Abstract: A filter tube assembly for a ceramic filter tube consisting of an annular elongated section from which a head extends. The head has a section whose outer surface is in the shape of a segment of a sphere which tapers out from the elongated section and merges into a cylindrical section. The assembly includes a stainless steel housing internally shaped to accommodate the head. Gaskets are interposed between the housing and the head which are structured cooperatively with the head to preclude dislodgement of the tube from the housing, to take up effectively the differential in thermal expansion between the tube and the housing, to prevent eccentric loading of the tube, to prevent the penetration of particulate into the housing and to seal asperities in teh surface of the tube.

Abstract: A vertical vessel having a lower inlet and an upper outlet enclosure separated by a main horizontal tube sheet. The inlet enclosure receives the flue gas from a boiler of a power system and the outlet enclosure supplies cleaned gas to the turbines. The inlet enclosure contains a plurality of particulate-removing clusters, each having a plurality of filter units. Each filter unit includes a filter clean-gas chamber defined by a plate and a perforated auxiliary tube sheet with filter tubes suspended from each tube sheet and a tube connected to each chamber for passing cleaned gas to the outlet enclosure. The clusters are suspended from the main tube sheet with their filter units extending vertically and the filter tubes passing through the tube sheet and opening in the outlet enclosure. The flue gas is circulated about the outside surfaces of the filter tubes and the particulate is absorbed in the pores of the filter tubes.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating particulate from gas produced by combustion of fossil fuel including a main vessel having a lower compartment in which the fuel is burned and an upper compartment in which the separation of particulate takes place. The separation is effected by combining roughing cyclones for separating the larger particulate with modules of cross-flow filters for separating the residual smaller particulate which emerges from the cyclones. The upper compartment includes a plurality of pressure vessels each containing a cyclone and modules of cross-flow filters mounted vertically. In each module the cross-flow filters are divided into an upper cluster, middle cluster and a bottom cluster. In each of the upper and middle clusters the cross-flow filters are arrayed or stacked vertically in columns in T configuration. In the bottom cluster the filters are arrayed in cruciform configuration.