Abstract: This describes a method for producing cement clinker using petroleum coke with a sulfur content over 4.5% by weight, in conventional equipment and facilities, wherein said method comprises the treatment of the raw mixture to synergistically improve its physical-chemical characteristics combined with the parameter control of the process, in such a way as to obtain a reduction of the clinkering temperature, all as a heretofore-unappreciated way to reduce, as a result, the concentration of SO3 in the calcinated material fed to the rotating kiln, and also usefully increasing with this the calcium sulfate content in the clinker.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating undesired toxic metals, such as Zn, Pb and Cd, from iron-containing materials by: sintering a mixture of such materials (typically including EAF dust and mill scale) with carbonaceous particles to form sturdy sinter lumps; preheating such lumps in a non-reducing atmosphere, if needed, to achieve an elevated temperature generally above the vaporization temperature of the undesired metals, but below the sticking temperature of iron-containing lumps (which is typically below the vaporization temperatures of such undesired metals in their oxide form), feeding the lumps at such elevated temperature into a reduction reactor; flowing hot reducing gas through lumps to volatilize undesired reduced metals and carry the volatilized metals out of reduction reactor leaving the iron-containing lumps largely stripped of the undesired metals and ready for discharge and safe and/or useful disposal or re-use, and finally cooling the off gas from the reactor

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the reduction into metallic iron of iron-oxides-containing particles having a broad range of sizes. Particles, typically within a broad range of sizes of about 0.1 mm to about 50 mm, are reduced by contact with a hot reducing gas, preferably from a horizontal gas distributor which defines the bottom of the reduction zone by supplying a uniform upflow of gas mainly composed of hydrogen (and/or carbon monoxide) within a temperature range of 650° C. to 1050° C. and at a velocity of about 0.5-0.7 m/s to fluidize at least some of the particles of a size of about 1.0 mm or less (when present).

Abstract: A process for hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feedstock (1) involving the use of at least one hydrotreatment, particularly hydrodesulfurization, reactor (2) and a fractionation unit (3), which latter contains two distinct injection zones (4, 5) for the hydrocarbon feedstocks, a common zone (8) of vaporization of the light fractions and two distinct draw-off lines (6, 7) for the liquid bottoms; the hydrocarbon feedstock (1) being subjected to a preliminary treatment either in a first hydrodesulfurization reactor (20) the operating conditions of which (P, T, LHSV) may be different from those of the hydrotreatment reactor (2), or in a sweetening apparatus or else in a sulfur trap, the hydrocarbon feedstock being then injected into the first injection zone (4) of the fractionation unit (3), the liquid bottoms being removed through the draw-off line (6) of the injection zone (4) and passed into a hydrotreatment reactor (2), the effluents from said reactor (2) being injected into a second injection zone (5) of the

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the productivity of an existing direct reduction iron (DRI) plant without increasing its reformer capacity existing in the plant. This object is achieved by not only recycling some effluent gas of the reduction reactor to the gas reformer (with natural gas or the like added with an oxidant as make up gas), but also recycling an additional portion of the effluent gas with added natural gas and an oxygen containing stream directly to the reducing gas stream exiting the reformer prior to or as part of its introduction to the reduction reactor, thereby providing additional reducing agents and increasing the reducing capacity of the plant. The oxygen containing stream is preferably added to the recycled reducing gas without preheating. Any excess or purged effluent gas is as usual burned as fuel.

Abstract: A roadway structure comprising from top to bottom:a top layer,at least one rigid foundation layer having a high modulus of rigidity and supporting the top layer,the ground, or an untreated material or a damaged roadway, andin addition particularly having an under layer beneath and adhered to the foundation layer, which under layer has a thickness such that it constitutes a support with a smooth and flat surface for the foundation layer laid thereon.

Abstract: A cooling machine, useful for air conditioning, refrigeration, ice production, or the like, based on the ammonia absorption thermodynamic cycle, and operated by a heat source of relatively low temperature, as for example a set of solar heat collectors, wherein the generator of said cooling machine comprises a first vessel through which said ammonia solution is circulated and is subject to separation of ammonia from water in the solution by raising its temperature through heat exchange relationship with a stream of a hot liquid, heated in the set of solar collectors; and a second vessel coaxially disposed surrounding said first vessel, whereby the walls of said first and second vessels define an annular hot water circulation chamber; said first vessel having a plurality of staggered series of heat transfer fins of predetermined dimensions so as to optimize the heat transfer from said hot liquid to the ammonia solution in said generator.

Abstract: A fluidized-bed process for catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock where the hydrocarbon feedstock, particularly a feedstock with a high content of basic nitrogen compounds, and a catalyst circulate in the tubular zone co-currently from the top to the bottom, where the catalyst, which is under equilibrium conditions at 150.degree. C., and a pressure of 5 mbar, adsorbs less than 250 micromols, and preferably less than 50 micromols, of pyridine/g, and whose pyridine retention, after heating at 350.degree. C. under vacuum, does not exceed 20%, and preferably not 10%, of the amount adsorbed at 150.degree. C.

Abstract: A modified or bridged asphalt composition. The composition can be obtained by treating at least one asphalt base with an acid-derived compound having at least two functional groups capable, respectively, of being grafted onto one or more sites located on two or more different aromatic entities of the asphalt base, so as to link said entities by bridging.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing steel bars wherein at least four individual bars are rolled at the same time from a single billet, thus increasing the production capacity of a given rolling mill operating at a predetermined velocity and designed to produce only one or two bars at the same time and without requiring tension relieving stations between the slitting box and the finishing rolling stands as in the prior art. The problems of uniform quality of final bars are solved by preforming the outermost elements of a multi-stranded stock with different shape and/or cross section as compared to the inner elements of said multi-stranded stock. An apparatus for separation of the individual elements of the multi-stranded bar is provided wherein the elements are separated at several stages starting with the two outermost elements in the first stage and continuing in the same order until the center elements are separated in the last stage.

Abstract: Method of continuously casting steel slabs and the like wherein a layer of melting powder is maintained at the top portion of the casting mold with sufficient thickness so as to provide an increased thermal insulation to the liquid layers of steel and slag, whereby the formation of a solidified slag rim in the mold is eliminated and the surface quality of the steel products is considerably improved. The melting powder addition according to the invention also reduces the number of break-outs and consequently considerably increases the availability and productivity of the caster.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for crushing and fine grinding of solid particulate materials, e.g. clinkers used in cement, utilizing a conventional ball mill. More particularly, the invention involves use of such a ball mill in the primary crushing of the material (which use is advantageously limited to the preliminary crushing operation requiring minimum energy consumption), and of a jet mill in the final crushing (conventionally done in a ball mill also). The jet mill is incorporated in a secondary independent grinding circuit which grinds the material to the required fineness value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a steam cracking process and apparatus which permits the conversion of fractions of petroleum hydrocarbons. The claimed invention provides for the conversion of at least one light hydrocarbon fraction, as well as a heavier hydrocarbon feedstock. The inventive process takes place at a high temperature and in the presence of a dilute fluidized phase of heat-transfer particles. The process comprises contacting the light-hydrocarbon feedstock and then the heavier feedstock, in a sequential manner with catalytic or noncatalytic heat-transfer particles in a continuous flow reactor. The process further provides for separating and stripping, to separate at least 90 percent of the particles which are regenerated before recycling.

Abstract: A process for the simultaneous replacement of a first catalyst by a second catalyst which first catalyst is circulating as a moving bed of solid particles in a hydrocarbon treating unit, which unit comprises at least one processing reactor. The first catalyst is withdrawn downstream of the reactor, or of each reactor, in the direction of catalyst circulation. The second catalyst is simultaneously injected upstream of the reactor or of each reactor. The bulk density of the material withdrawn downstream of the reactor, or of each reactor, is measured continuously. The withdrawal of the first catalyst and the injection of the second catalyst into the reactor concerned are interrupted when the bulk density so measured is equal to that of the second catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the conversion of petroleum hydrocarbons in the presence of catalyst particles in a fluidized phase in an essentially upflow or downflow tubular reaction zone. The process includes at least one stage of steam cracking of at least one light hydrocarbon fraction and a stage of catalytic cracking of at least one heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The steam cracking is carried out by contacting the light hydrocarbons and a quantity of steam equal to at least 20 percent by weight in a fluidized bed of the catalyst particles, the resulting temperature ranging from 650.degree. to 850.degree. C. The catalytic cracking of the heavy hydrocarbons is carried out by injection of the effluents from the upstream section of the reaction zone into the catalyst suspension in such a way that the temperature of the mixture ranges from 500.degree. to 650.degree. C. and is then reduced to a temperature ranging 475.degree. to 550.degree. C.

Abstract: In method and apparatus for producing iron and steel from iron cores largely composed of iron oxides, wherein a direct reduction process is used to produce a solid particulate intermediate product, generally known as sponge Iron or Direct Reduced Iron (DRI); pneumatically conveying large iron-bearing particles, such as pelletized iron ore or particularly DRI, in a closed transport pipe, eg. from the reduction reactor of the direct reduction process to the metallurgical furnaces where liquid iron or steel are produced, for example electric arc furnaces, induction furnaces, basic oxygen furnaces, etc. or to a briquetting press to form DRI briquettes, or simply to a silo or storage bin, or in general to a subsequent processing step for said DRI. When the carrier gas is recirculated for reuse, surprisingly air can be a preferred source of such gas, especially for reactive hot DRI.

Abstract: An apparatus for the catalytic cracking in the fluid state of hydrocarbon feedstocks which comprises a riser-type column (2); at the top of the riser (2) and concentric therewith, a chamber (1) for separation of the hydrocarbon vapors and the coke-laden catalyst particles; directly above the upper opening of the riser (2) and in the interior of said chamber (1), a ballistic separator (3); at least one unit for regeneration of the spent catalyst, fed by stripped particles received from said chamber. The chamber (1) for separation of the coke-laden catalyst particles and the stripping thereof comprises, at a level intermediate between the bed (6) of particles being stripped and the opening of the riser (2), a means (11) adapted to form a baffle for locally reducing the diameter of said chamber (1) and the free passage at the periphery of the riser (2), thereby reducing recirculating streams of hydrocarbon vapors in separation chamber (1) of the FCC unit thus avoiding overcracking.

Abstract: This bitumen-polymer composition contains:a) at least one bitumen,b) at least one polymer having hydrocarbon chains with mobile hydrogens, said polymer being grafted and crosslinked in situ in said bitumen through a complex of at least one organic silicon compound, said complex being formed from a primary constituent and a secondary constituent, the latter being the organic silicon compound.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for gasification of organic materials (typically incorporated in domestic and industrial wastes, including auto shredder residues) to produce useful synthesis gas (primarily CO & H.sub.2) with effectively non-toxic ash residue by means of a preferably stoichiometric burner directed into a single stage reactor containing a tumbling charge thus heated to 650.degree. to 800.degree. C. (below the incipient fusion temperature of the charge) resulting in thermally cracking and gasifying the organic materials in the charge and reacting the complex hydrocarbons and gas evolved with the CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O generated by the burner by combustion of a fuel and oxygen-containing gas at a high flame temperature, typically 2500.degree. to 3000.degree. C.

Abstract: This bitumen-polymer emulsion contains:a) at least one bitumen,b) at least one polymer having hydrocarbon chains with mobile hydrogens, said polymer being grafted and crosslinked in situ in said bitumen through a complex of at least one organic silicon compound, said complex being formed from a primary constituent and a secondary constituent, the latter being an organic silicon compound,c) water, andd) at least one emulsifier.