Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the continuous production of nitrobenzene by the nitration of benzene with nitric acid and sulphuric acid under adiabatic conditions, not the entire production plant being shut down during a production stop, but the production plant being entirely or at least partly operated in recirculation mode. The invention further relates to a plant for producing nitrobenzene and to a method for operating a plant for producing nitrobenzene.

Abstract: A photostructurable ceramic is processed using photostructuring process steps for embedding devices within a photostructurable ceramic volume, the devices may include one or more of chemical, mechanical, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, and acoustic devices, all made in part by creating device material within the ceramic or by disposing a device material through surface ports of the ceramic volume, with the devices being interconnected using internal connections and surface interfaces.

Abstract: The invention provides an integrated catalyst and membrane reactor for the production a predetermined gas such as hydrogen. The reactor comprises a gas flow channel, comprising a plurality of alternating catalyst sections and membrane sections, wherein each catalyst section comprises a catalyst bed and each membrane section comprises a plurality of membranes, and wherein the membranes are selectively permeable for the predetermined gaseous species.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing non-detonable and non-explosive parent-odor scent simulants of both detonable and entropy-burst chemical explosive materials. A detonable explosive material is a material that explosives with the aid of detonation while an entropy burst explosive material is a very sensitive energetic material that does not require detonation, but explodes through a spontaneous decomposition of its molecules into gaseous products. The invention also presents representative non-detonable, non-hazardous compositions of such simulants that can be safely and effectively utilized within a broad spectrum of biological and non-biological explosives detection programs, non-limiting examples being the training of biological search-and-detect creatures such as explosive detecting dogs and the calibration of electronic explosive detecting instruments that rely on the principles of vapor sampling for their operations.

Abstract: The micro gas generator employs a liquid propellant, e.g. 50% to 60% by weight hydroxyl ammonium nitrate as an oxidizer, 16% to 22% triethyl ammonium nitrate as fuel, 21% to 28% water as a diluent to provide stability and 1% to 3% additives. The liquid propellant is housed in a can mounted in sealed relation on a retainer in which an initiator is also mounted.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a small cylindrical reformer, which is suitable for use in the production of hydrogen from fossil fuels for a small fuel cell power plant. In the small cylindrical reformer according to this invention, a reforming reactor, a water gas shift reactor (high temperature or low temperature), a combustor, a heat exchanger, a steam generator, etc., may be integrated in a single container to form an optimal heat exchanging network, minimize heat loss and optimize heat exchange efficiency. Thereby, the reformer is designed to be easily processed and manufactured and to have a compact size, thus realizing high efficiency, light weight and ease of mass production.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for in situ gas-phase formation and deflagration of nitrocellulose. A nitrating agent such as nitric acid and cellulose are delivered separately to a reaction chamber, where a brief heating pulse initiates nitration of the cellulose and deflagration of the nitrocellulose thus produced. Discharge of the high-pressure gases produced by the deflagration from the reaction chamber can then be used to drive an actuator, turbine, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus for destroying the volatility of propellant and primers associated with small arms ammunition which become inadvertently commingled with a supply of spent casings prior to material deformation and reclamation. The apparatus preferably includes three major sections or components and they are: a material infeed section, a heating section, and a material extraction section. The preferred infeed section includes a hopper placed in conjunction with an incline conveyor and a distally positioned dump chute. The heating section has a material receptacle in the form of a material receiving chute, a heater disposed adjacent to the interior of a longitudinal spirally internally veined rotating drum which communicates with the third section, which is a material extraction or expulsion section also in the form of an incline conveyor and a chute.

Abstract: An explosive destruction system and method for safely destroying explosively configured chemical munitions. The system comprises a sealable, gas-tight explosive containment vessel, a fragment suppression system positioned in said vessel, and shaped charge means for accessing the interior of the munition when the munition is placed within the vessel and fragment suppression system. Also provided is a means for treatment and neutralization of the munition's chemical fills, and means for heating and agitating the contents of the vessel. The system is portable, rapidly deployable and provides the capability of explosively destroying and detoxifying chemical munitions within a gas-tight enclosure so that there is no venting of toxic or hazardous chemicals during detonation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for processing a waste high-pressure fluid, which is yielded by bringing a high-pressure fluid into contact with a processing object in a high-pressure processing vessel to make unnecessary materials on the processing object accompany it. In accordance with the present invention, a novel processing method is provided which includes the steps of draining liquid ingredients, which is obtained from a preliminarily refined waste medium-pressure fluid, having been decompressed from the waste high-pressure fluid and provided to a separating means filled with packing materials, out of a system with unnecessary materials, and refining gas ingredients, which is also obtained from the preliminarily refined waste medium-pressure fluid, in an adsorbing means including adsorbents.

Abstract: The invention refers to a simultaneous system for the distillation and elevation of water on top of the water table itself, which driven by thermo solar energy allows in an autonomous operation the generation of electrical power through transportation and free fall of water.

Abstract: A tubular reactor characterized by having short static mixing elements separated by coalescing zones is used to conduct multiphase liquid/liquid reactions. Small droplets of one of the phases are dispersed into the other phase by the static mixing elements. These droplets coalesce and at least partially phase separate as the mixture passes through the subsequent coalescing zone. The tubular reactor is particularly suitable for nitrating organic compounds while forming low levels of improperly nitrated by-products and low levels of nitrophenolics.

Abstract: Chemical microreators for chemical systhesis and their methods of manufacture are known, but have disadvantages such as extremely high manufacturing costs or poor flexibility for adaptation to various cases of application. These disadvantages are avoided by means of the microreators and manufacturing methods according to the invention. The microreators are characterized in that the reactors contain fluid ducts in at least one plane as well as feed and return lines for fluids, wherein the fluid ducts are defined by side walls of metal opposing each other and further side walls of metal or plastic extending between said side walls, and in which the planes are connected together and/or with a closure segment closing open fluid ducts by means of appropriate solder or adhesive layers. The manufacturing method is characterized by process sequences in which the individual reactor planes produced by means of electrolytic methods, are connected together by soldering or gluing.

Abstract: An automated propellant blending apparatus and method uses closely metered addition of countersolvent to a binder solution with propellant particles dispersed therein to precisely control binder precipitation and particle aggregation. A profile of binder precipitation versus countersolvent-solvent ratio is established empirically and used in a computer algorithm to establish countersolvent addition parameters near the cloud point for controlling the transition of properties of the binder during agglomeration and finishing of the propellant composition particles. The system is remotely operated by computer for safety, reliability and improved product properties, and also increases product output.

Abstract: A reagent segment including a body and trough formed therein with the floor of the trough sloped towards a drainage zone. The reagent segment is adapted for transporting reagents within an automated analyzer by having at least two protrusions on the exterior wall of the trough that fit within corresponding cavities of a transport arm. The reagent segment is retained by a latching mechanism through a protuberance on the exterior surface of the trough that conforms with a hole in the latching mechanism. The reagent segment can also have a concave depression on the interior surface of the trough at the drainage zone. The depression can coincide with the protuberance on the exterior surface of the trough that associates with the hole in the latching mechanism. Further, the reagent segment may include at least one indexing rib, between the exterior surface of the trough and the rim of the body, that can be inserted within an indexing slot of a holding means.

Abstract: A sampling system with a remotely operable, in-line sampler with continuous low of sample flush water is described. The device is used in the production of friction sensitive liquid nitrate esters, particularly nitroglycerin and diethylene glycol dinitrate.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a gas generator system for providing underwater buoyancy, including: a housing for the placement therein of a solid chemical to produce a gas upon reaction of the chemical with water; an inlet in the housing to bring the water in contact with the chemical; a float attached to an upper portion of the housing to receive the gas and thereby to become inflated so as to effect the buoyancy; a pressure plate to continually bear against the upper surface of the chemical as the chemical is consumed by the reaction, the pressure plate having defined therethrough a plurality of apertures, the total area of the apertures being selected so as to control the rate of reaction of the chemical and being spaced so as to permit even distribution of water to the surface of the chemical; and a biaser to cause the pressure plate to continually bear against the upper surface of the chemical as the chemical is consumed.

Abstract: In the production of monobasic propellant charge powders with alcohol and ether as solvents there is the risk of ether bubbles forming in the propellant charge powder material, and those bubbles greatly reduce the quality of the propellant charge powder. The invention provides for cooling the propellant charge powder material prior to its leaving the extruder. To accomplish that, the extruder head (4) is provided with a cooling means. The invention is especially well suited for use in the preparation of monobasic propellant charge powders with alcohol and ether as solvents.

Abstract: A method and an improved eductor apparatus for producing ultrafine explosive particles is disclosed. The explosive particles, which when incorporated into a binder system, have the ability to propagate in thin sheets, and have very low impact sensitivity and very high propagation sensitivity. A stream of a solution of the explosive dissolved in a solvent is thoroughly mixed with a stream of an inert nonsolvent by obtaining nonlaminar flow of the streams by applying pressure against the flow of the nonsolvent stream, to thereby diverge the stream as it contacts the explosive solution, and violently agitating the combined stream to rapidly precipitate the explosive particles from the solution in the form of generally spheroidal, ultrafine particles. The two streams are injected coaxially through continuous, concentric orifices of a nozzle into a mixing chamber. Preferably, the nonsolvent stream is injected centrally of the explosive solution stream.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing materials within a bore is disclosed to provide separation of the bore-defining elements without any relative movement between surfaces which are in engagement. Such lack of relevant movement precludes generation of frictional forces which may have catastrophic results where materials being processed are volatile or unstable such as explosives.

Abstract: An apparatus for purifying a gaseous mixture comprising arsine, phosphine, ammonia, and/or inert gases, to remove Lewis acid and/or oxidant impurities therefrom, comprising a vessel containing a bed of a scavenger, the scavenger including a support having associated therewith an anion which is effective to remove such impurities, such anion being selected from one or more members of the group consisting of: (i) carbanions whose corresponding protonated compounds have a pK.sub.a value of from about 22 to about 36; and (ii) anions formed by reaction of such carbanions with the primary component of the mixture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting a mixing apparatus for producing strand-shaped explosives and propellants in a twin-shaft screw extruder, the housing of which is formed of housing parts connected to a clamping device acting under hydraulic pressure. In order to compensate for excessive pressure and to prevent abrupt opening of the mixing chamber, the torque developed at the screw shafts is continuously monitered and fed to a control and storage device together with temperature and pressure values measured at the end of the screw shaft in the material being processed. If one of the measure values exceeds a permissable limit, a signal is produced to change the operating condition of the screw extruder, particularly to stop and withdraw the extruder from the housing, to halt the drive motor of the extruder shafts and to open the extruder housing by relieving the clamping device.

Abstract: A container for the temporary storage of an emulsion of explosive and water consisting of two chambers that communicate through a gap at the floor and into which water is introduced into up to a prescribed level. One chamber of the container accommodates an agitator, and explosive or an emulsion of explosive and water is introduced into that chamber with constant circulation. The other chamber of the container has an opening at the bottom for removing emulsion that has been concentrated to a predetermined strength and has a water-supply line at the top.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for the continuous manufacture of a water-in-oil explosive emulsion precursor. Separate streams of the water phase component and the oil phase component are introduced into an in-line motionless mixer. A chosen portion of the output from the mixer is recirculated and returned to the motionless mixer for further emulsification. The process allows for the production of a very high phase ratio water-to-oil emulsion (up to 95% water phase) without phase inversion after long storage. The precursor is simply converted to a sensitive explosive by means of known density lowering techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus for pumping and removal of unwanted gases by effecting a chemical reaction between the gases and a highly reactive substance which is in the form of aerosol particles, to form a nonvolatile, solid reaction product. In one embodiment of the invention, the reactive substance is initially provided in the form of a solid; the solid is heated to liquify it; and the liquid is forced through spray nozzles under high pressure to form the desired aerosol particles, which then react with the gas to be pumped.

Abstract: The continuous production of an explosive is achieved by intermixing at least two liquid component streams in an apparatus including a mixing rotor generally formed like a turbine impeller and freely rotatably supported in a housing directly opposite an inlet opening for one of the liquid components. The passing liquid stream imparts a rotational motion to the mixing rotor and the liquid components are effectively mixed by shear and turbulence in an annular narrow mixing zone between the outer periphery of the rotor and the inner wall of the housing. Preferably the entire surface of the mixing rotor is surrounded by the flowing liquid components, thus providing a low friction hydrostatic rotor support.

Abstract: In a continuous process for the nitration of cellulose, a slurry of cellulose in nitrating liquor is injected under pressure into a primary nitration reactor by means of an injection pump, the reactor comprising a loop of tubing, the slurry is circulated in the loop by means of a circulation pump at a rate which is greater than the rate of injection in order to ensure that the slurry is vigorously agitated, the slurry is optionally transferred, successively, from the primary loop to one or more secondary nitration reactors, each of which also comprises a loop of tubing equipped with a circulation pump, and the slurry is withdrawn from the final loop and the nitrocellulose is recovered.