Abstract: A replaceable inspection plug assembly and method for its use with pressure vessels. The plug assembly comprises a collar seal welded onto a pressure vessel outer wall, and a threaded plug removably threaded into the collar and the vessel wall. The plug has a shoulder portion which is seal welded to the collar. For removal of the plug, the seal weld is first machined away using a special cup-shaped rotary machining tool. The plug is then cooled and contracted relative to the collar, and is then unscrewed and removed. Following inspection of the vessel interior, the plug is replaced in the threaded hole and the plug shoulder portion is rewelded to the collar to provide a structurally-rigid and leak-tight joint without need for subsequent stress relieving the welded joint.

Abstract: The invention relates to air preheaters and discloses a preheater in which the air is heated in two stages of heat exchange, the heat source being flue gases. Air to be heated is passed along a path having two portions. Air in the second portion is in heat exchange relation with the flue gases and air in the first portion is in heat exchange relation with air in the second portion. By this means, direct heat exchange between flue gases and cold air is avoided, with the consequent reduction in the risk of condensation of harmful fluids from the flue gases. The respective portions of the air flow path are normally one within the other, enabling the conduit defining the inner portion to be removed without interfering with the flue gas ducting.

Abstract: A steam separating apparatus wherein a first separating unit receives a steam-water mixture and discharges said mixture in a substantially tangential direction against an impingement plate to separate some water from said mixture. A second separating unit is disposed in a fluid flow relation to the first separating unit and includes a plurality of plates together formed into a closed circular configuration. The latter plates are shaped in a manner to define a plurality of irregular paths for the passage of said mixture so that said mixture impinges on said plates as it passes through said paths to separate additional water from said mixture.

Abstract: A reactor in which a plurality of vertical panels are disposed in a vessel and are constructed and arranged so as to form three combustion cells. Three of the panels each form a common wall between adjacent cells, and each cell is heated by a fluidized bed.

Abstract: A process for preparing a gas stream containing sulfur dioxide and water for reaction with coal to convert the sulfur dioxide to gaseous elemental sulfur. Water is initially removed from the gas stream to increase the percentage of sulfur dioxide in the stream after which the gas stream is passed through the flame of a burner to add combustion gases to the gas stream. Steam is then mixed with the gas stream to increase the percentage of water in the gas stream before it is reacted with the coal.

Abstract: A heat recovery process for use in gasification of solid carbonaceous fuel such as coal utilizing a fluidized bed of char. The vapor and entrained char dusts rise from a gasification section into a gas solids disengaging section and into a heat recovery section, from which a major portion of the char solids are returned to the gasification section. The vapor and some retaining fine solids pass upwardly into the cooling section containing a fluidized bed of char particles maintained at a temperature of about 800.degree.-1500.degree. F. by a cooling fluid to solidify sticky ash on the char particles. The char containing the sticky ash is then returned to the lower gasification section for reheating and further gasification reactions. The remaining fine solids are separated from vapors and returned to the lower fluidized beds, and a clean product gas stream is withdrawn.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor system for introducing heat energy into or removing heat energy from fluidized reactants undergoing reaction includes, in a first embodiment, a fluidized bed reactor for fluidizing a particulate material in a fluidizing medium and a heat generator for supplying heat energy to the fluidized bed. A plurality of heat pipes interconnect the heat generator and the fluidized bed reactor with the evaporator portions of the heat pipes extending into the heat generator and the condenser portions thereof extending into the fluidized bed. Thermal energy from the heat generator is absorbed by the evaporator portions of the heat pipes and conveyed through the heat pipes to the condenser portions where the thermal energy is transferred to the fluidized bed.

Abstract: The invention relates to air heaters and provides a means by which the operation of heat exchangers therein can be sustained at an optimum efficiency. The invention proposes the incorporation of a preheater (16) for incoming unheated air which can be selectively thermally coupled to heated air in an outlet duct (12) from the heat exchanger (4). During normal operation the heated air bypasses the thermal coupling, but when the temperature of the incoming unheated air is particularly low, the coupling is made and the incoming air thereby preheated to ensure efficient operation of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A vapor generating system including an upright furnace section formed by a plurality of tubes, a portion of which extends vertically and a portion of which extends at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane for passing fluid through the length of the furnace section to convert a portion of the fluid to vapor or to heat the fluid. Each angularly extending tube portion bifurcates into two vertical tube portions and a bifurcate fixture is provided at the junction between the respective tube portions. Each of the bifurcates connecting the angularly extending tube portions to their respective vertical tube portions in the upper portion of the furnace section includes a splitter plate to distribute the fluid in the angular tube portion equally to two vertical tube portions.

Abstract: A combustion system and method for a coal-fired furnace in which a separator-nozzle assembly divides a coal-air mixture into a first stream containing most of the coal and a second stream containing a much smaller quantity of coal. Another nozzle is provided which receives another mixture of coal and air and discharges same in a combustion supporting relation to said streams. At start up and low loads, the separator-nozzle assembly discharges a majority of the coal and air in a combustion supporting relationship and the other nozzle discharges a relatively low quantity of coal and air. At high load conditions, the other nozzle discharges a majority of the coal and air while the coal and air discharging from the separator-nozzle assembly is kept at relatively low values. A splitter is provided for receiving a coal-air mixture from a mill and splitting it into two separate mixtures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing and distributing solid material in which the material is continuously introduced into a vessel and a pressurized gas is introduced into the lower portion of the vessel at a velocity sufficient to pass upwardly through the material in the vessel to promote mixing of the material. A plurality of outlets are disposed in an angularly spaced relation along the vessel for permitting the material to continuously discharge to a plurality of selected locations. The excess gas in the vessel is removed, cleaned and introduced back into the vessel.

Abstract: A sonic cleaning device and method for removing accumulated fine particles from surfaces such as in heat exchangers using sonic energy vibrations. In the invention, a gas is passed through a tube having internally corrugated walls and having the tube outlet end attached to the inlet end of an expanding horn. The gas flows past the corrugations at high velocity and produces high intensity sonic vibrations within the tube, and the vibrations are amplified by passage through the horn. The horn outlet is directed at a surface to be cleaned and the accumulated particles are fluidized by the sonic energy and removed from the surface by the flowing gas and/or by gravity.

Abstract: An adjustable classifier for the separation of fluid-suspended solid particles in industrial processes and by which the relative proportion of acceptably fine and unacceptably coarse solid particles may be regulated. Adjustability is achieved in an otherwise static classifier structure in which a fluid stream of multi-sized particles is passed through a curved path, by the provision of interleaved fingers movable from a retracted inactive position against an outer boundary surface defining the curved path to an extended position into the stream to re-entrain all particles moved against the outer boundary surface back into the fluid stream. Fine particles so re-entrained will pass from the classifier and relatively coarse particles will be rejected by centrifugal action. The invention also contemplates an adjustable plate member by which the velocity of the fluid stream may be regulated independently of the aforementioned fingers.

Abstract: Apparatus for expanding a tube within a tube sheet has an insert and a detonation device. The insert is sized to fit coaxially within the tube. The detonation device encircles the insert and can produce upon detonation an explosive force. Also included is an annular buffer sized to fit between the tube and the detonation device. In operation, the tube is inserted into a tube hole of the tube sheet. The insert is coaxially positioned within the tube and within the tube hole. The insert is overlayed with an explosive layer and the buffer is interposed between the explosive layer and the tube. The tube is joined to the tube sheet by detonating the explosive layer.

Abstract: A fluidized bed heat exchanger in which a perforated plate is disposed within a housing for supporting a bed of particulate material which is introduced into the housing through an inlet. Air is passed through the plate to fluidize the particulate material and a drain pipe is provided for discharging the spent material from the bed. The flow rate of air introduced into the bed is increased in a direction across said bed from said inlet to said drain pipe to promote the circulation of the bed materials from the inlet to the drain pipe.

Abstract: A fluidized bed heat exchanger having a perforated support plate supporting relatively lightweight absorbent material particles and relatively heavy fuel ash particles includes a drain through which a flow of air defining a separating air screen retains the adsorbent material particles in the bed but allows the fuel ash particles to fall into the drain.

Abstract: A combined mode program-panel controller method for a distributed industrial process control system permits a system operator to configure the overall system architecture to control the sequential operation of the entire system or a sub-portion thereof. The program-panel controller includes a first user accessible graphic program by which the system architecture can be symbolically reconfigured and a second user accessible instruction set program by which the operating parameters of the so-configured system or a sub-portion thereof may be altered.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and distributing solid material in which the material is continuously introduced into a vessel and a pressurized gas is introduced into the lower portion of the vessel at a velocity sufficient to pass upwardly through the material in the vessel to promote mixing of the material. A plurality of outlets are disposed in an angularly spaced relation along the vessel for permitting the material to continuously discharge to a plurality of selected locations.

Abstract: A fluidized bed boiler, and a method of operating same in which air is passed through a grate to fluidize a bed of particulate material containing fossil fuel disposed on the grate. A raw acceptor for the sulfur produced as a result of the combustion of the fuel is introduced into the housing and confined within an area of the housing isolated from the bed of particulate material. The area containing the acceptor is maintained at conditions optimal for calcining the acceptor, after which the latter is introduced into the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor in which a grate is disposed in a housing for receiving a single bed of particulate material. The interior of the housing below the grate is divided into a plurality of zones and air is selectively passed through portions of the grate to fluidize corresponding portions of the bed above the zones. A plurality of air distributors are provided in the bed for reducing the height of the particulate material accumulating in various portions of the bed.