Abstract:
The present invention relates to a compound of the LaMO3 type, M being aluminum, gallium or indium, in the form of a powder or in sintered form, its process of preparation and its use as an oxygen conductor. The compound in powder form is capable of achieving, by pressureless sintering, a density of at least 93% of the theoretical density and of giving a sintered compound substantially free of any electrically active secondary phase of the grain boundaries. The compound in powder form is obtained by the reaction of the salts of lanthanum and of the element M with a base, and then the separation and calcining of the precipitate obtained. It may also be obtained by mixing, in a liquid medium, salts of lanthanum, and of the element M and, optionally, of a base, and then spray-drying and calcining the precipitate obtained. The sintered compound may be used in any application requiring an oxygen-conducting material in oxide form, such as solid-oxide fuel cells.
Abstract:
A hydrocarbon gas to be decomposed, optionally mixed with water vapor, is allowed to flow through the gap between various porous tubes 4 constituting a group of porous tubes provided extending vertically in a decomposition reaction column 1 while air or oxygen is jetted homogeneously from the interior to the exterior of the porous tubes in the direction perpendicular to the stream of the hydrocarbon gas to be decomposed, optionally mixed with water vapor. The mixture is then ignited to form a diffusion flame layer B on the outer surface of the porous tubes 4. With the diffusion flame layer as a heat source, the hydrocarbon gas to be decomposed, optionally mixed with water vapor, undergoes pyrolysis.
Abstract:
One of these devices comprises: a reaction with cold plasma (10b), for producing the reforming of a primary mixture consisting of fuel gas (hydrocarbon or alcohol), as well as oxygen and/or water vapor, thus producing a secondary mixture containing in particular hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide; an intake piece (18) for mixing these constituents, co-operating with a burner (42) and an associated combustion chamber (40) to bring the resulting primary mixture to a high temperature, before it is introduced into the reaction chamber (10a); a ring-shaped chimney (48) enclosing this chamber for maintaining it at a relatively high temperature; a high frequency alternating high voltage source (58), modulated by brief periodical low frequency pulses and electrodes (62-66) for generating silent discharges, in the reaction chamber (10b) thus generating a cold plasma producing a high chemical reactivity to the gas mixture present; a membrane (12) with high selective permeability for extracting the nascent hydrogen, arranged between the chamber (10b) and a chamber for collecting the hydrogen (14); a thermal insulating sheath (50) enclosing the whole set. The invention is applicable to PEM type fuel cells, fitted on electric vehicles or on portable generator set.
Abstract:
The invention provides a flow module comprising sandwiched plate elements, with at least one of each pair of adjacent plate element surfaces having a profiling which has a linear parallel construction so that a plurality of linear parallel flow ducts is formed between adjacent plate elements. These flow ducts can be charged with a first and a second fluid in an alternating manner by way of feeding and removal ducts formed by mutually aligned openings in the plate elements. To seal off the flow spaces and the feeding and removal ducts, seals are provided, and the openings for the feeding and removal ducts extend essentially across the whole end area of the profiling so that a distinct feeding and removal space is formed. According to the invention, for a mechanical stabilization several webs are arranged in the openings for the feeding and removal ducts in the profiled plate elements. These webs which are arranged in the inlet area or outlet area of the profiling end below the plate element surface.
Abstract:
Apparatus for creating gas-liquid interfacial contact conditions for highly efficient mass transfer between gas and liquid comprises a gas-liquid contactor assembly including a hollow porous tube surrounded by an outer jacket defining a gas plenum between the jacket and the porous tube; a liquid feed assembly including a nozzle for injecting liquid into the porous tube in a spiraling flow pattern around and along the porous tube; a gas-liquid separator assembly at the first end of the porous tube including a nonporous degassing tube coaxially aligned with and connected to the porous tube, a gas outlet port coaxially aligned with the degassing tube to receive a first portion of gas flowing from the degassing tube, a first gas duct coaxially aligned with and connected to the gas outlet duct to convey the first portion of gas therefrom; and a liquid collection assembly. A second gas discharge assembly to collect and convey gas from the first end of the porous tube is also disclosed. A method of creating gas-liquid interfacial contact conditions for highly efficient mass transfer comprises the general steps of introducing a stream of liquid to the hollow interior of a cylindrical porous tube in a thin film following a spiral flow pattern around and along the wall of the tube; controlling the physical characteristics of the liquid film and the flow pattern followed by the film through the tube; sparging gas through the wall of the tube and into the liquid film at a preselected flow rate so as to create a two phase gas-liquid froth around the wall of the tube and a discrete column of gas in the central portion of the tube; maintaining the froth flow in a radial force field so as to prevent mixing of the froth and gas in the central column; removing gas forming the column from both ends of the tube; and removing liquid from the tube.
Abstract:
An improved process and apparatus are disclosed for the supercritical water oxidation of organic waste materials which avoids or at least substantially reduces the corrosion and solids deposition problems associated with prior art techniques. According to this invention, externally heated supercritical water is fed to a platelet tube reactor to both protectively coat its inner surface and heat the waste stream to oxidation reaction conditions. Higher reaction temperatures can be used as compared to prior art processes, which significantly improves the reaction rate and permits smaller reactors to be used. The protective film of water on the reactor inner surface, coupled with the elimination of preheating of the waste material, substantially reduces solids deposition and corrosion.
Abstract:
A continuous static polymerization reactor for the production of liquid polymers comprises an elongated hollow reaction chamber (30) which has a porous wall (31) and a jacket means (40) spaced around the reaction chamber (30), which is provided with means (44) for introducing a fluid through the porous wall (31). The reactor is particularly useful for a process for making liquid polymers by condensing monomers and/or oligomers. It comprising the use of a pressurized gas to cause the reaction mixture to reach a foam-like consistency. This is beneficial in the condensation polymerization. Feeding a fluid through the porous wall into the reaction chamber avoids build up of the polymer on the wall.
Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for continuous and regular liberation of active constituents into domestic water supplies. The apparatus comprises a receptacle having a body portion which is impermeable to water and to the active constituent. The receptacle is provided with an aperture closed by a membrane which is permeable to water and to the active constituent. An operculum surrounds the membrane to secure the membrane to the receptacle. The active constituent is provided into the receptacle and is released through the membrane in a controlled manner over an extended period of time. Preferably, the membrane has a mean pore diameter greater than 0.05 microns.
Abstract:
A method of providing a reagent into a chemical process said provision being in the vapor phase and at a controlled mass flow rate wherein the method comprises:(a) providing a gas stream which contains a gaseous phase complexing agent for the reagent said complexing agent being provided at a controlled partial vapor pressure in said gas stream;(b) providing a primary source of the reagent in a reservoir which is connected to the gas stream via a diffusion path;(c) causing the gaseous phase complexing agent to diffuse into the reservoir at a mass flow rate controlled by its partial pressure in the gas stream;(d) causing the gaseous phase complexing agent in the reservoir to react with the primary source to generate a gaseous phase complex of the reagent and the gaseous phase complexing agent, said generation being, in the steady state, at a rate equivalent to the rate of inflow of said complexing agent;(e) causing the gaseous phase complex to diffuse out of the reservoir into the gas stream at a rate, in the steady state, which is equivalent to its rate of generation in stage (d);whereby the mass flow of reagent occurs at a rate defined and controlled by the vapor pressure of the vapor phase complexing agent in the gas stream.
Abstract:
A device is provided for conveying separately at least two gases as far as a mixing zone, said device including several tubes, and means for supplying these tubes with one of the gases, the invention also relating to a reactor having at least one cell equipped with said conveying device, said device further including means for holding the tubes in position with respect to each other, the tubes being held together jointingly by said means and defining empty spaces or intertube gaps, some at least of said tubes having narrowed zones placed substantially at the same level so as to form a network for distributing the other gas to some at least of the intertube gaps.