Abstract: A separator plate for a chemical oxygen generator candle includes an elongate rigid thermal insulating section; and at least a first conduit section on one side of the rigid section having a multiplicity of gas flow paths for conducting released oxygen from a burning candle longitudinally along the plate for increasing the burning action of the burning portion of the candle and pre-heating the unburned portion of the candle, and for retaining gas to act as a thermal insulator when the candle is not burning. A plurality of such plates are combined to form a separator assembly for surrounding a candle and a number of such separator assemblies are combined to form a multi-candle oxygen generator.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for maintaining a controlled atmosphere within a sealed container. The device is utilized to control the oxygen and the carbon dioxide levels within the container and utilizes permeable membrane technology to control such levels. An oilless compressor is used in conjunction with the device so as to not subject the permeable membranes to the derogatory effects associated with the presence of oil within an airstream that circulates through the permeable membranes. Additionally, the compressor is preferably mounted within the sealed container so as to not subject the compressor to the effects of temperature variation and corrosive marine environments. The present device further includes an air sampling system which is used to periodically measure the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels within the container.

Abstract: An acid gas removal process employing a regenerator with an internal flash section is described. The regenerator uses gravitational flow to feed the flash section, eliminating the need for an external flash tank, and charge pump even without vacuum. The internal flash section has a first pressure side, a second pressure side having a lower pressure than the first pressure side during gas flow and a pressure reduction zone disposed therebetween. The pressure drop in the pressure reduction zone is due to liquid flow pressure losses occurring as liquid flows from said first pressure side to said second pressure side. A liquid seal between the first pressure and second pressure sides eliminates the need for a pressure let down valve. Vacuum control is provided by the first pressure side liquid level.

Abstract: A catalyst feed system is described for intermittent delivery of supported and/or prepolymerized supported catalyst to a polymerization reactor. The system incorporates valves with cylindrical sealing surfaces as well as a venting stage incorporating a filter arranged such that it is self-cleaning.

Abstract: A simplified, user-friendly method and apparatus for collecting and storing a human breath sample and for detecting and indicating whether the stored breath sample is a true alveolar sample. The invention includes in one embodiment thereof a preferably transparent container and a breath delivery device for directing a subject's breath into the container. A closure device is provided for accommodating the insertion of the breath delivery device into the container and for substantially sealing the container. A detector is provided for being positioned within the sealed container for detecting and indicating to an observer whether the breath sample stored in the container is a true alveolar sample.

Abstract: An automated method and apparatus for performing biopolymer synthesis on a two-dimensional support surface whereby a two-dimensional matrix or array of biopolymers are obtained on the surface. An applicator in the form of a thick plate having in a surface at least one cavity in the form of an open chamber or channel is used for applying reagents to the surface of a solid phase support material. The applicator is positioned over the solid support material with the surface having the cavity sealed against the material surface. For each cavity, reagents for synthesis are introduced sequentially into one end of the cavity and collected from the other end of the cavity. A one-dimensional array of biopolymers are thus formed on the support material, where each element of the array contains a population of biopolymers having identical sequence.

Abstract: Described is a chemical feeder comprising a housing having a base and upwardly extending side walls that define a cavity for containing solid chemical material, e.g., calcium hypochlorite. A hollow coaxial chamber is located within the cavity and is seated on the base. The side walls of the chamber are spaced from the side walls of the housing, thereby to define an annular collection zone. A grid having a plurality of perforations covers the hollow coaxial chamber and has a flange associated with the edge of the grid, the perimeter of the flange being adjacent to, or close to but spaced from, the walls of the housing, thereby to permit liquid communication between the portion of the housing cavity above the grid with the collection zone. An inlet conduit is used to supply dissolving liquid to the hollow chamber. An outlet conduit from the annular collection zone to outside the housing wall removes liquid solution of solid chemical material from the collection zone.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide gas is supplied to a living plant while it is illuminated with excitation light, and resulting fluorescence from the plant is detected. Then, a mixture of a carbon dioxide gas and a gas or fine particles to be monitored is supplied to the same living plant while it is illuminated with the excitation light, and resulting fluorescence from the plant is detected. Differences between temporal variations or wavelength characteristics of fluorescence intensities under the above two conditions are used to identify the gas or fine particles.

Abstract: An absorption meter determines concentration of chlorophyll a and pheophytin in liquids. Particularly, an immersible absorption meter has a light source, a reflective flow tube, a signal detector, and means for determining the difference between the absorption coefficients at a first wavelength and a second wavelength. The light source may further include a plurality of filters and a selector that selects the filters. The concentration of substances in liquids is determined by measuring the absorption of light at a first wavelength and at a second wavelength, determining the difference between the absorption coefficients for the first and second wavelengths, and converting this data into concentrations.

Abstract: An exclusive kimchi fermentor includes at least two chambers for selectively fermenting and storing kimchi. The apparatus preferably includes a fan and a heater for curing kimchi in a least one chamber during a fermentation mode. The apparatus also preferably includes an evaporator for supplying cool air into at least one of the chambers during a storage mode. A microprocessor controls the heater and the evaporator in order to selectively place the chambers in the fermenting mode or the storage mode.

Abstract: A gas treatment method and apparatus for use in connection with processes of etching semiconductor devices or of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition onto semiconductor materials. In accordance with the method and apparatus, the exhaust gases are introduced into first and second stages while heating the first and second stages. The stages can be contained within a heated cartridge. The first stage contains silicon or a silicon-rich alloy or a silicon-rich substance in a particulate form and a partial coating of copper or a copper rich substance in intimate contact with the silicon, the silicon-rich alloy or the silicon-rich substance. The second stage contains calcium oxide, a calcium oxide containing material, or a soda lime containing medium.

Abstract: An SCR reactor (50) is disclosed which permits ready removal of a catalyst bed (58) from the SCR reactor and provides an effecting sealing mechanism between the catalyst bed (58) and the frame (52) of the SCR reactor. The frame is provided with side rails (54, 56) which have individual indentations spaced therealong. The catalyst bed is provided with wheels (60A, 60B, 60C) along its length which permit the catalyst bed to be rolled along the side rails until the catalyst bed is moved into its installed position whereupon the wheels descend into the indentations (62), causing the weight of the catalyst bed to form an effective seal between a downwardly face edge (64) on the catalyst bed and the frame (52).

Abstract: A generator for producing a flow of excited oxygen in the singlet delta electronic state comprising a vacuum chamber, an inlet feed system, an internal reaction zone, a method for cooling said reaction zone, an outlet system for separating the gas from the liquid, and a means for interfacing this device to a lasing device for directing the flowing singlet delta gas into a laser cavity.

Abstract: Process and generator for generating a pesticidal gas mixture of phosphine gas and air for fumigating an enclosed environment, e.g. a grain silo with phosphine. Air, moisture content adjusted by drying or humidifying, is passed through a porous bed of aluminum phosphide or magnesium phosphide, preferably in a throw-a-way cartridge. The resulting mixture of air and phosphine gas is passed into the space. Typical humidities (which determines the phosphine concentration) are 4 g/m.sup.3 for "flow through" conditions or 12 g/m.sup.3 for "one shot" conditions of fumigation. The cartridge is fitted directly in sealing relationship between inlet and outlet adaptors to serve as the gas generator vessel of the apparatus. The cartridge, completely filled with metal phosphide in powder or granulate form, has cylindrical gas-tight side walls, flexible and stretchable to allow for expansion of the metal phosphide during hydrolysis, and porous end walls.

Abstract: A thermal conversion pyrolysis reactor system (10) is provided for use in providing a continuous flow type pyrolysis reaction for conversion of carbonizable input materials ("MW") (12). The reactor system (10) utilizes a diffusion material ("MD") (14) which is preheated and admixed with the MD (12) in order to facilitate pyrolysis and to partially catalyze reactions. Subsystems are provided to receive gaseous (30), liquid (32) and solid (32) phase outputs. The reactor system (10) includes further component subsystems for waste material MW input (22), MD input (26), reactor chamber (24), and heating (28). The MD (14) is preheated by being carried through the reactor chamber (64) prior to admixing with the MW (12) and further by exhaust gases (94) from the furnace space (88) being directed through a heat exchanger (126).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing materials, a process for mixing, finishing and de-volatizing polyamide to make 66 nylon and the 66 nylon made by this process. The apparatus comprises an agitator section having an outlet adjacent the bottom thereof; a transfer screw disposed adjacent the outlet of the agitator section; a spiral ribbon extending upwardly from the transfer screw; a ring disposed vertically above the spiral ribbon, at least one baffle disposed vertically above the spiral ribbon and connected to the ring and a wall-wiping spur connected to the ring. Preferably, the apparatus has two baffles--an upper one for pumping the material downwardly and a lower one for pumping the material upwardly. The diameter of each baffle is preferably about 80% of the diameter of the agitator section.

Abstract: An SCR reactor sealing mechanism is disclosed which utilizes a clamping plate (34) to urge a side sealing flange (24) on a member (20) containing the catalyst (22) against a mating sealing surface (32) on the supporting internal frame (12) to prevent exhaust gas from bypassing the catalyst. The sealing mechanism has an advantage in permitting the member and catalyst to be removed from the internal frame by simply loosening the clamping plate (34) and slid out of or into the internal frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating and thermal decontaminating, e.g. sterilizing, pasteurizing and/or disinfecting, pumpable or pourable material, includes a microwave unit forming a treatment chamber for receiving the material transported along a passageway and for subjecting the material to microwave radiation. Two pumps are respectively situated upstream and downstream of the treatment chamber, with a pressure sensor being arranged between the pumps for generating a a signal commensurate with the pressure in the passageway between the pumps. The signal is transmitted from the pressure sensor to a control unit which is operatively connected to both pumps.

Abstract: A filter system 10 includes a pre-filter in a pre-filter zone 18 and a final filter in a final filter zone 22. The pre-filter is in the form of at least one inertial filter, e.g. an array 28 of axial flow cyclones 30. The final filter is in the form of a media filter 36 formed of a lofted bat of fibrous material which is of non-homogeneous structure through its depth. An upstream side is lofty, and a downstream side is of set structure. A contaminated fluid flow stream enters via an inlet 12. Contaminants are filtered out by the axial flow cyclones to be removed via a dust cover 32. Pre-filtered fluid flows via a chamber 20 through the media filter 36. After final filtration in the media filter it exits via a chamber 24 and an outlet 14.

Abstract: Process and apparatus are disclosed for improved additive systems for polymerization processes, which improved systems comprise a slurry additive system having a high shear mixer for mixing a carrier fluid and the solid additives and maintaining them in a suspension slurry prior to injecting them into a polymerization system.