combustion gas for the compression operation.    ADVANTAGE -   Control costs for ensuring smooth operation are extremely low. @(26pp Dwg.No.3/3)@
Storage battery has a case (13) divided by partitions (27) into cells. A stack of positive and negative plates (39,41) is inserted into each cell and rests on a rest-up (31) extending upward from the bottom of the case. Chips (49,51) are attached to each set of plates in the cell and are located in receptacles (33) formed between the rest-ups and the case sidewalls. The clips are in contact with contacts (35) that extend through the partitions to contact a clip in the next cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Battery can be mfd. without a welding or casting step, the internal electrical paths are shortened and since connections are at the bottom, the risk of sparking at the top of the cell is reduced. @(7pp Dwg.No.2/4)@
An electrolyte compsn. comprises CeXMyDzO(2-d) where M is Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Sc, Y, La or Ca, D is Pr, Sm, Eu, Tb, Fe, Co or Ni, and M and D are different. M is present in an amt. mole fraction y, effective to increase the ionic conductivity of the compsn. D is present in an amt. mole fraction Z, effective to decrease the electronic conductivity of the compsn. under reducing conditions and d = 0.05-0.30. Pref. the compsn. exhibits (i) an electronic domain boundry of less than 3 x 10 power -19 atm 02 at 700 deg.C (ii) an electronic conductivity of less than 0.8 s/cm at an 02 partial pressure of less than 3 x 10 power -19 atmos. 02 at about 700 deg.C pref. x = 0.7-0.9, y = 0.1-0.3 z = 0.001-0.1. A fuel comprising an anode, a cathode and a solid electrolyte of the compsn. are also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolyte compsn. provides high ionic conductivity and low electronic conductivity under reducing conditions. The fuel cell exhibits improved efficiency and power density. @(8pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
The machine has a one-piece heating platen with thermal expansion features which eliminate stress on the platen bearings that support the platen. A new type of top cover holder and pickup device is also employed in the machine to positively grasp the top cover around the centre line of the cover and to lift it up and return it as desired.    A mobile platen transfer device is used with the machine to quickly and safely remove an outgoing platen and replace it with an incoming platen when changing battery sizes and types on the battery assembly line.    USE -   May be used with small automotive batteries and with large commercial batteries. @(22pp Dwg.No.1/38)@
Solvent A is removed from mixt. contg.: solvent A which is mutually soluble with polyvinyl butyral; solvent B with which ion dissociable salt can be dissolved; and ion dissociable salt, by drying or by soaking in solvent B contg. ion dissociable salt.    Pref. solvent B is sparingly soluble or non-soluble to polyvinyl butyral, or solvent B becomes non-soluble to polyvinyl butyral by contg. ionic salt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for prepn. of high polymer solid electrolyte for batteries, electronic display, electrochemical sensor, and capacitor. Ion conductivity of the electrolyte is improved. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Solvent A is removed from mixt. contg.: solvent A which is mutually soluble with polyvinyl butyral; solvent B with which ion dissociable salt can be dissolved; and ion dissociable salt, by drying or by soaking in solvent B contg. ion dissociable salt.    Pref. solvent B is sparingly soluble or non-soluble to polyvinyl butyral, or solvent B becomes non-soluble to polyvinyl butyral by contg. ionic salt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for prepn. of high polymer solid electrolyte for batteries, electronic display, electrochemical sensor, and capacitor. Ion conductivity of the electrolyte is improved. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Solvent A is removed from mixt. contg.: solvent A which is mutually soluble with polyvinyl butyral; solvent B with which ion dissociable salt can be dissolved; and ion dissociable salt, by drying or by soaking in solvent B contg. ion dissociable salt.    Pref. solvent B is sparingly soluble or non-soluble to polyvinyl butyral, or solvent B becomes non-soluble to polyvinyl butyral by contg. ionic salt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for prepn. of high polymer solid electrolyte for batteries, electronic display, electrochemical sensor, and capacitor. Ion conductivity of the electrolyte is improved. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Solvent A is removed from mixt. contg.: solvent A which is mutually soluble with polyvinyl butyral; solvent B with which ion dissociable salt can be dissolved; and ion dissociable salt, by drying or by soaking in solvent B contg. ion dissociable salt.    Pref. solvent B is sparingly soluble or non-soluble to polyvinyl butyral, or solvent B becomes non-soluble to polyvinyl butyral by contg. ionic salt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for prepn. of high polymer solid electrolyte for batteries, electronic display, electrochemical sensor, and capacitor. Ion conductivity of the electrolyte is improved. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Solvent A is removed from mixt. contg.: solvent A which is mutually soluble with polyvinyl butyral; solvent B with which ion dissociable salt can be dissolved; and ion dissociable salt, by drying or by soaking in solvent B contg. ion dissociable salt.    Pref. solvent B is sparingly soluble or non-soluble to polyvinyl butyral, or solvent B becomes non-soluble to polyvinyl butyral by contg. ionic salt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for prepn. of high polymer solid electrolyte for batteries, electronic display, electrochemical sensor, and capacitor. Ion conductivity of the electrolyte is improved. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Solvent A is removed from mixt. contg.: solvent A which is mutually soluble with polyvinyl butyral; solvent B with which ion dissociable salt can be dissolved; and ion dissociable salt, by drying or by soaking in solvent B contg. ion dissociable salt.    Pref. solvent B is sparingly soluble or non-soluble to polyvinyl butyral, or solvent B becomes non-soluble to polyvinyl butyral by contg. ionic salt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for prepn. of high polymer solid electrolyte for batteries, electronic display, electrochemical sensor, and capacitor. Ion conductivity of the electrolyte is improved. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The conductive compsn. comprises copper powder, glass frit, and organic vehicle which gives viscosity to mixture of the copper powder and the glass frit. The compsn. contains 79-90 wt.% of the copper powder, 3-7 wt.% of the glass frit, and 7-14 wt.% of the organic vehicle. The glass frit contains 30-50 wt.% of BaO, 30-45 wt.% of SiO2, up to 10 wt.% of ZrO2, and up to 10 wt.% of B203.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The conductive compsn. is used for electrode material of conductor circuit for electronic ceramic parts. Conductivity, solder-wetting property, attaching strength, and migration resistance of the compsn. are improved. Impedance in high frequency range is low. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The conductive compsn. comprises copper powder, glass frit, and organic vehicle which gives viscosity to mixture of the copper powder and the glass frit. The compsn. contains 79-90 wt.% of the copper powder, 3-7 wt.% of the glass frit, and 7-14 wt.% of the organic vehicle. The glass frit contains 30-50 wt.% of BaO, 30-45 wt.% of SiO2, up to 10 wt.% of ZrO2, and up to 10 wt.% of B203.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The conductive compsn. is used for electrode material of conductor circuit for electronic ceramic parts. Conductivity, solder-wetting property, attaching strength, and migration resistance of the compsn. are improved. Impedance in high frequency range is low. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The conductive compsn. comprises copper powder, glass frit, and organic vehicle which gives viscosity to mixture of the copper powder and the glass frit. The compsn. contains 79-90 wt.% of the copper powder, 3-7 wt.% of the glass frit, and 7-14 wt.% of the organic vehicle. The glass frit contains 30-50 wt.% of BaO, 30-45 wt.% of SiO2, up to 10 wt.% of ZrO2, and up to 10 wt.% of B203.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The conductive compsn. is used for electrode material of conductor circuit for electronic ceramic parts. Conductivity, solder-wetting property, attaching strength, and migration resistance of the compsn. are improved. Impedance in high frequency range is low. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The conductive compsn. comprises copper powder, glass frit, and organic vehicle which gives viscosity to mixture of the copper powder and the glass frit. The compsn. contains 79-90 wt.% of the copper powder, 3-7 wt.% of the glass frit, and 7-14 wt.% of the organic vehicle. The glass frit contains 30-50 wt.% of BaO, 30-45 wt.% of SiO2, up to 10 wt.% of ZrO2, and up to 10 wt.% of B203.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The conductive compsn. is used for electrode material of conductor circuit for electronic ceramic parts. Conductivity, solder-wetting property, attaching strength, and migration resistance of the compsn. are improved. Impedance in high frequency range is low. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The conductive compsn. comprises copper powder, glass frit, and organic vehicle which gives viscosity to mixture of the copper powder and the glass frit. The compsn. contains 79-90 wt.% of the copper powder, 3-7 wt.% of the glass frit, and 7-14 wt.% of the organic vehicle. The glass frit contains 30-50 wt.% of BaO, 30-45 wt.% of SiO2, up to 10 wt.% of ZrO2, and up to 10 wt.% of B203.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The conductive compsn. is used for electrode material of conductor circuit for electronic ceramic parts. Conductivity, solder-wetting property, attaching strength, and migration resistance of the compsn. are improved. Impedance in high frequency range is low. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Several Cu-O layers are interposed between at least two Bi-O layers, Film is coated by Bi oxide layer such as Bi-O layer, Bi203 layer and Bi-Ti-O layer both at its surface and at its interface with substrate to form a superconductor thin film.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The Bi laminated composite oxide thin film is stable and has high Tc (over 100K).    In an example Bi203 layer are formed on a substrate as undercoat by sputtering method using Ar, coated by Bi203 and Sr-Ca-Cu cpd. by simultaneous sputtering method using 2 gas, coated by Bi203 as topcoat by sputtering method Ar and thermally treated at 850 deg.C for 5 hrs. to form a thin film superconductor. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/2)
The heating for a battery with an electronic voltage and temperature control is based on four power transistors, mounted on an aluminium plate with a foil bonded to its rear to transmit a heat input to the battery. This plate carries an LED telltale lamp and a control unit with a metal or plastic casing filled with a two-component silicone casting compound.    The 12V battery (27) stands with its walls (20) on an adhesive foil (23) covering the aluminium base plate (18) over a metal or plastic casing (26) in which a PCB (19), an LED lamp (6) and two NTC resistors (10,11) are embedded. Four power transistors (12,13,14,15) on the plate (18) produce the heat by a current of 800-1000 mA, using the plate (18) as a heat sink.    ADVANTAGE -   This offers protection for the control unit from moisture, acid, vibration and fire. It produces no sparks and prolongs the life of the battery and prevents the formation of large granules of PbSO4. @(5pp Dwg.No.3/3)@
The polarising circuit has a voltage input a coupled voltage output, an last input and output. Between the earth input (12) and output (13) in incorporated an inversely operated MOSFET (1), whose gate (6) is coupled to the voltage input (10).    Pref. the circuit incorporates a voltage rise limiter (R1, 2), limiting a gate-source voltage to a preset steepmess. The limiter assembly (R1, 2, Z1) defines a max value of the gate-source voltage, incorporating a Ziner diode (Z1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For DC consumer appliances in car etc, with low-cost mfr and low voltage drop.
The add-on electrical device for an automotive power supply having 24 volt operation during the engine cranking period and 12 volt operation during normal-run periods. The add-on electrical means enables the vehicle to selectively provide 24 volt jumper voltage or 12 volt jumper voltage to adjacent vehicles. A manual switch is provided to select the jumper voltage.    The add-on system can be incorporated into existing vehicle electrical systems at relatively low expense. The add on system also provides a capability to charge the vehicle batteries from an external source.@(4pp Dwg.No.2/2)@
Lower power intake of the pressurised electrolyser and reduced weight and size as well as decreased foaming are achieved with the electrodes assembly mounted asymmetrically in the electrolysis chamber. The axis of the assembly is offset towards the inlet header, the offset indicated by the quoted inegality expression.    The electrolysis chamber (4) and the housing (1) are sealed by the flanges (12,13) and packings (18,19), while the electrolyte inlet (22) is supplemented with a connector (24) for evacuating gases. The headers of inlet and outlet are bounded by the housing of the electrolysis chamber (4), housing (1) of the cell and by the horizontal partitions. The electrolyte is admitted through the perforations (6), and then flows in the interelectrodes space. The evolved gas is directed to the outlet header and fed to the user through the connector (24).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In e.g. prodn. of H2 and O2 by thermochemical decomposition of water. The full immersion of electrodes assembly in the electrolyte lowers the level of the latter in the cell, which decreases the size of the unit and also cuts the weight of the cell. Bul.28/30.7.90 @(5pp Dwg.No. 1/2)@
Molten carbonate fuel battery comprising a stack of molten carbonate fuel cells with separators between adjacent cells, each cell contg. an anode electrode, an anode reaction gas stream channel, a cathode electrode, a cathode reaction gas stream channel and a matrix, whereby the cells at the respective ends of the stack contain the terminal anode and the terminal cathode which define the negative and positive ends of the stack. The stack also comprises a half cell anode on the outside of the terminal cathode with a separator between the terminal cathode and the anode and a half cell cathode on the outside of the terminal anode with a separator between the terminal anode and the cathode. The half cell anode and the anode electrode have an anode reaction gas channel but no matrix, and the cathode and the cathode electrode have a cathode reaction gas channel but no matrix.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Presence of the half-cell anode and the half-cell cathode retards and controls electrolyte migration within the stack so cell stack shows extended long working life. @(20pp Dwg.No.5/5)@
Alkali cell having a negative electrode material contains Zn alloy powders, an electrolyte, straight chain dimethyl polysiloxane and a surfactant. Opt a negative electrode activator (NEA) for alkali cell comprises silane coupling agent and a surfactant are coated on the Zn alloy powders.    ADVANTAGE -   Generation of H2 is restrained with less Hg content like 0.2% to Zn alloy powders.    In an exmaple NEA is prepd by amalgamated Zn powders (Pb = 0.05 wt%, 0.05 wt% In, 0.1 wt% Hg) which is prepd by 50-150 mesh Zn alloy amalgamted in 10% potassium hydroxide, the powder is charged in toluene soln of gamma-(2-aminoethyl) aminopropyl tri-methoxisilane and dried to form 0.1 wt% coating layer, then 0.1 wt% surfactant of polyoxy-ethylen-alkyl-ether-sulphate-tri-ethanol- ammonium salt is coated on it. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Alkali cell having a negative electrode material contains Zn alloy powders, an electrolyte, straight chain dimethyl polysiloxane and a surfactant. Opt a negative electrode activator (NEA) for alkali cell comprises silane coupling agent and a surfactant are coated on the Zn alloy powders.    ADVANTAGE -   Generation of H2 is restrained with less Hg content like 0.2% to Zn alloy powders.    In an exmaple NEA is prepd by amalgamated Zn powders (Pb = 0.05 wt%, 0.05 wt% In, 0.1 wt% Hg) which is prepd by 50-150 mesh Zn alloy amalgamted in 10% potassium hydroxide, the powder is charged in toluene soln of gamma-(2-aminoethyl) aminopropyl tri-methoxisilane and dried to form 0.1 wt% coating layer, then 0.1 wt% surfactant of polyoxy-ethylen-alkyl-ether-sulphate-tri-ethanol- ammonium salt is coated on it. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
(JP3037962-A)   NOVELTY - A positive electrode expansion lattice (G) has a lead alloy sheet with 0-5% of Pb and Ca layer on one side. The other side of the sheet has a Pb-Sb-Sn alloy layer with 0.02-0.15% Pb, 1-10% Sb, 0.02-0.15% Sn, such that the thickness of Pb-Sb-Sn layer is less than or equal to 1% of base material sheet. The horizontal diagonal length (a) of the sheet is greater than the vertical diagonal length (b).    USE - For motor vehicles such as cars.    ADVANTAGE - Restrains elongation of upper portion of plate by making the horizontal length longer than the vertical length, thus prevents short circuit in the battery and attains long life. Improves corrosion resistance even in high temperature by using Pb-Ca alloy lattice, and restrains roughness and elongation of active material by using Sb in the alloy layer.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the lattice diagram of lead storage battery.    Positive electrode expansion lattice (G)
(JP3034265-A)      The wire comprises attaching paint which is applied on conductor directly or through the other insulating coating, and baked. The paint consists of a film forming thermoplastic resin, in which copper ion or copper ion generating cpd. is added.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for the stator coil of the brushless DC motor for VTR, FDD, etc.. Air-core coil having good attaching property to the printed substrate can be prepd. without modification of the conventional coil-winding machine.    In an example 150 g of alcohol sol. polyamide resin, copper oleate equiv. to 15-40 ppm of copper ion per 1 g of attaching coating, and 850 g of mixed solvent of cresol and xylene were mixed at 80-100 deg.C with stirring until all of material were dissolved to prepare the paint. The paint was applied on a polyurethane coated copper wire, then baked at 300 deg.C in a baking furnace to prepare the wire. Air-core coil made of the wire was attached on a printed substrate with UV setting attaching agent. Curing rate was improved as opposed to attaching the wire coated with paint contg. no copper ion generating additive. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The wire comprises attaching paint which is applied on conductor directly or through the other insulating coating, and baked. The paint consists of a film forming thermoplastic resin, in which copper ion or copper ion generating cpd. is added.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for the stator coil of the brushless DC motor for VTR, FDD, etc.. Air-core coil having good attaching property to the printed substrate can be prepd. without modification of the conventional coil-winding machine.    In an example 150 g of alcohol sol. polyamide resin, copper oleate equiv. to 15-40 ppm of copper ion per 1 g of attaching coating, and 850 g of mixed solvent of cresol and xylene were mixed at 80-100 deg.C with stirring until all of material were dissolved to prepare the paint. The paint was applied on a polyurethane coated copper wire, then baked at 300 deg.C in a baking furnace to prepare the wire. Air-core coil made of the wire was attached on a printed substrate with UV setting attaching agent. Curing rate was improved as opposed to attaching the wire coated with paint contg. no copper ion generating additive. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
(JP3034259-A)      The wire comprises attaching paint which is applied on conductor directly or through the other insulating coating, and baked. The paint consists of a film forming thermoplastic resin, in which copper ion or copper ion generating cpd. is added.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for the stator coil of the brushless DC motor for VTR, FDD, etc.. Air-core coil having good attaching property to the printed substrate can be prepd. without modification of the conventional coil-winding machine.    In an example 150 g of alcohol sol. polyamide resin, copper oleate equiv. to 15-40 ppm of copper ion per 1 g of attaching coating, and 850 g of mixed solvent of cresol and xylene were mixed at 80-100 deg.C with stirring until all of material were dissolved to prepare the paint. The paint was applied on a polyurethane coated copper wire, then baked at 300 deg.C in a baking furnace to prepare the wire. Air-core coil made of the wire was attached on a printed substrate with UV setting attaching agent. Curing rate was improved as opposed to attaching the wire coated with paint contg. no copper ion generating additive.
The wire comprises attaching paint which is applied on conductor directly or through the other insulating coating, and baked. The paint consists of a film forming thermoplastic resin, in which copper ion or copper ion generating cpd. is added.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for the stator coil of the brushless DC motor for VTR, FDD, etc.. Air-core coil having good attaching property to the printed substrate can be prepd. without modification of the conventional coil-winding machine.    In an example 150 g of alcohol sol. polyamide resin, copper oleate equiv. to 15-40 ppm of copper ion per 1 g of attaching coating, and 850 g of mixed solvent of cresol and xylene were mixed at 80-100 deg.C with stirring until all of material were dissolved to prepare the paint. The paint was applied on a polyurethane coated copper wire, then baked at 300 deg.C in a baking furnace to prepare the wire. Air-core coil made of the wire was attached on a printed substrate with UV setting attaching agent. Curing rate was improved as opposed to attaching the wire coated with paint contg. no copper ion generating additive. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A new desulphurisation reactor has a layer of a hydrogenation catalyst, a layer of a first desulphurisation catalyst, and a layer of a second desulphurisation catalyst. The hydrogenation catalyst layer yields hydrogen sulphide by the reaction of sulphur-contg hydrocarbon fuel gas with hydrogen. the first desulphurisation catalyst layer is for adsorbing the resulting hydrogen sulphide. The second desulphurisation layer is for adsorbing sulphur-contg hydrocarbon gas and is arranged after the hydrogenation catalyst layer.    On start-up, without recycle gas, the first layer removes the sulphur-contg gas, while the second layer removes the gas during stational operation involving recycle gas.    A typical hydrogenation catalyst is a Co/Mo or a Ni/Mo system. The first desulphurisation catalyst is, eg, Zn0. The second desulphurisation catalyst is, eg, a Cu0 or a system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The reactor removes organic sulphur under any operating conditions of a fuel-cell generator, including start-up and shut-down, preventing sulphur poisoning of reforming catalysts. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
The generator has Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) elements (1) with plate-like solid electrolyte partitions (9), (e.g. yttrium stabilised zirconia etc.) with a fuel electrode film (8) and an air electrode film (10), (e.g. strontium doped LaMnO3). Porous partitions support conductive oxidising (2) and fuel (3) gas supply tubes and also support the SOFC elements which are arranged in facing pairs of electrodes (8,8 or 10,10).    Needle shaped current collecting brushes (5) connect the gas tubes (2,3) to the electrodes (8,10).    ADVANTAGE -   Improved durability and efficiency. @(8pp Dwg.No.1/10)@
Utilising and recovering carbon dioxide in combustion exhaust gas by recovering carbon dioxide gas from combustion exhaust gas (G) of fossil fuel, using a fossil fuel combustion equipment (II), a molten carbonate fuel cell (FC) and a reformer (6), the fuel cell (FC) having anode (A), anode chamber (3), cathode (C), cathode chamber (2) and electrolyte (1) and the reformer (6) having a reforming chamber (6a) and a combustion chamber (6b), comprises (a) supplying anode gas to the anode chamber (3) of the fuel cell (FC) and oxidising gas supplied to the cathode chamber (2); (b) feeding gases (G) produced upon combustion (called ''combustion exhaust gas'') to the cathode chamber (2) as part of the oxidising gas; (c) allowing carbon dioxide of the combustion exhaust gas (G) to react with oxygen of the oxidising gas at the cathode to produce carbon ion;    (d) allowing the carbonate ion to pass through the electrolyte (1) of the fuel cell (FC) and reach the anode (A); (e) allowing the carbonate ion to react with hydrogen of the fuel gas at the anode (A) tO Droduce carbon dioxide and water; (f) discharging gases (8) produced at the anode (A) (called ''anode exhaust gas'') from the anode chamber (3), which gases contain carbon dioxide, water vapour, unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (g) feeding the anode exhaust gas (8) to the combustion chamber (6b) of the reformer (6) as combustible gas to be burned in the combustion chamber (6b) of the reformer (6); and (h) sepg. water vapour from the anode exhaust gas (8) expelled from the combustion chamber (6b) of the reformer (6) and recovering high-concn. carbon dioxide gas.    ADVANTAGE -   The method and appts. recover carbon dioxide contained in combustion exhaust gas discharged from combustion equipment of fossil fuel to minimise the vol. of carbon dioxide released to atmosphere, and to use the carbon dioxide for cell reactions of a molten carbonate fuel cell.
A current collector (5), for current passage between adjacent flat stacked ceramic fuel cells with a doped stabilised zirconia-based solid electrolyte (1), consists of a number of non-oxidising spring elements of a dispersion hardened metallic material selected from Au, Pd, Pt, Rh and their alloys, the spring elements being fully elastic at a 900 deg.C. operating temp. and providing several electric contact points.    ADVANTAGE -   The current collector ensures good electrical contact with the cell electrodes and other components at up to 900 deg.C., has high electrical conductivity, is not subject to diffusion or other migration processes or to evapn losses, etc. in reducing, neutral or oxidising atmospheres, has high long term stability and can be produced in an inexpensive and reproducible manner. @(10pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
A solid oxide fuel cell (10), which also electrocatalytically and oxidatively dimerises methane, comprises a metallic oxide O-reducing and electronic and O-vacancy conducting perovskite cathode (11), and O-vacancy conducting solid electrolyte (13) having a high O(2-) conductivity at operating temps., a metallic oxide, O(2-) conducting perovskite layer anode (18) having a rare earth oxide layer (17) contacting the side of the electrode opposite to the electrolyte, which is capable of dimerising methane to mainly C2 prods.    Also claimed is a process for the concurrent prodn. of d.c. current and methane dimers in the cell above comprising passing O2-contg. gas to the cathode to form O(2-) which passes through the electrolyte to the anode and oxidatively dimerises methane to give C2 species (mainly ethane) and electrons, which are both withdrawn form the anode.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A solid oxide fuel cell and process which produce d.c. current and dimerise methane to ethane (claimed) are provided. The process is esp. useful for the conversion of natural gas directly into electricity and a useful process chemical. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
An integral edge seal for a phosphoric acid fuel cell is formed by impregnating an outer peripheral band of the cathode, anode, and matrix assemblies with an elastomer.    A phosphoric acid fuel cell, generally according to known art, consists of an anode assembly (3), a cathode assembly (7) and a matrix layer (5), contained within bipolar plates (9). The cathode and anode assemblies are composed of a backing paper (19) treated pref. with polytetrafluoroethylene to allow it to pass gases whilst presenting a barrier to liq. electrolyte. The backing paper is overlaid with a catalytic. material (21). A layer of silicon carbide (23) prevents a flow of electrons between anode and cathode. The cell is completed by a matrix layer of hydrophilic material which forms a gas barrier to prevent fuel gas and air from mixing. The plates (9) have grooves (11,13) which respectively supply fuel gas to the anode (3) and air to the cathode (7). Integral edge seals (31) are formed by impregnating the peripheral edges of the layers (19,21,5) with an elastomer such as a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and propylene, by techniques such as hot compression, soaking, or autoclaving. The elastomer permeates the material to form a region impermeable to liq. or gas. The impregnated regions have compression characteristics similar to the untreated material, so electrical contact is maintained throughout cell life. In another embodiment, the seal may be formed of an elastomer impregnated backing paper band which surrounds the anode or cathode assembly. In further embodiments, various combinations of these techniques are envisaged.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The seal is produced simply and economically and has creep characteristics similar to those of the cell components, ensuring good performance throughout the cell life. @(16pp Dwg.No.1/11)@
The battery tester including an automatic battery loading device includes a carbon pile having a shaft therethrough and a stepper motor engaged with the shaft for effecting rotation thereof. A compression nut is threadedly engaged with the shaft for movement into and out of engagement with the carbon pile in response to rotation of the shaft for varying the compression of the pile and, thereby, the impedance thereof.    A feedback resistor is connected in series with the carbon pile across the battery and a control circuit compares the voltage across the feedback resistor with a voltage corresponding to a predetermined load current for controlling the operation of the motor to maintain the predetermined load current. Suitable meters indicate battery voltage, actual load current and predetermined load current.    ADVANTAGE -   easy to use. @(11pp Dwg.No.3/5)@
An H2/O2 fuel cell has a proton-conductive room temp. solid electrolyte sandwiched between a negatively charged hydrogen-permeable H2 electrode, in contact with an H2-contg. gas space, and a positively charged hydrogen-permeable 02 electrode, in contact with an O2-contg. gas space. The novelty is that the solid electrolyte comprises one or more oxides of gp. IVb, Vb, VIb or VIII elements, SiO2 or one or more fluorides of gp. IIa or IIIb elements.    Pref. the electrodes consist of one or more gp. IIIb, IVb or Vb metals and are coated on their gas sides with a hydrogen permeable material. The coating pref. consists of Ni, Pd or, in the case of the O2 electrode, porous Ag, provided on a pore-free foil electrode.    ADVANTAGE -   The fuel cell can be operated at well above 100 deg.C, is resistant to high temps, is extremely thin and allows dense stacking to achieve high power. @(8pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
A cooling system for a fuel cell is based on introducing a larger quantity of hydrogen in the fuel cell than is needed for an electrochemical reaction in the individual fuel cell units. The gas is introduced in the reaction gas passage in such a way that it is partly used for an electrochemical reaction and the remaining part absorbs the heat of reaction as a cooling medium.    A fuel cell (100) is supplied with hydrogen in excess from the pipe system (10, 20). The hydrogen surplus is passed by the pipe (230) for cooling to the exterior of the cell. An air preheater (1000) cools it by heat exchange with fresh reaction air introduced by a blower (400).    ADVANTAGE -   This requires no additional cooling plate and simplifies the control system.
Aq. alkali electrolyte (1-6M concn.) free of organic solvents is satd. with H2S (4) in a cell equipped with anode (3) and cathode (2). H2 gas evolved at the cathode is removed. Sulphur formed at the anode spontaneously dissolves in soln. as polysulphides and then pptes. as sulphur (5). Gaseous O2 is not generated at the anode. Electrolyte pH is pref. 8.5-9.5. Anode and cathode are fabricated from e.g. graphite, Ni. Fe, Co or their alloys. Current density in aq. soln. is pref. 100 MA/sq.cm. Process temp. is above 65 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Anode passivation is avoided. H2 and sulphur prods. have high purity. Faradaic efficiencies are 90-95% at 0.4 operating voltages and 100 MA/sq.cm. current densities. Process can be used to remove H2S from sour natural gas giving saleable H2 and sulphur. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Reformer for fuel cell comprises spirally continuous catalyst layer for reacting raw gas, and spiral heating layer parallel with the adjacent to catalyst layer. Flow direction of raw gas through catalyst layer is the same as that of heat medium through heating layer.    ADVANTAGE -   Number of parts is small, and length of reacting path for raw gas can be prolonged. @(4pp Dwg.No.1,2/4)@
Transparent electroconductive film comprises metal oxide and organic metal cpd., pref., and/or the oxide of the organic metal cpd..    USE -   For transparent electroconductive film having improved corrosion resistance. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Transparent electroconductive film comprises metal oxide and organic metal cpd., pref., and/or the oxide of the organic metal cpd..    USE -   For transparent electroconductive film having improved corrosion resistance. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Transparent electroconductive film comprises metal oxide and organic metal cpd., pref., and/or the oxide of the organic metal cpd..    USE -   For transparent electroconductive film having improved corrosion resistance. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Transparent electroconductive film comprises metal oxide and organic metal cpd., pref., and/or the oxide of the organic metal cpd..    USE -   For transparent electroconductive film having improved corrosion resistance. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Transparent electroconductive film comprises metal oxide and organic metal cpd., pref., and/or the oxide of the organic metal cpd..    USE -   For transparent electroconductive film having improved corrosion resistance. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Transparent electroconductive film comprises metal oxide and organic metal cpd., pref., and/or the oxide of the organic metal cpd..    USE -   For transparent electroconductive film having improved corrosion resistance. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Catalyst comprises highly dispersed platinum and ruthenium on carbon fine particles of the electrode for the liquid fuel cell. At least the platinum and ruthenium form their oxides.    Pref. (1) the platinum catalyst comprises the complex oxide of at least two of PtO, PtO2 and PtO ads. (2) Ruthenium catalyst comprises the oxide of at least one of RuO3 and RuO2. (3) Atomic compsn. ratio of Pt and Ru (Ru/Pt) is 1-2. In the prepn. a reducing and cohesion preventing agent are added to a Pt cpd. aq. soln., then water soluble Ru cpd. is added to form colloidal dispersion of Pt and Ru; the colloidal dispersion and highly dispersed carbon fine powder suspension are mixed to make the carbon powder to support catalyst particles of Pt and Ru; and the carbon fine powder supporting Pt and Ru is heat-treated in oxidizing or inert atmosphere. Complex oxide catalyst of simple substance and alloy of Pt and Ru is formed on the carbon.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is used for the liquid fuel cell. Fuel electrode with improved efficiency can be obtd.. Highly safe fuel cell catalyst can be easily prepd.. @(6pp dwg.No.2/4)@
Catalyst comprises highly dispersed platinum and ruthenium on carbon fine particles of the electrode for the liquid fuel cell. At least the platinum and ruthenium form their oxides.    Pref. (1) the platinum catalyst comprises the complex oxide of at least two of PtO, PtO2 and PtO ads. (2) Ruthenium catalyst comprises the oxide of at least one of RuO3 and RuO2. (3) Atomic compsn. ratio of Pt and Ru (Ru/Pt) is 1-2. In the prepn. a reducing and cohesion preventing agent are added to a Pt cpd. aq. soln., then water soluble Ru cpd. is added to form colloidal dispersion of Pt and Ru; the colloidal dispersion and highly dispersed carbon fine powder suspension are mixed to make the carbon powder to support catalyst particles of Pt and Ru; and the carbon fine powder supporting Pt and Ru is heat-treated in oxidizing or inert atmosphere. Complex oxide catalyst of simple substance and alloy of Pt and Ru is formed on the carbon.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is used for the liquid fuel cell. Fuel electrode with improved efficiency can be obtd.. Highly safe fuel cell catalyst can be easily prepd.. @(6pp dwg.No.2/4)@
(JP3022360-A)   NOVELTY - The positive electrode of lead storage battery uses expanded lattice structure of lead-calcium group alloy base material containing 0.02-0.15 weight% (wt.%) Ca, 0-5.0 wt.% tin and remainder lead, on which a heterogeneous alloy layer is formed. The alloy layer contains Pb, 5.0-50 wt.% Sb, bismuth, arsenic, copper, silver and iron, and is 1.0% or less with respect to thickness of base material.    USE - For motor vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - Adhesion of lattice and active material is improved which improves charging discharging durability of battery in high temperature atmosphere. A maintenance free performance of lead storage battery is offered. Corrosion resistance, strength and charging acceptance property are improved.
The cover (20) has a cap arrangement that may be placed over a battery terminal (11) and a standard cable connector to seal and protect against corrosion. In a first form, the cap includes hinged base sections and a cover section. The hinged base sections include semi-circular recesses that close about the terminal below the connector. The cover section is received over the terminal connector and upright walls of the base section. A first seal is positioned between the cap and the battery case, sealing the cap to the case. A second seal fits between the cable and the cap to complete the sealed enclosure about the terminal and connector.    In a second preferred embodiment the cap includes top and side walls with cable passages. In this embodiment a surface is formed on the battery case for engagement with the cap to form a first seal about the terminal and connector.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. as a retrofit arrangement. Prevents corrosion of terminals and connectors. @(30pp Dwg.No.1/15)@
The device has at least one charging module, having an electrical terminal connectable to a source of electrical energy, for charging positive and negative electrode fluids propelled through. A number of electrically interconnected discharge modules discharge the charged positive and negative fluids to producing a DC output voltage to be fed to a load.    The positive and negative fluids are circulated through the charge and discharge modules.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides low voltage high current output. @(12pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
A first double coil relay, comprises a first coil, a second coil and a first and second pair of normally-open contacts. Each of the coils have a first side and a second side. The relay activating when both the first and second coils are magnetized in the same direction. The first side of the coil is connected to the left upper terminal and the second side of the first coil is connected to the left lower terminal.    Each of the first and second coils have the same specific polarity of magnetization on the same side of the coils. One contact of the first pair of contacts is connected to the left upper terminal, the other contact of the first pair connected to said right upper terminal.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved polarity detection for electrical circuitry. @(18pp Dwg.No.1/8)@
Fuel cell is cooled by spraying water into the gaseous fuel stream to form a fuel/mist stream which then enters an evaporative cooler located adjacent the fuel cell. Waste heat from the cell evaporates the water so that the fuel cell is cooled.    In further embodiments, the resulting fuel/steam stream is utilised in a reformer to form a processed fuel stream contg. H2, CO and CO2. Additional H2 is generated by supplying the stream to a low temp. shift reactor where the CO and steam are reacted. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Ion pouring device comprises multiple pole biased electrode section including electrodes arranged in circular shape at given pitch. At least one of the electrodes in biases electrode section is provided with cooler.    ADVANTAGE -   probability at which gas molecules collide with ion beam is reduced to lower occurrence of error in pouring amt. of ions on control of the pouring amt. through measurement of ion current. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/5)@
Ion pouring device comprises multiple pole biased electrode section including electrodes arranged in circular shape at given pitch. At least one of the electrodes in biases electrode section is provided with cooler.    ADVANTAGE -   probability at which gas molecules collide with ion beam is reduced to lower occurrence of error in pouring amt. of ions on control of the pouring amt. through measurement of ion current. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/5)@
(JP3020970-A)      Ion pouring device comprises multiple pole biased electrode section including electrodes arranged in circular shape at given pitch. At least one of the electrodes in biases electrode section is provided with cooler.    ADVANTAGE -   probability at which gas molecules collide with ion beam is reduced to lower occurrence of error in pouring amt. of ions on control of the pouring amt. through measurement of ion current.
(JP3020968-A)      Ion pouring device comprises multiple pole biased electrode section including electrodes arranged in circular shape at given pitch. At least one of the electrodes in biases electrode section is provided with cooler.    ADVANTAGE -   probability at which gas molecules collide with ion beam is reduced to lower occurrence of error in pouring amt. of ions on control of the pouring amt. through measurement of ion current.
The material comprises ceramics of lanthanum manganate, principally consisting of (La1-xSrx) 1-alpha(Mn1-yCry)O3, where x+2y is larger than zero but less than 0.3, x is less than 0.3, and y is less than 0.12, alpha is larger than zero but less than 0.09.    The solid electrolyte fuel cell comprises single cells composed of a solid electrolyte plate, on both surface of which a fuel electrode and an air electrode are attached. The single cells are multi-layered through spacers and separators. The air electrodes are formed with the material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The material is used for an air electrode of a solid electrolyte fuel cell. Porosity of the air electrode can be held in cell operation at high temp. for a long time.    In an example, aq. solns. of La(NO3)3, SrNO3, Mn(NO3)2, and Cr(NO3)3 are mixed at a designated ratio, then dropped in at least 4 times as much of ethanol oxalate soln. The mixt. was evaporated and dried on a hot-plate. The obtd. solid was heated at 500 deg. C for 5 hrs. The residue was pulverised, then heated at 1250 deg. C for 5 hrs., then pulverised. The obtd. powder was formed into a paste with organic solvent. The paste was applied on one side of a zirconia electrolyte plate, and on the other side, Ni-ZrO2 cermet was applied. Then the plate was baked at 1500 deg. C. A porous material was obtd. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
The material comprises ceramics of lanthanum manganate, principally consisting of (La1-xSrx) 1-alpha(Mn1-yCry)O3, where x+2y is larger than zero but less than 0.3, x is less than 0.3, and y is less than 0.12, alpha is larger than zero but less than 0.09.    The solid electrolyte fuel cell comprises single cells composed of a solid electrolyte plate, on both surface of which a fuel electrode and an air electrode are attached. The single cells are multi-layered through spacers and separators. The air electrodes are formed with the material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The material is used for an air electrode of a solid electrolyte fuel cell. Porosity of the air electrode can be held in cell operation at high temp. for a long time.    In an example, aq. solns. of La(NO3)3, SrNO3, Mn(NO3)2, and Cr(NO3)3 are mixed at a designated ratio, then dropped in at least 4 times as much of ethanol oxalate soln. The mixt. was evaporated and dried on a hot-plate. The obtd. solid was heated at 500 deg. C for 5 hrs. The residue was pulverised, then heated at 1250 deg. C for 5 hrs., then pulverised. The obtd. powder was formed into a paste with organic solvent. The paste was applied on one side of a zirconia electrolyte plate, and on the other side, Ni-ZrO2 cermet was applied. Then the plate was baked at 1500 deg. C. A porous material was obtd. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
Fluorescent display tube comprises an anode on which fluorescent material layer is formed, and cathode which emits electrons. The fluorescent material layer is formed from a mixt. of self-activating zinc oxide fluorescent material and zinc powder.    Pref. the Zn powder is mixed with the zinc oxide fluorescent material at the amt. of 0.01-10 wt.%. Particle size of the zinc powder 0.01-up to 10 times as large as the particle size of the zinc oxide fluorescent materials. Pref. the mixt. ZnO oxide fluorescent and zinc powder is calcined at temp. of at least m.pt. of Zn powder.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fluorescent display tube is used for cars. Initial brightness of display tube is improved. Lowering of brightness can be suppressed. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Fluorescent display tube comprises an anode on which fluorescent material layer is formed, and cathode which emits electrons. The fluorescent material layer is formed from a mixt. of self-activating zinc oxide fluorescent material and zinc powder.    Pref. the Zn powder is mixed with the zinc oxide fluorescent material at the amt. of 0.01-10 wt.%. Particle size of the zinc powder 0.01-up to 10 times as large as the particle size of the zinc oxide fluorescent materials. Pref. the mixt. ZnO oxide fluorescent and zinc powder is calcined at temp. of at least m.pt. of Zn powder.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fluorescent display tube is used for cars. Initial brightness of display tube is improved. Lowering of brightness can be suppressed. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Fluorescent display tube comprises an anode on which fluorescent material layer is formed, and cathode which emits electrons. The fluorescent material layer is formed from a mixt. of self-activating zinc oxide fluorescent material and zinc powder.    Pref. the Zn powder is mixed with the zinc oxide fluorescent material at the amt. of 0.01-10 wt.%. Particle size of the zinc powder 0.01-up to 10 times as large as the particle size of the zinc oxide fluorescent materials. Pref. the mixt. ZnO oxide fluorescent and zinc powder is calcined at temp. of at least m.pt. of Zn powder.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fluorescent display tube is used for cars. Initial brightness of display tube is improved. Lowering of brightness can be suppressed.
The reserve battery is activated by twisting a knob. Charging is accomplished inside the vehicle through use of the cigar lighter circuit. A hook is provided to both lock the activating knob and support the reserve battery during the charging process, which will take approximately 10 minutes. Circuitry is provided to regulate and visually indicate the delivery of current to prevent excessive current fromblowing the fuse in the cigar light circuit.    A cord (64) extends between a plug (14) and a control module (22). An ammeter (66) is provided along with LEDs (68,70 and 72) to visually indicate the status of the charging process. The ammeter is surrounded by a bezel (74), which includes a lower portion surrounded by a frosted lens (76) for diffusing light provided by a bulb behind the bezel and lens.    ADVANTAGE -   Is always fully charged.
In chemical energy to electrical energy conversion by means of a fuel cell using a high temp. electrically conductive zirconia-based ceramic at 700-1200 deg.C as solid electrolyte, a La/Mn-based perovskite as positive oxygen electrode and a Ni-based cermet as negative fuel electrode, the novelty is that at the negative electrode side, (a) a hydrocarbon, alcohol, carbohydrate or mixt. in gaseous and/or vapour form is supplied as the pirm. energy source and (b) a gas, which contains the H20 and Co2 reaction prods. and which entrains at least partially unchanged prim. energy source, is withdrawn and allowed to expand.    ADVANTAGE -   The process is simple, reliable and efficient, allows use of hydrocarbons, alcohols or carbohydrates as prim. energy source, allows endothermic reaction of the reaction prods. with part of the prim. energy source so that external cooling is not reqd. and allows exothermic reaction of part of the prim. energy source with part of the oxygen source for heating during start-up and/or for temp. and power control during operation.
In providing subsidiary energy for the formation of NH3 or methanol from gases, such as natural gas, contg. hydrocarbons by combined auto-thermo reforming, part of the process gas is diverted into a presure saving absorption system and the hydrogen thus obtd. is supplied to a fuel cell together with 02 obtd. elsewhere, e.g. from that supplied for the auto-thermo reforming. The H2 may be of high purity from a catalytic vapour steam reforming unit and used with high conc. 02. Unused process waste heat may be used in the refrigeration system cooling NH3 to liq. form.    ADVANTAGE -   Subsidiary energy needs are met without using external power sources, economically and without environmental impact.
The device contains units for mfg. electrodes with tables which can be raised, an assembly unit, a transportation unit, a computing unit, robots with clamps, manipulators, units for depositing an electro-conducting layer, a drying unit, a glue-depositing unit, a unit for assembling the technological holders and a diffusion welding unit. The robot feeds a stack of ceramic bottom plates (5) with primary fuel-element cells on to the rising table (1). The manipulator (10) is then displaced along the guide (18) towards the rising table (1) and the pneumatic clamp (11) is lowered, grasps the primary cells and transfers them to a site where the technological operations are performed. The ceramic bottom-plate (5) is then transferred from the first rising table (1) to the second rising table (2) for subsequent technological operations. The tables (1,2) are moved using screw hoists (3,4).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Productivity is increased, permitting the mfr. of 10 million high-temperature fuel cells with a solid electrolyte per year on a single line with highly stable physical and mechanical fuel-element characteristics, and operational reliability is also high. Bul.25/7.7.90. @(11pp Dwg.No.6/12)@
Fuel cells are sandwiched together so that supplies of gas can be supplied to neighbouring cells from single inlet pipes. Each fuel cell generates electric power by the combination of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide, producing water and carbon dioxide as waste products. The cathode (2, 11) of the cell is a brushed ceramic plate of nickel oxide. The anode (3, 14) is made from nickel chrome. Between the anode and cathode a matrix (1, 12, 15) of inert lithium aluminate is introduced.    The cathode (2, 11) is separated from a cell separator (6) by a cathode current collector and support (4, 10). The anode (3, 7) is separated from another cell separator (7) by a metal sponge (5, 14) which acts as an anode current collector and support. @(7pp Dwg.No.2/4)@
A metal film is plated, and porous cavities on the metal surface are closed by polishing, Then the substrate is immersed in a soln to dissolve out the metal film layer.    ADVANTAGE -   : Fine and uniform pore size. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
Formation comprises: coating the surface of a porous substrate with an aq. soln. of a metallic powder, and polishing the surface after sintering; forming a layer of the same metallic powder and sintering after applying pressure for adhesion; rubbing a powder of the same metal as above in which the powder comprises smaller grains and sintering again after applying pressure for adhesion; and rubbing again the powder and sintering again to form a thin film of the metal comprising fine and uniform pores therein.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides thin film laminate on a porous substrate, for use as cells of fuel cells. @(5pp Dwg.No.5/5)@
Device for reforming the fuel mixt. of an off-gas contg. residual hydrogen from a fuel cell and air is burned in a crucible-shaped ceramic burner to form a heating medium. A reforming tube surrounds the burner and is filled with catalyzer for reforming, it is heated by the heat medium to form a gas enriched with hydrogen. The inside of the burner is partitioned by plates to form gas chambers; a gas supply tube opens into each of the gas chambers to introduce the mixed gas. Valves in each gas supply tube are opened and closed to meet load of the fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Since the valves are opened and closed to meet variation of load of fuel cell variation of load applied to divisions of the burner can be reduced to avoid back fire caused by reduction of flow rate of the gas. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
An electron is discharged from a filament and is accelerated and controlled by a control grid, then collides with a phosphor layer of an anode substrate. Either the inner or outer face of an indicating outside cover has (a) a filter portion which is discoloured by UV and reversed to the initial state by heating and (b) a transparent electroconductive film portion. An electronic excitation UV emitting phosphor layer is laminated on the control grid.    ADVANTAGE -   The tube allows a multicoloured display using only one phosphor, and has improved life. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
An electron is discharged from a filament and is accelerated and controlled by a control grid, then collides with a phosphor layer of an anode substrate. Either the inner or outer face of an indicating outside cover has (a) a filter portion which is discoloured by UV and reversed to the initial state by heating and (b) a transparent electroconductive film portion. An electronic excitation UV emitting phosphor layer is laminated on the control grid.    ADVANTAGE -   The tube allows a multicoloured display using only one phosphor, and has improved life. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
An electron is discharged from a filament and is accelerated and controlled by a control grid, then collides with a phosphor layer of an anode substrate. Either the inner or outer face of an indicating outside cover has (a) a filter portion which is discoloured by UV and reversed to the initial state by heating and (b) a transparent electroconductive film portion. An electronic excitation UV emitting phosphor layer is laminated on the control grid.    ADVANTAGE -   The tube allows a multicoloured display using only one phosphor, and has improved life. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
An electron is discharged from a filament and is accelerated and controlled by a control grid, then collides with a phosphor layer of an anode substrate. Either the inner or outer face of an indicating outside cover has (a) a filter portion which is discoloured by UV and reversed to the initial state by heating and (b) a transparent electroconductive film portion. An electronic excitation UV emitting phosphor layer is laminated on the control grid.    ADVANTAGE -   The tube allows a multicoloured display using only one phosphor, and has improved life. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
An electron is discharged from a filament and is accelerated and controlled by a control grid, then collides with a phosphor layer of an anode substrate. Either the inner or outer face of an indicating outside cover has (a) a filter portion which is discoloured by UV and reversed to the initial state by heating and (b) a transparent electroconductive film portion. An electronic excitation UV emitting phosphor layer is laminated on the control grid.    ADVANTAGE -   The tube allows a multicoloured display using only one phosphor, and has improved life. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
Cell comprises electrolyte, anode, and cathode consisting of basic material of alkali metal such as Li. Tetra-alkyl-silane is added to the electrolyte.    Pref. amt. of tetra-alkyl-silane in electrolyte is 0.1-10 (0.5-4) vol.%. Tetra-alkyl-silane comprises pref. tetrabutylsilane.    ADVANTAGE -   Voltage drop of the cell with organic electrolyte at initial discharge can be reduced even at heavy load discharge after storage.
Cell comprises electrolyte, anode, and cathode consisting of basic material of alkali metal such as Li. Tetra-alkyl-silane is added to the electrolyte.    Pref. amt. of tetra-alkyl-silane in electrolyte is 0.1-10 (0.5-4) vol.%. Tetra-alkyl-silane comprises pref. tetrabutylsilane.    ADVANTAGE -   Voltage drop of the cell with organic electrolyte at initial discharge can be reduced even at heavy load discharge after storage. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Cell comprises electrolyte, anode, and cathode consisting of basic material of alkali metal such as Li. Tetra-alkyl-silane is added to the electrolyte.    Pref. amt. of tetra-alkyl-silane in electrolyte is 0.1-10 (0.5-4) vol.%. Tetra-alkyl-silane comprises pref. tetrabutylsilane.    ADVANTAGE -   Voltage drop of the cell with organic electrolyte at initial discharge can be reduced even at heavy load discharge after storage. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Steam reforming catalyst for hydrocarbons is described comprising a catalyst metal supported on the surface of a zirconia carrier contg. yttria and having a crystal structure primarily tetragonal or tetragonal and cubic.    Catalyst metal is pref. Rh, Ru, Pd, or Pt, more pref. Rh or Ru, or an alloy of any of these. Amt. of catalyst metal to be supported is pref. 0.01-10wt.%, (0.1-3wt.%). The yttria content in the zirconia carrier is pref. 0.5-20mol.%, (1.5-6mol.%). The crystal structure is pref. at least 35% tetragonal, (50%).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides a steam reforming catalyst for hydrocarbons, mfg. H2 and C oxides from hydrocarbons and steam. It is superior to conventional catalysts as it has high conversion efficiency, good mechanical strength, suppresses coking and has prolonged life. It may be used in fuel cells using hydrocarbon as a raw material. @(17pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
Fuel cell comprises stacked unit structures connected in series, each unit comprising: a porous substrate; an H2 electrode film formed of Ni powder having fine, uniform size voids; solid electrolyte, and O2 electrode-films. Pref. a Pt coating is formed between H2 electrode and electrolyte-films; and the Ni powder is formed of a mixt of powder of dia. 1 micron or less and a powder of dia. 3 micron or less, to form voids of uniform size.    ADVANTAGE -   Cell is provided having a thin solid electrolyte which induces a min. voltage drop.
New cpds. derived from Bi4V2O11 are claimed and are used electrochemically esp. as oxide-ion-conducting electrolytes. The cpds. must retain the gamma phase of the parent cpd. and the charges must balance. There are three general types: (a) (Bi2-xMxOz) (V1-yM'yOz), where M is substd. for Bi and has an oxidn. no. less than or equal to 3; M' is substd. for V with an oxidn. no. greater than or equal to 5; and x, y and z are appropriate for the nature of the substits. M and M' and additionally where x and y are not zero; (b) (Bi2O2) (V1-yM'yOz), where M' is as in (a) above and y is not zero and additionally where M' is one of the gp. I or II metals, a transition metal, a gp. III to V element or a rare earth; (c) (Bi2-xMxO2) (VO2), where M is as in (a) above with x not zero and additionally where M is a lanthanide. They are prepd. by heating to 600 deg.C for 10-15 hrs. a mixt. of the oxides of Bi, V, M and M' in the appropriate quantities for the oxidn. states of M and M'; grinding the mixt., then raising the temp. to 700-800 deg.C for a further 10-15 hrs., repeating to obtain the desired phase. Alternatively the oxides can be replaced by cpds. decomposing thermally in situ to form the oxides.    ADVANTAGE -   The gamma phase of Bi4V2O11 is stabilised giving improved conductivity for oxide ion over known oxide electrolytes. Conductivity is about 10power(-3) ohm-1cm-1 at 200 deg.C., about 100 times greater than currently available materials. The cpds. may be used in fuel cells as sintered ceramics, thin layers or films. @(26pp Dwg.No.0/4)
A method of compressing gases in cryogenic cooling systems is claimed to be esp. useful in spacecraft etc where high reliability is required. The cryogenic cooling circuit is conventional, using a series of heat exchangers and 2 Joule-Thompson expansion valves. To perform the cooling duty -hydrogen and oxygen are the working fluids used in the closed-loop circuit.    The main novelty is the electrochemical compressor used to compress the two gases as part of the refrigeration cycle: this has no moving parts and a low energy requirement, making it suitable for use in cooling eg. infrared sensors etc in satellites etc. The compressor is effectively a fuel cell and an electroyltic cell sepd. by an electrode/membrane array: each of the two cells also has an electrode/membrane system. Hydrogen and oxygen are fed at low pressure to the fuel cell, where they combine to form water, with electricity being generated also. The water is "pumped" across the sepg. membrane, using electrical energy supplied via the electrodes, and enters the electrolytic cell at a higher pressure. Here the water is electrolysed into hydrogen and oxygen, which leave the device at the increased pressure.    The electrochemical compressor (12)(fig 2) consists of a housing (118) divided into four compartments (120, 132, 140, 148) by 3 membrane arrays comprising 2 porous plate electrodes with a catalytic membrane sandwiched between them. Low-pressure hydrogen (16) and oxygen (14) enter the 2 upper compartments (120, 132) which act as a fuel cell. The 2 gases are reacted to form water (on the cathode (122), anode (126) and membrane (124) assembly), producing an electrical current (128). Electrical energy (130) is supplied to the second electrode assembly (anode 134, cathode 138, membrane 136) which passes water and hydrogen ions over (at a higher pressure) into the electrolytic cell in the 2 lower compartments (140, 148). Further electrical energy (150) is used to dissociate the water into high-p
On termination operation of fuel reformed by which raw fuel gas like hydrocarbons or alcohols is reformed with steam into H2-rich fuel gas supply of the raw fuel gas is stopped, and inert gas is introduced into the reformer in the reverse direction of the raw fuel gas supply, so that remaining steam and raw fuel gas are purged.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The operation of the fuel gas reformer can be terminated and started repeatedly while keeping higher reforming efficiency. High purity N2 gas is not required to purge the remaining gas.    In an example N2 gas contg. small amt. of O2 was introduced into the reformer from the gas outlet to purge remaining raw fuel gas and steam. The reforming catalyst of Cu placed at the gas outlet was heavily oxidised to CuO but the Cu at the gas inlet was slightly. On starting of the operation, the heavily oxidised catalyst was able to be reduced with H2-rich gas produced with the slightly oxidised Cu catalyst. @(3pp Dwg.No. 1/2)@
Carbon dioxide gas from anode outlet gas comprises the steps (a) gas from anode pole of fused carbonate type fuel cell is fed to an absorption appts., (b) CO2 is removed from the gas by absorption into an aq. soln. contg. an alkali salt or an amine, (c) CO2 absorbed gas is regenerated in a regenerator using thermal energy anode outlet gas, (d) regenerated absorbing soln. is fed back into the absorbing appts. and sepd. CO2 is fed to cathode pole of the fused carbonate type fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Power generation efficiency of fuel cell is improved from 41% to 52%. @(8pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Carbon dioxide gas from anode outlet gas comprises the steps (a) gas from anode pole of fused carbonate type fuel cell is fed to an absorption appts., (b) CO2 is removed from the gas by absorption into an aq. soln. contg. an alkali salt or an amine, (c) CO2 absorbed gas is regenerated in a regenerator using thermal energy anode outlet gas, (d) regenerated absorbing soln. is fed back into the absorbing appts. and sepd. CO2 is fed to cathode pole of the fused carbonate type fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Power generation efficiency of fuel cell is improved from 41% to 52%. @(8pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Carbon dioxide gas from anode outlet gas comprises the steps (a) gas from anode pole of fused carbonate type fuel cell is fed to an absorption appts., (b) CO2 is removed from the gas by absorption into an aq. soln. contg. an alkali salt or an amine, (c) CO2 absorbed gas is regenerated in a regenerator using thermal energy anode outlet gas, (d) regenerated absorbing soln. is fed back into the absorbing appts. and sepd. CO2 is fed to cathode pole of the fused carbonate type fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Power generation efficiency of fuel cell is improved from 41% to 52%.
Carbon dioxide gas from anode outlet gas comprises the steps (a) gas from anode pole of fused carbonate type fuel cell is fed to an absorption appts., (b) CO2 is removed from the gas by absorption into an aq. soln. contg. an alkali salt or an amine, (c) CO2 absorbed gas is regenerated in a regenerator using thermal energy anode outlet gas, (d) regenerated absorbing soln. is fed back into the absorbing appts. and sepd. CO2 is fed to cathode pole of the fused carbonate type fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Power generation efficiency of fuel cell is improved from 41% to 52%. @(8pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Carbon dioxide gas from anode outlet gas comprises the steps (a) gas from anode pole of fused carbonate type fuel cell is fed to an absorption appts., (b) CO2 is removed from the gas by absorption into an aq. soln. contg. an alkali salt or an amine, (c) CO2 absorbed gas is regenerated in a regenerator using thermal energy anode outlet gas, (d) regenerated absorbing soln. is fed back into the absorbing appts. and sepd. CO2 is fed to cathode pole of the fused carbonate type fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Power generation efficiency of fuel cell is improved from 41% to 52%. @(8pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Bis-ethylene di-thia-fulvalene (BEDT-TTF) gp. organic conductor of formula (I) where X = anion and X is anion expressed general formula M(YCN)2 where M = Ni, Cu, Pd, Ag, Pt, Au, Cd or Hg, Y = O, S, Se or Te, also one or 2 more S in (BEDT-TTE) is substd. by O, Se or Te.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic conductor is applied to print circuit and sensor with higher critical temp. or conductivity. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
Bis-ethylene di-thia-fulvalene (BEDT-TTF) gp. organic conductor of formula (I) where X = anion and X is anion expressed general formula M(YCN)2 where M = Ni, Cu, Pd, Ag, Pt, Au, Cd or Hg, Y = O, S, Se or Te, also one or 2 more S in (BEDT-TTE) is substd. by O, Se or Te.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic conductor is applied to print circuit and sensor with higher critical temp. or conductivity. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
The electro chemical fuel cell assembly has flat plate cells in which there is a ceramic solid electrolyte (1) of a stabilised ZrO2 material, with one surface (2) having a porous oxygen electrode that forms a positive electrode. A negative electrode (3) is formed of Ni/Zr.O2.    The electrodes are overlapped with positive and negative surfaces in contact and are set onto a carrier surface (5) that is produced of the porous ceramic material. A further layer fully embeds the plate in the carrier material.    ADVANTAGE -   Compact construction suitable for mass production. @(8pp Dwg.No.1/8)@
Fluid flow field plate (12) used in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell is made of a suitable electrically conducting material. It has a single continuous open-faced fluid channel (22) formed in a major surface which traverses the central area of the surface in a number of passes. The channel has a fluid inlet (24) at one end and a fluid outlet (26) at the other, inlet and outlet being directly connected to a fluid supply opening (25) and a fluid exhaust opening (27) respectively defined in the surface.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fluid flow field plate design enables water to be removed as it forms in the channel, movement of the water being encouraged before it can coalesce into a large droplet requiring greater force to remove it. The water is removed by the flow of oxidant gas, typically oxygen. If air is used, the channel ensures a uniform and controlled oxygen partial pressure drop across the cell and enables the oxygen concentration at any point to be measured or calculated and controlled with accuracy. @(7pp dwg.No.2/3)@
A continuous method for making an elongated assembly, from which many individual compact fuel cell assemblies are made, comprises simultaneously forming electrodes (14,16) impermeable to fuel and oxidiser on the two faces of a carrier element (12), and simultaneously forming solid electrolyte layers (18,20) on the electrode surfaces. These layers are electronically insulating and ionically conducting and permeable to fuel, oxidant, and prods Further electrodes (22,24), permeable to fuel and oxidiser, are then formed on the other surfaces of the solid electrolyte layers.    Pref. the electrolyte is hydrated Al oxide or a C-baesd polymer. Pref. the electrodes are of Pt, Pd, Au, Ni, alloys of these or electronically conducting mixed oxides. Pref. there is a permeable conductive layer between the corrugated member and the third and fourth electrode. Pref. the fuel is H2, CH4 or CH3OH the oxidiser O2, and the container and rod are the negative and positive terminals respectively.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A continuous fabrication process and resulting fuel cell assembly (claimed) are provided. The process is low-cost and the cells compact, versatile and able to provide high current and power. The spiral package is esp. compact and useful.
Device comprises an ion source, a filter for letting ions having a desired mass and a desired speed through, and a means to decelerate and focus the ion beam getting out of the filter.    USE -   Ions can be taken from soln. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
Device comprises an ion source, a filter for letting ions having a desired mass and a desired speed through, and a means to decelerate and focus the ion beam getting out of the filter.    USE -   Ions can be taken from soln. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
Device comprises an ion source, a filter for letting ions having a desired mass and a desired speed through, and a means to decelerate and focus the ion beam getting out of the filter.    USE -   Ions can be taken from soln. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
Device comprises an ion source, a filter for letting ions having a desired mass and a desired speed through, and a means to decelerate and focus the ion beam getting out of the filter.    USE -   Ions can be taken from soln. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
Device comprises an ion source, a filter for letting ions having a desired mass and a desired speed through, and a means to decelerate and focus the ion beam getting out of the filter.    USE -   Ions can be taken from soln. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
Device comprises an ion source, a filter for letting ions having a desired mass and a desired speed through, and a means to decelerate and focus the ion beam getting out of the filter.    USE -   Ions can be taken from soln. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
In a heat-resistant FRP tube, a bridged condensation type polycyclic aromatic resin (I) is used as the matrix resin, and glass fibre or others are also used as reinforcing fibres. (I) is obtd. from the reaction of a condensation polycyclic aromatic cpd. such as napthalene, etc., or a mixt. of the polycyclic aromatic cpd. and a monocyclic aromatic cpd. e.g. phenol, with the aromatic cpd. having at least two hydroxymethyl or halomethyl gps. as cross-linking agent, in the presence of an organic sulphonic acid cpd., water-insol. organic sulphonic acid cpd. or a copolymer with a sulphonic acid gp. as a catalyst at 50-2000 deg.C under pressure or reduced pressure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The FRP tube is excellent in heat resistance (to 200-250 deg.C), mechanical characteristics, and productivity can be obtd. easily. The FRP tube is effectively applicable to various industrial fields such as chemcial and power plants, etc. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Vacuum tube is sealed by bonding a section of a vacuum tube for vacuum treatment to an intercommunicating tube connected to a vacuum appts. followed by cutting at a sealing and cutting part after vacuum treatment. The vacuum treatment is performed by bonding an annular concave part formed at the apex of the intercommunicating tube and an engaging part of the edge of a bonding part of the vacuum tube hermetically with bonding fused material, pref. low m. pt. frit glass powder, annular pellets, glass solder or metal brazing material.    USE -   For evacuating glass, metal, or ceramic tubes, or sealing vacuum tubes after filling gas. @(4pp DWg.No.2/4)@
Vacuum tube is sealed by bonding a section of a vacuum tube for vacuum treatment to an intercommunicating tube connected to a vacuum appts. followed by cutting at a sealing and cutting part after vacuum treatment. The vacuum treatment is performed by bonding an annular concave part formed at the apex of the intercommunicating tube and an engaging part of the edge of a bonding part of the vacuum tube hermetically with bonding fused material, pref. low m. pt. frit glass powder, annular pellets, glass solder or metal brazing material.    USE -   For evacuating glass, metal, or ceramic tubes, or sealing vacuum tubes after filling gas. @(4pp DWg.No.2/4)@
Vacuum tube is sealed by bonding a section of a vacuum tube for vacuum treatment to an intercommunicating tube connected to a vacuum appts. followed by cutting at a sealing and cutting part after vacuum treatment. The vacuum treatment is performed by bonding an annular concave part formed at the apex of the intercommunicating tube and an engaging part of the edge of a bonding part of the vacuum tube hermetically with bonding fused material, pref. low m. pt. frit glass powder, annular pellets, glass solder or metal brazing material.    USE -   For evacuating glass, metal, or ceramic tubes, or sealing vacuum tubes after filling gas. @(4pp DWg.No.2/4)@
Vacuum tube is sealed by bonding a section of a vacuum tube for vacuum treatment to an intercommunicating tube connected to a vacuum appts. followed by cutting at a sealing and cutting part after vacuum treatment. The vacuum treatment is performed by bonding an annular concave part formed at the apex of the intercommunicating tube and an engaging part of the edge of a bonding part of the vacuum tube hermetically with bonding fused material, pref. low m. pt. frit glass powder, annular pellets, glass solder or metal brazing material.    USE -   For evacuating glass, metal, or ceramic tubes, or sealing vacuum tubes after filling gas. @(4pp DWg.No.2/4)@
(JP2312167-A)      Vacuum tube is sealed by bonding a section of a vacuum tube for vacuum treatment to an intercommunicating tube connected to a vacuum appts. followed by cutting at a sealing and cutting part after vacuum treatment. The vacuum treatment is performed by bonding an annular concave part formed at the apex of the intercommunicating tube and an engaging part of the edge of a bonding part of the vacuum tube hermetically with bonding fused material, pref. low m. pt. frit glass powder, annular pellets, glass solder or metal brazing material.    USE -   For evacuating glass, metal, or ceramic tubes, or sealing vacuum tubes after filling gas.
Vacuum tube is sealed by bonding a section of a vacuum tube for vacuum treatment to an intercommunicating tube connected to a vacuum appts. followed by cutting at a sealing and cutting part after vacuum treatment. The vacuum treatment is performed by bonding an annular concave part formed at the apex of the intercommunicating tube and an engaging part of the edge of a bonding part of the vacuum tube hermetically with bonding fused material, pref. low m. pt. frit glass powder, annular pellets, glass solder or metal brazing material.    USE -   For evacuating glass, metal, or ceramic tubes, or sealing vacuum tubes after filling gas. @(4pp DWg.No.2/4)@
Vacuum tube is sealed by bonding a section of a vacuum tube for vacuum treatment to an intercommunicating tube connected to a vacuum appts. followed by cutting at a sealing and cutting part after vacuum treatment. The vacuum treatment is performed by bonding an annular concave part formed at the apex of the intercommunicating tube and an engaging part of the edge of a bonding part of the vacuum tube hermetically with bonding fused material, pref. low m. pt. frit glass powder, annular pellets, glass solder or metal brazing material.    USE -   For evacuating glass, metal, or ceramic tubes, or sealing vacuum tubes after filling gas. @(4pp DWg.No.2/4)@
Vacuum tube is sealed by bonding a section of a vacuum tube for vacuum treatment to an intercommunicating tube connected to a vacuum appts. followed by cutting at a sealing and cutting part after vacuum treatment. The vacuum treatment is performed by bonding an annular concave part formed at the apex of the intercommunicating tube and an engaging part of the edge of a bonding part of the vacuum tube hermetically with bonding fused material, pref. low m. pt. frit glass powder, annular pellets, glass solder or metal brazing material.    USE -   For evacuating glass, metal, or ceramic tubes, or sealing vacuum tubes after filling gas. @(4pp DWg.No.2/4)@
Vacuum tube is sealed by bonding a section of a vacuum tube for vacuum treatment to an intercommunicating tube connected to a vacuum appts. followed by cutting at a sealing and cutting part after vacuum treatment. The vacuum treatment is performed by bonding an annular concave part formed at the apex of the intercommunicating tube and an engaging part of the edge of a bonding part of the vacuum tube hermetically with bonding fused material, pref. low m. pt. frit glass powder, annular pellets, glass solder or metal brazing material.    USE -   For evacuating glass, metal, or ceramic tubes, or sealing vacuum tubes after filling gas. @(4pp DWg.No.2/4)@
In the hydrogen purifier to supply purified hydrogen to a fuel cell by removing carbon monoxide from steam-contg. hydrogen gas, an electrolyte is held between 2 sheets of gas diffusion electrodes capable of adsorbing carbon monoxide, passages for hydrogen gas are provided on the surfaces of the electrodes and a power source for sending an electric current intermittently to the electrodes is also provided.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The hydrogen purifier is partic. useful in removing carbon monoxide from hydrogen gas to be supplied to fuel cells which use high molecular solid electrolytes and operate at comparatively low temp. Using the purifier the concn. of carbon monoxide can be reduced to not more than 10ppm.    In an example, hydrogen gas for fuel cells was obtd. from steam-reformed methanol by removing carbon monoxide using the purifier as follows. Gas diffusion electrodes with an effective area of 121cm2 and a thickness of 0.5mm on which a Pt catalyst was supported at 0.5mg/cm2 were used as the electrodes. Steam-reformed methanol gas was allowed to flow through the passages on the electrodes for 60 min. while an electric current at 60A, 0.8V was applied to the electrodes for a duration of 2 sec. at intervals of 10 min. While the steam-reformed gas contd. 68 mol. % H2, 10 mol. % H20, 22 mol. % C02 and 100 ppm CO, the purified gas contd. 10 ppm CO. @(4pp Dwg.No.1-3/3)@
Push button appts. in an operation panel for e.g, an electric washing machine, a print moulded synthetic resin (18) is disposed, and the button (8) is protruded up from a membrane sheet surface level and has convexed portion (11) that is faced to an upwardly protruded button portion (7), and all of surface of the operation panel having the buttons (8, 7) is covered with a flexible membrane sheet (3) having printed indication.    ADVANTAGE -   Indications in the operation panel are clearly visible without increasing pushing stroke of the push button. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Push button appts. in an operation panel for e.g, an electric washing machine, a print moulded synthetic resin (18) is disposed, and the button (8) is protruded up from a membrane sheet surface level and has convexed portion (11) that is faced to an upwardly protruded button portion (7), and all of surface of the operation panel having the buttons (8, 7) is covered with a flexible membrane sheet (3) having printed indication.    ADVANTAGE -   Indications in the operation panel are clearly visible without increasing pushing stroke of the push button. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Push button appts. in an operation panel for e.g, an electric washing machine, a print moulded synthetic resin (18) is disposed, and the button (8) is protruded up from a membrane sheet surface level and has convexed portion (11) that is faced to an upwardly protruded button portion (7), and all of surface of the operation panel having the buttons (8, 7) is covered with a flexible membrane sheet (3) having printed indication.    ADVANTAGE -   Indications in the operation panel are clearly visible without increasing pushing stroke of the push button. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
The cathode comprises zinc or alloy powder with mercurised deg. of up to 1%, dispersed in gel state alkaline electrolyte. In the cathode, polyoxyethylene gp. alkylallylthioether type non-ionic surfactant is of formula (I), (where n = 8-15, R = 5-30C alkyl, EO = CH2CH2O, is added as 10-100ppm to the amt. of zinc).    ADVANTAGE -   Mercury content is effectively reduced without lowering discharge capability. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
(JP2306545-A)      The cathode comprises zinc or alloy powder with mercurised deg. of up to 1%, dispersed in gel state alkaline electrolyte. In the cathode, polyoxyethylene gp. alkylallylthioether type non-ionic surfactant is of formula (I), (where n = 8-15, R = 5-30C alkyl, EO = CH2CH2O, is added as 10-100ppm to the amt. of zinc).    ADVANTAGE -   Mercury content is effectively reduced without lowering discharge capability.
A lanthanum chromite-based complex oxide is represented by the formula: La1-xMxCr1-yO3, where M = at least one alkaline earth metal other than Mg; M' = at least one metal from the gp. of Co, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cu, Mn, Al, V, Ir, Mo, W, Pd and Y. x = 0-0.5; y = 0-0.5. The complex oxide has a perovskite structure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as a high-temp. electrically conductive material, partic. as a separator in a solid oxide fuel cell. The invented oxide may be sintered to at least 95% of theoretical density at normal pressure, has excellent resistance to both oxidn. and redn. and has an electrical conductivity more than twice that of conventional lanthanum chromite (LaCrO3). @(14pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
Components for current transfer between neighbouring flat, high temperature fuel cells stacked one on top of the other which operate with inoculated, stabilised zirconium oxide as solid electrolyte, consist of supports (3) which determine the geometric shape of the assembly made of electrically conductive, oxidation resistant high temp. alloy chosen from Fe- or Ni-based alloys into which electrically conductive contact stopper (4) of noble metal such as Au, Pd, Pt or their alloys are fixed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cells for converting chemical into electrical energy. A good electrical contact is maintained between electrodes and supports at temperatures up to 1000 deg.C., in reducing, neutral and oxidising atmospheres. The assembly has a long working life.
Rechargeable battery (I) has at least one electrode which contains, in addn. to known additives, e.g. acetylene black and binders, a sparingly soluble polyarylene-vinylene (II).    (II) is substd. as in formula (II) R1, R2 = H, OMe, OEt, Me, NR2, Hal or CN; R3 = H, CN, NO2 or COOR; n = at least 3; the electrode is in an aprotic organic electrolyte, pref. LiPF6 in propylene carbonate; the electrode based on (II) is combined with a light metal electrode, pref. a Li electrode.    (II) is used in the positive and/or negative electrode; (II) is, e.g. poly(2,5-di-methoxy-1, 4-phenylenevinylene), poly(2,5-dimethoxy-1, 4-phenylene-2-cyanovinylene -1,4-phenylene-1-cyanovinylene) (III), etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as a low-current source for supplying energy to microelectronic equipment with external charging, or as a buffer current source in similar equipment with solar cells, and as a high-current source in accumulators for motor vehicles and stationary applications. (I) has high energy-and charge-density, with a service life of many cycles, and therefore a better energy economy than prior-art batteries with polymer-based electrodes. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
A plate has a planar surface contactable with an electrode. A series of deformed arches are formed by deforming plate material and forming punched slots in the planar surface. Each of the deformed arches has a pair of support legs at an obtuse angle w.r.t. the planar surface and a beam parallel to the planar surface, the beam, of each arch being contactable with a separator plate.    Each beam has a slight curved form extending away from the planar surface. The curved form extends not more than 5 percent of the span of the beam. The deformed arches are located in alternate locations in adjacent rows, forming a checkerboard pattern.    USE -   Current collector for location between an electrode and a separator plate of a fuel cell having a number of separator plates.@(7pp Dwg.No.1/8)@
Electrochemical appts. includes a generator section (22) contg.: axially elongated cells (16) each having an exterior fuel electrode (18), a solid oxide electrolyte and an interior air electrode; fuel gas feed inlet (28); oxidant gas feed inlet (30); and spent fuel exit channel (46) passing from the generator chamber to combine with fresh fuel inlet (28) at mixer (50). A reformable fuel channel (52) passes through the generator chamber (22) and connects with mixer (50), the channel contg. entry ports (54) within the chamber (22), the axis of the ports being transverse to the fuel electrode surfaces (18) and a catalytic reforming material being distributed near the entry ports (54).    ADVANTAGE -   ruel supply is distributed along the entire cell, with use of water vapour-contg. spent fuel added to the fresh fuel to allow in-situ reformation by a catalytic reformer distributed along the cell length. @(7pp DWg.No.1/2)@
Washing of electron tube parts to clean and remove grease from the parts uses cleaning liq., contg. min. 95% of limonene. After washing the parts they are dried at reduced pressure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The parts can be cleaned by removing grease without pollution of natural environment.    In an example washing object (6) (parts for the electron tube) was soaked in limonene liq., in the first bath (1a). The limonene liq. was heated at 40.5 deg.C with the heater (8). After designated time for soaking, the parts (6) were transferred to the second bath (1b). Less contaminated cleaning limonene liq. flowed into the second bath (1b) from the third bath (1c). New cleaning liq. was supplied into the third bath (1c). The parts (6) were finally washed in the third bath (1c), then transferred to the chamber (1d) to remove limonene, then transferred to the reduced pressure chamber (2) and held at the pressure at up to 5 Torr for 3 min., then the pressure was released and the parts were taken out. @(4pp Dwg.No.1,2/3)@
Washing of electron tube parts to clean and remove grease from the parts uses cleaning liq., contg. min. 95% of limonene. After washing the parts they are dried at reduced pressure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The parts can be cleaned by removing grease without pollution of natural environment.    In an example washing object (6) (parts for the electron tube) was soaked in limonene liq., in the first bath (1a). The limonene liq. was heated at 40.5 deg.C with the heater (8). After designated time for soaking, the parts (6) were transferred to the second bath (1b). Less contaminated cleaning limonene liq. flowed into the second bath (1b) from the third bath (1c). New cleaning liq. was supplied into the third bath (1c). The parts (6) were finally washed in the third bath (1c), then transferred to the chamber (1d) to remove limonene, then transferred to the reduced pressure chamber (2) and held at the pressure at up to 5 Torr for 3 min., then the pressure was released and the parts were taken out. @(4pp Dwg.No.1,2/3)@
Washing of electron tube parts to clean and remove grease from the parts uses cleaning liq., contg. min. 95% of limonene. After washing the parts they are dried at reduced pressure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The parts can be cleaned by removing grease without pollution of natural environment.    In an example washing object (6) (parts for the electron tube) was soaked in limonene liq., in the first bath (1a). The limonene liq. was heated at 40.5 deg.C with the heater (8). After designated time for soaking, the parts (6) were transferred to the second bath (1b). Less contaminated cleaning limonene liq. flowed into the second bath (1b) from the third bath (1c). New cleaning liq. was supplied into the third bath (1c). The parts (6) were finally washed in the third bath (1c), then transferred to the chamber (1d) to remove limonene, then transferred to the reduced pressure chamber (2) and held at the pressure at up to 5 Torr for 3 min., then the pressure was released and the parts were taken out. @(4pp Dwg.No.1,2/3)@
The generator includes arrays of a number of fuel cell units each having a solid electrolyte partition. A fuel electrode is provided on one side of the electrolyte partition and an air electrode is provided on the other side of the partition. An inner space having opened opposite ends is provided and the end openings of the fuel cell units are opposed to each other. A fuel or oxidising gas supply tube is extended through the inner space from a fuel or oxidising gas supply inlet.    The fuel cell unit is of cylindrical or honeycomb shape. The tubular fuel cell unit is opened at both ends and a number of cell units are linearly aligned. The cell unit is made of ceramics and the conductive gas supply is made of heat resistant metal.    ADVANTAGE -   Improves efficiency and facilitates production of long ceramic fuel cell. @(15pp Dwg.No.2/8)@
The generator includes a tubular solid electrolyte partition (9) having ion conductivity. A fuel electrode (8) is provided on the inner or the outer peripheral surface of the electrolyte partition. An air electrode (10) is provided on the electrolyte partition at the opposite side of the fuel electrode. A conductive fuel gas supply tube (3) and a conductive oxidising gas supply tube (2) are provided such that at least one of these tubes is arranged in an inner space of the electrolyte partition.    Multipoint contact current collectors (5) make contact with electrode surfaces of the fuel electrode and the air electrode all over the surface, respectively. These collectors electrically connect between the conductive fuel gas supply tube and the fuel electrode or between the conductive oxidised gas supply tube and the air electrode.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents output resistance loss caused by current flow in fuel and air electrodes, for increasing efficiency. @(15pp Dwg.No.3/7)@
A solid oxide fuel cell comprises a solid oxide fuel cell unit consisting of a fuel electrode layer, an electrolyte layer and an air electrode layer, the layers being subsequently superimposed to form an integral unit on a substrate; a first region filled with air or O2; a second region filled with fuel gas. The 2 regions are sepd. by the fuel cell unit. Characteristically, the substrate has a coefft. of thermal expansion substantially equal to that of the electrolyte layer, which has been formed by spray coating and heat treatment. Pref., (i) the electrolyte layer is made of yttria stabilised r0, and the substrate is O stabilised by yttria, calcia or magnesia. (ii) the spray coated electrolyte layer is heat treated above 1300 deg.C for at least 1 hr.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solid fuel cell utilising an electrolyte layer, formed by plasma spray coating and heat treatment, which has a low gas permeability coefft.
Component is claimed for current passage between adjacent flat stacked high temp. fuel cells with a stabilised zirconia solid electrolyte in which' the oxygen electrode of one cell is electrically connected to the fuel electrode of the next cell and in which the inter-electrode space is divided by a gastight electrically conductive separator plate into respective fuel and oxygen source gas passage spaces. The novelty is that the component comprises (a) a shape-determining core (1) of heat resistant material selected from (i) Fe or Ni-based alloys, (ii) Fe, Cr, Mo, W or their alloys contg. max 0.2 wt.% of Al, Ti, Nb, and Co and max. 0.5 wt.% of Si and (iii) Ni3Si; (b) a sheath (3) of AU, Pd, Pt or an alloy of at least two of these elements, which is non-oxidisable in an oxygen atmos. at the cell operating temp.; and (c) a diffusion barrier interlayer (2) of Ni3Si between the core (1) and the sheath (3).    ADVANTAGE -   Component has high metallic electrical conductivity, provides good electrical contact, has long term stability in neutral,reducing and oxidising atmos. and can be produced inexpensively, reproducibly and interchangeably. @(13pp Dwg.No.1/10)@
The oxygen electrode (6) of one fuel cell is respectively electrically connected to the fuel electrode (7) of the next fuel cell, and the intermediate space laying between the electrodes (6,7) is divided by a gas tight, electrically conducting separation plate (1) in to two chambers, guiding the different gaseous media fuel and oxygen carrier. The current collector includes a multiple of spring elements (3,4) with long term stability, fully elastic with an operating temp. of 800-1000 deg. C., ensuring a number of contact places, made of a metallic and/or ceramic material, having at least on the oxygen side a non-oxidising surface or a high temp. protection oxide.    The current collector is designed, such that under a load of 10 power three Pa exerted vertical to the plate plane, it has a deflection of at least 0.1 mm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Current collector for high temp. fuel cells with solid electrolyte. Gives current transfer with min.losses, ensures long term constant operation without shut down. @(19pp Dwg.No.2/18)@
In a high temp. fuel cell having a stack of individual cells separated gas tightly by bipolar plates (2) which include gas channels (3) and which are interposed between electrode (5,7) coated solid electrolyte foils (5,7) have a sandwich construction of 'n' individual layers of different electrode materials and (ii) the individual layer materials are selected according to thermal expansion coefficients to provide continuous transition in 'n+1' steps between the thermal expansion coefficients of the solid electrolyte foil and the bipolar plate.    A high temp. fuel cell prodn. process involves, (a) successively producing 'n' individual layers of different electrode materials for the cathode (5) by a foil casting, sputtering, thermal spraying sol/gel, foil electrophoretic, screen printing or plasma spraying process on one side of a solid electrolyte foil (6), (b) sintering the multilayer in one or more steps, (c) producing the anode (7) on the other side of the foil (6) in a similar manner, (d) sintering the anode-forming multilayer, and (e) assembling several such coated foils (1) to form a gastight fuel cell stack in which the foils are separated by bipolar metallic plates (2) having grooves (3,3') which define fuel supply and withdrawal gas channels in the stack.    ADVANTAGE -   The fuel cell is suitable for permanent operation, is mechanically stable w.r.t. high temps. and pressure differences, and has good electrical capacity provided by the series connection of the stack. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
The Nb3Sn superconducting wire is obtd. by placing assemblies comprising Cu-coated Nb wires around a Sn-wire, a diffusion barrier layer is formed around a stabilising material that is wire drawn, followed by heat treating to form Nb3Sn by diffusion reaction. The numbers of the assemblies disposed around the diffusion barrier layer is 40-100.    USE -   For internal diffusion type N3Sn superconducting wires having high-critical current density. @(4pp DWg.No.1/4)@
(JP2299167-A)      The Nb3Sn superconducting wire is obtd. by placing assemblies comprising Cu-coated Nb wires around a Sn-wire, a diffusion barrier layer is formed around a stabilising material that is wire drawn, followed by heat treating to form Nb3Sn by diffusion reaction. The numbers of the assemblies disposed around the diffusion barrier layer is 40-100.    USE -   For internal diffusion type N3Sn superconducting wires having high-critical current density.
The Nb3Sn superconducting wire is obtd. by placing assemblies comprising Cu-coated Nb wires around a Sn-wire, a diffusion barrier layer is formed around a stabilising material that is wire drawn, followed by heat treating to form Nb3Sn by diffusion reaction. The numbers of the assemblies disposed around the diffusion barrier layer is 40-100.    USE -   For internal diffusion type N3Sn superconducting wires having high-critical current density. @(4pp DWg.No.1/4)@
The Nb3Sn superconducting wire is obtd. by placing assemblies comprising Cu-coated Nb wires around a Sn-wire, a diffusion barrier layer is formed around a stabilising material that is wire drawn, followed by heat treating to form Nb3Sn by diffusion reaction. The numbers of the assemblies disposed around the diffusion barrier layer is 40-100.    USE -   For internal diffusion type N3Sn superconducting wires having high-critical current density. @(4pp DWg.No.1/4)@
The Nb3Sn superconducting wire is obtd. by placing assemblies comprising Cu-coated Nb wires around a Sn-wire, a diffusion barrier layer is formed around a stabilising material that is wire drawn, followed by heat treating to form Nb3Sn by diffusion reaction. The numbers of the assemblies disposed around the diffusion barrier layer is 40-100.    USE -   For internal diffusion type N3Sn superconducting wires having high-critical current density. @(4pp DWg.No.1/4)@
Evaporator for heating fuel to be reformed comprises evaporating chamber (15), electric heater (19)-contg. heating chamber (18) and oil chamber (23). Heating chamber is communicated with oil chamber by circulating pipe (38). Funnel-like collecting pipe (39) covers lower face of lower plate (13) while lower end of pipe portion of collecting pipe is arranged in heating chamber (18) and spaced from bottom. Heater (19) is arranged around pipe portion of collecting pipe.    ADVANTAGE -   Degradation of heat medium oil can be reduced. @(4pp DWg.No.1/3)@
On conductive base material of composite material composed of the conductive base material and gas permeable resin part material of organic metal complex cpd. and resin, electrolytically polymerisable aromatic cpd. and/or heterocyclic cpd. are electrolytically polymerised, and, opt., the conductive material is removed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For prepn. of gas diffusion type composite electrode for the fuel cell, metal/air cell, electrolytic redn. electrode of CO2, gas sensor, and humidity sensor. Life and catalyst loss of the electrode are improved. The electrode can be made light wt. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Thick film of complex oxide, Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O, is formed on the surface of metallic substrate. The thick film is preliminarily heat-treated at 400-600 deg.C, then compression force is applied on the multi-layered material of the thick film/metallic substrate.    The material is calcined at 800-870 deg.C for 12-100 hrs. and compression force is applied. The material is then calcined at 800-870 deg.C for 12-100 hrs. to arrange c axis of the complex oxide crystal in vertical orientation to make the axis vertical to the surface of the substrate, and to make strong bonding between the crystal particles, and to make them dense.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used for prepn. of the superconductive oxide thick film composed of Bi, Pb, Sr, Ca and Cu. Superconductive oxide multi-layered material with good c axis orientation can be prepd. at reduced cost. Critical current density and critical temp. of the material are improved. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/4)
Thick film of complex oxide, Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O, is formed on the surface of metallic substrate. The thick film is preliminarily heat-treated at 400-600 deg.C, then compression force is applied on the multi-layered material of the thick film/metallic substrate.    The material is calcined at 800-870 deg.C for 12-100 hrs. and compression force is applied. The material is then calcined at 800-870 deg.C for 12-100 hrs. to arrange c axis of the complex oxide crystal in vertical orientation to make the axis vertical to the surface of the substrate, and to make strong bonding between the crystal particles, and to make them dense.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used for prepn. of the superconductive oxide thick film composed of Bi, Pb, Sr, Ca and Cu. Superconductive oxide multi-layered material with good c axis orientation can be prepd. at reduced cost. Critical current density and critical temp. of the material are improved. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/4)
The lead-acid dual battery (101) has main (202) and reserve (204) cell compartments, separated by a partition wall within the container (14) and orientated at 90deg. to one another. A charging circuit includes a current limiting device and controls charge current flow to the reserve cells and prevents discharge while the main cells remain functional.    The battery cover (13) contains copper busbars internally connecting positive and negative main and reserve cell terminations. One pair is connected via a changeover switch. Reserve cells deliver 200 to 400 CCA and main cells 400 CCA plus. Reserve cells are charged by diode and variable resistor circuit.    ADVANTAGE -   Is contained within housing of conventional external dimensions.
In the prepn. of a superconducting film made of Ta contg. oxide superconductor, a precursor of the superconductor is coated or adhered with a substrate and then baked in the presence of Ta to form the superconducting film.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher current density film is obtd. Contamination of film forming appts. by toxic Ta is prevented.    In an example a mixt. of 38.7g BaCO3, 7g SrCO3, 24.01g CaCO3 and 28.63g CuO is pulverised, baked at 900 deg.C for 10 hours in air, pulverised to under 325 mesh powders, thermally sprayed on Ni-Co-Fe alloy substrate using plasma (34 kW, 800 A, 200 seconds) as 100 microns thick and heated at 200 deg.C for 2 hours. The substrate is placed on an alumina plate with Ti oxide, closed with an alumina crucible and baked for 10 hours at 870 deg.C to form a superconducting film on it. The film has 117 deg.K of onset critical temp. and the critical current is 2500 A/sq.cm. at liq. N2 temp.. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
In the prepn. of a superconducting film made of Ta contg. oxide superconductor, a precursor of the superconductor is coated or adhered with a substrate and then baked in the presence of Ta to form the superconducting film.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher current density film is obtd. Contamination of film forming appts. by toxic Ta is prevented.    In an example a mixt. of 38.7g BaCO3, 7g SrCO3, 24.01g CaCO3 and 28.63g CuO is pulverised, baked at 900 deg.C for 10 hours in air, pulverised to under 325 mesh powders, thermally sprayed on Ni-Co-Fe alloy substrate using plasma (34 kW, 800 A, 200 seconds) as 100 microns thick and heated at 200 deg.C for 2 hours. The substrate is placed on an alumina plate with Ti oxide, closed with an alumina crucible and baked for 10 hours at 870 deg.C to form a superconducting film on it. The film has 117 deg.K of onset critical temp. and the critical current is 2500 A/sq.cm. at liq. N2 temp.. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
(JP2291667-A)      In the prepn. of a superconducting film made of Ta contg. oxide superconductor, a precursor of the superconductor is coated or adhered with a substrate and then baked in the presence of Ta to form the superconducting film.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher current density film is obtd. Contamination of film forming appts. by toxic Ta is prevented.    In an example a mixt. of 38.7g BaCO3, 7g SrCO3, 24.01g CaCO3 and 28.63g CuO is pulverised, baked at 900 deg.C for 10 hours in air, pulverised to under 325 mesh powders, thermally sprayed on Ni-Co-Fe alloy substrate using plasma (34 kW, 800 A, 200 seconds) as 100 microns thick and heated at 200 deg.C for 2 hours. The substrate is placed on an alumina plate with Ti oxide, closed with an alumina crucible and baked for 10 hours at 870 deg.C to form a superconducting film on it. The film has 117 deg.K of onset critical temp. and the critical current is 2500 A/sq.cm. at liq. N2 temp.. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
An Ag layer is formed on a metal substrate through a Cu or Cu alloy layer, or a complex oxide layer consisting of Bi and at least two of Sr, Ca, Cu. An oxide layer to form the oxide superconductor is further formed, then heat-treated for unification.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for a composite material for magnetic shielding. Material with good superconductive characteristic and good mechanical strength is obtd.. @(4pp DWg.No.0/0)
(JP2288160-A)      An Ag layer is formed on a metal substrate through a Cu or Cu alloy layer, or a complex oxide layer consisting of Bi and at least two of Sr, Ca, Cu. An oxide layer to form the oxide superconductor is further formed, then heat-treated for unification.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for a composite material for magnetic shielding. Material with good superconductive characteristic and good mechanical strength is obtd..
Wire is prepd. by coating polycarbonate resin comprising a repeating unit of formula (I) and having a heat distortion temp. =130-150 deg.C as measured by the method of DIN 53458 directly or via another insulating layer on a conductor and baking the resin.    The polycarbonate is prepd. by reacting bisphenol A with phosgene and available from General Electric Co. as LEXAN. Its heat distortion temp. lower than 130 deg.C degrades the heat distortion resistance of coil and that higher than 150 deg.C degrades the weldability. The polycarbonate having a heat distortion temp. = 130-150 deg.C has m.pt. = 210-235 deg.C and an average mol. wt. = 30000-50000.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The wire has high resistance against heat, heat distortion and twisting distortion of coil and heat weldability at 130-150 deg.C. It is used for mfg. a deflecting coil for television, a voice coil for speaker, a transformer coil, high frequency oven coil, moulded motor coil, micromotor coil, coreless motor coil, etc.. In an example, enamelled wire of Grade H having a dia. = 0.47 mm and 0.023 mm thick polyesterimide enamel layer was coated with a soln. of polycarbonate having a heat distortion temp. = 130 deg.C in a solvent (e.g. cresol, dioxane or chlorobenzene) to provide the semi-cured enamelled wire and baked to provide the 0.009 mm thick surface layer of polycarbonate resin. The wire wound around a coil showed a welded strength = 120, 160, 170,180, 230 and 280 g each after welded at 130, 140, 150, 160, 170 and 200 deg.C for 30 min.. The wound coil showed high resistance against heat distortion and twisting distortion. @(5pp DWg.No.1,2,3,4/4)@
Wire is prepd. by coating polycarbonate resin comprising a repeating unit of formula (I) and having a heat distortion temp. =130-150 deg.C as measured by the method of DIN 53458 directly or via another insulating layer on a conductor and baking the resin.    The polycarbonate is prepd. by reacting bisphenol A with phosgene and available from General Electric Co. as LEXAN. Its heat distortion temp. lower than 130 deg.C degrades the heat distortion resistance of coil and that higher than 150 deg.C degrades the weldability. The polycarbonate having a heat distortion temp. = 130-150 deg.C has m.pt. = 210-235 deg.C and an average mol. wt. = 30000-50000.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The wire has high resistance against heat, heat distortion and twisting distortion of coil and heat weldability at 130-150 deg.C. It is used for mfg. a deflecting coil for television, a voice coil for speaker, a transformer coil, high frequency oven coil, moulded motor coil, micromotor coil, coreless motor coil, etc.. In an example, enamelled wire of Grade H having a dia. = 0.47 mm and 0.023 mm thick polyesterimide enamel layer was coated with a soln. of polycarbonate having a heat distortion temp. = 130 deg.C in a solvent (e.g. cresol, dioxane or chlorobenzene) to provide the semi-cured enamelled wire and baked to provide the 0.009 mm thick surface layer of polycarbonate resin. The wire wound around a coil showed a welded strength = 120, 160, 170,180, 230 and 280 g each after welded at 130, 140, 150, 160, 170 and 200 deg.C for 30 min.. The wound coil showed high resistance against heat distortion and twisting distortion. @(5pp DWg.No.1,2,3,4/4)@
A fuel cell unit, stackable one on another, has half-cells comprising the anode (2) and cathode (3) with current collectors (4, 5) divided by an impermeable separator (7) between each half-cell. The separator (7) has holes providing fuel inlets (16), fuel outlets (18) oxidising agent inlet (17) and outlet (19) passages.    By selecting a suitable profile for the gas passages and separator (7) an elastic structure is obtained which, in co-operation with frame type springs (22) around the active cell assembly produces a gas tight seal.    ADVANTAGE -   Sealing problems due to carbonate salt melting and flowing and electrode shrinkage during ageing are obviated.
A phosphoric acid fuel cell comprises an anode assembly and a cathode assembly each having respectivelyy a catalytic layer, and disposed on opposite sides of a matrix to form cell elements. The elements are disposed between a pair of conductive paltes that have grooves for supplying fuel gas to the anode assembly, and an oxidant to the cathode assembly. The catalytic anode layer is larger than the catalytic cathode layer. The conductive plate adjacent the cathode assembly has a wick disposed in each electrolyte groove to supply electrolyte to the matrix, which transports groove to supply electrolyte to the matrix, which transports electrolyte to the catalytic layer of the anode and cathode assemblies. The size of the catalytic layers, and the disposition of the electrolyte grooves, eliminate corrosion of the cathode layers and the adjacent conductive plate. Further disclosed is the method of sealing the rectangular fuel cell to allow operation at a pressure sufficient to exclude air, thus preventing corrosion of the cathode and adjacent conductive plate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Phosphoric acid fuel cell, with a replenishment electrolyte feed to a cell matrix from the cathode side, where the cathode is smaller than the anode to prevent corrosion of the cathode side of the cell.
Dry seal for a fuel cell assembly comprises: a first impermeable seal strip (23) around the cathode (7) or anode (3) assembly; a second impermeable seal strip (25) around the other of the cathode and electrode assemblies, the first step being wider than the second; and a compliant seal strip (27) bonded to one of the others. The seal strips are sited to fit the perimeter of the plates and are between the plates to form a dry seal -to keep electrolyte from the edges of the cell and provide smooth exterior sealing surfaces.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. with phosphoric acid fuel cells. Dry cell edge seal is provided which does not rely on the H3PO4, -is easy to mfr. and instal and distributes cell compression forces. @(9pp Dwg.No.1/10)@
The low tension wire with thin coating for car use comprises resin compsn. principally consisting of polyetherimid of 6-12 in melt index, which is extruded and formed on conductor so as to make the coating thickness of it up to 200 microns. Pref. the polyetherimid resin comprises thermoplastic resin of formula (I). Polyetherimid of 6 in melt index (Urtem made by Engineering Plastics KK) was extruded onto soft Cu stranded wire so as to make coating thickness of it 200 microns. (2) Polyetherimid of 12 in melt index was extruded onto soft Cu stranded wire so as to make coating thickness of it 200 microns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The low tension wire with thin coating is used for wiring . harness of the car. Wiring space and wiring wt. can be reduced. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
The low tension wire with thin coating for car use comprises resin compsn. principally consisting of polyetherimid of 6-12 in melt index, which is extruded and formed on conductor so as to make the coating thickness of it up to 200 microns. Pref. the polyetherimid resin comprises thermoplastic resin of formula (I). Polyetherimid of 6 in melt index (Urtem made by Engineering Plastics KK) was extruded onto soft Cu stranded wire so as to make coating thickness of it 200 microns. (2) Polyetherimid of 12 in melt index was extruded onto soft Cu stranded wire so as to make coating thickness of it 200 microns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The low tension wire with thin coating is used for wiring . harness of the car. Wiring space and wiring wt. can be reduced. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
Catalyst for reforming a hydrocarbon with steam comprises platinum gp. metal(s) deposited on a carrier having a vol. 0.15 ml/g or more of pores of size 500 Angstrom or less, a vol. 0.14 ml/g or less of pores of size over 500 Angstrom, and an average pore size 90 Angstrom or more.    Pref. the metal is Rh and/or Ru, 0.01-5 wt.% on the carrier; Co and/or Mn is present as promoter, at 0.1-10 wt.%. K and/or Ba may be present as further promoter component, 0.01-2.5 wt.%. The carrier is zirconia or stabilised zirconia; the stabiliser is an oxide, e.g. yttrium, magnesium or cerium oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Specified pore size distribution provides the catalyst with high activity and long life. The hydrocarbon is e.g. a 1-10C alkane, cycloalkane or a mixt., e.g. naphtha. Prod. is a mixed gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane, having uses opt. with sepn.; the hydrogen may be used in a fuel cell. @(20pp Dwg.No.0/2)@
The electric battery comprises one electrode chamber formed by two send-plates and separated by an ion-exchange membrane into a positive pole compartment and a negative pole compartment. A positive electrode is in contact with one side of the membrane and a negative electrode is in contact with the other side of the membrane. The electrodes are suited for the evolution and storage of oxygen and hydrogen during the charging phase and for the recombination to produce water during the discharging phase.    Water is supplied to and discharged from the compartments. Oxygen is supplied to one compartment and hydrogen is supplied to the other compartment. Oxygen and hydrogen are discharged from the compartments.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Electric vehicle. Can meet typical peak power requirements of vehicle. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
A fuel cell comprises: (1) an electrolytic layer; (2) an oxygen pole attached to one face of the electrolytic layer; (3) a fuel pole attached to the other face of the electrolytic layer; (4) a separator made of electrically conductive material, opposite the oxygen pole to be connected to it; (5) an oxygen-contg. gas flow passage formed between the oxygen pole and the separator. The cell has a conductive member disposed in the oxygen-contg. gas flow passage, the member being made of flexible material, separate from the oxygen pole and the separator, and connecting entire or partial faces of the oxygen pole and the separator with each other.    ADVANTAGE -   The cell is less subject to thermal strain, and the tolerances required during mfr. are not as tight.
Rectangular fuel cell stack comprises anode (26), cathode (27) and electrolyte (20) elements with separators defining anode and cathodee chambers for receiving fuel and oxidant gases, the electrolyte (20) and separator plates (40) n extending to the edge of the stack and being sealed via a peripheral separator plate/ electrolyte wet seal structure (23) (23).    The separator plates and electrolytes also have a series of aligned holes (24, 25) surrounded by manifold wet seal structures (45, 46) with conduits extending through them to provide fuel gas to the anode chambers and oxidant gas to the cathode chambers.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. with high temp. molten carbonate fuel cells. Arrangement provides a sealed, fully internal manifolding, leading to long term durability and stability of cell operation.
Fuel treatment appts. for fuel cells for the removal of oxygen from the fuel, in which the fuel reforming appts. for a fuel cell tolerant of variations in oxygen content in the fresh fuel supply comprises (a) means defining an oxidiser contg. a catalyst for catalysing an oxidn. reaction consuming oxygen, and having a min. ignition temp.; (b) a fuel supply means for supplying fresh fuel to the oxidiser; (c) means defining hydrodesulphuriser connected to the oxidiser for receiving fuel from the oxidiser for converting sulphur to hydrogen sulphide and a removal device connected for receiving fuel from the hydrodesulphuriser for removing hyrogen sulphide from the fuel; (d) a reform reactor connected for receiving fuel from the hydrogen sulphide removal device for increasing the molecular hydrogen content of the fuel; (e) a recycle means for returning a recycled portion of the reformed fuel from a location downstream of the reform reactor to the oxidiser means; and (f) the oxidiser means including means arranged for heating only a portion of the fresh fuel consisting of means for initially mixing the recycled portion with only a portion of the fresh fuel and exposing this portion to the catalyst, and for thereafter heating the remaining fresh fuel in the presence of the catalyst.    ADVANTAGE -   With no oxygen present, only a minor amt. of heat is added and after dilution with the remaining fuel the temp. remains low. If there is oxygen in the fuel, however, the small portion which is heated initiates the oxidn. reaction, with the exothermic reaction heating the remaining fresh fuel being added thereafter so that all of the oxygen is consumed. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
The module includes a battery compartment, an air inlet and an air outlet. A first flow path connects the air inlet to the air outlet and a second air flow path around the outside of the battery compartment connecting the air inlet to the air outlet. A damper is positioned in the housing for movement between a first position.    The first air flow path is open in the first position and the second air flow path closed. In a second position, the first air flow path is closed and the second air flow path is open. A shape memory alloy member moves the damper from the first position to the second position when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined minimum. A spring biases the damper to the first position when the ambient temp. is less than the predetermined temp.    USE -   A battery module for insulating a battery from the heat of the engine of a motor vehicle. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/8)@
An electroconductive composite material is prepd. by impregnating a monomer providing electroconductive polymer on the surface of a substrate, treating the surface of impregnated substrate with a soln. of an oxidising agent and doping opt. the surface to form a composite electroconductive polymer layer.    The substrate is e.g. a sheet of styrol/butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, acrylonitrile/butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene/propylene/conjugated diene rubber or a film or sheet of urethane resin, polyvinyl alcohol, Nylon, polyester or phenol resin. The monomer providing electroconductive polymer is e.g. a pyrrole or aniline and impregnated onto and into the substrate by immersing the substrate into the liq. monomer or by placing the substrate in the monomer vapour. The oxidising agent is e.g. NaCl03, NaIO3, FeCl3, etc. and used by dissolving it in a solvent having pref. penetrability into the substrate (e.g. acetone or acetonitrile for urethane rubber substrate) until the impregnated monomer has been polymerised. When the oxidising agent does not form a dopant anion, the polymer is doped with a halogen or protonic acid such as HCl. The oxidising agent does not remain in the substrate so it does not deteriorate the substrate. The polymer is formed in a pattern on the substrate by masking unnecessary portions with cellophane, etc.    ADVANTAGE -   The composite conductive material does not deteriorate the substrate by the residual oxidising agent. @(4pp Dwg.No.1,2/2)@
An electroconductive composite material is prepd. by impregnating a monomer providing electroconductive polymer on the surface of a substrate, treating the surface of impregnated substrate with a soln. of an oxidising agent and doping opt. the surface to form a composite electroconductive polymer layer.    The substrate is e.g. a sheet of styrol/butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, acrylonitrile/butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene/propylene/conjugated diene rubber or a film or sheet of urethane resin, polyvinyl alcohol, Nylon, polyester or phenol resin. The monomer providing electroconductive polymer is e.g. a pyrrole or aniline and impregnated onto and into the substrate by immersing the substrate into the liq. monomer or by placing the substrate in the monomer vapour. The oxidising agent is e.g. NaCl03, NaIO3, FeCl3, etc. and used by dissolving it in a solvent having pref. penetrability into the substrate (e.g. acetone or acetonitrile for urethane rubber substrate) until the impregnated monomer has been polymerised. When the oxidising agent does not form a dopant anion, the polymer is doped with a halogen or protonic acid such as HCl. The oxidising agent does not remain in the substrate so it does not deteriorate the substrate. The polymer is formed in a pattern on the substrate by masking unnecessary portions with cellophane, etc.    ADVANTAGE -   The composite conductive material does not deteriorate the substrate by the residual oxidising agent. @(4pp Dwg.No.1,2/2)@
(JP2281567-A)      An electroconductive composite material is prepd. by impregnating a monomer providing electroconductive polymer on the surface of a substrate, treating the surface of impregnated substrate with a soln. of an oxidising agent and doping opt. the surface to form a composite electroconductive polymer layer.    The substrate is e.g. a sheet of styrol/butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, acrylonitrile/butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene/propylene/conjugated diene rubber or a film or sheet of urethane resin, polyvinyl alcohol, Nylon, polyester or phenol resin. The monomer providing electroconductive polymer is e.g. a pyrrole or aniline and impregnated onto and into the substrate by immersing the substrate into the liq. monomer or by placing the substrate in the monomer vapour. The oxidising agent is e.g. NaCl03, NaIO3, FeCl3, etc. and used by dissolving it in a solvent having pref. penetrability into the substrate (e.g. acetone or acetonitrile for urethane rubber substrate) until the impregnated monomer has been polymerised. When the oxidising agent does not form a dopant anion, the polymer is doped with a halogen or protonic acid such as HCl. The oxidising agent does not remain in the substrate so it does not deteriorate the substrate. The polymer is formed in a pattern on the substrate by masking unnecessary portions with cellophane, etc.    ADVANTAGE -   The composite conductive material does not deteriorate the substrate by the residual oxidising agent.
To a perovskite oxide with the compositional formula of La1-xSrxCr1-yMgyO3 where x = 0-1, y = 0-1 are added 2-4.0 mol% Bi203 as Bi and 0.2-16 mol% B203 as B; then the mixt. is sintered to form a La-chromite double oxide at 1200-1400 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A dense La chromite double oxide sinter with over 93% of relative density can be obtd., which is used as an interconnector for solid oxide fuel cells, a heater for ultra-high temp. furnaces, or a electrode for MHD electric generators.    In an example LaCrO.9Mg0.103 was prepd. by heating the mixt. of La203, Cr203 and MgO in air at 1400 deg.C for 24 hrs., then pulverized into powders with 1 micron average dia.; 10 mol% Bi203 and 2 mol% B203 were admixed with the powders; the mixt. was press-moulded by isotropic hydrostatic pressing at 1500 kg/cm2, then sintered at 1300 deg.C in air for 5 hrs. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
An ion source comprises a chamber for generating plasma and at least two electrodes with holes for extn. of ion from the chamber. Interval between the electrodes is smaller in peripheral portion than in central portion of the electrodes.    ADVANTAGE -   Whole surface of the electrodes is irradiated with ion beam so that ion can be injected uniformly onto substrate. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
An ion source comprises a chamber for generating plasma and at least two electrodes with holes for extn. of ion from the chamber. Interval between the electrodes is smaller in peripheral portion than in central portion of the electrodes.    ADVANTAGE -   Whole surface of the electrodes is irradiated with ion beam so that ion can be injected uniformly onto substrate. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
An ion source comprises a chamber for generating plasma and at least two electrodes with holes for extn. of ion from the chamber. Interval between the electrodes is smaller in peripheral portion than in central portion of the electrodes.    ADVANTAGE -   Whole surface of the electrodes is irradiated with ion beam so that ion can be injected uniformly onto substrate. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
An ion source comprises a chamber for generating plasma and at least two electrodes with holes for extn. of ion from the chamber. Interval between the electrodes is smaller in peripheral portion than in central portion of the electrodes.    ADVANTAGE -   Whole surface of the electrodes is irradiated with ion beam so that ion can be injected uniformly onto substrate. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
A controlling device (4) mounted e.g. in a vehicle body (1) has switches (4a, 4b). A positive/negative switching device (6) mounted in the body is electrically connected to the vehicle battery (5) and the controlling device. The switching device has two output terminals. The device assumes, when the first switch (4a) is on, a condition where the output terminals are positive and negative respectively, and assumes, when the second switch (4b) is on, a second condition where the output terminals are negative and positive respectively. Electric devices (X1, X2) e.g. a door lock, door closer or window regulator are mounted in the vehicle door (2) and have a pair of input terminals. Diodes (7, 8) ensure that the first electric device (X1) is energised only when its input terminals are charged positive and negative respectively, and the second electric device (X2) is energised only when its input terminals are charged negative and positive respectively.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   E.g. for closing and locking mechanism for sliding and pivoting doors. Allows two devices to be supplied by only two wires.
Fuel (2) and steam (3) feed the fuel cell (4). The anode section (4a) has an internal inlet reforming unit. Fuel is converted to anode reactant gas which passes to another anode chamber (4b). A reformer unit (12) incorporates a catalyst where unconverted lower hydrocarbons in the anode exhaust gas convert to anode reactant gas.    In the next unit (14), carbon-monoxide converts to the dioxide and additional hydrogen is formed. After water sepn. in a condenser (16), hydrogen is recovered in a further unit (18).    ADVANTAGE -   Has higher operational efficiency. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
The control appts. comprises a primary power supply for supplying an electric power to the electric machine. The primary power supply being a battery which is charged from a generator driven by an engine of the vehicle. A secondary power supply supplies an electric power to the electric machine. The secondary power supply being an additional battery which is charged from the battery. One power supply is selected from the primary power supply and the secondary power supply. The selector is controlled to select the primary power supply when the engine is driven and to select the secondary power supply when the engine is not driven.    USE -   Telephone, facsimile for motor vehicle. @(9pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
An amorphous modified poly (2,6-dimethyl-p-oxyphenylene) (A) with a Tg of 170-220 deg.C pref. 190-210 deg.C is new, wherein the macromolecules contain (a) units of formula (a1) or (a2) having trialkylsilyl gps. bonded to the nucleus and/or to the methyl; together with (b) units of formula (b1) or (b2) having hydroxy ethyl gps. bonded to the nucleus and/or to the methyl. R= 1-3C alkyl, pref. methyl. The sum of (a)+(b) is 20-80 pref. 35-65 per 100 mole of (A) and the numerical ratio of (a)/(b) is 0.5:1-30:1, pref. 0.8/1-15/1. Also claimed are (B) prepn. of modified (A) comprising metallating (A) with a metallating agent, then reacting the prod. with trialkylsilyl halide and ethylene oxide in succession; and (C) a homogeneous and an asymmetric flat membrane for separating gas mixts. obtd. from modified (A).    ADVANTAGE -   The membranes obtd. from (A) are highly permeable and selective in separation process for gaseous mixts. contg. e.g. methane, CO2, N2, O2, H2 and hydrogen sulphide. @(9pp DWg.No.0/0)@
Liquid sludge is dewatered (2) and fed into an indirect heat dryer (1) together with dry fines which act as nuclei which are coated with the dewatered sludge to build up pellets to a predetermined size, layer by layer. Sweep air is fed through the dryer to remove an air and water vapour mixture. The pellets are removed and fed to a classifier (3) which separates the pellets into on-spec, oversize, and fines fractions with the oversize pellets being crushed (33), mixed with the fines (34) and recycled to the dryer (1) as the dry fines. Air and water vapour are removed from the dryer to maintain a negative pressure therein to prevent the escape of malodorous gases.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Particularly in the conversion of municipal sewage sludge into sterile uniform pellets for use as fertiliser or fuel. Provides an easily automated non-polluting, odourless process which dries and pelletises in a multi stage dryer.
High purities of H2 and ethane gases are recovered from mixed gases of hydrocarbons such as methine, ethane, etc., and H2 gas. The mixed gas is cooled to a temp. at which a necessary purity of H2 gas is obtd., uncondensed gases are restored to a given temp. to take out H2 gas prod. and the condensed liq. composed mainly of methane and ethane is restored to a given temp. to separate gasified components from liq. components.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   High purities of ethane and H2 gas. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Prodn. of microbiological coagulant is by culturing microbiological coagulant-producing bacteria which belong to Rhodococcus or Nocardia. In the process a) culture facilities are installed near the way-out of an effluent or waste of agriculture, livestock processing or marine prod. processing, and b) a potion of the effluent or the waste is charged to the culture facilities to prepare the culture medium for the coagulant-producing bacteria, then c) the coagulant-producing bacteria is cultured by using the culture medium to produce the microbiological coagulant.    Process for recovering the valuable substances comprises a) adding a culture soln. contg. the microbiological coagulant which is produced according to the process using the microbiological coagulant-producing bacteria belonging to Rhodococcus or Nocardia, to the waste water to separate solid matters from the waste water.    ADVANTAGE -   Labour and cost for transportation and storage of waste water and waste can be saved since the culture facilities are installed near the way-out of the effluent or waste. The microbiological coagulant can be used in the state of the culture soln. without isolating the coagulant. According to the present process, the treatment of waste water or waste and the recovery of valuable substances (e.g. feed containing protein) can be achieved at the same time.
Appts. includes a mixing system having a solid material dosing unit contg. a chopping cylinder, a screw conveyor for the excrement or slurry whose outlet is located above a continuously operating conveyor belt, a screw conveyor trough, and a mixing device. Under this invention, a second screw conveyor trough links the mixing device with a number of fermentation containers which are open at the top and have perforated floors. The excrement screw conveyor operates at at least 200 rev/min., and wets the chopped substrate material on the belt conveyor with the excrement. This mixt. is delivered to the mixer by the screw conveyor trough. The mixer has a drum fitted with beating elements and rotating at 700 to 1200 rev/min., and the mixed and chopped material passes through a floor opening in the mixer into the screw conveyor trough which delivers it to one of the fermentation containers. These containers are filled to a depth of 0.5 to 2.0 m., and the heat of fermentation is recovered in a glass-tubed heat exchanger. After a fermentation period of 120 to 240 hrs. the finished material is removed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in the aerobic solid-material fermentation of poultry excrement to produce a spreadable fertiliser. The resulting material is environment-friendly, odourless, easily stored and non-infectious. Energy use, es)mission of ammonia and dust formation are reduced. The use of a loose-textured substrate for the fermenting material reduces the pressure drop through the fermenter and thus saves electrical energy. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Non-corrosive environment for plasma etching semiconductor substrates comprises mounting the substrate in a reactor and exposing it to a gas plasma comprising CH4, H2 and trialkylboron.    Also claimed is a method for enhancing etch rates comprising generating a plasma in a flowing gas mixt. as above in a reactor contg. the substrate.    Also claimed is a method for removing O and water vapour from a semiconductor substrate and plasma reactor surfaces comprising using at least one of trialkylboron, Me3B or Et3B gas in a plasma gas mixt. in the reactor and forming the plasma. Additionally claimed is a method as above for enhancing the volatility of etch prods. form metalloid- or metal-contg. semiconductor substrates.    Pref. substrates include GaAs, AlGaAs, InGaAlAs, InGaAlp and GaP and pref. Al or alloys on semiconductor substrates is also etched. Pref. plasma is formed in an RIE system pref. the substrate temp is held within -100 and +500 deg.C during etching and pref. is at 50 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For plasma etching substrates which are useful for Si, III/V materials and metals and avoid the corrosion problems of Cl chemistries and give more volatile etch prods. (Fig where curves are for various MeM species). The addition of Me3B etc. enhances etch rates and etch initiation time is also reduced. @(6pp Dwg.No.2/2)@
The method comprises loading organic waste charge into methane tank, filling methane tank gas volume and gas holder tank with the inert gas and methane fermentation of waste, with periodical feeding of fresh portions of waste until full displacement of inert gas is achieved with generated biogas.    To simplify technology, the organic waste is first subjected to aerobic fermentation, using multi circulation of gas from gas part of methane tank and gas holder tank, with bubbling through the charge of organic waste, until the oxygen concn. in gaseous medium is less than 2.5 vol.%. At this point the circulation of inert gas and bubbling process are stopped and the regime is changed to methane fermentation (heat fermentation) during which obtd. biogas passes into gas holder tank, filled with inert gas (mixt. of N2 and CO2) generated at starting-up aerobic stage. The method is based on capacity of organic waste to absorb oxygen. This absorbing capacity allows removal of oxygen from gas holder tank and gas part of reactor during starting-up stage.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method can be used for starting-up the systems of anaerobic fermentation of biomass, to produce methane-biogas based fuel gases and is suitable for processing sewage, manure, food industry waste etc. The method offers simplified technology. Bul.3/23.1.91
In an anaerobic fermentation system, organic waste is fed into a container where it is throughly mixed with a solid and/or liq. graft material contg. anaerobic bacteria. The resulting mass is subsequently transferred into one of the compartments of a fermentation installation. Here it is heated and kept at an opt. temp. for complete fermentation. Biogas is removed and the resulting material is removed from the compartment. It is opt. subjected to further treatment.    Pref. waste is first treated to remove inert materials, e.g. plastics and metals. The resulting material is fed to a container. pref. a rotating drum, together with solid and/or liq. graft materials. The waste is transferred to fermentation compartments which are sized according to the average daily supply. Pref. one compartment is filled per working day after which it is sealed for the duration of the fermentation, approx. 15-50 days. Each compartment has dividing walls with heating elements. These are pref. hot water pipes, but may be electrical. The temp. is maintained at 30-65 deg.C and pref.50-65 deg.C. During the fermentation only biogas is drawn off. After fermentation is complete, the material is opt. treated with an inert gas or air before removal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system may be used for treating domestic or vegetable waste. Complete fermentation for one batch of waste is effected in a single compartment which may be maintained at a temp. most suited to the conditions existing at any stage of the fermentation. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/2)@
A procedure of composting waste material uses a covered barge or similar craft as a reactor vessel. The vessel hold is provided with a means for aeration and for collecting the condensate or seepage from the compost.    The vessel hold is first filled to a depth of about 3 m with chopped waste material; the hold is then covered with approximately airtight tarpaulins or sheets (3); the introduction of air of oxygen-rich medium (2) is started during or after filling of the vessel; exhaust air (6) is withdrawn by a fan (8), dried (7), filtered and discharged to the atmos.; seepage water passes through a perforated floor (1) into a collection space below; and after completion of the composting process or a subsequent ripening period, the compost is unloaded and re-used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for composting communal or agricultural organic waste. Time and space are saved by using the same vessel for composting and for transport, and a higher overall productivity is therefore achieved. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Gas detector includes a gas sensor (17) in gaseous communication with the surrounding atmos. via an aperture. The gas detector has a membrane filter (20) interposed between the gas sensor (17) and the aperture to prevent liq. entering the gas detector through the aperture. The seal (22) is interposed between the filter (20) and the aperture. Sensors (17) extend into the rear of sensor housing (16). Sensor housing (16) is a nickel plated bronze block located within the gas detector casing behind the aperture. Flame arrestor (18), membrane filter (20) and sea (22) are located in a cavity (15) within the housing, and are secured in cavity (15) via grid (24) and screws (28).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Gas detector with gas sensor in fluid communication with atmos., includes a membrane filter to prevent liq. access to the gas detector. More partic., the appts. is a methanometer for detecting methane. Membrane filter and the seal from an effective barrier against ingress of water into the methanometer. The battery, electronic circuitry and methane sensor are protected against the water ingress. (Provisional Basic previously advised in week 9145)
Appts. comprises methane fermenting tank, at least a part of which is obtd. from a dialysing film, a salt concn. adjusting device, in contact with the dialysing film and by which a salt is extracted from sewage in the methane fermenting tank, and a pH adjusting device for adding pH adjusting solution in the methane fermenting tank. Specifically, the bottom of the tank is constituted from a dialysing film comprising a membrane of a bladder, an artificial parchment paper, a collodion film or a cellophane film, and contacted with water of the salt concentration adjusting device. A pH sensor is placed in the tank and by signals output from the pH sensor, pump for sending pH adjusting solution is controlled to adjust pH in the fermenting tank at 6.8-7.5.    ADVANTAGE -   Efficiency in methane fermentation does not lower even when fermentation is continuously carried out. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Treatment comprises sepg. the raw sewage to solid and liq. to remove suspended solids; releasing NH3 by vapour-liq. contact under a heated condition; methane fermenting the sepd. water by fixed methane forming bacteria to remove substances responsible for BOD; and biologically nitrifying and denitrifying the treated water.    ADVANTAGE -   High speed methane fermentation can be carried out so that over 90% of substances responsible for BOD in raw sewage are removed in 0.4-0.5 day. An aeration blower for removing NH3 and substances responsible for BOD is operated with reduced power. Operation cost for stripping and treating NH3 is reduced. The eluted water from the NH3 stripping step can be methane fermented without heating. Excess sludge is formed in a reduced amt. and so cost for the treatment of the sludge is low. Emission of malodours and generation of bubbles in the NH3 stripping step are prevented. @(8pp)
Waste water treatment comprises feeding the waste water to an acid fermenting tank where organic substances in the waste water are fermented to low molecular wt. compounds contg. lower fatty acid; and then feeding the treated water to a methane fermenting tank, where methane fermentation is carried out. The acid fermented water remains in the acid fermenting tank in an amount corresponding to a part of the effective volume of the acid fermenting tank and the rest of the acid fermented water is separated to solid and separated water by centrifugal separation. The separated water is fed to the methane fermenting tank.    The waste water is fed in the acid fermenting tank in an amount equal to that of the acid fermented water separated. The acid fermented water remaining in the tank is 30-70% of the effective volume of the acid fermenting tank to keep acid forming bacteria in such a condition as to carry out the treatment stably. pH in the acid fermenting tank is adjusted to 4.5-6.0 by adding NaOH.    ADVANTAGE -   High speed methane fermentation of organic waste water becomes possible. The treatment can be carried out at low cost. The treating apparatus is made compact.
Removal of Me2O and/or MeOH from C4 hydrocarbon streams is effected by (a) fractionating the feed stream in a distn. column to remove 20-40 vol.% of the feed as overhead vapour, (b) condensing the overhead vapour, (c) extg. Me2O and/or MeOH from the condensate with 0.05-5 vols. H2O, (d) sepg. the aq. extract phase from the hydrocarbon phase, and (e) recycling the hydrocarbon phase to step (a).    USE -   The process is esp. applicable to unconverted C4 hydrocarbon streams from the mfr. of methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE). Removal of Me2O from such streams permits their use in alkylation units without excessive formation of acid-soluble oil.
Decontamination and cleaning of toxic organic-based media, esp. oil, water and acid mixts. from conversion of e.g. clarification and/or industrial sludges, domestic waste and/or other materials with organic content, results in prodn. of a coke-like solid fuel and a gaseous phase of an oil, water and acid mixt.    The process involves subjecting the noxious material (e.g. halocarbon) loaded gaseous phase to decontamination or destruction of the noxious materials by post-combustion and cleaning the combustion waste gases by e.g. Ca reaction and/or NOx removal prior to passing e.g. to the atmos.    Prior to cleaning, the combustion waste gases are cooled, to avoid high temp. corrosion, by one or more of the following methods: (a) pref. direct cooling on leaving the post-combustion stage; (b) cooling by supplying excess process water and/or waste water; (c) cooling by addn. of additional noxious replacement water (e.g. opt. concentrated dump seepage water) for simultaneous disposal of this water; and (d) cooling by mixing with pre-cooled engine gases for simultaneous cleaning of these noxious emissions.    ADVANTAGE -   Cooling avoids corrosion by the chlorine- and sulphur-contg. waste gases at above 700 deg. C. @(5pp Dwg.No 0/1)
Aldehydes, including those insol. or only slightly sol. in water , are added to liq. manure, to give a storable material, free from water, cheap to transport, and usable as fertiliser. Addn. of ethylene oxide and/or water-sol. aldehydes is specifically claimed.
In raising the productivity of biogas appts. with at least 2 reactors for substrate with less than 6% dry matter content, a differing density of microorganisms and population compsn., w.r.t. unit of reaction vol., are achieved by altering the amt. of substrate fed. The reactors are fed with substrate in parallel or in series, and the total amt. of substrate remains constant.    Pref. with parallel connection the average residence time over the whole duration is 10-30 days, whilst with connection in series, the residence time in the 1st reactor is 5-15 days and in the later reactors is 20-40 days and only the sediment from the pre-reactor is fed to the later reactor. Alternation between connection in parallel and in series is chosen according to the desired gas prodn. and yield, on reaching max. or raised total gas prodn. after changing from series to parallel connection, on reaching min. or lowered total gas prodn. after changing over from parallel to series connection, or on first reaching constant total gas prodn. of each reactor connection. The min. duration from beginning to end of the series connection is equal to the sum of the average residence times of all the reactors, and the min. duration of the parallel connection is equal to the residence time of one reactor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used in agriculture, and in the food and water industries. The flexibility and efficiency of the biogas appts. are improved, without built-in inserts in the appts. Prodn. and yield of biogas/tonne of substrate are higher. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
In silaging green fodder at 293-318 deg.K and pH 6-3, with temporary and limited saccharification of the carbohydrate by pH inhibition, a single specific enzyme complex, adapted to the compsn. of the silage material, is used. Pref. the specific enzyme complex contains cellulases with high cellobiase or beta-glucanase content, hemicellulases with action on (un)branched pentosans, amylases with high glucoamylase content for hydrolysis of oligo- and di-saccharides, pectinases, beta-1,3-glucanase and protease, and is applied as a solid or liq., by spraying or sprinkling. Enzyme complex may be the prod. of the culture of microorganisms or plants as, or extracted from, enzyme triticale (opt. ground or comminuted), cereals or malt and is naturally, synthetically, chemically and/or physically combined. A max. of 40% (1-20%) of enzyme triticale is used, with pptn. number below 140 secs., amylolytic activity above 55 SKB units, and alpha-amylase activity above 15 ICC units. Grain size of the grist is at least 50% (above 85%) below 1 mm. Enzyme complex is esp. the prod. of culture of strains of Aspergillus,Trichoderma or Penicillium, esp. P. janthinellum, pref. IMET 43733, IMET 43903, IMET 43904 or IMET 43905.    Both forms of appln., e.g. microbial saccharifying agent and addn. of enzyme-rich cereal prods., may be combined, and the enzyme complex may also be combined with starter cultures of lactic acid bacteria (e.g. Lactobacillus) or with glucoseoxidase to remove O2 from the silage material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used in agriculture and the food industry. Lactic acid fermentation is stabilised reproducibly by accelerated fermentation and lowering of pH. There is less loss, the quality and keeping properties of the silage are better, and animal health and milk quality are improved.
Articles of a multilayer degradable thermoplastic material comprise outer layers and a core layer. The outer layers contain an effective amt. of a prodegradant, and the core layer is more water soluble and/or more biodegradable. Pref. the outer layers are made of polyolefins, nylon, (modified) polyolefinic adhesive resins, ethylene-acrylate copolymers, polyesters, ethylene-propylene rubbers, and mixts. The core is made of PVA, ethylene-vinyl alcohol, polycaprolactone, polyethylene oxide, and mxits. 13 specific combinations of outer layers/core layer (and prodegradant) are claimed.    USE -   Material may be formed into degradable bags, in which organic material may be composted (claimed).
Treatment of plant material (A) comprises heating in an O2-deficient atmos. (at most 5 vol. % O2) at 150-280 deg.C for 3-12 hr., to decompose it partially and drive of volatiles which are condensed to give a liq. product (I).    Also new is appts. for this process.    (A) is pref. from Acacia miyansii and is arranged as a porous bed before being heated by hot gases. These gases are generated by burning fuel in a furnace, and opt. passed through an afterburner to increase combustion.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is used to treat plane pests (worms, insects, fungi, etc.) esp. on citrus or mango trees, partic. those infected with Xanthomonas mangiferaeindicae. It is diluted in water to 100-1000 ppm condensed volatiles. The material left after expulsion of volatiles is a combustible solid fuel which burns relatively cleanly with little smoke.
Synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide is converted at 325-500 deg.C, 50-1000 psig, in contact with a catalyst compsn. (I) to produce 2-3C hydrocarbons with a carbon yield of at least 20% and a carbon selectivity at least 80%. (I) is prepd. by successively (a) contacting a crystalline aluminosilicate consisting of zeolite ZSM-5 or chabazite with a platinum or palladium salt, to give a prod. contg. 0.2-5.0 wt.% Pt or Pd; (b) calcining in air at 300-600 deg.C for at least 4 hrs.; (c) heating in presence of hydrogen from ambient to an elevated temp. of 300-400 deg.C at a rate of 0.5-2.0 deg.C/min.; (d) maintaining at the elevated temp. for 0.7-1.25 hrs.; (e) cooling to ambient temp. in presence of hydrogen; and (f) mixing the prod. crystalline aluminosilicate (II) with a methanol synthesis catalyst (III) in wt. ratio (III):(II) 0.3-5; (III) comprises chromium oxide-zinc oxide, or copper oxide-zinc oxide.    ADVANTAGE -   (I) has high activity for conversion of synthesis gas to 2-4C, esp. 2-3C, hydrocarbons. @(10pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Concurrent gas phase electrocatalytic oxidative dimerisation of methane at the anode on one side of a solid electrolyte and redn. of carbon dioxide to gaseous hydrocarbons at a cathode on the other side of the electrolyte comprises passing methane contg. gas in contact with a rare earth metallic oxide anode layer of an anode comprising a rare earth metallic oxide anode layer in contact with one side of an ionic and electronic conducting metallic oxide perovskite anode layer in contact with one side of a solid electrolyte on its opposite side, the anode catalytically oxidatively dimerising the methane to C2 species; transferring through the solid electrolyte an ionic species selected from O2- species from the cathode to the anode and a proton mediating ion from the anode to the cathode at cell operating temps.; passing carbon dioxide contg. gas in contact with one side of an ionic and electronic conducting metal cathode electrocatalyst capable of providing adsorption sites for carbon dioxide and chemisorbed and Faradaically generated hydrogen species in proximity to said adsorbed carbon dioxide and capable of catalytic redn. of the carbon dioxide to predominantly C2 species; and withdrwing the C2 species from the region of the anode and cathode.    ADVANTAGE -   The solid electrolyte electrochemical cell provides concurrent gas phase electrocatalytic oxidative dimerisation of methane on one side of the solid electrolyte and redn. of carbon dioxide to gaseous hydrocarbon prods. on the opposite side of the solid electrolyte. @(8pp Dwg.No.2/3)@
Thermal remediation appts. for combustion of hydrocarbon contaminants within particulate fill includes chamber with an inlet/outlet port. Means for combusting the fill contaminants within the chamber and paddle means for agitating the fill into an air suspension in the path of combusting means. Combusting means includes at least one burner and agitating paddle means comprising a mill. Condenser has an inlet and an outlet with condenser inlet in connection with the exhaust port of combustion chamber and a fan affixed adjacent condenser outlet. Also claimed is chamber comprising an inlet for loading contaminated fill into chamber.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method for thermally remediating contaminated particulate fill. Appts. is portable and compact allowing easy transport and set up in a minimal area and time. @(13pp Dwg.No.4/9)@
Appts. for bio-degradation of organic material with simultaneous prodn. of biogas and nutrients for fertilisers, comprises cylindrical collecting tank, collecting tube, sluice gate, discharge tube, lower trench container, and semi-cylindrical upper part. The effluent enters the top of container, given a rotary movement by tube and agitated peristaltically and drawn through by action of floats which are moved vertically and horizontally. The biogas leaves through tube attached to cover and pass to flexible tank through non-return valve, industrial suction fan and filter device. @(Dwg.No.0/1)
Organic waste fermenting vessel consists of organic waste receiving vessel having rectangular box-like shape, laterial screw conveyors arranged in parallel at bottm of receiving vessel, lattice-shaped sliding plates slidably arranged along opposite walls inside receiving vessel, and driving mechanism arranged outside for driving sliding plates along opposite walls. Receiving vessel is provided with feed opening at upper portion and extracting opening in side wall facing end of screw conveyor.    0/6 @(6pp Dwg.No.)
A beads mat which is formed by combining porous plastic beads of a given size vertically and horizontally at a given interval is placed on the floor of an animal pig pen, and covered uniformly with straw, sawdust, etc., the beads mat after lapse of given time period is rolled with straw, etc., soiled with animal excrement and taken out the pen, etc., and many beads mats are laminated and used for compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This method can simply form compost for farm by using cheap waste plastics at low cost. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/5)
Aerobic compostion of contaminated waste water sludge and wood waste is carried out by (i) forming a homogeneous mixt. of the materials with a C/N ratio and a water content suited to rotting and introducing the mixt. into a long container; (ii) regularly mixing, loosening and moving the material along the container during compostion; (iii) periodically aerating the material in several stages by means of computerised temp. monitoring to maintain a high oxygen level and to limit the temp.; and (iv) removing the stabilised, sanitised and dry compost from the container.    USE/ADVANTAGE -    The process is used for fuel prodn. with -or without additives (claimed) or for agricultural compost prodn. It provides optimal composting, optimal biological conditions for micro-organisms and a regulated water content in the final product. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Polyvinyl alcohol is sepd. from an aq. soln. by adding a peroxidisulphate to the soln. and heating at above 70 deg. C. Pref., sepn. of PVA is from an acid soln., esp. after addn. of H2SO4. The disulphate is (NH4)2S2O8 and the soln. is a textile waste water.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is used in the textile industry as a size to prevent fibre breakage during weaving, and occurs in the waste water. PVA is recovered almost completely as a prod. contg. 60-70% of water, compared with 90% in known processes. It is non-tacky, and insol. in acid and alkali, and the properties do not change with time. It can easily be dried and used as a fuel. @(-pp Dwg.No.0/0)to
Landfill gas prodn. testing and extraction method, in which a method of controlling an extraction rate of gas from underground positions in a landfill consisting of trash and a cover layer comprises (a) determining gas pressure relative to a reference pressure at a predetermined depth in the cover layer at multiple locations with respect to a surface of the landfill; (b) determining permeability of the cover layer to the predetermined depth at each of the multiple locations relative to a reference amt.; (c) dividing each gas pressure by each relative permeability, respectively, to obtain a relative flow; (d) obtg. a spatial distribution of the relative flow; and (e) increasing the extraction rate at positions corresponding to positive flow and decreasing the extraction rate at positions corresponding to negative flow, where positive flow represents gas flow out of the landfill and negative flow represents air flow into the landfill.    ADVANTAGE -   The method is a reliable, inexpensive, simple, quick and efficient tuning and testing method for landfill gas extraction, and for estimating rates of emission of landfill gas compounds into the atmosphere. @(16pp Dwg.No.2,4/6)@
A waste collection pit of an animal housing facility is cleaned out using a system which incorporates an overhead reservoir providing a head of water pressure. This is applied to a gate valve which is selectively opened to direct the water via a distributor across the pit. The water flushes the waste from the pit.    The single housing facility has a pair of waste collection pits (26a,26b). The pits slope from one end (18) of the housing to the other. Water is stored in a tubular reservoir (30) extending longitudinally of the housing in the rafters above the living quarters of the animals. Pref. the reservoir is formed of PVC sewer pipe and slopes from a high point adjacent end (20) of the housing. Either fresh or recycled water may be stored in the reservoir.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is used with the type of animal housing facility which includes a relatively shallow waste collection pit beneath a grating on which the animals stand. The system can be operated automatically at predetermined intervals, and can use a relatively small vol. of water at high pressure without relying on a high pressure pump. @(8pp Dwg.No.2/8)@
Method for bringing a distillation column on-stream when sepg. a mixt. of carbon dioxide and methane uses a controlled freezing zone in the column and an external adsorption bed responsive to carbon dioxide. During the start-up phase, methane vapour and liq. are recycled from the bed, and this recycling is continued until the column temperature has reached an appropriate value. Thereafter, methane vapour is withdrawn, and only the liq. component is recycled.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used to produce high purity methane foam inherently contaminated natural gas. It allows the process equipment to be brought on-stream without requiring a separate supply of methane, propane or methanol, and can be used in remote locations. @(12pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
The methane presence signaller for mine industry, includes a methanem sensor (1), signal amplifier (2), methane concn. meter (3) and signaller (4). A null-detector (5) is connected by its input to the output of the amplifier (2), with output to the count switch-over input of the reversible counter (6). The output of the latter is connected to the input of the DAC (7), which is connected by its output via. the inverting amplifier (8) to the input of the signal amplifier (2). The output of the cloak pulse shaper (9) is connected to the count input of the reversible counter (6). The reset pulse shaper (10) is connected to reset input of the clock pulse shaper (9) and recording permit input of the reversible counter (6).    The voltage amplitude at the output of the null-detector (5) depends on the voltage polarity at its input e.g. with a positive polarity at its input a high level is at its output; with negative polarity a low level voltage is present.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In mine safety, partic. gas protection for signalling methane concn. higher than permissible level. Improved accuracy of energisation and reduced operation prepn. time are obtd. Bul.10/15.3.91 @(5pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Prodn. of organic fermented fertiliser rich in chitosan is affected by (1) preparing humus throough fermentation treatment of organic matter prone to easy decomposition, e.g, livestock manure, sewage sludge, excreta sludge, food remainder, fish refuse, etc., with thermophile bacteria generating fermentation heat of 70 deg.C or above; (2) mixing the living body, crust, refuse from processed Crustaceae e.g, crab, shrimp, lobster, squilla, etc., insects e.g, beetle, silk worm, fly, cockroach, butterfly, etc., spider, Molusca e.g, cram, short-necked cram, oyster, cuttlefish, sea squirt, et.c, in its natural form into the humus; (3) by fermenting the mixt. by action of autotrophic soil bacteria while infusing air into it. Organic fermented fertilisers thus produced rich in chitosan are also new.    ADVANTAGE -   The organic fermented fertiliser rich in chitosan can be simply and efficiently produced by method. Chitosan richly contained in the organic fermented fertiliser enhances the stabilisation of the fertiliser, bringing agglomeration of the soil, elevating water holding property, increasing stability of microelement.    In an example, humus was obtd. by providing air to thermophile bacteria-inoculated fish meat refuse and treating it for 10 days by allowing it to generate a fermentation heat of 70 deg.C or above. Crab shell was then mixed in the humus at a ratio of 1:1. Then, soil bacteria were inoculated in the mixt. and treated for 7 days for aerobic fermentation. An organic fermented fertiliser of the following composition rich in chitosan was obtd.: N 4.26%, P 1.25%, K 0.57%, organic matter 72.6%, humic acids 16.2%, chitosan 18.5%. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The device comprises a sheet surrounding body, an air supply means, an air exhaust means, and a circulation drive for circulating air from the air supply means through the sheet surrounding body to the air exhaust means.    USE -   Compost can be produced effectively. The device can be compact and low-cost. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Acid components are removed from a gas by a new method which includes their absorption with an organic solvent based on ethers of polyglycols at raised pressures. The satd. absorbent is regenerated and a part of the regenerated absorbent is dehydrated by heating. The dehydration is achieved by the combination of stripping with a gas and heating at a temp. lower than the b.pt. of the solvent at 0.8-1.3 atm. by 80-150 deg. C. The stripping agent gas = air, N2, H2, 02, argon, methane or their mixts.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is useful for the removal of CO2 from gas used in ammonia synthesis. The purified gas is obtd. with reduced power consumption and less reagents. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/1)r
New catalysts comprise 20-95 wt.% matrix material (I), 1-60 wt.% of a Y zeolite (II), and 0.01-30 wt.% of a beta zeolite (III) in H form.    (III) is synthesised in a fluoride medium (see FR 89/12556) and has a Si/Al atomic ratio of more than 2.5, an F content of 0.005-2 wt.% and a liq. N2 adsorption capacity of more than 0.08 cc/g. (measured at 19% of satd. vapour pressure at 77 deg.K).    (I) pref. comprises one or more of Al2O3, SiO2, MgO, clay, Tio2 and ZrO2 or a combination of Al2O3 and B2O3. (II) is a USY zeolite in H form, opt. exchanged with rare earth metal cations. (III) has an Al/Si ratio of 5-1000, an F content of 0.01-1.5% and a N2 adsorption capacity of more than 0.1 cc/g. (III) is opt. exchanged with rare earth metal cations.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalysts are used for cracking heavy oils, giving high yields of 3-4C hydrocarbons, esp. propylene and isobutane for prodn. of high-octane alkylate gasoline. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
In composting waste material, where the material is put into a container and degraded microbially, with passage of air, the rotting process is carried out or controlled so as to yield the max. amt. of CO2/unit of time.    Pref. a closed container is used, and the material is not turned over. The amt. of CO2 in the waste air is measured. The amt. of air/unit of time is adjusted so that the CO2 content rises, and is reduced when the CO2 content rises, or is raised when the CO2 content exceeds an upper limiting value. The amt. of air/unit of time is regulated so that the CO2 content lies as close as possible to an upper limit, and also so that the amt. of heat/unit of time in the rotting material is a max., and so that the consumption of O2/unit of time in the rotting material is a max..    ADVANTAGE -   The process is as rapid and intensive as possible. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The adjustment equipment has a cylinder unit (13) connected to the frame (14), and whose movable part (15) is connected to the support unit for the one roller. It enables the size of the space between the rollers to be regulated in order to adjust to the size of the timber trunk to be moved forward.    The cylinder unit is of the double-acting hydraulic type (13) with integrated piston position indicator enabling the unit piston to be fixed in an accurately determined, required position. The unit is tensioned between first and second sprung components (16,17) connected to the frame (14), and against the effect of which it is movable in its entirety a short distance in a direction corresp. to increasing or reducing distance between the rollers. The first sprung. component is at least one pneumatic cylinder unit (16), whilst. the second is at least one rubber buffer (17).    USE -   To impel logs or wooden blocks forward in a sawmill process. @(9pp)@
A treating system has a horizontal zigzag flow type tank or a vertical zigzag flow type tank. The interior of a chamber is partitioned by partitions in the horizontal or vertical direction to provide compartments continuous in a horizontal zigzag fashion or vertical zigzag fashion. In each of the compartments, a plurality of filter materials stand close together or lie down in parallel to one another. Alternatively, a treating system has a combined up and down flow type treating tank, where independent compartments which are connected to one another such that the matter to be treated is alternately and repeatedly treated and discharged from a final compartment by an up-flow or a down-flow, and in each of the compartments, filter materials stand close together. In the both treating systems, the filter material consists of a core material and a multiplicity of thin tape members and a multiplicity of thin tape members made of synthetic resin radially extending around this core material. In addition, an automatic gas-life agitator for agitating the matter to be treated in the tank with the use of methane gas produced in the tank may be connected to the system for improved treating efficiency. @(47pp Dwg.No.23/23)@
The method comprises mixing 1-80 wt.% soln. of a rubber-contg. waste in a hydrocarbon medium, at 290-380 deg. C, and distilling-off the fractions boiling under 230-310 deg. C.    Hydrocarbon medium consists of asphalt obtd. in the process of deasphaltising heavy oil residue with propane, contg. 2.4-5.9 wt.% of asphaltenes and having the m.pt. of 34-45 deg. C. Distilling-off the fractions is conducted during the whole mixing process and the end-of-boiling temp. of the fractions is 230-310 deg. C.    Tests show that the proposed method increases amt. of low boiling fractions up to 75.0%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as the method of utilisation of worn tyres and other rubber articles, rubber shavings and non-conditioned rubber. The method increases the yield of the low-boiling fractions, which can be used as an additive to motor fuels, giving petrol of octane No. 78. Bul.46/15.12.90 @(4pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
Purificn. of an oil produced by heat decomposition of an organic sludge contg. N component, where the organic sludge is heated at 200-600 deg.C under atmospheric pressure or under pressure, so that it is heat-decomposed into char and oil. The oil is neutralised with an acid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By neutralising the generated oil with an acid, the water contained in the oil can be almost completely removed, and the combustion heat of the oil can be greatly increased. Kinematic viscosity and the fluid point can be lowered. The quality of the generated oil can be greatly improved to the level similar to that of the heavy oil (called heavy oil A) which is utilised generally for diesel engine generator etc. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Organic sludge is heated in a reactor without O2 to decompose into (1) a gas, which brought to fluid fuel by a cooling condenser, and (2) into a char, which contacts with the condenser and is circulated to the condenser.    USE -   For recovery of industrially useful energy from organic sludge. (Previously notified in Week 9146)
For turning compost heaps and breaking up organic wastes, a wheel loader (1) has a transport bucket (2) at the front, to which is attached a milling roller (6) fitted on an arm (5) for raising and lowering it into the bucket. The roller is raised while the bucket is filled and then lowered to break up the contents and return them to the compost heap.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Optimum composting conditions can be obtd.. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Removing fat and/or oil comprises reaction with lipoclastic bacteria and pptn. with a cation. Only a proportion of the fat and/or oil is pptd. with the cation, the ppte is removed from the liq. and the remaining liq. is again supplied to the bacteria-treated fat and/or oil. Pref. the bacteria are from the genus Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Vibrio, Sarcina and/or Serratia, or are Bacillus subtilis; and the cation is formed from an alkali(ne earth) metal salt esp. Na or K salt, or CaCO3, MgSO4 or Ba salt, or an Fe, Mn or Cu salt, or Ca(OH)2.    An appts. for carrying out the reaction is also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for removing fats and oils from commercial kitchens, slaughterhouses, sausage factories etc., in a form which allows the fats etc. to be recovered in a usable form. @(5pp)@
In the activation of natural gas recovery from bore holes and underground reservoirs, a mixt. contg. surfactants, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, frost-protection agents and agents for controlling the viscosity of the treating soln. is pumped into the bore hole. 1-5% of the auxiliary agent is added to the prodn.-water and comprises: (i) 24-54 wt.% 16-18C fatty alcohol-polyglycolether (contg. 60-100 mol. EO); (ii) 21.0-29.0 wt.% ethane-1,2-diol; (iii) 4.0-11.0 wt.% of an EO/propylene oxide mixt. (ratio 1:4) oxyethylated 10-16C fatty alcohol with 8-12 mol. EO or propylene oxide; (iv) 4.0-10.5 wt.% 1-3C alkanol; (v) 0.3-0.9 wt.% quat. ammonium polyglycol, in which an alkyl gp. has 8-18C and the sec. alkyl gp. has 1-4C. The 2 ethoxy groups have 2-12 CH2CH2-O- groups; and (vi) 0.1-0.6 wt.% Na-salt of 1-hydroxyethan-1,1-bisphosphonic acid.    ADVANTAGE -   Well installations are protected against corrosion, alkaline earth-carbonates and -sulphate deposits on tubing in the well bore hole is avoided, and the treating soln. can be used in all climatic conditions. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Catalyst useful for producing C3+ hydrocarbons from hydrogen and carbon monoxide comprises (i) an inorganic oxide support; (ii) 0.3-6.0 wt.% ruthenium present as particles of 40-60 Angstrom; and (iii) 0.1-5.0 wt.% modifier selected from aluminium, silicon, lead, arsenic and bismuth.    The support is pref. alumina or titania, and the modifier is silicon. The catalyst consists e.g. of 1.0-4.0 wt.% ruthenium and 1.0-4.5 wt.% silicon on alumina. Ruthenium and modifier are pref. incorporated into the support by the reverse micelle technique of US 4,714,692 and 4,714,693, in which the support is impregnated using a hydrocarbon solvent containing micelles with aq. core surrounded by the polar heads of the surfactant used. The aq. cores contain a high concn. of required metal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst has modified conversion activity in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, but good selectivity and exceptional stability. Products may be separated e.g. into light hydrocarbons, naphtha, kerosene and fuel oil. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/1)@
Organic material is anaerobically fermented in an oblong airtight passage. A feed system delivers the material water to the passage inlet end, while a discharge system and methane-discharge pipe are connected to the outlet end. A number of return systems are provided, extracting each material from the passage at particular points clear of the outlet end, and delivering back into it at the inlet end.    ADVANTAGE -   Well-controlled and stable fermentation. @(10pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Dewatering manure comprises (i) adding isoparaffin with an initial b.pt. (ASTM D86/ASTM D1078) of 165-200 deg. C, pref. 170-195 deg.C and esp. 175-195 deg.C as organic, relatively non-volatile carrier liq.; (ii) dewatering the manure/carrier liq. mixt. by distillation; and (iii) evaporating off the carrier liq.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Isoparaffinic light hydrocarbon oils as carrier liq. in a Carver-Greenfield type process (e.g, as described in USA3855079, US4270974 and US4608120) gives considerably improved dewatering performance than previously used carrier liqs. Loss of carrier liq. is e.g, less than 0.5%, the residual isoparaffin is evaporated off at moderate temps. and the process gives dewatered prods. with a low content of hydrocarbon oil which can be used directly as a fertiliser. Any residual isoparaffin in the fertiliser is non-toxic, environmentally harmless and is rapidly biodegraded. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Dechlorination of higher chloromethanes (I) esp. carbon tetrachloride (CTC), comprises using H2 and a catalyst (II) based on a metal (III) of the Cu group or of Group 8 (esp. Pt) esp. deposited onto an aluminium oxide or titanium oxide support of surface area 20-30 m2/g in the presence of O2 esp. at 30-350 deg.C (pref. 100-250 deg.C) for pref. 0.1-10 secs.    II esp contains 0.05-5% (pref. 0.1-1%) III. The molar ratio of H2:I is pref. more than 1 (esp. 1-10), and of O2:H2 is pref. 0.01-5%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The claimed process is used to prepare methane and chlorofrom from CTC or methane and methylene chloride from chloroform. Unlike prior-art processes, the claimed process gives a temperature-stable reaction and does not clog the catalyst.
Prodn. of liq. fuels and starting materials for the chemical industries comprises fractional distillation of natural oils; then thermal and/or catalytic cracking and/or reforming of the less volatile components to obtain a mixt. of butane, isobutane and isobutene gases (the 3-5 C fraction) and volatile petroleum (5+ C fraction). The 3-5 C fraction is reacted with MeOH or EtOH in the presence of catalysts to form Me or Et tert.Bu ether, but butane is recovered, isomerised to more isobutane, and thermally cracked to isobutene and propene, while unchanged components are recycled.    USE -   The process is applicable to volatile 1-10 C fractions to obtain petroleum fuels, with olefins as a byproduct. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/3)
(JP3216964-A)      Device comprises a means to monitor change of parameters for insulation composite material consisting of synthetic resin to coat metal wire, a means to change set values for the coating facility based on the change of monitored parameters, and a control means to control the temp. of the composite material.    USE -   Yield is improved. @(10pp Dwg.No.2/5)
Extraction of organic material (I) from the oil phase of an o/w emulsion contg. suspended solids is effected by (a) shear-mixing the o/w emulsion, opt. in the presence of a cosolvent, to form a w/o emulsion, and (b) extracting the w/o emulsion with an organic solvent capable of dissolving at least 10 ppm of (I) at the temp. at which at least 50 wt% of the solvent boils at atmospheric pressure.    USE -   The process is esp. useful for extracting hazardous organic materials (e.g. polycyclic aromatics) from solids-stabilised o.w emulsions (e.g. petroleum refinery wastes), giving a solid residue suitable for landfill disposal, opt. after incineration and/or heavy metal fixation. @(23pp Dwg.No.0/3)
New device for treating wet waste materials consists of: (a) size-redn. device (36) with inlet (3) connected to the outlet (2) of a waste receiving vessel (1), (b) disposal device having a drum (31) with sidewalls (14) roof (33) and floor (26) contg. bed of material (24) impregnated with microorganisms which break down organic materials and (c) conveyor (38) connected at upper end with outlet (37) of the size-redn. device and at lower end with the inlet (41) of the drum (31).    The disposal device comprises (d) axis (13) located centrally in the drum (31), (e) an agitator with a paddle (17) on a shaft (16), between the axis (13) and the wall of thd drum (31), (f) drive (4) for rotating the agitator about its own axis, (g) drive (5) for rotating the agitator about the drum axis (13), (h) filter (18) for moisture produced located near the floor (26) of the drum, (i) liq. outlet (21) below the filter (18) extending over the drum floor, (j) air compressor (46) compressor (46) connected by pipes (48,20) to nozzles (30) in the liq. outlet space, and (k) vent pipe (40) in the roof (33) fitted with a gas-absorbing material (34).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For disposal of waste material, esp. cooked food waste from restaurants etc. Effective disposal is achieved without large capital investment required for incineration, and without unpleasant odours. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
Compacted, layered, microbially stabilised rotted material from various sources is used to form an eco-deposit. The compacted sections may be sepd. by intermediate layers, acting as solidification, sorption and buffer zones. They further increasing safety of the environment, and the base of the deposit may consist of such zones.    ADVANTAGE -   The compost is rendered inert, formation of CH4, malodorous substances, and drainage fluids, and movement of harmful substances, are avoided.
Recovery of pure methane from natural gas with mixt. components having boiling points higher and lower than that of methane by rectification at low temps. in a double column is claimed.     The novelty is that the natural gas stream is divided; one stream is used to heat the sump of the subcolumn (5)_then, after the pressure is lowered, is passed into the subcolumn, and a second stream is likewise used to heat (5), pressure-released and then used to cool the dephlegmator (15) of the second column (10) and finally removed in the fluid and gas phase.    USE/ADVANTAGE -    This process is used in the chemical -industry to recover pure methane from natural gas. Approximately pure methane gas is recovered with minimal technical and economical expenditure. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Prodn. of new mushroom growth stimulator (A) comprises anaerobically fermenting liquid manure from straw-free animal houses, sepg. the biomass from the sludge obtd. and drying it to a granulate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (A) is admixed with sterilised mushroom compost, pref. in amts. of 5-20 g/kg. The method is easier and cheaper to operate than the aerobic fermentation procedure described in DE 3140254. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Organic material composting bin (10), has perforated end covers (18,20) for an upright container having a continuous wall formed by two sections (12,14) connectable together. Pref. lengthwise edges of the sections have flanges (21,22) formed with holes (26-29) to receive fasteners such as clips or bolts and wing nuts.    ADVANTAGE -   Filled bin can be removed to leave contents in a pile. @(10pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Gas sepn. processes in which gases are contacted with a permeable membrane under pressure, which causes the selective permeation of gas(s) through the membrane, use as the membrane material a miscible blend of polyimide polymers each having recurring gps. of formula (I); A = tetravalent aromatic gp. contg. at least one benzene, naphthalene or polyphenyl nucleus: B = divalent aromatic gp.; n = 15-300; and at least one of A or B, or both, is selected from the tetra- or di-valent fluorinated di- adn tri-phenyl methane moieties of formulae (IIa) and (IIb), where Y = CF3 or phenyl, in which any position on any of the aromatic rings in those 4 structures carries a substit. selected from H, 1-3C alkyl and alkoxy, halogen. OH, NO2 and CH2=CH.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Although the components of the blends have different mol. structures and gas transport properties they are completely miscible. By varying the nature and proportions of the components mixts. can be used to prepare gas sepn. membranes having specifically tailored properties, pref. e.g. for sepn. of H2 from supercritical gases, of water vapour from natural gas, the enrichment of air by N2 or O2, and recovery of H2 from ammonia prodn. plant and from coal gassification processes. Thus permeability (P) of He, O2 and N2 respectively is at least 15, 0.4 and 0.05 Barrers; and min. ideal sepn. factors for He/CH4, CO2/CH4, N2/CH4 and O2/N2 are respectively 85, 35, 2 and 4.5.
Gases produced by fermentation of animal waste collects in a well beneath the surface of the waste, filled with pebbles. A drain, embedded in the well directs gases from beneath the surface, via a series of tubes, to a burner. A fan assists gas flow. Pipework above the surface, carrying gas, is supported on posts and by cables and pulleys, such that it is possible to lower the drain further into the well during use. Sections of the pipework, near the surface of the waste, and near the gas collection main are of flexible tubing, allowing movement of the pipework relative to its supports.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Disposal, by burning, of gasses produced by the fermentation of animal waste. No release of unpleasant odours. Pipework is supported high enough above the surface to allow free movement of vehicles beneath. @(13pp Dwg.No. 1/6)@
A system for composting materials in containers consists of a container (1) which receives the compostable material (2) and which has a perforated floor plate (3) to allow aeration of the material (2), and a compost removal device (15). Novelty is that at least 1 side wall (4) of the container has an opening (5) which extends along the length of the side wall (4), and through which the removal device (15) can be introduced into the container (1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in the composting of materials in enclosed containers where a mechanical system for removal of the composted material is provided. The removal of the composted material is achieved without the need to tilt the containers, and without the use of conveyor systems built into the individual containers. @(3pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Method is of regulating the viscosity of wood tar obtd. in washing charcoal-pile flue gases. The washing liquid for the pile gas-wash is wholly or partly fed to the circuit, and the flue gas is cooled to a regulating working temp. for the volatile constituents of the wash liquid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is for use in the prodn. of charcoal and burning of wood, and can be used in new or old installations. With low operational and equipment costs, wood tar with prescribed viscosities is separated from the charcoal-production flue gases. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/1)
In a process for producing a substitute for peat from organic substances, esp. woody materials, the material is crushed, shredded, abraded and physically broken down in a prepn. system (6) under high pressure and pref. at an increased temp. Impregnation of the material with additives is carried out at the same time, so as to produce a prod. which has peat-like characteristics and is suitable for use as a fertiliser even without composting. The addn. of, or mixing with, decomposition promoters, fungicides, cleaning agents, dyes, stabilising agents, odour inhibitors, odorisers, peat, in the form of charcoal, coal or activated charcoal, organic or mineral flours, bacterial preparations or pH regulators, may take place before the crushing and shredding process is started. The duration and intensity of the treatment are adjusted to suit the intended use of the prod, a temp. of 60 to 120 deg. C being used for making sterile peat substitutes. Sterilisation may follow the mechanical working process stage, as may a chopping and/or a moisturising or drying procedure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This invention is used in the prodn. of a material suitable for use as a substitute for peat in horticulture, so as to reduce the environmental damage being caused by the continued extn. of naturally occurring peat. @(19pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
A hollow fibre has an asymmetrically-wettable, porous wall. The fibre has an axial lumen. The surface of the wall facing the lumen defines an inside surface, and the surface facing radially outwards forms an outside surface. One of the inside and outside surfaces is hydrophilic and the other is hydrophobic. The wall of the hollow fibre has pores which pass through the wall providing liq. communication between the inside and outside surfaces.    USE -   A solute is transferred from a liq. feed soln. to a liq. extractant which is immiscible with the feed soln. In an exmaple, phenol is sepd. from waste water using MIBK or diisopropyl ether an an extractant. Alternatively, aromatics can be extracted from petroleum distillates using sulpholane or propylene carbonate as extractant. @(13pp Dwg.No.0/5)@
Treating facilities are operated, in the presence of oil coke, in an aeration tank.    The oil coke pref. used has specific surface area of over 150 mg/g measured by iodine adsorbence and is a dark brown porous residue recovered after pyrolysis of asphalt or pitch in a coking device. The oil coke is added so that concn. of suspended oil coke is 0.1-1%.    When the oil cokes are added to the aeration tankl they are suspended by aeration and sludge bacteria adsorbed on the surface of the coke are increased. The oil coke adsorbing sludge bacteria sediments rapidly in a sedimentation tak and so excess sludge shows improved dehydration.    ADVANTAGE -   Stability of the operation is improved. Dehydrating rate of excess sludge using dehydrator is improved. Excess sludge obtd. is used as a substitute for powdery coal in a coke oven or a blast furnace.
Sewage sludge having substantial amts. of bacteria pathogens, is stabilised. The sludge is placed in a pug mill to which is added an amount of fluidised bed combustion residue (FBCR) and an amt. of fly ash. The relative amts. of FBCR and fly ash are sufficient to cause an exothermic chemical reaction when mixed with the sludge. The mixt. is stored for a predetermined time at a predetermined temp. sufficient to eliminate the pathogens.    pref., the FBCR and fly ash are premixed with each other to form a single additive incorporated with the sludge. The additive pref. includes 10-90% FBCR, the additive forming 10-35% of the total mixture. Pref., the mixture is stored for at least three days while a substantial portion of it is at about 90 deg. During periods of excessive fly ash availability, this may be mixed with 10% w/w water to form conditioned fly ash stockpiled for use during periods of fly ash shortage.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The stabilised sewage sludge may either be used as a fertiliser or as a daily cover for a municipal waste landfill site. Alternatively, it may form the major portion of a landfill. The system uses two unwanted materials, i.e. sewage sludge and fly ash, and forms a single environmentally friendly prod.
A sample of the liq. is injected with a syringe into a chromatographic column contg. a sorbent (e.g. Polychrome) for the sepn. of methane and hydrogen dissolved in the organic solvent. Before injecting the sample, it is diluted with water to improve the sepn. The quality of water is 50-80% by volume of the sample.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in processes for prodn. of polymer materials. Improved limits of detection of gases dissolved in acetone or ethanol. Bul.16/30.4.91 @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The furnace comprises an enclosed melting chamber for liquefying the waste plastic, a thermal decomposition chamber for gasifying liquefied waste plastic, a passage for connecting the melting chamber to the thermal decomposition chamber and one end of which is opened in the bottom portion of the melting chamber, a heater for heating the melting chamber and the thermal decomposition chamber which is formed in the upper portion of the furnace and communicating to the thermal decomposition chamber.    ADVANTAGE -   Liquefaction, gasifying and reforming of waste plastic are performed by heat generated by a combustion device. Since the melting chamber communicates to the thermal decomposition chamber, liquefied waste plastic is introduced to the thermal decomposition chamber by internal pressure of the melting chamber. When a sensor is arranged for adjusting the liq. level in the melting chamber, solid waste plastic is supplied automatically. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/4)
The appts. includes a receiver vessel surrounded by an adiabatic wall and provided with gas holes at side wall. Space is provided between the adiabatic wall and the side wall of the receiving vessel, and a warm water pipe is arranged along side water in the space. A warm air nozzle pipe is provided inside the receiver vessel, and warm air generator with heat exchanger is connected to warm air nozzle pipe. Warm water unit is provided to feed warm water to warm water pipe and heat exchanger.    ADVANTAGE -   The entire space inside the receiving vessel can be heated to temp. suitable for fermentation. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Required additives are added to organic waste e.g. animal/plant residues, and are crushed in a treatment tank, and simultaneously, heated up to 80-100 deg. C for fermentation and drying to obtain powder of 15-20% moisture.    Device used to mfr. the organic fertiliser or feed comprises a horizontal and cylindrical treating tank having a feed port at the top, a discharge port on the side, a suction port provided with a hot air heater, an exhaust port, and a heater to heat the treating tank to 80-100 deg. C; a shaft provided in the centre of the cylindrical treating tank and driven by a motor; first crushing arms and second crushing arms mounted perpendicularly to the shaft at specified intervals; and first obstacle members and second obstacle members provided on the inside surface of treating tank to prevent free movement and jumping of material to be treated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for reuse of kitchen refuse, residue of broiler, animal carcass, food mfr. residue, etc. In this device, any organic waste can be crushed, so residue of broiler, animal carcass, etc. can be completely crushed to powder. Any type of organic waste can be treated to reuse as fertiliser or feed. Prod. is obtd. in the form of powder, so it can be easily mixed with other fertiliser or feed. @(6pp Dwg.No 0/0)
A method of processing peat comprises adjusting the pH value of the peat and allowing earthworms to inhabit the pH-adjusted peat in quantity for a sufficient period of time to cause the peat to be processed into a compost.    Also claimed is the processed peat.    The pH value of the peat is increased to 5.5-6 (the pH value of the earth is increased by using an alkaline material esp. CaCO3). The peat is processed in a peat bag and the earthworms are introduced in quantity into the peat after the pH adjustment. The peat is maintained in a moist condition throughout the period and covered with litter such as chopped hay shredded newspaper and/or animal dung during the processing. The peat is heat insulated against frost materials having plant growth improving properties and phosphates are added to the peat.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Improved method of peat processing. The worm castings or manure provides a concentrated source of high-grade plant nutrient and after peat processing the worms may be harvested for protein feed, fishing etc. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Compsn. for chemical-biological treatment of animal excrement comprises 0.05-2 kg bacteria, 0.15-8 kg enzymes, 0.1-25 kg living yeast, 35-40 kg NaCl, 50-60 kg CaCO3, 2-3 kg colloidal silica and iron oxide 1 kg.    ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is used to recover agriculturally useful elements and eliminate pollution in recovering them. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Azeotropic mixts. (I) having min. b.pt. consist of 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (II) and propane (III). At 1.013 bars (I) boils at about -53.4 deg C and contains about 70.6 wt% II and 29.4% III.    Thermodynamic properties of (I) compared to II or III alone under conditions similar to those in single-stage deep-freeze tunnels (condensation temp. = 30 deg C, evapn. temp. = -50 deg C, liq. supercooling = 5 deg C.)    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) are used as refrigerant, aerosol propulsant, and blowing agent for plastic foam. (II) does not affect the ozone layer in the atmos. (I) has a lower b.pt. than II above, and is therefore more useful for industrial deep-freezing. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Prodn. of C2+ hydrocarbons is effected by contacting a CH4-contg. gas with a mixed metal oxide (I) at 500-1000 deg C. (I) is of formula MCo1-xFexOy, where M = at least one alkaline earth metal, x = a no. greater than 0 but not greater than 1, and y = 2.5-3.5.    Pref. (I) is contacted alternately with (a) the CH4-contg. gas in the absence of O2 at 500-850 deg C, and (b) an 02-contg. regeneration gas at a higher temp. than in (a). Pref. (I) have M = Ba or Sr, x = 0.1-0.6 and y = 2.7-3.1.    ADVANTAGE -   The process gives ethane and ethylene with high selectivity, e.g. 90-97% at yields of 1-4%. @(12pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
The installation for converting plastics (e.g. plastic waste) into oil has a thermal-reaction arrangement (1) for heating, melting and vaporising the material. There is a heating tank (2) with an agitator (3), and a furnace (4) for heating the tank.    The installation includes any suitable feed mechanism (20) and a delivery chamber (19). The heating tank (2), with pref. 15-40% of its height protruding from the furnace (4), has a body shaped to allow the agitator (3), with its blades (10), to stir up the plastics close to the inner surface of the tank body and, together with the scraping action of the blades, inhibit a build-up of material there. Gaseous mixt. from the heating tank is cooled in the condenser (5) and liquefied to produce oil, which goes into the oil tank (22). The burner (31) burns oil that has been converted in the installation, so that no extra fuel is necessary.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The installation produces a high proportion of oil from the plastics, and leaves only a small amt. of residue in the heating tank, thereby overcoming a serious drawback of such installation. @(16pp Dwg.No 1/9)@
Phytosanitary agent according to DE 3910061 contains (I) natural carboxylic acids or their salts and/or at least two amino acids or their salts. (II) purines and/or their derivs. and/or pyrimidines and/or their derivs; and (III) vitamins or their derivs. or precursors, so that the wt. ratio of individual cpds. of components (I), (II) and (III) is 0.1-10:0.001-1:0.001-1.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The agent is used to prevent and treat plant illnesses of biotic origin to increase yields and to safeguard products. The agent is esp. useful when mixed with fermentation prods. from plants and plant residues (e.g. composts), marine brown algae, animal residues (e.g. manure) or mixts. which are enriched with microorganisms, esp. bacteria, yeasts, fungi and unicellular algae. The agent is esp. useful against Phytophthora infestars, Botrytis anerea, Plasmopara viticola, Erisiphegraminis, Uncinula necator, Tilletia sp. and Pseudopeziza tracheiphila. The agent can be used to treat the parts of the plant above the earth, or to treat the harvested prod. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Manure, sewage sludge, refuse etc. are disposed of by a method in which material is preconditioned through prodn. of optimum mixing conditions for compositing, with a water content of 60-65 wt.%, pH value of 6.5-7, C/N ratio of 20-30:1, and a bulk density of 600-800 kg/m3. Composting is carried out in an aerated reactor with constant movement at 65-78 deg.C for several days, reducing water content to 20-30 wt.%. Conditioning is carried out at 28-38 deg.C and relative humidity of 90% for 10-14 days with water content adjustment to 20-30 wt.%.    ADVANTAGE -   Accelerated composting in economic process.
Liq. manure with a small solids content is aerobically treated, with the evolved heat augmented by waste heat from an IC engine operating with bio-gas.    This waste heat is applied to the water in a cooling jacket surrounding the pipe taking compressed air from a centrifugal pump in order to supply the aerobic process. The heat transfer surface area is directly related to total heat evolution, and has internal channels of specified dimensions.    Froth from a fermenter continuously passes an overflow into an adjacent container where a lower liq. level is maintained by a sensor. At regular intervals, e.g. hourly, the liq. fraction of the manure is sprayed on to the froth and breaks down the bubbles. Spray pressure is provided by a valve-controlled by-pass from the compressed air pipe.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For agricultural bio-gas plant, or for small scale sewage treatment, possibly in conjunction with denitrification. Energy utilisation is improved.
Improved chromatographic analysis and appts., for analysing a hydrocarbon sample contg. isoparaffins, normal paraffins, naphthenes and aromatics, comprises (a) separating the aromatics of the sample from the isoparaffins, the normal paraffins and the naphthenes of the sample; (b) from a first portion of the separated isoparaffins, normal paraffins and naphthenes, separating isoparaffins, normal paraffins, and naphthenes using pure hydrogen carrier gas and detecting the resulting individual isoparaffins, normal paraffins and naphthenes having 1-13C (c) from a second portion of the sepd. isoparaffins, normal paraffins, and naphthenes, separating and detecting individual isoparaffins, normal paraffins and naphthenes components of the sample for components of 1-9C and (d) individually separating and detecting the sepd. aromatics of the sample.    ADVANTAGE -   A detailed analysis is provided in about one and a half hours of the isoparaffins, normal paraffins, naphthenes and aromatics of a hydrocarbon sample boiling below about 255 deg. C, including the C5/C6 ring naphthenes distribution within that sample, the data may be used to provide an input into a plant model to determine what control actions are necessary to optimise a reformer process. @(14pp Dwg.No.1/8)@
Light material (glass, plastics, wood, textiles, rubber, etc.) from the shredding of motor vehicles is pyrolysed to produce gaseous, liq. and solid fractions. Each fraction is combined with a gaseous, liq., solid or mixed material that constitutes a starting material or intermediate prod. in a known chemical process, and is processed and upgraded in the corresp. chemical process.    Pref. pyrolysis is effected in the absence of O2 at 450-650 (esp. 550) deg.C, with simultaneous cracking of any organochlorine prods. The gaseous fraction is combined with untreated coke-oven gas or hydrogenation effluent gas. The liq. fraction is combined with untreated used lubricating oil or an oil fraction from a petroleum or coal refining process. The solid fraction is combined with coking coal or a petroleum coker feedstock.    ADVANTAGE -   Dumping of the light material is avoided. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Composter is a sheet of wrap-around material, e.g. polyethylene with holes and a lid. The composter pref. uses a disposable liner.    ADVANTAGE -   Easy to reach composted material merely requiring removal of clips holding the ends together. Can be stored flat or rolled up when not in use. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/6)
Appts. for fermenting organic material with successive gps. of microorganisms in a digester drum divided into a series of treatment compartments by transverse partitions. Each partition has the shape of a geometric segment of a circle bounded by parallel chordal lines. The drum is inclined to the horizontal with the inlet at the upper end and outlet at the lower end.    Transfer buckets receive material from a higher compartment and transfer it to the adjacent lower one. Each bucket is bounded on one side by a first surface formed by the drum wall, on the other by a second surface extending from the chordal line and extending downstream longitudinally of the drum, and on a third side by a surface joining the first and second surfaces.    Flow inhibitors in the form of annular flanges are disposed in each compartment between the partitions to retain a predetermined quantity of material in each compartment to act as inoculant for material entering the compartment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is used for making organic fertiliser from waste such as municipal garbage, sewage sludge, animal manure or canning factory waste. The speed of inter-compartment transfer is increased to improve composting efficiency. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/6)@
Hydrate-formation inhibitor - methanol-prodn.-wastes are added to gas flow or into hydrate-bed zone. Inhibitor is a methanol-fraction from sulphite-alcohol prodn. based on sulphite-lye and alcohol-fermentation of cultures of yeast, species -'Saccharomyces', 'Fabospora' and 'Zygofabospora'.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To prevent/remove hydrate-formation in natural gases, in extn. industrial prodn., pipeline-transport and storage of natural and petroleum by-prod. gases. Inhibitor consumption and operational expenditure are reduced. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Recovering process for isobutane and methacrolein is carried out by cooling reaction gas contg. methacrylic acid and/or methacrolein, which is obtd. by vapour phase catalytic oxidn. of isobutane, to separate methacrylic acid by condensation, sepg. methacrolein by absorption with water based solvent and then sepg. isobutane by absorption with organic solvent.    Pref., the water based solvent is aq. soln. of acetic acid, aq. soln. of methacrylic acid and/or water can be used. As the organic solvent, 6-20C aliphatic hydrocarbon, alicyclic hydrocarbon and/or aromatic hydrocarbon are used.    ADVANTAGE -   Recovered isoprene and methacrolein can be recycled to reactor with accuracy. Organic solvent and water based solvent can be separated easily by phase sepn. Isobutane can be recovered safely without danger of explosion even when reaction gas contains oxygn with high concn. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Storage container is designed for compost and sludge. Container has flat floor on which there is rake conveyor. At outlet of container there is a screw conveyor.    Pref. there are two floor conveyors which are moved using rams (6) that are connected to rakes (5). Material (14) is removed via outlet (7) into trough of screw conveyor (2).    ADVANTAGE -   Floor conveyor removes material in layers. Storage time is same in all parts of container, and contents are mixed evenly. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Process and appts. for composting biological materials. Heat produced by the reaction rises above the heap, is cooled and falls via a central or side channel to the heap base where it is drawn in again, thus forming a self-circulating air flow. Moisture is picked up during circulation and carried into the heap.    Appts. comprises a closed, insulated container with a continuous, perforated central pipe in which a water container with an exposed water surface is suspended. An annular gap remains between the water container and central pipe for air circulation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for efficient composting with more rapid material breakdown. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
In-vessel compositing system for organic waste comprises first and second compost reactors, each reactor having a respective organic-waste containment vessel and a fluid injection and distribution system. The fluid injection and distribution system associated with the first compost reactor introduces process fluid to the first reactor and exhausts partially spent fluid. At least a portion of the exhaust fluid is passed to the second compost reactor for use as a process fluid.    Pref. the exhaust fluid passes through an odour controller before reaching the second compost reactor. Partially spent process fluid from the second reactor may also be recycled to the odour controller. A portion of the exhaust fluid from the odour controller may be exhausted out of the system. The temp. of the exhaust fluid is lowered in a heat exchanger before it reaches the odour controller.    The odour controller opt has a plug flow design and includes pollution treatment zones. Pollution removal may comprise passing effluent from a cure reactor or a bioreactor through two washing zones, a first scrubbing zone, a third washing zone, second scrubbing zone and a fourth washing zone, then removing mist from the resulting effluent.    The fluid injection and distribution system may include at least one lance, through which fluid is injected, comprising an outer porous wall spaced from an insert having openings. Portions of the outer wall and insert are separated by adjustable gaskets forming separate fluid-flow zones to prevent internal short circuiting of the fluid flow.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In-vessel compositing system reduces the quantity of fluid discharged into the atmos. Particulates and noxious and malodorous gases are removed before exhaust discharge.
In the conversion of organic material waste into liq. fuel, waste of prods. made of organic materials, including industrial, craft, household, plastic, and FRP-made-ship--body prods. is dry-distilled and cooled to form a liquefied carbonisation prod. and the carbonisation prod. is modified further to a readily combustible liq. fuel.    The equipment for the treatment has a distn. oven to phase-change solid, powder, liq. gel, and/or sludge waste to gaseous carbonisation prod. a vacuum device to reduce the pressure in the oven down to a presure below atmospheric pressure, a heating means to heat the oven body indirectly and externally, a cooling means to cool the gaseous distn. prod. so as to condense to a liq. distn. prod. Also a water and air injecting means to float micro-drops of water adhered with ultra-micro-bubbles of air into the liq. distillation prod. to modify incombustible matter in the prod. to easily combustible fuel matter, and a stirrer for the liq. prod. water, and air to make drops and air bubbles more fine and enhance the electric charge of the drops and bubbles.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method allows any type organic waste to be converted easily into a liq. fuel.
Mfr. comprises compressing the evapn. of foaming agent consisting of 20-70 mol% of 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane and/or 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane and 30-80 mol% of a hydrocarbon to produce an extruded foam having a density of 2 x 10 power (-2) - 4.5 x 10 power (-2) g/cm3 into a polystyrene resin.    Pref. hydrocarbon is propane and/or butane which contains at least 50 wt% of isobutane. Polystyrene resin is polystyrene, a copolymer of styrene and alpha-styrene, or styrene with maleic anhydride. Evaporative foaming agent is freon-123 and/or freon-14lb.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as a material for floor, wall or ceiling of a residential housing. Method gives a lasting heat insulation without using freon-12 or 114 which causes ozone layer destruction. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Compsn. for treating manure comprises bacteria and yeast on a colloidal material (A) as support. (A), which is 6-12 wt.% of the compsn., is organic (i.e. guar or carob gum; carraghenates; casein (or its Na, K or Ca salts); starch or its derivs.; gelatin; cellulose or its derivs., pectin, or esp. alginic acid (or its Na,K or' Ca salts) or inorganic (i.e. Na, Ca or K polyphosphate or Al silicate). The bacteria are Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, B. brevis, and lactic bacteria such asLactobacillus plantarium, L. brevis or Leuconostoc spp. They are present at 0.1-1000 (1-100) million cells/g of support. The yeast are Saccharomyces, Candida, Rhodotorula or Geotrichum, at the same loading as the bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is added at 50-300 (100-200)g per cu.m. of 'crust' or sediment to be treated. This treatment causes complete liquefaction in only a few weeks, allowing the manure to be pumped out easily, restoring the full capacity of the storage tank. The method can be applied to animal manure or to faecal matter from septic tanks. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Pyrolytic conversion system for hydrocarbon containing materials includes a converter drum with opposite ends, a first of which is elevated above a second. Drum has axis of rotation about which converter drum is rotatable and an outer stationary drum disposed around the converter drum defines a first chamber within which converter drum is disposed. Casing is disposed around outer drum defining an oven chamber and means heats the oven chamber to maintain the converter drum at a temp. sufficient to pyrolyse the materials. Means connected to first chamber near first end converter drum extracts product gases of pyrolysation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Pyrolysis conversion systems utilising rotary drum pyrolytic converters with flexibility in the capacity of the system to increase the capacity of the system without extensive modifications. @(32pp Dwg.No.4/40)
Contaminated ground, which may vary greatly in area and the possible types of contamination, is purified by a succession of individual bioreactors, acting independently but linked together by a support system formed of profiled metal girders.    The bioreactors, comparable in size with cement mixers, are taken in parallel or succession through the afflicted area, while propelled by chains or a belt drive. The bacterial stages may be preceded by washing and/or chemical treatment.    Individual reactors may transfer material via feed worms or conveyor belts. Feed apertures may be at only one end of the reactor, but apertures at opposite ends permit continuous linear operation.    ADVANTAGE -   Modular system is highly adaptable.
Process for eliminating solid organic materials by pyrolytic decomposition comprises comminuting the material to be treated; coating the pieces of material with an adherent layer of powder consisting at least of TiO2 or ZnO and carbon black; placing the coated pieces of material in a chamber under reduced press.; irradiating the material with electromagnetic waves to heat the material in bulk to a temp. not greater than 400 deg. C whilst avoiding superficial overheating; and withdrawing the gases produced during the pyrolysis as they are formed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The powder used to coat the pieces of material to be treated facilitates penetration of the electromagnetic energy into the prim. material and catalyses the pyrolysis reaction. The process is esp. useful for pyrolytic processing of scrap tyres and plastics without working under conditions of temp. and press. at which the danger of explosion exists. The condensable gases obtd. from the pyrolysis can be refined to yield gas oil, fuel oils, aromatic materials, etc. The non-condensable gases (mainly methane) can be used e.g. to drive a gas engine to generate electricity. The carbon black residue can be re-used for the mfr. of tyres. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A polyimide (I) is claimed having repeating structure -N=(K)=N-(Q)- (K = K) Q = (Q); and R, R' = H or 1-4C alkyl). Also claimed are: prepn (I) by reacting in inert solvent 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)-bis-(phthalic anhydride) (6FDA) with a diamino-diphenylenesul-phone of formula (II); a membrane comprising (I); sepg a mixt of gases using such a membrane; and gas sepn appts comprising gas permeation module, gas inlet and gas outlet connected to module, and semi-permeable membrane comprising (I) dividing cell between inlet/outlet.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Polyimide provides useful gas sepn membrane having high permeability and acceptable selectivity.
Aerosol (I) comprises (A) silicone and/or silicone deriv(s). with index of refraction of less than 1.50, (B) abietic-acid and/or its derivs. and (C) LPG, which are homogeneously dissolved with each other. (D) 1-3C Alcohol is in (I) in ratio of amts. of (C)/(D) = 10/0-2/8. (A) Silicone and/or silicone deriv. is pref. dimethyl-, quat. modified dimethyl-, or epoxy-modified dimethyl-polysiloxane, etc.. (B) Abietic-acid and/or its derivs. is pref. abietic-, tetrahydro-abietic- or dehydro-abietic-acid, tetrahydro-abietic-isostearte ester, etc.. (D) 1-3C Alcohol is pref. ethanol, isopropanol, etc.. Ratio of amts. of (A)/(B) is 50/1-1/10. Amt. of applied (I) is pref. 0.01-5 wt.% w.r.t. fabric.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Agent of aerosol for giving good colour-developed dyed fabric, deep- and clear-colour in domestic use, can be produced, which can remove shininess of cloth used for long period by spraying agent. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The activated graphite is gasified by hydrogenation or combustion, and C-14 is sepd. from the gas by isotope sepn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method treats the activated graphite generated in a graphite-moderate reactor. The activated graphite, a waste prod., is classified into C-14-contg. graphite and the C-14-free graphite. The C-14 is used as a tracer. The C-14-free gas is used as fuel or for chemical industrial raw materials when the gas is hydrocarbon. The C-14-free gas is discharged to the air when the C-14 prod. is carbon dioxide. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Isobutane (I) and methacrolein (II) are sepd. from the reaction gas obtd. in catalytic oxidn. of (I) in the gaseous phase by absorption with a 6-20C aliphatic and/or aromatic hydrocarbon. (I) and (II) are recycled from the absorbed solvent by distillation. Pref. the 0.5-100 mol eq. of organic solvent to (I) is used. The absorption reaction is carried at -20-100 deg.C and at 1-10 kg/cm2G.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Recovery of (I) and (II) at the same time shortens the oxidn. process of (I) to (II) and/or methacrylic acid (III). @(6pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Isobutane (I) and methacrolein (II) are separated from the reaction gas obtained in the catalytic oxidation of (I) in gaseous phase by absorption in to an organic solvent, comprising aliphatic and/or aromatic hydrocarbon of C8-C20. (I) and (II) are recycled from the solvent by air-stripping.    0.5-100 mol equiv. of organic solvent to (I) is used. The absorption reaction is carried out at -20 to 100 deg.C and at 1-10 kg/cm2G.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Recovery of (I) and (II) at the same time can effectively shorten the oxidation process of (I) to (II) and/or methacrylic acid (III). In this method economical air can be used as a stripping gas.    In an example. reaction gas ((I):36.9 mol%, (II):0.3 mol%, O2:7.4 mol%, and others:55.4 mol%) after removal of (III) and high boiling point compounds was supplied to the lower part of absorption tower (8.1 Nl/min) and n-paraffin (a mixture of decane (22 wt.%), undecane (52 wt.%), and dodecane (26 wt.%)) to the upper part of the tower (4.5 kg/hr). Cooling the tower (-12 deg.C) gave unreacted (I) and (II) in 99.5% and 100%, respectively. The absorbed soln. was supplied to the upper part of diffusion tower (4.9 kg/hr) and air to the lower part of the tower (5.15 Nl/min). Collected (I)(99.8%) and (II) (87%) in the air was supplied again to the reaction tower with new (I). @(6pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Recovery of oil from a petroleum reservoir is effected by (a) injecting an oil-mobilising agent (I) to displace oil from areas of the reservoir; (b) stopping injection of (I); and (c) injecting steam and an oil-sensitive surfactant (II) capable of generating foam in areas contg. less than 15 PV% oil, whereby foam generated in the oil-depleted areas diverts the steam to areas having a higher oil concn.    (I) comprises (a) a gas and a surfactant or (b) an organic solvent.    Specifically (I) comprises (a) a combination of steam, N2, CH4, flue gas, CO2, CO or air and an alkyl aromatic sulphonate with an equiv. wt. of 450-600, or (b) benzene, toluene or xylene. (II) is a 10-48C alpha-olefin sulphonate dimer surfactant or a 16-24C alpha-olefin sulphonate surfactant. (II) is used in an amt. of 0.01-10% based on the water phase of the steam injected in step (c).    ADVANTAGE -   Preflush step (a) improves the ability of (II) to generate foam in high-permeability areas.
Method for converting light hydrocarbons to higher hydrocarbons and MeOH comprises: (a) contacting a gas contg. light hydrocarbons with an oxidative synthesising agent to form higher hydrocarbons from at least part of the light hydrocarbons; (b) recovering the obtd. higher hydrocarbons; (c) separately recovering CO2 produced in (a); (d) mixing the CO2 with H2 or synthesis gas; (e) contacting the mixt. from (d) with an agent capable of synthesising MeOH; and (f) recovering the MeOH.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for converting e.g. methane or natural gas to MeOH and/or gasoline or ethylene. Higher space velocities can be used, which can reduce the large catalyst inventory otherwise required, and air or 02 can be used to reoxygenate the oxidative synthesising agent in situ while it synthesises the conversion prod. @(45pp Dwg.No.0/4)
Method for prepn. of a catalyst for conversion of methane to ethane and ethylene, comprising: (a) mixing an alcoholic soln. of an Mg alkoxide with an alcoholic soln. contg. an Li source, to obtain an Mg:Li ratio; (b) opt. introducing an effective amt. of Cl to the mixt.; (c) hydrolysing the Mg alkoxide in the soln. to form a gel; and (d) calcining the gel to form a catalyst effective for converting methane to ethane and ethylene.    Pref. the catalyst contains at least 7 wt.% of Cl; the mole ratio of Mg:Li is 3:1 and a soln. of Al alkoxide may be added in step (b) to provide an Mg:Al mole ratio of 7:1. The Mg alkoxide soln. is Mg 3-methyl-1-butoxide dissolved in 3-methyl-1-butanol and the Li cpd. soln. is LiNO3 in EtOH.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Methane obtd. from, e.g. natural gas or anaerobic digestion and as a process by-prod. is converted at high yield (e.g. 65%) to ethylene which is useful for e.g. plastics mfr. Greater conversions and superior selectivities to ethylene are obtd. at lower temps., than with conventional catalysts.
(+4.11.77, 8.4.79, 13.7.91, 5.3.82, 30.7.82, 18.6.84, 22.10.85-US-848705, 028383, 282592, 355150, 429166, 621740, 790304) A baffle oxidn. ditch comprises an endless channel with sides and contg. a flowing mixed liquor. A pump/aerator is positioned in the ditch. This has a downdraught tube, an impeller rotatable within it, and an aerator positioned beneath the impeller for aerating the mixed liquor pumped down by the impeller. The aeration of the flowing mixed liquor is controlled independently of the flow velocity. A discharge duct is connected to the bottom of the downdraught tube and is aligned with the sides.    A baffle is arranged across the ditch and extends beneath the surface of the mixed liquor. This intercepts a portion of the flow which has moved past the pump/aerator and has not been pumped down the tube.    USE -   The appts. is used for an activated sludge treatment of waste, e.g. municipal sewage, tannery wastes, dairy wastes or meat processing wastes. @(44pp Dwg.No.0/5)
Device extending along the inner surface of a rotary kiln, is clamped against a plate embedded in the refractory lining using a bolt which passes through the kiln wall. The bolt head engages with a clamping plate, and slotted holes are incorporated in some components to accomodate lengthwise thermal movement.    Each lifting device (40) has an elongated channel form, and is fitted against the refractory lining (38) of the kiln. Pref., twelve such channels are fitted to a kiln. A base plate (82) is embedded in the lining, together witha surrounding split ring (76). A mounting plate (72) is attached to the base plate, and channel (40) is held against plate (72) by a bolt (56) which passes through a retaining plate (90) and a sleeve (58) which penetrates the kiln wall.    All internal components are pref. made from stainless steel, with particular types being selected as appropriate to the working location.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The device agitates sand in kilns of the type used for incineration, e.g. of oil shale or waste material contg. organic cpds. Its clamping arrangements reduce the deleterious effects of abrasion previously caused by hot sand penetrating between the device and the kiln wall, and also of stresses induced by thermal movement. @(6pp Dwg.No.3/15)@
The thickner comprises a cylindrical body with bottom cone, mounted directly on a discharge box. The latter incorporates a diaphragm pump, which draws the thickened product into the box or displaces it, either for disposal or for recirculation.    The discharge box (6) inlet (2) is closed by the shut-off valve (9), mounted on a pivoted crank with regulating spring. The valve is opened by the suction created by the diaphragm pump. On the pressure stroke of the pump, the valve (10), mounted on the pivoted crank (12) with adjustable spring (17), is opened, allowing the thickened prod. to be discharged for disposal. The valve is incorporates an adjustable stop for controlling the flow. A similar valve arrangement (8) is provided for recirculating the thickened product to the bottom of the thickener, through the pipe line (31).    ADVANTAGE -   Improved efficiency and reliability of thickeners used in the coal and mining industries. Bul.38/15.10.90
Aerobic composting without extensive release of odour, ofliq. and/or solid animal excrements (A) mixed with organic carbon source (B), e.g. waste paper or wood waste) comprises (a) charging a fermentation drum (b) with A and B in a wt. ratio 3:1-1:3 together with a bacterial mass at 0.75-7.5 kg (dry matter/tonne so as to produce a mixt. of moisture content 40-80% and C:N ratio 5-30:1; (b) the rotated drum (20-80% full) is aerated for 0.5-10 days at a temp. increasing from 50-70 deg.C.; (c) the pre-rotted material is mixed with green waste (C: from bunker), which has been comminuted nad has pore vol. 20-60%; (d) the resulting mixt. (opt. with mechanical turning) is subjected to intense composting for 1-8 weeks in 0.5-3m heaps deposited on an aeration plate; (e) the material is subjected to sec. compositing for 1-20 weeks in 0.5-4 m heaps; (f) the waste air from the liq. manure reservoir and various composting steps is passed to biowasher with liq. gas ratio 1-5 1/cu.m., gas velocity in contact zone at most 1 m/sec. mean dwell time 0.5-1.5 sec.: mean pressure drop 0.3-2 mbar, nd layer thickness 0.5-1.5m; (g) bacterial mass for accelerated and selective destruction of odour components is generated by adding liq. excretment, at 5-20% of the total amt. of manure, to the activation bond; (h) overflow sludge form the post-clarifying pond is transferred to bacterial-multiplication point; (i) bacteria are grown in, operated with hydraulic retention time of 0.5-2 days by controlled addn. of excretment, condensate, and ground water, (j) the bacterial mass of 5-20 kg dry matter/cu.m. is thickened and dewatered to 50-250 kg/cu.m; (k) waste air is passed over a biofilter of 50 wt.% fully rotted compost and 50 wt.% coarsely-granular bark compost at 10-300 cu.m./sq.m./hr.. with mean dwell time 5-90 sec., layer height 0.5-1.5 m and moisture content 40-60%.
New gas separation membrane comprises a thin layer consisting mainly of a polyester or copolyester deriving from the reaction of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid or derivative and 50% mole or more of tetrabromobisphenol A (I). The dicarboxylic cpd. comprises (a) isophthalic acid or its dichloride and/or 4 bromoisophthalic acid or its dichloride and (b) terephthalic acid or its dichloride and/or 2 bromoterephthalic acid or its dichloride and the molar ratio of iso/tere dicarboxylic cpds. is 80/20 to 20/80, pref. 30/70 to 20/80.    The (co)polyester can derive from aromatic dicarboxylic acid or derivative and a mixt. of diols comprising 50% mole or more of tetrabromobisphenol A (I) and 50% mole or less of another bisphenol, pref. 4,4(2,2,2trifluoro-1(trifluoromethyl -ethylide bis(2,6-dibromophenol).    USE -   /ADVNTAGE - The membrane has exceptional gas separation properties e.g. O2/N2, CO2/CH4 and He/CH4 and has enhanced O2, CO2 and He permeabilities. It is useful for the selective permeation of one component from a gas mixt.
Conversion of solid waste into a synthesis gas suitable for producing liq. fuel comprises: (a) partially oxidising and combusting the waste at 800-1000 deg. C in a closed combustion zone by introducing, at a pressure below ambient, a gaseous oxidant comprising O2 (95 vol.% pure) and CO2 in a ratio 60:40-40:60, to produce combustion gases; (b) conducting the combustion gases, O2 and CO2 through and in intimate contact with the solid waste; (c) withdrawing from the zone a producer gas comprising combustion gas and unreacted oxidant gas; (d) removing particulate matter from the producer gas; (e) separating CO2 form the producer gas for recycling of at least part; and (f) separating less volatile components (methane and higher HC) of the producer gas from non-condensable synthesis gases (CO, H2). The producer gas is compressed prior to step (e).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For recycling solid waste in an environmentally responsible manner, avoiding discharge of CO2 and, by breaking down organic matter to cpds. of 4C or less, avoiding release of noxious gases. Conversion of at least 50% solid to MeOH is attainable.
The amts. of NH3 released into the air by the decomposition of livestock excrement or urine is reduced by treatment with an NH3-scavenging compsn. comprising an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid (I). (I) is oxalic acid, 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, 1,3-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, 1,1-cyclobutane dicarboxylic acid, 1,2-cyclopentane dicarboxylic acid, or polyacrylic acid.    Uses compsns. contg. (I), and pref. also a solubilising agent (esp. H2O or a glycol), a dispersing agent (esp. a halide or sulphate salt), a fragrance, and an absorbent (esp. sawdust or rice hulls). Esp. prefd. compsns. comprise a soln. (esp. H2O) contg. 0.1-25% esp. 1-15% (I), and 0.1-50% pref. 5-10% dispersing agent. A prefd. (I) is oxalic acid.    ADVANTAGE -   The highly effective method uses compsns. that may be directly applied to waste environments, and which have long-term scavenging and retarding capability. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
CO2 gas in combustion exhaust is absorbed in sea water. The sea water is supplied to algae culture base, so that CO2 is fixed in the algae.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to separate and fix CO2 contained in combustion exhaust. A larger amt. of CO2 can be fixed in a short time.    In an example, waste gas contg. 13.83 vol.% CO2 was produced in 690,000 Nm3/h from a coal burning power plant of 220 MW; waste gas was supplied to an absorption tower where 8.9 ton/h CO2 were absorbed in 52,800 m3/h of sea water (4.7 % CO2 were absorbed); the sea water was pumped to an algae culture base where algae were cultured at 4.54 ton/h at a rate of 50 g (dry)/m2 day. The sea water was dehydrated and the resultant dried algae were stored; they were used as fuel or valuable materials were recovered from them. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/1)pl
A method of inhibiting growth of microorganisms in a culture medium prior to its utilisation while assisting growth of bifidobacterias, consists in bringing its pH to 4.5-5.5 and incorporating 0.5-20, pref. 2-15% propionic acid. The culture medium is also claimed.    Pref. the method is applied to prodn. of cultures of bifidobacterias used for ingestion or as yeast for fermented prods. such as ensilage and yoghurt and also for counting and isolating bifidobacterias.    USE -   The method can be applied to any (in)organic compsn. capable of supporting a microbial growth, e.g. milk or ground vegetable or semi-synthetic. @(12pp Dwg.No.0/0)
In the neutralisation of unpleasant industrial smells by vaporisation of aromas into the gaseous effluents from industrial plants, an aq. soln. of an aromatic compsn. chosen for a pleasant scent is vaporised by means of compressed air into the source of the odours in the plant. The aromatic compsn. is lipo-sol., rendered water-sol. by addn. of a 3rd cpd., and is present in concn. of 0.1-10 vols.%.    Pref. the concn. of the aromatic compsn. in the aq. soln. is about 2 vols.%. The substrate is strawberry, lemon, mint chlorophyll, mint, pine, green apple or vervain. The 3rd cpd. is 10-60- wt.%, w.r.t. the aromatic compsn., of an ethoxylated alkylphenol, esp. 50% of ethoxylated nonylphenol.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is used in industries of all types, esp. in water-purificn. or sludge treatment plant, and can also be used in refineries, esp. against emission of SO2 and mercaptans. The process can be continuous. @(14pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Material such as liq. manure from which sepn. of solids is made difficult by the slimey nature of the mixt. is pumped into the first compartment (2) of a horizontal separator. Outside this compartment is a vibrator (4) whose oscillations aren transmitted via connecting ribs (5) to a vibrator (6) immersed in the manure, beyond a sealing membrane. All vibratory/ oscillatory elements are mounted on springs or resilient buffers.    The second compartment of the separator has at least one sieve basket (12) holding the turns of a worm for compressing the manure with liq. emerging through a lower outlet (18), with reduced viscosity. Solids are removed as a compacted plug (17) of crumbly material from the final discharge end, under control of a regulator (16).    ADVANTAGE -   Final prod. is given the dry content of over 30% desirable for composting. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
In prodn. of biogas from biosludge contg. components causing problems, pref. 1-8 mg/l of Hg, 5-25 mg/l of surfactants and 1-8 mg/l of cyanide, in a 1- or 2-stage reactor under anaerobic conditions, at pH 7.0-8.5 and in the mesophilic or thermophilic range, a mixt. of the biosludge and a waterworks sludge, contg. nutrients but free from harmful substances, from a mechanical treatment of river water, in a ratio of 1:3-3:1, w.r.t. the vol. of sludge dry matter, is stabilised anaerobically in known way for 5-50 days at a water content of 85-95 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The biosludge may be excess sludge from biological treatment of process water in the chemical industry. A simple, effective process is provided.
In the prodn. of carbon molecular sieves by gas activation of brown coal coke before or after extn., washing and drying, the novelty is that brown coal low temp. coke is exposed, after making it inert, to a H2-contg. gas at 400-700 deg.C for 1-10 hrs.    The H2-contg. gas stream may contain upto 50% CO2. The treatment temp. is pref. 400-600 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The molecular sieves are useful for sepg. low molecular wt. gases (e.g. N2, O2, CO, C, methane, ethane and ethyne) and as a catalyst support. It has a high fixed content of sub-micron size pores (0.2-0.3 nm radius) with a narrow pore radius distribution, contains no pores in the micro- and meso-pore range and has adjustable but reproducible properties. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Floating, sinking and dissolved contaminants in an underground soil environment are collected and treated 'in situ'. A plurality of tubes are introduced to the environment to a depth at least as great as the presence of contaminants causing water pollution. A series of in-ground reservoirs are formed at the lower extremities of the tubes to collect and retain the contaminants.    Treatment reactants are injected into the in-ground reservoirs through the tubes for reaction with the contaminants for their conversion to a non-toxic conditions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Contaminated water in the soil can be treated, e.g. beneath leaky tanks or at a landfill site. The process may be used on a long- or short-term basis, providing efficient treatment of contaminated soil environments in a low-cost manner. @(10pp Dwg.No.2/6)
The reactor has a fermenting container (1) with a lid (2) and technological pipes (3,4) a pipe (5) placed along the container centre for the medium overflow, and is provided with longitudinal blades (6) for the medium mixing, situated outside the pipe and attached to it, a gas hood (7) placed above the pipe and connected to it and connected to the container by a connection pipe (8) for gas supply from th e container. The output is increased by accelerating the substrate decomposition since the overflow pipe (5) is connected to the lid and can turn about its axis. The pipe (5) is provided with additional internal blades (10) for the medium mixing.    The main and additional blades centre of gravity and are provided with catches for the blades sloping p position limiting in the horizontal plane. The gas supply pipe is U-shpaed and its upper part is connected to the gas hood upper-part and the lower end is placed in the fermenting container near to the lid.    USE -   The reactor is used for manure and organic waste treatment for gas formation. Bul.35/23.9.90
In a new conversion of industrial waste to a resource, the oil content of the waste is adjusted to 10-90%, and the water content to 10-60%. The water and oil portion are emulsified. The calorific value is adjusted to at least 3000 kcal/kg. The prod. is used as a liq. auxiliary fuel for the sintering of cement.    The adjustment of the calorific value is usually done by mixing a powdered or ground prod. of solid waste plastics. The chlorine content of the final fuel should be below 3000 to prevent the damage of the inside walls of the rotary kiln and the deterioration of sintered cement. Available wastes include sludge, waste oil, waste acid, waste alkali, animal and plant residues, and fluid waste plastics. Emulsification is usually performed by simple stirring; but emulsifiers, such as surfactants, are opt. and effectively used. Emulsion stabilisers, such as polyvinyl alcohol or carboxymethyl cellulose, are also opt. added.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   With common waste as a raw material, the method offers a liq. auxiliary fuel sufficiently useful for the sintering of cement. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A device (I) fig.1, for thermal control of an enclosure (II) consists of a casing (2) provided with a cover-membrane system (9,10,11) linked by a stem (5) to a valve (3) having a second cover-membrane system (12,13,14) and conduits (17,18) through which the refrigerant liquid circulates.    Chamber (8) is maintained at atmospheric pressure. Chamber (7) joined by flexible tube to a bulb (4) placed in II, contains a vapour or gas (III) the b.pt. of which equals the temp. at which II is to be maintained. When the temp. in II rises above that required, the pressure chamber (7) increases and valve (3) opens allowing refrigerant to pass through tubes (17,18). As the temp. in II falls the pressure in (7) decreases so that valve (3) closes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   I is independent of any external source of energy such as an electric battery or chemical systems. I are used in refrigerated transport of fresh prods. in refrigerated storage and in chemical industry esp. petrochemical industry e.g. for control of safety valves in distn. columns. @(13pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
A waste disposal device for domestic or hotel kitchen and garden refuse comprises a pyramidal outer compartment surrounding a cylindrical inner. The bases of the compartments are sepd from a lower basket compartment, below ground level, by a grid. The outer compartment walls are constructed to heat the contents by solar radiation.    ADVANTAGE -   Previous receptacles for the disposal of biodegradable organic waste have been single chamber devices which give varying degradation rates. The new design separates materials of different natures and provides heating of the contents by solar radiation to speed decomposition. @(20pp Dwg.No.0/5)
Converting a feed contg. an at least 60 aliphatic to recover ethane, ethylene or mixts., comprises contact with a ternary oxide compsn. of Cu and two other metals selected from Y, Ba, Ca, La and Sr. The ternary oxide compsn. has super conductivity temp. To exceeding 77K and the reaction is at least at 1000 deg. C.    Hydrogenating an at least 20 alkene, comprises (a) feeding the alkene to catalyst reaction zone (b) co-feeding H2 to the reaction zone (c) contacting the feeds with the ternary oxide compsn (d) recovering hydrocarbon feed having reduced alkene content. The reaction occurs at least at 300 deg. C.    Ternary oxide compsns. YBa2Cu3O6.8 and La1.85Ba0.15CuO4 are specifically claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst compsn. is used for cracking hydrocarbon feeds, hydrogenation of ethylene, for oxidn. of CO to CO2 and opt. includes producing and recovering aromatic cpds. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)ne
The biodegradation of a waste liq. scintillation cocktail (LSC) contg. a radioisotope and comprising about 50-90% organic solvent selected from p-xylene, pseudocumene, benzene and toluene and about 10-50% emulsifier is effected by inoculating a bioreactor contg. a metabolically acceptable mineral salts media with an amt. of Pseudomonas sp. NRRL B-18435 capable of metabolising the organic solvents and withstanding the toxic effects of the emulsifier; introducing organic solvents into the bioreactor and maintaining their conc. at a level sufficient to supply the microorganism with a sole and adequate source; and below the toxic limit or organic solvents, agitating and aerating the mixt. and maintaining the bioreactor at conditions of temp., pH and microorganism cell density sufficient to maintain the microorganism in a steady state condition.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Waste LSC solns. are mixed hazardous wastes, generated in a broad range of medial and biotechnological environments e.g. for tracing a mol. or cpd. through a metabolic pathway it is frequently tagged with an isotope such as tritium, C-14, S-35 or P-32. When analysing the end result, the presence or quantity of the tagged mol. can be detected by a liq. scintillation counter. The waste liq. scintillation cocktail is advantageously biodegraded by the present process. Solvent concns. greater than 5,000 ppm and emulsifier concns. greater than 2,000 ppm can be dealt with, and rates of solvent biodegradation range from 0.095 mg/L. min. to about 70 mg/L. min. The continuous bioprocessing system maintains the optimum conditions for living cells, thus enabling max. rates of biodegradation. There are also significant manpower and cost savings compared with batch-type reactions.
Recovery of 2 C hydrocarbons (ethane, ethylene) from feed stream of mixed methane and 2 C hydrocarbons is accomplished in a cryogenic process in which the feed is chilled and introduced into a series of dephlegmator-type cryogenic heat exchangers which produce a QC-rich liq. condensate stream contg. some methane, and methane-rich overhead gas stream.    The condensate is passed to the first of two demethaniser units which operate at progressively lower temps. to separate out a 2C-rich bottoms liq. and an essentially 2C-free overhead gas. The second demethaniser unit takes the overhead vapour from the first unit and produces a bottoms liquid which is ethylene-rich. Pref. the second demethaniser unit operates at less than 175 psia (most pref. less than 160 psia).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Recovery of ethylene from cracking gas, with reduced refrigeration energy requirement and lower capital cost. @(9pp Dwg.No.2/3)@
Method of decontaminating soil, porous rock etc. comprises (a) removing contaminated soil from a site; (b) providing a fluid impervious surface for receiving the contaminated soil; (c) dispersing the contaminated soil on the surface at a thickness of at least four; (d) applying an emulsifier/water soln. to the soil; (e) allowing the emulsifier/water soln. treated soil to remain on the surface for at least 24 hrs.; whereby (f) contamination in the soil is volatilised by the emulsifier/water soln. Pref. the method also includes (i) providing a fluid impervious membrane on the surface; (ii) collecting the volatilised materials and burning them in an open flame; and (iii) returning the soil to the site. The contaminated soil is dispersed on the surface at a depth of 6 ins. The emulsifier/water soln. is applied to the contaminated soil at a ratio of 10-16.6 gallons/yd3 of contaminated soil. (d) may be carried out in a mechanical mixer before (c).    ADVANTAGE -   Treating petroleum, fuel, hydrocarbon and organic cpd. contaminated soil with an emulsifying agent to remove contaminants from the soil and incinerating the removed contaminants expeditiously and inexpensively to return the soil to its uncontaminated condition. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/7)@
A catalyst for catalysing reaction of or between carbon-contg. and hydrogen-contg. species comprises (A) a basic molecular sieve (zeolite) contg. supercages which have dia. 1-2 nm, and have openings of internal dia. 0.5-1.4 nm; (A) is rendered basic by thermal decomposition of sodium azide NaN3 in situ within the molecular sieve structure; and (B) a transition metal carbonyl species entrapped within the supercages; (B) has, after heating in situ to at least 250 deg.C, a shortest dimension greater than the dia. of the openings of the supercages; it is resistant to decomposition to the transition metal at temps. of at least 250 deg.C. Catalyst prepn. comprises (i) a shape selective zeolite is combined with a solution of NaN3, the solvent evaporated, and the NaN3 decomposed thermally; (ii) the vapour of a volatile transition metal carbonyl is introduced into the intercrystalline spaces of the treated zeolite; and (iii) the vapour is reacted with the basic sieve until non-extractable transition metal carbonyl cpd. or anion is formed therein; the carbonyl cpd. introduced is believed to be converted to polynuclear metal carbonyl cluster species that are too large to pass through the openings in the supercages.    Pref. the molecular sieve is of faujasite structure. It is e.g. Y or NaY zeolite of silica/alumina mole ratio 4.7-4.8. The transition metal is esp. osmium; it may be introduced to the zeolite as HwOs(CO)4; it may be Group VIII metal, e.g. Fe, Ni, Co.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is of use for formation of hydrocarbons, esp. low mol. wt. alkenes from CO and H2, and also for hydroformylation of alkynes. It is stable and selective; the entrapped (B) cannot readily be extracted from the zeolite.
Simple waste processing appts. uses engine exhaust and removes odours. Appts. consists of incinerating chamber with a grating to retain solid wastes, and with flange connections for exhaust gases and waste inlet. Exhaust gases from engine manifold pass through chamber with turbulent flow, and there is bypass to ensure that engine exhaust functions properly. There is access for inspection and cleaning. Gaskets withstand temp. of 1880 deg.F and appts. is insulated using ceramic fibre and metal foil.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for military combat vehicles in hazardous environments. Also for pleasure boats. Processes waste without creating odours and without need for mechanical or chemical pre-treatment. @(11pp Dwg.No.3/7)@
Efficiency of thermophilic methane fermentation of solid domestic waste is increased as follows. The waste is sorted and prepd., and diluted with the liquid taken from the methane tank from the phase sepn. zone, so as to contain 84-86% moisture. The fermentation is carried out for 90-100 hrs. until the phase sepn. zone is formed, and the liquid from it is also used for periodic flushing of the channel used to remove the fermented material from the tank.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Anaerobic treatment of solid domestic esters. Yield of biogas is increased to 5m5/m3. day. Bul. 45/7.12.90 @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A sec. fermented compost is prepd. by applying microorganisms including mould, bacteria and ray fungi to a raw carbon and nitrogen material comprising rice straw and/or tofu (bean-curd) refuse to form a prim. fermented material, then blending the prim. fermented material and a black lignite soil and crab shells, and finally secondarily fermenting the blend.    In a pref. method of prepn., a raw carbon and nitrogen material comprising rice straw and/or tofu refuse is adjusted to have a ratio of C/N of 20/1 to 40/1, then microorganisms including mould, bacteria and ray fungi are applied to the material to prepare a prim. fermented material, and a black lignite soil and crab shells are applied to the prim. fermented material so that the material is secondarily fermented.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compost is effective for preventing and curing plant diseases to be caused by Fusarium fungi (e.g., F.oxysporum, F.solani, F.roseum). @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A layer of fowl droppings having an adjusted water content and a layer comprising a fermenting agent contg. aerobic or anaerobic Bacillus subtilis bacteria and a fine powder of a rare earth ore are laminated alternately and fermented.    Pref. rate earth ore is a quartz material comprising SiO2 (73.8%), Al2O3 (13.5%), K2O 95.4%), Na2O (3.0%), Fe2O3 (1.3%), CaO (1.1%) H2O (0.8%) FeO (0.7%), MgO (0.7%), P2O5 (0.07%) MnO (0.03%), U4O12 (trace), Rb5O3 (trace). The proportion of fermenting agent to ore powder is pref. 1/4 to 1/5.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The manure is free from offensive odour and from secondary fermentation when applied to soil. The manure prevents deterioration of the soil. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Treatment of organic sewage comprises aerobically treating organic sewage and sepg. it to solid and liq.; adding alkali to the sepd. sludge and stirring it in alkaline condition for a predetermined time; and feeding the sludge to the aerobic treating step to lower pH of the sludge.    ADVANTAGE -   Excess sludge is formed in an extremely reduced amt. and dehydrating property of the sludge is improved, so that the excess sludge can easily be treated.    In an example, raw sewage was introduced to an aeration step, where it is aerated by a blower for a predetermined time in the presence of BOD decomposing bacteria and then fed to a solid-liq. sepn. step to separate it to activated sludge and treated water. A part of the activated sluge was fed to a sludge dehydration step to dehydrate the sludge as excess sludge and to most parts of the activated sludge. NaOH was added and the sludge was stirred in alkaline condition for 2-60 mins. in a stirring tank. The treated sludge was then returned to the aeration step. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/1)
A catalytic system (I) for converting methane into higher hydrocarbons has empirical formula AaBbCcOx. A = elemental Ge, Si, Sn, Ti or Zr; B = elemental La, Sc or Y; C = alkali(ne earth)metal; a = 0.01-10 (0.25-2); b = 0.01-10 (0.05-2.5); c = 0.01-10 (0.05-2.5); and x = valency of the different elements in the system. Conversion of methane into higher hydrocarbons using (I) is also claimed.    Pref. methane is converted into higher hydrocarbons by contacting a gas mixt. contg. methane and oxygen (vol. ratio 0.1-100) with (I) at 400-1000 (550-990) deg.C, 0.9-10 (0.99-2.5) bar and GHSV of 100-50000 (500-4500)h(-1).    ADVANTAGE -   (I) is highly active and selective in the oxidative coupling of methane and can be easily mfd. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
An enclosure for composting material is made from a stacked assembly, of any desired height and area, of segments cut from old tyres, pref. above removed of the tyre cord. Near the ends of each segment (1) are formed holes (4) through which can be inserted upright posts (2) to thread together the tyre segments. In each layer the segments are offset by air gaps providing ventilation for rotting material inside the enclosure. The posts are pref. made of glass fibre, and each segment is a third of the tyre circumference.    USE -   Esp. for small gardens and nurseries, using cheap and durable materials. @(4pp Dwg.No 2/2)@
After mesophilic fermentation e.g. for 15-25 days, in a biogas plant, liq. manure from large scale pig breeding plant is transferred for sedimentative phase sepn. To improve effectiveness by reducing the formation ofr the floating surface layer, a specified fraction of methanogenic particles, pref. with grain size below 1.0 mu are removed from the rotting substrate before transfer to the settlement tank. Removal is by sieves, e.g., a pair of continuous brush worms operating in parallel. The amt. of suspended gas-generating solid particles is within acceptable limits. Residues from a completed sieve process are returned to the initial fermentation tank.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved effectiveness only involves modest electric power consumption.
An open-bottom composting bin (10), comprises an initially flat perforated shell formed into a cylinder having its overlapped ends secured by at least one closure member in the form of a U-shaped strap and closure rod. The bin is provided with a removable lid connected to the shell by a tether, and pref. having an access aperture closable by a flap. Pref. the shell material is high density polyethylene, and coloured to absorb solar energy.    USE -   Composting garden refuse. @(25pp Dwg.No.0/6)
Organic refuse is composted in a heat insulating casing. Only heat generated during the decomposition is used for the composing process. The refuse is enclosed in a gas-tight casing to which oxygen is conducted through a condensation and drainage zone by the action of a pressure difference produced between the interior of the casing and the ambient atmosa. Liqw and reaction gases produced during the decomposition process are conducted to the condensation and drainage zone.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method and appts. are used to compost garden refuse and organic domestic waste. Additional heat energy need not be supplied. The process requires min attendance and maintenance. There are no emissions of odorous gases which are filtered in the ground. The appts. also prevents the ingress of vermin such as rats, whereas worms and insects can enter. @(16pp Dwg.No.0/2)@
Tray carrying particulate matter is fed into a support structure onto a carriage mounted beneath a bin structure. The support structure is then rotated so as to tip the particulate matter from the tray into the bin where it is mixed before the support structure is rotated to its original position to tip the contents of the bin back on to the tray.    Support structure has circular members at each end, each having a U shape, and drive wheels are driven to rotate the structure between upright and inverted positions. Stops are provided to immobilise the tray during inverting movement and rotatable paddled shafts are provided to mix the particulate matter in the bin.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Mixing compost, mushroom spores and supplement, and like materials. Allows completely automatic mixing in an inexpensive apparatus which can use conventional mushroom growing trays or the like. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/3)
The tank according to the Parent Description, comprises a casing (1), a gas bell (2), a bladed shaft (3), a spiral guide (6), rollers (7), and a pin (8). To increase the mixing efficiency near the tank bottom, a telescopic arm (5) at the bottom of the shaft with slits (9), rotates and is linked to a conical turbuliser (4).    Part (4) remains near the bottom, and thus excludes compaction of the sediment. The gas raises the bell and accelerates fermentation, with consequent increase in productivity.    ADVANTAGE -   The design gives accelerated fermentation. Bul.34/15.9.90 @(2pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Hollow yarn type- or sheet type-asymmetric membrane made from polysulphone or polyether sulphone is reacted with sulphonating agent and reacted with alkaline metal cpd. to form a sulphonated and metallised asymmetric membrane for gas sepn..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for CO2 sepn. from natural gas.    In an example, 25g of polyether sulphone is added to 75g of N-methyl-2 pyrrolidone, melted by heating, coated on a glass substrate by doctor blade, immersed in ethanol, dried to form an asymmetric membrane, sulphonated and metallised. The obtd. membrane shows sepn. factor for CO2/CH4 of 115. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Manure is prepd. by applying fermenting microorganisms to grounds of crops such as defatted rice bran or rice bran, or to grounds of coffee beans, nuts, etc. so that the microorganisms are fermented in such grounds, the manure having a heat-retaining potency.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As the organic manure contains fermenting microorganisms, it may well have a heat-retaining potency. Where it is applied to a greenhouse or the like, it may elevate the temp. of the ground in the house so that the fruit trees or vegetables in the greenhouse may well grow even in a winter season. The temp. elevation by application of the manure is about 2 deg.C or more. The fermenting microorganisms may have an antagonistic activity to phytopathogenic fungi so that it is effective for curing or preventing plant diseases. The manure is applicable to various fruit trees of apples, mandarine oranges, pears, grapes, peaches and palms so that the sweetness of the fruits may be promoted. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
Harmless compost is produced by fermentation from waste material containing harmful microbes under aerobic condition. Process comprises detecting the quantity of the microbe in the material; judging killing of the microbe detected by comparison with standard pattern where the microbe is killed; and controlling conditions of fermentation to conform with the standard pattern.    ADVANTAGE -   Harmless ripe compost can be obtained.
In the biological pretreatment of substrates esp. for biogas plants, where liq. manure or other substrate contg. solids is gassed with air in a bio-reactor, (a) at a 5-day biological O2 demand (BOD5) space loading of at least 20 kg/cubic m/day and a residence time of 8-16 hrs., the redn. of the BOD5 and breakdown of solids in the substrate occur at the same time, keeping the O2 concn. at nil, and (b) the reactor effluent is degassed and fed directly into a biogas plant or is sepd. in a settling container into a solid-free liq. and a sludge contg. solids and biomass.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Biogas is obtd. esp. from agricultural substrates. Heat is utilised during the pre-treatment and efficient biogas prodn. is achieved, with utilisation of otherwise unusable organic components of the substrate.    In an example, liq. pig manure with 35.5 g/l. of dry matter, 27.2 g/l. of organic dry matter, pH 7.0, BOD5 28.0 g/l. chemical O2 demand 42.3 g/l., hemicellulose 20% of the dry matter and cellulose 16% of the dry matter, was fermented at 40 deg.C, residence time 12 hrs., and aeration of 6 cubic m. of air/cubic m. of bio-space/g, in a fermenter with BOD5 space loading of 43.6 kg/cubic m/day. The effluent had 41.0 g/l. of dry matter, 32.8 g/l. of organic dry matter, pH 7.8, BOD5 16.8 g/l., chemical O2 demand 36.7 g/l., hemicellulose 21.7% of the dry matter and cellulose 18.7% of the dry matter. Biogas prodn. from the feed to the fermenter was 0.46 l/g. of organic dry matter and from the effluent was 0.49 l/g. of organic dry matter. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Processes are claimed for sepg. 6-12C aromatic hydrocarbon(s), 5-10C cycloalkane(s) or 4-10C alkenes) from close-boiling alkane(s) by extractive distillation of a feed consisting essentially of aromatic hydrocarbon(s), cycloalkane(s) or alkene(s) and alkane(s) in the presence of a solvent comprising N-methyl-2-thiopyrrolidone, opt. in combination with a cosolvent comprising a glycol cpd., sulpholane cpd. or N-(B-mercaptoalkyl)-2-pyrrolidone cpd.. The extractive distillation process produces (i) an overhead distillate product contg. a smaller vol. percentage of aromatic hydrocarbon(s) or cycloalkane(s) or alkene(s) and a larger vol. percentage of the alkane(s) than the feed; and (ii) a bottoms product which contains the solvent and a larger vol. percentage of the aromatic hydrocarbon(s), cycloalkene(s) or alkene(s) and a smaller vol. percentage of the alkane(s) than the feed. The hydrocarbon(s), cycloalkane(s) or alkene(s) are sepd. from the solvent and recovered from the bottom product.    ADVANTAGE -   The solvent affects the volatility of the components in the mixt. allowing them to be sepd., and exhibit higher selectivity than prior art. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Methane tank consists of a tightly sealed cylindrical reservoir (1) with the gas removal and organic mass inlet and outlet pipes (2-4). A mixer made in the form of two closed parallel flexible chains (5) mounted in the guide rollers and a row of hollow units (6) in the reservoir central part.    The organic mass is fed into the reservoir (1) along the pipeline (4). During an anerobic fermentation a gas is formed which lifts up and is collected in the hollow units (6) open at one side of the chain (6). In proportion to the gas the organic mass is pressed out form the hollow cavities and a force directed upwards is created. The mixing system is moved under the action of this force.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Tank is used in bio-gas generation plants. Anaerobic fermentation process is speeded up. Bul.43/23.11.90
Fermenting and drying organic wastes comprises feeding the organic wastes into a tank having a stirrer to stir the wastes at high speed by blowing a hot air into the tank and then adding fermenting bacteria to the wastes. @(7pp)
Liq. pig manure in transferred to a opening ditch. A 10 to 100 cm thick layer of poultry manure or agricultural waste or a mixt. of these is placed at the bottom of the ditch and or these materials are added stepwise in 10-50 cm thick layers while the ditch is being filled with liq. manure in stages. The mixt. is allowed to ripen for 30-90 days and either transported to and ploughed in the land or mixed with cpds. of high cellulose content and stacked. These stacks are converted to humus by populating them with wild manure worms and/or Eisenia foetida sevig humus worms and/or creatures derived by these crossing two types. @(1pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Manure is mixed with peat, lignite brown coal of 1-5 mm grain size. The mixt. is fermented at 50-90 % moisture content, pH 7-8 and 40-70 deg.C. As a result of fermentation dissolving laminates become available and an agriculturally high luminate prod. is obtd..
Field effective gas sensor using phthalocyanine (Pc) as sensitive material has an insulating layer (2) between a (semi)conducting substrate (1) and the electrodes (3), which are sepd. by a 2nm to 50micron wide gap. A layer (4) of Pc (deriv.) is placed in the gap.    The substrate pref. consists of Si, and the insulating layer pref. of SiO2 and/or Si3N4 in a thickness of 30-300 nm. The Pc (deriv.) is placed in the gap and on the electrodes and pref. is a 200 nm thick PbPc layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sensor is useful for measuring gases such as NOx, CH4, NH3, H2, O2 and CO in the fields of energy generation, environmental protection, medical technology and biotechnology agriculture, forestry and the food industry. It is very effective and is useful for monitoring air, working environments, vehicle emissions and combustion plants, giving more reliable results than usual and simplifying evaluation.    In an example, field effect gas sensor has a 300 micron thick substrate of oxidised Si, a 100nm insulating layer of SiO2, and 200nm thick Cr/Au electrode layer. The 1 micron wide gap between the electrodes was produced by electron beam lithography. A 200nm thick PbPc layer was formed in the gas by deposition in high vacuum. This sensor was used for measuring NOx emission in air. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
In fermentative recovery of biogas from supernatant material, contg. carbohydrates and proteins, from prodn. of proteins from plant material, pref. from soya beans or sunflower seeds, (a) in a 1st stage, the supernatant is fermentated anaerobically, mainly to lactic acid and biomass, using a mixed Lactobacillus culture, (b) the biomass is sepd. from the sol. extract, and (c) in a 2nd stage, the extract is transformed anaerobically to biogas in presence of methanogenic bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Biogas is obtd. in high yield and in greater purity, with a 15% higher CH4 content. The pref. use of the process is the biotechnical processing of waste water in prodn. of protein isolates and concentrates.
Composting toilet (1), has a system (5,9,45) for receiving and collecting only liquids, and also a heat-insulated rotary drum (2) which receives only solid waste for transfer to a collection container (7). Solid waste enters the drum (2) via a hole ( ) in a wall of the toilet bowl and a hole in the drum (2), the latter being ventilated (64).    ADVANTAGE -   Solids for composting are not mixed with liqs. prone to disturb composting process. @(18pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Composting toilet, has bowl (42) front (45) comprising vertical top- and horizontal intermediate-portions, and a bottom portion convex towards the bowl rear and finally directed away from the rear. Liq. is directed along the front face (45) and past a sepn. shutter (5) for separate collection. Specifically the shutter (5) is openable by a handle (51,53).    ADVANTAGE -   Solids for composting are not mixed with liquids prone to disturb composting process. @(13pp Dwg.No.1/5)@
Nitrogen oxides and combustible components are removed from gases more efficiently if the gas firstly passed over Pd/Al2O3 catalyst at 700-750 deg.C to reduce NOX to N2. Addn. of air in excess amounts rel. to the amt. of combustible components and leaving the mixt. for at least 0.05 sec., is followed by passing the gas over the NiO/Al2O3 methane conversion catalyst at a temp. 20-40 deg.C higher than that of the previous stage. This reduces the final (CO + H2 + CH4) content to 0.002 vol.% and of CO to 0.001-0.005 vol.%.    ADVANTAGE -   Lower final concn. of combustible materials. Bul.33/7.9.90 @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Treatment of organic waste and drying of the compost produced. Organic waste is tipped into the top of a closed vessel, contg. a series of shelves, offset, one above the other. Each shelf supports a series of bars which move the material along, mix and aerate it. Material drops from one shelf to the next in turn. Humidity is controlled by a water spray within the vessel, and air is injected counter currently with the solid material to aerate the compost. Heat produced in the composting chamber is used to dry compost in an adjacent vessel, linked to the first by either a thermally conducting wall, or a calorific circuit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Treatment of organic industrial or domestic waste. Harmful bacteria etc. in the waste are destroyed by the high composting temps. Unpleasant odours are removed. Hygienic drying of compost produced. @(18pp Dwg.No.2/7)@
A compost bin consists of a wooden or plastic drum divided by a wall into two chambers at right angles to the central axis. The drum can be ventilated and rotates about the main axis. Filling and emptying is achieved by lockable flaps. The twin chamber system allows simultaneous composting and filling to occur.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The bin can be used for composting, e.g., garden rubbish and allows optimisation of the composting process. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/2)
A transportable small biogas installation has all the functional groups of the unit prefabricated for transport and erection on site. The unit consists of a reactor (1), a flexible gas storage container (2), a flexible enclosure and other necessary equipment. For transport, one of the components is used as the container. The component used as a container for transport is pref. the stand pipe (5) of the reactor.    A stand pipe (5) is mounted in the foundation in the centre of the reactor (1). The reinforcing frame (7) and a divider frame (11) are then erected from a variety of prefabricated rods (6). The flexible gas container (2) and the (1) are connected by a syphon tube type air lock (12) which is attached to a guide tube fitted within the stand pipe (5). The guide tube (9) is rigidly attached to the divider frame (11) and has spiral guides connecting it to the stand pipe (5). Stirrers (13) are provided to homogenise the sludge. The reinforcing frame (7) may be constructed on site from wood. These parts are disassembled for transport and stored in the stand pipe (5).    ADVANTAGE -   Increasing the field of application for small biogas installations through increased reliability by simplifying the construction and transportation of the units.
A small biogas installation has a foundation (16) with a centrally mounted stand pipe (8). A reinforcing frame (6) is constructed of releasably fastened elements and completed with flexible plate elements (7). A divider (5) has a guide tube attached to it which is mounted in the stand pipe (8) and movable relative to it on spiral elements (12). Stirrers (13) are also connected to the divider (5). The spiral elements (12) pref. consist of grooves with engaging keys. A siphon type air lock (15) is pref. used to connect the gas storage (2) with the reactor (1).    Vertical rods (17) together with radial and circumferential rods (18) and (19) are erected into a frame (6) within the foundation (16). Flexible plates (7) of gas tight and water tight sheet metal and/or plastic material are releasably fastened to the frame. The reactor (1) and the gas storage container (2) are made in the same way. The gas storage container (2) is fixed to the foundation and necessary vertical expansion allowed by the use of only circumferential reinforcing rods (18). Ballast pockets are provided to control the gas storage container. This unit may be erected in water or in any fortuitous construction and if climatic conditions dictate, additional guides may be provided for the gas storage container (2). In operation sludge is fed to the reactor (1) from beneath and remains for the usual dwell time while rotation with the spiral element (12) raises and lowers the divider (5). On the down stroke of the divider (5) gas may flow from the reactor over the air lock (15) into the gas storage area (2).    ADVANTAGE -   Minimises on site costs for erection, improves functional efficiency and decreases material and mfg. costs. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
A flexible container for gas storage has an expandable gas tight and water tight gas container (3). Reinforcing elements (2) give form and stability and are removable from the enclosure. The side walls (5) of the gas holder (3) fold together to the ground. Ballast pockets (6) are provided on the flexible gas container (3).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An expandable gas storage container for small biogas installations. Minimised construction and material cost. Simpler packing and transport and minimal site cost. Greater functional efficiency. The outer container (1) is mfd. in prefabricated sections (8) to conform to the general shape of the gas storage container (3). Strips (7) are provided on the container for connection to the reinforcing elements (2). The parts of the unit are packed for transport in the reactor (4). In a variation of this design, the flexible gas container (3) is attached to the top rim of the reactor (4). A gas tight seal is made around the rim of the reactor (4) and the flexible gas container hangs in a single fold down around the sides of the reactor. Ballast may be attached to the bottom of this fold. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
A catalytic compsn. (I), effective for conversion of 1-3C alkanes to higher mol. wt. hydrocarbons, is prepd. by (a) slurrying a mixture of (i) a material comprising a Group IA metal (MI); (ii) a material comprising a Group IIA metal (M2); (iii) a sol comprising an aq. suspension of a metal selected from Al, Si Ti, Zn, Zr, Cd and Sn; and (iv) a material comprising a Group VIII metal and/or Ag (M4). Combination of M1 and M2 is selected for (I) to be stable under oxidative coupling conditions; and (b) drying the slurry to form dry compsn. (I), in which atomic ratio M1:M2 is 0.5:1 to 2:1; M3 is 1-30 wt.% of (I); M4 is present as an oxide, in amt. effective to increase conversion of the alkane feedstock to higher mol. wt. hydrocarbons.    M1 is pref. Li, M2 is Mg, M3 is Al and M4 is Ni, Co, Rh, Pt or Ag, esp. Ni.    USE -   The 1-3C alkane, e.g. methane, and an oxygen-containing gas are contacted with (I) at 600-1000 deg.C to bring about an oxidative coupling reaction. Methane yield predominantly ethane and ethylene, with carbon dioxide. @(12
Ammonium hydroxide is introduced into a mash of organic cellulose containing material prior to feed into a generally tubular housing (25) to move horizontally therethrough. The hosuing has a series of cathode and anode electrodes (26) projecting into the housing at opposed sides and gas produced at the cathodes is withdrawn through conduits (28).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the generation of hydrogen and other gases from the decomposition of organic cellulose material such as grass, weeds, leaves, paper, cardboard, sawdust, etc.. Provides rapid decomposition of waste material to provide hydrogen, which can be used as fuel or to produce water and ammonium hydroxide, and other useful gases, while lessening the escape of harmful gases into the atmos.. @(9pp Dwg.No.2/4)@
Down-draft fixed bed gasifier system for converting biomass material such as wood and processed sewage sludge to a low BTU combustible gas, in which the appts. comprises (a) a cyclone separator downstream of and in communication with a gasifier appts.; (b) a scrubber located downstream of and in communication with the cyclone separator; (c) a blower for positively forcing the flow of gas from the scrubber to a downstream dryer; and (d) a dryer comprising a gas inlet port in communication with the outlet port of the scrubber, an outlet port and a gas flow passage disposed therebetween.    The scrubber, in step (b), has a gas inlet port, a gas outlet port, a circuitous gas passageway disposed therebetween having several contacts disposed therein for impeding the flow of gas and absorbing particulate impurities and moisture entrained in the gas, a fluid spray for contacting the gas with a spray of an aq. soln., and a collector disposed at a lower portion of the scrubber in communication with the passageway. The gas flow passage in the dryer, of step (d), has (i) a first separator adjacent the inlet port having an annularly disposed flow path; (ii) a horizontally oriented filter disposed downstream of the first separator; (iii) a second separator disposed downstream of the filter; (iv) a baffle defining a tortuous pathway, disposed downstream of the second separator; and (v) a horizontally oriented filter disposed downstream of the baffle. The scrubber is vertically oriented, in which the contact of the scrubber comprises several randomly spaced solid elements which define a circuitous passageway. Each passageway comprises at least one contact, and in which the blower includes means arranged for introducing an aq. soln. to the gas.    ADVANTAGE -   The gasification system efficiently converts biomass materials such as wood waste, sewage sludge and other such organic compsns., having up to 25% inorganics, to a useful combustible gas.
The device comprises a tank having a charging port at an upper part, lateral screw conveyors at the bottom of the tank, a supply air pipe, a takeout port at a sidewall part of the tank, and a vertical screw conveyor disposed from the takeout port to the opposite sidewall.    USE -   Pref. aerobic fermentation is achieved. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Fuel is burnt by a burner provided separately from a pilot burner into a furnace.    USE -   O2 density may be reduced. Loss of heat quantity is prevented. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/1)
The process for solidifying farmyard slurry according to claim 2 of DE 3932349 is modified in that the N cpds. in the slurry are reacted with acids produced from sewage sludge.    The acids are produced by extracting sewage sludge with an alkaline soln. and acidifying the extract to ppte. water-insoluble acids. The yield of acids may be increased by (a) pretreating the sewage sludge with oleum or (b) heating the sewage sludge with a mineral acid under pressure.    ADVANTAGE -   The treatment converts the N cpds. to fertilisers and stabilises the N content of the solidified prod. during storage.
In mechanical and microbiological processing of a fluid phase from pig waste at pig breeding stations, suitable for use as a manure, solid and liq. phases are sepd. with a spiral brush and sieve system and the remaining liq. with some solids is delivered to a four-stage sedimentation process in round, conical settling tanks. The sediment free fluid then undergoes a fine cleaning stage through long term storage and passes to the rainwater system after a biological treatment. Coarse, solid waste and fine particle sludge are turned into compost by addn. of organic products.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process uses existing appts. to produce a fluid phase suitable for use as a manure. The process is simple, inexpensive and energy and maintenance free while reducing environmental problems. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A method for the disposal of at least one toxic organic cpd. is claimed comprising (a) contacting the organic cpd. with hydrated aluminium silicate (I) to form a complex of the toxic organic cpd. and (I), (b) treating the complex with one or more microorganisms to at least partially degrade and/or modify the toxic organic cpd., (c) treating a portion of a supernatant fraction obtd. with one or more microorganisms to at least further partially degrade and/or modify the toxic organic cpd. and (d) disposing of material obtd.    Pref. (I) is kaolin. Also claimed is a method of degradation of at least one toxic organic cpd. including (a) contacting the toxic organic cpd. with (I) to form a complex and (b) subjecting the complex to one or more microorganisms to at least partially degrade and/or modify the toxic organic cpd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The use of (I) can facilitate microbial degradation of toxic cpds. such as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) providing an efficient method of degradation which is also non injurious to the environment. @(27pp Dwg.No.0/4)
Methane recovery process for sepn. of nitrogen and methane comprises (a) separating a feed of nitrogen and methane into nitrogen-enriched vapour and methane-enriched liq., (b) introducing the methane-enriched liq. into a column; (c) partially condensing the nitrogen-enriched vapour to produce a first vapour and a first liq., and introducing the first liq. into the column; (d) partially condensing the first vapour to produce a second vapour and a second liq., and introducing the second liq. into the column; and (e) separating the fluids passed into the column into nitrogen-richer and methane richer components and recovering methane-richer component as product methane.    ADVANTAGE -   The methane content in the nitrogen overhead is 0.5 percent, resulting in an improved methane recovery over a conventional nitrogen-methane column separation in which the methane content of the nitrogen overhead would be about 2.0 percent under comparable conditions. The process also reduces the venting of hydrocarbons to atmosphere and results in a substantial reduction in capital costs over a conventional system which may require a double column. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Oil pollution in substrates (soil, waste deposits, etc.) is degraded by applying to the substrate a fertiliser compsn. (A) contg. (1) an organic fertiliser; (2) a natural substance to improve structure and physical properties of the mixt.; (3) a multicomponent fertiliser; (4) fertiliser contg. trace elements; (5) NH4 or ammine salt; (6) opt. one or more mineral additives; (7) opt. biocompost and (8) biologically active waste sludge contg. oil and/or waste from exploitation and processing of oil products.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. efficiently and rapidly degrades oil (in the soil because of accidental spills, contamination with industrial oil sludges, etc.) while simultaneously improving the properties and nutrient contents of the soil.
Method for regenerating a plasma initiator using an oxygen-contg. gas that has become partially deactivated due to the accumulation of carbonaceous deposits, sulphur deposits, or both, comprises contacting the initiator with an oxygen-contg gas for a period of time sufficient to remove at least a portion of the deposits therefrom.    ADVANTAGE -   The activity of a plasma initiator to methane conversion can be at least partially restored by contacting the initiator with an oxygen-contg. gas for a period of time sufficient to remove at least a portion of the carbonaceous or sulphur deposits, or both, from the initiator, in the presence of microwave energy. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Largely contaminated grass mowings and foliage cut from motorways are collected in piles and periodically conveyed to a treatment point. Here the material is chopped if necessary and mixed before treating with (a) highly alkaline residues, esp. from sugar beet processing. (b) fullers earth, (c) specially treated coal which is mixed with the other ingredients and pelletised to produce fuel suitable for fluidised bed furnaces with very low polluting action. Heavy metals are filtered from combustion fumes, and the ash may be vitrified for structural material.    USE -   Provides low-pollution disposal of material heavily contaminated by passing traffic. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Hydrocarbon(s) of at least 2C atoms are synthesised by passing a mixt of CH4 and 02 at 300-1200 deg C, 0.1-30 atmos, over a spinel oxide catalyst of formula AB204 where A = LI, Mg, Na, Ca, V, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Gd, or Sn; B = Na, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Ga, Ge, Rh, Ag or In. A and B are different elements. Pref spinel is ZnMn204. Pref vol ratio CH4:02 methane:oxygen is (1-10):1, pressure 0.5-5 atmos GHSV 50-50,000, temp 600-900 deg C.    USE -   Methane, eg as natural gas, is converted to higher hydrocarbons, eg ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and higher hydrocarbons. In an example, 0.1 g ZnMn204 was used as catalyst. It was pretreated by passing 02 for 1 hr at 750 deg C. A feed gas consisting of (mol%) 25 CH4, 5 02 70 N2, was then passed at 100 cc/min. After 45 min on stream, the effluent analysed (mol%) CH4 22.6 C2H6 0.5, C02 2.5, N2 74.3; this corresponds to CH4 conversion 14%, C2+ selectively 30% and yield 4%. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
In the treatment of liq. manure, esp. pig manure, where NH3 is removed from the manure by stripping, the manure is sepd. into a solid and a liq. fraction, the solid fraction is fed to a drier and at least the heat stored in the dry air leaving the drier is used to obtain heated air, which is used to strip NH3 from at least the aq. fraction of the manure.    ADVANTAGE -   An energy-saving process converts liq. manure into a liq. fraction, harmless for the environment, and a valuable dry manure for re-use. If the dried cake is used partly as fuel for the appts. supplying the dry air, the vol. of dry manure may be relatively small, and transport costs are low. @(15pp Dwg.No.0/2)
In evapn. of liq. manure or of the aq. fraction sepd. from liq. manure, volatile components, e.g. NH3, CO2 and volatile organic components, are removed from the manure or aq. fraction, by air- or steam-stripping, before evapn.    Pref. CO2 is stripped from the liq. before lime is added. The gas leaving the stripper, after being freed from NH3, is used as down draught in a furnace. Heat from the gas stream from the drier is used to heat the stripping air. Dry manure is used (partly) as fuel in a furnace, with the ash formed being added to the remaining dry manure. The drying medium is esp. superheated steam.    ADVANTAGE -   The volatiles are odourous, cause pollution of the environment, and render difficult the condensation of the water vapour and heat-recovery. There is no loss of manure material.
To clean a pipe line with organic scale stacked on the inner surface, a washing soln. prepd. by adding glucose, milk sugar, NH4Cl, surfactant and water to mixed bacteria gps. comprising genus Streptococcus, genus Rhizopus, genus Nitrosomonas, genus Nitrobacter, genus Pseudomonas and genus Aspergillus, is poured in the pipe line and sealed there to contact it with the organic scale for over 30 minutes to decompose, dissolve or strip the organic scale off and then a plug for cleaning a pipe line and made of porous resin is pushed into the pipe line and moved there by water pressure applied.    ADVANTAGE -   Scale on the inner surface of a pipe line is almost perfectly stripped off and foul smell is not emitted. The washing solution contains 3-5000 wt. parts of glucose, 3-5000 wt. parts of milk sugar, 0.5-3000 wt. parts of NH4Cl and 300-60000000 wt. parts of water to 10 wt. parts of the mixed bacteria groups. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/2)
NOVELTY - No abstract available.
Compost innocculating starter, composting agent and compost are prepd. in keeping both their individually different raw cpd. requirements in respectively separate but interdependent stages, to ensure near optimum conditions for each. This composting process is expediently adapted to seasonal changes in the type of agricultural waste. The stages are of equal duration to ensure continuity in compost prodn. and use.    Relative concns. of pectin contg. materials, compared to fibrous cpds. should not fall below: compost inoculum starter stage (I) 59(+/-)5wt.%; compost inoculum producing stage (II) 41(+/-)4wt.%; composting stage (III) 31(+/-)3wt.%
In silaging fodder plants rich in protein, the fresh or slightly wilted and/or chopped silage material is mixed with a fugate from rye starch recovery, contg. a liq. leaven culture with min. activity of 10 power 5 Lactobacillus cells/g, and with at least 12% dry matter content. The ratio is 0.6-0.8 wt. % dry matter in the fugate, w.r.t. total amt. of silage material.    The fugate is pref. used as a solid, after careful drying, avoiding damage to the microorganisms. Nitrite salts may be added, in amt. of not above 0.2 wt. %.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for plants including lucerne and clover. Loss in silaging is avoided, and the prod. is accepted readily by cattle. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A closed photobioreactor includes a vessel in which a photosynthetic culture is held in a sealed environment. Light is introduced to the culture together with a reactant gas which photosynthetically reacts with the culture in the presence of light. The reaction produces molecular O2 as a byprod. The molecular O2 is removed from the reactant gas without substantial leakage of the reactant gas. Additional reactant gas is introduced to replenish the supply. The reactant gas is recirculated through the algal culture in the sealed environment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is used for the controlled prodn. of microorganisms by photosynthesis. This may be used to produce food for animals and humans, in the treatment of sewage and waste waters, and in the accumulation of radioactive wastes. Additionally, the process may be used for the prodn. of enzymes and for producing oils or other materials having a nutritional value. Expensive reactant gases, e.g. 13CO2 or 14CO2, can be used.
Catalyst is a double oxide consisting of an oxide with fluorite crystal structure in which Gp. IIA elements; Gp. IIA elements and alkali metal elements; or divalent elements except Gp. IIA, Gp. III elements, and alkali metal elements are solubilised. The prodn. of 3C hydrocarbons is also claimed, where CH4-contg. gas and O2-contg. gas are contacted with the catalyst at 500-700 deg.C.    In the prepn., a mixt. of zirconia sol and calcium nitrate is heated, dried, calcined at 400 deg.C for 2 hrs., and then sintered at 800 deg.C for 4 hrs. A ZrO2-CaO-(20 mol%) catalyst was obtd. A gas contg. CH4, O2, and He was passed at 50 ml/min through 0.05g of the catalyst at 560 deg.C 24.5% CH4 was converted into 3C hydrocarbons with 90% selectivity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to produce propane or propylene from CH4 and O2 contg. gas with higher efficiency. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Garden waste compost maker consists of a container in the form of a cylinder made from a supple material, able to slide along vertical reinforcing elements placed against its inner surface. The cylinder is made from woven synthetic fibres, with the weave permitting the exchange of gases and liquids between the inside and outside of the container; it can also be equipped with an extension at the top which acts as a covering flap. The reinforcing elements can be in the form of lightweight sections, fitted together end to end.    As the container is filled with fresh garden waste it is slid up the reinforcing elements, leaving a space at the bottom from which fully composted material can be extracted.    ADVANTAGE -   Low cost, easy to transport, and efficient to use. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A green ceramic honeycomb is prepd. having two faces between which extend multiple parallel open channels. To each face there is applied a green ceramic plate to form an integral and cap sealing the channel openings, after which the openings of selected channels are exposed through one end face while the openings of the remaining channels are exposed through the opposite end face. Finally the whole body is fired.    Pref. the honeycomb body and end plates are prepd. from the same material, esp. zirconia, alumina, cordierite, mullite or titania, and the body includes 100-400 channels/m2 of end face. Imaging analysis may be used to expose the appropriate holes. An electrically conductive coating may be applied to the walls of those channels exposed through one end face to form a first electrode surface, and a further conductive coating applied to the channels opened at the other face to produce a second electrode surface.    USE -   Fluid filters; particulate traps; separating operations; solid electrolyte medium for fuel cells; oxygen concn.. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Carbonyls are removed from gases contg. H2 and CO by (a) subjecting part of the gas to an exothermal conversion, (b) mixing the converted portion of the gas, with raised temp., with the unconverted residue, and (c) leading the mixt. through an inert charge.    ADVANTAGE -   All gases contg. H2 and CO, which are to be incompletely converted, e.g, methanol or NH3 synthesis, CO prodn., or as heating gas for driving gas turbines, can be treated. The carbonyls decompose to metals, which are deposited on the inert material. @(7pp)
Active species (I) are generated by treating stable molecules (II) with a high temp. plasma and injected into a combustion gas (III) e.g. at 600-900 deg. C to destroy acid gases e.g. SO2 and nitrogen oxides present in (III). Active species (I) may be free radicals, ions or excited atoms. e.g. N, NH, NH2, OH-, CH or CH2 and (II) are e.g. NH3, CH4, steam, H2 or N2 molecules. (I) are pref. entrained in N2, Ar or He prior to injection.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Combustion gas (III) may be from burning carbonaceous fuels. Process leads to less pollution of atmos.. Need for gas scrubbing is avoided. Electric energy to produce plasma need be no more than 1.5% of that gained by combustion of gases and can be mostly recovered. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
The fermenter comprises a casing (1), sediment (13), biogas (9,12) and substrate (14) pipes, and a mixer. To increase efficiency, the mixer blades (4) consist of a rigid frame (5) carrying a kapron net and having teeth (15) breaking down the crust, while the casing has a conical bottom and an active sludge recirculator.    ADVANTAGE -   The design intensifies mixing of the phases and mineralisation of the sediment. @(4pp Dwg.No. 1,2/3)@
To dry bean curd refuse, a fluidised layer of granular refractory matter is formed within the combustion tower having an underside wind box accompanying a blower. The green bean curd refuse is dried in the exhaust gas from the fluidised layer. One part of the dried bean curd refuse is discharged out for use as feed for livestock, and the other part is used as fuel for burning out the dried bean curd refuse within the fluidised layer.    ADVANTAGE -   Highly efficient deposition for the bean curd refuse is expected. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Fuel reformer has honeycomb porous body with first flow path comprising numerous independent through channels surrounded by partition walls, second flow path isolated from first flow path by partition walls and defined by connection walls connecting adjacent partition walls, reforming catalyst carried on one of inner walls of first and second flow paths, and contacting combustion catalyst other inner wall of first and second flow paths.    ADVANTAGE -   Fuel gas can be reformed to reformed gas. ' @(7pp Dwg.No.1/9)
A microbial strain belonging to Erwinia is claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Ginseng is a perennial plant and has been used widely as crude drug, healthy food, etc. Being perennial it has been often suffered from diseases, partic. the disease, by which its inside is whitened and softened. The inventor has intended to separate the disease germs and sepd. 20 disease germs from diseased ginseng. The inventor has finally selected a disease germ showing infecting activity and after microbial studying, named it Erwinia panacea sp. nov. The bacterial strain can be used for studying with the object of developing antibiotics, etc. for preventing and curing the disease of ginseng. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Removing hydrogen sulphide from crude petroleum comprises; contacting the crude petroleum (1) with a stripping gas (3) for removing H2S in a stripping column (2), supplying the stripping gas (4) to an H2S absorbing tower (9) contg. an H2S absorbing agent (10), and recycling the stripped gas (16) at superatmospheric pressure to the stripping tower.    Pref. stripping gas principally contains methane. Part of the recirculating stripping gas is extracted as an excess gas from which HC gases are recovered. H2X absorbing agent is pref. aq. soln. of monoethanolamine. Spent agent is pref. regenerated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By recycling the stripping gas, the process reduces waste of both stripping gas and light petroleum fractions. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Piles of refuse being composted in an enclosed hall (to reduce smell emission) rest on permeable bases and are aerated by either blowing or sacking air through such bases. Using pressurised aeration, relative humidity in the hall (as measured by sensors) is brough to 65-95%. Aeration is then switched to suction mode, and continued down to 80-50% humidity whereupon the pressurised mode is renamed. Air supplied to the hall is pref. warmer than the external atmos., and derives. e.g. from an adjacent hall.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduces damage to structural components of hall, while ensuring optimum composing conditions. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Bioreactor tank (40) has hollow baffles (32) of optically transparent material extending from one tank wall to the opposite tank wall in spaced parallel relation. The baffles are mounted in the tank so hollow cavities (34) therein are accessible from outside the tank wall to enable the insertion of light sources (31) into the hollow cavities of the baffles to emit light through the exterior walls of the baffle.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms eg algae in the prodn of food for animals or humans, treatment of sewage and waste water and the accumulation of radioactive waste. Provides a system in which the liq photosynthetic microorganisms are exposed to a relatively constant and uniform light source via a relatively simple and easily constructed appts.
Lignocellulosic material (I) is converted into a fuel gas by maintaining (I) and water at 300-450 deg.C pressure at least 100 atmos, in presence of amts. of alkali and reduced nickel sufficient to catalyse reaction of (I) to produce a gas consisting primarily of methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The feed material (30) and any further water required (31) are passed to size redn. equipment (32) to reduce to pieces no larger than 1 cm. The resultant slurry, pref. 80-90 wt.% water, is passed by high pressure (100-300 atmos) pump (34) through heat exchangers (36 and 38) and auxiliary heater (44), where additional heat may be supplied from an external source or by burning some of the prod. gas (48). The heated slurry is fed to high pressure reactor (40). The reactor contains a reduced nickel catalyst, which may be supported on a grate appts. The alkali catalyst, e.g. sodium carbonate, is fed in the slurry or separately' to the reactor. Effluent gas is passed via the heat exchangers to separator (46) or other conventional gas recovery system. Fuel gas is recovered. Organic materials may be recycled to the process by line (52).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) may be any biomass material i.e. woody or non-woody plant material or partially digested plant material, e.g. peat or manure. The process takes place at a lower temp than a conventional thermochemical process, and can operate at moisture contents exceeding 95%. Methane yields comparable to those obtd by bioconversion. e.g. more than 6 scf methane/1b dry ash-free biomass, may be obtd. @(11pp Dwg.No.5/5)@
This is a method of producing, from liquid manure from farm and other animals, briquettes and pellets for use in gasification or burning processes and which can be produced by extrusion or other means.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This is an environment-friendly and economically significant development of this type of prodn. Contamination of the area used by the animals, with possible contamination of drinking water, is avoided. The briquettes can be used for generating producer gas, including that for internal combustion engines. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
In sewage disposal system, the sewage is disposed onto land through pipes which are covered with a layer of peat moss. Sewage is distributed to absorption area and dissipates into the earth. Area is covered with layer of peat moss which promotes air circulation, reduces odours and allows access for maintenance.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for disposal of sewage in remote areas. Peat moss promotes air circulation, reduces odours and supports ground cover. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Vegetable substrates are processed with formation of biologically active materials more efficiently as follows: The material is decomposed microbiologically in a culture liquid for 40-180 days, with forced aeration until CO2 ceases to evolve. Soil bacteria are used as the active microorganisms. In the first stage, lasting for up to several weeks, hormonal and inhibiting materials are produced, and in the second stage lasting for up to several months, the metal-contg. biologically active cpds.    ADVANTAGE -   The prods. can be used to increase stability of biological organisms exposed to adverse conditions. Bul.42/15.11.90 @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A process for mafg. solid fuel comprises (a) mixing pulp sludge 40-50 %, cow dung 40-50 %, coal 10 % and ochre 2 % and pressing at 50 Kg/Cm2, (b) natural drying to less than 15 % of water content, (c) forced drying to less than 3-5 % of water content, and (d) moulding. The solid fuel shows 4500-5000 Kcal/Kg
When forming methane bacteria granules to form methane granules surrounding seed sludge through fluidised layer type reaction tank, when starting the fluidised layer type reaction tank, the concn. of the seed sludge and upward flow rate in the tank are adjusted to be in a predetermined range.    ADVANTAGE -   Since methane bacteria granules can be formed in upper portion of fluidised layer, methane bacteria can be kept in reaction tank when starting the device. @(4pp Dwg.No 0/2)
A system for treating dirty water comprises a detector for detecting concn. of floating polluted sludge in a tank, - a device for delivering surplus sludge formed in the tank; a device for supplying accumulated surplus sludge to theh treatment tank; and a controller for delivering the surplus sludge when concn. of the floating polluted sludge exceeds specified upper limit, and for supplying the surplus sludge when the concn. becomes lower than specified lower limit.    ADVANTAGE -   Concn. of the sludge can be kept in specified range, so that the concn. is kept to a value favourable to form biological film in a process to form the film. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/3)
To automatically wash a pipe of raw sewage discharging system using sealed water, 1st agent prepd by packing acidic metabolic bacteria, nutrient of the bacteria, metal sealing agent and pH indicator in porous substance and 2nd agent comprising oxidising agent, bacteria sterilising agent and film peeling agent are used, both of which are put in the trap of a urinal. The 1st agent is always contacted with sealed water, pH is controlled by the colour change of the porous substance. Deposition of urine stone is prevented by the acidic metabolic bacteria increased by the supplied nutrient and by acidic metabolic soln. Excess urine stone is sealed with the metal sealing agent. The 2nd agent works at pH 5.0-7.0 on discharging raw sewage. Chemicals are supplied from the 2nd agent to the raw sewage, by which existing flocs and urine stone in a discharging system of the sewage are removed, and the 2nd agent is used at the time when a urinal is newly set up and at predetermined intervals.    ADVANTAGE -   By placing the 1st and the 2nd agents in the trap, closing of the sewage discharging system is prevented. As a proper amt of water is used for washing a urinal amt of water used for washing is reduced. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/4)
During conventional smaller scale effluent treatment, solids are removed by a grid at a separate location from the place of disinfection and of the location of an intermittent high loading buffer tank.    This invention is concerned with biological treatment of 3-100 cu.m/day communal effluent, in a unit, which contains an inclined shoot (2) with a solids retaining grid (1). When the grid fails to function properly the shoot (2) is capable of holding dirt. The effluent purifier has a pre-aeration section (4) with a bottom outlet (5). The majority of the organic matter in the effluent is dispersed in the pre-aeration area (4) by a countercurrent of air. @(1pp Dwg.No.0/1)
A method of composting grass cuttings includes mixing straw and grass cuttings and allowing the mixt. to stand exposed to the atmos. The mixt. is carried out efficiently in a bin that is open to the atmosphere.    An open top empty bin is used and placed onto a soil surface, an even layer of loose straw about 100 mm deep is placed inside the bin to cover the enclosed soil surface. An even layer of lawn grass cuttings, about 100 mm deep is placed on top of straw and both the grass and straw is mixed together. During the composting process, the straw grass mixt. decomposes and reduces in vol.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A method of composting lawn grass cuttings in a rapid anaerobic manner, producing a peat-like material that is pleasant to handle and of value as a garden soil additive. Little or no smell is produced by this method. @(6pp Dwg.No.1A/1)@
Catalyst (I) comprises a mechanical carrier (II) having an Al2O3 support (III) with La2O3 deposited on (III) discontinuously. A Pd. cpd. (IV) is dispersed on the La2O3 and a discontinuous TiO2 phase is dispersed on top of cpd. (IV). Carrier (II) can be cordierite. (I) contains e.g. 2-30 wt.% La2O3, 0.05-5% Pd, upto 8% TiO2 (w.r.t. total wt. of catalyst). (I) is prepd. e.g. by addn. of La nitrate soln. to an alpha Al2O3 slurry, drying then calcining and adding to a Pd nitrate soln.. The mixt. is then dried, calcined and impregnated with titanium butoxide in EtOH. After drying and calcining the particles obtd. are washcoated etc. onto (II).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Use of (I) enhances high temp. redn. and oxidn. of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons in vehicle exhaust gases and reduces light off temps. by 20-100 deg.C. @(11pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Catalyst (I) comprises a mechanical carrier (II) having an Al2O3 support (III) with Pd deposited on (III). A discontinuous titanium dioxide phase is adjacent to or deposited on each exposed particle of the Pd component. Carrier (II) is pref. a honeycomb monolith of cordierite. Pref. (I) contains 0.05-5 wt.% of Pd component, upto 8 wt.% of titanium dioxide (w.r.t. total wt. of catalyst).    (I) can be prepd. by impregnating an Al2O3 wash coat on a monolith carrier with palladium nitrate soln., drying, calcining then adding titanium butoxide in EtOH and again drying then calcining e.g. at 600 deg.C for 6 hrs. to obtain (I). Pt. is opt. included in (I).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Use of (I) enhances high temp. redn. and oxidn. of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons in vehicle exhaust gases and reduces light off temps. by 5-50 deg.C.
Appts. for controlling the compsn. of a laser gas (mixt.) comprises: a cryogenic processor connected in parallel with the laser to receive gas and remove impurities; a high temp. gas purifier connected in series with the cryogenic processor to remove hal gas and/or other impurities; a gas analyser connected to the laser; a source of clean gas; and a controller which receives signals from the analyser and accordingly operates the cryogenic processor and/or high temp. purifier and/or clean gas source.    Controller is a computer and the laser is an excimer gas laser contg. a gas contg. rare gas(es) and a hal-contg. mol., pref. He, Ne, Xe, Kr and/or Ar; and F2 and/or HCl. The impurity gases are CO2, Cl2, CO, CCl4, CF4, SiF4, HF, NO, NO2, N2O4, H2O, NH3, N2, O2, H2, CF2O, OF 2, CH3Cl, CH4 and/or CH3F. Gas flow between the laser and the cryogenic processor is controlled by valves; and the hot purifier is a hot metallic getter.    ADVANTAGE -   Gas compsn. is maintained by an automatic operation. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/5)@
Plate type reformer assembly is for reforming hydrocarbons such as methane in the presence of steam composed of stacked plate-type reformers. The reformer assembly comprises (a) masking frames integrally mounted on peripheries of plate members to define a fuel introduction plate (fuel feeding plate); (b) a combustion chamber plate filled with combustion catalyst; and (c) a reforming chamber plate filled with reforming catalyst; in which (d) fuel feed ports are formed in the masking frame of the fuel introduction plate; (e) several dispersion openings are formed in the plate member of the combustion chamber plate; (f) an air feeding port and an exhaust gas discharging port are formed in the masking frame of the combustion chamber plate; (g) a raw material gas feed port and a reformed gas discharge port are formed in the masking frame of the reforming chamber plate; and (h) these plates are stacked in turn and the peripheries of the plates are welded to each other thereby defining a multi-layer unit; and (i) manifolds for the gas feeding and discharging ports are aligned and mounted on lateral faces of the multi-layer unit.    ADVANTAGE -   The plate-type reformer assembly has gas feeding and discharging ports which are simple and require only simple sealing. @(11pp Dwg.No.1/7)@
A system for the treatment of waste forms a product rich in nutrients suitable for agricultural use. The conversion takes place in a mobile container, pref. during transportation from the collection to the utilization point. In the container, the waste is pref. inoculated with activated compost and the mixture homogenized during digestion. Air or off-gases from a combustion engine may be injected into the mixture and percolate may be recycled.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The final product may be used for soil enrichment and treats waste including municipal solid waste, and that from slaughterhouses and markets, and vegetable matter such as algae. The process is environmentally clean and requires no fixed site. It is fast and all stages of the treatment are carried out in a single container. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Purification of effluents capable of producing methane, such as animal manure. The effluent is cultured by a mixt. of bacteria and enzymes which break down any fibres present, and degrade complicated organic mols. to amino acids, fats and sugars. Liq. effluent is sepd. from the solids by filtration then treated with bacteria to produce methane for collection. Effluent is refiltered and purified by hydroponic culture. It may be diluted with water contg. ferrous or Ca salts to precipitate phosphates. Liq. is now free of disagreeable odours and sufficiently purified and oxyganted to flow into a river or stream.    ADVANTAGE -   Low capital cost as a small digester can be used. Simple and reliable in operation as no complicated equipment used. High yield of methane and high quality waste water produced. @(11pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Method, and appts., for measuring the amount of combustible gas(es) in an atmos. comprises (a) contacting the atmos. with a catalyst for catalysing the combustion of the gas(es); (b) applying a potential difference across a resistance wire that is in thermal contact with the catalyst so as to heat the catalyst to a temp. at which the combustible gas(es) are combusted; (c) varying the potential difference being applied across the resistance wire over time thereby varying the operating temp. of the catalyst; and (d) measuring the change in the electrical resistance of the resistance wire (or a parameter that varies therewith) due to the presence of the combustible gas(es) over at least part of the applied potential range to provide a measure of the amount of combustible gas in the atmos.    ADVANTAGE -   The potential applied across the wire during the course of measurement by a voltage pulse generator (14) is altered, thereby also altering the temp. of the catalyst and it is possible either to resolve the resultant resistance readings into resistance readings for the individual combustible gases or to integrate the resistance readings over time so that the signal produced will be about the same for unit amounts of many combustible gases. @(25pp Dwg.No.6/9)@
Dry, dust-free particles comprising H2O soluble or dispersible enzymes (I) are prepd. as follows: (a) a particulate, hydratable core material (II) is introduced into a fluidised-bed spray-coater, and kept suspended; and (b) a fermentation broth contg. (I) is sprayed onto the core and the liq. is evapd. to leave the solids coated onto the core. The fermentation broth contains (w/w of the total solids in the broth) 0.5-25% of (I) produced in the broth, and 0.5-99.5% of fermentation broth solids, and has a total solids content 10-30% (of broth) such that the viscosity is 10-5000 cps. at room temp.    ADVANTAGE -   The process allows dry, dust-free enzyme-contg. prods. to be produced directly from fermentation broths without the need to prepare dry enzymes (I), or to provide high concns. of (I) in soln. The dust-free (I) are useful in dry detergent formulations, for removing gelatin coatings on photographic films to aid in Ag recovery, in the digestion of wastes from food processing plants for N2 recovery, in denture cleaners for removing protein-bound stains, and as a processing aid in waste water treatment.
An anaerobic digestion process for waste having concentrations of suspended solids includes separating the solids contg. active biomass from other digestion prods. through an anoxic gas flotation sepn. process. The sepd. active biomass is recirculated to the anaerobic digestion reactor to maintain high concentrations of anaerobic microorganisms within the reactor.    Influent organic waste is pref. delivered via line to an anaerobic digestion reactor, the reactor contains anaerobic bacteria. Biogas contg. methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia and other trace gases is discharged from reactor as a result of normal upward flow, pressurisation of the reactor, vacuum pump or blower through outlet piping and along line.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Anaerobic digestion process of waste materials having significant concns. of solid material. The operating efficiency of the process is improved as active biomass is recirculated to the anaerobic digestion reactor. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Proposed method involves mixing Ni or its oxides with alumina and kaolin, in the presence of water, to form a homogeneous mixt., adding aq. soln. of water glasse as binder, and extrusion of obtd. catalyst mixt. into the soln. of magnesium chloride (e.g. 20%). Typically, 30 g of kaolin, 15 g talc, 15 g alumina and 16 g Ni of particle size 10-50 x 10 power -6 (26.8 wt.% calculated per NiO) can be used, with 48 ml of water glass soln. of density 1.29 g/cc.    Obtd, blocks of catalyst are held in MgCl2 soln. for e.g. 30 mins., dried and calcined at 165 deg.C for 2 hrs.    Tests show that the obtd. catalyst has reduced hydraulic resistance ( to 23 mm H2O for catalyst layer of dia. 0.1m and height 1 m, against 583 mm H2O for the known catalyst). No toxice nitrogen oxides are formed during calcination. Stability of catalyst remains unchanged for not less than a year during work at 900-1000 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst can be used in air-oxygen conversion of methane or in prodn. of reducing atmos. for metallurgy. Produced catalyst has increased stability and resistance to coking and reduced hydraulic resistance. Bul.26/15.7.90 @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Methane prodn. bacteria can grow even at 15-20 deg.C and can keep methane prodn. activity at temp. above. Methane prodn. bacteria can grow on acetic acid as substrate. Pref. bacteria is e.g. Methanosarcina sp. NY-927 (FERM P-10975), which has optimum pH value of 6.5 and optimum temp. of 37 deg.C and optimum salt content of 0.25M. Strain can use acetic acid, methanol, methylamine and H2/CO2 at cultivation temp. of 37 deg.C pH 7.0 under sodium chloride content of 0.017M. Strain is sepd. from soil.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Using this strain, wasted material can be treated under low energy consumption. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The method involves first transmitting a burst of speech data at a particular power level on one time slot of several time slots of a TDMA frame on a particular frequency channel, the traffic channel. A radio carrier is transmitted at the same power level as the speech data during a gap in the time slots on the traffic channel at a different frequency level to that of the traffic channel. This fills in the gaps in the traffic channel such that a continuous signal is transmitted.    ADVANTAGE -   Eliminates interference heard in domestic electronic equipment. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Liq. manure in the pit (1) below a gridded stable floor (2) is stirred and circulated by a bladed rotor whose drive motor outside the pit causes rotation near the pit floor of the lowered stirrer. The stirrer is obliquely inserted into the manure from a terminal floor aperture (10) and guided by an element (11) formed e.g. of two parallel angular profiles (14). The upper end of the element pivots about a horizontal axis (13) anchored above the max. possible manure level, while stirrer position adjacent the pit floor is controlled by a lifter shaft or cable (19) passing vertically through the stable floor and with operating means, e.g. a rotary crank (20) at its heel.    Movement of the enlarged rotary stirrer hub is controlled by permanent contact with an arcuate guide (16) contacting the pit floor.    ADVANTAGE -   All layers of liq. manure are adequately stirred and mixed. @(4pp Dwg.No.2/3)@
A domed biogas reactor contains a horizontal partition in the form of a hopper (3) between a lower gas-producing chamber (1) and an upper chamber (2) in which the gas is stored. A minimal gas collection space (6) is provided in the region of the supports (8), and a prop (5) is provided for the point (4) of the conical partition (3).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This reactor is intended for use in agriculture. An uncomplicated layout of the two chambers provides a design which is sparing of land area occupied and reduces the risk of corrosion of the partition sepg. the chambers by keeping its lower surface mostly immersed in the animal slurry in the lower chamber. The central support of the partition allows chambers of a larger dia. to be used. @(3pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Waste water is introduced (at 35) into a lower zone of a reaction chamber (11) which is circular in horizontal section, to generate a circulating flow of waste water which rises upwardly through the lower zone, in which a primary anaerobic reaction takes place, toward an upper zone in which a secondary anaerobic reaction takes place, with treated liquid and biologically produced gas being removed (at 33,67) from the top of the second zone. Pref. waste water is introduced into the lower zone of the chamber via nozzles which direct the water in a direction downward and sidewardly toward the hemispherical or conical bottom wall (17) to generate a suspended bed of flocculent sludge and or granular sludge for a primary reaction process, the waste then moves upwardly through a packing medium for supporting microorganisms for the secondary anaerobic reaction in the upper zone,.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in the anaerobic treatment of organic waste waters. Provides an economical system for treatment of waste waters to obtain high rates of pollutant removal and resistance to sudden variation s in feed characteristics and obtain useful products, such as gaseous fuels. @(20pp Dwg.No. 1/4)@
A composite of a rigid, glassy semi-permeable membrane is claimed as is its prodn. by: (1) forming substrate membrane from silyl-/germyl-contg. polyacetylene polymer (I); (2) exposing to vapours of monomer (II) contg. pendant N heterocycles for 15 secs. -15 mins. at pressure 0.025-0.5 torr, so substrate sorbs monomer vapour; (3) discontinuing flow of monomer vapour and lighting a plasma with carrier gas in presence of substrate at 33-300W power and pressure 0.05-1 torr for 30 secs. - 2 hrs., so monomer is plasma polymerised in-situ onto surface of substrate membrane.    Selectivity of membrane of (I) is increased by depositing thinnest possible defect-free layer, pref. 0.01-0.5 micron thick, of polymerised monomer selected from (mixts.) pendant pyridine-contg. acetylenic cpds., 4-/2-vinylpyridine, vinylpyrazine, vinylimidazole, vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and methyl-2-pyrrolidone, where monomer is pre-purified to ensure permeation stability of composite membrane over time, e.g., by distn. at 5-10mm Hg from CaH2 to remove O2 and water.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Composite of highly O2 selective layer on highly permeable substrate provides high selectivity system for sepn. of gases at high flux, including mixts. O2/N2, H2/N2, and He/CH4.
Pressure swing adsorption process for sepn. of ethane from a feedstream comprising mixts. of ethane and methane comprises: (a) passing the feedstream at an upper adsorption pressure through an adsorption zone contg. a zeolitic molecular sieve of faujasite type having a framework SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of 2-100 and contg. at least 20 equiv.% of Zn cations and contg. not more than 80 equiv.% alkali(ne earth) metal cation(s), where ethane and methane are adsorbed and an effluent stream enriched in methane relative to the feedstream is recovered; (b) regenerating the adsorption zone by depressurising the zone to a desorption pressure lower than the adsorption pressure, and recovering a desorption effluent stream comprising ethane and methane; and (c) repressurising the adsorption zone to the adsorption pressure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process gives a high purity methane prod. at higher recoveries than known methods. The zeolitic molecular sieve effectively controls the thermal problems associated with methane coadsorption yet provides suitable sepn. of impurity adsorbates.
A finishing agent (I) composed of (A) 80-20 wt.% of a soln. contg. (A1) 10-90 wt. % of a softening agent of quat. ammonium-salt and (A2) 90-10 wt.% of an organic solvent, and having viscosity: less 300 cps at 25 deg.C., and (B) 20-80 wt.% of injection-agent for aerosol, is charged into (D) an aerosol-vessel, which have a structure of valve capable of applying constant amt. of the agent.    The (A1) softening agent is pref. quat. ammonium-salt can be conventional one. The (A2) organic solvent is pref. methanol, ethanol, etc. The (B) injection-agent for aerosol is pref. trichloro fluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane, propane, isobutane, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The spray-type finishing agent is used for softening during a period of rinsing cycle in a washer, and can be increased in concn. as opposed to those conventional used bringing easily applying the agent in a constant amt. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Gas sensor element comprises polyaniline between more than two electrodes; oxidising level of polyaniline is 0.5-0.65V to standard hydrogen electrode.    As material for conductive electrodes, gold, platinum, graphite, carbon, silver, copper, aluminium, titanium, tantalum, niobium, tin, nickel, tin or indium-oxide and silicon are used. Element can be produced in different ways w.r.t. formation of polyaniline; in case polyaniline (in free standing film shape) is used, electrode is clad on film, or conductive body is deposited or sputtered on film. Polyaniline can be dissolved in solvent and coated on electrode by spin coating etc..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The element can detect various gases e.g. ammonia (pref.), methane, silane, water vapour, hydrogen sulphide, nitrogen monoxide etc.) with high sensitivity. @(4pp Dwg.No.1,2/3)@
Faeces collected from a vehicle toilet installation are processed during movement of the vehicle to separate liq. components therefrom discharging into the environment or reusing water withdrawn from the faeces by the processing step, and storing, reprocessing, or discharging the residual mass of the faeces. The onboard appts. includes a faeces task tank for reception of faeces, a pressing tank connected to the outlet of the faeces tank and means for processing the faeces to separate liq. An outlet for the water withdrawn from the processed faeces is provided along with a means for storing, reprocessing, or discharging the residual mass of faeces.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method and appts. for the disposal of faeces from a moving vehicle, e.g. an aircraft, reduces the weight that needs to be carried by the vehicle, increasing the economy of vehicle operation. The weight of appts. required for theh performance of the method is compensated for by saving of weight from dispensing with storage tanks for raw faeces and from a reduction in flushing water tanks. Disposal of the dehydrated faeces without chemical additives is possible. @(14pp Dwg.No.0/2)@
In re-siting an elongated pile of compost, compost in a wheel-mounted container (1) drops through a sieve (2) formed of multiple rotary elements on to a rising conveyor belt (3). Heavier pieces of the rotting material are flung by a rotating bladed wheel to form a support mat (7) for the material progressively piled at a new location as the belt assembly travels along its length.    ADVANTAGE -   Transfer process, though fast enough to retain stored heat, adequately loosens and re-mixes the compost. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Contaminated soil is decontaminated by placing a layer of the soil on a gas-permeable substrate in a pressure-resistant housing; injecting steam through the layer at 100-190 deg. C and 1-12 bar; withdrawing effluent vapours from the housing; condensing the vapours; passing the condensate on for purificn.; and discharging the decontaminated soil from the housing.    The specific surface area of the incoming soil is adjusted, if necessary, to less than 10,000 cm2/g. The soil may be introduced as an aq. slurry and dewatered in situ to form a layer with an air permeability of 20-150 Nm3/m2.hr, and this may be preheated with stad. steam and/or treating with wet steam contg. an oxidising agent, e.g. air, O2-enriched air or H2O2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is capable of inexpensively removing organic and inorganic contaminants, e.g. hydrocarbons or TNT, giving decontaminated soil in re-usable form. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Treatment comprises (a) a fermentation aid and microorganisms capable of decomposing organic substances blended with domestic animal droppings, (b) putting the resulting mixt. in a metal mesh bucket (1) having a fine mesh net (2) around the inside thereof, and fermenting the mixt., stirring and drying in the bucket.    100-300 wt.% of fermentation aid and 1-10 wt.% of microorganisms capable of decomposing organic substances are blended with chicken droppings and mixed with a mixer. As the fermentation aid are usable rice or wheat straws, rice husks, papermaking sludges, sawdusts. Microorganisms usable and bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Pref. are anaerobic microorganisms capable of producing enzyme of decomposing proteins, fatty acids, saccharides and cellulose. The mixt. is put in the bucket (1) having the net (2) there around, and plural buckets are piled up. These are allowed to stand in a room for 15 days whereupon microorganisms are activated and the animal droppings are fermented to give a manure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Organic manure can be produced from domestic animal droppings.
Prodn. of fertiliser or fuel involves crushing organic waste followed by fermentation in the first fermentation tank with aeration and drying, and fermentation of the sepd organic waste water in the second fermentation tank to decompose the organic content.    Organic waste e.g. pulp, saw dust, husk, excreta of animals are compressed to reduce water content to about 60-90%, pref. 70%. The dehydrated waste is then fermented with aeration to maintain a temp. of about 50-70 deg C. During the fermentation process, the water content is reduced to less than about 60%., pref. about 10-35%. The sepd waste water is anaerobically fermentated and the produced flammable gas, e.g. methane can be used as a fuel in the fermentation process. The resulted waste water in the anaerobic fermentation process can be used for the irrigation. The product of the first fermentation pro-cess is then further dried and processed to give particles of about 5-30 mm dia.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Stepwise fermentation provides efficient prodn. of fertiliser or fuel. @(4pp Dwg.No. 0/1)
Prodn. of fertiliser or fuel comprises crushing organic water contg. waste followed by fermentation and aeration to reduce water content to up to 60%.    Organic wastes, e.g. pulp, sawdust, husk, excreta of animals are compressed to reduce water content to about 60-90 (70)%. The dehydrated waste is then fermented with aeration to maintain the temp. at 50-70 deg.C. During the fermentation process, the water content is reduced to less than about 60 (10-35)%. The prod. is then further dried and processed to give particles of about 5-30 mm dia.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fermented organic waste of water content of up to 60% can be used not only as fertiliser but also as fuel. The process provides prod. in a short period of time. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Prodn. of organic fertiliser by fermentation with pre-treatment of drying of organic waste at 80-140 deg.C to give water content of less than 65%.    Pref. raw materials, e.g. wastes of soy bean curd, beer brewery and fruit juice are dehydrated by heating at 80-140 deg.C to give water content of less than 65%. This process eliminates the waste water treatment in the prods. and also provides pasteurisation of harmful pathogenic microorganisms. The raw materials are then fermented at about 50-80 deg.C for about one day by conventional method.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Economic prodn. of fertiliser without bad smell or waste water treatment. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/3)
In an arrangement for the microbiological cleaning of soil contaminated with harmful substances, by means of an explosive cartridge to be introduced into and ignited in the soil, the cartridge contains substances which promote the metabolism and/or the multiplication of microorganisms which break down the harmful substances.    ADVANTAGE -   Conditions for the microorganisms are improved and soil improvement is quick and inexpensive. Bonding of the harmful substances to the soil particles is broken, facilitating their breakdown. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/2)
After preliminary drying, e.g. by filter press or in settlement tanks, liq. manure or thin sludge is divided into coarse and fine solids and a residue, mainly of water. Warm air reduces residual moisture content of the coarse fraction to 3% or less. Hot air drying of the filtrate aq. in a spray tower, produces fine solids, while clean residual water is condensed on a cold surface.    A cyclical system with filter sections, spray tower, cyclone etc. forms both hot and cold material. Heat from the circuit dries out raw material, while cold is used in condensing distillation. Waste power draws electrical generators. At any suitable stage to circulating material is sterilised, e.g. by microwaves.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduces external pollution of treated farming land, as compared with simple spreading. System is simple, with low energy demand, since balance between drying and condensation yields useful waste heat. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Method for converting methane to higher mol. wt. hydrocarbons comprises: reacting a methane-contg. feedstock with an O-contg. material in a reaction zone to produce an effluent stream comprising C2+ hydrocarbons; maintaining the effluent stream at a temp. of at least 600 deg.C; contacting the effluent stream with a gaseous alkane quench material having a temp. of up to 1000 deg.C for under 2 sec. to produce a chemically quenched stream having a reduced temp. The temp. of the chemically quenched stream is pref. further reduced by thermal means to retard retrograde reactions and give a prod. stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for converting methane and/or natural gas to more readily transportable liq. higher mol.wt. prods. Heat wasted in prior processes is recovered and additional H is provided for use in converting low value C oxides to more valuable prods. The process improves the economic feasibility of both catalytic and non-catalytic oxidative coupling processes, including both cofeed and redox configurations.
Addn. of tetrahydronaphthalene (I) to the absorbent for drying and purifying natural gas, increases the efficiency of removal of heavy hydrocarbons. The mixt. contains (in wt.%): N-methylpyrrolidone 60-95 and (I) 5-40 and is used at 0-40 deg.    ADVANTAGE -   Efficiency of removal of heavy hydrocarbons is increased from 5 to 35%. Bul.34/15.9.90 @(2pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
Gas sepn. membranes are characterised by consisting of poly-sulphones of formula -(X-Y)-, (where X = formula A and Y = formula B and/or formula C) and possessing inherent viscosities of at least 0.2 based on measurement with a soln. obtd. by dissolving 0.5 g. of the polysulphone in 100 ml. of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. In formulae, R1 - R4 = H, CH3 or C2H5; R5, R6 = H or an electron attractive gp. with at least either one being an electron attractive gp.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The gas sepn. membranes obtd. can be used for sepg. selectively O2 or N2 from the air. Partic. they can be used in the prodn. of O2 enriched air, which is used widely in the fields of combustion, medical care, market gardens, fish breeding, sludge treatment and fermentation. The membranes obtd. have high sepn. factors.    In an example, in a three neck flask, 20 mmol. of 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, 20 mmol. of 4,4'-dichlorodiphenylsulphone, 22 mol. of K2CO3, 50 ml. of dimethyl-acetamide and 30 ml. of toluene were placed and dehydrated. After removing toluene until the reaction temp. reached 150 deg.C. the mixt. was reacted for 15 hours, and then cooled to room temp. After filtering off KCl, the filtrate was added to methanol to reprecipitate a polymer with an inherent viscosity of 0.59 dl/g. By spreading a 10 wt.% soln. of this polymer in m-cresol over a glass plate and vaporising the cresol completely, a gas sepn. membrane with a thickness of 30 microns was obtd. which had a sepn. factor between O2 and N2 (alpha) of 6.43.
Gas-sepg. membrane is made of aromatic copolyamide obtd. by reacting the aromatic polycarboxylic acid component with the mixed polyamine component substantially at an equimole ratio. Where the mixed polyamine component contains, as the main components, an aromatic polyamine cpd. having at least one unit of diphenylsulphone and a heterocyclic polyamine cpd. having at least one tert. N in the heterocyclic ring at a mole ratio, aromatic polyamine cpd./heterocyclic polyamine cpd.=95/5-50/50.    Pref. aromatic polyamides is e.g., 3,3'-diaminodiphenylsulphone, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulphone. Pref. nitrogen-contg. heterocyclic polyamines is e.g., 2,6-diaminopyridine.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The present membrane can be used for concentrating and recovering Ar, He, for sepg. methane from CO or CO2, H2 from CO2, O2 from N2, etc.. It is superior in selective permeability (e.g., O2/N2, H2/CO2) and heat resistance. In addn. it has a good filming property due to the good solubility of the co-polyamide in aprotoic amide type solvent. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Aq. components are sepd. from manure in a thickening process and subjected to a nitrification process in which ammonia in the aq. components is converted into nitrate or nitrite effluent which is recycled to the thickening process.    Nitrate and/or nitrate contg. effluent is concentrated by water extraction before recycling, and sprayed over the partly thickened manure, which is dried, with condensate and discharge air from the drying process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In working up of residual components from manure ammonia and phosphate are normally removed, however these components contain valuable components of the manure, which the new process retains rather than being discharged as material which is environmentally detrimental. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Processing of organic and/or inorganic base material by feeding fine material into a closed reactor and decomposing the material into solid, liq. and gaseous phases in the reactor. The solid phase is cooled and if necessary formed into particles. The liq. phase is distilled and the gaseous phase condensed in a gas fractionator and distillation assembly. The distillate and uncondensable gas are recovered. Apparatus for processing inorganic and/or organic material is claimed, pref. On mObile VhiCl. n0p0ndenl Clim    l    O lO COOling unit for solid phase product of a heat treatment reactor, a rotary flow control joint for intake and discharge of fluid into and from a double walled rotating shaft (e.g. cooling unit), a gas fractionator with countercurrent gas washing, and to charcoal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For processing of used rubber, infected mud, waste from the pharmaceutical industry or paint industry, material contaminated with at least one heavy metal, and organic waste which is decomposed in the process to carbon powder and reaction fluids (all claimed) such as waste from slaughter houses and forestry. Organic base material may be converted to carbon powder, charcoal for grilling. Lignite may have S and P removed (claimed). @(30pp Dwg.No 0/11)
Organically contaminated soil is treated by arranging it as a bed sloping from its interior towards one or more of its edges and having a collecting trench around the edges. Nutrients are applied to the soil to encourage growth of microorganisms capable of degrading the organic contaminants. Water is applied to the surface of the bed and is concurrently withdrawn through the trench.    The soil is arranged in a sloped bed (12) having a downward surface slope of 1-3%. The upper limit is selected to prevent erosion. Around the edge of the bed is a trench (18) adjacent which the bed slopes more steeply, at about 1 foot vertical drop per 3 lateral feet. The sloped bed may be formed entirely from the contaminated soil, or the soil may be formed as a layer of uniform thickness on a sloped base surface that is equally, or less, water permeable than the soil. The trench serves to intercept, collect and channel water to a central point. Moisture and nutrients are provided to encourage growth of the desired microorganisms in the bed.    ADVANTAGE -   The shape of the bed and the steepness of its slope are selected to minimize both vertically downward migration of water and water erosion of the bed. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
As the reactor is loaded with waste, part of the waste is taken by mechanism (3) from the reactor and returned through control mechanism (10). The other part is crushed in control mechanism (7) and passed to the heater-holder with upper and lower level sensors (26,27). The temp. of the waste falls and the signal from the temp. sensor (29) passes to the control unit, opening mechanism (28) to pass waste from the lower section of the heater-holder to the heat-exchanger.    Intense heating takes place until the waste is heated to the assigned temp. A time count unit then forms a signal after a determined period, which activates mechanism (28) and a magnetic mixer to mix the waste in the heater. During anaerobic fermentation, biogases are formed until pressure sensor (41) is triggered and mechanism (51) is activated to take a sample of bio-gas, which is passed to an energy-unit, determining electro-energy and heat of the bio-gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Automatic anaerobic fermentation of organic waste. Productivity is improved. Bul.20/30.5.90 @(8pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
A composting system, using earthworms to break down organic waste material into compost, consists of an open-topped container (2) into which the waste material is loaded in stages over a given period of time and into which the worms are introduced. As the worms process the material and travel upwards through it, the lower composted layer can be removed from the bottom of the container, e.g, by vanes (35) on driven rotary shafts (28) which discharge the compost onto a conveyor belt (37). The vanes can be actuated by a rack and pinion transmission system (36,31).    ADVANTAGE -   Suitable for producing compost from urban domestic waste material in a continuous process, giving a max return of useable material from the waste. @(13pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
Fermentative treatment equipment includes a carrier with an enclosing frame base, the carrier travelling back and forth over a fermentative treatment pit. A rectangular frame is mounted on the carrier so as to be rotatable, an agitation device is attached to the rectangular frame taking up a portion corresponding to one widthwise half portion of the pit. A spreader device attached to the rectangular frame takes the other width wise half portion of the pit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A fermentative treatment apparatus for organic wastes such as excrements and sludges. The pit wall required to support the carrier as it traverses the pit can be constructed easily, speedily and economically. Maintenance work can be carried out easier and cheaper. @(44pp Dwg.No.0/34)
In manure processing, esp. to reduce nitrogen losses at least after it has been spread on a field, by treatment with HCHO, the new feature is that CaCl2 and/or MgCl2 is also added to the manure.    The min. amt. of Ca/Mg chloride to be added is calculated from the NH3-N content of the manure (determined by chemical analysis) and the predetermined redn. in N loss which is to be achieved.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Ca/Mg chlorides suppress NH3 volatilisation so reduce pollution and minimise loss of plant nutrients (possibly eliminating the need for top dressing with artificial N fertilisers). They are themselves important plant nutrients and their addn. may obviate the need for separate treatment with lime and/or kieserite. Treatment with HCHO suppresses the unpleasant smell of the manure. Ca/Mg chlorides simultaneously inhibit nitrification, so nitrate leaching is reduced. @(16pp Dwg.No.0/5)
Animal slurry is de-watered by evapn. the heat required being supplied by microorganisms. The slurry is added to a decomposing or composting mixt. contg. the microorganisms. Additional heat, such as waste heat from a combustion process, may be added. The mixt. of slurry and compost is placed in a fermentation container and aerobically stabilised until the moisture in the slurry is evaporated. On completion of drying, the solid particles formed on the surface of the compost are sepd. by sieving. Packing materials may be used in the fermentation container, and these may be externally heated and can take the form of heated pipes or plates projecting into the interior of the container. The air introduced into the fermentation container may be pre-heated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Slurry is a valuable agricultural prod. which has an excessive moisture content. This invention provides an improved method for reducing this moisture content, reduces the risk of contamination of ground waters, prevents the emission of odours and avoids the need to use expensive stacking areas. @(3pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Foamed starch in the form of particles can be used as an additive in composting or to improve soil.    Pref. the starch particles are 2-10 mm. When used in the composting of clear or watery muds, esp. contamined mud, the starch particles are pref. mixed with the mud which has been substantially dried. Alternatively the starch particles are mixed with soil or the crude compost in the cases of improving soil or composting organic waste.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The starch particles are porous and have a large surface area to and are thus able to loosen and aerate the compost or soil and thus save the need to turn the soil or rotting compost repeatedly in order to promote microbial growth and the biological degradation of the organic components. The starch particles can be used to compost organic waste, be it of domestic or industrial origin, but are esp. useful in the composting of clear and watery mud, such as habour mud, esp. contaminated mud, and to improve the soil in fields or contaminated soil. The starch is able to a large extent to remove organic poisons.
Raising the value of biomass obtd. in aerobic treatment of liq. manure, the biomass is subjected to (dis)continuous aerobic, non-sterile fermentation, for a determined time and level of aerobicity, at a fixed temp. and pH, for the optimum residence time; the aerobically obtd. manure biomass is transferred to an aq. suspension of microorganisms free from manure components, and aerated at pH 7-9 (8).    ADVANTAGE -   Biomass is a high value microbial protein fodder, which is more easily digested. Pollution problems are minimised. Heat treatment and addn. of chemicals or commercial enzymes are avoided, and loss of organic matter is reduced. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Waste water sepd. from crude oil at prodn. wells, and contg. organic pollutants (I), a Gp IIA metal component (II), and high concns. of alkali metal components (III) (at least 7 g/l as metal) is contacted in a zone (Z1) in the absence of added 02 with an acclimatised biomass (IV) of anaerobic microorganisms, so that at least a portion of (I) are converted into CO2 and CH4. (IV) is acclimatised as follows: (a) (IV) is contacted in the absence of added O2 with an H2O stream comprising (I), (II) and a low concn. of (III); and (b) additional amts. of (III) are added incrementally.    The H20 to be treated pref. comprises at least 50 mg/l of (II), 7-20 g/l of (III), and 0.1-2 wt.% (I). Treatment is pref. at 10-60 deg.C/pH 6-8. Pref. in step (a), (IV) may be acclimatised before or after it is introduced to Z1. The H20 stream pref. comprises 50-100 mg/l of (II), and 500-1000 mg/l of (III) (both as metal). Step (b). Pref. additional amts. of (I) and (II) are also added. (III) is pref. added incrementally at 500-1000 mg/l (as metal) per day. Steps (a) and (b) are pref. effected over 40-80 days.    ADVANTAGE -   Preconditioning of the anaerobic microorganisms allows them to be used to treat waste waters contg. organic pollutants and high concns. of salts, while their inhibition is minimised. The method is esp. useful for treating H20 sepd. from crude oil at prodn. wells. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/1)
A high-temp. slag-resistant metal sheath (24) for a thermocouple (28) is used in a system for the partial oxidn. of liq. hydrocarbon or solid carbonaceous fuel with O2-contg. gas in the presence of a temp. moderator. This occurs in the reaction zone of a gasifier producing a stream of H2, CO, CO2 and at least one of H2O, N2, H2S, COS, Ar and CH4 along with a slag contg. Fe and other metals. The sheath (24) protects the thermocouple (28) from Fe, V etc. in the slag and comprises a continuous binary alloy consisting of 30-70 wt.% Pd and the balance Ag. Pref. the sheath is porous to H2 and is used at 1000-2400 deg.F. Pref. the gasifier is a vertical free-flow, refractory-lined, cylindrical steel pressure vessel. Pref. the thermocouple comprises a pair of noble metal wires, pref. Pt/Rh, joined at both ends but otherwise insulated by high-temp. ceramics, pref. alumina or magnesia. Pref. the sheath and couple are passed through a flanged nozzle (18) and aligned holes into the gasifier but the sheath is retracted 0.5-3 in. from the inner wall.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful in high-temp. systems for forming fuel gas, synthesis gas and reducing gas. The thermocouple is protected from the slag and esp. from Fe and V and the sheath's porosity to H2 prevents any V(V) oxide, which is esp. corrosive, from forming. Thermocouple lifetime is prolonged and temp. measurements are more accurate. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Biodegradation of nutrient-deficient straw residues of cereal grain on a field is accelerated by (i) sepg. straw from the grain, (b) crushing the straw, (c) applying a nutrient soln. to the straw and (d) distributing the straw on the field. The nutrient soln. contains molasses, dextrose, malt extract and/or invert sugar as a humectant.. Pref. the humectant is molasses, esp. at 20 g/l nutrient soln..    ADVANTAGE -   Process avoids the need for environmentally harmful straw burning. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Lock comprises two coaxial cylinders (1,2) and plate cutter (3) and forced cleaning mechanism (4) in the form of a frame with sloping blades. Blades (5) can be turned by drive (6). Fibre and foam fall onto cutter (3), . partly fragmente and pass through the annular gap between cylinders (1,2). If the gap is blocked, indicated by the cessation of flow, one or two turns of drive (6) clear the obstruction by blades (5).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Increased reliability by forced clearance of blockages from annular gap without stopping the technical process or opening up of the reactor. Bul.14/15.4.90 @(2pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
During the prepn. phase thickening reagents are added to the waste water thus dehydrating it and making it already less dangerous to the environment. Cellulose type additives (paper pulp) is then added during vigorous mixing till a dough like composition is achieved, which can then be shaped, formed, dried and baked
A solid fuel in the form of uniform solid granules, comprising a mixt. of granules of municipal plastics waste (polyolefins, polystyrene, PET, etc.), wood-based materials (sawdust, olive kernel extraction residue, agricultural cellulosic waste, etc.) and inert materials in any selected proportions.    Pref. materials are comprised of 55% municipal plastics waste, 40% wood based material and 5% inert combustion regulatory material. Pref. the fuel prod. is supplied in the form of opt. perforated solid prods. e.g. with a circular or hexagonal cross section. Pref. the plastic waste is sorted prior to processing to separate out PVC, which produces acidic combustion gases. The sepd. PVC, opt. with a portion of the other plastics waste, can be reprocessed into useful articles such as rods and pipes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel has stable, controlled burning properties and is produced in uniformly sized pieces so that it can be burned e.g. in conventional coal-burning stoves, fireplaces and boilers without melting and flowing out of the fireplace. The fuel utilises the calorific value of municipal plastics waste and uses other waste materials as burning controllers so that large amts. of municipal waste can be processed with low capital investment and avoiding the need to provide extensive landfill sites or expensive incineration plant.
Fermented liq. manure is fed to an aerated reactor contg. active sludge rich in nitrifying bacteria, with acid neutralising chemicals opt. fed to the reactor and then to a continuously fed upflow slip bed (USB) reactor contg. a compact biomass capable of converting nitrate to nitrogen gas and to which an organic substrate is added. The loading of the reactor is controlled to obtain optimum nitrification in the first reactor and optimum denitrification in the second reactor using data including one or more of the factors: incoming nitrogen load, information from a WAZU respiration meter, oxygen concn. and/or pH in the nitrification reactor, the pH being maintained in range 6 to 8.5, the temp. in both reactors being kept below 40 deg.C, the concn. of oxidised nitrogen in the nitrification reactor or the influent to the denitrification reactor, the criterion being a concentration between 0 and 4g N/l or the concn. of the carbon source in the effluent from the denitrification reactor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the processing of manure, fermented manuree, or waste water having a high Kjeldahl-N concn., partic. anaerobic fermented floating pig manure. Provide a compact installation which can be automatically controlled to operate under optimum conditions. @(18pp Dwg.No.0/12)@
In processing household, industrial or other waste, to recover cellulose material, by comminution, magnetic sepn, sifting and fractionation, the light fraction from the sifting, consisting of paper, textiles and synthetics, is passed to a washing zone, and the washed material is fed to a pulper; after the pulper, ballast material is removed by sieving, and the cellulose particles supended in water, which pass through the sieve, are fed either directly, or after removing water by pressing, to paper mfr, or the pressed cellulose particles are dried and recovered as powder.    ADVANTAGE -   The following can be recovered: metals for re-use; minerals for the building industry; CH4 gas; agricultural prods, fertilisers and carriers; solid fuels; energy, electrical and thermal; cellulose powder as carrier and additive; and paper pulp for prodn of paper and card. Hand-sorting is avoided, valuable materials are completely utilised, only a small amt (a max of 3% of ash) of material has to be deposited, the system is independent of the compsn of the waste and is not limited to a single market, and harmless agricultural prods can be obtd.
To compost heavily contaminated waste waters, existing composting systems which are provided with mixing, agitating and conveying devices should be filled to the recommended depth with relatively light particles which decompose only very slowly or not at all, and that the waste water should be distributed over these particles. The solid materials in the waste water therefore accumulate on the surfaces of the light particles while the liquid phase of the waste water trickles through the bed of particles and is collected in a receiving vessel from which it can be recirculated to the inlet of the composting system. After the required composting period the particles are removed from the composting area, the rotted material is sepd from their surfaces, and they are then returned to the composting area for further use. Particles of wood or bark, or mineral materials such as coke or pumice may be used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This invention is used for the treatment of animal slurry or sewage, which produces a very heavily contaminated waste water discharge. It is of importance that the nitrogenous cpds contd in the slurry should be removed to prevent pollution of waterways, and also so that they can be used as fertilisers at the optimum time of the year. Presently used composting methods require the addn of materials such as straw to assist the rotting process, and these materials are not later recoverable. This invention increases the effectiveness and the economy of the process since the articles used are not consumed in the process and can be reused many times. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
In silaging coarse fodder biologically, using sugar as source of C, 250-750 g of sugar, pref, in ratio of 1 : 0.5, is dissolved in 1 I of whey, and 2.5-11 I of the soln., depending on type of fodder and dry matter content, is applied evenly to 1 tonne of silage material.    Pref. the silage material is pre-wilted.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is esp. for silaging green material which has not adequately wilted. Silage quality and fodder absorption are better, sol. components become available, and the process is environment-friendly.    In an example: Lupin, harvested in October, was wilted, giving 22% dry matter. Sugar was dissolved in hot water in ratio of 1:1, and 10 I of a sugar/whey soln. was applied, w.r.t. 1 tonne of silage material. The material was compressed in a silo and covered with film and straw. After 1 week the pH was 4.2. The silaging was good, and the silage was free from butyric acid. @(3pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
The activity of ammonia oxidn. bacteria is promoted by circulating through a magnetic promoter a liq. produced in a culture medium of ammonia oxidn. bacteria.    Pref. the ammonia oxidn. bacteria is Nitrosomonas. The culture liq. is circulated in perpendicular direction to the magnetic lines of force through a magnetic promoter providing 5000 gauss magnetic field. The magnetic promoter is a permanent magnet.    Also pref. the propagation rate was enhanced by 1.28 times, the oxidn. rate was by 1.24, and adhesion power was by 1.26 under 5000 gauss magnetic field.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to enhance oxidn. activity, propagation and adhesion power of ammonia oxidn. bacteria which is used to remove ammonia biologically from river water or domestic, industrial or agriculture waste water. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Appts. comprises treated water discharge controller, fermented gas collecting means, treated water circulation controller, and gas recovering valve. Treated water discharge controller leads treated water overflowing reactor vessel to treated water vessel through treated water introduction valve and discharging treated water in treated water vessel through discharge valve. Fermented gas collecting means temporarily stores fermented gas generated in reaction container in low pressure gas tank and stores fermented gas compressed to given pressure by compressor in high pressure gas tank.    Treated water circulation controller includes pressure feed valve and treated water circulating valve of which opening and closing are controlled by timing different from that of treated water introduction valve and treated water discharge valve. When treated water introduction valve and treated water discharge valve are closed, pressure inside high pressure gas tank is applied to treated water vessel through pressure water vessel to lower portion of reaction vessel through treated water circulating valve. Gas recovering valve is provided between treated water vessel and low pressure gas tank, and applies pressure inside treated water vessel including fermented gas to low pressure gas tank in state that gas recovering valve is opened when discharging of treated water is controlled.    ADVANTAGE -   Treated water can be circulated into reactor vessel without using power source. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/2)
In making a formed fuel, a mixt. of 100 pts. wt. of powdered coal contg. 1.0 wt.% (based on anhydrous gp.) of combustible sulphur portion with 15-45 pts. wt. of fibrous bio-mass powder and an appropriate amt. of hydrated lime is formed under high pressure into a briquette. The resulting granulated prod. is surface-treated with a soln. of paraffin and fuel oil A having a paraffin : fuel oil A wt. ratio of (1:9) to (5:5).    A typical prodn. process consists of conditioning raw material, mixing, forming (or moulding), removing flash, and surface treatment. Raw coal is usually ground to a grain size of up to 2-3 mm. Available bio-mass include sawdust, bark, beat pulp, and chaff.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method makes high-sulphur-content coal and various types of bio-mass available as a fuel. It requires no heating on mixing and forming and gives high water resistance. The fuel obtd. has good combustion characteristics and good economy. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Propane (I) is given by hydrogenation of CO2 in the presence of the catalyst composed of metals (e.g. Cu, Zn) or their cpds. and solids aluminosilicate (e.g. zeolite) (silica/alumina = 5-30).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In this method (I) is given from the mixed gas of CO2 and (H2 in high selectivity and high yield, not via CO. This reaction is one pot, so reaction appts. can be compact. This method recycling CO2 has an additional merit for conservation of environment. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Treatment of raw sewage comprises (a) aggregation for adding polymer flocculant to the raw sewage to form aggregated flocs.; (b) sepn. by a screen for sepg. the aggregated flocs. to aggregated sepd. sludge and sepd. water, (c) methane fermentation for methane fermenting the aggregated sludge, (d) dehydration for the residue after the fermentation to sepd. water and dehydrated cake, and (e) denitrification for biologically nitrifying and denitrifying both the sepd. water from the sepn. step and that from the dehydration step.    ADVANTAGE -   Amt. of sludge formed in the treatment of raw sewage is remarkably reduced and so dehydration of the sludge and burning of dehydrated cake are easily conducted. By using a centrifugal dehydrator, the sludge is dehydrated without adding dehydrating agent. As colloidal organic substances in raw sewage are aggregated by polymer flocculant and conc. to a solid by a screen, the vol. of methane fermentation tank can be reduced to 1/10 of a conventionally used anaerobic digestion tank of raw sewage. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/2)
In the decomposition of Freon gas, such as Freon-12, Freon-11, Freon-113, Freon-114, Freon-115, Freon-22, etc., the Freon gas is mixed with a combustion supporter, e.g., hydrogen or hydrocarbons such as methane, natural gas, etc., in a proportion of 1:1 or more and burned with an oxygen-contg. gas, e.g., air, oxygen, or oxygen-added air at ordinary pressure or higher pressures of 10 atom. or higher.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This method can effectively decompose freon gas such as CCl2F2, etc., to make it harmless. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Prodn. of fertilisers is effected by treating faecal waste or sewage sludge with a fungal prepn. and granulating the prod. Pref. the starting material is esp. farmyard slurry. Its water content may be reduced by evapn. at up to 80 deg.C or by adding 5-20 wt. % of an absorbent material, esp. peat, waste paper or sawdust. The fungal prepn. is produced by culturing Penicillium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus and/or Mucor spp. on cereals, pref. including at least 50 wt. % wheat. The fungal prepn. may be dried and granulated and opt. mixed with dried and granulated seaweed in a wt. ratio of 100:1 to 1:100 and/or mixed with whey powder in a wt. ratio of 10:1 to 1:2. The fungal prepn. is aged at 20-50 deg.C for 2-72 hrs before being added to the starting material in an amt. of 0.5-10 wt. %. The mixt. is composted at 20-50 deg. C for 1-21 days before being granulated. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A block-shaped and stackable mobile container for composting waste and made of thermally insulated steel sheeting has air inlets and outlets and a double-floor with an outlet for condensate. Material is entered from a roof latch and extracted from an end-wall hatch. The hatches are suspended from rotary hinges spaced at intervals along the elements of a bar structure, and are clamped with peripheral sealed engagement with rubber strips round the hatch apertures. Tensioning devices may be operated by threaded bars engaging in slotted retainers, or by hydraulic/pneumatic piston and cylinder assemblies.    USE -   Provides containers suitable for road or rail transport, and effectively sealed against smelly emissions. @(8pp Dwg.No.3/5)@
An aeratable mobile trolley with roof apertures for inserting waste to be composted, and which is removed from a flap-closed end has a double floor from whose internal cavity descended water can be extracted. Above a continuous lower plate element the inclement upper floor is formed as a row of adjacent but uncoupled U-profile whose central web is upwards and contains holes for passage of air. The holes are elongated slots with flanged edges extending towards the continuous lower plate element. The U-profiles are made of steel.    ADVANTAGE -   Container components are easily removed and cleaned. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/7)
Waste material for forming into compost is stored in a wheeled trolley with air access holes in the walls. The material rests on a sieve floor installed near the trolley floor and is a flat plate engageable with releasable catches in the trolley side walls. The plate is reinforced by downwardly directed parallel flange bars above the container into which matured compost falls. The plate retaining catch may be a screw unit rotatable into an internal bore, and with a treated external head for ready operation.    ADVANTAGE -   The sieve floor is held with max. stability. @(5pp Dwg.No.3/3)@
Process for decontaminating soil contg. small amts. of mineral oil hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons and other biodegradable contaminants under non-aerobic and then aerobic conditions. Firstly, the initial feed is aerated with a stream of air, displacing most of the volatile contaminants; the soil is then treated with an anaerobic microorganism, in the presence of nutrients and a methane atmosphere, displacing residual chlorocarbons in a stream of methane; and then further biodegradation with an aerobic microorganism in the presence of suitable nutrients and a stream of air.    USE -   The process facilitates the desorption of soils for recycling. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/3)
A bioheat incubator utilises the heat produced by rotting compost for the heating of greenhouses.    The compost is contained in well perforated steel containers on wheels (E) with access for cold air at the bottom(Le). The containers are separate from each other and the hot air emerges at the top(La) with direct access to the greenhouses.    ADVANTAGE -   This aerates the compost adequately without any need to redistribute and turn over the layers.
A process for solidifying liq. manure comprises converting the N-cpds. in the manure into higher mol. cpds. by chemical reactions and converting the liq. portion of the manure into a gel, which can be solidified by synaeresis and/or by adding water-binding agents.    Pref. the N-cpds. are converted into higher mol.cpds. by adding higher mol. acids to form salts, or by adding addn. reaction and/or condensn. reaction partners (esp. water-sol. epoxides and/or water-sol. aldehydes), to give the addn. and/or condensn. prods. Pref. the liq. components are converted to a gel by adding water-sol. resols. and hardening to the resit stage, or by adding water-sol. silicates and/or silicic acid esters and hydrolytic cleavage. Pref. the water-binding agent is a combination of Mg oxide and Mg salts.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The solidified liq. manure can be formed into a granulate which can be stored, transported and used as a fertiliser, without problems. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
(A) Fuel-air explosive devices comprise (a) a rupturable outer container contg. a gaseous or liq. fuel; (b) a non-rupturable inner container contg. a chemical initiator and having explosively rupturable diaphragms in its walls; (c) an explosive sheet covering the inner container; and (d) a detonator for detonating th explosive sheet and rupturing the diaphragms.    (B) Fuel-air explosive devices comprise (a) a rupturable inner container contg. a chemical initiator and a burster charger; (c) a detonator for the burster charge; and (d) a turbulence-inducing cage surrounding the inner or outer container.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The devices may be used to clear paths through minefields. Upon detonation, the devices produce a fuel-air cloud in which an explosive shock wave is generated by reaction between the fuel and initiator, thus eliminating the need for sec. charges. @(40pp Dwg.No.3,5)@
Benzene is hydrogenated and decyclised, and 4-6C paraffins are isomerised in a feed contg. 4-6C paraffins and at least 2 wt.% of benzene, by (a) mixing the feed with a gas stream rich in H2 to give a combined feed, (b) passing the combined feed at 100-250 deg. F to a hydrogenation zone and contacting it with a hydrogenation catalyst comprising at Pt gp. metal component and Sn on a solid support, or a Pt gp. metal component, Co and Mo on a solid support, to saturate benzene and heat the feed to 200-450 deg. F, (c) recovering a satd. feed with less than 0.1 wt.% of benzene, (d) passing (part of) the satd. feed, without addn. of further heat, to an isomerisation zone and contacting it with an isomerisation catalyst under isomerisation and decyclisation conditions, and (e) recovering an isomerisate.    ADVANTAGE -   There is no need for an isomerisation zone heater. Hydrocracking and loss of isoparaffin yield are prevented. Additional cyclic hydrocarbons produced by satn. of benzene can be ring-opened in the isomerisation zone to increase available paraffinic feed, or the isomerisation zone can be operated to pass cyclic hydrocarbons to prod. recovery. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/1)@
Silage is produced from a fermentable forage chop suitable for use as animal fodder. The method comprise (i) incubating a brine contg. vegetable matter, (ii) isolating the microbial prod. from the brine and (iii) inoculating the forage chop with the microbial prod.    The vegetable matter incubated is cucumber, olive or cabbage, salt concn. in the brine is 2-19 wt. %. Temp. is 15-30 deg.C and incubation time is 5-20 days.    Inoculation (iii) is with sufficient microbial prod. to give pH at 4.6-3.8 and to ensile the forage chop. This chop is corn, ryegrass, sedge, wheat, alfalfa, sorghum, oats, grass or clover.    ADVANTAGE -   Process is more reliable than ensilaging of the forage chop without any inoculation as the necessary microorganisms are very scarce on such vegetable matter.
The unit has a gas tight reservoir (1) with a longitudinal vertical baffle (2) which does not reach the reservoir bottom and divides the latter into two chambers connected to each other at the bottom, original organic mass supply, fermented organic mass and bio-gas outlet pipes, a pipeline (7) connecting the upper air cavities of the two chambers, air blower (13) and valves (8-12) which ensure reverses flow of the gas stream in the pipeline. The construction is simplified and the mixing and crust breaking efficiency is increased since the baffle is provided with openings (3) situated under the organic mass level in a horizontal row. The reservoir is cylindrical and the biological mass supply and removal pipes are situated on the opposite ends of the reservoir.    The organic mass is supplied to reservoir (1) where methane fermentation of the organic matter takes place. The produced biological gas is periodically removed through pipe (6). The crust formed on the mass surface is broken by the leaving gas, thus changing the mass level in the reservoir two adjacent chambers. When the mass level lowers to the openings (3) level the gas at high pressure is bubbled to the adjacent chamber breaking up the upper layer.    USE -   The unit is used for anaerobic fermentation of organic waste. Bul.30/15.8.90 @(3pp Dwg.No.2/2)@
Reduced power intake for treating waste for conversiona to a fodder, and the increased degree of organic waste utilisation are due to the bio-reactor fitted with a heater and with a system for sediment removal and also featuring a biogas cleaner. These components are set between the heat exchanger and the inoculator, while the heater is based on the coiled pipe of the bio-reactor connected to the heat treatment chamber of the protein concentrate, and the system for sediment removal is connected to the heat exchanger which links the protein concentrate heat treatment chamber with the hopper storing the protein concentrate.    The organic waste from the animal husbandry building (11) is tranferred to the grinder (1) which is followed by the mixer (2) receiving water from the pump (14). The diluted product is fed to the bio-reactor (4) where it is treated by microorganisms to derive the biogas. The latter is fed to the cleaner (5) preceeding the inoculator (6) which receives the nutrient from tank (12) and air. The growth of the protein biomass evolves heat raising the temp. of water passing through the cooler (13) on its way to the metering mixer (2). The water is also directed to the building (11) for process requirements. The protein concentrate is subjected to disinfection in chamber (8) and the used mixt. of the biogas and air is fed from inoculator to burner (16).    ADVANTAGE -   The unit increases the degree of organic waste utilisation and lowers power intake with the usage of the biogas. Bul.30/15.8.90 @(4pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Inhibition of generation of ammonia and other base substances upon aerobic fermentation of organic waste material, comprises adding phosphoric acid fertiliser and/or ortho phosphoric acid to the fermented prod., and kneading.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Generation of ammonia and other base material can effectively be inhibited without using acid-washing tower and deodorating tower, i.e., at low cost.    In an example, excretion of cow is fermented at 60 +/- 10 deg.C under aeration of 5 to 30 Nl/min/kg with agitation. When the fermenting material becomes pH 7.0 or higher, calcium perphosphate is added to the fermenting prod.. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/5)
Operation pressure during thermochemical reaction of water-contg, organic sludge at high temp, under high pressure is controlled to range of satd, steam pressure at reaction + 5 kg/cm2 to effect reaction of oily substance and at same time to evaporate low pt, component of oily substance together with steam. Then, mixed steam is condensed by cooling, and low b pt, oily substance is recovered from condensed liq.    ADVANTAGE -   Sewage sludge can be converted to oil substance to be used as liq fuel.(6pp Dwg.No. 0/1)@
Prepn and use of semi-permeable membranes comprising poly(arylene sulphide sulphone) units which can be used for sepg C02 from gaseous mixts of C02 and CH4 as may be found in natural gas. The polymer has repeating units of the form (I) where each aromatic unit contains from 6-22C atoms and R is H or alkyl. The membrane is formed from at least one polymer produced by contacting a dihaloaromatic sulphone, an alkali metal sulphide and an organic amide at 170-240 deg C.    The polymers are formed as disclosed in US4008203; 4301274, or 4774276. A claimed prepn mixt is bis(p-chlorophenyl)sulphone, Na2S and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone which is reacted at 180-220 deg C and thereafter washed several times with hot water.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Chemically and thermally resistant semi-permeable membranes can be formed which, in addn to sepg C02 from CH4, can also be used in sepg components from other gaseous mixts contg H2, N2, He etc. The membranes can also be used to separate components from liq mixts eg salt water. @(11pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
A process for composting organic materials comprises agglomerating the crude compost material prior to composting.    Agglomeration is pref. carried out using the methods and machinery of press agglomeration and the raw materials are pref. comminuted to particle size below 30 mm prior to agglomeration and the pellets formed are of size 5-30 mm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The extra cost of the agglomeration process is well off-set by the many advantages incurred, e.g. each stage takes a far shorter time, with total rotting times being as low as 4-6 weeks. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Device for composting biological materials consists of an outer flexible gas-tight tube (1) with a central concentric aeration pipe (2) which is closed at its base and has air outlet openings (3). An air flow dividing plate (8) with openings (9) is located above the uppermost air outlet opening (3) and rests on support and distance elements (10) or a support collar (4). Bindings (7,15) are provided on the tube (1) to secure and seal the air supply pipe (2) and an upper sealing plate (13) which has openings (17,18) for the air supply pipe (2) and a gas vent pipe (14). One or more drainage elements (6) are bound into the base of the flexible tube (1) with the aeration pipe (2) by the binding (7). The flexible tube (1) is a circular layered tube made of flattened fibres, and the bindings (7,15) are of polyamide silk.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For composting biological waste material in agricultural and communal applications, and for the prodn. of carbon dioxide from the composting process. The proposed device is economical and universally applicable, and its design prevents undesirable compression of the composting material which can lead to disruption of the air flow. The liq. produced during composting is continuously drained without interrupting the process. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
The process comprises (a) treating a moving bed of carbonaceous solids with a countercurrent flow of process liquid at a first operating pressure; (b) directing a portion of the process liquid into a freestanding liquid region circumscribing a portion of the solids; (c) intermittently charging solids from a feed lockhopper store into the reactor at the first operating pressure, in which upon charging the reactor, the feed solids displace gas from the reactor into the lockhopper store; (d) venting gas from the storage vessel; (e) charging the storage receptacle with feed solids at a second pressure, less than the first operating pressure; and (f) pressuring the storage receptacle from the second pressure at least up to the first operating pressure with liquid.    ADVANTAGE -   The use of reactor process liquid, requiring smaller pumps, eliminates the entrance of superfluous liquid into the reactor, which improves the process thermodynamics,. and reduces waste treatment costs, resulting in upgraded heating values, reduced moisture content, and improved handling characteristics. @(112pp Dwg.No.0/12)
Method and appts. comprises (a) continuously feeding a stream of organic material into a microwave chamber, (b) maintaining a reducing atmosphere in the chamber, (c) subjecting the material to microwave radiation and (d) continuously withdrawing gaseous and solid products from the chamber, including (e) monitoring the surface temp. of the material and (f) subjecting the material to sufficient microwave radiation to breakdown longer chain molecules in the material.    The amt. of microwave energy is controlled by one or more of (i) the power input to the microwave generator, (ii) the number of microwave generators, (iii) the focus of the microwave generators, (iv) the orientation of the microwave generators, (v) the shape of the microwave chamber, (vi) the speed of the material through the chamber and/or (vi) the length of the chamber.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A wide variety of organic materials can be treated by controlled reduction with microwave energy for controlling toxicity, for recycling purposes and for various processing purposes, in a reducing atmosphere. The material may consist of tyres, municipal garbage or oil shale, in the presence of inert or reducing gases.
Appts. for removing contaminants from soil or the like, includes means to induce a flow of vapour and/or air containing vapour through soil to treatment means. Also claimed is means to induce a flow includes conduit means located in soil which includes apertures connecting with the soil and is a slotted pipe. The slotted pipe has transverse and/or longitudinal slots. Means induce a vapour includes air pumping means to extract air from the conduit means, to allow vapour and/or air containing vapour to passe from soil to conduit means. All the normal contaminants are volatile.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Appts. for removing volatile contaminants from soil. Appts. includes means to induce a flow of vapour and/or air contg. vapour through the soil to treatment means. @(9pp Dwg.No.2/4)@
Sparged reaction in a vessel includes placing reaction media in a series of spaced-apart reaction tubes, sparging gas is then introduced into the bottom of the tubes, the reaction media is sepd. from the sparging gas in a common header, the reaction media is then passed downwardly through the tubes and forming a downcomer bundle and passed into a common header at the bottom of the downcomer tubes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For carrying out sparged, exothermic reaction such as fermentation reaction for the prodn. of single cell protein, for animal and human consumption. Heat is added to and/or removed from the reaction vessel at a high rate of efficiency.
Combustion process which produces an aqueous waste containing combustible material is combined with a process to recycle the waste products. These are fed to a pressurised combustion zone which is also charged with supplementary fuel and oxygen-containing gas to provide heat for additional steam generation. The supplementary fuel is itself a waste product, and is conditioned with an alkaline treatment compound.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The combined processes are used to obtain heat and power from coal and other carbonaceous fuels which have a low heating value and a relatively high content of sulphur, ash and moisture. They can be applied to industrial operations which produce aqueous waste having a combustible content, thereby recovering heat and purifying the effluent. These objectives are achieved in a more cost-effective manner than hitherto.
The carbon material is produced by granulating mesophase carbon powders or a mixt. of the mesophase carbon powders and up to 40 wt.% of a binder; carbonising the granules at 500-1100 deg.C in a non-oxidising atmos.; then opt. activating at 500-1100 deg.C in an oxidising atmos. such that the weight loss is within 15 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For a, or purifying mixed gases, e.g., O2/N2, CH4/H2, hydrogen isomers like xylene, butane or butene, or ethylene/propylene. The carbon has a maximum at 3-5 angstroms in its micropore distribution, advantageous for gas sepn.    In an example, mesophase carbon fine powders of 1-100 micron dia. were prepd. by heating coal tar or pitch at 400 deg.C, hydrogenating at 370-500 deg.C, further heating at 400 deg.C Liq. phenol, melamine, PVA, coal tar, or pitch was used as binder. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/2)
The proposed equipment comprises aeration space, aerator equipment, settling space, guide plates, and inlet and outlet connections. It is based on at least two basins (R1,R2..RN) connected in series by the opening (3). This opening (3) is at the same height as the inlet (1) and outlet (2) connections. Guide plates (7,8,9) are located in the vicinity of the transfer (3) and outlet (2) connections. The aeration spaces (10) of the basins (R1,R2..RN) are formed between the inlet opening (1) and the guide plates (7,8,9). The settling spaces (11) are formed between the guide plates (7,8,9) and the outlet opening (2) or the transfer opening (3) a source of compressed air is connected to the air supply system (12)
A non-flammable refrigerant (I) comprises (i) a major portion of chlorodifluoromethane (R22) or pentafluoroethane (R125); (ii) R125 or octafluoropropane (R218); and (iii) propane (R290); in non-flammable proportions.    The (I) pref. comprises 65-90wt.% (i), 5-25wt.% (ii) and 3-15wt.% R290. Pref. the (I) comprises 65-75wt.% R22, 15-25wt.% R125 and 5-15wt.% R290, 83-93wt.% R22, 3-9wt.% R218 and 3-9wt.% R290 or 80-90wt.% R125, 5-15wt.% R218 and 5-15wt.% R290.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The use of (I) as a refrigerant in a vapour compression refrigeration appts. and a method for its use are both claimed. (I) does not contain ozone-depleting CFCs. @(12pp Dwg.No.0/0)
This is a plant for the environment-friendly conversion of non-regenerable waste oil-prods. of various compsns. that contain mineral matter and may be highly contaminated.    It includes a storage tank for the waste oil-prod., another for a light oil of known properties, and an internally heat-insulated combustion boiler with a nozzle arrangement for injecting, into the boiler, the waste prods. to be burned after they have been mixed with air or steam under high pressure. The several other features and variants claimed include an arrangement for neutralising an acid prods. that may result m the burning, and an arrangement for testing the flue gases for harmful constits.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The disposal of such waste prods. at sea is being increasingly prohibited, and more acceptable means are needed. The proposed plant enables environment-friendly conversion, to useful material, of these waste oil-prods., which may include petroleum distn. residues. They may be of unknown compsn. and other properties. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
The cultivation of microorganisms on methane/natural gas as the sole C-source comprises continuous cultivation of a mixed culture of 5-30% of the novel methanotrophic bacterial strain IMET 11334 together with the methanotrophic bacterial strain 21MET B 502, in the presence of an aq. common salt soln. and a gas contg. free O2. Cultivation is at 28-42 deg.C; pH 4.7-6.8 and 0.1-1.0 MPa.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in the prodn. of microbiological protein, and in plants in which gaseous hydrocarbons are microbiologically converted using bacteria. The process is stable, and can be carried out under unsterile conditions at high through-flow rates. The growth rate is higher than with known methylotrophic bacteria and is sufficiently selective and has a high concurrence capacity.
In the culture of methanotrophic bacteria, the amt. of O2 fed and the pressure are increased stepwise while retaining predetermined ratios between the concn. of dissolved O2 in the culture liq. and the vol. of O2 in the waste gas mixt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used in microbiological recovery of proteins, using CH4 or natural gas. The concn. of the gas mixt. is kept outside the explosive range of CH4/O2 mixts., max. growth is ensured initially and in the pressure fermentation, the process is continuous and the transition time from discontinuous to continuous operation is shortened. @(10pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Materials from which methane and other environmentally harmful materials may escape are processed by (i) heating the materials; (ii) subjecting the escaping gases to washing with water or with a circulating soln. of a chemical washed out of the gas; (iii) burning the methane in the gases leaving (ii); and (iv) using, at least partly the heat from (iii) in (i).    Pref. the starting material contains NH3 and in (ii) an NH3 soln. is used; air from a cattle stable is treated by adding at (ii); the washing liq. is at not over 12 deg.C; H2S in the spent wash soln. is removed by passing the soln. through an Fe hydroxide sludge.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process is used e.g. in treatment of sewage sludge or manure. NH3, H2S and CH4 are all removed. @(18pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Contaminated material such as industrial waste is purified by bacterial action while travelling in a closed circuit. Bacteria and waste come into contact in a fixed bed or a rotary drum reactor, after the waste has been moistened, waste water from the process is collected and re-used for moistening. The required breakdown of contaminants is facilitated and accelerated by admixt. with the starting material of activated sludge, e.g. from a standard sewage treatment plant. The sludge may operate aerobically and/or aerobically in one process a first stage is with non-ventilated anaerobic sludge, with the next stage using aerated aerobic sludge. During circulation, the used waste water may pass through a filter or ion-exchanger.    The procedure is also applicable to contaminated gases which possibly after initial purificn. are bubbled through the treatment medium. Initial treatment in a bio-reactor may provide the activated sludge with special factors needed for the envisaged application.    ADVANTAGE -   As a further advantage, treatment cost is reduced. @(46pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Concentrate is fed on to adsorbent layer (i.e. silica-gel granules), adsorbed O2 is replaced by passing N2, plus thermal desorption. Adsorbent is on rotating circular layer; concentrate supply, N2-feed, and thermal desorption are done continuously, concentrate and N2 fed in at same pressure. Equipment has rotating circular body with pipes/channels for gases and circular adsorbent layer. Around perimeter of axial section of adsorbent layer are sealing plates.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In sepn. of gases and liquid by adsorption, in chemical industry. Productivity is increased and power-consumption of process reduced. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Methane is mfd. by (1) transforming a biphenyl cpd. into a benzoic acid cpd. by using a biphenyl cpd.-metabolizing microbe or a treated fungus body contg. the enzyme generated by the microbe and (2) decomposing it into methane and carbon dioxide by using a gp. of anaerobic microbes.    The biphenyl cpd. metabolizing microbe is a transformed microbe in which a biphenyl cpd.-metabolising gene has been introduced. The biphenyl cpd.-metabolising gene is new bphABCD, where A = biphenyl oxygenase, B = dihydrodiol dehydrogenase, C = phenyl catechol oxygenase, D = hydrase, having a 9.4 Kb basic pair and the restricted enzyme cut diagram (I), (where X = XhoI, B = BamHI, E = EcoRI, P = PstI, Ba = BalII) derived from Pseudomonas putida. The gp. of anaerobic microbes is acclimatized sludge.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Thee biphenyl cpd. contained in the waste or waste liq. is transformed into methane.
Organic waste-fermenting vessel comprises vertical receptacle vessel with a number of ventilation holes in side wall, heat insulating material around receptacle vessel, and net between receptacle vessel and heat insulating material forming ventilating space. Porous plate is arranged near bottom inside receptacle vessel, and foamed or hollow plastic grains are paved in space under porous plate. Pipe is arranged in space under porous plate. Pipe is arranged in space under porous plate to eject air from air blower.    ADVANTAGE -   Aerobic fermentation can be effectively performed. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Organic waste is comminuted, composted and converted to humus by a rotting process. The crushed waste is wetted to up to 60 vol.% moisture and deposited as a table stack at an initial pH-value of 8.5-9. After its temp. has dropped below 65 deg.C, it is transferred to another site and the crushing/wetting is repeated. Storage continues until the C/N ratio has risen to max. 25:1. The moisture content is now set to 22 vol.% and the material is screened.    ADVANTAGE -   This utilizes natural organic greenery waste for conversion to humus of high biological stability and uniformity in the shortest possible time. @(14pp Dwg.No.0/7)
Wastes of livestock are dried and compressed to solid mass. The mass is then carbonised.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   New use of waste for fertiliser. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Farmyard slurry is processed by adding an aq. alkali metal silicate soln. and opt. at least partially coprecipitating the nonaqueous components of the slurry precipitating silicic acid.    The silicate soln. contains 40% Na or K silicate and is added in an amt. of 0.01-10 (esp 0.5-3) wt%. Silicic acid is pptd. by adding a mineral acid to adjust the pH to 7-8 (esp7.5-7.8). Solns contg. Fe and/or Ca ions may also be added to ppte. phosphates. After pptn., the solids are sepd and opt composted.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   : The prods are useful as organic fertilisers. Addn. of silicate stabilises the slurry against phase sepn. during storage. Co-pptn. of silicic and nonaqueous components facilitiesa sepn of solids.
Liq. manure from stables, cowsheds, etc. is held in a pick (3) while being homogenised by rotating paraboloid blades (9) initially projecting from the liq. surface and then drawing in air from the space above the liq.. This space is topped by a cover (1) lowerable on to the pit side walls, and whose transparency permits access of light to aid bacterial break-down. A pump (11) above the lid constantly withdraws gas, causing progressive thickening of the liq. in preparation for mechanical spraying on to farming land. The stirrer may be rotated by wind paddles (7).    ADVANTAGE -   Manure is made readily usable, with min. odour.
CaSO4, together with montmorillonite and at least oen phosphate, is added to improve the fermentation of organic waste substances and/or for soil improvement.    The CaSO4 is derived from desulphurisation of flue gas. The ratio by wt. of CaSO4:montmorillonite is 1:0.1-10 (1:0.5-1.5), and to phosphate is 1:0.1-10 (1:0.5-2). The phosphate is partic. difficultly sol., pref. crude phosphate flour and/or Thomas phosphate flour. Other alkaline earth cpds. amy be included, esp. Ca and/or Mg cpds. or minerals. The CaSO4 is added with the montmorillonite and the phsophate, in amt. of 100g-50 kg (15 kg)/cubic m of organic waste to be fermented, or 50g-5 kg (1 kg)/s.m2 of surface to be composted.    The mixt. of CaSO4, montmorillonite and phsophate is claimed. The mixt. may contain trace elements, pref. powdered ore or slag, foam flakes (esp. flakes of aminoplast foam) and humus; the ratios by vol. are humus: foam flakes : mixt. 1:3-6 (4-5) : 0.025-0.25 (0.05-0.15).    ADVANTAGE -   Fermentation, e.g, composting, is activated and accelerated. CaSO4 is more sol. than CaCO3, has a neutral reaction, and contains Ca and S needed by Actinomycetes and other microorganisms, in oxidised form. The quality of the humus is improved. Use of the mixt. with human or animal excreta gives more rapid microbial breakdown and avoids the smell. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Residual lime- or black-sludge is treated by mixing with a drying agent. The drying agent is soot at a vol. ratio 1:2-4(1:3). The soot absorbs liq. from the sludge to form with the sludge a dry particulate and/or granular mixed prod..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Sludges are from recovery of sulphate method pulping chemicals. They contain Na, Ca and S, are difficult to handle and require dumping. This process is simple, expedient, environmentally friendly, uses soot which also presented a disposal problem and gives a prod. which can be used as an earth filler. @(10pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The process involves spreading a layer of organic filler on the area for compositing, impregnation of the filler with liquid manure, forming composting heaps and leaving the compsn. until it is ready for use. The liq. manure used in this process is previously enriched with biogenic elements and held in a pool for biological decomposition.    Impregnation of the organic filler (straw, peat, etc.) is carried out until it achieves a plastic condition. The formation of composting heaps from the formed plastic-like material involves creating channels by dragging a streamlined, symmetrically shaped (concrete) shuttle device with vanes (12) below and two hooks (13) and a limiter (14) above, along the layer of the material. During the composting period occasional reformation of the composting piles is carried out as they begin to dry out by impregnating the compositing material with further liq. manure until a plastic condition is achieved, and creating channels in the mass of the earlier formed composting heaps.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture for prepn. of compost from manure and other organic wastes. The process is simplified, the raw material base is extended, the quality of the compost is improved, manual operations are less costly, and working conditions and safety are improved. Bul.14/15.4.90 @(5pp Dwg.No. 2/4)@
The process involves subjecting the chicken droppings (excrement) to anaerobic thermophilic fermentation, followed by treatment of the fermented prod. with aq. potassium hydroxide soln. until the pH of the prod. reaches 9-10.5, heating to 70-80 deg. C and holding for 3-5 mins. Subsequently, the prod. is sepd. into solid and liq. fractions by centrifuging. The solid fraction is dried and used as a fertilizer and the liq. fraction is returned to the fermentation stage.    The stage involving treatment with aq. KOH soln., heating and retention results in more complete sepn. of the solid fraction and increases the yield of dry fertilizer contg. nutritive substances by 10-30%, compared with a previously used method.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture for processing of chicken excrement for fertilizer prodn., etc. The sepn. fermented chicken droppings is more efficient. Bul.14/15.4.90 @(4pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
Arthrobacter VKPM B-4209(126) strain is used in purification of aq. waste of dimethyl dioxan mfr. as destructor of dioxan. The strain is produced by subjecting the parent strain to gradually increasing conc. of dioxan, from 20 to 300 mg/l., and the process is carried out at 30 deg. The strain can be stored in lyophilically dried condition, or under a layer of vaseline oil.    USE -   Purificn. of industrial, dioxan-contg. wastes. Bul.14/15.4.90
A treatment system consists of first breaking down domestic waste by fermentation in the open air in non-compacted heaps, followed by drying in pits (1) before being fed through a shredder (7) and a rotary sieve with a 30 mm mesh. The sieved material is then passed through two further drying and riddling processes, using hot air to dry it, producing a pulverised material in small particles which can be heated in a silo compressed in a mould.    During the treatment process any ferrous waste materials can be removed with the aid of a magnetic drum, while a products can be added to accelerate the fermentation process or to enrich the final compost. Inorganic products are also removed during the treatment process and recycled.    ADVANTAGE -   Allows full recycling of domestic waste, producing useful fertiliser for soil. @(11pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Appts. includes a container having an opening in its top surrounded by a peripheral liq. filled channel. A top closure has a downwardly projecting peripheral skirt which locates in the channel with the liq. ensuring a gas tight seal.    Pref. closure member has an opening with a part spherical surface in which is located apparatus which is to be in communication with the container interior. The container may be of concrete or synthetic plastics and the channel formed of, or lined with, synthetic plastics. Also claimed is a part spherical member which can locate in an openingm with a part spherical surface and which member can carry equipment on a planar surface at a truncated upper part of the part spherical member.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used partic. in an appts. for biologically degrading waste material such as cattle effluent slurry. Provides a simple and efficient gas tight seal which can be utilised on a container of any size. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/4)
Liquids, slurries and pastes (I) are treated by converting them into a flowable or plastic material. (I) are contacted with organic fibres (II) prepd. by special or repeated comminuting to a cell structure of felting tendency, and then raising the absorption capacity by increasing the vol. size.    (II) are pretreated by breaking up and dividing the cell structure, and then fibrolating the cellulose fibres in rotation aggregates. The fibres are produced from agricultural processes, such fibres being straw, peanut shells, flax, cotton and dried leaves, or from reprocessing of wood, in which wood prods. such as shavings, saw dust, bark waste are produced. The fibres also originate from pure cellulose, paper and recycled paper, textiles, plastics, dispersions and waxes. Before, during and after comminuting the fibres are hydrophobic, hydrophilic or lipophobic or lipophilic, and are contacted with fertilisers and plant seeds.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Problems of treatment, storage and reprocessing of e.g. used oils, solvents, paint residues and bituminous substances are overcome in an ecological process.
Material is washed with a fluid having a chemical and a biological component. The chemical component is biologically degradable while the biological component contains heterotrophic microorganisms for which the contaminating substances act as nourishment and the chemical component acts as a source of carbon and energy supply. In this way the contaminants are transferred into the washing fluid by its chemical component, and are then broken down by the microorganisms. The process is carried out continuously over a required period of time and at a required temp. The washing fluid may be treated with oxygen or other gases during the reaction process. The material being cleaned may firsly be mised with the chemical washing component, with the biological component being added in a later stage.    Pref. the process is carried out in a drum mixer (1) and a drum reactor (2) which are incorporated in a single unit. A central nozzle (24) introduces the washing water (7, 8) which has been treated with compressed air, and the chemical component (18) into the mixing drum (1), and a second nozzle (36) introduces the biological component (16) into the reactor drum (2). Compressed air or gas is introduced into the reaction drum (2) via variable area nozzles (30).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This invention is used for cleaning inert solid material such as factory waste, construction rubble etc. which is contaminated with for example aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals etc. Materials having a high moisture content and a high content of combustible contaminants can be efficiently handled, and minimum of contaminated residual material is produced.
The stabilising unit has aerobic stabiliser (1), methane tank (2) and concentrator (3) of stabilised sludge. The methane tank (2) is located in the stabiliser (1) which is divided by a weir (4) and semi-submerged partition (5) into mineralising, biocoagulating and degassing chambers (6,7,8). The methane tank (2) is connected by overflow opening with the biocoagulating chamber (7) and the concentrator (3) has with the degassing chamber (8) a common wall (10) with opening at the top.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In biological purification of industrial, municipal and livestock farming waste. Features of the installation are low capital and operational costs.
Inverted conical rotor with helical blades (3) has lower (1) and upper (2) sections with smaller and larger tapering angles. The rotor is located in casing of similar shape. Discs (4,5), fitted to top of the rotor, have annular openings and secured to their outer edges widening upwards dissectors (8,9) respectively. The casing has a sleeve (10) fitted on support (15) and is free to move vertically.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The aerator is used in biochemical purification of municipal and industrial waste and other branches. Increased area of contact of liq. and gas phases secures uniform distribution of liq. and increases output of the rotor. @(2pp Dwg.No. 1/2)@
Conversion of high mol. wt. polymers to low mol. wt. normally liq. hydrocarbons is effected by contact with an acidic catalyst comprising a zeolite and opt. further contg. a catalytic metal or a non-zeolitic acidic cracking catalyst. The plastics feed may be at least partly dissolved in a solvent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Waste plastics can be converted to liq. prods. which are easily disposable or which, depending on the zeolite pore size, serve as gasolines, reforming feeds or . food oils suitable as feeds to (hydro)cracking processes. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Environmentally harmful waste is mixed with a liq. medium, an aluminium silicate and/or aluminosilicate and an inorganic    binder before forming into shapes, partic. blocks which are hardened and then stored in a dump. Pref. the waste is mixed with fly ash and cement, esp. Portland and/or blast furnace slag cement. The prod. may be formed with marks indicating the nature of the contained waste.    Appts. comprises a mixer provided with feed pipes for liq. medium, waste, silicate and binder and a discharge pipe leading to a moulding station. From the latter a conveyor transports hardened prod. to a dump. Pref. the moulds are adapted to provide an identifying mark on the products.    ADVANTAGE -   By casting the mixt. into blocks it is ensured that it is fully hardened before transfer to the dump. Also checking of the mass of material disposed of is facilitated. (Corrected entry)
The gas turbine comprises moving blades (10a, 10b) arranged on a rotating side of the gas turbine and adapted to be driven by gas discharged from a combustor (1A). The moving blades have cooling holes formed on the surface, with a compressor (2A) adapted to be driven by the driving of the moving blades to produce compressed air for the combustor. A cooling air supply (24, 34a) extracts part of the compressed air and supplies extracted air as cooling air to the moving blades to cool the moving blades.    Heat exchanger (30, 44) cooling the cooling air is provided on the cooling air supply and the compressed air is extracted at an intermediate stage portion of the compressor is used as a cooling medium for the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is provided on the rotating side of the gas turbine and is disposed on an axis of rotation of the rotating side. The heat exchanger comprises coaxial dual passages (24, 44) of which inner passage (24) allows said cooling air to flow through. @(16pp Dwg.No.2/ )@
Organic waste material is composted by aerobic fermentative hydrolysis in an enclosed container with an admission of fresh air. The outgoing air, laden with moisture and heat, is cooled by transferring its heat to the incoming fresh air through a first heat exchanger. The remainder is passed through a second heat exchanger to the air heated by the first.    ADVANTAGE -   This is a safe way of raising the temp. in the containers to a high enough level when disease germs and bacteria are killed. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/3)
In processing of liq. manure to a sprinkable, biological fertiliser, free from harmful materials, the liq. manure is reacted biologically (fermented) with addn. of quicklime to give a spongy-creamy compsn., which is mixed with a comminuted, dry, mineral and/or organic solid (esp. a waste solid).    ADVANTAGE -   The solids include straw, bark, sawdust, waste paper and cardboard, and esp. excavated soil and building rubble. A single prod. is obtd., i.e. not waste water on the one hand and aq. manure solids on the other hand, from valueless substances.
In the removal of CO2 and the recovery of dry ice from CH4/CO2 mixts. (I) contg. a significant amt. of CO2, e.g. bio-gas mixts., the novelty is that (I) are compressed with solid-steam phase to a pressure above their solid-steam eqm. curves, then cooled to a pressure near to the critical line for the mixt. and cold mixt. is released producing dry ice snow.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   CH4/CO2 mixts. occur in all aspects of the chemical industry, e.g. as bio-gas in agriculture or in the form of sewage gas in seaage treatment. The process is uncomplicated w.r.t. appts. and process technology removing CO2 and recovering dry ice at the same time. Energetically and ecologically pref. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Organic waste generated in animal farms is deodorised more efficiently as follows. The waste is treated with 0.1-0.2% ammonium persulphate and 0.2-0.3% Nacl as oxidisers, with stirring, and left to stand for 4-8 days. Subsequent addn. of 0.1-0.2 wt.% Al2(SO4)3 is followed by homogenising, and this produces a ppte. which floats to the surface after 12-24 hrs.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In medicine, esp. in environmental protection. Time of treatment is reduced by 8-16 times. Bul.12/30.3.90
The reactor (2) has a hydrodynamic mixer of fermented mass made in the form of pipes (6,7) concentrically fixed in a housing (8) and a water coat (9). The pipes communicate an inner cavity of a gas cup (3) with the reactor (2). An additional hydrodynamic mixer (10) communicating with the reactor (2) is situated inside a receiving vessel (1), which also includes a water jacket (19). The inner pipe (6) of the reactor (2) has Z-shape.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture. Improved efficiency. Bul.10/15.3.90 @(3pp Dwg.No. 1/1)@
Prepn. of ethanol (I) comprises extn. of (I) from aq. soln. (II) with iso-butane (III) under gas-liquid equilbrium condition.    E.g. ethanol fermentation broth of sweet potato, corn etc. is pre-heated in heat exchanger and fed to pressure extractive distilling column (1). (III) is fed to 1 through lines (I) is extra. from (II) under gas-liq. equilibrium condition. (I)-contg. (III) is removed from bottom of 1, heated in heat exchangers from bottom of separator, heat of (I) is recovered in heat exchanger to pre-heat (II) charged freshly. (III) is recovered from top of separator, compressed in compressor and returned to 1 through line to extract (I).    ADVANTAGE -   (I) is extd. from (II) with (III) quite selectively. Practically anhydrous (I) (purity 99.2 wt. % or more) is prepd. by present procedure more economically than prior arts (e.g. distillation).
Prepn. of ethanol (I) comprises extrn. of (I) from aq. soln. (II) with n-butane (III) under gas-liq. equilbrium conditions.    (II) e.g. ethanol fermentation broth of sweet potato, corn etc. is pre-heated in heat exchanger fed to pressure extractive distilling column. (III) is fed to 1 through lines. (I)-contg. (III) is removed from bottom of 1, heated in heat exchangers fed to gas-liq. separator 22. (I) (purity 99.2 wt. % or more) is removed from bottom of 22 heat of (I) is recovered to preheat (II) charged freshly. (III) recovered from top of 22 is compressed returned to 1 through line to extract (I).    ADVANTAGE -   Practically anhydrous (I) is prepd. from (II) (pref. 10-20 wt. % soln) by simple procedure more economically and efficiently than prior arts (e.g. distn). @(5pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Treatment of organic sludges has a heat insulated and gas tight room with solar heat access. Heat generated within the room pref. causes anaerobic digestion and drying. Gas and steam resulting from the process are pref. removed from the room in a controlled fashion. The only external energy source is pref. for removing gas and water and for oil circulation. Other than the sludge only pref. water and oil are added to the room.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the treatment of organic sludges from municiple and farm sources. Control and acceleration of natural process, saving energy environmental pollution. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Biogas is recovered from difficultly metabolisable waste water sludge from microbiological recovery of protein from petroleum distillates and from petrochemistry, by CH4 fermentation at 35-50 deg.C in strictly anaerobic, semi-continuous reactors. The sludge, with 3-6 wt.% dry matter and 3-6% petroleum distillate, is mixed in ratio 5-1:1 with sapropel with pH 7-8, contg. microorganisms adapted for at least 1 year to the sludge, with 10-30% of true CH4-formers, w.r.t. total anaerobic bacteria, and with 0.2-2 wt.% dry matter. The mixt. is methanised under hydraulic conditions for 1-30 days.    The waste water sludge from the microbiological protein recovery is mixed in ratio 2:1 with waste water sludge from the petrochemical industry.    ADVANTAGE -   The process is simple and needs no additives. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
4-7C hydrocarbons are isomerised by contact with a catalyst comprising Gp. VIII metal(s) and Beta zeolite. A novel catalyst for isomerisation of 4-7C hydrocarbons comprises a Gp. VIII metal and Beta zeolite; the catalyst is calcined in a steam/air mixt. at elevated temp. after impregnating the zeolite with the Gp. VIII metal. Pref. the zeolite is of silica/alumina ratio of 15-100, and is of high acidity; acidity can be increased by ammonium ion exchange then calcination. The Gp. VIII metal is Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir or Pt, esp. Pt at 0.1-1.0%. This may be introduced by impregnation, occlusion or exchange. The zeolite is used in a porous matrix, e.g. a clay or esp. silica or alumina.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Specified catalyst is highly active, and highly selective for isomerisation to a high octane prod. used in motor fuel; it is relatively sulphur-tolerant. @(20pp Dwg.No.0/2)
In sepn. of NH3 from liq. manure, to render this low in NH3, the manure is transferred to an NH3 volatilisation chamber, where the NH3 is liberated from the liq. phase and is transferred, in the gaseous state, to a chamber contg. inorganic acid, where the NH3 is converted to a soln. of an NH4 salt, suitable for use as inorganic fertiliser. The treated air stream is released to the amtos., opt. after further treatment.    The NH3 is pref. chemically volatilised (by addn. of a base, partic. CaO) and/or mechanically (by raising the effective specific surface of the manure), and the NH3 gas is passed into the chamber contg. acid by an air stream led into the volatilisation chamber. The effective surface is raised by stirring and/or spraying the manure, or leading it over slightly inclined plates into the volatilisation chamber, or by means of a continuous air stream. A conc. acid is used, esp. conc. HNO3. The gas stream leaving the acid chamber is treated with an adsorbent and/or absorbent, pref. an aq. suspension of neogen, and released into the atmos.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is carried out in situ, using simple appts., on the farm scale. The liq. manure can be pumped directly into the NH3 volatilisation chamber reducing the risk of escape of NH3. The NH3 is converted to a valuable prod. The manure partic. originates from cattle farms, but may also be produced by pigs, chicken or calves. @(9pp Dwg.No 0/1)
Fermentation of organic waste water contg. no trace elements involves adding sludge to the organic waste water.    Condensed water obtd. by condensing vapour generating in a drying step, where fluidised mixt. prepd. by mixing organic sludge or dehydrated cake of organic sludge with oil is heated to dryness, is methane fermented by adding sludge. As sludge contains metals in large enough amts., to proceed methane fermentation, the methane fermentation is effectively carried out only by adding the sludge to organic waste water contg. no trace elements without adding any trace elements. Sludge is added pref. in such an amt. that the concn. is 20-200 mg/l based on SS. When NH3 exists in the condensed water in the concn. of over 150 mg/l, the fermentation is inhibited and so pH of the methane fermenting tank is adjusted to 7.0-7.5 by adding HCI to reduce the concn. of NH3 to under 150 mg/l when the condensed water contains ammonia N2 in the concn. of 3000 mg/l and the temp. is 40 deg.C.    ADVANTAGE -   Organic waste water is stably methane fermented in large loads with high efficiency. As the sludge used is waste, cost for the treatment is low. The Ch4 produced is used as an energy source hence helping to reduce running costs. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Treatment for processing household wastes which have already been selectively sorted to rid them of metallic and glass components and also items liable to fermentation, but contg. all of the usual items, e.g. plastic materials. The waste is coarsely crushed or ground up, and wastes are submitted to being compressed and formed into the shape of pudding-like rolls which are maintained in their shape by enclosing the outside in plastic material to form a wrapping envelope.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Prods. obtd. are easy to store, and to transport to their ultimate use as a combustible material. Used in treatment and recycling of wastes e.g. household refuse or municipal rubbish. It is partic. concerned with a procedure and the appts. allowing the obtaining of, after an inital sorting of the waste, a shaped bolus of material which does not give offence, and which is not autocombustible.
Treatment of waste prods. (A) from pigsties comprises adding to (A) a coagulant (I); sepg. the solid and liq. phases, and storing the former for later use as fertiliser. Also new is equipment for this process.    (I) is a high mol. wt., biodegradable agent, esp. polyacrylamide or a copolymer derived from acrylamide. Pref. the waste prod. is less than 5 days old. Before phase sepn., (A) can be subjected to preliminary activation to convert part of the NH3-N to organic N, esp. in the form of proteins by increasing the biomass.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This process utilises the valuable fertiliser components present in (A), in a form which can be applied to the soil whenever required. The pre-activation improves subsequent coagulation, inhibits development of odours and the final liq. phase has low COD, BOD and pollutant contents. @(19pp Dwg.No 1/1)@
Method for dealing with pyrolysis gases due to indirect heating (with air excluded) of contaminated soils. The gases are transferred directly to a plant where they can be used e.g. coking or tar distn. plant, gasworks, or refinery. A variant claimed provides for the gases to be condensed before being transferred.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Harmful materials in the ground, including ground adjacent to gasworks and coking plant, can be recycled and used as fuel. Special means of dealing with the gases will not normally be necessary at plants. @(4pp)
A cationic flocculant for clearing waste water contg. coal comprises a 0.1% aq. soln. contg. 0.5-4 mg/l of salts of polyimideamines, obtd. by reacting copolymers of maleic anhydride with a diamine with a tert. and a prim. amine gp., or mixts. of such diamines with a prim. monoamine.    The aq. soln. contains 1-2 mg/l of the active agent. The copolymer contains maleic anhydride and styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, ethylene or an alpha olefin, in molar ratio of 1:1. Reaction involves 1 prim. amine gp. w.r.t. 1 anhydride gp., and the amt. of monoamine mixed with diamine is not above 40 mol.%    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The wate water may be obtd. in processing and briquetting coal, esp. lignite. Water suitable for consumption is obtd., and the coal can be recovered. Settling time is reduced. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Concentration of a trace gas which is metabolic intermediate produced during a biologically catalysed reaction (in 1) or which equilibrates therewith, is determined (at 10) and used to asses the metabolic status of the reaction, via a deterministic relationship.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the monitoring or control of a biologically catalysed reaction which occurs in a man made or natural environment, or ecosystem, particularly in an anaerobic digestion process. Provides a rapid indication of the metabolic state of the reaction enabling fast action to be taken to remedy deviations in the reaction conditions. The gas monitor is fast, accurate, less liable to fouling and easier to implement than liquid monitoring. @(15pp Dwg.No.0/7)
Anaerobic digestion method for excess sludge (I) from sewage treatment processes comprises: (a) (I) is agitated in a medium stirring mill equipped with glass beads of dia. 0.05-1 mm at 1000-3000 rpm for 5-60 min.; and (b) the treated (I) is subjected to anaerobic digestion.    ADVANTAGE -   The wet mill treatment may be performed with high efficiency and little energy consumption in readily and inexpensively prepd. equipment. Treated (I) is then digested at high rates in short periods of time. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Appts. for producing compost from organic waste through fermentation has cylindrical shape and is buried under ground, and comprises fermenting vessels at stages through which raw material sludge successively passes.    ADVANTAGE -   Appts. can be installed in narrow land. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Waste food or garbage treatment appts. extracts liq. waste, and comprises a filter bag (20) removably insertable in a rotated (16,18) spin basket (12), itself within a liq. collector drum (10) having a drain to the sewer. Specifically the filter bag (20) comprises burlap, and extracted liq. is passed through a micro-filter which is back-flushed to return collected solids to the filter bag (20).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Wt. redn. of waste food and garbage reduces haulage and disposal costs, esp. as regards institution kitchen waste of large amt. @(9pp Dwg.No.1/5)@
Aq. compsn. suitable for use as an ensiling agent comprising a combination of formic acid (I) and octanoic acid (II).    Pref. aq. soln. comprises 10-50 wt.% water; compsn. contains 0.5-10 wt.% (II) per 100 wt.% of aq. (I) (contg. 85 wt.% (I)).    A compsn. comprising (I), (II), propionic acid (III) and ammonia (IV). Wt. ratio of (III): (II) is pref. at least 2:1 and the mole ratio of (I):(IV) at least 4:1. The compsn. may be applied to the substrate by direct mixing of the harvested substrate with the ensiling formulation or by impregnating a particulate and porous carrier material with the formulation and then uniformly distributing the impregnated carrier into the substrate. The substrate materials include grass, agricultural crops and whole plant materials used in preparing animal feedstuffs.    ADVANTAGE -   Combination of (I) and (II) has a synergistic effect, enhancing residual sugars in the ensiled substrate and also conferring an antimicrobial effect on the substrate. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The material is moved through a closed horizontal chamber by conveying and agitating or tossing devices. The conveying system may consist of a chainlink conveying belt or a moving floor or an oscillating conveying surface. Air is circulated through the material at the point where it is being agitated or tossed. A separate inlet chamber with its own conveyor is provided above the main chamber, and the chambers are heated or supplied with hot air as required.    In an embodiment, a chain-link conveyor belt is supported by the floor of the chamber, and a travelling drum agitator is mounted in the side walls of the chamber between the belt and the floor. The belt region in front of the agitator is suddenly raised by the movement of the drum while the region is suddenly lowered. In the case of other conveying systems a tossing/agitating device is provided above the chamber floor. The material enters the upper chamber which is sepd. from the main cahmber by a porous floor, and is moved by the conveyor until it falls through the trap into the main chamber.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For accelerated decompsn. of organic waste material derived from various sources. A uniform and rapid decompsn. is achieved, even with very finely divided materials which tend to form lumps. The capital and maintenance cost is low, and the proposed composter can be made in widely differing sizes to suit various applications.
Treatment plant heats sewage sludge under pressure, then dewaters it and mixes it with aqueous slurry of coal or petroleum coke. The mixture is burned in a partial oxidation gas generator. Aqueous sewage sludge with a solids content of at least 3% (by weight) is heated at a pressure equal to or greater than the vapour pressure of water at 200-600 deg.F in the absence of air, until most organic matter has agglomerated. The sludge is also sheared during this heating, at a rate of shear of 1000 min.-1 for between 1/4 hr. and 2 hours. The sludge is dewatered until the solids content is 25-50% (by weight), to give a heating value of at least 3000 Btu 'dry (dry basis). The dewatered sludge is mixed with solid fuel particles of coal of pertroleum coke that has a heating value of at least 8000 Btu (dry basis) to give a sludge with solids content of 30-65% and a heating value of at least 6000 This mixture is burned in a partial oxidation gas generator at 1800-2800 deg.F, at 1-35 atmospheres pressure in a gas that contains free oxygen, thus producing synthesis gas, reducing or fuel gas.    ADVANTAGE -   The plant produces synthesis gas reducing or fuel gas as useful byproducts, and also steam and hot water which can be used in the plant. @(11pp Dwg.No.0/1)
(JP2304870-A)   NOVELTY - The fuel or oxidizing agent fed to the central gas zone (12a) is discharged through the periphery after passing through a zigzag diffusion path (12b). The discharged fuel is effectively fed to the electrodes.    USE - Laminated disc type solid electrolyte fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE - Since the fuel passes through the zigzag path, equalization of flow of gas is enhanced, which enables effective utilization of electrode area, and hence electricity generation efficiency is improved.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the solid electrolyte fuel battery.    Central gas zone (12a)    Zigzag diffusion path (12b)
Waste halogenated solvent is burnt under pressure in presence of combustible gas or solvent and water in an incinerator to decompose the halogenated solvent.    Pref. the combustible gas used is CH4 or C3H8 gas and the solvent is CH3OH, C2H5OH or C3H7OH.    ADVANTAGE -   Waste halogenated solvent is decomposed and pollution in the environment is prevented. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
New hair-conditioning spray compsn. comprises 0.5-15 wt.% of amphoteric ion resin specified below, 10-89.5 wt.% of solvent of ethanol, propanol, or 1-methoxypropanol, and their mixts., and 10-75 wt.% of spraying agent of propane, n- or isobutane, 2, 2-dimethylpropane, isopentane, dimethyl ether, and their mixts. The resin is prepd. by copolymerising (A) 25-50 wt.% of polymerising vinyl monomer(s) of formula (I), (B) 10-40 wt.% of polymerising vinyl monomer(s) of formula (II), (C) 10-65 wt.% of polymerising vinyl monomer(s) of formula (III), and (D) 0-20 wt.% of polymerising vinyl monomer(s) other than (A), (B), and (C) in hydrophilic solvent, modifying with sodium or potassium salt of halogenated fatty acid, filtrating obtd. ppn. and opt. removing ionic impurities with ion exchange resin. (R1 is H or CH3; R2 is 1-4C alkylene; R3 and R4 are 1-3C alkyl; R5 is 1-11C alkyl, alkylene, or cycloalkyl; A is O or NH).    USE -   For providing compsn. with hydrocarbons as spraying agent which has good hair-conditioning effects. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
Utilisation of residues and waste liquors from lacquering plants and lacquer-processing factories, esp. lacquer and paint slurries and colourant waste from the automobile industry comprises (1) collecting the different residues, which may have been subjected to preliminaryl mechanical dewatering, in sealable transport containers at the different sites separately and transporting them to a central processing and utilisation plant; (2) drying the residues contg. volatile organic cpds. and/or water in a largely self-regulating, indirectly heated, continuous contact drier at 120-250 deg.C and slightly reduced pressure, with kneading and mixing, and pre-crushing; (3) depending on the compsn., the dried residue is either; (a) utilised as energy source in a fossil fuel combustion plant by milling, opt. with cooling and mixing with fossil fuel, pref. coal dust, and opt. alkaline additives, pref. quicklime or limestone powder; or (b) if it has a high content of heavy metal(s), smelted to recover these; or (c) if if has high content of halogenated cpds., passed to special waste treatment or dumped; or (d) if it has a high content of hardly combustible but insterable components, converted to sintered granulate or utilised in other ways, opt. with mixts. of different residues from stage 2 or 3; (4) condensing the volatile cpds. and/or water sepd. in stage 2 and, depending on the compsn. either; (a) using as energy source in a fossil fuel combustion plant; or (b) sepg. purifying and utilising the substances obtd.; or (c) using for decomposition of other residues; and (5) collecting the exhaust air, contaminated with the vapour of volatile organic cpds. from stages 2 and 4 and, depending on the compsn. either; (a) purifying separately or with the exhaust air from the lacquering plant or factory; or (b) injecting into fossil fuel combustion plant. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The organic material is composted in a reactor in which it travels through zones of different degrees of decomposition into which controlled quantities of air are introduced. The exhaust air from the pre-rotting and principal rotting zones is withdrawn downwards and the moisture it contains is recovered and returned to the zones in question. The heat in the exhaust air is used to pre-heat the air entering the reactor. The temperature, moisture content, entrained gas content and oxygen content of the exhaust air are measured and used as parameters for controlling the composting process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This invention is used in the thermal aerobic composting of organic waste. The corrosion of surrounding building elements produced by the condensation of acids and salts from the exhaust air is avoided while at the same time ensuring optimum conditions for the composting process. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Gas chromatographic determn. of 4C hydrocarbon mixts. (I), esp. sepn. and determn. of i-butene (IA) and but-1-ene (IB), is carried out at room temp. with a combination of 2 sepg. column with different sepg. phases, one operating on sulphone basis. The novelty is that the (I) mixt. to be analysed is supplied alternately to a second sepg. column filled with texture-specific wide-pored SiO2 gel with spherical structure and a surface area of 200-450, pref. 280-320,m2/g, using reversal equipment, and sepd. by intermittent operation of the SiO2 gel column in the sepg. column combination.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The technique is suitable for quantitative and qualitative analysis and is highly accurate, economical and quick. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/2)
Substrates are produced from waste prods. by adding earthworm spawn to a cattle dung heap which is covered by straw and refuse contg. a max. of 15% of approved ash, i.e., from briquettes instead of from raw brown coal. Another heap is produced from waste prods. and earth with absorbent straw, leaves and liq. manure.    ADVANTAGE -   When used for growing vegetables, this produces a nutritious complementary animal fodder. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A 1-3C alkane (I) is converted to heavier hydrocarbons by contact with a reactive oxygen-contg. material (II) and a catalyst comprising (a) double perovskite of empirical formula LAMnTO6, where L = La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Pr, Gd and/or Dy; A = alkaline earth element(s); T = Fe, Co and/or Ni; and (b) an alkali metal component in amt. sufficient to enhance selectivity to higher hydrocarbons. The process may be conducted by contacting the catalyst with an oxidising material, so that the catalyst retains oxygen and becomes the material (II) with which the alkane is contacted.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is of esp. use for conversion of methane to ethylene and ethane. It is esp. effective when used in sequential or pulsed processes, as during the initial stages of a sequential run (early stage of catalyst reduction), high selectivity to higher hydrocarbons is obtained. @(12pp)
A method for converting halogen-contg. organic cpds. into hydrogen halide comprises (a) contacting a cpd. chosen form CCl4, CHCl3 and C2Cl4 with a reducing atmos. comprising a source of hydrogen in a reaction zone in the absence of a catalyst; (b) maintaining a temp. of at least 825 deg.C. in the reaction zone and (c) pyrolysing the cpd. by reacting the reducing atmos. with the cpd. in the absence of free oxygen in the reaction zone to form, as an effluent, a hydrogen halide in the essential absence of halogenated hydrocarbons, the hydrogen halide being formed by breakage of the halogen-carbon bonds in the cpd. and reaction of the halogen generated with hydrogen from the hydrogen source.    The process can also be used for conversion of chlorine in other chlorine-contg. organic cpds. such as chlorobenzene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and chlorinated dioxins, into hydrogen chloride, and for conversion of Br-contg. organic cpds. to yield HBr.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is esp. useful for detoxification of toxic wastes from the chemical, agricultural and other industries, to convert halogen-contg. organic cpds. into hydrogen halide which is easily separated by absorption and other prods. which pose no environmental hazard. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Silage is preserved by treatment with Propionibacterium jensenii (I) strains: (a) P-9 (ATCC 53961), and (b) P-Fargo (ATCC 53962). Amt. of (I) is 10 power 8 - 10 power 14 esp. 10 power 10 - 10 power 12 partic. ca 10 power 11 organisms/ton. Pref. the method also includes treatment with a Lactobacillus sp., partic. L plantarum ATCC 53187 or equiv.    ADVANTAGE -   The bacterial silage inoculants are effective both during the initial anaerobic stages and also during the initial aerobic stages when a silo is opened to the air.    In an example, (IIa) was inoculated at 10 power 11 organisms/ton onto grain, which was stored anaerobically at 20-25 deg. C for 60 days, then opened. The pH did not increase to above 5 for at least 168 days (control, 79 days), while the temp. also did not increase 1.5 deg. C for at least 168 days (control, 38 days). @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Prodn. of compost by mixing ashes of paper industry sludge at temp. of 30 deg.C. or higher with unburnt raw paper industry sludge and fermenting the mixt.. Also claimed is the mixt. contg. 45-70 wt.% of water and the fermentation carried out under aerobic conditions.    Specifically ashes of paper industry sludge is mixed with raw sludge to make water content of 45-70 wt.%. The mixt. is aerobically fermented at 50 deg.C. or above for 4-6 weeks and resulted compost has water content of 30-40 wt.% and C content of 8-15, pref. 10% or less.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A compost contg. well balanced organic and inorganic materials. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Prepn. of animal foodstuff is effected by mixing natural vegetable prods., agricultural and industrial (by-)prods., with the improvement that at least 2 components of different moisture contents, in ratios corresponding to a solids content of the mixt. in favour of a transformation of ensilage type, with addn. of acidifying elements to give a pH of 4, and opt. other elements w.r.t. their known properties; the obtd. mixt. is ensilaged.    USE -   For feeding cattle. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Water to be cleaned is accumulated so solid particles can be deposited, and overflows into filtration stage(s) where the filter material comprises plant or timber particles. The deposited solids are pumped out, dewatered and composted. The water removed during this de-watering process is recirculated to the sedimentation vessel. The surface of the water in the tanks is protected by a layer of plant material, wood chips etc., and this material is periodically exchanged, the used material being added to the composting process. The water leaving the filtration stages passes through an area contg. growing water-purifying plants.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Enables domestic, industrial and agricultural waste waters to be cleaned while at the same time recovering from the water useful humus material. Obtd. using a purely biological process. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/5)
A processing system for organic waste materials, with a view to making compost for growing crops, consists of placing the waste, e.g. garden and kitchen waste, remnants from harvested crops and water purification residues, in an insulated container and then watering it thoroughly by means of a pipe and pump. After the container has been closed, a quantity of fresh air is blown in through the bottom of the container, using a fan to evacuate the air saturated with CO2 contained within the vegetable matter and to promote an exothermic reaction, producing a temp. of at least 70 deg.C, after which the reaction is left to run for 10-20 days.    The container has grooves in its base for the circulation of fresh air fed in through a manifold, with the CO2-saturated air escaping through a hole of appropriate size. The completed compost can be handled by fork-lift truck.    ADVANTAGE -   Faster composting, without unpleasant smells, also with reduced consumption of energy and manpower, as composted material does not need to be turned. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Method, and appts. for the in situ biological conversion of higher rank coals to methane comprises (a) culturing on a coal-contg. substrate a consortium of microorganisms under conditions which are pref. for allowing the biological conversion of coal to methane; in which (b) the method is carried out by culturing those microorganisms from areas e.g. abandoned underground mines where specific conditions have favoured the development of microorganisms which can use coal as a carbon source; or (c) by isolating the consortium and inocculating it into any coal-contg. substrate where the conditions can be adjusted to favour the growth of the emanogenic consortium of microorganisms.    ADVANTAGE -   Process allows for the in situ conversion of previously unusable coal substrates into usable methane highly efficiently and economically.
Prepn of fire-retardant expandable thermoplastic beads comprises (a) forming an aq suspension of 100 pts wt vinyl aromatic polymer particles, from 50-500 pts wt water, suspending agent, 0.1-2.5 pts wt hexaabromocycloadodecane (I) with average particle size of less than 100 micron and 3-20 pt wt 4-6 C alipahtic hydrocarbon foaming agent, the aq suspension is characterised by the absence of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; (b) heating the aq suspension at 40-140 deg C, for 0.5-15 hrs to incorporate (I) and the foaming agent into the polymer particles and to form the thermoplastic beads; and (c) sepg the beads from the water.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The invention provides an improved method of incorporating hexabromocyclododecane into the beads. the beads can be moulded into foam articles which are highly resistant to flame even at low levels of hexabromocyclododecane. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Bridge for detecting combustible gas comprises a gas sensor element forming one side of the bridge. The sensor element is composed of a detecting hot wire, oxide catalyst carried on carriers deposited on the detection hot wire.    Used for propane gas detectors. (J59200949-A) @(5pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Method for treatment of wasted material of processing of bonito, which comprises fermenting wasted material of processing of bonito, which contains fat, in a fermentation container with agitation by air around 40 deg.C with addn. of water gradually.    The resultant has no fish smell and can be used as liq. fertiliser, grinding oil, oil for removing rust, etc. By the presence fermentation, a large amt. of bacteria in the material acts upon the material to decompose of ingredients causing bad smell, other than fat, N ingredient, phosphorus ingredient and K ingredient, to produce gas. By addn. of water, turbid material becomes transparent to give jelly like prod. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Bark of cedar or cypress is placed in a sealed container, and the bark is blasted under high temp. and under high pressure using water vapour. The resulting prod. is fermented using microorganism, nitrogen cpd., enzyme, etc..    The pressure is 20-40 kg/cm2, and temp. is 200-250 deg.C. The microorganism includes actinomycete and filamentous fungi. The nitrogen cpd. includes ammonium sulphate, urea, etc., and the enzyme includes cellulase.    USE -   Prod. can be used as fertiliser or agent for improvement of soil. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Method, and apparatus, for manipulating the ethane concentration in the unit blending stream from one process unit so that the manipulated process unit provides a unit blending stream having a desired ethane concentration; in which (a) the unit blending stream from the manipulated process unit is combined with other unit blending streams that are uncontrolled in ethane concentration; so that (b) a blended propane product is obtained having a desired predetermined propane concentation; in which (c) an analysis measurement and a flow measurement of each unit blending stream is obtained at each process unit; (d) based on the actual ethane analysis and the actual flow rate of the various unit blending streams, the volume of ethane in the blended product is calculated; so that (e) the maximum quantity of ethane that could be admitted with the unit blending stream from the manipulated process without exceeding the propane purity specification for the blended product is back calculated; whereby (f) the set point of an analyser controller on the manipulated process is then adjusted to provide the maximum amount of ethane allowed by the product specification for the blended product.    ADVANTAGE -   In this manner, the propane product purity is maintained at the specified value without exceeding the specified purity.
Petroleum demulsifiers based on sulphonated naphthenic acids are used as catalysts for the decomposition of cotton wastes. The catalyst comprises: alkaline waste (1), sulpho-naphtha (2) or neutralised black contact medium.    The alkaline waste contains (in wt.%): salts of naphthenic and sulphonated naphthenic acid not less than 15.0; mineral oils not more than 55; and water not more than 35.    Sulpho-naphtha contains (in wt.%): sulphonated naphthenic acid salts not less than 15 and sodium sulphate not more than 8. It has neutral or weakly alkaline reaction.    Neutralised black contact medium contains (in wt.%): sulphonated acids not less than 15.0, mineral oils not more than 3.0 and calcium sulphate not more than 25.0. It has neutral or weakly alkaline reaction.    The cotton wastes for decomposition include stems leaves and bolls, which are ground up and sprinkled with the specified catalyst in amt. 12.5-75 l/tonne. The moisture content is maintained at 50-60% by sprinkling the whole surface with water. Afterwards, the cotton wastes are covered with a thin layer of earth and left to decompose and form an organic fertilizer. The period of decomposition depends on the dose of catalyst used.    The effectiveness of the obtd. fertilizer has been evaluated in terms of the growth, development and number of Rhizobia and the quality of annual lucerne. It is found that the number of Rhizobia is greater when the new organic fertilizer is used. In addn., the contents of total nitrogen, protein nitrogen, Vitamin C and ash elements are increased and the content of cellulose is reduced, compared to a control.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture for increasing the rate of decomposition of plant materials to produce organic fertilizers. By using the specified catalyst it is found that crop (e.g. lucerne, barley, etc.) yield is increased. Bul.7/23.2.90 @(8pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
NOVELTY - Fermented manure contains (1) the residue of chlorella extract and/or (2) waste culture medium of chlorella and various organic materials (e.g., wood, bamboo). Preferably when using wood and bamboo as the organic materials, they are heated in a humid condition for 1 hour.    ADVANTAGE - Highly effective manure containing 3 main components can economically be produced in 1-3 months by utilising the residue of chlorella extract and the waste culture medium. Environmental pollution caused by disposing of the waste matter of chlorella.
Prodn. of org. manure comprises (1) inoculating fungi of Rhodococcus sp. (e.g., MT2040 strain and/or MT2041 strain) opt. with cellulose degradation fungie into the material contg. mainly a beer cake, (2) fermentating opt. with mixing and (3) ripening it opt. with mixing.    Beer cakes opt. contaminates strained lees, rice bran, urea, dry excrements, fish powder, powdered bones and activated sludge.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For utilising large quantity of beer cakes. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
In the method, organic sludge is subjected to anaerobic digestion in an enclosed chamber to produce methane gas. This gas is burned to produce heat which is used to maintain the digestion process. Liquid from chamber is reacted to make it suitable for discharge to the environment. Solids are treated to make them suitable for combustion in gasifier and the producer gas from gasifier is collected, as fuel.    ADVANTAGE -   Methane gas and solids from digestion are both used as fuel. Plant produces sterile ash and saleable by-product producer gas. @(16pp)
Catalyst for reforming a hydrocarbon with steam comprises platinum gp. metal(s) deposited on a carrier having a vol. 0.15 ml/g or more of pores of size 500 Angstrom or less, a vol. 0.14 ml/g or less of pores of size over 500 Angstrom, and an average pore size 90 Angstrom or more.    Pref. the metal is Rh and/or Ru, 0.01-5 wt.% on the carrier; Co and/or Mn is present as promoter, at 0.1-10 wt.%. K and/or Ba may be present as further promoter component, 0.01-2.5 wt.%. The carrier is zirconia or stabilised zirconia; the stabiliser is an oxide, e.g. yttrium, magnesium or cerium oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Specified pore size distribution provides the catalyst with high activity and long life. The hydrocarbon is e.g. a 1-10C alkane, cycloalkane or a mixt., e.g. naphtha. Prod. is a mixed gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane, having uses opt. with sepn.; the hydrogen may be used in a fuel cell. @(20pp Dwg.No.0/2)@
In the 2-stage anaerobic treatment of waste water and sludge loaded with organic matter, in which a high space loading is obtd. in the 1st stage, the 1st stage is operated with high substrate conversion, and the 2nd stage with stabilisation of the organic matter. The solids added in the 1st stage and the biomass obtd. by the conversion are retained and enriched in the reactor by means of known pipe sedimentation. Productivity limits for the 1st stage of a max. of organic dry matter of not more than 0.12 kg/kg dry matter/day and a max. chemical O2 requirement of not above 0.09 kg/kg dry matter/day are obtd. by concn. by controlled withdrawal of the biomass-solids mixt. The surplus sludge-solids mixt. is pumped over into the 2nd stage, for stabilisation, with the organic matter reduced to not above 55% by controlling the max. loading value of organic dry matter to not above 0.025 kg/kg dry matter/day, and the chemical O2 requirement to not above 0.015 kg/kg dry matter/day.    ADVANTAGE -   Productivity of CH4 fermentation is raised, the productivity levels of the process are fixed, and energy, materials and costs are saved, with improvement in the deg. of retention of the biomass. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Gas, soil and fuel are obtained from waste containing organic C by forced anaerobic decomposition and classification. Waste shredded to pass through a 20-100 mm screen is formed into a bed of a liquid-impervious support with drainage channels, covered with a heat-insulating sealing layer and gas offtake and water supply nozzles inserted, connected externally to respective systems by flexible hoses.    Temp., moisture content, bacteria content and pH are controlled during forced decomposition, with leaching water heated, pH adjusted and recycled. When gas generation ceases the bed is classified into soil and fuel fractions. The sealing layer may be soil, peat, coarser soil mixed with bentonite or wood ash, or opt. reinforced plastics sheeting.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides an inexpensive and non-complicated system which can be controlled to give a reproducible result. @(23pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Treatment of domestic or industrial waste includes sepg. the pulp or slurry into different fractions according to density or magnetic properties, the sorted pulp or slurry is fed to a wet dryer for kneading. The pulp or slurry is then washed downstream of a wet grinder to remove plastic debris. The thus obtd. fibre suspension is led away for further treatment or use.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method for treating waste such as domestic garbage, industrial waste and the like in which the waste is suspended in liq. A continuous process obtains mutually sepd. specific waste constits., the end prod. has a high proportion of organic material. @(26pp Dwg.No.1/8)@
Recovering ethane and heavy hydrocarbons and removing acid gases such as CO2 and hydrogen sulphide by distillation from gaseous hydrocarbon mixts. which contain them, such as natural gas, synthesis gas or associated gases comprises: (a) feeding the gaseous hydrocarbon mixt. after dehydration to a first distillation column to which a heavy liq. hydrocarbon stream is fed, to obtain a gaseous overhead prod. stream contg. methane, ethane, and acid gases and a bottom prod. stream contg. ethane and higher hydrocarbons; (b) feeding the overhead prod. of the first distillation column to a second distillation column to obtain a gaseous overhead prod. stream contg. methane, the ethane CO2 azeotrope and possible light inert gases, and a bottom prod. stream consisting of acid gaseous; (c) feeding the overhead prod. of the second distillation column to a third distillation column to a third distillation column the condenser of which is injected with a liq. hydrocarbon stream, to obtain a gaseous overhead prod. stream consisting of methane and possibly inert gases, and a bottom prod. stream which is recycled to the first column and contains the ethane CO2 azeotrope and the liq. hydrocarbon stream injected into the condenser; and (d) feeding the bottom prod. of the distillation column to a fourth distillation column to obtain a gaseous overhead prod. stream contg. ethane and a bottom prod. stream contg. higher hydrocarbons than butane.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduction in energy consumption mainly by recycling smaller liq. hydrocarbon stream throughputs while at the same time increasing the percentage of ethane recovery.
Nitration bacteria prepd. by selectively culturing active sludge is concentrated. Active carbon powders are added to the concentrate. Highly water-absorptive resin powders are further added to form swollen beads. Calcium chloride is admixed to the swollen beads, so that the resin is crosslinked and the nitration bacteria fully fixed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for water purification. Highly concentrated nitration bacteria can be fixed. Ammonia contained in water can be effectively nitrated at lower temps. The water is purified after ammonia is nitrated, so that the amt. of chlorine can be reduced and so harmful trihalomethane prodn. is suppressed. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
(Pseudo) azeotropic mixt. (I) comprises 2,2-dimethylbutane (II) and 1-chloro-1,2,2,3- tetrafluoropropane (III), R244cb) and/or 3-chloro-1,1,2,2,3 pentafluoropropane ((IV), R235ca), and are new. Pseudo azeotropic mixt. (V) of 5-8C hydrocarbon compsn. (II) as major component and (III) and/or (IV) are new also.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) and (V) are do not effect ozone layer, both are used as substitute freon, e.g. solvent, foaming agent etc. opt. solvent to wash down flux, grease, oil, wax, ink etc. (I), (V) are purified by distillation, composition of individual distillate is steady; (I) and (V) are used repeatedly without adjusting composition.
To promote the generation of CH4 gas in a fermentation tank comprises feeding dung and urine of domestic animals and methane bacteria and heating the tank at optimum temp., CH4 gas generating in the tank is used as fuel for generating energy for heating the tank and a part of CH4 gas or a part of the energy is used as domestic or business use.    Pref. from a feeding pipe, dung and urine of domestic animals, to which acid forming bacteria and methane bacteria are added, are fed to a closed fermentation tank. In a boiler, a kerosenee burner is ignited and by a pump, hot water is circulated between a tank and the boiler and then between the tank and a heating coil by a pump to heat the dung and urine in the fermentation tank at optimum fermenting temp. By operating a stirring device, the dung and urine are stirred to promote the fermentation and to help the generation of CH4 gas. CH4 gas is stored in the upper part of the fermentation tank. When CH4 gas has stably started to generate, the kerosenee burner is stopped. CH4 gas taken out by opening a valve and operating a gas blower is fed through pipes, branched pipes, to a gas burner of the boiler and to a gas engine for operating power generator.    ADVANTAGE -   Fermentation is continuously promoted by keeping the temp. at the optimum fermenting temp. by using a part of CH4 gas from the tank as fuel for heating the tank. A large quantity of CH4 gas is continuously generated at low cost. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Biological purificn. of liquid manure spread on the ground comprises spreading the manure in an overdose w.r.t. max. exportations allowed by the plants, this leading to a significant prodn. of nitrates, collecting and storing the nitrated waters capable of percolating, denitrifying by heterotrophic means the collected nitrated waters and spreading the denitrified waters.    The soil is conditioned so as to collect over 80% of the percolatable waters. Denitrification is effected with pig's manure. Spreading of the denitrified water allows elimination of the nitrates present in the soil by virtue of the denitrifying bacterias present therein.    ADVANTAGE -   The process eliminates risks of nitrated pollution and achieves successively nitrification in the soil and denitrification with manure. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Processing carbon based solid waste by pyrolysis to recover char that has a useful purpose and commercial value comprises (a) moving carbonaceous solids reduced to small particles of relatively uniform size from an air free source of supply to the top of a vertical retort so they will fall by gravity to the bottom in a swirling motion to exit at the bottom; (b) igniting the first falling particles to reach the bottom from a source of fuel to generate hot gases for countercurrent flow upwards through the falling particles to exit at the top; (c) introducing ambient air at the bottom of the retort to maintain combustion of the particles in a swirling motion and discontinuing use of the fuel source when the particles are ignited so that the particles serve as fuel to sustain the system of generating hot gases; (d) collecting the char resulting from combustion; (e) cooling part of the gas stream exiting from the top of the retort and directing it to the source of supply to serve as the vehicle for moving particles to the top of the retort; (f) directing the remaining parts of the gas stream to a point of disposal; and (g) maintaining the system of generating hot gases to heat the falling particles to create char and keep the retort air free by continual delivery of the particles to the retort and a continual supply of ambient air to support combustion of the ignited particles at the bottom of the retort.    ADVANTAGE -   The method recovers char having an economic value for commercial resale, process being highly efficient and extremely economic in operation. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/5)
A charge of soil contaminated by materials such as oil and held in a vat (1) is fluidised by injection of water (10) and air (11) through the apertured vat base. Surfactants present in the washing water collect contaminants as froth. Further washing water and air are supplied at an intermediate level. Eluate is collected in a peripheral channel (15) round the vat head and discharged into a settlement collector, from which it may be filtered by active carbon enriched with microorganisms. High-risk organic contaminants in the wash water are separately treated. residual water in the treated charge is extracted by base vacuum filters (12), while the charge itself is tipped out, e.g. for spreading or farming land.    ADVANTAGE -   Avoids time, energy and water consumption involved in repeated washings. @(8pp Dwg.No.1/11)@
Removal of N2 from natural gas contg. CO2 and N2 in variable concn. occurs by low temp. rectification in several sepn. stages, in which the CO2-contg. natural gas together with a part of CH4 and opt. higher hydrocarbons as the liq. fraction are removed in a first stage and the gaseous fraction liberated by CO2 is decomposed by further step-wise rectification into N2-and CH4-prod. fractions and the obtd. prod. stream.m preheated and finally evapd. The novelty is that: (a) the liq. CO2-enriched hydrocarbon fraction (I) is partially evapd. in indirect heat exchange with the produced gaseous N2-enriched hydrocarbon fraction (II); (b) a gaseous methane-prod. and a liq. CO2-contg. hydrocarbon prod. (III) are obtd. by partially evaporating (I); and (c) (III) is compressed before preheating and evaporating by indirect heat exchange with cooling natural gas to raised pressure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Removal of N2 at higher CO2 contents is possible than was before. The presence of C2+ components in natural gas is no longer necessary. @(3pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Composting appts. comprises a strong large vol. watertight chamber (5,6), through which air is caused to flow (17) via a loading chute (1,2), the air flow passing above and below the contents before being exhausted to atmos.    Decomposed material is extd. mechanically (15) from the bottom of the chamber (6), which opt. is plastic or concrete. Pref., a rotary grate (7) supports the contents and directs decomposed material to the extn. mechanism (15) which is a tube contg. an auger.    USE -   Processing sewage, food scraps, waste paper, cardboard, organic garden refuse. @(14pp Dwg.No.0/4)