Abstract: A fermentation vessel comprises an outer shell, and an annular draft tube located within the shell and spaced therefrom to promote continuous circulation of fluids through said draft tube within said shell. The draft tube has an internal cavity located within its walls. The cavity is connected to a fluid supply conduit that extends externally of the shell. A plurality of discrete nozzles are disposed about the circumference of the tube and communicate with the cavity to permit egress of fluids from the cavity to the interior of the shell to promote circulation.

Abstract: The device for the wet cleaning of flue gas is mounted on a chimney (12). It consists of a basin (18) surrounding the flue gas pass in a ring shape with a cleaning fluid (20). A hood covering the flue gas pass (22) guides the flue gas through the cleaning fluid (20). A turbulence device (24) is foreseen on the edge of the hood (22), this ensuring intensive contact of the flue gas with the cleaning fluid. The turbulence device may consist of numerous convoluted sheets maintained in concentric, vertical arrangement which are located in a hollow space closed at the top and form concentric, vertical stream channels. The flue gas streams into these channels which are moistened and filled with bubbles alternately upwards and downwards.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for reducing contaminants in gases containing products of combustion. The apparatus is particularly advantageous for reducing airborne sulfur in smoke from burning coal. This enables more use of coal, including high sulfur coal, without the concomitant problem of acid rain. The apparatus includes a duct or stack forming a first passage for directing the gases away from the source of combustion. A second duct forms a second, horizontal passage through which the gases flow from the first passage. A spray head is located at an upper portion of the second passage to direct a spray of water across the passage and into contact with the gases. A drain is located in a lower portion of the second passage to collect the water and contaminants trapped therein from the gases. The water can be cleaned and reused. The apparatus can also be employed with an internal combustion engine to reduce contaminants in the exhaust gases.

Abstract: A dust and soot collector surrounds a top portion of a stack or duct. Sprays of water are directed across a path of a gas flow exiting the stack. The water removes particles of dust and soot from the gas. A slush is created which falls into a peripheral trough and is removed.

Abstract: Process for separating H.sub.2 S from CO.sub.2, both contained in a treated gas, wherein said gas is contacted with a solution which selectively absorbs H.sub.2 S, wherefrom H.sub.2 S is separated in a regeneration zone, CO.sub.2 being released, said contact step being effected in a contact apparatus comprising 1 to 10 stages each formed of parallel vertical tubes whose bottom portion is provided with injection means of the cyclonic type imparting to the supplied gas and liquid a swirling ascending motion.

Abstract: A device for eliminating carbon particulates from smoke including recirculating pressure water sprays within a spray booth mounted on a smoke stack, a conical deflector and a water collecting means mounted therein; the collected spray water being cleaned in a two compartment tank, partially filled with sand, and returned to the spray booth via a recirculation pump and a pressurized water reservoir.

Abstract: The device of the present invention utilizes a unitized scheme to erect a sulphur dioxide scrubber tower wherein a set of factory built constituent subunits are joined at location to produce a single functional unit. The functional units themselves preferably are adaptable for parallel grouping as necessary to insure the treatment capacity required for the emission rate of any given application or where otherwise appropriate for other process reasons.The temporary strength and rigidity necessary to maintain a subunit's critical geometric integrity throughout construction, transportation and erection processes is provided by a reusable exoskeletal support cradle. Preferably each subunit is initially constructed upon such a cradle. Alternatively, subunits are constructed in jigs at the factory and transferred to the support cradles before shipping to the construction site.

Abstract: A steam-pressured eliminator for use on top of a tall, industrial-type, brick or metal smoke stack to reduce their pollution of the atmosphere. This eliminator is operated by pressurized steam directed so as to intercept the flow of smoke tending to leave the stack and releases to the atmosphere only cleansed smoke and steam. The steam condensate with the smoke particles are drained off from the stack attached vessel. The smoke eliminator is such that the eliminator can be assembled to the stack as a unit, as by the use of a helicopter, and in some forms the steam generator is made a part of the unit so as to be inserted in the stack suspended from the top thereof and be heated by the hot gases of the stack itself. Preferably when the stacks are of brick the attachment is made to top and exterior surfaces thereof. When the stacks are of metal the unit can be wedged into the top opening of the stack and the unit vessel being tapered, can be fitted to various diameter sized stacks.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air cleaning apparatus having a rectangular enclosure with air inlet and outlet passages and internal lower and upper baffles which sequentially direct inlet air through lower and upper water curtains which are provided by a recirculating water system. The apparatus also has a separate scrubbing water system to wash the internal surfaces of the apparatus. In operation, the scrubbing system is periodically activated and the reservoir of the recirculating water system is periodically drained and refilled with fresh water. Also disclosed is the method of using the apparatus.

Abstract: A device for separating impurities from gases by means of a washing liquid. The device includes three (3) interconnected chambers: a suction chamber, a mixing chamber and a separating chamber, wherein the outer wall of the mixing chamber is the inner wall of the suction chamber and the inner wall of the mixing chamber is the outer wall of the separating chamber. In the upper portion of the mixing chamber there is an inlet which connects the suction and mixing chambers for conveying contaminated gases rising in the suction chamber downwardly into the mixing chamber. In the upper portion of the mixing chamber below the outlet there is mounted a plurality of spray nozzles for downwardly spraying washing liquids which removes impurities in the contaminated gases as they flow downwardly through the mixing chamber. At the bottom of and directly open to the mixing and separating chambers is a liquid collection chamber for collecting used washing liquids and impurities from the gases.

Abstract: A liquid-gas contactor which comprises a first liquid-gas contacting region of which the lower part is provided with a gas inlet and the upper part is provided with a liquid feed inlet and a second region through which flows a gaseous fluid comprised of particles of at least a portion of the liquid fed into said first contacting region suspended in the greater part of the gas supplied through the gas inlet. The first and second regions are interconnected in the form of an inverted U-shape, the bottom ends of both regions opening into a liquid tank and at least the bottom end of the first liquid-gas contacting region being submerged in the liquid in the tank. A liquid-gas contact process employs this contactor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for cooling a process gas stream having a temperature in the range from about 400.degree. F. and 3000.degree. F. and absorbing gaseous contaminants therefrom wherein contact is effected between said process gas stream and respective quench and absorbent liquids in order to provide said cooling and absorbing functions. The flow rates of the process gas stream, quench liquid, and/or absorbent liquid are subject to substantial variations due to operating conditions related to the process gas source or to the provision for contaminant recovery, requiring absorbent liquid of a desired concentration. In practice, the process gas stream may be that discharged from a waste product incinerator containing not only products of combustion but also the aforesaid gaseous contaminants.

Abstract: A cleaner for the products of combustion in a smoke stack in the form of a vertically elongated chamber having a multiplicity of inclined baffles extending from opposite sides of the chamber to beyond the center line thereof and water spray devices located intermediate of each pair of vertically spaced baffles. In the preferred form, the baffles are inclined inwardly and upwardly, so that water from the nozzles flows to the outer edges of each baffle where it is connected to a drain.

Abstract: An organic carbon analyzer system particularly adapted for the continuous analysis of raw sewage of a municipality. A gaseous transport is provided for carrying acidified liquid sewage including dispersed particulate matter through an elongated aeration chamber wherein carbon dioxide evolved from inorganic salts diffuses away from the sewage and into the gas. A second gaseous transport free of carbon dioxide and including an oxidizing agent then carries the sewage into a heated chamber having a tortuous interior surface which provides sufficient retention time to oxidize organic carbonaceous materials of the sewage resulting in a second evolution of carbon dioxide. An analyzer provides a continuous reading of the concentration of the carbon dioxide produced in the heated chamber.

Abstract: A reaction vessel for continuously producing an aromatic carboxylic acid sparingly soluble in a solvent by liquid-phase oxidizing a corresponding alkyl aromatic compound with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid solvent and an oxidation catalyst. The adhesion of the aromatic carboxylic acid on the inside wall of the reaction vessel at the interface between the vapor-phase portion and the liquid-phase portion is prevented by locating in the reaction vessel a means such as a porous annular pipe for spraying onto the inside wall of the reaction vessel above the level of the reaction liquid a part of a solvent-catalyst mixture supplied continuously to the reaction vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to gas-liquid contact towers, and particularly to scrubbers such as those adapted to treating effluent dust laden gases such as off-gases from boilers, metallurgical furnaces and reactors before releasing such gases to the atmosphere.

Abstract: This invention relates principally to a method and device for controlling particulate-ladened smoke and gas emissions from the charging ports of a by-product coke oven. This device will clean the coarse particulate matter from the by-product gases resulting from the coal carbonization process thereby permitting higher steam aspiration pressures in the oven off-take pipe which is required to create sufficient negative pressure in the oven chamber and thus prevent the escape of smoke and gas to the atmosphere from the charging ports during the charging of the coal into the oven. This device can be installed on any conventional by-product coke oven by making certain modifications to the oven off-take piping.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing purified metal halides, such as sodium iodide and mixtures of sodium iodide and mixtures of sodium iodide with scandium iodide, of accurately controlled particle size, particularly useful as a vaporizable fill for high pressure discharge devices. The apparatus may include means for evaporating volatiles from the solid impure metal halide, melting the impure halide, passing hydrogen, hydrogen halide, hydrogen and halogen, or mixtures thereof through the halide, and then passing the molten halide through a vibrating discharge conduit or nozzle into an inert quenching atmosphere to form the particles of purified halide.

Abstract: A gas scrubbing system comprising a plurality of water-fed scrubber units each coupled to a respective exhaust stack of a conventional hot-air dryer and each receiving its water supply from a common, centralized, skimmer-type water treatment facility. Non-aqueous gaseous pollutants, such as hydrocarbons, extracted in vapor form from wood or other material within the dryers by a stream of heated drying gas, is condensed from the drying gas prior to exhausting such gas to the atmosphere by conducting the gas through a plurality of scrubber stages in the presence of cooling spray water until the temperature of the gas, due to the effects of heat transfer, has dropped below the condensation temperature of the gaseous pollutants. The condensed liquified pollutants are then removed from the gas by contact with the water spray and conveyed from the scrubbers along with the spray water while the cleansed gas stream is vented to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of recovering vapors from exhausts or vents of containers of volatile substances comprising the steps of: providing a scrubber for connection to the vapor space of the container to receive a flow of vapors therefrom; providing a reservoir of absorber fluid; cooling the absorber fluid; introducing the cooled absorber fluid into the scrubber for intimate contact with the flow of vapors therethrough; and returning the vapors absorbed by the cooled absorber fluid to the container. The scrubber may include a spray nozzle adapted to spray cooled absorber fluid in a direction generally concurrent with the flow of vapors. Alternate methods of returning absorbed vapors to the container are disclosed.

Abstract: An organic carbon analyzer system particularly adapted for the continuous analysis of raw sewage of a municipality. A gaseous transport is provided for carrying acidified liquid sewage including dispersed particulate matter through an elongated aeration chamber wherein carbon dioxide evolved from inorganic salts diffuses away from the sewage and into the gas. A second gaseous transport free of carbon dioxide and including an oxidizing agent then carries the sewage into a heated chamber having a tortuous interior surface which provides sufficient retention time to oxidize organic carbonaceous materials of the sewage resulting in a second evolution of carbon dioxide. An analyzer provides a continuous reading of the concentration of the carbon dioxide produced in the heated chamber.

Abstract: A smoke-stack filter device comprising a plurality of dual-corrugated-plate members disposed at circumferentially spaced apart relationship to one another in an annular space between a pair of coaxially arranged cylinders, said corrugations arranged such that they define a plurality of serpentine passageways extending longitudinally of the cylinders for flow of polluted gases upwardly therethrough, and a treatment liquid flows in a substantially constant quantity down from the top of said members along the corrugated surfaces of said members to form a liquid curtain to wash pollutants from polluted gases and flowing upwardly through the serpentine passageways between the adjacent corrugated members, the downwardly flowing treatment liquid carrying pollutants dissolved or suspended therein to a draining chamber, and the clear filtered gases flowing upwardly to and through vents at the upper ends of the passageways.