Abstract: A support device for supporting a plurality of elongated members. The support device having a longitudinally extensive strip having a plurality of sets of transverse corrugations located at successive longitudinal locations along the strip. Each set of transverse corrugations forming a plurality of elongated member engaging zones extending laterally outwards from both faces of the strip to engage the elongated members in the tube bundle on opposite sides of a tube lane. The support device is useful to support elongated members in a bundle and to mitigate the possibility of damage from flow-induced vibration in elongated members.

Abstract: A fixed bed catalytic reactor for converting process fluids having an upper catalyst bed and a lower catalyst bed below the upper catalyst bed for converting process fluids flowing through the upper and lower beds. A mixing zone is located between the upper bed and lower beds, and at least one jet is provided for injecting an inclined fluid jet into the mixing zone against the flow of the process fluids to entrain process fluids within the jet and to radially mix the process fluids across the mixing zone.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and methodology for denitrification using constructed wetlands. The constructed wetlands of the present invention can be effectively applied as a wastewater point source treatment technology to any high total dissolved solids (e.g. sulfites and sulfates), carbon deficient wastewater stream for nitrate control. Pollutants are removed from the stream via a number of processes including plant uptake, volatilization, filtration and biological reduction. The present system and methodology offers an ability to reduce outflow stream nitrate concentrations in a cost-effective manner with minimal capital investment.

Abstract: A tube support device for a plurality of elongated members is disclosed. The support device includes an elongated longitudinally extending strip having a pair of opposing faces. The strip includes a plurality of engaging members extending from the pair of opposing faces. The support device is sized such that the support device is located between adjacent rows of elongated members. The plurality of engaging members arranged such that a portion of the plurality of engaging members extend from one face of the opposing faces and are arranged to contact the elongated members positioned adjacent one face and another portion of the plurality of engaging members extend from another face of the opposing faces and are arranged to contact the elongated members positioned adjacent the other face. The plurality of engaging members are located adjacent one end of the strip and extend along only a portion of the length of the strip. The remaining portion of the strip contains no engaging members.

Abstract: A tube bundle device useful in heat exchangers, condensers and other devices which has a number of tube support cages placed at extended locations along the length of the tubes. After the initial construction of the bundle in which the tubes are inserted into the support cages the tube bundle is stiffened by inserting sets of tube stakes between the tube support cages, preferably at the midpoint of the tube span between the cages. The tubes are supported by rods or bars in each tube lane at the tube support cage locations and the rods in each cage are rotated axially with respect to the rods in the next adjacent cage; in a similar manner, the stakes in each set are rotated axially with respect to the stakes in the next axially adjacent set.

Abstract: A tile for lining an internal surface in a heavy wear area. The tile includes at least one locating rod embedded within said tile and an internal mechanism for laterally extending said at least one locating rod out of said tile and into a gap in an adjoining structure which may be another tile. The tiles forming the lining surface are securely held in place as a result of the selective deployment of the locating rods into a gap in the adjoining structure.

Abstract: A multi-tray distillation unit having a separator for de-entraining liquid particles which are picked up by an upwardly flowing gaseous stream which is flowing countercurrent to a descending liquid flow in the unit. The separator which is placed above the contact plate on which the gas contacts the liquid, comprises vertically spaced tiers of elongated, substantially horizontal open-topped liquid collector channels arrayed in parallel rows transversely to the flow of the gas. The liquid collector channels are vertically staggered to deflect the gas flow from a lower tier level through the gaps between the collection channels of an upper tier and around the channels so as to cause the entrained liquid particles to separate from the gaseous stream by inertia into the channels of the lower tier. The collected liquid is then returned through a liquid downcomer to a contact plate.

Abstract: A method of reducing vibration in a tube bundle includes inserting at least one elongated longitudinally extending support strip within at least one tube lane, wherein each elongated longitudinally extending support strip having a pair of opposing faces and a plurality of successive transverse tube support rows located at successive longitudinal locations along the strip, wherein each tube support row having a plurality of raised, tube-engaging zones, wherein the plurality of raised, tube-engaging zones extend laterally outwards to engage with tubes in the tube bundle on opposite sides of a tube lane, and orienting the at least one elongated longitudinally extending support strip such that each tube adjacent the tube lane contacts at least one of the transverse tube support rows.

Abstract: A tube bundle device such as a heat exchanger or condenser which has parallel tubes in a triangular configuration in which tubes are adjacent and spaced from six surrounding tubes. The tubes in the tube bundle have wire spacer/support elements comprising helically wound material which surrounds at least a portion of the length of each of the tubes; each tube with a spacer/support coil being in contact only with tubes which do not have a spacer/support coil and each tube without a spacer/support coil is in contact only with tubes which have a spacer/support coil.

Abstract: A tube bundle device useful in heat exchangers, condensers and other devices which has a number of tube support cages placed at extended locations along the length of the tubes. After the initial construction of the bundle in which the tubes are inserted into the support cages the tube bundle is stiffened by inserting sets of tube stakes between the tube support cages, preferably at the midpoint of the tube span between the cages. The tubes are supported by rods or bars in each tube lane at the tube support cage locations and the rods in each cage are rotated axially with respect to the rods in the next adjacent cage; in a similar manner, the stakes in each set are rotated axially with respect to the stakes in the next axially adjacent set.

Abstract: A mixing system is disclosed which provides improved multiphase mixing through the use of a novel quench injection means. The mixing system comprises a horizontal collection tray, a mixing chamber positioned below the collection tray, and at least one passageway extending through the collection tray into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber and the collection tray define a two-phase mixing volume. The passageway conducts fluid from above the collection tray into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber preferably includes at least one outlet opening for the downward passage of fluid. In particular, mixing of quench fluid is significantly improved when quench is introduced into a region above the collection tray and where a preferred direction of quench injection is selected to cause a rotational current on the collection tray.

Abstract: A mixing system is disclosed which provides improved multiphase mixing through the use of a novel quench injection means. The mixing system comprises a horizontal collection tray, a mixing chamber positioned below the collection tray, and at least one passageway extending through the collection tray into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber and the collection tray define a two-phase mixing volume. The passageway conducts fluid from above the collection tray into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber preferably includes at least one outlet opening for the downward passage of fluid. In particular, mixing of quench fluid is significantly improved when quench is introduced into a region above the collection tray and where (i) lateral velocities of the process fluids are low, (ii) sufficient volume is available for the quench fluid to mix with the process fluids, and (iii) quench injection occurs opposite the prevailing direction of process fluid flow.

Abstract: A device for separating water immiscible hydrocarbons from water contained on vessel decks by spill rails with at least one scupper comprises a rigid liquid impermeable body adapted to be attached on the inside of a spill rail at a scupper and which defines with the spill rail a chamber that has an opening at the bottom end of the body which opening is at a level below the bottom of the scupper.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a mixing system that provides improved mixing of quench gas and process fluids in a height constrained interbed space while not increasing pressure drop. In particular, the device improves the effectiveness of an existing mixing volume in mixing the gas phase of two-phase systems. The mixing system includes a horizontal collection tray, a mixing chamber positioned below the collection tray, at least one passageway extending through the collection tray into the mixing chamber, and a vapor slipstream passageway extending through the collection tray into the mixing chamber for directing a vapor slipstream from above the collection tray into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber and the collection tray define a two-phase mixing volume. The passageway conducts fluid containing at least some vapor from above the collection tray into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber preferably includes at least one outlet opening for the downward passage of fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel means to provide more effective mixing of quench gas and process fluids in a height constrained interbed space of a catalytic reactor without increasing pressure drop. In particular, the device improves the effectiveness of an existing mixing volume in mixing the gas phase of two-phase systems. According to the present invention, the quench zone hardware contained within the reactor includes a substantially vertical continuous perimeter solid baffle attached to the underside of the collection tray.

Abstract: A tube support device comprises an elongated strip inserted in a tube lane between the tubes of the tube bundle. Raised-tube-engaging zones are disposed in transverse rows across the strip at successive longitudinal locations along its length; these tube-engaging zones extend laterally outwards from both faces of the strip to engage with tubes on opposite sides of the tube lane. The tube-engaging zones may be arranged so that they extend from the two faces of the strip in an alternate manner, with the tube-engaging zones in each row alternately extending from one face and then from the other along the row.

Abstract: The present invention is in a “virtual RPM sensor” which is preferably implemented by means of a software process. The software determines the RPM of a rotating machine using an adaptive signal processing algorithm. Preferably, the input to the software system of the present invention is digitized waveform data from either a vibration transducer on a rotating machine or vibration data stored in a database or file. The present invention permits the determination of the RPM of a rotating machine without the requirement of additional hardware so that readings may be obtained inexpensively, accurately and without interrupting machine operation.