Abstract: Process and apparatus for forming essentially spherical solid pellets directly from a melt, and particularly solid metal pellets such as iron and lead. The melt from a column of a preset height is directed through one or more orifices in a way to form a jet which experiences an upwardly directed trajectory path and which under the influence of vibratory action breaks up to form pellets of a predetermined diameter. Adjustments of the column height and/or vibration frequency are used to control pellet diameter. The pellets may be formed and solidified in a controlled atmosphere; and in the case of iron pellets, the carbon content of the pellets may be adjusted, to attain a desired degree of hardness, either before or after pellet formation. Iron pellets thus formed are particularly suitable as substitutes for lead pellets in ammunition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus (1) for suspending hot sticky pellets discharged from a pelletizer into a swirling bath of liquid, (2) for transportation of the resulting slurry to a liquid and pellet separator in a manner which avoids agglomeration of the pellets, and (3) for recycling the liquid through the foregoing steps.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing spherical hollow particles which provides a large number of individual linear water jets arranged in a ring and converging at a single point, so that a molten metal may be passed through this ring of water jets and converging point.

Abstract: Solid waste material is disposed of and a portion thereof converted into valuable refractory prills by use of a reactor having a substantially vertical pyrolysis chamber, a refuse charging inlet and a combustible gas outlet in the upper region thereof and a molten refractory material outlet in the lower region thereof. The molten refractory material withdrawn from the chamber is prilled to form ceramic beads. Gas-feed means charges an oxygen-rich gas into the chamber under pressure at a plurality of vertically spaced points along the length thereof so as to produce combustion of the waste organic components and generate heat. The charge is controlled to maintain a plurality of different temperature zones along the length of the chamber so as to effect incomplete combustion of the waste organic component and form a combustible gas and an organic-free molten refractory material.

Abstract: Liquid slag passes from an overflow in a pressure vessel into an underlying collecting vessel where the liquid slag is transformed into solid granular material by quenching in a liquid coolant. A desired coolant level is maintained within the collecting vessel by control valves under a pressure above atmospheric pressure. Two slide valves in the bottom of the collecting vessel are opened to discharge the granular material after accumulating to a predetermined measured level which is below the liquid coolant in the collecting vessel. A discharge vessel, beneath the collecting vessel, receives the discharged granular material. The discharge vessel is filled with a liquid coolant under either atmospheric pressure or under the same elevated pressure as the pressure within the collecting vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for producing microspherical particles. Also described is a method for operating said apparatus. A droplet generator dispenses uniform spherical droplets into a gelling column which is sealed at both ends to prevent entry of air thereinto. A gelling liquid and a gelling gas are provided in the column, and a further gas, which is of a density lower than that of the gelling gas, is introduced to the region above the gelling gas. At the interface between the gelling gas and the further gas, the gases are withdrawn from the gelling column.

Abstract: A process for agglomerating a powdered product comprises contacting the product with a current of steam and with a gaseous fluid the temperature of which is lower than the temperature of the steam. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also disclosed.