Abstract: A reduction in the emission of infrared radiation by the engine of a jet aircraft can be achieved by employing a low molecular weight monohydric alcohol, having a luminometer number of at least about 200 as at least a portion of the fuel. Additional reduction in emission of infrared radiation can be achieved by passing a low molecular weight monohydric alcohol in indirect heat exchange relationship with the hot exhaust nozzle prior to its introduction to the combustion chamber of the engine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons in a which a first toroidal vortex of fuel and a combustion supporting gas is created with its center adjacent the axis of an elongated combustor; a second toroidal vortex of combustion supporting gas is generated between the first toroidal vortex; the fuel is burned in the presence of the combustion supporting gas to produce a fuel gas at the downstream end of the combustor; water is introduced into the flue gas adjacent the downstream end of the combustion to produce a mixture of flue gas and water; a major portion of the water is vaporized in a vaporizor to produce a mixture of flue gas and steam; and the mixture of flue gas and steam is injected into a hydrocarbon bearing formation.

Abstract: A method for burning a fuel, containing chemically bound nitrogen, in a two-stage, rich-lean combustion process, including; introducing the fuel and at least one stream of primary air into a primary combustion region at a fuel-air ratio above the stoichiometric ratio and in a manner to intimately mix the fuel and air and establish a stabilized flame adjacent the upstream end of the primary combustion region, maintaining the flame in the primary combustion region for a period of time sufficient to produce a combustion product mixture containing less than a predetermined amount of NO.sub.x pollutants and abruptly terminating the primary combustion region while introducing at least one stream of secondary air into the secondary region in an amount sufficient to reduce the overall fuel-air ratio below the stoichiometric ratio and in a manner to prevent backflow of the secondary air into the primary combustion region.

Abstract: A method for burning a fuel, containing chemically bound nitrogen, in a two-stage, rich-lean combustion process, including: introducing the fuel and at least one stream of primary air into a primary combustion region at a fuel-air ratio above the stoichiometric ratio and in a manner to intimately mix the fuel and air and establish a stabilized flame adjacent the upstream end of the primary combustion region, maintaining the flame in the primary combustion region for a period of time sufficient to produce a combustion product mixture containing less than a predetermined amount of NO.sub.x pollutants and abruptly terminating the primary combustion region while introducing at least one stream of secondary air into the secondary region in an amount sufficient to reduce the overall fuel-air ratio below the stoichiometric ratio and in a manner to prevent backflow of the secondary air into the primary combustion region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons in which a first torroidal vortex of fuel and a combustion supporting gas is created with its center adjacent the axis of an elongated combustor; a second torroidal vortex of combustion supporting gas is generated between the first torroidal vortex; the fuel is burned in the presence of the combustion supporting gas to produce a flue gas at the downstream end of the combustor; water is introduced into the flue gas adjacent the downstream end of the combustor to produce a mixture of flue gas and water; a major portion of the water is vaporized in a vaporizor to produce a mixture of flue gas and steam; and the mixture of flue gas and steam is injected into a hydrocarbon bearing formation.

Abstract: A method for burning a fuel, containing chemically bound nitrogen, in a two-stage, rich-lean combustion process, including; introducing the fuel and at least one stream of primary air into a primary combustion region at a fuel-air ratio above the stoichiometric ratio and in a manner to intimately mix the fuel and air and establish a stabilized flame adjacent the upstream end of the primary combustion region, maintaining the flame in the primary combustion region for a period of time sufficient to produce a combustion product mixture containing less than a predetermined amount of NO.sub.x pollutants and abruptly terminating the primary combustion region while introducing at least one stream of secondary air into the secondary region in an amount sufficient to reduce the overall fuel-air ratio below the stoichiometric ratio and in a manner to prevent backflow of the secondary air into the primary combustion region.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of mineral resources, such as metallic minerals, petroleum, etc., from solid materials, such as subsurface earth formations, including; partially burning a hydrogen-containing fuel in the presence of an oxidizing agent under conditions to produce partial oxidation products, such as alcohols, hydrogen peroxide, aldehydes, ketones, etc., terminating the burning to prevent decomposition of the partial oxidation products and contacting the solid materials with the partial oxidation products and contacting the solid materials with the partial oxidation products and an alkaline or acidic material.

Abstract: New combustors which produce lower emissions, particularly lower emissions of nitrogen oxides and CO, are provided. The combustors are provided with a first combustion region that is cylindrical, short and of small diameter and an adjacent downstream second combustion region comprising an abrupt enlargement in diameter to provide a relatively larger capacity than the first combustion region. A first stream of air is introduced, either radially, axially, or tangentially, into the first combustion region and the amount of said air is varied in accordance with fuel flow to the first combustion region. A second stream of air is introduced tangentially into the first combustion region. A third stream of air is introduced tangentially into the second combustion region. In preferred embodiments of the invention the air stream pressure drop across an air assist fuel nozzle is varied in accordance with fuel flow to the nozzle.

Abstract: A method of minimizing the production of SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x in the burning of a fuel containing significant amounts of SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x precursors in which the fuel is treated to remove significant amounts of SO.sub.x precursors without the removal of significant amounts of NO.sub.x precursors and the fuel is thereafter burned in a two-stage, rich-lean burning step in which significant amounts of the NO.sub.x precursors are converted to N.sub.2. Treating the fuel to remove SO.sub.x precursors is preferrably carried out in the presence of an oxidizing agent, such as H.sub.2 O.sub.2, a reducing agent, such as hydrogen, and/or steam, and still more preferably, the oxidizing agent, the reducing agent and steam are generated by burning an auxiliary fuel and passing the effluent thereof to the step of treating the fuel to remove SO.sub.x precursors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the recovery of heat values, including sensible heat and/or combustion heat, from vitiated gaseous mixtures containing oxygen and/or combustibles together with inert diluents in which a supplemental fuel is burned, in a combustion zone or the first stage of a two-stage, rich-lean combustion zone, the vitiated gaseous mixture is mixed with the combustion products at the downstream end of the combustion zone or the first stage of the two-stage combustion zone, as the case may be, and the effluent of the combustion is passed to a heat utiization zone.

Abstract: A steam generator including a combustion chamber having fuel and air inlets at the upstream end and a water inlet at the downstream end to inject water into the flue gas, a vaporizer in communication with the downstream end of the combustor and a pressure control to vary the size of the discharge opening of the vaporizer and thus control the pressure within the combustor and vaporizer, including; a slideably movable plug attached to and operable by a fluid operated piston.

Abstract: New combustors which produce lower emissions, particularly lower emissions of nitrogen oxides and CO, are provided. The combustors are provided with a first combustion region that is cylindrical, short and of small diameter and an adjacent downstream second combustion region comprising an abrupt enlargement in diameter to provide a relatively larger capacity than the first combustion region. A first stream of air is introduced, either radially, axially, or tangentially, into the first combustion region and the amount of said air is varied in accordance with fuel flow to the first combustion region. A second stream of air is introduced tangentially into the first combustion region. A third stream of air is introduced tangentially into the second combustion region. In preferred embodiments of the invention the air stream pressure drop across an air assist fuel nozzle is varied in accordance with fuel flow to the nozzle.

Abstract: Methods of operating combustors to produce lower emissions, particularly lower emissions of nitrogen oxides and CO, including supplying separate streams of air to primary and secondary combustion regions of a combustor, and expanding combustion products when passing same from said primary combustion region to said secondary combustion region. In preferred embodiments, unheated air can be used in said primary combustion region, and/or a second stream of air mixed with said combustion products during said expansion thereof.

Abstract: A new combustion process wherein combustion efficiency is retained while reducing inlet air temperature to the combustor so as to obtain both reduced nitrogen oxides emissions and reduced CO emissions. A new combination of combustion apparatus and heat utilization apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: New combustors, and methods of operating same, which produce lower emissions, particularly lower emissions of nitrogen oxides and CO. Means and methods are provided for supplying separate streams of air to primary and secondary combustion regions of a combustor, and expanding combustion products when passing same from said primary combustion region to said secondary combustion region. In preferred embodiments, unheated air can be used in said primary combustion region, and/or a second stream of air mixed with said combustion products during said expansion thereof.

Abstract: New combustors, and methods of operating same, which produce lower emissions, particularly lower emissions of nitrogen oxides. Methods and means are provided for supplying separate streams of air to primary and secondary combustion zones of a combustor, for removing heat from said primary combustion zone, and reintroducing said heat into the combustor at a region spaced apart and downstream from said primary and secondary combustion zones.

Abstract: New combustors, and methods of operating same, which produce lower emissions, particularly lower emissions of nitrogen oxide and CO, are provided. Means and methods are provided for supplying separate streams of air to first and second combustion regions of a combustor, and expanding combustion products when passing same from said first combustion region to said second combustion region. The combustors of the invention are characterized by the relatively small volume of said first combustion region as compared to the total volume of said first combustion region and said second combustion region; and methods and means provided for introducing first and second streams of air to said first and second regions, respectively. In some embodiments of the invention unheated air is used in the first combustion region. In other embodiments of the invention heated air is used in said first combustion region.

Abstract: New combustors, and methods of operating same, which produce lower emissions, particularly lower emissions of nitrogen oxides and CO, are provided. A first stream of air is introduced, either radially or axially, to a first combustion region of the combustor. A second stream of air is introduced tangentially into said first combustion region. A third stream of air is introduced tangentially into a second combustion region of the combustor. The amount of said first stream of air admitted to the first combustion region is varied in accordance with the fuel flow to said first combustion region.

Abstract: New combustors, and methods of operating same, which produce lower emissions, particularly lower emissions of nitrogen oxides and CO, are provided. Said combustors are provided with a first combustion region and an adjacent downstream second combustion region. A first stream of air is introduced, either radially, axially, or tangentially, into said first combustion region and the amount of said air is varied in accordance with fuel flow to said first combustion region. A second stream of air is introduced tangentially into said first combustion region. A third stream of air is introduced tangentially into said second combustion region. In preferred embodiments of the invention the air stream pressure drop across an air assist fuel nozzle is varied in accordance with fuel flow to said nozzle.

Abstract: A new combustion process wherein combustion efficiency is retained while reducing inlet air temperature to the combustor so as to obtain both reduced nitrogen oxides emissions and reduced CO emissions. A new combination of combustion apparatus and heat utilization apparatus are also provided.