Abstract: A high efficiency space conditioning process and apparatus for heating and cooling utilizing an absorption cycle in the nature of absorption heat pumps for heating and cooling. The invention provides a process and apparatus having a higher Coefficient of Performance than conventional absorption heat pumps by utilization of a substantially saturated salt solution cycle between the absorber and generator wherein salt is crystallized to the solid phase in the generator and the heat of crystallization is utilized for refrigerant vaporization occurring simultaneously.

Abstract: This invention relates to a floating seal system for rotary devices to reduce gas leakage around the rotary device in a duct and across the face of the rotary device to an adjacent duct. The peripheral seal bodies are made of resilient material having a generally U-shaped cross section wherein one of the legs is secured to a support member and the other of the legs forms a contacting seal against the rotary device. The legs of the peripheral seal form an extended angle of intersection of about 10.degree. to about 30.degree. in the unloaded condition to provide even sealing forces around the periphery of the rotary device. The peripheral seal extends around the periphery of the support member except where intersected by radial seals which reduce gas leakage across the face of the rotary device and between adjacent duct portions.

Abstract: A process for gas production and accelerated bioleaching of organic materials by acid forming bacteria in beds of organic solids, such as landfills, passing the leachate of hydrolysis and liquefaction products of microbial action of the microorganisms with the organic material to an acid phase digestion zone to regenerate an activated culture of acid forming microorganisms for recirculation to the bioleaching zone. The supernatant from the acid phase digestion zone may be passed to a methane phase digestion zone operated under conditions to produce methane rich gas. The supernatant from the methane phase digestion zone containing nutrients for the acid forming microorganisms and added sewage sludge or other desired nutrient materials may be circulated to the acid phase digestion zone or to the bioleaching zone. Low Btu gas is withdrawn from the acid phase digestion zone while high Btu gas is withdrawn from the methane phase digestion zone and may be upgraded for use in SNG.

Abstract: A process for hydrogen production by water electrolysis and a process of depolarizing the anode of a water electrolysis cell by oxidizing a biomass product which may be monosaccharides, lignins, and mixtures thereof. The process of this invention avoids molecular oxygen evolution and results in high purity hydrogen at cell potentials substantially less than required for normal water electrolysis involving oxygen evolution. The process utilizes biomass products which are readily available and cost effective. High consumption of biomass product is achieved with an anode of lead-rich ruthenium polychlore compounds.

Abstract: A continuous electrolyte flow electrochemical cell having an outer tubular shaped electrode, a central electron conducting current collector shaft extending through the central portion of the tubular electrode, the current collector shaft having projecting radially therefrom a plurality of electron conducting extensions spaced to permit flow of liquid electrolyte therethrough forming a counterelectrode. In a preferred embodiment the outer tubular electrode is separated from the inner counterelectrode by a concentric tubular shaped separator permitting separated flow of two electrolytes therethrough, one through the annular electrolyte space between the separator and the electrode, and a second through the tubular counterelectrode chamber within the separator. The invention provides a high efficiency, continuous electrolyte flow electrochemical cell particularly well suited for use in heterogeneous electrochemical reaction processes, such as coal depolarized water electrolysis.

Abstract: Motor fuel composition of about 5 to 50 weight percent methanol, ethanol or mixtures thereof in gasoline with a minor amount of a selected surface active agent which significantly increases the water tolerance of the gasoline-alcohol fuel composition. Suitable surface active additive agents include higher alcohols, higher primary amines, alkyl amides and urea, alkyl ethers and dioxane and alkylphenoxy-polyethoxylated ethanols.

Abstract: A gas filtration apparatus and process is disclosed combining heating to maintain undesired material in the form of liquid droplets, sonic agglomeration and porous cross flow filtration. The apparatus and process are particularly suited to gas streams comprising particulates and/or liquid droplets of under 10 microns in diameter, such as the effluent gas stream of coal gasifiers, which are at a high temperature and high pressure. Liquid droplets in the gas stream are agglomerated by sonic agglomeration, and a portion of the gas stream is then passed through a porous cross flow filter element for separation of the agglomerates resulting in a clean gas stream by a continuous, low pressure drop and self-cleaning filtration process. The gas stream may be seeded to enhance agglomeration and/or to induce chemical reaction of undesired gaseous components for their removal as liquids.

Abstract: A process for substantial removal of nitrogen and sulfur compounds from gas streams, particularly fuel gas mixtures produced from sulfur and nitrogen containing coal or other carbonaceous fuels, by contacting the gas stream with solid zinc oxide at elevated temperatures in a reaction zone. The process provides a continuous method of removal of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide by contacting the gas stream with zinc oxide solids and regenerating the sulfided zinc in a fluidized bed regeneration zone by contact with oxygen containing gas at elevated temperatures. The process provides simultaneous removal of sulfur and nitrogen components of a fuel gas stream without requiring a decrease in the temperature of the fuel gas stream.

Abstract: A process for withdrawing agglomerated solids, e.g. ash, from a fluidized bed of finely divided solid hydrocarbonaceous material, e.g. coal, is described. Agglomeration is effected by a high temperature reaction between the inorganic constituents of the hydrocarbonaceous material in the fluidized bed environment. A venturi is utilized to serve as a passage for withdrawing the agglomerated solids from the fluidized bed. Spiral or other descending ridges are positioned on the interior surface of the constricted cylindrical opening of the venturi to permit variable and increased rates of agglomerate discharge with improved separation and classification of the solid materials.

Abstract: A solar energy desalination process utilizing solar radiation directly for the evaporation of salt water is described. Ambient air takes on water vapor as the air passes through an evaporative medium. It is then directed between a saline water-covered, solar absorbing surface and a solar collecting housing. The resulting heated and moisture-saturated air is cooled in a heat exchange means where condensation of fresh water occurs. Simultaneously, cool salt water is utilized as the cooling water in the heat exchange means, and takes on the heat of condensation given up by the condensing vapor. The heated salt water from the heat exchange means is partially directed over the solar absorbing surface, and at least a portion of it is also directed to wet the evaporative medium. Several optional sub-processes are described for operation of the system during periods of reduced insolation, and an alternative process is described for operation of the process on a floating platform.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for desulfurization of gas streams by which reduced sulfur compound, such as H.sub.2 S, is reacted with solid sulfur removal metal oxide compound which is an oxide of chromium, combination of zinc and chromium, combination of zinc and aluminum and mixtures thereof at about 400.degree. to about 1600.degree. F. producing sulfided sulfur removal compound followed by regeneration of the sulfided compound by contact with oxygen containing gas at temperatures about 1400.degree. to about 2400.degree. F. to regenerate the sulfur removal metal oxide compound with at least 10 weight percent of the sulfur removed being in the form of elemental sulfur. The process does not consume valuable fuels, such as coke or fuel gases, and provides an environmentally acceptable off-gas with reduced amounts of SO.sub.x.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for in situ biological beneficiation of peat and hydraulic harvesting of organic carbonaceous material from a peat deposit. The process is particularly suitable for production of hydrocarbon fuel from peat wherein peat is contact in situ in a peat deposit with an aqueous solution of hydrolysis promoting agent hydrolyzing organic carbonaceous components of the peat to produce hydrolysis products, passing the hydrolysis products to an active fermentation zone in situ in the peat deposit to produce fermentation products, passing the fermentation products, remaining hydrolysis products and organic carbonaceous materials leached from the peat by the aqueous solution to a biological or chemical process for conversion to hydrocarbon fuel. This process provides peat deposit management while providing beneficiation of the carbonaceous material for improved conversion efficiency by chemical or biological conversion to hydrocarbon liquid or gaseous fuels.

Abstract: A process for separation of carbon dioxide and sulfur containing compounds from a gas stream including the step of feeding the liquid physical solvent absorbent containing dissolved carbon dioxide and sulfur containing gases into the central region of a fractionating column and introducing liquid physical solvent absorbent substantially free from dissolved gases in the upper region of the fractionating column while maintaining the fractionating column under conditions of temperature and pressure whereby at least one of the undesired gases passes from the upper region of the column and the liquid physical solvent absorbent containing remaining dissolved gases passes from the lower region and introduction of feed to the fractionating column is at a location of the column at approximately the position wherein the column contents composition under operating conditions is the same as the feed composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to lithium-germanium containing electrodes for electrical energy storage batteries, batteries containing such electrodes and a process for fabrication of such electrodes from materials in the charged and uncharged state. The electro-chemically active material may be a binary alloy of lithium-germanium or ternary alloys of lithium-germanium-silicon and lithium-germanium-aluminum. Negative electrodes for electrical storage batteries fabricated according to this invention provide batteries having improved stability over prior art lithium containing electrodes and provides a particularly advantageous negative electrode for use in lithium-metal sulfide batteries having improved stability.

Abstract: An electrochemical zinc-oxygen cell is disclosed which has annular electrodes wherein oxygen flows through the central portion of a diffusion cathode and a liquid electrolyte flows between a separator surrounding the diffusion cathode and concentric anode spaced from the separator. The disclosed cell may be recharged electrochemically or by replenishment of active zinc particles in the electrolyte exterior to the cell. The electrochemical cell of the present invention provides a zinc-oxygen cell having a zinc anode surface providing more even contact with the active electrolyte and more even surface upon repeated electrochemical recharging than prior cells while permitting higher pressure differentials across the oxygen diffusion cathode structure than prior art cells.

Abstract: A process for hydrogen production by water electrolysis and a process of depolarizing the anode of a water electrolysis cell by oxidizing a biomass product which may be monosaccharides, lignins, and mixtures thereof. The process of this invention avoids molecular oxygen evolution and results in high purity hydrogen at cell potentials substantially less than required for normal water electrolysis involving oxygen evolution. The process utilizes biomass products which are readily available and cost effective.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for production of synthetic hydrocarbon fuels from peat providing wide variation of the composite proportion of liquid-gas output while maintaining high overall carbon conversion to useful fuel. The process and apparatus utilizes three process stages in a single vessel providing functions of drying wet peat, provisions for addition of both wet and dry peat to a hydropyrolysis zone and gasification of the peat char.

Abstract: A hybrid bio-thermal liquefaction process for improved carbonaceous liquefaction to produce alcohol containing fuels wherein an organic carbonaceous feed is subjected to active fermentation producing alcohol containing liquid fuel product and fermentation residue, the fermentation residue being introduced into a thermochemical converter and at least a substantial portion of the organic carbon component of the residue converted under elevated temperature conditions producing thermochemical converter products and thermochemical residue with a portion of at least one of the thermochemical products or their derivatives, or thermochemical residue being passed to the fermentation reactor. The process provides high overall process energy efficiencies and utilizes the total agricultural biomass crop thereby greatly reducing waste disposal problems.

Abstract: Gas flow through electrodes for electrochemical cells having a porous flow through matrix with electrocatalysts supported on the surfaces of the matrix within the pores, the pores providing a through route for a metastable colloid of electrochemically reducible or oxidizable gas bubbles in liquid electrolyte, with absorption of some of the gaseous component on the walls of the pores. Improved depolarization of the electrode provides long life and stable gas flow through electrodes for electrochemical cells.

Abstract: A process for improved gas production and accelerated stabilization of landfills by accelerated in situ bioleaching of organic wastes by acid forming bacteria in substantially sealed landfills, passing the leachate of hydrolysis and liquefaction products of microbial action of the microorganisms with the organic material to an acid phase digester to regenerate the activated culture of acid forming microorganisms for recirculation to the landfill, passing the supernatant from the acid phase digester to a methane phase digester operated under conditions to produce methane rich gas. The supernatant from the methane phase digester containing nutrients for the acid forming microorganisms and added sewage sludge or other desired nutrient materials are circulated through the landfill. Low Btu gas is withdrawn from the acid phase digester while high Btu gas is withdrawn from the methane phase digester and may be upgraded for use as SNG.