Abstract: The device according to the invention for separating a solid material and a gas substantially comprises an ascending conduit for conducting a gas-solid material suspension having a solid material supply port for feeding in a solid material and a gas supply port for feeding in a gas, a descending helical and/or spiral conduit, in which the gas-solid material suspension is separated into a solid material flow and a gas flow by centrifugal forces, a diverter head that connects the ascending conduit with the helical and/or spiral conduit, wherein in the region of the diverter head at least one bend is provided in the conduit configuration, connected to the end of the helical and/or spiral conduit a solid material conduit for discharging the flow of solid material and also connected to the end of the helical and/or spiral conduit a gas conduit for discharging the flow of gas.

Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter which gives an acceptable vapor phase filtration and flavor delivery in the presence of a volatile flavorant (e.g. menthol), the filter containing activated carbon in which (1) pores of under 2 nm pore diameter (micropores) provide a pore volume of at most 0.3 cm3/g (NZ); and (2) (a) pores of 2 to 50 nm pore diameter (mesopores) provide a pore volume of at least 0.25 cm3/g (N2) and/or (b) pores of 7 to 50 nm diameter (larger mesopores) provide a pore volume of at least 0.12 cm3/g (Hg).

Abstract: A vertically situated incinerator for receiving heated kiln off gases from a petroleum coke calcining process and incinerating volatile matter and carbon fines entrained in the gases. The incinerator also functions as a hot stack through which the gases are vented to atmosphere at times when any downstream equipment for receiving the gases are off line.

Abstract: The device according to the invention for performing chemical and/or physical reactions between a solid material and a gas, in particular for preheating, cooling and/or calcining fine-grained materials substantially comprises at least one helical and/or spiral line, in which a gas/solid material suspension is separated by centrifugal forces into a solid material flow and a gas flow and at least one separation chamber which is connected to the end of the helical and/or spiral line and which is connected to a gas line in order to direct the gas flow away or which is formed by a portion of the gas line, a solid material line for directing the solid material flow away being connected to the separation chamber. The helical and/or spiral line opens into the separation chamber tangentially at an angle of at least 30° relative to the horizontal and the cross-section of the separation chamber in the region of the opening is from 0.5 to 1.5 times as large as the cross-section of the helical and/or spiral line.

Abstract: Solutions for mapping slag zones in a boiler are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an obtainer for obtaining data about a location of a slag zone within a boiler, the slag zone being one of a plurality of slag zones in a slag plane; a determinater for determining a flow distribution of a working fluid within the boiler, the flow distribution originating at a plurality of burners and intersecting the slag zone and a sensor grid including a plurality of grid sensors; an identifier for identifying at least one grid sensor in the plurality of grid sensors that is intersected by the flow distribution of the working fluid; and a user interface module for displaying the flow distribution of the working fluid from the plurality of burners to the at least one grid sensor.

Abstract: A local exhaust system for volatile organic compound (VOC) pollution control comprises a plurality of hoods, pipelines, and airflow regulators. The plurality of hoods at one side of an article and around thereof and air flows at the other side to remove VOC thereon to generate polluted air flow such that the plurality of hoods receives and collects the polluted air. The plurality of pipelines connected to the plurality of hoods is to take the polluted air therefrom. The plurality of airflow regulators on the plurality of pipelines is to adjust air flow therein.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of volatile material(s) in contaminated material(s) including a retort assembly which includes a rotatable retort disposed at least partially within a combustion chamber with a heater to indirectly heat the contents of the rotatable retort. A feeder feeds the contaminated material(s) to the retort. The apparatus further includes a pathway for passing contaminated material(s) to the retort and a conduit for passing the combustion gases from an afterburner to the retort assembly to provide additional heat for heating the contaminated material in the retort. The apparatus may also include a high temperature filter which can filter the volatiles before entering the afterburner.

Abstract: Discharge system for a reactor, such as a furnace. The discharge system comprises a collection duct, to which a number of discharge lines are connected, each discharge line in turn being coupled to an installation, such as a furnace. In order to keep the reduced pressure at the location of a furnace of this nature as constant as possible, it is proposed to provide a valve at the location of the reactor, which valve adjusts an opening between the discharge line and atmosphere in a controllable manner. In this way, a controlled reduced pressure can be maintained at the location of the valve, i.e. at the outlet from the reactor.

Abstract: A carbon reactivation apparatus has a fossil fuel kiln adjacent to a rotary dryer and flue gas from the kiln flows through the dryer co-currently with carbon particles to provide a more efficient process than previously known. The apparatus has a rotary kiln with a drum therein sloped downwards from a feed end to a discharge end, a furnace shell surrounding at least a portion of the drum with a fossil fuel heater and hot gases from within the shell heat the rotary kiln. A rotary dryer slopes downwards from an inlet end to an outlet end and carbon particles to be reactivated are fed into the inlet end. Ducting from the shell surrounding the drum of the rotary kiln extends to the inlet end of the rotary dryer for hot gases to flow along the dryer to the outlet end in the same direction as the carbon particles.

Abstract: A furnace exhaust system with a regulator is disclosed. The furnace exhaust system comprises a furnace for providing a reaction chamber wherein a semiconductor process takes place, exhaust gas reacted from the semiconductor process being released through an exhaust pipe. An air pressure controller is connected to the furnace through the pipe for maintaining the pressure of the exhaust gas in the furnace and the pipe, the air pressure controller comprising a sensor for monitoring the pressure of the exhaust gas in the pipe, and a valve for controlling the passage of the exhaust gas according to the sensor. A regulator is connected to the pipe for providing an air block and an air buffer, the regulator comprising at least one cup-shaped structure with at least one hole in the bottom of the cup-shaped structure, the hole allowing condensed liquid from the furnace to be drained out.

Abstract: A method and plant for heat treatment of lime sludge (CaCO.sub.3) formed by the causticizing process during the manufacture of paper pulp. The lime sludge is dried and pulverized in a first process stage and preheated in a second process stage by means of hot exhaust gas coming from a kiln. In order to ensure that the temperature in the second process stage does not exceed a predetermined temperature lying within the range from 400.degree.-600.degree. C., the relationship between the amount of energy available in the exhaust gas for preheating in the second process stage and the amount of accumulated energy in the material which is to be preheated is regulated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hot air oven for the preparation of foodstuffs, with a housing with four housing side walls, a bottom and a housing cover, with a cooking chamber delimited by four side walls 4 as well as a bottom 2 and a ceiling 3, with a first blower 6 for generating a hot air flow in the cooking chamber, with a rotatable basket 5 for the foodstuffs, which can be inserted into the cooking chamber, wherein the hot air stream flows through the basket 5 during oven operation, with a control device for the course of the cooking progress, wherein the control device includes a temperature control, and with at least one incoming air conduit and at least one air outlet conduit 6, wherein at least one separation device 10 serving to separate out particles conveyed in the hot air flow is provided.

Abstract: A material drying system includes a pulse combustor having a combustion chamber and an elongate tailpipe forming a resonant system with the combustion chamber. The tailpipe has an inlet for material to be dried and an outlet through which the material is discharged in a pulsating gas stream when the combustor is in operation. The tailpipe discharges into a vertical drying duct which leads to a cyclone separator. Part of the exhaust gas leaving the cyclone separator is recycled and used to cool the combustion chamber and tailpipe. Part of the dried material leaving the cyclone separator can be mixed with new incoming wet material to lower the overall moisture content of the material to be dried. The pulse combustor provides a substantial portion of the motive force required to operate the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously producing metals such as zirconium, hafnium, titanium, niobium, vanadium, silicon and tantalum. The corresponding metal halide is reacted with a metallic reducing agent such as aluminum, calcium, magnesium and sodium in a reactor where the reaction takes place at a temperature where the metal reducing agent is below its vaporization temperature and where the metal halide is above its vaporization temperature. The metal formed by the reaction is recovered from the reactor by collecting it in a pool of molten product metal contained in a cold wall induction heated receptacle in the reactor from which the metal product is removed.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling a bed of pyroprocessed particulate material such as lime received from a source such as a kiln, the cooler including a shaft with one or more underlying hoppers through which the material flows as cooling air is forced upwardly therethrough. The invention embodies hoppers with uniform slopes at any given elevation, dual hopper slopes with one being extremely steep, internal flow guiding means, as well as an octagonal or partially octagonal wall configuration and matching scalloped octagonal hoppers. Also included is the concept of providing substantially equal areas of draw in any angular segment about the vertical center line of discharge from a hopper or cluster of hoppers. The resultant is more uniform flow of material down through the cooler and correspondingly more efficient cooling. Alternative embodiments include hopper transition pieces in lieu of the cooling shaft being constructed in an octagonal or partially octagonal configuration.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for recovering the heat energy content in furnace waste gases and for recovering much of the dust entrained therewith includes a hollow duct through which the waste gases pass, and which contains first and second tube bundles arranged one after the other and a dust collection surface therebetween. The heat content in the waste gases is transferred to water passing through the two tube bundles and dust is deposited on the dust collection surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing cross crystallization of particulate matter entrained in, and to be removed from, a dirty gas stream on a selected filter media where the method includes the addition of 0.01% to 1% by weight of an organic volatile liquid to the gas stream and the weight percent of organic volatile liquid is based on the weight of particulate matter carried by the gas stream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved apparatus for removing fallen slag from beneath a flame cutting table. A three-sided scoop is positioned below the table. Co-acting guide members are mounted along the sides of the scoop and the table. Chains are fastened to each side of the scoop and extend around vertically positioned sprockets at opposite ends of the table. The chain is located below a portion of the table guide member for protection from falling slag and heat. A motor engages the sprockets to drag the scoop from one end of the table to the other. A tube fastened to the table is positioned for carrying the returning chain.

Abstract: A heat seal, for a walking beam furnace, comprising a water trough with a pair of parallel skirts having their lower edge portions submerged in the trough. A row of paddles are mounted on each skirt, each paddle being connected pivotably on the skirt for upward and downward movement below the skirt.

Abstract: A stream of raw material is passed through a preheater to a furnace and a stream of exhaust gases from the furnace is passed through the preheater to preheat the raw material. Dust is electrostatically precipitated from the exhaust gases leaving the preheater, and the temperature of such exhaust gases is controllably raised to improve the efficiency of the dust removal by bypassing a controlled proportion of at least one of said streams around at least a portion of the preheater.