Abstract: Process for effecting rapid and homogenous intimate contact of substances which occur in different phases. The process includes a step of producing contact between a helicoidal flow of substances, at least partially in the gaseous state, and a rectilinear flow which is coaxial with the first flow, of liquid or solid substances, at the outlet of a flow passage having a downstream constricted aperture, the amount of movement of the helicoidal flow at the outlet being at least 100 times greater than that of the rectilinear flow. This process can be used in particular for producing mixtures or for drying substances.

Abstract: A phase contactor adopted, e.g., for combustion and pollution control, comprises a mixing zone and means for separately injecting and disintegrating at least two gaseous flowstreams therein, a central element within said mixing zone defining an annular space into which said gaseous flowstreams are injected and disintegrated, and a downstream reaction zone.

Abstract: A gas-gas phase contactor/process, especially adopted for high temperature reactions, e.g., for the production of hydrochloric acid, comprises means for separately establishing at least two disparate gaseous feedstreams, means for disintegrating each such feedstream into a registered plurality of substreams thereof, one of each such substream being complementary to at least one eother, and means for establishing homogeneous unit volumes of gaseous reaction mixture which comprise said complementary fractions of each such disintegrated feedstream.

Abstract: The steam and thermal cracking of hydrocarbons is facilely carried out by in situ generating a stream of hot combustion gases including steam, advantageously in the configuration of a downstream axially extending, axially symmetrical helical flowstream, by combustion of steam-producing reactants in a combustion first reaction zone, and serially directly contacting and intimately admixing a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock with said gas of combustion in a downstream isodistribution, non-multi-tubular second reaction zone, advantageously first at a zone of reduced pressure thereof, the momentum of said gas of combustion at the point of direct contact being such as to provide all of the thermal and mechanical energy and heat transfer required to autogenously vaporize, entrain and effect cracking therein of said liquid hydrocarbon feedstock.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide is facilely converted into carbon monoxide and water, and advantageously into a syngas, by establishing a thermally homogeneous gaseous admixture including carbon dioxide and hydrogen having a temperature of at least 800.degree. C., within a period of time essentially insufficient for the production of carbon monoxide therefrom, and wherein said carbon dioxide is next autogenously reduced under reaction equilibrium conditions to carbon monoxide and water by reaction with hydrogen, with each molecule of carbon monoxide formed having, or essentially instantaneously being brought to, a temperature of at least 800.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for initiating a reaction for the manufacture of synthetic hydrochloric acid, wherein two reactive gaseous chamical compounds, chlorine and hydrogen, are brought together. The molecules of at least one of said compounds are then excited by projection of a laser ray onto this reactive compound, wherein the laser ray is directed onto the zone where the two reactive compounds are brought together.

Abstract: A high temperature reactor includes a reaction chamber which is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis. Surrounding the reaction chamber are annular spaces to which a gaseous reactant is supplied. A plurality of conduits conduct the gaseous reactant from the annular spaces to the reaction chamber and introduces the gaseous reactant into the latter in the form of a helicoidal flow. A plurality of cooling conduits are disposed between the annular spaces and the reaction chamber for conducting a cooling medium. The cooling medium can also be conducted so as to cool a rear end of the reactor. The reactor can be used in combination with a contacting chamber to supply hot gases thereto.

Abstract: The clean combustion of a combustible material is facilely carried out by (i) in situ generating a dispersing first stream of hot combustion gases by establishing a first downstream axially extending, axially symmetrical helical flowstream of combustion-supporting gases in a first combustion reaction zone and by introduction and combustion of a combustible fluid feedstream therein, (ii) serially directly contacting and intimately admixing the material cleanly combustible hereby with said first stream of hot combustion gases at a zone of reduced pressure thereof defining the inlet end of a second combustion reaction zone and whereat and downstream thereof said first stream of hot combustion gases is also in the configuration of an axially symmetrical helical flowstream, (iii) the amounts of said combustion-supporting gases and said combustible fluid being such as to effect essentially instantaneous dispersion and entrainment of fine particles of said cleanly combustible material at and downstream of said point

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for the combustion of corrosive products, such as chlorine containing residues, comprising a combustion chamber, a dispersing head having an axial inlet for the phase to be burnt, and means for introducing two separate fractions of the combustive phase, and a plate for connecting the dispersing head to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Intimate contacting of plural, physically disparate phases, e.g., for the purification of waste waters typically comprising sulfide and polysulfide pollutants, is effected by (i) co-atomizing a first liquid stream which comprises solid waste progenitors together with a second fluid stream inter-reactive therewith, (ii) this co-atomization/reaction being made with and within an entraining stream of a third, gaseous phase.

Abstract: A device and process for the treatment of materials in different phases, one material being in a fluid phase and another in a gaseous phase, wherein the material in fluid phase is introduced as a stream within the axis of the gaseous phase in helicoidal flow for subsequent passage through a confined zone whereas a substance to be treated is introduced at the level of the smallest section of the confined zone.

Abstract: Intimate contacting of plural, physically disparate phases is achieved by establishing a current of axially extending, axially symmetrical helical flow of a first phase; separately establishing a current of coaxially extending, rectilinear flow of a physically disparate second phase, the currents of said first and said second phases being maintained physically separated from each other; circulating and directing said currents which comprise the plural phases to a zone of restricted flow passage with respect to said helical flow, whereby said plural currents converge and are intimately, homogeneously admixed and whereas such zone of convergence the momentum of the first phase helical flow is at least 100 times greater than the momentum of the second phase, coaxial rectilinear flow; and thence abruptly changing the velocity field of at least one of said plural phases, while at the same time maintaining the general direction of flow of said admixed plural phases, and whereby phase separation of the product of ad

Abstract: The drying and dehydration of heat-sensitive materials is improved by submitting such materials to a second thermal treatment following their initial flash treatment. The method is particularly applicable to the treatment of foodstuffs.

Abstract: Intimate contacting of plural, physically disparate phases is achieved by establishing a current of axially extending, axially symmetrical helical flow of a first phase; separately establishing a current of coaxially extending, rectilinear flow of a physically disparate second phase, the currents of said first and said second phases being maintained physically separated from each other; circulating and directing said currents which comprise the plural phases to a zone of restricted flow passage with respect to said helical flow, whereby said plural currents converge and are intimately, homogeneously admixed and whereat such zone of convergence the momentum of the first phase helical flow is at least 100 times greater than the momentum of the second phase, coaxial rectilinear flow such as to effect atomization via transfer of momentum, and ultimately effecting phase separation of the product of admixture.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for treatment of materials in different phases, one of which is in a fluid phase and another of which is in a gaseous phase, wherein the material in fluid phase is introduced as a stream within the axis of the gaseous phase in helicoidal flow for subsequent passage through a confined zone whereat a substance to be treated is introduced at the level of the smallest section of the confined zone.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for carrying out a reaction, particularly an exothermic one, between fluids, at a certain distance from the walls, the walls being protected from excessive heating. The apparatus comprises an external casing which is cylindrical or frustoconical, an internal perforated wall which is co-axial with the casing and which bounds the reaction chamber, an axial injection pipe for part of the reagents and a tangential feed pipe for another part of the reagents, the feed pipe imparting a symmetrical helical movement to them. The method is specially applied to the combustion of many different fluids, and the apparatus enables the heat liberated to be directed in a very flexible manner.

Abstract: A method of preparing plaster by brief contact between gypsum and a hot gas. The method comprises introducing the gypsum through the axial tube of a nozzle, around which a helical stream of hot gases is created, and bringing the two phases into contact in a vessel at the outlet of the nozzle. The method of the invention makes it possible to vary the quality of plaster produced and to use either dry gypsum or dilute gypsum pastes as the starting material.