Abstract: A burner apparatus comprises a conduit adapted to convey preheated oxidant and having outlet and inlet ends, and a conduit adapted to convey preheated fuel and having outlet and inlet ends. The conduit adapted to convey preheated fuel is substantially parallel to the conduit adapted to convey preheated oxidant. The conduit adapted to convey preheated oxidant is positioned substantially vertically above the conduit adapted to convey preheated fuel. The conduit adapted to convey preheated oxidant and the conduit adapted to convey preheated fuel each are positioned within its own respective elongate cavity in a refractory burner block. Each of the conduits are positioned in their respective cavity such that a substantially annular region is present between an outer surface of each conduit and its respective cavity. Each conduit inlet end extends through a respective plenum for receiving an ambient temperature fluid, the plenums adapted to pass the ambient temperature fluid into the respective annular regions.

Abstract: Provided is a process for bleaching pulp with ozone. The process involves preparing a slurry of cellulosic pulp having a consistency in fibers of from 1 up to 5 weight %. Such a low consistency slurry is then mixed with high partial pressure ozone under high shear conditions. The ozone is then maintained in contact with the cellulosic fibers to effect bleaching of the fibers. The present process offers the advantages of bleaching using a low consistency slurry, with the added advantages of employing ozone.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing moisture content of fluids comprising moisture and a sulfur-containing compound are disclosed. The methods use an acid gas resistant molecular sieve, and the sulfur-containing compounds are preferably selected from the group consisting of carbondisulfide, carbonylsulfide, and compounds within the formula Y—S—X , wherein S is sulfur, and X and Y are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, oxygen, and alcohol. Compositions comprising the reduced moisture fluids are also described.

Abstract: An integrated air separation and power generation process produces an O2-enriched gas stream and an N2-enriched gas stream in an air separation unit. The O2-enriched gas stream is introduced with fuel and steam to a combustor, producing flue gas. At least a portion of the flue gas and steam stream exiting the combustor is used to generate power. The N2-enriched gas stream is heated and power is generated from the heated N2-enriched gas stream.

Abstract: A fume extraction system includes a combustion zone coupled with an exhaust outlet of a furnace to receive an exhaust gas stream emerging from the furnace outlet during system operation, where the exhaust gas stream includes explosive gases that undergo combustion reactions within the combustion zone. A duct section is aligned downstream from the combustion zone to deliver the exhaust gas stream toward a venting outlet. A suction unit establishes a negative pressure within the system so as to draw the exhaust gas stream from the furnace outlet and through the fume extraction system during system operation. An exhaust damper is further provided within the system between the combustion zone inlet and the suction unit. A control system selectively controls the negative pressure applied to the furnace, combustion zone and duct section based upon a measured concentration of at least one gas constituent within the exhaust gas stream.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes are presented to contact a dry, preferably high purity inert gas with a chemical composition in a pressure vessel, or a wetting composition, to form a wet inert gas, which is then used to pressurize the chemical composition out of the pressure vessel. No additional space is needed for an external humidifier. Since a very small amount of vapor is needed to form a wet inert gas, the composition of chemical composition will not be significantly affected.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel in a combustion chamber of a furnace or boiler are presented, the combustion normally using only air as an oxidant, part of the air entering the combustion chamber through one or more burners, and a remaining portion of air entering the combustion chamber at a plurality of locations downstream of the burners. The methods comprise injecting oxygen-enriched gas through a plurality of lances into the combustion chamber at a plurality of downstream locations, the oxygen-enriched gas injected at a velocity ranging from subsonic to supersonic, and the oxygen-enriched gas being present in an amount sufficient to provide an oxygen concentration of no more than 2% on a volume basis greater than when air is used alone as oxidant.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cooling an object using a heat transfer fluid are presented. One of the methods comprises the steps of contacting the object with a heat transfer fluid comprising helium as a major component, the object traversing through a heat exchange unit having an object inlet end and an object outlet end; preventing ingress of contaminants into the heat exchange unit inlet end and outlet end using a seal gas, the seal gas exiting with the heat transfer fluid to form an exit gas; compressing the exit gas to form a compressed recycle gas; routing the compressed recycle gas to a gas-liquid separator, thus forming a helium enriched gas which function as the heat transfer fluid and an enriched liquid; and heating the enriched liquid to form the seal gas.

Abstract: A method of treating an object containing a material of metal, oxidized metal, non-metal, and the like and combinations thereof. The method includes (a) exposing an object to a controlled gas atmosphere, and (b) during at least a portion of time during such exposing, subjecting a specific area of the material to an energy beam, preferably a focused energy beam, more preferably a focused and filtered energy beam, having sufficient intensity to provide for the treating of the specific area. Such treating includes heating, welding, cutting, dicing, soldering, singulating, reducing, oxidizing, fusing, melting, and the like and combinations thereof. The energy beam source can be a laser selected from a group which includes YAG lasers, excimer lasers, gas lasers, semiconductor lasers, solid-state lasers, dye lasers, X-ray lasers, free-electron lasers, ion lasers, gas mixture lasers, chemical lasers, and the like and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Heat transfer fluid mixtures and methods of making and using same are presented. The inventive heat transfer fluid mixtures consist essentially of at least one light gas, such as hydrogen, and at least one heavy fluid, such as helium wherein the mixture will not be capable of mixing with air in any proportions to produce a self-sustaining flammable or combustible mixture, or wherein a concentration of hydrogen is sufficient to reduce cost of the mixture to an amount substantially less than cost of pure helium.

Abstract: Steam generation apparatus and methods are presented that are dedicated to oxygen-enriched air combustion of a fuel, wherein the oxygen concentration of the oxygen-enriched air may range from just above 21 percent to 100 percent. One apparatus comprises an oxygen-enriched air preheater through which oxygen-enriched air flows and exchanges heat indirectly with flue gas, creating a preheated oxygen-enriched air stream. The apparatus further comprises a boiler having a radiant section and a convection section, and other heat transfer units adapted to handle reduced flue gas flow rate and higher temperature flue gases than comparable air/fuel combustion boilers, thus allowing a smaller heat transfer surface area, a more compact design and a higher efficiency.

Abstract: A method for sanitizing a food processing environment includes the preparation of an aqueous ozone was solution for use in sanitizing food contact surfaces and food processing work stations. During preparation of an ozone wash solution, ozone off-gas is collected from the aqueous ozone solution. The ozone off-gas is then introduced into an ambient of the food processing environment. The introduction of the ozone off-gas can be carried out in conjunction with the application of the ozone wash solution to food contact surfaces. Additionally, the ozone off-gas can be introduced at relatively high concentrations for application to food processing equipment and food contact surfaces or, alternatively, the ozone off-gas can be diluted to relatively low levels for introduction into the ambient air of a food processing facility.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivery of high purity reactive liquids using gaseous assist are described, the apparatus comprising a container body, the container body having fluidly connected thereto a gas inlet and a reactive liquid outlet, the gas inlet fitted with a means adapted to hold a gas filter media, and a gas filter media positioned within said means adapted to hold a gas filter media, the gas inlet having a gas inlet valve, the liquid outlet having a liquid outlet valve.

Abstract: Methods of cooling an object are presented, the methods comprising contacting a heat transfer fluid with a liquid cryogen to form a precooled, substantially pure heat transfer fluid, and contacting the object with the precooled substantially pure heat transfer fluid to form a cooled object and a recycle flow of the heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid consists essentially of a compound selected from the group consisting of substantially pure hydrogen, substantially pure helium, substantially pure argon, substantially pure nitrogen, and substantially pure carbon dioxide. Each of the contacting steps may be either direct contact, indirect contact, or combinations thereof.