Abstract: A catalytic process for gas phase oxidative coupling of aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon compounds to produce higher molecular weight hydrocarbon compounds, the catalyst being a mixed basic metal oxide or sulfide catalyst. One preferred mixed basic metal oxide catalyst is boron/alkali metal promoted metal oxide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating and introducing an acoustic signal into a piping system, such as a natural gas distribution system. A first case is sealably secured to a second case to form a diaphragm case. A diaphragm is sealably positioned within the diaphragm case between the first case and the second case. The first case and the diaphragm define a first chamber and the second case and the diaphragm define a second chamber. The first chamber is preferably in communication with the ambient atmosphere and operates at atmospheric pressure. The diaphragm case is one component of a pressure regulator that has an inlet and an outlet for connecting the pressure regulator within a piping system. The pressure regulator regulates fluid pressure within the piping system, downstream from the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator has a valve plug and a valve stem connected to the valve plug. An opposite end of the valve stem is connected to the diaphragm.

Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell start-up process wherein at least one cell unit having a metallic cathode, a metallic anode, and green tapes of electrolyte matrix and electrolyte carbonate between the cathode and anode is heated to temperatures about 250.degree. to about 350.degree. C. in the presence of oxygen-containing gas with continued heating to temperatures above the melting point of the carbonate electrolyte in the presence of inert gas and about 0.5 to about 10 mole percent hydrogen, based upon the total gas composition, and maintaining temperatures above the melting point of the carbonate electrolyte for a time sufficient for the carbonate to distribute itself to the cell components, and then introducing oxidant gas to contact the cathode and fuel gas to contact the anode for operation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A furnace for combustion wherein a combustion chamber is configured such that waste can be advanced from a drying zone, to a combustion zone, to a burnout zone, and then into an ash pit. An air source provides air for drying, combustion and burnout in a primary combustion zone (PCZ). Fuel or a fuel/recirculated flue gas mixture is injected above the PCZ to create a mostly reducing substoichiometric secondary combustion zone (SCZ), to reduce NO.sub.x and decompose other nitrogen bearing compounds entering the SCZ. Vitiated air is injected into the combustion chamber above the mostly reducing SCZ. A process for combustion of the waste includes introducing the waste into the combustion chamber, advancing the waste through the combustion chamber, supplying combustion air to the combustion chamber for drying and combusting the waste and final ash burnout, and removing ash products from the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ultra-low pollutant emission combustion of fossil fuel wherein an elongated cyclonic primary combustion chamber has a cross-sectional area about 4 to about 30 percent that of an elongated cyclonic secondary combustion chamber and a volume about 1 to about 20 percent the combined primary and secondary combustion chamber volume. A first fuel portion of about 1 percent to about 20 percent of the total fuel and primary combustion air in an amount selected from about 40 to about 90 percent and about 140 percent to about 230 percent of the stoichiometric requirement for complete combustion of the first fuel portion is introduced into the primary combustion chamber. A second fuel portion of about 80 to about 99 percent of the total fuel is introduced into the secondary combustion chamber with secondary combustion air in an amount of about 150 percent to about 260 percent of the stoichiometric requirement for complete combustion of the fuel.

Abstract: A process for thermal treatment of solid particles in a fluidized bed wherein the solid particles by thermal treatment form a lighter weight fraction and a heavier weight fraction, relative to the total contents of the bed. The process is characterized by use of a selective heavier particle discharge conduit in the sloping bed support and maintenance of a discrete fluid fueled flame in close proximity to and above the opening to the heavier particle discharge conduit. This forms a higher temperature zone in and surrounding the flame, at least about 100.degree. F. higher than the remainder bed temperature. Circulation of solid particles through the flame and its surrounding higher temperature region is promoted both by directing of fluidization gas jets in the fluidized bed support and by the jetting action of the upwardly flowing heavier particle discharge gas.

Abstract: A mutant Bacillus sphaericus strain ATC No. 53969 which has the property of sulfur removal and sulfur metabolism by selective cleavage of C-S bonds in organic carbonaceous materials.

Abstract: An interchangeable plug valve having a valve body with a first through hole. An outer valve plug having a second through hole. The outer valve plug is rotatably and sealably seated within a first cavity of the valve body. The second through hole of the outer valve plug rotatably aligns with the first through hole of the valve body. The outer valve plug is retained in a seated and sealed position within the valve body. An inner valve plug is non-rotatably and sealably seated within a second cavity of the outer valve plug. A plurality of interchangeable plug valves combine to form a parallel porting valve assembly. The parallel porting valve assembly has a parallel valve body with an inlet channel cavity and an outlet channel cavity. Each interchangeable plug valve has one side of the second through hole of the outer valve plug aligned with the inlet channel cavity and the opposite side of the second through hole of the outer valve plug aligned with the outlet channel cavity of the parallel valve body.

Abstract: Substantially isothermal thermo-cyclic chemical and physical processes are achieved by conduct of the thermo-cyclic process conducting the thermo-cyclic process in thermal exchange relation with a sufficient quantity of transition thermal absorption/release material to operate the thermo-cyclic process substantially isothermally at about the transition temperature of the thermal absorption/release material during the exothermic and the endothermic portions of the thermo-cyclic process.

Abstract: A fully internally manifolded molten carbonate fuel cell stack is provided by each separator plate and electrolyte in the fuel cell stack having an aligned perforation in each corner area forming a gas manifold extending for the length of the cell stack. Each perforation through the separator plate is surrounded by a flattened manifold wet seal structure extending to contact the electrolytes on each side of the separator plates to form a separator plate/electrolyte wet seal under cell operating conditions.

Abstract: A flueless, portable low nitrogen oxides emissions, low carbon monoxide emissions space heater having a fuel chamber with a fuel inlet and a fuel distributor. The fuel inlet generates a swirling fuel flow within the fuel chamber. A primary air inlet generates a counter-swirling primary airflow with respect to the swirling fuel flow in a primary air chamber. The fuel distributor discharges the swirling fuel flow into the counter-swirling primary airflow thus forming a fuel/air mixture. An ignitor ignites the fuel/air mixture. A combustion chamber is sealably secured to and in communication with the primary air chamber. The combustion chamber wall has a plurality of secondary air supply holes. An intermediate shell surrounds the combustion chamber wall and forms a space between the intermediate shell and the combustion chamber wall. A secondary air inlet is in communication with the space between the intermediate shell and the combustion chamber wall. An outer protective shell surrounds the intermediate shell.

Abstract: A mixed basic metal oxide/sulfide catalyst having the formulaxA.yB.zC.qDwherein A is an alkali metal selected from lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium and mixtures thereof; B is a cation which has an ionization state 2 and 3 greater than the ionization state of C; B is selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, niobium, vanadium and mixtures thereof; C is selected from magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium and mixtures thereof; D is selected from oxygen, sulfur and mixtures thereof; x and y are in mole fractions of z such that when z=1 then x=0.001 to 0.25, and y=0.001 to 0.25; and q is a number necessary to maintain charge balance with D. The sulfide form provides tolerance for sulfur containing feedstocks. The catalyst is useful for oxidative coupling of methane and aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon compounds with an aromatic compound to produce higher molecular weight hydrocarbons and for dehydrogenating hydrocarbon compounds to produce unsaturated aliphatic and alicyclic chains.

Abstract: A process for slurry-phase gasification of carbonaceous feedstock materials is provided wherein feedstock materials are combined with a liquid to form a feedstock slurry. Product gases are formed from the feedstock slurry in a gasifier reaction vessel in the presence of elevated temperatures and pressures and ultrasonic energy. Gasification catalysts may be utilized to provide increased reaction rates. The process of the present invention provides enhanced conversion of carbonaceous solids feedstock to gaseous products comprising primarily methane and carbon dioxide with some higher organic liquids.

Abstract: A catalyst and a process for oxidative coupling of aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon compounds with aliphatic and alicyclic substituted aromatic hydrocarbon compounds to form a longer substituent hydrocarbon on the aromatic ring. The catalyst is mixed basic metal oxide catalyst, one preferred catalyst is boron/alkali metal promoted metal oxide. Reaction of methane with toluene and oxygen according to this invention results in conversion to styrene.

Abstract: A process for dehydrogenation of aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon compounds and aliphatic and alicyclic substituted aromatic hydrocarbon compounds to form unsaturated aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon chains. The catalyst is mixed basic metal oxide catalyst, one preferred catalyst is boron/alkali metal promoted metal oxide. Reaction of ethylbenzene according to this invention results in conversion to styrene.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for heating a regeneration stream in a thermal regenerative desiccant system having a process stream and a regeneration stream in which a desiccant component rotates through both the process and regeneration streams. The regeneration stream providing the heat required for regeneration of the desiccant is separately heated by each of a plurality of adjacent regeneration stream segments being independently heated. When desired to reduce the total heat provided the regeneration stream, the heat is first reduced only in a first of the regeneration segments contacting the desiccant component as it rotates from the process stream to the regeneration stream. The heat supplied to the first segment is further reduced until it is completely discontinued. Then when still less heat is required for regeneration, heat is reduced to a second adjacent regeneration stream radial segment until it is completely discontinued.

Abstract: A mixed basic metal sulfide catalyst having the formula:xA.yB.zC.qSwherein A is an alkali metal selected from lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium and mixtures thereof; B is a cation which has an ionization state 1 greater than the ionization state of C; B is selected from scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, actinium, aluminum, boron and mixtures thereof when C is selected from beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, radium, zinc, cadmium, mercury and mixtures thereof and B is selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, silicon and mixtures thereof when C is selected from scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, actinium, aluminum, boron and mixtures thereof; x and y are in mole fractions of z such that when z=1 then x=0.001 to 0.25, and y=0.001 to 0.25; and q is a number necessary to maintain charge balance with S being sulfur.

Abstract: A mixed-solid solution tri-metallic oxide/sulfide catalyst having the formula:M.sub.I O.sub.a S.sub.b.M.sub.II O.sub.c M.sub.III O.sub.dwherein M.sub.I is iron, nickel, cobalt and mixtures thereof and mixtures with chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, and mixtures thereof; O is oxygen; S is sulfur; a is selected from zero and a number up to a positive real number representing the stoichiometric requirement, and b is selected from zero and a number up to a positive real number representing the stoichiometric requirement, provided one of a and b is a positive real number; M.sub.II is titanium, zirconium, hafnium, and mixtures thereof; c is a positive real number up to the stoichiometric requirement; M.sub.III is lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, francium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, radium, zinc, cadmium, mercury, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, actinium, and mixtures thereof; and d is a positive real number up to the stoichiometric requirement; and wherein M.sub.I O.sub.a S.sub.

Abstract: A catalyst and process for oxidative coupling of methane, the catalyst being a mixed basic metal oxide catalyst. One preferred catalyst is boron/alkali metal promoted metal oxide.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for fluidizing solid particles by causing rotary motion of the solid particles in a fluidizing chamber by a plurality of rotating projections extending from a rotatable cylinder end wall interacting with a plurality of fixed projections extending from an opposite fixed end wall and passing the solid particles through a radial feed orifice open to the solids fluidizing chamber on one side and a solid particle utilization device on the other side. The apparatus and process are particularly suited for obtaining intermittent feeding with continual solids supply to the fluidizing chamber. The apparatus and process are suitable for injecting solid particles, such as coal, to an internal combustion engine.