Abstract: A system for feeding and pumping of less pumpable material in a conduit line (28) is disclosed, comprising at least one main pump (10) for feeding of said less pumpable material into the conduit line (28), and a receiver unit (50) for receipt of the less pumpable material from the conduit line (28), wherein one or more independent driven compensators (40) are included in the conduit line (28) to maintain stable flow, said one or more compensators (40) being a fillable chamber (14;70) adapted to controllably being pressurized for additional feeding of the material through the conduit line.

Abstract: A method of treating a material to recover an oil from the material comprises heating the material to evaporate the oil, removing gas phase fluids from the material, and separating the oil from the gas phase fluids removed from the material, wherein the method includes mixing hot vapor with the material. The material being treated in the chamber is heated by friction within the chamber generated by a rotating shaft and flail. Injection of hot vapor improves the efficiency of the process to separate oil and any other evaporable liquids at lower temperatures. The thermal energy generated within the chamber is not consumed in changing the phase of large quantities of liquids in the material, and more of the energy generated is available to heat up the material and evaporate the oil fractions from the solids.

Abstract: A method of treating a material to recover an oil from the material comprises heating the material to evaporate the oil, removing gas phase fluids from the material, and separating the oil from the gas phase fluids removed from the material, wherein the method includes mixing hot vapour with the material. The material being treated in the chamber is heated by friction within the chamber generated by a rotating shaft and flail. Injection of hot vapour improves the efficiency of the process to separate oil and any other evaporable liquids at lower temperatures. The thermal energy generated within the chamber is not consumed in changing the phase of large quantities of liquids in the material, and more of the energy generated is available to heat up the material and evaporate the oil fractions from the solids.

Abstract: The process separates oil and water from a sludge mixture by directing the sludge mixture into a rapidly rotating friction dryer having a cylindrical chamber with a smooth inner surface and a rotating rotor having rotor arms extending into closely spaced relation to the inner surface of the chamber. The rotor is rapidly rotated to form an annular bed of the sludge material while moving the material particles in the mixture axially and tangentially and while frictionally generating heat between the rotor arms and the sludge material sufficient to evaporate the water in the sludge material to steam. At the same time, the oil in the mixture is heated by the steam and evaporated at a temperature below the normal atmospheric boiling point of the oil. Thereafter, the separated evaporated oil and the steam are removed from the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring the assembly of threaded components including a station (13) at which two threaded components are to be threadably interengaged, a heat sensor (11) located at the station and positioned to sense the temperatures of the threaded coupling (15) whilst being threadably engaged or disengaged, an output associated with the sensor which is adapted to display (17) an indication of the temperatures of the coupling (15) during assembly or disassembly of the components.

Abstract: A carriage assembly is shown for moving equipment for testing or other functions along a wall surface. The carriage assembly includes a main frame for supporting the equipment in relationship to other equipment and to the wall surface, and a sub-frame that supports service lines such as wires and hoses, while isolating loads created by moving the service lines with the carriage from the main frame and the mounted equipment and providing an unobstructed field of view of the subject area under examination. Wheels mounted on the carriage assembly for providing the interface with the wall surface include fixed position wheels and adjustable wheels to compensate for irregularities along the wall surface. At least one of the fixed position wheels or the adjustable wheels are magnetic for holding the carriage against a ferrous or magnetic wall surface.

Abstract: A method for thermo-mechanical cracking and hydrogenation of chemical substances such as hydrocarbons in liquid or solid form, waxes, carbonates, lime, oil-shale, oil-sand, oily residue from refineries and crude tank bottoms, plast and the like. The cracking and the hydrogenating of the substances in the presence of hydrogen releasing chemicals as water is performed in a mechanical established fluidized bed (8) of fine grained solids where the mechanical action in the fluidized bed (8) generates the heat participating in the cracking in addition to the mechanical action to the substances whereby the cracking in the cavitating micro bubbles and the hydrogenation takes place in the reactor (1) with an overall temperature and pressure lower than by conventional cracking and/or hydrogenation processes.

Abstract: A method of drying organic or inorganic material or a mixture thereof, said material containing a liquid or liquids, which comprises introducing said material interiorly of a rotating rotor carrying on its periphery oscillating rotor blades, said rotor rotating about the axis of a process chamber having an inner surface with substantially axially extending ribs, said rotating rotor causing the material introduced interiorly of said rotor to be propelled radially outwardly of said axis of rotation and to expel liquid or liquids from said materials, and the oscillating rotor blades and the opposing ribs causing vibrational forces and turbulence to be induced into the outwardly flowing liquid so as to form a mist. Apparatus for carrying out said method is also described.