Abstract: Electrodes, in the form of plates, are held parallel to each other to form passageways in which electrostatic fields are generated when the plates are charged by a source of variable voltage. The variable voltage is programmed to establish an initial electrostatic field strong enough to mix polar and nonpolar fluids. The mixture is then flowed through the electrostatic field which is of the strength needed to coalesce the polar fluids which have united with a contaminant in the nonpolar fluid.

Abstract: An assembly for supplying gas-conveyed solid fuel to the interior of a double wall gasification vessel includes a conduit (4) for conducting the fuel-gas mixture across the annular region (16) formed between the inner (3) and outer (2) vessel walls. A flexible coupling (11) is provided at one end of the conduit proximate the penetration of the fuel-gas stream across the vessel pressure boundary. An expansion joint (14), disposed about the conduit (4) and sealed to the inner vessel wall (3) conducts secondary gas into the inner vessel across the annular region (16) and prevents leakage of corrosive gases from the inner vessel interior.

Abstract: The sealed shell of a nuclear steam generator is penetrated through a fluid lock by an elongated assembly including an axial fiber optic cable. Fluid pressure chambers within the assembly are selectively pressured to control the movement of the fiber optic head in visual inspection within the shell. Liquid is selectively introduced into the chambers to control buoyancy of the assembly.

Abstract: Two parallel heat exchange tubes having that part of a support structure between them to be interrogated for defects. A pair of radiation sources are positioned in the one tube to straddle the interrogated support portion, and a radiographic film is positioned in the tube behind the interrogated portion.

Abstract: A vessel in the form of a vertically-extended cylindrical tank receives oil well production containing a difficult-to-treat component. An elongated path for the production is formed within the tank with which to stratify production fluids. The upper stratum is oil containing some percentage of emulsion, the lower stratum is water containing some percentage of emulsion, and the intermediate stratum is a concentration of the remaining difficult-to-treat emulsion. A subsystem is provided for the liquids of each stratum. The subsystem processing the intermediate stratum extracts surfactant which has been used in facilitating production from the earth, and isopropanol utilized to break the bond of oil with the surfactant and water of the emulsion.

Abstract: The existance of fire at or near an oil field wellhead is sensed by a eutectic body which holds a valve system in a cocked position. When the eutectic is melted, the valves are positioned to terminate communication of a hydraulic fluid pressure source with a downhole safety valve and open a bleed conduit connected with the conduit to the downhole valve. A second eutectic body will melt at a different temperature than the first, providing a second position for the valve system which closes the conduit to the downhole valve and atmosphere to give positive isolation from the oil well fluid.

Abstract: A spider is formed at the upper end of a vapor riser tube by shearing and upsetting or crimping a portion of the upper end to form a support for a bolt which mounts the bubble cap.

Abstract: A primary air duct for a chemical recovery furnace is rectangular in cross section. Smelt accumulates on the walls of the air duct at the furnace end. A scraper structure is comprised of a pair of C-channels hinged together at one end. A mechanism moves the hinged scraper forward so it can be guided into scraping contact with the duct walls. The edges of the C-channels are guided by pin and groove engagement between the channels and the duct walls. The scraper is reciprocated from an inoperative position to a scraping mode by a rod to which force is applied.

Abstract: The parallel faces of thick-walled structures to be joined by arc welding are provided an electrically conductive metallic support along and up into the bottom of a gap between the parallel walls for the initial pass of the arc. The metallic support is subsequently gouged from the gap and the union of the parallel faces is completed by filling the gouged space with welding material.

Abstract: An electronic circuit receives an input of voltage pulses whose frequency of a predetermined range represents a variable to be manifested. The first train of pulses of varying frequency is applied to a one-shot monostable multivibrator which produces a second train of pulses, each of which has a duration representative of the maximum frequency of the predetermined range. The output of the one-shot controls a gate through which passes a third train of pulses of constant frequency and shape between the pulses of the second train. Counting, latch, and analog circuits respond to the third train of pulses to manifest the frequency of the first pulse train within its predetermined range.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustor is utilized as a source of drains, including spent calcium-based sorbent. The reacted sorbent is broken to expose unreacted portions which can be recycled to capture additional sulfur compounds. A separation is provided by a magnetic separator and an electrophoretic separator in order to obviate the load of recycling reacted sorbent and other waste material having no calorific value.

Abstract: Jacks are positioned about the base of a coal pulverizing bowl mill to elevate the separator housing which contains and supports the journal rolls. The separator housing is raised by the rollers attached to the jacks. Once raised, the housing is rotated to sequentially position the access door of each journal roll to the front of the mill. A mobile crane conveyance is stationed at the front of the mill to remove and replace each journal roll through its access door.

Abstract: An offshore platform is shown in position over the seabed. An escape chamber in the form of a spar buoy is mounted on a platform and extends from the platform above the surface of the water to below the surface. A cable also extends between the buoy and an anchor located on the seabed remotely from the platform. When the buoy is released from its platform mount and cable winched from the buoy, the buoy is pulled over the anchor to float safely during adverse weather conditions.

Abstract: The lip of the inner radius of a nozzle mounted through the wall of a nuclear reactor vessel is sandwiched between a transmitter and receiver of ultrasonic sound. The transmitter scans the internal surface of the nozzle lip while maintained a constant average distance from a receiver scanning the nozzle surface on the reactor vessel side of the lip. The two surfaces intersecting to form the inner radius vary in angle as the surfaces are scanned by the transmitter and receiver. Linkage is shown between the transmitter/receiver and the boom with which they are caused to sweep the lip to simultaneously accommodate the saddle shape of the inner radius and the varying angle between the lip surfaces.

Abstract: The tubes of tube and shell heat exchangers destructively vibrate at certain velocities with which fluid flows over their outside surfaces. An acoustic generator is positioned to respond to the fluid vibrations generated by the tubes. The structure of the acoustic generator is sized and arranged to produce a modulated tone representative of tube vibration. A detector mounted external the heat exchanger shell responds to the tone to initiate corrective action which will reduce the tube vibration.

Abstract: A wheeled transporter is placed at the periphery of the tube bundle which extends up from its tube sheet within a nuclear steam generator shell. The transporter is formed in hinged sections which can be disengaged as required at the periphery of the tube bundle. A cable attached to each end of the transporter extend through the handholes for movement of the transporter along the bundle periphery. Pistons on the transporter are controlled remotely to extend into engagement with the internal wall of the generator shell to selectively immobilize the transporter at any desired peripheral position and thereby form a steady base for maintenance and inspection devices mounted on the transporter.

Abstract: In the cycle for production of pulp by the Kraft process, the active alkali concentration range in black liquor is monitored and adjusted. In recognition of the effect of the proportion of the active alkali to the other contents of the black liquor on a dry solids basis, active alkali is adjusted to control various performances of the evaporators and combustion within the recovery furnace.

Abstract: A cylindrical, rotating knife is positioned to cut a moving body of flat sheet into predetermined lengths. An electric motor rotates the cylindrical knife. The knife motor is controlled by a system responsive to the travel of the sheet passing under the knife and the rotation of the knife, itself. The two measurements are fed to a control circuit to produce an output analog electrical signal to the knife motor which varies the rotational speed of the knife during the cutting cycle to avoid wastage of the sheet as it is cut.

Abstract: A steel-reinforced concrete gravity structure mounts a support framework with which to elevate a production deck above sea level. The structures are separately fabricated on shore, assembled in bordering shallow water, transported as a unit to the subsea well site, and subsequently installed on the sea floor.

Abstract: A once-through steam generator has both radiant and convection sections. The flue gases discharged from the convection section are passed through a wet scrubber to remove both sulfur oxides (SO.sub.x) and particulate matter. The feedwater to the convection section has its temperature controlled by the temperature of the flue gases discharged from the convection section, reducing the temperature of the feedwater by the use of a feedwater exchanger, as the convection section progressively fouls due to particulates in the flue gases. An additional heat exchanger upstream of the feedwater exchanger and convection section which scavenges additional heat from the wet scrubber liquids while the temperature of the flue gases into the scrubber are lowered to a temperature equal to or less than the water dew point temperature of the flue gases entering the scrubber.