Abstract: High temperature intermittently sealable refractory tile and controlled air continuous gasifiers (rotary kilns) that are manufactured using such refractory tile, waste to energy systems that have such gasifiers as part of the system, and processes in which such waste to energy systems are used, for example, co-generation steam and power plants using biomass as the fuel for the process.

Abstract: A roller hearth calcining furnace that uses a movable fluid bed that is transported through plural heating modules, each heating module independently heated using an indirect heating system. The indirect heating system includes an oxidizer, an all-ceramic, indirect, air-to-air heat exchanger, and one or more metal heat exchangers. The oxidizer can be fired with oil, coal, natural gas or other means, is impervious to attack from dirty fuels, and produces clean hot air for productive use. The movable fluid bed includes a permeable silicon carbide ceramic plate that resides within, and is supported by, a sagger or tray. The sagger is transported on rollers through the plural heating modules, and thus different temperature zones within a furnace as required by the temperature profile of the material being calcined.

Abstract: A gasifier and gasifier system based on the gasifier, which contains as a major component, a novel feed system for feeding organic materials into the burn pile of the gasifier. The gasifier feed system is a horizontal auger driven feed system that feeds directly through a ceramic elbow into the furnace without having to auger the feed through significant vertical elevations.

Abstract: A radiant shield and a furnace employing a radiant shield for controlled heating and treatment of material using infrared radiation. The furnace is capable of improved temperature control where material treated by the furnace may interfere with the quality of a measured temperature signal and temperature control based on that signal.

Abstract: Landfill gas combustion and landfill leachate evaporation systems and the use of forest products or some such fuel to fire a gasifier that will eventually provide energy. Novel all-ceramic heat exchangers, systems in which they are used, and processes that can be handled by such systems.

Abstract: Ceramic cowlings that are used as the connection between a hot gas source and a Stirling engine or a turbine. The ceramic cowling is designed and fabricated with non-dusting, high temperature, dense, low thermal expansion ceramic. It must also be highly resistant to thermal shock. Also, a combination of a ceramic cowling and a shroud for covering and holding the ceramic cowling on a Stirling engine or turbine such that hot gases can flow through the ceramic cowling and into the heat exchanger coil of the Stirling engine and exhaust in a controllable manner. A method of enhancing the power efficiency of a Stirling engine and with systems including the use of at least one enhanced power Stirling engine.

Abstract: What is disclosed herein deals with low to medium pressure, high temperature, all ceramic, air-to-air, indirect heat exchangers, novel ball joints, high load-bearing ceramic tube sheets, and tube seal extenders for ceramic tubes that are useful in such heat exchangers. Also disclosed are new and novel systems used in new and novel industrial processes such as chemical processing, sludge destruction and the production of particulates such as, for example, carbon black. Systems utilizing several heat exchangers are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock that utilizes a short residence pyrolytic reactor operating under conditions that cracks and chemically upgrades the feedstock. The process of the present invention provides for the preparation of a partially upgraded feedstock exhibiting reduced viscosity and increased API gravity. This process selectively removes metals, salts, water and nitrogen from the feedstock, while at the same time maximizes the yield of the liquid product, and minimizes coke and gas production. Furthermore, this process reduces the viscosity of the feedstock in order to permit pipeline transport, if desired, of the upgraded feedstock with little or no addition of diluents.

Abstract: The gasifier includes a furnace bed segmented into individual cells, each cell is independently monitored using a ramp temperature probe, and provided with controlled air injection to provide individually controlled burn regions within the gasifier. Gasifier air injection includes tuyere arrays, lances, or both.

Abstract: A monolithic refractory ceramic tube sheet for use in all-ceramic air-to-air indirect heat exchangers, the heat exchanger used in all temperature and all pressure applications. A method for forming the monolithic tube sheet includes casting a refractory ceramic in a mold, where portions of the mold comprise the housing of the heat exchanger. Precisely formed negatives are used to form through channels and vacancies within the tube sheet, which are precisely positioned within the mold allowing uniform and flush formation of openings which receive the ceramic tubes therein. The same mold is used to provide both tube sheets of a tube sheet pair allowing accurate alignment of tubes within the exchanger vessel resulting in ease of assembly and equal loading of tubes when in use.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of preparing a natural resin by liquefying wood, bark, forest residues, wood industry residues, or other biomass using rapid destructive distillation (fast pyrolysis). Fast pyrolysis produces both vapors and char from biomass, and following removal of the char from the product vapors, a liquid pitch product is recovered and processed by distillation, evaporation, or a combination thereof, in order to obtain a natural resin which may be in either liquid or solid form. The natural resin comprises a total phenolic content from about 30% to about 80% (w/w), and is a highly-reactive ligninic compound that has been found to be suitable for use within resin formulations without requiring any further extraction or fractionation procedures. Resins comprising up to 60% natural resin have been prepared and tested in board production and found to exhibit similar properties associated with commercially available resins.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for starved air gasification of solid organic materials, including biomass and other wastes, to convert the chemical energy stored in such materials to thermal energy or gaseous products that may be used in biochemical and/or chemical synthesis. Specifically, the system utilizes a gasifier having a “moving bed of ash” hearth wherein the feedstock is partially oxidized at a low temperature (less than 1500 degrees F.) in a square or rectangular chamber having a vaulted, tapered or flat roof. Combustion gases from the gasifier are held at temperature using a recovery and regeneration chamber, and then undergo secondary oxidation in an oxidizer. The high temperature gases produced by the system can be utilized to advantage, for example, as the thermal energy source for a conventional heat recovery device such as a heat exchanger, steam generator, hot oil or air heater, or steam boiler.

Abstract: What is disclosed herein deals with low to medium pressure, high temperature, all ceramic, air-to-air, indirect heat exchangers, novel ball joints; connecting slip ring collars for ceramic tubes, that are useful in such heat exchangers, systems comprising several heat exchangers or systems comprising heat exchangers that are fabricated such that they provide more efficient heat exchangers than has been possible heretofore.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to bio-oil compositions, derived from fast pyrolysis of wood feedstocks, that exhibit properties of a preservative. The bio-oil may be used alone, in formulations with either a waterbased, or an oilbased, or a combination of a water based and an oil based preservatives. This invention also includes a method of preparing a wood preservative composition comprising, processing treated wood containing a preservative using a fast pyrolysis reactor, and obtaining the bio-oil fraction. The application of wood products with the bio-oil of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: High temperature intermittently sealable refractory tile and controlled air continuous gasifiers (rotary kilns) that are manufactured using such refractory tile, waste to energy systems that have such gasifiers as part of the system, and processes in which such waste to energy systems are used, for example, co-generation steam and power plants using biomass as the fuel for the process.

Abstract: Low to medium pressure, high temperature, all ceramic, air-to-air, indirect heat exchangers, novel ball joints; connecting slip ring collars for ceramic tubes, that are useful in such heat exchangers, systems comprising several heat exchangers or systems comprising heat exchangers that are fabricated such that they provide more efficient heat exchangers than has been possible heretofore.

Abstract: What is disclosed herein deals with low to medium pressure, high temperature, all ceramic, air-to-air, indirect heat exchangers, novel ball joints; connecting slip ring collars for ceramic tubes, that are useful in such heat exchangers, systems comprising several heat exchangers or systems comprising heat exchangers that are fabricated such that they provide more efficient heat exchangers than has been possible heretofore.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to a new method and apparatus for the fast pyrolysis of carbonaceous materials involving rapid mixing, high heat transfer rates, precisely controlled short uniform residence times and rapid primary product quench in an upflow, entrained-bed, transport reactor with heat carrier solids recirculation. A carbonaceous feedstock, a non-oxidative transport gas and inorganic particulate heat supplying material are rapidly mixed in a reactor base section, then transported upward through an entrained-bed tubular reactor. A cyclonic hot solids recirculation system separates the solids from the non-condensible gases and primary product vapors and returns them to the mixer. Product vapors are rapidly quenched to provide maximum yields of liquids, petrochemicals, high value gases and selected valuable chemicals.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to a new method and apparatus for the fast pyrolysis of carbonaceous materials involving rapid mixing, high heat transfer rates, precisely controlled short uniform residence times and rapid primary product quench in an upflow, entrained-bed, transport reactor with heat carrier solids recirculation. A carbonaceous feedstock, a non-oxidative transport gas and inorganic particulate heat supplying material are rapidly mixed in a reactor base section, then transported upward through an entrained-bed tubular reactor. A cyclonic hot solids recirculation system separates the solids from the non-condensible gases and primary product vapors and returns them to the mixer. Product vapors are rapidly quenched to provide maximum yields of liquids, petrochemicals, high value gases and selected valuable chemicals.

Abstract: What is disclosed herein is high pressure, high temperature, heat exchanger segments, combinations of such segments to form novel high pressure, high temperature, heat exchangers, novel pan assemblies for use in such heat exchangers, and systems and industrial processes utilizing such heat exchangers.