Chips (124-122) of silicon or gallium arsenide, and having a low coefficient of expansion, are tacked onto a substrate (10) of e.g. alumina, having a higher thermal coefficient of expansion than the chips (12a-12z) using a thixotropic epoxy in a gel or liquefied form. The chips (12a -12z) are buffed so that their side edges are in contours, and then the assembly is significantly cooled, causing the substrate (10) to shrink relative to the chips (12a-12z). The array is then heated to cure the resin, during which the substrate expands relative to the chips, producing minute gaps between them, compensating for a thermal coefficient mismatch.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For assembling chips in abutting array on a substrate having significantly higher thermal coefficient of expansion than the chips. Enables the use of materials otherwise unavailable to designers to develop large arrays of versatile, failure resistant devices inexpensively.
The connector comprises a holder (3) of insulating material mounted on the plate (1) of a press (2). There is an open slot in the holder, in which a water-cooled inductor (4) is fitted. The inductor is in the form of a thick-walled hollow tube of rectangular cross section, the same shape as the joint zone. The inductor is pressed into the open slot in the holder. The height of the holder is less than that of the inductor. The other plate (5) of the press has a cooler screen (6) on it, co-axial with the inductor, in a holder (7) of insulating material. The cooler screen is in the form of a thick-walled tube of rectangular cross section of the same configuration as the inductor. It is pressed into the open slot of its holder.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For applying thermoplastic insulation to the edges of metal accummulator plates. Better connection. Bul.34/15.9.92
Alloy is prepd. by heating Zr-Ni alloy powder under a O2 partial pressure of 200mmHg or below at 250-600 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The initial discharge capacity is improved.    In an example, 5g of Zr7Ni10 alloy powder (63 microns or less) was heated to 100 deg.C under an oxygen partial pressure of 50mmHg for 20 min. The powder was mixed with Ni fine powder (conductive assistant, 250 mesh or smaller) and PTFE powder (binder) in an amt. of 85%, 12%,and 3% by wt. The mixt. was formed into a disc of 20mm dia. under a pressure of 3ton/cm2. The form was used as the working electrode, and Ni was used as the counter electrode in an open cell employing 30% KOH aq. soln. as the electrolyte. The charge and discharge cycles were applied at 15mA per 1g alloy. The initial discharge capacity was 143mAh/g.
(JP5307977-A)   NOVELTY - The negative electrode material is a mixture of carbon particles having multiphase and single phase structure. The multiphase particles has d(002) face distance of 0.2 or more and wavelength between 3.35-3.39 Angstrom. The single phase particles has surface area of 7m2/g and wavelength between 3.36-3.60 Angstrom. Electrolyte is prepared by dissolving alkali metal salt in solvent containing 10-70volume% of ethylene carbonate.    USE - Non aqueous secondary battery.    ADVANTAGE - A highly reliable secondary battery having a large capacity and good storage discharge cycle property, is realized.
(JP5307976-A)   NOVELTY - The negative pole of the battery contains 50-98wt% of carbon particle having specified multiphase structure. The average volume particle size of carbon particle is 2-70 mum. An electrolytic liquid is prepared by dissolving an alkali metal salt or a quaternary alkyl ammonium salt in a solvent containing 20-100volume% of propylene carbonate or butylene carbonate.    USE - Nonaqueous secondary battery.    ADVANTAGE - A secondary battery having large electrode capacity and good charge/discharge cycle properties, is realized. Thus the battery is usable in a wide temperature range.
(JP5307975-A)   NOVELTY - The solid polymer electrolyte (I) comprises the polyalkylene oxide which has carboxyl group, ionic conductive polymer compound and ion compound, where the main chain is polyalkylene oxide which has carboxyl group at the terminal or a side chain is alkylene oxide or the alkylene-oxide polyester which has a carboxyl group at both the terminal.    USE - (I) is useful as electrolytes, such as a primary battery, a secondary cell, and an electrochromic display device.    ADVANTAGE - The solid polymer electrolyte has a small resistance with respect to the ionic migration in the boundary surface of an electrode and a solid-electrolyte layer, and there is little degradation of an electrode, and peeling of a solid-polymer-electrolyte interlayer and an electrode.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a structure of an electrochromic element.    solid-polymer-electrolyte layer (1)    electrochromic layers (2)    conductive layer (3)    electrodes (4)
(JP5307974-A)   NOVELTY - A case (1) accommodates a separator (5) set between positive pole (6) containing lithium-cobalt composite oxide and negative pole (3) made of carbon that absorbs and desorbs lithium ion. An organic electrolyte obtained by dissolving lithium perchloride in mixed solvent of sulfolane and ethylene carbonate, is poured between the positive and negative poles.    USE - Organic electrolyte secondary battery e.g. for electric vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - Improves electro chemical stability of electrolyte, by providing positive pole and negative pole made of material that absorbs and desorbs lithium.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional drawing of the organic electrolyte secondary battery.    case (1)    gasket (4)    negative pole (3)    separator (5)    positive pole (6)
(JP5307949-A)   NOVELTY - The battery consists of a bag-shaped separator with multiple rib at inner surface. An anode separated from cathode by separator, consists of lattice-shaped alloy comprising lead, calcium and tin. The alloy contains 0.05-0.07wt.% of tin and 0.75-1.0wt.% of calcium.    USE - Lead storage battery for automobile engine.    ADVANTAGE - Durable battery capable of preventing deformation of anode at high temperature, is realized by providing anode lattice of high mechanical strength.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a perspective view of the electrode group of the battery. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    anode (1)    separator (2)    cathode (3)
A transparent plastic sound barrier has at least one plastic sheet and a fixing device for it. At least onne energy-absorbing element is embedded in the sheet concerned, and this element is the type suitable for use in producing solar heating. The plastic sheet is pref. polymethyl-methacrylate.    ADVANTAGE -   The prod. has additional applications without being in any way affected in its originally intended application.    In an example, an acrylic sheet (2) measuring 3m x 2m x 0.02m has a transparency of more than 90%, is colourless, and has a DIN 4 109 sound absorbency of 29 dB. It has holes (10) along the sides for fixing into a suitable mounting. Its top half has two embedded solar modules (3). Each module (3) is 75 cm x 50 cm and is made before being embedded. It consists of three lower units (4) connected by wires (5) to leads (6) in the top edge (7). These units (3) are commercially available types consisting of 150 solar cells. Many variations on this general theme can be used.
The opto-stable polymer is obtd. by the polymerisation of methylmethacrylate and 3-(N-allylamino) -8-aminophenantridon or 3-(N-allylaminomethyl) -4-methyl-7-diethylaminocumarine in 0.1-0.5 wt.% w.r.t. the latter, and with 2.0 wt.% of benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. Polymethylmethacrylate is of mol.wt. 2790000-3140000 and with p:m=1:3040-1:593. The reaction is conducted in glass vessels blown-through with nitrogen at 50 +/-2 deg.C in 12 hours; the polymerisation is at temp. 115 deg.C in 3 hours.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The polymer is used for matrices of luminescent concentrates used in collection and concn. of scattered solar radiation. The opto-stability is in 12 hours 62-87%, and in 20 hours 45-69%. The coefficient of concn. is 1.77-1.79, and in 15 months of operation 1.32-1.46, w.r.t. 1.75 and 1.12 with unmodified polymethylmethacrylate. In synthesis of opto-stable copolymers of methylmethacrylate with luminophoric links that have high light-transparency. Bul.43/23.11.92
Polymer cpd. comprises polymer material in which at least one kind of ionic cpd. is dissolved. The ion-conductive polymer cpd. has a crosslinked network structure formed with an organic cpd. of formula (1) or (2) and contains at least one insulating porous cpd. having high specific surface area, pref. active alumina, zeolite or silica gel. In the formulae, R1-6 = H or at least 1C lower alkyl; m, k = 3 or more; n, 1 = 0 or more, and n/m, k/l = 0-5.    Pref. the ion-conductive polymer cpd. contains material which can dissolve ionic cpd. The crosslinked network structure is formed by irradiation with ionised radiation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The ion-conductive polymer cpd. is useful as battery having high safety and reliability.
(JP2773532-B2)      The structure includes a cylindrical battery serving as one terminal and a convex-shaped terminal board, made from metal, as the other terminal. The terminals are air-tightly fitted to one another with a tacky-sealant, having contraction properties of 40- 60% and comprising polyparabanic acid resin layer with reduced thickness at shoulder portion of the battery, with an insulation packing also provided between the terminal board and battery can.    ADVANTAGE -   Efficiently withstands external load(s).
Zn-alkali cell has a gel-like cathode contg. a Zn alloy powder mixed and dissolved in a gel-like alkaline electrolytic liq. as a cathode active substance. Electrolytic liq. is composed of Zn alloy powder contg. a polyoxyethylene alkyl-ether type surfactant CnH2n+1-O-(CH2CH2O)m-W (where W = alkali metal or H, n = 4-20, m = 5-40) 0.001-0.1 wt.%. The Zn alloy contains at least, In, Pb, Bi, Ca or Al.    Zn alloy contains In as a necessary component and Pb and/or Bi is used for making a cathode of a Zn-alkali cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For providing portable power sources without using Hg. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9346 based on complete specification).
A solid conductive electrolyte compsn. comprises a polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer and a salt of a conductive metal. The polyhydroxyalkanoate has repeating units of the formula (I). R is 1-10C alkyl or alkenyl, and has molecular wt. 10000-1000000. The mole ratio of polymer to salt is 5-20:1.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolyte compsn. is used between an anode and cathode in batteries. The polyhydroxyalkanoate is biodegradable and biocompatible, providing a basis for batteries which are more environmentally degradable. The polyhydroxyalkanoate can be naturally occurring.
A membrane/electrode assembly comprises a radiation grafted cation exchange membrane which has been plasma etched with an oxidising gas on both its anode surface and its cathode surface, and which has an anode bonded to the anode surface and a cathode bonded to the cathode surface.    The oxidising gas of the plasma is pref. oxygen but can be ozone, chlorine oxide or fluorine oxide. No more than 20% of the membrane thickness is etched away during plasma etching of the anode and cathode surfaces. The anode and cathode are bonded to the membrane by heat and pressure, e.g. at about 200 deg.C. The cathode and/or anode can be treated with 'Nafion' cation exchange solution before bonding to the membrane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The assembly is used in a thermo-electrochemical system in which an electric current is generated from a heat input. The assembly is resistant to determination and provides as good electrochemical performance as conventional electrodialysis membranes. The membrane/electrode assembly can also be fired in chlor/alkali cells.
Ion-conductive high mol. cpds. are high mol. substances in which at least one ionic cpd. is dissolved. The high mol. cpds. have crosslinked network structure formed from organic cpds. of formula (I) or (II) and contain at least one substance having Redox property. In formulae, R1-R6=H or at least 1C lower alkyl gps.; m is at least 3; n is at least 0; n/m = 0-5; k is at least 3; l is at least 0, k/l = 0-5.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The high mol. cpds. are used for the mfr. of batteries. The batteries are free from ignition and explosion at the time of overcharge and have high safety, working efficiency and long-term reliability.    Ion-conductive high mol. cpds. are produced by reacting organic cpds. of formula (I) or (II) under irradiation with ionisation radioactive rays to form a crosslinked network structure.    In an example, a composite positive pole was produced by mixing (A) a mixt. of V2O5 and acetylene black in a wt. ratio of 85:15 with (B) a mixt. of 10 pts. of organic cpd. mixt. contg. polyethylene glycol diacrylate (mol.wt. 5000) and polyethylene glycol monoacrylate (mol.wt. 400) in a wt. ratio of 6:4, 1 pt. of Li hexafluoroarsenate, 10 pts. of ethylene carbonate, 10 pts. of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran and 5 pts. of n-butylferrocene, in a ratio of (A):(B) of 10:3 under a dry inert gas, casting the mixt. on a conductive carbon film-formed positive electricity-collector and irradiating the coat face with electron beam (dose 10 Mrad) under a dry inert gas atmos. to cure the composite positive pole. The composite positive pole film formed on the positive electricity-collector was 60 microns thick.
(JP5290832-A)   NOVELTY - Anode is manufactured from lithium-metal complex oxide formed by heat processing raw material containing complex oxide of lithium and metal chosen from cobalt, nickel and/or iron. The raw material is in the form of metal or alloy powder, and has average particle diameter of 0.2-9 microns. The lithium secondary battery has above anode and a cathode containing metal lithium, lithium alloy or lithium occlusion component.    USE - For lithium secondary batteries.    ADVANTAGE - The method easily forms anode having improved cycle characteristics, discharge capacitance and reactivity. The method prevents destruction of the layer structure of particles and mixing of impurity. The particle size of anode active material is controlled without performing pulverization process. The anode active material has uniform grain size distribution.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The lithium compound used in the raw material mixture of anode is lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide. The raw material is heat processed, after depositing in a container by natural fall.
Solid electrolyte is produced by impregnating a nonwoven fabric composed of ether polymer having polar group, with electrolyte.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The solid electrolyte good excellent ion conductivity, and it is suitable for a thin electric cell etc. The ether polymer is e.g. polyarylate, polysulphone, polyetherimide, polyethersulphone, polyether ether ketone, polyoxybenzoin, or polyphenylene sulphide etc. The electrolyte uses alkali metal salt composed of combination of cation such as Li, Na or K, and anion such as I, CF3S03, BF4, C104 ion, AlCl4 ion, PF6 or AsF6 ion etc. The impregnation is e.g. carried out by dipping the nonwoven fabric in a soln. contng. the electrolyte and organic solvent such as alcohol or acetonitrile.
Electrolyser for H2 prodn uses a closed electrolytic cell which is enclosed in a pressure shell filled with a liq and pressurised with a gas produced in the electrolysis, pref. pressurised O2 or H2. The liq is pref a silicone oil, fluorinated oil, crude oil-based or synthetic oil, water or mixts of these. The H2 and O2 gas prods are conducted to liq separators which may be located inside or outside the pressure shell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In prodn and storage of pressurised H2, esp. as surplus energy produced by solar cells. Simple, low-cost appts can be applied in automatic solar energy systems without surveillance and continuous maintenance.
Light modulating cell comprises light modulating material of liq. crystal (16) and polymer (15). The liq. crystal is a chiral nematic liq. crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy and including chiral material in an amt. effective to form focal conic and twisted planar textures (30). The polymer is distributed in phase separated domains (15) in an amt. that stabilises the focal conic and twisted planar textures in the absence of a field and permits the liq. crystal to change textures when a field is applied.    The cell is switched between a stable, colour reflecting stage that reflects a max. reference intensity and a stable light scattering state exhibiting min. reference intensity of reflection by applying a voltage pulse. By applying voltage pulses of varying magnitude, a continuum of stable states having colour reflectivity of an intensity between the max. and min. are obtd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Light modulating cell is esp. a bistable light shutter which can be switched between a stable, optically clear state and a stable light scattering state by applying or removing an electric field. Material can operate in a light scattering mode in a field-OFF condition and clear in a field-ON condition or vice versa. The material exhibits minimal haze at all viewing angles in the clear state without any need for light-reducing polarisers. It does not require an active matrix to make a high-definition panel screen.
Method for making a flexible solid electrolyte of ease in solid state cells by the method: of fluxing 80-95 wt.% of powdered solid electrolyte with 5-20 wt.% of pwered Teflon, (b) milling the mixture and roll pressing into flexible sheath.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolyte can be used in solid state cells or elevated temperatures without physical degradation.
A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell appts. comprises a fuel cell stack for producing electricity including many unit cells (25) comprising a cathode (23), anode (22) and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane (24) between them. Coolant (32) is circulated (33) in the stack during operation and has a b.pt. within 10 deg.C of the operating setting temp..    Also claimed is an appts. as above additionally comprising means for gasifying a liq. raw material, i.e. liq. fuel and water, for reforming it to a H2-rich gas and delivering it to the cathode, the water gasifier being heated by waste heat from a reformer burner. Further claimed is an appts. as above in which oxidising gas is delivered to the cathode by a turbo-compressor operated by waste heat from a reformer burner and the liq. raw material is gasified by heat from the oxidising gas when so compressed. Also claimed is an appts. as above in which each unit cell comprises a laminate of anode, cathode and electrolyte, nipped between collectors on either side, with the cathode collector comprising porous carbon having many grooves serving as a fuel chamber and a water-absorbent porous sheet along a lateral surface.    USE -   Used as a mobile power source for aerospace appts. and vehicles, etc. .    ADVANTAGE -   The appts. stably retains a working temp. of less than 100 deg.C without loss of power generating efficiency or deterioration due to ageing.
A polymer solid electrolyte comprises a cross-linked polyether (A), in which a salt is dissolved. (A) contains one gp(s) selected from -SO3M' -COOM', -PO(OM')2 and -PH(O)(OM'), where M = an element of Gp.I.    The electrolyte can be stored for a long time without lowering its quality. When a battery contains the electrolyte, its performance can be maintained for a long time. Repeated charging and discharging of batteries can take place without suffering any redn. of capacity. Various methods are used for making a sheet of polymer solid electrolyte. These include the following: (1) the surface of a sheet of polyether crosslinked with isocyanate is coated with a reactant soln, so that the substitution of Li may occur on only one surface. (2) The whole sheet can be dipped into reactant soln, so that substitution of Li occurs on both sides of the sheet. A H or alkyl gp is then substd. for the Li on one of its surfaces. (3) The substitution of Li occurs on both surfaces of a sheet, and a polyether crosslinked with isocyanate is formed on one of its surfaces. The electrolyte pref. contains 0.5 - 10 mols/mol of inorganic salt of (A); (A) having a large molecular shape.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolyte is suitable for use as an electrolyte and a separator for a battery, esp. a lithium battery which can be recharged.
A lithium sec. battery comprises: (a) a positive electrode; (b) a negative electrode; and (c) an electrolyte. (a) is composed of active material having at least one member selected from lithium phosphate, lithium-cobalt phosphate, cobalt oxide, and lithium-cobalt oxide. The molar ratio of Co:P:Li is more than 0.1: more than 0.2:1.    Also claimed is the following: (1) a battery as described in which the molar ratio of Co:P:Li is 0.2-1.75:0.25-1.8:1.    The material is amorphous and has an average particle size of 0.01-20 micron, and a BET specific surface area of 1-1000 m2/g. (a) pref. has a porosity of 25-60%. The battery pref. comprises (a) as described, a binder and an electrical conducting agent having a particle size of 0.02-20 times that of the active material. The battery can comprise a Li or Li alloy negative electrode, and an electrolysis soln. of a number selected from an unsatd. heterocyclic cpd, an aromatic hydrocarbon, and a satd. cyclic hydrocarbon at a ratio of 0.1-10 ml/l. (b) is prepd. by forming a lithium ion-conductive polymer film on the surface of a Li or Li alloy electrode by the plasma CVD method. The polymer may be polysiloxane produced polymerisation of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane hexamethyl(cyclo) or ethyl sil disoloxan. A Li negative electrode has an electrodeposition layer of Li ion and a metal alloyed with Li on the electrode surface. (b) can be a carbon negative electrode composed of a member selected from a hollow carbon molecular structure of formula Cn (n is equal to or greater than 60), a carbonised organic member having a d002 of not less than 3.37 angstrom by X-ray analysis and graphite.    ADVANTAGE -   The battery has high energy density lending to high discharge capacity, high electromotive force, high discharge voltage, and good cycle properties.
A cpd. of the formula A(OCH2CHR2)nOS(O)2CR1=CH2 (I) is new.    Also new are the following: (i) a cpd. of the formula CH2(R3)CH(R4)CH2(R5) (II); (ii) a single phase, solid, solvent-contg. electrolyte comprising (a) a solid polymer matrix obtd. by polymerising cpd. (I) or cpd. (II), (b) an inorganic ion salt, and (c) a solvent; and (iii) an electrolytic cell comprising (a) an anode comprising a compatible anodic material, (b) a cathode comprising a compatible material, and (c) a single phase interposed solid, solvent-contg. electrolyte.    R1 = H or 1-6C alkyl; R2 = 1-30C hydrocarbyl or compatible 2-6C ethylenically unsatd. moiety; and n = 2-50.    R3, R4 and R5 = gp. of the formula -(OCH2CHR2)n S(O)2CR1=CH" (III) or OS(O)2CR1=CH2 (IV), at least one has the formula (III).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for preparing solid electrolytes. The organic monomers are readily polymerised without using strong conditions.
An optoelectronic device comprises a semiconductor device having a front surface for the absorption of light and a light-transparent material affixed thereto. The front surface has many low-angle V-grooves formed thereon, and bounded by wall surfaces with a max. angle of 30 deg. w.r.t. to a reference plane parallel to the front surface, so as to promote total internal reflection from the light-transmissive material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The invention improves the efficiency of photovoltaic devices e.g. solar cells, by promoting total internal reflection of light scattered from the semiconductor surface back to the device. The method reduces reflection over the full spectrum and is an improvement over AR coatings.
Polyazopyrroles (PAP) of formula (I) are new. Also claimed are PAP of formula (II) doped with anions. n = integer of 5-10,000; X = anions; m = 0.001-2; a = 1,2 or 3.    PAP of formula (II) doped with anions are produced by electrolytic-oxidative-polymerising organic solvent solns. of azopyrrole contg. support electrolytes or by chemical polymerising azopyrrole in the presence of polymerisation initiators in organic solvents. PAP of formula (I) are produced by electrolytic-reducing PAP of formula (II) doped with anions. Pref. n is 10-1000, m is 0.01-1 and a is 1. Anions are pref. perchloric acid ion, tetrafloroboric acid ion, Cl ion.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   PAP are used as electrode-activating substance for batteries. The high mols. contg. azo gp. in main chain have good stability and conductivity. The batteries have small wt. and good properties.    In an example, ITO sheet as working electrode and Pt sheet as counter electrode were soaked in a soln. prepd. by dissolving 1 mmole of tetrabutyl-ammonium perchlorate and 1 mmole of azopyrrole in 10 ml of aceto-nitrile. The soln. was electrolytic-oxidised under Ar at a constant current of 0.2 mA/cm2. 24 coulomb of electricity was applied. The working electrode was removed. Black deposit was formed on the surface of the electrode. The prod. was washed with methanol, dried under reduced pressure. 24 mg of PAP of formula (II) were obtd.
Flexibile welding board (10) for producing battery pack has one or metal members (12,14,16), not nickel alloys, secured to a polymer substrate (18). The board is bent, folded, or otherwise deformed along predetermined lines or zones to accommodate a battery cell or cells.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Board is used for battery pack for use in a portable radio or other electrical or electronic device. It can be readily mfd. using automated etching processes and the battery cells can be directly welded to it.
(JP5266926-A)   NOVELTY - The secondary battery has a metallic lithium cathode (1), a gel electrolytic film (2), an anode (3), and a reference electrode (4). The anode contains a polysulfide compound obtained by chemically polymerizing 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiazole and triazine-2,4,6-trithiol, using hydrogen peroxide, iodine, and iron ferrocyanide.    USE - As secondary battery.    ADVANTAGE - The secondary battery has good charging/discharging cycle. The polysulfide compound is cleaved by reduction (discharging) and is reproduced by oxidation (charging). The polysulfide compound is not reduced to a monomer at the charging/discharging voltage.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the secondary battery. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    metallic lithium cathode (1)    gel electrolytic film (2)    anode (3)    reference electrode (4)
A vent for a battery has a tube (104) connecting the interior with ambient atmos. and a pressure relief value (105) with a top support carrying a skirt (110) to surround the tube outer surface, and an annular rib (108) moulded on the skirt inner surface to act as an o-ring to seal the tube from ambient atmos. along a tangential sealing line.    A shallow circular protrusion on the support inwardly of the skirt is inserted into the tube end to maintain the valve in position. The valve is pref. made of soft chlorobutyl rubber with a durometer hardness of 25-70. The vent is located (106) above the valve to limit valve movement.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Partic. for a sealed lead-acid battery, ensures reliable venting and reseating of the valve.
A doped polymer conductor is obtained by doping a polymer with comb-like structure which has branches of a pi-conjugated oligomer. The repeat units contain at least one aromatic ring and are branched from a non-conjugate linear aliphatic principal chain.    Also claimed are films, fibres and mouldings comprising the doped polymer conductors and a polyethylene deriv. with a thiophene oligomer branches of formula (I): R = opt. substd. lower alkyl; m = at least 3; n = at least 10. A cpd. in which a gp. contg. a polymerisable unsatd. gp. bonds to one terminal of a whole pi conjugate oligomer with oligomer repeating units of conjugate units contg. at least one aromatic ring is polymerised and a dopant is added to the cpd. during and/or after the polymerisation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The polymer conductors have strong points of principal and side chain polymer conductors thus have high electric conductivity, chemical stability, a long life and easy mouldability and the standard redox potential of the conductor does not change with change of the doping rate. The film are flexible and can be processed easily. The conductors are useful for positive electrodes for sec. batteries, electrochromic display devices, molecular devices, solar batteries, gas sensors and antistatic materials.    In an example, a mixt. of 5.0 mM vinylterthiophene CH2Cl2 soln. and 0.1M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (supporting electrolyte) CH2Cl2 soln. at a vol. ratio 1-10:1 was electropolymerised for 3 hrs. at 20 deg.C on 0.8V at a current density of 0.5 mA/cm2 to give a 10 micron thick film of polyvinylterthiophene of formula (I) with m = 3 and R = H on the anode with an electric conductivity at doping rate of 80, 90 or 100% of -10 power -8, -10 power -9, -10 power -10 S/cm. The doping rate changed according to the mixing ratio of the supporting electrolyte soln.
Water repellent film comprises grafted film prepd. by graft copolymerising a porous substrate with a hydrophilic monomer and porous layers laminated on the both surfaces of the porous sheet.    Also claimed is an air cell comprising a casing whose space is sepd. by a separator and water-repellent film comprising grafted film prepd. by graft copolymerising a porous substrate with a hydrophilic monomer and laminated on the both surfaces of the porous sheet.    The porous substrate is e.g. a porous sheet, porous film, woven cloth or non-woven cloth of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, PVC, F-contg. resin, polyacrylonitrile, polycarbonate, polystyrene, or polyamide and has a thickness of 10-200 microns and a pre-size of 0.1-5 microns. The monomer is e.g. acrylic acid, alpha- or beta-ethylacrylic acid, alpha-pentylacrylic acid, beta-nonylacrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid or a vinylic monomer contg. an amino, quaternised amino, sulphone, phosphone, phosphine or phenolic OH gp. The graft copolymerisation is carried out by irradiating radiation beam on the moulded prod. in contact with the vinylic monomer or irradiating radiation beam on the substrate to form a peroxide or a hydroperoxide on the substrate and contacting the substrate with the vinyl monomer. The graft copolymerised layer is sandwiched between 2 porous films of polyethylene, polypropylene or polytetrafluoroethylene by roll pressing, pressing or with an adhesive. The skin layers have a thickness of 30-150 microns and a pore size of 0.1-10 microns.    ADVANTAGE -   The grafted film exhibits high moisture absorption and low water permeation.
Method comprises surface roughening an ion-conductive polymer by plasma etching, and depositing a metallic layer by sputtering.    USE -   Provides a reactive electrolytic film for fuel cells.
In an electrical contact device for one or more 1-50 microns thick anode foils of a lithium battery with a polymeric electrolyte, (i) at least one anode foil side edge extends beyond the corresp. edges of the cathode and its collector to form a border zone; and (ii) the contact device comprises a rigid metal layer which is compatible with lithium and which is in electrical contact with the side edge of the anode foil, but which is not in electronic contact with other cell components, the layer forming the external terminal of the battery in the unassembled condition.    Also claimed are (a) multilayer polymeric electrolyte batteries provided with the above contact device; and (b) process for prepn. of the contact device.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The contact device is used in wound or stacked multilayer lithium batteries. It has low resistivity, is compact, is chemcially stable on ultra thin lithium anode foils, provides efficient heat exchange between the battery and external casing and allows mfr. of reliable, economical, ultra-thin polymeric electrolyte batteries.
Photovoltaic cell element comprises a photovoltaic conversion layer carrying a collecting electrode formed by curing a paste of an electroconductive material and a curable resin. Mn of the curable resin is 3000 or less.    Pref. the conductive material pref. comprises at least 70 wt. % of the collecting electrode, while the curable resin pref. comprises a urethane, epoxy, polymide, polyester, phenol, vinyl or acrylic resin. Curing is pref. performed at 120-250 deg.C. Pref. conductive materials are form Ag, Ag-Pd alloy, Ag-C mixt. Cu, Ni, Al and Au. Photovoltaic element is pref. a non-single crystal semi-conductor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cell element has improved waterproofness and weatherability, avoiding migration of the conductive material. Resin paste can be applied by screen printing.
A novel solid electrolyte comprises (A) polyvinyl chloride (PVC) network; (B) a solvate consisting of an alkali metal salt dissolved in one or more aprotic organic solvents; and (C) a low b.pt. solvent capable of evaporating off of the polymer/solvent mixt. at ca. room temp..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Re-chargeable electrochemical cells are claimed which comprise a cathode and an alkali metal-contg. anode together with a solid electrolyte as above. Ionic conductivities typical of liq. electrolytes are achieved, e.g. as high as 0.002ohm-1. cm-1 at room temp., thus making the solid electrolytes suitable for use in Li batteries operating at room temp.
(JP5242908-A)      NOVELTY - The cathode consists of an hydrogen absorbing alloy and an alkali electrolyte. Fluororesin powder with a molecular weight of 3,000,000 or less is arranged between the cathode and separator.    USE -   Used in cylinder hermetic type nickel hydrogen battery.    ADVANTAGE -   The oxygen gas consumption capability of cathode and battery characteristics are improved. Fiberization of fluororesin is prevented by using fluororesin of low molecular weight.
(JP5234593-A)   NOVELTY - A cathode pellet (2) has cathode material formed by mixing carbonaceous materials without a heat generation peak, and carbon fibers. The carbon fibers produce a dilation of 10-35% by doping lithium, when the cathode pellet is charged to 380 mAh/g per unit weight of the cathode material.    USE - Used in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, e.g. a lithium secondary battery for wrist watches.    ADVANTAGE - Since the carbon fibers produce a specific dilation, the pressurization inside the battery is maintained sufficiently, and the electrical contact between the cathode and cathode collector is maintained reliably.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional view of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery.    negative pole can (1)    cathode pellet (2)    anode pellet (3)    cathode collector (4)    positive pole can (6)
Highly efficient sun collector using a combination of photovoltaic collectors and thermal collectors comprises photovoltaic collectors (3) stacked with thermal collectors (2, 5) in such a way that they lie over one another. A black body (4), arranged in the inside of the sun collectors, is a thermal irradiator on the reverse side of the photovoltaic collector (3) such that the irradiator and photovoltaic collector (3) are enclosed by a heat transfer medium (6). The outer form of the sun collectors is arranged such that the sun collectors are arranged over each other or next to each other.    USE -   To convert the sun's energy into usuable energy.
The supply (10) comprises (i) a housing contg. metal air battery cells (38); (ii) a fan (127) the drives air into the housing; (iii) a valve (275) that splits the air flow so reactant air is ducted to the cells via an inlet manifold (235) and air inlet (50); and (iv) exhaust air leaving the vells via ports (52), exhaust manifold (247) and housing outlet (256).    Coolant air is isolated from the reactant air and flows in under the cells using the valve (275). This valve also limits reactant vol. air flow 3-10 times the 02 level is supplied to the cells for optimum power output whilst also directing 10-1000 times this airflow as cooling air so cell drying and condnsn. risks are minimised.    Pref. supply with ducted air supplies to the cells to optimise power output form cells stacked in a portable case and with a switch (268) that controls the valve (27) to switch the cells on or off or for recharging.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used e.g. as a low cost, lightweight, long life, air cooled, metal-air power supply for use with portables pc's.
An array of solar cells (15) on a blanket (10) is formed from bundles (11,12) of glass fibres (13) woven at right angles with interstices (16) between them. The obtd. cloth is coated with silicone (14) in the form of paste and cured to form a flexible solid. Care is taken to ensure that the interstices remain open, and the same silicon may be used as an adhesive to fix the solar cells (15) in place on the cloth.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for a solar cell array for use in space. A lightweight support blanket has coefft. of thermal expansion close to that of the solar cells, and which is inherently resistant to attack by atomic oxygen.
A regenerable photoelectrochemical cell (1) has a 1st transparent substrate (2) with a 1st transparent electrode (6) and a 2nd transparent substrate (4) with a 2nd transparent electrode (8) coated with a 1st photoelectrochemically active oxide semiconductor layer (10) in the form of a porous nanostructure of sintered colloidal particles the substrates (2,4) being arranged to define a space filled with electrolyte (16) which impregnates the porous structure so that it is in contact with both the 1st electrode (6) and the 2nd electrode (8). The 2nd substrate (4) also has a continuous, dense 2nd layer (20) of oxide semiconductor extending between the second electrode (8) and the 1st oxide semiconductor layer (10), this 2nd layerr (20) pref. having the same nature as the 1st layer (10).    ADVANTAGE -   The cell exhibits no incident light diffusion, little or no absorption of visible radiation and satisfactory energy converison yield of incident light into electrical energy, the 2nd layer increasing yield and stability with time without the need for chromophone addn.
(JP5225992-A)   NOVELTY - Air is gradually supplied to a cathode entrance side of the fuel cell stack before starting the carbonate type fuel cell. A portion of supplied mixture of inert gas or carbon dioxide, is recycled from the exit side to the entrance side. The amount of the air supply to the cathode entrance side is controlled, when temperature of the stack is judged to be increased, to perform degreasing by oxidation.    USE - For degreasing carbonate type fuel cell used in energy section for converting chemical energy to electrical energy in electric power generation system.    ADVANTAGE - Prevents increase of abnormal temperature in the fuel stacks. Lowers oxygen concentration and controls degreasing of electrolyte board.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a profile figure of the fuel cell.    electrolyte board (1)    cathode (2)    anode (3)    gas line (5)    recycle line (8)
In the thermo-hydraulic drive system to position a solar collector, according to the position of the sun, each absorber tube has at least one reflector working in the zone of smaller angular deviations from the nominal position. As the angular deviation increases, it gives a sharply increasing radiating intensity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is for solar collectors, on a swing mounting, to follow the movement of the sun. It gives a constant movement to the collector, to follow the shifting position of the sun.
A non-aq. electrochemical cell has a solid cathode (12), a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) grommet (2), a chemically inert separator (4) which is thermally stable at 125 deg. C, 0.85 M LiBF4 salts as the electrolyte (6) and a sealant (8) comprised of bitumen and silicone rubber.    The cell is a lithium carbon monofluoride cell having a lithium or lithium alloy anode (10) and a cathode (12) of the formula CFx. The separator (4) is a single layer of nonwoven glass fibres. The elecotrlyte solvent consists of at least 60 vol.% propylene carbonate with up to 40% dimethoxyethane, or at least 60 vol.% gamma-butyrolactone with up to 40% dimethoxyethane. The sealant contains up to 15 wt.% silicone.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell is a power generating cell which can be stored and/or used at high temp., e.g. above 180 deg. C.
Such a battery contains negative and positive electrodes, a separator and an electrolyte that consists of an aq. soln. of KOH plus ZnO and an organic O-contg. cpd. This last-named constituent is in the form of alkylpolypropyleneglycol ethers having a general formula corresponding to CnH2n+1(OC3H6)mOH, where n = 7-12 and m = 10-20. The electrolyte thus contains (g/litre) KOH 350-400, ZnO 60-90, alkylpolypropyleneglycol esters 1.0-3.0, and H2O the remainder to a litre.    ADVANTAGE -   The working life is increased. On average, this battery system has a working life of 97 charging cycles, as against 63 cycles for a known type. Bul.38/15.10.9
Solar cell has a protective layer of a polymer (I) of a cyclotriphosphazene monomer of formula (II), where R1-6 is ethylenically unsatd. polymerisable gps.; R1-R6 are -RY-O-CO-CR8=CH2; R7 is an alkylene, arylene, alkyl-substd. arylene, alkylamide, arylamide or polyoxyalkylene gp.; and R8 is H or Me.    Pref. the protective layer also contains conductive particles, pref. of metal, alloy, C black or esp. metal oxide, pref. with a particle size of max. 0.3, esp. 0.1 micron and prim. particle size of max. 0.1, esp. max. 0.05 micron. The solar cell has a photosensitive layer of inorganic or organic photoconductor; and an adhesive layer between the solar cell unit and protective layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell has high and stable output efficiency, mechanical durability and good environmental stability. The protective layer has excellent hardness, transparency, heat resistance, adhesion, surface smoothness and lubricity and very low water vapour permeability, making the cell free from mar, crack, decrease in light transmittance and oxidn., even after prolonged use at normal or high temp. and humidity.
The solar heat absorber has an absorption trough (2) in a one-piece unit wholly of recycling plastics, pref. Twyleen (RTM). It is moulded to include integrated holders (3), with a height matching the trough (2) depth, to give a firm clamping action on the laid thin-walled PVC rib tubes (4).    The PVC rib tubes (4) within the absorption trough are firmly fixed at the drillings (5) in each side wall, at opposite sides, without bonding to the other trough walls. The cover plate is of a material with good thermal conductivity, pref. metal, resting directly on the rib tubes (4) and their holders (3). The inlet and outlet connections are simple socket and plug units, inserted into the tube ends so that they cannot loosen.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is an air and heat exchanger system, for solar heat to raise the temp. of water passing through the rib tubes. The whole unit is completely of recycling material and is weather-resistant.
A laminate(I) comprising furan polymer complex layer(II) and conductive material layer(III) is new. Prepn. of (I) comprising electrolytic polymerisation of a soln.(IV) comprising furan monomer(V) and electrolytic salt(s)(VI) using cathode of (III) to form (II) on the (III) cathode is also claimed.    In (v) R1, R2= H, methyl ethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, halogen.    Pref. (1) furan monomer is e.g. furan, (2) electrolyte is LiClO4, AgClO4. KC1O4. (3) solvent is benzonitrile, (4) conductive material is cathode made of SnO2, In2O3 and/or conductive polymer film such as polypyrrole, polythienylene etc.. Electrolyte is dissolved in solvent to prepare below 1 mol./l soln. (V) is added to the soln. to give 0.10-0.30 mol./l soln. (V) is polymerised electrically using suitable cathode to obtain (II) doped with anion(s) from electrolyte used. (I) is prepd. simularly as (II); from example, (I) comprising (II) and conductive polymer layer(IIIa) is prepd. by using a cathode made of the conductive polymer film or a cathode covered by the conductive polymer film previously instead of a conventional cathode.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as ion-filter, separator etc. for cell. Only powdery furan polymer is known, and the former furan polymer is sparingly moulded to a thin-film. Thin-film of conducitve furan polymer, cathode covered by conductive furan polymer, and laminate of conductive furan polymer and other conductive polymer can be prepd. readily.    .D
A manufacturing process of alkaline cells with cathode molds closely contacted against the internal wall of a cathode container comprises: coating a conductive paint contg. carbon system conductive material on an area of the internal wall of the container on which the cathode molds are contacted; and heating the cathode container by applying electromagnetic induction-heating to perform at least drying of the paint and/or curing of the coating to form a conductive film on the internal surface of the container.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Using the process a continuous rpodn. of alkaline cells having excellent and uniform load characteristics which deteriorate very little is possible. The process is esp. useful for the manufacture of alkaline-Mn cells where Zn is employed as anode active material and MnO2 is used as cathode active and caustic alkali (e.g. KOH) is employed as electrolyte. The magnetic induction current heats the cell case quickly and easily.
The case (20) is made of heat insulating material in two shells, a top (20b) and a bottom (20a), with a rebated joint running around the middle of the sides (22, 23). The joint is made up of a projecting shoulder (24a) in the top shell which fits tightly into the correspondingly profiled rebate (24b) in the lower shell.    The upper shell (20b) is perforated with access holes (29, 30, 31) for essential component parts and the bottom shell has the means for fixing the device directly to the wall. The case materials are sufficiently stable and thick for it to act as both protection in transportation and as heat insulation after fixing.    ADVANTAGE -   Low cost heat insulated product and is space saving.
Cell array for battery of electrolysis and fuel cells connected electrically and geometrically in series esp. for generating or operating with H2 and O2, is claimed. Each cell has an electrolyte-permeable diaphragm, acting as gas separator, between the anode and cathode compartments, and an electrolyte-permeable metal electrode on both sides of the diaphragm. Adjacent cells are sepd. by a gas-tight, electroconductive bipolar cell wall. Between each electrode and cell wall, there is an electroconductive and elastically deformable structure acting as current lead and spacer, which is electroconductive and permeble to gas and electrolyte. The cells are surrounded by a frame.    The novel features are that: (a) the diaphragm (3) is planar; (b) the electrodes (4,5) are laminated, opt. with macroscopic perforations, and are placed directly on the diaphragm or combined integrally with this (EDE plate 2); (c) the bipolar sepg. walls (6) consist of sheet metal and have a smooth surface or protruding and/or moulded spacers; and (d) the spacers between the electrode (4,5) and bipolar sepg. walls (6), i.e. the anode and cathode compartments, are (partly) filled with lamellar structures (7-10), which are permeable to electrolyte and gas, at least in the axial direction, i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm, and in the vertical direction and are bounded by the electrodes (4,5). These lamellae consist of numerous layers of identical construction with axial and vertical wall elements (11-14) with little distance between them and spacers (15-21) between the wall elements.    ADVANTAGE -   This zero-gap array is more efficient and has more favourable operating conditions and a longer lifetime than usual.
Element including a photoelectric conversion element comprises a laminate of an electrode, a homogeneous thick insulative thin film (sic) and a photo sensitive colouring material layer for photoanisotropic reaction in that order. An ion conductive electrolyte is connected with the colouring material layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The element is suitable for light acceptor pixel, capable of differential response to intensity of light.    In an example, a photoelectric conversion element was prepd. by lamination of a glass substrate, a 4500 Angstrom (A) thick tin oxide film, a 40 A thick polyimide insulating film (LB method by M.Suzuki et al Chem. Lett., p395 (1986)) and a 250 A thick photo sensitive colouring material layer (LB film) of azobenzene deriv. of formula (I) in order. A photoelectric conversion cell was fabricated with the substrate and Pt electrode in a neutral electrolyte contg. 0.5 mol/l of KCl by conventional method. Cell was tested by impressing -0.4V DC bias potential while applying a 150 W xenon lamp with peak at 360 nm. Device showed differential response caused by trans to cis photoanisotropic reaction of the azobenzene deriv..
Solar cell has an active zone in the form of a polar polymeric film (1); and electric contacts (2,3) made of two different metals on its opposing surfaces. Pref. the two metals have different electrochemical potentials. The electrochemical potential differences is at least 0.8 V. Applied to the surface of one of the contacts e.g. (2) in an absorbent coating (4).    Also claimed is a solar cell as above, in which the absorbent coating (4) is applied to the electric contact (2) in the form of a polymeric material whose shape approximates a hemisphere.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar cell has an active zone formed from a polar polymeric film material. Mfr. of the active zone from polar polymeric material reduces the mass and cost of cells, compared to cells made on the basis of semiconductor elements. The cell's characteristics and capabilities can be improved, and the current in the cell increased.
Solar cell includes a cell unit with an outer protective layer facing the incident radiation comprising conductive particles, pref. a metal (alloy) or metal oxide esp. a metal oxide, dispersed in a (curable) resin.    ADVANTAGE -   Layer protects dust and/or dirt from electrostatically adhering to the surface without lowering light transmittance and durability. (First major country equivalent to JP5198832)
A flexible solid electrolyte for use in solid state cells comprises a milled mixture of 80-95 wt.% solid electrolyte with 5-20 wt.% powdered Teflon (RTM). The solid electrolyte is of the ionically conductive compounds of alkali tetrahaloaluminates having formula XAlY4 (where X is a metallic element Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs, and Y is a halogen Cl, Br, I and F).    A sheet of flexible solid electrolyte, less than 0.1 mm thick, is of between 2 electrodes. The solid electrolyte is pref. LiAlCl4 or any ionically conductive electrolyte material or mixt. Further examples include: Lisicon (RTM) or inorganic ceramic materials that are Li ion conducting, e.g. Li4ZnGe4O16; Nasicon (RTM) or inorganic ceramic materials that are Na ion conducting, e.g. Na(1+x)Zr2SixP(3-x)O12 and Na3Zr2Si2PO12; or beta aluminas, e.g. Na1.2 Al11 O17.1, Na1-x NiAl11 O17+x/2, Na1.67 MgAl10.33 O17, Na1-x Ni Al11-x O17, and Na 1-x Zr, Al 11-x O17; LiN.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Flexile solid electrolyte for use in thin solid state cells. Suitable for high power solid state cells for applications in robotics, electric vehicle propulsion, weapon systems and communications, at elevated temps. without physical degradation
(JP5190181-A)   NOVELTY - A thermojunction container contains a specific matter which causes endothermic reaction at preset temperature, to activate an exothermic agent provided in the container.    USE - Used as a thermojunction for thermal battery to fuse electrolyte when cell operation is required.
(JP5190178-A)   NOVELTY - The non-aqueous electrolyte battery has positive electrode (2) which performs charging and discharging, negative electrode (1) having lithium as active material and non-aqueous electrolyte. Poly trifluoro ethylene (3-ethylene-fluoride resin) as binder is coated on the negative electrode and dried. A core material consists of a metallic foil which has the positive and negative electrode active materials.    USE - As seed battery.    ADVANTAGE - The non-aqueous electrolyte battery has improved preservation characteristic and cycle characteristic.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The solvent used for dissolving or distributing the binder, is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate or methyl formamide. The positive electrode is manganese oxide, iron oxide, nickel oxide or cobalt oxide.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the cross-section of the battery.    Negative electrode (1)    Positive electrode (2)    Separator (3)
The unit for monitoring the efficiency of airport runway and taxi-way lights consists of a towed frame (20) with a coder wheel (33) for measuring the distance between two lights, and a light beam detector.    The frame also carries a nacelle and a closed housing (10) containing a photo-electric sensor. The housing has a translucent front face to ensure an omnidirectional diffusion of the light from a beam being measured, and at least one other face with a high diffusing reflection capacity to ensure a homogeneous reflection and diffusion of the light towards the sensor. The sensitive portion of the sensor is located at the level of the front face but is directed towards the reflective face.    In addition to its photo-electric cell, the sensor has a photodiode and a phototransistor or photoresistor, while the translucent front face of the housing (10) has a flat panel made from methacrylate, opal polyethylene or polycarbonate.    ADVANTAGE -   The unit is simple, permitting continuous measurement of light beams.
The prepn. comprises (i) reacting phenol with formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst and removing catalyst, water and unreacted phenol from the obtd. mixt. to obtain a crude bisphenol F; and (ii) distilling the crude prod. to obtain a highly pure bisphenol F as a distillate, having a binuclear moiety-content of at least 95 wt.% and a novolak phenol resin, as a still-bottom prod. having a binuclear moeity-content of not more than 15% by area.    A general use bisphenol F is pref. prepd. simultaneously by opt. additionally admixing the highly pure bisphenol F with the remaining crude bisphenol F.    A high mol. wt. novolak phenol resin is pref. prepd. simultaneously by opt. additionally polymerising the novolak phenol resin with formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst.    The phenol and formaldehyde are reacted in pref. molar ratio (P/F) of 6-30.    The distn. is pref. continuously in a still maintained at 1-5 mm Hg and 220-250 deg. C by continuously feeding crude bisphenol F to the still, condensing part of the gases generated in the still, returning the condensate to the still and withdrawing still bottom prod.    The distn. appts. opt. comprises stills.    The condenser comprises a multi-tubular cylindrical or a coil- heat exchanger.    The partial condnsn. wt. ratio range is 0.05-0.5.    USE -   The bisphenol F is used as a starting material for epoxy and polycarbonate resins. Novolak phenol resins are useful as resistance materials, binders for mould prodn., hardners for epoxy resins and are widely used in electronic material
The battery consists of a closed container (1, 2, 3) contg. negative and positive electrodes and equipped with a series of apertures (9) which are closed by a safety valve. The safety valve is made in the form of a tube (10) of an elastomer material, such as neoprene or polytetrafluoroethylene, held in place by a compression strip (8) with transverse ribs (11). The tube is designed to deform elastically at a set pressure to release gases produced inside the battery. The apertures (9) can be made in the bottom of a curved groove along the top of the battery which receives the tube.    ADVANTAGE -   Has safety valves which are simpler and more economical.
Mat comprises a water absorptive material contg. a liq., flexible tube to circulate a thermal medium and flexible sheet covering the absorptive sheet in contact with the tube.    USE -   For warming floors of houses. (J62162824-A)
The adhesive sheet consists of (A) 95-99.9 wt.% of a copolymer comprising 84.9-55% of ethylene, 0.1-5 wt.% of an ethylenically unsatd. silane cpd. of formula: RSiR'nY3-n (R= ethylenically unsatd. hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy, or (meth)acryloyloxy alkyl gp. R'= aliphatic satd. or aromatic hydrocarbyl, or hydrocarbyloxy gp. Y= aliphatic satd. or aormatic hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyloxy gp. or aliphatic acyloxy gp. n= 0, 1 or 2), and 15-45 wt.% of an ethylenically acid ester, and (B) 0.1-5 wt.% of an organic peroxide having a temp. of 90-170 deg.C corresp. to the half-life period of 10.5 hrs.    The unsaturated silane cpd. is, e.g. vinyltrimethoxysilane(VTS). The unsatd. acid ester is, e.g. methyl acrylate(MA). The organic peroxide is, e.g. dicumyl peroxide(DCP) with a temp. of 117 deg.C corresp. to the half-life period of 10.5 hrs.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The adhesive sheet is used for protecting solar cell modules from shock and humidity. It has a high transparency, adhesive strength, and crosslinkability.
(JP5182672-A)   NOVELTY - Pressure application molding of a mixture of carbon fine powder (CP) carrying precious metal catalyst and water repellent processed CP is performed on an electrode substrate (S) in an electrode molding. Colloid dispersion liquid mixture of ion exchange membrane resin and platinum oxide in aqueous solution of lower saturated monohydric alcohol is attracted from lower part of S and electrode is manufactured.    USE - For manufacturing electrodes used in ion exchange membrane fuel batteries (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The ion exchange membrane fuel battery shows high discharge characteristics. Conduction of proton and electron is carried out smoothly. The ultrafine catalyst particle provided inside the ion exchange membrane resin and the catalyst dispersed in the carbon fine powder provides large reaction area.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The carbon fine powder is subjected to water repellent processing using fluororesin. The electrode substrate is a porous electroconductive electrode substrate arranged in an electrode molding. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for ion exchange membrane fuel battery.
Radiation detector comprises a photoelectric transfer means which are divided into two or more directions and light emission means which are set on the divided photoelectric transfer means.    Pref. the photoelectric transfer means are an amorphous silicone photodiode. The scintillator is made of Gd2O2S:Pr type or Gd2O2S:Pr,Ce,F sintered material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The radiation detector detects internal information of subject two dimensionally. Since an amorphous photoelectric transfer means are only slightly deteriorated by X-ray irradiation, the light emission means can be thin and this improves the resolving power.    In an example, an amorphous silicone photodiode was formed parallel barriers with intervals of 100 micron into two directions, lengthwise and breadthwise. A sintered body of Cd2O2S:Pr,Ce,F scintillator of 100 micron thick was mounted on the diode to obtain a radiation detector. The resultant radiation detector had a degree of resolution of 5 line-spare/mm.
Polymer includes at least one ionic cpd., and contains a crosslinked network structure formed by polymerisation of organic cpd. of formula (I). Average mol. wt. of (I) is at least 8000. In the formulae; R1-3 are H or lower alkyl; m = 3 or more and n = 0 or more; n/m are 0-5.    Pref. the crosslinked network structure contains high mol. wt. ethyleneoxide or high mol. wt. ethyleneoxide-propyleneoxide random copolymer. The ion-conductive polymer is a polyether-crosslinked polymer contg. dissolved ionic cpd..    Polymer is used in a thin battery (100-500 micron thickness per cell) or an electric double layer capacitor. Product excels in workability because of no danger of slight short-circuiting of electrode even when the thin film is made bigger (100 cm2).
Article comprises a substrate (partially) coated with a conductive coating and (partially) embedded in a polymer matrix derived from cyclic oligomers. The polymer matrix material is a polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polyester, or a polymer obtd. from bis-cyclic oligomers, cyclic oligomeric arylates, cyclic aromatic ether ketone oligomers, cyclic aromatic ether sulphone oligomers and/or cyclic aromatic ether imide oligomers..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a battery plate, pref. the positive plate, of a lead acid battery. (parent patent) Element is easy to mfr. and prevents liq. and/or gas components from one bipolar cell interferring with another cell.
(JP5174820-A)   NOVELTY - The organic-electrolyte secondary battery comprises specific anode (4), cathode (2) and organic electrolyte. The cathode contains mixture of low graphitized carbonaceous material, fine carbon particles of preset diameter and/or minute fibrous black lead of preset length and diameter. The carbonaceous material has preset crystallization thickness in axial direction, D002 spacing and true density.    USE - As organic-electrolyte secondary battery such as lithium secondary battery.    ADVANTAGE - The organic-electrolyte secondary battery has high discharge capacity, and excellent charging and discharging cycle characteristics.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The organic-electrolyte secondary battery comprises anode consisting of lithium-containing transition metal chalcogenite, cathode and organic electrolyte. The cathode contains mixture of low graphitized carbonaceous material, fine carbon particles and/or minute fibrous black lead. The low graphitized carbonaceous material has crystallization thickness of 8-150 Angstrom in axial direction, D002 spacing of 3.42-3.65 Angstrom and true density of 1.60-2.20 g/cm3. The crystallization thickness is measured by X-ray-diffraction method. The fine carbon particles consist of carbon black or fine black lead particles, and has diameter of 0.005-0.15 mum. The minute fibrous black lead has length of 100 mum or less and diameter of 0.02 mum or less.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows sectional view of coin-type secondary battery.    cathode (2)    separator (3)    anode (4)    collector (5)    gasket (7)
Dispenser has motor driven by photovoltaic cell and with shaft connected to wheel having two or more liq. absorbent panels extending outwardly from the centre. The dispenser has case with four walls having openings for flow of ambient air into and out of the casing. The cell is at and forms the top of the casing so that it is exposed to room light.    The wheel pref. has central hole for directly mounting on the shaft and is vertically aligned above the motor, which can rotate at low voltage. The panels are pref. of cotton or porous Teslin or polyethylene. There is pref. a bubble lens forming a clear covering for the outer surface of the cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used e.g. in lavatories and bathrooms, is economical by being powered using ambient light.
(JP5166546-A)   NOVELTY - A porous polytetrafluoroethylene film is etched on at least one side, by sputtering above a discharge throughput of 50 Watt.sec/cm2, to obtain a water repellent film. The film has an acicular roughness of height 0.1-1 mum on at least one side.    USE - For air batteries.    ADVANTAGE - Water repellence of the film is improved.
A cell uses a solid electrolyte prepd. by dissolving a trifunctional acyloyl-terminated alkylene oxide polymer having a polymer chain of formula (I) and an electrolyte salt in 220-950 wt.% based on the polymer, of a solvent, and cross-linking the polymer by applying an active radiation and/or heat. In (I) R` is C1-C6 alkyl; R" is H or methyl; and m and n is each a number of 0, 1 or above, provided that m + n is at least 35. A typical cell is one composed of a composite positive electrode comprising a solid electrolyte integrated with a positive electrode active material, prepared by mixing the above polymer with an electrolyte salt, a solvent and a positive electrode active material and cross-linking the polymer by applying an active radiation and/or heat to the formed mixt. and, provided between the positive electrode and a negative electrode, a separator comprising a solid electrolyte layer prepared by mixing the above polymer with an electrolyte salt and a solvent and cross-linking the polymer by applying an active radiation and/or heat to the formed mixture.
Organic electrolyte solns. for electrochemical cells, comprising a solute dissolved in a mixt. of 3-methyl-2-oxazolidone and at least one polyalkylene glycol ether of formula R-O(CH2-CH2-O)n-R1 (I): R and R1 is 1-4C alkyl; n is greater than 1.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolytes are useful in batteries and have good high rate performance even after storage at high temps. for extended periods, e.g. after 12 weeks at 60 deg.C., the flash amperage fell by only 0.7 amps. from an initial value of 6.6 amps and the impedance remained low at 0.37 ohms. The electrolytes are low flammability. An electrochemical cell contg. the electrolyte is claimed
Cell has an organic photconductive layer (OCL) inserted between 2 electrodes. The OCL contg. oxy-Ti-phthalocyanine has strong peak at 9.0 deg.C 14.2 deg. 23.9 deg. and 27.1 deg. for Bragg angle of 2 theta (plus/minus 0.2 deg) by CuK alpha x-ray diffraction.    ADVANTAGE -   The cell has lower cost at larger area, and has improved photo-electrode conversion efficiency.    In an example, a solar cell was prepd. by An ITO electrode was formed on a galss substrate (100 mm by 100 mm) by vacuum vapour deposition, 4 pts. of oxy-Ti-phthalo-cyanine of formula (1) and 1 pt. of polyvinyl butyral were dissolved in 100 pts. of hexanone with 1 mm dia. glass bead, diluted by 100 parts of MEK, coated on the electrode, dried for 10 minutes at 80 deg.C to form 0.5 microns films, and a gold electrode (20mm by 20mm) was formed on it by sputtering. As a result the cell had 3.2 % of conversion rate.
(JP5159802-A)   NOVELTY - A copper layer and a copper-ion electroconductive solid electrolyte, each containing thermoplastic resin, are heated at an initial temperature which is higher than the softening temperature of the resin. The copper layer and electrolyte are integrated at a temperature which is lower than the initial temperature and at a pressure which is higher than the initial pressure.    USE - Manufacturing solid secondary battery.    ADVANTAGE - The self-discharge property is improved by restraining the increase in internal resistance of the battery effectively so life of the battery is improved.
(JP5159798-A)   NOVELTY - Metal plating (2) is performed on the surface of a hydrogen occlusion alloy (1) to distribute a resin (3) such as polytetrafluoroethylene having water-repellent property.    USE - Used for a nickel-hydrogen battery or a manganese dioxide-hydrogen battery.    ADVANTAGE - Since water-repellent property is provided by the resin, water-repellent processing is unnecessary.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for an alkali secondary cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional view of the hydrogen-occlusion alloy electrode.    hydrogen occlusion alloy (1)    metal plating (2)    resin (3)
Battery module comprises frame (25) having at least two openings (26,28) for receiving cell packs. Each cell pack (10) comprises a pouch (12) contg. electrolyte, positive and negative electrode elements (18,20), and separator material (16) and sealed except for an open top. A breathing hole (45) extends through the frame for each cell pack and communicates with its open top to vent gases within the pouch to an outside location.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Modules are combined to fabricate sealed, oxygen recombinant lead-acid batteries of desired voltage and capacity, i.e., it provides flexibility of battery design. The module eliminates bulky battery outer housings.
Organic solar cell has a photoelectroconducting layer, which contains polyvinyl acetal resin having the formula (I). In (I), R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are each hydrogen atom, halogen, atom, trifluoromethyl gp., nitro gp. or cyano gp. Pref. a substrate for the organic solar cell is e.g. metal or alloy e.g. Al or stainless steel, glass, paper or plastics, etc., an electroconducting layer, e.g. consists of electroconductive polymer, metal or ITO etc., and an underlayer of the organic solar cell e.g. consists of casein, PVA, nitro cellulose, polyamide, e.g. nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 610, copolymerisation nylon or alkoxy methylated nylon, etc., or polyurethane etc. and pref. has thickness of up to 5 microns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic solar cell shows a high photoelectric transfer efficiency under strong light radiation stably for a long period.
(JP5151992-A)   NOVELTY - An alkoxy polyethylene glycol ester and polyalkylene glycol dialkyl ether are mixed at 40degreesC or less, where either of liquid contains alkali metal salt. The liquid polyelectrolyte is applied on lithium alloy negative plate (5) containing lithium alloy, positive electrode (7) containing complex compound of metal chalcogen compound and solid electrolyte. Liquid polyelectrolyte is hardened at or below 40degreesC.    USE - For manufacturing solid-electrolyte secondary battery used in electronic devices.    ADVANTAGE - Excels in productivity and provides the battery a long charging-and-discharging life. Provides favorable adhesion of film and electrode, as the film is simultaneously formed on both the electrodes.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the partial cross-section of solid-electrolyte secondary battery.    Lithium alloy negative plate (5)    Positive electrode (7)
Fuel cell component (10) including porous fuel cell plate (18') having a solid frame (19') contiguously extending all around it is made by filling the pores of only the peripheral portion (16') of the porous plate with initially flowable but solidifiable impregnating material and curing the material to solidify it and make it fluid-impermeable.    The impregnating material releases such low amounts of volatiles during solidification that no escape passages that could compromise the impermeability of the frame are formed. For acid fuel cells, it is a fluoroelastomer. For proton exchange membrane fuel cells, it is a hydrophilic epoxy resin.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method is used to fabricate fuel cells employing proton exchange membranes or acid electrolyte. The solid frame formed by curing impregnating material ensures that neither liquid electrolyte not gases can flow out of the periphery of a porous fuel cell plate element. Unlike a separate solid frame clamped around the periphery of the plate, it does not subject the plate to shear stresses.
Modular photovoltaic window assembly comprises at least one large area photovoltaic device (14) with at least on electrical connector (24) near one edge located on a rigid or semi-rigid, transparent substrate (12). A decorative template (16) is also disposed on the substrate. It has one aperture (15) coextensive with the photovoltaic device and exposing all but its electrical connector and a second aperture defining a window opening (17). A layer (18) of transparent, environmentally-impervious material encapsulates the device and substrate.    The template is adjacent the device on one surface of the substrate and encapsulated by the impervious material layer. Alternatively, the template and photovoltaic device may be disposed on opposite surfaces of the substrate. Most pref., more than one device is disposed on the substrate and the template has a coextensive aperture for each of them. The assembly is esp. a sun roof module or panel for a motor vehicle. A layer of adhesive bonds the device and template to the substrate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Window assembly is designed for automotive or architectural usage and enables a photovoltaic device for converting light directly into electricity to be integrated both aesthetically and structurally into a vehicle or building.
(JP5144466-A)   NOVELTY - The alkaline storage battery has a separator (4) provided in vertical direction of the battery. The separator is impregnated with liquid quantity of electrolyte containing potassium hydroxide. Liquid quantity of the alkali electrolyte is 3.5 g/Ah. Liquid maintenance property of the electrolyte is higher in the upper portion (4a) of separator, and is two or more times lower in the lower portion (4b) of separator.    USE - As alkaline storage battery for large-sized installation, such as floor-type alkaline storage battery.    ADVANTAGE - The alkali storage battery has high discharge and cycle properties.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The height of the separator is adjusted such that the surface tension of the electrolyte is minimum. The battery has a height of 10 cm or more.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the sectional view of separator used for alkali storage battery.    Separator (4)    Upper portion of separator (4a)    Lower portion of separator (4b)
Junction box includes a photovoltaic power generating sheet (22) with an electric cable (20) extending for connection to, e.g., storage battery. A frame member (40) is anchored to the sheet and overlies the terminals (30, 32). An epoxy material fills a cavity defined by the frame member and a case covers the frame, including a tension-relieving device to relieve tension on the cable.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar panel assembly for use in a marine environment. Water-resistant, allows panel to be used in hostile environment
A metal-air cell comprises a cylindrical container, where a portion of the sidewall defines an air electrode region; a source of O2 coupled to the air electrode region; a flat air electrode oriented substantially parallel with the axis, coupled with the source of O2, and sized to cover the air electrode region; a metal electrode, and an electrolyte in the container; a separator electronically isolating the metal electrode from the air electrode; and a sealant which sealingly mounts the air electrode to the circumferential sidewall so as to cover the air electrode region.    Pref., the cell also includes a collapsible foam support against the metal electrode; the metal electrode comprises Zn metal powder suspended in a gelled alkaline electrolyte; air holes in the bottom of the sidewall are covered by a hydrophobic membrane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Durable, long-life metal-air cells, e.g., Zn-air, that is interchangeable with commercial cylindrical and prismatic cells and batteries. Bulging or rupture of the cell container is avoided by the use of a simple means for accommodating a vol. change in the metal electrode during charging/discharging.
Cell comprises a MnO2 cathode comprising a MnO2 active material and a conductive powder, the active material and powder being uniformly mixed and pressed to form a porous cathode body; a gelled Zn anode; a separator between the cathode and anode; an alkaline electrolyte. Characteristically, the anode gel comprises a modified starch as a gelling agent, and is capable of releasing H2 gases developed during slow corrosion of Zn present in the anode; a H2 recombination system capable of limiting the presence of in-cell gas to a predetermined level.    Pref., the starch is an epichlorohydrin starch, present in an amount 0.5 to 4 wt.% in the anode.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell has a performance comparable to a Hg-containing cell and it is leak-free and does not rupture during cycling.
Substrate board used in atomic O atmos., is coated with an atomic O resistant resin layer.    The atomic oxygen resistant resin layer can be produced from liq. compsn. contg. (a) silicone ladder type resin of formula (I) (where R1 is phenyl, or lower alkyl; R2 is H or lower alkyl; and n is 20-100), (b) organic solvent of 5-30 wt.% (solid component), and (c) silane coupling agent in amt. of 150-3000 ppm of resin component.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   O resistant substrate board having excellent surface deterioration resistance in atomic oxygen atmos. can be obtd.. It is suitable for a substrate board of a space use solar cell, etc. used in a spaceship, etc..
Pb-acid battery comprises: a housing contg. electrode elements and separators; H2SO4 electrolyte of density 1.015-1.320 in an amt. sufficient to maintain the electrode elements damp but not flooded; and a dessicant in the housing to absorb water vapour. The electrode materials are formed so that a charge exists on the battery and self-discharge reactions will occur within the housing producing water vapour.    ADVANTAGE -   Battery has extended shelf life (claimed).
Crystallisation and filtration of a crystallisable material from a soln. in which the crystallisable material is dissolved is claimed. The appts. comprises (a) a vessel having an inlet and an outlet, (b) a filter at the outlet having a filter surface exposed to the soln. within the vessel, (c) a layer of seed particles on the filter surface in an effective amt. for the crystallisation of the crystallisable material at the filter surface, and (d) means for removing from the filter surface crystals of crystallisable material crystallised at the surface and leaving at the surface seed particles in an effective amt. for crystallisation of the crystallisable material in subsequent filtration following removal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Continuous removal of a metal hydroxide from a supersatd. alkaline soln. of the hydroxide, is by crystallisation of the metal hydroxide forming a ppte. and filtration of the ppte. from the alkaline soln. The process is partic. applicable to the removal of a ppte. of Al trihydrate from a KOH electrolyte circulated through an Al-air battery.
The cap comprises a hollow barrel for gas-tight insertion into a vent hole in a battery cover, the battery having an open end and a closed end; a retaining flange formed at the closed end of the barrel; a one-way relief valve formed on the barrel near the closed end thereof; and a layer of polyalkylene explosion attenuating material (pref. polypropylene) surrounding the outside of the barrel below the flange and in contact with the flange, and surrounding the relief valve. A battery cover assembly for use in a recombinant battery comprises a cover having a stepped vent hole therein; and a vent cap as above where the retaining flange engages an upper surface of the vent hole to retain the vent cap from over-insertion and where the explosion attenuating material surrounds the relief valve and substantially fills a space between the barrel, the flange and the cover at a location above the step in the vent hole.    ADVANTAGE -   The polyalkylene material provides effective attenuation of explosions that occurr in the vicinity of the relief valve. The polyalkylene foam does not act as a flame arrestor. It will propagate a flame but attenuate an explosion sufficiently to accomplish two essential results. In combination with a one-way valve, it will prevent an explosion from propagating back into the battery head space where a larger explosion would then occur, and it can reduce the explosion to an insignificant "pop" that will not cause the vent cap to pop off the cover. This vent system may be used in conjunction with any suitable battery which evolves flammable gases such as H2 and O2 in which a one-way relief valve may be used, such as recombinant automotive batteries in which venting is desired only when excessive pressure develops within the battery.
Electrode comprises: a porous substrate for accomodating liquid electrolyte in its pores and having 2 major surfaces; a catalyst layer dispersed on one of the major surfaces of the substrate, and comprising 2 interpenetrating fluid transport networks. The first network comprises a mixt. of: a catalytically effective amt. of catalyst particles, which are catalytically active in promoting the electrochemical reaction; a porous hydrophobic polymeric binder for providing an interconnecting system of hydrophobic gas transport pathways that establish communication between the substrate pores and the catalyst particles. The second network comprises: hydrophilic particles substantially inactive in promoting the electrochemical reaction and having surfaces wettable by water, they are incorporated into the catalyst layer in a manner which maintains wettability of the surfaces of the hydrophilic particles and in an amount effective to provide an interconnecting system of liq. transport pathways for enhancing transport of aq. liq. throughout the catalyst layer and across the one major surface of the substrate between the liq. transport pathways and substrate pores.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Electrodes for an acid fuel cell, which provide improved resistance to flooding and pumping. The electrodes may be operated at high current density without developing severe concn. polarisation.
The module comprises (1) a solar battery module body within which solar cells are provided to convert light into electrical energy; (2) a connection lead wire connnected to the solar cell and passing through a hole in the mounting face; (3) fasteners adapted for passing through holes for mounting the module to the mounting face; and (4) spacers provided in the vicinity of the fasteners for preventing water from flowing into the mounting body, the spacer is formed of a soft resin for conforming to the shape of the mounting face and a sealing resin.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The module can be easily mounted, is tight and waterproof, and can maintain power generation even in waved conditions.
(JP5121089-A)   NOVELTY - A battery activator comprises perfluoroalkyl sulfonate, ion exchange water and sulfuric acid, in a weight ratio of (1-10):(1000):(1-100), respectively. The perfluoroalkyl sulfonate has 8 carbon atoms in the structure. The activator further contains silicone type antifoamer in same quantity or 5 times the quantity of perfluoroalkyl sulfonate. The activator is poured into electrolyte liquid of the battery.    USE - For activating batteries such as lead storage battery used in motor vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - The battery activator increases affinity of the electrolyte liquid, and eliminates sulfation phenomenon of the electrode. The activator effectively improves and recovers activity of the battery easily and reliably. The activator shortens the charging and discharging time of the battery.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the circuit diagram of device for measuring voltage, electric current, refractive index of electrolyte liquid and temperature during charging and discharging the battery. (Drawing includes non-English language text).
(JP5121076-A)   NOVELTY - A hydrogen occlusion electrode is formed by applying or filling slurry or paste of polyvinyl alcohol with 10C or more olefin side chain, as an electrode active material on or to a collector which has a three-dimensional network structure.    USE - For a nickel-hydrogen battery.    ADVANTAGE - Since polyvinyl alcohol with 10C or more olefin side chain having high viscosity is used as electrode active material, separation of electrode active material is prevented. The electrode has high gaseous diffusion, and thereby raise of battery internal pressure at the time of charging is suppressed. Since the polyvinyl alcohol has olefin side chain, which is hydrophobic, three-phase boundary surface is generated.
The heat accumulator comprises a container with hot water, surrounded by a highly effective insulating material. The container itself is formed from integral polypropylene. The accumulator is heated with solar panels in the Summer, and the collected heat amt. is stored until the heating period in the Winter, the energy amt. being several megawatt hours stored for a long period and at low cost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To store hot water heated in the Summer by solar panels for use in the Winter.
The cell comprises (a) cathode consisting of lithium (alloy); (b) an anode consisting of metallic chalcogen cpd. or complex cpd. of lithium and metallic chalcogen cpd.; and (c) a solid electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises the curing prod. obtd. by mixing liq. (A) and liq. (B), at least one of which contains alkaline metal salt. Liq. (A) comprises alkoxypolyethylene glycol ester of opt. substd. acrylic acid of formula (I) CH2=CR1-CO2-(CH2CH2O-)mR2 in which radical polymerisation initiating accelerator is dissolved where R1 is H or 1-5C alkyl; R2 is 1-5C alkyl; m is 2-30. Liq. (B) comprises polyalkyleneglycol dialkylether of formula (II) R3O-(CH2C(R4)HO-)nR5 where R3 and R5 are independently, 1-5C alkyl; R is H or 1-3C alkyl; n is 2-30; and/or organic non-aqueous solvent of formula (III) R6-(O)p-R7-(X)q-R8-(O)r-R9 where X is -CO-, -SO2-, or -SO-; R6 is 1-6C univalent hydrocarbon; R7 and R8 are independently single bond or 1-6C divalent hydrocarbon; R9 is 1-6C univalent hydrocarbon or cyano; or R6 and R9 may mutually be bonded to form ring; p, q, and r are independently zero or 1, q+p+r is larger than zero where R9 is univalent hydrocarbon; in which radical polymerisation initiator is dissolved.    ADVANTAGE -   Charge-discharge characteristic at low temp. of the cell is improved. Cycle life time of the cell is improved.
A miscible polymer blend comprising a poly(alkylene oxide) vinyl carboxylic ester polymer and a polymer bearing acidic functional gps.    Pref. poly(alkylene oxide) vinyl carboxylic ester polymer contains repeating units of the formula (I). n = 1-50, pref. greater than 1; m = 0-50, pref. greater than 1l; X = S, N, or pref. O; Z = 0 or 1; R and R3 = independently H, branched or unbranched 1-18C alkyl, branched or unbranched 1-18C alkenyl, or 6-18C aryl wherein R and R3 may also be substd. with halo atoms, amino gps., thio-contg. gps., nitro, or nitro-contg. gps., and R and R3 are pref. -H, -CH3, -CH2CH3, -CF3, -CH2CF3, -CH2CF2CF3, -CH2CF2CF2CF3, -CH2CCl3, -(CH2)5CH3, -(CH2)4-CH=CH-CH3 -CH2-O-CH3 or -(C6H4)-(C8H17); R2 = independently randomly straight or branched chain 2-4C alkylene gps., pref. ethylene, n-propylene, isopropylene, and/or n-butylene; and R1 = methylene when Z = 1, and H, methyl or ethyl when Z = 0 and m is not 0.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful as a protective coating, free-standing membrane or film, gas or ionic membranes and polymeric electrolytes. The compsn. is easy to process and has good mechanical stability and chemical resistance.
(JP5109395-A)   NOVELTY - Set cells contain at least2 unit cells which are electrically connected in series or juxtaposed. The periphery section except a terminal outcrop of a unit cell is covered with a film-like heat shrink-type resin by carrying out heat shrinking, and the whole of the unit cell is covered with a sheathing material by heat shrinking. The film-like heat shrink-type resin contains polyethylene naphthalate resin.    USE - Used as set cells.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Set cells contain two or more unit cells, which are electrically connected in series, or a juxtaposition manner. The periphery section except a terminal outcrop of a unit cell is covered with a film-like heat shrink-type resin by carrying out heat shrinking, and the whole of the unit cell is covered with a sheathing material by heat shrinking. The sheathing material comprises a film-like heat shrink-type resin, or a film-like heat shrink-type resin and metal vacuum evaporation film. The film-like heat shrink-type resin contains polyethylene naphthalate resin.
Material comprises (1) carbonised material of aromatic condensn. polymer having repeated units of formula (I).    In (I) R = quadrivalent aromatic residue having at least one 6C ring, of which each divalence is bonded to C atoms adjacent each other in the benzene ring of the R gp., R' = divalent aromatic residue having 1-4C ring, n = 10-500, (2) electron donating doping agent and/or electron accepting donor agent. Atom ratio of N/C in the carbonised material is 0.01-0.07.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Conductive C material is used for the diode, transistor, or solar cell. Material is very stable in the air and conductivity can be improved by doping.    In an example, aromatic polyimide film obtd. by pyromellitic anhydride and diaminophenylether (Capton H made by Toray-Dupont KK) was heated up to required temp. for carbonisation at elevation rate of approx. 30 deg.C/hr. to obtain film form carbonised material. Carbonised material was put in a vacuum line, and iodine was doped into the material. Conductivity of the carbonised material in which atom ratio of N/C is 0.01-0.07 was improved by doping.
The mfr. of a SPE membrane assembly comprises (a) furnishing a SPE membrane in Na(+) form; (b) furnishing a perfluorosulphonate ionomer in a Na(+) form or thermoplastic form; (c) uniformly dispersing a supported Pt catalyst and a solvent in the Na(+) or thermoplastic form of the ionomer for form an ink; (d) forming a film of the ink contg. a predetermined amt. of the catalyst on a surface of the SPE membrane in the Na(+) form; (e) heating the film of the ink to a temp. effective to dry the ink; and (f) converting the film of the ink and the SPE membrane to a protonated form of perfluorosulphonate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Mfr. of an solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membrane is provided. It is useful for gas fuel cells. The catalyst layer has adequate gas permeability so that the cell performance is not affected and has a density and particle distribution effective to optimise proton access to the catalyst and electronic continuity for electron flow from the half-cell reaction occurring at the catalyst. SPE fuel cells are provided with relatively low supported catalyst loadings with no redn. in their performance. The bonding betwen the SPE layer and the catalyst layer is improved. The wt. fraction of the SPE ionomer with the catalyst layer is increased to improve the efficiency of the catalyst layer.
(JP5101829-A)   NOVELTY - A non-aqueous solvent secondary battery (1) has electrode group (4) comprising integrally and sequentially laminated negative electrode (5) containing carbonaceous material which supports lithium, separator (6), and positive electrode (7) containing lithium containing complex oxide as active material. A carboxymethyl cellulose or its salt and fluororubber are used as binder in negative electrode.    USE - As a non-aqueous solvent secondary battery.    ADVANTAGE - Since carbonaceous material is used as binder in negative electrode of non-aqueous solvent secondary battery, reaction of lithium during charging and discharging cycles, and internal short circuit are prevented. The non-aqueous solvent secondary battery has excellent charging and discharging cycle life, capacity and stable battery performance.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the partial cross-section of the non-aqueous solvent secondary battery.    Non-aqueous solvent secondary battery (1)    Electrode group (4)    Negative electrode (5)    Separator (6)    Positive electrode (7)
Alkali metal cell having a solid electrolyte bonded to an insulator which seals the electrolyte from a current collector is mfd. by: shaping a dry glass powder compsn. to a conformal seal shape; joining the electrolyte and insulator together with the conformal shape forming to form the joint.    A pref. glass powder compsn. comprises a dry mixt. of glass and ceramic powders.    ADVANTAGE -   Method is simple and applicable to mass prodn. methods; only a single heating cycle is required and inaccurately machined electrolyte and/or insulating members can be accomodated.
To adhere the epoxy resin compsn. to the surface of lead (alloy), uses a new epoxy resin compsn. formed by compounding a triazine thiol cpd. having at least one free mercapto gp. with epoxy resin.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method is applied to the lead storage batteries contg. lead or lead alloy. The use of the epoxy resin compsn. enhances adhesion between the epoxy resin and surface of lead (alloy) electrode bars. Even though the lead (alloy) may come into contact with strong acid e.g. sulphuric acid or corrosion may arise, adhesion by the epoxy resin compsn. can be maintained with sufficient adhesive strength
(JP5089905-A)   NOVELTY - The secondary battery has an electrolyte that dissolves an iodine compound, porous conductive material that consists of polyamide and fine particles having 50-80% porosity and/or fibrous carbon. The electrolyte is packed with the porous conductive material, using continuous blow-hole.    USE - Iodine secondary battery of card-type, button-type or tube-type.    ADVANTAGE - The porous conductive material reduces corrosion of battery and improves charging and discharging efficiency. Hence increases charge storage capacity.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows an explanatory diagram of a component of secondary battery.
(JP5089866-A)   NOVELTY - Sealing board with a projection, has a hole (3) for internal pressure release. The inner and outer circumferential faces and upper surface of the projection are coated with thermobonding polyolefin resin (4) for covering the hole.    USE - Non-aqueous electrolytic battery with safety valve, for memory backup, communication apparatus.    ADVANTAGE - Improves reliability, sealing property and air resistance of battery using simple structure.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a sectional view of the battery with safety mechanism. (The drawing includes non-English language text).    hole (3)    thermobonding polyolefin resin (4)
A device is made by placing embossable transparent polymeric encapsulant (18) on the top electrode layer of a cell with a photovoltaic body between top and bottom (10) electrodes, and applying a die to the polymer to emboss into it a pattern of light-directing grooves over the entire cell active area.    The polymer is pref. EVA, PTFE, polyvinyl fluoride, PVAc, polystyrene and/or polyurethane, which may be thermally crosslinkable using a heated die. The polymer is pref. laminated to the top electrode before embossing. The pattern is pref. free from regions which are plane parallel with the underlying cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Enhances cell efficiency.
Slurry comprises: porous Zn particles of size 100-500 micron, density 0.3-1.4 g/cc and surface area 0.5-6.0 sq.m/g; aq. alkali metal hydroxide; and an inorganic inhibitor to prevent H2 evaluation, the wt. ratio of Zn to alkali soln. to inhibitor being 1:0.5-2.0:0.0005-0.04.    The Zn particles may be of porous Zn or an inert substrate, pref. polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, glass or PVC, coated with a conductive material followed by porous Zn.    Specifically the aq. soln. is 4-12M Li, Na or K hydroxide. The inhibitor is an oxide of Bi, Cd, Ga, In, Pb, Hg, Tl or Sn or a sulphide of Cd, Fe, Pb or Hg. A phosphate ester, surfactant or quaternary NH4 cpd. may also be included as organic inhibitor. Also included may be: a gelling agent, pref. polyacrylic acid, carboxymethyl-cellulose or partially hydrolysed polyacrylonitrile; a filler, pref. graphite powder, C fibres, cellulose fibres, Ca(OH)2, SiO2, TiOx, polymer or glass microspheres or microspheres coated with Cu, Ni, Cd, Sn, Ag or Pb; a labelling agent, pref. Cresol Red, Na fluorescein, or Fe3O4 encapsulated in nylon, polypropylene, PVC or PTFE; and/or a dissolved electrolyte extender, pref. K or Na silicate, sorbitol, K borate or K phosphate.    USE -   Esp. for electric vehicles and energy storage system
Plastics mould has codes, symbols, characters, etc. provided changeably on the inside surface to indicate material used.    ADVANTAGE -   Conventionally, where casing members for adapter, battery charger, etc. of the same shape are moulded using several types of plastics material, identification of the material used is made by changing the colour or by forming symbols, etc. for the identification of material on prods. However, conventionally, the symbols, etc. for the identification are formed on the core or cavity of mould, so many moulds having different symbols must be prepared. With this mould, using a common mould, the symbols, etc. only can be changed for the identification of material
The solar collector consists of several acryl glass baths arranged next to one another and inserted in one another, covering a suitably large surface, being adjusted and fixed by distance strips and connected by means of clamp strips. The existing roof covering is coated matt black as under part of the solar collector in company with a matt black-coated aluminium bath.    Every third acryl glass bath is connected by a pipe conduit and issues in the areas of air inlet and hot air outlet in an air heat exchanger, which is embedded in a solid material accumulator surrounded by an adequateley dimensioned insulation. The solid material accumulator is filled with basalt stone chippings and is directly fixed to the solar collector, adequately insulated, and provides an emergency heating with solar cell current feed for frost protection.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To make full use of solar energy all the year round.
The battery comprises a cathode active (I) (R-O-(CH2C(CH3)HO)m-(CH2CH2O)nH) substance for which polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene alkylether is used as anticorrosion agent. In (I), R = alkyl, m and n = at least 1.    Pref., in (I), R = 1-30C alkyl and the deg. of polymerisation (m,n) of oxyethylene and oxypropylene is 1-20. The deg. of amalgamation of the cathode active substance is up to 0.6%.    ADVANTAGE -   The amt. of mercury for amalgamation of the cathode zinc is reduced.    In an example, the anticorrosion agent, C5H11O-(CH2C(CH3)HO)5-(CH2CH2O)10H, was dissolved in acetone. Zinc powder was put into this soln. to attach the agent on the zinc surface. 40 wt.% KOH soln. satd. with zinc oxide was prepd. for the alkaline electrolyte. 10g of the zinc powder with anticorrosion agent was put in 5 ml of the electrolyte. The amt. of H2 gas generated at 60 deg.C for 15 days was measured as 40 micro l/g.day.    .D
The organic electrolyte cell comprises an anode active substance of combined metal oxide principally consisting of Co, and a cathode active substance of carbonaceous material. The anode active substance contains residual alkali in amt. of up to 0.15 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Light weight compact size cell, having improved storage characteristic at elevated temp.    In an example, lithium carbonate, tricobalt tetraoxide, and stannic oxide were mixed to give an atomic ratio of Li:Co:Sn=1.08:0.92:0.02, and calcined at 910 deg.C for 1 hr. The calcined material was pulverised and calcined again at 1050 deg.C for 10 hrs. Residual alkali in the material was reduced to 0.08 % from 1.8%. 100 wt.pts. of the combined oxide, 2.5 wt.pts. of graphite, and 2.5 wt.pts. of acetylene black were mixed. Then, liq. consisting of 60 wt.pts. of mixed solvent of ethyl acetate/ethyl cellosolve (1:1) and 2 wt.pts. of fluorine rubber, was added in the mixed powder to make slurry of them. The slurry was applied on both surfaces of Al foil. 100 wt.pts. of pulverised needle coke and 90 wt.pts. of the mixed solvent in which 5 wt.pts. of fluorine rubber was dissolved were mixed to make a slurry which was applied on Cu foil. Anode of Li1.03Co0.92Sn0.02O2 applied foil and cathode of needle coke applied foil were assembled with polyethylene porous film separator in a coil form, and put into the cell casing. A mixed solvent of propylene carbonate/ethylene carbonate/gamma-butyrolactone (1:1:2), in which 1M LiBF4 is dissolved, was added as electrolyte.    .D
(JP5074438-A)   NOVELTY - The manufacture of separator involves heat-pressing by applying linear load of 0.6-5 kg/cm, and heating melt blown non-woven fabric having fabric weight of 40-80 g/m2 at temperature of fiber used for preparing the non-woven fabric. The non-woven fabric contains an alkali proof synthetic resin.    USE - For alkali storage battery.    ADVANTAGE - The method provides separator having high strength, without producing film forming of non-woven face surface by melting. The separator has excellent dimensional stability. The porosity of the separator is controlled easily.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shown the crystallization temperature range of separator using differential thermal curve.
A depolarising mixt. contains a cpd. (1) which contains hetero atoms in its mol. structure to constitute a polar mol. which functions as a dispersing agent.    Pref. cpd. (1) has an N-contg. gp., an acyl gp., or more than one acid structure based on phosphoric acid, sulphonic acid, boric acid, carboxylic acid or sulphuric acid. The acid structure can be an ammonium or metallic salt, and is pref. an Li salt. The cpd. (1) has a reactive ethylene bonding gp. such as acrylic or methacrylic gp. The cpd. (1) is obtd. by polymerising polyethyleneglycol (2) esterised with phosphoric acid and acrylic or methacrylic acid. The depolarising mixt. contains a first organic polymer as a solid electrolyte and a second organic polymer which is as basic as cpd. (1). The second organic polymer contains a pyridine ring, pref. poly-2-vinyl pyridine or poly-4-vinyl pyridine.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Since the positive active substance, conductive material and fixing agent are homogeneously dispersed, prim. and sec. batteries where the depolarising mixt. is used are not susceptible to breakage or cracking, or peelage of the substrates. The mixt. also prevents the occurrence of short circuits. A battery utilising the mixt. has excellent charge and discharge characteristics when it is used in prim. and sec. batteries. The mixt. is useful for improving the discharge characteristics of prim. batteries and the charge and discharge characteristics of sec. batterie
A unitary sintered bipolar battery plate, without intercell connections, comprises porous positive (14) and negative (16) electrodes, with a central, non-porous current collector (12), larger than the electrodes and lying between them, The positive electrode contains particles of Ag sintered into an expanded Ag or Ni sheet, the negative electrode contains particles of Fe sintered into an expanded Ni sheet (18), the current collector is a solid Ni sheet, and both electrodes are sintered to thin, porous metallic connection layers (20) of Ni fibre and/or Ni powder, which are themselves sintered to the current collector on opposite sides, giving an all-sintered construction.    Also claimed is a bipolar battery comprising a case contg. alkali hydroxide electrolyte and at least one sintered battery plate as claimed above.    Pref. the expanded metal sheets are 75-95% porous, all the particles are connected by sintering giving a rigid structure, and the central sheet is pref. 0.012-0.05mm, and the fibres 0.01-0.025mm thick, the fibres up to 20mm long, and the metal connection layer 0.005-0.2mm thck,. Pref. a separator system between electrodes contains LD and HD polyethylene film and connections are made to metal end plates in the battery.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A sintered bipolar battery plate and battery (claimed) are provided which are useful for dry charge reserve batteries. No intercell connectors are needed, the plate is strong and highly consolidated with little chance of flaking, and batteries are capable of high charge/discharge rates and have long stable lives.
Battery comprises anode and a cathode and a nonwoven fabric or porous film with high mol. solid electrolytes contg. polymers of CH2=C(R1)-CO-O-(CH2CH2O)m-R2 formula (I), low mol. polyethylene glycols methyletherified at both ends and alkali metal salts or ammonium salts retained in crosslinked polymers made of polyethylene di(meth)acrylate polymers interposed between the anode and cathode. In (I), R1 is H or 1-5C alkyl, R2 is 1-5C alkyl and m is 2-3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The battery has increased and the useful charging-discharging cycle life may be increased.
Solar cell has a photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer and an electrode made of a material contg. a conductive base substance and a resin electrically connected to it. Among gaps existing in the electrode, the vol. of the gaps having a dia. of at least 0.1 microns is up to 0.04 cc/g.    Pref. the semiconductor is amorphous Si with at least one pin junction. The concn. of chlorine as an impurity in the cell is upto 0.1 wt.%. The resin is urethane, epoxy, or polyimide type. The conductive base is Ag, Ag/P, alloy, a mixture of Ag and C, Cu, Ni, Al, Au or mixt. The ratio of conductor base to grid electrode is at least 70%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as a power supply the electrode structure is improved and environmentally stable.
High capacity colloidal storage battery includes an electrolyte of (in wt%): 3-9.9% silica sol, 48.1-75% H2SO4 and 15.1-48.9% water. The wt. ratio of H2SO4 to SiO2 is pref. 4.5-10.5. The silica sol pref. comprises silica particles of specific area 150-250 sq m/g.    ADVANTAGE -   Colloidal electrolyte is hard to hydrate and has no cracking so that battery has improved capacity and service life and is of low cost and easy to mfr.
A holder for a number of standard-size cells has removable plates and detachable leads. The holder body (12) has chambers (16) for batteries with an end cap (14) at each end and contacts (28) at the end of each chamber connected to external end terminals for attachment of a connector plate (34) or lead.    The body is e.g, cylindrical with longitudinal chambers spaced radially about the axis, two longitudial mounting grooves (18) on opposite sides of the body and an internally threaded fastening aperture (20) at the centre of each body face. The body is made e.g, of polypropylene and the end caps of fibreglass plate. Contact springs are secured by bolts to the body side of the end caps.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use with test assemblies, can easily be reconfigured without detaching power leads by changing the position of leads and connector plates, and does not deform when exposed to extended use, harsh environments or high temp.
(JP5062663-A)   NOVELTY - The non-aqueous electrolyte battery comprises a non-aqueous electrolyte, spirally wound negative plate and a positive electrode. The negative plate comprises material with doped light metal, its alloy or active material ion. A separator comprising polyethylene is provided between the electrodes. Polyethylene has a number average molecular weight of 350000 or more.    USE - As non-aqueous electrolyte battery with high output, used as power supply for cameras.    ADVANTAGE - The battery has high energy density, high output, reduced voltage fraction and high durability. Productivity of battery is improved.
Module comprises an element body comprising an amorphous Si solar cell element (100) enclosed by a filler (106) and comprising a metal electrode layer (102), an amorphous Si semiconductor layer (103) having a pin junction, a transparent and conductive layer (104) and grid electrode (105) disposed respectively on a conductive substrate (101), while the element body is disposed on a base member (108). Grid electrode has a coat (109) comprising an epoxy resin with a moisture permeability of 20 g/m2.day.-0.1mm/40 deg. C 90%RH or less which is disposed so as to cover the entire exposed exterior of the grid electrode. Also claimed is a solar cell module whose element body comprises several such amorphous Si solar cell elements intregrated in series connection and enclosed by a filler. Grid electrode of each element has such an epoxy coat.    Epoxy resin is bisphenol A epoxy resin, bisphenol F epoxy resin, cycloaliphatic epoxy resin and phenol novolak epoxy resin, adn the coat has a thickness of 10-200 microns. Filler comprises a light transmissive, insulating resin of EVA, polyvinyl butyral or silicone resin.    ADVANTAGE -   Solar cell module has good weatherability and light permeability and exhibits efficient photoelectric conversion over long periods of time without deterioration or shortcircuiting between grid electrode and lower electrode, even under severe environmental conditions.
Electrochemical power source having positive and negative terminals, pref. a battery, includes a condition indicator with a display comprising a cell connected in parallel with the power source. Pref. the indicator cell has a thickness of less than 100 mils and is attached to the external surface of the power source container.    ADVANTAGE -   Electrochemical device provides an accurate and permanent display of the state of the power source (battery) without risk of premature discharge.
In the heating and pressing chamber of the multilayering equipment; flat plate, cushion material layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol, fluorine resin peeling-off material layer, rear side material layer of white fluorine resin bonding and sealing material lower layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, wiring for solar cells, bonding and sealing material upper layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, etc., and light-transmitting material layer of fluorine resin are formed into a multilayered sheet. Then the sheet is heated and pressed to bury the wiring between the bonding and sealing upper layer and lower layer, and to unify and fix the multilayered body.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A prod. with uniform thickness can be prepd., without damage to the solar cell wafer during pressing. The module can be peeled off from the lower part in use.
(JP5054891-A)   NOVELTY - The paste-type cadmium cathode plate has conductive layer (B) formed on active material layer (A) surface. Layer (A) contains cadmium oxide, cadmium hydroxide and/or metal cadmium as main active material. Layer (B) comprises cellulose dielectric adhesive paste gelatinized with furnace black powder having BET specific surface area of 1000-1500 m2/g and dibutyl phthalate oil absorption amount of 3-5 ml/g.    USE - For closed-type alkali storage battery.    ADVANTAGE - The paste-type cadmium cathode plate has conductive layer containing furnace black powder having high specific surface area and high dibutyl phthalate oil absorption amount with respect to the acetylene black. The plate has excellent oxygen gas absorption property, and prevents capacitance reduction during high discharge. The plate provides battery with highly efficient discharge characteristics.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The cellulose dielectric adhesive paste is methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and/or hydroxypropyl cellulose.
An ion-contg. gel with bulk ionic conductivity at 20 deg. C and 10 kHz greater than 10 power (-4) Siemens/cm and a dynamic modulus at 10 kHz greater than 10 power 3 (pref. 10 power 4, esp. 10 power 5) Pa, comprises a minor amt. of a crystallisable polymer, a major amt. of an organic cpd. which is not a solvent for the polymer at 20 deg. C, and a salt soluble in the cpd. at 20 deg. C and at a concn. of 4 mass % based on the cpd. The method of making the gel is also claimed, as is a galvanic cell with the electrolyte comprising the gel.    The polymer is pref. of mol. wt. to form a coherent film or fibre, and is pref. from polyamide, polyester, polyether or substd. polyolefin, esp. from poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate), poly(3-oxybutanoate), polyhydroxybutanoic acid, poly(hexamethylene adipamide), poly(methaxylylene adipamide), poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide), poly(vinylidene fluoride), polyoxymethylene and polyoxyethylene. The organic cpd. is pref. a solvent for the polymer at 100 deg. C or more, and is pref. an amide, esp. a tert. amide, a sulphoxide and/or an ether, esp. from DMF, dimethyl acetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), N-formyl piperidine, a dimethyl ether of di-, tri-, or tetra-ethylene glycol, and dimethyl sulphoxide. Pref. salts are of an alkali metal or (substd.) ammonium, esp. Li, the anion being monovalent and selected from Br-, I-, a pseudohalogen, and a perfluorinated alkyl carbonate or sulphonate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The gels provide higher bulk ionic conductivities at both ambient and elevated temps. than prior art polymer-salt complexes, and better mechanical properties than polymer-salt-plasticising solvent complexe the
The electrolyte comprises polyether comprising a random copolymer comprising polyether of polyethylene oxide and polytetrahydrofuran, crosslinked by an isocyanate crosslinking agent and an alkali metal salt.    The polyether is a random copolymer of polyethylene oxide and polytetrahydrofuran in a wt. ratio of 9:1-2:8, most pref. 4:6-6:4. An excessive ratio of polyethylene oxide reduces the electroconductivity due to its crystallisation and an insufficient ratio increases the viscosity to degrade the filming workability. The polyether has an average molecular wt. of 500-10000. The alkali metal salt is e.g., LiClO4, KClO4, LiSCN, KSCN or NaSCN and forms a complex salt with the random copolymer. It is dissolved directly into the random copolymer or dissolved in a solvent or impregnated into the crosslinked random copolymer. It is used in an amt. of 1-60 wt.% of the electrolyte. The isocyanate is used for crosslinking the random copolymer via OH gp. in the molecular chain. It is e.g., toluene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate or hexamethylene diisocyanate or its trimethylolpropane modified prod..    A battery is prepd. by assembling a cathode of Li foil or Al foil, an anode of electroconductive polymer film (e.g., polyaniline) and the electrolyte as its electrolytic layer. An electrochromic display is formed by forming ITO electrode on polyester film by vacuum deposition, a discolouring layer of W2O5 or Prussian blue, laminating the electrolyte and another electrode.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolyte is prevented from crystallisation and facilitates film workability to reduce the thickness of film and improve the flexibility. It is used for batteries and electrochromic displa
Isolating defective Si spheres having an exposed P-type region where the spheres are affixed to a foil matrix, comprises: applying an insulating cover to the exposed P-type region; removing a portion of the insulating cover from a partial area of the sphere; anodising the foil matrix and the spheres for a time sufficient to form an insulating oxide coating to those of the spheres having a short between the P-type region and the foil matrix.    Pref. the insulating cover is an organic material, e.g. polymide; the anodising step takes place in HF acid soln. (upto 45% HF).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process identifies and isolates shorted cells in a single process. The process is uncomplicated and economical and improves prodn. efficiency.
(JP5041221-A)   NOVELTY - A gas diffusion sheet and gas reaction layers are piled up and platinum supported at 056 mg/cm2 is arranged on the surface of the gas reaction layer that faces solid polyelectrolyte film. Several sheets of cell units of 5 cm long and 105 cm broad, are arranged such that halves of them are overlapped with each other and covered with resin mold.    USE - Solid polyelectrolyte film fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - Produces the high voltage corresponding to cell units, without increasing the thickness of electrode.
(JP5041204-A)   NOVELTY - The battery has nickel hydroxide positive electrode board (H), hydrogen occlusion alloy negative electrode plate (F), a thermoplastic resin-made packing (A) which insulates the battery container from the terminals of electrodes, and a rubber safety valve (D). The melting point of packing material and valve is 270degreesC or less, and heat resistance temperature of valve is 230degreesC or less.    USE - Closed type nickel-metal hydride storage battery.    ADVANTAGE - Does not result in explosion even when the battery is switched-on in fire.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the sectional view of the closed type nickel-metal hydride storage battery.    Thermoplastic resin-made packing (A)    Rubber safety valve (D)    Hydrogen occlusion alloy negative electrode plate (F)    Positive electrode board (H)
(JP2623036-B2)      The grid is made by using laminate consisting of resin sheet and lead plate sandwiched between lead layers. The electroconductive resin sheet/lead plate has predetermined thickness and is arranged in a specific direction.    USE -   For lead storage batteries used in motor vehicles, etc.    ADVANTAGE -   The grid is lightweight, resistant to corrosion and has a long working life.
(JP5036392-A)   NOVELTY - The module contains several nickel hydrogen secondary batteries (2) stored in a resin container (1) and space between the container and the batteries is filled with a heat-conducting agent (5) containing grease mixed with metal filler.    USE - For supplying power for electronic devices such as portable video and a lap top computer.    ADVANTAGE - By providing the filler between the container and the batteries, the temperature rise of nickel-hydrogen secondary battery is repressed during charging. The battery has high volume and reliability.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the explanatory diagram showing the structure of the nickel hydrogen secondary-battery module.    Resin container (1)    Nickel hydrogen secondary-battery (2)    Heat-conducting agent (5)
The collector comprises a heat generator vaporising a fluid through evaporation by solar energy. The vapour is fed through a polyvinyl chloride pipe into a metal pipe in a cylindrical container where water is heated and distributed to the use points.    ADVANTAGE -   The design is environmentally friendly.
(JP2646462-B2)      Organic electrolyte battery comprises an anode (1) made of organic solvent solution, a cathode and a lithium salt as electrolyte. The cathode is made of a condensation polymer having a specified hydrogen/oxygen nuclear ratio with infusible base contg polyacene structure.    ADVANTAGE -   The battery used as a secondary battery, has quick changing characteristics over a long period of time.
Sheet is made by impregnating 20-160 weight percent organic polymer substance, as solid content, into a sheet comprising 30-90 weight percent polyacrylonitrile fibre, and 10-70 weight percent pulp and/or other organic fibre, drying the sheet, and heating the dried sheet in an oxidising atmosphere for stabilisation treatment. The treatment is performed under the circulation of warm oxidising gas with at least 0.2 m/second warm gas flow rate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for electrode plates for fuel cells, provides good thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, chemical resistance, and strength
In the prodn. a prepreg, a peel-ply made of a fabric not impregnated with a resin, and a peel-ply prepreg made of a fabric impregnated with a resin, semi-cured are laminated, and are heated under pressure so that the resin is cured. Then, the peel-ply and the peel-ply prepreg are released so that the prepreg is surface-roughened.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For solar cell panels with high heat radiation properties. The peel-ply and the peel-ply prepreg are effective in prodn. of prepregs of which the thickness is small and the resin impregnation amt. is low.    In an example, the prepreg is composed of prepregs prepd. by impregnating an epoxy resin into reinforcing carbon fibres arranged in one direction, and laminating the prepregs so as to intercross at a right angle. The peel-ply is made of nylon-6, 6 fabric. The peel-ply prepreg is prepd. by impregnating an epoxy resin into a nylon 6,6 fabric, and semi-
(JP5021077-A)   NOVELTY - The fuel cell has a gas sealant (5) provided between solid polymer electrolyte film (1) and a gas impermeable board (4). The peripheral portion of the film, is covered by a protective coat (11) made of fluorine based resin sheet such that a portion of the electrodes (2,3) is overlapped. The film, coat and the electrodes are integrated by application of heat and pressure.    USE - Solid polyelectrolytic fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - As the peripheral side has gas seal material, the gas leakage to exterior is prevented. The safety operation property of the cell is improved.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a section of the solid polyelectrolytic type fuel cell. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    Solid polymer electrolyte film (1)    Electrodes (2,3)    Gas impermeable board (4)    Gas sealant (5)    Protective coat (11)
(JP5021075-A)   NOVELTY - An anode pellet (2) has 9 wt.% graphite, 2 wt.% polytetrafluoroethylene, aluminum powder and 89 wt.% manganese dioxide molded at 350 degrees C. A polypropylene separator (3), a cathode (1) and a nickel-plated stainless steel cathode can (4) are sequentially stacked on the pellet. The space between the sheath (5) covering the pellet and the pellet is filled with aluminum powder (2A).    USE - Used as a coin-type non-aqueous electrolyte battery.    ADVANTAGE - Since the aluminum powder is filled between the sheath and anode pellet, the electrical contact between the sheath and pellet is improved.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional view of the coin-type non-aqueous electrolyte battery.    cathode (1)    anode pellet (2)    aluminum powder (2A)    separator (3)    sheath (5)
(JP5021068-A)   NOVELTY - The non-aqueous solvent secondary battery (1) has electricity-generation component comprising integrally laminated negative plate (5), separator (6) and anode (7). Plate (5) consists of carbonaceous material carrying alkali metal mainly lithium and polyacrylic acid and a styrene polybutadiene rubber binder. The anode contains lithium complex oxide as active material.    USE - For electronic devices.    ADVANTAGE - Decomposition reaction between lithium and binder is eliminated and charging-discharging cycle is effectively progressed. Even when the battery repeats charging-discharging cycle, reduction of binding capability, dropping-off and internal short circuiting of the negative plate holder due to the increase in battery internal resistance caused by damaging electroconductivity of a collector and negative plate holder are eliminated. Capacitance maintenance factor is improved. Non-aqueous solvent secondary battery having stabilized performance and durability is obtained.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the partial cross-section diagram of the non-aqueous solvent secondary battery.    Non-aqueous solvent secondary battery (1)    Negative plate (5)    Separator (6)    Anode (7)
A battery has a container holding battery elements interconnected by straps and an anti-vibration plate (105) inserted between an end element (145) and the container wall (155) during mfr. with an interference fit. The plate is a flat sheet with a flexural modulus of at least 250,000 psi, pref. about 400,000 psi, and has the shape of the end wall for one or more cut-outs to prevent the plate contacting the straps. The plate is of uniform thickness, 0.025-0.075 inches more than the width of the space into which it is inserted. The plate is pref. of 20% glass-filled polypropylene and has a thickness of 0.125 +/- 0.005 inch. The bottom edge of the sheet may be wedge-shaped and a sheet may be inserted at each end of the container.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents the structural wear caused by the high vibration environment without requiring elements to be fixed in place with epoxy adhesive.    .D
An alkaline electrochemical cell free of Hg comprises: (i) a cathode; (ii) an anode; (iii) an alkaline electrolyte; and (iv) a burnished anode current collector with a surface deposit of In. Opt. the In is deposited on the collector by contacting a burnished current collector with a soln. contg. In ions. Also claimed is an anode current collector for use in the above cell together with a process for preparing the anode current collector.    Pref. the cathode contain a metal oxide and the anode contains Zn. The In forms a layer more pref. continuous at a concn. of 0.5-200 (more pref. at least 1.0) ug/cm2 of the collector surface. An In-contg. cpd. is present in the anode in sufficient quantity to inhibit corrosion by the electrolyte. The cathode comprises MnO2 and synthetic graphite, the anode low-Fe and/or low expansion Zn, the current collector is brass and the electrolyte KOH, the cell further comprising ethylene oxide polymer as a Zn corrosion inhibitor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as batteries. Cell has a low level or is free of Hg, does not exhibit either a temporary depression or permanent drop in voltage, does not exhibit bulging and can be economically mass produced commercially
A heating and hot water supply system, for buildings with a heating circuit (2) and a hot water circuit (3), includes a water heating unit (10,11) comprising a microwave emitter (14) and a heat exchanger (12,13). The heat exchanger (pref. Teflon tubing) located between the cold water connections (4,6) and the hot water connections (5,7) of the unit (10,11).    Pref. the heating (2) and hot water (3) circuits have separate heating units (10,11). The heat exchanger (12,13) pref. consists of Teflon (RTM) tubing (16). Solar cells may act as the energy supply for the microwave emitter (14,15). The heating units (10,11) may be located in a by-pass line of a conventional heating unit.    ADVANTAGE -   The system is environment-friendly since fossil fuel combustion gases are not emitted, can be solar cell-operated with recycling of excess energy and has low cost since commercial microwave ovens can be used as the basic components of the heating unit.
A connecting terminal for a battery, esp. lead-acid battery has a connecting part (1) and a socket (7) with circumferential grooves (2). A shrink wrappable plastic (8) fills the grooves (2) and encloses the socket part (7) to form a seal. The lower edge (3) of the socket part (7) has a wedge profile to increase the sealing effect.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The battery connector is esp. suitable for lead acid batteries and has improved sealing against the battery cover.
Air cathode is in combination with an O2-rich electrolyte-immiscible organic fluid for supplying O2, pref. a perfluorocarbon, silicone oil, mineral oil or (fluorinated) hydrocarbon able to carry at least 15 mls O2 per 100 mls fluid. Means are pref. provided for cycling the fluid between the cathode and a reservoir to which O2 is delivered for regenerating an O2-rich fluid.    A pref. fluid is a perfluorocarbon, esp. cis or trans-perfluorodecalin, perfluoro-1-methyl decalin, perfluoro-tripropylamine, perfluoro-tributylamine or perfluoro-perhydro-phenanthrene.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in metal/air batteries and H2-O2 fuel cells. (claimed) Superior electrode performance is achieved compared to those where O2 is supplied in gaseous for
The transducer comprises electrodes, of which at least one is a transparent electrode, sandwiching single layer or multilayers of an organic cpd. giving charge generation and charge sepn. by irradiation of light. Fluorescent substance, having wavelength to generate photoelectric charge is added in any of the layers.    Pref. the transducer comprises a layer-contg. fluorescent substance having wavelengths giving photoelectric charge generation, which is formed out of both of the electrodes. Pref. the fluorescent substance is capable of charge transfer.    In an example, 76 parts of charge generation substance of following formula (I).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fluorescent sensitised photoelectric transducer is used for a solar cell or optical sensor. Range of photosensitive wavelength can be expanded, and sensitivity of the transducer is improved.    t o
The via is formed by making an opening (48) through the package substrate, coating and closing the opening with dielectric material (52), making a second opening through the dielectric, and coating the dielectric with conductive material (54) which extends between the opposite sides of the substrate and is insulated from it by the dielectric.    The dielectric is pref. applied as a liq. and then cured to solid state, and is, e.g., polyimide. In partic., the package is a solar cell with electrical contact layers on the front and back faces, and the conductive coating is formed simultaneously with the front contact layer as a unitary layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   E.g. for a GaAs/Ge solar cell. Eliminates the need for strong chemical etchants to smooth the via opening, and avoids the need for metallisation.
NOVELTY - Several proton conduction portions (11) and proton insulation portions (12) are alternatively arranged on a solid polymer electrolyte film (10). Electrons are not conducted in the proton conduction portion, and electrons and proton are not conducted in the proton insulation portion. An electrode is arranged on both sides of the proton conduction part, along its perimeter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for the manufacture of the electrochemical element.    USE -   For fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE -   Gas sealing property and reliability of the electrochemical element are improved. Fabrication of the electrolyte film is performed easily. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure illustrates the sectional view of the manufacture of the electrochemical element. (10) Electrolyte film; (11) Proton conduction portion; (12) Proton insulation portion.
The hot water cylinder consists of a chamber (1) with a cold water inlet (2) and a hot water outlet (3).The tank contains an expansion compensator in the form of one or more blocks of a closed-cell expanded polymer which can compress as the water expands when heated, so that the cylinder is not subjected to excess pressure. The polymer blocks can be made e.g. from polyethylene or polyurethane foam, cellular rubber, or any other material which is physically and chemically resistant to immersion in the water.    ADVANTAGE -   Design is simple obviating need for safety valve.
Battery comprises at least two cell units divided by a dimensionally stable, electroconductive wall (5), which constitutes, or supports, the positive(6) and the negative(7) electrodes in two adjacent cells. The wall (5) is composed of a non-electroconductive, dimensionally stable, porous material(10), having pores (8) passing from its positive to its negative side, the pores being filled with electroconductive Pb, a Pb alloy, or similar metal or alloy.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Superior stability and resistance against corrosion, together with extremely good charging and discharging durability, as a result of the dimensional stability of the wall material when the Pb changes to PbO2 and PbSO4. The battery is of light wt. and is cheap to mfr.
Lead-acid electric storage battery has porous, explosion attentuating material (26) inserted in the head space (H) of its container (12) over its electrode elements (18) and beneath a vent (22) provided for venting gases generated by electrochemical reactions. The material is effective in limiting pressure build-up resulting from ignition of the gases but without impairing movement of the gases and electrolyte within the head space during normal battery operation. The material contains 0.1-0.5 ml per gram of sulphuric acid electrolyte and consists essentially of 10-90 wt.% of 5-30 denier polypropylene fibres, effective to limit the pressure build-up, and 90-10 wt.% of 30-100 denier polypropylene fibre, their denier being at least twice that of the first fibres, interspersed uniformly among the first fibres and effective to allow drainage of the electrolyte.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The explosion attenuating material prevents flame propagation from reaching the velocity necessary for an explosion in the event that the gas being vented ignites without interfering with battery performance. In partic., the porous material allows electrolyte to drain back into the cells so that the plates remain covered and battery life is not reduced and the venting of the gases is not inhibited.
The porous insulating film is produced by mixing high density polyethylene (HDPE), silica, a plasticiser, i.e. dioctylphthalate (DOP) or mineral oil (MO), and a conductive material, i.e. carbon black (CB), graphite (GR) or carbon fibre (CB) with a lubricating agent, i.e. zinc stearate, at 150-230 deg.C for 5 mins. to obtain a pellet, extracting the pellet at 130-220 deg.C to obtain a sheet, passing the sheet through a roller at room temp., and drying it at 80-100 deg.C.    The insulating film has a low electric resistance and an excellent tensile streng
(JP4363861-A)   NOVELTY - The cathode consists of a composite containing hydrogen occlusion alloy and amorphous carbon.    USE - Nickel hydrogen battery used for electric power unit of cordless apparatus.    ADVANTAGE - The cathode has long life and the pulverization of cathode is reduced.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for cathode manufacturing method.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a graph explaining cathode capacity with respect to temperature. (Drawing includes non-English language text).
In a Li battery with a Li, Li-alloy or Li-intercalated C negative electrode, a positive electrode and interposed electrolyte, the electrolyte comprises a crosslinked macromolecular copolymer of a polyoxyalkylene chain-contg. cpd. and a polyorganosilane cpd. carrying the Li carboxylate gp. COO-Li+, bonded to Si through a hydrocarbon gp. The copolymer is esp. prepd. by curing a mixt. of (A) a polyorganosiloxane having at least 2 carboxyl-contg. gps. per molecule; (B) a polyoxyalkylene chain-contg. polymeric cpd. with at least 2 OH gps. per molecule; and (C) an Li-contg. alkali cpd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An all-solid-state Li battery is provided that can generate stable voltage and current, with simple prodn. techniques which do not require the use of organic solvents, plasma polymerisation, etc.
Photovoltaic device comprises substrate electrode; active semiconductor body; transparent oxide electrode; and a current collection grid bonded to the transparent oxide electrode via layer of conductive adhesive of resistivity 10-30k ohm per sq.    Pref. the grid is a metallic foil and the adhesive is a conductive epoxy which may contain Ag or graphite particles.    ADVANTAGE -   Adhesive layer allows normal photo-generated current to be readily accommodated while preventing catastrophic current flow
The process comprises copolymerisation in aqueous emulsion of a mixture of monomers. These are (%) butadiene 40-60, styrene 48-27, acrylonitrile 8-12 and N-methylene acrylamide 3-1 with semi-continuous copolymerisation.    The product is a consolidator of non-woven textiles serving as separator for nickel-cadmium cylindrical accumulators.    USE -   In electrical engineering.
The solar battery module has a solar battery covered with a fluoroplastics film (101) on the light incident side. The fluoroplastics film is formed of carbon - carbon trifluoride bond. The surface of fluoroplastics film opposite to the light incident side has been surface treated by exposing to plasma of hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, ammonia gas, or hydrocarbon; and the surface which has been surface treated is bonded to the solar battery through an adhesive.    Pref. the solar battery is formed by laminating a back reflecting layer, a semiconductor layer, and a transparent layer on a conductive substrate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By covering the surface of solar battery with the fluoroplastics film having high resistance to moisture and sepn. entrance of vapour into solar battery can be prevented, thereby eliminating sepn. of resin film and adhesive.    .D
A solar cell, having reduced recombination at the metal-semiconductor interface, comprises a semiconductor substrate (2) having a shallow p-n junction (3) adjacent to the front surface (4), at the rear surface, and an array of narrow parallel second electrodes (10) contacting the front surface and fixed to a third electrode (13) displaced from the front surface.    Also claimed is mfr. of the above cell comprising forming the cell with rear electrode, forming the array adherent and in low resistance contact with the front, and affixing at least one third electrode of each of second electrodes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A solar cell and method useful for photovoltaic and esp. solar cells is provided. Recombination at the metal-semiconductor interface is reduced, open circuit voltage increased, and both efficiency and mfg. cost improved.    .
A battery has electrodes and electrolyte in a case with a gas vent and porous explosion attenuating material (26) in the case headspace (H) over the electrodes to limit pressure build up resulting from ignition of gases. The material lines the interior of the case top and the upper ends of the walls, with the interior of the headspace remaining open.    In partic., the battery is a lead-acid battery and the material is polypropylene fibres bonded to the case. The material is pref. 0.5-1 inch thick and occupies 20-60% of the headspace. The cover may consist of polypropylene with an amount of rubber or polyethylene as an impact modifier to improve its explosion resistance.    ADVANTAGE -   Effectively reduces the consequences of explosion.    .D
Each terminal of a T-shaped band is folded back and overlapped. The overlapped part is joined in a state such that a loop is left at a terminal.    Band is pref. formed of polyester fibre and the bands are sewn together to form a T-shape. After that, each terminal is folded back and overlapped. The overlapped part is sewn together in a state that a loop is left at each terminal. At the sewn parts, the bands may be reliably joined together and an adhesive can also be used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The shape of the band is simplified to improve productivity, resulting in sharp redn. of cost. Since a band is simply attached to and detached from a battery, the band can be repeatedly used and the number of used bands is reduced, resulting in sharp redn. of a prodn. cost of a bat
Solar energy is recovered by a constructional component having a ray absorbing layer secured by a layer of glue to a supporting one. The latter is of inorganic foam material, while a system of passages for a heat-transfer medium extends over the former. The rear sides of the passages, furthest from the surface, and also the glue can be coloured black. In the case of the passages, this can be done by duromer polyurethane paint. A cement-polymer dispersion glue can be used, or alternatively a non-foam geopolymer, or an elastomer interlaced polyurethane foam.    ADVANTAGE -   Forms integral part of building.    .D
Phosphoric acid electrolytes contain at least 1 wt.% of an additive selected from the gp. of fluorinated cpds. and silicone cpds. with a vapour pressure not higher than that of H3P04.    The additives are pref. C6F13K03S, C4F9K03S, (C4F9)3N and (-Si(CH3)20-)n.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Modified electrolytes are useful in H3P04 fuel cells comprising a gas diffusion cathode utilising 02-contg. oxidant gas and a gas diffusion anode using a H2-contg. fuel gas. The fuel cell performance is improved due to enhanced oxygen redn. kinetics.    In an example, when a 100% H3P04 electrolyte was used the cell thermal efficiency (Efft) = 37.2%. But when 0.5% C6F13K03S was used as an additive the Efft = 47.9% i.e. a 12.5% increase in efficiency.    .D
Treating the surfaces of C fibres to increase the surface area with a total wt. loss of less than 2 per cent, comprises.    a) depositing onto the C surface a single coating to catalyse C gasification and to cause either pitting or channelling upon heating in air, the coating consisting of oxides or metals from Pt, Ni, Ir, Re, V, Pb, W, Pd, Co, Fe, Mo, Cu, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ru, Ag and Au and mixt.; b) applying air to the surface of the fibre whilst heating to the desired temp.; and c removing all the coating after heating and cooling the fibre.    Process pref. includes cleaning the fibre surface prior to deposition, and may include repetition of the steps to increase further the total surface area. Pref. the coating is Ag, the heating rate is about 10 deg./sec. and the surface is heated to 450-550 deg. C..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Active surface area, total surface area and roughness of fibres is increased enhancing bonding to matrix materials in fibre prods. eg. for structural components in aerospace applications, fuel cells and sports goods, or as catalayst supports, in partic. active sites are created in perfect basal plane regions. In an example, unsized P-55 graphitised pitch fibre was coated with Ag by stirring in a Ag diammine soln. for 24 hrs. at room temp.. After washing and drying, the fbre was oxidised in air at 450-550 deg.. Ag was subsequently removed in 1N HNO3.
An operational method for a H2-O fuel cell system comprising principally (1) providing a H2-rich fuel gas having CO content sufficient to poison the fuel cell's catalyst, (2) subjecting the fuel gas to a CO + H2O shift reaction producing a feed stream consisting essentially of Y2, CO2, H2O and below 1 vol.% CO, and (3) introducing the feed stram into the fuel cell, the improvement comprising between (2) and (3): adjusting feed stream temp. to one which promotes CO adsorption onto a catalyst which preferentially adsorbs CO rather than H2; introducing O2 into the feed stream, in stoichiometric excess over CO to promote preferential CO oxidn. on the catalyst in the presence of H2; adsorbing the feed stream CO onto the catalyst and preferentially oxidising it forming a process stream consisting essentially of H2, CO2, H2O and at least 10 x less CO than the feed stream; removing the process stream from the catalyst; introducing O2 into the process stream, less than the first quantity, in stoichiometric excess over CO, to promote preferential oxidn. of CO on a catalyst selected to promote more rapid oxidn. of CO than H2 at a temp. higher than the first, selected to promote rapid oxidn.; adjusting the process stream temp. to the second temp.; and reacting the process stream CO with O2 on the catalyst forming a prod. stream consisting essentially of H2, CO2, H2O and less than 0.01 vol.% CO.    Also claimed is an assembly for reducing the CO content of a H2-rich CO-contaminated fuel feed stream to a H2-O2 fuel cell, pref. process and assembly.    ADVANTAGE -   CO content is preferentially reduced to a level tolerable to a fuel cell without reacting substantial H2. Using 2 reaction chambers decreases the temp. rise due to CO oxidn. and heat is removed by convertion as the reacted stream is removed. Rapid removal of the reacted stream and short residence time minimise the equilibrium reaction wherein CO is reduced to CO.
The process comprises (a) kneading a raw material component comprising mainly carbonaceous powder and a thermosetting resin for prim. moulding; (b) mounting the prim. compact on a flat plate having a temp. of 80-200 deg.C; (c) repeating pressure increase and pressure decrease cycles for plating the prim. compact; (d) hardening the plate at a pressure of 20-250 kgf/cm2; (e) applying burning and carbonisation treatment to the plate in a non-oxidn. atmos. In the pressure increase and pressure decrease cycle, pressure ratio of 1 (pressure increase) to up to 0.5 (pressure decrease) is established.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The impermeability carbonaceous plate is used in a separator for fuel cell or chlorine-zinc-based sec. battery. The plate has dense structure, high strength, high corrosion resistance and low electrical resistance.
An organic photovoltaic element comprises: (i) a 1st electrode; (ii) a 1st electron acceptor organic layer on (i); (iii) a 2nd electron acceptor organic layer which is different from (ii) on (ii); (iv) a 1st electron donor organic layer on (iii); (v) a 2nd electron donor organic layer which is different from (iv) on (iv); and (vi) a second electrode on (iii). At least one of the 1st or 2nd electrodes is transparent.    The organic photovoltaic element, such as a solar battery, is used for optical sensors, etc.    ADVANTAGE -   The materials used for the element are inexpensive and free from toxicity, and the conversion efficiency is high.
In a photoelectromotive device having at least two layers consisting of an electron acceptive organic layer(s) and an electron donative organic layer(s) sandwiched between a pair of electrodes in which at least one of the electrodes is a transparent electrode, the improvement is that the electron acceptive organic layer(s) consists of halogen-substd. dibenzimidazolyl perylene cpd..    The halogen-substd. dibenzimidazolyl perylene cpd. can be prepd. by dehydration condensn. of perylene tetracarboxylic anhydride in the presence of halogen-substd.- o-phenylene diamine in a high b.pt. solvent, and the obtd. prod. consists of mixt. of cis-body and trans-body. The transparent electrode, e.g. consists of ITO, Sn oxide, In oxide, Zn oxide or semi-transparent Au, etc..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electron acceptive organic layer has good stability and has no or limited pinholes, and the photoelectromotive device shows a high photoelectric conversion efficiency.
A woven paper sheet is formed by weaving a slurry contg. 20-80 wt.% of an organic fibre for prepn. of C fibre and 20-80 wt.% of pulp. An impregnated sheet (A) is formed by impregnation of a suspension soln., in which a carbonaceous powder is suspended in an organic polymer material soln.. A coated sheet (B) is formed by coating a paint contg. an organic polymer material and a carbonaceous powder on (A). A pre-press sheet (C) with 0.75-1.0 g/cubic. cm. density is formed by laminating many (B). A precursor is formed by laminating many (A) on both side of (C) and heat pressing, heat stabilising in air, carbonising and making porous by calcining at at least 2000 deg.C. in an inert gas to form a gas barrier C layer based on (C) and a phosphoric acid holding porous C layer.    ADVANTAGE -   The method produces thin and improved quality material with improved prodn. yield.
Ion exchange membrane comprising a perfluorovinylether-TFE copolymer is hot pressed at 160-220 deg.C. Pref. the membrane is bonded with gas diffusing electrodes at 160-220 deg.C. An ion exchange membrane fuel cell prepared from the membrane-electrode bonded part is also claimed.    The ion exchange membrane is e.g. an ion exchange membrane (IEM-A) in which NAF ION 17 (RTM; perfluorovinylether-TFE copolymer ion exchange membrane) is treated with a H2O2 soln. and then, with a H2SO4 soln. to give proton type ion exchange gps. The gas diffusing electrodes are e.g. positive and negative electrodes (GDE-A) prepd. by mixing carbon fibre particles carrying a Pt-catalyst with solid polymer electrolyte.    ADVANTAGE -   The fuel cell has a low internal resistance and high discharge power.
The reformer includes a sealed vessel in which is provided a partition made of a gas non-permeable material to form a heating chamber and a heated chamber; a porous radiator in the heating chamber; and a catalyst body in the heated chamber. An air feeder is provided to feed air in an amt. of not less than 38% of raw gas before raw gas enters catalyst body and lead mixed gas of air and raw gas to inlet of catalyst body.    ADVANTAGE -   Steam-reformed prod. gas of good quality can be obtd.
(JP5047701-A)   NOVELTY - An organic resist film (2) is formed on a polished stainless steel board surface through a photomask (3) which has a desired fine pattern. A plated layer is formed on the steel board (1) surface at a resist layer non-formation groove (2a) and is transferred to the processed object.    USE - Used for a tor thin film transistor used in color liquid crystal displays, thin film diodes, solar cells, thin film sensors or various semiconductor elements.    ADVANTAGE - Large sized liquid crystal displays of ca. 40 inches or 80 inches can be produced without using exposure apparatus by separated resist pattern formation, since the printed layer is formed on stainless steel substrate and fine pattern with fine wire width efficiency at high precision is formed.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the explanatory view of the fine pattern formation procedure. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    steel board (1)    resist layer (2)    groove (2a)    photomask (3)    plated layer (4)
The solid electrolyte-type fuel cell comprises an air electrode made of perovskite composite oxides having a zirconia solid electrolytic layer with Mn or Co solid-soln. at least in the vicinity of its boundary surface to the air electrode, and a fuel electrode layer formed on a surface on the side opposite to the air electrode of the solid electrolyte layer. Even after heat-treatment, a high resistance layer made of cpds. contg. La and Zr e.g. La2Zr2O7 is not formed on the boundary surface of the air electrode and the solid electrolyte layer (La1-yAy)1-xMO3, where A is at least one element selected from alkaline earth metals, M is manganese or cobalt, y = 0-0.4, x = 0-0.2. The air electrode has the thickness of 0.5 mm. or more.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for the solid electrolyte type fuel cell the internal resistance can be reduced and the output can be increased and the airtightness and fuel utilisation efficiency can be improved.
In a new appts. for bio-electric applications using a radiation-sensitive biological material rhodopsin-contg. microorganisms or cells are used as the biological material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In applications, where biological material is used to sense the type and intensity of radiation, and in solar batteries. The process of orientation and stabilisation of the biological material is simplified, and the use of extremely pure biological materials is avoided, and the radiation is converted to electrical energy in the simplest manner possible.
An improved photovoltaic cell comprises: a Si substrate having p-type conductivity, 12-16 mils thickness, front and rear surfaces and a shallow p-n junction substantially adjacent the front surface; a front contact in mechanically adherent and electrical contact with the front surface; an anti-reflection (AR) coating adherently covering the portion of the front surface not covered by the front contact; a rear contact comprising a uniform layer of Al metal alloyed to the rear surface so as to cover it. The rear contact has 4.5-8 mg of Al/cm2 of substrate coated with the layer of Al metal. The Al metal is alloyed with the Si substrate by heating the substrate in air at a temp. above the Si/Al eutectic temp..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Improved efficiency photovoltaic solar cell by providing a thick Al back contact, and using a single fire method of mfr.. The cell also has an improved useful lifetime.
The needles of a knitting machine are continuously monitored by an optical head with separate source and receiver and with the light beam crossing the needle path. The signals generated are computer compared with previously generated signals to detect any needle faults.    Pref. the optical head (6) is adjustably mounted off a fixed ring (7) on the machine frame with a separate light emitter (L) and receiver. The light beam (24) crosses the path (P) of the needles (1). The generated signals are passed through a cable (26) to an electronic control unit (27) for comparison with previously generated signals.    ADVANTAGE -   The monitoring detects any needle faults and stops the machine to prevent the knitting of faulty material.
A diffusion metod of forming shallow photovoltaic p-n junctions in Si sibstrates for photovoltaic cells comprises placing the doped Si wafers with their back surfaces onto liq.-absorbing portions of a conveyor (28), transporting the substrates (2) into a processing chamber contg. air at 25-45% humdity (58) and spray-coating the wafer fronts with a thin layer of liq.-dopant contg. source material of opposite type, using an ultrasonic spray head (90) reciprocating at 48 cycles per minute. The liq. layer is 1000-2000 A thick.    Substrates are then transferred to a second chamber (90), dried at 300-500 deg.C and 25-60% relative humidity, leaving a dopant surfaec residue, and moved to a high-temp. i.r. furnace (100). They are there fired in an O-contg. atmos. sufficiently to diffuse dopant to 0.5 microns depth and create the shallow p-n junction.    Also claimed is a method as above for Si solar cells in which process conditions are not specified.    Also claimed is a method as the first above not specifying conditions but only that the ultrasonic spray device is capable of atomising the liq. without the use of pressurised gas and spraying micron-sized drops at low velocity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A method of forming shallow p-n junctions in Si susbtrates which is useful for photovoltaic and solar cells is provided. Uniform shallow junctions are formed in p-Si and costs are lowered without loss of reliability.
A module has flat spaced electrolyte elements (12) on edge and radiating from a central plenum (14), and plenum seals (18) between every other of the elements where they border on the plenum to seal the joints between elements and between the every other element and the plenum.    There are peripheral seals and these and the plenum seals comprise the end walls of longitudinal gas flow channels through the modules. A pair of manifold plates sandwich the elements and have an aperture in communication with the plenum and second apertures communicating with the channels. Transverse gas flow channels are in the spaces between elements not forming the longitudinal channels and communicate with the plenum. The elements may be of ceramic metal oxide, polymeric electrolyte membranes or immobilised molten electrolyte membranes.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides higher density packing of the elements to give higher ion-conducting capacity and greater efficiency.
The plate comprises: (a) a porous component; (b) fluoro polymer film(s); and (c) a graphite plate laminated to (a) via (b); and an electroconductive pathway existing between (a) and (c), while the fluoro polymer provides an electrolyte barrier.    Also new is an improved fuel cell stack incorporating the above.    The porous component may be pref. an electrolyte reservoir plate or a graphite cooler holder. Pref. fluoro polymer films are of fluorinated ethylene propylene resin and/or TFE copolymers.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in H2/O2 fuel cells, the arrangement is capable of minimising inter-cell electrolyte migration to below 0.5 g/ft/1000 hr. for at least 40000 hr. operation (e.g. in phosphoric acid fuel cells at current densities of 200-400 amps/ft2).
Diffusion junction type solar cell with silicon single crystal is prepd. by (a) washing the oxide film on p-type silicon wafer to remove organic cpds. and impurities, (b) texture etching the both sides of wafer with mixed soln. of calcium, hydroxide, isopropyl alcohol and water, (c) diffusing with solid sources (B203,BN etc) to have uniform sheet resistance in both the sides, (d) forming the 3-layered electrode by an overhang structure using chlorobenzene as photoresists in the lift-off method, (e) coating an antireflection film after separating a solar cell using silicon etch method.
The polycyanamide-bound dyes of formula (I) are prepd. by (a) diazotising polycyanamide in the concentrated sulphuric acid, and (b) coupling the diazotised polyamide with fat brown B, methyl orange or its sodium salt. In formula, X is an integer of 10 to 30, and A is (a), (b) and (c).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The photocurrent property of the material is improved by doping with Br2 and it is useful for photocell.
Burner comprises lamination of a high calorific fuel injection portion at the centre, the 1st oxidising agent blowing portion, low calorific fuel injection portion, the sec. oxidising agent blowing portion in order. Pref. the low calorific fuel injection portion has rotor to rotating at right angle to burner axis at the top.    ADVANTAGE -   The burner capable to use both high and low calorific fuel.    In an example, the burner (12) in combustion cylinder (20) was obtd. by lamination of a high cal. fuel (e.g. natural gas) injection path (52) having nozzle (44) with centre hole (42), the 1st oxidising agent (e.g. air) path (53) and low calorific fuel (e.g. exhausted fuel from fuel cell, 1000 Kcal/cubic.Nm) injection path (56) having ring type rotor (60) at the top and the sec. oxidising agent (e.g exhausted air from fuel cell, O2 - 9-10%) path (58) in order. Mixing of fuel and air was accelerated by the rotor (60).
Fuel reforming appts. comprises a reforming catalyst layer formed in a reforming pipe, and flexible stress absorbing layer formed on the catalyst layer. The absorbing layer is to absorb a stress in the catalyst.
New fuel converter comprises perpendicular inside pipings, outside pipings placed around inside pipings, catalyst layer (9) between the inside and outside pipings, a reactor tube with a gas inlet at the bottom and a gas outlet at the top, and a furnace box in which reactor tube and a burner are accommodated. The catalyst layer is divided into two: the layer on the gas outlet side has a higher heat capacity than that on the gas inlet side.    Pref. (claimed) the catalyst layer with a high heat capacity consists of a support with a higher specific gravity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to produce fuel gas rich in H2. The new converter is used in an on-site type fuel cell which is turned on and off frequently.    In an example, a catalyst with a higher heat capacity was prepd. by loading a Ni-based catalyst on a sintered porous alpha-alumina support. CH4 was converted with the Ni-based catalyst at 700 deg.C as: CH4+H2O to CO+3H2, CO+H2O to CO2+Hs, CH4+2H2O to CO2+4H2.
Method comprises coating substrate with a slurry of La manganate powder, and sintering at 900-1,050 deg.C to obtain a masking film to form a thin film.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides a masking film tightly adhered to the substrate; it can be easily formed and removed.
Fine grain of a pulverised Al intermetallic cpd., 0.05-1%, is added to and mixed with powdered Ni carbonyl. A binder is added to the resulting mixt. to form slurry. The slurry is formed into tape shape. The slurry is fired at 850-1050 deg.C.    The Al intermetallic cpd. comprises; NiAl, Ni2Al, Ni2Al3, Al3Ni2, Al2Fe, Al3Fe, AlFe, AlCo, Al5CO2, Al9CO2, AlCr2, Al4Cr, Al9Cr4, AlTi, or Al3Ti2. The binder comprises; PVA, methyl cellulose, or polyvinyl butyral.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method produces the electrode, partic., cathode, used melted carbonate-fuel cell. The method firmly bonds powdered Ni to each other to thick the bonded sections. The Al intermetallic cpd. is solid-dissolved in the powdered Ni, improving mechanical strength to improve Ni high-temp. strength. The resulting electrode has resistance to compression deformation caused by the fastening pressure of the fuel cell.
Fuel electrode material for fuel cell is produced by mixing an aq. soln. contg. Ni, Co or Ru ions with a sol contg. Zr oxide and/or Ce oxide then heat treating the mixt. to produce a powder. Y oxide may also be used.    USE -   Used for solid electrolyte type fuel cells. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9346 based on complete specification).
Photovoltaic devices having solar cells connected electrically in series to form a monolithically interconnected submodule comprising: a) substrate; b) solar cells, each having a light receiving surface comprising oppositely doped regions of semiconductor. The second doped region covering only the top and side surfaces of the first doped region. Each cell is electrically sepd. from the others by a vertical trench; c) interconnects located in its trenches below the light receiving surface and contacting oppositely doped regions of adjacent cells; and d) external contacts.    Also claimed is a device in which the substrate is an electrically insulating ceramic containing a patterned array of electrical conductive regions with a patterned barrier layer.    ADVANTAGE -   The device has no electrical contacts on the illuminated surface.
Method comprises forming fuel cell system by contacting hydrogen on one side of an ion conductor provided with a catalytic electrode and contacting aromatic cpd. and oxygen on the other side of the ion conductor to produce the partial oxidation product of the aromatic cpd.; and adding a metallic complex soluble in aromatic cpd. The metallic complex pref. contains Fe. The metallic complex is pref. has cyclopentadienyl ligand, porphinate ligand, tetraphenyl-porphinate ligand, tetranaphthylporphinate ligand, or one of those ligands in which at least one hydrogen atm is replaced by alkyl or halogen.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Phenol or quinone is partially oxidised by single direct reaction process.
The oxygen ion conductor has the compsn., ZrO2-Sc2O3-CeO2, or (1-x-y)ZrO2-xSc2O3-yCeO2, where x+y = 0 - 0.16; x = at least 0; y = at least 0.    A solid fuel cell contains the conductor as solid electrolyte.    ADVANTAGE -   High ion conductivity, no structural modification, and high mechanical strength to heat cycle.
The gamma-lithium aluminate comprises fine powder having round shape and a BET specific surface area of at least 5 m2/g. Its prim. grain has an average dia. of max. 0.5 micron metre. Prepn. of the gamma-lithium aluminate comprises (a) Uniformly mixing and dispersing fine powdered alumina having a BET specific surface area of at least 10 m2/g with and into lithium carbonate having an average grain dia. of up to 10 micron metres; (b) Reacting the mixt. at at least 800 deg. C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method prepares the gamma-lithium aluminate used in a material for the electrolyte holding board of a melted carbonate type fuel cell (MCFC). The method allows high-temp. burning. The resulting material for the electrolyte holding board of the MCFC features high heat resistance, and low moisture absorption.
Power generator includes reformer for reforming city gas to hydrogen-rich gas at ordinary time, and methanol evaporator. Liq. methanol is evaporated to be fed to reformer when city gas is stopped. Reformer is provided with liq. methanol-ejecting burner. Methanol evaporator is provided with liq. methanol mist-producing ejecting section and heating section in which mist is evaporated with warm water from cooler for fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Even when feeding city gas is stopped, power generator is continuously operated.
(JP5290874-A)   NOVELTY - The electric power generating elements are formed along downstream fuel flow portion, such that the effective area of each element is fixed.    USE - For generating electric power.    ADVANTAGE - The variation in the operation voltage along fuel flow direction is reduced, by providing the electric power generating element. Thus, fuel utilization factor and power generation efficiency are improved.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the graph of the current-voltage characteristic of the cylindrical type solid electrolyte fuel cell. (Drawing includes non-English language text).
Plant comprises a fuel cell body, a water vapour reformer, a gas-separator, a hydrogen refiner, a DC/AC converter, etc. connected with the fuel cell body, an energy-supplying system for introducing heat generated in a graphite-moderated helium gas-cooled high-temp. gas furnace into the water vapour reformer through a helium-helium intermediate heat exchanger and a system for flowing helium gas returned form the water vapour reformer in a water vapour generator to heat exchange followed by returning the heat exchanged helium gas to the helium-helium heat exchanger.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   H2 gas is effectively utilised.
NOVELTY - The heat recovery from mixed exhaust gas of the air preheater (4,5) is carried out in two steps by heat exchangers (20,21). The heat exchangers are used as heat source of different temperatures. The water that gets condensed in heat exchangers is collected. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The modified gas is supplied to the fuel battery (1) by a modifier (2). The heat from exhaust gas of the modifier is collected by an air preheater (4). The heat from exhaust gas of the air pole (1b) of the fuel battery is collected by another air preheater (5).    USE -   In fuel battery based power generator.    ADVANTAGE -   Enables extraction of heat of exhaust gas in two steps. Enables effective supply of heat capacity required for absorption type cooling unit. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows systematic diagram of fuel battery based power generator. (1) Fuel battery; (1b) Air pole; (2) Modifier; (4,5) Air preheaters; (20,21) Heat exchangers.
(JP5290858-A)      NOVELTY - Madreporic material containing nickel and molten carbonate as electrolyte is used as an air pole (3). Oxide madrepore is formed by oxidation of nickel during the operation of battery. About 5% or more of nickel is heated above 350C below fusion temperature and the obtained nickel oxide is fused with electrolyte.    USE -   For batteries.    ADVANTAGE -   Electrode shrinkage is not caused as nickel madrepore is partially oxidized and hence shrinkage of air pole is also prevented. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows block diagram of molten carbonate type fuel battery. (3) Air pole.
Electroconductive oxide is formed using ultrasonic atomisation pyrolysis by imparting ultrasonic wave to a soln. of raw material prepd. by dissolving a metal soap of metal elements forming the oxide in a solvent e.g. acetylacetone, to generate aerosol, and spraying the aerosol onto a substrate heated by IR ray to pyrolyse it and form the film.    A metal-ceramics composite separator is made by the electroconductive film coating method.    USE -   For making metal-ceramics composite separators of solid electrolyte type fuel cells, having dense structure, high electroconductivity and high mechanical strength.
p-SiC is obtd. by reacting SiH4, H2, B(CH3)3 and B2H6; or SiH4, H2, B(CH3)3, and BF3. The C in the B(CH3)3 provides a widened band gap. The B(CH3)3/SiH4 ratio is pref. 0.3-0.6%; the B2H6 (orBF3)/SiH4 ratio is pref. 0.3-1.5%; and the gas mixt. pref. also contains Ar.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Prod. is esp. useful in optical sensors, solar cells etc.. The optical bandgap is increased by about 0.1 eV using low HF power without decreasing conductivity; presence of the AR produces a film of good uniformity and low resistivity even at reduced thickness.
An amorphous silicon thin film and a method for its prodn. are claimed, the novelty being that the film is produced by a plasma CVD process which employs (opt. H2-diluted) SiH4 and N2O as the reactive gases.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The thin film is used in solar cells, optical sensors and the like, esp. as a buffer layer or i-layer in an amorphous silicon solar cell of the single or integrated type. Addn. of N2O to the SiH4 reactive gas results in a high quality amorphous silicon (a-Si:O:N:H) thin film with increased photoconductivity and widened optical band gap so that the solar cell has increased cell voltage and performance. The H2 dilution reduces defects in the film.
Membrane comprises a linear copolymer having pendant unsatd. gps. where copolymer comprises (a) ether of formula CF2=CF-CF2-Q-O-CF=CF2 (1) in which Q is -O-C2J4-; and J is F three times and -CF3 once; and (b) a component of formula C2F3-O-C2F4-SO2F (2) in which the -SO2F gp. is converted to an ionic gp. Copolymer pref. comprises 0.3-25 mole% (a) and 75-99.7 mole% (b). The -SO2F gp. of (b) is pref. converted to an ionically charged substit. pref. by hydrolysis with an aq. alkaline soln. Membrane can be cured to crosslink the copolymer, pref. thermally.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Melt processible polymer, opt. crosslinked to improve the strength, elasticity and tear resistance of the finished prod. can be fabricated into a membrane used in electrolytic fuel and chlor-alkali cells. In an example, mixt. of 22g 2-fluorosulphonyl tetrafluoroethyl trifluorovinyl ether and 2.3g 3,6-dioxa-5-trifluoromethyl perfluoronona-1,8-diene was emulsified with a mixt. of 1.03g Na dihydrogenphosphate, 1.25g Na mono-hydrogenphosphate, 0.32g ammonium persulphate and 1.66g surfactant in 300ml deionised water. Mixt. was stirred at 55 deg.C. and tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) was charged at 100psi. Reaction mixt. was kept at 100psi unit 19g was absorbed over 81 min. After releasing the pressure, 50ml dil. HCl was added to coagulate the polymer which was recovered in a yield of m35g and had a sulphonyl fluoride equiv. wt. of 636 g/eq. Obtd. copolymer was pressed at 0.5 ton and 210 deg.C into a disk, cured under N2 at 270 deg.C for 20 hr, vacuum-dried at 100 deg.C for 24 hrs. and immersed in 25 wt.% NaOH with stirring at 60 deg.C for 3 days. Disk was washed with dionised water, kept in boiled deionised water for 2 hr and vacuum dried at 80 deg.C for 24 hr. Change of weight and vol. before and after hydration were +65.5% and +105, cf. +73.4% and +164% for a disk absorbing water in an uncured state.
A method is disclosed for making a thin-film solar cell (10), comprising the steps: (a) depositing a layer of contact material (14) on a substrate (12) to form a back contact; (b) depositing thereon a layer of p-type solar cell material (16); (c) depositing thereon a layer of n-type solar cell material (18); and (d) depositing thereon a layer of contact material (20) to form a front contact; where each layer is deposited using a plasma gun to generate an ionised gas stream for heating and discharging the material of the layer. In particular the plasma gun is used to melt and transport the material to the substrate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used for making thin-film solar cells. It avoids the need to raise the temp. of the substrate substantially and thus is partic. suitable for applying solar cells on inexpensive plastic substrates, or on non-planar substrates. The method also allows selective deposition of the coating material on portions of the cell to facilitate intricate connections with other solar cells.
A component has two coextensive porous support plates (22, 23) a proton exchange membrane (21) sandwiched at least between the plate central regions, and a circumferentially complete elastomeric sealant body (24) between the peripheral regions of the plates to join the plates together and fill the pores so that the peripheral regions are completely impermeable to fluid penetration. The sealant pref. does not release any volatile substances which would form escape apssages, and is pref. silicone rubber, partic. Sylhard 170. The membrane may end short of the plate peripheries and be peripherally encapsulated by the sealant or may extend to the plate peripheries and be sealed by the sealant.    ADVANTAGE -   Minimises or eliminates fluid escape, is simple in design, inexpensive to mfr., easy to use and reliable in operation.
Film consists of perovskite oxide grains with an average grain size of at least 1.0 nm and up to 1 micron which are continuously bonded with each other and has a film thickness of at least 5 nm and up to 10 microns. Also claimed is a perovskite analogue oxide thin film consisting of perovskite analogue oxide grains with an average grain size of at least 1.0 nm and up to 1 micron which are continuously bonded with each other and having a film thickness of at least 5 nm and up to 10 microns.    Prepn. of the perovskite oxide thin film or the perovskite analogue oxide thin film comprises coating a substrate with a soln. obtd. by dissolving at least metal salts and/or metal complexes which are raw materials for forming the perovskite oxide or the perovskite analogue oxide in a solvent consisting of alcohol with ether bonds and/or alcohol contg. nitrogen and by thermally decomposing the soln.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The perovskite oxide thin films obtd. can be used in sensors, fuel cells, sepn. membranes, and catalysts. They have uniformity in the film compsn. and reliability of contact with a substrate. Also the pore size, porosity, and thickness of the film can be controlled.
A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell appts. comprises a fuel cell stack for producing electricity including many unit cells (25) comprising a cathode (23), anode (22) and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane (24) between them. Coolant (32) is circulated (33) in the stack during operation and has a b.pt. within 10 deg.C of the operating setting temp..    Also claimed is an appts. as above additionally comprising means for gasifying a liq. raw material, i.e. liq. fuel and water, for reforming it to a H2-rich gas and delivering it to the cathode, the water gasifier being heated by waste heat from a reformer burner. Further claimed is an appts. as above in which oxidising gas is delivered to the cathode by a turbo-compressor operated by waste heat from a reformer burner and the liq. raw material is gasified by heat from the oxidising gas when so compressed. Also claimed is an appts. as above in which each unit cell comprises a laminate of anode, cathode and electrolyte, nipped between collectors on either side, with the cathode collector comprising porous carbon having many grooves serving as a fuel chamber and a water-absorbent porous sheet along a lateral surface.    USE -   Used as a mobile power source for aerospace appts. and vehicles, etc. .    ADVANTAGE -   The appts. stably retains a working temp. of less than 100 deg.C without loss of power generating efficiency or deterioration due to ageing.
A solid oxide fuel cell has a solid electrolyte (1) with a fuel electrode (3) on one surface and an air electrode (2) on another surface, conductive fuel and air distributors (5,6) located on the fuel and air electrodes respectively, fuel and air spacers (7,8) for sepg. reactive gases from ambient air, and an interconnector (10) in contact with the conductive fuel and/or air distributor(s). A fuel-side barrier film (13) is provided between the fuel spacer and the interconnector and an air-side barrier film (12) is provided between the air spacer and the interconnector.    ADVANTAGE -   The barrier films prevent diffusion of Cr and Ca from the interconnectors to the spacers so that shrinkage and sintering characteristics of the interconnectors do not change.
In a solid oxide fuel cell having a solid electrolyte with an air electrode on one surface and a fuel electrode on another surface, the novelty is that the fuel electrode consists of a mixt. of nickel, zirconium oxide and chromium oxide. The solid electrolyte, the air electrode and the fuel electrode are laminated and sintered together. The fuel electrode contains 45 wt.% nickel and 2-20 wt.% chromium oxide.    ADVANTAGE -   The chromium oxide acts as a sintering inhibitor so that the fuel electrode maintains sufficient porosity during sintering at above 1300 deg.C and during cell use at about 1000 deg.C.
Monitoring the electrochemical potential of fuel cell components, comprises (a) using an electrochemical sensor (40) having a pair of electrically conductive wires (10); and a porous, non-conductive conduit (50) in contact with the wires; (b) bringing electrolyte into contact with the conduit; (c) wicking the electrolyte into the pores of the conduit; (d) applying a voltage across the wires; (e) increasing the voltage until H2 evolves from the second wire; and (f) measuring the potential difference between the fuel cell component and the second wire.    The second wire provides a reference potential which is near to the open circuit potential of a hydrogen electrode.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sensor can be used to monitor anode and cathode polarisation during cell operation, and anode and cathode voltages and resistivity during shutdown. Anode polarisation establishes the point at which the fuel cell should be shut down to prevent failure due to corrosion. Anode and cathode voltages can be used to control N2 purges to maintain low O2 content in anode and cathode chambers.
A polycrystalline silicon ingot is prepared by (1) coating quartz of carbon crucible with a slurry mixed silicon nitride powder contg. small amt. of calcium chloride with ultra pure water, (2) filling a raw silicon in a water free casting crucible, (3) dissolving the silicon by heating the bottom of the crucible to 1,450 deg.C and (4) solidifying by cooling at the rate of 0.5-8.0 deg.C/min.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the substitute of silicon nitride contg. calcium chloride, calcium chloride can be filled and coated to protect the wall of quartz and carbon crucible.
Composite used to remove gaseous hydride impurities like phosphine, arsine or diborane from silane is a mixt. lf Cu oxide and Zn oxide. A method of purifying silane is also claimed, where crude silane is contacted with the composite, so that gaseous hydride impurities are adsorbed by the composite and removed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to remove gaseous hydride impurities like phosphine, arsine or diborane from silane. Silane is used to produce semiconductor devices, amorphous solar cells, or light-sensitive drums.    In an example, Cu oxide:50 wt.percent, Zn oxide: 45 wt.percent, a binder of graphite and gelatin were mixed and moulded into spherical pellets. The pellets: 49 g were loaded in a 135 cm long reactor tube. Crude silane gas contg. 3000 ppm phosphine, 1700 ppm arsine, and 300 ppm diborane was passed through the reactor tube at a space velocity of 5000 hr-1 under a pressure of 760 Torr. The impurities were not detected over 32 hr. continuous flowing.
The root mean square roughness of the thin film surface is up to 100 angstroms.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The prophyrin thin film has high surface precision and is suitable for solar cell, photo-electroconductive device, or sensor for a small quantity metal element in soln. etc..    The porphyrin thin film can be produced in a molcular beam vapour deposition apparatus, by heating a porphyrin deriv. for vaporisation in a high vacuum atmosphere of up to 1 x 10 power (-7) Torr to obtain a molecular beam, and depositing the molecular beam onto a substrate e.g. composed of element such as Si, Ge, Ni, Cr, Ti, Au, Ag, Pt or alloy, inorganic material such as glass, ITO, carbon, silica, alumina or Si carbide etc., or polymer such as polyethylene or polyamide etc.. The thin film may be formed in a multiplex structure consisting of 2-100 (2-20 layers) of the porphyrin. The porphyrin deriv. is e.g. 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl porphyrinato Zn, tetrabenzo porphyrin, tetrabenzo porphyrinato Zn, 5,10,15,20-tetra(20-pyridyl) porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-quinolyl) porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-quinilyl) porphyrinato Cu, or 5,10,15,20-tetrabiphenyl porphyrin, etc..
Photoelectromotive device has a pair of electrodes in which one of the electrodes is transparent, and a multiplex layer of an electron acceptive organic cpd. layer and an electron donative organic cpd. layer sandwiched between the electrodes.    Electron acceptive organic cpd. layer consists of perylene deriv., and electron donative organic cpd. layer consists of In phthalocyanine chloride having the absorption spectrum of absorbence ratio (absorbence 810/absorbence 740) (in which absorbence 810 and 740 are each absorbence at wavelength 810 nm and 740 nm) of at least 0.75.    Transparent electrode pref. consists of e.g. Sn oxide, ITO, In oxide, Zn oxide or semi-transparent Au etc., and the back electrode pref. consists of e.g. Au, Pt, Ni, Pd, Cu, Cr or Ag etc.    USE -   Organic photoelectromotive device has a high conversion efficiency, and is suitable for photocells, solar batteries, photosensors, photodiodes etc.
Prodn. comprises sputtering using target consisting of Zn oxide contg. Al oxide in a concn. of 0.5-1 wt.percent. The sputtering is carried out in an inert gas atmos. contg. hydrogen.    The inert gas is pref. Ar gas, and the sputtering is pref. RF magnetron sputtering. Sputtering in an Ar gas atmos. and sputtering in a hydrogen-contg. inert gas atmos. may be repeatedly carried out. The film prodn. was effected using an RF magnetron sputtering appts. having a ZnO target contg. 0 - 2 wt.percent of Al2O3 in an Ar gas atmos. contg. 0 - 10 percent of hydrogen onto a glass substrate at 150 deg. C to form a thin film having a sheet resistance of 10 ohm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Transparent electroconductive film has high permeability and a low resistivity and is for a solar cell or a thin film displaying device etc.
Catalyst (I) for electrochemical redn. of O2 consists of a transition metal complex (II) of a porphyrin, in pyrolysed and partly oxidised form, on activated charcoal (III).    In the prepn., (II) is applied to (III), pref. by dissolving (II) in a solvent (IV), homogenising the soln. with (III) in an ultrasonic bath, adding another liq., (V) which is miscible with the solvent to ppte. (II) and ultrasonically treating to give the optimum deg. of homogenisation. (II) is then pyrolysed in the presence of a weakly oxidising gas (pref. CO2 and/or water vapour).    Pref. (II) is Co(II) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-methoxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphyrin (coTMPP), the (II):(III) (wt.) ratio is ca. 1:1, (IV) is dioxane (IVA) and (V) petroleum ether (VA); and pyrolysis is carried out for 30-60 minutes at 800-850 deg.C, pref. with a definite heat-up rate, esp. 10 deg. C/min., so that ca. 21% is lost by burning.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is efficient, stable and economical and is useful for O2 or air cathode for fuel cells. Pyrolysis and partial oxidn. causes a marked increase in the activity.
A H2 generating system comprises: (a) a reactor which is a fluidised bed, tumbling drum or vibrating bed reactor contg. an activated Fe reactant with sufficient activity to convert Fe oxide at a rate of at least 2% per minute at temp. 450 deg.C or less, (b) a source of water at temp. enabling it to react with the Fe reactant to form gaseous H2 and spent Fe oxide, (c) a system for controllably delivering the water to the reactor in response to demand from the energy producing device and (d) a device for providing heat necessary for starting up the reaction between the Fe and the water. The system is capable of converting the Fe to Fe oxide at a rate of at least 2% per minute at temp., less than 450 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   H2 is used as fuel in e.g. fuel cell or heat engine. Gives increased rate of H2 prodn. while spent metal oxide particles are easily and cheaply regenerable. H2 is generated safely and at low cost on-site.
Electrolyte is of formula (YO 1.5)1-x (NbO 2.5)x (I). In (I), X is 0.1-0.3 and besides comprising Al2O3 and/or MgO at mol. ratio 99/1-80/20 and its apparent density has more than 5.05 g/cm3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as fuel cell material. Ion conductive solid electrolyte can obtain high ion conductivity even if under strong reducing atmos.
Prepn. comprises depositing ceramic grains on a metallic plate and then depositing Si powder on the ceramic grain layer.    The ceramic grains are pref. at least one of SiO2, Si nitride, and SiC grains. The grain boundary of Si is pref. made larger by heating the deposited Si.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The polycrystalline Si substrates obtd. can be used in solar cells. Polycrystallin e Si substrates with large areas can be produced without a cutting process.    In an example, SiO2 grains were deposited on a Cu plate with dimensions of 150 x 150 x 0.5 mm at a rate of 5 g/min to a thickness of 0.1-0.3 mm using an Ar hot plasma at a flow rate of 10 1/min. To the Ar hot plasma, Si grains with a size of up to 2 mm were added at a rate of 80 g/min and Si was deposited on the ceramic grain layer.
The gas cleaning agent is obtd. by compressing fine noble metal particles on a ceramics carrier.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Organic matter contained in oxygen and hydrogen from a cylinder can be removed easily and reliably by the agent. By supplying the purified gas to a fuel cell, the properties and operating life of gas diffusion electrode can be improved. The agent can be regenerated and used repeatedly.    In an example, chloroplatinic acid 5 g was dissolved in 1 l water, followed by adding silica grains (1 kg) and a 1% soln. of sodium borohydride, with stirring, and reducing completely. After rinsing, the prod. was dried. The silica grains carrying fine platinum grains was packed into a quartz tube (dia. 50 mm, length 50 mm, thickness 1.5 mm). Oxygen or hydrogen from a cylinder was passed through the quartz tube and organic matter in the gas was adsorbed. By supplying the purified oxygen or hydrogen to a fuel cell, the life of the gas diffusion electrode was extended by over twice.
Processing an ion-exchange membrane comprises immersion in a H2O-soluble solvent to swell the membrane and then rolling or stretching to reduce its thickness. The membrane has a F-contg. polymer as a matrix.    Also claimed are the following: (1) an ion-exchange membrane having a water content of 30-50%. Prepn. is by immersion in a solvent or its aq. soln., and (2) an ion-exchange membrane fuel cell using the membrane described in (2).    ADVANTAGE -   The ion-exchange membrane has high water content and is low in sheet resistance. Fuel cells have good discharge properties. Redn. ratio of thickness of the membrane is 50% or less (claimed).
A method of making a Si solar cell of 18-20% efficiency comprises anisotropically etching the front of a P-type Si wafer (22) to form irregular structures, diffusing a layer of P atoms, carried to the substrate heated at 950 deg.C by inert gas, into the surface to form a lightly doped N junction and thus a P-N junction (30), completing diffusion by a drive-in passing steam or O2 over the wafer heated to 1100 deg.C, and growing a layer of thermal silica (26) during this.    A computer-guided laser then forms many grooves (28) in the silica, P atoms are diffused to form a heavily doped P-N junction below the grooves using the method above, metallic contacts (32) are formed in the grooves by chemical redn. of an ion plating soln., and an electric current induced to attract more ions to the metal layers. An additional metal layer is deposited on the metallic layers from molten metal, the edges of the first P-N junction (34) plasma-etch cleaned, and many contacts formed to the back of the wafer (36).    Also claimed is the cell made as above in which the reflectivity of the irregularly etched front surface is ca 20%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Si solar cell and method of fabrication are used for high efficiency cells. The method is inexpensive, simple, gives high throughput, and the cells are 18-20% efficient.
Water vapour and hydrogen chloride are added to a plasma gas when thermal plasma is irradiated at the surface of melted Si. Powdered sodium chloride may be added to the plasma gas. After refining the Si, unidirectional coagulation is applied to the Si.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method refines the Si used in producing solar cells. The method produces the Si having low contents of B, Fe, and Al with one process. The method provides the high-purity Si from inexpensive Si though conventional methods require expensive Si for producing the solar cells.
A laminated layer comprises an electron accepting organic cpd. layer and an electron donating organic cpd. layer between two electrodes in which at least one electrode has translucence. The electron accepting organic cpd. comprises at least one selected from a halogen-substd. polycyclic quinone cpd. and a polycyclic quinone cpd. having unsatd. nitrogen in a ring.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic photoelectromotive device is used in a photocell, solar cell, photosensor, or photodiode. The organic photoelectromotive device features high conversion efficiency.
The fuel cell generating set includes (a) a methanol reformer; (b) a converter for converting CO in the reformed gas into CO2; and (c) a fuel cell for supplying the CO-reduced reformed gas to a hydrogen electrode and for supplying an oxidant to an oxygen electrode for power generation.    The CO converter has at least one of Rh, Ni, or Pd as a catalytic activity compsn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel cell generating set is used in a power system for an electric car. The generating set arrests CO poisoning of the hydrogen electrode developed when a gas comprising mainly hydrogen, CO, CO2 grown by natural gas or the methanol reformer is supplied to the fuel cell.
(JP5258763-A)      NOVELTY - The condensed water is aerated to remove volatile element of methanol. The organic substance remained in the processed underwater is removed. A demineralizer (60) removes a saline matter from treated water and demineralized treated water is supplied to the water vapor generator of the fuel battery. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Fuel type condensed water is separated and modified and a fuel with water vapor is generated which is then electrochemically reacted with oxidized agent within the fuel battery to generate electricity.    USE -   For use in phosphoric acid type fuel battery power generating unit to remove organic substance and saline matter from the fuel condensed matter.    ADVANTAGE -   Removes impurity of methanol with high extraction ratio. Prevents contamination of ion exchange resin and desalination is performed efficiently. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the systematic diagram of water treatment unit. (60) Demineralizer.
Method comprises surface roughening an ion-conductive polymer by plasma etching, and depositing a metallic layer by sputtering.    USE -   Provides a reactive electrolytic film for fuel cells.
Electrolyte comprises (a) stabilised zirconia contg. 6-13 mol.% calcia and (b) stabilised zirconia contg. 6-12 mol.% rare earth oxide. The ratio of (a):(b) = 90:50-50:50.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for producing oxygen concn. sensor and/or a fuel cell etc. The electrolyte has high ion conductivity.
Fused silicon in a mould is solidified from bottom to top while stirring by applying a magnetic field. The magntic field is generated by a coil which is placed on the top or side of the mould.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A moulded ingot of polysilicon can be obtd. from a lower grade silicon source. It is used to produce solar cells.    In an example, aluminium contg. Si melt was added to high purity silicon melt. The mixt. was solidified from the bottom while applying a magnetic field of 10 Gauss. The Al content measured from the bottom of the resultant ingot was less than 0.1 ppm at 20% of the height, less than 0.1 ppm at 50%, and 0.2 ppm at 80%.
The prepn. comprises (A) making precursor soln. of hexachloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6.H2O), (B) converting precursor anion (PtCl6) of catalyst to nonionic cpd. ((NH4)2PtCl6) by adding ammonium ion excess in the precursor soln., and (C) supporting nonionic cpd. with carbon black.
(JP5251094-A)   NOVELTY - An electrolyte mixture containing yttrium stabilized zirconium and a specific metal like lanthanum cobalt oxide, lanthanum manganese oxide, lanthanum chromium oxide or their mixtures is produced. The electrolyte mixture is sintered in oxidizing atmosphere along with electrode and pole raw materials at calcination temperature more than operating temperature of fuel battery.    USE - The method is used for manufacturing solid-electrolyte cell e.g. high-temperature water vapor electrolytic cell used in solid-electrolyte type fuel battery pack.    ADVANTAGE - Number of processes is reduced by simultaneously baking base electrode and electrolyte materials.
Prepn. comprises processing a chlorogallium phthalocyanine by using a solvent contg. at least a trifluoroacetic acid, where the black angle (2 theta +/- 0.2 deg.) in the X-ray diffraction spectrum has its sharp diffraction peaks at 7.4, 16.6, 25.5 and 28.3 deg.    Pref. the solvent is a mixt. of a trifluoroacetic acid and a halogenated hydrocarbon-based solvent.    The prepn. pref. comprises dissolving chlorogallium phthalocyanaine in the solvent contg. at least trifluoroacetic acid; pouring the soln. into an organic solvent which is a poor solvent for chlorogallium phthalocycanine; and allowing the chlorogallim phthalocyanine to deposit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The prepn. provides highly sensible and durable chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal suitable for photoconductive material easily and in a short time.
A surface-emitting semiconductor injection laser comprises: (a) an active layer (16) and a pair of cladding layers (14,18) formed on a substrate (10); and (b) a folded resonator cavity formed by highly reflective 45 deg. micromirror (24) and a 90 deg. micromirror (22) etched at either end of the active layer, and by a partial reflector positioned between the 45 deg. micromirror and the substrate. The semiconductor laser is mounted junction down on a heat-sink (34) and laser light is coupled out from the resonator cavity through the partial reflector. Also claimed is a two-dimensional monolithic array of surface-emitting lasers as above.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Suitable for making high-power arrays of semiconductor lasers for use in opto-electronic logic circuits, fibre-optic communication systems, and optical pumping of solid-state lasers. The inverted lasers have better thermal characteristics than prior art surface-emitting lasers are a result of being mounted junction down.
The fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly interposed between two separator layers. The separator layers are formed of thin electrically conductive sheet material which is impermeable to the fuel and oxidant reactant streams. The membrane electrode assembly comprises two electrode layers formed of porous electrically conductive sheet material. The electrode layers have a catalyst associated with it and an ion exchange membrane interposed between the electrode layers.    The electrode layers include passages, such as the interstitial spaces within the electrode material or grooves formed in the surface of the electrode material, for flowing a reactant stream between an inlet and outlet within the electrode layer. The incorporation of the reactant flow passages within the electrode material permits the use of thin, lightweight separator layers, thus providing higher power-to-volume and power-to-weight ratios than conventional fuel cells having reactant flow passages engraved, milled or moulded in the separator plates.    USE -   Electrochemical fuel cell for converting fuel reactant and oxidant streams to reaction product stream and electrical energy.
Solar cell substrate comprises a tempered glass plate; a thin film coating on the incident surface forming first surface forces; a transparent conductive layer on the opposite surface forming second surface forces which cancel out the first to prevent warping of the plate during thermal tempering; and a semiconductor layer formed on the conductive layer.    The thin film coating is pref. ZnO, SnO, In2O3, SiN or SiO2.    Tempered glass plate pref. has a surface compression loss of at least 250 kg./sq.cm. The transparent conductive layer is Sn oxide. The semiconductor layer is pref. a p-i-n Si structure.    ADVANTAGE -   Substrate has excellent resistance to breakage during handling, installation, etc.
(JP5242897-A)   NOVELTY - A solid-polymer-electrolyte type fuel battery comprises electrodes arranged on sides of electrolyte film, leaving outer edge sections of the film. Gas seal sections with reinforcement film are formed opposing the vacant outer edge sections of electrolyte film. Reactor-gas supply boards seal the electrolyte film with electrodes, via gas seal section, and supply fuel and oxidizing agent gases to electrodes.    USE - For solid-polymer-electrolyte film fuel battery having electrolyte film of high strength.    ADVANTAGE - The outer edge section of solid-polymer electrolyte film is reinforced mechanically. Even if mechanical stress by difference in the thermal expansion or contraction between each construction element of the fuel battery is increased, the electrolyte film is not destroyed mechanically. The fuel battery has outstanding reliability.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A solid-polymer-electrolyte type fuel battery comprises a solid-polymer-electrolyte film (1), anode (2) and cathode (3), reinforcement film (7,8), a pair of gas-seal parts (5,6) and a pair of reactive-gas supply boards (4). The Solid-polymer-electrolyte film enables diffusion of proton. The anode and cathode are arranged on the sides of the electrolyte film, leaving the outer edge sections of the film vacant. A reinforcement film is arranged opposing the electrodes. Gas seal sections are formed opposing the vacant outer edge section of the electrolyte film. A pair of reactor gas supply boards hold and seal the electrolyte film with the electrodes, via the gas seal section, and supply fuel gas and oxidizing agent gas to electrodes.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows sectional view of solid-polymer type electrolyte fuel battery. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    Electrolyte film (1)    Anode (2)    Cathode (3)    Reactive gas supply board (4)    Gas seal section (5,6)    Reinforcement film (7,8)
Prodn. of zironcia electrolyte comprises blending zirconia (ZrO2) and ytterbia (Yb2O3) at rate of ytterbia/zirconia : 7/93-10/90 (by mol.ratio). The ytterbia is used as stabilising agent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for producing solid electrolyte fuel cell and oxygen conc. sensor. Can obtain high conductivity at temp. of lower than 1000 deg.C.
Translucent electric conductive oxides compsn. comprises AB2O4, with respective combination of metallic ions of both A and B as follows: If A = Mg, Zn and Cd ion then B = combination of Ga ions. If A = Mg or Zn ion, then B = combination of In ions. If A = Mg, Zn or Cd ion, then B = combination of Ga or In ions at opt. rate. If A = Li or Na ion, then B = combination of In 1/2 Sn 1/2 ion. If A = Zn ion, then B = combination of Zn 2/3 Sb 1/3 ion. If A = Zn ion, then B = combination of Zn 1/2 Sn 1/2 ion.    Comspn. is made up of spinel crystal structure contg. rutile chain, giving electrical conductivity by reducing processing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For producing solar cell and liq. crystal display device. Gives electrical conductivity and wide area of light transmission.
Temp. controller includes starting flow rate setter, flow rate order circuit, temp.-rising controller with signal switch for selectively outputting given starting flow rate set signal from starting flow rate setter and flow rate order signal based on reformer catalyst temp. from flow rate order circuit to flow rate control valve in temp. rising fuel flow path, switching order unit for switching signal switch of rising temp. rising controller to side of flow rate-ordering circuit when reformer catalyst temp. exceeds given temp..    ADVANTAGE -   Starting time of reformer can be shortened.
Inorganic or hydrophobic organic material is solubilised in a water medium with the help of a specific surfactant of a ferrocene deriv.; a mixt. of 1-100 mM of a photooxidation catalyst and 1-100 mM of a photooxidation catalyst regenerator in a mol. ratio of 1:5 to 5:1 is added to the water medium to prepare micelle soln. or dispersion; the pH of the micelle soln. or dispersion is adjusted to below 5; and film supporting material is added to the micelle soln. or dispersion and light is irradiated on them to form thin films on the surface of the film supporting material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to form thin films for thin film devices like displays, solar cells, memories or nonlinear optical devices, or colour filters of LCD displays or projectors. Thin films can be formed on any substrate.    In an example, a micelle dispersion was prepd. by adding 2 mM of 'FPEG' (RTM ferrocene derivative, Dojin Kagaku Corp.), 7 mM of phthalocyanine, 10 mM of (Ru(bpy)3)Cl2 (bpy = bipyridyl) and 100 cc of 1N HCl into 1 l of pure water. The dispersion was coated on an ITO substrate. Xelamp light was irradiated on the coating.
The cell is mfd. by (a) covering an indium tin oxide of 500-1000 angstoms on the glass substrate by electron beam deposition or sputtering, (b) depositing a silicon oxide of 1000-5000 angstroms by PECVD; (c) depositing a silicon oxide of 500-5000 angstroms to form a pattern; (d) depositing an amorphous silicon layer to form an anode of the solar cell, and (e) depositing a metal (Al or Cr) of 0.5-1 mm as a cathode of the cell by the electron beam deposition or sputtering.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell has a high energy conversion efficiency.
An amorphous silicon solar cell, which is formed with transparent electrode layer (6), p-type, i-type, n-type amorphous silicon layer (4-2) and metallic electrode (1) on a glass substrate (7) contains ion (esp. indium ion in the transparent film) diffusion preventing layer (5) formed between the transparent electrode layer (6) and the p-type amorphous silicon layer (4) for preventing interfacial ion diffusion and preventing defects and increase of the energy in the p-type amorphous silicon.    The ion diffusion preventing layer (6) is formed with Pd and its thickness is 20-300 angstroms. The transparent electrode (6) is composed of ITO (indium tin oxide) and the metallic electrode is made of Al or Ag.
Cell comprises a solid electrolyte on the surface and on the back a fuel electrode and an air electrode. Solid electrolyte comprises partially stabilised zirconia (PSZ) member having a stabilised zirconia film on the surface.    Solid electrolyte is pref. prepd. by doctor blade process into a green sheet using a Mn-added stabilised zirconia and a Mn-added PSZ.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solid electrolyte fuel cell can be obtd. free from warpage and cracks without adding a large amt. of Mn; provides a fuel cell having a solid electrolyte having good electrochemical properties and also mechanical strength.
Fuel cell comprises a pair of gas diffusion electrode provided with a solid electrolyte between them and a reducing gas and an oxidising gas being supplied to each of the electrodes to generate electric power.    The solid electrolyte is based on Ba-Ce-O system, and is a mixed ionic conductive oxide having both proton conductivity and oxide ion conductivity.    A fuel cell as above is also claimed where the solid electrolyte is a mixed ionic conductive oxide having both protonic conductivity and oxide ion conductivity. The fuel cell operates in the range of 650-850 deg.C..    Pref. the ionic conductive oxide is a perovskite oxide expressed by BaCe1-xGdxO3-a, where x is above 0 and below 1 and a is above 0 and below 1.5; more pref. x = 0.16-0.23.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides a highly reliable and long usable fuel cell.
A process for producing a fuel gas for fuel cells is claimed, comprising treating a sulphur-contg. hydrocarbon with a desulphurising agent to reduce the sulphur content to 0.2 ppm or less, and bringing the treated hydrocarbon into contact with a steam reforming catalyst to provide a fuel gas mainly composed of hydrogen. The desulphurising agent comprises a copper-nickel alloy having a copper:nickel wt. ratio of 95:5-5:95.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The invention provides a process for producing a fuel gas for fuel cells from a heavy hydrocarbon such as kerosene. The process involves a desulphurising agent which has a low tendency to bring about the deposition of carbon even at relatively high temps., has a high desulphurising capability and has a high service life.
An array of solar cells (15) on a blanket (10) is formed from bundles (11,12) of glass fibres (13) woven at right angles with interstices (16) between them. The obtd. cloth is coated with silicone (14) in the form of paste and cured to form a flexible solid. Care is taken to ensure that the interstices remain open, and the same silicon may be used as an adhesive to fix the solar cells (15) in place on the cloth.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for a solar cell array for use in space. A lightweight support blanket has coefft. of thermal expansion close to that of the solar cells, and which is inherently resistant to attack by atomic oxygen.
The system comprises a fuel cell producing DC power for operating an electric motor. The fuel cell comprises a cathode and anode sepd. by an electrolyte. The cathode is supplied with an O2 source. The anode is supplied with an H2-contg. gas produced by partial oxidn. and (steam) reforming of a fuel with air and water, where the exothermic partial oxidn. reaction provides sufficient heat to sustain the endothermic steam reforming reaction so the H2-contg. gas is produced without external heat input.    Pref. a four-wheeled vehicle has the propulsion system.    Pref. a partial oxidn. reformer comprises a longitudinally extending container having a 1st zone contg. an oxidn. catalyst; a 2nd zone contg. a reforming catalyst; inlets for introducing water, air and fuel into the 1st and 2nd zones; and an outlet for withdrawing an H2-contg. gas. The reaction in the 1st zone produces an H2-contg. gas and sufficient heat to initiate and maintain the endothermic reaction in the 2nd zone, which produces an H2-enriched gas without external heat supply.    ADVANTAGE -   The system provides rapid response to variable acceleration demands.
Process consists of producing green sheet with slurry contg. ceramic powder and another slurry contg. combustible powder with ceramic portion and combustible portion placed on the green sheet alternately by doctor blade method; and sandwiching the green sheets with ceramic green sheets and firing. The combustible portion is removed during baking.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for distributor of solid electrolyte type fuel cell. Process can be facilitated.
(JP5225990-A)   NOVELTY - A battery (4) has low and high temperature electrodes e.g. braid-like porous platinum boards (11,12), to which fuel containing hydrogen gas is supplied. The high temperature electrode is heated by exhaust heat of the fuel cell system, and the fuel which drains out from the high temperature electrode is supplied to fuel cell (1).    USE - Fuel cell system.    ADVANTAGE - The heat energy of the exhaust gas ejected at the time of diving of the fuel cell system, is more effectively used.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a block diagram of the fuel cell system. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    fuel cell (1)    de-sulfuring apparatus (2)    reformer (3)    battery (4)    low temperature electrode (11)    high temperature electrode (12)
An ion conductor comprises (1-x-y)ZrO2-xSc2O3-yA2O3, where x+y=0-0.16 (0 excluded); x and y are larger than 0; and A is at least one selected from Tm, Dy, and Tb. Solid fuel cell comprises the ion conductor as the solid electrolyte.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Yields an ion conductivity about 4 times as large as that of an oxygen ion conductor YSZ (yttria stabilised zirconia), has high mechanical strength w.r.t. thermal cycle, and provides stable conductivity at high temps. with less change with passage of time.    In an example, a mixt. of compsn. 0.88ZrO2-0.10Sc2O3-0.02Dy2O3 was moulded into a pellet 20 mm in dia. and 2 mm in thickness, which was sintered at 1600 deg.C for 20 hours in air to obtain cubic crystals yielding a conductivity of 7.0 x 10 power (-2) ohm(-1)cm(-1). The drop of conductivity after maintaining at 800 deg.C for 300 hrs. was 2.1%.
Prepn. of a sintered zirconia body in sheet form comprises firing a green sheet of zirconia that has a load applied to it in the form of at least one weight.    A wt. having a wt. per unit area W (g/cm2) and a surface area S (g/cm2) is placed on the sheet to produce a load per unit area G (g/cm2) that satisfies the conditions: (I) The wt. is made of a porous material having a porosity of 5-30%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sintered zirconia sheet is dense, flat and free of camber or waviness. It is suitable for use as electrolyte membranes in sensors and fuel cells, and as industrial jigs such as firing setters.
Structure of an ion exchange membrane comprises the ion exchange membrane and at least one ion-conductive thin layer. This layer has a lower glass transition temp. than that of the ion exchange membrane on at least one surface of the membrane. The thin layer is between 0.01 and 20 microns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The ion membrane is employed in a fuel cell. The arrangement increases catalyst utilisation in the electrode. The intimate bonding structure between the membrane and catalyst electrode minimises the depth of the membrane which encroaches into the electrode. The membrane can be bonded with the electrode with sufficient and uniform strength.
The transparent flat glass is a usual transparent soda lime type contg. 0.06-0.12 wt.% impurities, as converted to Fe2O3, in which oxidising agent is previously added and mixed with the glass raw material.    USE -   Used for cover glass for solar cell panels, material for hot water generators for utilising solar heat, or window glass for effective incidence of solar heat.
(JP5217593-A)   NOVELTY - The exhaust gas of oxidizing agent supplied through a branch pipe (21) is processed so that the oxygen content of the exhaust gas is less than a preset level. The exhaust gas removed with oxygen content, is supplied as a purge gas between containers (7) and fuel cells, to prevent leakage of heating gas from fuel electrode, through a purge gas feed pipe by a blower (24).    USE - Used as a fuel cell-type power generating plant.    ADVANTAGE - The plant reduces the oxygen content in an oxidizing agent waste gas, to obtain a purge gas, and reduces the cost by eliminating the need to store large quantities of nitrogen for purging a container, as the exhaust gas of oxidizing agent is used as purge gas after reducing oxygen content in exhaust gas.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the functional block diagram of a fuel cell type power generating plant. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    container (3)    oxidizing agent electrode discharge pipe (7)    branch pipe (21)    demodulation device (22)    purge gas charging line (23)    blower (24)
(JP2707388-B2)      The fuel battery has a cartridge type electrolytic liquid auxiliary tank (10) beside the fuel room, a honeycomb structure cassette type electrode (3), a steel plate wire (9), a core plate (4), a plate line (6), a fuel injection pipe (7), a connecting pipe (12), etc..    USE -   The fuel battery is used for teaching material.    ADVANTAGE -   The battery provides supply at reduced cost and has simple structure.
NOVELTY - The electrochemical device comprises electrolytic cells (12,14) each having an O2 ion conducting electrolyte (18,20), anode (26,28) and cathode (30,32); and interconnects (16) connecting the anodes to the cathodes of adjacent cells. A sealant (48,50) seals the cells to the interconnects to provide a gas-tight seal, the sealant being positioned relative to the interconnect so as to be spaced from the electron pathway formed by the interconnect.    USE -   As a series connected tubular electrolytic cell,    especially for generation of concentrated oxygen (O2).    ADVANTAGE -   Simple, improved interconnection between the tubes is provided having high electrical and pneumatic integrity. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING - The drawing shows a longitudinal cross-section of the interconnect positioned between a first tubular cell and a second tubular cell.    (12,14) Electrolytic cells    (16) Interconnects    (18,20) Electrolyte    (26,28) Anodes    (30,32) Cathodes    (48,50) Sealant
Non-single crystal film, pref. amorphous Si, is mfd. by high frequency plasma CVD from an Si gas under the following conditions: pressure 0.25-2.5 torr; HF frequency (f) 30-120 MHz; power (in W/sq.cm) smaller than 10/f; and distance (d in cm) between electrodes larger than f/30. Pref. the residence time (t) is 0.05-2.5 sec. where k = 78.947 x 10 power(-3) x V x P/Q, where V = discharge space in cc, Q = raw material gas flow rate in the discharge space in sccm, and P = pressure in torr.    In further embodiments, films of amorphous Si nitride and microcrystalline Si are deposited.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In mfr. of TFTs, optical sensors, solar cells and other semiconductor devices, esp. where the film is a gate insulation, ohmic contact or protection layer. High quality thin films are deposited at low cost and at high speed.
An electroconductive interconnecting member consists of a ceramic material comprising lanthanum chromite, having compsn. LaCr1-xAxO3, where A = Cu, Zn and/or Ti and x = 0-0.3. Also claimed is a fuel cell having an interconnecting member as above.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The invented sintered body has high mechanical strength and high electroconductivity and is useful as an interconnecting member in a fuel cell of solid electrolyte type. The material has x is up to 0.3 and is formed of perovskite single phase, thus yielding a favourable thermal expansion coefft.
A generator (10) comprises long, hollow, tubular fuel cells (40) contg. an inner air electrode (64), an outer fuel electrode (56) and solid electrolyte (54) therebetween, placed between a fuel distribution board (29) and a separating board (32), separating the combustion chamber (16) from the generating chamber (14). Each fuel cell has an open end (42) and a plugged, closed end (44). The plugged end is inserted into the fuel distribution board and the open end is inserted through the separator board. The plug material (60) is completely within the fuel distribution board, thus sealing the end from possible leaks. More specifically, a fuel cell generator as above further comprising controls, an oxygen- or air-preheater, a fuel-gas compressor, a source of fuel gas, and a heat recovery unit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Compared to prior designs, the plug is removed from the generating chamber, and thus a defect or crack would not cause open burning or hot spots. The cell end plugs can be made thicker and more dense to provide improved support and allow longer cells.
Electrolytic cell comprises: pipe or flat plate alternately connected by electrolyte and inter-connector; cathode electrode attached on one side of the pipe or plate; anode electrode attached on the other side of the pipe or plate; insulation between the electrolyte and the inter-connector. The insulation is pref. a composite of insulating ceramic material and solid electrolyte.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell is used for the high temp. steam electrolysis unit and the solid electrolyte fuel cell. The insulation ceramic or composite prevents degradation of the cell caused by applying current to the eectrolyte during electrolysis.    In an example, insulation ceramic material 5, A1203 was sandwiched between inter-connector 4 and the electrolyte 1, which were press-joined at 1,500 deg.C.
Cell array for battery of electrolysis and fuel cells connected electrically and geometrically in series esp. for generating or operating with H2 and O2, is claimed. Each cell has an electrolyte-permeable diaphragm, acting as gas separator, between the anode and cathode compartments, and an electrolyte-permeable metal electrode on both sides of the diaphragm. Adjacent cells are sepd. by a gas-tight, electroconductive bipolar cell wall. Between each electrode and cell wall, there is an electroconductive and elastically deformable structure acting as current lead and spacer, which is electroconductive and permeble to gas and electrolyte. The cells are surrounded by a frame.    The novel features are that: (a) the diaphragm (3) is planar; (b) the electrodes (4,5) are laminated, opt. with macroscopic perforations, and are placed directly on the diaphragm or combined integrally with this (EDE plate 2); (c) the bipolar sepg. walls (6) consist of sheet metal and have a smooth surface or protruding and/or moulded spacers; and (d) the spacers between the electrode (4,5) and bipolar sepg. walls (6), i.e. the anode and cathode compartments, are (partly) filled with lamellar structures (7-10), which are permeable to electrolyte and gas, at least in the axial direction, i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm, and in the vertical direction and are bounded by the electrodes (4,5). These lamellae consist of numerous layers of identical construction with axial and vertical wall elements (11-14) with little distance between them and spacers (15-21) between the wall elements.    ADVANTAGE -   This zero-gap array is more efficient and has more favourable operating conditions and a longer lifetime than usual.
Fuel cell (5) generating electricity from reaction between fuel and oxidant sources (10,12) comprises a pair of porous gas diffusion electrodes (18,20) defining an electric field, first and second electrolytes (22,24) deposited on respective electrodes, and an electrolyte membrane (30) with a central hole (32) positioned between and in contact with both electrolyte deposits.    Both electrolyte deposits and the electrolyte membrane are perflurocarbon copolymer, portion conducting material, the electrolyte deposits most pref. comprising 10 - 20 mg per 5 cm2 area of a 5 percent soln. of Nafion (RTM for Dupont perfluorocarbon).    The electrodes are a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode, each having a distribution member (14,16) in flow communication for supplying gaseous fuel and oxidant respectively and an electrolyte member between and in contact with both of them comprising an electrolyte membrane sheet having a central hole and electrolyte deposited on opposite surfaces.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cell employs a solid polymer electrolyte membrane which does not need humidification of itself or the reactant gases to operate efficiently. Consequently, it is less complex in structure and can have much thinner electrolyte layers and, therefore, much reduced ohmic resistance enabling it to operate at near ambient temps. and pressures.    .Drf
The amorphous silicon solar cell is mfd. by (a) forming an ITO transference electrode (2) on the glass substrate (1), (b) forming an N+ amorphous silicon layer (3) of PH3/SiH4 = 0.02 doping concn. and 150-200 angstroms thickness on the electrode (2). A P amorphous silicon layer of B2H6/SiH4 = 0.01 doping conc. and 100-200 angstroms thickness is formed on the layer (3), (d) and an n amorphous silicon layer of SiH4/H2 = 0.2 doping concn. and 4000-5000 angstroms is formed on the layer (4) and an n amorphous silicon layer (6) of PH3/SiH4 = 0.01 doping conc. and 500-700 angstroms on the layer (5) and (f) forming a metal electrode (7) on the layer (6).    ADVANTAGE -   The solar cell has a high energy conversion efficiency
Device comprises a unit cell comprising a fuel pole, an electrolyte matrix layer, and an oxidiser pole being sandwiched between two gas supply plates on the fuel cell pole side and the oxidiser side. A partition is provided to the oxidiser side gas supply plate to separate it into a fuel upstream side and a fuel downstream side, and the components of a fuel gas supplied to the fuel pole is electrochemically reduced by supplying an oxidiser gas to the upstream side oxidiser pole while supplying a hydrogen-contg. gas to the fuel downstream side oxidiser pole.    The poles are pref. carbon electrodes having an area of 100 cm2 and ca. 200 microns thick, and is coated with a Pt-contg. catalyst; the electrolyte matrix layer is ca. 100 microns thick, and is composed of fine SiC grains impregnated with phosphoric acid; the partition was provided at a distance of ca. 3 cm from the downstream side w.r.t. the effective length of the pole, i.e., 10 cm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Allows redn. to take place without consuming external power. Useful substances such as CO and MeOH can be prepd. from fuel waste gas etc.
Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell has a polymer electrolyte membrane (71) between gas-permeable, oxygen and hydrogen electrodes (72, 73; 74) and electron conductors (75) on the outsides of the electrodes, opposite the electrolyte sides. The oxygen electrode (72,73), which is the cathode, comprises a catalytically active component in a carrier and a binder and it is made so as to have a water repellancy gradient across its thickness, the water repellency being greatest adjacent to the electrolyte and lowest adjacent to the conductor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel cell does not suffer from flooding with water at the oxygen electrode and consequent instability because of a lack of contact efficiency between the catalyst and oxygen gas which has diffused through the electrode, the electrode having such water repellency adjacent to the electrode that any water forms droplets which can be removed quickly rather than an encapsulating film.
Prepn. of alkylarsines comprises contacting an olefin and arsine in the presence of a Bronsted acid catalyst. Reaction takes place in the vapour phase.    Also claimed are: (1) a continuous process in which the olefin and arsine are contacted in presence of the catalyst in a reaction vessel, condensing and removing the resultant prod.; and (2) prepn. of arsenic-contg. semiconductor articles by conducting metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) in which process the alkylarsines formed are used as the volatile source of arsenic.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Mono-alkylarsines and esp. mono-tert.-butylarsine are used in semiconductor applications such as solar cells and computer chips. Mono-tert.-butylarsine can be used to make galluim arsenide thin films by MOCVD, with an increased yield of arsenide based on arsenic use. High purity mono-arsines are prepd. which contain little sulphur, germanium, metallic or oxygenating impurities i.e. less than 1ppm. The process is highly selective and produces a high yield of prod. of good i.e. in excess of 90 wt.percent. High reaction (arsine) pressures are not required, nor is the disposal of significant quantities of reactants and/or by prods. such as dialkylarsine. Lengthy purificn. is not necessary.
The electrically conductive gas distributer structure (4) for a fuel cell is located between a current distributer element (5) and an electrode (3) connected to a membrane electrolyte (1). It takes the form of a flat porous body of fibres (28) made of an electrochemically stable metal. Its deliberately roughened structure is coated with a hydrophobic polymer layer (41). Its manufacturing process consists of the following steps: (1) cleaning of the porous body structure by means of a solution; (2) roughening the surface of the body by chemical, physical or mechanical means; (4) treatment of the body with an emulsion or a suspension containing a hydrophobic agent; (5) sintering, melting or burning-in of the hydrophobic layer.    An acid or alkaline solution is used as an erasive agent. Oxalic acid is an example of such agents. Alternative, plasma etching is used to produce a roughening effect. Titanium, tantalum, miobium, platinum or palladium, or an alloy of these metals is used as the material for the fibres (28). The hydrophobic polymer layer consists of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or polyteyrafluoroehtylene (PTFE). The fibres (28) form a mat with at least one layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For manufacture of fuel cells. It allows effective reversible-action cells to be produced.
A laminated assembly of fuel cell components comprises an active electrolyte-matrix tape (12) comprising a composite of active electrolyte distributed within and on a matrix and having active (14) and peripheral wet seal (13) areas. Anode (11) and cathode (10) contact opposite faces of the tape, which is densified between them, and extend to contact the wet seal area, and part of this wet seal area forms a frame around the electrodes which is flush with their outer faces.    Also claimed is an assembly exactly as above except that the nature of the matrix tape is not specified, only that it has active and peripheral areas. Further claimed is a process for making a laminated fuel cell component as above comprising placing anode, matrix tape and cathode together to form a laminate, heating to 400-600 deg.C, compacting until the electrodes are flush with the wet seal area as above, and releasing the compacting force and cooling.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An assembly of fuel cell components and method of mfr. (claimed) are provided which are useful for molten carbonate fuel cells. Assembly and start-up are facilitated, no organic binders need to be burned off, gas leakage and crossover are prevented, and matrix cracking avoided.
Solar cell has an active zone in the form of a polar polymeric film (1); and electric contacts (2,3) made of two different metals on its opposing surfaces. Pref. the two metals have different electrochemical potentials. The electrochemical potential differences is at least 0.8 V. Applied to the surface of one of the contacts e.g. (2) in an absorbent coating (4).    Also claimed is a solar cell as above, in which the absorbent coating (4) is applied to the electric contact (2) in the form of a polymeric material whose shape approximates a hemisphere.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar cell has an active zone formed from a polar polymeric film material. Mfr. of the active zone from polar polymeric material reduces the mass and cost of cells, compared to cells made on the basis of semiconductor elements. The cell's characteristics and capabilities can be improved, and the current in the cell increased.
A mixt. of a solvent-soluble fluororesin and graphite fluoride is applied on a porous high polymer film to form O2 permeation composite film.    The battery includes (a) a gas diffusion electrode using O2 as an active material; and (b) a battery case having an air intaking hole connected to the air. The composite film is provided between the air intaking side of the electrode and the inner surface of the case.    The graphite fluoride comprises CFn or C2Fn. The porous high polymer film comprises a fluororesin, polyether sulphone, or polyolefin. The graphite fluoride has a grain dia. of up to 10 microns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The O2 permeation composite film is used in batteries, including air batteries, or fuel batteries. The use of the mixt. reduces the film thickness of the composite film and improves water repellency and O2 permeation. The composite film has superior O2 permeation for batteries and interrupts water vapour from the air. The battery has superior practical performance at wide range, from high load to low laod, electrolyte leakage resistance and continuous storage.
Solar cell includes a cell unit with an outer protective layer facing the incident radiation comprising conductive particles, pref. a metal (alloy) or metal oxide esp. a metal oxide, dispersed in a (curable) resin.    ADVANTAGE -   Layer protects dust and/or dirt from electrostatically adhering to the surface without lowering light transmittance and durability. (First major country equivalent to JP5198832)
Process for producing an integrated solar cell comprising unit cells having a p-i-n junction with an n-type layer forming an n-p junction between unit cells comprising a microcrystalline amorphous silicon layer in which the amorphous silicon is subjected to a hydrogen discharge treatment for a given time.    The hydrogen discharge treatment is pref. conducted for not more than 10 mins., preferably 0.5 to 3.5 mins.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The ohmic property of the n-p junction between the n(microc-S:) layer of the first cell and the p-layer of the second cell are accelerated making it possible to produce an integrated solar cell of high performance.
A catalyst (M) for steam-reforming comprises a calcined material of main component of (N) a nickel metal and residual of (C) a compsn. containing chromium-oxide and/or lithium-chromite.    (N) nickel metal is most pref. metallic nickel; to which cobalt, iron, rhodium, etc. can be added in an amt. of less than 30 wt.% of the metals. Amt. of (N) nickel metal is pref. 55-90 wt.% based on (M). (C) compsn. is mixt. of chromium-oxide and/or lithium-chromite and normal supporting material for steam-reforming e.g. alumina, silica magnesia, etc. wherein amt. of the supporting material is pref. less than 30 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A catalyst used for steam-reforming, partic. for melt carbonate fuel-cell, can be produced, wherein deterioration of the catalyst by adhering electrolyte of carbonate of alkali-metal can be remarkably decreased, giving a long life of the catalyst and use for inner reforming fuel-cell. The catalyst has a high activity, strength, durability, long life, a good thermal conductivity, giving effective utilising heat generated by reaction of the cell
The fuel cell has a pt. gp. element-based reformed catalyst supported on a zirconia=based support. Electrolyte uses a binary system comprising lithium carbonate and sodium carbonate or a mixt. of the binary system and carbonate.    The Pt. gp. element comprises, Rh, Ru, Pd, Pt, or their mixt. pref. Rh, or Ru. The zirconia-based support pref. comprises partially stabilised zirconia, or stabilised zirconia partic. yttrium-contg. zirconia.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The reformed catalyst features high reaction activity and less coking growth. The electrolyte minimises contamination and deterioration to the catalyst. The resulting fuel cell continuously retains its performance and features improved durability.
Pt alloy catalyst comprises a C support and an alloy of Pt-Au pref. Pt and 3-20 at.% Au on Pt. The alloy may also contain at least two of Ni, Co and Mn.    Prepn. comprises: reducing Pt and Au cpds. on the C support using thiosulphate and/or meta-bisulphite reductant and then heating to deposit the alloy on the C. The additional metals may be deposited as organic acid amines which are then decomposed and alloyed by heating.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. as a fuel cell electrocatalyst. Catalyst has enhanced activity.
Prodn. of a linear wiring having a linear strength of less than 100 microns and a specific resistance of 10-6 ohm.cm on a substrate or base comprises maintaining a metal of low melting pt. in its molten state, conveying the molten metal (1) by capillary to a point of a signal head (3) arranged near to the substrate (4) or touches the base (4), applying the metal to the base/substrate, whilst moving the head (3), and cooling and solidifying the linear wiring.    Also claimed are: (i) appts. for prodn. of the wiring; and (ii) solar cell contg. the wiring.    ADVANTAGE -   Prodn. yield is significantly improved.
Detecting cross-over leakage in a fuel cell stack having a series of fuel cells, each fuel cell having an anode, a cathode, and a matrix between, and an oxidant inlet, and using fuel and oxidant streams, comprises: determining the CO2 concn. in the oxidant stream entering the fuel cell stack; directing the oxidant stream to the cathode of each fuel cell; directing the oxidant stream out of each fuel cell as cathode effluent; combining the cathode effluent from each fuel cell; determining the CO2 concn. in the combined effluent. An increase of CO2 in the combined effluent signifies a failure in the matrix. A detecting appts. is disclosed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Detecting cross-over leakage in fuel cell stacks comprises monitoring the CO2 content of the oxidant stream. The in-line detection system allows critical conditions to be predicted, and shutdown to occur before the system becomes unsafe.
The adhesive sheet consists of (A) 95-99.9 wt.% of a copolymer comprising 84.9-55% of ethylene, 0.1-5 wt.% of an ethylenically unsatd. silane cpd. of formula: RSiR'nY3-n (R= ethylenically unsatd. hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy, or (meth)acryloyloxy alkyl gp. R'= aliphatic satd. or aromatic hydrocarbyl, or hydrocarbyloxy gp. Y= aliphatic satd. or aormatic hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyloxy gp. or aliphatic acyloxy gp. n= 0, 1 or 2), and 15-45 wt.% of an ethylenically acid ester, and (B) 0.1-5 wt.% of an organic peroxide having a temp. of 90-170 deg.C corresp. to the half-life period of 10.5 hrs.    The unsaturated silane cpd. is, e.g. vinyltrimethoxysilane(VTS). The unsatd. acid ester is, e.g. methyl acrylate(MA). The organic peroxide is, e.g. dicumyl peroxide(DCP) with a temp. of 117 deg.C corresp. to the half-life period of 10.5 hrs.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The adhesive sheet is used for protecting solar cell modules from shock and humidity. It has a high transparency, adhesive strength, and crosslinkability.
A bonding material comprising Y stabilised Zr and La-manganite: 0.1-10.0 (by wt. ratio). Compsn. is formed as a paste state mixt.. After the paste is placed between Y stabilised Zr member and La-chromite member, the structural members are baked together.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for mfr. of spacer and interconnector for solid electrolytic type-fuel cell. Reliability and durability is increased.
ZnO2 system ion conductivity solid electrolyte is of formula CaxZr1-x-yTiyO2-x-0.5y where x = 0.1-0.3 and y = 0.07-0.20.    Apparent density is pref. more than 4.8g/cm3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as cell materials for fuel cell. Material has good ion conductivity.
Process includes making a slurries with non-aq. solvent. Al raw material powder, Na raw material powder and soluble lithium cpd. and is mixed to form slurry. Thereafter sintered powder is formed from dried slurries. After the sintered powder is compacted, it is sintered.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for mfr. of a diaphragm for Na-S cell, Na-fused salt cell. Has high conductivity and strength.
A method is disclosed for forming a photovoltaic cell, comprising the steps: (a) forming a transparent first conducting film (42) and a photoelectric conversion film (43) on a transparent substrate (41); (b) forming first (404) and second (405) grooves to divide the first conducting film into first and second transparent electrodes (421, 422) and to divide photoelectric conversion film into first and second conversion regions over first and second transparent electrodes resp.; (c) filling first and second grooves with first and second insulators (44,45); (d) forming a second conductive film (46) over the surface; (e) laser scribing the second conductive film to form a third groove (463) extending down to the second insulator and dividing the conductive film into first and second rear electrodes (461,462) wherein the first rear electrode is provided on the first photoelectric conversion region and is connected to the second transparent electrode through the filled second groove, and the second rear electrode is provided on the second photoelectric conversion region and is isolated from the first rear electrode by the third groove.    USE -   Useful for making photovoltaic solar cells of the amorphous silicon thin-film type.    ADVANTAGE -   The photovoltaic cell is highly reliable and is suitable for mass prodn. It is formed on a flexible substrate.
(JP5182671-A)   NOVELTY - An ion exchange membrane resin and carbon fine powder are added in the aqueous solution of lower saturated monohydric alcohol using metal catalyst to form dispersion liquids. A water repellent process is performed on dispersed liquids by mixing the fluororesins. The ion exchange membrane is applied on electrode substrate, after pressure application casting.    USE - For ion exchange membrane fuel batteries.    ADVANTAGE - The reaction rate and reaction area of the battery is increased. The discharge performance of the ion exchange membrane fuel battery becomes high.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the manufacturing process of the electrode for ion exchange membrane fuel batteries. (Drawing includes non-English language text).
Electrocatalyst compriss an inorganic support for supporing a Pt-Ni-Co ternary alloy.    Ternary alloy pref. comprises 10-50% Pt, 10-50% Ni and 10-50% of Co.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Electrocatalyst for anode is used in a fuel cell, and has good anti-poisoning against CO. Fuel can be operated at lower temps.. Catalyst is cheaply mfd..
Electroconducting connection between metallic current conductor (1) and ceramic components (2) in a high temp. fuel cell comprises a porous intermediate layer (12) consisting of a paste-like connecting agent of ceramic electroconducting particles (120), whose largest linear dimensions are less than 0.03 mm. The intermediate layer is determined by material and is ltd. to the contact region of the current conductor.    Also claimed is a high temp. fuel cell comprising a ceramic interconnector (2) on the air electrode, the novelty is that the connection claimed above is between the current collector (1) and the interconnector.    ADVANTAGE -   The connection has high electrical conductivity and good oxidn. resistance.
Material comprises an intermetallic cpd. and conductive ceramics. The intermetallic cpd. is made upof Ni-Al system materials. The conductive ceramics is made up of rare earth chromite system materials of (L(1-x)Mx)a(Cr(1-y)M'y)bO3, (where L = La or Y, M = Mg, Sr, Ca, or Ba; M' = at least one of Co, Ni, Fe, Ti, V, Mn, Al, Si, Zn, Cu, Mo, Pd, W, Rh, Ir and Pt, x= 0-0.5; y= 0-0.5 and b/a= 0.95-1.05.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for mfg. a separator for a fuel cell. It has high strength, high conductivity and anticorrosion property.
Method comprises mixing at least one Zr alkoxide selected from Zr methoxide, Zr ethoxide, Zr propoxide, and Zr butoxide below with at least one solvent selected from ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monopropyle ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, butylene glycol monoethyl ether, butylene glycol monopropyl ether, butylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and dibutylene glycol; hydrolysing the Zr alkoxide by adding water, to obtain a complex of the hydrolysate, solvent, and water; spreading the complex over a carrier and drying it thereafter to obtain a solidified film; separating the film from the carrier; and heating and sintering the solidified film.    USE -   For substrates of printer heads, magnetic heads, ICs, and strain gauges; speaker diaphragms, coils of speakers, electrolyte diaphragms for solid electrolyte oxygen sensors, fuel cell diaphragms, etc.
An electrodeposition process for depositing a chalcopyrite semiconductor thin film on a conducting substrate, useful for solar cells, comprises immersing the substrate as cathode (30) with an anode (28) in electrolyte (14) contg. the constituent ions and controlling the film stoichiometry by controlling the applied voltage and current density. Also claimed is a process of mfg. a light-to-electrical energy converter comprising a heterojunction with the above film including depositing the film as above, heat treating the film, depositing a second semiconductor cpd. layer on it, followed by a grid layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Processes for depositing a chalcopyrite semiconductor film on a conductor and for forming a solar cell (claimed) are provided. The processes are useful for forming films of controlled compsn. and high quality and for solar and other photovoltaic cells. The process is simple and inexpensive, gives controlled metal ratios and may vary the concn./depth profile. A variety of ternary and quaternary semiconductor films may be deposited by the method.
This solar cell is manufactured by (1) mixing the mixture of CdS and ZnS powder with CdCl2. (2) coating the above on a glass substrate, (3) sintering the above, and (4) coating the mixture of CdTe and 3-7 wt.% CdCl2 on the obtained Cd1-xZnxS (x is 0-0.1) thin film and sintering it. CdTe is mixed with 4.5 wt.% CdCl2 powder to be charged in the quartz bottle having small holes to evaporate CdCl2, so as to make CdTe liquid phase sintered. Then it is sintered at 625 deg. C, in nitrogen (N2) atmosphere for 1 hour.
The solar cell is mfd. by (a) forming a concave groove (5) on the glass substrate (1) by wet etching or the dry etching, (b) depositing a low resistance metal (Ag, Cu) in the inside of the groove (5) by the thermal evaporator or the E-beam evaporator, and then patterning it to form a current collecting electrode (6), (c) wholly depositing a transparent electroconduvctive layer (2) on the substrate (1), and then depositing an amorphous silicon layer (3) by the plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD), and (d) depositing a rear electrode (4) and Al on the layer (3).
In forming the p-type amorphous silicon carbide, silane, methane, trimethyl boron, and diboron are used as a reactive gas. Traces of trimethyl boron are added. The trimethyl boron/silane ratio is around 0.45.    USE -   Formation of amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC) used in solar battaries, or optical sensors. Adding the traces of the trimethyl boron widens optical forbidden band width, 0.1 eV without decreasing conductivity
A lanthanum chromite doped with alkaline earth metal is of formula La(1-x)MxCrO3 (wherein: M = Ca or Sr) or La(1-x)Mgx 03. When sintered this cpd. is added with CaCr04 or CaCr04.2H20 as sintering auxiliary agent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for mfr. of separator for solid electrolyte fuel cell. Can make high density sintered compacts.
Solid electrolyte fuel battery use stabilised zirconia-alumina powder, in which pure alumina in an amt. of 5 wt.% is dispersed in zirconia. The crystalline structure is stabilised with yttria in an amt. of 8-10 mol.%. The particle size ratio y (y = (zirconia particle size; alumina particle size)) is larger than 0.63, and the size of the stabilised zirconia particle is upto 0.3 microns. The size of the alumina particle is upto 0.7 microns. The amt. of pure alumina added is pref. 1 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The stabilised zirconia-alumina powder may be sintered at a low temp. of 1400 deg.C when the particle sizes of the zirconia or alumina are relatively large. A solid electrolyte fuel battery having an electrode of a thick film thickness may be obtd.
In a process and appts. for electrical energy recovery in an electrochemical process by heat supply, in which fuel cell-type electrochemical cells are used, (a) two reactants are used, one being liq. and the other being gaseous at the cell operating temp., and the reaction prods. are liq. at the cell operating temp.; (b) the reaction prods. are fed into a separator, to which heat is supplied to effect evapn. and, with increasing temp., decompsn. into the reactants; (c) the reactants are then sepd. from one another using their different rates of diffusion through a porous wall or using their different boiling and condensn. pts..    ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is a thermal battery which requires no concn. difference for voltage prodn., requires no pumps, has a low operating temp., retains the reactants in the circuit, is not subject to electrode contamination and produces voltages of 0.4V (for the antimony pentachloride/antimony trichloride/chlorine system at 150-200 deg.C), 0.5V (for the hydrogen iodide/hydrogen/iodine system at 200 deg.C) or 0.7V (for the bismuth bromide/bismuth/bromine system at 500 deg.C).
Prodn. of Si foils by continuous crystallisation of Si from a melt onto a base having one or more layers comprises applying the layers so that the upper side of the coating is maintained at more than 1350 deg.C and the lower side at 1000-1270 deg.C until crystallisation is complete.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in the mfr. of solar cells
(JP5166526-A)   NOVELTY - The speed of motor (10) is controlled to make the blower speed equivalent to predetermined minimum engine speed, when battery load detector (20) senses no load. The blower (9) drives a portion of cathode gas in outline (6) of fuel battery (1).    USE - For fuel battery cathode circulation blower.    ADVANTAGE - Consumption of blower power during no load condition of battery is prevented.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The gas temperature at the cathode gas inlet line (5) is detected by a temperature sensor (30). The motor speed is controlled based on the comparison result of temperature with respect to a regulation value.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the schematic view of fuel battery.    Fuel battery (1)    Cathode gas (5)    Outline (6)    Blower (9)    Motor (10)    Battery load detector (20)    Temperature sensor (30)
Method comprises mixing La-, Cr-, and Ca-nitrate by dissolving in water, drying the mixt. to solidify, crushing and solidified prod., pyrolysing, crushing, crystallising, crushing again, and controlling the size of the resulting powder to obtain a material for use in the interconnection of the fuel cell. The crushing is carried out using a ball mill with Si3N4 balls as grinding medium. Pref. crystallisation is effected at 900 deg.C and the size control is carried out at 1100 - 1400 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides LaCaMnO3 air electrodes free from sintering defects by using Si3N4 balls instead of ZrO2 or Al2O3 balls.
(JP5166515-A)   NOVELTY - A solid electrolyte fuel cell has a ceramic partition plate comprising a mixture of zirconia solid solution (1a) and ceria solid solution (1b). The plate is provided between a fuel electrode (3) and an oxidizer electrode (2) so that fuel gas and oxidizer gas are supplied to the fuel electrode (3) and to the oxidizer electrode, independently.    USE - Used as a solid electrolyte fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - A fuel cell having a small electrolyte resistance and small reactive resistance between the electrode and electrolyte is obtained. Short-circuiting of a cell is prevented.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional view of the solid electrolyte fuel cell.    partition plate (1)    zirconia solid solution (1a)    ceria solid solution (1b)    oxidizer electrode (2)    fuel electrode (3)
Phthalocyanine cpds. of formulae (I) and (II) are new. M = metal, metal oxide or metal halide; and X = H ion or cation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The phthalocyanine cpds. have high water solubility, chemical stability e.g. heat, acid and alkali resistance and a high near IR absorption at 650-850 nm and are useful as near IR-absorbing dyes for various recording materials, e.g. writing materials and stamp, printing, ink jet printing and water-based inks, dyes, pigments, electrophotographic receptors, photochemical hole-burning, macromolecular catalyst, dyes for medical laser treatment, deodorants, gas sensors and solar batteries.    In an example, a mixt. of 130.9 pts. wt. pyromellitic anhydride, 38.4 pts. wt. trimellitic anhydride, 71.6 pts. wt. cupric chloride, 720 pts. wt. urea and 24.8 pts. wt. ammonium molybdate was reacted for 1 hr at 160-170 deg. C and added with water, the mixt. was filtered, a mixt. of the filtered cake and 20% KOH aq. soln. was reacted for 24 hrs., diluted with water, pptd. with concn. HCl and filtered and the filtered cake was washed with water and dried under reduced pressure to give 85 pts. wt. dark violet Cu phthalocyanine heptacarboxylic acid. The cpd. had a solubility in 0.1% KOH aq. soln. of above 5% and a lambda max. at 688 nm.
Prepn. comprises (1) steam reforming hydrocarbon gas (II); (2) feeding the prod. (III) to anode of fuel cell to use H2 (IV) to generate electricity, and (3) feeding the fuel cell exhaust fumes (V) to a reactor to prepare methanol (I).    ADVANTAGE -   Excess (IV) contained in (III) is used more efficently than prior arts. (I) is prepd. more economically than prior art.    In an example, (II) e.g. methane, was fed to steam reformer (2), (III) was cooled and fed to fused alkali metal carbonate fuel cell (6), (III) was fed to an anode (9), air was fed to a reactor (4) through cooler (10) and compressor (3). C sources were fed to (4) through (12). The reaction prod. was fed to cooler (11), gas-liq. separator (5) successively to remove (I) (L in fig. 1). Non-condensed components were recycled to (4) to use as material.    (II)
Cell has an organic photconductive layer (OCL) inserted between 2 electrodes. The OCL contg. oxy-Ti-phthalocyanine has strong peak at 9.0 deg.C 14.2 deg. 23.9 deg. and 27.1 deg. for Bragg angle of 2 theta (plus/minus 0.2 deg) by CuK alpha x-ray diffraction.    ADVANTAGE -   The cell has lower cost at larger area, and has improved photo-electrode conversion efficiency.    In an example, a solar cell was prepd. by An ITO electrode was formed on a galss substrate (100 mm by 100 mm) by vacuum vapour deposition, 4 pts. of oxy-Ti-phthalo-cyanine of formula (1) and 1 pt. of polyvinyl butyral were dissolved in 100 pts. of hexanone with 1 mm dia. glass bead, diluted by 100 parts of MEK, coated on the electrode, dried for 10 minutes at 80 deg.C to form 0.5 microns films, and a gold electrode (20mm by 20mm) was formed on it by sputtering. As a result the cell had 3.2 % of conversion rate.
Fuel cell generator is provided with a carbon monoxide reformer and a desulphuriser and comprises a reaction container formed of stainless steel and heat-conductive clad material in which carbon monoxide reforming catalyst or desulphurising catalyst used for the carbon monoxide reformer and the desulphuriser is stored.    ADVANTAGE -   The generator has extremely less heat loss and a shorter time for temp. rise.
A porous support is provided with an air electrode or a fuel electrode and attached with a mutual connection portion of formula La1-xMlx+yCrz03, where M1 being Ca, Mg, or Sr; x = 0 -0.6 (0 excluded); y = 6.0 - 1.2 (6.0 excluded), and z = 0.98 - 1.6. The mutual connection portion is pref. provided by slurry coating, sheet adhesion, or by spraying. Pref. M1 is Ca, and x = 0.2-0.4, y = 0.1-1.2, and z = 1.0-1.2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides a mutual connection portion having high electric conductivity.
Mfg. comprises calcining a material powder at 1200-1600 deg.C. crushing and classifying the calcined prod. to obtain a powder of desired granularity, heat treating the powder and disintegrating the resulting powder.    The temp. for calcining the material powder and that for heat treating the powder prod. are controlled such that the difference is within 100 deg.C.. The starting material powder is moulded and sintered at 1200-1600 deg.C.. The solid electrolyte for the SOFC is pref. (partially) stabilised zirconia being stabilised with yttria or Ce oxide contg. rare earth elements. The interconnector for the SOFC is pref. made for Ca-, Sr-, Cu- or Zn-doped La chromite.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Partic. designed for mfg. structural members of solid electrolyte fuel cells (SOFCs) by plasma spraying.
Thin type steam reformer comprises multilayer plate-shaped compartments which are arranged so that heating compartments and reaction compartments having steam reforming catalysts formed into thin films are placed alternately.    The plate-shaped compartments are pref. piled in a multilayer in a concentric cylindrical shape. The heating compartment pref. has combustion catalyst formed into a thin film. The thickness of the thin film steam reforming catalyst and the thin film combustion catalyst is pref. 0.2-2 mm and the thickness of the reaction compartment and the heating compartment is pref. 0.7-4 mm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for producing H2 contg. gases from hydrocarbons or alcohols and steam, and in partic. it can be used as a fuel reformer for a fuel cell using hydrocarbons or alcohols as a fuel. The appts. is compact
Organic solar cell has a photoelectroconducting layer, which contains polyvinyl acetal resin having the formula (I). In (I), R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are each hydrogen atom, halogen, atom, trifluoromethyl gp., nitro gp. or cyano gp. Pref. a substrate for the organic solar cell is e.g. metal or alloy e.g. Al or stainless steel, glass, paper or plastics, etc., an electroconducting layer, e.g. consists of electroconductive polymer, metal or ITO etc., and an underlayer of the organic solar cell e.g. consists of casein, PVA, nitro cellulose, polyamide, e.g. nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 610, copolymerisation nylon or alkoxy methylated nylon, etc., or polyurethane etc. and pref. has thickness of up to 5 microns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic solar cell shows a high photoelectric transfer efficiency under strong light radiation stably for a long period.
(JP2760684-B2)      The cooling plate (6) includes several materials withdifferent thermal conductivity. Air is passed through these materials, to cool the battery. The material at cooling air supply side has lesser thermal conductivity than that of the material at cooling air ejection side.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduces temperature gradient between coolingair supply side and cooling air ejection side. Reduces amount of air supplied for cooling purpose, pressure loss. Improves battery characteristics. Improves power generation efficiency.
Prodn of a solid oxide fuel all having air and fuel electrodes on opposite surfaces of a solid electrolyte plate comprises joining an oxygen ion-conductive zirconia film (1) on the solid electrolyte plate to a lanthanum manganate air electrode (3) with an adhesive (2) contg a manganese-or cobalt-cpd or Mn or Co by press contacting whilst heating.    The lanthanum manganate is Lax(Ca or Sr)yMnO3 where is greater than 0.95-1.05, x is 0.6-0.90 and y is 0.10-0.40. The adhesive contains a precursor that is converted to manganese oxide cobalt oxide on heating. Manganese oxide is the Mn cpd. and cobalt oxide is the Co cpd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a power generator for directly converting a fuel's chemical energy to electric energy. The device is not restricted by the Carnot cycle, has a high energy conversion efficiency and uses a variety of fuels e.g. naphtha, natural gas, methanol, coal-reformed gas and heavy oil. The device is not a public nuisance and the power-generating efficiency is not influenced by the scale of the plant.
Process comprises: (a) crushing the fuel cells in the presence of a non-combustible liq. such as water and/or a protective gas or vacuum; (b) adding the obtd. cell chemicals to an aq. sodium polysulphide soln. whilst stirring; and (c) separating and then washing the solids with water and then transporting them to the waste site or recycling centre. The soln. is further decomposed to give sodium salt, sulphuric acid and sulphur.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A simple process that enables the sodium and sulphur to be recycled.    om
Fuel cell component (10) including porous fuel cell plate (18') having a solid frame (19') contiguously extending all around it is made by filling the pores of only the peripheral portion (16') of the porous plate with initially flowable but solidifiable impregnating material and curing the material to solidify it and make it fluid-impermeable.    The impregnating material releases such low amounts of volatiles during solidification that no escape passages that could compromise the impermeability of the frame are formed. For acid fuel cells, it is a fluoroelastomer. For proton exchange membrane fuel cells, it is a hydrophilic epoxy resin.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method is used to fabricate fuel cells employing proton exchange membranes or acid electrolyte. The solid frame formed by curing impregnating material ensures that neither liquid electrolyte not gases can flow out of the periphery of a porous fuel cell plate element. Unlike a separate solid frame clamped around the periphery of the plate, it does not subject the plate to shear stresses.
Modular photovoltaic window assembly comprises at least one large area photovoltaic device (14) with at least on electrical connector (24) near one edge located on a rigid or semi-rigid, transparent substrate (12). A decorative template (16) is also disposed on the substrate. It has one aperture (15) coextensive with the photovoltaic device and exposing all but its electrical connector and a second aperture defining a window opening (17). A layer (18) of transparent, environmentally-impervious material encapsulates the device and substrate.    The template is adjacent the device on one surface of the substrate and encapsulated by the impervious material layer. Alternatively, the template and photovoltaic device may be disposed on opposite surfaces of the substrate. Most pref., more than one device is disposed on the substrate and the template has a coextensive aperture for each of them. The assembly is esp. a sun roof module or panel for a motor vehicle. A layer of adhesive bonds the device and template to the substrate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Window assembly is designed for automotive or architectural usage and enables a photovoltaic device for converting light directly into electricity to be integrated both aesthetically and structurally into a vehicle or building.
Light permeability-variable glass comprises an electrochromic glass electrically connected to a solar cell to apply voltage to the cell through a control unit to vary the light permeability.    USE -   For window glasses.
Thermal decomposition is applied to a chromium and lanthanum complex having a ligand comprising carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen only.    The chromium and lanthanum complex pref. comprises; La(Cr(CH2(COO)2)3).xH2O (where, x = 0-10) obtd. by ion exchange reaction of K3((Cr(CH2(COO)2)3.3H2O and lanthanum salt obtd. by reaction of the potassium salt of chromic acid and malonic acid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To synthesise lanthanum chromite suitable for electrode materials for fuel cells, and catalysts at a low temp., 750 deg.C. The resulting lanthanum chromite has a grain dia. of 0.2-0.4 microns and uniform compsn. No mechanical mixing and pulverisation is used, preventing entry of incidental inclusions.
Prodn. comprises (a) simultaneously dropping an yttrium chloride-contg. zirconium aq. soln. and aq. ammonia to coprecipicate zirconium hydroxide and yttrium hydroxide; (b) heating the filtered coprecipitated water diluted soln. at 150-200 deg.C; (c) dispersing the slurry of the resulting cubic system zirconia particles to form a sol; (d) coating the sol on a dense substrate; and (e) firing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in oxygen sensors; and solid electrolytic fuel cells. The thin film has a homogenous compsn. The thin film is produced at low cost
Device has electric heaters built in the desulphurisation catalyst layer in the desulphurisation reactor and the denature catalyst layer in the carbon monoxide chamber to heat layers. The detected temp. of each catalyst layer is input to the switch control. The switch control closes each electric circuit to heat each catalyst layer to make the temp. can start reaction at the starting. The temp. is raised to promote each reaction at load reducing time.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for fuel battery power generation systems. The device can make the temp. in the layers sufficient to start reaction automatically that it can obtain the specified compsn..
Device has reforming tube group having reforming catalytic layer inside. Storage container, pilot burner, starting burner, and main burner are arranged at upper part of the tube group. A burner air distribution duct arranged its lower stage. The device has a start fuel distribution duct arranged at upper stage parallel to the main fuel distribution duct.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The device is used for making reformed gas consisting of mainly hydrogen, used for fuel battery power generation system. The device can heat all the tubes evenly by using many start burners for nitrogen gas and catalytic layer to be heated evenly and efficiently. It improves the reliability of the power generation system.
(JP5144464-A)   NOVELTY - Intermediate distributor (23) is arranged between the upper and lower stacks (22,21) of the cell (15), which are provided with H2 gas inlet and outlet passages (17,19) and CO2 gas inlet and outlet passages (18,20). The distributor has H2 gas by-pass passage (11a) and CO2 gas by-pass passage (13a) connected to H2 and CO2 gas inlet passages, respectively.    USE - Molten carbonate type fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE - Since the intermediate distributor is arranged between upper and lower stacks of cell, distribution direction of H2 and CO2 gases inside each cell can be reversed, and hence temperature gradient can be changed. Temperature rise of electrolyte board is reduced, and reduction of carbonate due to heat decomposition is prevented. Hence the durability of the battery is increased.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a detailed drawing of the intermediate distributor of the fuel battery.    Bypass passages (11a, 13a)    Cell (15)    Hydrogen gas inlet and outlet passages (17, 19)    Carbon dioxide inlet and outlet passages (18, 20)    Lower and upper stacks (21, 22)    Intermediate distributor (23)
(JP5144462-A)   NOVELTY - Surplus anode exhaust gas is injected at the injection point (25) which lies between an air pre-heater (3) and a vapor flow input line (2) through an exhaust gas process line (22), when the temperature of the modifier (4) exceeds the regulation value.    USE - For a power generation installation.    ADVANTAGE - The anode exhaust gas is injected at the plate far from the fuel battery, giving no disturbance to the differential voltage control between fuel battery poles. Improves efficiency of a fuel battery power generation installation.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure explains the fuel battery anode exhaust gas processing method in an electricity generation installation.    Input line (2)    Preheater (3)    Modifier (4)    Process line (22)    Injection point (25)
Mfr. comprises making first two ceramic thin sheets by sintering green body having obtd. by pressure moulding or hydrostatic pressing powder compacts, and then laminating them by incorporating therebetween a slurry to provide the hollow portion, followed by sintering the resulting laminated body.    USE -   For solid electrolyte fuel cells.
Electrolyte membrane (11) for a fuel cell comprises a 3-dimensional structure made up of bridging chains of water-stable polymer (I) and a polyelectrolyte (II), the 3-dimensional structure and the electrolyte being mainly uniformly distributed in the membrane.    Also claimed is a process for producing (11), by impregnating a porous support (102) with a compsn. contg. polymer (I) and a second polymer (II) which acts as the electrolyte for a fuel cell, and then crosslinking (I). Also claimed is a process for producing fuel cells, by forming a film of resin (107) on electrode (14) and also on electrode (15), impregnating support (102) and crosslinking as above to form membrane (11), placing (11) between the 2 films on (14) and (15) and hot-pressing the combination.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cells contg. (11) are useful, e.g. as power sources for cars. The invention provides a lowcost membrane which does not swell or dissolve in water, acts as an effective screen against methanol (in methanol cells), and has improved heat resistance and polyelectrolyte-electrode adhesion (w.r.t. prior-art membranes).
A method for reducing the carbon content in a feed stream of natural gas or other hydrocarbon gases for a combustion process or a chemical process in order to thereby achieve a redn. in or elimination of the discharge of carbon dioxide during combustion or other chemical application of the gas is claimed, comprising: (a) completely or partially subjecting the natural gas or hydrocarbon gas to a pyrolytic process wherein all or part of the feed gas is passed through a reactor wherein it is completely or partially decomposed to the desired degree into a hydrogen constituent and a carbon constituent. (b) conveying the carbon constituent together with any undecomposed constituent from the reactor and any separate constituent of the natural gas or hydrocarbon gas to a combustion process or chemical process; and (c) conveying the pptd. carbon constituent out of the process for separate application.    The use of the pure hydrogen extracted by the above method is claimed, e.g. in fuel cells or as fuel in internal combustion engines. The use of the pure carbon extracted by the above method is claimed, e.g. as a redn. material in the metallurgical industry. Application of the above method in connection with gas fired power stations and the combustion of hydrocarbons for energy purposes is claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The invention provides a method for the combustion of hydrocarbons with reduced or eliminated carbon dioxide discharge.
An LD silica aerogel substrate at densities between 10-1,000 mg/cc is prepared. The surface of the aerogel substrate is polished to an optical quality surface. A dielectric planarisation layer of Si02 is applied to so-polished substrate surface and one or more photovoltaic thin film layers are deposited on the planarisation layer to form a lightweight solar cell.    Two metal electrodes are deposited on photovoltaic layer. The photovoltaic layer may be fabricated from CdTe, CdInSe2, Cd2uTe, CuluSe2, AlGaAs, or Si/Ge alloy.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar powered vehicles satellite applications. Lighter cells.
A fuel cell generator which is equipped with a fuel cell mainframe and a reformer to generate hydrogen by reacting raw fuel with steam comprises a moisture meter arranged on the upstream side of the reformer to monitor and control a mixt. ratio of the raw fuel to the steam.    ADVANTAGE -   The generator provides high precision, carbon deposit prevention and high efficiency reforming operation.
Mfr. comprises depositing an electrolyte film on the surface of a dense substrate by ion-beam sputtering, depositing a first porous electrode film, removing the substrate by etching, and depositing a second electrode on the back from which the substrate is removed.    USE -   Enables incorporation of a thin and dense electrolyte film between two porous electrode films.
An energy supply/usage facility uses a fuel cell as a main energy supply source to consumers. It comprises an electrolytic bath, a hydrogen tank to collect and store hydrogen generated in the electrolytic bath and a hydrogen supply line to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   There is no need to stop the fuel cell, resulting in high operation efficiency at all times
Mfr. comprises dissolving Co nitrate and Ti trichloride into hot water and adding ammonia water to control the pH to 8; applying ultrasonics to obtain a homogeneous soln.; adding to aq. soln. of a catalyst carrying Pt, and after sufficiently contacting the soln. with the catalyst, filtering, washing with water, and drying; and heat treating the obtd. prod. at 800 - 1,000 deg.C in an inert gas atmos., to obtain a catalyst carrying a Pt-Ti-Co ternary alloy.    The alloy pref. contains (by wt.), 10 - 25% each of Co and Ti, and the balance of Pt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for gas diffusion electrodes having included a matrix, and the electrode is made from an electrode substrate and a catalyst layer
The mfr. comprises dissolving Co nitrate and Mo pentachloride into EtOH and adding ammonia water to control the pH to 8; applying ultrasonics to obtain a homogeneous soln.; adding an aq. soln. of a catalyst carrying Pt, and after sufficiently contacting the soln. with the catalyst, filtering, washing with water, and drying; and heat treating the obtd. prod. at 800 - 1,000 deg.C in an inert gas atmos., to obtain a catalyst carrying a Pt -Mo-Co ternary alloy.    The pref. alloy contains (by wt.), 10 - 25% each of Co and Mo, and the balance of Pt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for gas-diffusion electrodes having an included matrix, and the electrode made from an electrode substrate and a catalyst layer
Reactor for dehydrogenation consists of more than one reforming tubes in which hydrogen is sepd. with a hydrogen sepg. device which reforms raw materials, hydrocarbons or oxygen-contg. hydrocarbons and steam, to a hydrogen-contg. gas and separates hydrogen, a heating device placed at the centre of the reforming tubes, a fuel supply device for catalytic combustion placed around the heating device, and a combustion catalyst to which a fuel is supplied from the fuel supply device and which is placed around the above reforming tubes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful in the chemical industry and in fuel cells. Since the heating device is placed at the centre of the reactor, the heat loss can be reduced and the thermal efficiency becomes high and therefore piping and equipment for retaining heat can be minimised and the whole system can be made small and simple. The fuel gas for catalytic combustion is diffused uniformly through the combustion catalyst. Also the combustion gas produced by the heating device is diffused to the reaction tubes uniformly
Stopping fuel gas reformer comprises fluidising gas having pressure increased by a recycle blower in a reaction tube and flowing air fed from an air feeder to the outside of the tube.    USE -   For fuel cell generation plants.
A sealed porous plate for use in a fuel cell is formed by (a) combining a volatile-free sealant with a catalyst; (b) impregnating at least one edge of the porous plate with the resulting mixt. so that the mixt. fills the porous void vol. at that edge of the porous plate; (c) thermally shocking the mixt. to a partially cured state; and (d) post-curing the partially cured mixt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sealant is 100% active and does not form voids during curing. The thermal shock step prevents wicking of the uncured mixture. The seal is leak-proof, and does not need successive impregnations with the sealant. The sealant maintains an expansion and contraction memory, allowing optimum operation in the desired temp. range
A photoelectomotive force layer comprising an organic cpd. layer which is sandwiched between conductors. The organic cpd. comprises a co-evapn. layer formed by simultaneously applying vacuum evapn. to Al chlorophthalocyanine of formula (I) and In chlorophthalocyanine. In (I) M = AlCP or InCl.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic photoelectromotive force device is used in light batteries, solar batteries, light sensors, or photodiodes. The co-evapn. layer of the Al chlorophthalocyanine and the In chlorophthalocyanine or the different crystal of the same phthalocyanine laminated layer is used. The result improves conversion efficiency. The resulting photoelectromotive force device features high conversion efficiency and improved reliability.
Cell section for a solid oxide fuel cell has a flat porous electrode of electrode material, either for an air electrode or a fuel electrode, an electrolyte film and a second porous electrode film arranged in such a way that the porous electrode and the electrolyte film are exposed on one side of the moulding surface.    (I) comprises a hollow sealed substrate (I) having several recesses (10) on its surface. Each cell section (2) has a flat porous electrode of electrode material either for an air electrode or for a fuel electrode, an electrolyte film and the other porous electrode film.    (I) is produced by (i) placing pre-finished cell sections (2) into recesses (10) in the surface of a hollow sealed substrate (1); and (ii) connecting neighbouring cell sections (2) using connections (7).    USE -   The fuel cell can be used to produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction.
The method includes producing a GaAs in InP substrate (1) and forming an aluminium rich (at least 40%) layer (2) by epitaxy comprising either AlGaAs or AlInAs. An active aluminium rich layer (3) is then formed on this layer, and a series of components are formed by etching and metallisation.$    A protective layer (6) of passivation material or photoresist is applied, and this is selectively etched. A common support plate (8) is attached, and the intermediate layer is then dissolved by a solvent in exposed areas.    ADVANTAGE -   Dissolution of intermediate layers allows separation of components on substrate, reducing final weight. Eg for solar cells and electroluminescent devices.
Solar cell comprises: an amorphous Si layer or section (I); and a poly layer or section (II) having an energy bandgap greater than that of (I).    Pref. (I) is formed of a p-type Si layer of energy bandgap about 2.0 eV and an intrinsic Si layer of energy bandgap about 1.7 eV. Pref. (II) has an energy bandgap of 2-3.5 eV and is pref. formed of CdS, CdZnS, ZnSe, GaP or GaN.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In a single or multi-junction device. Cell has improved efficiency and can absorb a greater portion of the solar spectrum than prior art amorphous Si solar cells.
The module comprises (1) a solar battery module body within which solar cells are provided to convert light into electrical energy; (2) a connection lead wire connnected to the solar cell and passing through a hole in the mounting face; (3) fasteners adapted for passing through holes for mounting the module to the mounting face; and (4) spacers provided in the vicinity of the fasteners for preventing water from flowing into the mounting body, the spacer is formed of a soft resin for conforming to the shape of the mounting face and a sealing resin.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The module can be easily mounted, is tight and waterproof, and can maintain power generation even in waved conditions.
CVD method comprises forming a flow rate of raw material gases parallel to the moving direction of a substrate in a vacuum chamber, and applying a discharge to discharging units disposed along the length of the substrate.    USE -   For making solar cells.
The analysis comprises putting the sample in a pressure melting pot, adding hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and boric acid, repeating heating and stirring at a predetermined temp. to decompose the sample sufficiently, cooling the decomposed liq., adding Co as a reference substance, adding ion-exchanged water to a pre-determined amt. to prepare a sample soln., measuring the emission intensity of La by high frequency inductively coupled plasma emission process, and determining the La by internal standard method. The sample is pref. a solid electrolyte expressed as LaSrF.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By heating and stirring the sample with acids in the pressure melting pot, the sample can be almost completely decomposed, and it can be determined by ICP process. The process is useful for investigating the relation between the compsn. of the solid electrolyte and its characteristics on the quantitative base
Generator comprises a desulphuriser to remove S out of raw fuel material, a reformer to generate H2 gas by reacting hydrocarbon fuel in the material with steam, and a fuel cell mainframe to obtain electric power by electrochemically reacting reformed gas with air.    ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cell generator has stable operating ability for a long period.
Compsns. with a perovskite structure of at least one element chosen from Mn and Cr are prepd. by forming a mixt. comprising salts and/or sols of the elements constituting the compsn., drying the mixt. and calcining the dried prod.    Other claimed perovskite cpds. are those also contg. a rare earth, a rare earth partially substd. by an alkaline earth, an element of gp. VIII or an alkaline earth opt. in conjunction with a transition element or an element of gp. Vb.    Pref. perovskites have the structure A1-xMxM1yB1-yO3 in which A = a rare earth, esp. La, B = Mn or Cr, M = an alkaline earth, esp. Sr, M1 = a gp. VIII element, x is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 1 and y is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.5.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The prods. have improved purity, controlled morphology and stereochemistry, improved sinterability, and good electrical and electronic properties, and are esp. useful in the prodn. of fuel cells.
The prodn. comprises prepg. a plasma spray powder by mixing 1-15 pts. of Cr oxide to 100 pts.wt. of La chromite powders, the chromite having an A-to-B site compsn. ratio of 1:1-0.9, plasma spraying onto a substrate, and heat-treating the film.    Pref. the La chromite is replaced by a synthesis powder contg. La and Cr oxides which is heated, granulated, and sprayed as above, and heated.    The synthesis powder is pref. replaced by a raw material powder of the same compsn. which is unheated before granulating.    Pref. the film is formed as an interconnctor on a fuel cell electorde. Pref. the plasma-sprayed film is heated at 1250-1500 deg.C. Pref. Ca is at the A sites and no CaO is pptd..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Films are useful in solid oxide fule cells as interconnectors and have high electroconductivity and moisture resistance. Fuel cell output is increased and no film peeling occurs.
The prepn. comprises shaping a mixt. contg. aluminium powder, a sodium cpd., a structure stabiliser and zirconia powder and reaction sintering to form a dense body; and the mixt. pref. has alumina powder.    The aluminium powder has a pref. particle dia. of less than 300 micron and contains less than 1000 ppm. each of, (less than 200 ppm.) Si and Fe. The structure stabilser is a Li-contg. salt, the zirconia is tetragonal phase and the body is at least 85% relative density. The compsn. of the mixt. is (wt.%): (A) 1-40 sodium cpd., 0.1-10 structure stabiliser, 35 or less zirconia and balance aluminium powder, or (B) at least 10 aluminium powder, 1-40 sodium cpd., 0.1-10 structure stabiliser, less than 35 or 25 zirconia and balance alumina powder.    USE -   Used as a solid electrolyte in sodium-sulphur sec. battery and an alkali metal thermoelectric converter.
The cell comprises a photovoltaic junction with front (24) and back (32) faces and side (42), with a conductive contact pad (38) on the back face and a second contact (30) comprising a transparent, conductive front face layer (40). A second conductive contact pad (46) is connected by a trace (48) to the front face.    Pref. a second contact pad contacts the transparent layer and avoids a trace.    The second conductive contact is pref. on the front face and in electrical contact with the transparent layer.    Pref. the junction is of Si, GaAs, and GaAs/Ge and pref. the contact pads are of Al or Cu(alloy), as is the trace. Pref. the transparent layer is an oxide as is pref. the trace. (ITO or ZnO). Pref. the second contact has a layer of insulation between the trace and the side of the junction. Pref. the contact pads are conductive strips on the back face. Pref. the conductive layer is 1-2 microns thick. Pref. two traces extend from the front face over opposite sides to two oppositely placed pads on the back.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for photovoltaic junction varying configurations and materials. Loss of efficiency due to the front face electrical contact is prevented and the loss due to the additional front layer is min. and gains of 5% are obtd. The resistance of the cell is also reduced.
Prepn. of lithium aluminate of at least 95% gamma phase with BET surface area above 10 m2/g comprises mixing a gamma lithium aluminate with surface area below 8 m2/g with a 5-70% aq. H2O2 soln. for at least 0.5 hr. above 0 deg. C, sepg. the gamma lithium aluminate from the H2O2, drying it by heating above 200 deg. C and grinding.    Also claimed is the prepn. to obtain a gamma lithium aluminate in which fresh H2O2 soln. is mixed for at least 0.5 hr. to give a gamma lithium aluminate with BET surface area above 20 m2/g.    Pref. the lithium aluminate having surface area below 8 m2/g is prepd. by calcining (pref. at 750-800 deg. C for at least 6 hrs.) a mixt. of lithium hydroxide, carbonate, nitrate, peroxide, oxalate, acetate, benzoate or formate and an aluminium source, pref. alumina, boehmite, or aluminium hydroxide, nitrite or alkoxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The predominantly gamma phase lithium aluminate is a support for carbonate electrolyte in molten carbonate fuel cells. The process is simple and rapid
Increased efficiencies of two-junction monolithic solar cells, made from top cell/bottom cell material combinations of GaxIn1-xP/GaAs; AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs (x = 0.3-0.4), GaAs/Ge and GayIn1-yP/Gay+0.5In0.5yAs (y = 0-0.5 exclusive), are provided by achieving current matching by thinning the top cell.    The bottom cell is made in the conventional manner (usually 3 microns thickness for direct gap materials), but the top cell is made thinner to allow some light with energy above the band gap of the top cell to pass through to be absorbed by the bottom cell. The invention is applied only to material systems which have top cell currents larger than the bottom cell currents.    Exemplified top cell thicknesses for (i) air mass 1.5 and (ii) air mass 0 are (i) 1 micron and (ii) 0.7 microns for 1.9/1.424 eV bandgap combination (GaxIn1-xP/GaAs or AlxGa1-xAs(GaAs); (i) 0.7 microns and 0.5 microns for 1.85/1.424eV (GaxIn1-xP/GaAs or AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs); (i) 0.8 microns and (ii) 0.7 microns for 1.65/1.1 eV (GaxIn1-xP/GayIn1-yAs); (i) 1 micron and (ii) 1.6 microns for 1.4240.8 eV (GaAs/Ge, direct gap); and (i) 0.7 microns and (ii) 1.7 microns for 1.38/0.7 eV (InP/Ga0.5In0.5As).    ADVANTAGE -   The current-matched cells have higher efficiency than current-mismatched cells because of higher device current and, in cases of low surface recombination velocities, higher device voltage. The cells may be made from a greater number of material combinations.
In a molten carbonate fuel cell system having a fuel stream in fluid communication with an anode chamber and an oxidant stream in fluid communication with a cathode chamber, a sulphur scrubber is provided in fluid communication with the cathode chamber for sulphur cpd. removal from the oxidant stream.    In a molten carbonate fuel cell system having a burner communicating with an anode chamber for burning anode exhaust, a sulphur scrubber communicates with the burner and a cathode chamber for sulphur cpd. removal from a combined oxidant combustion stream.    ADVANTAGE -   Sulphur cpds. are removed to prevent contamination of the reformer catalyst and the anode.
(JP2548865-B2)      Sodium sulphur battery with window (5) has aluminium or aluminium alloy receptacle for cell (1) retained inside a rigid container (2) which is equipped with annular projection (3) in vertical end that suppresses any longitudinal elongation of cell. Receptacle is able to absorb stress by provision of part that deforms easily (4).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Sodium sulphur battery is used for power storage. Size variation due to thermal stresses is absorbed, preventing determination of terminal connection.
(JP2668053-B2)      The fusion carbonate fuel cell stack battery, is used to control the reaction for generating metal carbonate solid compound containing alkali metal to adjust quantity of electrolyte in the oxidising agent chamber on the cathode.    ADVANTAGE -   The battery is stable for prolonged periods.
Mfr. comprises forming a mixt. of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grains, hydrophobic carbon grains, polyethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (PE-TFE) copolymer grains, and hydrophilic carbon grains having adhered thereto catalyst particles, into a sheet. The PE-TFE copolymer is graft polymerised to give an ion exchange membrane to form the reactive layer.    Cell mfr. comprises preparing two of the sheets, joining them and incorporating between a PE-TFE copolymer sheet by pressing, and graft polymerising the PE-TFE copolymer to obtain an electrochemical cell comprising an ion exchange membrane sandwiched beween two reactive layers.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for gas diffusion electrodes of fuel cells, water electrolysis, etc.; the cell reaction efficiency is considerably improved.
Structure comprises a solid electrolyte membrane having provided on side(s) of a gas diffusion electrode having opt. provided on the inner side a reactive film, incorporating a gas-permeable net structure having adhered fine grains of catalysts or of carriers carrying catalyst.    Pref. electrolyte membrane is a perfluorosulphonic acid polymer membrane (Nafion, RTM) 0.17 mm in thickness. Reactive film is made of a 0.7:7:4:3 mixt. of 50 Angstroms average dia. Pt grains, 450 Angstroms average dia. hydrophilic C black, and 0.3 microns average dia. TFE grains; the gas diffusion membrane is made of 7:3 mixt. of 420 Angstroms average dia. hydrophobic C black and 0.3 microns average dia. PTFE.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For fuel cells, water electrolysis, producing ozone, etc. Increases the cell reaction efficiency.
Prodn. of ceramic substrate (1) having closed gas channels (2) on one side and gas permeable walls for gas flow from the channels to electrodes of fuel cells on the outside of the finished substrate comprises (a) extruding a base body (3) using a compsn. contg. a spinel, esp. MgAl2O4 or a mixt. contg. a spinel and organic extrusion additives, and closing the gas channels at the channel end, (b) dipping the body (3) into a Ca-ZrO2-contg. soln. to form a first intermediate layer (4) and tempering, thus removing the organic additives and producing a porous structure, (c) masking the outer substrate surfaces, so that the wall regions (5) to be made gas permeable, are covered with a wax or other water-resistant layer by screen printing, (d) dipping the masked substrate into a soln. contg. Y-stabilised ZrO2 and evacuating the gas channels to introduce ZrO2 into the pores, in which the outer surfaces covered by masked layers are not wetted by the ZrO2 soln., and producing a sealing layer on the substrate, and (e) sintering the coated substrate (1) so that the spinel base body (3) and the Ca-stabilised ZrO2 coating (4) remain porous and the sealing layer (6) is sintered to become gas-tight.    USE -   For high temp. fuel cells.
The mfr. of a SPE membrane assembly comprises (a) furnishing a SPE membrane in Na(+) form; (b) furnishing a perfluorosulphonate ionomer in a Na(+) form or thermoplastic form; (c) uniformly dispersing a supported Pt catalyst and a solvent in the Na(+) or thermoplastic form of the ionomer for form an ink; (d) forming a film of the ink contg. a predetermined amt. of the catalyst on a surface of the SPE membrane in the Na(+) form; (e) heating the film of the ink to a temp. effective to dry the ink; and (f) converting the film of the ink and the SPE membrane to a protonated form of perfluorosulphonate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Mfr. of an solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membrane is provided. It is useful for gas fuel cells. The catalyst layer has adequate gas permeability so that the cell performance is not affected and has a density and particle distribution effective to optimise proton access to the catalyst and electronic continuity for electron flow from the half-cell reaction occurring at the catalyst. SPE fuel cells are provided with relatively low supported catalyst loadings with no redn. in their performance. The bonding betwen the SPE layer and the catalyst layer is improved. The wt. fraction of the SPE ionomer with the catalyst layer is increased to improve the efficiency of the catalyst layer.
Benzopteridine deriv. of formula (I) are new. In (I), R1-4 = H or opt. substd. alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl, R5-6 = H, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, mono- or dialkyl- amino or thioalkyl and R7 = opt. substd. alkyl.    A cpd. of formula (II) or (III) and R7OH are photoreacted to give a cpd. of formula (I).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cpds. (I) have fluorescent properties, including a high fluorescent quantum yield, and a high Stokes shift value and are useful as fluorescent dyes for wavelength modulation films, displays, and converging plates for solar batteries and a photosensitisers and redox catalyst.    In an example, 0.4g 3,7,10,14-tetraethylbenzo (1,2-g,4,5-g')-di- pteridine -2,4,9,11(3H,7H,10H,14H)-tetraone, 70 ml ethanol, 4 ml oleyl alcohol and 0.7 ml pyridine were dissolved in 2 l methylene chloride. The soln. was put under sunlight. The disappearance of the material was determined by thin layer chromatography. The solvent was distilled off from the soln. and the residue was purified by column chromatography to give 47 mg. of a cpd. with a m.pt. of 208-211 deg.C, a lambda max. in CH2Cl2 of 535 nm, a molar extrincion coefft. of 1.48 x 10 power 4, a Stokes shift of 40 and a fluorescent quantum yield of 0.69 of formula (I), where R1=R2-R3=R4=ethyl, R5=R6=H and R7=methyl.
Child particle of boron (B) is adhered around the mother particle of lanthanum oxide (La2O3), and microcapsulated. The capsulated powder is gathered to fixed form and plasma sintered, so lanthanum borate (LaB6) is produced.    Monomolecular layer of LaB6 is formed on the surface of spiral W filament by physical deposition such as sputtering, so thermoelectric filament material is obtd..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   LaB6 is used for a fluorescent body, etc.. In the method, prodn. time is shortened, and prodn. temp. and pressure are lowered. Prodn. cost can be decreased without using C at the sintering. The thermoelectric filament using LaB6 releases thermoelectron with low heating electric power.    In an example, La2O3 (10 microns) and B (purity 99%, 2-3 microns) were mixed. By mechanical-chemical treatment, a child particle membrane was produced around mother particle. This capsulated powder was treated by PAS (120 deg.C, 400 kg/cm2, 10 min.), and LaB6 moulded goods were obtd..
The appts. comprises reformer units stacked through plate type heat exchangers. Each reformer unit has a plate type reforming chamber charged with a reforming catalyst and plate type heating chamber laminated on the reforming chamber.    USE -   For reformers of fuel cell power plants.
Appts. comprises reformer units stacked through plate-type heat exchangers, each reformer unit having a plate-type reforming chamber charged with a reforming catalyst and plate-type combustion chambers formed at both sides of the reforming chamber so that air is mixed with a fuel at the inlet of each combustion chamber.    USE -   Used for reformers of fuel cell power plants.
Appts. comprises reformer units stacked through plate-type heat exchangers, each reformer unit having a plate-type reforming chamber charged with a reforming catalyst and plate-type combustion chambers formed at both sides of the reforming chamber.    USE -   Used for reformers of fuel cell power plants
The appts. comprises stacked reformer units combined with 2nd heat exchanger chambers for preheating a raw material gas. Each reformer unit has 2 subunits having reforming chambers, fuel dispersion chambers facing the reforming chambers and 1st heat exchanger.    USE -   For reformers of fuel cell power plants.
The appts. comprises a 1st bypass pipe to bypass an air preheater of a combustion air line, where a part of a high temp. fluid in the air preheater is mixed with a fluid at a high temp. outlet.    USE -   For reformers of fuel cell power plants.
A photoelectric conversion layer comprising a non-crystaline semiconductor material contg. at least silicon and a transparent electrode are laminated on a substrate having a conductive surface. The transparent electrode comprises an oxide contg. silver. The silver is distributed in the electrode in such a way tha the silver may be functionally reduced exponentially toward the photoelectric conversion layer.    ADVANTAGE -   Series resistance related to the transparent electrode is reduced, increasing transmittance. The semiconductor layer has enhanced adhesion to the electrode. Leakage is reduced, enhancing the durability of the device. Distributing the Ag exponentially to the semiconductor side reduces structural distortion caused by a difference in materials between the electrode and the semiconductor layer.
The combined cell comprises tubular solid electrolyte type fuel cell units connected by metal or metal oxide spacers. Each cell unit has an air electrode and a fuel electrode.    USE -   Used for producing H and organic cpds.
Alloy comprises (by wt.) 25.0-35.0% Ni, 19.0-25.0% Cr, 2.5-3.5% Al, 0.15-0.60% Ti, respectively up to 1.5% Mn, 1.0% Si, 0.75% Cu, 0.10% C, 0.005% S, furthermore, 0.005-0.050% Y, and balance Fe and incidental impurities.    USE -   For reformer components of fuel cells, industrial furnace components e.g, trays, and muffles of heat treating furnaces.
Electrocatalyst (I) comprises an inorganic support (II) and a ternary alloy comprising (in atomic %) 10-50 Pt, 10-50 Pd, and 10-50 Ru.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is an anode catalyst in a fuel cell, is low cost to mfr. and has excellent antipoisoning properties against CO. Ru and Pd in (I) desorbs CO on Pt. (II) can be SiO2 or Al2O3 or carbon.    In an example, chloro plastinic, palladic and ruthenic acids were dissolved in H2O and 150 mls. aq. Na2S2O3 soln. added. 10g acetylene black slurried in 100 mls. H20 was then blended with the soln. followed by drying to a powder at 75-80 deg.C. Dry powder obtd. was reduced in 10% H2 in V2 at 250 deg.C for 0.5 hrs. then heated at 600 deg.C to alloy metals. Atomic ratio of Pt:Pd:Ru in prod. was 25:25:50. Prod. was used to mfr. an anode for use in a half cell contg. 100% phosphoric acid electrolyte. Electrode potential at 0.5A/sq.cm current density, 160 deg.C, 2% CO/28% CO2/70% H2 was 3/mV against 63 mV for catalyst contg. Pt only
Fuel cell comprises porous H2-reactive anode and cathode each with a current collector on one face; solvent-free catholyte, H2 being generated and catholyte consumed in the cathode compartment; solvent-free anolyte, H2 and the anolyte being consumed in the anode compartment; and a thermal regenerator for converting the salt formed in the anode compartment back to acid and base. The catholyte is a gaseous or molten acid and the analyte is a gaseous or molten base.    ADVANTAGE -   Cell can be efficiently and simply regenerated at below about 250 deg.C and avoids need for aq. electrolytes.
(JP2620434-B2)      The conductive cylinder is produced by bending a cathodic conductor sheet comprising a laminate of graphite fibre and non-woven fabric, having V-shaped grooves cut into it, and impregnating the cylinder with fused sulphur.    USE -   Used for the manufacture of an electro-conductive cylinder for anodes of sodium-sulphur batteries.    ADVANTAGE -   The quality of the cylinders remains stable and the cylinders can be manufactured at low cost.
(JP5089902-A)   NOVELTY - A protrusion (4a) in non-vulcanized rubber (4), is inserted into the groove (3a) in vulcanized rubber (3) and is attached to recess (1a) of manifold. The manifold is fixed to the battery stack (2) by vulcanizing the rubber (3).    USE - For sealing fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE - The process sealing of fuel battery is simplified using simple technique and hence the operativity is improved.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the sectional view of fuel battery.    Recess (1a)    Battery stack (2)    Vulcanized rubber (3)    Groove (3a)    Non-vulcanized rubber (4)    Protrusion (4a)
(JP2657015-B2)      The electrolyte for impregnation of a fuel cell comprises phosphoric acid, water and a solvent.    ADVANTAGE -   The electrolyte has a low coefficient of viscosity and can impregnate the electrode (6) catalyst layer (4) at a low temperature for a short time.
(JP2572912-B2)      Mfr. of solid electrolyte fuel battery material comprises measuring out lanthanum hydroxide and metal cpd. powder, which form a composite oxide after firing, mixing the materials, kneading with water, drying and firing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the mfr. of a self-supported solid electrolyte fuel battery. The yield of the battery material is improved. The possibility of an explosion when the temp. rises during the mfr. is reduced. There is thus no excessive heat emission.
An ionic conductor of oxide ions or hydrated protons comprises: a molecular framework structure having a net positive charge or net negative charge or oxide-ion vacancies; the molecular framework structure has channels large enough to transport the oxide ions or hydrated protons. The structure is selected from substd. Al phosphates, substd. orthosilicates, substd. silicoaluminates, substd. apatites of formula Ca5F(PO4)3, substd. sodalites of formula Na4Al3Si3O12Cl, and combinations.    Pref. the channels are 3 Angstroms or more in dia.; the net positive charge is provided by substituting some of the atoms of the structure with relatively higher-valent elements, e.g. Si, Ti, S, Cl; the net negative charge is provided by substituting some of the atoms of the structure with relatively lower-valent elements, e.g. Mg, Zn, Si. Further disclosed is an electrolyte for an electrochemical fuel cell, which comprises a molecular framework structure thermodynamically stable at operating temps. below 800 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Novel high temp. ionic conductors for solid oxide fuel cells, which are stable at temps. 600-800 deg.C and allow greater flexibility in engineering design. Improved conductivities are achieved.
Azo cpd(s). of formula (I) and diazonium salt(s) are new. In formula, A is residue of diazonium salt; and n is integer 1-4.    In the prepn., intermediate diazonium salt(s) e.g. formula (IIb) is prepd. from corresp. amine(s) e.g. formula (IV) by conventional diazotisation at -10 to 5 deg.C, (IIa) is reacted with fluorescein (III) in (aq.) organic solvent (e.g. DMF) at 20 deg.C to obtain e.g. (Ia).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as a photosensitive material for electrophotography, charge generating material for pigment or solar cell, etc.. (I) is more safe than toxic selenium and cadmium cpds., and is excited by light over a wide wavelength region. (I) is stable to light and is prepd. from cheap and available materials readily.
Azo-cpd(s) of formula (I) and diazonium salt(s) of formula (II) are new. A = coupler residue, X = anion.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) prepd. from (II) is useful as photosensitive material for electrophotography, charge generating material for pigment or solar-cell etc. (I) is more safe than toxic selenium- and cadmium-cpds. and is excited by light over widewavelength region. (I) is stable to light and prepd. from cheap and available materials readily.    In an example, (IIa) (0.91g) and (IIIa) (1.59g) were dissolved in DMF (150ml), sodium acetate (0.54g)/water (7.5ml) soln. was added to the above soln. at 17-22 deg. C over 5 min. The reaction mixt. was stirred for 3 hr. ppte. was filtered, washed with DMF and water successively, dried under reduced pressure to obtain (Ia) (1.28g) in 78.8% yield. The structure of (Ia) was determined on mass spectrum, IR spectrum and elemental analysis.
Azo cpd(s). of formula (I) and diazonium salt(s) of formula (II) are new, where A is coupler residue and X is anion.    (II) is prepd. from corresp. amine(s) by conventional diazotisation at -10 deg. C to 5 deg. C, (II) is reacted with coupler(s) in (aq.) organic solvent (e.g. DMF) at 20 deg. C to obtain (I). Examples of A are of formula (a)-(c).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) prepd. from (II) is useful as photosensitive material for electrophotography, charge generating material for pigment or solar cell, etc. (I) is more safe than toxic selenium and cadmium cpds. and is excited by light over a wide wavelength region. (I) is stable to light and is prepd. from cheap and available materials readily.    In an example, (IIa) (0.82g) and (IIIa) (1.59g) were dissolved in DMF (150ml) and sodium acetate (0.54g) and water (7.5ml) soln. was added to the above soln. at 17-22 deg. C over 5 mins. The reaction mixt. was stirred for 3 hrs., ppte. was filtered, washed with DMF and water successively, then dried under reduced pressure to obtain (Ia) (1.23g) in 80.6% yield.
Azo cpd(s). of formula (I) and diazonium salt(s) of formula (II) are new, where A is coupler residue; and X is an anion.    Intermediate (II) is prepd. from corresp. amine(s) by conventional diazotisation at -10 to 5 deg.C. (II) is reacted with coupler(s) in (aq.) organic solvent (e.g., DMF) at 20 deg.C to obtain (I). Examples of A are of formulae (i)-(iii).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as photosensitive material for electrophotography, charge generating material for pigment or solar cell, etc.. (I) is more safe than twice selenium and cadmium cpds. and excited by light over a wide wavelength. (I) is stable to light and is prepd. from cheap and available materials readily.    In an example, cpds. of formula (IIa) (0.96g) and (IIIa) (1.59g) were dissolved in DMF (150ml), sodium acetate (0.54g) and water (7.5ml) soln. was added at 17-22 deg.C over 5 mins.. The reaction mixt. was stirred for 3 hrs., ppte. was filtered, washed with DMF and water successively and dried under reduced pressure to obtain cpd. of formula (Ia) (1.34g) in 80.6% yield.
Azo cpd(s). of formula (I) and diazonium salt(s) of formula (II) are new, where A is coupler residue; and X is an anion.    Intermediate (II) is prepd. from corresp. amine(s) by conventional diazotisation at -10 to 5 deg.C. (II) is then reacted with coupler(s) in (aq.) organic solvent (e.g., DMF) at 20 deg.C to obtain (I). Examples of (A) are of formulae (i)-(iii).    In an example, cpds. of formulae (IIa) (0.91g) and (IIIa) (1.59g) were dissolved in DMF (150ml), sodium acetate (0.54g) and water (7.5ml) soln. was added to the soln. at 17-22 deg.C over 5 mins.. The reaction mixt. was stirred for 3 hrs., ppte. was filtered, washed with DMF and water successively, and dried under reduced pressure to obtain cpd. of formula (Ia) (1.33g) in 80.2% yield.
Azo cpd(s). of formula (I) and diazonium salt(s) of formula (II) are new, where A is coupler residue; and X is an anion.    Intermediate (II) is prepd. from corresp. amine(s) by conventional diazotisation at -10 to 5 deg.C, (II) is then reacted with coupler(s) in (aq.) organic solvent (e.g. DMF) at 20 deg.C to obtain (I). Examples of (A) are of formulae (i)-(iii).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as photosensitive material for electrophotography, charge generating material for pigment or solar cell, etc.. (I) is more safe than toxic selenium and cadmium cpds. and is excited by light over wider wavelength. (I) is stable to light and is prepd. from cheap and available materials readily.    In an example, cpds. of formulae (IIa) (0.91g) and (IIIa) (1.59g) were dissolved in DMF (150ml), sodium acetate (0.54g) and water (7.5ml) soln. was added to the soln. at 17-22 deg.C over 5 mins.. The reaction mixt. was stirred for 3 hrs., ppte. was filtered, washed with DMF and water successively, and dried under reduced pressure to obtain cpd. of formula (Ia) (1.31g) in 79.1% yield.
Azo cpd(s). of formula (I) and diazonium salt(s) of formula (II) are new, where A is coupler residue; and X is an anion.    Intermediate (II) is prepd. from corresp. amine(s) by conventional diazotisation at -10 to 5 deg.C. (II) is then reacted with coupler(s) in (aq.) organic solvent (e.g., DMF) at 20 deg.C to obtain (I). Examples of (A) are gps. of formulae (i)-(iii).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as photosensitive material for electrophotography, charge generating material for pigment or solar cell, etc.. (I) is more safe than toxic selenium and cadmium cpds. and is excited by light over wider wavelength. (I) is stable to light and is prepd. from cheap and available materials readily.    In an example, cpds. of formulae (IIa) (0.91g) and (IIIa) (1.59g) were dissolved in DMF (150ml), sodium acetate (0.54g) and water (7.5ml) soln. was added to the soln. at 17-22 deg.C over 5 mins.. The reaction mixt. was stirred for 3 hrs., ppte. was filtered, washed with DMF and water successively and dried under reduced pressure to obtain cpd. of formula (Ia) (1/36g) in 82.0% yield.
Azo cpd(s). of formula (I) and diazonium salt(s) of formula (II) are new, where A is coupler residue; and X is an anion.    Intermediate (II) is prepd. from corresp. amine(s) by conventional diazotisation at -10 to 5 deg.C. (II) is reacted with coupler(s) in (aq.) organic solvent (e.g., DMF) at 20 deg.C to obtain (I). Examples of (A) are of formulae (i)-(iv).    In an example, cpds. of formula (IIa) (0.91g) and (IIIa) (1.59g) were dissolved in DMF (150ml), sodium acetate (0.54g)/water (7.5ml) soln. was added to the above soln. at 17-22 deg.C over 5 mins.. The reaction mixt. was stirred for 3 hrs., ppte. was filtered, washed with DMF and water successively and dried under reduced pressure to obtain cpd. of formula (Ia) (1.34g) in 81.0% yield.
Tube is made by supplying Mn-oxide powder, carbonate powder of Ca, Mg, Ba or Sr, La-oxide powder, and water into a medium stirring type mill having zirconia balls and agitators, mixing them for 20-40 minutes by rotating the agitators with 100-250 rpm., moulding the mixt., firing the mouldings, to synthetise La-manganate, pulverising the synthesised matter, kneading the obtd. powder, with organic binder, water, and pore-increasing agent, moulding the kneaded matter, drying and firing the obtd. mouldings.    USE -   Used for porous electrodes, as a structure support material, of solid electrolyte fuel cells.
Mfr. comprises coating porours ceramic sintering or porous metal base with Pd (-alloy) by reduced pressure plasma spraying.    USE -   Provides defect-free membrane by a simple process; the prod. is useful in fuel cells
Bisazo deriv. of formula (I) is new: (where R1, R2 = H or lower alkyl independently, R3, R4 = H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, acetyl, amino or alkoxy independently and Cp1, Cp2 = a coupler residue independently. Intermediate of formula (II) is also claimed: (where R5, R6 = halogen or BF4 independently).    An amine. cpd. of formula (III) is diazotised, and resultant cpd. of formula (III) is coupled, with coupler to give a bisazo deriv. of formula (I).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Derivs. have excellent charge generation efficiency and are used as charge generation materials for organic photosensitive materials, solar batteries, photoelectric conversion devices and optical memories as well as pigments. Electronic devices using the bisazo cpds. have high sensitivity in the whole visible region.    In an example, soln. of 0.35 NaOAc in 5 ml water was dropped in soln. of 1.19g N,N'-diacetyl- 6,6'-dimethyl-5,5'- bis(diazonium)- indigo fluoroborate salt and 1.06g 3-hydroxy-4 -naphthalenecarboxylic acid benzamide in 100 mol N,N-dimethylformamide at 17-20 deg.C. in 5 minutes. The mixt. was stirred for 3 hrs. and filtered and the filtered cake was washed with 200ml N,N-dimethylformamide and water twice and dried under reduced pressure to give 1.48g of a bisazo cpd. of formula (IV) in a yield of 80%.
The device comprises a reformer with a mounted reforming tube to supply fuel gas from the outside to the reforming tube so that it can be heated via the reforming tube with combustion gas created in the tube while being distributed to the outlet and reformed into H2-rich gas.    ADVANTAGE -   Time required for plant shutdown is shortened.
A polymer electrolyte comprises a composite prod. of (A) a solid solvent prepd. by introducing a monoalkyl oligoalkylene glycol of formula (III) into the side chain on copolymer of triphosphazene of formula (I) and an oligo-alkylene glycol of formula (II) and (B) a pi-conjugated polymer contg. an anionic substituent of formula (IV) or (V). In (I)-(V) where X= a halogen, R1 and R3 = -(CH2)2- or -CH(CH3)CH2-, R2= a (1 - 10C) alkyl gp., R4= a (1-10C) alkyl or ether gp., M=H, Li, Na or K and m, n, k = an integer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The polymer electrolyte has a high cationic conductivity at room temp. It is used for solid polymer secondary cells, capacitors, solar cells of wet type or electrochromic displays or as an antistatic agent.
A photovoltaic device comprises a metal layer supporting a transparent layer and a semiconductor layer. It is capable of photoelectric conversion. The metal layer comprises Al contg. at least one element selected from Si, Cu, Zn and Mn.    A photovoltaic device where the metal layer comprises Cu contg. at least one element selected from Si, Al, Zn, Sn and Be is also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The photovoltaic device is suitable e.g. as a solar cell, and has high performance and high reliability over a prolonged period. It has low cost and lends itself to mass prodn. as a result of having an improved metal rear reflection layer based on Cu or Al
A zinc-nitric acid fuel cell has a basic structure comprising a cation exchange film (1), positive and negative plate chambers (3 and 2) sepd. by the cation exchange film (1), a positive carbon plate (4) disposed in the positive plate chamber (2), and a negative zinc plate (5) disposed in the negative plate chamber (3). When conc. nitric acid (6) and an electrolyte (7) are supplied to the positive and negative plate chambers (2 and 3), respectively, the cell generates electrical power at normal temp. and normal pressure, and re-pptn. of negative plate zinc and regeneration of nitric acid can be made by recharging.    .d20
A zinc-nitric acid fuel cell which has a basic structure comprising a cation exchange film (1), positive and negative plate chambers (3 and 2) sepd. by the cation exchange film (1), a positive carbon plate (4) disposed in the positive plate chamber (2), and a negative zinc plate (5) disposed in the negative plate chamber (3). When concd. nitric acid (6) and an electrolyte (7) are supplied to the positive and negative plate chambers (2 and 3), respectively, the cell generates electrical power at normal temp. and normal pressure, and re-pptn. of negative plate zinc and regeneration of nitric acid can be made by charging.
Solar cell has a photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer and an electrode made of a material contg. a conductive base substance and a resin electrically connected to it. Among gaps existing in the electrode, the vol. of the gaps having a dia. of at least 0.1 microns is up to 0.04 cc/g.    Pref. the semiconductor is amorphous Si with at least one pin junction. The concn. of chlorine as an impurity in the cell is upto 0.1 wt.%. The resin is urethane, epoxy, or polyimide type. The conductive base is Ag, Ag/P, alloy, a mixture of Ag and C, Cu, Ni, Al, Au or mixt. The ratio of conductor base to grid electrode is at least 70%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as a power supply the electrode structure is improved and environmentally stable.
Energy storage system has a combined electrolysing and electrical energy producing unit (1) with solid oxide electrodes. The system includes a water vapour feeding device (4,12), an oxygen storage unit (3) and a hydrogen storage unit (2). When the water vapour is fed to the electric cell (1) it is decomposed into oxygen and hydrogen by an electrolysing current tapped from the mains (30, 30a). The resulting gases are cooled as they are fed back to their storage units (2,3). When these gases are then fed to the cell they recombined to form water vapour with the resultant prodn. of electric current. The heat given off during the dissociation and recombination of the gases is used by heat exchangers (7a, 7b) to heat water from tank (10) which then is used to provide hot and cold water according to the operation of valve (11).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   System uses the excess electrical energy which is not needed during the night to produce the oxygen and hydrogen which can then be reused to provide extra electrical energy during the day. System can feed a large town in an economic and efficient manner. The energy efficiency is as high as a pump storage power station.
High temp. rechargeable cell comprises: molten alkali metal anode; molten salt electrolyte MxAlXyRz where M = anode alkali metal, X = hal, R = organic radical, x = 1-3, y + z = more than 4 and y + z - x = 3; and a cathode formed of a halide of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co and/or Ni, which may also contain C, B, N, Si and/or P, distributed in a porous matrix impregnated by the molten salt.    A separator which is a conductor of the anode alkali metal is provided between anode and electrolyte. The compsn. of the electrolyte is selected so that any alkali metal halide MX formed in the electrolyte is (partially) soluble in the electrolyte.    ADVANTAGE -   Electrolyte has a low m.pt., low vapour pressure and low freeze/thaw cycle stressing; and higher porosity is provided in the cathode during discharge, leading to lower concn. polarisation effects and higher power densities. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9302 based on complete specification).
Anode feed gas conditioning for thermal management of molten alkali metal carbonate fuel cells comprises: reacting (a part of) the anode gas externally in an exothermic reaction (I), (30); passing the prods (32) to an internal zone (11) adjacent the anode in indirect heat exchange relation with the fuel cell (10); reacting (a part of) the prods. in an endothermic reaction (II) in the zone to absorb heat from the cell to produce a higher energy process stream; and passing part of the stream (25) to the anode (14) as fuel and removing a second, larger part (91).    ADVANTAGE -   Need for a cathode cycle for heat removal is avoided and concn. of the cathode reactant feed can be increased.
(JP5063227-A)   NOVELTY - Particles of functional material (1) and particles of soldering material (2) which disappears by heating, are mixed uniformly. The mixture (3) is applied on a sheet (5) made from the functional material and heat-pressed, such that only the functional material particles remains on the sheet. Thus, fine particle sheet is manufactured.    USE - For solar battery.    ADVANTAGE - The method enables to manufacture fine particle sheet with large functional area per unit volume. The efficiency and performance of the battery is improved, by using the fine particle sheet.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows sectional view of manufacturing method of fine particles.    Particles of functional material (1)    Particles of soldering materials (2)    Mixture of fine particles (3)    Sheet (5)
Photoelectromotive element comprises a transparent electrode composed of an In cpd. layer formed on a glass support sheet. The atmos. are distributed in the glass sheet such that the number of the atoms reduces away from the surface of the glass support sheet on which transparent electrode is formed.    USE -   For solar cells and optical sensors.
Photoelectromotive element comprises a transparent electrode composed of a Sn cpd. layer formed on a glass support sheet. The Sn atoms are distributed in the glass sheet such that the number of the atoms reduces away from the surface of the glass support sheet on which the transparent electrode is formed.    USE -   For solar cells and optical sensors.
(JP5062696-A)   NOVELTY - A matrix (1) is sandwiched between upper and lower sealing frames (10,11), to prevent diffusion of phosphoric acid to exterior of fuel cell unit. A reservoir (8) provided to lower sealing frame has space (14) and recess (15) to which matrix edge is made to contact directly, in order to fill phosphoric acid into reservoir.    USE - Phosphoric acid fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - Since matrix edge contacts directly with reservoir, structure of reservoir is improved and storage of large amount of phosphoric acid is achieved. As a result stable and continuous electricity generation is enabled. Also durability of fuel cell increases.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows the horizontal sectional view of phosphoric acid fuel cell. (The drawing includes non-English language text).    matrix (1)    reservoir (8)    frame (10,11)    space (14)    recess (15)
Film comprises a solvent-soluble fluororesin film composed of a gas permeable fine pore material based on at least one of fluororesin porous material, polyolefin gp. porous material or polyether sulphone porous material. Cell using the composite film is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   The film is O2 permeable and acts as a vapour barrier. A cell using the film has no electrolyte leakage and improved storage life.    In an example, a perfluoro soln. contg. 5 wt.% solvent-soluble fluororesin ("Sai-top" (RTM)) was coated on a fluororesin porous material, and dried to form an O2 permeable composite film. The film has an O2 transmission velocity of 1.0 x 10 power minus 4 and water vapour transmission velocity of 6.3 x 10 power minus 5. A charge and discharge test of the cell using the composite film showed that discharge stop voltage was 9V and wt. change was 7 mg whereas with conventional one it was -120 mg.
The electrode comprises a 1st metal of copper and a 2nd metal of zinc or mercury. The surfaces of both metals are simultaneously present. The 2nd metal is dispersed onto surface of 1st metal in form of islands of size less 1000 Angstrom; or vice versa.    Pref., the copper is in the form of plate, net, foamed material, thin film, fine particles, etc. 2nd metal is dispersed by electric deposition, evapn., electroless plating, lithography, etc.. The electrode components are pref. supported onto an electronic conducting support which is pref. a carbon fibre felt.    Also claimed is device for exchanging carbon dioxide comprising, an anode composed of a photo-electrode; a cathode composed of the electrode provided through an electrolyte as counter electrode of the anode; and a device to supply carbon dioxide gas onto cathode surface. Pref. the 2nd metal can be pref. cadmium, the electrolyte can be pref. solid electrolyte or a liq. electrolyte to which the cathode is dipped in, and the photo-electrode can be pref. n-type, photo-semiconductor which is esp. titanium oxide. A solar cell can be provided between the cathode and the anode.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Reduces carbon dioxide into hydrocarbon, alcohol, etc., in a high current efficiency.ta
Process comprises growing a GaAs epitaxial layer of 3 microns or more on a Si wafer, and forming a delta doping layer at 700-750 deg.C organic metal CVD on that layer.    USE -   For making GaAs solar cells. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9310 based on complete specification)
Module comprises an element body comprising an amorphous Si solar cell element (100) enclosed by a filler (106) and comprising a metal electrode layer (102), an amorphous Si semiconductor layer (103) having a pin junction, a transparent and conductive layer (104) and grid electrode (105) disposed respectively on a conductive substrate (101), while the element body is disposed on a base member (108). Grid electrode has a coat (109) comprising an epoxy resin with a moisture permeability of 20 g/m2.day.-0.1mm/40 deg. C 90%RH or less which is disposed so as to cover the entire exposed exterior of the grid electrode. Also claimed is a solar cell module whose element body comprises several such amorphous Si solar cell elements intregrated in series connection and enclosed by a filler. Grid electrode of each element has such an epoxy coat.    Epoxy resin is bisphenol A epoxy resin, bisphenol F epoxy resin, cycloaliphatic epoxy resin and phenol novolak epoxy resin, adn the coat has a thickness of 10-200 microns. Filler comprises a light transmissive, insulating resin of EVA, polyvinyl butyral or silicone resin.    ADVANTAGE -   Solar cell module has good weatherability and light permeability and exhibits efficient photoelectric conversion over long periods of time without deterioration or shortcircuiting between grid electrode and lower electrode, even under severe environmental conditions.
Device for the electrochemical generation of direct current comprises (a) electrode comprising Al-Hg amalgam; (b) electrode comprising an oxidant which is an 02; and (c) electroconducting separator inbetween. The separator is a Ge wafer.    In the generation of electrical energy using the device, the oxidant reacts at the cathode and the Al reacts at the anode.    Oxidant is pref. a peroxide of an alkali(ne earth) metal. Esp. oxidant is a permanganate in aq. medium. Pref. the separator is an Al-doped Ge wafer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Electrochemical device has Al in a convenient, readily available form, i.e. as an amalgam.    In an example, Al-Hg amalgam is contained in hermetically sealed compartment with a current collecting mesh connected to a lead. Likewise, oxidant has lead connected to grid. Assuming an EMF for Al-Hg of 1.66 V and EMF for KMn04 of 1.68 V, the open cell voltage would be approximately 3.34 V.
In the heating and pressing chamber of the multilayering equipment; flat plate, cushion material layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol, fluorine resin peeling-off material layer, rear side material layer of white fluorine resin bonding and sealing material lower layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, wiring for solar cells, bonding and sealing material upper layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, etc., and light-transmitting material layer of fluorine resin are formed into a multilayered sheet. Then the sheet is heated and pressed to bury the wiring between the bonding and sealing upper layer and lower layer, and to unify and fix the multilayered body.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A prod. with uniform thickness can be prepd., without damage to the solar cell wafer during pressing. The module can be peeled off from the lower part in use.
Nitrogen evaporator comprises: a water tank in which the middle of a pipe with one end connected to a liq. nitrogen storage tank is pulled; a container mounted in the water tank with one end open to the outside; and cartridge heating agent stored in the container in a replaceable manner.    ADVANTGE - Nitrogen gas is safely and stably supplied to perform smooth activation and drive.
The elements consists of a powder of a ZrO2 based solid electrolyte incorporated between a sintering of a ZrO2 solid electrolyte and a LaCrO3 oxide interconnector, and joined together by applying heat and pressure.    A pref. joined structure comprising a 25-mm dia. 500 microns thickness 8 mol.% Y2O3-ZrO2 sintering having a relative density of 95% and a 25-mm outer dia. 22-mm inner dia. cylinder of a 94% density La0.9 Sr0.1CrO3 interconnector was obtd. by incorporating therebetween a 200 micron thick sheet of 8 mol.% Y2O3-ZrO2 made from 0.4 microns grains of the same yttria stabilised zirconia, and heating the whole structure to 1500 deg.C. for 2 hrs. while applying a pressure of 0.5 kgf/mm2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use in high temp. water vapour electrolysing appts. and in solid electrolyte fuel cells.
The glass substrate has the 1st thin film formed on a wide area of the substrate, and the 2nd thin film formed on part of the 2nd thin film, in which the 1st thin film has a pattern that remaining film-free portions at part of the substrate, and the 2nd thin film has a pattern at least of which part contacts with the 1st one, and the other part contacts with the substrate directly through the portions where the 1st thin film does not formed.    USE -   As cover glass for solar cells for use in space.
In the manufacture of cellular metal structures with an open porosity, of a spongy nature, an initial substrate, which is an organic sponge, is coated in a prim. metallisation phase onto the surface of the mesh making up the structure by thermal spraying of a metal or alloy onto the substrate. The structure is then submitted to a secondary phase of metallisation by means of the electrolytic deposition of a metal or alloy that reinforces the primary deposit. These successive depositions are made without closing the pores of the sponge. These deposition phases may then be followed by a pyrolitic thermal treatment to eliminate the initial organic substrate and a second thermal treatment under a reducing atmosphere to reverse any oxidation of the deposited metals caused during the elimination of the substrate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used for the manufacture of cellular metal structures with an open porosity, notably of nickel for such applications as catalyser supports, structures for the collection and retention of active materials for battery electrodes, the accumulators of fuel cells, electromagnetic protection and nuclear filtration. It allows the use of thermal spraying techniques for the production of such cellular structures without undue degradation of the organic sponge substrate used in their formation.
An electrically conductive metal/polymer composite comprises: (a) a 10-1,000 micron, sheet-like polymeric substrate of a copolymer that includes an amorphous polymer, and one or more deposition surface(s); (b) a 0.005-5 micron, metal layer on the deposition surface(s) comprising an alloy of 2 or more of In, Sn, Bi and Pb with a m.pt. or liquidus higher than the glass transition temp. of the copolymer. The metal layer has a random lacework pattern, including multiple cores connected by multiple rivulets defining multiple transparent voids. The voids permit the transmission of light and the metal layer is electrically conductive in the plane of the polymer and metal layer.    Also claimed is a method of forming the composite by (1) stretching the metal layer and polymeric substrate at above the m.pt. of the metal layer such that the metal layer forms a random lacework pattern and retains electrical conductivity after stretching.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The composites are used in applications such as solar-thermal energy conversion, solar photovoltaic conversion, solar high-power laser technology, photocathodes in photoelectrical/chemical cells, surface layers in electroluminescent devices, electromagnetic shielding etc. They have the advantages of stretched/oriented polymer films, they are electrically conducting only in desired regions of the sheet, and they are transluscent or virtually transpa
Prodn. of a p-n CdTe/CdS thin film solar cell involves providing a transparent substrate with a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer (front contact) and an n-doped CdS layer, on which is deposited, in an inert gas atmos. by the close space process, a CdTe layer which is provided with a conductive back contact.    The novelty is that (a) the substrate consists of soda-lime glass (window glass); and (b) the substrate is heated to 480-520 deg.C after provision of the layer (18) and the CdS layer (14) but before depositing the CdTe layer, and is maintained at this temp. during CdTe deposition.    ADVANTAGE -   The process suitable for inexpensive mass prodn. of satisfactory solar cells having an efficiency of above 10%, without using high substrate temps. (e.g. at least 600 deg. C in prior art).
Adjusting the water content of the electrolyte (8) in acidic or alkaline fuel cells (1) is claimed. At least one of the gases entering the fuel cell is used to transport water vapour and led over a tempered water surface (36).    ADVANTAGE -   The water content can be adjusted to the required amts.
(JP5047400-A)      Fuel cell system for direct electrochemical conversion of chemical fuel energy into electric energy comprises (a) a hydrogen absorbing alloy supplying a hydrogen gas to the anode during steady-state operation of the system; and (b) an auxiliary alloy as above having a higher H2 absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure at an equal pressure. The auxiliary alloy receives H2 from the main alloy during steady-state operation when the equilibrium pressure of the main alloy becomes equal to the absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure of the auxiliary alloy.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To supply a smooth flow of the H2 to a fuel cell. Ensures a smooth H2 supply from the start of operation to when an exhaust heat has a low temp.. The system is mfd. at low cost and avoids use of an external gas source, so improving safety. The pressure container of the main alloy is compact. Power is generated smoothly during replacement of the hydrogen absorbing alloys. (First major country equivalent to J05047400-A)
Cell comprises a cathode provided on one side of a flat plate or a tube having electrolyte materials and interconnectors connected in turn, and an anode provided on the other side of the flat plate or tube. A graded function layer having a stepwise changing thermal expansion coefft. is provided between the interconnector and the electrolyte material so that the thermal expansion coefft. may gradually change from one side to another.    Pref. a ZrO2-Y2O3 electrolyte and a LaSrCrO3 interconnector was used, and the graded function layer was provided by changing the ratio of the electrolyte and the interconnector from 100% electrolyte, to 70% electrolyte-30% interconnector, to 30% electrolyte-70% interconnector, and to 100% interconnector. An NiO cathode and a LaSrCaMnO3 anode were used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use in high temp. water vapour electrolytic appts. and solid electrolyte fuel cells.
A clear electrode film contains In oxide as a principal component, 1-20 wt.% Sn02 and 0.05-5 wt.% ZnO. A sintering for vapour depositing a clear electrode is obtd. by sintering a powder mixt. contg. the above compsn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As electrodes in LCD elements, transparent heaters, solar cells, etc.    In an example, an excellent clear electrode, having an optical transmittance of 90% (550 nm wavelength) and an electric resistivity of 1.5 x 10 power (-4) ohm.cm, was obtd. by vapour depositing a 1000 A thick film using a sintered target contg. by wt., 94% In203, 5% Sn02, and 1% Zno
Formation comprises: (a) melting a Si parent material in an inert atmos. and allowing the molten Si to flow into a mould nozzle from the drawing end of the mould nozzle to the grabbing end of a drawing jig by applying a pressure to the molten Si and sending it continuously into the heated casting passage in the mould nozzle; and (b) drawing a Si sheet solidified in the mould nozzle from the drawing end by pulling the drawing jig while applying a pressure to the molten Si when the molten Si in the mould nozzle is solidified for a given distance from the grabbing end. The bottom of the horizontal casting passage is placed on the top of a susceptor which can slide freely and horizontally along the mould nozzle. The solidified Si sheet is drawn together with the susceptor to a desired distance with the drawing jig, the susceptor is returned to a certain point, and the process of drawing out the solidified silicon sheet by drawing the jig and the susceptor together and returning the susceptor is repeated a given number of times.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sheets obtd. can be used in solar cells. The static frictional resistance at the time of drawing out the solidified Si sheets can be reduced and the risk of breaking thin polycrystal Si sheets can be lowered.
The reformer has a reaction tube for reforming raw material, and high temp. gas generator for heating the tube, in a casing and preheating layer of heat conductive grains is arranged at the raw gas inlet of catalyser layer arranged inside the tube.    ADVANTAGE -   Lowering of temp. in catalyser layer caused by switching fuel or transitional fluctuation is absorbed by the preheater layer. Fluctuation of hydrogen rate in reform gas is restricted.
The solar cell, having a semiconductor layer, comprises a first electrode, a semiconductor layer, a second electrode stacked on a substrate. A ZnO layer contg. a transition metal is located between the semiconductor layer and at least one of the electrodes. The density of the transition metal in the zinc oxide is continuously changed within a range of not less than 1 atm. ppm to not more than 5 atm.%.    The ZnO layer pref. includes at least two transition metal elements the total density changing within not less than 1 atm ppm to not more than 5 atm.% with the distribution mostly on the semiconductor side. The ratio of the density of the transition metal near the semiconductor to that near the electrode is 50.    ADVANTAGE -   Electrode structure is improved giving improved output charcteristics, stability, and reliability.
Solar cell has a semiconductor layer sandwiched between two electrodes with a layer of ZnO:C, ZnO:N or ZnO:C:N between the layer and at least one electrode. The density of C, N or C/N ats. in the ZnO layer is constant or continuously changed within a range of 5 at.% or less.    ADVANTAGE -   Adhesion strength between layers is increased so that series resistance is reduced and degradation of characteristics due to slight film peeling is avoided.
System comprises; a module contg. cells and two lines for gaseous reactants which form a liq. prod. in the cells, and a line carrying coolant liq. which is derived from the liq. prod.; an indirect heat exchanger for the coolant liq. line; and first and scond liq.-gas separators connected to first and second liq. reservoirs. The first reservoir is connected to the liq. coolant line and each reservoir is connected to a respective reactant gas supply; each liq.-gas separator is connected a respective reactant gas line. Flow regulators are provided for each supply between the reservoir and the gas line.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In managing the cooling cycle and the fuel/oxidant gas flows in a fuel cell, esp. in a confined environment such as a submarine or aircraft. System is simple and self-adjusting; fuel and O2 supplies are conserved, all prods. are maintained within the closed system and a prefd. operation allows external humidification without contamination of fuel or O2.
Isolating defective Si spheres having an exposed P-type region where the spheres are affixed to a foil matrix, comprises: applying an insulating cover to the exposed P-type region; removing a portion of the insulating cover from a partial area of the sphere; anodising the foil matrix and the spheres for a time sufficient to form an insulating oxide coating to those of the spheres having a short between the P-type region and the foil matrix.    Pref. the insulating cover is an organic material, e.g. polymide; the anodising step takes place in HF acid soln. (upto 45% HF).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process identifies and isolates shorted cells in a single process. The process is uncomplicated and economical and improves prodn. efficiency.
Process comprises laminating a thin film of a chalcopyrite-structured ternary cpd. obtd. by sputtering on a substrate whose film surface is kept from exposure to plasma, with another thin film, capable of forming a junction with the thin film above.    Process opt. comprises depositing a thin film of a chalcopyrite structured ternary cpd. on a substrate using targets of pure elements each of Gp. I, III and VI in order in the sputtering process, and then forming thereon a thin film capable of forming a junction with the sputtered thin film.    Sputtering pref. comprises generating a glow discharge between the target and a porous electrode, and depositing on substrate on the other side of the target. Opt. it is an ion-beam sputtering process or comprises opposed targets.    USE -   For thin film solar cells.
Electric power storage comprises an electrolysis/generation means provided with solid oxide electolyte, a hydrogen storage means formed of hydrogen occluded alloy, an oxygen storage means, and a water supply means to supply water to the electrolysis/generation means via the hydrogen storage means during steam electrolysis.    ADVANTAGE -   Extra electric power is used to decompose steam into hydrogen and oxygen, which are to be reacted with each other into steam when required.
Powder and a film of LaCoO3 are produced by electrolysing an electrolytic soln. comprising mixed salts of La and Co at a La/Co ratio by molar of not more than 1000 at a constant voltage of 0.7-1.3 V, using an Ag/AgCl electrode as the reference electrode or under constant current of 0.5 mA/cm2 or lower.    Electrolytic soln. esp. has a La/Co molar ratio of 500 or lower. Electrolysis is effected in an electrolytic soln. of pH 3-7, at 50 deg.C or higher. Film or powder of LaCoO3 obtd. is sintered, pref. at 500 deg.C or higher in presence of O2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use as positive electrodes of solid electrolyte fuel cells
The film of Cu-In-Se2 system alloy is mfd. by laminating Cu and In thin films by means of vapour deposition. During In thin film deposition an ultrasonic wave oscillation is applied, at the same time as seleniding.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for making solar cell. A uniform thin film can be obtd.
Article is mfd. by: (a) forming a dispersion of particles in a liq. carrier which either (i) has a critical value of viscosity below the level at which gas cannot be introduced, and above the level at which gas tends to escape, or (ii) contains a polymerisable monomeric material, (b) introducing gas into the dispersion and (c) removing the liq. to leave a porous solid.    Also claimed are the dispersion with a critical viscosity, a fired porous body contg. only refractory particles and a green body contg. a polymer which is removed on firing.    The dispersion pref. contains 10-90 and esp. 40-85% solids with a particle size of less than 5 micron and esp. less than 2 micron - or the particles are up to 100 micron and agents are present to prevent settling. The bubbles are controlled and maintained by a deflocculant and are introduced by: (i) high speed agitation, (ii) bubbling the gas through a filter while agitating, (iii) forcing high pressure gas through a fine filter, mixing with the dispersion in a chamber and ejecting via a nozzle, (iv) mixing the gas and dispersion in a pressure vessel and ejecting to form a foam or (v) adding an agent to form bubbles in situ. Drying is under reduced pressure.    USE -   The porous articles are useful as catalyst supports, flame supports, gas and other filters, air fresheners, ceramic armour, traps for diesel solids, insulation, humidity sensors, refractory separators and electrolytes for fuel ce
The separator comprises a solid electrolyte, a fuel electrode (anode), an air electrode (cathode) and a separator made of a heat resistant alloy with a Ni plating layer on the fuel electrode side and a LaCr03 based plating layer on the air electrode side using a wet plating process. The process comprises providing the Ni plating layer by a wet process, then providing a LaCr based plating layer and oxidising to provide a LaCr03 oxide plating layer.    The plating layer is provided at a thickness of 3-30 microns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides an excellent separator which has no drop in electric connection even under prolonged use. It can be produced at a low cost.
(JP5036417-A)   NOVELTY - The fuel battery has number of unit cells (27) laminated one over the other via a conductive spacer. Each cell has a hollow base (20) with penetration opening (12) at one end. An electrolyte layer (21) with an electrode on the upper surface is provided on one surface of the base. An interconnector (23) is provided on the other surface of the base.    USE - The hollow thin plate solid electrolyte fuel battery (SOFC); used for electricity generation.    ADVANTAGE - Simplifies production of thin plate of large size. Thus output density is enhanced. Since the base acts as a support during lamination, the number of cell laminated one over the other is raised. Also the mechanical strength is improved. Reduces internal resistance when compared to the cylindrical type SOFC.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the external view of the electricity generation cell of the SOFC.    Penetration opening (12)    Hollow base (20)    Electrolyte layer (21)    Interconnector (23)    Unit cells (27)
The method for producing a metal insulator semiconductor (MIS)-type solar cell involves forming an electroconductive Al metal layer on the rear part of the P-type silicon semiconductor substrate to be a rear electrode, annealing the front part of the substrate under nitrogen atmosphere at 450 deg. C for 10-15 min. to grow a silicon oxide layer of 20 angstrom thickness, depositing a mixed powder of ZnO and Mn (mixing ratio = 99:1) on the SiO2 layer to form a dielectric thin film of 700 angstrom thickness, and forming a transparent electrode.
The amorphous silicon solar cell having ITO/p-i-N/Al laminated structure is produced by depositing P-type, i-type and N-type amorphous silicon layer on the transparent conductive layer-coated glass substrate, in order. Pref. for improvement of the ohmic contact characteristic in the boundary surface between N-type layer and Al-metal electrode, the first part and the second part of the N-type layer are doped with 0.1-0.5 wt.% and 1-2% PH3 w.r.t. SiH4 respectively.
Electroconductive ceramics comprises a ceramics, as an insulating material, and an electroconductive film formed on the ceramics by electroless plating.    USE -   Used for current collecting lead parts of solid electrolyte type fuel cells, and fuel electrodes.
In the prodn. a prepreg, a peel-ply made of a fabric not impregnated with a resin, and a peel-ply prepreg made of a fabric impregnated with a resin, semi-cured are laminated, and are heated under pressure so that the resin is cured. Then, the peel-ply and the peel-ply prepreg are released so that the prepreg is surface-roughened.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For solar cell panels with high heat radiation properties. The peel-ply and the peel-ply prepreg are effective in prodn. of prepregs of which the thickness is small and the resin impregnation amt. is low.    In an example, the prepreg is composed of prepregs prepd. by impregnating an epoxy resin into reinforcing carbon fibres arranged in one direction, and laminating the prepregs so as to intercross at a right angle. The peel-ply is made of nylon-6, 6 fabric. The peel-ply prepreg is prepd. by impregnating an epoxy resin into a nylon 6,6 fabric, and semi-
Solid oxide fuel cell system comprises a stack (9) including layers contg. a number of cell units (13) and separator layers (2) alternated with each other. A set of cell units is placed on one surface between separators, each cell unit in the set being separately placed on the surface crossing at right angles to the layered direction.    Internal manifolds (33,34) for fuel gas supply/exhaust and internal manifolds (43,44) for oxidant gas supply/exhaust are formed around each cell unit and all of them are formed through the separators.    Specifically, internal gas supply manifolds are formed closer to the centre of the separator than the internal gas exhaust manifolds. The oxidant gas and fuel gas flow at right angles to each other. The stack is sandwiched between gas supply/exhaust plates (4), the fuel gas being supplied through one plate and the oxidant gas being supplied through the other. Coolant holes (6) are formed around each cell unit, the holes being larger the further from the centre of the seprators. The coolant holes are pref. located further from the cell units than the internal manifolds.    ADVANTAGE -   Large size system minimises unevenness of temp. in the stack to maintain stable operation.
The cell has electrochemically active area comprising a catalysed polymer exchange membrane electrolyte (1) between two porous electrodes (3) surrounded by an electrochemically inactive frame area comprising two electrode frames (7), two layers of plastic film (6), and one plastic membrane spacer (4). Layers of adhesive film (5) are between each plastic layer in the frame and extend from the outer edge of the cell radially inwards to a region under the porous electrode layer.    Pref. all components are die cut before assembly. The frame electrode and membrane-spacers are thermoplastic. The electrode frame and plastic film are formed with the porous electrodes by insert injection moulding thermoplastic. The electrode frame is integrally formed with the porous electrodes by insert casting an epoxy. The adhesive layer is an acrylic film.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Inexpensive structure is used for use of expensive components e.g. the membrane electrolyte and the electrodes. The number of thermal and pressure bonding steps required in its construction and the deg. to which the unsupported membrane is highly differential pressurised are min. and it is impervious to gas leakage from the oxidant to fuel or fuel to oxidant side of the cell. Electrical short circuits between the electrodes due to movement during mfr. or use are eliminated and protected against mechanical damage during handling and storage.    .D
Appts. comprises: first and second impervious electrodes; an interposed thin ceramic electrolyte membrane which allows transport of fluid ions but prevents shorting of current; ribs on either the membrane or the electrode surfaces forming passageways; ports (18,20) communicating with both sets of passageways; and a third port (22) communicating with one set of passageways, all the ports extending perpendicular through the membrane and electrodes.    Pref. the electrodes and electrolyte are disc shaped wafers of solid ceramic formed by tape casting.    USE -   Esp. in sepg. O2 from a feedstock; the appts. may also be used as a fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   The electrolyte membranes and/or electrodes also serve as distribution members; the design avoids horizontal internal ports which allows the members to be formed thin.
Cell formed by lamination of an electrode layer, a photo absorption layer made of a p-type semiconductor, a window layer made of a n-type semiconductor and a transparent electrode layer in order on a metal substrate or a substrate has substrate electrode properties. The p-type semiconductor is made of sintered CdTe, and the n-type semiconductor is made of CdS activated semiconductor contg. 0.01 1 mol.% Cl.    ADVANTAGE -   The cell has less defects, improved p-n junction, improved conversion efficiency and uses cheaper substrate.    In an example, a solar cell prepd. by a 10 microns thick CdTe:Cu sintered layer was formed on a glass substrate (sintered for 1 hr. at 600 deg.C). A 1 micron thick CdS layer was then formed on it by vapour deposition and heated for 1 hour at 500 deg.C in CdCl2 vapour to form a CdS activated layer. A transparent electrode of ITO was then formed on it at 300 deg.C. A test of the cell under irradiation of AM1.5(84mW/sq.cm.) light showed that open voltage = 0.78 V, closed circuit current = 19 mA/sq.cm. and conversion efficiency = 11% whereas when no activated CdS layer was used values were 0.75 V, 18 mA/sq.cm. and 10%.
Formation comprises depositing a metallic element on the surface of the metallic collector in a non-oxidising atmos., and then oxidising the deposited coating.    USE -   Provides a dense oxidn. preventive coating with high adhesion strength.
Depositing a F-doped Sn oxide film (SnO2:F) by chemical vapour deposition, comprises using a mixed gas of trifluorobromomethane (CF3Br) and difluorochloromethane (CHClF2) as the F doping gas.    Pref. SnO2:F film was deposited at a temp. of 520 deg.C. by supplying SnCl2, O2, CF3Br and CHClF2 at a flow rate of 0.6 g/min., 0.5 l/min., and 0-0.4 l/min. respectively.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For depositing transparent conductive films indispensable for solar cells, liq. crystal displays, etc.. The use of CF3Br gas, which is one of the gases included in Freon regulations, was considerably reduced.
Ceramic and metal member are cemented by bonding cementing material on the surface of a metal member to be cemented with the ceramic, and press-cementing between the surface of the cementing material and the ceramic. The cementing material is, pref., Mg-contg. Al-alloy. The ceramic is, pref., alumina.    USE -   For cementing ceramic and metal member assuredly e.g., cementing alumina insulating member in Na-S cells and aluminium metal member.
Method comprises heating and sintering a powder of La chromate having oxygen vacancy under a reducing atmos.    The La chromate is pref. not A-site rich. The powder of La chromate is doped with an alkaline earth metal. The La chromate powder is pref. prepd. by condensing an aq. soln. contg. La nitrate, Cr nitrate, glycine, and opt. Sr nitrate, and combusting the condensed prod. The sintering is pref. effected under a reducing atmos. having an oxygen partial pressure of 10 power (-2) Torr or lower; at a temp. of 1400 - 1700 deg. C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use as interconnectors of solid electrolyte fuel cell
Shift converter comprises stack of alternate shift reactor plates (31) and cooling plates (32) and gas intake and exhaust manifolds (53,55,54,56) mounted on the lateral faces of the stack. Each shift reactor plate includes a plate member (33), with a peripheral masking frame (34), gas entrance (35) and opposite gas exit (36) formed in the masking frame and a shift catalyst (42) also formed in the frame.    Each cooling plate includes plate member (33), masking frame (44), gas entrance (45) and exit (46).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. in an H3PO4 fuel cell. Gases introduced to the shift reaction plate undergo shift reaction while being cooled by the sandwiching cooling plates. The stack units are compact, piping is simple and heat losses are small.    The cooling plates include a fin plate (47) located in the masking frame. Each shift reactor plate is sandwiched between two cooling plates, the plates being soldered, welded or brazed together to form an integral body. The shift reactor plate includes two side partition elements (37,38) and an intermediate partition element (not shown) extending parallel to each other and each having a loophole structure; the upstream side shift catalyst is placed between the entrance side and intermediate partitions and the downstream side shift catalyst is placed between the intermediate and exit side partitions. Power generation system comprises a housing contg. a pile made up of a plate type reformer, plate type heat exchanger, plate type shift converter and H3PO4 fuel cell stack.
A binary alloyed catalyst comprises: (a) 2-50 wt.% of platinum; (b) 2-10 atom % of tantalum with the platinum; and (c) a support.    Also claimed is a fuel cell stack having fuel, an oxidant, carbon monoxide and a plurality of fuel cells. Each cell comprises a cathode with a catalyst, an anode, a phosphonic acid electrolyte between them and a cathode chamber on the non-electrolyte side of the anode in which a binary platinum-tantalum alloyed anode catalyst comprises the above compsn.    The platinum pref. has a particle size of between 20-100 Angstroms. The support is selected from carbon based supports, metal carbide, oxide supports and mixtures. The fuel cell is a phosphonic acid fuel cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as a carbon monoxide tolerant catalyst to decrease or eliminate the need for a shift converter in fuel cell systems. The platimum-tantalum alloyed catalyst reduces the adsorption of carbon monoxide and has more reaction sites free for hydrogen oxidn. Current at 44mV anode polarisation with 10% carbon monoxide in the fuel gas is increased to about 1.4 x 10 power (-2) amps/cm2 compared to 7.1 x 10 power (-3) amps/cm2 prior art.
The device comprises p-type layer, i-type layer and n-type layer composed of crystal semiconductor material contg. Si atoms, and transparent electrode, all of which are multilayered. The transparent electrode is composed of an oxide contg. carbon atoms.    Pref. the oxide comprises In oxide, or Sn oxide, or In-Sn oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The device is used for the solar cell, optical sensor, etc. The device has increased short circuit current, reduced series resistance, improved conversion efficiency and stability.    In an example, oxide transparent electrode contg. carbon atoms was formed on a substrate with DC magnetron sputtering equipment.A non-single crystal Si group semiconductor layer was formed on the transparent electrode with the deposition equipment. First p-type layer of 5 nm in thickness was formed on the transparent electrode. An i-type layer of 400 nm thickness was formed on the p-type layer. A n-type layer of 10 nm in thickness was formed on the i-type layer, then the Al rear electrode was deposited on the n-type layer.
Element comprises a transparent conductive layer formed between a backside electrode and semiconductor layer. The conductive layer is made of a cpd. which composition is changed in the thickness direction of this layer.    USE -   Useful in solar cells.
In the exterior material for building, a panel as an exterior wall panel is provided with a layer contg. a solar energy-storing material and is placed in the sunlight.    Pref. slurry of a lightweight aerated concrete is placed into a mould and cured to form a panel, the panel is cured in an autoclave at 180 deg.C and under 10 atmos. and coated with a paint film contg. ZrO2 particles, followed by drying.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The material to be used as exterior wall panels for ALC (autoclave-cured aerated concrete) panels in unit housing and others has excellent capability of utilising the solar energy and contributes to the saving the consumption of heat for building or housing.
In the treatment, Al or Al alloy and ceramic powder are kneaded with alcohol, toluene, or water, surfactant and binder to form a paste, coated on material, dried and heated above m.pt. of Al.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Anticorrosive surface treatment is carried out and used for molten carbonate fuel separator cell and boiler.    In an example, 100 pts.wt. Al and alumina (60-95:40-5) is kneaded with 50-100 pts.wt. solvent and 3-10 pts.wt. binder to form a paste, coated on SUS 304 plate, dried and heated above the m.pt. of Al to form a uniform coat.
Appts. comprises photoelectric converter comprising a ferroelectric crystal having a bulk photovoltaic effect; and means for reserving the resulting electrical energy.    The crystal is pref. a ferroelectric monocrystal, esp. LiTaO3, LiNbO3, KNbO3 or BaTiO3; or a ferroelectric polycrystal, esp. BaTiO3 or Pb-La zirconate titanate as a basic compsn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used e.g. a solar battery. Energy is converted with high reliability and reserved efficiently at voltages of 10V to several kV.
The via is formed by making an opening (48) through the package substrate, coating and closing the opening with dielectric material (52), making a second opening through the dielectric, and coating the dielectric with conductive material (54) which extends between the opposite sides of the substrate and is insulated from it by the dielectric.    The dielectric is pref. applied as a liq. and then cured to solid state, and is, e.g., polyimide. In partic., the package is a solar cell with electrical contact layers on the front and back faces, and the conductive coating is formed simultaneously with the front contact layer as a unitary layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   E.g. for a GaAs/Ge solar cell. Eliminates the need for strong chemical etchants to smooth the via opening, and avoids the need for metallisation.
NOVELTY - Several proton conduction portions (11) and proton insulation portions (12) are alternatively arranged on a solid polymer electrolyte film (10). Electrons are not conducted in the proton conduction portion, and electrons and proton are not conducted in the proton insulation portion. An electrode is arranged on both sides of the proton conduction part, along its perimeter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for the manufacture of the electrochemical element.    USE -   For fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE -   Gas sealing property and reliability of the electrochemical element are improved. Fabrication of the electrolyte film is performed easily. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure illustrates the sectional view of the manufacture of the electrochemical element. (10) Electrolyte film; (11) Proton conduction portion; (12) Proton insulation portion.
(JP5006772-A)   NOVELTY - An electrolyte holder (1) is inserted between anode (2) and cathode (3) through an organic substance binder to form a unit cell. The unit cell is subjected to hot crimp process to satisfy predetermined conditions.    USE - Manufacturing fused salt type fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE - High adhesion without a gap between electrode and electrolyte holder is easily produced.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows section of unit cell. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    Electrolyte holder (1)    Anode (2)    Cathode (3)
Transparent, electrically conductive metal oxide thin films are deposited by reactive sputtering, pref. using magnetron-plasmatron or cathodic sputtering. Water vapour is used as the reactive component in the ambient gas and then the films are annealed at between 20 and 500 deg.C., pref. 250-350 deg.C.    Pref., after pumping down to a H2O partial pressure of less than 10 mPa water vapour is admitted from a liq. source, pref. as water vapour from a heated source via a throttle valve, to result in a partial pressure of 0.1-40 Pa.    Also claimed is the admittance of water vapour by mixing with a carrier gas e.g. Ar or N2. The material deposited is pref. In- and/or Sn-oxide, pref. Sn-doped In-oxide, Sb-doped Sn-oxide or mixed Cd-Sn-oxide on substrates or quartz, glass, organic polymers, Si, III-V binary or ternary semiconductor cpds. or binary of ternary cpds. of the type II-VI.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The films have improved homogeneity and lower resistivity allowing thinner films to be deposited which show an absence of the interference effects of current films. The transparency at low resistivity levels can be 85% or higher. The anneal can reduce the resistivity 1/5 to 1/8th of the value as deposited. The process is used in the mfr. of solar cells, and car window glass with transparent heating layers and in opto electronic devices e.g. radiation detectors.
Coating transparent, electrically conductive metal oxide films comprises depositing a thin modifying film, comprising doped indium oxide or tin oxide or mixts. thereof, on the metal oxide layer, using a vacuum reaction method with water as the reactant gas. The thickness of the coating film is less than 20% of that of the base film.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in the mfr. of solar cells, liq. crystal displays, and semiconductor radiation emitters and detectors, where a low surface resistance is required, and also for heat-insulating and optical glass, where low infrared or optical reflection is required. The coating leads to a decrease in reflection over the entire spectral range of visible light and near-UV light, gives a surface resistance which is decreased or which at least is not increased, and increases the transparency to light.
An electrical contact to a transparent conductive thin film on a silica glass pane is made by applying a layer of soft solder with the help of ultrasonic agitation of the solderbath. The solder-layer is then contacted by a metallic current supply electrode, pref. by soldering over the entire surface or in spots.    Also claimed is the process in which a glass pane (10) first a connector electrode (15) is formed using a screen printable paste which is then fired. Then the conductive thin film (13) is applied, followed by the soft solder layer (16) and a metallic foil (17) is finally soldered to this for external connection.    The solder compsn. pref. contains Sn, Pb, Sb and Zn. The glass pane is pref. heated to 100-300 deg.C before the solder layer is applied.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method provides a secure and electrically, stable contact.
Prepn. of a catalyst comprises (1) preparing a non-alloy powder by depositing cobalt hydroxide in a Pt catalyst and (2) heat treating the non-alloy powder in a nitrogen atmos. at 1000-1200 deg. C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst obtd. is a Pt-Co binary alloy catalyst and can be used in phosphoric acid type fuel cells. According to the method, alloying process of Pt and Co proceeds well and a binary alloy catalyst with a small crystallite dia. can be obtd.    In an example, to 200 ml of pure water, 9 g of C black, e.g., acetylene black was added, to which a chloroplatinic acid soln. contg. 1 g of Pt was added and the soln. was heated to 60 deg. C. The pH of the soln. was adjusted to 10 with a 2N NaOH soln. to which a 3% hydrazine soln. was dropped to reduce chloroplatinic acid. After the redn. ended, the mixt. was filtered, washed, and dried to obtain a supported Pt. catalyst with a crystallite dia. of 30 Angstrom. The supported Pt catalyst was dispersed in 200 ml of pure water, to which cobalt nitrate contg. 0.3 g of Co was added and the pH was adjusted to 8 with aq. ammonia. After 1-5 hours, the prod. was filtered, washed, dried and heated in a nitrogen stream at 1100 deg. C to obtain a catalyst loaded with Pt-Co alloy with crystallite dia. of 30-50 Angstrom.
Prodn. of a Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S(x is greater than 0 but less than 0.5) film comprises sintering a mixture of CdS and ZnS powder and CdCls on the surface of a glass substrate at 600 deg.C in a nitrogen atmosphere. The process involves controlling the amount of CdCl2 in accordance with the amt. of ZnS, and instead of using ZnCl2 atmosphere.    In this method, when the amount of ZnS and CdCl2 are X mole % and Y mole %, respectively, the mixing ratio of ZnS and CdCl2 is satisfied by the equation Y = 0.65X + B (x = 0-30; B = 10-15). The binder can be made from propylene-glycol, and glass substrate can be made from boron silicate glass.    It has advantages of high optical transmittance, low electric resistivity, simplicity of manufacture and low cost, and it can be used as the optical transparent layer in a solar ce
Prepn. of acetaldehyde (I) comprises feeding ethylene (II), water and oxidising agent(s) to open fuel cell to oxidise (II).    Pref. appts. used includes electrodes contacted through ionic conductive layer (e.g. mineral acid(s), heteropolyacid(s), solid electrolyte etc) and connected with wire (pref. gold-, silver- or copper-wire). (II), water and oxidising agent(pref. air or oxygen) are fed to the open fuel cell system, (II) is oxidised at -20 deg.C to 200 deg.C (pref. -5 deg. C to 150 deg.c) under pref. ordinary pressure. The reaction prod. is distilled to isolate (I). Pref. material to prepare electrodes are electrode : Pd or its cpds., electrode : Ru, Os, Ir, Rh or their compounds.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as (raw) material for various chemicals, e.g. acetic acid, acetic anhydride, (di)ketene, butanol etc. (I) is obtd. quite selectively, isolated from the reaction mixt, readily, and electric energy is also obtd
Prepn. of partially oxidised prod(s). (I) of aromatic cpd(s). (II) comprises oxidn. of (II) with oxygen (III) on a fuel cell electrode.    The anode (1) is prepd. by conventionally moulding a compsn. of metal cpds. and binder (e.g. teflon (RTM) powder), cathode is prepd. using graphite whisker, active carbon etc. treated wtih oxidising agent (e.g. permanganate, nitric acid, sulphuric acid, dichromate, etc.) before use. An ionic conductive layer (5) composed of mineral acid(s), heteropolyacid(s), solid electrolyte etc. is set between cathode and anode. Hydrogen donating cpd(s). (e.g. hydrogen, alcohol(s), hydroquinone(s), saturated hydrocarbon(s)) is fed to the anode, (II) and (III) are fed to the cathode to oxidise (II) at -20 deg.C to 200 deg.C (pref. -5 deg.C to 150 deg.C) under ordinary pressure. The reaction prod. is distilled to isolate (I), e.g. phenol(s), quinone(s).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) e.g. phenol(s), quinone(s), are useful as (raw) material of various chemicals. (I) is prepd. from (II) (e.g. substituted benzene, toluene, xylenes, naphthalene, anthracene etc.) udner mild conditions quite selectively. (I) can be isolated from the oxidn. product, electrical energy is also obtd.
Prepn of partially oxidised prod(s) (I) of propylene (II) comprises feeding (II), water and oxidising materials to open fuel cell.    A typical appts used to carry out the reaction has an electrode (1) prepd, from metallic Pd or its cpd(s), and the another electrode (2) is prepd from one or more of Ru, Pt, Ir, or their cpd(s). The two electrodes are connected with an ionic conductive materials (e.g. phosphoric acid) and wires (pref. Au, Ag, or Cu). On the electrodes (2), H2 is oxidised with oxidising agent (pref. air O2) and on the electrode (1), (II) is oxidised to (I). Oxidn of (II) is carried out at -20 deg. C. to 200 deg. C (pref. -5 deg. C to 150 deg.C) under ordinary pressure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I), e.g. one of acetone, acrolein, acrylic acid, etc, is prepd selectively by the procedure more readily than conventional oxidn reactions. The prod, is isolated readily and electrical energy can also be removed.
NOVELTY - The electrode has crystalline material consisting of stannic acid compound, indium oxide and indium-stannic acid compound. 100 ppm or less of alkali metal element is distributed in the crystalline material.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for transparent electrode manufacturing method.    USE -   For photosensor, solar battery, LCD board, EL display board, etc.    ADVANTAGE -   Electrical conductivity and light transmittance are increased, by maintaining suitable content of alkali element.
To seal the end sides of channels in an extruded ceramic carrier in a given shape and size, the prepd. and dried carrier, such as a carrier plate, is ground at the end side to be joined together with the cover plate with parallel face surfaces. The surfaces to be joined are wetted with water. The cover plate is laid on the end side of the carrier to be pressed and sintered into place.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The components are for use in mfg. high temp. fuel cells. The technique gives a carrier plate which has a gas-tight seal at one end side, for insertion into a fuel cell assembly without clamping.
In a process for metallising a ceramic, a mixt. is fired into the ceramic surface, consisting of a glass-forming component and a metallic component which does not oxidise at firing temp. The metallic component is a powder contg. 0-15% Al; 0-15% W, Mo and/or Nb; 0-5% Y, Ti and/or Ce; 0-3% Si, Mn and/or C; 15-25% Cr; remainder Ni and/or Fe and/or Co, and impurities.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cells, resistant to H and O at temps. of 1000 deg. C and above
Composite article comprises a layer having a dense array of discrete microstructures (11) partially encapsulated in the layer (13). A distal end (17) of each microstructure is exposed at a surface (14) of the layer; pref. the ends and the surface are coplanar. The microstructures are pref. oriented parallel and have an aspect ratio of 3-100:1.    Specifically, the microstructures include a conformed coating between them and the encapsulant. The microstructures have an areal density of 0.04-10 power 6 per sq. micron. The microstructures comprises planar mols. and chains or rings over which pi-electron density is extensively delocalised. A very wide range of inorganic materials, including ceramics, metals etc. and organic materials may be used.    USE -   Esp. in visible radiation absorbing devices, e.g. selective solar absorbers, flat plate solar collectors, solar absorption panels and solar cells.
Catalyst electrode comprises carbon fibre sheet supporting Pt-gp. metal, by electroless plating. A filter press type electrolytic cell is used to produce H2 from H2S by contacting the gas contg. H2S to iron salt soln. contg. Fe3+ to oxidise H2S, by separating S from reacted soln., introducing the desulphurised soln. into the anode chamber of electrolytic cell for electrolytic oxidn. of the de-sulphurised soln. and to generate hydrogen from cathode chamber of the cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Industrial H2S is treated by the catalyst and unit to generate H2 efficiently, consuming less electric power.
The high corrosion resistant sheet steel is an austenitic stainless comprising (by wt.) up to 0.1% C, up to 1% Si, up to 35% Mn, 5-26% Cr, up to 20% Ni, and balance Fe and impurities, one side of which is coated with pure Ni or pure Cu, or an alloy contg. at least 80% Ni or Cu.    USE -   Used for separators for molten carbonate type fuel cells.
For soldering, the soldering paste (3) is applied to the workpiece (1) at the required points, and melted by a soldering electrode (5). A separating film (4) is between the soldering paste (3) and the soldering electrode (5) to prevent direct contact between the electrode (5) and the paste (3).    The separating film is of metal, and pref. aluminium. The soldering paste contains a water soluble flux. The separating film (4) is used as a strip which, after use, is advanced under the electrode (5) by a suitable length. During melting, a soldering contact point is formed, the workpiece is cleaned of flux, and the soldering action is completed. As a direct soldering, the workpiece is between the soldering paste (3) and the separating film (4). The soldering paste (3) is applied to the workpiece by screen or stencil printing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The technique gives a low thermal loading on the workpiece, gives a simple soldering operation and which can be automated, for soldering and releasing silicon solar cells.
Fuel cell includes cells each formed of electrolyte layer (1), O2 electrode (2) and fuel electrode (3). Separator (4) is fixed to the O2 electrode, with a intervening O2 flow passage. Fuel flow passages (a) are formed between adjacent cells. Partition walls (11,12) are fixed tightly against opposite ends of the cell.    A further pair of partition walls (16,17) are located along a pair of opposed cell edge portions where the O2 flow passage is open between a pair of cells. The first walls have projecting ends (not shown) and the second walls also having projecting ends (not shown) in tight overlapping contact with the first project ends.    ADVANTAGE -   Quick and easy air-tight assembly can be achieved.
High-temp. electrochemical cell, has mixed-conductor electrodes (3) applied to a central ionic conductor (1) and a grid of electronically conductive metal (2) applied to the mixed-conductor electrodes. The high-temp.ionic conductor is 30-1000 microns thick and conducts oxygen ions, the mixed-conductor electrodes are 0.1-10 micrometres thick, and the electronic conductors have a grid-like structure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as a fuel cell and as an electrolytic cell. Also claimed is a hybrid system for traction applications consisting of an electric motor, a storage battery and a fuel cell. The electrochemical reaction proceeds over the entire surface of the mixed conductor and with a homogeneous, high current density.
NOVELTY - Organic substance (14) provided in an electrolyte layer (1) is evaporated by increasing the temperature. A metal chosen from Ni, Cu and Fe and the electrolyte (15) having a low melting point are maintained in the holes of an air pole (3). An oxidation gas passes from the electrolyte layer to the air pole such that the metal present in the air pole is oxidised.    USE -   For manufacturing carbonate type fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE -   Shrinkage of air pole is prevented. Oxidation of the fuel pole is attained. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure illustrates the cross- sectional side view of the manufacture of carbonate type fuel battery. (1) Electrolyte layer; (3) Air pole; (14) Organic substance; (15) Electrolyte.
The solar battery module has a solar battery covered with a fluoroplastics film (101) on the light incident side. The fluoroplastics film is formed of carbon - carbon trifluoride bond. The surface of fluoroplastics film opposite to the light incident side has been surface treated by exposing to plasma of hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, ammonia gas, or hydrocarbon; and the surface which has been surface treated is bonded to the solar battery through an adhesive.    Pref. the solar battery is formed by laminating a back reflecting layer, a semiconductor layer, and a transparent layer on a conductive substrate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By covering the surface of solar battery with the fluoroplastics film having high resistance to moisture and sepn. entrance of vapour into solar battery can be prevented, thereby eliminating sepn. of resin film and adhesive.    .D
A solid electrolyte type fuel cell (I) including the following: An air electrode substrate (II) made of a perovskite series complexed oxide having the formula (La1-yAy)MO3 where A = at least one element selected from alkaline earth metals M = Mn or Co an y y = 0-0.4; a Zr solid electrolyte film (III) contg. Mn or Co solid soluted amt. of 3-15 mole% at at least the vicinity of the interface between the (II) and a fuel electrode film formed on the (III) at a surface opposite to the (II). The (I) is characterised in that it is not provided with a highly resistive layer, made of a cpd. contg. La and Zr, at the interface between the (II) and the (III).    ADVANTAGE -   Since the highly resistive layer of a cpd. contg. La and Zr is excluded then the high electrical resistance and large output decrease of the SOFC, as known in prior art, is prevented. The SOFC has increased output and improved fuel utilisation efficiency.
A PECVD method of depositing an oxide film onto the surface of a substrate (12) comprises the following. A sub-film (18) is deposited onto the substrate using PECVD conditions which favour deposition and then an oxide film (20) is deposited under PECVD conditions which only marginally favour deposition over etching.    The substrate is a dielectric material or soda-lime glass. The sub-film (18) consists of amorphous tungsten oxide, 100-1,000 angstroms thick. The oxide film (20) consists of crystalline tungsten oxide, 500-10,000 angstroms thick.    The second PECVD conditions, to form a crystalline oxide, include an atmos. contg.; a higher concn. of fluorine, a higher deposition temp. and more energetic ion bombardment under applied electric field than the first PECVD conditions. The crystalline oxide is fluorine doped and made oxygen deficient, thereby increasing its conductivity. A SiO2 film (22) may be formed to protect the deposited crystalline oxide film.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. useful in the formtion of transparent solar load reduction film stacks on transparent glass substrates. (claimed). Such films are used e.g. in solar load control for glazing units in architectural and automotive applications. The method enables the PECVD formation of high quality crystalline oxide films even on relatively non-receptive substrates.    .D
Efficient operation of electrolysis cells with at least one separator and at least one capillary gap electrode. The electrolyte and the reaction gas which is produced or consumed in the electrolytic process are conveyed separately, so that the electrolyte does not impede the transport of the reaction gas and the latter does not impair the electrolytic reaction. A cell for carrying out the process comprises at least one separator, pref. in the form of a diaphragm or membrane, and at least one capillary gap electrode immediately adjacent to the separator. In partic., the cell consists of a number of electrode elements arranged parallel to each other, wherein the distance between them is such that a capillary effect is produced. Separate lines are used for the electrolyte and the reaction gas.    Pref. the electrolyte is contained in a sealed electrolyte space, and fed through the walls of this to the electrodes. The electrolyte of the capillary gap electrode is fed along the separator surface in the form of a falling film. The electrode elements are hydrophilic in the narrow electrolytically active region of the capillary gap electrode adjacent to the separator, and are hydrophobic in the remaining region remote from the separator.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in water and chloralkali electrolysis cells, and in fuel cells. The ohmic resistance is reduced, and mass transfer is improved. Mfr. of the cell is simplified, and large active surfaces can be used.
A solar cell, having reduced recombination at the metal-semiconductor interface, comprises a semiconductor substrate (2) having a shallow p-n junction (3) adjacent to the front surface (4), at the rear surface, and an array of narrow parallel second electrodes (10) contacting the front surface and fixed to a third electrode (13) displaced from the front surface.    Also claimed is mfr. of the above cell comprising forming the cell with rear electrode, forming the array adherent and in low resistance contact with the front, and affixing at least one third electrode of each of second electrodes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A solar cell and method useful for photovoltaic and esp. solar cells is provided. Recombination at the metal-semiconductor interface is reduced, open circuit voltage increased, and both efficiency and mfg. cost improved.    .
Process feeds long fibre bundles of more than 3 pieces at equal intervals and cuts and disperses them to form short fibres. Short fibres are collected on a collection surface. The raw material of the long fibre is, e.g. polyacrylonitrile, single yarn denier is 0.6.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The aggregate has homogeneous short fibres of uniform condition and texture. The aggregate is suitable as a forerunner of carbon composite of fuel battery base material and various composite materials.
A silicon ingot for use in solar cells is prepd. by a unidirectional solidification procedure. The gradient of the silicon's path through the temp. zone from 1,420 - 1,200 deg.C is controlled to 15-25 deg.C/cm.    Embodiment 1: closed container 2: bottom less crucible 3: induction coil 4: heat insulator furnace 6: raw material hopper 10: raw material silicon 11: silicon melt 12: silicon ingot 1a: sucking port to vacuum 1b: inert gas inlet port. Pref. the heat insulator furnace controls the heat dissipation of the solidifying silicon melt by a built-in heater which is controlled independently from the casting speed of the ingot.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Thus specified control of narrow temp. zone for the solidification process of silicon facilitates the control and improves the product quality, resulting in high quality solar cells prodn.
Prodn. comprises applying a magnetic field to avoid stirring a molten liq. of Si, utilising a Lorentz force generated in a direction to suppress the molten liq. from being stirred during pulling of a single crystal rod.    USE -   For making solar cells.
Sealing material comprises a mixt. of at least one of low-softening pt. glass particles comprising aluminosilicate glass contg. silica, and alumina, having a glass softening pt. of 770-950 deg. C, and at least one of high-softening pt. glass particles contg. silica, and alumina, having a glass softening pt. of 1450-1550 deg.C.    A fuel cell is sealed by sealing a jointing part of the cell body unit, and manifold for gas passage, while the sealing material is softened, and cooling to solidify the softened sealing part.    USE -   Used for sealing fuel cells at lower temps.
Material comprises a laminate of at least one piece of low-softening pt. glass thin film comprising aluminosilicate glass contg. silica, and alumina, having glass softening pt. of 770-950 deg.C, and at least one piece of high-softening pt. glass thin film comprising high-silica glass contg. silica and alumina, having glass softening pt. of 1450-1550 deg.C.    The fuel cell is sealed by sealing the jointing part of the cell body unit and manifold for gas pass-way while the sealing material is softening, and cooling to solidify the softened sealing part.    USE -   For sealing solid electrolyte type fuel cells at lower temps.
Zirconia porous support is made by mixing calcia stabilised zirconia coarse powder having zirconia fine powder, to prepare stabilised zirconia, as the raw matrial, adding water and a binder to the raw matrial, kneading the mixt. moulding the kneaded matter, and firing the mouldings at 1700-1800 deg.C.    USE -   Used for making supports for solid electrolyte fuel cells, and oxygen separating elements, excellent of high-temp. durability, and gas permeability
Powder is such that it consists of zirconia whose crystal structure is stabilised with 8-10 mol% yttria and high purity alumina powder dispersed in the zirconia at least 10 wt.% and up to 30 wt.%, that x is upto 0.63, where x is the particle size ratio of zirconia to alumina (x = particle size of zirconia/particle size of alumina), and that the particle sizes of zirconia and alumina are up to 0.7 micron.    Prepn. of stabilised zirconia-alumina special powder, in which zirconia and alumina powders with x upto 0.63 and with particle sizes of up to 0.7 micron are mixed using pure water without using a dispersant and dried rapidly.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The stabilised zirconia-alumina composite powder obtd. can be used as electrolytes for solid electrolyte fuel cells and for oxygen sensors. The sintered zirconia-alumina composite powder obtd. according to the method has high mechancial strength and thermal shock resistance.
Raw materials comprising methanol, hydrocarbons e.g. methane, or O contg. hydrocarbons are fed to a catalytic combustion type steam reformer to produce by steam reforming a gas contg. H2 at a high concn.. The H2 is fed to a solid polyelectrolyte type fuel cell to generate electric power. The H2 is fed from a H2 storage contg. a H2 storing alloy to the steam reformer for use as a catalytic fuel.    ADVANTAGE -   Catalytic combustion may be started at room temp. and local heating may be prevented. The steam reformer may be made small and the material cost may be reduced.    In an example, H2 from a H2 storage was fed to a combustion catalyst chamber to heat a combustion catalyst. When the temp. of the combustion catalyst reached at least 500 deg.C., methane was gradually fed in place of H2. When the temp. of the steam reformer reached a specific value, raw materials H2 and steam were fed to the reformer and the system was stabilised.
System uses H2 sepn. type reformer, by opt. sepg. H2 while proceeding steam reforming reaction using a hydrocarbon like methane or methanol or a hydrocarbon contg. O2, as a steam reforming reactor. H2 is then fed to solid state polymer electrolyte type fuel cell for generation. Sepn. of the H2 in the reformer is by using an aspiration force by ejector action. Pref. the ejector action is generated by steam stream or water stream.    ADVANTAGE -   System does not require expensive equipment e.g. pump. Improved safety for handling H2, and no need for humidification.    In an example, a fuel cell system comprising a steam was introduced into an ejector as stream. Suction side of ejector was connected with an outlet of reformer transfer portion, unreacted H2 from H2 electrode of fuel cell was fed to the other outlet of reformer transfer portion with no blower, H2 fed to heat exchanger by aspiration action of ejector after being humidified at fuel cell operating temp. and fed to water separator. Humidified H2 was then fed to H2 electrod
Electromagnetic radiation directed at a device is incident on a part of the device which comprises a fullerene, and induces the generation of charge carriers therein. The charge carriers remain in, or travel through, the device to electrodes resulting in a change of electrical properties of the device, which change may be detected or employed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fullerenes comprise organic photoconductors and are useful in forming such devices as solar cells, electro-chemical cells, and radiation detectors.
(JP4332478-A)   NOVELTY - A fuel modifier (4) and battery produce combustion exhaust gas (4G) and air off-gas (1G) respectively which are condensed as water vapor in a water supply tank (23). The condensate is passed through an ion exchange type water treating unit (14). The pH value of the ion exchange water (29A) is adjusted by a water quality adjustment unit which supplies recovered phosphoric acid to the condensate.    USE - For water cooled phosphoric acid fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE - Ion impurities such as bicarbonate and carbon dioxide gas of high electric conductivity are removed in the ion exchange water treating unit. The ion exchange resin regeneration frequency is reduced, since the electric conductivity of water is reduced.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the block diagram of water treatment system of phosphoric acid fuel battery. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    Air off-gas (1G)    Fuel modifier (4)    Combustion exhaust gas (4G)    Water treating unit (14)    Water supply tank (23)    Ion exchange water (29A)
Method of controlling the temp. comprises providing a catalyst layer built-in reforming tube and a burner to burn off gas, heating the reforming tube through heating medium burned by the burner, and controlling the temp. of the catalyst layer in the reforming tube for the fuel reformer which reforms original hydrocarbon fuel into H-based gas.    ADVANTAGE -   Since offgas is not burned outside the reformer, no other burning device is required as in the past.
A perovskite-structured La chromite based complex oxide of formula (La1-xMx)a(Cr1-yCoy)bO3 (I) is new. In (I), M = an alkaline earth metal except Mg; x and y are each 0-0.5 (0 excluded), and b/a = 0.95-1.05 (1 excluded).    The complex oxide above has a relative density of 90% or higher; the electric conductivity at 1000 deg.C in air is 20 ohm -1 cm -1 or higher; and a bending strength of 10 kgf/mm2 or higher. In the formula above, x most pref. is 0.05-0.2, and y is most pref. 0.1-0.4. When the complex oxide is used in a solid electrolyte fuel cell, it pref. has a thermal expansion coefft. of 9 x 10 power -6 - 12 x 10 power -6.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use as high temp. conductive material and as separators of solid electrolyte fuel cells. The complex oxide has high conductivity and is dense.    In an example, a complex oxide having a b/a ratio of 0.96 was prepd. from La2O3, SrCO3, CrO3, and Co3O4 to obtain a compsn. expressed by La0.82Sr0.22Cr0.9Co0.1O3. After calcining the powder mixt., it was moulded by floating moulding under a load of 300 kgf/cm3, and sintered at 1600 deg.C for 2 hours. The sintering had a density of 6.4 g/cm3 (98% relative density), an electric conductivity at 1000 deg.C of 36 Scm -1, and a bending strength of 16 kgf/mm2.
High polymer electrolyte consists of (A) a thermoplastic polyurethane and (B) an alkali metal salt. It is produced either by dissolving a thermoplastic polyurethane in a solvent, adding an alkali metal salt to the soln., and removing the solvent; or by melt blending an alkali metal salt with a thermoplastic polyurethane.    Prodn. of two- or three-ply composite film comprises casting a monomer over a film of the high polymer electrolyte, putting the film between two sheets of electroconductive film, and applying electric current to the sheets of film from both sides to polymerise the monomer.    Pref., amt. of (B) is 3 to 25 pts. wt. w.r.t. 100 pts. wt. of (A). Pref. (A) is a polyether-type urethane. (B) is pref. LiCl4, KClO4, CsClO4, LiBF4 or LiCl.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolyte is used for mfg. fuel cells, electrochemical sensors and composite films. It has high ion conductivity.
Prepn. comprises passing hydrogen formed by steam reforming through a hydrogen sepn. membrane and sucking hydrogen by reducing pressure on side where hydrogen has been passed through to take hydrogen out of system. Appts. comprises hydrogen sepn. membrane attached to side of a cylinder filled with reforming catalyst and having device for feeding raw materials comprising hydrocarbon or methanol and steam, heater attached to other side of cylinder, and device for reducing pressure to take the hydrogen passed through the membrane out of system. Supply comprises applying pressure on hydrogen at reduced pressure taken out of appts. and supplying to hydrogen electrode of fuel cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Higher rate conversion c.f. equilibrium conversion and high purity.    .D
Phosphoric acid electrolytes contain at least 1 wt.% of an additive selected from the gp. of fluorinated cpds. and silicone cpds. with a vapour pressure not higher than that of H3P04.    The additives are pref. C6F13K03S, C4F9K03S, (C4F9)3N and (-Si(CH3)20-)n.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Modified electrolytes are useful in H3P04 fuel cells comprising a gas diffusion cathode utilising 02-contg. oxidant gas and a gas diffusion anode using a H2-contg. fuel gas. The fuel cell performance is improved due to enhanced oxygen redn. kinetics.    In an example, when a 100% H3P04 electrolyte was used the cell thermal efficiency (Efft) = 37.2%. But when 0.5% C6F13K03S was used as an additive the Efft = 47.9% i.e. a 12.5% increase in efficiency.    .D
Prodn. comprises (a) forming an active CuInSe2 layer (3) on a substrate (1); (b) irradiating the layer in (a) with light having a predetermined wavelength; (c) detecting the max. value of light strength of light emitted through the CuInSe2 independently of radiation in a spectral region; and (d) comparing this max. value with a value of predetermined light strength.    The CuInSe2 solar cell itself is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   Quality of the solar cell is improved.
The appts. for providing resistance to the exertion of force by a human subject during exercise or physiological testing includes a platform with a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis including two support surfaces spaced apart along the lateral axis, each support surface corresp. to one of the subject's feet. A length of cable and a handle are attached to an end of the cable. A cable assembly dispenses and rewinds the cable for the subject to pull while the subject's feet are on the respective support surfaces. A brake is engaged with the cable assembly and provides a controllable variable resistance to the subject's pull on the cable.    Force sensors provide signals representative of the force exerted by the toe region, heel region, inner region, and outer region of each of the subject's feet upon its respective support surface. An angle sensor provides output from which a lateral angle of the cable w.r.t. the platform may be determined. A rotation sensor provides output from which the length of cable being dispensed can be determined.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Selectively provides isometric, isotonic, isokinetic or isodynamic resistance. Supplies data for analysis of muscular endurance, maximal dynamic lifting capacity and wt. distribution. Also usable with goniometer for analysis of patient's lumbar spine.
The exercise game includes a number of push buttons (2) and a control unit (3) which are set into the wall (1). Each of the push-buttons (2) which are surrounded by a resilient pad, has an internal lamp and switch. The lamps are lit in random sequences. As each lamp lights, it is the players object to operate the associated switch as quickly as possible.    The control unit can be used to adjust the speed at which the lamps light and to display the relevant scores for the players. The control unit can include a microprocessor, digital read-oust, a result printer and a coin operation facility.
Based on the relationship between the efficiency, the flow rate, the variable head (H), and the pitch angles of the guide wheel (y) and turbine runner (q) of the model curve, alterations are made to the wheel and runner pitch angles in the full-rate. The outputs generated before and after the alterations are compared, determining in stages the optimum efficiency for each pair of pitch settings.    These operations can be repeated on the full-size machine for different heads and flow rates.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For a double-governed turbine. Faster and simpler setting.
The processing system handles analogue and binary measurement values provided by sensors in a hydro or caloric power plant during steady operation and during non-up, run-down, load shedding and emergency operating modes. The measurement values are converted into digital signals fed to a real-time data bank (12) in a distributed digital computer system with at least 2 digital computers linked by a ring, having a central processor, a memory and a display.    The computer system also has an expert system (13,14) and calculation modules (15...18) providing instantaneous machine data from the measured values. The expert system provides trend analysis and on-line diagnosis of the power plant condition.    ADVANTAGE -   Eliminates need for fixed maintenance schedule and allows maintenance on demand.
The device has a foot support plate mounted to the frame and is capable of a pivoting motion about a first pivot point. The foot support plate is movable by a motor back and forth about the first pivot point. A toe plate is also mounted to the frame and capable of pivoting motion about a second pivot point, the second pivot point being distinct from the first pivot point, the toe plate being free of any permanent connection with the foot support plate.    Pivoting movement of the toe plate is induced in response to pivoting movement of the foot support plate. The toe plate pivots during some, but not all, of the movement of the foot support plate. The toe plate is caused to pivot through two degrees for every one degree of rotation of the foot support plate, when the toe plate pivots.    USE -   For exercising joints of human foot following injury or surgery.
The power station consists of a water intake (1), a pressure duct (2), an hydraulic turbine with a guide apparatus (3) and rotor (14), and a generator (9) with a stator, armature and casing. It also has a ballast load and an electronic control system to stabilise the frequency and tension of the current. The generator of sync type, is located in a suction duct (6), and equipped with a seal (13) between the turbine and generator in the minimal water pressure zone.    The stator casing sits tightly on the armature, and is made from a material with a high level of thermal conductivity, e.g. of aluminium alloy. The water intake is made in the form of a series of sectional, mesh-covered boxes, surrounded by a pressure basin lined with bags of sand or clay (16).    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced weight and lower cost, more efficient and non-polluting, and able to operate automatically and unmanned. Bul.45/7.12.92
The generating plant consists of a U-shaped pipe (1-3) which is submerged beneath the surface of the water, with the power generator in its horizontal section (1). The inside of the pipe is separated from the water by cylindrical elastic shells (4,5) with stoppered ends.    The shells (4,5) are situated inside the horizontal section of the pipe, and the drive for the power generator (18) is in the form of a flexible line (8) connecting the inner ends of the two shells and passing round two pulleys (9,10). The stoppered ends of the elastic shells are drawn inwards by the flexible line, and the connection between the pulleys and the generator is in the form of free-wheeling couplings and a toothed transmission system.    During operation, the water flow through the pipe alternates, creating an alternating pressure on the elastic shells and moving the flexible line to and fro. The movement of the line is transmitted through the pulleys to the power generator.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher efficiency. Bul.45/7.12.92.
Photovolaic cells have two glass panes which enclose a photovoltaic material combination and which have facing electrically conductive coatings connected at at least one pane edge to an exposed contact (5).    The novelty is that the cells (8-15) are arranged in multiples on the same glass panes and are sepd. from one another by sealing strips.    The pref. square cells (8-15) are arranged in two rows and the contacts (5) are pref. located at the outsides of the rows. One of the glass panes has edge regions (23) extending beyond the edge of the other pane. For provision of its contacts (5) and has edge regions (24) recessed w.r.t. the edge of the other pane for provision of the contacts (5) of the other pane. The coatings have a peripheral collector lead (5) which is connected to the contacts and which opt. acts as the contacts.    ADVANTAGE -   The arrangement of series-connected cells is simple to mfr.
Photovoltaic devices having solar cells connected electrically in series to form a monolithically interconnected submodule comprising: a) substrate; b) solar cells, each having a light receiving surface comprising oppositely doped regions of semiconductor. The second doped region covering only the top and side surfaces of the first doped region. Each cell is electrically sepd. from the others by a vertical trench; c) interconnects located in its trenches below the light receiving surface and contacting oppositely doped regions of adjacent cells; and d) external contacts.    Also claimed is a device in which the substrate is an electrically insulating ceramic containing a patterned array of electrical conductive regions with a patterned barrier layer.    ADVANTAGE -   The device has no electrical contacts on the illuminated surface.
The multiple-rehabilitation-equipment supporter includes a table-like rack, a set of supporting framework, a set of arm pulling means, and a set of electrical pedals. Two square openings provided on top of the rack, and ring hangers and pin slots are provided on the supporting framework, to enable the simultaneous installation of equipment for rehabilitation, e.g manually-operated exerciser, throw trainer, push-pull spring exerciser, knuckle trainer, arm lifting trainer, circle-drawing exerciser, chest expander, etc., on the supporter.    The installed equipment together with the arm pulling exerciser and the electrical pedals incorporated in the supporter, provide users with multiple functions which are helpful to their rehabilitation.    ADVANTAGE -   Single supporter may be used for several different types of equipment.
Solar battery includes metal base, a glass ceramic layer formed on base, a photoelectric film, and pair of conductive electrodes formed by keeping contact with at least part of the photoelectric film.    USE -   The solar battery is used in electronic calculators, or wrist watches. The battery features high shape degree of freedom, high strength, flexibility, heat resistance, and environmental resistance.    Pref. conductive electrodes comprises; transparent conductive films. The glass ceramics comprises partially crystallised glass having the crystal layer of composite oxide comprising Ca, Ba, Mg, and oxygen using Si or B oxide as a matrix.
Two series of reservoirs are used. The rear and higher series (A,B,C,D) is sepd. from the front series (E,F,G,H) by a wall (J) low enough to be passed over by all tides. Pipes (P) run underground from the front series and slope down to the sea.    The upper and lower reservoirs communicate via turbines as do the lower reservoir and the pipes (P). Each reservoir and each pipe has an outlet valve which can be selectively opened or closed.    ADVANTAGE -   Valve operation enables optimum electricity energy generation by turbines which operate as water falls by gravity after initial fill at each high tide.
The array includes electrode bodies (24a-24c), each located on a corresp. insulating region (22a-22b) on a common conductive substrate (20) pref. metal. Each electrode body is narrower than the underlying insulator, so that the electrode bodies on adjacent insulating regions are separated by more than the insulator spacing. The subcells include photovoltaic semiconductor material (26a-26c) pref. PIN doped silicon over a corresp. electrode body, covering all the electrode width and edges.    A continuous top electrode material (28) e.g. a transparent conductive oxide layer covers each of the semiconductor bodies, filling the space between them and establishing electrical connection between them and the substrate. The substrate forms one terminal of the array and the electrode bodies pref. connected to a busbar form the other array terminal.    ADVANTAGE -   Minimises active area, economic to fabricate, high efficiency; reduced laser scribe artifacts.
The device measures a potential of a sportsman's muscle, used then for regulation of loading. In the revised version it incorporates a biological potential transducer (6) located on the sportsman's muscles and connected to the control unit (10). The loader is in the form of two electromotors (5,7).    Initially threshold levels are set in the threshold elements (11,12), the potentiometer (8) is set to initial state, and operation mode of the electromotor (5) is set so that wt. for the sportsman is limiting. While the sportsman lifts the wt., the transducer (6) picks up the biological signals off the muscles gp. If the signals arriving at the input of the threshold element (11) exceed preset threshold, a signal is applied to the second input of AND-gate (14).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In sport, for creating max. muscle efforts. Increased efficiency of training. Bul.44/30.11.92
The generator barge has a number of rubber belts (4), each steel plated and running around several horizontal rollers, transversely mounted between two floating hulls (1), anchored (21) and ballasted to obtain water flow (22,23) over the belt, optimally in rivers, just under it. Transverse vanes of reinforced rubber (26), supported on the belt by hinged, curved ribs, stand erect against the flow, but lie flat to the belt on the return side.    Flat-linked chains in the belt edges drive toothed wheels geared to generators within the hulls. The electrical output (400MW per belt) is transmitted ashore by cable. Wind (20) and solar (19) generators charge batteries for manoeuvring motors and auxiliaries. Hulls are rigidly interconnected by gangwayed beams (24).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Twin-hulled barge (catamaran) for exploiting river flows and triple-hulled barge (trimaran) for exploiting esturial bidirectional flows and off-shore translational wave energy to produce electrical energy which is fed to thermal power station on land via cable.
The system comprises an elastic sleeve (10) placed at the end of the elbow (8) and at the beginning of the diverging section (9) of the diffuser (7). The sleeve is of elastic material (10 capable of elastically yielding under the variations of hydraulic pressure to give effect to the control.    The sleeve is the same as a variable volume (&gt;V) the value of which at rest is expressed by Vo and the elastic compressibility of which is given by delta V / delta h = - Vo / ho = - P. The air is injected under pressure (A) down stream of the sleeve too give rise to a variation of the volume of the diffuser (7) as an adjustment of the control effected by the sleeve by means of a system of counter-reaction regulation checked by the measurement of the pulsating pressure performed below the rotor (1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. for Francis type hydraulic turbine under loads different from nominal load. Provides effective redn. of "vortex rope" phenomenon by totally static means.
A sensor is positioned proximate an operable structure of an exercise machine to sense the movement of the structure and to supply movement signals reflective of the movement. The sensor comprises an endless belt mounted on a first sheave connected to the operable structure. A conversion mechanism is secured to the exercise machine and connected to the sensor to receive movement signals, the conversion mechanism having a driver and configured to move the driver in relation to the movement signals.    A cam is positioned proximate the driver for movement, the cam having a cam surface with variations preselected by the user reflective of the desired resistance of the resistance means of the exercise machine. A reader is positioned proximate the cam surface to generate signals reflective of the variations and to supply resistance signals reflective of the variations. A receiver is connected to the reader to receive the resistance signals and to the resistance to operate it to variably resist movement of the operable structure in accordance with the resistance signals.    USE -   Controller for use with an exercise machine having a resistance for variably resisting the movement of an interconnected operable structure.
The power generator is provided with a driver unit, contg an endless loop (10) carrying paddles or vanes (18) at spaced apart intervals over its entire length. The loop is arranged to pass round a pair of spaced apart guide wheels with rollers (12,16) which cause at least some of the paddles (18) at any one time to lie transversely within a channel (20) or slightly greater width than the width of the paddles (18).    The latter are driven along the channel (20) by water flowing below during operation of the driver unit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As water stream driven power generator, using strong current of streams or rivers. More efficient design.
The waterwheel is placed between two main frame beams with the axle of the main frame being suspended by a stand at a height that will allow the waterwheel to operate at any water level. The stand consists of two supporting structures and has an A-frame design. A counterweight is placed on the main frame opposite the water wheel so that it can slide back and forth. A drive train including two metal sprockets and a metal chain are used to transfer power from the wheel to equipment run by the wheel.    As the water wheel level rises and falls, the speed of the wheel may be maintained by lifting or lowering it to its desired level simply by the turning of a hand winch and the placement of the counterweight. If maintenance is needed on the system, the system will come to a halt by lifting the water wheel completely out of the water.    ADVANTAGE -   Constant wheel power output can be maintained when water level rises and falls.
The device comprises a hollow T=shaped body (1). One limb (2) has a coaxial induction coil (3) on it connected to an electric power source. The coil (3) has a core consisting of a ferromagnetic fluid (4). The position of the coil (3) can be regulated along the limb (2). The two other limbs (5,6) of the body (1) are hermetically connected to deformable elastic cylinders (7,8) which have brackets (9) attached to them. The cylinders (7,8) are filled with a non-magnetic fluid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For sportsman training. Increases effectiveness of training. Bul.40/30.10.92
The plant has a floating base with hinged levers with rotary flaps (3) fitted on suspension (4). The flaps turning mechanisms (5) have turning rods (6) with weights (7). The rods (6) are kinematically connected to the suspension (4). The piston pumps shafts are hinged to the lever upper arm.    Each lever has an additional arm with a counterweight and a stop (13) for the flaps. The stops (14) are fitted on the base lower part for interaction with the shafts (6). The base is provided with dirt protection unit. The turning mechanisms have double-arm levers (16) hinged to shafts (6) and provided with weights (17). Weights (7) are made as rollers (18). The flaps rotation axles are displaced w.r.t. their symmetry axis.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The plant is used for river flow energy conversion. The operation reliability is increased. Bul.31/23.8.92.
The power harnessing appts. comprises the underwater base structure (1) anchored to the sea bed and the floating structure (5) connected to the base structure (1). A pair of variable volume bags (a,b) is trapped between relatively movable components of the base and floating structures.    The bags (a,b) expand and compress as a result of movement of the floating structure (5) due to tidal or wave motion. The bags (a,b) have valve controlled inlet and outlet devices such that expansion of a bag causes it to fill with sea water and compression of a bag causes it to expel the water which thereafter is used to generate usable energy (e.g. by driving a turbine). The floating structure includes a floating surface island which carries an electricity generating plant.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides water pump powered by rise and fall of tide or wave motion with which sufficient head of water can be provided to drive electricity generating equipment efficiently. Simple and sturdy structure allowing construction to required large scale for harnessing tidal power.
The amusement twister equipped with a sound reproduction device, has a base disk with a hollow axle located at it's centre and provided with a circular central hole. The base disk has support rings concentric with the hollow axle. A locking disk is provided at the centre with a round hole to permit the hollow axle to pass through it and with a number of slots located in the top surface. A steel ball bearing is rotatably and correspondingly engaged in each slot, and a bottom surface of the locking disk is mounted on the support rings when the hollow axle is engaged through the circular hole of the base disk. A rotation disk has an underside with an engaging rod extending from it's centre. The underside is mounted on each steel ball bearing when the engaging rod is inserted in the circular hole of the base disk. The rotation risk has a protrusion serving as a baffle and a receiving space housing a speaker, a sound-control circuit board storing and playing music or exercise commands on the speaker, a number of batteries, and a switch. The receiving space is sealed with a cap.    ADVANTAGE -   Lightweight and easily transported.
The stationary exercise bicycle includes a frame, which is connected to a seat and a pair of pedal-operated crank arms, which enable a user to provide an input pedal torque at an input pedal speed. An electronic flywheel is connected to the frame and includes a data input device to enable the user to input a preset load torque, and a speed reference command generator. The latter provides a time varying speed reference command signal w.r.t. a difference between the input pedal torque and the preset load torque.    The speed generator has a computer which derives the time varying speed reference command signal w.r.t. the following equation:    S = integral of (Tp-T1)/J    The value S is the time varying speed reference command signal;    Tp is the input pedal torque;    T1 is the preset load torque; and    J is a selected value which corresponds to inertia.    A speed servo controller governs the input pedal speed to equal the time varying speed reference command signal and includes a load torque device.    ADVANTAGE -   Generates variable load torque that equals and opposes any possible input torque.
The stabiliser includes null detectors (2), count-up (3) and count- down (5) counters, RS-flip-flop (4), ballast load units control channels (6-8), clock pulse generator (9), NAND-gate (10), logic comparator (11), NOR-gate (12), frequency setter (13), and phase max. current setter (14). Ballast load units are designed as controlled switches and resistive elements.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In self-contained electric power supply systems, in small water-power stations, windmill electric generators operating in load variation condition. Better quality of electric power, increased reliability and efficiency. Bul.40/30.10.92
During change of the geometry of a model of a pressure water conduit, equality of the kinetic energy of the mass of water, of the pressure loss and the mean flow speed of the water is carried out to these values in an equalising tank.    The equalising tank is used to model a pressure water conduit by changing the dimensions of the model.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Modelling of hydraulic phenomenon in equalising tanks. Better reliability of test results. Bul. 40/30.10.92
Measurement value pick-ups (20,21) are coupled to the elastically tensioned rope to register its speed. The output signals are coupled to an evaluator, pref. a computer to process them according to a set programme.    Further measurement pick-ups (25, 29) can be installed to register the horizonal and vertical pivoting of the excercising handle (15). These values can be evaluated and used, through feedback or a display, to ascertain the effect of the training just finished or to derive targets for a training programme to be conceived or for a therapeutic treatment course.    USE -   Sports training or physiotherapy.
The user force application device, includes a hollow outer cylinder having a connector end and a user end, an outer surface and an inner surface, and an axis. An inner cylinder has a connector end and a upper end, an outer surface, and an axis. The inner cylinder is inserted into the hollow outer cylinder and is in coaxial alignment therewith. The inner cylinder is freely rotatable around the axis and freely slidable within the hollow outer cylinder along the axis.    The connector ends of the hollow outer cylinder and the inner cylinder opposes the user ends of the hollow outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. A grip is detachably connected to the user end of the inner cylinder, and has a handle.    The connector end of the inner cylinder is connected to the tension transmitting device of an exercise appts. and to provide rotational resistance.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Permits concentric and eccentric isokinetic exercise by user. Enables user to perform various combinations of multiplanar movements of joints form shoulder to fingers.
An exercise appts. has a rotary part which is driven by the hand or foot of an individual, in which movement of the rotary part is countered by an eddy current brake in which a moving conductor in the form of a disc is passed adjacent magnets. The conductor comprises aluminum in any eddy current generating area. The eddy current brake has a force multiplying head to one side of the disc adjacent the eddy current generating area for imparting eddy current braking force of sufficient magnitude to counter the rotary part movement unaided by another magnetic force generator.    The force multiplying head includes an electromagnet having multiple pole pieces pointing in the same direction and at least one coil surrounding at least one pole piece and to which current is supplied. The force multiplication permits the use of an aluminum disc to provide sufficient brake power for the exercise appts. The eddy current brake is the sole resistance to movement of the rotary part.    ADVANTAGE -   Aluminium disc prevents warpage. Has flat torque vs. speed characteristic over normal operating speed compared to copper.
The exercise bicycle has a braking mechanism, a meter for the number of rotations and the rotation moment of the pedals, a computer and a screen to display data.    The screen shows a cyclist, in profile, on a road in front of background scenery. As the user pedals, the cyclist moves along the road relative to the background. The cyclist pedals at a rate corresponding to the pedalling of the exercise bicycle. The slope of the road can be changed according to training data and represents the training load. The structure of the road and of objects at the edge of the road can be shifted horizontally or diagonally according to the speed.    ADVANTAGE -   Converts training data into easy to understand picture using simple, inexpensive personal computer.
Operating cylinders (1,2) with plungers (4,5) and return unit, storing reservoir, and pneumatic motor are placed on the bottom of the reservoir. Flat check valves (12,13) are inserted into working cavities of the cylinders to communicate the latter with the reservoir (11) and atmosphere. The return unit is made as a float (7) linked to the plungers (4,5) by flexible rope (8). During lifting a float (7) the plungers (4,5) pulled by the rope (8) suck air into the pneumo-cylinders (1,2) via flexible hose (19), pipe (14) and the suction valves (12).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For mfg. electric energy by using energy of waves. Increased efficiency. Bul.38/15.10.92
The turbine has a sliding cylindrical body (9) fixed in the lower part of the distributor (6) immediately downstream of the elbow (8) of the diffuser (7). The cylindrical body fits in a cylindrical seat (10) with an arm (11) fixed to the lower end of the body and to an element which rotates with the shaft (13) of a motor (14).    The motor causes the body to reciprocate sinusoidally to introduce an additional flow of water into the diffuser. The motor is driven by an actuator (17) which is controlled by a processor-regulator (16) according to signals from pressure transducers (15) which measure the pressure variations produced by the vortex rope phenomenon.    ADVANTAGE -   Improves the performance of the turbine and reduces wear.
Highly efficient sun collector using a combination of photovoltaic collectors and thermal collectors comprises photovoltaic collectors (3) stacked with thermal collectors (2, 5) in such a way that they lie over one another. A black body (4), arranged in the inside of the sun collectors, is a thermal irradiator on the reverse side of the photovoltaic collector (3) such that the irradiator and photovoltaic collector (3) are enclosed by a heat transfer medium (6). The outer form of the sun collectors is arranged such that the sun collectors are arranged over each other or next to each other.    USE -   To convert the sun's energy into usuable energy.
The supply comprises a light source including solid-state laser diodes powered by electrical current at a voltage level V1 for generating light. The photocell array is positioned to receive the light and is fabricated with silicon-on-sapphire for providing electrical power having an output voltage V2, where V2 is greater than V1.    The photocell array includes serially connected photovoltaic cells. A voltage regulator is operably coupled to the light source and the photocell array for controlling the output of the power supply to a predetermined voltage level.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides high voltage DC power supply without need for oscillator circuit and transformer. Reduces electromagnetic interference and weight problems typically associated with high voltage DC power supplies.
The generator comprises an oil bath with a bottom (2), body (3), supporting element (4), coolant (5) and a cover (7). The latter has inclined openings. The oil vapour condensers (8) are positioned above the cover (7) inclined openings at the external side. The centrifugal oil separators (11), diffusers (13) and ejectors (14) are positioned on the oil bath body (3) external part on the fixing arms (9) and the platforms (10). A ring filter (16) is placed on the oil bath cover (7) external side.    During the rotation of the rotor (1) the oil vapours present in the oil bath are released at the oil bath wall (3). At the condenser (8) inlet a decreased pressure is formed due to rarefaction at the pipeline (15) free end positioned in the ejector (14). The vapours from the oil bath approach the condenser (8), contact its cold elements and condensate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As hydraulic generator, e.g. used in hydraulic power plants. Reliability and service life are increased, fire safety is improved and environment pollution is reduced. Bul.37/7.10.92
The power station consists of an anchored support (1) with pumps connected to a hydraulic generating set, and floats (6) with levers (5) which have their free ends pivoted to the support and are connected to the working elements of the pumps. The support is also equipped with vertical stabilisers (2), and the levers and wave-receiving plates (7).    The outlet from the generating set (8) has a suction pipe (9) with non-return valves, and the pumps are designed for two-way operation with incomplete rotation. The support is made with variable buoyancy so that is can be submerged beneath the surface of the water, and the wave-receiving plates are attached to the levers in the zone of the floats.    ADVANTAGE -   More reliable operation and increased capacity. Bul.36/30.9.92.    .D
The component includes a solar cell assembly (20) between an outer plate arrangement (10) and an inner plate arrangement (14). The inner plate arrangement has a device to prevent transparency from the inner plate arrangement to the solar cell assembly.    The solar cell assembly for the outer plate arrangement consists of polycrystalline solar cells, whose active side is directed towards the incident radiation of the sun. The transparency preventing device is a solar cell assembly (22) made of amorphous (thin layer) solar cells, whose active side is directed in opposite direction to that of the polycrystalline solar cells.    ADVANTAGE -   Is optimised both with regard to aesthetic requirements and also w.r.t. its efficiency.    .DL
The system has a device independently operative of the user's exercise level for providing a user-independent entertainment program. A device senses the user's exercise level to determine if it is below the preset level. A device operatively, coupled to the sensor, controls the entertainment program to be played in a preferred form only if the sensor determines that the user is exercising at or above the preset level.    The entertainment program is a television display, and the control device interferes with the display if the sensor determines that the user is not exercising at or above the preset level.    ADVANTAGE -   Ensures that user continues to exercise above preset level.
The appts for measuring heart rate includes a sensor for generating a signal which includes the biopotential signal produced by a heart. The signal is filtered, amplified and digitised. A microcomputer autocorrelates the digitised signal. A number of signal indication routines, scan the autocorrelated output for the presence of periodic signals.    Each for the signal indication routines uses different search criteria, such as peak and waveform detection, and generates a candidate heart rate. An arbitrator then selects one of the candidate heart rates according to predetermined criteria. The criteria include the value of previously selected heart rates.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Enables measurement of heart rate from person engaged in physical exercise, i.e. distinguishes between heart rate and other periodic muscular movements e.g. pedalling a bicycle.
The cardiac frequency meter includes a band (2) carrying a box (4) housing a processing circuit. The band extremities are provided with a rivet (6) for fixing an elastic strip (8) of adjustable length. The meter can thus be attached to a patient thorax.    Electrodes are provided on the inner surface of the band (14,15,16). The box surface has a display (100) and an IR emitter (102) for transmitting the results of the measurements. Two push buttons (104,106) control the appts. operation mode and setting of the alarm frequency threshold.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For monitoring heart frequency during sports activities and for physiological studies. Is safe to use and compact without exterior contacts. Eliminates risk of corrosion and faulty contacts.
The machine has a single stage hydraulic machine (1) mounted vertically below an electric machine (2) which are interconnected by a shaft (21) so that the blade runner (10) of the hydraulic machine rotates. Upper (6) and lower (7) covers enclose the runner with a guide vane assembly which controls the flow between the covers.    The vanes of the assembly are operated by a unit (12) mounted vertically below the lower cover in a lower assembly space (5). The machine shaft bears downwardly on the upper cover through a thrust bearing (26).    The outer spiral volute (9) is embedded in concrete and the speed ring (8) and upper cover are installed first so that the hydraulic machine is assembled downwards concurrent with the upward assembly of the electric machine.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides a more vertically compact assembly with reduced installation time, reduced strength requirements for upper cover of hydraulic machine and easier maintenance.
The exercise appts. includes a counting device for counting the number of push-up completed during a period of exercise, and a number of platform elements. The counting device comprises a housing, a digital counter mounted in the housing and a button switch mounted on the top of the housing. The counter is positioned on a supporting surface beneath the chest of the person performing the push-ups and it is incremented each time a person lowers his/her chest to contact the top of the housing when doing a push-up.    The platform elements are stackable one on top of another and the counting device is stackable on top of the uppermost platform element to enable the user to adjust the vertical height of the counting device above a supporting surface.    ADVANTAGE -   Enables user to gradually build up strength. Adjustable in hight. Accurate counting.
The climbing training device comprises a portable support body (10) which has a front inclined climbing portion, an endless rail (12), an endless transmission, a drive (23), a set of foot boards (30), a handle (13), a time setter (14) and a speed adjuster (15).    The portable support body includes two spaced opposite positioning plates (11), each having an inclined side (11a) on the front inclined climbing portion of the portable support body.    The endless rail has a trapezoid loop groove provided in the inner side of each positioning plate. This groove has a front inclining descending section (121), a rear vertical ascending section (122), a top section (123) and a bottom section (124). The top and bottom sections extend between the front inclining descending section and the rear vertical ascending section. The front inclining descending section and the rear vertical ascending section are in the form of double tracks, while the top and bottom sections are in the form of a single track.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Convenient to use. Enables user to simulate ladder climbing movement at controlled rate to accommodate his exercising ability.
The load monitor comprises a wt. monitor fitted on a pick-up element to register the position of a lock unit for retaining a selectable number of weights on the pick-up element. The wt. monitor is in the form of a long element on which a series of indication elements is arranged. Every other element comprises a LED which emits a light beam in at least two opposite directions. The remaining elements comprise two pair-mounted phototransistors. The position of the lock unit is monitored by its breaking the light beam within an interval between a LED and an adjacent phototransistor.    USE -   Recording movements, such as stroke length, angle deflection, load or similar.
Pressure transducers (TP) are installed at points along the pipe (2) and an electronic processor (E) processes at least one algebraic function of pressure detected by the transducers to trigger a signalling and alarm appts (AL) when an escape of liquid occurs.    The processor uses a digital model of the transitory state of the pipe and has processes the transducer signals according to the water hammering equation. It performs a comparison between the forecast pressure state calculated by the model and the value of real pressure detected by the transducers to identify an alarm state. The system indicates variations in the dynamic response of the pipe.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Eg for hydroelectric or irrigation system. Provides greater sensitivity in detection of sudden leak and is independent of differences in transit times between pairs of consecutive transducers. Also provides timely detection of any undesired variations in dynamic response of pipe, via continuous monitoring.
Solar cell has an active zone in the form of a polar polymeric film (1); and electric contacts (2,3) made of two different metals on its opposing surfaces. Pref. the two metals have different electrochemical potentials. The electrochemical potential differences is at least 0.8 V. Applied to the surface of one of the contacts e.g. (2) in an absorbent coating (4).    Also claimed is a solar cell as above, in which the absorbent coating (4) is applied to the electric contact (2) in the form of a polymeric material whose shape approximates a hemisphere.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar cell has an active zone formed from a polar polymeric film material. Mfr. of the active zone from polar polymeric material reduces the mass and cost of cells, compared to cells made on the basis of semiconductor elements. The cell's characteristics and capabilities can be improved, and the current in the cell increased.
The power station consists of a compressed air generator (1) with a pump (3) and drive (4), a power generator (6) with a drive (7), and a compressed air accumulator (8) which is connected to the pump.    The station has an additional air pump (10), connected to the accumulator (8), and equipped with a drive (11). A feed pipe (5) is equipped with a controlled valve (12) and the drive (4) for the air pump (3) is in the form of a pneumo-hydraulic motor (13).    The drive for the additional pump (10) is in the form of a flexible diaphragm (15), spring-loaded from beneath, and a non-return valve (16). The diaphragm is connected at the top to one aperture (14) in the top of a compressed air chamber (2), and the non-return valve is located in the other.    ADVANTAGE -   Wider range of functions, by making use of energy of ebb tide as well as flow tide. Bul. 33/7.9.92
The pulsimeter has an earlobe sensor for detecting pulses. The number of pulses detected is counted during a prescribed period. The number and time are displayed. Pulse rate is calculated based on the number of detected pulses. Calories consumed is calculated per constant time on the basis of pulse rate.    Cumulated calorie consumption is calculated and displayed along with time. The pulsimeter can have a predetermined time set. A warning is given at every lapse of the predetermined time. A memory stores cumulated pulses and calories consumed every predetermined time.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For calculating average pulse rate and amount of consumed energy. Allows proper evaluation of amount of exercise from start of counting at time of counting.
The water in a lower reservoir (6) is raised to a higher one (5) through an ascending duct (1) into which it is driven when the floor (8) is lowered by mechanical or hydraulic pressure or under its own wt.    For uninterrupted repetition of the process, flaps (7) set in a higher floor can be opened and closed to regulate the flow. The lower floor is raised by floats (10) in a chamber (11) pref. engaging with guidance columns (9). The water descends through turbines (3) which drive electric generators (4).    ADVANTAGE -   Lifting installation is independent of flowing or tidal water and operates from single filling of system with pure and clean water (softened if necessary).
A water-driven generation plant, esp. applicable to small rivers,streams and tidal waves, has a reservoir in which a float can move vertically with minimal side play. The reservoir is open to the water on one side by a sluice gate and the water can exit by another sluice on the other side. The float is coupled to a gearbox and generator mounted on crossbeams above it so that, as it moves up and down with the water, electricity is generated.    The inlet sluice slides vertically and the exit sluice tilts outwards. They are recontrolled so that one opens while the other is closed. The float has a narrower upper region.    ADVANTAGE -   Requires only low water quantities to generate power and is therefore highly efficient.
The visual comparator includes two bar graphs, with the motion on one being dependent on the setting (C1) programmed by a clock. The reference graph may be reset automatically or manually (BP1) and restarted (BP2).    The competitive bar graph is moved relative to the reference bar graph by pulses from a sensor fitted to work-out appts. to detect movements of the appts. The sensor pulse frequency may be adjusted with a button (C2) according to the speed at which the graph moves.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides competitive visual game to stimulate physical exercise on work-out bicycle, rowing machine etc.
The braking device has a rotor having a rim, a hub, an extra wheel connected to the hub and a transmission belt mounted on the extra wheel and mountable on a driving wheel on the exercise bicycle.A pivot hole exists through the hub. An axle extends through the pivot hole and is supported on both ends by pivot bearings, which facilitate the smooth spinning of the rotor. A number of rubber magnets are provided, each with a NS pole, and are aligned side by side in an alternating relationship and securely mounted to the rotor rim.    A stator has an outer rim and a winding of a coil has a number of parallel loops mounted on the stator outer rim. The winding corresponds to the magnetic pole alignment of the rotor to form a magnetic flux loop with the rubber magnets within the rotor. The axle assembles the rotor and the stator is mountable in an appropriate location of the exercise bicycle.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Prevents consumption of user energy.
The station has a stationary bellmouth (2) partially submerged in the water and provided with sloping water receiving pipe (3), an accumulating reservoir (4) with a drainage line placed above the water level and connected to the water lifting pipe, and hydraulic plant (1) connected to the drainage line outlet. The power is increased since the station is provided with turbine generator (6,7) and a cut-off valve (5) which is fitted on the drainage line. The turbine generator is connected to the water lifting pipe outlet.    The waves cause period lifting of the water in the pipe (3) and its drainage to reservoir (4). When the water in reservoir (4) reaches the required level, the valve (5) is opened and the water flows to the hydraulic plant (1) which generates electricity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In tidal wave hydroelectric power generation stations. Increased power and efficiency. Bul.29/7.8.92
The station has an hydraulic turbine and generator (7), fitted on frame (3) fixed on the pontoon (4). The operation reliability is increased since the station is provided with bearings (1), one of which is fixed on the shore and the other in the river mouth. The frame is fitted on the bearings and can reciprocate.    The torque from the drive (5), caused by drive wings interaction with the water, is transmitted to the reduction gear (6). The torque from the latter is transmitted to the generator (7) and electric power is generated. In case of sharp water level fall or rise in the river, the unit becomes automatically adjusted due to the metal rings (2) fitted on bearings (1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In micro-hydroelectric power stations. The operation reliability is increased. Bul.29/7.8.92
The station has a turbine wheel with blades (1), fitted on fixed bearings (7) and provided with protective housing (3), and a generator (5). The blades have corner-shaped cross-section and the protective housing has slides (9) fitted in the end walls and can vertically displace.    The river flow effects the turbine wheel blades (1). The rotation is transmitted from the shaft and the couplings (4) to the generator (5). When the river water level changes, the slides (9) surface in the protective housing (3) guides (8) displace upwards or downwards either manually or automatically using floats.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In hydroelectric power stations. The efficiency is increased. Bul.29/7.8.92
The drive flaps (1) have different widths. The outer fixed bearings of the drive units have torsion springs (4). The inner bearings of the drive units are guide pins which can follow the segment tracks (5) in the turbine rotor upper and lower plates (6).    Power transmission is by means of flange-mounted shaft pins (2), and that between the turbine rotor upper and lower plate is by means of elliptical spaced struts (3). The drive units are placed between circular plates.    Extra horizontal drive flaps are fitted on the turbine rotor upper plate and the control units are sprung (2). The vertical drive flaps have automatically sprung safety devices (2).    The turbine can be fitted in a pontoon rig, and raised and lowered in its frame.    (Provisional basic advised week 9328)
A method is disclosed for forming a photovoltaic cell, comprising the steps: (a) forming a transparent first conducting film (42) and a photoelectric conversion film (43) on a transparent substrate (41); (b) forming first (404) and second (405) grooves to divide the first conducting film into first and second transparent electrodes (421, 422) and to divide photoelectric conversion film into first and second conversion regions over first and second transparent electrodes resp.; (c) filling first and second grooves with first and second insulators (44,45); (d) forming a second conductive film (46) over the surface; (e) laser scribing the second conductive film to form a third groove (463) extending down to the second insulator and dividing the conductive film into first and second rear electrodes (461,462) wherein the first rear electrode is provided on the first photoelectric conversion region and is connected to the second transparent electrode through the filled second groove, and the second rear electrode is provided on the second photoelectric conversion region and is isolated from the first rear electrode by the third groove.    USE -   Useful for making photovoltaic solar cells of the amorphous silicon thin-film type.    ADVANTAGE -   The photovoltaic cell is highly reliable and is suitable for mass prodn. It is formed on a flexible substrate.
The exercise-hardness data output appts. includes an age data output and a pulse counter. An exercise difficulty is calculated based on pulse data obtained from a user, and age data. Exercise hardness is calculated and expressed as a ratio to the maximum hardness for every age.    The data is displayed visually. An ECG signal of the user is measured and used to obtain pulse data. The appts. calculates age from data of birth and current date. Pulse rate may be detected by using light to measure blood flow.    ADVANTAGE -   Objectively indicates exercise hardness.
The user is held in a tether restraint and runs on hydraulic track exerciser platform designed to stress him or her in a predetermined manner, while a metronome provides an audible pace and a screen displays the user's speed, distance accomplished, and other information. The runner's forward movement is opposed by the predetermined variable resistance of spring mounted hydraulic cylinders in a running platform, and in a tethered post.    The exerciser has monitoring devices for determining the state of the runner, in particular, one in which the platform contains a recording device for transmitting information on the rate of the foot strike of the runner to a central control    USE -   Cardiovascular fitness training.
The magnetic brake has a combined collar and flywheel with a braking disc and a fan which are all rotatably mounted on a shaft fixed between a pair of frames. The brake includes an electromagnetic coil wound on an electromagnetic ferrite core, a number of permanent magnets mounted on an inner surface of the collar, and a stator coil wound on a stator ferrite core disposed in a sttor ferrite core seat. An electrical circuit is provided having a rectifying circuit coupled to a firstt voltage regulating circuit for powering the stator winding and the other circuitry.    A digital-to-analog converter is included for converting an input digital control signal to an anlog control signal. The output of the converter is coupled to a second voltage regulator, the output of which is coupled to a current regulating circuit for driving the stator winding. Thus, the magnetic brake does not require an external power source and uttilises digital signals to control the magnitude of the magnetic braking force.    ADVANTAGE -   Adjustable in braking force.
The converter comprises two power thyristors (1,2), terminal for load connection (3), pulse-phase control unit (4), first-and-second diodes (5,6), current limiting resistor (7), isolation diodes (8,9), bipolar transistors (10,11) with displacement resistor (12) in control unit (4), third (15) and fourth (16) diodes shunted by resistors (13) and (14).    The introduced diodes (15,16) with resistors (14) prevent puncture of control circuit in gate-cathode junction of thyristors (1,2). The control unit (4) decreases the firing angles of thyristors (1,2) to a min. magnitude. The transistors are connected as a current generator operating in a switching condition and dissipate a small amount of power.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For alternating of ballast load of small hydro-electric power plants. Improved reliability and reduced power consumption. Bul.29/7.8.92
The power station is in the form of a catamaran with isosceles trapezoid hulls and a nozzle (6) at the forward end with walls at right angles to one another. The smaller faces of the trapezoid hulls are turned towards the lengthwise axis of the power station, which has transverse turbines (2) between the hulls, linked to generators (3).    The power station has a base (5) between the hulls, and a reduction gear unit for connecting the turbine shafts to the generators situated on the hulls. The nozzles at the forward end of the vessel can be folded, and its stern end is equipped with controlled shutters (7).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As floating hydro-power generation power plant. Higher efficiency through increased acceleration flow. Bul.29/7.8.92
The method involves using a data circuit which defines two position limits for the deflector by means of curves representing the opening limit (GL) and the closing limit (PL).    Data on the opening position of the injector is fed into the curve simulating circuit (1) so that the circuit outputs two limit commands (p1,g1) of the deflector position as a function of the desired speed of the turbine. The two limit commands (p1,g1) are also passed to a deflector position regulating circuit.    ADVANTAGE -   Improves speed regulation whilst preventing deflector displacement in zones where motive power becomes constant.
A turbine of similar construction as the Pelton wheel of a water turbine is magnetically impelled by either a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.    The magnet assembly is provided with an upper and lower beam which function as pole pieces to attract and repel the tooth-shaped elements of the turbine rotor and thus drive a generator via suitable transmission gearing.    A regulator is provided for magnetic commutation and the installation is screened to prevent magnetic interference with its surroundings.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides power source which is non-polluting and safe.
The layers of a stacked cell solar module are made of a material such as amorphous silicon, carried by a glass substrate, permitting manufacture in integrated circuit form. The individual cells are arranged alternately pin, nip, pin, having a toothed electrode structure, or forming pn junctions. The electrodes are transparent layers, having strips formed by producing narrow parallel grooves with a laser beam.    The cells of a stack are in parallel, and stacks are connected in series. Each stack consists of two or more cells, and their total thickness gives a maximum absorption of above 80 percent within the sensitivity region.    ADVANTAGE -   Similar production stages are repeated, giving a stack of cells with reduced light ageing.
The wireless, monolithic photovoltaic module includes top and bottom, rectangular electrodes with a photovoltaic body and an adjacent insulating strip sandwiched between the electrodes. The insulating strip is disposed proximate the edge of the bottom electrode.    A bus bar overlies the insulating strip, but not the photovoltaic body, and is connected to a net of current carrying grid lines which overlie the body to form a current collector. A top encapsulating layer has diffractive grooves formed in it which overlie the grid lines to minimise shading effects otherwise caused by shadows from the grid lines.    ADVANTAGE -   Increased efficiency by minimising shading effects caused by current collecting grids. Avoids precise alignment and adhesive fixing of separate lens element.
The pumping station either supplies hydraulic energy to the electric network (R), or raises water from a low level to a high level. The station includes a transformer (THT/MT) linking an alternator and the network with a circuit breaker (DTHT) in between. The circuit breaker includes a device to limit the current in the transformer.    A resistance (RS) of 500 to 100,000 ohms inserted at the opening of the circuit breaker for a time between 15 and 19 milliseconds. A further device (MY) ensures that the circuit breaker is not closed on to the transformer except in time intervals specified w.r.t. the max. voltage occurrence on the network.    ADVANTAGE -   Controls extend life of components, avoiding excessive transient currents in transformer.
The appts. initially calibrates the force measuring device before a user starts an exercise were the force measuring device is a load cell. The electronic signal is a load cell voltage output signal. The initially calibrating device performs an initial calibration by taking at least two samples of the load cell voltage output signal before the user applies any force to the one user preselected force application device.    The initially calibrating device compares the samples of the load cell voltage output signal with the changing factor of the number of user preselected force application devices and the environmental factors to determine if the samples of the load cell voltage output signal are within a preselected error range. The initially calibrating device repeats the initial calibration if the samples of the load cell voltage output signal is outside the preselected error range.    ADVANTAGE -   Maximises effort of user by displaying information on screen.
The plant consists of an anchored catamaran craft with vaned wheels (7) between its hulls which have their lower ends immersed in the water flow and are connected to generators (8). The forward end of the craft is equipped with an ice remover, made in the form of a U-shaped frame (14), pivoted to the outside of the hulls above the water line and two hollow floating rotors on a cross-member, located on either side of the craft's lengthwise axis. The two rotors are in the shape of truncated conoids with a clearance between their inner ends and a diameter greater than that of the vaned wheels.    The rotors are equipped with teeth (20) and disc saws on their end walls, while their outer surfaces have spiral projections.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In hydraulic energy generation, e.g. for use energy of water current. More reliable operation and increased capacity in waters containing drift ice. Bul.27/23.7.92
A tidal generator has the shape of a hollow truncated cone made of recycled plastic, anchored to the sea bed by a concrete base. Its height is at least the distance between high and low water level and it has a hexagonal cross section. Near the base at the low water level is an opening for the entry and egress of the tidal water. At the apex of the cone, above the high water level is a tube open to the atmosphere. There is a valve in this tube. Below the tube is a turbine or piston engine, driven by the flow of air through the cone as the tide rises and falls, so that electricity can be generated.    ADVANTAGE -   Maintenance-free and environmentally-friendly generation.
The method involves forming on a substrate a conductive polycrystalline thin film layer to interconnect photovoltaic cells in the panel. An n-type material is doped so that the carrier density is within three orders of magnitude of that of a selected p-type material.    The doped n-type material is deposited on the substrate to engage the conductive polycrystalline thin film layer and form an n-type transparent polycrystalline thin film layer for the cells. The selected p-type material is deposited on the substrate for engagement with the n-type layer to form a p-type photovoltaic layer.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides high efficiency polycrystalline photovoltaic cell wherein junction is made highly transmissive to short wavelength energy by reducing thickness of n-type material by diffusing or interdiffusing into or with p-type layer. Method of applying layers renders present invention suitable for spray pyrolysis, dip coating gas deposition and for applying relatively thin polycrystalline layers.
The method involves forming a continuous n-type semiconductor polycrystalline layer of a first effective thickness adjacent a conductive layer. A continuous p-type semiconductor polycrystalline layer is formed adjoining the n-type polycrystalline layers.    Both polycrystalline layers are simultaneously heated to a temperature for a time sufficient to significantly increase the size of the crystals within the p-type layer while substantially reducing the effective thickness of the n-type layer to substantially less than the first effective thickness by diffusion into the p-type layer.    ADVANTAGE -   Produces considerable increase in photovoltaic conversion efficiency, well suited for reliably controlling and enhancing regrowth of crystals and electrical properties of polycrystalline p-type layer and maintains highly controlled local stoichiometry of materials forming p-type layer.
An apparatus has two areas for indicating manual settings and presetting cycling curves respectively, in which the manual setting indicating area includes M columns of pilot lamps that each further contains N pilot lamps, constituting an M by N array of pilot lamps. There is a line of upper and lower setting buttons in correspondence with one or more columns to select the position of the lightened lamp in the column. The location height of the lamp represents the magnitude of exercise loads; however, the variation of exercise loads follows the lamp positions in a sequence from one column to another.    A time setting button sets and shows the duration of each lamp column. As setting is completed, each column of pilot lamps constitutes a variation having specified digital wave form, as a consequence of which the magnitude and the duration of exercise loads vary in conformity with the curve after a start button being pressed down.
The rubbish retaining device has frame (10) with motion supports (11) positioned in the grooves of the grille, vertical guide pins in its upper part and grips (20) with fastening axes. Housing (13) has apertures for the pins and fastening axes (21). The pressure facet has guides for the roller supports (14,15) of the housing (13).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As deep water duct rubbish retaining device. Reducing construction costs. Bul.27/23.7.92
The device (1) is suspended between two piers (2,3) to span a river or tidal estuary to intercept water flow (arrow A). Electrical generators are mounted on at least one of the pairs of supports (4,5) for the two vertical axles (14,15). Each axle has multiple pulley wheels (12,13), each opposing pair of which supports an endless cable (6).    Light, flexible and adjustable sail-shaped scoops (7) are hinged vertically between each adjacent pair of cables. The angle of a scoop presents to the water flow is controlled by individual cables (10) connected to a central revolving control cable.    ADVANTAGE -   Geometry allows virtually full depth of water to be used. Adjustment of scoop angle between any two bands caters for any difference of flow velocity with depth.    .D
A hydro actuated rotary drive yield consists of a series of lateral scoops forming a cylindrical rotor, revolved by pressure of water, either horizontally or vertically. Its rotations are accelerated by a sequence of spur gearing of 8-1 revolutions to actuate electrical alternators at production speeds. The rotor bridges two GRP floatation chambers, to form a cell, through which it rotates four or more alternators, converted to produce a minimum of 6 kWh of 240 volt AC current. Five similar cells are interconnected to form a unit.    Each unit is moored in tidal shallow water clear of shipping to swing 360 degrees to tide and/or wind. Ten units moored to a single trot form a group, producing 300 kWh, and 4 groups, forming a flotilla, would produce over 1 mega watt. This current would be cabled ashore to serve local needs.    ADVANTAGE -   Makes available free motive power and avoids atmospheric pollution of other fuels, reduces environmental objection, and adds considerable electricity supply, at much reduced cost.
The rope or chain line is guided over guide pulleys or guide sprockets (15). The working line only is immersed in water, and at least one guide pulley or sprocket is coupled with the generator (11) across a driving shaft connected rotation proof to it.    The empty endless chain (19) found above the water is supported by rollers (21) located at the side wall of the pontoon (10). One roller at least is designed as a chain adjusting roller. The lines can be arranged on both longitudinal sides of the pontoon.    ADVANTAGE -   Uses movement energy of water of larger rivers at nearly any location. Plants can be installed in larger numbers for generating larger amounts of electricity.
The pontoons (1,2) are spaced at a distance parallel to each other. The rear sections (5) of the pontoons are aligned against the flow, with a widening slope (6) extending to the water level.    The front end sections (7) of the pontoons (1,2) have rollers connected by rails to a holding system (9), anchored securely in ground under the water. The pontoons can be fixed with their rear end sections (5) at the end of guy lines (10).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Flowing or tidal water powered, turbine wheel is maintained at same height to water level without dam.
A user applies force to a rotatable actuating bar or wheel (36) with a handle (38), on a shaft (40). A torque sensor (44) measures the force applied to the bar or wheel and produces corresponding signals.    A resistive force is applied to the device by a brake (54). A computer (10) and brake motor control circuit (60) controls the amount of resistive force applied according to the signals received from the sensor.    The user can select an exercise mode and its profile by programming the computer. Performance results can be displayed using measurements detected by the computer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Personal fitness. Pre programmable. Continually monitors user performance.
The exercising machine comprises a frame and an electric drive motor mounted on the frame. A drive shaft mounted on the frame is rotated by the motor. A series of pulleys mounted on the drive shaft is rotationally driven by the shaft. A selector interconnects the shaft and a selected pulley causing the selected pulley to rotate with the shaft.    Each pulley is connected by a drive belt to a slave pulley coupled to an exercise component on the machine. The selector operates automatically to select a pulley. The selector includes a microprocessor, a selector motor operated by the microprocessor. A selector key moved by the selector motor and engaged with each of the pulleys causes the drive motor to connect to any one of the slave pulleys via the shaft.    ADVANTAGE -   Can perform range of exercises without having to be reset to carry out new exercise.
Silicon spheres are doped with a dopant by: (1) positioning the spheres (48) in a chamber (32), (2) utilising a solid dopant source (42) to provide a contact and support area for the silicon spheres, (3) vaporising dopant from the solid dopant source to create a dopant cloud, simultaneously diffusing dopant directly from the solid dopant source through the support area and from the dopant cloud into the silicon spheres causing substantially even diffusion of phosphorus into silicon spheres.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In solar cells. The uniformity of diffusion throughout the entire sphere avoids the prior problems associated with point-to-point contacts between the spheres.
The substrate material (301) comprises a first type groove (3050) doped with a first type dopant and having a first conducting material in electrical contact with the walls. A second type groove (310) has walls doped with a second type material. This groove also has a second type conducting material in electrical contact with the second doped walls. The two grooves are electrically linked with each other by a doped region of linking substrate material (314).    This is selected from either the first or second type group and forms the photovoltaic junction with substrates material of a different polarity. The first type dopant is a different polarity than the second type dopant.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides for at least two photovoltaic cells in series.
If there is no water in the head race or the water in it does not reach the required level, the sluice gate is closed. As the water flow increases the level increases and when it reaches the set value the water level regulator operates opening or closing the inlet. Curvilinear gate (8) moves along curvilinear guides (9) and takes up intermediate position. When the water level falls the regulator closes the water flow.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For mountain upper rivers flows areas, for automation of river flow control. High reliability is achieved. Bul.25/7.7.92
The exerciser has a wheel (10) rotatably held in a frame (11) provided with a bar (12) such that a braking force can be exerted on the wheel (10). A pair of levers (20,21) is pivotably mounted at the lower ends on the bar (12) of the frame (11). A joint (25) is pivotably attached to the upper ends of the levers (20,21) so that it can be driven radially inwards and outwards relative to the wheel (10).    A bracket (30) is mounted on the joint (25). The bracket (30) has a pair of side walls (31) carrying at least one magnet (32).The side walls (31) are arranged on both sides of the outer peripheral edge of the wheel (10).    A driver is arranged on the bicycle frame (11). This is connected to the joint (25) such that the latter is movable with the bracket (30) and the magnet(s) (32) radially inwards and outwards relative to the wheel (10).    ADVANTAGE -   Movement of levers moves magnets which leads to simultaneous change in braking effect on wheel.    .D
The device comprises a video signal imaging unit (1) which is connected via a video signal counter (2) to a control panel (3), a storage unit (4), the first input of a comparator (5), a recording unit (6), a correcting-action unit (7) and a simulator (8) with bio-mechanical characteristic sensors with a display. The simulator output is connected to the second input of the comparator (5) with the second output of the correction unit (7) coupled to the video signal imaging unit and to the second input of simulator with bio-mechanical characteristics sensors.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For medical technology and bio-technical systems for sports physiotherapy to restore human motor functions. The effectiveness of training is enhanced by adapting action of movement under test to model. Bul.25/7.7.92
The power station complex has a buffer pool (4) positioned next to the lower pool (3) and water-channelling regulating structures (6) positioned between the buffer pool (4) and lower pool (3). The power station building (1) is joined to the buffer pool (4) by pressure water duct (5). The volume of the buffer pool (4) is less than that of the upper pool (2).    During peak of load power station operates in the turbine mode, at full capacity (4). Part of the water from the buffer pool (4) is shed-off through the structure (6) in the lower pool (3). At night time, with less load, the station operates in the pump mode, filling the upper pool(2) from the buffer pool (4). Part of the water from the upper pool goes into the buffer pool.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Hydro-power water storing power station complex, improving ecological state of lower pool. Bul.23/23.6.92
The device for measuring heartbeat rate, comprises a unit for detecting (9) and processing (10,11,17 to 20) a signal carrying heartbeat data and for indicating (12 to 14) the heartbeat rate to the user of the device. The device comprises a unit (9 to 11) for receiving and processing a telemetrically transmitted heartbeat rate signal and a second unit (17 to 20) for processing signals detected by electrodes or sensor integrated into a device casing or wrist strap and corresponding to the heartbeat rate.    The device formed by the wrist watch-type can have photo-electric components in its surface for detecting variations in the intensity of light passing through skin tissue. A tonometric sensor can be used in the wrist watch surface for detecting pressure variation in vessel located closed to surface of skin.    ADVANTAGE -   Available to casual users, due to low cost. Ease of use. Accurate.
The photovoltaic element of semiconductor material has a profiled surface, at least on the face onto which the radiation impinges. The contact systems, corresp. to opposite polarities, are fitted on the light facing side at different levels of the profiling face.    The contacts pref. consist of a transparent and conductive layer, e.g. of ZnO:Al. The higher located contact system may consist of a transparent, conductive layer, while the lower contact system is formed by a highly reflective metal in strips of lens-shaped cross-section. The higher located contact system may be reclosed by a transparent lid.    ADVANTAGE -   Opto-electric conversion in regions with low recombination losses
The audio signal reproduction apparatus includes a receiver with an audio playback device e.g. portable cassette recorder, for receiving the input audio signal and outputting a receiver output signal capable of allowing a user to correspond his activity. The receiver output signal is a version of the input audio signal with altered identifiable characteristics.    A controller is coupled to the receiver for programmably controlling, via control signals input by the user, at least a gradual alteration of the input audio signal over at least a portion of the duration of the input audio signal so that the alteration is subliminal. The identifiable characteristics include tempo.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For introducing subliminal changes to audio stimuli, e.g. music tempo change when jogging. Motivation tool for exercise, allows user to synchronise pace to tempo.
The turbine rotor (7) is fixed to its vertical shaft (1) near the base of the tube (3) which has a slight taper outwards from the end at which water (15) is supplied via three nozzles (12) from the annular container (14).    From the top of the tube, water is returned to the container by smaller nozzles (6) around the rim (5). The upward motion of the water is guided by plates (9) on the inside of the tube inclined at about 45 deg.    ADVANTAGE -   High efficiency achieved with good use of water energy in closed circuit.
A shaft is mounted on spaced bearings on opposite walls of a side compartment of the machine. A pitman arm is provided in the shaft. A drive assembly, including inner and outer arms, extends above and below the shaft. A lifting wheel is provided on the shaft between the drive arms. A laterally shiftable pin extends through the outer drive arm. Holes near the outer periphery of the lifting wheel and in the inner arm connect the drive assembly to the lifting wheel in any of a set of relative orientations. A stop against pivotal rotation of the lifting wheel enables static tests to be made of certain muscles of the user.    Strain gauges are positioned on the curved bottom surfaces of transverse slots in a block. These gauges can form two arms of a resistance bridge network which engages tension forces in the linkage (42) to be measured accurately. The output of the gauges is extended to an a-d converter associated with a computer.    USE -   Allows static and dynamic strength measurements to be made during exercise.
Each exercise machine accepts race input data and comprises a memory for storing programs and data. The main control is responsive to the input and the programs stored in the memory for controlling a simulated race betweeen two or more exercise machines, generating graphic images of the race, and calculating race data including elapsed time, distance and calories consumed. A display shows the graphic images including an indication of the location of each of the racers, and for displaying data including the race input data and the race data.    For each exercise machine a receiver accepts data from the main control and interconnects and transmits data between the main control and the receivers of each of the exercise machines using a broadcast, which includes the elapsed time of the race. To prepare each exercise machine for a subsequent poll for data from the machine, and a polling cycle divided into multiple time slots corresponding to time-driven interrupts generated by the main control with a time-slot assigned to each exercise machine during which the main control polls each respective exercise machine and receives data from the machine.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides system permitting number of particpants to compete against one another over simulated courses.
The photoelectrical conversion arrangement contains a pair of opposed electrodes (2,4) and an amorphous silicon film (3) between the electrodes which performs a photo-electric conversion of light contg. light from the target object.    At least one of the electrode pair is divided into a set of structured electrodes (41,42). These are connected to the silicon film in electrically positive and negative directions to form a spatial filter electrode and are arranged irregularly on the silicon film.    ADVANTAGE -   Simple design and economical to mfr. Can be integrated with spatial filter.
The vane regulating device, e.g. for a Francis or Kaplan turbine, uses an electric setting motor (3) supplied from a current network. An electromagnetic clutch couples the setting motor to the turbine blade setting mechanism and is released upon failure of the current network, so that the blades move into a closed position under a spring bias.    The clutch is closed upon reconnection of the current network to re-establish the coupling between the motor and the blade setting mechanism. Pref. the clutch uses two opposing electromagnets, or an electromagnet (7) and a cooperating relatively movable ferromagnetic element (6).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Hydro electric turbines. Prevents overrunning of turbine upon failure of mains network.
The energy generation system, floating on the water surface, comprises a number of catamaran punts (1, 1') spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, which can move vertically up and down fixed guides (3, 3'), preventing their sidewards movement.    Deflection rollers (5, 5') for an endless transmission chain (6) are mounted on the punts (1, 1') with containers (7) attached to the chain (6) held in a horizontal position by the flow force of the water, the rotation of the rollers (5, 5') driving a generator. The containers (7) may have hollow spaces filled with air or gas, e.g. helium.    USE -   For efficient conversion of water flow energy into electricity.
Primer compsns. consists of gamma-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (GAPTMS) dissolved in an aprotic solvent having a solubility parameter of about 10.8 (cal/cc). The pref. solvent is N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and the concn. of GAPTMS is 0.1-49 (pref. 1-10) wt. %. The primer is applied to a surface to improve bonding of a coating material. The wetted surface is dried to remove solvent and cure the silane before applying the coating material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The primer enhances bonding of a variety of coating materials to a range of organic and inorganic substrates without the need for treating the substrate surface e.g, by abrasion or etching with chemicals or plasma. The good results are achieved only when using the cited combination of silane and solvent. The primer is esp. useful for improving the adhesion of a condensation cure silicone in the cured state to a resin substrate, in particular unabraded polyimide film. Examples of articles which may be made using the primer compsn. include substrates for solar arrays, quadrifilar antennae, and flexible circuitry.    In an example, 5 wt. % soln. of GAPTMS in DMAc was applied by wiping to the surface of unabraded 1 in. wide `Kapton' (RTM) polyimide film and allowed to cure at room temp. overnight. The strips were then coated with `Nu Sil CV-2566' (RTM: condensn. cure silicone) and cured at room temp. for 18 hrs. T-peel strength (by ASTM D1876) of the coating was 27 oz./in. width, with cohesive failure.
The plant has a floating body fixed in the flow by a rope (1). The bladed wheels (2) are on a horizontal shaft (3) in the body, linked to a generator. Vertical cylindrical floating containers (4) are in parallel horizontal rows, linked to each other by a frame (5) and filled with transformer oil (6). The fixed electrode (7) are in the form of horizontal half-rings.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For hydroelectric power generation. Simpler, less material used. Bul.20/30.5.92
The apparatus comprises a pair of links each having a lower end pivotally coupled to the bar of the frame and each including an upper end. A bracket is pivotally coupled between the upper ends of the links which are arranged such that the bracket moves substantially radially inward and outward of the wheel. A support is fixed to the bracket and includes a pair of end wall portions each having at least one magnet disposed in it.    The end wall portions are located on both sides of an outer peripheral edge of the wheel. A driving mechanism is disposed on the frame of the exerciser and coupled to the bracket for driving the bracket to move substantially radially inward and outward of the wheel, such that said magnets are caused to move substantially radially inward outward of the wheel when the bracket moves.    ADVANTAGE -   Magnets move substantially radially relative to wheel of exerciser.
The system includes a rotational element mounted for rotation about an axis positioned adjacent the stationary element for detecting cardinal movement and translating it into rotational data. A magnetic particle variable resistance mechanism controls the resistance to rotation when a force is applied by the test subject.    A torque sensor detects the applied torque. A rotary optical encoder detects the rotational velocity and position of the rotational element. A clutch selectively couples the motor to the element. A control mechanism provides a series of test exercises to the test subject.    ADVANTAGE -   Offers unique isolation of movement patterns.
The treadmill comprises a belt provided with a running surface and rotated in a predetermined direction at a set running speed. A landing detector is provided for detecting foot landings on the running surface. A timer measures the landing time distance between the landing times detected.    A stride calculator determines a stride from the running speed of the running surface and the landing time distance measured. The calculated stride is then output. The landing detector detects an instantaneous speed reduction at each foot landing using a rotational speed for a belt driving motor. Pref. an instantaneous increase in the driving current of a belt driving motor is detected at each foot landing.    USE -   Exercise equipment automatically able to calculate the stride of a walking or running person.
The hydroelectric power generator comprises a hydraulic turbine having a runner with a number of blades, the opening of each of which is adjustable and a hollow turbine shaft connected to the runner. An electric power generator has a hollow shaft aligned with and joined to the turbine shaft, with a drive disposed in the runner for driving the blades to adjust the blade opening. Pressurised liquid such as oil is fed to the drive, with a passage disposed to pass through the turbine shaft and the generator shaft, for defining liquid passages through which the pressurised liquid is transmitted from and to the feed means to and from the drive.    The passage is supported by the feed unit including the runner. A radial movement of the passage is restricted, a hollow shaft assembly being formed by connection of the turbine shaft and the generator shaft at a portion between both ens of the shaft assembly, pref. at a middle of the axial length of the passage between the feed and the runner.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced vibration hydroelectric power generator in which the tube ends of liq. passages can be withdrawn from the turbine-generator shafts without disassembly.
The method involves measuring steam parameters at the boiler-utiliser outlet and changing the make up fuel flow rate when the steam parameters deflects from given value. The regulation accuracy is increased since the utilisation gases temp. is initially measured and when the latter deviates from the given value, the make up fuel flow rate is changed with a delay, determined by utilisation gases movement duration. The make up fuel flow rate is then corrected according to the steam parameters at the boiler-utiliser outlet.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For regulating thermal load of waste-utilisation station plant. Accuracy is increased. Bul.19/23.5.92
The photoelectric element includes a first region having a light-receiving surface. A second region having a short side length not greater than twice the minority carrier diffusion length of the first region is provided on at least one portion of the first region to form a photovoltaic mechanism in conjunction with the first region. A barrier layer is provided to cover at least those portions of the light-receiving surface of the first region not covered by the second region, and a transparent conductive film is provided on the barrier layer and electrically connected to at least one second region.    The voltage of the second region generated by incident light is applied through the transparent conductive film to the light-receiving surface of the first region to produce an electric field in the direction inducing majority carriers.    ADVANTAGE -   Achieves practical level of conversion efficiency even when it is constituted using material exhibiting short carrier diffusion length.
The system allows a low input force to be converted into a higher output force using a hydraulic circuit which has a number of hydraulic cylinders. The cylinders contain respective pistons having 2 different dia. piston surfaces, performing separate functions. The larger dia. piston surfaces receive an external rotation force via a shaft and lever segments, causing the smaller dia. piston surfaces to act on the hydraulic fluid, for obtaining a press increase.    The hydraulic fluid and all hydraulic segments are contained in an oil-tight annular cylinder supported by a shaft via roller bearings.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Also for wind or water turbines. Relatively simple hydraulic system without pumps.
The exercise machine comprises the upright frame and the pair of reciprocating left and right pedals pivotally mounted on the frame for independent movement between raised and lowered positions. A hydraulic control system is connected to the pedals to provide resistance to downward movement and to return each lowered pedal to a raised position independent of operation of the other pedal.    Pref. the TV screen is mounted on the frame and is controlled by a computer to display certain information during an exercise routine, which may be overlaid on a TV programme. The computer may also control the duration and difficulty of each exercise routine. The computer may be programmed to generate a cartoon-like or graphical progress display, at the user's option, in a similar manner to that used in computer game generating programmes.    ADVANTAGE -   More accurately minics true stair climbing since one pedal can be pushed down without simultaneously urging other pedal up.
The electrical energy generator has at least one turbine (2) driven by a flow medium, coupled to a multi-phase AC generator (1), in turn coupled to a rectifier circuit (5) via capacitive elements (3). The capacitance values are matched to the inductances in the generator current circuit, so that the obtained resonant circuit exhibits a resonance frequency above the highest operating frequency.    Pref. each phase of the generator (1) is coupled to the rectifier circuit (5) via a capacitive element (3) and a series switch (4) controlled w.r.t. the frequency.    ADVANTAGE -   Optimum operating efficiency without requiring adjustment of turbine vanes.
.D
The exercising treadmill having a running platform over which a treadmill belt (30) advances for walking or running thereon includes a cam mecahnsim for adjusting the slope of the running platform and an electric motor for adjusting the driven speed of the treadmill belt. The treadmill also includes a video monitor and a video tape player for displaying an image of an exercising environment.    A device controls the speed of the treadmill belt and slope of the running surface and synchronises the speed and slope of the belt with the speed at which the terrain of the displayed images moves and the slope of the terrain of the displayed image. The motor includes two rollers disposed at opposite ends of the tread surface. The belt is adapted to move around the rollers and a drive motor for rotating the first roller.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For testing cardiac and aerobic conditioning of patients or rehabilitation of patients. Also for aerobic workout. Simulates uphill and downhill walking and running giving increased versatility and more interesting to use. Video monitor synchronised with gradient can stimulate more realistic exercise environment.
The ankle-foot exercise comprises a base and a foot holder mounted to the base for holding a patient`s foot and including a toe portion and a heel portion. An adjustable drive is set in angular orientation to w.r.t. the base and pivotally and slidably attached to the toe portion of the foot holdes for continuously driving the foot holdes alternately up and down and alternately out and in to alternately generate dorsiflexion and plantarflexion and to alternately generate abduction and adduction motion of the foot.    A foot tilting unit is pivotally attached to the heel portion of the foot holder for tilting the foot holdes to alternately generate eversion and inversion motion of the foot. A control regulates and coordinates the drive and the foot tilting unit.    USE -   For exercising or conducting specific therapy movements of diffeent muscle groups.
A central support member has a wheel rotatably mounted on one end. The central support member may have a central sleeve attached through the first support member, with a sliding or telescoping member passing through so that the wheel and the second planar support member with a pin locking the sleeve to the telescoping central support member. An electric motor is positioned within the central support member and is coupled to the wheel through a belt and a pair of pulleys attached to the wheel shaft and to the electric motor shaft for rotating the wheel in a forward or backwards rotation responsive to the actuation of a switch.    The switch can be mounted on the second planar support so that a person using the gymnastic unit can actuate the switch to an on/off position or to a forward or reverse direction. Removable secondary wheels can be attached to the first planar support member for use in training an individual to use the gymnastic training device after which time the secondary wheels can be removed.$    USE -   Gymnastic training equipment for development of the upper body muscles and teaching coordination and balance.
The apparatus comprises a treadmill (1) with a planar tread area and a movable support surface moving in the plane of the tread area. A number of force transducers (5) produce output signals associated with portions of the tread area, and are mounted in fixed positions beneath the support surface in such a way as to permit motion of the support surface across the transducers to receive all the vertical forces exerted by the subject's foot on that portion of the tread area.    The apparatus comprises a computing unit (6) which accepts the output signals and provides quantities related to the forces exerted by each foot on the support surface. The force transducers are force plates longitudinally oriented with respect to the direction of movement of the support surface. A contact sensitive transducer is located in fixed relation to the subject's foot to provide signals indicative of heel=strike to the computing unit.    ADVANTAGE -   Utilises two or more independent force measuring units which measure the forces exerted on the subject surface beneath the moving belt of a treadmill.
Movable, foot-receiving right and left pedals are coupled to a frame. A rotatable inertial resistance is coupled to the frame. A drive system operatively couples the pedals to the inertial resistance. The drive system comprises a first portion including a single rotatable drive shaft and two independent linkages. A right drive linkage and a left drive linkage operatively link each of the respective pedals to the drive shaft and including at least two runs extending in opposite directions.    Each linkage includes a lengthening component for lengthening the linkage. The movement of the pedals is transferred smoothly to the drive shaft. A second drive portion transmits the rotation of the drive shaft to the resistance, the second drive portion comprising a first primary drive sheave mounted on the drive shaft. An endless power belt transmission connects the primary and intermediate sheaves, a final sheave being co-axially mounted with the resistance. A second endless power belt transmission connects the intermediate and final sheaves.    USE -   Exercise machine for simulating stair climbing e.g. for domestic use.
The turbine blades (1) for a water-turbine are designed to allow the movement of the water stream to be utilised 2 or 3 times.The blade has a deflection angle of more than 170 degrees and adjacent buckets with steep sidewalls (22) are at an angle of at least 60 degrees to the plane contng. the edge of each bucket. The part of each bucket adjacent this plane has a water deflection surface (11) parallel to the partition wall between the adjacent buckets, extending from a point above the base of the bucket to a point outside the latter.    The deflection surfaces ensure that the deflected water does not impede the incident water, thus the water expelled from the main turbine is used to drive auxiliary turbines (29).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In hydroelectric power plants. Improved turbine power generating efficiency.
The exercising appts. includes reciprocating footpads to which are coupled a DC electric motor. A DC power supply and controller are associated with the motor to vary the voltage delivered to it. A load sensor and isolator sense the voltage supplied by the power supply, and also sense the voltage present at the motor terminals during periods when no power is being supplied to the motor by the power supply.    The sensor and isolator also isolate the motor from the power supply during certain periods, namely when the power supplied to the motor by the exerciser is greater than that supplied by the power supply. An electrical load circuit and load set vary the motor load.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides simulated climbing, walking, running, skiing. Motion of each foot pad is harmonic, sinusoidal and prevents jerking or abrupt action when supply to motor terminated, prevents slippage on foot pads.
The brake adjuster for a pedalling training machine comprises a base, a position plate combined on the base by a pivotal shaft and a U=shaped magnetic arm combined firmly on the position plate to move together. The base has a main shaft hole for a main shaft to extend firmly so that the base can move to tilt up together with the main shaft rotated by a hand brake fixed on a handle of the pedalling training machine. The position plate has its rear portion always pushed up by a coiled spring provided to be pinched between the position plate and the base.    The U=shaped arm has two permanent magnets attached on both side walls of an intermediate opening to face both side surfaces of an iron turning disc inserting for a preset distance in the opening to receive magnetic force generated by the two permanent magnets, be stopped when the iron turning disc is rotating. A hand brake controls the main shaft to rotate in various ways to incline the base so that the dimension of the magnets facing the turning disc may be changed and the magnetic force to stop the turning disc can also be changed.    USE -   Manual adjusted magnetic brake for exercise bicycle, which does not tend to cause wear and tear on components.
Exercise machine comprises two bars (1,2) hinged at one end and having handles (3,4), and a load unit consisting of permanent magnets (5,6) mounted on lugs at the free ends of bars (1,2) with repelling poles facing one another. A metal screen in the form of a ferromagnetic sleeve (7) with a comb profile wall which can rotate lies between the permanent magnets (5,6) and is mounted on the free end of handle (3) coaxially to the magnet (5).    The screen (7) is driven by a rack transmission with pinion (6) fastened coaxially to sleeve (7) and toothed rack (9) mounted on the free end of bar (2). The device also has a reversible generator (12) which provides an electric stimulating signal to electrodes (15,16) in the handles (3,4) and which can be regulated by a variable potentiometer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For development and exercise of muscles in the hands and forearms, increases effectiveness of training. Bul. 16/30.4.92
A pull rope has a fixed end and a movable end connected to an arm exercising mechanism. A suspended pulley set includes a pulley seat on which an upper pulley and a lower pulley are mounted. The pull rope extends around the upper portion of the lower pulley, while a guide rope extends around the lower portion of the upper pulley. The guide rope is fixed on the frame assembly at an end. When the pull rope is pulled, the suspended pulley set moves downward to rotate an intermediate drive wheel. An endless flexible driving element is trained between the intermediate drive wheel and a driven wheel to rotate the driven wheel.    A resistance setting unit is disposed on the frame assembly and can be adjusted so that a generator unit creates a predetermined amount of electric current, activating a magnetic controller to change magnetic resistance to the rotation of the driven wheel. A spiral spring connects the rotating shaft of the driven wheel to the frame assembly to rotate the rotating shaft to a normal position, moving the suspended pulley set to an upper limit position. The resistance setting unit may be a rotary knob.    ADVANTAGE -   Simple change of resistance of rope pulling action.
The excerciser includes the sensor (11) which senses at least one type of motion of the exerciser The sensor emits a detection pulse for processing so as to display at least one data relating to the exercise carried out on a display (112) using a conversion coefficient.    The excerciser includes a processor (120) having a clock (121) and an adaptation device (130) to change the coefficient as a function of an adjustment device (108). A manual control (130) controls the adjustment or alternatively the sensor connects to the adjustment device to automatically control the coefficient.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Indoor exerciser such as rowing machine, cycling machine and jogger. Displays distance, speed, and calorie consumption.
Electric motor stator body (1) comprises longitudinal beams (2) connected to the core (3) by the shanks (4). The longitudinal beams (2) are attached to the lateral shelves (5) with the help of the supporting elements (6) whose rests (7) are in the form of a rectangular prism.    The rest (7) is welded on in such a way that the face side with a groove under the longitudinal beam (2) is positioned at the lateral ring shelves (5) internal face surface (9). The groove side surface (10) adjoins the beam (2) at the shank base (11). Thread openings are made in the rest (7) sides. A pin (13) whose one end is positioned in the thread opening is placed in the rest.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Stator body is used in hydraulic generators. Its reliability is increased and the assembly labour input is reduced. Bul. 15/23.4.92
The cushion (1) shaped as a segment of a cylinder has a plane underside (5) and an end face (2) on which are displayed (4) the force required to be exerted by the gymnast, and also its duration.    A lamp (7) is lit and a small loudspeaker (6) sounds when the displayed pressure is exceeded. Several mechanical, electric or piezoelectric measurements can be processed to evaluate the average or max. of several attempts for presentation by remote display (8).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For development of dorsal muscles, simple and effective structure gives immediate indication of the force applicable.
The appts. includes a horizontal bench platform with head and leg portions at different ends, and an axis defined between them. The platform supports a head and torso of a weight lifter on it in a horizontal position, such that the weight lifter's thighs may extend horizontally beyond the leg portions, with feet resting on a floor. A support is provided for a barbell weight, to which a cord member is attached at one end.    One or more pulleys are mounted on the appts., and the cord member is rotatable about them and connected at an other end to a base of the appts. A motor rotates the cord about the pulleys, and a weight support actuator permits the weight lifter to actuate a lifting of the barbell weight away from him while his feet rest on the floor and while the barbell weights are close to his chest area. The weight support actuator has one or more switches located in a position adjacent to the leg portion of the platform, with the switches horizontally and laterally oriented to be actuated by horizontal, lateral movement of the user's knees while the feet rest on the floor.    ADVANTAGE -   Safety switch moves weight away from user, when too tired to lift weights away from body.
The hydro-turbine consists of a rotor (2) with vanes (5) and a water jet guide (6) with an outlet channel. The vanes are semi-cylindrical in section, with axes coinciding with the rotor's radial axis.    The water jet guide has an additional outlet channel, and the two outlet channels lie symmetrically with the guide's lengthwise axis. The axes of the two outlet channels are offset radially relative to one another by an amount equivalent to the channels' diameter.    The rotor is connected by a flexible drive belt to the generator (1), which is mounted on a transportable unit (3).    ADVANTAGE -   Higher efficiency. Bul.13/7.4.92.
The module has a cover plate (10) which has a silk screen printed conductor system (24,26,27,28,,29) which is in contact at least within a solar cell string with the front side contacts of the solar cells (14,16,18,20,22) in such a way that front and/or rear side contacts of adjacent solar cells are electrically connected.    The cells in the solar module are sensitive to light only on one side and are connected in series within a cell string. The silk screen printed conductors (24,26,27,28,29;36,38,40,42) cover the longitudinal area of a solar cell (14,16,18,20,22) of a solar cell string and extend so far into the intermediary space between the cell in question and that adjacent to it (e.g. 16,18) that they are in contact with the corresp. plate (10,12) surface of an electrically conductive connecting piece (44,46,48,50) between the solar cells.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Connection of individual solar cells to one another is simplified.    .D
The energy generation device has a cylinder (5) and a hollow piston (7), both incorporating pivoted flaps (8, 9), the piston (7) having an attached rod (4) projecting above the water surface and acting as a toothed rack cooperating with a gearwheel (15). The latter is used to rotate a drive shaft (2) for a dynamo (1) when the piston (7) is displaced by the water pressure when the cylinder flap (9) is opened. Pref. the flaps (8, 9) are opened and closed via a computer control, the piston (7) being retracted via a relatively small electric motor (16) supported by a stand lying above the water surface. The cylinder (5) is pref. supported from the water bed via anchoring struts (14).
The athlete's heartbeats are monitored by an ECG and passed to an acquisition centre (20), the front of the heartbeat is selected in the former unit (30) and passed to a control block (40), then to a generator (50) for transmission to earphones (70).    A second path to the earphones provides a reference generator (60), the heartbeat of a fit athlete. In each cycle, the athlete's pulse is monitored (80) and compared with stored information on heart rates and the reference adjusted to provide biofeedback to the athlete.    ADVANTAGE -   Continuous biofeedback is given to adjust heart rate of athlete to optimal fully trained level.
The computer (8) in the control system simulates a braked flywheel and freewheel and releases the brake (5) when torque falls to zero on the pedal axis (1) at the same time as the time-based deceleration of the flywheel is stored in the computer.    The brake does not respond again until the pedal axis speed corresponds to the flywheel speed stored in the computer. The brake disc (5) is preferably fixed to the pedal axis (1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Ergometers, fitness equipment. Controlled brake acting on pedal provides infinite resistance variation on-line in simpler design.
Device comprises three circuit-breaker switches (1-3) whose first terminals are interconnected and the second terminals are taken to the terminals connecting to the generator stator winding power phase terminals. The dc electric power source (6) terminals are taken to the terminals connecting to the generator excitation winding terminals. The commutating apparatus (4) is placed between the dc electric source (6) pole first terminal and the excitation winding (8) first terminal.    During the electric braking, the three breakers (1-3) are simultaneously switched on, the apparatus (4,5) is disconnected and the apparatus (4) connects the circuit: dc electric power source (6) - excitation winding (8).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Device can be used for controlling hydrogenerators during stop-overs and repair works. Functional scope is widened by mechanised rotation rotor during overhaul. Bul.11/23.3.92.
The pedestal or step bearing of the machine is on an hydraulic support made of similar flexible chambers arranged in two annular rows of different height-levels. Reduction in size-to-wt. ratio is achieved, and reliability improved, since the chambers supporting the large area segments are mounted above those chambers on which are supported to smaller area segments.    USE -   Electric machine engineering, i.e. large vertical electrical machines, such as hydrogenerators with axial load on the bearing exceeding 40 MH. Bul.2/15.1.92.
The system has a rectangular power box (10), with sideward and bottom cases, penetrated by front and rear keyway sleeves. A motor (m) is positioned at the outboard end surface of the sideward case, with its output shaft connecting with a worm gear and speed reducer in the power box, and hence a tension transmission unit.    A signal feedback unit (70) has a variable resistor (32) sensitive to changes in rotation of the signal feedback gear. It compares the resistance with a set resistance (50) to form a corresponding voltage difference applied to the motor control, thereby achieving a step-by-step adjustment.    ADVANTAGE -   Variable resistance and signal feedback system provides better operability and safety, with rapid responses.
A platform for a submerged hydroelectric generating station and/or foundation supports for structures comprises a series of hollow columns connected to rings spaced along their length. One ring is connected via radial spokes to a larger surrounding ring, and there is a submerged chamber within the assembly of columns.    For power generation there is pref. a distributor adjusted by a gate and protected by gratings to allow water to flow through a turbine which uses the height of a water column. Water is discharged from the turbine to the surface using the force generated by the turbine and by introducing air from a comessor through a series of reduced-diameter tubes.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides a generator eliminating all pollution problems, but can also be used as a support for e.g. a bridge or oil platform.
The exercising appliance comprises a grip covered with a protective sleeve and fastened with an adjustable strap for use in exercising the arms. Two sockets are attached to the grip at two opposite ends to hold two counter weights. Two caps covering the sockets hold two electronic oscillators and two tapered weights.    The counter weights each have a bolt hole for fastening a screw rod at either end of the grip. The caps each have an annular groove for fastening a division plate to secure each electronic oscillator in place and a tapered opening for fastening either tapered weight. The electronic oscillators are triggered to produce sounds by shock waves.    ADVANTAGE -   Can be adjusted conveniently to increase total weight without increasing total size, prohibits rolling on ground and absorbs shock waves when appliance hits ground, provides comfortable and positive grip.
The controlling device comprises a picture device for providing a different motion picture of road conditions, and a sensing device for sensing different road conditions and generating a train of corresp. pulses. A first counter counts the number of pulses and a frictional load device generates various frictional resistances for the exercise bicycle. A pulse generator generates at least one pulse when the frictional load device changes the frictional resistance.    A second counter counts the number of pulses from the pulse generator and records and updates the frictional load of the frictional load device. The counted value of the first counter and the second counter are compared and a signal output to trigger the frictional load device to update the load resistance according to the present motion picture.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides realistic effect of terrain, e.g. profile of hills.
The exercise machine is housed in a chassis. A continuous rolling road band (21) is mounted on drive cylinders (13), and driven round by them. The drive speed can be adjusted by movement of an arm attached to a cam control which can be controlled by the user.    A rear section (4) houses the electronics. The speed of the rolling road is timed by a computer to display the pace of the user, and the pace can be adjusted from the computer.    ADVANTAGE -   Allows running exercises to be carried out on spot, leaving arms and body free to balance.
A tidal generator is conceived as being one of a batch of units similar to the windmills on a "wind farm". The AC generator has a propeller (turbine) mounted on its shaft and the unit is tethered to a concrete base on the sea bed such that it cannot deviate from the main tidal flow direction, though it is otherwise semi-buoyant.    Each individual unit conveys electric energy over a cable to a central control point where there are transformers and/or rectifiers. At the control point, the electricity can either feed into the grid or produce d.c. for the electrolytic production of hydrogen as a form of energy storage.
Device comprises body (1) with internal shaft (2), bearings (3) and sleeves (4). An electromagnet (5) lies between bearings (3). The internal cavity of the bearings is filled with magneto-rheological lubricant (6) which contacts rollers (7), rings (8) of bearings (3). The anchors (10), sleeves (4), screws (9) and bushes (11) are made of a magnetically soft steel.    The device is installed in e.g. a cycle training machine and pedals attached to the ends of shaft (2). When the windings of electromagnet (5) are disconnected the coefft. of friction between adjacent moving parts is low. When electric source (13) is connected, the lubricant (6) thickens and resistance increases.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In sports technology for control and adjustment of loads, simplifies construction. Bul.10/15.3.92.
The indicator consists of a resonance circuit (2) connected to a mode sensor (1) and incorporating an electrical condenser (3) and an inductance (4), made in the form of a ferromagnetic armature (5) with a winding (6), a phase-sensitive transformer (7) and a demodulator (8).    The indicator is equipped with an additional magnetising winding (9) and variable resistance (10), located on the resonance circuit armature. The mode sensor is in the form of a pressure sensor (11), and is connected to the resonance circuit via the variable resistance.    ADVANTAGE -   Wider range of functions. Bul.9/7.3.92.
The foot ambulator appts. includes a housing, having spaced apart floor and top walls. A sidewall is mounted in surrounding relationship relative to the housing between the top wall and the floor and project laterally beyond both. Right and left foot supports in a parallel coextensive relationship are movably mounted w.r.t. the top wall, each support including a forward foot support plate longitudinally aligned with a rear foot support plate. A foot support hinge mounts each forward foot support plate to a respective support plate.    A drive motor is fixedly mounted within the housing below the top wall and directed into a gear housing which includes right and left output shafts which are coaxially aligned relative to one another and project beyond the gear housing. Each output shaft includes a respective drive shaft sleeve, and each sleeve includes a respective cam flange orthogonally oriented relative to the other sleeve. A right and left drive links are mounted between the cam respective flange and foot support, and actuation of the drive motor effects rotation of each output shaft for reciprocation of the right and left drive links for reciprocation, in turn, of the respective right and left foot supports relative to the housing top wall.    ADVANTAGE -   Enhanced circulation and muscle stimulation for feet and lower limbs. Durable, reliable construction.
An N,N'-bis(2-, 3- or 4-trifluoromethylphenyl)- 3,4,9,10- perylene tetracarboxylic acid diimide of formula (I) is new.    A 2-, 3- or 4-trifluoromethylaniline and naphthal acid (anhydride) are reacted and the obtd. N-(2-, 3- or 4-trifluoro methylphenyl) naphthalimide are fused with KOH to give a cpd. of formula (I). 3,4,9,10-Perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride and 2-, 3- or 4-trifluoromethyl aniline are reacted to give a cpd. of formula (I). The latter method is easiest.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The new 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid diimide cpds. are very useful opto-electric conversion materials with improved conversion efficacy, when compared with conventional 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid diimides. Used for solar batteries, optical sensors and electrophotographic receptors.    In an example, a mixt. of 2.5 pts. wt. 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride and 25 pts. wt. 3-trifluoromethyl aniline was refluxed for 53 hrs. under heating and stirring, cooled and added with 100 vol. parts ethanol. The mixt. was stirred under heating and filtered. The filtered cake was washed with ethanol, dried, suspension-washed with four 200 vol. parts portions of hot 0.5wt.% KOH aq. soln. and washed with water, MEK and methanol to give 1.40 pts. wt. N,N'-bis (3-trifluoromethylphenyl) -3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid diimide in a yield of 32.4%.    .D
The agent consists of a diphenoxygermanium phthalocyanine deriv. of formula (I), where R is H, alkyl, aralkyl, aryl or halogen; and n is a positive integer of at least 5.    ADVANTAGE -   The agent is quite stable and resistant against chemical conversion, e.g., dehydration, polymerisation, etc., besides exhibiting significant action of photoelectric transfer.
The solar energy panel has a matrix of cells (1) that are bonded onto an elastomer mat (3) located on top of the cells is a transparent plate (2) of glass or plastic that is bonded into position. Two such assemblies can be mounted side by side on a wooden base (5) and are held in position by bridging elements (10) with fixing screws (9).    The elastomer mat is produced with a cross section that is formed with channels through which a fluid may be circulated. At the same time that the solar cells are cooled, the fluid is heated and this may be used for some form of external heating, i.e. a swimming bath.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Allows recovery of additional energy. Can be used to heat water in swimming pool or as primary circuit of water heat pump.
The station comprises a turbine (2) positioned on a shaft (1) and connected to the generator (3) with a stator winding and the sync. generator (4). The excitation winding (5) of the latter is connected to the generator (3) stator winding through the current regulator (6). The sync. generator (4) stator winding is connected to the ballast rheostat (7) electric resistance element. The latter is placed in the heat accumulating material (9) enclosed in the heat insulating shell (8). The heat storing material comprises the heat conductors (10) connected to the heat conducting plate (11).    When the load power decreases, the current regulator (6) increases the current through the sync. generator (4) excitation winding (5). The voltage at the synchronous generator (4) stator winding and the thermal power released in the ballast rheostat electric resistance element are increased.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Microhydraulic power plant can be used for power generation. Its efficiency is increased and its functional scope is widened by placing the ballast rheostat electroresistance element into the heat insulating shell. Bul.8/29.2.92.
Anchored floating pontoons (1) have above-deck ventilation neck (2). On the side of the upper reach, the pontoons are connected by hinges (4), and on the side of the lower reach, they are connected by cylinders (5). Flexible waterproof screen (6) is installed between pontoons which have water line (8) with spiral chamber (9) and hydraulic turbine (10).    The electricity supply is adjusted by sinking or raising the pontoons by filling or emptying compartments in the pontoons using cylinders (5).    ADVANTAGE -   Operational effectiveness is improved. Bul.8/29.2.92.
An iron ring (3) is provided at the base (6) of the outer tower (1), and an odd number of fixed armature windings (10) surround the iron ring. An inner rotatable tower is arranged in the middle of the base of the fixed outer tower and has a number of blades at the periphery, which are arranged on iron rings with some holes.    A rotary table is provided, the rotation of which is synchronised with the rotation of the iner tower. The table has a number of turbine blades, permanent magnets, and stationary armature windings to generate power. Guide plates (5) are fixed at an angle on the outer tower to direct the incoming wind.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To provide power for lighthouse, ship propeller backup, vehicle when mounted thereon. Provides unlimited non-polluting energy, utilises wind from any direction, greater power obtained.
The solar cell has a pattern of fingers (28) extending between bus bars formed, in silver ink, on one surface of the cell silicon substrate (2). The ink for at least the bus bars has, in a liq. vehicle, glass frit and silver particles of generally spherical shape.    Copper tabs are soldered to the bus bars and to silver soldering pads (20) on the susbtrate opposite surface. The solder employed is of tin and silver, with composition in the range 96 to 98 percent tin.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved bonding of contacts to substrate.
The appts. includes a piston-cylinder unit (10) which is tensioned or released, and mounted on a frame with actuators connected to hand grips, pedals etc. Muscles are exercised using a mechanical work store and a compressor. A pressure control valve (1) is provided having settable characteristics within a fixed control range. When the input to the valve is subjected to air of selected pressure from a compressor, the air in the work store is released. This air is used to fill the cylinder and, after reaching the desired fill level, the line connection is switched back to the cylinder outlet.    A number of e.m. valves may be arranged in a distribution system for selective control of pressures in the work store. An electronic controller with digital display and console may be used to operate the appts.    ADVANTAGE -   Simplifies operation; avoids harmful forces.
The method of using a combination treadmill and weight lifting exercise device in conjunction with a computer involves inputting control values into the computer for each exercise device parameter including angle of treadmill inclination, treadmill speed, a first resistive force for moving a first resistive element relative to the weight lifting exercise device. A continuous actual measurement of each of the control parameters is obtained. The control parameters are compared with the measurements. Any one or all of the angle of treadmill inclination, the treadmill speed, the first resistive forces individually are ajdusted in response to the comparison until the measurement of each equals the appropriate control value.    ADVANTAGE -   May be used in weightless environment.
The method is carried out by closing the hydraulic turbine (2) suction pipe (4) cut-off slide (3) whose upper end (5) is placed higher than the down stream water level (6). The pipe (4) drainage pipeline (8) slide (7) is opened. The water is pumped from the pipe (4) using pump (9) and the water flowrate through the latter is changed.    During pumping the slide (7) is opened in stages with intervals at each stage until set pumping condition is achieved. The flowrate Q through the pump (9) is determined at each stage. The water level increase, delta(h) in the pipe (4) above the slide (3) upper end (5) is also measured and a graph of Q = f(delta(h)) is formed and Q at delta(h)-0 is found.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used to determine for hydraulic turbine closed gate apparatus flow determination. The economy is reduced by reducing pump power consumption. Bul.6/15.2.92.
The exercise bicycle is coupled to a special video recorder which has a stored display of the scene traversed in bicycling along a route. The interface allows the speed of the magnetic tape to be varied according to the pedalling speed and the degree of braking, allowing the exerciser to view the scene on a TV screen, showing the scene a bicyclist would see on the road.    ADVANTAGE -   Increases enjoyment of using exercise bicycle.
The apparatus comprises at least one rotor adapted to rotate bout a vertical axis extending therethrough for capturing the wind. A generator is coupled to the at least one rotor for converting rotational movement of the rotor into a form of energy that an be transmitted to a remote location.    A support rotatably supports the at least one vertical axis rotor, and has two openings for exposing diametrically opposed sides of each of the at least one rotor. The motion of the vehicular traffic adjacent the at least one rotor generates the wind, thereby causing the rotor to rotate which in turn causes the generator to generate the energy.    ADVANTAGE -   Inexpensive source of fuel. Does not produce byproducts which contribute to contamination of soil, water or atmosphere.
An automatic tracking appts. is used to follow the sun and comprises a pair of opposite polarity solar panels (1,2) which are set at angles on the surfaces of a heat sink block (3). The resultant voltage characteristic obtained (U) is used to bidirectionally control a motor to maintain the aligned position.    A pair of partially transmitting panels are located on either side of the unit to reduce the effect of ambient light variations. Further improvements may be obtained by locating the panels in channel sections having mirrored surfaces.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved tracking accuracy over full range of sun movement.
Buoyancy bases (1,1a) are filled with sea water. Upright buoyancy columns (2) are mounted on opposite sides of each base. Cylinder pairs (4) with inlets (5) on the bottom faces are movably mounted on cross-members (3) connecting the columns.    A hollow piston (6) is received in a corresponding cylinder. A buoyancy plate (9) with elongated opening at each corner receives support bus (12) connected to cross-members (11). The upper end of each piston is connected to a main water pipe (14) of a pressure control water collecting hose (15).    ADVANTAGE -   Usable in deep sea of high waves.
The method for collecting solar energy involves generating waveform energy, which is directed to a predetermined region of the atmosphere located a pre-established distance above the earth's surface. The directing of the energy is controlled to modulate an index of refraction of air in the predetermined region of the atmosphere to produce a predetermined refraction index pattern in the region.    The distribution of solar radiation passing through the region is modified to concentrate the solar radiation at a predetermined location on the surface. At the location, a substantial quantity of the concentrated solar radiation is absorbed to produce heat energy. The waveform energy is electromagnetic radiation and is generated via a laser. The energy control involves concentrating the laser generated radiation differentially through the region.    ADVANTAGE -   Partially compensates for atmospheric turbulence in real-time via feedback loop. Optimises energy concentration onto collector.
A method for reducing the pptn. of alkaline earth salts from a geothermal brine comprises: (a) reducing the pressure and temp. of a geothermal brine; (b) adding a dispersant to the brine in a concn. effective to inhibit the pptn. of alkaline earth salts selected from alkaline earth fluoride salts and radioactive alkaline earth salts; and (c) facilitating the pptn. of silicon-contg. partic. from the brine with a flocculant.    ADVANTAGE -   There is no dispersant in prior art which mitiates the problems caused by CaF2 pptn. in geothermal systems. The method of the invention inhibits pptn. of BaSO4 and CaF2 and does not interfere with the action of flocculants used to settle slowly precipitating minerals.
A battery is of a closed box structure consisting of at least heat-insulating walls, in which a plated or filmy cathode of a deuterium-occluding metal is thermally connected to a heat conductor as part of the box wall or in the box, the heat conductor plate is connected with a thermoelectric conversion element to convert heat to electric energy, a plated anode is set in the face of the cathode, and an electrolyte composed mainly of deuterium is housed between the cathode and the anode and pressurised deuterium gas is packed into the remaining space of the box.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The battery to be used for converting heat generated to electic energy can effectively and immediately convert heat generated in the cathode into electric energy with high efficiency without loss of the heat and without the needs for a converter to convert D2 and O2 into deuterium.
Prodn. comprises heating a metal material to produce particles, collecting those particles having a high activity and blowing the particles on the baseplate to form a film.    USE -   Used for thermoelectric conversion elements.
Photovolaic cells have two glass panes which enclose a photovoltaic material combination and which have facing electrically conductive coatings connected at at least one pane edge to an exposed contact (5).    The novelty is that the cells (8-15) are arranged in multiples on the same glass panes and are sepd. from one another by sealing strips.    The pref. square cells (8-15) are arranged in two rows and the contacts (5) are pref. located at the outsides of the rows. One of the glass panes has edge regions (23) extending beyond the edge of the other pane. For provision of its contacts (5) and has edge regions (24) recessed w.r.t. the edge of the other pane for provision of the contacts (5) of the other pane. The coatings have a peripheral collector lead (5) which is connected to the contacts and which opt. acts as the contacts.    ADVANTAGE -   The arrangement of series-connected cells is simple to mfr.
A membrane/electrode assembly comprises a radiation grafted cation exchange membrane which has been plasma etched with an oxidising gas on both its anode surface and its cathode surface, and which has an anode bonded to the anode surface and a cathode bonded to the cathode surface.    The oxidising gas of the plasma is pref. oxygen but can be ozone, chlorine oxide or fluorine oxide. No more than 20% of the membrane thickness is etched away during plasma etching of the anode and cathode surfaces. The anode and cathode are bonded to the membrane by heat and pressure, e.g. at about 200 deg.C. The cathode and/or anode can be treated with 'Nafion' cation exchange solution before bonding to the membrane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The assembly is used in a thermo-electrochemical system in which an electric current is generated from a heat input. The assembly is resistant to determination and provides as good electrochemical performance as conventional electrodialysis membranes. The membrane/electrode assembly can also be fired in chlor/alkali cells.
Photovoltaic devices having solar cells connected electrically in series to form a monolithically interconnected submodule comprising: a) substrate; b) solar cells, each having a light receiving surface comprising oppositely doped regions of semiconductor. The second doped region covering only the top and side surfaces of the first doped region. Each cell is electrically sepd. from the others by a vertical trench; c) interconnects located in its trenches below the light receiving surface and contacting oppositely doped regions of adjacent cells; and d) external contacts.    Also claimed is a device in which the substrate is an electrically insulating ceramic containing a patterned array of electrical conductive regions with a patterned barrier layer.    ADVANTAGE -   The device has no electrical contacts on the illuminated surface.
Solar battery includes metal base, a glass ceramic layer formed on base, a photoelectric film, and pair of conductive electrodes formed by keeping contact with at least part of the photoelectric film.    USE -   The solar battery is used in electronic calculators, or wrist watches. The battery features high shape degree of freedom, high strength, flexibility, heat resistance, and environmental resistance.    Pref. conductive electrodes comprises; transparent conductive films. The glass ceramics comprises partially crystallised glass having the crystal layer of composite oxide comprising Ca, Ba, Mg, and oxygen using Si or B oxide as a matrix.
The heat transfer appts. comprises bimetallic all-ferromagnetic laminations (4). A temperature differential causes thermoelectric current circulation (in effect, a DC eddy-current) within each lamination which develops a magnetising H-field.    The ferromagnetic B-field enhancement develops in turn a circulating diamagnetic reaction current which transverse the bimetallic junction interfaces to generate Peltier action which causes an overriding thermal feedback and bistable direction-of-heat-flow operation. Control involves the priming action of an applied magnetic field or preheating by electrical resistors (5) in heat sinks (1,2) between which the laminations are arranged.    USE -   Thermally powered electric transformer generator. Can be incorporated in buildings as part of heating or cooling systems, in machines or manufacturing equipment.
The array includes electrode bodies (24a-24c), each located on a corresp. insulating region (22a-22b) on a common conductive substrate (20) pref. metal. Each electrode body is narrower than the underlying insulator, so that the electrode bodies on adjacent insulating regions are separated by more than the insulator spacing. The subcells include photovoltaic semiconductor material (26a-26c) pref. PIN doped silicon over a corresp. electrode body, covering all the electrode width and edges.    A continuous top electrode material (28) e.g. a transparent conductive oxide layer covers each of the semiconductor bodies, filling the space between them and establishing electrical connection between them and the substrate. The substrate forms one terminal of the array and the electrode bodies pref. connected to a busbar form the other array terminal.    ADVANTAGE -   Minimises active area, economic to fabricate, high efficiency; reduced laser scribe artifacts.
Current generating system comprises: cell with anode and cathode compartments (16,18) and ion-conducting separator; liq. metal anode (22) and cathode (24) with means (25) for transferring liq. metal generated at the cathode for consumption at the anode; Lewis acid catholyte which is consumed during discharge; Lewis base anolyte which forms a salt with the metal during discharge; thermal regenerator (26) for reconverting the salt to catholyte and anolyte; and means (34,46) for recycling each to their respective compartments during discharge.    Anolyte is pref. NaCl, NaBr, NaI, KCl, KBr, KI, 1-methyl-3-ethylimidazolium chloride or butyl-pyridinium chloride. Catholyte is GaCl3, GaBr3, GaI3, Na heptachloro-gallate, AlCl3, AlBr3, AlI3, ZnCl2 or SnCl2. In a prefd. arrangements, Lewis acid is Na heptachlorogallate, Lewis base is NaCl, anode and cathode are both liq. Ga and the thermal regenerator converts Na chloro-gallate to GaCl3 and NaCl. GaCl3 is transferred (46) to a condenser (52) and reacts with Na chlorogallate to form Na hepta-chlorogallate. Heat source is an i.c. engine or an oil well head.    ADVANTAGE -   Need for electrolyte solvents and fractional procedures is avoided and no gas reservoirs are needed; the liq. metal electrodes are easily stored and contained.
Producing upward flow of a liq. contg. dissolved gas and filling a deep cavity uses a vertical open-ended elongated conduit with its upper end above the liq. surface and its lower end at a position of significant hydrostatic pressure. Upward flow is initiated by external means, and is sustained by effervescence of dissolved gas from the rising liq. The process is maintained by pumping gas into the liq. adjacent to the lower end of the conduit.    Appts. to apply the method includes a platform (10) to support he conduit (11)(12), and means (4) to initiate the upward flow. It also includes a compressor (30) and a pipe (32) to feed gas to the lower end (13) of the liquid flow conduit. The upper end (14) of this conduit leads to equipment (15) which allows power to be generated by the flow.    Pref. the working liq. comprises water, alcohols, glycols or mixts. e.g. an aq. soln. contg. 50 - 90% of an alcohol or a glycol. Pref. the deep cavity and its environs are lined (42) and surrounded by a wall (45) to prevent contamination by seepage. The dia. of conduit (11)(12) is up to 10m., and it leads to a turbine or Pelton wheel (15) for power generation. A separator can be installed upstream of the power generator to remove foam prior to utilisation of the liq. After utilisation, the liq. is passed through a cooling tower (40), and is then recycled (41) to the deep cavity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To generate electrical power. Net power output is economically attractive, and existing deep cavities such as mine ventilation and lift shafts could be utilised. The system, is more practical than prior Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion proposals, and atmospheric pollution is eliminated.
(JP5283100-A)   NOVELTY - The solid electrolyte pipe has a thick open-end section (7) which conducts only specific ions and reinforces a junction with an insulated plate. A bonding section (13) which connects the open-end section and an ionic conduction operation section (11) is tapered and has length (b) satisfying the relation 90 at least b divide a at least 3 where a is the thickness difference of open-end and ionic conduction sections.    USE - For sodium-sulfur battery, sodium molten salt battery.    ADVANTAGE - The rate of damage and deformation of the pipe due to the thickness difference between the open-end section and the ionic conduction section during baking is reduced extremely. Damage during battery assembly or battery operation is prevented. Production rate and durability of the solid electrolyte pipe are increased because the pipe is formed maintaining the relationship between length of the bonding section and thickness difference of the open-end and ionic conduction sections, to a specified limit.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows longitudinal fragmentary sectional view of the solid electrolyte pipe.    open-end section (7)    ionic conduction operation section (11)    bonding section (13)
The generator barge has a number of rubber belts (4), each steel plated and running around several horizontal rollers, transversely mounted between two floating hulls (1), anchored (21) and ballasted to obtain water flow (22,23) over the belt, optimally in rivers, just under it. Transverse vanes of reinforced rubber (26), supported on the belt by hinged, curved ribs, stand erect against the flow, but lie flat to the belt on the return side.    Flat-linked chains in the belt edges drive toothed wheels geared to generators within the hulls. The electrical output (400MW per belt) is transmitted ashore by cable. Wind (20) and solar (19) generators charge batteries for manoeuvring motors and auxiliaries. Hulls are rigidly interconnected by gangwayed beams (24).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Twin-hulled barge (catamaran) for exploiting river flows and triple-hulled barge (trimaran) for exploiting esturial bidirectional flows and off-shore translational wave energy to produce electrical energy which is fed to thermal power station on land via cable.
Two balancing rails (2) assume an balanced position, so that the entire wt. pressure is exerted on the generator cylinder in the direction of rotation. The cylinder has toothed surfaces at its ends, and supported on these the cylinder rotates on a number of serrated shafts.    With the alternate side connection of the gravity rods (3) at the balancing rail (2), with upward movement the wt. pressure is exerted in the central region. With downward movement, the weight pressure is exerted on the outer edge of the balancing rail. In the 0 deg. position of the balancing rail, the gravity rail is connected to the point (A3) at the balancing rail by an electromagnet (5).    ADVANTAGE -   Plant has stable output, and at balance point A4 stable pressure of 250 t is exerted. Electromagnets are switched off for the plant standstill.
A solar energy collector has an absorber facing the sun with a circulating fluid which is heated up by the radiation. The fluid passes through a zig-zag metal pipe (e.g. copper) which is embedded in the absorber plate, made from black-coloured or epoxidised material.    The faceplate and backplate on either side of the pipe form a hermetically-sealed housing. The intervening space is filled with an inert gas which has low thermal conductivity and little tendency to convect. Especially suitable is a noble gas like argon, krypton or xenon. The faceplate is transparent (e.g. glass) and the backplate can be glass or metal. The distance between faceplate and absorber plate is about 8 mm.    ADVANTAGE -   Highly efficient, easily assembly and prevents occurrence of condensation.
Prodn. of an arrangement with electrically switchable optical transmission involves (a) coating one face of each of two transparent substrates (10,11) with a transparent conductive layer (12,13); (b) applying conductor elements for electrically contacting the two layers (12,13); (c) mixing a liq. polymerisable transparent plastics (pref. a one-component adhesive contg. mercaptan ester and acrylate monomer) with a birefringent liq. crystal material, which has high stability in the liq. plastics but low solubility in the solid polymerised plastics, in a wt. ratio such that the solubility in the liq. plastics is not exceeded but the solubility in the solid plastics is exceeded; (d) applying a certain vol. of the resulting soln. to the periphery of at least one portion of the coated face of one (10) of the substrates and applying spacers (14) onto the coated face (31) of this substrate (10); (e) applying the second substrate (11) such that the soln.is located between the two conductive laeyrs (12,13); (f) bringing the two substrates (10,11) close together so that the soln. is distributed uniformly and completely between the substrates, the distance between the conductive laeyrs (12,13) being determined by the spacers (14); and (g) UV irradiating the soln. for rapid polymerisation of the plastics.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The arrangement is useful for building glazing, overhead glazing, solar collectors, car sunroofs and/or the like. The arrangement is a micro-encapsulated liq. crystal which is switchable between a non-transparent state with extremely low light transmission and a transparent state with extremely high light transmission free from deleterious effects such as interference. The liq. crystal layer is protected against mechanical and UV damage and the system is operated by a simple arrangement.
The solar power operated computer includes an upper casing and a base pivoted together, each having a respectively hinged solar cell assembly to collect radiant energy of sunlight and convert it into electric power for charging respective storage batteries.    The upper casing with its solar cell assembly may be detached from the base for independent use as a touch-control type or pen base computer. The two solar cell assemblies may be covered with a transparent protective covering.    ADVANTAGE -   Avoids recharging of batteries; increased working time, without running down operating voltage.
The generator consists of a housing (1) with buoyancy compartments and wave-receiving chambers which are open at the bottom, connected via a receiver and valves to a turbine (9).    The generator is equipped with a pivoted mooring system (18-20), a keel plate (11) with a floating anchor (10) at the bottom, and a flow channel in a central and side float, which is connected by a telescopic mechanism to the central section of the housing's side wall.    The housing is in the shape of a cylinder, with the chambers and receiver situated along it and made wedge-shaped. The receiver is formed by the chamber walls at the to of the cylinder and tapers downwards.    The keel plate is pivoted to the receiver in the central zone of the cylinder and the housing can have a horizontal platform (16) on the top for use as a pontoon bridge.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced metal requirement in mfr, more reliable operation and wider range of functions. Bul. 41/7.11.92
To recover wave energy from a watercourse, several floating bodies are connected with links so that as the bodies move, useful energy is generated. The distance between the centre of buoyancy of at least one of the bodies and the swivel axis of its link is adjustable.    Each floating body consists of at least two telescopic sections which can be pulled apart to increase its total volume. Each end is connected by the cross-over swivel links to the end of the next floating body. Where the links are attached to the bodies, pivoted connecting rods are joined to pistons in cylinders. The position of the pivots is adjustable.    ADVANTAGE -   Generates energy under all weather conditions provided waves are present.
An evaporator switch-valve assembly two, condenser check-valves, interconnecting passageways, and a liquid-vapor phase-change working fluid are provided. The motive power causing the device operation is exclusively thermal. Thermal energy is continuously accepted at the evaporator and continuously rejected at the condensers. The switch-valve directs vapor through open ports to one condensers at a time.    The vapor pressure in that chamber increases and creates a pressure differential between the two condensers. When the difference in pressure reaches a predetermined magnitude, the switch-valve changes condensers. The evaporator vapor pressure is pulled low by the newly opened condenser and the higher vapor pressure in the just closed condenser pumps its condensate back to the evaporator. The cycle continues alternating between condensers.    ADVANTAGE -   Will operate without active system controls.
The wind stream, after passing through converging wind collector (1), interacts with the blades made as contacting sprung leaves (8), thus causing the rotor (2) displacement. The rotor is made as a closed belt (5) which envelopes the drive and driven pulleys (3, 4). The belt has a short circuited winding, w.r.t. the stator (6) induction sections. The leaves when passing from the wind zone to the wind free zone, in case of gusting wind, due to the belt mechanical oscillation interact with the piezo-generators (7) fitted on the belt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In wind powered plants without reducers. Efficiency is increased. Bul.40/30.10.92
The wave-action powder plant has an anchored pontoon (1) with piston pumps whose shafts by means of levers (3) are hinged to the pontoon which is connected to two floats. The first float is situated outside the pontoon. The efficiency is increased since the pontoon is made as a catamaran. The second float is placed between the catamaran hulls. Each layer is connected to one hull. The first float is placed near the catamaran hull with the second float lever.    During operation the lever (3) and frame (5) turn w.r.t. each other about an axle (4). Frame (5) and levers (11) turn about an axle (12). When the waves act on the float (2) and catamaran hull (6), the wave energy is transmitted to the frame and lever (11), thus causing pump piston displacement which effects the hydraulic accumulator and rotates the turbine and electrical generator.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The plant is used for wave energy conversion. The efficiency is increased. Bul.31/23.8.92.
Appts. includes a hydrazine meter connected to the piping for monitoring of a hydrazine pouring condition detector, a discriminator and an indicator.    ADVANTAGE -   Automatic monitoring is effected.
The power harnessing appts. comprises the underwater base structure (1) anchored to the sea bed and the floating structure (5) connected to the base structure (1). A pair of variable volume bags (a,b) is trapped between relatively movable components of the base and floating structures.    The bags (a,b) expand and compress as a result of movement of the floating structure (5) due to tidal or wave motion. The bags (a,b) have valve controlled inlet and outlet devices such that expansion of a bag causes it to fill with sea water and compression of a bag causes it to expel the water which thereafter is used to generate usable energy (e.g. by driving a turbine). The floating structure includes a floating surface island which carries an electricity generating plant.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides water pump powered by rise and fall of tide or wave motion with which sufficient head of water can be provided to drive electricity generating equipment efficiently. Simple and sturdy structure allowing construction to required large scale for harnessing tidal power.
The solar cell includes two elementary cells (1, 2) one of which comprises a substrate (4) supporting an active layer (5) deposited over an intermediate soluble layer (12), the other cell comprising a second substrate and a second different active layer.    The two elementary cells are stuck to each other using a transparent insulating or conducting bonding substance depending on application. The first elementary cell is turned upside down so that its substrate constitutes the top of the structure. The structure is then immersed in dilute acid which removes the soluble layer leaving its substrate intact. Protecting layers (3, 5, 8, 9) are then deposited over the solar cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For light conversion into electrical energy using photovoltaic effect. Has reduced weight eliminating one of substrates and associated vias. Improves thermal dissipation. Can be used on aircraft.
The solar cell includes two elementary cells (1, 2) which are bond together by Van der Waals interaction between their surfaces. The first elementary cell is made of amorphous Si and includes an active layer (3) deposited on a flexible substrate (4).    The second elementary cell is made of GaAs with an active layer (5) deposited on a substrate (6). The surface (20) separating the two cells can be sufficiently thin to define a tunnelling junction. Alternatively oxide layers deposited on the contact surfaces can block any tunnel effect. In this case separate electrodes are provided on each elementary cell surface.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For converting light energy into electricity using photovoltaic effect. Uses new configuration which enables widening of absorbed photon spectra. Improves conversion efficiency, being compact and simple with different spectral responses.
The solar thermal collector comprises an extended reflector surface constructed to concentrate radiation from a radiation source along a focal line, and the tracking system which supports the extended reflector surface for tracking a source of radiation by relative motion of the reflector surface to different tracking positions for optimising concentrated radiation at the focal line. The elongate absorber is positioned at the focal line for absorbing and converting radiation to heat energy. An elongate absorber housing is coupled to the extended reflector surface for rotation around an elongate axis of the absorber housing.    The absorber housing comprises an insulating enclosure for the elongate absorber for reducing conduction heat loss, and an elongate aperture oriented in a downward direction relative to the earth for receiving and passing concentrated radiation from the extended reflector surface to the elongate absorber. The levelling system is constructed to maintain the absorber housing in a horizontal attitude and in a rotational position with the elongate aperture facing downward relative to the earth during elevational tracking in different tracking positions of the reflector surface to suppress convection heat loss from the elongate absorber and absorber housing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Convection suppressing solar thermal collector with azimuthal and elevational tracking of sun or other radiation source for optimising concentration, focusing collection of solar radiant energy effectively at focal line rather than extended planar focal band. Minimises shading and deflection of solar energy.
The wave-type drive includes a platform (1) with uprights (2), and floats (8) with rods (5) connected to the platform. A wave simulator is located on the platform and interacts with the rods.    The wave simulator comprises a camshaft, a belt transmission with wave-shaped belt, a multi-row belt or as a cam drum. The wave drive can be supplied with a bath filled with water, where a wave exciting device is located.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For demonstrating conversion of wave power into rotation of a shaft of a working machine. Wider range of solved problems. Bul.32/30.8.92.
The stack consist of a number of basic elements formed from corrugated plates defining alternate circuits(11,13) for a refrigerant fluid(FR) and a heating fluid(FC) in between which is an electrical resistance heating element(3). The heaters(3) are inserted between the plates(2b) of an heat exchanger in an active zone closed by a joint(8) surrounding orifices(5) for passing fluid to the heating resistance level so as to ensure a seal between the fluid and the heater resistance(3). The joint(8) has a thickness sufficient to be compressed between the two plates.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides improved temperature control with a short response time.
The jogging-generator, in which a person stands for jogging on the spot to generate an electrical current during a jogging activity, is immediately accessible from a dwelling. The jogging generator has a support located adjacent the dwelling. A drum-shaped exercise unit housing supported by the support and sized so that a jogger can stand within it. The unit also has a bearing associated within the unit housing, and an electrical generator.    An actuator connected to the exercise unit housing operates the generator during the running of the jogger within the drum-shaped housing s to produce electrical current from the generator. An access entrance and exit on the exercise unit housing allows immediate access from/to the dwelling.    ADVANTAGE -   May incorporate water vane which is moved by jogging activity. Novel, energy efficient exercise machine.
The plant contg. a float and pump chamber of variable vol. installed on the bottom of a pool and fitted with pressure mains and inlet valve (17), now includes a vertical wall positioned on the bottom of a pool, additional board (1) and float. The horizontal boards (5,6,7) are hingedly fastened to the vertical boards and to the additional board (1) to a pressure mains and suction and delivery valves (17,8).    The flexible stays (9,10) connecting the floats (15,16) and vertical boards (3,4), performs feed-forward and feedback owing to gravity force of the floats (15,16) within limits of wave amplitude, i.e. when wave crest is lowered, the floats lowering in turn perform useful function pressing against the side boards (3,4). Their working chambers with operating medium are changed, thus useful work is performed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In hydraulic power engineering, for converting energy of waves. Increased power. Bul.37/7.10.92    .D
The plant contains a pontoon (1) with hydraulic plant (2), piston pumps (3) uniformly arranged along the perimeter of the latter, and at least three flexible stays (4). The piston pumps (3) are now arranged below the water surface.    In the presence of waves, the pontoon (1) acts via the flexible stays (4) on the pumps (3). Their pressure mains are connected to the plant (2) producing an electrical current. Arrangement of the pumps (3) below the water surface allows displacement of the pontoon (1) to be reduced. Winches (8) provide regulation of the flexible stays (4), while the springs (9) provide return of pistons of the pumps (3)    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In hydraulic power engineering. Increased power due to wider range of used waves, and reduced consumption of materials. Bul.37/7.10.92
The plant has solar collectors (1) connected to first section (2) of reservoir-accumulator, connected in series to second section (3) to which are connected solar collectors (1) by their input, heat consumers (16), circulation pumps, heat doubler in form of a heat pump or electro-heater (15) coupled to electric energy source of a wind plant (19). The complex has two additional receivers of solar energy.    One receiver has a fixed concentrator (7) with displacement capacity along its focal axis and underground accumulators (4,8), the other receiver has an orientated concentrator (10) with a servo system set in its focal region and a turbo-generator. The complex additionally has photo-converters (20), which together with a wind plant and turbo-generator are the source of electrical energy for entire complex. A part of energy produced by wind plant and turbo-generator is used for heating heat-carrier.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In heat-electrical power supply systems for individual equipment, separate farms and industrial objects with effective utilisation of solar energy. Improved efficiency. Bul.38/15.10.92
The system comprises the reservoir (1) with soln (2) of small conn of salts and a vessel (3) with soln (4) of larger concn of salts. The cavity (5) is positioned in the reservoir (1), it is made from a semi-penetration film for the solvent molecules, also the cavity (5) is connected via the pipeline (6) with pump (7) to the vessel (3) with soln (4), and the hydro-turbine (8) is positioned on the water discharging conduct (9).    The hydro-turbine drives a generator of electrical current. The river water in the reservoir (1) and the sea water can be used for solution (4).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In production of electrical energy using water capacities with various concentration of their solutions, based on the osmosis principle with extended field of application. Bul.38/15.10.92
The simulator includes a logic module (1) associated with an electronic simulation card (2) and supplied by a programmable dc source (3). The logic module includes a microprocessor with RAM memory which stores data for several simulation cycles. Several algorithms can access these data during simulation.    A keyboard (4) is provided for controlling the simulation algorithm. A communication bus links the logical module to a number of terminals which enable remote control of the simulator. A digital bus (10) links the logical module to the simulation card which is connected to the power supply.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For adjusting equipment connected to battery. Enables simulation of voltage and internal resistivity variations during active cycle, and under real-time conditions. Is simple and reliable, easy to operate. Can simulate several batteries and any voltage generator with dynamic internal resistivity.
Highly efficient sun collector using a combination of photovoltaic collectors and thermal collectors comprises photovoltaic collectors (3) stacked with thermal collectors (2, 5) in such a way that they lie over one another. A black body (4), arranged in the inside of the sun collectors, is a thermal irradiator on the reverse side of the photovoltaic collector (3) such that the irradiator and photovoltaic collector (3) are enclosed by a heat transfer medium (6). The outer form of the sun collectors is arranged such that the sun collectors are arranged over each other or next to each other.    USE -   To convert the sun's energy into usuable energy.
The solar module has a transparent substrate (1), at least one active semiconductor layer (3) with a diode structure, in individual solar cell strips. The electrode structures (2, 4) for the front end rear contacts are formed of aluminium doped zinc oxide which is sealed against the weather by a lacquer coating (5) on its rear side.    Pref. the electrode structures are formed of aluminium doped zinc oxide with a hexagonal structure, coated on the rear side with an epoxy lacquer.    ADVANTAGE -   Easy, low-cost sealing of module against weather.
The electrical generator is driven from two alternators powered by one or more pedal bicycle structures and a wind turbine. The bicycle structures have a frame with seat and handles to help the user maintain their position. The pedals (1) drive the shaft of two large secondary gears (7) via a chain (3). The secondary gear meshes with a gear (9) on the shaft of an alternator (10) and drives it at a standard speed.    The wind turbine drives a second alternator. The output from these alternators is used to drive electric motors, which provide motive power for air, sea or land vehicles used in competitive sport or for general use.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Adapts cycling to air, sea or land vehicles, for recreational, competitive sport or general use. Simple.
The supply comprises a light source including solid-state laser diodes powered by electrical current at a voltage level V1 for generating light. The photocell array is positioned to receive the light and is fabricated with silicon-on-sapphire for providing electrical power having an output voltage V2, where V2 is greater than V1.    The photocell array includes serially connected photovoltaic cells. A voltage regulator is operably coupled to the light source and the photocell array for controlling the output of the power supply to a predetermined voltage level.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides high voltage DC power supply without need for oscillator circuit and transformer. Reduces electromagnetic interference and weight problems typically associated with high voltage DC power supplies.
The power system comprises a supply vessel for releasably storing diatomic reactants. The diatomic reactants being selected from the group consisting of halogens, and interhalogens. A reactor defines a closed volume, the reactor having a device for receiving the beam of radiation and transmitting the beam into the closed volume defined by the reactor. The reactor receives and charges with diatomic reactants supplied from the supply vessel. The radiation flux focused into the reactor induces the reactants to react to disassociate in the reactor to form high energy reaction products at elevated temperatures and pressures. The reactor further having a device for discharging the reaction products from the reactor. An energy converter converts the energy contained in the thus formed and discharged reaction products into another energy form.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Eliminates need for conjoint presence of oxidant and fuel.
The windmill consists of a rotor with a rim and vanes (2), a track (3) interacting with a roller (4) connected to the shaft or a generator (5). The windmill is additionally equipped with centrifugal mechanisms (9-11), and the rim has guides (6) and supports (7).    Each of the centrifugal mechanisms is in the form of a friction plate (8), set in a guide (6) so it can move as far as a support (7), and a spring-loaded two-arm lever (9), mounted on the rim by a pivot (10). One arm of the lever is equipped with a weight, and the other is connected to a plate, while the track is formed by the plates and supports. The windmill is started up with a gap between the track and roller, which means it can be operated when there are frequency but low-intensity winds.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As wind electric power generating plant. Increased power output. Bul.36/30.9.92
The collector apparatus comprises at least two solar concentrators, each concentrator having a reflector trough-shape in cross-section and having an extended length. The lengths of the troughs extend generally North and South and for each trough. A line perpendicular to the longitudinal centreline of a trough cross-section lays perpendicular to a line along the length of that trough. The line along the length of the trough and the line perpendicular to the longitudinal centreline of the trough cross-section define a plane along which lays the base of that trough. The planes are situated such that the open end of the trough cross-section of each reflector is orientated away from that of the other reflector such that an included angle of less than 180 degrees is formed between the two planes on the underside of it.    The line of intersection of the two planes is angled upwardly from the horizontal at an angle which is fixed for performance over some fraction of the year and is adjustable for greater performance. The upper end of the apparatus is pointed substantially northward when located in the northern hemisphere and substantially southward when located in the southern hemisphere. There will be at least one set of intersecting planes and their respective concentrators. An absorber-converter unit is located within the cavity of each reflector and communicates with energy-receiving apparatus.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For photovoltaic and thermal uses. Attains higher temp. in reservoir. Improved performance and simpler.
Converting electromagnetic energy into gravitomagnetic energy comprises: continually reflecting the electromagnetic energy while at each reflection converting a portion to gravitomagnetic energy on a paramagnetic surface.    Also claimed is a Chi energy projector comprising: fluorescent tube element (3) powered from a domestic mains electricity supply (4); tube (3) is fitted with a Faraday cage (5). A stainless steel tube (1) is polished on the inside surface and is sealed at one end with a stainless steel reflector. This steel tube houses the fluorescent tube (3) and the cage (5).    USE -   For converting electromagnetic energy into gravitomagnetic energy.
The array includes a static root spar, a lead spar and intermediate spars (22). A hub (13), with an axle, has a rotor mounted on and rotatable by a drive mechanism around the axle. The root spar is fixed to the axle. The lead spar is fixed to the rotor. The intermediate spurs extend radially from the hub for free rotation around the hub axis of rotation.    A gore (26) interconnects each adjacent pair of spars, except the root spar and lead spar. Each gore is foldable along a mid-gore flexure (27) which extends radially midway between respective spars. Solar cells (32) are mounted to the gores on each side of the flexures. Deployment of the array is accomplished by rotating the hub and lead spar to open the gores, and stowage is accomplished by reverse rotation of the hub and lead spar.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Spacecraft applications - suitable for rocket launch vehicle stowing; lightweight; deploys from folded flat triangular structure to circular shape; eliminates mechanical linkages; provides substantial area for exposure to sun; is stowable in small space.    .D
A box-like container (14) has a wide mesh grid (15) top surface, supported on I-beams (22, 23) welded to channels (20) to form a strong support structure for a transformer (13). A number of tubes (24) passing open endedly through the bottom (21) and the grid (15) provide a pathway for electric cables. Elongated recesses (25, 26) terminating in drains (17) serve to drain off any water that separates from waste oil collected in the container.    USE -   /ADVNATAGE - For collecting oil or grease seepage from, e.g., a transformer mounted within a windmill superstructure. Enables waste oil, grease and the like to be collected and recycled instead of seeping into and contaminating the surrounding ground area.
The pump has a rotor which is for rotation through the interface between bodies of two different fluids and which involves an elongate passageway for containment of quantities of both fluids. The passageway extends spirally radially of the rotor with a cross-sectional area that decreases or is substantially constant inwardly of the spiral. The passageway is open at one end to admit quantities of fluid from one body and then the other in turn as the rotor rotates through the interface. With continued rotation of the rotor the successively-admitted quantities of the two fluids are translated radially with respect to the rotor for discharge from the other end of the passageway.    The passageway is formed by tubing that is wound upon itself. The tubing is wound on a spool or reel of the rotor, and the spool or reel has flanges for constraining the tubing to retain it in the spirally-wound configuration.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For e.g. irrigation purposes. Acts as air pump, water pump, or as pump for both.
The solar combined power system contains a number of photovoltaic cells (1,2,3) which are cooled by circulating water (Vorlauf, Rucklauf). The water cools the cells, and is stored in a hot water tank, additionally heated by a sun collector.    The water maintains the solar cells at a temp. where their efficiency is maximised. The combined system makes max. use of the incident solar energy.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in isolated locations, ships, boats and developing countries. High overall efficiency of solar energy conversion.
The jogging generator comprises a support device and a drum-shaped exercise unit housing supported by the support and sized so that a jogger can run inside it. A bearing device is associated within the drum-shaped exercise unit housing, and a number of outwardly extending vanes extend outwardly from an annular surface of the exercise unit housing.    A device is connected to the drum-shaped exercise unit housing for operating the electrical generator during the running of the jogger within the drum-shaped exercise unit housing so as to produce electrical current from the generator. A further device causes water to run over the drum-shaped exercise unit housing and to engage the vanes. The water then passes from the housing beyond each of the vanes. Another device recirculates the water which was introduced into contact with the vanes of the drum-shaped exercise unit housing, back to the exercise unit housing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Jogging generator for use by person to jog inside it and generate electrical current during jogging activity. Enables generation of electrical current on highly efficient basis while user performs jogging activity.
The automated control system includes a transducer (1) of beams reflected from the heliostat, with its output proportional to Sun deflection from normal. The drive actuator (15) of the transducer (1) is connected to a functional generator (14) via a control unit.    The system contains a heliostat axle position transducer (11), and emergency condition transducer. The reflected beams transducer (1) is now provided with the second output, proportional to the value of solar radiation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For controlling heliostat of solar power engineering plant in complicated meteorological conditions. Increased reliability. Bul.35/23.9.92
Pulse summing is carried out during time interval between signalling pulses, the frequency of which is proportional to the revs of a power-generating unit shaft, and the same time monitoring over result excess above setting value is carried out. When the setting value is attained, summing is stopped and set-point command is generated at the moment when next signalling pulse arrives. The device, realising the method, includes pulse tachometric converter (2), counter (3), standard pulse generator (5), decoder (6), NAND-gate (13), OR-gate (4), polarised relay (10).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For setting operation mode of power-generating unit. Increased reliability. Bul.35/23.9.92
Solar cell has an active zone in the form of a polar polymeric film (1); and electric contacts (2,3) made of two different metals on its opposing surfaces. Pref. the two metals have different electrochemical potentials. The electrochemical potential differences is at least 0.8 V. Applied to the surface of one of the contacts e.g. (2) in an absorbent coating (4).    Also claimed is a solar cell as above, in which the absorbent coating (4) is applied to the electric contact (2) in the form of a polymeric material whose shape approximates a hemisphere.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar cell has an active zone formed from a polar polymeric film material. Mfr. of the active zone from polar polymeric material reduces the mass and cost of cells, compared to cells made on the basis of semiconductor elements. The cell's characteristics and capabilities can be improved, and the current in the cell increased.
The unit comprises a vertical support (1) surrounded by a sealed chamber with elastic walls (3) which are connected to the lower end of the support to make a V-shaped projection. On top of the support there is a vertical energy converter with moving and fixed sections, the first attached to the top of the chamber and the second to the support.    The unit is equipped with a second, horizontal energy converter, one section of which is attached to the chamber wall at one side and the second to the chamber wall at the other.    The side walls of the chamber above the points at which the second converter sections are attached are concave in shape, while below those points there are in the form of rigid panels, connected to the vertical support by pivots.    ADVANTAGE -   Increased power. Bul. 33/7.9.92
The process of deploying a mechanical structure (6,9) involves using a motor such as a leaf or bar spring (3) which is made from a memorisable state metallic alloy.    In order to deploy the structure (6,9) the drive element (3) is heated so as to control the metallurgical transformation time of the bistable material. The material as a consequence deforms progressively under time control and provides the desired deployment of the structure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides simple cost and weight effective way of deployment of antennae and panels for satellites.
The system for collecting solar energy from outer space includes a satellite with a concave arcuate surface (10) which receives and reflects solar light in converging paths of travel toward a focal area. A receiver (16) obtains the reflected solar light from the arcuate surface and directs (13) it toward the surface of the earth. The solar receiver includes a secondary reflective surface comprising a number of reflective members.    Each reflective member is shaped, dimensioned and positioned on the secondary reflective surface such that a separate portion of reflected solar light strikes each member, and is collimated in a beam, and is directed along a different optical path to a common illumination area on the earth's surface. The secondary beam of collimated light is at least partially superimposed in the illumination area on the other beams when the beams reach the earth's surface. Collectors in the illumination area receives the satellite beams.    ADVANTAGE -   Minimises divergence of solar light as it travels towards earth. Reduces proportion of IR energy retained in received energy.
Prodn. of a linear wiring having a linear strength of less than 100 microns and a specific resistance of 10-6 ohm.cm on a substrate or base comprises maintaining a metal of low melting pt. in its molten state, conveying the molten metal (1) by capillary to a point of a signal head (3) arranged near to the substrate (4) or touches the base (4), applying the metal to the base/substrate, whilst moving the head (3), and cooling and solidifying the linear wiring.    Also claimed are: (i) appts. for prodn. of the wiring; and (ii) solar cell contg. the wiring.    ADVANTAGE -   Prodn. yield is significantly improved.
The facility comprises a float (26) connected to a hydraulic cylinder (32) which in turn is connected to a hydraulic motor (36). As the float moves with wave motion fluid is forced from the hydraulic cylinder to drive the motor. The motor is connected to an Archimedian screw (38) which lifts water in a well (40) to create a flow of water through a turbine (44) for rotating the turbine. The turbine is connected to an electricity generator (10) for rotating the generator to generate electricity. A snorkel tower (22) is provided for communicating with the turbine and generator (10).    ADVANTAGE -   Uses motion of ocean waves to generate electricity. Simple and of high efficiency.
The method of manufacturing and erecting a concave metallic membrane type reflector involves forming a concave metallic membrane at a manufacturing site. The concave metallic membrane is rolled onto a non-cylindrical mandrel, that has an axial length at least as great as the largest dimension of the membrane, and a convex surface adapted to support the rolled-up shape of the membrane without creasing or folding it.    The rolled-up membrane and the mandrel are transported to a site which is remote from the mfg. site, and a reflector frame is erected at the remote site. The concave metallic membrane is attached to the reflector frame.    ADVANTAGE -   Membrane formed into paraboloid-like shape for non-uniform loading. Exact control of plastic deformation of membrane at mfg. site before transportation.
Device comprises: reflective, metallic substrate; transparent insulating layer; and a photovoltaic body including a translucent first electrode, an amorphous semiconductor and a transparent second electrode. The insulating layer is pref. Si oxide, Si nitride or polyimide and the semiconductor pref. has a p-i-n or n-i-p structure.    ADVANTAGE -   Insulated, metallic reflective substrate improves conversion efficiency of the device.
The unit has a mechanism (2) for converging the pontoon (6) reciprocating movement into rotating movement of the electricity generator shaft situated in the hollow body (1) and contacting shaft (3). The pontoon is fitted on the outer side of the body and is provided with brackets (5) for connection to the shaft (3). The body (1) has a positive floatability and its walls lower than the water level are provided with openings (4) for brackets (5) positioning. The body in the pontoon displacement zone has a narrow section.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For converting wave power into electric power. Reliability is increased. Bul.29/7.8.92
The plant has a working wheel which has concave blades (8) fitted in aerodynamic floating body (1) with a keel (2) and horizontal shafts (6). The shafts are connected to the generator (17). The body (1) is connected to the bottom by anchor chains (11), situated on both sides of the body longitudinal axis.    The shafts (6) are placed parallel to the body longitudinal axis, are provided with sprockets (9) and are connected to each other by chain transmissions. The body nose and keel parts are provided with cut-ways (3,4), and the central part has a through channel (5) for working wheels. The generator (17) is fitted in body upper part and its shaft connection to the shaft (6) is made a belt transmission.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For converting wave energy to electric power. Efficiency is increased. Bul.29/7.8.92
The adhesive sheet consists of (A) 95-99.9 wt.% of a copolymer comprising 84.9-55% of ethylene, 0.1-5 wt.% of an ethylenically unsatd. silane cpd. of formula: RSiR'nY3-n (R= ethylenically unsatd. hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy, or (meth)acryloyloxy alkyl gp. R'= aliphatic satd. or aromatic hydrocarbyl, or hydrocarbyloxy gp. Y= aliphatic satd. or aormatic hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyloxy gp. or aliphatic acyloxy gp. n= 0, 1 or 2), and 15-45 wt.% of an ethylenically acid ester, and (B) 0.1-5 wt.% of an organic peroxide having a temp. of 90-170 deg.C corresp. to the half-life period of 10.5 hrs.    The unsaturated silane cpd. is, e.g. vinyltrimethoxysilane(VTS). The unsatd. acid ester is, e.g. methyl acrylate(MA). The organic peroxide is, e.g. dicumyl peroxide(DCP) with a temp. of 117 deg.C corresp. to the half-life period of 10.5 hrs.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The adhesive sheet is used for protecting solar cell modules from shock and humidity. It has a high transparency, adhesive strength, and crosslinkability.
The thermal energy generation system uses solar cell modules coupled directly to the supplied load without active regulation and matching circuits. The electrical load comprises a series circuit of power semiconductor diodes e.g. Zener diodes, supported by a carrier structure to obtain effective heat transfer from the e.g. zener diodes to the surface of a heating module (2) coupled in series with a hot water storage tank for a domestic hot water supply. The temp. may be regulated by one or more thermo-switches (3) used to bridge one or more of the series diodes, the max. temp. limited by a further thermo-switch bridging the full diode circuit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For reducing hot water heating costs during summer months.
The light emitter is optically separated from the photovoltaic cell by an optical control for controlling the amount of light that may pass through the optical control to be absorbed by the photovoltaic cell. The optical control means may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) that becomes either transparent or opaque, depending upon the voltage or current applied to the material.    By controlling the amount of light that may be absorbed by the photovoltaic cell, the optical control also controls the output of the photovoltaic cell and, hence, operates as either a voltage or current regulator, depending upon the particular circuit that utilises the electrical energy source of the present invention.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Battery long-life.
The drive mechanism includes a swing-down (25) frame (23), on the mast (26), which supports the motor (22), with a reduction belt drive (21,20,19,16) and flywheel. A transmission belt (5), fixed (4) to the pump rod (3) and aligned with it, connects it via a top pulley (6) to two parallel looped toothed belts (10,10'), its tail (9) rising and falling in the gap between the loops, as they run round separately but coaxially mounted pulley pairs (16,16';11,11').    The lower pair is driven by two pulleys on a common shaft (19) in the drive train. All parallel belts are toothed to ensure synchronism. Solar panels, and/or a windmill with an optional thermal up-draught turbine, on the mast-head, may optionally replace mains power.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Simple construction. Suitable, esp. with self-contained power source such as battery or solar or wind power source, for use in isolated areas. For use in irrigation of arid areas.    .D
The generator assembly comprises two cylindrically shaped rollers (12 and 14) and a carrier frame (20) supporting the two rollers and the drive wheel (28) of the motor vehicle. The two rollers are rotatably mounted on the carrier frame about their axes, such that their axes are spaced from and parallel to each other. The free distance between the rollers is less than the diameter of the drive wheel. A drive transmission transmits rotational movement from the first roller to an electric power generator (16). When the drive wheel of the vehicle is driven onto the two rollers, the drive wheel engages with the rollers. This generates electric power by the vehicle, due to the first roller being driven by the drive wheel.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides convenient electrical power facility for remote locations, especially farms, which are normally not well served by electric power utilities.
The layers of a stacked cell solar module are made of a material such as amorphous silicon, carried by a glass substrate, permitting manufacture in integrated circuit form. The individual cells are arranged alternately pin, nip, pin, having a toothed electrode structure, or forming pn junctions. The electrodes are transparent layers, having strips formed by producing narrow parallel grooves with a laser beam.    The cells of a stack are in parallel, and stacks are connected in series. Each stack consists of two or more cells, and their total thickness gives a maximum absorption of above 80 percent within the sensitivity region.    ADVANTAGE -   Similar production stages are repeated, giving a stack of cells with reduced light ageing.
The appts. includes a casing (10) having covers (12) to close its ends and sealed floatation chambers which may contain air (13). A shaft (14) extends through the length of the casing and is supported on bearings (15,16). At the mid-point the shaft carries a turbine (18) and a quantity of water is contained in the chamber to drive the turbine as the chamber tilts.    The appts. may be tethered and floated on water where waves will cause a pitching motion. The liq. flows to and fro, turning the turbine, as waves cause alternate floats to rise and fall.    ADVANTAGE -   Power is efficiently generated from wave motion.
The system makes use of all the water falling on the earth surface or condensed on it, instead of a just a part, which issues from underground basins after straining and storage. Electricity is generated and clean water is produced. The heaps of waste and spoil material can be arranged at a variable height (H) up to 2500 m with the sloping sides arranged at an angle(alpha) of about 25 deg. to the horizontal ground line. The heaps can be piled on the mainland or on islands.    The creation of new amounts of water and the generation of electricity from new hydropotentials can lead to alterations in unfavourable climate conditions. Also to reduce global warming and glasshouse effects. At least 20 or 40 mini water power plants (G) can be produced in a vertical row and collection reservoirs (A) are provided for water storage.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduces problem regarding storage of toxic and radioactive material. Heaps are located at least 25 km from nearest human settlement. Reduces spread of wasteland and assists forestation of deserts.
The wireless, monolithic photovoltaic module includes top and bottom, rectangular electrodes with a photovoltaic body and an adjacent insulating strip sandwiched between the electrodes. The insulating strip is disposed proximate the edge of the bottom electrode.    A bus bar overlies the insulating strip, but not the photovoltaic body, and is connected to a net of current carrying grid lines which overlie the body to form a current collector. A top encapsulating layer has diffractive grooves formed in it which overlie the grid lines to minimise shading effects otherwise caused by shadows from the grid lines.    ADVANTAGE -   Increased efficiency by minimising shading effects caused by current collecting grids. Avoids precise alignment and adhesive fixing of separate lens element.
The generator has a stationary platform (2) fitted above the water level and carries a booster (3) and electric power generator (4) connected to each other, a hollow pontoon (8) with ballast and ribs in lower part, and a vertical rod support (7), whose upper end is kinematically connected to the booster inlet shaft and the lower part is connected to the pontoon. The efficiency is increased since the vertical rod support is pi-shaped and the pontoon has central and two side openings (9). The support rods are situated in the side openings with a gap and their crossbar is situated deeper than the pontoon rib.    The pontoon together with the supports (7) is placed on the waves and displaces the booster shaft (5) which through toothed transmission (6) displaces the generator (4) shaft. The generator electric power flows to the receiver situated on the platform or the shore.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The wave power unit is used for converting wave power into electricity. The efficiency is increased. Bul.28/30.7.92.
The unit has a stationary bearing with a rigid plate (4) and piezo-elements (2) fitted on the plate and connected to the utiliser. The assembly is simplified since the unit has a gastight body (1) whose walls are flexible. The piezo-elements are fitted in the body and are electrically insulated from the walls.    The waves strike the body (1) and the pressure effects the piezo-elements (2) which create an emf which is then supplied to the utiliser.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is used for wavepower-to-electrical energy conversion. Assembly is simplified by unrolling during assembly, and rolling up when dismantling. Bul.28/30.7.92.
The plant has a pontoon (1) which contains a converter (2) for changing the reciprocating movement of the pontoon into rotating movement of the horizontal shaft, flexible connections (3), stabiliser (6) with a valve (7) and a weight (5). The converter has a toothed transmission, free wheel clutches. The operation reliability is increased since the flexible connections are made as endless belt. The belt has a heavy insert placed in its lower part and envelopes the weight.    When the pontoon rises and falls, the platform-stabiliser (6), due to the considerable resistance of water, practically remains at the same depth and the flexible connection undergoes vertical oscillations. When the pontoon rises the connection, which envelops the free wheel clutch drive wheels, rotates the latter in one direction and the power shaft rotates in one direction. The weight (5) slides on the connection and periodically rises and falls.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The innovation is used in electrical wave-power stations. The operation reliability is increased by automatically balancing the flexible connections branches. Bul.28/30.7.92.
The system includes a generating equipment (2) coupled to an external electrical load (3). a heat load (5) uses the waste heat generated by the equipment. A detecting apparatus (9) detects the load value of the electrical load.    A heat generating equipment (7), which is driven by the equipment for generating electrical energy, supplies the heat generated to the heat load. A control equipment (10) which includes a CPU (101) and memory (102), controls the heat generating equipment in dependence on the value of the external electrical load, as detected by the detecting apparatus.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Utilises waste heat as generated from a heat engine or fuel cell, to save energy. The heat load can be driven with first response to possible fluctuations of the external electrical load.
The power generation system includes a support placed on or in a state spaced apart from the ocean surface so that it is not rotated by an ocean current, and a ring-like rotating member horizontally supported by the support for rotation about an axis. Ocean current-receiving members are coupled in a hanging fashion to the ring-like rotating member for receiving the ocean current and rotating the ring-like rotating member at all times in a fixed direction corresp. to a direction of the ocean current. A drive gear on the ring-like rotating member rotates in a concentric relation to the ring-like rotating member and a rotation accelerating gear train is provided inside the support for receiving the rotation of the drive gear to accelerate its rotation.    A power generator inside the support is connected to the rotation accelerating gear train for receiving the accelerated rotation of the rotation accelerating gear train.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Wave power. Efficient use made of kinetic energy of ocean waves.
The device includes a tube (15) in coil form which contains an expanding liquid. One end of the tube has a valve (16) connected to it, whilst the other end is connected to a rack and pinion mechanism with a counteracting spring (14).    The force of the liquid expansion is converted to rotary motion, the rotary motion is then applied through gearing (2) to a motor generator (10). Thus a temperature change is converted to an electrical current output.    ADVANTAGE -   Produces weak electric current from external temp. variations which are always present. More robust than solar panel.
The motor includes two heavy balls rolling along the beam. The beam is coupled by linkages or chains to an output shaft. The mechanism has an articulated mechanical lever (5) actuated by rods and cranks driven by the beam, and driving the output shaft through chains or belts.    A horizontal (7) and a vertical (8) elastic damper are provided at each end of the beam, and return stops (21) at the ends of the return paths for the rolling balls. The guide for the balls is pivoted from a platform beneath the beam and has a counterweights along its length.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved efficiency and larger operating scale for machine using gravitational energy to drive generators. Produces very low cost electricity with no pollution.
A passively acting machine for guaranteeing a constant and continuous supply of compressed gas to a load point consists of a deep water-filled well with watertight walls and a pressure lid. Inside is a vertical chain drive. On the chain is a series of compression pipes (closed at one end) which in turn swallow an amount of compressed gas delivered at the top of the well above the water level. The chain drives the pipes to the bottom of the well where the mouths are subject to extra water pressure. Beyond the BDC of the chain drive, the pipes are reversed so that the mouths point upwards and the compressed gas escapes into a funnel and supply pipe to the load point.    ADVANTAGE -   Increased efficiency and constant gas supply compared with previous similar devices.
The photovoltaic roofing system includes a number of roofing panels (20). Each panel includes a photovoltaic device (24) on its central portion and an electrical connector (30, 32) which is engageable with a connector or another panel.    The panels further include upstanding flanges (26,28). A batten and seam roof construction is configured by interconnecting the panels using a coupling member to establish electrical communication between panels. The panels are fastened to the roof and the adjoining flanges covered with battens.    ADVANTAGE -   Allows for simpler installation and ready removal and replacement of individual panels without disturbance to the remaining roof structure.
The method involves forming on a substrate a conductive polycrystalline thin film layer to interconnect photovoltaic cells in the panel. An n-type material is doped so that the carrier density is within three orders of magnitude of that of a selected p-type material.    The doped n-type material is deposited on the substrate to engage the conductive polycrystalline thin film layer and form an n-type transparent polycrystalline thin film layer for the cells. The selected p-type material is deposited on the substrate for engagement with the n-type layer to form a p-type photovoltaic layer.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides high efficiency polycrystalline photovoltaic cell wherein junction is made highly transmissive to short wavelength energy by reducing thickness of n-type material by diffusing or interdiffusing into or with p-type layer. Method of applying layers renders present invention suitable for spray pyrolysis, dip coating gas deposition and for applying relatively thin polycrystalline layers.
The method involves forming a continuous n-type semiconductor polycrystalline layer of a first effective thickness adjacent a conductive layer. A continuous p-type semiconductor polycrystalline layer is formed adjoining the n-type polycrystalline layers.    Both polycrystalline layers are simultaneously heated to a temperature for a time sufficient to significantly increase the size of the crystals within the p-type layer while substantially reducing the effective thickness of the n-type layer to substantially less than the first effective thickness by diffusion into the p-type layer.    ADVANTAGE -   Produces considerable increase in photovoltaic conversion efficiency, well suited for reliably controlling and enhancing regrowth of crystals and electrical properties of polycrystalline p-type layer and maintains highly controlled local stoichiometry of materials forming p-type layer.
The irrigation controller is powered for all normal operations by light incident upon an 18 square inch photovoltaic module. Electrical power from the photovoltaic module is stored in high performance 'super' capacitors. A transportable battery power source is connected to the controller to power its communication, such as for manual exercise and/or the loading of irrigation control programs. The external battery power source leaves the capacitor power storage recharged at the conclusion of each communication episode.    The irrigation controller electronics, save for a real time clock that is updated, are not provided with a timing signal, and consume almost no energy, save for brief millisecond sporadic time intervals of scheduled irrigation control. Capacitor power storage is approximately 6.5 mWH. Worse case photovoltaic energy production is 7.6 mWH daily. The sporadically operative irrigation controller uses less than 6.4 mWH per day, with remaining energy expended on up to 128 ultra-low power valve actuations per day.
The solar power photovoltaic panels each includes at least two modules, each containing multiple electrically connected photovoltaic cells. The modules are aligned along a line extending at right angles to a pivot shaft which extends transversely across the panels.    Each of the flat panels has a unitary frame with a pair of end frame elements extending parallel to the pivot shaft, a pair fo side frame elements connected between the ends and a pair of spaced apart cross frame elements. One of two adjacent modules is secured to the two frame sides and one each of the frame ends and cross elements; the other of the two adjacent modules is secured to the two frame sides and the second frame end and cross element.    ADVANTAGE -   Gap created by spaced cross frame elements allows air to pass between them, reducing sail effect when array is subject to wind buffeting.
The renewable fuel cells produced hydrogen gas, on demand, and are used to power a vehicle. When the usable cells is depleted, the magnesium anode is converted into magnesium hydroxide precipitate. The magnesium hydroxide precipitate is removed and collected for recycling and the magnesium anode and salt water electrolyte is replaced.    The magnesium hydroxide precipitate is recycled to recapture the magnesium which is then formed into new magnesium anodes. The primary power source for the recycling is derived from solar energy. The only waste product produced by the operation of the fuel cell is non-polluting water.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Vehicle hydrogen gas generators. Non-polluting energy source for vehicles.
The power conversion system includes a solar collector, a cavity receiver, a pumped-loop thermal transport system, a Stirling engine (which includes a low-temperature Stirling thermodynamic cycle, a mechanical drive and an alternator), power conditioning and controls, and a heat rejection coolant loop. The solar collector receives incident solar radiation and focuses the energy into the cavity receiver. The cavity receiver accepts the solar radiation and heats a thermal transfer fluid in the thermal transport system.    The pumped-loop thermal transport subsystem transfers heats to the Stirling cycle engine, which can be located away from the focal point of the solar collector. The Stirling cycle and associated mechanical drive and alternator convert the thermal energy into electrical energy.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Small scale energy production. Stirling engine driven by solar power with 700 degrees fahrenheit head temp. Has auxiliary heat source for off-run periods. Provides electric power and hot water heated to approx. 160 degrees F.
A metal, e.g. Al. film (1) is formed on to surface A of substrate (3) while clamped on by rubber ring (2), by vacuum pump (6). The curved reflector surface of the film can be rolled out and polished by tool (8), which can take a number of forms, e.g. steel balls, fine diamond paste, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In optical instrumentation, for mfg reflectors used in, e.g. solar energy concentrators, and other optical and laser applications. Accuracy in forming the optical reflector surface. Bul.27/23.7.92
The receiver comprises a tubular frusto-conical window (6) coaxial with a housing (1) admitting concentrated solar radiation to a volumetric solar absorber (30). The absorber is mounted within the housing and comprises a frusto-conical body (31) holding an array of ceramic spike shaped absorbing members (32).    At the larger end of the absorber a perforated metal ring (33) allows injection of working fluid from an annular duct (34). The heated working fluid is withdrawn through an annular chamber (35), with inlets (49) at the smaller end of the absorber, into a tubular vent (36). The vent is surrounded with an insulating layer (37) which extends to the outer rear portion of the absorber.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides an absorber which can operate at elevated pressure.
The cylindrical support (1) is made of a transparent material. The axle of the motor (3) is mounted on the base section (2) of the support. The rotating field armature (4) carries a disc (5) under which the solar cells (6) are mounted.    The conductors (7) inside the disc connect the solar cell to the rotating field armature. The side walls (9) and the bottom piece (10) are covered with a light reflecting layer.
The pontoons (1,2) are spaced at a distance parallel to each other. The rear sections (5) of the pontoons are aligned against the flow, with a widening slope (6) extending to the water level.    The front end sections (7) of the pontoons (1,2) have rollers connected by rails to a holding system (9), anchored securely in ground under the water. The pontoons can be fixed with their rear end sections (5) at the end of guy lines (10).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Flowing or tidal water powered, turbine wheel is maintained at same height to water level without dam.
The container comprises a receptacle of any desired shape and size and housing liquids or solids, together with two magnets in e.g. circular or square cavities in the bottom of it.    Pref., the two magnets generate 600-800 gauss magnetic density and, acting as a steadier for the container, they also recover the energy dissipated through ferrous metals and make up deficiencies in the earth's magnetic field. Thus drinks, medicines, cosmetics, etc. are stored with stimulated vitality, with or without the provision of a pneumatic dispenser.    ADVANTAGE -   The design improves health and beauty treatment through vitalisation of the stored product. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9322 based on complete specification).
The method for tracking a moving radiation source having a known motion with at least one radiation detector for detecting radiation from the radiation source by minimising an angle of incidence of radiation on each detector involves supporting each detector at a variable angle on at least one pneumatically inflatable detector support. Each pneumatically inflatable detector support has an internal pressure.    An actual angle of incidence of the radiation on the radiation detector is determined. The internal pressure of each pneumatically inflatable detector support is varied in response to the actual angle of incidence to change the variable angle to minimise the angle of incidence. The step of determining the actual angle of incidence further comprises the step of determining a radiation source location and a radiation detector orientation.    ADVANTAGE -   Does not require mechanical support structure, enables rapid installation of support and tracking appts.
The power plant consists of the steam duct (1), salt precipitator-deaerator (2), steam converter (3), economiser (4), gas solvent (5), gas exhaust (6), hole (7) for damping refuse, turbine (8), cooling system (9) and a circulation pump (10). The plant includes two loops: an open loop of heating medium and a closed loop with heated medium - water. The gas exhaust (6) of converter (3) is connected to gas solvent (5). while the turbine is positioned in the second closed loop with the steam converter (3), economiser (4), salt precipitator-deaerator (2).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In production of electrical energy from the heat of natural thermal spring steam. Improved reliability and ecological purity. Bul.27/23.7.92
The motor consists of a housing with a jacket containing one or more working elements (1,2) made from a material with a thermo-mechanical shape memory and which change their length as they are subjected to different temps. The effort of the working elements is transmitted by levers (16,17,21,23) and cables (20,22) to a gearbox (10) which can regulate the speed of rotation of the shaft (9) in accordance with the temp of a heat-carrying agent in a tank (24). The tank contains a temp sensor which is also in the form of a working element (49) with a shape memory effect, a control lever (55) and gear changer (10).    A second temp sensor in the form of a working element (40) with a shape memory effect controls the slide-valve (46) of a starter valve (25), which enables the motor to be started automatically in the event of it stopping due to a low temperature of the heat-carrying agent in the tank.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For converting thermal energy of geothermal water into mechanical energy using solid operational bodies with thermo-mechanical shape memory. Automatic engine operation and speed setting according to temperature of heat-carrying agent. Bul.26/15.7.92
The system consists of a closed circuit with heat consumers, incorporating a heater (2), connected through its heating medium to the turbine heating take-offs (3) with a condenser (5) and production take-off (6). It also has a feed circuit with a de-aerator (10) and a chemical cleaning apparatus (16). The system is additionally equipped with an open circuit with heat consumers (13) and network heaters (12), connected to the turbine heat outlet parallel with the closed-circuit heaters.    The feed circuit is additionally equipped with a decarboniser (9), which is set in series with the de-aerator (10) and the chemical cleaning apparatus, with the output from the latter connected to the closed circuit. The feed circuit intake is connected via the turbine condenser, and the open circuit has its intake connected to the feed circuit between the de-aerator and the chemical cleaning apparatus.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In heat engineering, e.g. heat supply systems with thermal power-heat generating plant. Greater economy by excluding waste on local water supply heating, and lower boiler overhaul costs. Bul.26/15.7.92
The windmill, basically as described in Parent Cert., consists of a vertical shaft (2) with two main pairs of rotary vanes (3). It has a hollow rotary housing (8) on a vertical support (1), equipped with two additional pairs of mutually-perpendicular rotary vanes (9), connected to the main vanes by a reduction gear unit with driving, driven and lateral bevel gears (10-13). The vertical shaft (2) has upper and lower sections, to which the driving and driven bevel gears, respectively, are connected. The upper section of the shaft is connected to a plate (7), and the lateral bevel gears are connected to one pair of the additional vanes.    During operation the vanes rotate and their torques are summated, being transmitted through the reduction gear unit and the lower section of the shaft to a generator.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For supplying self-contained consumers. Increased power. Bul.25/7.7.92
The windmill rotor consists of a central shaft (1) with two end discs (3), plate vanes (4) set radially between them, and inclined guide plates (5). The number of guide plates corresponds to the number of vanes, and the trailing edge of each of the plates is connected to the leading edge of each of the vanes.    When the rotor is in operation the guide plates act as guides for the air flow on one side of the rotor and as diffusor louvres on the opposite side. The air flow is divided into two as it passes over the drum, creating an inner rarefaction on side and drawing the air in at the other.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As wind powered electrical energy generation plant. Simpler design and reduced metal requirement in manufacture. Bul.25/7.7.92
Process arranges a radioisotope power generation device consisting of thermoelectric conversion element around solid body high level radioactive waste material to be stored. Decay heat emitted from the solid body is converted to electrical energy The power generated from the radioisotope power generator is fed to the electric accessory facility such as the waste material transport device and cooling device arranged in the control facility.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process can obtain electric power by the decay heat emitted from the solid bodies of radioactive waste material stably for a long period. It can save the power consumption of the control chamber and with simple and low cost.
The appts. comprises a shade pole (22) casting a shadow of the sun. A solar radiation responsive surface in the shape of a narrow band more than 0.000464 times the shade pole length and less than 0.075 inches wide is located partially in and partially out of the shadow of the shade pole.    An electronic circuit, including a solar radiation responsive surface, operates in response to the movement of the shadow line across less than one half of the radiation responsive surface generating an electrical alignment correction signal. The responsive surface is cadmium-sulphide assuming an electrical resistance five times greater in the shade than in full sun.    ADVANTAGE -   Appts. is simple in design and inexpensive to produce, but is precise to within fraction of degree under any weather conditions.
A supply of low-BTU high sulphur natural gas of gross heating value of less than 750 BTU per cubic foot is refined to produce a de-sulphurised combustible gas. This comprises less than 50% methane, 10% ethane, 2% propane and about 30% nitrogen.    A combustion turbine comprising a steam injected gas turbine combined cycle plant burns the de-sulphurised gas, the output energy being directed to an electrical generator.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Avoids pollution problem inherent of conventional practices.
The power generator provides power when rotatably driven. A drive axle rotatably drives the power generator when rotated. A platform is supported by the drive axle for rotating the drive axle when rotated. The centre post is located at the centre of the platform. A drive beam has an outer end fixed to the platform having an inner end rotatably attached to the centre post and having a flat trailing side.    A carriage has a flat face for slidably engaging the flat trailing side of the drive beam at a point between the outer and inner ends and for pushing the drive beam about the centre post so that the platform will rotate when the vehicle is moved around the centre post. The drive axle includes wheel fixed to the shaft for supporting the platform and for causing the shaft to rotate when the platform is moved.
The electric power generator includes a conduit, receptive of wind flow, channelling the flow along a predetermined path and maintaining laminat flow with a baffle in the part of the wind flow shaped to form vortices in the wind flow. Multiple piezoelectric transducers in the path of the wind flow produce an electrical output signal in response to stress created in the transducers by the vortices. The conduit varies the fluid flow so that the Reynolds Number representative of the fluid flow at the baffle is in the range from 40 to 300, conducive for formation of vortices.    The baffle has a cylindrical element with a diameter selected to control the Reynolds number. The generator also includes a frequency counter responsive to the output signal of at least one transducer for determining wind velocity.    ADVANTAGE -   Operates, without rotational wear, at low wind pressures, accurate wind velocity measurements. Allows AC frequency control.
Silicon spheres are doped with a dopant by: (1) positioning the spheres (48) in a chamber (32), (2) utilising a solid dopant source (42) to provide a contact and support area for the silicon spheres, (3) vaporising dopant from the solid dopant source to create a dopant cloud, simultaneously diffusing dopant directly from the solid dopant source through the support area and from the dopant cloud into the silicon spheres causing substantially even diffusion of phosphorus into silicon spheres.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In solar cells. The uniformity of diffusion throughout the entire sphere avoids the prior problems associated with point-to-point contacts between the spheres.
The permanent magnet motor has an air-gap, between two relatively large magnets, and which is filled by a number of smaller magnets of opposite polarity and of the same field strength, so that they interrupt the magnetic field of the outer magnets. Each pole of the outer magnets attracts one half of the smaller magnets and repels the other half, so that a magnetic equilibrium is established, with one of the outer magnets displaced for free expansion and contraction of the air-gap and the smaller magnets moved into and out of the air-gap, in a perpendicular direction, with a system of pulleys and weights for maintaining a permanent cycle of movement.    USE -   For perpetual motion machine for environmentally friendly power source.
The substrate material (301) comprises a first type groove (3050) doped with a first type dopant and having a first conducting material in electrical contact with the walls. A second type groove (310) has walls doped with a second type material. This groove also has a second type conducting material in electrical contact with the second doped walls. The two grooves are electrically linked with each other by a doped region of linking substrate material (314).    This is selected from either the first or second type group and forms the photovoltaic junction with substrates material of a different polarity. The first type dopant is a different polarity than the second type dopant.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides for at least two photovoltaic cells in series.
The heat extractor for a hot liquid e.g. water contg. scaling material whose solubility is proportional to the liquid temp., includes a primary pond of liquid having a vertically located tube with a closed upper end and an open lower end immersed in the water and spaced from the bottom of the pond for establishing a trapped region above a column of liquid in the primary tube. A source supplies the hot liquid to the trapped region, and the water in the pond and the liquid in the column are in hydrostatic equilibrium. A pressure device maintains the trapped region at a pressure such that some of the water in the hot liquid supplies to the trapped region flashes into steam thereby concentrating the liquid in the column.$    The open end of the tube allows the passage to the bottom of the pond of scaling material that precipitates due to the water vaporisation and an extractor obtains heat from the steam. An electricity generator includes a vaporiser for vaporising an organic fluid with heat extracted from the steam, a turbogenerator producing electricity and heat depleted organic fluid and an organic fluid condenser for condensing the vapour and producing a liquid organic fluid condensate for return to the vaporiser.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For removing e.g. salts, silica from geothermal brine, or particulates from flue gases in power prodn. Cooling by evaporation is limited.
Thermal emission generator comprises series-connected sections (1) of series-connected thermal emission converters (1,2...N) and thermal (2) and electric (3) power sources.    Each of the thermal emission three-electrode converters includes an anode (4), cathode (5) and a grid (6). The electric power source (3) positive pole is connected to the anode (4) of the first thermal emission three-electrode converter and the source (3) negative pole - to the terminal of the first section (1) grids (6).    The sections (1) are placed directly close to the thermal power source (2) ensuring the heating of the thermal emission three-electrode converter diodes (5) to the temperature of 1300-1500 K.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Thermal emission generator can be used in power systems based on ac high voltage thermal emission converters. Its structure is simplified and its power-mass parameters are improved. Bul.25/7.7.92.
The power plant comprises an elastic plate-type separator installed in each heat exchange tube (8) of the evaporator (1). The separator is located by its inlet in the region of liquid heat transfer medium. The evaporator itself is located below the level of condensate in the condenser (6). The upper section of the separator is in the form of shutters located with equal pitch.    USE -   Conversion of low potential thermal energy of the ocean into electrical energy. Bul.24/30.6.92.
(JP5135781-A)   NOVELTY - A heating board (19) provided to stack (3) of cells (1) is connected to the support unit (6) which is provided to the periphery of the stack of cells. The heating board consists of an electric conduction section comprising metal piece attached to metal substrate and an ignition agent which are formed on surface of the board, such that they are not protruding from the board.    USE - For electronic device.    ADVANTAGE - Even if the ignition agent combusts and the thickness of the ignition agent varies, the thickness of heating board is not varied. Hence, slack is not generated and internal resistance of battery is restrained. Stable high voltage is output.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the sectional view of the laminated type thermoelectric cell. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    Cell (1)    Stack (3)    Support unit (6)    Heating board (19)
The housing unit made from an electrically non-conducting material has a frame (16) and projecting edges (11, 12, 13, 14). The solar cell panel and transparent covering material are fixed on build-in recesses of the frame. The electrical connection to the solar cell can be made through a connector mounted to a notch inside the frame.    ADVANTAGE -   Similar units can be plugged together due to modular structure. Corrosive currents of metal units are avoided.
The method involves forming grooves (30, 32) on the surface of a semiconductor substrate (12) using mechanical etch methods. A thin layer of oxide (16) is deposited on the surface of the substrate, and removed from the top of the elevations (24, 26, 28).    The deposition of another oxide layer (18) is followed by sputtering of a metal layer (20). The sputtering angle is adjusted so that the metal is deposited only on the top of the elevations (24, 26, 28). The same method or traditional methods are used to form an ohmic back-contact.    ADVANTAGE -   High conversion efficiency due to minimal metal contact and passivation of surface. Reduced production cost due to self-aligned fabrication without mask and photo-lithography.
To recoup energy from conventional transmission of water and steam in pipes, the kinetic energy of the medium is extracted by means of small turbines installed in the pipes and converted into electrical energy. This could be used directly or after conversion, stored as heat energy or kinetic energy (flywheel).    ADVANTAGE -   Makes use of otherwise wasted energy.
The fresnel lens has a smooth surface and a second surface with parallel steps (1), each of which forms a prism with the first smooth surface. The steps themselves have smaller steps (3) running at right angles to form a secondary prismatic surface. The width of the secondary steps is a tenth (or smaller) of the primary steps.    The shape of the complete unit may be plane or cylindrical. The secondary steps may be formed from a separate foil strip which is then glued onto the primary steps. The whole unit may be used to concentrate solar energy onto a focal plane and then to diffract the resultant beam vertically.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For solar to electrical energy conversion. Does not need to track vertical movement of sun.
Thermionic converter module (10) comprises an external emitter heat pipe (12), internal collector heat pipe (14), thermionic converter (16) and end fittings. Pipe (12) has an annular casing. The innermost surface (22) of pipe (12) is located on an inside surface of the annular casing. Innermost surface (22) is constructed of material suitable to act as an emitter of thermionic converter (16). Heat applied to any part of the outermost surface (32) of pipe (12) is transferred to the entire surface of the innermost emitter (22). Internal collector heat pipe (14) has a casing (24). The outermost surface of casing (24) is coated with a material suitable for a thermionic converter collector (20). The collector (20) is located within the innermost surface (22) of pipe (12), so that collector (20) is surrounded by the emitter surface (22). Thermionic converter collector (20) is next to the thermionic converter emitter (22). Interelectrode gap (18) separates the collector (20) from the emitter (22).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Thermionic electric converter module integrated with heating and cooling pipes. The module produces higher power because of a larger emitter surface area which can be more effectively heated. At the same time, the module easily disposes of the additional waste heat produced as a result of the higher power operation.
The device for extracting energy from sea waves utilises the motion of a rotor comprising a frame (1) and a pair of parallel cylinders (2) held at or below the surface of a liquid perpendicular to the wave direction. The cylindrs rotate to produce Magnus effect lift, resulting in a torque around the rotor axis (A---A), thus causing the rotor to perform full or part rotations. The rotor is coupled to the shaft of a hydraulic pump (3). The pump housing is held steady by tie members (4) attached to the sea bed.    The pump extracts energy from the rotation of the rotor, and may be adapted to pressurise water, or to pressurise a hydraulic circuit to which a hydraulic motor may be connected to turn an electrical generator. The hydraulic pump may be interposed between two rotors linked by a compliant member and adapted to partially contrarotate. The pump is actuated by their relative oscillation. End caps may be applied to the ends of the cylinders to reduce losses due to fluid circulation.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced mooring forces due to cancellation of torque reactions, eliminates problems of providing large or rigid or tightly moored supporting structure.
The solar module includes frame made of synthetic material. The frame has two facing edges which are complementarily formed such that the frames of adjacent solar modules have overlapping connecting flanges (22) when respective edges are sealed to one another. In this way the outer surfaces of the outer panes (12) lie level.    At least one of the frames includes holes inside which lie the electrical contact surfaces of connection cables. Neighbouring solar modules are electrically connected to each other by the insertion of a contact peg on one module into a hole on the other module.    ADVANTAGE -   Has a simple mechanism for electrically connecting adjacent solar panels while simultaneously enabling the outer surfaces of the outer panes to be level.
The tracking system has a vertical pipe (4) enclosing a cylindrical sleeve (3) with a helical guide groove (16) receiving    a guide pin (15), for combined descent and rotation of a solar collector mounting (1), supported by a mast (2) at the top end of the sleeve (3.    A power block (10) carrying the weight of the solar assembly is linked to the piston/cylinder device controlling the descent, with a hydraulic energy store (7) linked via a control valve (9) to a regulating cylinder (5), allowing independent operation of the system for several days.    The control valve (9) pref. lies in series with a thermally controlled throttle (8) providing a tracking speed which is independent of the ambient temp.    ADVANTAGE -   Temp independent operation eliminating need for daily intervention and required muscular effort.
The module comprises (1) a solar battery module body within which solar cells are provided to convert light into electrical energy; (2) a connection lead wire connnected to the solar cell and passing through a hole in the mounting face; (3) fasteners adapted for passing through holes for mounting the module to the mounting face; and (4) spacers provided in the vicinity of the fasteners for preventing water from flowing into the mounting body, the spacer is formed of a soft resin for conforming to the shape of the mounting face and a sealing resin.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The module can be easily mounted, is tight and waterproof, and can maintain power generation even in waved conditions.
The photovoltaic element of semiconductor material has a profiled surface, at least on the face onto which the radiation impinges. The contact systems, corresp. to opposite polarities, are fitted on the light facing side at different levels of the profiling face.    The contacts pref. consist of a transparent and conductive layer, e.g. of ZnO:Al. The higher located contact system may consist of a transparent, conductive layer, while the lower contact system is formed by a highly reflective metal in strips of lens-shaped cross-section. The higher located contact system may be reclosed by a transparent lid.    ADVANTAGE -   Opto-electric conversion in regions with low recombination losses
The prepn. comprises shaping a mixt. contg. aluminium powder, a sodium cpd., a structure stabiliser and zirconia powder and reaction sintering to form a dense body; and the mixt. pref. has alumina powder.    The aluminium powder has a pref. particle dia. of less than 300 micron and contains less than 1000 ppm. each of, (less than 200 ppm.) Si and Fe. The structure stabilser is a Li-contg. salt, the zirconia is tetragonal phase and the body is at least 85% relative density. The compsn. of the mixt. is (wt.%): (A) 1-40 sodium cpd., 0.1-10 structure stabiliser, 35 or less zirconia and balance aluminium powder, or (B) at least 10 aluminium powder, 1-40 sodium cpd., 0.1-10 structure stabiliser, less than 35 or 25 zirconia and balance alumina powder.    USE -   Used as a solid electrolyte in sodium-sulphur sec. battery and an alkali metal thermoelectric converter.
The electrical power generation method involves using several air compressing units working inside underground cavities (1), e.g. abandoned mines, arranged separated from each other, however correlated to each other.    A separate air compression is carried out, and this is used for the individual generation of power within the underground cavity of the individual cavities (2) arranged separate from each other.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Underground cavities e.g. spent mines. With low investment engineering cost alternative electrical power can be generated. Long life, high energy output. Rapid building and installation of new systems. Unaffected by weather influences.
Increased efficiencies of two-junction monolithic solar cells, made from top cell/bottom cell material combinations of GaxIn1-xP/GaAs; AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs (x = 0.3-0.4), GaAs/Ge and GayIn1-yP/Gay+0.5In0.5yAs (y = 0-0.5 exclusive), are provided by achieving current matching by thinning the top cell.    The bottom cell is made in the conventional manner (usually 3 microns thickness for direct gap materials), but the top cell is made thinner to allow some light with energy above the band gap of the top cell to pass through to be absorbed by the bottom cell. The invention is applied only to material systems which have top cell currents larger than the bottom cell currents.    Exemplified top cell thicknesses for (i) air mass 1.5 and (ii) air mass 0 are (i) 1 micron and (ii) 0.7 microns for 1.9/1.424 eV bandgap combination (GaxIn1-xP/GaAs or AlxGa1-xAs(GaAs); (i) 0.7 microns and 0.5 microns for 1.85/1.424eV (GaxIn1-xP/GaAs or AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs); (i) 0.8 microns and (ii) 0.7 microns for 1.65/1.1 eV (GaxIn1-xP/GayIn1-yAs); (i) 1 micron and (ii) 1.6 microns for 1.4240.8 eV (GaAs/Ge, direct gap); and (i) 0.7 microns and (ii) 1.7 microns for 1.38/0.7 eV (InP/Ga0.5In0.5As).    ADVANTAGE -   The current-matched cells have higher efficiency than current-mismatched cells because of higher device current and, in cases of low surface recombination velocities, higher device voltage. The cells may be made from a greater number of material combinations.
The geosynchronous orbiting satellite includes a body (12) and two solar wings (16,17) for generating electrical power to operate the satellite. Slit sun sensors (26,28) are located on the body along the satellite's pitch axis. The sensors have fields of view in the plane defined by the satellite's pitch and roll axes and are directed along the positive satellite roll axis.    The sensors provide a body-to-sun angle measurement once per day. A body-to-wing angle is obtained from the wing driver mechanism. Subtraction of the body-to-sun angle from the body-to-wing angle derives an error signal which is applied to the wing driver mechanism to maintain the wings in the correct orientation with the sun.    ADVANTAGE -   Desired position of solar wings maintained without intervention from the ground.
Primer compsns. consists of gamma-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (GAPTMS) dissolved in an aprotic solvent having a solubility parameter of about 10.8 (cal/cc). The pref. solvent is N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and the concn. of GAPTMS is 0.1-49 (pref. 1-10) wt. %. The primer is applied to a surface to improve bonding of a coating material. The wetted surface is dried to remove solvent and cure the silane before applying the coating material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The primer enhances bonding of a variety of coating materials to a range of organic and inorganic substrates without the need for treating the substrate surface e.g, by abrasion or etching with chemicals or plasma. The good results are achieved only when using the cited combination of silane and solvent. The primer is esp. useful for improving the adhesion of a condensation cure silicone in the cured state to a resin substrate, in particular unabraded polyimide film. Examples of articles which may be made using the primer compsn. include substrates for solar arrays, quadrifilar antennae, and flexible circuitry.    In an example, 5 wt. % soln. of GAPTMS in DMAc was applied by wiping to the surface of unabraded 1 in. wide `Kapton' (RTM) polyimide film and allowed to cure at room temp. overnight. The strips were then coated with `Nu Sil CV-2566' (RTM: condensn. cure silicone) and cured at room temp. for 18 hrs. T-peel strength (by ASTM D1876) of the coating was 27 oz./in. width, with cohesive failure.
The generator comprises a floatation object for floating up and down in response to the motion of the waves, and a seabed mooring or other mechanism of attachment under water. A generating station comprises a flywheel or other mechanism for maintaining motion. An endless cable carries wave energy to the generating station. The cable can also be substituted by a belt, rope, chain or other device with the same purpose. A system of pulley wheels and support structures guide and support the cable. A weight, or a spring, or other device keeps the cable under a bias tension. One or more shuttles travel along the cable designed to transfer energy from the float onto the cable, while rectifying and gearing up the motion.    USE -   For small-scale wave power generation, in particular for remote and thinly populated coastal areas of Scottish Highlands and Islands.
The appts. comprises a duct rising to a substantial height and mechanism for providing warm air for passage up the duct. The duct is such that the warm air rises in the duct to a height at which moisture could condense out of the air to cause a further driving force for an air flow through the duct. The duct may be a self-supporting duct based on a balloon principle, alternatively it may be a hollow tower.    The ducting (2) may be expanded at one or more levels (3). Air inlets (4A) are provided at the base of the tower (1) to enable air to be drawn into the tower near ground level. Heat exchangers (5) and turbines (6) are provided near the base of the tower, connected to the air inlets. Further air inlets (7) are provided in the tower at a height of between 2-4 km. Solar panels (10) may supply the heat exchangers (5).    USE -   In generation of electricity or production of fresh water. (Reissued from week 9321 to amend Title and Abstract; Printed in week 9333)
The solar energy collector includes a platform (13) supported for rotation about a vertical axis and pivoted about this axis via a drive, to track the movement of the sun across the sky. The platform has concentrators for directing the incident solar radiation onto solar collectors, provided by a number of parallel, elongate, parabolic reflectors, each concentrating the solar radiation along a horizontal focal line, along which the collector is positioned.    Pref. the platform floats on the surface of a fluid in a fluid reservoir (12), and the platform is selectively submerged to protect the concentrators from bad weather.    ADVANTAGE -   Solar collector designed for simple inexpensive construction, with protection against bad weather.
The solar panel unit includes a movable solar panel (10) which is mounted on a support carriage (12), displaced around a frame (13) via an electric motor, for optimum reception of solar energy. The intensity of the incident solar radiation is detected via a feedback control for the electric motor, for tracking the movement of the sun.    Pref. a fluorescent lamp (15) is supported within the frame behind a transparent lamp cover and in front of a reflector (17) and supplied from a battery pack which is recharged via the energy provided by the solar panel. Pref. 2 auxiliary solar panels offset from the plane of the main solar panel are coupled to a comparator circuit for controlling the electric motor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   for powering solar lamp using energy stored in battery. Optimum reception of solar radiation throughout day by tracking sun.
The plant comprises a floating reception unit (1) which is wedge-shaped, anchored, and self-adjusting towards the waves placed in the water, with a ramp (3) for the waves and a guide member for guiding the water to a reception pipe (8) and to an energy converting engine (9). The guide member has several reception funnels (4) for water. The funnels are formed of several shells or plates (12) extending in a curved manner so that between them gaps (13) are formed.    The cross sections of the gaps are narrowed down in the direction towards the energy converting engine. The shells at the inlet end form an angle with the surroundings corresponding to the expected entrance angle of the water. The inlet edges of the funnels are mutually displaced to form a step-like configuration placing the lowest positioned shell furthest ahead in the direction of inflow.    ADVANTAGE -   The plant concentrates and utilises available energy.
Prodn. of oriented film of a semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer comprises: (a) partially crystallising a film of a semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer or its precursor by thermal treatment; (b) cooling the film of (a) under conditions to inhibit further crystallisation; (c) orienting the film at a temp. slightly above the Tg; and (d) further crystallising the film by thermal treatment.    Another prodn. of a film comprising an oriented, semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer comprises: (a) heating the film of a semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer above the melting temp. to render the film amorphous; (b) cooling the film under conditions to keep the film amorphous; (c) orienting the film at a temp. slightly above the Tg; and (d) heating the film to crystalline the polymer.    Also claimed are: (i) the prodn. of an oriented film comprising a fully imidised semicrystalline polyimide polymer; and (ii) the films produced.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For processing semicrystalline, thermoplastic polymers to provide oriented films. The process is esp. used for providing uniaxial and biaxially-oriented films comprising LaRC-CPI-BTDA polyimides with improved tensile strength, modulus and CTE behaviour. These are partic. useful in aerospace applications. LaRC-CPI films produced could find widespread use in spacecraft. e.g. laminate material for flat panels, including solar concentrators and arrays, as well as in composite structures.
The reflector assembly has a hollow housing having a top opening, a flexible, elastic reflective membrane and coupling means for coupling the membrane over the top opening in a gas-tight manner. An evacuation device is coupled to the housing, for creating a partial vacuum in the housing and causing the membrane to deflect into the housing to a focused position from an unfocused position.    An inflation device is coupled to the housing, for rapidly restoring pressure in the housing and causes the membrane to move from the focused position to the unfocused position. The inflation device includes compressed fluid container for rapidly supplying a fluid with a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to the housing.    USE -   For system which focuses EM energy onto target.
A semiconductor device tandem or multistacked structure is made of a multicomponent amorphous material contg. an element (A) selected from C, N, O or S, an element (B) selected from H or halogen, an element (C) selected from Si, Ge, or Sn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as a solar cell or an optical sensor. The multicomponent amorphous material can use a wider range of sunlight spectrum. It provides a junction with reduced defects. It also provides good electrical conductivity.
The photoelectric element includes a first region having a light-receiving surface. A second region having a short side length not greater than twice the minority carrier diffusion length of the first region is provided on at least one portion of the first region to form a photovoltaic mechanism in conjunction with the first region. A barrier layer is provided to cover at least those portions of the light-receiving surface of the first region not covered by the second region, and a transparent conductive film is provided on the barrier layer and electrically connected to at least one second region.    The voltage of the second region generated by incident light is applied through the transparent conductive film to the light-receiving surface of the first region to produce an electric field in the direction inducing majority carriers.    ADVANTAGE -   Achieves practical level of conversion efficiency even when it is constituted using material exhibiting short carrier diffusion length.
The apparatus includes a portion of a right circular cone not including the vortex. This provides a reflecting surface and an elongate collector or transmitter within the cone located at, or adjustable to, a position at which the axis is at a non-zero angle to the axis of symmetry of the cone and passes through the vertex of the cone.    The reflecting surface is asymmetrical about the axis of symmetry of the circular cone. The aforementioned portion includes no part of the cone lying between two predetermined non-coincident generatrix lines of the cone.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar radiation collectors.
the wave-powered device has a toroidal float (28), mounted on a column (29) by an arrangement of block-like members, shafts and gears (including bevel gears) that allow universal pivotal movement. Oscillation of the float due to wave motion results in rotary motion of an electric generator (23) using gears (5,7,11), ratchets (10), a spring (17), an epicyclic gear box (19) and clutch (21).    For relatively shallow water sites, a column (29) is telescopically received in a pipe (30) anchored to the sea bed. For relatively deep water sites, the column is moored by cables, pulleys and a balance weight.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides electric current driven positively by wave stream without consumption of fuel and operates as long as wave flows.
The electrical energy generator has at least one turbine (2) driven by a flow medium, coupled to a multi-phase AC generator (1), in turn coupled to a rectifier circuit (5) via capacitive elements (3). The capacitance values are matched to the inductances in the generator current circuit, so that the obtained resonant circuit exhibits a resonance frequency above the highest operating frequency.    Pref. each phase of the generator (1) is coupled to the rectifier circuit (5) via a capacitive element (3) and a series switch (4) controlled w.r.t. the frequency.    ADVANTAGE -   Optimum operating efficiency without requiring adjustment of turbine vanes.
Optoelectronic devices such as solar cells with electrical connection on two faces are mounted on carriers at a primary workstation where they are soldered into position. The carriers pass through to a secondary workstation where the complete assemblies are removed from the carriers. The carriers proceed to a third workstation where they wait in line to start the process again.Discharge of units and waiting of carriers are consecutive operations while another set of assemblies for soldering is organised simultaneously.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Production line soldering of optoelectronic devices with reduced time delay, e.g. precision soldering of photosensitive elements, locating them individually and soldering conductors.
The steam engine supplies vaporising energy to water under high pressure. The vaporising energy is composed of remaining energy of the steam engine and that of an extra electric heating. The latter is automatically generated by the engine. The heated water is injected through valves (7) located in covers (8) of an empty sealed chamber (10) to generate steam pressure in the chamber. The remaining steam is removed from the cylinder (11) through an auxiliary valves (9) in the covers (8).    Electric energy is generated by coils (12) in the cylinder due to resulting motion of permanent magnets (14) on the piston (13). Energy is generated in the middle and at the ends of the cylinder (11) and distributed.    ADVANTAGE -   Efficient energy conversion system.
The coaxial duplex turbine has a Wale's turbine on the inner peripheral side. A first annular fluid flow is formed for rotating the Wales' turbine, and a second fluid flow is formed radially outside the first flow to rotate another turbine provided on the outer peripheral side. At start-up peripheral turbine starts rotating first and its output actuates the compressor.    An accelerated and compressed fluid is fed into the hollow turbine and then discharged through a passage bent to the side of the trailing edge in a blade.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved self-starting function and energy conversion efficiency of Wales' turbine.
A cylindrical casing tube is inserted into a well and the geothermal liq. at the lower end or the side face of the casing tube flows into the casing tube. The casing tube has a pit mouth device which can be closed. The temp. when the calculated value of the length of the liq. phase with the geothermal well pressure and the density of the geothermal liquid is coincidental with the calculated value with the excavating length of the geothermal well and the density of the geothermal liq. and the ratio enthalpy of the geothermal liq. is required and the geothermal well pressure at the temp. is calculated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for geothermal electric power generation, etc.. Because the max. closing pressure and the max. temp. can be forecast, the excess investment and the decrease of well durability and safety can be prevented.    In an example, geothermal liq. phase flows into feed points of a casing tube (7) which has a pit mouth device which can be closed at the upper end from the underground reservoir.
Weights (11) are lowered from a surface conveyor (21), down a pit shaft (13) to an underground conveyor (22) in a horizontal working (20). The cable (12) is run through overhead winding gear (14) to a drum (15) with a flywheel (16) coupled to a generator (17), which converts the lost potential energy of the weights (11) into electric power. During periods of light load the weights are returned to the surface as the cable (12) is rewound by an electric motor (18).    ADVANTAGE -   Environmentally friendly appts. enabling current demand during peak periods to be largely met with reduced emission of pollutants.
The solar collector consists of several acryl glass baths arranged next to one another and inserted in one another, covering a suitably large surface, being adjusted and fixed by distance strips and connected by means of clamp strips. The existing roof covering is coated matt black as under part of the solar collector in company with a matt black-coated aluminium bath.    Every third acryl glass bath is connected by a pipe conduit and issues in the areas of air inlet and hot air outlet in an air heat exchanger, which is embedded in a solid material accumulator surrounded by an adequateley dimensioned insulation. The solid material accumulator is filled with basalt stone chippings and is directly fixed to the solar collector, adequately insulated, and provides an emergency heating with solar cell current feed for frost protection.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To make full use of solar energy all the year round.
The solar concentrator includes a carriage movable along an inclined, ground anchored ramp. A first weight at the end of a pulley carried first cable biases the carriage upwardly of the ramp slope. A number of mirrors are pivotally carried by the carriage and reflect sunrays towards a heat sink absorber. A second weight biases the mirrors in an opposite direction.    The operator can put into operation the second or third weight as he chooses. Gravity induced up or down carriage displacement allows sun tracking adjustments on an incremental, day to day basis. Gravity induced mirrors pivotal motion allow sun tracking adjustments on a continuous basis during each daylight period.    ADVANTAGE -   All year long, solar rays reflected by the mirrors remain convergent toward the absorber.
The adjustable focal length reflector includes a membrane which has a reflective surface. The membrane is subject to incident radiation pressure. An assembly located at the perimeter of the membrane counteracts the incident radiation pressure to vary the focal length of the reflective surface.    The assembly includes an inflatable structure whose internal pressure is varied to vary the amount of force exerted on the membrane. Engines can be provided to move the adjustable focal length reflector or to maintain the position of the adjustable focal length reflector constant against the radiation pressure. The membrane is initially flat due to tension applied around its perimeter by the frame. When incident radiation strikes the membrane, radiation pressure stretches the membrane into a concave shape. The precise shape of the membrane is determined by the elasticity of the membrane, the power density of the incident radiation, and the tension applied at the perimeter.    USE -   For solar collector on microwave power beam.
A horizontal-axis wind turbine is mounted transversely at the edge of the highway where its blades are set in motion by the draught from vehicles (esp. heavy goods vehicles or large omnibuses) passing at speed.    The effect may be augmented by installation of several such turbogenerators one behind another, or by provision of a wind guidance channel for more efficient coupling to the rotor blades.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   On railways or motorways carrying heavy goods traffic, recovery of energy in useful form accompanied by dissipation of combustion engine exhaust fumes.
The element has a collector base (12) having a bore (14) supporting a collector (16) closely spaced from a concentric emitter (19) supported on a concentric emitter base (20) which defines a central lumen (22) contg. a fissioning nuclear fuel (24). A thermal shield (26) is between a portion of the emitter and the collector to thermally insulate that portion of the collector (32).    Pref. a dielectric (34) is also between shield and collector.    The shield structure pref. has separate sheets and several shield structures may be spaced apart from each other. The shield structure(s) are free from physical contact with the collector.    ADVANTAGE -   Emitter distortion, temp. and lifetime are controlled and increases fuel-vol. ratio while eliminating the driver in low power level core design.
The wave machine consists of an immersed body (1) with several floats (7) round a main axle (22) so as to move racks (13,14) up and down, and so moving a transmission wheel (19) and shaft ratchet in the same direction. Flywheels or rotors (23) are used to ensure co-ordinated rotation, using the stored energy to generate current, passed onshore via underwater cables. Arms (2) are arranged in an ascending star on the main body which reach up to the water surface to terminate in bearings (3) for respective holding arms (4). The arms work as two-arm levers and are deflected by the floats in time with the waves, using a vertically descending lifting rod (10) on each arm load arm (6) clear of the main body. The rods transfer this movement via racks (13,14) to pinion wheels (16,17) mutually locked by free-wheels and the deflector shafts (15).    All shafts (15) engage bevel gearing (19) in the body and pass low speed rotations through a free-wheel clutch (20) to multi-stage gearing (21). The gearing gives high output speed to drive the working shaft whose variable mass flywheel is adapted in speed to the energy supply and passes this through a converter to the generators (35).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Renewable energy sources, wave power. Float-operated rack linkage responds to wave and tide movement for max. energy recovery and power generation.    .D
The system comprises two caverns (4, 5) in a subterranean salt formation partly filled with a salt soln. and gas pressurises the head space. A pumping/generator plant (10) with cooler (11) at the surface connects the liq. filled portions via channels (6, 7 & 8, 9). Further channels (12, 13 & 14, 15) connect the compressed gas in the caverns to compressor/generator plants (16, 17).    The pumping/generator plant (10) moves salt soln. between caverns when supplied with energy or generates energy when driven by salt soln. flow caused by differential pressure. Similarly energy transfer is possible at the compressor/generating plants (16, 17).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Energy can be exchanged with a turbo-generator system in order to enable the equipment to work at a predetermined constant load for high efficiency.
The method of artificially uniformalising the configurative orientations of atoms in a non-conductive plate involves heating and shaping a non-conductive substance into the shape of the plate, the heat having been adjusted to render the substance sensitive to weakening the magnetic binds of its atoms for magnetic control. The heat is masked at a marginal portion at the peripheral edge of the heated substance to a temperature that the magnetic binds of atoms are not affected for magnetic control.    A magnetic field is applied to the heated substance from a direction parallel to the planes of the surfaces for the magnetic control, thereby retaining the uniformity of atoms when the heat is removed. Electrons are implanted on the plate to at least one of the surfaces, axially perpendicular thereto by virtue of the directional magnetic control.    ADVANTAGE -   Achieves polar uniformity of ions and high intensity electrical output by uniformly processing resonance of large number of free electrons.
In the heating and pressing chamber of the multilayering equipment; flat plate, cushion material layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol, fluorine resin peeling-off material layer, rear side material layer of white fluorine resin bonding and sealing material lower layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, wiring for solar cells, bonding and sealing material upper layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, etc., and light-transmitting material layer of fluorine resin are formed into a multilayered sheet. Then the sheet is heated and pressed to bury the wiring between the bonding and sealing upper layer and lower layer, and to unify and fix the multilayered body.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A prod. with uniform thickness can be prepd., without damage to the solar cell wafer during pressing. The module can be peeled off from the lower part in use.
The glass substrate has the 1st thin film formed on a wide area of the substrate, and the 2nd thin film formed on part of the 2nd thin film, in which the 1st thin film has a pattern that remaining film-free portions at part of the substrate, and the 2nd thin film has a pattern at least of which part contacts with the 1st one, and the other part contacts with the substrate directly through the portions where the 1st thin film does not formed.    USE -   As cover glass for solar cells for use in space.
The solar battery module includes a number of solar battery cells (2) electrically series-connected to interconnectors (3), and at least one or more bypass diodes (4A) allowing output currents of the solar battery cells to be bypassed with respect to at least one or more solar battery cells. The bypass diode is a pellet-like thin diode, connected between two interconnectors extending from electrode (2a, 2b) of the solar battery cell on a line in which the interconnectors are aligned.Each of the solar battery cells has one bypass diode with a thickness of approximately not more then 0.5mm. The solar battery module is laminated together with a protection layer (5 and 6).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For roof-tile adaptation, which maintains output level even when a crack appears in the roof-tile-stacked solar battery module. Provides solar battery module which has good appearance and high value as commodity, easily laminated together with protection layers without damaging thin solar battery cells.
The equipment is positioned at a depth of between 1,000 and 3,000 m at the bottom of a shaft and is fed with water and a second fluid conduit (11) for a liq. with a higher boiling pt. than water is positioned parallel to the water pipe (1) as far as the steam boiler (3a). The second fluid is oil and is heated additionally by compression as the result of the oil column.    The oil is fed into a jacket (12) surrounding the steam boiler where it heats the water above boiling pt. The steam produced in the boiler is fed via a high pressure line (10) to the steam turbine (3b) located at a level (T2) above that of the bottom of the shaft (T1).    The steam turbine forms the energy station together with the generator (5) and a current cable (6) feeds electricity to the distribution mains above ground. The steam is fed to a condensation station whence as condensate it is fed back to the boiler (3a).
The solar collector has a housing in the shape of a sculpture, with a layer of photovoltaic cells (2) cladding all or part of its outer surface. If the sculpture is to be used for supplying hot water, heat absorbing elements (3) are used instead of photovoltaic cells.    The interior of the housing can have different uses, e.g. for accommodating a hot water store with an associated circulation system for the absorber fluid. If the sculpture is used to generate electricity the housing may contain an electronic circuit coupled to the photovoltaic cells.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   E.g. for heating swimming pool or boiler. Provides aesthetic appearance whilst generating useful power.
The system consists of a sensor (12) with at least four photo-transistors linked to a series of electromagnets (17,20,23,24). The installation is mounted on a base with two shafts, one to control directional movement (28) and another to control elevation. A series of water containers (7,8,10,14,17,19) act as counterweights, reservoirs and drains.    When at least one of the photo-transistors in the sensor (12) is irradiated by the suns rays, a signal is sent to the electromagnets (17,20,23,24) to set up a flow of water to the counterweights. This alters the equilibrium of the system and causes the reflector to move in azimuth and elevation until all four phototransistors are illuminated. A second signal is then sent to the electromagnets to stop the flow of water and stop the system rotating and elevating.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar energy installation. Increased stability of the installation in windy conditions. Bul.15/23.4.92.
The unit includes a fixed mounting (1) with hinged levers whose longer arms (9,10) are telescopically connected to the hollow cylindrical floats (11,12), and the shorter arms (13,14) are connected to the toothed sectors (15,16), and power take-off shaft connected to the utiliser and provided with toothed wheels (17), which contact the sectors. The levers large arms have different length. The sectors radii are larger than the wheel radii. The operation reliability is increased since the floats have different volumes. The float with larger volume is connected to the lever with smaller arm and the smaller volume float is connected to the lever with larger length arm.    The floats (11,12) rock on the waves and undergo reciprocating movement which is transformed by longer arms (9,10), pipes (5,6), bushes (3,4) and shorter arms (14,13) into curved displacement of the toothed sectors (15,16), coupled with toothed wheels (17) provided with overrunning clutches which create a torque at the outlet shaft ends, transmitting the torque through the reducers to the generator (23).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is used for wave power energy conversion. The operation reliability is increased. Bul.15/23.4.92.
Isolating defective Si spheres having an exposed P-type region where the spheres are affixed to a foil matrix, comprises: applying an insulating cover to the exposed P-type region; removing a portion of the insulating cover from a partial area of the sphere; anodising the foil matrix and the spheres for a time sufficient to form an insulating oxide coating to those of the spheres having a short between the P-type region and the foil matrix.    Pref. the insulating cover is an organic material, e.g. polymide; the anodising step takes place in HF acid soln. (upto 45% HF).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process identifies and isolates shorted cells in a single process. The process is uncomplicated and economical and improves prodn. efficiency.
The apparatus comprises an elongated metallic conduit for a heat absorbing fluid, and a number of longitudinally spaced brackets for supporting the conduit in a position exposed to the sun. A number of elongated support elements are transversely disposed relative to the conduit at longitudinally spaced intervals. A bearing mechanism on each support element rotatably engages the conduit. Each support element has a parabolic surface with a focal axis substantially coincident with the axis of the conduit.    A pair of elongated frames are respectively rigidly secured to the outer end portions of the elongated support elements. A flexible rectangular sheet has at least one reflective surface. A device on the elongated frames engages the respective longitudinal edges of the sheet and deforms the sheet into conformity with the parabolic surfaces to define a parabolic reflective surface having focal axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the conduit.    ADVANTAGE -   Permits employment of single collection trough design thereby eliminating need for redundant tracking and adjustment mechanisms. Allows continuous maximum solar ray concentration.
The concentrating layer of the solar power plant conducts solar radiation to a radiation transducer, whose irradiating surface is considerably smaller than that of the concentrating layer (9). The spacing between the layer and transducer is changed in dependence on the vertical movement of the focal region.    Pref. the concentrating layer is a horizontal Fresnel lens, height adjustable by floats under the lens in a container filled with water, on which moves another float supporting the transducer for reducing the space between the lens and transducer with rising water level.    ADVANTAGE -   Simple passing of solar radiation through Fresnel lens so that over 90 percent of solar radiation reaches transducer.
The space satellite operating in a geosynchronous orbit has a main body (410) containing operational communication equipment and power supplies. Solar panels are located on projecting arms and the orientation is such that a panel (420) is directed at earth. The arms project from the north and south surfaces, and rotate to maintain panel direction following the sun.    The north and south panels have an optical solar reflector as due sections (440, 442, 444) of the west panels. A similar arrangement is provided for the south and east panels. Within the north and south surfaces are heating pipes. The combination of surfaces provide a balance between heat absorption and emission.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides thermally controlled conditions.
The sea-wave energy converter consists of a support, fixed to the sea-bed, a wave receiver, a vertical rod (1), an energy accumulator (2) and a converter mechanism, connected to a power consumer.    The support is in the form of a sealed housing (3), and the pivot connecting it to the rod (1) is spherical in shape and set in the upper wall of the housing. The unit has an additional spherical pivot (5) which connects the rod to the wave receiver, and the latter is in the form of a float (6).    The float is in the shape of an isosceles triangle with an acute angle at the top, while its base is cut away and shaped to receive the rod pivot.    The converter mechanism comprises two conical plates (8), linked by their tips and pushers (9) with levers (10) which interact with them.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher efficiency. Bul.13/7.4.92.
The power plant has compressors (5,6) which pump the hydrogen and oxygen given off from the electrodes into receivers (7,8). The hydrogen may be stored in the form of hydrides (in containers with powdered titanium, magnesium and rare earth elements), or in a cryogenic state, which is less advisable from an energy point of view. The hydride storage of hydrogen is now quite practical. There are magnesium-based alloys in which hydrogen can accumulate in amt. up to 6.5% of the weight of the alloy. The solar batteries and wind motor drive the compressors via a converter (3). The oxygen and hydrogen are supplied to an engine (9), on the shaft of which a power supply generator (10) is mounted, if necessary via a reduction gear.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For converting solar and wind energy into electricity. The plant is more economical. Bul.13/7.4.92.
The energy generation plant has a base frame (2) and one drive element coupled via a pivot linkage, with the frame (2) or the drive element floating on the water surface. The frame (2) and the drive element exhibit different torques relative to the pivot linkage, their relative movement caused by the wave motion converted into electrical energy by a generator.    The floats (6) are mounted at the end of carrier arms (5) acting on coil springs (11) incorporated in the frame (2). The coil springs (11) act on a drive shaft (18) which is driven upon release of a brake for driving the electrical generator. Pref. the frame (2) is anchored to the seabed via a number of anchoring rods (3).    USE -   For continuous generation of electrical energy from wave movement.
The cover (12) is used in solar powered lamps with a photovoltaic cell (16) and an optical axis. It has smooth and continuous surface portion receiving solar radiation at an incident angle. An inner surface portion adjacent to the photovoltaic cell has a number of prismatic units for bending the radiation towards the optical axis so that it forms an angle with the optical axis which is smaller than the incident angle.    The prismatic units are arranged in concentric circles about the optical axis with different angular configurations and different thicknesses. A peripheral portion of the outer surface has a number of exterior prismatic units redirecting the incoming radiation onto a photodirector of the solar power lamp.    ADVANTAGE -   Effectively absorbs available radiation and increases run-time of solar powered lights all year round, especially during winter months or at low ambient light levels.
Caisson (11) has an opening to face in a direction of wave propagation so that waves flow through and drive a float (15) coupled with a water pump (13) to feed water to an accumulator tank (21) and build up a pressure to a selected pressure which drives a turbine generator (49) to generate electric power to operate a pressure accumulator (54). The pressure accumulator builds up the pressure of water flowing through, from the accumulator tank (21), to a pressure sufficient to operate the desalination appts. (25) to separate potable water (29) from the sea water.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the efficient extn. of potable water from sea water. Provides a sturdy and reliable appts. resistant to the elements, which is dependent only on wave power of the ocean for its operation.
The impulse drive includes the frame and the impulse generator mounted on the frame. The impulse generator comprises a drive device to cause relative motion between the frame and at least a portion of the impulse generator. A device associated with the portion of the impulse generator imparts rotation of at least one rotatable member carried by the impulse generator and thereby converts a portion of the kinetic energy and momentum thereof to rotational kinetic energy and angular momentum of the at least one rotatable member.    A device transfers at least some of the kinetic energy and momentum of the portion to the frame, whereby the difference in kinetic energy and momentum attributable to the rotation of the at least one rotatable member provides a net impulse to the frame in a predetermined direction. The impulse generator includes at least two interacting driving members with at least one member carrying the rotatable member and one being movable relative to the frame.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For counteracting oscillations and impulses applied to a system. Repetitive, net unidirectional quantitiser of translational kinetic energy and linear momentum in form of net impulses can be applied to frame and combined system without requiring expulsion of exhaust from system.
The sunlight is captured by a structured lens (9) and directed down towards a strip of photocells (7). Light directed alongside the strip falls onto concave mirror strips (11) which focus this light to laterally positioned upper mirrors (11) and back down onto the photocells. The outer lens system can be rotated to follow the sun and provides efficient light capture for angled light as well as overhead light.    The flanking mirrors transmit IR radiation to a water storage underneath. Surplus energy is stored thermally in the water for subsequent reclaiming by other means. The whole system is floated on a contained water system.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved conversion efficiency, improved energy storage.
A truncated cone of material resistant to sea-water corrosion,e.g. polyurethane, concrete, etc., is fixed in a semi-submerged position w.r.t. the mean free seal-level surface (1). The larger end (13) of the cone admits undulating water into its interior.The smaller end of the cone is above sea-level and at a height which waves do not reach. The top of the cone is sealed with a cover contg. inlet (8) and outlet (10) non-return air valves.    The alternating sea-water motion (15,16) operates inside the cone like a piston, compressed air being forced out through the outlet valve into air tank (24) storage, such as the interior or of an anchored floating breakwater (2). The inlet valve operates on the sea-water outward cycle.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For e.g. electric power generation. Simple, economic compressed air prodn. using renewable sea-wave energy.
The photovoltaic module integration system comprises a rigid supporting frame and three or more parallel conducting strips. The parallel conducting strips are secured to, and electrically isolated from the rigid supporting frame. Encapsulated photovoltaic modules convert light into electrical current. Mounting-conducting electrodes establish electrical connection to the encapsulated photovoltaic module and attach the encapsulated photovoltaic module to the parallel conducting strips.    The mounting-conducting electrode comprises an internal portion contained within an electrically attached to the encapsulated photovoltaic module. An external portion extends outside of the encapsulated photovoltaic module. The external portion further comprises a portion of increased width along its length.    USE -   Lattice and electrodes designed to physically assemble and electrically interconnect a large number of solar modules.
The panel has an array of off axis cylindrical parabolic mirrors with an optical design of relatively short focal length solar cells arranged in line that converts sunlight to electricity. The back surface of the mirrors are used as the solar cell mount and the heat sink for the adjacent mirror.    By appropriate positioning of the adjacent mirror so that the focal line of the parabola falls within the boundary or rim of the mirror reflected solar light can be directed to the solar cell mounted on the back of the adjacent mirror and converted to electricity.    ADVANTAGE -   Occupies small area and does not require separate radiator component.
The method for generating energy involves conveying fluid through a series of fluid pressurisation units, each unit incrementally increasing the pressure of the fluid as the fluid passes under the force of differential pressure within that unit. The pressurised fluid from a preceding unit is outlet from that unit and input into the succeeding unit in series. Each unit includes a first member and an associated second member.    The first member is immersed in or floats on the surface of a body of water. The first member rises and falls with the rise and fall of wave motion. The second member is submerged and anchored. The fluid is pressurised as the result of the relative movement between the first and second members as the fluid passes through a unit. The pressurised fluid may then be used to drive turbines and electric generators or other energy conversion devices.    ADVANTAGE -   Captures energy from wide range of wave amplitudes, provides large volume output capacity at high pressure.
The system consists of a source (102) of electromagnetic radiation, a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, and a primary reflecting surface (120) having an aperture for receiving electromagnetic radiation from the source, the primary reflecting surface selectably projecting electromagnetic radiation onto the receiver.    The primary reflecting surface (120) has reflecting surfaces for singly and multiply reflecting electromagnetic radiation with re-entrant reflecting surfaces for multiply reflecting electromagnetic radiation from the source. Pref. the aperture is circular, elliptical or rectangular.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   New design principles in non-imaging optics; projects a specified spatial electromagnetic radiation pattern from extended source with high concentration of radiation onto extended receiver. Compact, using only reflective components. Suitable for customised extended source and receiver geometries. Optical applications include search lights, laser pumping and fibre optics; solar energy concentrators.
A mover allows adjustment of the collector units, and an absorber is mounted on a receiving insolation part. Heat utilisers are connected to a conduit network comprising forward and back ducts. A heat vehicle circulates in the network which is fitted with circulation control valves.    At least one cooking range (71) has hollow hot plates (71a) between the forward (4) and back (5) ducts. The hollow of the hot plate includes a baffle and a flow control piece whilst the hot plate is fitted with a valve for adjusting the volume of heat vehicle flowing.    ADVANTAGE -   Exploitation of solar energy to provide heat or electricity at increased efficiency. Requires no other power source. Collector unit, upon breakdown, may be turned to position preventing overheating.
The generating plant, consists of a housing containing an hydraulic turbine (1), linked to the shaft of a generator, and a guide apparatus.    The guide apparatus is made in the form of a curved cylindrical pipe (2), located in the lower section of the housing and forming a stabilising coil. The turbine is situated in the upper section of the curved pipe, at its inlet, and the generator (3) is located in the housing above the keel, and the shaft (4) between the turbine and generator is set horizontally.    The upper section of the buoy can be equipped with an indicator light (11), a voltage stabiliser (13), and a charger (14) for a battery (15).    ADVANTAGE -   Wider range of functions. Bul.9/7.3.92.
The solar panel (SM) has a glass substrate (GS) which is provided with fixing bores (B) around its edges, used to attach the solar panel to a support surface. Pref. the glass substrate (GS) has at least 2 fixing bores (B) along 2 opposing sides each bore (B) fitted with a plastic sleeve.    The side edges of adjacent solar modules may be overlapped, so that their fixing bores (B) are aligned, allowing the solar modules to be secured to one another by fixing bolts. The solar panels may be mounted on a house roof in the manner of overlapping roof tiles.    ADVANTAGE -   Simple and variable fixing of overlapping solar modules.
Composite article comprises a layer having a dense array of discrete microstructures (11) partially encapsulated in the layer (13). A distal end (17) of each microstructure is exposed at a surface (14) of the layer; pref. the ends and the surface are coplanar. The microstructures are pref. oriented parallel and have an aspect ratio of 3-100:1.    Specifically, the microstructures include a conformed coating between them and the encapsulant. The microstructures have an areal density of 0.04-10 power 6 per sq. micron. The microstructures comprises planar mols. and chains or rings over which pi-electron density is extensively delocalised. A very wide range of inorganic materials, including ceramics, metals etc. and organic materials may be used.    USE -   Esp. in visible radiation absorbing devices, e.g. selective solar absorbers, flat plate solar collectors, solar absorption panels and solar cells.
The solar energy panel has a matrix of cells (1) that are bonded onto an elastomer mat (3) located on top of the cells is a transparent plate (2) of glass or plastic that is bonded into position. Two such assemblies can be mounted side by side on a wooden base (5) and are held in position by bridging elements (10) with fixing screws (9).    The elastomer mat is produced with a cross section that is formed with channels through which a fluid may be circulated. At the same time that the solar cells are cooled, the fluid is heated and this may be used for some form of external heating, i.e. a swimming bath.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Allows recovery of additional energy. Can be used to heat water in swimming pool or as primary circuit of water heat pump.
The solar cell has a pattern of fingers (28) extending between bus bars formed, in silver ink, on one surface of the cell silicon substrate (2). The ink for at least the bus bars has, in a liq. vehicle, glass frit and silver particles of generally spherical shape.    Copper tabs are soldered to the bus bars and to silver soldering pads (20) on the susbtrate opposite surface. The solder employed is of tin and silver, with composition in the range 96 to 98 percent tin.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved bonding of contacts to substrate.
The waves flowing into the chamber (1) cause periodic increase and decrease of the pressure of the air contained in the chamber and supplied to the utiliser. The waves interact with the body (2) front wall (3,4) causing its periodic osillations, thus helping the air pressure change. The front wall returns to the original vertical position when its lower part (4) is lifted by the pneumatic cylinder (8). The lower part (4) displaces on the upper part (3) guide (12), thus reducing the hydrodynamic resistance. The air used during the cylinder (8) operation is additionally supplied to the pneumatic accumulator (5) and the utiliser.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For wave power conversion. The efficiency is increased. Bul. 7/23.2.92
The geothermal power plant has a geothermal well (1) connected to degasser (2), a turbo-generator (4) connected to the latter and provided with mixing condenser (7), connected to the cooling tower (8), a combustion chamber (6) with fuel supply pipeline and ejector (11), connected to the combustion chamber and the condenser. The plant also has a mixer (14) and gas liq. heat-mass exchanger (13). The gas supply pipeline (5) is connected to the degasser (2) which allows sulphur compounds removal from the geothermal heat carrier gases.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In geothermal power plants. Atmospheric pollution is reduced. Bul.6/15.2.92
The unit has a vertical power element, an elastic housing with cylindrical side surface, connected to the upper and lower sections (2,3), whose closed space filled with air contains a working mechanism made as cylinder (8) with a piston (4). Piston (4) is fitted on the power element between the sections (2,3), and cylinder (8) is fitted on the peripheral disc (9). A toroidal elastic material container (12) is fitted on the disc (9) and is connected to the housing (5) in the central part. The disc is placed coaxially to the container (12) and its peripheral part contacts the inner surface.    When the wave moves in the housing (5) floats and its shape changes and the disc (9) displaces w.r.t. the power element, displacing the cylinder (8) w.r.t. the piston (4) and transforms the wave energy.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The wave power plant is used for wave energy transformation. The metal vol. is reduced. Bul.6/15.2.92.
The programmable timer power switch unit comprises a power switch receiving power from a motor battery and switching the power to equipment powered by the motor battery. A detector connected to the motor battery detects potential charges of the battery and compares the detected potential charges to predetermined reference voltages. A vibration/sound/pressure detector connected to detector monitors the comparison of the voltages with vibrations of the motor battery, and provides a mode signal representing battery on, idle or moving.    An auto/manual override switch is connected to the detector for receiving a comparison signal and for sending a result signal based on the comparison. The timer-control logic receives the signals from the vibration-pressure detector and the auto/manual override switch for controlling the power switch based on the received signals. A programmable delay device connected to the timer-control logic and the auto/manual override switch enables the timer-control logic for a predetermined selected time.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Delays shutdown so memory save can be performed. Has emergency override feature to protect memory intensive communication systems.
An operational method for a H2-O fuel cell system comprising principally (1) providing a H2-rich fuel gas having CO content sufficient to poison the fuel cell's catalyst, (2) subjecting the fuel gas to a CO + H2O shift reaction producing a feed stream consisting essentially of Y2, CO2, H2O and below 1 vol.% CO, and (3) introducing the feed stram into the fuel cell, the improvement comprising between (2) and (3): adjusting feed stream temp. to one which promotes CO adsorption onto a catalyst which preferentially adsorbs CO rather than H2; introducing O2 into the feed stream, in stoichiometric excess over CO to promote preferential CO oxidn. on the catalyst in the presence of H2; adsorbing the feed stream CO onto the catalyst and preferentially oxidising it forming a process stream consisting essentially of H2, CO2, H2O and at least 10 x less CO than the feed stream; removing the process stream from the catalyst; introducing O2 into the process stream, less than the first quantity, in stoichiometric excess over CO, to promote preferential oxidn. of CO on a catalyst selected to promote more rapid oxidn. of CO than H2 at a temp. higher than the first, selected to promote rapid oxidn.; adjusting the process stream temp. to the second temp.; and reacting the process stream CO with O2 on the catalyst forming a prod. stream consisting essentially of H2, CO2, H2O and less than 0.01 vol.% CO.    Also claimed is an assembly for reducing the CO content of a H2-rich CO-contaminated fuel feed stream to a H2-O2 fuel cell, pref. process and assembly.    ADVANTAGE -   CO content is preferentially reduced to a level tolerable to a fuel cell without reacting substantial H2. Using 2 reaction chambers decreases the temp. rise due to CO oxidn. and heat is removed by convertion as the reacted stream is removed. Rapid removal of the reacted stream and short residence time minimise the equilibrium reaction wherein CO is reduced to CO.
An electrolyser appts. comprises (i) a vessel; (ii) a sulphonated polymer electrolyte selected from sulphonated polyetheretherketone, polyethersulphone, polybenzimidazole, polyphenylquinoxaline and fluorinated polyimide; (iii) an anode and a cathode, each situated on the electrolyte; (iv) a DC power supply coupled to the electrodes; (v) a supply of water for supplying to one of the electrodes; (vi) a heater for heating the electrolyte to 80-200 deg.C.; and (vi) means for collecting O2 and H2 from the electrodes.    A method of electrolysing water using the described appts. with water supplied to the anode and the electrolyte heated to 100-200 deg.C. is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   The solid polymer electrolyte operates with relatively high ionic conductivity at high temps. without loss of structural integrity. A high rate of gas output is achieved with low drive voltage (1.5-2.5V) and energy consumption. The efficiency is improved over previous systems.
(JP5307974-A)   NOVELTY - A case (1) accommodates a separator (5) set between positive pole (6) containing lithium-cobalt composite oxide and negative pole (3) made of carbon that absorbs and desorbs lithium ion. An organic electrolyte obtained by dissolving lithium perchloride in mixed solvent of sulfolane and ethylene carbonate, is poured between the positive and negative poles.    USE - Organic electrolyte secondary battery e.g. for electric vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - Improves electro chemical stability of electrolyte, by providing positive pole and negative pole made of material that absorbs and desorbs lithium.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional drawing of the organic electrolyte secondary battery.    case (1)    gasket (4)    negative pole (3)    separator (5)    positive pole (6)
(JP5307949-A)   NOVELTY - The battery consists of a bag-shaped separator with multiple rib at inner surface. An anode separated from cathode by separator, consists of lattice-shaped alloy comprising lead, calcium and tin. The alloy contains 0.05-0.07wt.% of tin and 0.75-1.0wt.% of calcium.    USE - Lead storage battery for automobile engine.    ADVANTAGE - Durable battery capable of preventing deformation of anode at high temperature, is realized by providing anode lattice of high mechanical strength.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a perspective view of the electrode group of the battery. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    anode (1)    separator (2)    cathode (3)
The reformer includes a sealed vessel in which is provided a partition made of a gas non-permeable material to form a heating chamber and a heated chamber; a porous radiator in the heating chamber; and a catalyst body in the heated chamber. An air feeder is provided to feed air in an amt. of not less than 38% of raw gas before raw gas enters catalyst body and lead mixed gas of air and raw gas to inlet of catalyst body.    ADVANTAGE -   Steam-reformed prod. gas of good quality can be obtd.
The battery has an exposed negative terminal (2), positive terminal (10) hidden within the battery casing, an exposed dummy terminal (3) and a control circuit including a heavy duty switch e.g. solenoid (9) between the positive and dummy terminals and sealed within the battery. The control circuit has an input for connection to an external code-controlled operating device for controlling the enabling of the switch. The positive terminal may be connected through isolator relay (12) to an INHIBIT circuit C.    When ignition is switched on power is fed to a keypad and only if predetermined code has been set into the keypad in order to pass is an operating signal passed to electronic lock (13) to switch the relay to connect power to an ENABLE circuit B and to disconnect the supply from the INHIBIT circuit C. This causes solenoid to operate to connect positive terminal to the dummy terminal. When the ignition key is moved to the start position power is supplied to a starter to the dummy terminal. When the ignition key is moved to the start position power is supplied to a starter motor.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents vehicle theft by jump starting vehicle.
The rectangular base (1) has a peripheral groove (17) into which fit the bottom edges of the side walls (2,3,4,5), leaving openings (13-16) to allow the box to be fixed down. The sidewall vertical edges have interlocking tongues and grooves, which may be connected by dovetailed mortise and tenon joints.    Openings (11,12) at the top of one long side permit the entry of the battery main connections. The bottom and/or one side may be omitted where suitable surfaces are provided in the vehicle body.    The lid (6) is moulded with flanges (7-10) fitting over the box, and may be slid into grooves formed in two opposing sidewalls.    ADVANTAGE -   Protects battery from extremes of cold and heat, oxidation, dust and grease contaminants. Reduced evaporation losses and degradation of terminal connections.
The protection box includes a base (1) and lid (6) having rows of vertical dowels (38) round all four sides, plugging into sockets (39) moulded into top and bottom edges of the four wall-plates (2,3,4,5). The vertical edges (24,25) of the end walls (4,5) are turned over and moulded to slide into corresponding rebates (19,21) in the long walls, to form interlocking corners. Openings (14,16) are left at the bottom for fixing down, and in the top edges (11,46,47) to admit main connections. The latter can be closed by D-shaped slides (48) when not required. Shallow recesses (50) under the lid allow closer fitting over the battery terminals.    Optionally the various plates may be assembled using interlocking tongues and grooves along the edges.    ADVANTAGE -   Protects and insulates battery and terminals, reducing evaporation of battery acid.
A metal sheet is punched and bent to form a battery terminal (15) in an integral construction. An annular electrode-engaging portion (16) is formed at the forward end, and has a groove (18) vertically on the inner surface. Flat plates are projected at the free end to form tightening plates (20A, 20B), and the tightening strip (22) formed via a stepped portion (21).    In operation, a nut and bolt adjustably fasten the tightening strip (22) against a tightening plate, with the strip also engaging the other tightening plate so that vertical movement provided by the bolt during tightening, is translated into horizontal movement to close the free ends when the strip engages with the inclined portion (32) of the substrate (23).    ADVANTAGE -   Provides positive clamping action to battery post without wrench inteferring with other components, lessening risk of short-circuit and potential fire hazard.
The method of electricity prodn. uses a mechanism comprising two chains (1) on which are attached reservoirs (2) used to separate the gas. These reservoirs have orifices (3) to allow the gas to penetrate. A part of the reservoir must be at an angle to allow the rotation of the mechanism to locations on the curve.    The chains are connected to two gear wheels (4) and their ends are connected to a dynamo by a rod (5). The movement of the chains is facilitated by ball bearings. Electrodes (6) in the interior of a structure, closing towards the top (7), while the gases are directed toward the orifices. The mechanism is completely immersed in water in the reservoir (8).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For generating electricity from inert material.
The plate comprises: (a) a porous component; (b) fluoro polymer film(s); and (c) a graphite plate laminated to (a) via (b); and an electroconductive pathway existing between (a) and (c), while the fluoro polymer provides an electrolyte barrier.    Also new is an improved fuel cell stack incorporating the above.    The porous component may be pref. an electrolyte reservoir plate or a graphite cooler holder. Pref. fluoro polymer films are of fluorinated ethylene propylene resin and/or TFE copolymers.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in H2/O2 fuel cells, the arrangement is capable of minimising inter-cell electrolyte migration to below 0.5 g/ft/1000 hr. for at least 40000 hr. operation (e.g. in phosphoric acid fuel cells at current densities of 200-400 amps/ft2).
An electrolytic source of pressurised H2 comprises electrolytic cells in series, each having an inlet and outlet (9,20) for electrolyte circulation connected to a reservoir (13) by bottom (17) and top (18) channels, a positive O2 electrode (3) and a negative pressurised H2 electrode (2). This has an inner H2 outlet (12) and porous inner (7), covering (8) and metallic layers, all with a hydrophilic surface, and with H overvoltages of 0.25, 0.3-0.4, and 0.5-1.5 V respectively. The H electrode is connected to a H2 receptacle which is at least twice the vol. of the part of the electrolyte reservoir filled with O2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An electrolytic source of pressurised H2 is provided which is useful for high-purity pressurised H2. Problems of pressure equalisation and high O2 content are avoided, efficiency is increased by 100% and the pressure of H2 by 50%.
Burner comprises lamination of a high calorific fuel injection portion at the centre, the 1st oxidising agent blowing portion, low calorific fuel injection portion, the sec. oxidising agent blowing portion in order. Pref. the low calorific fuel injection portion has rotor to rotating at right angle to burner axis at the top.    ADVANTAGE -   The burner capable to use both high and low calorific fuel.    In an example, the burner (12) in combustion cylinder (20) was obtd. by lamination of a high cal. fuel (e.g. natural gas) injection path (52) having nozzle (44) with centre hole (42), the 1st oxidising agent (e.g. air) path (53) and low calorific fuel (e.g. exhausted fuel from fuel cell, 1000 Kcal/cubic.Nm) injection path (56) having ring type rotor (60) at the top and the sec. oxidising agent (e.g exhausted air from fuel cell, O2 - 9-10%) path (58) in order. Mixing of fuel and air was accelerated by the rotor (60).
Fuel reforming appts. comprises a reforming catalyst layer formed in a reforming pipe, and flexible stress absorbing layer formed on the catalyst layer. The absorbing layer is to absorb a stress in the catalyst.
New fuel converter comprises perpendicular inside pipings, outside pipings placed around inside pipings, catalyst layer (9) between the inside and outside pipings, a reactor tube with a gas inlet at the bottom and a gas outlet at the top, and a furnace box in which reactor tube and a burner are accommodated. The catalyst layer is divided into two: the layer on the gas outlet side has a higher heat capacity than that on the gas inlet side.    Pref. (claimed) the catalyst layer with a high heat capacity consists of a support with a higher specific gravity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to produce fuel gas rich in H2. The new converter is used in an on-site type fuel cell which is turned on and off frequently.    In an example, a catalyst with a higher heat capacity was prepd. by loading a Ni-based catalyst on a sintered porous alpha-alumina support. CH4 was converted with the Ni-based catalyst at 700 deg.C as: CH4+H2O to CO+3H2, CO+H2O to CO2+Hs, CH4+2H2O to CO2+4H2.
A mixed soln. is formed from a copolymer comprising acryl.butadiene.styrene and phenyl maleimide, a solvent of the copolymer, a non-solvent dissolved in no copolymer and having good mixing with the solvent, and inorganic powder. The mixed soln. is applied on an acid-resistant base material. Volatile compsns. are removed. The results form a thin film microporous separator. The lead-acid battery includes the separators. The copolymer contains phenyl maleimide, 5-60 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The lead-acid battery is used in motor or electric cars. The separator has low electrical resistance, superior acid resistance and oxidn. resistance at elevated temps. The resulting battery has no deterioration in its performance at elevated temps. and has a long lifetime.
The battery terminal comprises a terminal main body having a pair of right and left clamping plates respectively coupled to open free ends of a ring shaped electrode engagement portion for external engagement with a battery post. The electrode engagement portion or an electric wire connecting portion is connected with either or both of the clamping plates. A clamping element includes a side portion having a notch portion including at least one pair of horizontally opposed tapered faces spreading out downwardly. A bolt passes through the clamping element and is engageable with a nut situated in a gap between the right and left clamping plates.    The pair of clamping plates of the terminal main body are insertable into the notch portion of the clamping element, and as the bolt is clamped from above so as to engage with the nut through the gap between the right and left clamping plates, the clamping plates are urged by the tapered faces of the clamping element so as to be pushed towards one another, whereby the electrode engagement portion is urged into pressure contact against an external peripheral face of a battery post upon which it is mounted.    ADVANTAGE -   Battery terminal can be mounted on battery post without impact wrench positively interfering with other components by virtue of clamping operation being carried out from above terminal, eliminating risk of vehicle fire due to wrench possibly short-circuiting battery terminals.
The battery consists of a housing (1), a positive plate (2), a negative plate (3), terminals (4,5) and a ribbed bottom (6). Electrolyte is poured into the housing and the plates (2,3) are installed in the housing resting in the grooves of the ribbed bottom (6). The terminals (4,5) are connected up to the plates (2,3) at the bottom.    The electrical potential generated between the plates (2,3) crosses to the terminals (4,5) to which the consumer is connected. Since the terminals are installed at the bottom of the plates and the plates are resting in the grooves of the ribbed bottom, tensile forces are generated when the device is shaken or vibrated. The appearance of compressive forces which improve the contact in the cracks is promoted instead and the strain forces promote a thickening of the grille since there are no tensile of shear forces between the plates and the bottom of the housing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use in machine-building applications, in vehicles to store electrical energy for starting internal combustion engines, and for powering the electric motors of lighting equipment etc. The lifetime of the storage battery is extended by connecting up the plates to the terminals in the lower part of the housing at the bottom of the storage battery. Bul.44/30.11.92.
Method comprises forming fuel cell system by contacting hydrogen on one side of an ion conductor provided with a catalytic electrode and contacting aromatic cpd. and oxygen on the other side of the ion conductor to produce the partial oxidation product of the aromatic cpd.; and adding a metallic complex soluble in aromatic cpd. The metallic complex pref. contains Fe. The metallic complex is pref. has cyclopentadienyl ligand, porphinate ligand, tetraphenyl-porphinate ligand, tetranaphthylporphinate ligand, or one of those ligands in which at least one hydrogen atm is replaced by alkyl or halogen.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Phenol or quinone is partially oxidised by single direct reaction process.
Prodn. of silicon nitride sintering compacts for ball bearing comprises blending (by wt.) silicon nitride of 82-98.95%, one of alumina, yttria, silica of 1-15%, Ti oxide of 0.05-3%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for producing ceramic ball bearing. Can obtain high crushing strength.
Power generator includes reformer for reforming city gas to hydrogen-rich gas at ordinary time, and methanol evaporator. Liq. methanol is evaporated to be fed to reformer when city gas is stopped. Reformer is provided with liq. methanol-ejecting burner. Methanol evaporator is provided with liq. methanol mist-producing ejecting section and heating section in which mist is evaporated with warm water from cooler for fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Even when feeding city gas is stopped, power generator is continuously operated.
Plant comprises a fuel cell body, a water vapour reformer, a gas-separator, a hydrogen refiner, a DC/AC converter, etc. connected with the fuel cell body, an energy-supplying system for introducing heat generated in a graphite-moderated helium gas-cooled high-temp. gas furnace into the water vapour reformer through a helium-helium intermediate heat exchanger and a system for flowing helium gas returned form the water vapour reformer in a water vapour generator to heat exchange followed by returning the heat exchanged helium gas to the helium-helium heat exchanger.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   H2 gas is effectively utilised.
NOVELTY - The heat recovery from mixed exhaust gas of the air preheater (4,5) is carried out in two steps by heat exchangers (20,21). The heat exchangers are used as heat source of different temperatures. The water that gets condensed in heat exchangers is collected. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The modified gas is supplied to the fuel battery (1) by a modifier (2). The heat from exhaust gas of the modifier is collected by an air preheater (4). The heat from exhaust gas of the air pole (1b) of the fuel battery is collected by another air preheater (5).    USE -   In fuel battery based power generator.    ADVANTAGE -   Enables extraction of heat of exhaust gas in two steps. Enables effective supply of heat capacity required for absorption type cooling unit. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows systematic diagram of fuel battery based power generator. (1) Fuel battery; (1b) Air pole; (2) Modifier; (4,5) Air preheaters; (20,21) Heat exchangers.
Electrolyser for H2 prodn uses a closed electrolytic cell which is enclosed in a pressure shell filled with a liq and pressurised with a gas produced in the electrolysis, pref. pressurised O2 or H2. The liq is pref a silicone oil, fluorinated oil, crude oil-based or synthetic oil, water or mixts of these. The H2 and O2 gas prods are conducted to liq separators which may be located inside or outside the pressure shell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In prodn and storage of pressurised H2, esp. as surplus energy produced by solar cells. Simple, low-cost appts can be applied in automatic solar energy systems without surveillance and continuous maintenance.
Electrolyser for H2 prodn. uses a closed electrolytic cell (11) which is enclosed in a pressure shell (10) pressurised with O2 produced by the electrolysis. The H2 prod. is pref. conducted to a storage container (29).    Pressure shell is divided by a gas impermeable diaphragm into H2 storage and O2 storage sections, the cell being placed in the O2 storage section. The diaphragm is made of metal and/or plastic. Liq. separators (16,17) for the gases are included in each section of the shell, or they may be located outside the shell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In prodn. and storage of pressurised H2, esp. as surplus energy produced by solar cells. Simple, low-cost appts. can be applied in automatic solar energy systems without surveillance and continuous maintenance.
The appts. includes a partial cylindrical ring (11), at one free end (12) of which, there is located a pivotal U-shaped member (13) connected to a pair of lugs (14) by a pin (15). A clamping wire (17) attached to the pivotal member, engages with sockets (19) formed on the exterior surface of the ring.    In operation, the clamping wire is positioned in any of the sockets according to the relative dimensions of the ring and the post. The pivot member is operated to manipulate the clamp into an over-centre snap clamping arrangement, drawing the free end and the other end (20) together so that the ring has a tight fit over the post.    ADVANTAGE -   Easy to install and remove without tools. Can be adjusted to accommodate various size posts. Clamping action ensures good electrical connection.
Membrane comprises a linear copolymer having pendant unsatd. gps. where copolymer comprises (a) ether of formula CF2=CF-CF2-Q-O-CF=CF2 (1) in which Q is -O-C2J4-; and J is F three times and -CF3 once; and (b) a component of formula C2F3-O-C2F4-SO2F (2) in which the -SO2F gp. is converted to an ionic gp. Copolymer pref. comprises 0.3-25 mole% (a) and 75-99.7 mole% (b). The -SO2F gp. of (b) is pref. converted to an ionically charged substit. pref. by hydrolysis with an aq. alkaline soln. Membrane can be cured to crosslink the copolymer, pref. thermally.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Melt processible polymer, opt. crosslinked to improve the strength, elasticity and tear resistance of the finished prod. can be fabricated into a membrane used in electrolytic fuel and chlor-alkali cells. In an example, mixt. of 22g 2-fluorosulphonyl tetrafluoroethyl trifluorovinyl ether and 2.3g 3,6-dioxa-5-trifluoromethyl perfluoronona-1,8-diene was emulsified with a mixt. of 1.03g Na dihydrogenphosphate, 1.25g Na mono-hydrogenphosphate, 0.32g ammonium persulphate and 1.66g surfactant in 300ml deionised water. Mixt. was stirred at 55 deg.C. and tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) was charged at 100psi. Reaction mixt. was kept at 100psi unit 19g was absorbed over 81 min. After releasing the pressure, 50ml dil. HCl was added to coagulate the polymer which was recovered in a yield of m35g and had a sulphonyl fluoride equiv. wt. of 636 g/eq. Obtd. copolymer was pressed at 0.5 ton and 210 deg.C into a disk, cured under N2 at 270 deg.C for 20 hr, vacuum-dried at 100 deg.C for 24 hrs. and immersed in 25 wt.% NaOH with stirring at 60 deg.C for 3 days. Disk was washed with dionised water, kept in boiled deionised water for 2 hr and vacuum dried at 80 deg.C for 24 hr. Change of weight and vol. before and after hydration were +65.5% and +105, cf. +73.4% and +164% for a disk absorbing water in an uncured state.
The battery comprises a series of positive grids in a compartment, each having a mean plane and a matrix of raised and lowered portions w.r.t. the mean plane. The raised and lowered portions form slots between them and each of the grids have an upwardly extending wide integral positive tab. Each of the positive tabs are electromechanically connected together by at least two spot welds. Negative grids in the compartment each have a mean plane and a matrix of raised and lowered portions w.r.t. the mean plane and an upwardly extending wide integral negative tab.    Each of the negative tabs are electromechanically connected together by at least two spot welds and interleaved with each of the positive grids. A chemical paste is provided over and about each of the grids, and over, about and within each of the slots. The positive grid tabs are interconnected to the adjoining negative grid tabs between and through the adjoining cells. Terminal posts are connected to each of the connected tabs in the case and extending either through the cover or through the side or end of the case.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Reduced weight automotive battery with lead grid not requiring introduction of other elements. Simple, strong and easily mfd.
A component has two coextensive porous support plates (22, 23) a proton exchange membrane (21) sandwiched at least between the plate central regions, and a circumferentially complete elastomeric sealant body (24) between the peripheral regions of the plates to join the plates together and fill the pores so that the peripheral regions are completely impermeable to fluid penetration. The sealant pref. does not release any volatile substances which would form escape apssages, and is pref. silicone rubber, partic. Sylhard 170. The membrane may end short of the plate peripheries and be peripherally encapsulated by the sealant or may extend to the plate peripheries and be sealed by the sealant.    ADVANTAGE -   Minimises or eliminates fluid escape, is simple in design, inexpensive to mfr., easy to use and reliable in operation.
Film consists of perovskite oxide grains with an average grain size of at least 1.0 nm and up to 1 micron which are continuously bonded with each other and has a film thickness of at least 5 nm and up to 10 microns. Also claimed is a perovskite analogue oxide thin film consisting of perovskite analogue oxide grains with an average grain size of at least 1.0 nm and up to 1 micron which are continuously bonded with each other and having a film thickness of at least 5 nm and up to 10 microns.    Prepn. of the perovskite oxide thin film or the perovskite analogue oxide thin film comprises coating a substrate with a soln. obtd. by dissolving at least metal salts and/or metal complexes which are raw materials for forming the perovskite oxide or the perovskite analogue oxide in a solvent consisting of alcohol with ether bonds and/or alcohol contg. nitrogen and by thermally decomposing the soln.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The perovskite oxide thin films obtd. can be used in sensors, fuel cells, sepn. membranes, and catalysts. They have uniformity in the film compsn. and reliability of contact with a substrate. Also the pore size, porosity, and thickness of the film can be controlled.
The membrane fuel cell device includes a fuel cell including a pair of coextensive electrode components each of which includes a porous central region and a fluid-impermeable peripheral region circumferentially completely surrounding the central region, and a proton exchange membrane component interposed between the central regions of the electrode components. The fuel cell device also includes an arrangement for cooling the fuel cell, including at least one enclosed cooling channel situated at the peripheral region of one of the electrode components and supplied with fresh cooling medium, with the spent cooling medium being discharged from the cooling channel.    There is also provided a heat transfer device that is operative to transfer heat from the central region to the peripheral region of the one electrode component.    ADVANTAGE -   Efficient cooling system.
Monitoring the electrochemical potential of fuel cell components, comprises (a) using an electrochemical sensor (40) having a pair of electrically conductive wires (10); and a porous, non-conductive conduit (50) in contact with the wires; (b) bringing electrolyte into contact with the conduit; (c) wicking the electrolyte into the pores of the conduit; (d) applying a voltage across the wires; (e) increasing the voltage until H2 evolves from the second wire; and (f) measuring the potential difference between the fuel cell component and the second wire.    The second wire provides a reference potential which is near to the open circuit potential of a hydrogen electrode.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sensor can be used to monitor anode and cathode polarisation during cell operation, and anode and cathode voltages and resistivity during shutdown. Anode polarisation establishes the point at which the fuel cell should be shut down to prevent failure due to corrosion. Anode and cathode voltages can be used to control N2 purges to maintain low O2 content in anode and cathode chambers.
Accumulator, esp. Pb-accumulator, has a housing contg. several cells and a lid. A gas collecting chamber is formed between the lid and covering plate to deposit acid. The chamber has a lower part in several hollow chambers corresponding to the no. of cells and a de-gassing opening. For each cell, there are filling and monitoring openings.    The closure stopper (1) extends into the base lid (5). A gas outlet site (9) is present in base lid in the region of the closure stopper, whose size is measured so that, on heating to 180 deg. C, no more acid leaves the gas chamber.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as starter batteries in vehicles.
The tester has a high gain amplifier cascade (12) whose output (10) comprises a constant DC bias component with an AC signal that is proportional to the dynamic conductance of the battery (24) as well as to the level of a square wave signal (30) formed by an oscillator (32), a chopper switch (34) and a DC correction amplifier.    The DC bias component is ignored whilst the variable AC signal is detected and accurately converted to a DC signal by a synchronous detector (48) and synchronised to the oscillator by a synchronising path (50) for display on an ammeter (60) to give the dynamic conductance of the battery. An adjustable resistive network (54) is used to determine the relationship between the ammeter reading and the battery state.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides a simple method of performing accurate dynamic conductance test on partially charged batteries, including alkaline, nickel-cadmium, or lithium cells and batteries.
An article comprises an injection moulding of highly chemically coupled glass fibre reinforced plastics, pref. polypropylene. The fibre is pref. chemically coupled to the plastics using a wetting or bonding agent, partic. an acid coupling system.    The polymer is pref. a propylene homopolymer which is reinforced with chopped glass fibre or standard or long strand type, treated with the agent so that it becomes uniformly dispersed throughout the polymer and can be moulded conventionally.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Partic. for vehicle batteries. Ensures that the fibre is uniformly present even in reinforcing ribs and deep moulded wells so that tray strength is substantially increased, pref. at the locations most subjected to flexure and impact, and bonding of fibre to polymer also greatly reduces fibre abrasiveness w.r.t. the mould.
A thin layer of degassed liq. monomer is deposited onto a moving substrate in a vacuum chamber, by means of a mechanical spreading appts. within the chamber, and then cured to form a solid polymer layer. Opt. a layer of metal may be vacuum-deposited on top of the polymer layer; or a second thin layer of a second degassed liq. monomer may be spread on top of the first polymer layer, or its metal coating, and then cured. In one procedure, the monomer is a cathodic material and a layer of metal is first deposited on the moving substrate.    Conventional polymer-making equipment is used but enclosed in a vacuum, with degassing of monomers before they are applied to a moving substrate. Cure is by conventional means, e.g. heat, UV or electron beam radiation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The invention represents an improved method of making multilayer laminate structures from polymers and metals. Such structures are useful e.g. in electronic devices (esp. batteries), packaging, and solar reflectors. Formation of the polymer layers under vacuum improves material and surface characteristics and subsequent bonding to additional layers. Further advantages include use of little or no photoinitiator for curing, fast curing, low impurity level in polymer electrolytes, higher polymer density, and improved monomer spreading giving a smoother cured surface.
A frame has a front and rear support assembly, a front cross-member and a rear cross-member. An outer pair of spaced, inwardly tapered, parallel roller tracks is provided. Each of the outer pair of roller tracks extend between the front cross-member and the rear cross member. Bi-directionally tapering roller tracks are disposed in parallel between the outer pair of roller tracks and extend between the front cross-member and the rear cross-member. Each of the roller tracks cooperate with an adjacent one of the roller tracks to form a V-shaped guide for centring and sequentially delivering product loaded from the rear of the system to the front.    The bi-directionally tapering roller tracks are laterally adjusted to selectably adjust the width of each of the guides. Multiple notches are disposed along the front cross-member and a corresponding series of slots disposed along the rear cross-member. Each of the bi-directionally tapering roller tracks includes a downwardly extending pin for engagement with one of the notches and a nut adapted for receiving a bolt extending through the corresponding one of the slots.    USE -   Merchandising system for automotive or motorcycle batteries.
The ventilator cools temp. sensitive devices such as the control devices (6) and battery (7) in the engine space (3) of a vehicle. The cooler housing (5) has air inlets (8) and outlets (9) and is associated with an electric air blower (10) for providing a cold air stream.    The blower (10) is part of the electric generator of the vehicle. At its input it is in air flow connection (13) with air outlet (9) of the cooler housing (5). A temp. dependent valve (14) may be provided in the air stream (13) which only makes the connection (13) at high temps. At low temps. it connects the input of the blower (10) to the atmosphere.    ADVANTAGE -   Does not require driver to operate additional controls to provide cool air flow.
The casing (6) on the insert side is closed by a cover spacing the positive and negative current conductor section (10) or a cast body. A support matrix extends as current conductor cross section (10) through the cover or cast mass. An over bridging part (7) joins the extending ends of two counter-poled unlined support matrices or adjacent individual cells (2).    The over-bridging part (7) is integrated in the extending current conductor section (10) of the support matrix so that the counter-poled support matrices of adjoining individual cells (2) evolve into one another along a U-shaped bend. The support matrix is of a material with which the ratio of electrical conductivity to specific wt. is greater than 6000 Siemens per kilogram. It is pref. made of aluminium.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An electro-chemical accumulator which is cost-favourable to produce, and has good mechanical stability with low circuit resistance.
Processing an ion-exchange membrane comprises immersion in a H2O-soluble solvent to swell the membrane and then rolling or stretching to reduce its thickness. The membrane has a F-contg. polymer as a matrix.    Also claimed are the following: (1) an ion-exchange membrane having a water content of 30-50%. Prepn. is by immersion in a solvent or its aq. soln., and (2) an ion-exchange membrane fuel cell using the membrane described in (2).    ADVANTAGE -   The ion-exchange membrane has high water content and is low in sheet resistance. Fuel cells have good discharge properties. Redn. ratio of thickness of the membrane is 50% or less (claimed).
Prodn. of CaTi1-xFexO3 thin film comprises: heating separately the metal cpd. raw material contg. Cr atom, the metal cpd. raw material contg. Fe atom, and metal cpd. raw material contg. Ti atom; carrying the vapours of these raw materials to mixing zone alonge with a carrier gas to mix; carrying the mixed gas to the reaction zone with a carrier gas; introducing the reaction gas contg. O2 to deposit the crystal of CaTi1-xFexO3 on the substrate placed in the reaction zone.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By selecting the CaTi1-xFexO3 as conductive material, the ion conductivity and electron conductivity is secured even at an elevated temp. and under high vacuum (low oxygen concn.).    In an example, Ca(C11H10O2, Fe(C11H19O2), Ti(C11H19O2) were set on the port (5a, 5b and 5c) respectively. The reaction chamber was set to the pressure in a range of 2-76Torr, and the raw materials were heated to vapourise. The chamber was adjusted at 400-900 deg.C.. The reaction gas O2 (30-120cc/min.) and the carrier gas N2 (100-200cc/min.) were used. The CaTi1-xFexO3 was deposited on the surface of substrate. The single phase of CaTi1-xFexO3 was obtd. at 500 deg.C. or higher chamber temp.. The ratio of Ca, Fe and Ti was controlled by the vaporisation temp. of the raw material. The film formed at th chamber temp. 600 deg.C. or above and 2-Torr of chamber pressure and 20cm or longer mixing zone gave a dense film in terms of gas permeability.
The fuel cell generating set includes (a) a methanol reformer; (b) a converter for converting CO in the reformed gas into CO2; and (c) a fuel cell for supplying the CO-reduced reformed gas to a hydrogen electrode and for supplying an oxidant to an oxygen electrode for power generation.    The CO converter has at least one of Rh, Ni, or Pd as a catalytic activity compsn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel cell generating set is used in a power system for an electric car. The generating set arrests CO poisoning of the hydrogen electrode developed when a gas comprising mainly hydrogen, CO, CO2 grown by natural gas or the methanol reformer is supplied to the fuel cell.
Method comprises surface roughening an ion-conductive polymer by plasma etching, and depositing a metallic layer by sputtering.    USE -   Provides a reactive electrolytic film for fuel cells.
The battery terminal connector includes the elongate electrically insulating body housing a battery terminal post engaging the connector block electrically connected to an electrical cable, axially movable within the body, and urged by a spring biassing member, in use, into contact with a battery terminal post received in a socket provided in the body. The body of the battery terminal connector is further provided with an integrally formed, inwardly directed flange for holding the spring within the body such that it bears against both the connector block and the flange.    The body also has an access opening for introducing the connector block, electrical cable, and spring into it in a lateral direction. An electrically conductive metal insert is provided in the body, adjacent to the socket, and remote from the connector block and has teeth engageable with the terminal post. A tang at the upper end of the insert engages the cover for the body, when closed, to support the insert in use. The terminal post is engaged on one side by the socket and insert and on the other side by a frusto-conical contact face on the connector block.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In off-road and marine applications. Ensures secure electrical and mechanical connection between connector block and terminal post.
A series of floating frames are similar to the configuration of the terminal frames but do not include frame terminal tabs. Electrolyte-porous separator frames are positioned between adjacent plates in adjoining frames, at least one partition frame dividing the battery into at least two batteries. A positive busbar has a series of slots for accepting the frame positive tabs and electrically connected. A negative busbar has a series of slots for accepting the frame negative tabs and electrically connected to such tabs.    The assembly of frames is secured together and with electrolyte fill holes for allowing each cell to be filled with electrolyte and a cover secured to the assembly of frame. The cover pref. includes vents, the partition including apertures positioned above the electrolyte level of the battery. The positive busbar includes a switch actuator, a switch assembly allowing one or all parts of the battery to be placed in service. The positive and negative busbars have the desired termination formed e.g. by die casting.    ADVANTAGE -   Battery has minimal number of components and provides desirable resistance to corrosion.
The cable connector includes a lever which is eccentrically attached to a cam, which couples the extremities of paired links with one ear. A handle is rotatable through a predetermined path to drive the cam to shift the jaws between a released position and a post grip position. A rivet connects the opposite extremities of the links with the other ear. An open ended cable gripping neck is arranged to integrally extend from the yoke and formed with a semi-circular cradle formed with laterally projecting spaced apart ribs for gripping the cable.    A complementary clamp piece overlays the neck and is open on either end, formed with a ridge arranged to cooperate with the ribs in gripping the cable. A screw connects the clamp to the neck. One of the jaws includes a stop disposed at one end of the path to limit rotation of the handle to prevent the excessive rotation.    ADVANTAGE -   Secure battery connector in which orientation of actuating lever is always maintained.
An alternating current resonant electrical circuit connected to an industrial type electrolytic cell or cells in which the alternating circulating under 'near to resonance' conditions is rectified by quadruple rectifiers each in half wave mode in order to provide the direct current required to be sustained in the electrolytic cell or cells. a) for the purpose of evolving gases, b) for metallic deposition processes, c) for the evolution of solid and metallic chemical substances from solutions and ores, d) for the evolution of any combination of solid liquid and gaseous substances from solutions, e) for the evolution of a mixture of gases from solutions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In electrolytic processes for the evolution of gases and the isolation of solid chemical substances (claimed) e.g. battery charging, metal plating, metal refining.
The amount of oxygen in a gas is measured by immersing sensing electrodes (an anode and a cathode) in an electrolyte to provide an electrolytic cell. The gas stream contg. oxygen is placed in contact with the cathode, so as to reduce the oxygen to hydroxyl ions. Hydrogen is contacted with the anode and oxidised to water, producing a current from the cell. The current is proportional to the rate at which oxygen is reduced at the cathode.    Pref. the gas stream is passed into a cell cavity at a rate of 0.5-3.0 scfh, a temp. of 32-125 deg.F and a pressure of 1.0 psig. The gas passes through a diffusion plate to the cathode, pref. a catalysed carbon-teflon electrode which is specific to the oxygen-reduction reaction. The electrolyte is pref. 0.1-10 M KOH (most pref. 1.0 M).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For measurement of O2 in gases in parts-per-billion range (e.g. less than 100 ppb). Anode is non-consumable, giving stable measurement over time, high accuracy, high signal-to-noise ratio, high sensitivity, low temp.-sensitivity and stable response characteristics.
Prodn. of electrolytic solns. contg. vanadium as positive and negative electrode active materials suitable for redox batteries comprising; a) reducing pentavalent vanadium cpd. in the presence of an inorganic acid and a solvent under atmospheric or increased pressure to tetravalent vanadium cpd.; b) heating at least part of the tetravalent vanadium solution in the presence of an inorganic acid and a reducing agent to convert to trivalent vanadium cpd. c) if the trivalent cpd. is solid it is isolated and solubilised by hydration.    The reducing agent for step (a) is selected from hydrogen, sulphur dioxide, sulphur, hydrogen sulphide and aluminium sulphide. In step (b) the reducing agent is selected from sulphur, hydrogen sulphide, ammonium sulphide and a mixture with sulphur dioxide and hydrogen. Step (b) is performed at 180-250 deg.C. The inorganic acid is sulphuric acid and the solvent is water. The vanadium cpd. is vanadium pentoxide or ammonium metavanadate. The steps (a) and (b) are carried out at a pressure of 1-50 kg/cm2 the solid trivalent compound is solubilised by reacting with an inorganic acid in water, or water at 40-250 deg.C.    ADVANTAGE -   The method allows for simultaneously producing both trivalent and tetravalent vanadium electrolytic solutions allowing solutions to be recycled and reused in batteries an unlimited number of times.
The vaporiser comprises a containment shell, a nozzle and a fin block. The fin block has a base in thermal contact a heat source, preferably a thermal fluid stream. The base has a number of evaporative heat transfer structures that are spaced from and generally radiate from the nozzle output. Each of the evaporative heat transfer structures has two principal surfaces oriented such that the extension of each of the surfaces intersects the nozzle outlet. Upon contacting the evaporative heat transfer structures, the atomised liquid reactant dispersion is vaporised to produce a vaporised reactant stream. The vaporiser responds to changes in the inlet liquid reactant flow rate to produce a corresponding change in the output vapor flow rate by minimising the liquid inventory within the heated environment.    ADVANTAGE -   Is compact, lightweight and compatible with other components of integrated fuel processing system.
A process for producing a fuel gas for fuel cells is claimed, comprising treating a sulphur-contg. hydrocarbon with a desulphurising agent to reduce the sulphur content to 0.2 ppm or less, and bringing the treated hydrocarbon into contact with a steam reforming catalyst to provide a fuel gas mainly composed of hydrogen. The desulphurising agent comprises a copper-nickel alloy having a copper:nickel wt. ratio of 95:5-5:95.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The invention provides a process for producing a fuel gas for fuel cells from a heavy hydrocarbon such as kerosene. The process involves a desulphurising agent which has a low tendency to bring about the deposition of carbon even at relatively high temps., has a high desulphurising capability and has a high service life.
The energy generating system uses an oxidation reactor (2) for partial oxidation of the biological raw material to obtain a fuel gas (7) containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The mixture ratio of the biological raw material and the oxygen within the oxidation reactor and the gas phase temp. are controlled to obtain a fuel gas which is practically free of nitrous oxide.    The feed gas is fed through a separator (8) for removing suspended particles and supplied to a fuel cell (10) having a porous anode (11) and cathode (12) and an electrolyte (14) containing carbon salts. Pref. the electrolyte comprises a mixture of alkali metal carbonates and alkali metal aluminates.    ADVANTAGE -   Efficient energy prodn. using relatively cheap raw material, allowing continuous operation, with low pollution levels.    to
The connector for electrical batteries of the type used in road vehicles has electrical cable lines (11,12) and one or more fluid lines (17,18). The connector provides a link between the battery on one side and a charge system on the other. The fluid lines connect with a battery fluid supply during charging to compensate for losses.    The connector is formed by two units (1,2) one of which one (2) has a projecting plug (5) that engages a socket section (4) in the other unit (1). Formed features (7,8) ensure that the units can only engage in one correct position.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Increases range of application of battery. Provides electrical and fluid connections.    .D
Redn. of CO levels in a gaseous mixt. contg. at least hydrogen comprises: (a) prepn. of inlet and outlet portions of Co oxidising catalyst; (b) passing the gaseous mixt. through the catalyst portions from inlet to outlet; (c) introducing 02 into the inlet catalyst portion and (d) controlling the temp. to promote an exothermic reaction by maintaining the inlet temp. above the min. reaction threshold temp. and the outlet temp. below this temp. The reaction temp. is pref. kept considerably above the threshold temp. more pref. at 320 deg.F. At least two separate catalyst beds are used and the controlling step is carried out by cooling the gases between beds by removing heat. Oxygen can be added to the gaseous mixt. prior to passing into the catalyst beds. The outlet catalyst portion may be subdivided into a number of beds and the quantity of gas to be treated determined and then the gas is directed only to sufficient beds to achieve a flow rate high enough to prevent significant reverse shift of CO2 to CO.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used to treat gases generally, partic. removal of CO by oxidn. to CO2. The method gives lwoer final CO levels than previous methods and prevents reverse shift of CO2 to CO (claimed).    CO
The system comprises a fuel cell producing DC power for operating an electric motor. The fuel cell comprises a cathode and anode sepd. by an electrolyte. The cathode is supplied with an O2 source. The anode is supplied with an H2-contg. gas produced by partial oxidn. and (steam) reforming of a fuel with air and water, where the exothermic partial oxidn. reaction provides sufficient heat to sustain the endothermic steam reforming reaction so the H2-contg. gas is produced without external heat input.    Pref. a four-wheeled vehicle has the propulsion system.    Pref. a partial oxidn. reformer comprises a longitudinally extending container having a 1st zone contg. an oxidn. catalyst; a 2nd zone contg. a reforming catalyst; inlets for introducing water, air and fuel into the 1st and 2nd zones; and an outlet for withdrawing an H2-contg. gas. The reaction in the 1st zone produces an H2-contg. gas and sufficient heat to initiate and maintain the endothermic reaction in the 2nd zone, which produces an H2-enriched gas without external heat supply.    ADVANTAGE -   The system provides rapid response to variable acceleration demands.
(JP5225990-A)   NOVELTY - A battery (4) has low and high temperature electrodes e.g. braid-like porous platinum boards (11,12), to which fuel containing hydrogen gas is supplied. The high temperature electrode is heated by exhaust heat of the fuel cell system, and the fuel which drains out from the high temperature electrode is supplied to fuel cell (1).    USE - Fuel cell system.    ADVANTAGE - The heat energy of the exhaust gas ejected at the time of diving of the fuel cell system, is more effectively used.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a block diagram of the fuel cell system. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    fuel cell (1)    de-sulfuring apparatus (2)    reformer (3)    battery (4)    low temperature electrode (11)    high temperature electrode (12)
A pair of side walls are integrally connected to a top plate and are divided between front and rear portions along a line corresponding to the position of the hinge. Each of the rear portions has one or more of the catches affixed to it and located to overlap the base lip and to engage a corresponding locking tab on the side wall with a lock slot formed into the catch, the side walls configured to engage the base tip.    A rear wall is connected to the rear of the top plate. A front wall is connected to the front edge of the top plate and has a catch located to overlap the base lip and engage the front locking tab with a lock slot formed into the catch. The front wall is formed with apertures to enable the passing of electrical cables from the terminal posts of the battery to components outside of the battery safety unit and the front wall. The rear wall is integrally connected to the side walls.    ADVANTAGE -   Protects against damage from dangerous acid contained in wet cell automotive battery.
Structure of an ion exchange membrane comprises the ion exchange membrane and at least one ion-conductive thin layer. This layer has a lower glass transition temp. than that of the ion exchange membrane on at least one surface of the membrane. The thin layer is between 0.01 and 20 microns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The ion membrane is employed in a fuel cell. The arrangement increases catalyst utilisation in the electrode. The intimate bonding structure between the membrane and catalyst electrode minimises the depth of the membrane which encroaches into the electrode. The membrane can be bonded with the electrode with sufficient and uniform strength.
(JP2707388-B2)      The fuel battery has a cartridge type electrolytic liquid auxiliary tank (10) beside the fuel room, a honeycomb structure cassette type electrode (3), a steel plate wire (9), a core plate (4), a plate line (6), a fuel injection pipe (7), a connecting pipe (12), etc..    USE -   The fuel battery is used for teaching material.    ADVANTAGE -   The battery provides supply at reduced cost and has simple structure.
NOVELTY - The electrochemical device comprises electrolytic cells (12,14) each having an O2 ion conducting electrolyte (18,20), anode (26,28) and cathode (30,32); and interconnects (16) connecting the anodes to the cathodes of adjacent cells. A sealant (48,50) seals the cells to the interconnects to provide a gas-tight seal, the sealant being positioned relative to the interconnect so as to be spaced from the electron pathway formed by the interconnect.    USE -   As a series connected tubular electrolytic cell,    especially for generation of concentrated oxygen (O2).    ADVANTAGE -   Simple, improved interconnection between the tubes is provided having high electrical and pneumatic integrity. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING - The drawing shows a longitudinal cross-section of the interconnect positioned between a first tubular cell and a second tubular cell.    (12,14) Electrolytic cells    (16) Interconnects    (18,20) Electrolyte    (26,28) Anodes    (30,32) Cathodes    (48,50) Sealant
A chemical plant is so arranged that a number of reactor vessels (1) are arranged on a column (21) in sections (3,22) such that a reduced volume of space is required for their installation without any sacrifice in ease of maintenance; that the overall structure incorporates the process system and is surrounded by a multistorey (2) structure providing access to each storey (2).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The arrangement provides for the construction of a chemical plant and the associated process. The arrangement minimises space requirements without sacrificing ease of access for maintenance.
Catalyst consists a natural zirconia support loaded with Rh, Ru, Pd, or Pt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to produce a synthetis gas contg. H2 and CO by hydrocarbon cracking. Higher efficiency of H2 formation can be adhered at up to 1000 deg.C and at an even lower steam/carbon ratio. Carbon formation is effectively suppressed.    In an example, Natural zircon powders contg. 58 wt.% ZrO2, 39 wt.% of SiO2, and balance Al, Fe, and Hf oxide were moulded into 1 mm dia. spheres and fired at 1000 deg.C for 3 hrs. The resultant support had 9.4 m2/g surface area. The support was immersed in a RuCl3 soln. to load 0.5 wt.% Ru. Propane was cracked at a steam/carbon ratio of 3.0 in the presence of the catalyst at 650 deg.C and 48000 h-1 space velocity 99.1 % of propane was converted
The carrying handle has two opposing walls each having an outwardly projecting and laterally extending lifting portion and a laterally extending rim defining a downwardly extending recess open towards the lifting portion. The carrying handle has an elongate flexible strap with two attachment members attached to respective ends of the elongate strap.    Each of the attachment members have an upwardly extending portion adapted for location in the downwardly extending recess. Each member also has upper and lower abutment members spaced apart. the upper abutment member is adapted to abut an upper surface of the lifting portion and the lower is adapted to abut a lower surface. Each attachment member is held in position when engaged with a battery.    ADVANTAGE -   Light, detachable and secure carrying handle.
Cell array for battery of electrolysis and fuel cells connected electrically and geometrically in series esp. for generating or operating with H2 and O2, is claimed. Each cell has an electrolyte-permeable diaphragm, acting as gas separator, between the anode and cathode compartments, and an electrolyte-permeable metal electrode on both sides of the diaphragm. Adjacent cells are sepd. by a gas-tight, electroconductive bipolar cell wall. Between each electrode and cell wall, there is an electroconductive and elastically deformable structure acting as current lead and spacer, which is electroconductive and permeble to gas and electrolyte. The cells are surrounded by a frame.    The novel features are that: (a) the diaphragm (3) is planar; (b) the electrodes (4,5) are laminated, opt. with macroscopic perforations, and are placed directly on the diaphragm or combined integrally with this (EDE plate 2); (c) the bipolar sepg. walls (6) consist of sheet metal and have a smooth surface or protruding and/or moulded spacers; and (d) the spacers between the electrode (4,5) and bipolar sepg. walls (6), i.e. the anode and cathode compartments, are (partly) filled with lamellar structures (7-10), which are permeable to electrolyte and gas, at least in the axial direction, i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm, and in the vertical direction and are bounded by the electrodes (4,5). These lamellae consist of numerous layers of identical construction with axial and vertical wall elements (11-14) with little distance between them and spacers (15-21) between the wall elements.    ADVANTAGE -   This zero-gap array is more efficient and has more favourable operating conditions and a longer lifetime than usual.
The digital transmission system has an input received by an encoder that has a number of stages to generate a coded output (Sc) that is received by a pulse shaper and an echo compensator. The compensator provides an output (Sk) that modifies the input signals to eliminate reflection effects.    The compensator has a filter (F1) that consists of a number of multipliers (M1-MN) coupled by delays (C1-CM). The multiplier outputs are summed (AD1) and a further multiplier (Ms) introduces a feedback component via a delay (VR).    ADVANTAGE -   Simplified filter for echo compensation. @(11pp Dwg. No.4/9)@
The apparatus comprises a current detector, connected in series with the battery, for detecting a battery current flowing through the battery. A voltage detector is connected in parallel with the battery, for detecting a battery voltage of the battery. A    switching device is connected between the load and the battery, for selectively closing and opening an electrical connection between the load and the battery. A computation device controls the switching device in accordance with the battery current detected by the current detector and the battery voltage detected by the voltage detector.    The computation device includes a battery state detecting device for generating a reference voltage having a voltage level dependent on the battery current detected by the current detector. The battery state detecting device is responsive to the current detector device to decrease the reference voltage when the battery current increases and to increase the reference voltage when the battery current decreases. A comparator compares the reference voltage generated by the battery state detecting device with the battery voltage detected by the voltage detector and generates a first output signal when the battery voltage detected by the voltage detector becomes less than the reference voltage generated by the battery state detecting device. A timer detects a discharge state in which the first output signal is generated by the comparator for more than a predetermined time period, and controls the switching device to open the electrical connection between the load and the battery upon detecting the discharge state.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides apparatus which completely uses battery's full power capacity without causing it to fully discharge. Drastically reduces battery lifetime degradation, even when battery is repeatedly charged and discharged.
(JP5205774-A)   NOVELTY - A collector pipe (8) is attached to bottom of a through-hole (2a) in an electric insulating material (2) covering a solid electrolyte pipe (1), and is immersed in sodium. A negative plate container (4) attached to the upper portion of the through-hole is filled with sodium. A magnet (12) which loses magnetism at a temperature greater than the working temperature of battery is attached as a lid in the hole at the bottom of the pipe (8).    USE - Sodium-salt battery e.g. Na-S, Na-Se, Na-FeCl3 or Na-polysulfide batteries for electric vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - Reliability is increased as continuation of battery operation is ensured even when the battery temperature exceeds the working temperature, by providing a magnet to the hole in the bottom of the collector pipe, as a safety valve.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a cross-sectional view of the sodium-salt battery. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    Solid electrolyte pipe (1)    Electric insulating material (2)    Through-hole (2a)    Negative plate container (4)    Collector pipe (8)    Magnet (12)
Device comprises a unit cell comprising a fuel pole, an electrolyte matrix layer, and an oxidiser pole being sandwiched between two gas supply plates on the fuel cell pole side and the oxidiser side. A partition is provided to the oxidiser side gas supply plate to separate it into a fuel upstream side and a fuel downstream side, and the components of a fuel gas supplied to the fuel pole is electrochemically reduced by supplying an oxidiser gas to the upstream side oxidiser pole while supplying a hydrogen-contg. gas to the fuel downstream side oxidiser pole.    The poles are pref. carbon electrodes having an area of 100 cm2 and ca. 200 microns thick, and is coated with a Pt-contg. catalyst; the electrolyte matrix layer is ca. 100 microns thick, and is composed of fine SiC grains impregnated with phosphoric acid; the partition was provided at a distance of ca. 3 cm from the downstream side w.r.t. the effective length of the pole, i.e., 10 cm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Allows redn. to take place without consuming external power. Useful substances such as CO and MeOH can be prepd. from fuel waste gas etc.
The electrically conductive gas distributer structure (4) for a fuel cell is located between a current distributer element (5) and an electrode (3) connected to a membrane electrolyte (1). It takes the form of a flat porous body of fibres (28) made of an electrochemically stable metal. Its deliberately roughened structure is coated with a hydrophobic polymer layer (41). Its manufacturing process consists of the following steps: (1) cleaning of the porous body structure by means of a solution; (2) roughening the surface of the body by chemical, physical or mechanical means; (4) treatment of the body with an emulsion or a suspension containing a hydrophobic agent; (5) sintering, melting or burning-in of the hydrophobic layer.    An acid or alkaline solution is used as an erasive agent. Oxalic acid is an example of such agents. Alternative, plasma etching is used to produce a roughening effect. Titanium, tantalum, miobium, platinum or palladium, or an alloy of these metals is used as the material for the fibres (28). The hydrophobic polymer layer consists of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or polyteyrafluoroehtylene (PTFE). The fibres (28) form a mat with at least one layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For manufacture of fuel cells. It allows effective reversible-action cells to be produced.
The fuel cell comprises several manifolds (3A,3B,3C,3D) that penetrate layers of the fuel cell. The manifolds are distributed across the planar surface of the cell and provide for communication of reactant gases to the cell. The cell has an anode and a cathode layer. The anode has several fuel openings and the cathode several oxidant openings.    The fuel openings are distributed across the anode layer whereby the flow path length between each fuel opening is less than the planar dimensions of the cell. The oxidant openings are distributed across the cathode layer whereby the flow path length between the oxidant opening is less than the planar dimensions of the cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides substantial reductions in the size and material content of a cell stack of a given output relative to current large stack cell systems.
A label has a printed layer (20) covered by a transparent outer layer (22) and a third layer (30) covering its rear surface, with the second and third layers enveloping the printed layer and forming a protective border around it. The second and third layers are adhered to the first and one or both adhesive layers (24,32) extends to their edge to bond them together in the border. The third layer carries pressure-sensitive adhesive (34) for securing it to the battery.    The first layer is pref. of paper or metallic foil, and the second and third layers are of polypropylene, the second having a shink factor of no more than 5%. The border is pref. at least 1/8 inch wide, and all layers are generally rectangular.    ADVANTAGE -   Allows inexpensive printed paper labels to be used and reliably prevents damage to the printed information.
A mixt. of a solvent-soluble fluororesin and graphite fluoride is applied on a porous high polymer film to form O2 permeation composite film.    The battery includes (a) a gas diffusion electrode using O2 as an active material; and (b) a battery case having an air intaking hole connected to the air. The composite film is provided between the air intaking side of the electrode and the inner surface of the case.    The graphite fluoride comprises CFn or C2Fn. The porous high polymer film comprises a fluororesin, polyether sulphone, or polyolefin. The graphite fluoride has a grain dia. of up to 10 microns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The O2 permeation composite film is used in batteries, including air batteries, or fuel batteries. The use of the mixt. reduces the film thickness of the composite film and improves water repellency and O2 permeation. The composite film has superior O2 permeation for batteries and interrupts water vapour from the air. The battery has superior practical performance at wide range, from high load to low laod, electrolyte leakage resistance and continuous storage.
The device includes semiconductor catalyst, where hydrogen is generated with the catalyst by radioactive excitation.    ADVANTAGE -   Nuclear energy of radioactive beam can be effectively utilised, and hydrogen can be effectively generated with catalyst.
(JP5190197-A)   NOVELTY - The battery has a perforated panel (13) which is immersed in a powder layer (14) packed between the anode and cathode plates (1,2). The space between the powder layer and a battery-jar lid (8) is filled with acid-proof plastic (15).    USE - Sealed-type lead storage battery e.g. retainer-type lead storage battery and gel-type lead storage battery for computer and motor vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - The life time, stability and sealing property of the battery are improved.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional view of the sealed-type lead storage battery. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    anode plate (1)    cathode plate (2)    battery-jar lid (8)    perforated panel (13)    powder layer (14)    acid-proof plastic (15)
A casing contains electrical cells (2) with external positive and negative terminals (3,7). The battery cells (2) are connected to one of the terminals (3) directly and to the other (7) via a switch (5) inside the casing.    The switch closes the circuit between the cells and one of the terminals (7) in response to a control signal provided externally for example as a coded infra-red signal along an optical fibre cable. Signals may only be sent in response to an encoded token or smart card.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved security, harder to disable, easy to install.
Detecting cross-over leakage in a fuel cell stack having a series of fuel cells, each fuel cell having an anode, a cathode, and a matrix between, and an oxidant inlet, and using fuel and oxidant streams, comprises: determining the CO2 concn. in the oxidant stream entering the fuel cell stack; directing the oxidant stream to the cathode of each fuel cell; directing the oxidant stream out of each fuel cell as cathode effluent; combining the cathode effluent from each fuel cell; determining the CO2 concn. in the combined effluent. An increase of CO2 in the combined effluent signifies a failure in the matrix. A detecting appts. is disclosed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Detecting cross-over leakage in fuel cell stacks comprises monitoring the CO2 content of the oxidant stream. The in-line detection system allows critical conditions to be predicted, and shutdown to occur before the system becomes unsafe.
Appts. comprises a powder-moving pipe to move a reforming catalyst powder taken from a reformed gas through a powder remover; one end of this pipe is connected to a raw fuel inlet of a reforming tube.    USE -   For reforming hydrocarbon fuels.
The tray is a moulding of a sheet material of a fibre reinforced thermoplastic resin contg. short fibres with a length of 5-30 mm.    Pref. the content of the short fibres in the sheet material is 15-50 wt.%. The short fibres are glass fibres, and the thermoplastic resin is a polypropylene resin.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use in motorcars. The tray has superior high bending strength. In contrast to use of long fibres and rovings, the amt. of the short fibres used is relatively small, contributing to lightweight and low cost.    In an example, a stampable sheet with a thickness of 3 mm, was produced from a glass fiber reinforced polypropylene resin contg. 20 wt.% of glass fibres with a dia. of 10 microns and a length of 13 mm. The sheet was moulded at 210 deg.C, 150 kgf/sq.cm. The thickness of the tray was 2 mm.
Method comprises sintering a green sheet using a fine powder of a previously sintered same La chromite used for the moulding as a cover.    USE -   Prevents diffusion of Cr into air; provides La chromite sinterings having smooth surface.
Electroconducting connection between metallic current conductor (1) and ceramic components (2) in a high temp. fuel cell comprises a porous intermediate layer (12) consisting of a paste-like connecting agent of ceramic electroconducting particles (120), whose largest linear dimensions are less than 0.03 mm. The intermediate layer is determined by material and is ltd. to the contact region of the current conductor.    Also claimed is a high temp. fuel cell comprising a ceramic interconnector (2) on the air electrode, the novelty is that the connection claimed above is between the current collector (1) and the interconnector.    ADVANTAGE -   The connection has high electrical conductivity and good oxidn. resistance.
A terminal post for a vehicle battery has an undercut blind-hole down the axis of which there is a hollow insert (6) of carbon, which is provided with a central boring (8) designed as a socket contact.    ADVANTAGE -   Requires reduced amount of lead (Pb) and simplifies battery testing procedures i.e. eliminates use of crocodile clips etc.
A one-piece platen is used with the platen being designed with a central core having several openings, spaced apart from each other. The openings are used to receive several heaters and the thermocouple used in the platen. An integral external heating surface is formed on top of the central core and another integral external heating surface is formed on the bottom of the central core.    These heating surfaces are used for heating the cover and the battery container and serve to transfer the heat from the heaters.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Sealing of battery top cover to battery container. This novel design eliminates corrosion and warpage common with multi-piece platens.
Material comprises an intermetallic cpd. and conductive ceramics. The intermetallic cpd. is made upof Ni-Al system materials. The conductive ceramics is made up of rare earth chromite system materials of (L(1-x)Mx)a(Cr(1-y)M'y)bO3, (where L = La or Y, M = Mg, Sr, Ca, or Ba; M' = at least one of Co, Ni, Fe, Ti, V, Mn, Al, Si, Zn, Cu, Mo, Pd, W, Rh, Ir and Pt, x= 0-0.5; y= 0-0.5 and b/a= 0.95-1.05.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for mfg. a separator for a fuel cell. It has high strength, high conductivity and anticorrosion property.
The battery comprises a container with an attached cover, and a handle with a central portion for transporting the battery and two arms for connection to the container. The container connector on it,s side or end walls includes a button and a shaft. A handle connector has an upright position aperture including a constrictor which restricts movement of the shaft out of the aperture, a service position aperture and a slide connecting the apertures.    The container handle connector has an upright position where the central portion is positioned over the cover for transporting the battery, and a service position where the central portion is positioned alongside the battery. A locking device locks the handle in the upright position, and has a locking tongue downwardly depending from the button and a pair of locking tabs.    ADVANTAGE -   Handle can be manually displaced from locked upright position and rotated to service position.
The separator plate has an electrolyte seal structure which extends outwardly from each face, the structure having a contact width of about one inch at the periphery of the electrolyte forming a separator-electrolyte seal. The plate extends beyond the periphery of the electrolyte and has a peripheral seal structure extending beyond that of the electrolyte seal structure.    Sealing elements are provided at the plate seal structure to form a seal around the complete plate, when adjacent to another plate structure for creating a peripheral compartment between the plate-electrolyte seal and the separator plate seal. End plates are configured similarly to the corresp. plate face on their inner surfaces to form half cells at each end of the stack.    ADVANTAGE -   Peripheral compartment may contain inert gas to ensure active electrolyte containment within electrolyte matrix. Fuel cell stack has improved electrolyte sealing, reduced electrolyte loss.
Voltage is passed through a thyristorised contactor (1), a rectifying bridge (2) and a regulator (3) of the consumed power to the electrodes of an electrolyser (4). Control of the working modes of the electrolyser (4) is carried out by using a pressure regulator (8) which receives data on the pressure level from a pressure sensor (6) and acts on the regulator (3) to alter voltage passed to the electrolyser (4) and the pressure in it.    The signal from the pressure sensor (6) also passes to a safety circuit (9) and is compared with the signal from a critical pressure controller (10). A signal from a temp. sensor (7) passes to a temp. safety unit (11), also receiving a signal from a critical temp. controller (12). During emergency pressures or temperatures, the safety units (9,11) act through an OR-gate (13) and a switch (14), to close the contactor (1) and disconnect the power from the electrolyser (4).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Automatic control of water electrolysis processes used for prodn. of hydrogen and oxygen for gas-flame welding and soldering. Protection of device during non-permissible levels of pressure and temp. during operation by use of an electronic contact to switch it off from the network, thus increasing the reliability and safety of operation with oxyhydrogen gas. Bul.30/15.8.92
The fuel element includes fuel and oxidising electrodes (4) separated by ion-exchange membrane, radio-frequency (RF) and microwave frequency activating agents and a function servicing system. Wider functional range is achieved by positioning the fuel element in the air-gap of a magnetic circuit (1) containing an inductance coil (2), and the start and end lead-outs of the fuel and oxidising electrodes connected through a commutator (switch).    The current flowing through the electrodes (4) excites a magnetic field which in turn induces an e.m.f. in the inductance winding (2). The direction of current flow is reversed in the winding (3) turns by tuning the commutator switch to a selected frequency, thus inducing a counter-emf in coil (2).    USE -   Energy conversion equipment. Bul.29/7.8.92
The process for smoothing fluctuating electrical power output from a wind farm (1) includes an electrolysis plant (5) comprises cells for converting water into hydrogen and oxygen using DC output from the wind farm. Voltage dependent switch units are used to ensure that the output from the wind farm is supplied to the optimum number of electrolysis cells, depending on the operating voltage of those cells.    Hydrogen from the plant may be compressed by a compressor (6), passed through a purification plant (7) and then into storage unit (8). The hydrogen may then be used as a fuel (with oxygen from a storage unit (15) in a steam turbine plant (21,22) gas turbine plant (24), internal combustion engine plant (23), or fuel cell (25) in order to generate electricity to supply to a grid (3). Part of the hydrogen and oxygen supplied from the electrolysis plant may be liquefied (plants 9,16) for use elsewhere.    ADVANTAGE -   Enhances value of output power of wind farms.    .D
For humidifying at least one of the reactants flowed into an acid or alkali matrix fuel cell or a polymer-electrolyte fuel cell, the input reactant concerned is separated from the output flow of the same reactant by means of a semipermeable membrane. The output flow containing water as a reaction product moves in the opposite direction across the membrane from the input flow.    The membranes are flat foils stretched between two plates within special chambers. An alternative design uses a hose-shaped membrane. A polymeric electrolyte membrane can be used.    ADVANTAGE -   Simple and reliable way of humidifying reactants.
A fine powder of narrow particle size distribution is produced by forming an aerosol by two-fluid nozzle atomisation in a chamber to remove 50-95% by vol. of the droplets from the aerosol and passing the residual aerosol from the atomising chamber through a conversion zone.    A plant for producing the powder has a closed atomising chamber with at least one two-fluid nozzle delivering a spray shaped as a cone shell having cone angle above 90 deg. The plant further has a conversion device into which an outlet for aerosol from the atomising chamber debouches
The strap releasably holds a battery in a predetermined position on a platform having a projecting stud flanking the battery. The strap comprises a stud engaging portion connected integrally with a bar engageable with the battery for traversing and releasably holding the battery in the predetermined position.    The stud engaging portion has a section engageable portion includes levers for shifting the section between a stud engaging position and a stud releasing position.    ADVANTAGE -   Easy installation and removal of block.
The renewable fuel cells produced hydrogen gas, on demand, and are used to power a vehicle. When the usable cells is depleted, the magnesium anode is converted into magnesium hydroxide precipitate. The magnesium hydroxide precipitate is removed and collected for recycling and the magnesium anode and salt water electrolyte is replaced.    The magnesium hydroxide precipitate is recycled to recapture the magnesium which is then formed into new magnesium anodes. The primary power source for the recycling is derived from solar energy. The only waste product produced by the operation of the fuel cell is non-polluting water.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Vehicle hydrogen gas generators. Non-polluting energy source for vehicles.
Prepn. comprises (1) steam reforming hydrocarbon gas (II); (2) feeding the prod. (III) to anode of fuel cell to use H2 (IV) to generate electricity, and (3) feeding the fuel cell exhaust fumes (V) to a reactor to prepare methanol (I).    ADVANTAGE -   Excess (IV) contained in (III) is used more efficently than prior arts. (I) is prepd. more economically than prior art.    In an example, (II) e.g. methane, was fed to steam reformer (2), (III) was cooled and fed to fused alkali metal carbonate fuel cell (6), (III) was fed to an anode (9), air was fed to a reactor (4) through cooler (10) and compressor (3). C sources were fed to (4) through (12). The reaction prod. was fed to cooler (11), gas-liq. separator (5) successively to remove (I) (L in fig. 1). Non-condensed components were recycled to (4) to use as material.    (II)
Fuel cell generator is provided with a carbon monoxide reformer and a desulphuriser and comprises a reaction container formed of stainless steel and heat-conductive clad material in which carbon monoxide reforming catalyst or desulphurising catalyst used for the carbon monoxide reformer and the desulphuriser is stored.    ADVANTAGE -   The generator has extremely less heat loss and a shorter time for temp. rise.
(JP5159789-A)   NOVELTY - The separator plate (16) comprises oxidation and fuel gas supply manifolds (12,13) which are bent outside horizontally. The gas exhaust manifolds (14,15) are also formed and bent opposite to the manifolds (12,13). A cathode rail has edge which is bent outside, is attached to the backside of the plate at position backside of the wet sealing surface (C) of the plate.    USE - Used as partition board of melting carbonate type fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - Area of the electrode is enlarged and rate of electrode occupied in size of battery is also enlarged. Gap accompanied by welding and increase in processing steps are suppressed, since need of welding is avoided. Prevents fuel gas leakage, since wet sealing surface of separator plate contacts anode with tile. Prevents battery performance reduction.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the top view of the separator. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    Oxidation gas supply manifold (12)    Fuel gas supply manifold (13)    Gas exhaust manifolds (14,15)    Separator plate (16)    Wet sealing surface (C)
A perforated workpiece is produced by (a) electrochemically etching perpendicular holes in a first surface (2) of an n-doped single crystal silicon substrate wafer (1) to obtain a structured layer (7); and (b) changing the etching process parameters when the hole depth corresponds to the workpiece thickness, so that the holes widen and merge and the structured layer (7) is detached as a water (6) which forms the workpiece. Also claimed is prodn. of a mechanical or optical filter using the above process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used to mfr. optical or mechanical filters with pore diameters in the micron and sub-micron range, e.g. for isoporous membranes, back-flushable filters, catalyst supports, battery and fuel cell electrodes, nozzle plates, tube grids or filters for e.g. light or microwaves. Hole diameters of 20 microns to 50nm. can be produced inexpensively by a simple process.
(JP2760684-B2)      The cooling plate (6) includes several materials withdifferent thermal conductivity. Air is passed through these materials, to cool the battery. The material at cooling air supply side has lesser thermal conductivity than that of the material at cooling air ejection side.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduces temperature gradient between coolingair supply side and cooling air ejection side. Reduces amount of air supplied for cooling purpose, pressure loss. Improves battery characteristics. Improves power generation efficiency.
System for supplying electrolyte to a pressurised cell (11) for electrolytic prodn. of H2 comprises: a storage container (40) at lower pressure; a pressure resistant intermediate container (18) connected to a liq. separator (17) of the electrolyser and to the storage container (40); and means (19,44) for bringing the intermediate container (18) to the lower pressure while filling it with electrolyte from the storage container and for bringing it to the pressure of the separator while emptying the intermediate container into the separator.    Storage container (40) may be higher than the intermediate container (18); or lower than it, in which case it is connected via pump (47) and flow line (48) which includes (back pressure) valve (49). The intermediate container (18) is connected to the liq. separator (17) via flow line (20) and valve (19); and the separator is connected to three-way valve (44) via line (43) and the valve is connected to the intermediate container via line (45).
Metal-air cell includes: replaceable metal electrode having an active metal; air electrode; and auxiliary electrode(s) acting as a charging anode. In a first mode a current is applied to the charging mode for reducing and regenerating the active metal, and in a second mode the charging anode is disengaged. The metal electrode can also be removed for mechanical replacement as well as being rechargeable in situ.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. in automotive applications. Metal electrode can be mechanically replaced following multiple charge/discharge cycles, providing the cell with long charge/discharge cycle life.
The fuel cell battery has modules (1) with gas tight partition walls (4) between an air space and a fuel space. An interconnector (3) supplies air from at least one peripheral feed (5) to the centre of the module. The air comes in to contact with the electrochemically active plates. Each module has a central supply (71) for a gaseous fuel.    The electrochemically active plates have no openings, and supply elements (6) are provided for the fuel. The fuel of at least one feed can be transported through the radially inserted supply pipe at each module, at the periphery of the module to the central supply.    ADVANTAGE -   Gas and air spaces in centre are reliably separated from each other. Eliminates possibility of cracks at openings in plates. Only one seal is needed per module.
The fuel cell main unit (21) is housed in the containment vessel (28) which is connected to the reformer burner (26). The burner (31) removes oxygen (30) from the purge gas.    The purge gas supply pipe is downstream from the catalytic burner (32). The burner has a controller (35) for the valve (36) to adjust fuel supply so that the oxygen content is substantially zero.    ADVANTAGE -   Oxygen and flammable components included in the purge gas are removed, enabling safe purging of the containment vessel.    .D
The dual battery system includes two batteries electrically connected in parallel to positive and negative terminals. The first battery has an open circuit voltage greater than that of the second battery so that, as current is drawn from both batteries, the amount of current drawn from each respective battery at a given voltage level varies depending on the magnitude of the current. The first battery preferably supplies most of the current at low to moderate current loads where as the second battery provides a greater portion of the total current at high current loads. The batteries are each lead-acid batteries, the desired difference in open circuit voltage is provided by using sulfuric acid electrolytes of different specific gravities in the two batteries. For this purpose the electrolyte specific gravity of the second battery is preferably at least 0.03 less than that of the first battery.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Automative vehicles less complex than manual or electronic switching.
A battery hold-down appts. includes a frame (12) for positioning about the base of a battery and adapted to be secured to a vehicle, a clamp comprising first and second separable members, with first member attached to a first side of said frame and second member attached to a second side of said frame opposite to said first side.    The first clamp member is U-shaped and adapted to extend up one side over the top, and partially down the opposite side of the battery and said second clamp member cooperating with said first member to clamp the battery in place within said frame. The first clamp member further has a rigid and U-shaped rod with an eyelet at one end of a first outside leg of the U-shaped rod. The first outside leg is adapted to extend partially down one side the battery, a centre leg of the U-shaped rod is adapted to extend over the top of the battery and a second outside leg of the U-shaped rod pivotally connected to said frame first side. The second clamp member has a rod with threads at one end, and said threaded end of said second clamp member extends through said eyelet on said first clamp member and forms fastening means therewith; for releasably and securely joining the first and second clamp members. A retaining means is threaded onto said threaded end of second clamp member such that the centre leg of the U-shaped rod of first clamp member is adapted to be urged against a top of the battery as the retaining piece is tightened onto the second clamp member.    A pair of side crossbars are attached to the first and second outside legs of said first clamp member respectively near the centre leg and adapted to help secure the battery in place.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To secure battery in place. It is strong, durable and readily adaptable.
The appts. comprises a resistor (1) which is switched into contact between one terminal of the battery (K) and ground with the battery terminal voltage being measured whilst the resistor is connected. The resistor is switched by a transistor (2) which is switched by transistorised stages (3) and a monostable circuit (4) initiated by a driver operated pushbutton (5).    The voltage detection circuit comprises a voltage divider of two resistors (7,8) connected to a twin threshold circuit. This circuit uses two operational amplifiers (9,10) configured as hysteresis free threshold comparators. The comparators switch LED's (12,15) which are illuminated to provide indication of the battery condition based on the relationship of the measured voltage to preset, adjustable, reference levels of the comparators.    ADVANTAGE -   Inexpensive and easy to fit monitor which enables the driver to check the battery condition whilst driving.
Electrolyte membrane (11) for a fuel cell comprises a 3-dimensional structure made up of bridging chains of water-stable polymer (I) and a polyelectrolyte (II), the 3-dimensional structure and the electrolyte being mainly uniformly distributed in the membrane.    Also claimed is a process for producing (11), by impregnating a porous support (102) with a compsn. contg. polymer (I) and a second polymer (II) which acts as the electrolyte for a fuel cell, and then crosslinking (I). Also claimed is a process for producing fuel cells, by forming a film of resin (107) on electrode (14) and also on electrode (15), impregnating support (102) and crosslinking as above to form membrane (11), placing (11) between the 2 films on (14) and (15) and hot-pressing the combination.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cells contg. (11) are useful, e.g. as power sources for cars. The invention provides a lowcost membrane which does not swell or dissolve in water, acts as an effective screen against methanol (in methanol cells), and has improved heat resistance and polyelectrolyte-electrode adhesion (w.r.t. prior-art membranes).
A fuel cell generator which is equipped with a fuel cell mainframe and a reformer to generate hydrogen by reacting raw fuel with steam comprises a moisture meter arranged on the upstream side of the reformer to monitor and control a mixt. ratio of the raw fuel to the steam.    ADVANTAGE -   The generator provides high precision, carbon deposit prevention and high efficiency reforming operation.
An energy supply/usage facility uses a fuel cell as a main energy supply source to consumers. It comprises an electrolytic bath, a hydrogen tank to collect and store hydrogen generated in the electrolytic bath and a hydrogen supply line to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   There is no need to stop the fuel cell, resulting in high operation efficiency at all times
Pb-acid battery comprises: a housing contg. electrode elements and separators; H2SO4 electrolyte of density 1.015-1.320 in an amt. sufficient to maintain the electrode elements damp but not flooded; and a dessicant in the housing to absorb water vapour. The electrode materials are formed so that a charge exists on the battery and self-discharge reactions will occur within the housing producing water vapour.    ADVANTAGE -   Battery has extended shelf life (claimed).
A sealed porous plate for use in a fuel cell is formed by (a) combining a volatile-free sealant with a catalyst; (b) impregnating at least one edge of the porous plate with the resulting mixt. so that the mixt. fills the porous void vol. at that edge of the porous plate; (c) thermally shocking the mixt. to a partially cured state; and (d) post-curing the partially cured mixt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sealant is 100% active and does not form voids during curing. The thermal shock step prevents wicking of the uncured mixture. The seal is leak-proof, and does not need successive impregnations with the sealant. The sealant maintains an expansion and contraction memory, allowing optimum operation in the desired temp. range
The cell arrangement uses a basic laminate cell preassembly comprised of alternatively arranged generally parallel positive and negative electrodes, and a separator and/or electrolyte formed of a very thin ionic-conductive ribbon-like layer configured in a tight serpentine manner and physically interposed between the electrodes.    This basic laminate cell preassembly is layered on itself, such as by winding or coiling it as a spiral to form a laminate cell membrane, in the general shape of a flat disc and the cell membrane is sandwiched between plate-like current collectors with the electrode interfaces primarily perpendicular to the current collectors, to make up an electrochemical cell. Adjcent electrochemical cells can likewise be built up, with a palte-like current collector between each adjacent pair of cell membranes, for defining a bipolar electrochemical device.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, sensors. High power output.
H2 and O2 are formed with utility load levelling by: electrolysing conc. Hhal acid into H2, hal and dil. Hhal acid; photochemically and thermally reacting water with the hal to produce Hhal and O2; separating O2; and dissolving the Hhal in the dil acid to form conc. Hhal acid.    The system uses a cell which stores power concurrently with H2 and O2 prodn. by utilising a cell charging current density greater than a cell discharging current density to form more H2 and hal on charging than that consumed on discharging.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In solar augmented continuous or intermittent generation of O2 and H2 with utility load levelling capability between peak and off-peak.
Sepn. of hydrogen from other gases comprises: (a) providing a gaseous feed stream contg. hydrogen, the feed streams being selected from coal-derived and petroleum-derived gas; (b) contacting the feed stream at a temp. of at least 700 deg.C. and a pressure of at least 100 psia with a composite membrane; and (c) sepg. hydrogen that permeates through the membrane.    The membrane comprises a hydrogen-permeable base metal and a hydrogen-permeable coating metal that are sepd. by a barrier which prevents metallic diffusion between the base metal and the coating at a temp. of at least 700 deg.C. and the partial pressure of hydrogen on the permeate side of the membrane is less than that on the feed side of the membrane.    The process of thermal decompositon of hydrogen sulphide comprises the above steps with the hydrogen-permeable coating metal being resistant to chemical attack by hydrogen sulphide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in any reaction where hydrogen is either a reactant or prod. to separate it from petroleum-derived and coal-derived gases. The composition membrane shows higher flux and longer life than prior art.
(JP5121067-A)   NOVELTY - The anode plate has lead powder to which carbon black having dibutyl phthalate oil absorption as 300 ml/100 g is added. The added amount of carbon black in lead powder is related to tin sulfate quantity of non-formation active material by specific relation.    USE - For lead storage battery used in motor vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - Improves utilization factor by forming many effective pores in active material by addition of carbon black to anode. Improves durability of battery by reducing tin sulfate amount in anode plate.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the graph illustrating tin sulfate quality and carbon black amount and number of durability cycles of battery.
Generator comprises a desulphuriser to remove S out of raw fuel material, a reformer to generate H2 gas by reacting hydrocarbon fuel in the material with steam, and a fuel cell mainframe to obtain electric power by electrochemically reacting reformed gas with air.    ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cell generator has stable operating ability for a long period.
Compsns. with a perovskite structure of at least one element chosen from Mn and Cr are prepd. by forming a mixt. comprising salts and/or sols of the elements constituting the compsn., drying the mixt. and calcining the dried prod.    Other claimed perovskite cpds. are those also contg. a rare earth, a rare earth partially substd. by an alkaline earth, an element of gp. VIII or an alkaline earth opt. in conjunction with a transition element or an element of gp. Vb.    Pref. perovskites have the structure A1-xMxM1yB1-yO3 in which A = a rare earth, esp. La, B = Mn or Cr, M = an alkaline earth, esp. Sr, M1 = a gp. VIII element, x is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 1 and y is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.5.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The prods. have improved purity, controlled morphology and stereochemistry, improved sinterability, and good electrical and electronic properties, and are esp. useful in the prodn. of fuel cells.
The reactor comprises a high temp. reactor, a device for heating the reactor a device for introducing methane into the reactor and a device for exiting resulting gases. A packing of high temp. metal catalyst coated glass fibre material is positioned within the reactor vessel and is capable of catalytically decomposing methane to produce carbon at a temp. 750-850 deg.C. with a conversion efficiency of about 80%.    The reactor vessel is e.g. a reactor tube. The high temp. glass fibres are formed of fused quartz wool of average dia. 2-10 microns and are coated with a catalyst selected from Co, Ni, Fe and Pd. The wt. fraction of the catalytic layer to the high temp. glass fibres is about 33-67%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides high efficiency methane conversion to hydrogen and carbon at low relatively low operating temp. The carbon formed has a high density. Also relevant to gas reclamation.
Mfr. comprises forming a mixt. of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grains, hydrophobic carbon grains, polyethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (PE-TFE) copolymer grains, and hydrophilic carbon grains having adhered thereto catalyst particles, into a sheet. The PE-TFE copolymer is graft polymerised to give an ion exchange membrane to form the reactive layer.    Cell mfr. comprises preparing two of the sheets, joining them and incorporating between a PE-TFE copolymer sheet by pressing, and graft polymerising the PE-TFE copolymer to obtain an electrochemical cell comprising an ion exchange membrane sandwiched beween two reactive layers.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for gas diffusion electrodes of fuel cells, water electrolysis, etc.; the cell reaction efficiency is considerably improved.
The appts. measures the resistance of a vehicle battery and includes two voltage measurement units, a switching unit and a resistive load. One measuring unit (42) monitors the battery voltage(Vg) at its terminals(8,9). The other measuring unit(40) monitors the voltage(Vl) across the resistive load(12). A switch(23) and resistance(25) are kept in series with the load when measurement is occuring to eliminate effects of surface charges. The other switch(11) and resistor(22) vary the load presented to the battery.    The two voltages and resistor values allow the internal battery resistance to be calculated.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides direct and accurate reading of battery resistance.
The heat recovery system allows waste heat provided by the high temp. fuel cell stack to be used for pre-heating the fuel (4) and pre-heating the air (5) or to be used for a subsequent process. Pref. steam provided by a subsequent or parallel process is fed to a heat exchanger for heat recovery from the anode and cathode gases, for indirect heat extraction from the fuel cell stack.    The steam is pref. used for increasing a mass flow in a gas turbine. An exhaust gas condenser may provide heat used for a heating circuit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For eg. gas turbines of power stations. Optimal utilisation of waste heat.
(JP5106792-A)   NOVELTY - The device has plate fin (12) provided with a corrugated fin (14) in which hydrogen storage alloy (11) having a particle diameter averaging 50 micron is filled. A passage to heat or cool the plate fin from both surfaces of plate fin and the corrugate fin are laminated alternately.    USE - For use as fuel cell in hydrogen engine.    ADVANTAGE - Responsiveness to storage/release of hydrogen is improved.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional view of the plate fin. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    hydrogen storage alloy (11)    plate fin (12)    passage (13)    corrugated fin (14)
The appts. comprises a 1st bypass pipe to bypass an air preheater of a combustion air line, where a part of a high temp. fluid in the air preheater is mixed with a fluid at a high temp. outlet.    USE -   For reformers of fuel cell power plants.
The combined cell comprises tubular solid electrolyte type fuel cell units connected by metal or metal oxide spacers. Each cell unit has an air electrode and a fuel electrode.    USE -   Used for producing H and organic cpds.
The power supply system includes a rechargeable electric battery (12) connected to the electric drive motor (16), which is recharged via a fuel cell system (10), supplied with fuel and oxidiser, converted via the fuel cell system into electricity. Pref. the power supplied to the battery is regulated via a voltage regulator (14) between the fuel cell system and the battery.    The fuel cell system can be adapted for directly supplying the drive motor with electrical energy, or for providing power off-board the vehicle. Pref. the fuel cell system uses a stack of solid oxide fuel cells operating at a temp. of up to 2000 degrees C.    ADVANTAGE -   Allows vehicle range and power to be comparable with traditional vehicle having IC engine. Does not require interruptive recharging from off-board source.
(JP5094822-A)   NOVELTY - The secondary battery has anode active material containing metallic oxide compound containing lithium and cobalt, and cathode active material containing carbon. The particle size distribution of metallic oxide compound is such that D(25%) is 0.5-3 mu, D(50%) is 2-10 mu and D(75%) is 3.5-30 mu.    USE - For electronic machine and electric vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - Since the particle size of metallic oxide compound in anode active material is set to specific value, the battery has excellent cycle property, output characteristics and preservation property. The battery is lightweight and is safe to use.
Polyanilines of high electrical conductivity are produced by the oxidative polymerisation of aniline in the presence of an aq. soln. of phosphoric acid and an oxidising agent. The process is carried out in two stages. The overall molar ratio of acid to aniline is 5:1 to 8:1. In the first stage an aniline acid salt is formed using a molar ratio of phosphoric acid to aniline of less than 5:1. In the second stage further phosphoric acid is added followed by the oxidising agent, and polymerisation is then continued until the temp. reaches a max.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The polyanilines are used in vehicle storage batteries, photovoltaic cells and electric cells. The polyaniline produced by the above process has conductivity exceeding 50 S/cm., intrinsic viscosity 0.2-0.6 and is stable in aq. dispersion
The battery charge drainage prevention method involves using a timing relay for automatically disconnecting each electrical lead coupled to the battery after a given time interval from the vehicle engine being cut out. The current used to hold the relay in a given position is provided by a charge storage capacitor, which is recharged via a generator, driven by the vehicle engine.    Pref. the disconnected leads can be re-connected to the battery, by using the battery charge to operate the relay, upon operation of a manual switch (K), e.g. to allow the vehicle lights to be switched back on.    USE -   For preventing drainage of battery when vehicle lights are left on, while allowing manual override.
Fuel cell comprises porous H2-reactive anode and cathode each with a current collector on one face; solvent-free catholyte, H2 being generated and catholyte consumed in the cathode compartment; solvent-free anolyte, H2 and the anolyte being consumed in the anode compartment; and a thermal regenerator for converting the salt formed in the anode compartment back to acid and base. The catholyte is a gaseous or molten acid and the analyte is a gaseous or molten base.    ADVANTAGE -   Cell can be efficiently and simply regenerated at below about 250 deg.C and avoids need for aq. electrolytes.
(JP5089902-A)   NOVELTY - A protrusion (4a) in non-vulcanized rubber (4), is inserted into the groove (3a) in vulcanized rubber (3) and is attached to recess (1a) of manifold. The manifold is fixed to the battery stack (2) by vulcanizing the rubber (3).    USE - For sealing fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE - The process sealing of fuel battery is simplified using simple technique and hence the operativity is improved.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the sectional view of fuel battery.    Recess (1a)    Battery stack (2)    Vulcanized rubber (3)    Groove (3a)    Non-vulcanized rubber (4)    Protrusion (4a)
In a system for cooling a fuel cell stack, each fuel cell includes an anode, a cathode spaced from the anode, and an electrolyte between the cathode and anode. A cooler for the fuel cell is in heat transfer relationship with the fuel cell. The cooler has a coolant inlet and a carrier gas inlet, coolant being supplied to the cooler through the coolant inlet, and a carrier gas being separately supplied to the cooler through the carrier gas inlet, and wherein the coolant and carrier gas are mixed within the cooler.    The coolant is sprayed into the coolant inlet and the coolant is water. The carrier gas is oxidant or fuel for the cell. The cooler comprises a cavity divided by a porous separator, the coolant being supplied to the cavity through the coolant inlet on one side of the separator. The carrier gas is supplied to the cavity through the carrier gas inlet on the other side of the separator, and the coolant and carrier gas are mixed as the coolant and carrier gas pass through the porous separator.    ADVANTAGE -   Allows fuel cell to operate at high pressure without raising cell temp.
A battery heating system with a thermometer probe and at least one heating element. The heating element and the probe are arranged pref. liquid tight and acid proof inside the battery. The heating element (10) is at least one power transistor supplied with current by the battery and fixed on a cold body (18) e.g. a metal plate. The control electrode of the transistor (10) is controlled by a temp. regulating circuit, if the battery temp. lies below a specified temp. desired value, and the battery voltage is larger than a lower threshold value and smaller than an upper threshold value of the voltage.    A trigger circuit is provided, which responds to the rise of the battery voltage, following the switching off of the current in a user with a high current consumption. The trigger circuit then operates a time circuit (100), which with the battery voltage lying under the lower threshold value or the same as this, controls the power transistor (10) is a conducting mode for a set period of time.    ADVANTAGE -   Battery has good starting characteristics also, if battery without charging was subjected to low external temp. for relatively long time.
The battery discharge load current control system includes a battery, an electrical load, a load control switching device, a connection between one side of the switching and one side of the battery, and a coupler including a conductor connecting an opposite side of the switch to one side of the electrical load. A manually operable control switch is connected between an opposite side of the electrical load and an opposite side of the battery, and a pulse counter is connected to a source of constant frequency clock pulses.    The pulse counter is coupled to the load control switch, and when reset to a zero count value causes the load controller to be activated to a closed condition to thereby connect the battery and the load. The pulse counter activates the load controller to an open condition to disconnect the battery and the load after the counter has counted a predetermd. number of clock pulses corresp. to a predetermd. time period, and a reset device coupled to the conductor resets the pulse counter to a zero count value when the manually operable switch is closed at a time when the load control switch is open.    ADVANTAGE -   Timers set w.r.t. number of miles covered. Prevents over-discharge of battery, due to parasitic load, e.g., vehicle radio clock, generator voltage regulator, or inadvertent loads, e.g., by leaving on compartment lights.
The on/off circuit is provided to automatically turn `on' or `off' electrical power to electrical outlets depending upon whether a vehicle engine is `on' or `off'. The circuit is powered by the automobile battery via a plug inserted into a cigarette lighter socket (18). The circuit includes a mechanical vibration sensor (22), namely a piezoelectrical transducer, that monitors engine vibrations. Upon detection of vibrations, the sensor outputs a signal that is amplified by an operational amplifier before being rectified and filtered into a signal that triggers a transistor to switch a power supply circuit `on'.    Energisation of the power supply circuit provides power to one or more electrical sockets. The power supply circuit includes a current limiting circuit (24) (featuring a Darlington transistor) to protect against high current damage. When the sensor notes an absence of vibrations, the on/off circuit shuts off the power supply circuit.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents accessories draining battery power when vehicle is not running.
The switched long lived battery system provides a main battery, such as a deep cycle battery, in selective electrical communication with the reserve battery, such as a high power battery, through an automatically activated switch. The switch is triggered to provide a secondary battery in parallel with the primary battery.    When a comparator determines that the primary battery voltage falls below a predetermined level, subsequent engagement of a vehicle ignition switch automatically activates a triggerable switch that connects the secondary battery in parallel with the primary battery. A timing circuit causes the switch connecting the secondary battery in parallel with the primary battery to be opened at a fixed time after release of the ignition switch.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For vehicle battery system. Increased reliability.
Case comprises a box-like housing of heat-resistant material with two top wall apertures (24) for the terminals (26) of a battery, a grip (28) on one or more sides to assist in mounting the battery in an awkward position, and a top lifting handle (34) for carrying the battery with one hand.    The material has an outer nylon layer and an inner layer of polyethylene insulation. The grips are handles attached to the side walls. There is pref. a sliding clasp fastener secured about three edges of one of the case end walls to give access to the battery, and a scraper secured in each aperture and having a cylindrical elastic member with a downwardly bent blade.    ADVANTAGE -   Simple and easy to use, inexpensive and helps to prolong battery life.
A downhole appts. comprises: (a) a tool adapted for lowering into a well, the tool includes at least one electrical circuit requiring electricity (b) a power supply connected to at least one electrical circuit for providing electricity.    A power supply for an electrical circuit disposed in a well which has a downhole temp. within the range of between 300 deg.F. and 400 deg.C., comprises: (a) a fuel cell which has a 1st. and 2nd. inlet and which has a 1st. and 2nd. terminal, (b) a 1st. container which has compressed hydrogen gas, (c) 1st. connector means for connecting the 1st. container to the 1st. inlet of the fuel cell, (d) 2nd. container which has compressed oxygen gas, (e) 2nd. connector means for connecting the 2nd. container to the 2nd. inlet of the fuel cell, (f) water storage means for storing water produced in the fuel cell in response to hydrogen from the 1st. container reacting in the fuel cell with oxygen from the 2nd. container, (g) housing which has a fuel cell, 1st. container, 1st. connector means, 2nd. container, 2nd. connector means and water storage means disposed therein, (h) means, responsive to electricity from the fuel cell, for pumping water from the water storage means, out of the housing and into the well.    Method of energising an electrical circuit of a downhole tool in a well, comprises: (a) lowering into the well with the downhole tool, a power supply comprising a fuel cell electrically connected to the electrical circuit of the downhole tool, (b) producing electricity in the well from the fuel cell and providing at least a portion of the electricity to the electrical circuit of the downhole tool.    USE -   Method of providing electricity to one or more electrical circuits disposed in a well which has a downhole temp. within the range between 300-400 deg.F.
The device comprises a reformer with a mounted reforming tube to supply fuel gas from the outside to the reforming tube so that it can be heated via the reforming tube with combustion gas created in the tube while being distributed to the outlet and reformed into H2-rich gas.    ADVANTAGE -   Time required for plant shutdown is shortened.
The isolating circuit separates the vehicle battery (2) from the generator (3) using an isolator switch (1.1). The switch may be actuated manually at the battery or remotely from the driver seat via a second switch (1.4). Essential warning devices such as indicator lights and tachograph (4') remain coupled, whilst other loads (4) are isolated.    The release of the isolator switch is controlled electrically by an engine stop relay (1.2) that opens as soon as the engine comes to rest. The generator output (D+) is used to identify this condition.    ADVANTAGE -   Reliable system for isolating vehicle battery, avoids voltage spikes damaging system after battery isolation.
A zinc-nitric acid fuel cell has a basic structure comprising a cation exchange film (1), positive and negative plate chambers (3 and 2) sepd. by the cation exchange film (1), a positive carbon plate (4) disposed in the positive plate chamber (2), and a negative zinc plate (5) disposed in the negative plate chamber (3). When conc. nitric acid (6) and an electrolyte (7) are supplied to the positive and negative plate chambers (2 and 3), respectively, the cell generates electrical power at normal temp. and normal pressure, and re-pptn. of negative plate zinc and regeneration of nitric acid can be made by recharging.    .d20
The integrated fuel cell power generation system comprises a fuel cell stack having a humidification section and an electrochemically active section. The humidification section imparts water vapour to an inlet hydrogen containing fuel stream and an inlet oxygen containing oxidant stream. The electochemically active section comprises fuel cells for promoting the electrocatalytic conversion of the humidified fuel and oxidant streams to electric current and product water. The electrochemically active section also includes a coolant water stream for absorbing heat generated in the active section.    The system includes a heat exchanger for removing heat from the coolant water stream exiting the active section, a water separator for removing water from the coolant water stream exiting the active section, a water separator for removing water from the oxidant stream exiting the fuel cell stack, and a coolant reservoir for receiving the removed water stream from the water separator and from the heat exchanger. The coolant water stream is drawn from the coolant reservoir.    ADVANTAGE -   Avoids need to provide separate external source of coolant fluid.
(JP5067466-A)   NOVELTY - The non-aqueous secondary battery uses a lithium complex oxide as positive electrode active material.    USE - The battery is used for small battery machines, electric vehicles, and industrial power supply.    ADVANTAGE - The non-aqueous secondary battery excels in reliability, cycle property, and overcharge property. Degradation of positive electrode active material due to repetition of charging and discharging of battery is prevented. The charging and discharging of battery can be repeated for longer period of time. Generation of gas, and rapid increase in voltage at the time of overcharge, are prevented.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The non-aqueous secondary battery uses a lithium complex oxide of general formula (I):    as positive electrode active material,    A = rubidium and/or cesium;    M = cobalt or a mixture of metals containing cobalt as main constituent, and 30% or less of manganese and/or nickel;    x is 0.20-1.10,    y is 0.01-0.30, and    z is 1.95-2.45.
The battery protection unit for attachment to a vehicle battery, includes two detectors, one (7) which senses an unacceptable drop in the battery voltage and the second (8) which senses that the vehicle has been involved in a collision. A switch (4) isolates the battery completely, or isolates the battery from the starter motor of the vehicle.    An override device (5) overrides the switch, the arrangement being such that the battery is isolated completely in the event that either the first detector senses that the battery voltage has dropped to an unacceptable level or that the second detector senses that the vehicle has been involved in a collision, and that the battery can be isolated from the starter motor of the vehicle in the absence of operation of the override device.    ADVANTAGE -   Protects vehicle from fire or explosion in event of collision. Multi-functional, easily installed arrangement.
The connector fitting chamber (41) has a terminal accommodating portion (40) formed on the inside of the male connector (17) and on the inside of the female connector (16) and male tabs (19a) of a pair of short circuiting terminals (19) curved in an inverted U-shape in plane perpendicular to a plane extending from the female housing (23) into the connector fitting chamber (41). A pair of female connecting terminals (20), with resilient contact members (20a) for contacting the male tabs, are located on the inside of the male connector and fixed by an arresting lance (42).    A waterproof packing (46) is provided on an outer peripheral wall (43) of the terminal accommodating portion (40) of the male connector. The waterproof packing has a lip-shaped sliding seal (45).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Waterproof connection for dark current in e.g. car battery. Complete fitting between connectors ensured.
Energy storage system has a combined electrolysing and electrical energy producing unit (1) with solid oxide electrodes. The system includes a water vapour feeding device (4,12), an oxygen storage unit (3) and a hydrogen storage unit (2). When the water vapour is fed to the electric cell (1) it is decomposed into oxygen and hydrogen by an electrolysing current tapped from the mains (30, 30a). The resulting gases are cooled as they are fed back to their storage units (2,3). When these gases are then fed to the cell they recombined to form water vapour with the resultant prodn. of electric current. The heat given off during the dissociation and recombination of the gases is used by heat exchangers (7a, 7b) to heat water from tank (10) which then is used to provide hot and cold water according to the operation of valve (11).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   System uses the excess electrical energy which is not needed during the night to produce the oxygen and hydrogen which can then be reused to provide extra electrical energy during the day. System can feed a large town in an economic and efficient manner. The energy efficiency is as high as a pump storage power station.
Top cover (34) is sealed to a battery case (36) by positioning their sealing surfaces against the heated platen of a heat sealing device and applying sufficient heat and pressure to soften the surfaces to a near liquid state, and roll-over (64, 66) of the softened material onto the sides of top and case before removing the platen. The heated sealing surfaces are then brought into contact and held by applying a first contact force are then brought into contact and held by applying a first contact force for sufficient time to allow the heated roll-over to solidify on the sides of top and case while the material (80) between sealing surfaces and roll-over remains molten. A second contact force is then applied for sufficient time for the molten material of top and case to mix and physically bond, the roll-over material preventing further roll-over from forming on the sides. The contact force is finally released to provide a sealed battery having increased bursting strength.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For sealing car and heavy duty commercial batteries made from a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, a heat sealed butt joint being formed having increased bursting strength and tensile strength.
A quartz crystal oscillator (10), fixed to a tube (11) mounted on the battery filler cap (51), is immersed in the battery electrolyte and driven by an oscillator circuit. The reaction of the electrolyte to the oscillation induces a change in the natural frequency of the crystal, the value of this change being a coefficient of the concentration of the sulphuric acid electrolyte. A corresponding signal is sent to a counter circuit, providing a direct reading of acid concentration.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use in motor vehicle batteries. Sensor is compact, simple, and cheaply produced. Regulates charge condition, giving longer battery life.
The turbine, has a fuel apparatus for providing fuel for a gas turbine engine comprising (a) a fuel production tank having a first compartment and a second compartment, where a divider seals each compartment from the other at the top of the tank, and connects the compartments along the bottom of the tank; (b) the first compartment having cathodes for the production of hydrogen, and connected to a hydrogen manifold for removing hydrogen gas from the compartment; (c) a second compartment having anodes for production of oxygen and connected to an oxygen manifold for removing oxygen gas from the compartment; (d) the oxygen manifold having a diameter of a size to fit within the hydrogen manifold whereby the gases will mix together where the open ends of the manifold meet; (e) the hydrogen manifold being connected to a turbine having an intake end with impellers for pumping the mixed gases into the turbine, where they are subsequently ignited.    ADVANTAGE -   An electrolysis apparatus is provided for the production of hydrogen and oxygen fuel gases and their use in driving a gas turbine.
These dusts are treated with an alkali metal carbonate and allowed to crystallise out and the solid prods. are sepd. The dusts are treated with a Na carbonate soln. and the residue from the treatment is leached with HNO3. The soln. is concentrated and the Pb nitrate is allowed to crystallise out. An addn. of CaCl2 is made to the soln. after the dusts were treated with Na carbonate soln., and the soln. is heated to at least 90 deg. C. Calcium hydroxide is added to give pH of 9.5-10.5, and a Na polysulphide soln. is added to the pulp. After mixing, the residue is removed by filtration and the filtrate is evaporated such that when the NaCl crystallises out in the mother liquor, the molar ratio between the CaCl2 and the NaCl is 2.5-4.0. The mother liquor is recycled into the process at the point at which the dusts are carbonated. After the Pb nitrate has crystallised from the mother liquor, the Pb sulphate is pptd., and this is treated with NaOH to form the tribasic Pb sulphate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In non-ferrous metallurgy to process lead chloride dusts obtd. from melting scrap vehicle batteries. The overall use of the valuable constituents in the dusts is improved, and environmental contamination with Pb and SO2 is avoided. Bul. 14/15.4.92
The process avoids the requirement for a furnace to deal with scrap batteries and carries out fusion and redn. of the Pb-contg. components using an air-propane plasma stream that contains 10-30 vol.% of propane in the plasma-generating gas. The plasma operates at 5500K and is directed at the battery which is on an incline to allow the molten metallic phase to be collected.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In non-ferrous metallurgy and other industries dealing with prodn., operation and re-processing waste from lead-contg. batteries. Bul. 14/15.4.92
Nitrogen evaporator comprises: a water tank in which the middle of a pipe with one end connected to a liq. nitrogen storage tank is pulled; a container mounted in the water tank with one end open to the outside; and cartridge heating agent stored in the container in a replaceable manner.    ADVANTGE - Nitrogen gas is safely and stably supplied to perform smooth activation and drive.
(JP5054874-A)   NOVELTY - The separator with density of 0.2-0.4 g/cm3, comprises 5-15 weight% (wt.%) of glass fiber having equilibrium fiber diameter (EFD) of 2 mum or less, 10-20 wt.% of polyester fiber having EFD of 3-14 mum and equilibrium fiber length of 3-15 mm, 45-55 wt.% of silica powder having specific surface area of 150 m2/g or more, and 20-30 wt.% of acrylic-resin binder having glass transition point of 10-40degreesC.    USE - For liquid type lead storage batteries (claimed) for motor vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - The separator has high oxidization resistance, and excellent heat resistance. The separator can be manufactured easily, and economically.
The voltage regulator (3) has a voltage supply input (3a) and an inhibit input (3c) supplied via a diode (5) with an input control signal. The output (4e) of the microprocessor IC (4) is coupled via a second diode (7) to the inhibit input, the prior receiving the regulated output voltage provided by the voltage regulator (3). The microprocessor IC output (4e) is short circuited at a reset input (4b) so that a reset signal is provided when the output (4e) is switched to earth, upon disconnection of the voltage regulator (3).    The voltage regulator (3) is switched on and off via a TTL compatible switching threshold at its inhibit input (3c).    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents battery drainage when vehicle is standing.
Direct conversion of chemical energy (pref. from liq. fermented fuels or possibly solid fuels) into electrical energy is carried out using a fluid dynamo as the energy converter. The novelty is that the fluid dynamo consists of a cylindrical container with up to 12 closed or open metal, compact carbon and/or ceramic vessels and associated equipment (fuel lines, etc.) as combinations of electrolysis units and voltaic elements in connection with mutually orthogonal permanent magnetic and electromagnetic fields and inductive electromagnetic fields with the corresponding earth metals (Mg, Ca, Fe, etc.) in the fuel. Magnetic field rotation is caused by electron spin acting on the magnetic field, resulting in acceleration of dissociated atoms of the fermented hydrocarbons in the fuel towards respective electrodes where they give up their electron charge and accept discharge electrons and form new cpds.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process may be used to provide fuel for `cold combustion' in vehicles not fitted with catalytic converters and to provide electric power for electric cars. It avoids noxious emissions and allows electric cars to function as long as fuel is present in the fuel tank
Battery (I) having an alkaline electrolyte and a decomposable, reusable housing comprises deviating perforated electrode plates coated with an Fe-alloy and/or different oxides.    Pref. the negative electrode is made of an alloyed Fe-perforated plate coated with an Fe alloy (0-100% Zn or Al) as active compsn. The positive electrode is made of Ni plated perforated steel plate coated with MnO2 or Ni-oxide hydroxide as active compsn.    The electrodes are pref. located in microporous polypropylene separators, the positive electrode is additionally surrounded inside by a plastic tile. The walkways (Verbindungsstege) are made of Ni-plated steel plate and are connected to the electrodes by resistance welding. The electrodes are sepd. from one another by cellulose. The housing and lid are connected to each other by a rubber seal and tubular rivets.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) are used in vehicles to increase the power density.
The fuel cell powered wheeled vehicle has a body assembly defining at least one passenger seat and a pair of wheels suspended by the body at one end in transversely spaced apart relation. A wheel is suspended by the body at the other end, at least one of the wheels being steered. An electric motor drives at least one of the wheels, a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell for generating electrical power for the electric motor for driving the at least one of the wheels. A reformer supplies fuel to the fuel cell.    The fuel cell is resiliently supported contiguous to the centre of gravity of the vehicle system including the fuel cell and reformer. The fuel cell system is positioned transversely between the pair of wheels and longitudinally between the pair of wheels and the wheel suspended by the body at the other end for protection of the fuel cell system upon front and side impacts of the vehicle.    ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cells are located to maintain vehicle stability and provide damage protection in event of impact.
The reformer has a reaction tube for reforming raw material, and high temp. gas generator for heating the tube, in a casing and preheating layer of heat conductive grains is arranged at the raw gas inlet of catalyser layer arranged inside the tube.    ADVANTAGE -   Lowering of temp. in catalyser layer caused by switching fuel or transitional fluctuation is absorbed by the preheater layer. Fluctuation of hydrogen rate in reform gas is restricted.
A lower part (26) connects to a top cover (28) by an integrally moulded hinge (30) to form a one-piece mounting cover. The lower part has an aperture (32) to receive a battery post.    A force-fit attachment assembly (33) has a semi-circular boss section (34) and a pair of stop tabs (40) to secure the connector (16) to the lower part in alignment with the aperture. The retention channel (38) is a force fit in the annular flange (24).    ADVANTAGE -   Accommodates automated installation onto battery cable assembly for efficient shipping and inventory control. Affords quick and easy access to battery terminal connection, is durable in use and aesthetically pleasing in appearance.
The electric vehicle includes a wet type secondary battery in which a battery housing (42) is provided with negative zinc (105) and positive nickel (106) electrode plates, which are alternately positioned in the cell. Each nickel electrode has two or more layers of liquid holding paper (107), impregnated with electrolyte, wound around it, and a separator (101) is provided on the inner side of the outermost layer.    Connector terminals are operatively connected to respective electrode plates. The plates are disposed in a horizontal plane when the battery housing is mounted on a step floor of an electric vehicle. A charging station is provided for charging the battery, and is adapted to take into account differing battery characteristics and charging conditions.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents deterioration of battery capacity and ensures long life.
The circuit breaker has a movable switching arm (8) that is mounted on a pivot point (4). In the normal operating position the arm is centrally located in a closed position (84). A projecting fixing link (18) is fixed to the housing of the circuit breaker assembly.    The arm is mounted as a pendulum unit and reacts to any excessive levels of deceleration, such as will result in a vehicle collision. The pendulum is moved in one of two direction (86, 88) in such conditions, and the battery is disconnected.    ADVANTAGE -   Simple isolation of battery. Reduces possibility of vehicle burning after collision, due to burning cables, short circuits etc..
The clamp includes a main clamp body having a vertical bore extending therethrough which is adapted to receive the battery terminal stud. The clamp body further includes a vertical channel extending from the vertical bore to a distal face of the clamp such that when confronting faces of the vertical channel are pushed towards one another, the vertical bore is tightened about the terminal stud so as to secure the clamp.    The inner faces of the vertical channel are pushed towards one another by a strong, yet flexible track which is attached at its distal end to one of the inner faces of the vertical channel and extends through an axial channel to engage a tightening member rotatably mounted within the clamp body. When the tightening member is rotated from an exteriorly engageable head portion, the track is correspondingly moved to cause either the tightening of the vertical bore about the terminal stud or the loosening of the vertical bore to allow removal.    ADVANTAGE -   Easily secured and removed from battery terminal stud.
(JP5021079-A)   NOVELTY - A carbon monoxide reduction unit reduces carbon monoxide from the methanol reformed gas. An electric power source (107) applies voltage to the gas diffusion electrodes (102A,102B) that are separated by a solid polymer electrolyte film (101). The hydrogen containing gas of pressure below 10atm, is generated from the reformed gas.    USE - In solid polymeric fuel cell (claimed) used in vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - High pressure hydrogen gas is obtained easily and positioning of the catalyst at the hydrogen pole is prevented, by removal of carbon impurities, for improved electricity generation.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for fuel cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a front schematic view of the hydrogen pressure increasing apparatus. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    hydrogen pressure increasing apparatus (100)    solid polymer electrolyte film (101)    gas diffusion electrodes (102A,102B)    reaction films (103A,103B)    gas separators (104A,104B,105,106)    electric power source (107)
Gas diffusion electrode for an acid fuel cell comprises a porous substrate and a catalyst layer formed of: catalyst particles; porous hydrophobic polymer binder; and inert hydrophilic particles (I) for providing a network of liq. transport paths throughout the catalyst layer.    Catalyst layer pref. comprises (in wt.%): 25-60% binder and 40-75% catalyst plus (I), the wt. ratio of (I) to catalyst being 0.015-2.5.    Pref. for a cathode, the catalyst particles are supported Pd, Rh, Os, Ru, Ir or an alloy of these; a pref. catalyst is a Pt alloy supported on graphitised C particles. (I) are (graphitised) C, SiC or WC particles. Pref. cathode catalyst layer comprises (in wt.%): 40% binder, 40% catalyst and 20% (I). For an anode, the catalyst particles are supported Pd, Pt, Os, Ru, Rh, Ir or alloy of these; a pref. catalyst is Pt supported on graphitised C particles. (I) are (graphitised) C black or SiC particles. A pref. anode catalyst layer comprises (in wt.%): 40.5% binder, 49.5% catalyst particles and 10% (I).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. as the anode and cathode structures in an alkali fuel cell. Electrode is resistant to pumping and flooding so that the fuel cell can be operated continuously at high current density.
A battery has a container holding battery elements interconnected by straps and an anti-vibration plate (105) inserted between an end element (145) and the container wall (155) during mfr. with an interference fit. The plate is a flat sheet with a flexural modulus of at least 250,000 psi, pref. about 400,000 psi, and has the shape of the end wall for one or more cut-outs to prevent the plate contacting the straps. The plate is of uniform thickness, 0.025-0.075 inches more than the width of the space into which it is inserted. The plate is pref. of 20% glass-filled polypropylene and has a thickness of 0.125 +/- 0.005 inch. The bottom edge of the sheet may be wedge-shaped and a sheet may be inserted at each end of the container.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents the structural wear caused by the high vibration environment without requiring elements to be fixed in place with epoxy adhesive.    .D
The test method involves initial measurement of voltage pulsations in the mains network of the electrical equipment under load (10) switching conditions. For improved level of fidelity in the assessment of the state of the storage battery, the low frequency (l.f.) components are filtered off (2) from the voltage pulsations (ripple) signal, and the magnitude of the l.f. components is compared (3) with threshold values of voltages of permissible intervals and the storage battery's correct condition and its connection are assessed according to the comparison results.    USE -   Testing storage batteries used in self-regulated electric supply systems, mainly in vehicles. Bul.11/23.3.92.
The clamp has an electrically conductive material body including an aperture to accommodate a terminal post. Included within the body is a cam operated locking device by which the clamp may be releasably secured to the terminal post. A device releasably secures at least one electric cable to the clamp.    The electrically conductive material body is pref. a casting of elongate configuration. The locking device is located in arecess in the body.    ADVANTAGE -   Allows quick release and securement of battery cables to battery. (Provisional Basic advised week 9229)
Hydrometer collar has a cylindrical hub with an annular side wall having spaced sealing ribs (34). Each rib has a smaller wiper rib (38) on its peripheral surface and between its upper and lower surfaces. The wiping ribs are easily deformable to fill any imperfections in the battery casing bore (28). Pref. the ribs are also deformable and pref. of polypropylene.    ADVANTAGE -   Simple and economic to make and assemble and has an improved seal.
(JP4366556-A)   NOVELTY - A substrate of lead-calcium-tin alloy has a calcium content exceeding 0.10% by weight ratio. A slab casting is rolled over the substrate stepwise in the form of a continuous sheet, by a roller at a linear velocity lesser with respect to the speed of rolled object. The lattice structure of the substrate is expanded after rolling process.    USE - Plate for positive/negative electrode of liquid or gas sealing battery, especially for lead storage battery used in motor vehicles, industrial applications and consumer appliances.    ADVANTAGE - Suppresses corrosion, cracks, breakage or elongation of the lattice structure at high temperature, and hence improves durability remarkably.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for plate manufacturing method.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the graph depicting the relationship between rolling speed and rate of crack generation. (Drawing includes non-English language text).
Prepn. of acetaldehyde (I) comprises feeding ethylene (II), water and oxidising agent(s) to open fuel cell to oxidise (II).    Pref. appts. used includes electrodes contacted through ionic conductive layer (e.g. mineral acid(s), heteropolyacid(s), solid electrolyte etc) and connected with wire (pref. gold-, silver- or copper-wire). (II), water and oxidising agent(pref. air or oxygen) are fed to the open fuel cell system, (II) is oxidised at -20 deg.C to 200 deg.C (pref. -5 deg. C to 150 deg.c) under pref. ordinary pressure. The reaction prod. is distilled to isolate (I). Pref. material to prepare electrodes are electrode : Pd or its cpds., electrode : Ru, Os, Ir, Rh or their compounds.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as (raw) material for various chemicals, e.g. acetic acid, acetic anhydride, (di)ketene, butanol etc. (I) is obtd. quite selectively, isolated from the reaction mixt, readily, and electric energy is also obtd
The control system comprises two batteries with a common first polarity terminal and two independent second polarity terminals loaded on a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine. A generator drives by the engine charges the batteries through the diodes connected with the two polarity terminals of the two respective batteries.    An electric switch device includes a switch which is kept closed when the key for starting the engine inserted into the keyhole is turned by a certain angle on two turning stages and a second switch which is kept closed when the key is turned by a certain angle on the final turning stage. A spring back makes the key turn back to the initial position when the force for turning it is removed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For starting IC engine of e.g. car, ship or cultivator. Every time cell motor starts engine once, two batteries alternate in functioning resulting in ensuring engine start.
To seal the end sides of channels in an extruded ceramic carrier in a given shape and size, the prepd. and dried carrier, such as a carrier plate, is ground at the end side to be joined together with the cover plate with parallel face surfaces. The surfaces to be joined are wetted with water. The cover plate is laid on the end side of the carrier to be pressed and sintered into place.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The components are for use in mfg. high temp. fuel cells. The technique gives a carrier plate which has a gas-tight seal at one end side, for insertion into a fuel cell assembly without clamping.
In a process for metallising a ceramic, a mixt. is fired into the ceramic surface, consisting of a glass-forming component and a metallic component which does not oxidise at firing temp. The metallic component is a powder contg. 0-15% Al; 0-15% W, Mo and/or Nb; 0-5% Y, Ti and/or Ce; 0-3% Si, Mn and/or C; 15-25% Cr; remainder Ni and/or Fe and/or Co, and impurities.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cells, resistant to H and O at temps. of 1000 deg. C and above
Appts. to generate hydrogen has a container fitted with platinum electrodes which are immersed in an electrolyte and connected to a battery. The container has an inlet, below the electrodes, through which petrol or hydrocarbons can be introduced into the electrolyte, and outlets for liberated hydrogen and oxygen. It also carries an ultrasonic vibrator to aid decomposition of the electrolyte and hydrocarbon mixt..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. produces gases suitable for use in internal combustion engines, gas turbines, and space vehicle power units. It generates pollution-free fuel, can be incorporated in conventional-type propulsion systems, and can be used to eliminate carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons from exhaust emissions.
The terminal has a circular cylindrical part (1) and two arms (2, 3) which are drawn together by a bolt (6). The bolt can be fixed in a tapped enlargement (4) of the one arm. (To be reissued in later week based on complete specification)
Process for conducting a chemical reaction in a gas diffusion cell consisting of a chamber to which gas is led and a chamber to which liq. is led, the chambers being sepd. by a gas diffusion electrode of which the hydrophobic layer is in contact with the gas and the hydrophilic layer is in contact with the liq., characterised in that the liq. is ion-conductive and that a solid material in the form of a packed bed or fluidised bed is introduced into the chamber into which the liq. is led, whereby the material transfer from the electrode to the liq. is improved.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The presence of the bed of solid material in the liq. chamber gives higher rates of reaction in cells in which the reaction taking place in the hydrophilic side of the gas diffusion membrane is the rate-determining step. Reactions which can be accelerated in this way are e.g. the redn. of Fe3+ with H2, the oxidn. of glucose with 02 to gluconic acid, and removal of Cu2+ from H2S04 contg. solns. by redn. of Cu2+ to Cu metal with H2.
Fuel cell includes cells each formed of electrolyte layer (1), O2 electrode (2) and fuel electrode (3). Separator (4) is fixed to the O2 electrode, with a intervening O2 flow passage. Fuel flow passages (a) are formed between adjacent cells. Partition walls (11,12) are fixed tightly against opposite ends of the cell.    A further pair of partition walls (16,17) are located along a pair of opposed cell edge portions where the O2 flow passage is open between a pair of cells. The first walls have projecting ends (not shown) and the second walls also having projecting ends (not shown) in tight overlapping contact with the first project ends.    ADVANTAGE -   Quick and easy air-tight assembly can be achieved.
The system units (20,30,40,50,60) contain one or more components necessary for completing the specified functions as well as a frame (21,31,41,51,61). An individual base is assigned to the frame, on which the one or more components are mounted.    The number of system units is integrated and arranged on the respective individual bases on the common base (70). The complete system can be transported in the assembled condition.    ADVANTAGES -   System designed so that it can be easily assembled, produced continuously with high efficiency. Time can be saved when inspecting and repairing.
High-temp. electrochemical cell, has mixed-conductor electrodes (3) applied to a central ionic conductor (1) and a grid of electronically conductive metal (2) applied to the mixed-conductor electrodes. The high-temp.ionic conductor is 30-1000 microns thick and conducts oxygen ions, the mixed-conductor electrodes are 0.1-10 micrometres thick, and the electronic conductors have a grid-like structure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as a fuel cell and as an electrolytic cell. Also claimed is a hybrid system for traction applications consisting of an electric motor, a storage battery and a fuel cell. The electrochemical reaction proceeds over the entire surface of the mixed conductor and with a homogeneous, high current density.
The compsn. comprises a blend also incorporating high density polyethylene and elastomer of the type ethylene-propylene-diene. It is produced by mixing in the molten form.    USE -   In the car industry.
The battery clamp for a battery of secondary cells, which has a pair of electrical terminals via which it may be charged and discharged, comprises a releasable element which enages the battery to clamp it against movement in ordinary use. The engaging element includes separate electrical connectors arranged so that engaging the releasable element to clamp the battery also makes electrical contact between each connector and a respective battery terminal.    The clamp holds the battery by its terminals and the releasable element relieves stresses due to thermal expansion of the battery.    ADVANTAGE -   Avoids need unclamp and reclamp battery for recharging.
The battery has a battery housing (1) enclosing a number of adjacent battery cells and fitted with a cover (3) which has a labyrinth space (7) defined between top and bottom plates (4,5). The bottom plate (4) of the cover (3) has a dished recess (5) across which the top plate (5) is fitted, with the two plates (4,5) coupled together around the edge of the top plate (5).    Preferably, the recess (6) and the underside of the top plate (5) have corresponding ribs (15,16), defining the labyrinth and simultaneously stabilising the cover (3).    ADVANTAGE -   Provides flat cover surface facilitating compact stowage of battery.
Hydrogen is produced in vehicles by converting the waste heat of the engine into electrical energy, by means of a Stirling engine which drives an a.c. generator, for current supply to the accumulators in a hybrid vehicle or to the electrolyser in a hydrogen-driven vehicle. The electrical energy is converted, in the electrolyser, into chemical energy as H2 and O2 which are combusted in the engine cylinders to form steam. The Stirling engine extracts the energy content of the hot steam and is opt. also supplied with energy extracted from the coolant and the oil by a heat exchanger, the waste steam being condensed in a condenser for return by an electric motor to the electrolyser.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is applicable to all types of vehicles (esp. hybrid vehicles) such as ships, submarines, automobiles, aircraft, rail vehicles and in industrial plants and factories. It provides energy recovery, hydrogen prodn. and battery charging (in hybrid vehicles) without noxious exhausts and the need for hydrogen tanks, provides increased engine power since the electrolyser also produces oxygen and only requires periodic topping up of a water tank.
Efficient operation of electrolysis cells with at least one separator and at least one capillary gap electrode. The electrolyte and the reaction gas which is produced or consumed in the electrolytic process are conveyed separately, so that the electrolyte does not impede the transport of the reaction gas and the latter does not impair the electrolytic reaction. A cell for carrying out the process comprises at least one separator, pref. in the form of a diaphragm or membrane, and at least one capillary gap electrode immediately adjacent to the separator. In partic., the cell consists of a number of electrode elements arranged parallel to each other, wherein the distance between them is such that a capillary effect is produced. Separate lines are used for the electrolyte and the reaction gas.    Pref. the electrolyte is contained in a sealed electrolyte space, and fed through the walls of this to the electrodes. The electrolyte of the capillary gap electrode is fed along the separator surface in the form of a falling film. The electrode elements are hydrophilic in the narrow electrolytically active region of the capillary gap electrode adjacent to the separator, and are hydrophobic in the remaining region remote from the separator.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in water and chloralkali electrolysis cells, and in fuel cells. The ohmic resistance is reduced, and mass transfer is improved. Mfr. of the cell is simplified, and large active surfaces can be used.
Battery clamp including a nut molded into one of the clamping arms and a rotatable bolt with a flanged shaft molded into the other clamping arm. The head of the bolt, flange, and nut provide bearing surfaces for drawing the clamping arms together, or forcing the clamping arms apart, depending upon the rotation of the bolt. The battery clamp is manufactured in a single molding process by prethreading the nut onto the flanged bolt to a predetermined position.    The pre-threaded nut and bolt is positioned in one portion of a battery clamp mold and the remaining piece of the battery clamp mold are assembled around the bolt and nut. The piece of the battery clamp mold are secured together, and lead or a lead alloy is poured into an opening in the battery clamp mold. The lead filled mold is quenched in a liquid bath to accelerate the cooling process then the secured mold pieces are separated after the lead or lead alloy cools and the molded battery clamp is removed.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced likelihood of damage during mfr.
Conversion of water to a fuel contg. H2 involves (a) providing a mist of water in a zone determined by conductive members, the surfaces of which define the opposite plates of a capacitive unit in a resonant circuit, and (b) subjecting the mist to a unipolar pulsing electrical signal, so resonance of the circuit is achieved, and H2 is dissociated from water molecules as a gas.    The resonant circuit is an electrical circuit including an inductive member, which may be in series with the capacitive unit. Non-combustible gases, or ionised gases (opt. excited by photons), are injected with water into the zone. The media in the zone is subjected to physical pulsing corresp. to the resonance of the circuit. The H2 gas released is oxidised to produce an explosive force of combustion or to produce thermal energy.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Conversion may be in a combustion zone, e.g. a cylinder in an internal combustion engine, a jet engine, or a furnace, or application may be where a concn. flame or heat source is needed, e.g. in welding. Need for an enclosed gas pressure vessel in a H2 fuel system is avoided, fuel is produced on demand, and efficiency is high.
The method passes liquid or gas, into a nozzle, defining a nozzle mouth, and nozzle maintaining the liquid at a first pressure. Negatively or positively charged particles are introduced in the liquid by either field emission or ionisation respectively. The charged liquid is directed out of the nozzle mouth into a second area of lesser pressure than the first area such that a beam of charged clusters is created.    Introduction of the charged particles is through a tip made from tungsten wire, or other element with a low work function. Charging of a liquid as it is turned into clusters is done without destroying the strong coupling or coherency of that cluster. Pref. these charges be are introduced close to nozzle mouth.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Beam for cutting metals with liquid nitrogen; superconductive metal hydrogen formation, nuclear fusion with deuterium or helium cluster leaves large size clusters in intense beams.
Raw materials comprising methanol, hydrocarbons e.g. methane, or O contg. hydrocarbons are fed to a catalytic combustion type steam reformer to produce by steam reforming a gas contg. H2 at a high concn.. The H2 is fed to a solid polyelectrolyte type fuel cell to generate electric power. The H2 is fed from a H2 storage contg. a H2 storing alloy to the steam reformer for use as a catalytic fuel.    ADVANTAGE -   Catalytic combustion may be started at room temp. and local heating may be prevented. The steam reformer may be made small and the material cost may be reduced.    In an example, H2 from a H2 storage was fed to a combustion catalyst chamber to heat a combustion catalyst. When the temp. of the combustion catalyst reached at least 500 deg.C., methane was gradually fed in place of H2. When the temp. of the steam reformer reached a specific value, raw materials H2 and steam were fed to the reformer and the system was stabilised.
A connector body provides connection to an electrical power source, and a tongue projecting from the body. The tongue has a top surface and a threaded opening intersecting the top surface. An adaptor body has top and bottom surfaces, and multiple side surfaces. The adaptor body has an internal recess intersecting one of the side surfaces, also the bottom surface of the adaptor. The recess is sized to receive the tongue which is received in the recess. The adaptor body has a through-opening extending from the adaptor body top surface to the recess, being in registration with the threaded opening in the tongue to receive a fastener for threaded connection to the threaded opening.    The adaptor body has cable openings to receive an electrical cable retainer. The connector body has a side surface above the tongue top surfaces, the side surface being convex toward one of the adaptor body side surfaces which is concave toward the convex side surface to provide a stop for aligning the through opening and threaded opening. Two other side surfaces of the adaptor body taper toward the convex side surface to be finger engageable for positioning the adaptor body and recess relative to the connector body and tongue.    USE -   Disconnectable connection e.g. for vehicle battery terminals.
Method of controlling the temp. comprises providing a catalyst layer built-in reforming tube and a burner to burn off gas, heating the reforming tube through heating medium burned by the burner, and controlling the temp. of the catalyst layer in the reforming tube for the fuel reformer which reforms original hydrocarbon fuel into H-based gas.    ADVANTAGE -   Since offgas is not burned outside the reformer, no other burning device is required as in the past.
Prepn. comprises passing hydrogen formed by steam reforming through a hydrogen sepn. membrane and sucking hydrogen by reducing pressure on side where hydrogen has been passed through to take hydrogen out of system. Appts. comprises hydrogen sepn. membrane attached to side of a cylinder filled with reforming catalyst and having device for feeding raw materials comprising hydrocarbon or methanol and steam, heater attached to other side of cylinder, and device for reducing pressure to take the hydrogen passed through the membrane out of system. Supply comprises applying pressure on hydrogen at reduced pressure taken out of appts. and supplying to hydrogen electrode of fuel cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Higher rate conversion c.f. equilibrium conversion and high purity.    .D
Separator plates (40,40',40'') and electrolytes (20) in a fuel cell stack have several aligned perforations (24,25) forming gas manifolds extending for the length of the stack. Each perforation is surrounded by a flattened manifold wet seat (45,46,51) connecting electrolytes on each plate forming separator plate/electrolyte wet seals under operating conditions.    Conduits provide gas communication between manifold sets and anode chambers and cathode chambers on respective faces of the plates. Further conduits (50) provide communication to interspersed reforming chambers.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides internal manifolding for reforming hydrocarbons without poisoning catalyst in high temp. fuel cell stacks.
Process for removing S cpds. and traces of polar cpds. comprising acetonitrile, acetone or propionitrile from an FCC 3-5C prod. fraction comprises (A) contacting the feedstream with alkanolamine to remove H2S and COS; (B) scrubbing the stream with alkaline soln. to remove mercaptans; (C) passing the stream to an adsorbent bed for removal of polar cpds.; (D) recovering the treated prod. stream; (E) contacting the adsorbent bed with a heated regenerant vapour stream to desorb polar cpds.; (F) cooling and condensing the obtd. regenerant stream to obtain a hydrocarbon phase and an aq. phase; (g) removing the aq. phase comprising the polar cpds; and (h) passing the hydrocarbon phase to an H2S removal zone, then mixing the treated hydrocarbon with the regenerant vapour stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalyst life is improved, yield is enhanced and economic benefits of producing motor gasoline components are improved.
New carboxyl-contg. polyvinyl trimethyl silane has formula (I), where x is 2-60 mol%, and M.Wt. 5 x 10 power4 to 2 x 10 power6.    New cpds. (I) are obtd. by treating polyvinyl trimethyl silane of M.Wt. 5.0 x 10 power4 to 2.0 x 10 power6 with pentane soln. of alkyl lithium of formula RLi, where R is n- or iso- 2-5C hydrocarbon, at 0-100 deg.C, in aliphatic or alicyclic 5-8C hydrocarbon medium, in presence of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl- ethylene diamine, at molar ratio of alkyl lithium to N,N,N',N-tetramethyl- ethylene diamine as 1:4 to 4:1, followed by treatment of prod. with 100-1000 times excess of solid carbonic acid, in tetrahydrofuran medium, acidifying of reaction mass with 3-10 times excess (per alkyl lithium) of mineral or organic acid, washing of prod. to neutral reaction and re-pptn. into methanol. Tests show that cpd. (I) has high stability to hydrocarbons and can be used in compsn. of highly selective agents for sepn. of gases.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   New cpds. (I) can be used as highly selective agents for sepn. of higher hydrocarbons from hydrogen contg. gases. Bul.41/7.11.92
With the material laid out in rows an aerating/degassing occurs in an initial composting action, after which it is placed in an inner rotor enclosed in an outer rotor for continued decomposition in a closed reactor, where a stirring/mixing of the material is maintained through a relative movement between the inner and outer rotors. Suitable micro-organisms, nutritive constitutents, water vapour, etc., are introduced during the stirring and mixing.    Two drums rotatable relatively to one another are used, where the outer drum has peripheral air channels and holes are provided along at least a part of the wall of the inner drum. An applicator rotates together with the outer drum and locates against the periphery of the inner drum. The peripheral air channels in the outer drum are formed by a trapezoidal corrugated plate on the drum inner wall.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For composting biodegradable material on a large scale. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9348 based on complete specification).
The radiation is made to reflect partly against reflecting surfaces sepd. from the compost bed and partly reflecting surfaces within it, the surfaces having a polished value within the interval of 50-98%.    A collecting container is used, which is surrounded by reflecting/insulating layers (4), an air gap and/or an osmotic or permeable film ebing arranged between a compost bed limiting wall and the reflecting layers (4). Such layers are so shaped that the reflected radiation is cast backwards to a central part of the compost bed (7), or to peripheral parts of the bed.    Pref. aerating devices, a stirrer, and an oxygenator extend downwards into the compost bed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To hasten the composing of biodegradable material. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9348 based on complete specification).
Solubilising a mixed plastic stream obtd. from municipal plastic waste into a feed soln. for further processing, comprises dissolving the mixt. of solid polymer particles at atmos. pressure in a predominantly aromatic solvent in an appts. comprising an externally heated chamber fitted with a counter-rotating stirrer.    Polymers from municipal waste that can be solubilised include polystyrene, LDPE, HDPE and polypropylene. The waste opt. further includes PET which is attacked but not dissolved by the solvent.    ADVANTAGE -   The process converts a mixt. of solid polymers into a soln. which can readily be fed as feedstock to a refinery processing unit such as a coker, catalytic cracking unit or thermal cracking unit.
Method comprises caustic reducing until a predetermined value of whole organic C amt. of a treating liq. based on linear relation of predetermined caustic redn. percentage to whole organic C amt. of the treating liq.. The treating liq. is dispersed and micronised when whole organic C amt. of the treating liq. is measured with a whole organic C meter. Caustic redn. method of cellulosic fibre is also claimed.    The cellulosic fibre pref. includes cotton, hemp or viscose rayon. The fibre may be mixed fibre or fibre of union cloth. When using cellulase of Toricoderma (sic) genus for caustic redn. of the cellulosic fibre, it is carried at pref. pH 4-6, 40-60 deg.C of processing temp. and 1:5-1:50 of liquor ratio.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic fibre is reduced with high reproductivity, and the whole organic C amt. in the treating liquid is precisely measured.
Appts. comprises a fermenting and drying drum coupled with a rotary drive, and pulveriser rotatable to pulverise organic wastes and lumps of soil bacteria in the drum.    USE -   For treating organic wastes.
A seed microbe is selected from : (a) a microbe decomposing non-decomposed protein in excrement or starch; (b) a microbe having lots of cellulase enzyme decomposing vegetable fibre; (c) a mirobe fixing nitrogen in air and water for fertilisation; (d) a hot spring microbe generating high temps., 70-80 deg.C for killing a pathogenic microbes; (e) a microbe decomposing fibrous lignin, petroleum, or detergent for farmyard compost and (f) maritime halophilic enzymes. The seed microbe is adsorbed to a sewage purified powdered material or a granular filter element obtd. by applying acid treatment to powdered coal for inoculation. The biological treating material is used to remove scale in a microorganism medium filter element, soil improving material, water treating material or water pipe, or deodourising ammonia in toilet.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The biological treating material is used in purifying industrial waste, living waste, polluted river, rake. The biological treatment material ensures prompt treatment in a short time and has no possibility of sec. accidents.
Prodn. of isobutane comprises: isomerising n-butane in the presence of noble metal-heteropolyacid catalyst consisting of heteropolyacid salt contg. potassium as metal ion and platinum or palladium.    Heteropolyacid salts used as catalysts are e.g. salts of heteropolyacid contg. at least one element selected from Mo, W, and V as condensn. coordination element. They may have further Nb, Ta, etc. as such element. Centre element of heteropolyacid is one selected from P, Si, As, Ge, Ti, Ce, Th, Mn, Ni, Te, I, Co, Cr, Fe, Ga, B, V, Pt, Be, and Zn. Condensn. coordination element/centre element atomic ratio in heteropolyacid is 2.5-12. Wt. ratio of Pt or Pd in noble metal-heteropolyacid catalyst is 0.0001-20 to heteropolyacid salt.    ADVANTAGE -   Isobutane can be produced without corrosion of appts. due to catalyst and troubles due to specific activation treatment of catalyst by organic chloride which are present in conventional methods. Using potassium salt of heteropolyacid used as catalyst, formation of by-prods., esp. that of coke, can be suppressed, giving an increase in activity.
To organic polluted water, fermentation prod. of bacteria mainly consisting of Bacillus subtirys, natural humin and organic substance decomposing enzyme are added.    ADVANTAGE -   A wide contaminated area is purified at low cost.    In an example, at a portion 100 metres upstream from the branched point of a river with width of 4 m, a dam with width of 4 m and height of 50 cm was made to make the flow rate of the stream slow and to improve treating efficiency. At portions 50 m and 25 m upstream from the dam and 25 m downsteam from the dam, lines of floating members with 30 x 50 cm, in which porous quartz porphyry rocks were packed, were floated. One line of the floating member consisting of 3 bags at intervals of 40 cm in the direction perpendicular to the flowing direction and 5 bags at intervals of 1 m in the flowing direction, which were connected by a rope. At a portion 50 m upstream, aqueous solution of the humin was added from a tank at the rate of 8 l/hr. At a portion 25 m upstream, aq. soln. prepd. by dissolving 10 Kg of the fermentation prod. and 1 Kg of the organic substance decomposing enzyme in 400 l of water was added at the rate of 16 l/hr. Although BOD, SS concn. and DO were a little improved after 3 months, oxidn.-redn. potential, which showed activity of a river, was improved.
Sulphur cpds. are removed from water by anaerobic treatment with sulphur and/or sulphate reducing bacteria, with addn. of an electron donor (ED). The consumption of ED is reduced by (a1) keeping sulphate concn. in the anaerobic effluent at least 0.5 g/l; (a2) keeping sulphite concn. in this effluent at least 0.1g/l; (b) keeping salt concn. (expressed as Na ion equiv.) in the reactor medium at least 6g/l under mesophilic conditions or at least 3g/l under thermophilic conditions; (c) keeping sulphide concn. in the effluent at least 0.1g/l and/or (d) adding to the medium an inhibitor (A) which is more toxic to CH4-producing bacteria than to incompletely oxidising sulphate-reducing bacteria or sulphate-reducing bacteria which oxidise one C cpds. Pref. the biofilm thickness of anaerobic bacteria is below 0.5mm, esp. maintained by strongly turbulent conditions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is esp. used to regenerate wash liquor used to scrub S-contg. flue gases, but can also be applied to groundwater, mining effluents, industrial waste water, etc. By reducing the consumption of ED (because under the specified conditions little if any CH4 is produced) costs are reduced.
An organic calcium salt either as a soln. or a suspension is converted to alpha-calcium sulphate hemihydrate by heating above the alpha-calcium sulphate hemihydrate/calcium sulphate dihydrate transition temp. with a sulphate cpd.    ADVANTAGE -   The process is operated at atmospheric pressure and close to the transition temp., and below the b.pt. of the soln., as compared to elevated pressures or temps. at least 20 deg.C above the transition temp. in prior processes. The raw material is waste from fermentation processes.
Waste to be anaerobically treated is placed into a number of receptacles (10,18,36) each of which is in contact with the ground and has an open top with a removable cover which can be hermetically sealed to the top. The top carries methane collecting means (56,58,60) and leachate spraying heads (26,44) and leachate is collected at the underside of each receptacle and selectively transferred to each of the leachage spraying heads.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the conversion of municipal industrial and agricultural solid waste to compost and methane gas. Provides an economically operated commercial scale apparatus for performing sequential batch anaerobic composting of solid waste.
A fertiliser compsn. comprising a mineral substrate (I) and an introduced fungus or microorganism (or their reproductive material) is claimed. A nutrient is pref. also present. The following compsn. is specifically claimed (% by wt. to a total of 100%): 5-99.999% rock phosphate or insol. phosphate; trace-5% fungus or microorganism (or their reproductive material); 0-95% nutrient; 0-95% non-phosphate mineral substrate. The reproductive material typically comprises fungal spores. (I) pref. comprises a rock phosphate and/or an insol. phosphate. It pref. includes aluminosilicate, lime, zeolite, clay or phosphate mineral zeolite mentioned.    USE -   Whilst the primariy use is a fertilising compsn., for introduction or supplementation of new and useful organisms into field and pasture, the compsn. may find other applications.
The combustion additive is made from tobacco byproduct. Byproduct of the prodn. of tobacco such as leaves or stem fragments, contains inorganics as potassium, calcium and magnesium. This potassium contained in carbide of the byproduct is treated with nitric acid and is converted to potassium nitrate. Property of cpds. composed of carbon and potassium nitrate is the same as black powder. In fuel combustion, potassium nitrate is decomposed into oxygen so as to be used as combustion additive.
A H2-absorbing alloy electrode includes a H2-absorbing alloy capable of absorbing and desorbing H2 reversibly, the electrode is characterised in that the H2-absorbing alloy forms a multi-phase structure composed of at least, a main alloy phase, an alloy phase of Ti2Ni system cubic-structure and an alloy phase of Ti-Ni system monoclinic-structure, and the main alloy phase has TiMo-based crystalline cubic-structure.    Alloy phase of TiMo-based crystalline cubic-structure (I) Ti1-xMox, x = 0.2-0.6; entire H2-absorbing alloy (II) (Ti1-QAa)1-x (Mo1-bNib)x, A is one or more of Zr, Hg, Mg, Y, rare-earth element, Nb, Nd or Ta, a = 0.5-0.3, b = 0.1-0.5, x = 0.2-0.6; or, (Ti1-xAa)1-x(Mo1-bBb)xNic (III), where B is one or more of V, Cr, W, Mn, Fe, Cu, B, C or Si., c = 0.1-0.4, and A, a, b and x are as alloy formula (II).    The multi-phase alloy structure is annealed in the range from the m.pt. of the alloy to 500 deg.C below the m.pt. of the alloy; the alloy is quenched at more than 1000/sec..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A H2-absorbing alloy electrode which provides increased cell capacity and length of life, when utilised as a negative electrode in a metal-H2 alkaline storage cell. The alloy is easily powdered and requires a reduced activation treatment time. (First major country equivalent to J05303966-A)
In a fuel battery-type energy generater, in which voltage is applied to an anode and a cathode of hydrogen-occluding type metal in heavy water contg. an electrolyte to produce energy-generating reactions, deuterium gas is supplied to the anode to produce deuterium ion, as follows: D = 2D+ + 2e-.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel battery-type new energy generater can effectively obtain high output energy with higher energy efficiency only by supplying deutrium gas to the anode without the needs to supply heavy water by supplying lesser amt. of voltage from outside. The device can also be used as neutron generater as well as tritium generator.
Method comprises adding microorganism-fermented product containing primarily Bacillus subtilis to a mixture of raw material for compost originated from plants containing agricultural waste, defatted lees of cereals and dead grasses and leaves as main components and animal faeces, fermenting and ageing.    The microorganism-fermented product is produced by stirring a raw material for fermentation (1 ton) containing cereals powder, bran, egg, wheat bran, defatted lees of cereals and sugar as main components, spraying water (200 l) while stirring, sterilising the mixt. for 40 minutes at 150 deg.C, spraying water (200 l) further to cool to 25 deg.C, mixing them with yeasts (10 kg), spraying a soln. of a pure culture product (0.5 kg) containing Bacillus subtilis as a main component dissolved in warm water (30 l), fermenting them while blowing warm air (43 deg.C), spraying water (100 l) after 15 hours, spraying a soln. of a pure culture product (1 kg) containing Bacillus subtilis as a main component and sugar (5 kg) dissolved in warm water (30 l), fermenting for 12 hours while blowing warm air (43 deg.C), mixing them with powder of multielement-porous minerals, e.g., quartz porphyry, granite porphyry, etc. having a particle size of less than 60 mesh (10 kg), drying to those containing 15 % of water content and pulverising.    The compost is produced by mixing raw materials originated from plants such as agricultural waste, e.g., straws, cereal brans, defatted lees of cereals, dead grasses and leaves, food waste, etc. with faeces obtained from chicken and cattle, spraying water to adjust to approx. 60 % of water content, mixing (1 ton) with the microorganism-fermented product (10 kg), accumulating, fermenting and ageing. Amt. of the microorganism-fermented product added is about 30 kg.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compost produced provides decreased diseases and insect damage and injury by continuous cropping.
Fixed bead is produced by adding aq. soln. of PVA to activated sludge highly conc. by a centrifugal concn. or to useful bacteria, e.g. nitrifying bacteria or denitrifying bacteria, to make uniform mixed soln. and adding inorganic salt to the mixed soln. to aggregate the bacteria.    Pref. inorganic salt is Na2SO4 of low price, which is produced in USA as Glauber's salt and as sec. prod. in the prodn. of viscous rayon in Japan. By adding inorganic salt to the conc. sludge, PVA dissolved in water is deposited and a sponge-like PVA shell is formed and the activated sludge is fixed inside the shell.    Bacteria fixed bead with strength and abrasion resistance is obtd. cheaply. Treatment gives no bad effect on the bacteria in the bead. Substrate and O2 in polluted water permeate into the bead so that fixed bacteria have high activity and the polluted water is effectively treated.
Dewatered sewage sludge and organic material are charged into a mixer in which a first mass of sludge and organic material is caused to move at a first velocity past a second mass of sludge and organic material which is moving at a second velocity to provide an interface between the masses at which there is a shearing action created.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the composting of sludge to produce a useful agricultural material. Arrangement coats the organic material with sludge and prevents the sludge agglomerating into lumps which will rot, producing obnoxious odours, rather than composting.
A process is performed with a porous contacting membrane comprising (i) a porous inorganic substrate in combination with an electrococonductive Sn oxide-contg. material or (ii) a porosu organic material in combination with an inoragnic substrate (partially) coated with an electroconductive Sn oxide-contg. material, the (porous) inorganic substrate having at least one catalytic component.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process may be used in battery applications, e.g. in bipolar plates in Pb-acid batteries; in chemical reactions, e.g. chemical redn. of N oxides with reducing gas, hydrocarbon reforming, dehydrogenation, hydrodecyclisation, isomerisation, ammoxidation, aldol condensn. reactions, etc.; in gas sensors, e.g. for H, Co, methane, alcohols, aromatics, etc.; in sepn. systems, e.g. in the foood, textile/leather, chemical, bio-medical and water-processing industries, for latex concn.; etc.. Activity can be controlled by adjusting the coating thickness and the coated substrtes are stable and durable.
A process for promoting the separation of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from a gas stream, comprises: (a) removing less than about 2% of the gas stream to be separated, to create a removed stream; (b) adding to the removed stream a substantially propane feed stream to create a combined stream; (c) distilling the combined stream to remove a substantially propane product stream; (d) routing the substantially propane product stream to refrigeration facilities to be used in the distillation of the balance of the gas stream.    Also claimed is, combined stream is distilled to remove a substantially ethane stream. Combined stream is distilled to remove a substantially ethane stream and a substantially propane product stream is routed to refrigeration facilities to be used in the distillation of the balance of the gas stream.    USE -   A method of recovering ethane and propane refrigerant components, either separately or mixed, from a small stream of the lean feed gases.
Addn. of P or N cpd. (I) to the meliorant suspension used for neutralising acidic soils, improves its properties. The mixt. contains (in wt.%): carbide paste 40-42, (I) 2-3 and balance water, and (I) is chosen from the groups contg. phosphorite flour, single superphosphate and phospho-gypsum, or calcium nitrate or HNO3. Carbide paste is a waste of acetylene prodn. and consists of a suspension of Ca(OH)2 contg. up to 50% moisture.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher quality product with increased sedimentation stability. Bul.44/30.11.92
The bioreactor has a casing (1) contg. fine grain packing of below unit density, an aerator (10) water (11, 16) pipes and air inlet and sediment (15) pipes. Vertical partitins (2, 3) form an outlet labyrinth with successive flocculation (7), filtration (8) and packing handler (9) chambers and airlifts (14).    The sludge with the packing enters chamber (7), while the liquid is filtered with gravity separation of the packing particles. Water outlet pipe (16) and the continuous flow of the packing, give regeneration of the filter and separation of the circulatory and surplus biomass. The suspended sludge is returned to the aeration chamber. A finer-fraction supplementary packing can be used, to accompany the recirculated active sludge settling in zone (12), and the biomass increases oxidation capacity by a factor of 1.5-2.    ADVANTAGE -   Productivity is increased through continuous regeneration of the packing. Bul. 43/23.11.92
The material is prepd. by mixing a dehydrated prod. of an organic waste with an oxygen-generating agent(s) generating oxygen on chemical reaction. In a new prepn. of the material, an organic waste is dehydrated to a water content of up to 10%, mixed with the oxygen-generating agent and formed into a desired shape.    The oxygen-generating agent is pref. one or a mixt. of CaO2, Mg02, Na202, K202, NaClO3, KClO3, Ca(ClO3)2 and Mg(ClO3)2. The blend ratio of the oxygen-generating agent is typically 10-30 pts. wt. to 100 pts. wt. of the dehydrated prod.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The material is easy to burn and releases oxygen gradually in soil to promote decomposition and fermentation of e.e.g soil, or feed when added with water, being useful as a fuel, a fertiliser and feed. Utilising various types of organic wastes, such as sludge and garbage, the material reduces environmental pollution. The amt. of oxygen released is adjustable by pressurising on formation.
Truck having composter comprises a fermenting decomposing tank mounted on the pallet of the truck, and heater to heat air to be fed to the tank while garbage thrown in the tank is stirred.    USE -   For treating organic wastes.
Method comprises inverting holding tools of a rotary table to invert the vessel until the garbage is thrown out, and again inverting the tools to invert the vessel again and move it to a discharge position.    USE -   Used for garbage collecting trucks.
(JP5290870-A)      NOVELTY - A nitrogen removal unit (7) is arranged at upstream side of an improver (2). Nitrogen in fuel is removed by the nitrogen removal unit. The fuel with hydrocarbon is made to react with steam and hydrogen gas is generated in the improver. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The electric power is generated in a fuel battery (1) by making air and hydrogen gas to react electrochemically. The density of nitrogen in fuel is analyzed by an analyzer arranged in downstream side of the nitrogen removal unit.    USE -   For removal of nitrogen from fuel and preventing generation of ammonia in improver, in fuel battery based power generator.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents ammonia generation in improver by removing nitrogen from fuel. Stabilizes characteristic of battery by preventing mixing of ammonia in gas. Prevents reduction of capacity of nitrogen removal unit. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows systematic diagram showing power generator. (1) Fuel battery; (2) Improver; (7) Nitrogen removal unit.
In the decontamination of waste material subjected to a biological treatment, an initial grading (1,2) separates a mixt. rich in batteries, which is further sepd. magnetically (3), and an inert fraction eventually decontaminated of organic matter by aeration and/or washing.    Initial grading of earthworm compost via prim. (50 mm) (1) and sec. (7 mm) (2) screens followed by magnetic sorting (3) of fraction contg. batteries and fraction without batteries produces; (a) inert fraction of particle size greater than batteries, (b) raw organic material of particle size less than batteries, (c) fraction including batteries of a size between fractions (a) and (b). Inert fraction (a) is sepd. into light and dense components by rinsing/decantation (4). Raw organic fraction (b) is sepd. (6,7) into a dense organic fraction with small amts. of inert matter, a light organic fraction with inert plant material and organic matter.    Washing installation for inert fraction comprises a vessel with motorised agitator, an inlet for inert matter, an inlet for water allowing liquid to circulate within the vessel, an upper outlet for light matter and a lower outlet for heavy matter. Outlets have the means of separation of water from solid matter. Aeration installation comprises a fan driven air circulation loop, the means of introduction of raw organic matter into the air circulation, the means of evacuation of heavy organic matter via flap, and the means of evacuation of light fraction via sieve.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Treatment of waste prods. with efficient sorting of components and decontamination such that matter detrimental to the environment is not discharged.
Recovery of light (C2+) hydrocarbons from a gas produced by cracking hydrocarbons and removing heavy hydrocarbons is effected by: (a) scrubbing the gas in an absorption column with an organic solvent having a molecular wt. of 50-75; (b) passing the loaded solvent to a regeneration column to remove the light hydrocarbons; and (c) recycling the regenerated solvent to the absorption column.    The light hydrocarbons are ethylene and ethane. The solvent is a C4+ paraffin fraction, esp. comprising pentane and/or isopentane. The absorption column (2) is operated at -50 to 0 (esp. -45 to -35) deg.C and 4-50 (esp. 10-30) bar. It includes a lower stripping section for removing entrained CH4. The regeneration column (14) is operated at a bottom temp. of up to 120 (pref. up to 105) deg.C and at a lower pressure than the absorption column. The overhead stream from the regeneration column is partially condensed and the condensate sepd. (20). The residual gas is passed to a C2/C3 separator (26), and the resulting C2 stream is sepd. 930) into ethylene and ethane streams.    ADVANTAGE -   The process avoids the explosion hazards associated with low-temp. partial condensation processes (cf. EP185202).
To produce a raw material for reprocessing in the chemical industry from hydrocarbons and compost, an additive is introduced into the alkali soil or metal and mineral and/or vegetable and/or animal oil or fat in a ratio of 1:95 to 95:5, using calcium hydroxide or another hydroxide. A further additive uses a small amount of a matter with milk protein, to be stirred to give a pulp substance.    The pulp is pref. absorbed to contain the oil and/or fat, can be used as a nutrient bed for bacteria, or a material for the prodn. of solid and foamed plastics, for dyes and paints, or a raw material for cosmetics. The added milk protein has living bacteria, to give a material for vaccination of other bacteria nutrition beds, especially containing protein. The pulp material can be used as a fertiliser or for fertiliser prodn., and can also be used for adhesives.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The raw material, for the chemical industry, is derived by removal of mineral and other oils and fats and their products from hydrocarbons and compost. The method gives a cheap and large vol. supply of raw materials, from readily available waste products from agriculture, slaughterhouses, dairies and the like, using cheap materials and cheaply-produced additives.
Gas mixt. is sepd. by contacting with a porous membrane comprising a porous inorganic substrate and a conductive Sn oxide material or a porous organic material in combination with an inorganic substrate (partially) coated with conductive Sn oxide.    The Sn oxide is pref. F-doped.    USE -   Esp. in sepn. of CH4/CO2 mixts. to recover a CH4 enriched stream. (claimed).
Anaerobic fermentation of bird droppings and sepn. of the biogas is followed by vacuuming the fermented mass, heating the mixt. to 200-220 deg. and dispersing it into hot flue gases at 700-800 deg., and drying during pneumatic transport and in fluidised bed.    In an example, tests show that the optimal temps. of heat treatment stages are 215 and 730 deg. respectively.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher quality product obtd. more quickly. The method yields a highly disperse material. Bul.41/7.11.92
Material obtd. by carbonising excrement of cattle, fowl and pigs etc..    The powdered carbonaceous material may be to improve soil of lawns to adsorb agrochemicals and prevent contamination of river water and underground water.    ADVANTAGE -   The powdered carbonaceous material may be stored and transported easily without malodour, preventing environmental pollution and prevent public nuisance. Excrement of cattle, fowl and pigs, etc. contain more ashes than sawdust or vegetable residue and the ashes improve soil due to the high content of P, S, Mg, K, Ca, etc..
A molecular sieve is produced by mixing 5-20 pts. wt. liq. thermosetting resin and 10-30 pts. wt. binder with 100 pts. wt. coal fine powder of at least one of coal tar, pitch, or creosote. It is moulded to granular matter. Then it is carbonised at 700-1,100 deg. C in inactive atmos.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The molecular sieve is produced using coal fine powder. It has excellent adsorption vol. and selective adsorption property. It can be used for sepg. various mixed gases e.g. the mixt. of nitrogen gas and oxygen gas, the mixt. of methane gas and hydrogen gas, xylene isomer, butene isomer, the mixt. of ethylene and propylene, or argon containing gas mixt.    In an example, 100 pts. wt. coal powder (average grain dia. up to 10 microns), 10 pts. wt. malamine resin aq. soln. (60 wt. %), 20 pts. wt. creosote, 20 pts. wt. PVA aqueous soln. (20 wt. %) and 20 pts. wt. starch were mixed by a kneader for 15 min. It was granulated to a cylindrical pellet of average grain dia. 3mm cross-section x 6mmL. The pellet was dried at 90 deg. C for 4 hours. Its temp. was raised to 800 deg. C at 30 deg. C/hr, and kept for 1 hour. Then it was cooled.
A thermoexpandable microcapsule comprises: (a) a polymeric material forming a shell; (b) at least two volatile expanding agents with different b.pts. lower than the softening temp. of the polymeric material. Also claimed are the following: (1) the prepn. of a thermoexpandable microcapsule by the suspension polymerisation of a monomer in the presence of the two volatile expanding agents. (2) A compsn. comprising a thermoexpandable microcapsule and a binder or adhesive.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to lower the temp. for the prepn. of expanded polymer microcapsules giving improved heat and chemical resistance.
A 1:2 mixt. of sapropel mud and manure contg. 70-80% moisture is placed in a pile, and a worm culture added. Composting is followed by drying in air to 50-60% moisture content and septng. the worms from the resulting biocompost.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher quality product. Bul 41/7.11.92
The appts. comprises a dry distilled gas recovery unit having a 1st duct communicated with a rotary drum, and an annular seal cover covering the entire boundary between the rotary drum and non-rotary part.    USE -   For carbonising waste wood.
Catalyst(C) comprises (O) conjugated oxides of Zr and Ti supporting (M)metal or oxide of element of GpIb, Va, VIa, VIIa, VIII and (Z) Zr oxide.    (C)catalyst is formed into pref. a honeycomb.    (C)catalyst is supported on a honeycomb of a heat resisting crystal conjugated oxides of cordierite, mullite, MgO, Al2O3, TiO2.    Ratio of ZrO2/TiO2 is pref. 5/95-95/5.    (O)conjugated oxides is prepd. by adding aq. ammonia into an aq. soln. of cpd. of and titanium and aluminum to give ppte, drying and calcining at 500 deg.C.    (M)metal or its oxide is e.g. CuO, V2,O5, Cr2O3, MnO2, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, etc., which can be supported on (O)conjugated oxides by dipping (O) into an aq. soln. of nitrate of (M)metal, and then calcining.    (ZO Zr oxide can be supported on (O)conjugated oxides by dipping (O) into an aq. soln. of Zr Oxynitrate, and then calcining.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalyst is used for efficiently burning hydrogen, Co, hydrocarbon, partic. methane which is hard to burn at lower temp. and under a high ratio of gas flow rate/vol. of catalyst. The catalyst has a superior heat resistance at higher than 1000 deg.C.
A new microbe Moraxella (M.) sp. KE-2991 ( FERM P-12908 ) belonging to M. genus and having an ability of decomposing crude oil, and the decomposition of crude oil in which the new microbe M. sp. KE-2991 ( FERM P-12908 ) is contacted with crude oil, are new.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The new microbe has an ability of decomposing not only kerozine and polycyclic aromatics sucg as toluene but also tar component contained in curde oil. It can decompose crude oil in marine water.4 In an example, two platinum loops of M. sp. KE-2991 were inoculated to a heart infusion bouillon medium and cultured at 25 deg. C for 24 hrs.. Then, 0.2 ml of the culture was inoculated to 100 ml of marine water collected from Arabian Sea ) contg. 0.1% peptone ( pH 7.0 ) and 1% crude oil and cultured at 25 deg. C for 20 days. The culture was centrifuged and the supernatant was extracted with 20 ml n-hexane 3 times. The extract was concd. to 10 ml and analysed by GLC and HPLC. The decompsn. rate was 98%. Kerosine and a fraction of crude oil at 280 to 320 deg. C were also decomposed by the same method as above for 10 days. The decompsn. rate was respectively 98 and 95% at an oil concn. of 0.1%..
A new alcohol cracking catalyst comprises transition, alkali, alkaline earth, Gp.III or IV metal(s) and/or ion(s) on a phosphate carrier. Also claimed is a process for the prodn. of hydrocarbons by passing 1-4C alcohols over this catalyst.    Metal is V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ru, Pd, La, Ce, W, Re, Au, K, Rb, In, Si, Ge or Pb and pref. Ti, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rh, Ag, Ir, Pt, Mg, Ca, Ba, Al or Sn and is present at 0.1-30 wt.% of the carrier. Carrier is aluminium, zirconyl, magnesium, barium or zinc phosphate or a calcium phosphate such as hydroxy- or fluoro-apatite or prim., sec., tert., quat., pyro-, meta- or octaphosphate.    Process uses methanol at 200-600 deg.C and an hourly supply rate of 0.75-3 times the wt. of catalyst.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalyst produces gasoline grade hydrocarbons from lower alcohols in good yield and is relatively cheap.    In an example, catalyst was made by impregnating aluminium phosphate (300 g.) with silver nitrate (0.6 g.) in 2 l. of water for 3 days, followed by drying at 300 deg.C. It was used to treat methanol (2 g/hr., WHSV = 2, 400 deg.C) entrained in nitrogen (3 l./hr.) and gave 85% conversion, 68.4% hydrocarbons with at least 5 carbon atoms and only 1.8% ethers.
The composter, esp. for kitchen and garden waste, has a collection container adjoining the lower end of the composting space along a common interface having connecting openings so that the composting space and the collection container form a closed system.    Pref. the composter consists of of two sections, the collection container being hinged to the composting chamber so that it swivels downwardly when the composter is lifted. The collection container has a side opening, closed by a perforated flap and a perforated top which forms the common interface. The composter is mounted on wheels.    ADVANTAGE -   The design avoids fume emission while providing sufficient aeration, so that the composter can be located anywhere, e.g. in a backyard or even inside a house. Any liq. is retained in the collection container for periodic emptying and compost removal is required only at 2-6 month periods.
A compost turning machine has a horizontal rotating turn-over drum mounted in a carrier frame, the novelty being that one end of the carrier frame is attachable to the three-point suspension of a tractor.    ADVANTAGE -   The machine is simple and inexpensive and is adaptable to small scale waste composting operations.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide in a combustion product are destroyed by (a) combusting a fuel source (I) in presence of oxygen to form a combustion product (II) comprising NOx, CO and O2; (b) introducing methane into (II), to give CH4:NOx vol. ratio greater than 0.1; and (c) reacting the mixture in presence of a catalyst comprising a crystalline zeolite of Si:Al ratio at least 2.5 which has been exchanged with a cation (III) of Co, Ni, Fe, Cr, Rh, Ga or Mn, to convert a portion of the NOx and CO to gaseous N2, H2O and CO2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The combustion products may be flue gas or exhaust from a mobile or stationary engine; the fuel may be 1-15C gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon, coal, oil or refuse; there is high conversion of NOx and CO to environmentally safe products.
Microfilter contains body (1), input (2), output (3), biomass output (4), driven shaft (5) with disc (6) and hinge (7), additional shaft (8) with upper disc (9), upper support (10), filter partition (11) with upper (12) and lower (13) ends fastened to the edges of upper and lower discs, rotational support (14), hub (15), slider (16), compensation element (17), bracket (18), windows (19) in upper and (20) in lower disc, and inner conic partition (21).    Biomass suspension flows through the input pipe, compensator, and openings in the upper disc onto conic elastic filter partition which rotates with the lower disc and the upper disc in precessional motion. Due to centrifugal forces water separates and through the filter partition moves to the conic partition. Sedimented biomass on the filter partition dries and moves down through the openings in the lower disc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In feed prepn. in agriculture, partic. in purificn. of outflows which do not contain salts of heavy metals for sepn. of microbic albumen. Dryness of biomass is increased. Bul.41/07.11.92
The biofilter comprises a casing (1) with filtrate pipes (2,3) and sediment pipe (4), a drive shaft (5) with a bottom disc (6) a shaft (8) on an elastic support (7) with a top disc (9) and a support (10), with an intermediate conical elastic filter position (12). The corrugated top zones of parts (12) and (6) supplement contact between disc (9) and an eccentric (18) via a link (17).    ADVANTAGE -   The drive energy expenditure and scarce materials is decreased. Holes (21) in rotating disc (9) pref. feed the suspension to part (12) where the corrugations control its rotation, before it leaves via cone (20) and pipe (3). The sediment from valleys (14) descends as a result of vibration from the receprocated disc (9) with ascent via deformed elastic support (19). The conical zone of part (12) intensifies drying of the sediment, thus resulting in separation of both the free water and the water from the solvate shells of the bacteria. The paste facilitates use of biomass as fodder additive for animals and birds. Bul.41/7.11.92
The filter has a rotation support (10) for an additional shaft (8) which can be displaced at an angle relative to housing (1). There are upper and lower discs (9) and (7) respectively mounted out of parallel with the formation of the deformed (B) and undeformed (gamma) generators of cone (18) of elastic filtering partition (11) during operation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   May be used for the processing of bacterial protein from sewage works (bakprotoca) in agriculture with run-offs free of heavy metals. The aim is to increase the dryness of the biomass. Bul.41/7.11.92
Mfr. of dry powdery compost comprises (1) adding water in a mud sludge-form state in extrements and a protein raw material held at 36-43 deg.C to produce original biomass; (2) diluting the original biomass in a liq.-like state with water and held at 36-43 deg.C to produce germ liq.; (3) impregnating vegetable micropieces with the germs liq. and the impregnated substance is agitated as hot air is fed to produce dried germs; and (4) mixing compost raw material with the dried germs stored for a long time to produce dried powdery compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A compost raw material is completely fermented, decomposed and changed into powdery compost, in a short time.
Antiperspirant aersol compsn. comprises (by wt.): 10-35% particulate material (I); 0.2-2% suspending agent (II); 5-50% liq. emollient carrier; and not more than 60% of a propellant mixt. (III). (I) containsts of: (a) 25-100% of a particulate antiperspirant active agent; and (b) 0-75% of a particulate filler.    Also comprises allantoin and perfume. Pref. (Ia) is Al chlorhydrate. Pref. (Ib) are talc, NaHCO3, opt. chemmically modified corn starch, polyethylene, a polyacrylate, or a crosslinked polyurethane; with more than 99% of the particles passing a 100-mesh screen. Pref. (II) is hydrophobically-treated hectorite clay, with pref. propylene carbonate to activate it. Pref. carriers are i-Pr palmitate, cyclomethicone, and di-Bu phthalate. Pref. (III) mixt. comprises butane, difluoroethane and isobutane.    ADVANTAGE -   Raising the particulate solids content of the aerosol compsn. to 10-35% allows the amt. of propellant to be reduced to not more than 60% without causing clogging of the container valve. The compsn. also has a dry feel, is aesthetically acceptable, and is safe for human use.    In an example, aerosol contained (by wt.) 23.1812% Al chlorhydrate, 23.1812% talc, 2.2795% `Bentone 38' (RTM), 24.6112% i-Pr palmitate, 0.6761% propylene carbonate, 11.3559% cyclomethicone, 11.0686% di-Bu phthalate, and 3.6463% allantoin.
Higher chloromethanes are dechlorinated in the gas phase, using H2, in presence of a hydrogenation catalyst comprising a metal of Gp. VIII and/or Gp. IB, on a support of Al2O3 with specific surface below 100 square m/g.    Pref., the Al2O3 has specific surface of 5-90 m2/g and contains not more than 2 wt.% of metal oxides other than Al2O3, esp. less than 0.1% of SiO2. The process is esp. the dechlorination of CCl4 to CHCl3. The metal is esp. Pt, and the metal content of the catalyst is 0.01-5 wt.%. Reaction is at 50-200 deg.C, using a molar ratio of H2 to higher chloromethane of 1-16, and diluting the reactants with CH4.    ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is stable, and use of O2 is avoided.
The assembly to produce compost, with a drum-shaped compost container which is mobile and can be positioned vertically over a base surface, has a drum which is at least partially a sieve drum (1) with open ends. A coupling at one end (2) connects the drum (1) in a horizontal or nearly horizontal position to a rotary drive, while the other end (3) is supported from the ground by a tripod (10).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit can be located where required for the composting of garden material and, when the material has been composted, it can be easily sieved and graded on site with low effect and outlay for a small composting system.
A new composting plant with an aeration system for enclosed chambers has the novel feature that conditioned air can be made to flow over and/or through and/or around a stationary or mixed stack of composting material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the composting of organic waste. The ambient conditions in the reactors can be continuously adjusted to suit the requirements of the microbiological conversion process throughout the composting period.
A new composting plant consists of a number of separate reactors with a central aeration system. The aeration system is controlled and the process parameters of each reactor can be adjusted individually and independently. Pref. the temp., moisture content and compsn. of the air are controlled, and systems are provided for the sepn. of condensate and/or the recovery of waste heat. Filtration is provided for removing odorous components from the air, and a scrubber may be used for sepg. problematical substances.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For composting biological waste materials. The ambient conditions in the reactors can be adjusted to suit the requirements of the microbiological conversion process during the composting period.
Process for removing S cpds. and traces of polar cpds. comprising acetonitrile, acetone or propionitrile from an FCC 3-5C prod. fraction comprises (A) contacting the feedstream with alkanolamine to remove H2S and COS; (B) scrubbing the stream with alkaline soln. to remove mercaptans; (C) passing the stream to an adsorbent bed for removal of polar cpds.; (D) recovering the treated prod. stream; (E) contacting the adsorbent bed with a heated regenerant vapour stream to desorb polar cpds.; (F) cooling and condensing the obtd. regenerant stream to obtain a hydrocarbon phase and an aq. phase; (g) removing the aq. phase comprising the polar cpds; and (h) passing the hydrocarbon phase to an H2S removal zone, then mixing the treated hydrocarbon with the regenerant vapour stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalyst life is improved, yield is enhanced and economic benefits of producing motor gasoline components are improved.
New carboxyl-contg. polyvinyl trimethyl silane has formula (I), where x is 2-60 mol%, and M.Wt. 5 x 10 power4 to 2 x 10 power6.    New cpds. (I) are obtd. by treating polyvinyl trimethyl silane of M.Wt. 5.0 x 10 power4 to 2.0 x 10 power6 with pentane soln. of alkyl lithium of formula RLi, where R is n- or iso- 2-5C hydrocarbon, at 0-100 deg.C, in aliphatic or alicyclic 5-8C hydrocarbon medium, in presence of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl- ethylene diamine, at molar ratio of alkyl lithium to N,N,N',N-tetramethyl- ethylene diamine as 1:4 to 4:1, followed by treatment of prod. with 100-1000 times excess of solid carbonic acid, in tetrahydrofuran medium, acidifying of reaction mass with 3-10 times excess (per alkyl lithium) of mineral or organic acid, washing of prod. to neutral reaction and re-pptn. into methanol. Tests show that cpd. (I) has high stability to hydrocarbons and can be used in compsn. of highly selective agents for sepn. of gases.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   New cpds. (I) can be used as highly selective agents for sepn. of higher hydrocarbons from hydrogen contg. gases. Bul.41/7.11.92
With the material laid out in rows an aerating/degassing occurs in an initial composting action, after which it is placed in an inner rotor enclosed in an outer rotor for continued decomposition in a closed reactor, where a stirring/mixing of the material is maintained through a relative movement between the inner and outer rotors. Suitable micro-organisms, nutritive constitutents, water vapour, etc., are introduced during the stirring and mixing.    Two drums rotatable relatively to one another are used, where the outer drum has peripheral air channels and holes are provided along at least a part of the wall of the inner drum. An applicator rotates together with the outer drum and locates against the periphery of the inner drum. The peripheral air channels in the outer drum are formed by a trapezoidal corrugated plate on the drum inner wall.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For composting biodegradable material on a large scale. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9348 based on complete specification).
The radiation is made to reflect partly against reflecting surfaces sepd. from the compost bed and partly reflecting surfaces within it, the surfaces having a polished value within the interval of 50-98%.    A collecting container is used, which is surrounded by reflecting/insulating layers (4), an air gap and/or an osmotic or permeable film ebing arranged between a compost bed limiting wall and the reflecting layers (4). Such layers are so shaped that the reflected radiation is cast backwards to a central part of the compost bed (7), or to peripheral parts of the bed.    Pref. aerating devices, a stirrer, and an oxygenator extend downwards into the compost bed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To hasten the composing of biodegradable material. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9348 based on complete specification).
Solubilising a mixed plastic stream obtd. from municipal plastic waste into a feed soln. for further processing, comprises dissolving the mixt. of solid polymer particles at atmos. pressure in a predominantly aromatic solvent in an appts. comprising an externally heated chamber fitted with a counter-rotating stirrer.    Polymers from municipal waste that can be solubilised include polystyrene, LDPE, HDPE and polypropylene. The waste opt. further includes PET which is attacked but not dissolved by the solvent.    ADVANTAGE -   The process converts a mixt. of solid polymers into a soln. which can readily be fed as feedstock to a refinery processing unit such as a coker, catalytic cracking unit or thermal cracking unit.
Method comprises caustic reducing until a predetermined value of whole organic C amt. of a treating liq. based on linear relation of predetermined caustic redn. percentage to whole organic C amt. of the treating liq.. The treating liq. is dispersed and micronised when whole organic C amt. of the treating liq. is measured with a whole organic C meter. Caustic redn. method of cellulosic fibre is also claimed.    The cellulosic fibre pref. includes cotton, hemp or viscose rayon. The fibre may be mixed fibre or fibre of union cloth. When using cellulase of Toricoderma (sic) genus for caustic redn. of the cellulosic fibre, it is carried at pref. pH 4-6, 40-60 deg.C of processing temp. and 1:5-1:50 of liquor ratio.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic fibre is reduced with high reproductivity, and the whole organic C amt. in the treating liquid is precisely measured.
Appts. comprises a fermenting and drying drum coupled with a rotary drive, and pulveriser rotatable to pulverise organic wastes and lumps of soil bacteria in the drum.    USE -   For treating organic wastes.
A seed microbe is selected from : (a) a microbe decomposing non-decomposed protein in excrement or starch; (b) a microbe having lots of cellulase enzyme decomposing vegetable fibre; (c) a mirobe fixing nitrogen in air and water for fertilisation; (d) a hot spring microbe generating high temps., 70-80 deg.C for killing a pathogenic microbes; (e) a microbe decomposing fibrous lignin, petroleum, or detergent for farmyard compost and (f) maritime halophilic enzymes. The seed microbe is adsorbed to a sewage purified powdered material or a granular filter element obtd. by applying acid treatment to powdered coal for inoculation. The biological treating material is used to remove scale in a microorganism medium filter element, soil improving material, water treating material or water pipe, or deodourising ammonia in toilet.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The biological treating material is used in purifying industrial waste, living waste, polluted river, rake. The biological treatment material ensures prompt treatment in a short time and has no possibility of sec. accidents.
Prodn. of isobutane comprises: isomerising n-butane in the presence of noble metal-heteropolyacid catalyst consisting of heteropolyacid salt contg. potassium as metal ion and platinum or palladium.    Heteropolyacid salts used as catalysts are e.g. salts of heteropolyacid contg. at least one element selected from Mo, W, and V as condensn. coordination element. They may have further Nb, Ta, etc. as such element. Centre element of heteropolyacid is one selected from P, Si, As, Ge, Ti, Ce, Th, Mn, Ni, Te, I, Co, Cr, Fe, Ga, B, V, Pt, Be, and Zn. Condensn. coordination element/centre element atomic ratio in heteropolyacid is 2.5-12. Wt. ratio of Pt or Pd in noble metal-heteropolyacid catalyst is 0.0001-20 to heteropolyacid salt.    ADVANTAGE -   Isobutane can be produced without corrosion of appts. due to catalyst and troubles due to specific activation treatment of catalyst by organic chloride which are present in conventional methods. Using potassium salt of heteropolyacid used as catalyst, formation of by-prods., esp. that of coke, can be suppressed, giving an increase in activity.
To organic polluted water, fermentation prod. of bacteria mainly consisting of Bacillus subtirys, natural humin and organic substance decomposing enzyme are added.    ADVANTAGE -   A wide contaminated area is purified at low cost.    In an example, at a portion 100 metres upstream from the branched point of a river with width of 4 m, a dam with width of 4 m and height of 50 cm was made to make the flow rate of the stream slow and to improve treating efficiency. At portions 50 m and 25 m upstream from the dam and 25 m downsteam from the dam, lines of floating members with 30 x 50 cm, in which porous quartz porphyry rocks were packed, were floated. One line of the floating member consisting of 3 bags at intervals of 40 cm in the direction perpendicular to the flowing direction and 5 bags at intervals of 1 m in the flowing direction, which were connected by a rope. At a portion 50 m upstream, aqueous solution of the humin was added from a tank at the rate of 8 l/hr. At a portion 25 m upstream, aq. soln. prepd. by dissolving 10 Kg of the fermentation prod. and 1 Kg of the organic substance decomposing enzyme in 400 l of water was added at the rate of 16 l/hr. Although BOD, SS concn. and DO were a little improved after 3 months, oxidn.-redn. potential, which showed activity of a river, was improved.
Sulphur cpds. are removed from water by anaerobic treatment with sulphur and/or sulphate reducing bacteria, with addn. of an electron donor (ED). The consumption of ED is reduced by (a1) keeping sulphate concn. in the anaerobic effluent at least 0.5 g/l; (a2) keeping sulphite concn. in this effluent at least 0.1g/l; (b) keeping salt concn. (expressed as Na ion equiv.) in the reactor medium at least 6g/l under mesophilic conditions or at least 3g/l under thermophilic conditions; (c) keeping sulphide concn. in the effluent at least 0.1g/l and/or (d) adding to the medium an inhibitor (A) which is more toxic to CH4-producing bacteria than to incompletely oxidising sulphate-reducing bacteria or sulphate-reducing bacteria which oxidise one C cpds. Pref. the biofilm thickness of anaerobic bacteria is below 0.5mm, esp. maintained by strongly turbulent conditions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is esp. used to regenerate wash liquor used to scrub S-contg. flue gases, but can also be applied to groundwater, mining effluents, industrial waste water, etc. By reducing the consumption of ED (because under the specified conditions little if any CH4 is produced) costs are reduced.
An organic calcium salt either as a soln. or a suspension is converted to alpha-calcium sulphate hemihydrate by heating above the alpha-calcium sulphate hemihydrate/calcium sulphate dihydrate transition temp. with a sulphate cpd.    ADVANTAGE -   The process is operated at atmospheric pressure and close to the transition temp., and below the b.pt. of the soln., as compared to elevated pressures or temps. at least 20 deg.C above the transition temp. in prior processes. The raw material is waste from fermentation processes.
Waste to be anaerobically treated is placed into a number of receptacles (10,18,36) each of which is in contact with the ground and has an open top with a removable cover which can be hermetically sealed to the top. The top carries methane collecting means (56,58,60) and leachate spraying heads (26,44) and leachate is collected at the underside of each receptacle and selectively transferred to each of the leachage spraying heads.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the conversion of municipal industrial and agricultural solid waste to compost and methane gas. Provides an economically operated commercial scale apparatus for performing sequential batch anaerobic composting of solid waste.
A fertiliser compsn. comprising a mineral substrate (I) and an introduced fungus or microorganism (or their reproductive material) is claimed. A nutrient is pref. also present. The following compsn. is specifically claimed (% by wt. to a total of 100%): 5-99.999% rock phosphate or insol. phosphate; trace-5% fungus or microorganism (or their reproductive material); 0-95% nutrient; 0-95% non-phosphate mineral substrate. The reproductive material typically comprises fungal spores. (I) pref. comprises a rock phosphate and/or an insol. phosphate. It pref. includes aluminosilicate, lime, zeolite, clay or phosphate mineral zeolite mentioned.    USE -   Whilst the primariy use is a fertilising compsn., for introduction or supplementation of new and useful organisms into field and pasture, the compsn. may find other applications.
The combustion additive is made from tobacco byproduct. Byproduct of the prodn. of tobacco such as leaves or stem fragments, contains inorganics as potassium, calcium and magnesium. This potassium contained in carbide of the byproduct is treated with nitric acid and is converted to potassium nitrate. Property of cpds. composed of carbon and potassium nitrate is the same as black powder. In fuel combustion, potassium nitrate is decomposed into oxygen so as to be used as combustion additive.
A H2-absorbing alloy electrode includes a H2-absorbing alloy capable of absorbing and desorbing H2 reversibly, the electrode is characterised in that the H2-absorbing alloy forms a multi-phase structure composed of at least, a main alloy phase, an alloy phase of Ti2Ni system cubic-structure and an alloy phase of Ti-Ni system monoclinic-structure, and the main alloy phase has TiMo-based crystalline cubic-structure.    Alloy phase of TiMo-based crystalline cubic-structure (I) Ti1-xMox, x = 0.2-0.6; entire H2-absorbing alloy (II) (Ti1-QAa)1-x (Mo1-bNib)x, A is one or more of Zr, Hg, Mg, Y, rare-earth element, Nb, Nd or Ta, a = 0.5-0.3, b = 0.1-0.5, x = 0.2-0.6; or, (Ti1-xAa)1-x(Mo1-bBb)xNic (III), where B is one or more of V, Cr, W, Mn, Fe, Cu, B, C or Si., c = 0.1-0.4, and A, a, b and x are as alloy formula (II).    The multi-phase alloy structure is annealed in the range from the m.pt. of the alloy to 500 deg.C below the m.pt. of the alloy; the alloy is quenched at more than 1000/sec..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A H2-absorbing alloy electrode which provides increased cell capacity and length of life, when utilised as a negative electrode in a metal-H2 alkaline storage cell. The alloy is easily powdered and requires a reduced activation treatment time. (First major country equivalent to J05303966-A)
In a fuel battery-type energy generater, in which voltage is applied to an anode and a cathode of hydrogen-occluding type metal in heavy water contg. an electrolyte to produce energy-generating reactions, deuterium gas is supplied to the anode to produce deuterium ion, as follows: D = 2D+ + 2e-.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel battery-type new energy generater can effectively obtain high output energy with higher energy efficiency only by supplying deutrium gas to the anode without the needs to supply heavy water by supplying lesser amt. of voltage from outside. The device can also be used as neutron generater as well as tritium generator.
Method comprises adding microorganism-fermented product containing primarily Bacillus subtilis to a mixture of raw material for compost originated from plants containing agricultural waste, defatted lees of cereals and dead grasses and leaves as main components and animal faeces, fermenting and ageing.    The microorganism-fermented product is produced by stirring a raw material for fermentation (1 ton) containing cereals powder, bran, egg, wheat bran, defatted lees of cereals and sugar as main components, spraying water (200 l) while stirring, sterilising the mixt. for 40 minutes at 150 deg.C, spraying water (200 l) further to cool to 25 deg.C, mixing them with yeasts (10 kg), spraying a soln. of a pure culture product (0.5 kg) containing Bacillus subtilis as a main component dissolved in warm water (30 l), fermenting them while blowing warm air (43 deg.C), spraying water (100 l) after 15 hours, spraying a soln. of a pure culture product (1 kg) containing Bacillus subtilis as a main component and sugar (5 kg) dissolved in warm water (30 l), fermenting for 12 hours while blowing warm air (43 deg.C), mixing them with powder of multielement-porous minerals, e.g., quartz porphyry, granite porphyry, etc. having a particle size of less than 60 mesh (10 kg), drying to those containing 15 % of water content and pulverising.    The compost is produced by mixing raw materials originated from plants such as agricultural waste, e.g., straws, cereal brans, defatted lees of cereals, dead grasses and leaves, food waste, etc. with faeces obtained from chicken and cattle, spraying water to adjust to approx. 60 % of water content, mixing (1 ton) with the microorganism-fermented product (10 kg), accumulating, fermenting and ageing. Amt. of the microorganism-fermented product added is about 30 kg.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compost produced provides decreased diseases and insect damage and injury by continuous cropping.
Fixed bead is produced by adding aq. soln. of PVA to activated sludge highly conc. by a centrifugal concn. or to useful bacteria, e.g. nitrifying bacteria or denitrifying bacteria, to make uniform mixed soln. and adding inorganic salt to the mixed soln. to aggregate the bacteria.    Pref. inorganic salt is Na2SO4 of low price, which is produced in USA as Glauber's salt and as sec. prod. in the prodn. of viscous rayon in Japan. By adding inorganic salt to the conc. sludge, PVA dissolved in water is deposited and a sponge-like PVA shell is formed and the activated sludge is fixed inside the shell.    Bacteria fixed bead with strength and abrasion resistance is obtd. cheaply. Treatment gives no bad effect on the bacteria in the bead. Substrate and O2 in polluted water permeate into the bead so that fixed bacteria have high activity and the polluted water is effectively treated.
Dewatered sewage sludge and organic material are charged into a mixer in which a first mass of sludge and organic material is caused to move at a first velocity past a second mass of sludge and organic material which is moving at a second velocity to provide an interface between the masses at which there is a shearing action created.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the composting of sludge to produce a useful agricultural material. Arrangement coats the organic material with sludge and prevents the sludge agglomerating into lumps which will rot, producing obnoxious odours, rather than composting.
A process is performed with a porous contacting membrane comprising (i) a porous inorganic substrate in combination with an electrococonductive Sn oxide-contg. material or (ii) a porosu organic material in combination with an inoragnic substrate (partially) coated with an electroconductive Sn oxide-contg. material, the (porous) inorganic substrate having at least one catalytic component.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process may be used in battery applications, e.g. in bipolar plates in Pb-acid batteries; in chemical reactions, e.g. chemical redn. of N oxides with reducing gas, hydrocarbon reforming, dehydrogenation, hydrodecyclisation, isomerisation, ammoxidation, aldol condensn. reactions, etc.; in gas sensors, e.g. for H, Co, methane, alcohols, aromatics, etc.; in sepn. systems, e.g. in the foood, textile/leather, chemical, bio-medical and water-processing industries, for latex concn.; etc.. Activity can be controlled by adjusting the coating thickness and the coated substrtes are stable and durable.
A process for promoting the separation of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from a gas stream, comprises: (a) removing less than about 2% of the gas stream to be separated, to create a removed stream; (b) adding to the removed stream a substantially propane feed stream to create a combined stream; (c) distilling the combined stream to remove a substantially propane product stream; (d) routing the substantially propane product stream to refrigeration facilities to be used in the distillation of the balance of the gas stream.    Also claimed is, combined stream is distilled to remove a substantially ethane stream. Combined stream is distilled to remove a substantially ethane stream and a substantially propane product stream is routed to refrigeration facilities to be used in the distillation of the balance of the gas stream.    USE -   A method of recovering ethane and propane refrigerant components, either separately or mixed, from a small stream of the lean feed gases.
Addn. of P or N cpd. (I) to the meliorant suspension used for neutralising acidic soils, improves its properties. The mixt. contains (in wt.%): carbide paste 40-42, (I) 2-3 and balance water, and (I) is chosen from the groups contg. phosphorite flour, single superphosphate and phospho-gypsum, or calcium nitrate or HNO3. Carbide paste is a waste of acetylene prodn. and consists of a suspension of Ca(OH)2 contg. up to 50% moisture.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher quality product with increased sedimentation stability. Bul.44/30.11.92
The bioreactor has a casing (1) contg. fine grain packing of below unit density, an aerator (10) water (11, 16) pipes and air inlet and sediment (15) pipes. Vertical partitins (2, 3) form an outlet labyrinth with successive flocculation (7), filtration (8) and packing handler (9) chambers and airlifts (14).    The sludge with the packing enters chamber (7), while the liquid is filtered with gravity separation of the packing particles. Water outlet pipe (16) and the continuous flow of the packing, give regeneration of the filter and separation of the circulatory and surplus biomass. The suspended sludge is returned to the aeration chamber. A finer-fraction supplementary packing can be used, to accompany the recirculated active sludge settling in zone (12), and the biomass increases oxidation capacity by a factor of 1.5-2.    ADVANTAGE -   Productivity is increased through continuous regeneration of the packing. Bul. 43/23.11.92
The material is prepd. by mixing a dehydrated prod. of an organic waste with an oxygen-generating agent(s) generating oxygen on chemical reaction. In a new prepn. of the material, an organic waste is dehydrated to a water content of up to 10%, mixed with the oxygen-generating agent and formed into a desired shape.    The oxygen-generating agent is pref. one or a mixt. of CaO2, Mg02, Na202, K202, NaClO3, KClO3, Ca(ClO3)2 and Mg(ClO3)2. The blend ratio of the oxygen-generating agent is typically 10-30 pts. wt. to 100 pts. wt. of the dehydrated prod.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The material is easy to burn and releases oxygen gradually in soil to promote decomposition and fermentation of e.e.g soil, or feed when added with water, being useful as a fuel, a fertiliser and feed. Utilising various types of organic wastes, such as sludge and garbage, the material reduces environmental pollution. The amt. of oxygen released is adjustable by pressurising on formation.
Truck having composter comprises a fermenting decomposing tank mounted on the pallet of the truck, and heater to heat air to be fed to the tank while garbage thrown in the tank is stirred.    USE -   For treating organic wastes.
Method comprises inverting holding tools of a rotary table to invert the vessel until the garbage is thrown out, and again inverting the tools to invert the vessel again and move it to a discharge position.    USE -   Used for garbage collecting trucks.
(JP5290870-A)      NOVELTY - A nitrogen removal unit (7) is arranged at upstream side of an improver (2). Nitrogen in fuel is removed by the nitrogen removal unit. The fuel with hydrocarbon is made to react with steam and hydrogen gas is generated in the improver. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The electric power is generated in a fuel battery (1) by making air and hydrogen gas to react electrochemically. The density of nitrogen in fuel is analyzed by an analyzer arranged in downstream side of the nitrogen removal unit.    USE -   For removal of nitrogen from fuel and preventing generation of ammonia in improver, in fuel battery based power generator.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents ammonia generation in improver by removing nitrogen from fuel. Stabilizes characteristic of battery by preventing mixing of ammonia in gas. Prevents reduction of capacity of nitrogen removal unit. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows systematic diagram showing power generator. (1) Fuel battery; (2) Improver; (7) Nitrogen removal unit.
In the decontamination of waste material subjected to a biological treatment, an initial grading (1,2) separates a mixt. rich in batteries, which is further sepd. magnetically (3), and an inert fraction eventually decontaminated of organic matter by aeration and/or washing.    Initial grading of earthworm compost via prim. (50 mm) (1) and sec. (7 mm) (2) screens followed by magnetic sorting (3) of fraction contg. batteries and fraction without batteries produces; (a) inert fraction of particle size greater than batteries, (b) raw organic material of particle size less than batteries, (c) fraction including batteries of a size between fractions (a) and (b). Inert fraction (a) is sepd. into light and dense components by rinsing/decantation (4). Raw organic fraction (b) is sepd. (6,7) into a dense organic fraction with small amts. of inert matter, a light organic fraction with inert plant material and organic matter.    Washing installation for inert fraction comprises a vessel with motorised agitator, an inlet for inert matter, an inlet for water allowing liquid to circulate within the vessel, an upper outlet for light matter and a lower outlet for heavy matter. Outlets have the means of separation of water from solid matter. Aeration installation comprises a fan driven air circulation loop, the means of introduction of raw organic matter into the air circulation, the means of evacuation of heavy organic matter via flap, and the means of evacuation of light fraction via sieve.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Treatment of waste prods. with efficient sorting of components and decontamination such that matter detrimental to the environment is not discharged.
Recovery of light (C2+) hydrocarbons from a gas produced by cracking hydrocarbons and removing heavy hydrocarbons is effected by: (a) scrubbing the gas in an absorption column with an organic solvent having a molecular wt. of 50-75; (b) passing the loaded solvent to a regeneration column to remove the light hydrocarbons; and (c) recycling the regenerated solvent to the absorption column.    The light hydrocarbons are ethylene and ethane. The solvent is a C4+ paraffin fraction, esp. comprising pentane and/or isopentane. The absorption column (2) is operated at -50 to 0 (esp. -45 to -35) deg.C and 4-50 (esp. 10-30) bar. It includes a lower stripping section for removing entrained CH4. The regeneration column (14) is operated at a bottom temp. of up to 120 (pref. up to 105) deg.C and at a lower pressure than the absorption column. The overhead stream from the regeneration column is partially condensed and the condensate sepd. (20). The residual gas is passed to a C2/C3 separator (26), and the resulting C2 stream is sepd. 930) into ethylene and ethane streams.    ADVANTAGE -   The process avoids the explosion hazards associated with low-temp. partial condensation processes (cf. EP185202).
To produce a raw material for reprocessing in the chemical industry from hydrocarbons and compost, an additive is introduced into the alkali soil or metal and mineral and/or vegetable and/or animal oil or fat in a ratio of 1:95 to 95:5, using calcium hydroxide or another hydroxide. A further additive uses a small amount of a matter with milk protein, to be stirred to give a pulp substance.    The pulp is pref. absorbed to contain the oil and/or fat, can be used as a nutrient bed for bacteria, or a material for the prodn. of solid and foamed plastics, for dyes and paints, or a raw material for cosmetics. The added milk protein has living bacteria, to give a material for vaccination of other bacteria nutrition beds, especially containing protein. The pulp material can be used as a fertiliser or for fertiliser prodn., and can also be used for adhesives.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The raw material, for the chemical industry, is derived by removal of mineral and other oils and fats and their products from hydrocarbons and compost. The method gives a cheap and large vol. supply of raw materials, from readily available waste products from agriculture, slaughterhouses, dairies and the like, using cheap materials and cheaply-produced additives.
Gas mixt. is sepd. by contacting with a porous membrane comprising a porous inorganic substrate and a conductive Sn oxide material or a porous organic material in combination with an inorganic substrate (partially) coated with conductive Sn oxide.    The Sn oxide is pref. F-doped.    USE -   Esp. in sepn. of CH4/CO2 mixts. to recover a CH4 enriched stream. (claimed).
Anaerobic fermentation of bird droppings and sepn. of the biogas is followed by vacuuming the fermented mass, heating the mixt. to 200-220 deg. and dispersing it into hot flue gases at 700-800 deg., and drying during pneumatic transport and in fluidised bed.    In an example, tests show that the optimal temps. of heat treatment stages are 215 and 730 deg. respectively.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher quality product obtd. more quickly. The method yields a highly disperse material. Bul.41/7.11.92
Material obtd. by carbonising excrement of cattle, fowl and pigs etc..    The powdered carbonaceous material may be to improve soil of lawns to adsorb agrochemicals and prevent contamination of river water and underground water.    ADVANTAGE -   The powdered carbonaceous material may be stored and transported easily without malodour, preventing environmental pollution and prevent public nuisance. Excrement of cattle, fowl and pigs, etc. contain more ashes than sawdust or vegetable residue and the ashes improve soil due to the high content of P, S, Mg, K, Ca, etc..
A molecular sieve is produced by mixing 5-20 pts. wt. liq. thermosetting resin and 10-30 pts. wt. binder with 100 pts. wt. coal fine powder of at least one of coal tar, pitch, or creosote. It is moulded to granular matter. Then it is carbonised at 700-1,100 deg. C in inactive atmos.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The molecular sieve is produced using coal fine powder. It has excellent adsorption vol. and selective adsorption property. It can be used for sepg. various mixed gases e.g. the mixt. of nitrogen gas and oxygen gas, the mixt. of methane gas and hydrogen gas, xylene isomer, butene isomer, the mixt. of ethylene and propylene, or argon containing gas mixt.    In an example, 100 pts. wt. coal powder (average grain dia. up to 10 microns), 10 pts. wt. malamine resin aq. soln. (60 wt. %), 20 pts. wt. creosote, 20 pts. wt. PVA aqueous soln. (20 wt. %) and 20 pts. wt. starch were mixed by a kneader for 15 min. It was granulated to a cylindrical pellet of average grain dia. 3mm cross-section x 6mmL. The pellet was dried at 90 deg. C for 4 hours. Its temp. was raised to 800 deg. C at 30 deg. C/hr, and kept for 1 hour. Then it was cooled.
A thermoexpandable microcapsule comprises: (a) a polymeric material forming a shell; (b) at least two volatile expanding agents with different b.pts. lower than the softening temp. of the polymeric material. Also claimed are the following: (1) the prepn. of a thermoexpandable microcapsule by the suspension polymerisation of a monomer in the presence of the two volatile expanding agents. (2) A compsn. comprising a thermoexpandable microcapsule and a binder or adhesive.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to lower the temp. for the prepn. of expanded polymer microcapsules giving improved heat and chemical resistance.
A 1:2 mixt. of sapropel mud and manure contg. 70-80% moisture is placed in a pile, and a worm culture added. Composting is followed by drying in air to 50-60% moisture content and septng. the worms from the resulting biocompost.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher quality product. Bul 41/7.11.92
The appts. comprises a dry distilled gas recovery unit having a 1st duct communicated with a rotary drum, and an annular seal cover covering the entire boundary between the rotary drum and non-rotary part.    USE -   For carbonising waste wood.
Catalyst(C) comprises (O) conjugated oxides of Zr and Ti supporting (M)metal or oxide of element of GpIb, Va, VIa, VIIa, VIII and (Z) Zr oxide.    (C)catalyst is formed into pref. a honeycomb.    (C)catalyst is supported on a honeycomb of a heat resisting crystal conjugated oxides of cordierite, mullite, MgO, Al2O3, TiO2.    Ratio of ZrO2/TiO2 is pref. 5/95-95/5.    (O)conjugated oxides is prepd. by adding aq. ammonia into an aq. soln. of cpd. of and titanium and aluminum to give ppte, drying and calcining at 500 deg.C.    (M)metal or its oxide is e.g. CuO, V2,O5, Cr2O3, MnO2, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, etc., which can be supported on (O)conjugated oxides by dipping (O) into an aq. soln. of nitrate of (M)metal, and then calcining.    (ZO Zr oxide can be supported on (O)conjugated oxides by dipping (O) into an aq. soln. of Zr Oxynitrate, and then calcining.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalyst is used for efficiently burning hydrogen, Co, hydrocarbon, partic. methane which is hard to burn at lower temp. and under a high ratio of gas flow rate/vol. of catalyst. The catalyst has a superior heat resistance at higher than 1000 deg.C.
A new microbe Moraxella (M.) sp. KE-2991 ( FERM P-12908 ) belonging to M. genus and having an ability of decomposing crude oil, and the decomposition of crude oil in which the new microbe M. sp. KE-2991 ( FERM P-12908 ) is contacted with crude oil, are new.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The new microbe has an ability of decomposing not only kerozine and polycyclic aromatics sucg as toluene but also tar component contained in curde oil. It can decompose crude oil in marine water.4 In an example, two platinum loops of M. sp. KE-2991 were inoculated to a heart infusion bouillon medium and cultured at 25 deg. C for 24 hrs.. Then, 0.2 ml of the culture was inoculated to 100 ml of marine water collected from Arabian Sea ) contg. 0.1% peptone ( pH 7.0 ) and 1% crude oil and cultured at 25 deg. C for 20 days. The culture was centrifuged and the supernatant was extracted with 20 ml n-hexane 3 times. The extract was concd. to 10 ml and analysed by GLC and HPLC. The decompsn. rate was 98%. Kerosine and a fraction of crude oil at 280 to 320 deg. C were also decomposed by the same method as above for 10 days. The decompsn. rate was respectively 98 and 95% at an oil concn. of 0.1%..
A new alcohol cracking catalyst comprises transition, alkali, alkaline earth, Gp.III or IV metal(s) and/or ion(s) on a phosphate carrier. Also claimed is a process for the prodn. of hydrocarbons by passing 1-4C alcohols over this catalyst.    Metal is V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ru, Pd, La, Ce, W, Re, Au, K, Rb, In, Si, Ge or Pb and pref. Ti, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rh, Ag, Ir, Pt, Mg, Ca, Ba, Al or Sn and is present at 0.1-30 wt.% of the carrier. Carrier is aluminium, zirconyl, magnesium, barium or zinc phosphate or a calcium phosphate such as hydroxy- or fluoro-apatite or prim., sec., tert., quat., pyro-, meta- or octaphosphate.    Process uses methanol at 200-600 deg.C and an hourly supply rate of 0.75-3 times the wt. of catalyst.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalyst produces gasoline grade hydrocarbons from lower alcohols in good yield and is relatively cheap.    In an example, catalyst was made by impregnating aluminium phosphate (300 g.) with silver nitrate (0.6 g.) in 2 l. of water for 3 days, followed by drying at 300 deg.C. It was used to treat methanol (2 g/hr., WHSV = 2, 400 deg.C) entrained in nitrogen (3 l./hr.) and gave 85% conversion, 68.4% hydrocarbons with at least 5 carbon atoms and only 1.8% ethers.
The composter, esp. for kitchen and garden waste, has a collection container adjoining the lower end of the composting space along a common interface having connecting openings so that the composting space and the collection container form a closed system.    Pref. the composter consists of of two sections, the collection container being hinged to the composting chamber so that it swivels downwardly when the composter is lifted. The collection container has a side opening, closed by a perforated flap and a perforated top which forms the common interface. The composter is mounted on wheels.    ADVANTAGE -   The design avoids fume emission while providing sufficient aeration, so that the composter can be located anywhere, e.g. in a backyard or even inside a house. Any liq. is retained in the collection container for periodic emptying and compost removal is required only at 2-6 month periods.
A compost turning machine has a horizontal rotating turn-over drum mounted in a carrier frame, the novelty being that one end of the carrier frame is attachable to the three-point suspension of a tractor.    ADVANTAGE -   The machine is simple and inexpensive and is adaptable to small scale waste composting operations.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide in a combustion product are destroyed by (a) combusting a fuel source (I) in presence of oxygen to form a combustion product (II) comprising NOx, CO and O2; (b) introducing methane into (II), to give CH4:NOx vol. ratio greater than 0.1; and (c) reacting the mixture in presence of a catalyst comprising a crystalline zeolite of Si:Al ratio at least 2.5 which has been exchanged with a cation (III) of Co, Ni, Fe, Cr, Rh, Ga or Mn, to convert a portion of the NOx and CO to gaseous N2, H2O and CO2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The combustion products may be flue gas or exhaust from a mobile or stationary engine; the fuel may be 1-15C gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon, coal, oil or refuse; there is high conversion of NOx and CO to environmentally safe products.
Microfilter contains body (1), input (2), output (3), biomass output (4), driven shaft (5) with disc (6) and hinge (7), additional shaft (8) with upper disc (9), upper support (10), filter partition (11) with upper (12) and lower (13) ends fastened to the edges of upper and lower discs, rotational support (14), hub (15), slider (16), compensation element (17), bracket (18), windows (19) in upper and (20) in lower disc, and inner conic partition (21).    Biomass suspension flows through the input pipe, compensator, and openings in the upper disc onto conic elastic filter partition which rotates with the lower disc and the upper disc in precessional motion. Due to centrifugal forces water separates and through the filter partition moves to the conic partition. Sedimented biomass on the filter partition dries and moves down through the openings in the lower disc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In feed prepn. in agriculture, partic. in purificn. of outflows which do not contain salts of heavy metals for sepn. of microbic albumen. Dryness of biomass is increased. Bul.41/07.11.92
The biofilter comprises a casing (1) with filtrate pipes (2,3) and sediment pipe (4), a drive shaft (5) with a bottom disc (6) a shaft (8) on an elastic support (7) with a top disc (9) and a support (10), with an intermediate conical elastic filter position (12). The corrugated top zones of parts (12) and (6) supplement contact between disc (9) and an eccentric (18) via a link (17).    ADVANTAGE -   The drive energy expenditure and scarce materials is decreased. Holes (21) in rotating disc (9) pref. feed the suspension to part (12) where the corrugations control its rotation, before it leaves via cone (20) and pipe (3). The sediment from valleys (14) descends as a result of vibration from the receprocated disc (9) with ascent via deformed elastic support (19). The conical zone of part (12) intensifies drying of the sediment, thus resulting in separation of both the free water and the water from the solvate shells of the bacteria. The paste facilitates use of biomass as fodder additive for animals and birds. Bul.41/7.11.92
The filter has a rotation support (10) for an additional shaft (8) which can be displaced at an angle relative to housing (1). There are upper and lower discs (9) and (7) respectively mounted out of parallel with the formation of the deformed (B) and undeformed (gamma) generators of cone (18) of elastic filtering partition (11) during operation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   May be used for the processing of bacterial protein from sewage works (bakprotoca) in agriculture with run-offs free of heavy metals. The aim is to increase the dryness of the biomass. Bul.41/7.11.92
Mfr. of dry powdery compost comprises (1) adding water in a mud sludge-form state in extrements and a protein raw material held at 36-43 deg.C to produce original biomass; (2) diluting the original biomass in a liq.-like state with water and held at 36-43 deg.C to produce germ liq.; (3) impregnating vegetable micropieces with the germs liq. and the impregnated substance is agitated as hot air is fed to produce dried germs; and (4) mixing compost raw material with the dried germs stored for a long time to produce dried powdery compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A compost raw material is completely fermented, decomposed and changed into powdery compost, in a short time.
Antiperspirant aersol compsn. comprises (by wt.): 10-35% particulate material (I); 0.2-2% suspending agent (II); 5-50% liq. emollient carrier; and not more than 60% of a propellant mixt. (III). (I) containsts of: (a) 25-100% of a particulate antiperspirant active agent; and (b) 0-75% of a particulate filler.    Also comprises allantoin and perfume. Pref. (Ia) is Al chlorhydrate. Pref. (Ib) are talc, NaHCO3, opt. chemmically modified corn starch, polyethylene, a polyacrylate, or a crosslinked polyurethane; with more than 99% of the particles passing a 100-mesh screen. Pref. (II) is hydrophobically-treated hectorite clay, with pref. propylene carbonate to activate it. Pref. carriers are i-Pr palmitate, cyclomethicone, and di-Bu phthalate. Pref. (III) mixt. comprises butane, difluoroethane and isobutane.    ADVANTAGE -   Raising the particulate solids content of the aerosol compsn. to 10-35% allows the amt. of propellant to be reduced to not more than 60% without causing clogging of the container valve. The compsn. also has a dry feel, is aesthetically acceptable, and is safe for human use.    In an example, aerosol contained (by wt.) 23.1812% Al chlorhydrate, 23.1812% talc, 2.2795% `Bentone 38' (RTM), 24.6112% i-Pr palmitate, 0.6761% propylene carbonate, 11.3559% cyclomethicone, 11.0686% di-Bu phthalate, and 3.6463% allantoin.
Higher chloromethanes are dechlorinated in the gas phase, using H2, in presence of a hydrogenation catalyst comprising a metal of Gp. VIII and/or Gp. IB, on a support of Al2O3 with specific surface below 100 square m/g.    Pref., the Al2O3 has specific surface of 5-90 m2/g and contains not more than 2 wt.% of metal oxides other than Al2O3, esp. less than 0.1% of SiO2. The process is esp. the dechlorination of CCl4 to CHCl3. The metal is esp. Pt, and the metal content of the catalyst is 0.01-5 wt.%. Reaction is at 50-200 deg.C, using a molar ratio of H2 to higher chloromethane of 1-16, and diluting the reactants with CH4.    ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is stable, and use of O2 is avoided.
The assembly to produce compost, with a drum-shaped compost container which is mobile and can be positioned vertically over a base surface, has a drum which is at least partially a sieve drum (1) with open ends. A coupling at one end (2) connects the drum (1) in a horizontal or nearly horizontal position to a rotary drive, while the other end (3) is supported from the ground by a tripod (10).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit can be located where required for the composting of garden material and, when the material has been composted, it can be easily sieved and graded on site with low effect and outlay for a small composting system.
A new composting plant with an aeration system for enclosed chambers has the novel feature that conditioned air can be made to flow over and/or through and/or around a stationary or mixed stack of composting material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the composting of organic waste. The ambient conditions in the reactors can be continuously adjusted to suit the requirements of the microbiological conversion process throughout the composting period.
A new composting plant consists of a number of separate reactors with a central aeration system. The aeration system is controlled and the process parameters of each reactor can be adjusted individually and independently. Pref. the temp., moisture content and compsn. of the air are controlled, and systems are provided for the sepn. of condensate and/or the recovery of waste heat. Filtration is provided for removing odorous components from the air, and a scrubber may be used for sepg. problematical substances.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For composting biological waste materials. The ambient conditions in the reactors can be adjusted to suit the requirements of the microbiological conversion process during the composting period.
The eddy layer fermenter, with a fermentation zone arranged vertically on the point of its conical shape, has two feed channels with control valves. One channel is aligned vertically in the point of the cone, and the second channel is angled from the vertical in the core mantle at a level of 0.002-0.3 times the height of the fermentation zone.    A sedimentation zone is over the fermentation zone, with one or two outlet channels with control valves.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is primarily for processing sewage and waste water, but can also be used for continuous fermentation and prodn. of water soluble alcohols, acids or carbohydrates such as ethanol, acetic acid, citric acid, galactose, L-sorbose, the microbial synthesis of amino acids such as glutamic acid, antibiotics mfg. or microbiological transformation of steroids. A turbulent flow is generated in the fermentation zone when the fluids to be fermented are fed simultaneously through vertical and horizontal feeds to pass in a quasi laminary flow into the sedimentation zone. With a micro organism culture, a pellet build-up floats in the bed of the fermentation zone and drops down from the sedimentation zone, to give a continuous fermentation of high fluid vols over a long time period.
Oligomerisation of low molecular wt. olefins to higher hydrocarbons comprises reacting the olefins in the presence of a new catalyst which is in the form of a molten salt mixt. (A). (A) consists of (a) a Lewis acid, and (b) a Lewis base component in the form of an organic salt. (a) and (b) form a melt which is liq. at room temp.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Prods. obtd. are gasoline grade hydrocarbons (claimed), typically mixts. of 4-8C hydrocarbons. The prods. are efficiently produced with high yields being obtd. ratios of the individual higher hydrocarbons can be varied depending on the compsn. of the melt used as catalyst. As an example, when using as catalyst a melt of AlCl3 and N-n-butyl-pyridinium chloride, overall conversions to 4-8C hydrocarbons were as high as 80% for 4C cpds. and about 30% for 8C cpds. The intermediate hydrocarbons were formed at yields in-between.
Upright composting silo (1) has at least one floor (12) between chambers (2,3) each contg. revolved and rotated agitator arms assemblies (4) through which air is injected into the chambers via a delivery pipe (22) supplying the arms (4). A common central drive shaft(s) revolves the arms, and specifically the arms (4) are rotated by gears at their outer ends in mesh with ring gears on the silo wall. Exhaust gases are vented (28) from the silo. Pref. all floors (12) except the lower floor (15) slant outwardly for moisture drainage to a reservoir, and air supply and exhaust is via solenoid valves.    USE -   Municipal and industrial organic wastes and sludges (claimed).
Composting container comprising a body having a base having a number of holes through which air can enter the container and a flap for the removal of the compost. The body supports a lid, which can be removed for the insertion of waste materials, and which has ventilation holes within the projections around its edge. An air outlet hole in the lid has an elastically deformable inverted V-section rim. The elastic movement of this rim is required for adjustment of the cap which is located in the air outlet hole.    The cap comprises a cover plate which has on its underside four wall sections extending from the centre of the cap. The distance between two opposite sides of the walls is approximately equal to the internal diameter of the rim. Projections are positioned on the sides. Projection has a form such that the cap can be pushed in both directions within the rim and determine two positions to which the cap can be opened. The cap can close the outlet hole completely by pushing the upper projection into the rim. The lower projection is of a barbed hook form and provides for ease of installation of the cap, but thereafter prevents its removal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Composting container has sealing cap which enables free flow of air from within the container and thus reduces the formation of condensation within the container, thereby improving the maintenance of the required conditions within the composting container for the breakdown of organic waste material. The cap also prevents the ingress of rainwater.
Treatment of organic sewage includes a denitrification step, a nitrification step using bacteria fixing supports and a sludge separating step, in this order. The supports in the nitrification step are aggregated to separate and sent to a support separating step; solution separated in the support separating step is circulated to the denitrification step and the supports recovered in the support separating step are returned to the nitrification step.    The treatment can include an anaerobic step, with separated sludge returned to the anaerobic step.    ADVANTAGE -   Organic sewage can stably be denitrified and nitrified.    In an example, sewage with BOD of 150 mg/l, N concentration of 30 mg/l and SS concentration of 10 mg/l was treated at 14-17 deg.C at the rate of 2.4 m3/day in a nitrification tank with volume of 250 l, a denitrification tank with volume of 550 l and a support separating tank with volume of 50 l. In the nitrification tank, 40 l of hydrophilic gel (with main chain of polyvinyl alcohol and particle size of 5 mm) were added as the fixed support. Concentration of suspended activated sludge and resident time of sludge were adjusted respectively to 2500 mg/l and 6 days. Total N concentration of treated water was always under 10 mg/l.
Treatment of a gaseous permeation membrane so as to increase its selectivity, consists of impregnating the membrane with a saline soln. of at least one salt of an alkali, alkaline earth ir transition metal. The soln. has a moderate swelling effect.    ADVANTAGE -   The prepn. of permeable membranes leads to structures with a 'skin' of thickness less than 1 micron which inevitably contains defects giving rise to a residual porosity of about 10 power-6 to 10 power-7 which reduces selectivity when separating gas mixts. such as CO2-CH4, H2O-CH4 etc.
The side loader container is equipped section-wise with bio-waste containers (contents approximately 1100 litres) and after complete filling to approximately 40 cubic metres is taken to a collecting location, where the waste is subjected to a further rotting process.    The seepage water coming from the rotting process is collected in the container itself and is fed to the system for humidification purposes. A supply with electrical energy for ventilation, changing over the substrate and monitoring the rotting process by means of sensors is ensured by solar technique in combination with energy accumulators. The turnover of the bio waste is achieved with the aid of a vertical worm. This stops putrefaction processes and at the same time mixes in necessary, additional substrate homogeneously.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To compost domestic organic waste.
Air is intermittently blown or drawn through the material. The rate of forced air changes in the room is determined by the use of measurements of at least the moisture content of the air outside the room.    Also claimed is an appts. for carrying out the process, having a fan (9) with a control unit (10) connected to a computer (13) into which the output of a sensor (15) for the moisture content of the air outside the room (1) is fed.    The moisture content of the external air is pref. measured at least cyclically or periodically during the entire compositing period, and may be used to determine the intervals between periods of forced ventilation.    ADVANTAGE -   The risk of structural damage to the enclosing room is reliably reduced by improved control of the moisture content of the internal air.
U-shaped rotting reactors (1-9,1`-9') are adjacently arranged in rows. All the reactors, divided into pre-rotting and main rotting zones, are fed from outside by conveyor devices (10,20). A converter (21) movable into the reactors delivers the material continuously through them. At the inner aperture the converter picks up the material and projects it over a transfer device (22) on to a further conveyor (11), which extends along in front of the inner apertures of the reactors.    From there, the material passes via a longitudinal conveyor (12) and a short distribution conveyor (13) into one of the rotting reactors (14-17), which act as final rotting zones. In one final rotting zone (14), the material from two main rotting zones (1,2) is transferred.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To compensate for the progressive volume redn. of composed material.
The prodn. comprises comminution, mixing with bactericidal additives and an energy carrier (ground brown coal and/or hard coal) and moulding.    Also new is a fuel comprising a moulded body of pressed partially rotted wood, lime and a brown and/or hard coal mixt.    Pref. the wood is ground and mixed with lime, (unslaked lime). The additive (lime) is pref. added in stoichiometric ratio to the sulphur content in the wood and opt. in the coal. The coal is pref. added in amt. to provide a calorific value of 4-700 (5500) Kcal.    ADVANTAGE -   Tree stumps and branches from polluted dead forests may be converted into a non-polluting, storable, low sulphur fuel.
A mobile processing unit for preparing a pumpable mixt. of materials. The unit to consist of a base, a closed cylindrical mixing vessel, a particle sizing device and connecting pipework. The mixing vessel has inlets for feedstock and intermediate process material, an outlet and a mixing mechanism. The particle sizer is fed from the mixing vessel and may recycle material back to the mixing vessel or discharge it.    Also claimed is a unit where the mixing mechanism is defined as a rotary blade unit and where the recycle circuit through the particle sizer will handle suspended soilds of between about 20 to 80% by weight.    Also claimed is a method, using the equipment described above, for producing a pumpable mixt. of organic material suitable use as a fuel or for disposal by incineration. the feedsatock material contains between about 30 to 70% non-suspended solids and this is mixed with an organic liquid to produce an intermediate process material containing between about 20 to 60% by weight of solids. The soilds is dispersed to give a uniform material by a rotary blade operating at a speed of less than 100rpm.    For treating organic waste to produce a material which is suitable for use asa fuel or for disposal by incineration.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is mobile and so may be taken to the site of the organic waste, thus reducing transport costs, and is also able to handle solid materials.
A domestic waste composter consists of an upright vented container, with closable top filling and bottom discharge openings, and a stirrer with a shaft journalled in the container base and lid. The container is subdivided into chambers by at least one intermediate plate which forms a closable passage opening, the stirrer shaft extending through the intermediate plate and carrying stirrer arms in the region of the chambers.    ADVANTAGE -   The composter has a simple construction and provides rapid and uniform composting. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9341 based on complete specification)
Prodn. comprises: (a) providing a source of sludge which is digested sludge, brewery waste, sawmill waste, wood pulp processing waste and/or paper production waste and a solid combustible comminuted material to a premixer, (b) mixing the sludge and comminuted material in wt. proportions of 2/3 sludge to 1/3 comminuted material for time sufficient to wet the material and adjust the solids content to 25-35 wt.%, (c) conveying the mixt. to a prim. mixer and mixing for time sufficient to achieve a uniform consistency, (d) removing the mixt. from the prim. mixer and forming into blocks of moisture content 40-60 wt.% and (e) placing the blocks in a covered environment for at least several days while the temp. of the blocks rises to 60-70 deg.C by natural fermentation of the mixt. and the residual moisture is reduced to 20-25 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Converts sludge and other wastes into combustible material useful as fuel or solid conditioner. Alleviates problems of sludge disposal and meets requirements for reuse.
Organic material including toilet waste is aerobically composted in a tank with an upper receiving volume (12), a mixing and aeration central volume (13) and a lower portion for conveying compost (14) and fluid to a collecting zone (86). The mixing and aeration volume is positioned between front (29) and rear (47) baffles with an airflow conduit (30) between the baffles. A fan (40) circulates air from the region between the front baffle and tank wall through the conduit to a region between the rear baffle and back wall and back to the front baffle area across the receiving volume.    Liquid from the fluid collection area (86) is returned to the mixing and aeration volume (13). A horizontal agitator (70) periodically mixes the received organic material.    A separate greywater treatment tank (5) has a sludge removal system (61) which returns the sludge to the composting tank (4), and has chambers for the aeration, filtration and clarification of the greywater.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system composts organic waste such as human biological wastes and kitchen wastes together with sludge derived from greywater. It can also handle other organics including leaves, paper, garbage and wood chips. The system operates efficiently and brings fully decomposed material to a position for easy removal via a hatch.
Isobutane (I) is prepd. by isomerising n-butane in the presence of a heteropolyacid salt which includes at least one of Ni, Fe, Co, Cu and Zn, and Pt or Pd. Pref. one selected of Mo, W, V, Nb and Ta etc. as a condensed coordination element and one selected of P, Si, As, Ge, Ti, Ce and Th etc. as a central element, are used in a salt of heteropoly acid. The atomic ratio of a condensed coordination element to a central element is 2.5-12. At least one selected of Ni, Fe, Co, Cu and Zn is used as a positive ion of a heteropolyacid salt. Pref. the Pt or Pd is used in the ratio of 0.0001-20 wt. to heteropoly acid. The reaction is carried out at 100-400 deg.C (pref. 200-350 deg.C) and at a few mmHg - 90 kg/cm2G (pref. 1-50 kg/cm2G).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as an alkylation agent. Isobutene which is given by dehydrogenation of (I), is an important material in an industry. By this simple method, (I) is given in high selectivity yield (88-98%) without corrosion of apparats. and activating treatment of the catalyst.
Isobutane (I) is prepd. by isomerisation of n-butane in the presence of a heteropoly acid and Pt or Pd.    One selected of Mo, W, V, Nb and Ta etc. as a condensed coordination element and one selected of P, Si, As, Ge, Ti, Ce and Th etc. as a central element, are used in a heteropoly acid. The ratio of a coordination element/a central element is 2.5-12. Phosphomolybdic acid or phosphotungstic acid is used as a heteropoly acid. Pt or Pd is used in the ratio of 0.0001-20 wt. to a heteropoly acid. This reaction is carried out at 100-400 (200-350) deg.C and at a few mmHg to 90 kg (1-50)kg/cm2G.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is a useful material as an alkylation agent. Isobutene which is given by dehydrogenation of (I), is an important material in a petrochemical industry. (I) is given in high selectivity yield (91-96%) without corrosion of appts. and activating treatment of the catalyst.
Method comprises mixing an maturing the sludge with a mixed microorganism of SKS-1, SKS-2, SKS-3, SKS-4, SKS-5, SKS-6, SKS-7, SKS-8, SKS-9.    Specifically marine sludge is mixed with microorganisms of SKS-1 (FERM P-3692, an aerobic sporeformer at moderate temp.), SKS-2 (FERM P- 3693, an aerobic sporeformer at high temp.), SKS-3 (FERM P-3694, a catalase and Gram positive asporogenic rod), SKS-4 (FERM P- 3695, an actinomycete at high temp.), KS-5 (FERM P-3696, an actinomycete at moderate temp.), SKS-6 (FERM P-3697, a catalase and Gram positive coccus) SKS-7 (FERM P-3698, an entric bacterium), SKS-8 (FERM P-3699, fungus) and SKS-9 P-3700, an anaerobic sporeformer) and cultured to activate and mature the sludge.    In an example cultured with the mixed microorganisms contained more cells and no sulphur cpd. The cultured sludge was dispersed to field and the result was increased crops. Furthermore, the cultured sludge improved porcelain clay giving china with good quality.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for soil activator or porcelain clay.
Plant has a heating duct part made along the sidewall and bottom wall of storage tank and connected to the upper part of the tank. A circulation duct sucks hot air of the duct part and circulates it. A partition plate partitions the heater and blowing port and the exhaust duct.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The plant dries organic waste fast and ferments efficiently with high deodorising effect.
H2 is produced biologically by dissolving CO2-contg. gas in an organic waste soln; decomposing organic impurities in the soln. with anaerobic bacteria; sepg. H2 gas from the resultant gas; returning the remaining gas to the organic waste soln.    A plant producing H2 biologically is also claimed, which comprises a tank where CO2 gas is dissolved in the organic waste soln., a H2 gas generating rector where organic impurities are decomposed with bacterial and H2 gas is produced, and a H2 gas separating means.    H2 gas is produced by an action of anaerobic bacteria as.    C6H12O6 = 2C2H5 + 2CO2, 2C2H5OH + 2H2O = 2CH3COOH + 4H2.    ADVANTAGE -   The H2 gas partial pressure can be kept low in the reactor, so that H2 gas can be generated with a higher efficiency.
Appts. comprises a chlorella incubating tank having a heat exchanger coupled with a fluel cell to drain a warm water to be fed to the heat exchanger, and CO gas concn. adjuster attached to the tank.    USE -   For making protein foods.
Digester for organic waste incorporates a pair of elongated drum digester units of unique mechanical construction to provide efficient agitation and aeration and temp. control for proper inoculation, pasteurisation and drying of the waste material.    The system has an upper drum assembly and a lower drum assembly carried in a frame structure. The upper drum assembly has a frusto-conical stationary outer drum with an inlet chute for organic material to be processed. An inner rotatable drum is positioned within the outer drum and may be driven by a motor through a reduction gear unit. The exterior of the inner drum has a number of longitudinal blades and the drum also includes a number of short inwardly extending blades. The upper drum assembly is positioned above and in vertical alignment with the lower drum assembly. The larger end of the upper drum has a discharge outlt which communicates with the smaller end of a lower outer drum which is generally similar to the upper stationary drum. An inner porous drum generally similar to the upper rotatable drum is positioned within the lower stationary drum. The lower station out drum has a discharge outlet. The drum also includes a inclined baffle to deflect material entering the drum from the outlet into the rotatable inner drum. Each of the larger end walls of the outer drums includes an opening and damper communicating through exhaust stacks to a vertical exhaust pipe.    ADVANTAGE -   The digestion system provides an efficient process utilising gravity feed and conveyance of material combined with driven frusto-conical drums of unique construction requiring minimum power for operation.
A pile of compost is aerated by forming a flat swath through a central portion of the pile using an upwardly moved first blade, then moving a second blade upwardly to form a second swath such that the material moved by the second blade is deposited in the first swath.    Also claimed is a method of aerating compost in which the blades are arranged in an array of three on a cylindrical drum, and a successive array is provided, the path of which overlaps the path of the preceding array. Also claimed is compositing appts. comprising a cylindrical drum having blade holders in two helical arrays around the circumference of one end of the drum. Blades held in the second array are spaced midway between the blades held in the second array.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Material such as yard waste, manure from cattle and poultry, sludge from sewage treatment plants, rubbish and other organic wastes is mixed, turned and aearated to speed compositing. Mixing is more effective and less energy is consumed. Only one pass is required. The material is shaped without the need for additional devices.
Prepn. comprises (A) mixing (a) 47.0-78.0 wt.% source material of excrement sludge of domestic animal and human; (b) butchering waste; (c) food waste, and amino acid fermentation by-prod; 18.8-47.0 wt.% sub-material (1) made by heating at 250 deg. C and drying and crushing vermiculite zeolite and loess; (a) 1.6-6.0 wt.% sub-material (2) made by mixing and crushing sawdust, rice bran, alcohol pitch and beans; and (e) 0.1-4.0 wt.% sub-material (3) selected from nag, caustic soda, soda ash, fish oil and fatty oils, and (B) stirring and fermenting in aerobic conditions.    USE -   Fertiliser is prepd. from waste material from i.e: agriculture, aquatics and industry.
Fermentation dryer includes the agitation shaft mounted on rotary shaft within dry chamber coated by insulating material, an agitator with agitation wings of a bow-shape fixed with spokes on the shaft. The dryer mounts the heating pipe of U-shaped equipped with hot-water pipe on the lower part of dry chamber, and a dehydration guide plate of a bow-shape having a series of guide holes on the upper part of the chamber.
The device comprises a ferment container, feeding-down agitator in the container and carrier under the agitator mounted through the container. A feeding-up bucket unit connects with one end of the carrier and with the feeder of the container. The waste in the container ferments, is crushed, and agitated around the feeding-down agitator and circulates on the carrier, and the bucket unit in sequence continuously.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Treated waste may be utilised as fertiliser or compost.
(JP5251095-A)   NOVELTY - A solid-electrolyte type fuel cell, comprises a fuel electrode (3) and an air pole (2) on front and back surfaces of a solid electrolyte (1). An interconnector (10) joins an air-pole-side electroconductive distributor (5) (containing zirconium) to a fuel electrode side electroconductive distributor (6) containing nickel and zirconia.    USE - As solid-electrolyte type fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - At the time of temperature rise during operation, peeling does not generate between solid electrolyte and electrolyte distributors. A solid-electrolyte type fuel cell provided with fuel electrode side electroconductive distributor, that does not impair or damage fuel cell functioning, is offered.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the exploded perspective view of solid electrolyte type fuel cell single cell and interconnector.    Solid electrolyte (1)    Air pole (2)    Fuel electrode (3)    Air-pole-side electro-conductive distributor (5)    Fuel electrode side electro-conductive distributor (6)    Interconnector (10)
Process in which a CO2 contg. gas is contacted with water in the presence of Fe or Fe ion under irradiation of electromagnetic waves. Pref. gas is CO2 or a mixt. gas of CO2 gas and H2 gas.    The electromagnetic waves is pref. gamma-ray, and the Fe or Fe ion is pref. used in the form of an aq. suspension or an aq. soln..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Since the CO2 contg. gas is contacted with water and gamma ray, etc. is irradiated on it in the presence of Fe or Fe ion, the CO2 is reduced to produce lower hydrocarbons (e.g. methane, ethylene, ethane, propane, and butene, etc.) as well as CO in high yields, by using almost no energy.
Vegetable, fruit, and garden waste (3) is sepd. in a washing and sepg. device (4) into a coarse organic fraction (6) which, sepd. from the water used in the device (4) is composted (9), and a residual fraction (7) which, after separation of an inert fraction (11), is subjected to anaerobic stabilisation (16).    Coarse organic fraction (6) is pref. of particles of 2 to 4 mm in size, sepd. from rinsing water (5) by a sieve and composted (9). The inert fraction (11) sepd. from the rinsing water is subjected to classification into sand (13) and a residual fraction (14) e.g. glass or stone. Liquid (19) from reactor (16) is partly recirculated (22) and partly disposed off to drain (21).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the processing for disposal of vegetable, fruit, and garden waste. Coarse organic fraction yields a compost similar to peat, the inert material can be used as a building material, and the anaerobic process (16) will yield a biogas (18) and a fine fraction (17) which can be recycled, dumped, or burnt according to its composition.
The endoglucanase (EG) III cellulase component (I) is isolated from other cellulases in an aq. soln. of cellulase proteins by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) such that all other cellulases remain in the aq. phase while (I) concentrates in the PEG phase. The same process can be used to separate xylanase (II) from a soln. of cellulase proteins; xylanase concentrates in the PEG phase (together with any (I) present). Also new is prepn. of an aq. (I) soln. free of other cellulases by (1) adjusting the salt concn. and pH to levels at which (I) passes through an anion exchange column (AEC); (2) applying this soln. to an AEC; (3) collecting the flow-through fraction and adjusting its salt and pH contents to levels at which (I) is selectively retained on a cation exchange column (CEC); (4) passing the soln. through a CEC and (5) eluting retained (I) from the column.    USE -   (I), esp. isolated from Trichoderma spp. (opt. genetically modified), is active under alkaline conditions (unlike other EG) so is useful for increasing cleaning activity of detergents in neutral or alkaline media. It also acts as a fabric softener, to improve the feel of cotton fabrics; and, when used in pre-washing steps, improves colour retention and/or restoration, and serves as a spot remover. (I) may also be used in silage and composting processes
2C Hydrocarbon (I) is prepd. by oxidn.- coupling reaction of methane on an activated side of a membrane comprising a complex oxide (II), while O2 (or gas including O2) is supplied on the other side.    Pref., CaCo1-xFexO3, esp. CaCo0.8Fe0.2O3 is used as (II) which has high O2 transfer rate and mixt. conductivity. The membrane is in the form of a tube. The surface of the membrane is activated by chloride and/or PbO-K2O. The reaction is carried out at 600-1000 (750-850) deg.C and at 0-100 (0-10) atmos..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) e.g. ethane, ethylene etc. is a useful material in industry. (I) is simply obtd. with high selectivity and yield without using electrodes and formation of C.    In an example, methane was supplied to a membrane reactor where CaCo0.8Fe0.2O3 was filled and where nitrate soln. of Pb and K were carried on the membrane (the mol ratio of Pb/K was 2/1), in an amt. of 100 cm3/min. At the same time air was supplied in an amt. of 100 cm3/min. The reaction was carried out at 750 deg.C for 3 hrs. (I) was obtd. in an amt. of 2.5 mol/h/m2. (I) was obtd. in 55 mol% yiel
Process comprises (i) comminution of refuse, (ii) admixt. before, during or after comminution and reaction with an additive which includes CaO, Ca and/or Na based bentonite and hydrocarbon starch or other hydrocarbon binder, (iii) pelleting reaction prod., and (iv) cooling pellets in CO2-rich atmos.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Pelletisation is less energy and time consuming than in conventional processes. Reduced unpleasant odours during processing. Pellets are biologically inert and easily transportable and uniform calorific value and low emission levels. They are also usable as filler or aggregate having beneficial properties
Aerobic treatment of water contg. oily sludges and other organic waste of relatively low solids content in a high solids content reaction. The waste is mixed with an inert bulking agent in the presence of active biomass and nutrients. A gas contg. oxygen is passed through the reaction mixt. to assist in the removal of excess water from the sludge or waste to form a wetted high solids content reaction mixt. contg. the oily sludge and waste in a bed of bulking agent. Aerobic treatment converts the oily sludge to treated sludge and the bulking agent is coated with active biomass. The biomass-coated bulking agent low density component is then sepd. from the treated solids. The treated oily sludge is recovered and the active biomass-coated bulking agent having a density less than water is used for the treatment of fresh oily sludge.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process may take place in a closed reactor with controls to prevent environmental pollution. It generates a sustainable active biomass. Sludges may be dewatered and treated in the same reaction vessel and energy requirements are reduced.
Waste, esp. household waste, is handled within a partly or completely enclosed waste unit. Within the unit biological reaction (speeded up) are initiated. The resulting gases are collected in the top region of the unit and piped off, while water seeps through to the bottom region and is led off.    The waste unit, which is built on site, comprises flat horizontal (5) and cylindrical vertical regions (10) of porous material, accessible from the outside by means of pipe systems (6,7,9) which transport the biological decomposition products from the unit or deliver any necessary nutrients, air or water to speed up the reaction. The pipe systems (6,7,9) are divided into separate gas and fluid systems and where they occur in the horizontal layer (5) the gas transporting pipes (7) are arrayed below the fluid transporting pipes (6). The vertical (10) and horizontal (5) regions pipe systems are independent. The waste unit has a temporary cover (13).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is carried out on site and produces composted inert end products. In comparison with the main alternative of incineration there are no dangerous air emissions.
Solid waste recovery system which separates refuse into non-compostables, recyclables and compostables. The non-compostables are further separated into recyclable organics which may be resalable or suitable for landfill and non-compostable organics which are separated into hospital and clinical wastes to be incinerated and petroleum products to be incinerated, sent to a landfill, recycled or disposed of as hazardous waste.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides a solid waste recovery system which is efficient and economic in operation and requires only minimal labour. Processed solid waste is recaptured after separation and resold as baled paper and cardboard, plastics and glass containers and metals. Non-recyclable waste is processed into fine particles to be sold as fluff or compost fertiliser.
A water-contg. coal seam is treated to enhance dewatering and facilitate gas prodn. by (a) introducing a treating fluid (I) through a well bore into contact with the seam; (I) including an additive comprising at least one of (i) benzyl coco di-(hydroxylether) quat. amine; (ii) p-t-amyl-phenol condensed with formaldehyde; or (iii) a copolymer comprising 80-100% 1-30C alkyl methacrylate monomers and 0-20% hydrophilic monomers; and (b) pumping water from the seam through the wellbore, initiating prodn. of gas; flow of water exceeds that produced under similar conditions in absence of treatment with (I).    Fracturing a coal seam to enhance prodn. of methane comprises (a') injecting fluid (I) as defined above under conditions to fracture the seam; the additive contacts at least a portion of the coal face and causes fines to be retained in the fractures on prodn. of fluid therefrom; and (b') producing fluid from the fracture; the fluid includes at least a portion of (I), and subsequently methane.    The additive is pref. 0.05-3.0 wt.% of (I). (I) may additionally contain 0.04-1.0 wt.% dimethyloctylamine. The additive is e.g. a copolymer comprising 90-99.5% ethylhexylacrylate and 0.5-10% acrylic acid, opt. admixed with dimethyloctylamine. When (I) is used as a fracturing fluid, it may contain a propping agent
This methane tank has chambers (4,5,6,7) positioned sequentially in the vertical direction, partitions in the form of corrugated conical bottoms (9,13) mounted and sloping from the centre to the periphery and with an annular clearance w.r.t. housing (1). The bubbler (21) is like a radial comb and the radiating elements of bubbler (21) are in the depressions of corrugated bottoms (9,13).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   May be applied in bioplants, cattle-breeding complexes and in sewage water stations and relates to the biochemical anaerobic purificn. of sewage water. The aims are to increase the effectiveness and reliability of methane tank operation and reduce the metal costs used in its construction. Bul.38/15.10.92
The dryer comprises two concentric multi-section conical rotary drums. The manure is fed into the inner drum and dried by a countercurrent stream of hot gas. The manure passes in the opposite direction through the annular space between the drums before discharge. The manure is fed by the screw feeder into the inner drum (10), into which hot gas is fed from the furnace (3). The external drum is supported on the rollers (14). The surface of the inner drum is perforated with 3-7 mm dia. holes, the max. size of the holes being at the furnace end. The drums are assembled in three sections, each formed from equilateral triangular and isoceles triangular plates. The screw lines of the drums have opposite hands, set against the direction of flow of the manure. The feed screw comprises large and small dia. spirals. The large spiral has a length of 1.25 pitches and a dia. of 1.5 times the dia. of the small spiral/    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced fuel consumption and improved efficiency. Bul.37/7.10.92
A refrigerant compsn. comprises R134a (tetrafluoroethane) and a non-flammable proportion of propane, propylene or isobutane.    Also claimed are a method of conducting vapour-compression refrigeration comprising compressing and expanding the above refrigerant, and a refrigeration apparatus that uses the above compsn. as the refrigerant.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to replace R12(CCl2F2) or R134a. The compsn. can be used with ordinary lubricants, and the presence of propane improves the performance characteristics below 0 deg. C. R218 has fire extinguishing properties, and further improves the low temp. performance. The compsn. is chlorine-free and has no ozone-depletion potential on release
Treatment of organic waste material comprising manure and opt. other orgnaic materials is effected by: (i) separating the material into a soluble fraction A and an insoluble fraction B contg. organic N cpds.; (ii) sterilising or pasteurising fraction B and subjecting it to anaerobic fermantation so that fraction B is at least partly solubilised to form a fraction C having an increased soluble N content and a reduced insoluble N content; and (iii) separating fraction C into a soluble fraction D and an insoluble fraction E.    Also claimed is a fertiliser or fertiliser intermeidate comprising any useful ratio of N, P and K cpds. produced by combining different fractions formed by fractionating organic waste material which comprises manure and opt. other organic materials.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process may be used to produce fertilisers, feed additives, amine acids, etc. Degradatio nof complex organic mols. is limited to formation of soluble cpds. such as orgnaic acids and amino acids, reducing the amt. of `chemical energy' lost as simple mols. such as NH3 and CO2
Prepn. comprises partially oxidising methane or natural gas with oxygen using shellfish or shells as a cat. at 500-1000 deg. C.    Shellfish or shells are pref. corbiculas, clams or scallops.    In an example, corbiculas were dried at 120 deg. C and then baked at 900 deg. C for 10 hrs. The catalyst (10g) was packed in a reaction tube and a methane/oxygen mixt. (9:1) was passed through (100ml/min) at 750 deg. C (% conversion = CH4(14.8) and O2 (94.8), % selectivity = C2+ (85.2)).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in the prepn. of methane and ethylene from methane, giving improved conversion ratio of methane and selectivity of C2 hydrocarbon i.e. the catalyst activity and selectivity are higher.
To recover biogas from a rotting tank (2), the extracted gas vol. is controlled to maintain an inner gas pressure within the tank (2) which has a max. threshold value slightly above the ambient pressure. Also claimed is a rotting tank (2) with a gas suction extraction (4) for the developing biogas. A control (10) operates the suction system (4) to maintain the required inner gas pressure level.    Pref. the pressure threshold is 1 mbar over the ambient atmospheric pressure, and pref. 0.5 mbar. The difference in pressure between the ambient atmosphere and the interior of the rotting tank is less than 0.1 mbar and pref. less than 0.05 mbar. The tank inner pressure is constantly compared with the ambient pressure to control the biogas take-off rate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is for a rotting tank which is not hermetically sealed, for rotting organic waste. The operation recovers the developed biogas, without leakage, using a tank which does not have to be gas tight.
A feed mixt. for an anaerobic bioreactor is prepd. by feeding a liq. into a reactor to give a free liq. surface. A solid waste is fed to the reactor and introduced to the liq. at a point below its free surface.    Light and heavy rejectable materials are sepd. from the mixt. using an agitator in the reactor within the mixt. and by countercurrent washing directed towards the bottom of the reactor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method prepares a feed material suitable for anaerobic biological treatment from solid municipal waste and municipal sewage sludge. Unsuitable materials, e.g. stone, glass, metal, plastic and cork, are removed rendering the mixture more suitable for feeding to the anaerobic reactor
Waste prods. contg. propylene polymers are adapted for conversion to compost by exposure to high-energy ionising radiation in an O2-contg. atmosphere at a dosage sufficient to accelerate biodegradation of the propylene polymer(s).    Also claimed is a method for composting such waste prods. by treatment as above, followed by contact with microorganisms in the presence of sufficient moisture for microbial growth. Also claimed is a compost humus obtained by the above method.    USE -   The process may be applied to disposable sanitary absorbent prods., esp. used diapers
In a PSA adsorption process for the recovery of two gas prods. at high recovery and high purity from a feed gas stream contg. the prods., a first gas prod. is one or more, less strongly adsorbed components and a second gas prod. is one or more, strongly adsorbed components. The process comprises (a) introducing a feed gas stream at elevated pressure into one of several parallel adsorptive beds filled with adsorbents selective for strongly adsorbed components, so as to retain them and allow the less strongly adsorbed components to pass through the bed for recovery as the first gas product at high recovery and high purity; (b) terminating the introduction of the feed gas stream before the strongly adsorbed components break through the downstream end of the bed and depressurising the bed to about ambient pressure to remove the less strongly adsorbed components from the bed and recycling part of the depressurisation effluent to the feed gas stream; (c) evacuating the bed to a subambient pressure to recover the strongly adsorbed components as the second gas product at high recovery and high purity; and (d) repressurising the bed with one or more, less strongly adsorbed components to about the pressure of the feed gas stream, in which steps (a)-(d) are performed on the several beds to result in a continuous process.    The improvement to increase the energy efficiency of the process includes (e) a depressurisation effluent repressurisation step in which the bed is partially repressurised after step (c) and before step (d) with a last portion of the depressurisation effluent from one of the parallel beds presently undergoing step (b).    ADVANTAGe - Two prods. are recovered at high yield and high purity using the steps of adsorption, depressurisation, evacuation and repressurisation while using less power than any comparable process
A gas sepn. membrane comprises a miscible blend of at least 2 polymers comprising: (I) a first polymer selected from (a) polyimide materials contg. repeat units (I), (b) polyamide materials contg. repeat units (2), and (c) polyamide-imide materials contg. repeat units (3) or opt. comprising a mixt. of (a) and (b); Ar = 0-99% of any aromatic diamine moiety and 1-100% aromatic diamine moiety of formula (4) Ar' = gp.(5); X = direct bond or R'; R' = gp.(6) or (7), C(CF3)2, C(CH3)2, C(Z)2, SO2, Si(CH3)2, Si(Z)2, Si(Z)2-O-Si(Z)2 and/or CO; Z = H; 1-6C alkyl; 6-12C aromatic; or halogen such as F, Cl, Br or I; n = 0-4; R" = C(CF3)2, C(CH3)2, C(Z)2, SO2, Si(CH3)2, Si(Z)2, Si(Z)2-O-Si(Z)2, CO and/or gp.(8); R = gp. (9)-(12); R''' = C(CF3)2, C(CH3)2, C(Z)2, SO2 and/or CO; Ra = aromatic diacid moiety; Rb = aromatic moiety; and x,y,z = fractions and x+y+z = 1; and (II) a second polymer comprising a polyimide contg. repeat units (13): Ar" = gp.(14), Y = 1-6C alkyl; or 6-12C aromatic.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The membranes cast from polymer blends have superior gas permeability and selectivity and are partic. useful in sepn. processes involving H2, N2, CH4, CO, CO2 He and O2.
Device includes vessel body having groove at bottom portion, and gas diffuser arranged in the groove. Ventilation holes of gas diffuser are located under horizontal central line of gas diffuser.    ADVANTAGE -   Gas can be fed stably at low pressure loss irrespective of kind of compost.
Garbage is placed in upper face-opened box body in which fermentaion promoter is sprayed to inner bottom part. Box bodies into which classified garbages are placed are successively upwardly piled, and garbage is decomposed to organic fertiliser by fermentation.    ADVANTAGE -   Only box body in which garbage is decomposed to fertiliser by fermentation can be taken out.
The recovery system has equipment facilities spraying inhibitor of methane bacteria on land-filled garbage, a drainage system that is installed at the bottom of the land-filled garbage, a methane fermentation tank in which leachate is processed in anaerobic condition, a recovery system of methane that generates from the tank, and a system that return one part of the leachate to land-filled garbage.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for recovering methane from land-filled garbage, at the same time processing leachate with low cost. Conventionally methane that generates in landfill disposal site has not been recovered, besides leachate has been processed under aerobic condition with high energy cost. This method is able to utilize methane that generate from land-filled garbage as the energy source, and able to process the leachate without generating sludge
Organic materials such as garbage, waste water, and sludge are mixed with water holding agent, and their mixt. fermented at high temp. in aerobic atmosphere supplying it with air contg. high concn. of oxygen. (2) A fermentation tank is equipped with heat insulating wall, gas permeable bed, air supply system, gas vent, feeder of garbage or sludge, and drain system. Water holding agent on the bed is mixed with garbage, waste water, and sludge then air contg. high concn. of oxygen is supplied to the bed and their mixture is made to ferment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for fermenting garbage, waste water, and sludge at high temp. under aerobic condition. Conventionally fermentation of garbage has been used to produce compost, but in urban district produced compost is another source of waste. This method is able to decompose organic waste without producing compost.
(A) The carbon densification of methane comprises reacting a mixt. of methane and MgO to form Mg carbide and by-prod. gases including H2 and then hydrolysing the Mg carbide to form higher hydrocarbons.    (B) Methane conversion comprises (A) with further use of the H2 to generate electricity in a fuel cell, or of the by-prod. gases to generate electricity by combustion to drive a generator.    (C) Prodn. of benzene from 3C hydrocarbons, e.g., those obtd. in (A) involves reacting the hydrocarbons at temp. of at least 100 deg.C in contact with dehydrocyclisation catalysts with metallic sites for catalysing dehydrogenation and acid sites for catalysing isomerisation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cost-effective process for readily converting methane into hydrocarbon prods. useful as fuels or for prodn. of e.g., benzene with H2 and other by-prod. gases utilised in electricity generation
Appts. comprises a deodorising column charged with an adsorption deodorising medium, air hose connected between an air intake port of the deodorising column and aerating tank.    USE -   Used for treating garbage at home.
Appts. comprises an air blowing structure to forcibly feed air into a chamber formed in the bottom of a floor board, through a deposite bed of garbage in a tubular fermenting tank, thereby exhausting gas from the bed.    USE -   For treating garbage at home.
The furnace comprises a casing having a loading port with cover and a take-out port with cover at outside and an agitator inside. A hot air generating chamber has burners for heating inside air and an ejection port for blowing in hot air into the casing. A blower discharges dust in the casing with air and a cyclone separator separates the discharged dust and air.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The furnace is used to treat crude refuse quickly by direct heating and agitation and fermentation bacteria extinct by high temp. to ceas fermentation. Then fermented refuse is dried at high temp. It can process much faster than the conventional system heating indirectly and at low cost.
The cooling medium compsn. contains an azeotropic or azeotrope-like mixt. of at least two cpds. of perfluoropropane, chlorodifluoromethane and propane.    Binary compsns. pref. consisting of CHF2Cl and C3F8 at a mol fraction ratio of 0.62:0.38, C3F8 and C3H8 at 0.47:0.53 and CHF2Cl and C3F8 at 0.43:0.57 and a trinary compsns. consisting of CHF2Cl, C3F8 and C3H8 at 0.38:0.32:0.30 and all opt. contg. 1-10 wt.% of a liq. auxiliary accelerating the return of the system lubricant to the compressor such as methylene chloride, propane and butane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cooling medium compsns. have cooling ability comparable with that of the conventional cooling medium and never deplete ozone in the atmosphere and are useful for compression cycle type heat transfer devices, esp. biomedical refrigerator
The cooling medium compsn. comprises that the cooling medium compsn. contains a mixt. of at least two cpds. of perfluoroethane, ethane and trifluoromethane.    The compsn. pref. has a b.pt. within 2 deg.C of the azeotropic point or is essentially azeotropic. Binary compsns. consisting of CHF3 and C2F6 at a mol fraction ratio of 0.56:0.44, CHF3 and C2H6 at 0.37:0.63 and C2F6 and C2H6 at 0.27:0.73 and a tertiary compsn. consisting of CHF3, C2F6 and C2H6 at 0.27:0.19:0.54 and all opt. contg. 1-10 wt.% of a liq. auxiliary accelerating the return of the system lubricant to the compressor such as methylene chloride, propane and butane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cooling medium compsns. do not damage atmos. ozone and are useful for compression cycle type heat transfer devices, esp. biomedical refrigerator
Cooling comprises transferring the heat from the exhaust to the feed-air through an air-air heat exchanger (2). A liq., pref. water, is fed to the heat exchanger at the side (6) of the feed. Condensn. is pref. passed into the feed side (6) of the heat exchanger (2), collected from the outlet side (18) and/or other sections of the assembly. Before the condensn. is returned to the feed side (6) of the heat exchanger (2), it is pref. treated to remove any residual heat. The condensn. is returned to the exchanger as a spray, or as a film spread on the heat exchanger surfaces (23). Before the exhaust air from the heat exchanger (2) is released into the atmos., it is mixed with air from the atmos. and/or air from the heat exchanger (2), and any condensn. is collected for return to the feed side (6) of the heat exchanger (2). The air-air heat exchanger (2) has a plate (23) of solid material as the heat exchange surface. The heat is transferred in a heat-carrying medium.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is used in the composting of organic waste, where fresh air is fed in to assist the rotting process. The operation increases the capacity of the air-air heat exchanger to improve the composting process and the efficiency of the composting assembly.
Water floatable beads of equiv. dia. less than 2 mm have an exterior surface at least partially coated with a material which, under illumination and in the presence of air, is capable of accelerating the oxidn. of organic cpds. floating on water. The beads are capable of aggregating the organic cpds.    Treating an oil film floating on a body of water comprises dispersing water floatable particles on the oil film, allowing the particles to aggregate and be exposed to solar illumination and ambient air such that the particles accelerate the oxidn. of the organic cpds. in the oil film. Prodn. involves mixing an organosilicate with the beads, adding the coating material to the mixt. and heating the mixt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Environmentally safe and beneficial method for aggregating
Conversion of lower alkanes (I) to a higher mol. wt. hydrocarbon(s) comprises contacting a feed of (I) with an intimately mixed halogen-contg. mixed oxide material (II) at oxidative coupling reaction conditions in the presence of O2. (II) comprises the following: (a) at least one cationic species of a naturally occurring Gp. IIIB element, (b) at least one cationic species of a Gp. IIA metal which is Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba and (c) at least one additional metal cationic species of Ge and/or Ga.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The stable catalyst has high activity and selectivity in the oxidative conversion of hydrocarbons esp. in conversion of syngas
An appts. composts municipal refuse causing biological decomposition. It consists of a rotating drum inclined from an upper inlet to a lower outlet end. The refuse is supplied to the drum inlet from a chamber containing a charge of the refuse via a pipe, one end of which is connected to the chamber and the other extending into and beyond the inlet end of the drum. The refuse is selectively forced through the pipe. The end of the pipe in the drum is connected to facilitate rotation of the drum with respect to the pipe, and to prevent discharge of the refuse between the pipe and drum. The connector includes a cylindrical collar slidable on the pipe in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the drum.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. co-composts municipal refuse and sewage sludge to convert the organics to a useful soil additive having a nitrogen, potassium and phosphate content. Non-biodegradable components are separated from the composted material. The appts. also provides a uniform, continuous flow of refuse from the inlet to the discharge ends of the drum, and results in an efficient biological decomposition
Nitrogen oxide in combustion exhaust gas is reduced and purified by hydrocarbon by using selective reducing catalyst in the presence of O2. The selective reducing catalyst layer is divided into at least two, in flowing direction of exhaust gas. At least 3C alkane or at least 2C alkene, as the selective reducing agent, is charged into the front flow side of each the catalyst layer. The selective reducing catalyst is alumina, zeolite, silicate, or these carrying at least one of Ca, Co, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, or AG.    Pref. the catalyst is zeolite carrying 0.5 - 5 wt.% Cu.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   NOx in combustion exhaust gas can be purified by hydrocarbon, effectively. Hydrocarbon concn. is made low, and unused hydrocarbon amt. can be decreased. Denitration efficiency can be improved.
To rot compost, gathered into a clamp (1), fresh air is passed over the side surfaces of the compost clamp (1), and exhaust air is extracted from the upper end of the clamp by suction.    Also claimed is an assembly with a covering hood (2) shrouding the spread compost in a clamp (1).    The exhaust air is pref. extracted by suction, or is thermally expelled and extracted through a fan (5) which generates an underpressure. The fresh air is delivered to the base of the clamp (1). The clamp (1) is covered by a shrouding (2). The exhaust air is passed through a biofilter (8) and/or a washer to deodorise it.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is for further rotting of degradable material, especially from housing estates, after it has been through an intensive rotting phase. The material is processed with a reduced air consumption.
The catalyst consists of palladium and alumina and modifying additive in form of barium oxide, and it contains (in wt.%): palladium 0.005-0.05, barium oxide 0.5-1.0 and balance gamma-aluminium oxide. The catalyst is prepd. by mixing gamma-alumina, of specific surface 185 +/- 2.7 sq.m/g, calcined at 600 deg.C for 3 hrs, with equal vol. of aq. soln. of Ba(NO3)2, leaving mixt. for 12 hrs., then evaporating water, drying air-dry prod. for 3 hrs. at 120 deg.C and calcining at 800-850 deg.C for 5 hrs. Obtd. support is treated with aq. soln. of PdCl2 and dried, first on water bath and then at 120 deg.C for 3 hrs. The catalyst is reduced in hydrogenation reactor, further used for hydrogenation of acetylene admixtures.    Tests show that proposed catalyst, compared to the known one, has activity increased by 10 times and ensures full hydrogenation of acetylene admixtures, which cannot be achieved using the known industrial catalyst. Removal of acetylene is achieved at lower temp. (70 deg.C compared to 110 deg.C for the known catalyst), higher vol. rate of supply of gas and reduced content of palladium (0.005-0.05 against 0.01-0.08 wt.%).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As catalyst for gas-phase purificn. of ethane-ethylene fraction contg. admixtures of acetylene. Catalyst has improved activity. Bul.34/15.9.9
Active fermenting agent is prepd. by (a) fermenting Bacillus subtilis KFCC 32835, Bacillus stearothermophilus KFCC 11777, Aspergillus niger KFCC 35076, Aspergillus oryzae KFCC 35085 and Clostridium thermocullum KFCC 11397 in a complete medium contg. 1-2% mixt. of NaCl and urea (mixing ratio = 1:1), (b) drying the fermented broth and pulverising, and (c) mixing 1kg obtd. powder with 100kg rice bran, barley bran, etc., to obtain the final prod.    USE -   The fermenting agent is useful for the decomposition of excrement of domestic animals.
Biological waste and/or compost in trench-like continuous reactors (1) is transferred or conveyed away by a chain scraper conveyor (0) mounted on a carriage (10) for driving forwards and backwards, the carriage being mounted on a car (11) which moves along the reactors. The chain scraper is driven to remove the top layer of the compost and transport it upwards on the upper strand of the conveyor. If this is overloaded, a lifting cable (13) raises the conveyor for a short period.    ADVANTAGE -   Allows operation with compacted material.
Sewage sludge is processed by contacting with methyldithiocarbamic acid (I) or one of its salts. Compost is produced by the process. The process produces compost from starting materials contg. significant amounts of human or animal excrement.    (I) is used as the Na salt (metham-sodium). The sludge is mixed with the (I) or salt before or shortly after it is introduced into a drying bed and while it still has moisture content of at least 85%. The sludge is pumped into the drying bed and (I) or its salt is dosed at a predetermined rate at the same time.    In an example, raw sewage was pre-treated by screening, aeration, settling and removal of supernatant liq. The sludge of 85-95% moisture content was then pumped into conventional drying beds. Metham-sodium (Herbifume: RTM) was pumped in at 500 ml/m3 at the same time. The sludge was then allowed to dry normally and after 14-21 days was ready for use as compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process treats sewage sludge (claimed) or manure (claimed), e.g. chicken manure. It is effective, safe, relatively inexpensive and significantly reduces the viable pathogens in the end product. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9328 based on complete specification
Composting bin is supplied with air at controlled temp. from a blower controlled by a sensor responsive to compost temp. Above the bin base wall is a bladder for agitating compost above it when inflated by compressed air, the bladder pref. being operated by the blower selectively, and opt. being permeable.    Specifically, a bin lid is vented, and the bin is part of a mobile truck on wheels. Pref. vented air is deodorised.    USE -   Used for compositing organic domestic or industrial waste for safe disposal
High yield cyclic siloxane prodn. comprises gradually mixing a functional alkylsilane with a well-blended biphasic reaction solvent mixt. contg. 40-75 vol.% of an alkane, 15-50 vol.% of an alcohol and 2-10 vol.% water at 0-30 deg.C.    Pref. the alkylsilane is of formula (I): R = 1-5C alkyl, pref. Me; R' = 1-5C alkyl or alkenyl, or pref. H; X and X' = halogen, pref. Br, I or esp. Cl; or alkoxy, pref. methoxy or ethoxy. The alkylsilane is esp. dichloromethyl silane. The alkane is 5-20C aliphatic, pref. pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, decane, undecane or dodecane; the alcohol is 1-20 C, pref. MeOH, EtOH, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, sec.-butanol, tert.-butanol, n-pentanol, tert.-pentanol, neopentanol or n-hexanol.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is esp. for prodn. of hydromethylcyclosiloxane. Cyclic siloxanes are produced in high yield, e.g. up to 100%, with low energy consumption in mixts. having a narrow range of mol. wt. distribution. The process is readily modified for the prodn. of high concns. of linear siloxanes.    .D
The apparatus comprises a furnace which receives wood and has an outlet for charcoal. A grinding mill receives waste sludge and outputs ground sludge. A cyclone separator is interconnected by pipework with the furnace and grinding mill where hot furnace gases are used to dry the sludge. A blower connected to the gas outlet of the cyclone separator moves the hot furnace gases through the grinding mill. A conveyor moves the ground waste sludge between the cyclone separator and furnace and a conveyor removes the charcoal from the furnace.    ADVANTAGE -   Normal waste material produced by the paper industry can be converted into a useful product rather than disposed of in landfill.
The catalyst is a double oxide of iron oxide and chromium oxide prepd. from ferrous salt and bichromate. The double oxide is prepd. through a pptn. step using an alkaline precipitator and an ageing step. No oxidn. step is involved in the prepn..    A method of producing H2 using the new catalyst is also claimed, where CO and water vapour are reacted in a lower H2O/CO mol. ratio of up to 3.5. A new prodn. of town gas is also claimed, where CO concn. in town gas is reduced by reacting CO and steam in the presence of the new catalyst.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in NH3 or town gas prodn. where CO and steam are reacted to produced H2 or to reduce CO concn.. The new catalyst provides higher activity even at lower temps..    In an example, a catalyst consisting of 91.37 wt.% Fe2O3 and 8.63 wt.% Cr2O3 was used to remove CO from a gas contg. 11.5% CO, 23.1% H2O and 65.4% H2. 46.2% CO was removed at 300 deg.C, 67.2% at 350 deg.C, 63.8% at 400 deg.C, and 58.8% at 450 deg.C
A waste timber feed section is connected to the feed opening of the drum of dry distillation furnace, and a carbonised matter discharge section is connected to the exhaust opening, and an exhausting amt. adjusting means including a stopping plate and a drive is provided for the section.    ADVANTAGE -   Suitable adjustment for exhausting rate of the carbonised matter is obtd
Fertiliser prodn. system comprises aerobically fermenting organic wastes mixed with chemical fertilisers to produce a fertiliser, contacting hot air with the fertiliser and mixing with organic materials and inorganic materials.    USE -   For utilising organic industrial wastes for growing lawns.
The process comprises aerobically fermenting organic wastes mixed with chemical fertilisers, contacting fertiliser with hot air, and forming it into pellets, using a pellet mill.    USE -   Utilisation of organic industrial waste for use as lawn fertilisers.
Prodn. comprises adding specified amt. of chemical fertilisers to organic wastes, stirring and mixing them and aerobically fermenting the mixt. into a fertiliser during stirring.    USE -   For growing lawns on golf courses
Carbon dioxide and hydrogen are simultaneously supplied to a reaction furnace in which ferrite is incorporated and kept at a temp. between 300 and 400 deg.C, so that the carbon dioxide is reduced to carbon.    Alternatively, carbon dioxide and hydrogen are simultaneously supplied to a reaction furnace in which ferrite is incorporated and kept at 300 to 400 deg.C. The temp. of the ferrite layer in the reaction furnace is increased to over 600 deg.C, and the supply of the carbon dioxide to the reaction furnace is stopped while hydrogen is continued to be supplied to convert the carbon into methane (these steps are repeated).    Appts. comprises a reaction furnace in which ferrite is filled and the temp. is switched from a low level around 300 - 400 deg.C to a high level of more than 600 deg.C, a hydrogen supplying pipe, a carbon dioxide supplying pipe, a valve attached to the carbon dioxide supplying pipe, and a controlling device to operate the valve so that the temp. in the reaction furnace is low (300 - 400 deg.C) the carbon dioxide gas is supplied and when it is high (at least 600 deg.C) the supply of the carbon dioxide is stopped.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon is carried out with a relatively low temp. and high reaction efficiency. The conversion of the carbon dioxide to methane is carried out at a relatively low temp. and with high reaction efficiency and the lowering of the performance caused by the deposition of a solid prod. is prevented
Structure comprises a base made from refractories and a metal case provided on the outer surface with a sealing layer being incorporated therebetween. A sealing material added with a foaming material which thermally expands at the thermal curing of the sealing material is used for the sealing layer.    Pref. sealing material comprises a fine powder of alumina- or silica-refractories, added with 10-70 wt.% of an inorganic binder such as an alkali metal silicate, the foaming material pref. is isobutane encapsulated in a vinylidene chloride/acrylonitrile copolymer. The capsules pref. are added at an amt. of 0.5 - 3 wt.% w.r.t. the blend.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use in gas blowing, esp. a bubbling nozzle to be installed in the bottom part of a steel-melting vessel
Method comprises (a) dehydrating a microorganism which is obtd. by culture or from nature, at below 70 deg. C, (b) drying it as it is to moisture content below 85% and (c) contacting the prepd. fixed microorganism with substrate.    Method is suitable for treating the activated sludge contg. aerobic or anaerobic microbes. The water in the space between microbial bodies is completely dried and the high molecules which are formed during culture and present on the surface of microbial bodies, serve as the binder. After drying, fixed microbial bodies are crushed to granular size 1-5 mm after swelling.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Microorganism (mixts.), activated sludge, etc. can be fixed without using expensive retaining agent and being adhesion-fixed mutually, microbial bodies are never sepd. even when they are swelled by absorbing water. Fixed microbes show higher microbial density than conventional fixed microbe and by using it for treating waste water, waste water or high BOD can be easily treate
Destruction of the cellular structure of suspensins of microoganisms is carried out using ultrasound esp. on sludge from biological clarification plants. The contents of the cells are bought ino true or colloidal soln..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The released cell contents act as proton donors within the biological clarification plant in the dentrification. The remaining sludge is more easily dewatered.
The compost appts., to process organic waste and esp. domestic and/or garden rubbish, has a ring zone between the cylindrical housing and an inner cylindrical drum with a smaller dia., and coaxial to the housing. The housing has a filling opening, covered from above, with an aligned entry opening at the drum, and the drum has outlet openings at the under side. The material for composting, within the ring zone, is carried by grinding and carrier blades or bars from the lower outlet opening to the upper inlet opening through a drive shaft with a rim gear and cogwheels.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is for conversion of household and garden organic waste into compost, with distribution of the organisms which break down the matter with aeration. The assembly decomposes the matter effectively in a continuous operation.
Composting bin has vented top inlet cover and bottom outlet hatch, and contains transverse apertured air supply tubes located at different heights and extending horizontally fully across the bin interior.    Material being composted is supported by the air tubes and flows past them in controlled manner. Pref. the tubes are oval and broader horizontally, and are upwardly convex, and the tubes assembly rests upon an annular support. Pref. air inlet and vent have control valves.    ADVANTAGE -   Material is composted uniformly.
Waste material composting appts. comprises a low rectangular silo contg. a bed of material and along which depending paired bladed rotary mixing shafts are movable by an overhead drive mechanism. Compost is fed into and removed from the silo through its ends. The shafts are spaced a little more or a little less than the combined lengths of the blades, which opt. interdigitate. Pref. air is supplied through the mixing shafts.    USE -   Composting sewage sludge.
Addn. of rhizotorphin and misorin as the N-fixing bacteria (I) and peat (II) to the mixt. for improving sandy and sandy-loamy soils, improves their properties. The mixture contains (in vol.%): clay 18-24, montmorillonite 6-12, vegetable waste 9.85-9.92, (I) 0.08-0.15 and balance (II) and is used to produce, at the level below the ploughing depth, a screen with variable water-retaining properties. Addn. of (I) and (II) helps to activate the microbiological processes within the soil.    ADVANTAGE -   Increased efficiency of process, greater yields of crops
The method is carried out by refuse sepn. using prim sorting screen (2) forming above and under screen prods. with fraction size larger and smaller than (200x250) plus or minus 50 mm, and simultaneous treatment in two stages. During the first stage the under screen prod. is supplied to a bio-drum (27) for compost formation, which is then screened to separate ballast larger than 45 plus or minus 5 mm, ferrous and non-ferrous metal scrap, polyethylene and glass, and is then crushed to a fraction size not larger than 20 mm and is then stored. The ballast which cannot be composted is supplied for pyrolysis or burning. During the second stage the metal scrap is removed from the above screen prod. by continuous or running magnetic fields, and is then sepd. according to morphological compsn., into ballast, food waste, textile, paper and polyethylene.    The textile, paper and polyethylene is mixed to form granular fuel by crushing to a size not greater than 60 mm. The output is increased since during primary sorting, the paper, polyethylene and textile material, larger than (100x100) + 5 mm is removed from the under screen prod. prior to supply to the bio-drum, and these are mixed with similar material removed from the above screen product and used for granular fuel formation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used for solid domestic refuse treatment. The compost formation is improved. Bul.30/15.8.92
An enzymatic reagent is prepared in two parallel reactors, mixed in a tank with water and other suitable chemicals to form a culture broth, and added to a heap of waste vegetable matter, pref. residues from oil seed plants, rice husks, seaweed, sawdust, cellulose sludge, sugar cane, or other vegetable residues. The heaps are fermented for 35-45 days at 60 deg.C maximum, leaving a compost which can be granulated and mixed with nutrients, micro-elements, etc. for use in agriculture. The process can also be used to generate biogas and hot water.
The reactor has simply formed connections to a ventilation system (1) and by stacking, all necessary connections are made available for air, measurement, electricity and water. The reactors are so stacked that their insulation is no longer necessary. A typical arrangement involves forty reactors (C) stacked four high with at the end of the stacked formation superimposed air filters, condensor (G), heat exchanger (F), and ventilators (E). Over the whole stacked formation runs a gantry crane (B) for handling purposes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The container composting system for organic waste does not require insulation to prevent reaction heat being emitted to the outside atmosphere.
Mfg. light oils involves catalytically liquefying a waste plastic at a high temp. and a high pressure under H2 atmosphere.    The reaction temp. and pressure are 25-500 deg.C and 10-300 atm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to hydrogenate plastic industrial wastes in the presence of economical Fe-S catalyst to give high quality light oils contg. less unsatd. hydrocarbons in a high yield easily and effectively with less heavier residue prodn. and catalytic deterioration. Because the reaction heat of the hydrogenation compensates heat for thermal decomposition of the material, the method is also thermally effective.    In an example, to a reactor at 450 deg.C and 170 atm, were fed 1.0 kg/hr. waste plastic, 0.012 kg/hr. FeS2 and 500 1/hr. H2 to give, with a retention time of 1.0 hr in a yield of 88.7%, a reaction prod. contg. 82% light oil with a b.pt. of below 220 deg.C consisting of 30.6% n-paraffin, 2.6% straight olefin and 66.8g of hydrocarbon isomers with 2-5C hydrocarbon gases of 12.8% and a heavy residue insoluble in n-hexane of 0.3% on the basis of the material plastic
In the prodn. of a solid substance from a waste material, waste is put in a selection device to remove plastics etc., then it is put in high performance compost mfg. plant or a methane fermentation plant, then resulting fermentation treated substance and/or the plastics etc. removed from the waste by the selecting device are put into a reaction plant and an alkaline earth metal oxide is added to it to carry out physical/chemical reaction rationally.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A solid substance which is useful as a material for construction/building fields or a clean fuel, can be produced from the fermentation treated substance obtd. by those processes and the sepd. plastics. The obtd. solid substance is stabilised physically, chemically and biologically.
Waste, e.g., city waste is put in a waste tank and crushed with a first crusher, or crushed with a first crusher then put in a waste tank, and crushed with a second crusher then introduced to a mixing storing reactor, then dried and solidified in a drying neutralisation reactor to produce a solid substance.    An alkaline earth metal oxide is added to the waste depending on the character of the waste. A powder material which provides adhesivity by water (or warm water) is added (the ratio of which is predetermined to the amt. of the alkaline earth metal oxide) to rationally carry out physical and chemical reaction treatment.    The ratio of the powder material which causes adhesivity by water (or warm water) to that of the alkaline earth is pref. 10-50% by wt..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Material is used in construction and building or for a clean fuel, produced from city wastes. The obtd. solid substance is stabilised physically, chemically and biologically and stored for a long time without smelling nor any danger of gas explosion, etc.
New methanation catalyst is made of Ti-alloy which contains 0.01-2.0 wt.% Ru and/or Rd and is treated with acid.    Ti-Alloy contg. Ru and/or Pd is treated with non-oxidative acid e.g. H2SO4 or HCl.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To promote methanation in chemical processes. The new catalyst is low cost, having a higher catalytic activity. The methanation reactor is made of the new catalyst alloy.    In an example, a Ti-alloy contg. 0.008 wt.% Ru and 0.008 wt.% Pd was rolled and treated with 10 % H2SO4 soln. at 70 deg.C for 10 min.. A mixt. of CO and 3H2 was treated with the resultant catalyst. The amt. of CH4 formed was measured to evaluate the activity.
The bin (10) has near the open bottom end an aperture (11) openable or closable by a movable cover (3) which pref. also has an aperture (20).    Pref. the bin (10) and cover (3) comprise rotational or injection moulded plastic, and are both frusto-conical and with lengthwise ribs (2) on the bin and a handle (22) for rotating the cover.    Prodn. involves cutting a long plastic moulding into bins, covers and lids.    ADVANTAGE -   Avoids dismantling for compost removal.
Organic waste treatment appts. for treating organic waste continually introduced, includes: a) a treatment chamber through which the organic waste material may pass in substantially plug flow; b) a compost outlet associated with the leading portion of the plug flow and through which treated material may be removed from the treatment chamber; c) an inlet through which organic waste material may be introduced into the treatment chamber to the trailing portion of the plug flow; d) aeration means for aerating waste material resident in treatment chamber and including an air permeable wall at least partially supporting the leading part of the plug flow.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides a composting toilet where there is no user contact with fresh waste. Also, easy recovery of pathogen-free garden fertiliser is provided.
Composting bin comprises a vented hollow regular polyhedron container consisting of facets of equilateral triangles. The container interior is accessible, pref. by an access door, and pref. the facets have air holes.    Pref. times project into the bin and agitate compost as the bin is rolled. Pref. the bin has 20 facets.    ADVANTAGE -   The bin is easily loaded and unloaded, and rolled.
Constant b.pt. compsn. comprises (by wt.) 67-75% CH2F2 (I) and 25-33% C3H8 (II). The compsn. has vapour pressure ca 309 psia at 25 deg.C.    Pref. compsn. comprises ca 70 wt.% (I) and 30 wt.% (II), and has b.pt. ca -15.3 deg.C/4832 torr. The compsn. may be condensed and then evapd. in the vicinity of a body to be cooled. Other fluorocarbons may be added to the (I)/(II) mixt. without changing the azeotropic-like character of the compsn. including CHClF2, and C2HF5.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. are useful as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents, expansion agents for polymers (e.g. for polyolefins and polyurethanes), and as power cycle working fluids. The compsns. are also useful in providing heat e.g. in heat pumps
Process comprises (A) dewatering aq. sewage sludge slurry contg. at least 3 wt.% solids to obtain a slurry contg. 10-50 wt.% solids; (B) heating and shearing the slurry at 175-200 deg.F in the absence of air for 3 sec. to 60 mins. at rotor/mixer speed 20-250 rpm, without hydrothermally modifying the sludge to yield a pumpable slurry of viscosity less than 2500 cpds. at 180 deg.F; (C) mixing at ambient temp. to 200 deg.F the sludge with a fuel to yield a pumpable slurry contg. 50-65 wt.% solids and having heating value 6000-18000 BTU/1b and further contg. 0.01-5.0 wt.% (of the sewage sludge) of ethyleneoxide-propylene oxide nionic copolymer of mol. wt. 5000-15000 introduced during (B) or (C); and (D) burning the slurry in a partial oxidn. gasifier, furnace boiler or incinerator to produce an effluent gas stream. The fuel in (C) is solid carbonaceous fuel contg. 77-10 wt.% solids, aq. slurry of carbonaceous fuel contg. 45-80 wt.% solids, or liq. hydrocarbonaceous material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Noxious or industrial sludge is disposed of without polluting the environment. Clean fuel gas or synthesis gas can be produced (used e.g. for methanol mfr. and harmless slag or ash which is not leachable and can be used for road making or cement block prodn. Energy consumption is reduced and e.g. steam may be generated to drive a turbine
Process comprises (A) dewatering aq. sewage sludge slurry contg. at least 3 wt.% solids to an aq. slurry contg. 5-20 wt.% solids; (B) pressing or centrifuging the slurry to solids content 28-50 wt.%; (C) heating the obtd. amorphous sludge in a closed vessel without air at 150-510 deg.F for 3 sec. to 60 mins. while shearing by a rotor or 3 sec. to 60 mins. while shearing by a rotor or mixer operating at 15-100 rpm to yield a pumpable slurry of viscosity 400-1500 cps. measured at 200 deg.F and heating value 5000-9500 BTU/1b, dry basis; and (D) burning the slurry in a partial oxidn. gasifier, furnace, boiler or incinerator to produce an effluent gas stream.    ADVANTAGE -   Noxious sewage or industrial sludge is disposed of without pollution and a clean fuel or synthesis gas (used for methanol mfr.) can be obtd. The slag from (D) is free of pollutants, nonhazard steam produced can be used to heat the sludge or drive a turbine
An air circulation system for drying sludge on a moving belt includes an air supply plenum on one side of the belt and an air return plenum on the other. The return plenum is spaced from the belt to provide ingress and egress for the belt between the plenums, and to form an air-receiving connection to atmosphere. Infra-red heaters are spaced from the belt to permit air circulation between them and the belt. They provide radiant heat to dry sludge on the belt with both radiant and convected heat.    An air circulation fan has an inlet in the return plenum, one outlet in the air supply plenum and a further outlet to atmosphere. Make-up air is received from the atmosphere.    Sludge (20) is placed on conveyor belt (18) at a station (14) and is removed after passage through a drying zone (16). Air is recirculated through the system from an air supply plenum (24) to a return plenum (26). A fan plenum (28) is pref. located below the return plenum (26) to draw air from plenum (26) and return it to plenum (24).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. cna be used to dry sludges from paint mfr., municipal waste, organic processes, breweries or other waste streams. A significant portion of heat energy is recycled to conserve energy. Air curtain seals prevent heated air, fumes or gases from escaping.
Wood powder and plural metal balls are directly preliminarily heated in preheating vessel with steam and/or high frequency waves. Wood powder is reacted with solvent to liquefy it in form of wood soln. by heating together with metal balls, while being stirred with stirring vanes. Then, wood soln. is cooled under vacuum in cooling vessel.    ADVANTAGE -   Wood powder can be continuously liquefied.
Compost vessel includes lower frame air intake opening opened above installation face, and large window opened above air intake opening; net body stretched over entire face of large window; and non-bottomed cylinder fitted to lower frame. Ventilation window is provided in cylinder body or lid fitted to upper portion of cylinder.    ADVANTAGE -   Garbage is dewatered above net body, and drying is promoted with air blown upwardly
Garbage is milled and transferred to collecting vessel where it is dewatered. Dewatered material is placed on soil heaped in compost vessel, and soil is taken out from lower portion. Dewatered material is sprayed on to form laminate in which soil and milled material are alternatively piled. Laminate is successively lowered, and milled material is decayed by fermentation.    ADVANTAGE -   Garbage can be converted to compost without being observed from outside
Detector has multiple IR emitters (11-16) operating at different wavelengths and optically coupled to at least one detector (17) via a cavity contg. a gas to be analysed, by way of optical fibres (7,8) which may constitute optical filters. The emitters (11-16) operate sequentially to give a corresponding sequential detector output characteristic of the gas.    Pref. a bundle of fibres is provided with one for each emitter and one for the (or each) detector. The fibres are pref. of fluoride glass. At least three emitters are used operating in the 1.7-5 micron range and are pref. all n- or all p-type crossed band gap alignment semiconductor diodes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In detection of CO, Co2, H2S, CH4, NOx etc. Detector is simpler and lower cost than prior art detectors; use of fibre optics allows remote positioning of emitters and detectors.
Prodn. of low-boiling hydrocarbon oil is effected by thermally decomposing waste plastics and cracking the resulting vapour prod. in contact with a solid acid catalyst and HCl.    Also claimed is a process as above in which the waste plastics are also premixed with solid acid catalyst and HCl.    Appts. for the process comprises means for supplying pulverised waste plastics; a reactor divided into thermal and catalytic decomposition zones; a cooler for condensing the oil in the vapour prod.; a gas-liq. separator for sepg. the oil from product gas; and a heater for burning the prod. gas and supplying heated gas to the reactor.    Thermal decomposition is pref. effected at 250-450 deg.C.. Catalytic decomposition (cracking) is effected at 250-450 deg.C in the non-premix process or at 120-250 deg.C in the premix process. The catalyst is AlCl3, FeCl3, SnCl4 or ZnCl2.    ADVANTAGE -   High oil yields (e.g. 45-95% of oil contg. 4-14C hydrocarbons) is obtd. from Cl-contg. plastics (supplying the HCl)
To convert spent grapes into a usable prod., esp. as a fertiliser, soil improver, as a raw material for oil recovery from where the spent grapes are converted biologically by rotting, the spent grapes are moved at least once by a screw conveyor to be broken down into stalks, seeds and skins by the shearing and milling action. At the same time, with temp., the material is loosely and intensively mixed into homogeneous material.    Also claimed is an assembly with a screw conveyor (F) for the spent grapes (T), together with a conveyor and processing channel (8) and a powered conveyor and processing screw (7).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system converts spent grape material rapidly and economically into a useful byproduct.
Refrigerant compsns. contg. 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) (I), pentafluoroethane (HFC-125) (II) and one of 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a) (III), propane (IV) or trifluoromethane (HFC-23) (V) having a vapour pressure of 12.2-18.4 psia at -40 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For heating and cooling applications and for air-conditioning. The compsns. are replacements for chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants, e.g. monochlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) suspected of damaging the earth's ozone layer. The compsns. have zero ozone depletion potential; are a good match for the capacity of HCFC-22; and have higher critical temps. than HCFC-22, giving improved energy efficiency, esp. at higher condensing temps
Refrigerant compsns. contain difluoromethane (HFC-32) (I), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) (II) and one of 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a) (III), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a) (IV), propane (V) or dimethyl ether (VI), having a vapour pressure of 12.2-18.4 psia at -40 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For heating and cooling applications and for air-conditioning. The compsns. are replacements for chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants, e.g. monochlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) suspected of damaging the earth's ozone layer. The compsns. have zero ozone depletion potential; are a good match for the capacity of HCFC-22; and have higher critical temps. than HCFC-22, giving improved energy efficiency, esp. at higher condensing temps.; temp. glide does not exceed 11 deg.F; and discharge temps. are lower than with HCFC-22, giving improved compressor reliability
Alkylation of alkanes, comprising contacting at least one 2-7C alkane and at least one 2-7C alkene with a catalyst compsn. contg. trifluoromethanesulphonic acid and a solid material contg. boron phosphate, to produce at least one alkane having at least two more carbon atoms than the feed alkane.    The wt. ratio of trifluoromethane sulphonic acid to boron phosphate is 0.02-0.4:1 and the solid material opt. contains 0.5-80 wt.% silica and boron sulphate.    The feed alkane is pref. 4-6C and the alkene is pref. 3-5C. The molar ratio of alkane to alkene in the feed is 6-12:1 at -10 deg.C (pref. 0-30 deg.C), an LHSV of 0.5-3 cc of alkane/alkene/cc of catalyst/hour and 2-6 atmos.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is esp. useful for reaction of isobutane or isopentane (2-methylbutane) with butene-2 (claimed), to produce mixts. contg. greater than 71% 8C prods. and having alkylate octane numbers of greater than 94. Olefin conversions of up to 100% are obtdW
Prodn. of a dry, sulphur-free, methane-enriched synthesis gas or a fuel gas stream comprises:    (1) cooling a particulate-free raw synthesis or fuel gas feedstream comprising H2, CO, CO2, H2O, N2, H2S, COS and with or without methane to 60-130 deg.F and sepg. out at least a portion of water condensate;    (2) mixing together the cooled raw synthesis or fuel gas from (1) and a portion of cryogenic liquefied natural gas, thereby further cooling the synthesis or fuel gas to -75 to 60 deg.F;    (3) directly contacting the mixt. from (2) in an acid-gas removal zone with liq. acid-gas absorbent solvent, absorbing sulphur-contg. cpds., water and at least a portion of the CO2, and thereby producing acid-gas rich liq. absorbent solvent contg. dissolved water and a dry stream of methane-enriched synthesis or fuel gas;    (4) sepg. the acid-gas rich liq. absorbent from the dry stream of methane-enriched synthesis or fuel gas comprising H2, CO, CH4 and substantially no sulphur-contg. gas or moisture;    (5) regenerating the sepd. acid-gas rich liq. absorbent solvent to remove the sulphur-contg. gas and the dissolved water; and    (6) introducing regenerated liq. acid-gas absorbent solvent into the acid-gas removal zone.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides improved, continuous process for the prodn. of dry, sulphur-free, methane-enriched synthesis gas for the catalytic synthesis of organic chemicals or fuel gas. The novel process does not involve costly catalytic methanation, steam prodn. or drying steps. The prod. gas contains 10-80 mole% methane and has a net heating value of 200-780 BTU per SCF
The device contains a basic accumulation column (1), additional columns (2-3), heating unit (4), cooling unit (5), reactors (6-7), delay column (8), switching unit with throttle (9), valves (10-15), detector (16) of thermal conductivity, gas counter (17), input pipe (18), and displacement mechanism with electromotor (19). The columns are in the form of coil pipes mounted one above another; inside gas flow is from lower to upper column, and in each column from upper to lower windings. The columns are connected to mechanism with electromotor that can translate them from cooling to heating zone and vice versa. The columns are filled with sorbent based on nickel and chromium oxides.    In the initial position, the columns (1-3) are in the heating unit, and gas-carrier is blown through at 5-10 cm/min. and released into atmosphere. Then the columns are transferred into the cooling unit (cryostat), and the test gas is fed to column (1) where heavy admixtures (water, nitrogen, carbon oxide and dioxide) are captured. Admixtures of oxygen and hydrocarbons go through to reactor (6) where carbon dioxide is formed and concentrated in column (2). Admixture of methane is converted into carbon dioxide at 330 deg.C in reactor (7) and conc. in column (3). Admixtures can be determined at the level of 10 power minus 6 vol.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In electronics industry for the control of purity of gases. The sensitivity of determn. is increased. Bul.30/15.8.92
To methane ferment organic waste water by using a reaction tank having a fixed bed packed with inorganic supports and placed at the central portion of the tank such that acid fermenting part and methane fermenting part are formed respectively in the lower parts and in the upper parts of the tank, an inlet of the waste water and outlet of treated water are installed respectively on the bottom of the tank and at the top fo the tank. The fixed bed is periodically washed and waste sludge is discharged from at least one portion of the tank.    Waste water stored in a storing tank is fed by a pump from an inlet of waste water on the bottom of the reaction tank. At the central portion of the tank, the fixed bed is placed, and the acid fermenting part and the methane fermenting part are formed respectively below and above it. In the acid fermentating part, proteins and carbohydrates are decomposed to CH3COOH and C2H5COOH, which are decomposed to CH4 and CO2 in the methane fermenting part. The tank is washed for 5-10 mins. by gas generating in the methane fermenting part, stored in a gas holder and supplied from an air scattering pipe by a blower, 1-2 times per week and then the tank is washed with treated water stored in a tank and supplied from a collecting pipe by a pump. Waste sludge is periodically taken out from the acid fermenting part and the methane fermenting part by opening valves.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Organic waste water from food industry or pulp making industry is treated. Stopping up of the supports is prevented and so waste water is treated at high load.
Decomposition and/or composting oils, inclusive of aromatic, carcinogenic oils, found in oil sludges and/or in, soils is achieved by admixture of solid, microorganisms contg., preparations. Oil contg. effluent and active sludges already possess nitrifying and cellulose-decomposing bacteria, but lack actinomyces for humification. Owing to their source, the existing bacteria are preadapted to their task, but their performance has to be optimised by establishing the best working conditons, as temp. oxygen supply, pH and moisture content. Solid prepn. serving this purpose contains: (all pts.wt.): a) 400-1000 active sludge obtd. from oily water purificn. 2-10 ground or pptd. calcium-carbonate and/or 2-10 clay mineral (bentonite). The homogenised mixt. a) is allowed to settle in an agitated conical sedimentor or is centrifuged, for sepn. of solids, dried with atomisation by blowing 50-60 deg.C air through, and finally, granulated. or b), concentrate a) may also contain added carrier, and sources of N and P (all pts.wt.) i.e. 400-1000 active sludge, 2-10 calcium-carbonate and/or bentonite, and 100-500 peat, starch of perlite carrier. This mixt. is paste-dried at 50-60 deg.C, 5-10 yeast extract and an inorganic N and/or P source is added, prior to granulating. P source is pref. mono-sodium phosphate; or the following mixt. is prepd.: c) peat sand or perlite is added to oil sludges and pref. a reed-straw anti-compacting agent, too; pref. in 1:1:0.1 wt. ratio. Nitrogen source and buffer, pref. beet-potash is added, followed by addn. of 0.5-3 pts.wt. active sludge contg. mixt. A) (based on the total of other components of C). (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9326 based on complete specification)
Meat industry effluents contain fats and easily decomposable organic materials. After treatment a solid phase is obtd. for composting and a liq. phase to be entered in the drainage system. Following settling, the supernatant is passed through (a normally vertical) filter bed.    The bed is stratified comprising two outer 10-20 cm. thick outer layers and a central layer contg. (all pts.wt.) an adsorbing mixt. of 1-7 peat; 10-20 alginate; 10-20 bran ex. furfural prodn.. On 100 pts.wt. of this mixt. 10-15 pts.wt. of litter manure are well dispersed. The manure is 'ripened' for not longer than 4 months.    Exhausted filter beds are exchanged for new ones and homogenised with straw amd peat to reach a C:N = 30:1 ratio, and composted. Following vacuum filtration and biological treatment the liq. phase is allowed to enter the drainage system. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9322 based on complete specification)
Assembly has a cylindrical or conical filling and pre-rotting section (2), tapering slightly downwards, followed by a conical further rotting and retention section (4), tapering downwards, with a material retention system (6). The compost prepn. section (5), at the bottom, has a sieve grid (11).    A prepn. system (8) with a rake (9) and cutting disc (10) is pref. above the grid (11). The rake (9) has a rounded, sawtooth or notched upper working surface. The grid (11) has straps across the movement of the cutting disc (10), with an opening width of 5-40mm. The grid (11) can be inserted from outside, and is exchangeable. The material retention unit (6) can also be removed from outside the unit, and exchanged. The assembly has at least one easily removed lower side wall (14) and/or at least one easily removed upper side wall (15).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is for the conversion of sepd. organic matter, free of hazardous material, into humus with mixing to give a suitable C/N ratio under suitable conditions of temp., moisture, pH value and air movement. It gives a rapid compost action for the finished humus to be extracted continuously, and without new material becoming mixed with previously added vegetable waste.
Plant is for the low-temp. carbonisation of waste materials has a treatment chamber (1) and an arrangement for the afterburning of the pyrolysis gases. The treatment chamber consists of a series of three chambers for, respectively, filling, carbonisation, and cooling. The carbonisation and cooling chambers each have a double-wall housing with the inner walls fitted with heat-exchanger ribs, and the inner space of each (14) has a deflector plate (15) with nozzles on one side.    The carbonisation and the cooling chambers each have a circulator arrangement (8) that draws in the gases on one side of the chamber and blows them through the nozzles on the other side.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Difficulties with known pyrolysis plants include leakages at drum seams, and, in another type, long cycle times and hence low throughput. The proposed plant avoids these drawbacks, operates with min. heating energy, and has a very high throughput of the material being handled.
Garbage disposal method, involves storage in disused underground excavation, specifically after sorting to remove metal and plastic material and glass.    Pref. the garbage is damped with treatment material causing decomposition into recovered compost, and CH4 generated by the decomposition is recovered for use as fuel.    ADVANTAGE -   Avoids dumping on land-fill sites. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9323 based on complete specification)
The method is based on melting acidic sludge with spent heating steam at 60 deg.C, removing it from the settler, neutralising with limestone powder and structurising treatment of neutralised sludge at 70-80 deg.C.    Acidic sludge contains (in wt.%): total organic part 80, water 8, mechanical admixtures 2.3 and sulphuric acid 12. Natural limestone of 0.07 mm particle size is used as a neutralising agent, and it contains (in wt.%): CaCO3 93, MgO 1.19, SiO2 6.02, Fe2O3 2.40, Al2O3 0.95, and P2O5 0.06. Neutralisation is conducted in a periodical action reactor, for 3.5 hrs. and followed by structurising for 4 hrs. with continuous mixing.    Tests show that obtd. prod. has penetration at 25 deg.C 16 (0.1 mm), softening poin 56 deg.C and elongation (at 25 deg.C) 23 cm. Prod. can be used as a binder for asphalto-concrete mixt. in amt. of 9 wt.%. Obtd. asphalto-concrete mixt. has specific density 2,3 g/cc, compressive strength 60 kg/sq.cm, water absorption 2.22 wt.% and swelling 0.10 vol.%. The method offers prospect of rational utilisation of acidic sludge produced in large amts. as waste in oil processing industry, with prodn. of high-quality binder for road surfacing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a method of utilisation of acidic sludge waste from oil processing industry. The method improves characteristics of the prod. Bul.30/15.8.9
The unit contains pump-feeder (1), compensator (2), heat exchanger recuperator (3) with outer chamber (4) and helical channels (5), inner chamber (6) with overflow pipe (7) and screw blades (8); the methane tank (9) contains input pressure pipe (10) and output overflow pipe (11), holder (12), central pipe (13), heat exchangers (14-15), gas cover (16), overflow chamber (17), hydraulic disconnector (18), gas cavity (19), pumps (20-21), bottom reflector (22), heat sensor (23), gas pressure sensor (24), relay (25), valve (26), and supports (27).    In operation, the methane tank is filled with fermented mass at the required temp. The inner chamber of recuperator is connected to the outlet pipe that disconnects the gas section of the tank from atmosphere. The outer chamber of recuperator and the compensator are filled with the raw input mass. The mixing of raw and fermented mass in the recuperator are synchronised with biogas removal, and the mixing of fermented mass in the tank intensifies the heat-exchange process and reduces losses.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the processing of organic waste from stock-breeding and plant growth farms in agriculture. Energy costs are reduced. Bul.30/15.8.92
Nitrogen oxides are treated by selective redn. to reduce them to nitrogen by contacting nitrogen oxides and a reducing gas with a catalyst. The catalyst consists of a material composed of gamma-alumina, the reducing gas is hydrocarbon, and the reducing reaction is conducted at 400-900 deg.C.    Also claimed is an appts. for treating nitrogen oxides which is provided with a catalytic reaction part contg. gamma-alumina, a device to supply simultaneously nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon to the catalytic reaction part, and a heat reserving device to keep the catalytic reaction part above ordinary temp..    Alternative catalysts claimed are alumina synthesised from aluminium alkoxide and a material principally composed of alumina with a specific surface area measured by the BET method of at least 100, pref. with distribution peaks of average pore sizes at 20-60 Angstroms, or 20-60 Angstroms ane 80-120 Angstroms.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for removing NOx from the exhaust gases from engines, boilers, and turbines. Lower hydrocarbons such as methane can be used as a reducing gas
Biological deodorisation is characterised by (i) constructing a treatment container multilayers sepd. from each other at intervals and packed with fillers having adhered microorganisms; (ii) leading a malodorous gas into the container; (iii) passing the gas through the packed layers without stopping aeration, (iv) and adjusting separately the pH of each packed layer by adjusting the amt. of water sprinkled over each layer so as to treat malodorous components of the gas in multistages of the packed layers.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for preventing malodorous produced at sewage and human waste-treatment plants from spreading in the neighbourhood. It is esp. useful for treatment of malodorous gases contg. various sulphur-type odorous substances. Since the main malodorous component, hydrogen sulphide, is decomposed by microorganisms at a low pH, the amt. of water sprinkled can be reduced. Also malodorous components which are thought to be difficult to decompose biologically can be decomposed effectively by this metho
Malodorous gas is led from a gas inlet into a layer packed with a microorganism fixed support, the malodorous components of the gas are decomposed and deodorised by the microorganism adhering to the support, and the deodorised gas is discharged from a gas outlet. The packed layer consists of an upstream packed layer and a downstream packed layer, the microorganism fixed support of the upstream packed layer consists of a material which has resistance to modification in an acidic soln. at pH 2-3 and the microorganism fixed support of the downstream packed layer has at least on its surface a cpd. contg. an alkaline earth metal with pH buffering ability to neutralise the acid produced by the decomposition of the malodorous components by the microorganism.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the deodorisation of malodorous gases produced during the treatments of sewage water, waste water, and human waste, or in stock raising. H2S is decomposed in the upstream packed layer and other malodorous components are decomposed in the downstream packed layer. Since the pH at the surface of the microoganism fixed support of the downstream layer is kept at neutral, the microorganism keeps its activity for a long time period
(JP5166526-A)   NOVELTY - The speed of motor (10) is controlled to make the blower speed equivalent to predetermined minimum engine speed, when battery load detector (20) senses no load. The blower (9) drives a portion of cathode gas in outline (6) of fuel battery (1).    USE - For fuel battery cathode circulation blower.    ADVANTAGE - Consumption of blower power during no load condition of battery is prevented.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The gas temperature at the cathode gas inlet line (5) is detected by a temperature sensor (30). The motor speed is controlled based on the comparison result of temperature with respect to a regulation value.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the schematic view of fuel battery.    Fuel battery (1)    Cathode gas (5)    Outline (6)    Blower (9)    Motor (10)    Battery load detector (20)    Temperature sensor (30)
(JP5166515-A)   NOVELTY - A solid electrolyte fuel cell has a ceramic partition plate comprising a mixture of zirconia solid solution (1a) and ceria solid solution (1b). The plate is provided between a fuel electrode (3) and an oxidizer electrode (2) so that fuel gas and oxidizer gas are supplied to the fuel electrode (3) and to the oxidizer electrode, independently.    USE - Used as a solid electrolyte fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - A fuel cell having a small electrolyte resistance and small reactive resistance between the electrode and electrolyte is obtained. Short-circuiting of a cell is prevented.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional view of the solid electrolyte fuel cell.    partition plate (1)    zirconia solid solution (1a)    ceria solid solution (1b)    oxidizer electrode (2)    fuel electrode (3)
In the process, at least some of the molecular bonds of the molecules making up the material are broken and the resulting atomic and/or molecular fragments are disposed of, and in particular are put to a useful purpose.    Pref. organic and/or easily reducible components constitute at least about 30 wt.% of the waste material. The severing of the molecular bonds is performed in a plasma phase by exciting the bond into a state of resonant vibration, using energetic electromagnetic radiation or by high frequency induction heating. The energy for breaking the molecular bonds may be supplied in the form of thermal energy, wave-radiation, corpuscular radiation, or sound wave interference. The waste material may be treated with a discrete oscillation frequency, or with a wide-band frequency spectrum. The frequency spectrum may be applied simultaneously or may be traversed by the material being treated. The energy source is focussed (4), and the material is continuously fed horizontally to the point of treatment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For disposing of solid, liquid and gaseous waste materials. Atmospheric pollution is avoided, and the resulting materials can be put to use as required.
Garden and arboreal waste is composted by a process including (i) selecting a compost bulking agent mixt. of coarse and fine materials, (ii) adding mineral and/or organic N to the mixt., (iii) constructing at least one window of indefinite length, (iv) turning and aerating the window(s), and (v) screening the mixt. after a period of time to produce a fine compost.    Pref. the bulking agent mixt. has 60% coarser than 20mm, in the shortest dimension and 40% finer than 20mm. in the longest dimension. 2Kg.N per cu.m. is added. The process includes laying alternate layers of the mixt. and of the N material until the window is 3-5m high. Water is added to the window to a moisture level of 40-55 wt.%. The window is turned and aerated once every week. It is screened through 20mm. sieves after 10 weeks. The fine mateiral includes putrescible food and agricultural waste.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process is less expensive than those needing chipping, grinding or milling of waste. The prods. are weed free and can be used as fertilisers or soil improvers.
Treatment and recycling of a waste biomass (4) by parallel and interactive operations of; (a) biomethanisation (2) (b) composting (3). Waste (4) is supplied to the above treatment units via a pretreatment and transport unit (1) which eliminates undesirable material (10). Liquid effluent and residual sludge from the biomethanisation process are introduced to the composting process to compensate for losses due to evaporation and to stimulate microbiological action. A temporary stoppage of either the biomethanisation or composting process does not affect the other process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Gas from biomethanisation produces all or part of energy for process. Increased treatment efficiency
Process is carried out by mixing a fibrinase, pref. cellulase or mixt. of cellulase and hemicullulase, in an aggregate of fibrous solid organic waste in the presence of water, and allowing the fibrinase to act on the fibrinous solid organic waste so that the fibrinous solid organic waste does not liquify but its rigidity decreases, and maintaining its temp. and mixing under the supply of oxygen to allow aerobic fermentation, pref. high-temp. fermentation pref. followed by moderate-temp. fermentation, and pref. by return/mixing part of compost obtd. by aerobic fermentation to the fibrous solid organic waste in the course of action by the fibrinase and allowing the mixt. to perform aerobic fermentation.    ADVANTAGE -   The new method of making compost from fibrous solid organic waste effectively prevents the agglomeration in fermenting fibrous waste and improves the efficiency of contact with fermentative microbes, thereby accelerating the fermentation
Prodn. comprises (i) regulating the content of water in its main material e.g. stock breeding waste, fishery waste, brewing waste, coffee residue, used tea leaves, soybean hull, oil cake, timber chips, animal or plant residue such as garbage discharged from household, etc.; (ii) compounding the main and supplementary materials; (iii) compounding high-temp. fermentative microorganisms; and (iv) ferment/turning the materials to accelerate the fermentation. Heating from outside during the course of prod. is not required.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fermentation of animal or plant residue as the main material together with an appropriate supplementary material with the addn. of high-temp. fermantative microorganisms deodorises the materials, sterilises pathologic germs by the decomposition heat, and accelerates the fermentation, thereby achieving low-cost prodn. of organic fertilisers with a C/N ratio close to that of the spontaneous humus.    In an example, fowl exreta as the main material and timber chips as a supplementary material are compounded at a regulated water content of 60% with the addn. of high-temp. fermentative microoorganisms to allow fermentation. The 1st step of fermentation proceeds for the first 10-15 days, with the temp. rising to 60 deg. C.; the 2nd step lasts on days 15-60 with the temp. being at its plateau of 60-69 deg. C.; and the 3rd step proceeds until around day 90. By then, the temp, has returned to the ordinary temp. and the materials have become a matured organic fertiliser (C/N ratio: 12.5). (Turning is done once every 3-4 days, 4-5 days, and 6-7 days during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd steps, respectively. Pathologic germs are killed during the 2nd step)., f
The fermentation treatment of high-moisture refuse with a high content of phosphorus, e.g., animal excreta, human excreta, etc., with its ashes made by drying and incinerating the refuse is carried out by mixing the ashes as a water content-regulating material, while the ashes are in high-temp., in the refuse, and then allowing the mixt. to pile and ferment.    An organic fertiliser is made by compounding the ashes as a component-regulating material for phosphate and potassium to the high-moisture refuse having a high content of phosphorus to make a phosphatic fertiliser mixt.. An organic fertiliser is made by mixing the ashes as a water content-regulating material to the refuse while the ashes are in high temp. to make a high-content phosphatic fertiliser.    ADVANTAGE -   The recycling and utilisation of high-moisture refuse contributes to reducing the quantity of refuse to be disposed
Regulator is made by treating clay contg. animal or plant oil, at 50-90 deg. C, with one or more alkali substances e.g. KOH, K2CO3, and NaOH, and Na2CO3, to reduce the content of residual oil to 10-17 wt.%, then neutralising the oil-contg. clay with phosphoric acid, and dehydrating and drying.    Prodn. of the compost activation regulator comprises (i) throwing clay contg. animal or plant oil into warm water of 50-60 deg. C, and stirring to make an aq. suspension, stirring the aq. suspension under heating at 50-90 deg. C while adding one or more of the alkali substances to make the clay a slurry of a pH of 9-10, allowing the slurry to separate into three layers, i.e. oil-water-oil layers, assemblying the slurry layers to obtain a slurry with a residual oil content of 10-17 wt.%, adding phosphoric acid to the obtd. slurry to neutralise it, and dehydrating and drying to obtain a solid matter.    ADVANTAGE -   It accelerates the fermentation and thereby shortens the maturation period. It prevents the loss of nitrogen during the course of making compost. It assures the appropriate C/N ratio as an organic material. It exerts an excellent buffer action on the soil. It produces favourable fertilising effects on the soil. It detoxicates substances harmful to agricultural crops
Fats and oils contg. sludge is treated by alkali hydroxide soln. to saponify a pat of the fats and oils. The obtd. emulsified and suspended soln. is mixed with excess sludge generated in aerobic treatment of sewage by bacteria to anaerobically digest it.    The fats and oils contg. sludge is pref. put in alkali hydroxide aq. soln. with concn. of 0.5-40 wt.% (0.125-10 N) and vol. ratio to the sludge of 1-20 and the soln. is stirred at 60-100 deg. C for over 15 minutes to emuslify and suspended the sludge. The emulsified and suspended soln. and the excess sludge are mixed at a vol. ratio of 1:2-25. The digestion is effected at 30-40 deg. C for 20-30 days and not only the saponified fats and oils but unsaponified fats and oils, which are dispersed in a granular state, are digested rapidly by anaerobic bacteria to volatilise fatty acids and gas.    ADVANTAGE -   Fats and oils are decomposed by bacteria and high energy gas with high methane content useful as fuel is recovered
A degraded adsorbent contg. adsorbed harmful gases is regenerated by passing a regenerating gas contg. 2-4C hydrocarbon through a layer of the degraded adsorbent; and burning the hydrocabon on the adsorbent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to regenerate degraded adsorbent of gamma- or delta-alumina, silica, zirconia, alumina-titania, active carbon, kaoline, mordenite, and others which can adsorb NOx, SOx, ammonia, Cl2, F2, HCl or other inorganic gas. Degraded adsorbent can be regenerated at lower temp. in a cost-effective manner.    In an example, an adsorbent of Al2O3-MnO2-CaO = 65:30:5 by wt. was contacted with a model gas contg. 5 ppm NO2, 2.5 vol.% H2O, and remainder of air at 25 deg.C; 96% of NO2 was removed at the first time. It was regenerated by treating it with a gas contg. 500 ppm propylene/air at 350 deg.C. After 10 times of adsorption and regeneration cycles, the adsorbent still removed 95% NO2
The sludge is mixed with ligno-cellulosic materials in wt. ratio of 2:1 and composted in plastics bins filled to 70 % capacity of 60 l, in a chamber at 28 deg. C. and 70 % RH for 60-70 days, with aeration of the contents
Composting of biological and organic wastes is carried out by (a) pre-sorting the biological waste according to size and nature by sieving off a coarse fraction and opt. rejecting interfering materials; (b) separating foreign matter; (c) mixing the resulting material with cut green vegetable matter; (d) composting the mixt. in a main rotting stage involving loosening, aerating and wetting; (e) treating the material in a post-rotting stage, opt. with further aeration and wetting; and (f) sieving the finished compost, any remaining interfering material being sepd.    ADVANTAGE -   The process provides rapid composting, with reliable control of the rotting process and sepn. of any foreign and interfering matter contained in the organic waste
The prodn. is from a reaction mixt. comprising (i) an acceptor olefin having the carbon backbone of (I); (ii) a donor paraffin having carbon backbone differing from that of (I); and (iii) less than 10 mole% mol. hydrogen.    The mixt. is contacted with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising porous carbon in absence of added catalytic metal, to convert (i) to (I) and dehydrogenate at least a portion of (ii).    The catalyst may pref. comprise a non-acidic or inert substrate. Porous carbon may be derived from a plant source, e.g. coconut sheel or peat, a mineral source, e.g. petroleum coke, or a synthetic source. It may be carbon activated with a fluorine contg. cpd., e.g. HF, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Hydrogen is transferred from (ii) to (i). (i) is esp. a gasoline boiling range olefin, e.g. isooctene, for prodn. of (I) as gasoline blending component. (ii) is esp. an isoparaffin, e.g. isobutane. The prodn. typically yields cracked and/or oligomerised aliphatics and aromatics as byproducts
The method is based on enzymatic treatment of liq. waste from animal farms, sepn. of admixtures and drying of obtd. bacterial mass. Enzymatic fermentation is conducted using natural enzymes generated by anaerobic microflora present in manure effluents. Procedure consists of mechanical sepn. of admixtures and fermentation at 27-31 deg.C with produced biomass collected to 2-3 stages. For effluents of BOD 3500 mg O2/l the collection of biomass is conducted in 3 stages: after 3 days, then after next 4 days and after next 5 days. The yield of biomass is 3.1 kg, 2.0 kg, and 0.8 kg, respectively, of dry biomass per 1 cu.m of the starting effluent. For effluents with initial BOD 2000-3000 and 15000-2000 mg O2/l, the collection of biomass is conducted after 4 days and then after next 5 days and amts. of obtd. biomass are 1,8-2.0 kg/cu.m and 0.5-0.8 kg/cu.m, respectively.    Tests show that produced biomass contains (per dry wt.) 30.0-35.5% protein, 6.3% fat and 5.1% cellulose. The cost of process is reduced by 40%, and the cost of 1 tonne of protein formed from biomass is reduced by half, compared to that of the prod. obtd. by the known method.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture for prepn. of non-traditional fodder for animal farm waste. The method simplifies technology and reduces the cost of the fodder. Bul.29/7.8.92
Appts. comprises a hot air temp. sensor to detect a heated air flowing in a hot air passage connected to a waste treating tank, and control unit to control a heater to heat the air according to the output of the sensor.    USE -   For treating garbage.
Treating organic waste comprises putting the organic waste in decomposable plastic bags, throwing the bags into a treating tank having a heater and crusher-stirrer, and crushing the bags.    USE -   For treating garbage.
Tank has an opening at the top. In the opening is a mover to move an air feeder up-and-down to feed air into a mixt. contained in the tank. The mover is pref. moved by a hoist.    USE -   For making compost.he
Organic sludge is dewatered and dried at below 80 deg.C. The dried sludge is contacted with malodorous gases discharged from a fermentation tank to deodorisation. The dried sludge whose odorous components are adsorbed and decomposed is charged into the fermentation tank for fermentation. Or, the dehydrated organic sludge is premoulded into granules or blocks.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method can effectively and simply produce high-quality composts from organic sludges free of offensive odours in the form of granules or blocks in short time at low cost by offensive odours of multicomponents can be effectively and easily removed
Assembly to reduce organic waste material, through thermophilic micro-organisms, has a lowered unperforated base (6) at the filling zone of the trough (1) in relation to the horizontal perforated base (6b). An angled base (6a) links the initial base level (6) with the higher horizontal base (6b). The channel acts as a collection gutter for the liq. flowing back into the mixing zone where it collects.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The assembly is to reduce organic waste to compost, such as solid vegetable waste, animal solid and liquid manure and the like. The assembly increases bacterial development for aerobic decomposition from an initial degrading phase, to a conversion phase and then a final compsn. phase, with improved bacteria development conditions in the separate decomposition stages.
Roller to hold load of material internally, has a frame rotatably supporting the roller clear of the ground in one position, and in a second position so roller engages the ground movable, using the frame for propulsion.    Frame pref. has a cradle part and an underframe which supports the cradle and extends beyond adjacent to one side of the roller for grasping by a user. Partic., the roller is a compost-making bin, with hand-grips for rotating with the frame in the first position. Bin pref. has a circular central part of larger radius than the ends to facilitate movement along the ground.    ADVANTAGE -   Facilitates compost-making by easy rotation, and allows the finished compost to move to the point of use and without other equipment or compost transfer.
Olefins are prepd. in a process combining cracking of hydrocarbon feed with the coupling of CH4, involving (a) in 1st zone, coupling feed comprising mainly CH4, using gas supplying O2, to give prod. contg. 2C hydrocarbons, (b) in 2nd zone, cracking feed contg. mainly saturated hydrocarbons, to form prod. mainly contg. olefin, (c) transferring heat from the 1st zone to the 2nd zone, to provide most of the heat needed for cracking, without mixing the hot effluent effluent from (a) into the 2nd zone, (d) combining the portions of the effluents from both zones contg. 2+C and individually sepg. the CH4 and at least the ethylene and propylene components, and (e) returning unreacted CH4 in the effluent from the 1st zone, with CH4 in the effluent of the 2ne zone, to the feed to the 1st zone.    ADVANTAGE -   There is thermal integration of the endothermal olefin cracking process with the exothermal CH4 coupling, and of the refrigeration processes for enriched or purified O2 prodn., olefins recovery and opt. natural gas liqs. processing, there is high overall yield of olefins and other prods., with almost complete utilisation of feed, and there is redn. of NOx as a result of process heat being generated by coupling of CH4 with O2 and not by combustion of fuel with air
The unit has a circulation circuit with a filter (12), first compressor (1) with water heat exchanger (2) and meter (13). The economy is increased since the unit is additionally provided with a double cavity heat exchanger (3), whose first cavity inlet is connected to the water heat exchanger outlet, a condenser (4) whose inlet is connected to the heat exchanger (3) first cavity outlet, carbon dioxide separator (5) with gas and liq. cavities. The separator (5) gas cavity is connected to the condenser outlet and to the heat exchanger (3) second cavity inlet, a second compressor (7) connected at the inlet to the heat exchanger (3) second cavity outlet and at the outlet to the utiliser, and air refrigeration machine (6) connected to the condenser. The unit is additionally provided with successively connected expander with cooler, connected to the heat exchanger (3) second cavity outlet. The refrigerator machine inlet is connected to the cooler.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is used for bio-gas utilisation for cooling. The economy is increased by forming liq. carbon dioxide for its subsequent use and the carbon dioxide discharge to atmos. is reduced. Bul.27/23.7.92
Power economy and reduced weight of the portable methane signalling detector for mines is due to the switching transistor with a resistor in its base circuit, and a two-position press button without detent. The source is in the form of an accumulator for the head lamp, in the phase of which is a methane detector. The signalling block comprises the amplifier-comparator, first inverter and series-connected l.f. oscillator and an audio signaller.    The voltage of the accumulators of the source (4) is applied to the control transistor collector directly and via a resistor to its base in the voltage stabiliser (5). The emitter of the transistor then has a voltage for feeding the h.f. oscillator (19) of the signaller (2). The pulses of the oscillator are transmitted to stepping up transformer of the bridge rectifier, followed by the smoothing capacitors of the stabiliser (5). The methane detector operates with the working and the comparator elements, the former featuring a platinum microwire spiral coated with a catalyst. The ingress of methane causes oxidation and the evolved energy is converted into a resistance increment of the working element.    ADVANTAGE -   The unit eliminates separate accumulators and enhances control of methane concentration. Bul.27/23.7.92
A mixt. of (Et)2Cd (I) and propylene, with (I):C=1:(0.1-0.5), is decomposed thermally on the surface of the article preheated to 130-180 deg.C, under isothermal conditions, for 30 min. The mixt. is fed into the reaction chamber under vacuum, in the form of a vapour, to produce a uniform Cd layer with 3-7 microns crystal size.    A typical coating of 4.2 microns thickness develops adhesion to support of 95 kg/cm2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In mechanical engineering. Steel articles are Cd- plated more efficiently. The coating is more uniform in thickness. Bul.27/23.7.9
The bird droppings are mixed with a moisture absorbent, the moist mass brought to the temp. of 20-25 deg.C and placed in a reactor. Subsequent aerobic decompsn. with air blown through the mixt. from below, and additionally, in transverse direction, is carried out for 70-90 hours at 75-90 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture. A fertiliser is produced from bird droppings more efficiently. The method reduces the length of prodn. cycle by 1.3-1.5 times. Bul.27/23.7.92
Prodn. of high-purity phosphoric acid ester salts comprises allowing a mixt. soln. contg. a phosphoric acid ester and a nonionic cpd. to contact continuously in a counter-current manner with at least one solvent (a) selected from C4-8 straight-chain branched aliphatic hydrocarbons and C5-7 satd. alicyclic hydrocarbons by use of an extractor to separate the nonionic cpd. into the solvent (a) through extn. whereby a 1-4C lower alcohol (b) is supplied to the mixt. soln. and solvent (a) being supplied into the extractor.    The lower alcohol is e.g. ethanol and is supplied to the extractor through at least one part. The process permits demulsification with use of a by far reduced amt. of lower alcohols at enhanced speeds, thus making the appts. smaller in scale with increased efficiency of extn. and can remove economically on a commercial scale unreacted organic hydroxy cpds. and nonionic cpds. by-produced during the prodn. of phosphate
Appts. comprises a plough-back machine to plough back the excrements in a long fermenting tank and partition board fixed to the back face of the plough back machine.    USE -   For making fermented composts.
(JP5144464-A)   NOVELTY - Intermediate distributor (23) is arranged between the upper and lower stacks (22,21) of the cell (15), which are provided with H2 gas inlet and outlet passages (17,19) and CO2 gas inlet and outlet passages (18,20). The distributor has H2 gas by-pass passage (11a) and CO2 gas by-pass passage (13a) connected to H2 and CO2 gas inlet passages, respectively.    USE - Molten carbonate type fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE - Since the intermediate distributor is arranged between upper and lower stacks of cell, distribution direction of H2 and CO2 gases inside each cell can be reversed, and hence temperature gradient can be changed. Temperature rise of electrolyte board is reduced, and reduction of carbonate due to heat decomposition is prevented. Hence the durability of the battery is increased.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a detailed drawing of the intermediate distributor of the fuel battery.    Bypass passages (11a, 13a)    Cell (15)    Hydrogen gas inlet and outlet passages (17, 19)    Carbon dioxide inlet and outlet passages (18, 20)    Lower and upper stacks (21, 22)    Intermediate distributor (23)
(JP5144462-A)   NOVELTY - Surplus anode exhaust gas is injected at the injection point (25) which lies between an air pre-heater (3) and a vapor flow input line (2) through an exhaust gas process line (22), when the temperature of the modifier (4) exceeds the regulation value.    USE - For a power generation installation.    ADVANTAGE - The anode exhaust gas is injected at the plate far from the fuel battery, giving no disturbance to the differential voltage control between fuel battery poles. Improves efficiency of a fuel battery power generation installation.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure explains the fuel battery anode exhaust gas processing method in an electricity generation installation.    Input line (2)    Preheater (3)    Modifier (4)    Process line (22)    Injection point (25)
(JP5144454-A)   NOVELTY - A parallelly arranged circulation line (11) and a circulation line (12) with gas heater (8) are provided to cathode gas circulation line (6) of fuel cell which uses molten carbonate as electrolyte. The cathode gas emitted from the fuel cell, is passed through circulation line (11) when heating is not required, or through circulation line (12) when heating is required.    USE - For circulation of cathode gas in fuel cell such as molten carbonate-type fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - Pressure loss is extremely reduced. Power consumption of cathode gas circulation blower and thermal efficiency are increased.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows explanatory drawing of cathode gas circulation.    fuel cell (3)    cathode gas circulation line (6)    gas heater (8)    circulation lines (11,12)
Method includes fluidising solid aggregates (25), organics and water to separate a prod. which can be disposed of in incinerator, sepg. solid aggregates from the fluidised sludge and scouring the solid matter.    Pref. the sludge fluidising step is carried out at 70 - 90 deg.C and keeps the sludge in stirred state. Fluidising step is carried out by flowing water and steam through the bulk of the sludge. Separation of the solid aggregates from the fluidised sludge is maintained until the water content drops to a by-weight proportion of about 20% of the separated solid aggregates and organics. Scouring step is carried out on the solid aggregates with water flown in countercurrent to the movement of the solid aggregates.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides method for pretreating sludge of petroleum origin. Sludge is pretreated into material which has suitable chemiophysical characteristics for proper disposal in an incinerator.
The grid structure to hold compost, at grid fields, has upper and lower longitudinal bar with lateral and parallel rods between them as hollow plastics cylindrical tubes. The longitudinal bars (3) have U-shaped cross-section with an inner width to contain a plastics tubes, which are inserted and fixed in place at their ends by projections (11) at least at the base level (9) of the longitudinal bars (3).    Pref. the projections are collars (11), from the base (9) and over the height of the bars (3), to grip round the plastics tubes, with inner ribs in the collars (11) running axially parallel to compensate for tolerance. One or more of the collars (11) has coaxial openings at the base of the bars (3). Earth pins are inserted into the openings of the lower bar (3) at their bases (9). Both ends of the bars (3) are fitted with hinge eyelets with height displacement for overlapping grid fields. One plastics tube is fitted into the aligned eyelet, as hinge axis at the upper and lower bar (3) of the neighbouring field. Several grid fields interlink in polygon shape, held in place at the corners by inserted plastics tubes as hinge axes. The upper and lower bars (3) at least at two adjacent polygon corners of the grid fields have at least two hinge eyelets at one end, longitudinally placed, for an open side of the polygon to be locked.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The grid structure is for compost used in gardening. The grids are made of recycled plastics waste, which are corrosion resistant, and which can be extruded.
The oven consists of two parallel tunnels of uniform section, one for drying the wood and the other for carbonisation, connected by a transfer unit at one end, through which the wood passes in small wagons. Another unit collects processes and re-injects the gases and vapours from pyrolysis. The wood is cut into pieces of suitable size before loading into the wagons, which after passing through the drying and carbonisation tunnels on rails, enter a cooling zone before the outlet. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9321 based on complete specification).
The unit has a housing (1) which contains a chamber with workig cryogenic agent, and a chamber-collector (14), and precooling radiator (13). The chamber with the cryogenic agent is provided with louvred radiation screen (11). An atomiser (9) is situated in the housing upper part. The chamber-collector is provided with adjustable super-cooling heat exchanger (18) connected at one end to the drainage pipe (8), situated in the chamber, and at the other end to the radiator (13), fitted in the screen (11). The chamber is formed by four peripheral sections (2) and one central section (3).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For methane gas cooling. The technology is improved and cryogenic agent consumption is reduced. Bul.26/15.7.92