Abstract: A liquid seal valve arrangement is disclosed wherein two liquid seal tanks act in response to a differential pressure to divert a portion of waste gas being directed to a heavily loaded flare to an alternate lightly loaded flare.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the incineration of waste materials contained within metal containers is disclosed wherein the metal containers containing the waste materials are fed through a shredder to form a mixture of waste materials and metal shreds. This mixture is then fed, in a controlled manner, to a primary combustion chamber wherein the waste materials and metal shreds are incincerated to produce ash, deconiannated metal sheds and combustion gases.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for cutting a slit along the length of a pipe in such a manner that expansion of a diameter of the slitted pipe is possible without creating a gap at the slit. This is accomplished by advancing the pipe to be slit past a cutting edge that non-radially traverses the inner and outer circumferences of the pipe wall. In a preferred embodiment the cutting edge, which traverses the pipe wall, is positioned tangentially with respect to the inner circumference of the pipe wall and extends from the inner circumference to intersect the outer circumference of the pipe wall.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus is disclosed for rejecting nitrogen from a gaseous nitrogen-methane mixture while the nitrogen content of the mixture varies widely. The process, which is especially suited for recovery of nitrogen in an enhanced oil reservoir flooding project which employs nitrogen for flooding the reservoir; utilizes a modified dual distillation column arrangement including a relatively high pressure fractionator which lacks a conventional reboiler and a low pressure fractionator which lacks a conventional overhead condenser for liquid reflux.

Abstract: A seal system for a circular perforated grid floor in a walled process vessel is disclosed, wherein air is passed upwardly through the perforations in the grid floor into catalyst bed, and by-passing of air through a gap between the grid floor and the wall of the process vessel is prevented by the seal. The seal system relies on the grid floor expanding into an annular space which is partially filled with a compressible packing material. When heated, the grid floor compresses the packing material to form the desired air tight seal between the grid floor and the vessel wall.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and process are disclosed for nitrogen rejection from a gaseous hydrocarbon stream recovered from an enhanced oil recovery project employing nitrogen for miscible flood of oil reservoirs. The process utilizes a modified dual distillation column arrangement including two fractionators which do not utilize overhead reflux condensers or reboilers for separating a nitrogen-methane mixture. Further, process conditions can be adjusted so as to provide efficient nitrogen rejection from a feedstream in which nitrogen content varies widely over a comparatively long period of time during enhanced recovery of oil.

Abstract: A membrane separation is incorporated in a distillation cycle for efficient recovery of carbon dioxide from a stream containing natural gas along with carbon dioxide. Methane and carbon dioxide are separated from a feed stream in a first distillation to produce a process stream containing essentially methane and carbon dioxide and which is substantially free to ethane and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. The process stream consisting essentially of methane and carbon dioxide is subjected to further distillation to produce a carbon dioxide-rich product stream and a process stream enriched in methane. The methane-enriched process stream is then passed to a membrane separation unit for separating methane and carbon dioxide and for producing a high purity methane product stream.

Abstract: A cooling fluid is utilized to withdraw heat from a KOH treater. The passing of the cooling fluid in heat exchange with the KOH treater is controlled so as to maintain desired operating pressures for the cooling fluid and also to substantially maximize heat transfer. Bypassing of the feed around the KOH treater to prevent temperature runaway is utilized only if sufficient cooling cannot be provided by the cooling fluid to prevent temperature runaway.

Abstract: In a compressor station for boosting the pressure of gas stream being transported in a pipeline wherein the act of recompressing the gas stream to a desired pressure results in a gas temperature sufficiently high to stimulate cracking activity in the pipeline when the compressed stream gas is reinjected into the pipeline, method and apparatus are disclosed for cooling a portion of the warm compressed gas to form a cool gas stream and then controlling a division of the cooled stream to supply both a cooled recycle stream for anti-surge control and a cooled stream for mixing with the warm compressed gas for temperature control.

Abstract: A capillary tube viscometer is provided in which the viscosity of a fluid can be measured at a temperature above the normal boiling point of at least one component in the fluid. The fluid is heated to the desired temperature in a sealed viscometer which is constructed so as to withstand high pressure. The fluid is then allowed to flow through a capillary tube and the time required for the fluid to flow through the capillary tube is measured. The viscosity of the fluid is then calculated based on the Hagen-Poiseuille law.

Abstract: The pressure of a source of hydrogen-rich gas, which is generated at an elevated pressure as a by-product in a reforming process, is controlled by manipulating two vent valves so as to permit maximum utilization of the hydrogen-rich gas in a hydrodesulfuration process which consumes hydrogen in its operation. Control action to maintain the pressure of the source of hydrogen-rich gas requires that hydrogen-rich gas generated in the reforming process, which must be vented to reduce pressure, is vented through a hydrodesulfurization reactor in ample quantity for operation of the hydrodesulfurization reaction, and only that amount of hydrogen-rich gas which cannot be utilized in the hydrodesulfurization reactor is vented directly from the source of hydrogen-rich gas.

Abstract: Steam active reforming catalyst is described which in addition to converting isoparaffins to isoolefins also isomerizes 1-olefins at least in part to internal olefins. In a combined steam active reforming and ether forming operation a 1-olefin containing stream can be recycled to the steam active reforming zone whereby this 1-olefin is converted to materials which in a separation step downstream from the ether forming reaction can be readily separated from the isoparaffin, the isolefin and the 1-olefin which are recycled to the steam active reforming zone. The steam active reforming catalyst thus has both the function of a reforming (dehydrogenation) catalyst and that of an isomerization catalyst for disposing of the 1-olefin byproduct and preventing its buildup in the operation.

Abstract: A continuous process for alkylating an alkylatable hydrocarbon in the presence of a acid-type catalyst in which the alkylatable hydrocarbon is contacted with an alkylating agent in the presence of a catalyst in a reaction zone so as to alkylate the alkylatable hydrocarbon. The reaction product is separated in an acid settler vessel into an alkylate product phase, located in the upper portion of the first separation zone, and a catalyst phase located in the lower portion of the first separation zone. The catalyst phase is further separated into a first portion and second portion, such that the first portion is cooled and recycled for use in the alkylation reaction zone as a catalyst recycle, and the second portion is passed into a second separation zone, wherein the catalyst phase is further separated into a rerun catalyst stream containing acid-type catalyst and an acid soluble oil stream. The rerun catalyst stream is passed into the hydrocarbon phase of the acid settler vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing leakage of process fluid through an ordinarily closed bypass conduit is disclosed which comprises a bypass conduit connected in parallel with a fluid processing unit so that a blocked-in portion of the bypass conduit may be formed and a purge fluid added to the blocked-in portion to sweep out process fluid and to maintain pressure in the blocked-in portion.

Abstract: A combination of an npn transistor, a pnp transistor and associated circuitry is utilized to provide a threshold amplifier which has a variable threshold. The voltage level at the emitter of the npn transistor, when the npn transistor is off, determines the variable threshold. A second pnp transistor is preferably utilized to provide a means by which the threshold voltage can be set to a very low voltage level.

Abstract: Catalytic regenerators, nozzle designs and processes suitable for introducing regeneration air into a catalytic cracking unit which substantially reduce erosion induced nozzle failures include at least one nozzle which has at least one planar surface generally parallel to the nozzle's longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a catalyst bed for converting vapors into an active hydrogen-donor solvent is disclosed. In one embodiment the catalyst bed is positioned within the upper portion vapor space of a vessel used for hydrogen-donor solvent hydrogenation. In another embodiment the catalyst bed is positioned in a separate vessel.

Abstract: An improved method for protecting a drill pipe casing from a rotatable string of drill pipe longitudinally extended therethrough. The method involves positioning a collar structure circumferentially around the upper end of one pipe section which is internally threaded and then thereafter engaging therewith the lower end of a second pipe section which is externally threaded and engageable with said first pipe section. The collar structure is formed of a poly(arylene sulfide) and is a single unitary structure having circumferentially extended outer surfaces which are adapted to resist spinning with the drill pipe string positioned in the casing structure.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically monitoring the flash point of a liquid passing through a conduit which includes a closed equilibrator vessel into which a sample stream of the liquid is confined and volatile vapors therefrom are allowed to saturate air introduced into the vessel, and a combustible gas sensor for measuring the percent lower flammable limit of the resulting gas mixture. The system further includes suitable computing means for automatically calculating the Tag closed cup flash point of the sample liquid based on the temperature of the liquid and on the measured percent lower flammable limit, and controlling the operation of the apparatus. A method of determining the flash point of such a liquid is also disclosed.

Abstract: A supervisory computer is provided for controlling a compressor wherein a computer generated set point manipulates flow in a recycle line from the compressor outlet to inlet. The supervisory computer manipulates the recycle flow so as to prevent the compressor from surging due to changes in flow rate, pressure or the molecular weight of the gas being compressed. The molecular weight of the gas is calculated on-line from actual measurements of flow, pressure, temperature and speed along with compressor performance data that is prestored in the computer. In addition the supervisory computer automatically maintains a minimum flow for the compressor that is as close as possible to the surge limit without danger of putting the compressor into surge due to changes in flow, pressure or molecular weight of the gas being compressed.