Abstract: The method of protecting a surface in a gasifier which is normally an exposed surface in the gasifier. The method includes forming a refractory attachment with a securement surface that confronts the protectable surface in the gasifier and mechanically securing the refractory attachment onto the protectable surface in the gasifier without the refractory attachment penetrating the protectable surface. Such mechanical securing is achieved by providing a latch which if formed of complementary shapes of the securement surface and the protectable surface.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a process for producing synthetic hydrocarbon products in a reactor. The focus of the present invention is on a novel filtering system for separating synthetic hydrocarbon products from catalyst within the reactor. The filtering system of the present invention could also be used for a variety of similar processes where it is desirable to separate a solid from a liquid within the solid/liquid mixture. Finally, the present invention discloses a novel filter and a method for making the filter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the recovery of elemental carbon or soot produced during the partial oxidation reaction of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel and oxygen. An effluent stream of raw synthesis gas or syngas with entrained carbon soot is produced during the partial oxidation reaction. A filter cake (2) is fed to a receiving bin (10) and then to a lockhopper (14) where the wet filter cake is pressurized. Wet filter cake/oil feed mixture from lockhopper (14) is fed through line (38) to knockout vessel (44) wherein oil and water vapor exit (50) to a gasifier. An oil feed/particulate carbon mixture exits lockhopper (14) through lines (66) and (70) to oil feed storage drum (26), fed by oil feed (24), and exits water-free mixture of oil and solids (76) to a gasifier reaction zone.

Abstract: An optical leak detector for use with a cooling system is described. The optical leak detector includes a light source, a light detector, and a conversion device. The light source is optically coupled to the light detector by way of an optical path. The light detector generates an electronic signal in response to light received from the light source. The conversion device, which is attached to the light detector, generates an electronic signal in response to the amount of light received from the light source. This electronic signal can indicate if a leak has occurred in the cooling system by the traversal of a entrapped gas bubble across the optical path formed by the light source and the light detector.

Abstract: An improved apparatus including a thermocouple for measuring the temperature in a gasification process is provided. The improvement includes a sapphire reinforced outer protection tube for enclosing at least a portion of the thermocouple. The sapphire reinforced outer protection tube may be integrally formed around an inner protection tube, the inner protection tube being receptive of a sapphire-sheathed thermocouple. The apparatus may be inserted directly into a gasification stream without the use of a thermowell. The sapphire reinforced outer protection tube increases the life of the thermocouples used in gasification processes.

Abstract: This invention involves heat integration of a solvent deasphalting process with a gasification process and an improved process for separating a resin phase from a solvent solution comprising a solvent, deasphalted oil (DAO) and resin. This improved process comprises heating the solvent solution so as to precipitate the resin from the solvent solution, and then separating the resin and some solvent from the solvent solution. This will produce a resin product and a mixture comprising the DAO and the remaining solvent. The DAO/solvent mixture is then boiled so as to vaporize a fraction of the solvent, with waste heat from a gasification unit providing the heat source for the boiling. The vaporized solvent is removed from the DAO/solvent mixture leaving a resin-free DAO product that contains any unvaporized solvent. The vaporized solvent is used for heating the aforementioned solvent solution and preheating the resin-free DAO/solvent mixture.

Abstract: A corrosion sensor for sensing corrosion in a pipeline. The sensor includes a housing and a device for joining the housing to a wall of an enclosure that receives a fluid. The sensor also includes a rupture member which extends across a portion of the housing to define a sealed chamber in the housing. The rupture member, upon rupture, provides an opening to the sealed chamber. The rupture member is formed of a material and thickness such that the rupture member will fail from corrosion before the enclosure wall will fail from corrosion. The rupture member is arranged such that fluid received in the enclosure can contact the rupture member. The sensor also includes a sensory device which is connected to the housing at the sealed chamber to signal a rupture condition of the rupture member when the sealed chamber opens.

Abstract: A test method and apparatus for determining the content of carboxylic acid-based corrosion inhibitors in a coolant or heat exchange fluid. The amount of acidic reagent added to the coolant or fluid between two pH equilibrium points is measured to determine the amount of inhibitors. The refractive index can be measured to determine the amount of freezing point depressant.

Abstract: The self-anchoring expansion gap assembly for refractory lined vessels such as a gasifier includes a substantially annular insulating blanket structure formed of compressible refractory material. A coil of rope formed of relatively incompressible refractory material is positioned proximate an outer periphery of the insulating blanket structure. The expansion gap assembly is placed in an expansion gap of a gasifier, for example, such that the coil of rope aligns with an annular channel formed in the refractory lining of the gasifier at the expansion gap. Compression of the expansion gap assembly locks the coil of rope in the annular channel of the expansion gap thereby resisting vacuum pullout. The coil of rope can be formed as a single coil or a plurality of substantially concentric coils preferably from a single length of refractory rope.

Abstract: The high intracellular water content contained within the cell walls of the bacterial cells of a dewatered biosludge is reduced by removing the intracellular water in a denaturing operation. This operation comprises heating the biosludge at a temperature sufficient to weaken the bacterial cell walls. The weakened cell walls are then exposed to a reduced pressure sufficient to form vapor within the cell and to thus rupture the weakened cell walls and thereby release the intracellular water in the form of a hot aqueous vapor and/or released intracellular water. The water-reduced concentrated biosludge can then serve as a fuel source in a partial oxidation reaction for the production of synthesis gas.

Abstract: A mooring system and method for mooring in deep and ultra deep water which allows conventional shallow water floating platforms and vessels to be moored in deep and ultra deep water using a conventional shallow water mooring system, while maintaining an acceptable watch circle. A plurality of buoys are placed at a specific depth below the ocean surface and are tethered at high tension to the ocean floor such that the buoys remain stationary. A shallow water floating platform or vessel can then be moored to the buoys using a conventional mooring system, being in effect “fooled” into believing that the sea bottom is shallower than it actually is.

Abstract: Corrosion protection of magnesium and aluminum alloys in engine coolants and heat-exchange fluids is achieved by the use of a select group of aliphatic and aromatic carboxylate acids or the alkaline metal, ammonium or amine salts thereof in combination with a fluoride and/or a fluorocarboxylic acid or salt thereof. These compositions have been found to significantly improve the high temperature magnesium corrosion protection properties of coolants, and are of use in automobile engine coolant systems.

Abstract: A catalyst characterized by its ability to hydrotreat a charge hydrocarbon feed containing components boiling above 1000° F., and sediment-formers, sulfur, metals, asphaltenes, carbon residue, and nitrogen is prepared by mulling a porous alumina support with a salt of a Group VIII metal oxide and with a salt of a Group VI-B metal oxide in the presence of an acid to provide a mixture, by extruding the mixture to form an extrudate, by drying the extrudate and by subjecting the dried extrudate to hydrothermal calcination to provide the catalyst.

Abstract: A composition for lubricating the top of a rail is disclosed. The composition is composed of: (a) 25 to 45 wt % of a first polyoxyalkylene glycol comprising a linear copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide copolymer and having an average molecular weight of about 2,500; (b) 0.5 to 3.0 wt % of a second polyoxyalkylene glycol comprising a linear copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide copolymer and having an average molecular weight of about 12,000; (c) 5 to 35 wt % of a solvent; and (d) a rust inhibitor. Methods of making and using the composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved method to detect water influx using video monitoring of a cased wellbore is disclosed. A wireline well tool having a video camera and a light source is lowered into a selected borehole interval where water influx is suspected. The borehole fluid over the selected interval is displaced and replaced with either a water transparent mixture containing a viscosifying agent, a coloring agent and/or sufficient salt to increase mixture density; or a transparent water insoluble solvent. By use of either of these displacement fluids, the quality of video monitoring over the selected borehole interval for water influx, is enhanced.

Abstract: A hydrocarbyl polyoxyalkylene aminoalcohol of the general formula wherein R1 is an alkyl, an alicyclic or an alkylalicyclic radical having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms or an alkylaryl where the alkyl group is from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms; x is an integer from 0 to about 5, y is an integer from 1 to about 49, z is an integer from 1 to about 49 and the sum of x+y+z is equal to 3 to about 50; R2 and R3 each is different and is an alkyl group of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and each oxyalkylene radical can be any combination of repeating oxyalkylene units to form random or block copolymers; R4 is the same as R2 or R3; R5 is hydrogen or where R7 is hydrogen or an alkyl group of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms and R6 is hydrogen or an alkyl group of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms and an internal combustion engine fuel composition containing same are provided.

Abstract: A corrosion sensor (20) for sensing corrosion includes a housing (28) and a device (36) for jointing the housing (28) to a wall of a pipeline (10) that receives a fluid (24). The sensor (20) also includes a rupture member (44) which extends across a portion of the housing (28) to define a seal chamber (48) in the housing (28). The rupture member (44), upon rupture, provides an opening to the sealed chamber (48). The rupture member (44) is formed of a material and thickness such that the rupture member (44) will fail from corrosion before the enclosure wall will fail from corrosion. The sensor also includes a sensory device (100) which is connected to the housing (28) at the sealed chamber (48) to signal a rupture condition.

Abstract: A two-cycle engine fuel composition comprising (a) a major amount of a two-cycle engine fuel; (b) a lubricant component; and, (c) a two-cycle engine fuel combustion deposit-inhibiting amount of at least one hydrocarbyl polyoxyalkylene aminoalcohol of the general formula wherein R1 is an alkyl, an alicyclic or an alkylalicyclic radical having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms or an alkylaryl where the alkyl group is from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms; x is an integer from 0 to about 5, y is an integer from 1 to about 49, z is an integer from 1 to about 49 and the sum of x+y+z is equal to 3 to about 50; R2 and R3 each is different and is an alkyl group of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and each oxyalkylene radical can be any combination of repeating oxyalkylene units to form random or block copolymers; R4 is the same as R2 or R3; R5 is hydrogen or where R7 is hydrogen or an alkyl group of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms and R6 is hydrogen or an alkyl group of from 1 to 5