Abstract: An hydraulic loading assembly for ball and ring coal pulverizers has a plurality of compression assemblies connected to a common hydraulic controller for exerting equal pressure simultaneously on each of the compression assemblies. The compression assemblies each have a hydraulic cylinder and piston located above and connected to a non-threaded rod which is in turn located above and connected to a compression spring exerting force on the top grinding ring of the pulverizer.

Abstract: A forming or re-rounding machine has opposed inner and outer hydraulic ram sets each carried in a housing with rollers. The ram set housings are movably mounted onto an I-beam frame connected by hydraulic cylinders. The frame supports a can or shell for rotation of the surface to position a region for forming or reforming between the hydraulic ram sets. Each ram set has a hydraulic cylinder for advancing a re-forming tool on either the inside or outside of the can or shell to reform the selected region. The I-beam hydraulic cylinders are allowed to compress when the can or shell is positioned for forming or reforming and help prevent flexing of the can or shell outside the selected region.

Abstract: A removable debris shield and method to internally protect a portion of a vessel, such as a pressure vessel, during fabrication. Pliant material sufficient to span a desired interior portion of the vessel has a hem located around the periphery of the material and having at least one opening. A hoop is removably inserted through the opening into the hem to extend the material across the desired interior portion of the vessel. In one embodiment, a spreader bolt spreads the hoop to force it tightly against the walls of the vessel.

Abstract: A method for fabricating sections of a floating offshore spar type structure and mating the sections offshore. A buoyant hard tank is fabricated vertically. The hard tank is then transported in a vertical orientation to a site where it is mated to a truss section of the spar structure offshore while the hard tank and truss section are both in the vertical orientation. The mated tank and truss sections are then towed in the vertical orientation to the operational site. The hard tank is fabricated with a larger diameter and correspondingly shallower draft than a more traditionally proportioned hard tank.

Abstract: Lubrication devices for lubricating wire rope on a crane. Spray nozzles may be permanently mounted to the multi-sheaved wire block assemblies. A controller and oil supply located near the base of the crane are used to control and deliver oil to the spray nozzles. A telescopic spray unit is used to lubricate the vertical stationary wire rope. A crawler that rides on the wire rope is used to lubricate the stationary wire rope between the anchor point and the first sheave of the block assembly. Improved clamshell units are used to lubricate the wire rope between the drums storing wire rope and the first sheave.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pressurizing tubular members of an offshore structure immersed in seawater so that the internal pressure resists the hydrostatic pressure of the seawater. To achieve this internal pressure, compressed air or gas is introduced into the tubular members after the various tubular members are submerged in seawater.

Abstract: Lubrication devices for lubricating wire rope on a crane. Spray nozzles may be permanently mounted to the multi-sheaved wire block assemblies. A controller and oil supply located near the base of the crane are used to control and deliver oil to the spray nozzles. A telescopic spray unit is used to lubricate the vertical stationary wire rope. A crawler that rides on the wire rope is used to lubricate the stationary wire rope between the anchor point and the first sheave of the block assembly. Improved clamshell units are used to lubricate the wire rope between the drums storing wire rope and the first sheave.

Abstract: A hydraulic expansion mandrel for expanding tubes in a heat exchanger tube bundle into a tubesheet is formed from a non-metallic material, such a carbon fiber-reinforced material. The mandrel includes an elongated cylinder having a tip, a fluid supply end and a reduced diameter section. A pair of O-rings separates the reduced diameter section from the tip and fluid supply end of the elongated cylinder. An adjustment shim, located between a threaded collar and a locking stop collar, adjusts the length of the mandrel inserted into a tube.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler has one or more bubbling fluidized bed enclosures containing heating surfaces and located within a lower portion of the CFB boiler to provide a compact, efficient design with a reduced footprint area. The heating surfaces are provided within the bubbling fluidized bed located above a CFB grid and/or in a moving packed bed below the CFB grid inside the lower portion of the CFB boiler. Solids in the bubbling fluidized bed are maintained in a slow bubbling fluidized bed state by separately controlled fluidization gas supplies. Separately controlled fluidization gas is used to control bed level in the bubbling fluidized beds or to control the throughput of solids through the bubbling fluidized beds. Solids ejected from the bubbling fluidized beds can be returned directly into the surrounding CFB environment of the CFB boiler, or purged from the system for disposal or recycle back into the CFB.

Abstract: A flue for improving gas flow characteristics is used to supply a flue gas flow with particulate material entrained therein to a selective catalytic reduction reactor. Conduits have an inlet for receiving the gas flow and an outlet for emitting the gas flow. Compartments are disposed adjacent the conduits. Each compartment has an intake end positioned in flow communication with the conduit outlet and a discharge end for discharging the gas flow proximate the selective catalyst reduction reactor. The intake end of the compartment and the outlet end of the conduit are positioned on the same horizontal plane. A device supplies ammonia into the gas flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing and removing mercury in industrial gases, such as a flue gas, produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, adds sulfide ions to the flue gas as it passes through a scrubber. Ideally, the source of these sulfide ions may include at least one of: sulfidic waste water, kraft caustic liquor, kraft carbonate liquor, potassium sulfide, sodium sulfide, and thioacetamide. The sulfide ion source is introduced into the scrubbing liquor as an aqueous sulfide species. The scrubber may be either a wet or dry scrubber for flue gas desulfurization systems.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating solids from flue gas in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler includes plural vertical, impact type particle separators made of cooling tubes located within the CFB in a plurality of staggered rows. One embodiment employs a plurality of stacked, slip fit elements having apertures which accept the cooling tubes. The slip fit elements cooperate with one another to form a collecting channel, typically U-shaped, which separates particles from flue gases conveyed across the particle separators. Shiplap joints in between the individual slip fit elements prevent gas and solids from leaking therebetween and allow for thermal expansion. Alternatively, the impact type particle separators include cooling tubes connected to one another to form a unitary structure. Pin studs welded to the cooling tubes and covered with a coating of refractory; ceramic tiles; metal or ceramic spray coatings; metal or ceramic castings; weld overlay; and/or shields provide erosion resistance.

Abstract: A support plate for retaining tube array spacing within a heat exchanger tube and shell structure. The support plate having a plurality of individual tube receiving apertures formed therein. Each apertures has at least three inwardly protruding members and bights are formed therebetween when the tube associated therewith is lodged in place to establish secondary fluid flow through the support plate. The inwardly protruding members terminate in flat lands that restrain but do not all contact the outer surface of the respective tube. These flat lands minimize fretting wear and eliminate potential gouging of the outer wall of the tube. The plate wall forming each aperture has an hourglass configuration which, inter alia, reduces pressure drop, turbulence and local deposition of magnetite and other particulates on the support plates.

Abstract: A modified air heater gas inlet plenum for a tubular air heater which permits retrofit installation of additional flue gas environmental treatment equipment. A divider plate is located within the inlet plenum to subdivide it into first and second flue gas passages. The first flue gas passage created by the divider plate merely conveys the hot flue gas through the inlet plenum and into flues which convey the flue gas to the new equipment. Return flues convey the flue gas back to the second flue gas passage created in the inlet plenum which, in turn, conveys the flue gas into the tubular air heater heat exchanger tubes. By taking advantage of the large size of a conventional air heater gas inlet plenum, the first and second flue gas passages created by the divider plate still have sufficient cross sectional area so that acceptable flue gas velocities are preserved.

Abstract: A method of corrosion protecting a tube having an end portion extending into a tube receiving hole of a mud drum of a boiler and the tube produced by that method. The end portion of the tube is provided with a corrosion resistant cladding layer which may contain chromium. Laser cladding is used to produce the corrosion resistant cladding layer, which advantageously tapers along a length of the end portion of the tube. The tube may be swaged before or after the cladding is applied and suitable heat treatments may be performed on the bare or clad tube to develop suitable properties in the tube, the cladding, or a tube-cladding interface.

Abstract: A tube wall, division wall, or wing wall section (10) for a circulating fluidized bed boiler with improved erosion resistant characteristics has a reduced diameter tube section (40) adjacent the refractory covered by an abrasion resistant refractory tile (60). The refractory tile (60) is mounted to the reduced diameter tube section (40) with the upper edge of the refractory tile outside of or not extending beyond a solids fall line of solids in the fluidized bed to eliminate exposed discontinuities.

Abstract: A method for forming a chromium-rich layer on the surface of a nickel alloy workpiece containing chromium includes heating the workpiece to a stable temperature of about 1100° C., and then exposing the workpiece to a gaseous mixture containing water vapor and one or more non-oxidizing gases for a short period of time. The process conditions are compatible with high temperature annealing and can be performed simultaneously with, or in conjunction with, high temperature annealing.

Abstract: A high velocity absorber has a lower larger diameter tank section for receiving a slurry at a liquid level in the. tank section, an upper smaller diameter absorber section where liquid scrubbing agent is mingled with flue gas from which impurities are to be absorbed, and a low pressure drop inlet assembly having a transition structure between the tank section and the absorber section for closing a gas flow path and a liquid flow path between the tank section and the absorber section. An inlet housing is connected to and communicates with the transition structure for inlet of flue gas into the transition structure between the tank section and the absorber section.

Abstract: A meter equipped with thermocouples which measure the combustion gas temperature used to calculate the heat flux at selected locations of a boiler furnace wall comprised of a series of tubes conveying pressurized water and separated by membranes. The meter extends through an opening in the membrane and is mounted on the outside of the furnace wall.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating solids from flue gas in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler comprises plural vertical, impact type particle separators located within the CFB in a plurality of staggered rows. The impact type particle separators employ hung elements supported from fluid-cooled tubes which form a collecting channel, typically U-shaped, which separates particles from flue gases conveyed across the particle separators. By separating the support function from the collection shape required by functional performance considerations, the strength requirements of the material used to form the collection shape are reduced and the strength of the material from which the fluid-cooled support is made is much higher due to the lower operating temperature of the material comprising the fluid-cooled support, thereby permitting the use of lower cost materials.