Abstract: A reactor for producing hot hydrogen in vacuo which in turn drives a power-generating device such as a turbine is disclosed. Within the reactor are injected heat-generating reactants such as beryllium and oxygen. The reactants heat hydrogen which in turn is delivered to a power-generating device such as a turbine.

Abstract: A gas delivery apparatus which includes a vehicle fitted with multiple compressed gas cylinders, each provided with a free piston, along with a separate liquid reservoir cylinder, for sequentially displacing the gas located on one side of the free piston in each of the gas cylinders with liquid from the reservoir introduced on the opposite side of the free piston and relocating the free piston disposed in each gas cylinder by residual gas pressure.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for rapidly filling a pressure vessel such as a fuel storage tank with highly pressurized gas by initially inserting into the tank, a measured quantity of liquefied natural gas (LNG) or some other type of cryogenic liquid and permitting the temperature of the liquid to rise within the tank to vaporize it into a gas under a pressure which at least approaches the design working pressure of the tank. The storage tank maintains the gas under sufficiently high pressure that automotive fuel tanks or other small tanks can be rapidly filled from the storage tank without compressors due to the high internal pressure of the storage tank.

Abstract: In order to achieve optimized management of a pipeline system for transporting gas, oil or other products, the flow rates and pressures at various system locations are determined and regulated in real time. The configurations of compressors and valves which make it possible to minimize operating costs are determined in real time by computers.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for burning combustibles, particularly garbage and coal, in such a manner as to prevent the venting of unwanted pollutants into the atmosphere and for recovering valuable resources. The combustibles are burned in a rotating inclined furnace; solids and molten metals are extracted at the discharge end of the furnace; the discharged gases are passed through a boiler for extracting heat therefrom and generating steam; the discharged gases are liquified by sequential cooling and the so-liquified products removed while preventing discharge of gases into the atmosphere; the remaining gases are passed through a second boiler for further extraction of heat and steam generation and further extraction of liquified products; and the effluent gases are passed into subsequent apparatus for removing any remaining pollutants and for the recovering of resources in accordance with Nielson U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,341.

Abstract: A process is provided for optimizing the storage capacity, based on weight, of a hydrogen storage device containing a hydride-forming alloy. A corresponding hydrogen storage device is also provided wherein the storage device is designed to operate under a pressure of 100 to 300 bars, and the weight of hydride-forming alloy contained within the device is about 0.8 to 2 kg of hydride-forming alloy per liter of internal volume. As an added benefit attendant this process and device, the hydrogen gas stored in the device is purified thereby.

Abstract: The invention is a method for transporting and for treating during transport a gas containing potential atmospheric pollutants, including carbon dioxide making use of the extensive heat exchange area so provided, to obtain either a clean-burning fuel gas or a residual gas that can be discharged into the atmosphere without danger of significant atmospheric pollution. A cross-country pipeline is structurally modified or initially constructed to circulate coolant fluid along circumferential positions thereof, preferably by externally jacketing such portions and circulating coolant fluid therethrough, and to provide a gravity settlement chamber therein for carbon dioxide snow and particulate matter and a mechanical arrangement, such as a ram, for pushing any previously precipitated matter into such chamber.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the amount of butane that can be safely added into a fuel gas before condensation occurs includes a dry-bulb thermocouple for measuring the temperature of the gas and a wet-bulb thermocouple for measuring the temperature of a wick soaked in the butane in the gaseous environment of the fuel gas. For a continuous flowing process the difference in the two measured temperatures indicates the proportion of butane that can be added before saturation, and is used to regulate the flow rate of the butane. The wick is periodically flushed with butane, in order to prevent heavy hydrocarbon components in the butane from accumulating.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for withdrawing gaseous decomposition products from a refuse dump. Disposed at various locations in the refuse are gas collection mechanisms, such as gas wells, drainage systems, etc., each of which is connected via a gas withdrawal line with a collector, from which the gas is withdrawn for further utilization. Disposed in each gas withdrawal line is a sensor and a regulatable shutoff device. The sensor transmits the content of a characteristic constituent of the gas flow in a given gas withdrawal line to a measuring and control unit, which monitors the gas flow volume as a function of a comparison of the sensor signals with preset threshold values. If the sensors indicate that the content of the characteristic constituent of the gas flow exceeds or drops below the preset threshold values, the measuring and control unit opens or closes the associated shutoff device by an appropriate amount.

Abstract: A process for conditioning a natural gas stream containing liquid hydrocarbons, for pipeline transport, which process comprises separating the natural gas stream into a hydrocarbon liquid component and a hydrocarbon gaseous component, absorbing water and water vapor from said gaseous component, optionally removing free water from the liquid component, heating the liquid component and allowing the water still present to dissolve in the liquid component and atomizing the heated liquid component with dissolved water into the treated gaseous component for transport through a pipeline.

Abstract: Coal tar resulting from the gasification of coal in an industrial gas producer, instead of being discarded as waste, is condensed from the hot fuel gas by a mist-like spray of water to produce a fog-like suspension of tar mixed with the fuel gas. This mixture flows to an electric precipitator where the tar is precipitated and the fuel gas and water vapor are conducted to a mixer while the tar, which has been condensed, is supplied to a tar burner where it is burned either with a stoichiometric volume of air, or less than a stoichiometric volume. The product gases from the tar burner are conducted and discharged hot into the mixer where they supply sensible heat to fuel gas and water vapor and raise the temperature of the mixture above the dew point of the tar remaining in the fuel gas, and from which the hot mixture produced is delivered to a fuel burner or gas consuming apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying fuel to a gaseous fuel consuming device, such as a gaseous fueled vehicle or the like, generally includes one or more gas compressors for compressing the gaseous fuel to a predetermined pressure, preferably less than 500 psig (3450 kPa). The apparatus preferably also includes apparatus for cooling the compressed gaseous fuel at least to ambient temperatures. Sorbent filtering and storage means are also preferably provided for maximizing the amount of fuel to be stored in the apparatus in order to supply a quick initial charge of the gaseous fuel to the vehicle or other gaseous fuel consuming device.

Abstract: A low pressure gaseous hydrocarbon fuel storage system and power plant is described, which generally comprises means for storing a self-contained supply of a gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, a prime mover, means for conveying the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel to and from the storing means, and means for controlling the flow of the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel from the storing means to the prime mover. The storing means, which may include one or more vessels or cylinders, contains a predetermined sorbent material for reducing the pressure at which a given amount of the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel is stored. The prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine, has means for combining the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel with air to produce the mechanical energy therefrom necessary to move the vehicle.

Abstract: A low pressure gaseous hydrocarbon fuel storage system and power plant is described which generally comprises on-board means for storing a self-contained supply of a gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, a prime mover, means for conveying the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel to and from the storing means, and means for controlling the flow of the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel from the storing means to the prime mover. The on-board storing means, which may include one or more vessels or cylinders, contains a predetermined sorbent material for reducing the pressure at which the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel is stored. The conveying means is adapted to convey the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel to the on-board storing means from a stationary source of the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, and also to convey the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel from the storing means to the combining means of the prime mover during the operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulation feed for gas consumption from a source with a variable gas production. The apparatus is characterized by two chambers (1, 2). These communicate in their lower parts with each other. At least the first chamber (1) is closed in its upper end. The lower part of the chambers (1, 2) is provided with a gas inlet (3) from said source for gas production and a gas outlet (5) to said consumer. In the second chamber (2) there is provided a means (15) regulated by the liquid level for starting and shutting off the gas consumer.

Abstract: A coal gas supply method converts a carbon carrier in a reactor into a coal gas by the addition of oxygen and feeds the coal gas to fuel consumers. To ensure a continuous fuel supply to the fuel consumers during the coal gasification process, a branch current of the coal gas produced is liquefied and stored. At the same time the oxygen stored in liquid form is drawn from a tank, evaporated and used in the reactor. If there is a breakdown in the coal gasification process, the stored quantity of coal gas is evaporated gradually and fed to the consumers. At the same time, oxygen drawn from an oxygen inlet pipe is liquefied and stored. Instead of coal gas, another fuel gas such as natural gas can also be used.

Abstract: In thermal cracking of hydrocarbons, especially steam cracking to light olefins, a transfer line heat exchanger unit is provided in which cracked gas flows from a furnace into heat exchange tubes, which comprises a distributor having an inlet for said gas and two or three diverging branches forming with said distributor a wye or tri-piece for passage of gas, each branch having along its length a substantially uniform cross-sectional area and being in fluid flow communication with a respective cooling tube. Unfired residence time and pressure drop are reduced, thereby improving selectivity to ethylene.

Abstract: A material for reversibly storing hydrogen is formed from a lightweight matrix which is chemically and structurally modified to improve its hydrogen storage properties. The utilization of a material which can be any of a number of different disordered structures makes possible the modification of local order chemical environments of the material to increase hydrogen storage capacity and/or improve absorption and desorption properties. Lightweight modifier elements structurally modify the local chemical environments of the matrix to provide a material having an increased density of storage sites to increase hydrogen storage capacity. Transition and rare earth modifier elements structurally modify the local chemical environments to provide a material with an increased density of catalytically active sites for dissociating hydrogen molecules to increase the rate at which hydrogen absorption and desorption can be accomplished.

Abstract: In a gas compression system, heat rejected from the prime mover and the compressor is transferred from them to the loads driven by the compressed gas. This heat transfer reduces the energy required from the prime mover for delivery of a given amount of energy by the output load, and hence increases the efficiency of the gas compression system.

Abstract: A system for supplying hydrogen to an apparatus which utilizes hydrogen contains a metal hydride hydrogen supply component and a microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply component which in tandem supply hydrogen for the apparatus. The metal hydride hydrogen supply component includes a first storage tank filled with a composition which is capable of forming a metal hydride of such a nature that the hydride will release hydrogen when heated but will absorb hydrogen when cooled. This first storage tank is equipped with a heat exchanger for both adding heat to and extracting heat from the composition to regulate the absorption/deabsorption of hydrogen from the composition. The microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply component includes a second tank containing the microcavity hydrogen supply. The microcavity hydrogen storage contains hydrogen held under high pressure within individual microcavities. The hydrogen is released from the microcavities by heating the cavities.

Abstract: In a fuel gas distribution system, at least one fuel gas stream is mixed with air to achieve a heating value equivalency which is the same as that of another fuel gas having a different heating value and specific gravity. The heating value equivalency is defined as the heating value of a fuel gas in heat units per unit of volume divided by the square root of the specific gravity of the gas. A control system is employed to measure the specific gravity, pressure, temperature and flow rate of the first gas in a first gas stream, and the pressure, temperature and flow rate of air in a second stream, and to control the flow rate of the gas from the first stream and air from the second stream such that the resulting mixture from the two streams has the same heating value equivalency as that of a third gas which was used to adjust the gas burners for use in that system.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for the recovery and removal of natural gas from a mine by liquefying and collecting the gas within the mine, and then transporting the liquified gas to the surface in a mobile tank. Natural gas is withdrawn from bore holes in a coal mine and liquefied using liquid nitrogen. A unique apparatus permits both the liquid nitrogen and the liquefied natural gas to be contained within a same insulated tank, enhancing the portable characteristics. Liquid nitrogen and its vapor are used to cool the natural gas so as to separate water and CO.sub.2. Means are disclosed for controlling the cooling by the cryogenic liquid by regulating the venting flow rate of its vapor in response to the pressure of the liquefied natural gas. The disclosed system eliminates the need for extensive piping and on-site pumping associated with conventional degasification processes.

Abstract: Natural gas taken from a gas well is loaded continuously and at a preselected, generally uniform rate into a movable separate pressure vessel means until such is filled with a discrete batch of natural gas at a pressure in excess of 800 psia, whereupon it is replaced with another separate pressure vessel means, with no interruption of gas flow. The filled, movable vessel means is then transported to an off-loading terminal. Well shock is thus controlled, and maximum natural gas recovery obtained. A generally uniform flow rate is obtained by a regulating valve, when well head pressure exceeds about 800 psia, and by a compressor when the well head pressure is below such value.

Abstract: As hot crude coke oven gas is conveyed from coke ovens to a position of utilization, condensation of higher hydrocarbons from the coke oven gas is prevented by increasing the temperature of the coke oven gas to a temperature such that higher hydrocarbons are prevented from condensing therefrom. This increase in temperature may be achieved by injecting oxygen-containing gas into the hot crude coke oven gas, to thereby produce a partial combustion of the coke oven gas. Alternatively, when the coke oven gas is being conveyed to a thermal cracking reactor wherein the coke oven gas is thermally cracked to form a cracked gas, the temperature of the coke oven gas may be increased by passing the coke oven gas through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange relation with the cracked gas.

Abstract: Natural gas from one or more wells is gathered, dehydrated, compressed to a relatively high pressure, and loaded into pressure vessel means mounted for transporting at ambient temperatures by a transport vehicle. The pressure vessel means is then driven to a transmission pipeline terminal, or other end user, and the natural gas is off-loaded while being heated to prevent the formation of harmful hydrates, the gas being metered before flowing into the pipeline.

Abstract: A fuel mixture, comprising from 10 to 60 mols % acetylene and from 40 to 90 mols % ethylene, is prepared by mixing the two constituents in the gaseous phase at a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure and at a temperature ranging from -25.degree. C. to +20.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for transporting a natural gas in the form of a hydrate. The method utilizes the pressure and temperature conditions of a submerged vessel to facilitate the formation and maintenance of natural gas as a hydrate during the subsea voyage and the subsequent reconversion of the hydrate to a natural gas when the destination of the vessel is reached.The submarine vessel can have: supplementary refrigeration, a hold or void in which a natural gas is hydrated, and a membrane pervious to gas and water within the hold. In the vicinity of the hold bottom are situated gas conductors with spargers through which the natural gas is pumped into the hold. Adjacent to them are cold-water distributor pipes through which water is pumped into the hold for forming a gas hydrate and for removing the heat of formation.The membrane is spaced from the interior wall of the hold so that a gap around and within the hold is formed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for storing large volumes of gas, such as natural gas, commonly shipped as liquid at very low temperature and unloaded through comparatively short cryogenic pipelines. Systems are disclosed for receiving, storing and warming shipments of liquefied gas prior to distribution to consumers. The systems include invisible underground storage as a safeguard against natural and artificial hazards and to utilize natural heat flow to warm the gas.

Abstract: A flash back arrestor for use in gas supply lines. The arrestor includes an elongated passageway through which the gases flow in one direction and through which the flash back must pass in the reverse direction. A pressure-actuated valve at the inlet end of the passageway is actuated by pressures from the flash back at the discharge end of the passageway. The valve consists of a valve member in the form of a piston freely movable under the influence of flash back pressures against a valve seat at the inlet to the passageway. The valve member carries a locking arrangement which moves under the influence of the flash back to latch the valve member with a biasing force to the closed position after a flash back occurs. Additionally, a second valve is provided actuated by the flash back to vent the flash back to the atmosphere. A separate flow actuated check valve prevents backflow to the gas supply tank in the event the flow direction should reverse, not caused by a flash back.