Abstract: A vapor generating system in which a furnace section is provided that is formed by four upright walls. A plurality of openings are formed in one of the walls, and a plurality of gasifiers extend adjacent said one wall and surround the openings so that the respective interiors of the gasifiers communicate with the openings. A bed of adsorbent material is supported in each gasifier for adsorbing the sulfur generated as a result of the gasification of fuel introduced into the gasifier, and air is passed through the bed of adsorbent material to fluidize said material so that, upon combustion of said fuel, a substantially sulfur-free product gas is produced which passes from the gasifier, through the openings and into the furnace section.

Abstract: The invention is an energy-efficient improvement in a continuous deasphalting process in which a mixture of viscous hydrocarbon oils with resins and/or asphaltenes is contacted with a quantity of pure or mixed hydrocarbon solvents including, but not limited to, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, isomers thereof, and unsaturated hydrocarbons of similar molecular weights, in order to separate a primary extract phase comprising high viscosity oil, resins and/or asphaltenes, and solvent. The primary raffinate phase is further contacted with an additional quantity of solvent comprising similar components to those in the primary solvent (but not necessarily identical thereto) to separate a secondary extract phase comprising high viscosity oil and solvent, and a secondary raffinate phase comprising resins and/or asphaltenes and solvent. The contacting step may be repeated as often as desired to make additional extract phases which are recovered separately.

Abstract: A spray liner assembly supported in a pressurized desuperheater header of a steam boiler. The liner is cylindrical shaped and open at each end, and is attached and axially retained at one end to the cylindrical header inner wall by multiple adjustable brackets, and is slidably supported at the opposite end by similar brackets. The liner is also flexibly supported radially at dual points on opposite sides of the liner at an intermediate point along its length with each support using a captured metal ball, so as to provide a radial inward elastic loading to the liner and also permit longitudinal and radial expansion and contraction of the liner within the header.

Abstract: A system for the fluidized reinjection of fine particles (carryover) into a fluidized bed combustor. The carryover recirculation system includes a fluidized reinjection bed which is fluidized using clean gas from the induced draft fan outlet boosted by a small auxiliary fan. The fluidized fine particles can be reinjected into the fluidized combustor bed by either dense phase transport or by dilute phase transport.

Abstract: A fluidized bed heat exchanger in which an air distributor plate assembly is disposed within an enclosure for supporting a bed of particulate material. The plate assembly includes a plurality of horizontal, spaced tubes through which water is passed to cool the assembly. Air is passed from an air plenum through openings formed in the plate assembly to fluidize the particulate material. Insulation is disposed on the lower surface of the plate assembly to insulate the latter from the heat of the fluidizing air, and the upper surface of the plate assembly is insulated from the high temperatures occurring in the bed.

Abstract: A combustion air preheater for heating combustion air with heat energy provided from flue gas includes both a heat pipe type heat exchanger for effecting low temperature heat transfer between the flue gas and the combustion air and a tube-and-shell type heat exchanger for effecting higher temperature heat transfer. The preheater includes a first heat exchanger, having first and second heat transfer compartments with a plurality of heat pipes extending therebetween and a second, connected heat exchanger which includes a plurality of heat tubes supported by tube sheets within a shell. Ducting is provided to direct flue gas over the tubes of the second heat exchanger and then through one of the compartments of the first heat exchanger and additional ducting is provided to direct combustion air through the other compartment of the first heat exchanger and through the tubes of the second heat exchanger.

Abstract: A combustion system and method for a coal-fired furnace in which a splitter is provided in the main conduit leading from the pulverizer for splitting the stream of coal and air into two separate streams. One stream from the splitter is connected to a separator in which a quantity of air is separated from the mixture of air and coal. A low load burner assembly is provided which includes a first nozzle connected to the separator for discharging the bulk of the coal flow and some air into the furnace, and a second nozzle connected to the same separator for discharging the bulk of the air from the separator into the furnace. The other stream from the splitter is connected to a third nozzle which discharges its mixture of air and coal into the furnace to provide high load capability.

Abstract: An industrial process control system in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of device controllers connected together through a common buss with each device controller connected to an associated controlled device(s) that effect process control. A computer-aided system interface for controlling the overall system includes a visual display device in the form of a multi-color CRT and a graphic input device in the form of a transparent touch-responsive panel that overlies the CRT display screen. Computer generated symbols representing the controlled devices are displayed on the CRT screen to define touch-responsive target areas. When an appropriate target area is touched by a human operator, a signal, such as a command signal, is generated to cause the controlled device whose symbol is displayed in the designated target area to respond, with this response being then indicated by a change in the device symbol being displayed on the screen.

Abstract: A control system for controlling an industrial process includes a plurality of remotely located process control units (remotes) each coupled to an associated input/output device(s) and adapted to communicate with one another through a dual channel communications link. Each remote has a unique succession number within a predetermined succession order with supervisory communication-control of the communication link sequentially transferred to each remote according to its succession number to provide a revolving or master for the moment control of the system. Each remote after completing its turn as master transmits a control block to the next remote in the sequence. Each remote, when exercising supervisory communication control of the communication link, may transmit data in block form to other remotes and request and receive data back from other remotes.

Abstract: A process for producing a gas stream for ammonia synthesis in which a gas stream containing hydrogen and nitrogen in excess of ammonia synthesis requirements, e.g. obtained by partial oxidation of natural gas, coal or oil, is treated to remove other component gases and thereafter subjected to a separation stage, e.g. in a cryogenic separator, to separate a hydrogen-nitrogen stream having the desired hydrogen:nitrogen ratio which is injected into the reactor for ammonia synthesis, and a waste nitrogen stream which may be utilized in power generation or washing stages.

Abstract: A fluidized bed heat exchanger in which a perforated plate is disposed within a housing for supporting a bed of particulate material. Air is passed through the plate to fluidize the particulate material and a mixture of air and additional particulate material is introduced to said bed and deflected into said bed in a manner to induce diffusion and circulation of the bed materials in the bed.

Abstract: A drain and sampling valve assembly for a fluidized bed reactor in which a pipe extends from the fluidized bed supporting structure to a location externally of said reactor. A valve seat is supported by said supporting structure and a valve stem is disposed in the pipe and extends for the length of the pipe and has a valve head mounted at one end of the stem for cooperating with the valve seat. A mechanical actuator assembly is provided externally of said reactor for selectively moving the stem relative to the pipe and the movement of the valve head relative to the valve seat to control the flow of material from the fluidized bed into the pipe. A discharge pipe and a sampling valve cooperate with the other end of the first mentioned pipe for selectively controlling the discharge of material from said latter pipe for permitting samples to be taken.

Abstract: A control system for controlling an industrial process includes a plurality of remotely located process control units (remotes) each coupled to an associated input/output device(s) and adapted to communicate with one another through a dual channel communications link. Digital information in the form of data and control information blocks is transmitted between remotes with the blocks transmitted twice on each channel of the dual channel communications link. The destination remote checks the block validity on one of the dual channels and, if valid, responds with an acknowledgement signal (ACK), and, if invalid, tests the blocks on the other, alternate channel and then responds with an acknowledgement or non-acknowledgement signal (NAK) depending on whether the data blocks tested on the alternate channel are found valid or invalid.

Abstract: A burner assembly in which an inlet is located at one end of an annular passage for receiving fuel, and an outlet is located at the other end of the passage for discharging the fuel. A plurality of blocks are disposed within the annular passage for splitting up the fuel discharging from said outlet so that, upon ignition of said fuel, a plurality of flame patterns are formed. A register assembly is provided which includes an enclosure for receiving air and a divider for directing the air from the enclosure towards the outlet in two parallel paths extending around the burner. Registers are disposed in each of the paths for regulating the quantity of air flowing through the paths.

Abstract: A catalyst is provided for reforming hydrocarbon with steam, comprising a nickel containing catalyst in the form of an activated elongated strip.

Abstract: A system for separating solid particles from the combustion products of coal in which high temperature, high pressure flue gas containing the particles is directed tangentially into a cyclone separator so that the relatively large particles are driven by centrifugal forces to the inner wall of the separator. Electrical charges generated at ambient temperature are blown into the cyclone separator via aerosol charge-carriers which charge the relatively small particles in a manner so that the small charged particles are attracted to the wall, which is of an opposite polarity, and are scrubbed off the wall by the larger particles. A double-cone flow regulator is positioned in the path of the aerosol charge carriers and the particles to direct the carriers and particles toward the inner wall. An outlet is provided at the lower portion of the cyclone separator for discharging the separated particles and an additional outlet is provided for discharging the clean gas.

Abstract: An industrial process control system in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of device controllers connected together through a common buss with each device controller connected to an associated controlled device(s) that effect process control. A computer-aided system interface for controlling the overall system includes a visual display device in the form of a multi-color CRT and a graphic input device in the form of a transparent touch-responsive panel that overlies the CRT display screen. Computer generated symbols representing the controlled devices are displayed on the CRT screen to define touch-responsive target areas. When an appropriate target area is touched by a human operator, a signal, such as a command signal, is generated to cause the controlled device whose symbol is displayed in the designated target area to respond, with this response being then indicated by a change in the device symbol being displayed on the screen.

Abstract: A vapor generator in which a plurality of tubes are connected together and arranged to form at least a portion of the boundary walls of a gas-tight enclosure. Portions of the tubes are bent to form a plurality of openings extending through at least one of the boundary walls. Some of the bent tube portions extend around the openings in the plane of the wall, and others of the bent tube portions extend out of the plane of the wall. The tubes, including the bent portions, extend at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane for their entire lengths to enable the tubes to drain. A burner is associated with each opening to apply heat to the enclosure, and fluid is passed through the tubes to apply heat to the fluid.

Abstract: A gas producer for coal gasification in which the gas collecting flues are provided with means for flow rate determination and adjustable flow restriction.

Abstract: In a system employing a plurality of touch sensitive screens which generate analog signals representing the coordinates of a position touched, a selection means is provided to select the screens rapidly in sequence with the analog output signals from the selected screen being fed to analog-to-digital converters. The sequence of selection proceeds rapidly from screen to screen until it is detected that a screen has been touched whereupon the selection sequencing pauses to permit the analog-to-digital conversion to be carried out and the resulting digital values to be read out to a computer system. Upon readout of the digital values to the computer system, the screen selection sequencing is again permitted to proceed. Means are provided to indicate whether a selected screen that is being touched was touched the last time the same screen was selected.