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

Abstract: A fluidized bed heat exchanger in which a bed of particulate material is supported on a grate in a housing and air is passed through the grate and the particulate material to fluidize the bed and promote the combustion of combustible material contained therein. A baffle system is disposed in the housing for impacting with the entrained particulate material in the air and gaseous products of combustion to remove the latter material and permit it to fall by gravity back to the bed. A series of tube sections are provided in the housing for directing the air and gaseous products to the baffle means and gases are injected from the proximity of the baffle means downwardly towards the bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for melting low-cost raw materials such as blast furnace slag, basalt, feldspar or electrophos slag in the formation of high temperature mineral wool insulation. The low-cost mineral stock material is fed in particulate form continuously to a preheater in which it is elevated to a temperature range of between 1500.degree. F. and 2000.degree. F. by forcing hot combustion gases through a vertical column of the particulate stock material. Volatiles such as water and carbon dioxide are thus removed from the stock material. The preheated stock material is distributed to the top of an electric melting furnace which is essentially sealed from atmosphere. A substantially homogenous, low viscosity liquid glass melt is continuously discharged from the furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for heat treating a tubular type heat exchanger. A heat fluid is passed through the tube bundle in order to heat the exchanger from within.

Abstract: A mixing chamber for mixing gases produced in a gas producer in combination with a dust cyclone, the mixing chamber comprising a housing having at least two inlets and a perforated hood structure covering one of the inlets. In use the gas delivered from the dust cyclone through the covered inlet is distributed into a plurality of small streams directed into the supply of gas through the second inlet thus enhancing the mixing of the gases.

Abstract: A melting furnace for the production of mineral wool insulation in the nature of a receptacle closed by a cover or crown through which spaced carbon electrodes extend from an external support and also through which particulate stock material is introduced over a substantial area of a melt contained in the receptacle. The receptacle of the furnace is defined by a substantially sealed external shell having an inner lining of carbon brick covering the floor and extending upwardly on the sidewalls thereof to an upper limit or edge defined by the plane of the top surface of liquid melt maintained in the furnace. An outer lining of carbon paste is sandwiched between the inner brick lining and the outer sealed shell. The inner lining is capped with a ring of refractory and a water cooling conduit is embedded in the outer lining at the plane of the liquid level to develop a fused or solidified glass lining only at the juncture of the refractory ring and the inner lining of carbon brick.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for supplying heat required for a reforming reaction through the use of heat pipes adapted to transfer heat from a source to reforming reactants. Heat pipes extend between two chambers, with a catalyst material being disposed within one of the chambers, such that heat is extracted from a hot fluid and then introduced into the reforming chamber in which a hydrocarbon and steam react in the presence of the catalyst.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the emissions of a fuel burning fluidized bed combustion system. Using a staged combustion technique, an overfire air inlet is provided in the freeboard zone above the bed. In the first stage, residual oxygen (O.sub.2) in the off-gas just above the bed is held in the 0.4 to 0.8% range by the actual coal and air rates. In the second stage, carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons, both present in the first stage off-gas, are combined with additional air using the overfire air inlet. CO levels in the final effluent are reduced with little or no increase in NOx emissions.

Abstract: A U-tube type heat exchanger is provided with means for uniformly distributing shell side fluid across the lateral expanse of the tube bundle. The distributor means includes first and second upstanding plates between which are connected several ribs.

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. Digital information in the form of data and control information blocks is transmitted between the remotes with the blocks transmitted twice on each channel of the communications link.

Abstract: A vapor generator including an enclosure defined by front wall or rear wall and two sidewalls with each of the walls being formed by a plurality of interconnected fluid flow tubes. Fluid is passed initially through the entire length of at least one of the sidewall sections and then simultaneously through the front wall, the rear wall and the other sidewall sections. Crossover circuitry is provided for transferring the fluid from area of each wall to another area thereof to achieve even heat pick-up.

Abstract: A vapor generator is provided for producing vapor such as steam to be used for heavy oil recovery and the like. The vapor generator includes an octagonal cross-section furnace, which has evaporator surface arranged to allow for heating of said fluid to final evaporation in a relatively low heat flux portion of the generator to lessen the likelihood of scale formation on heat transfer elements of the vapor generator.

Abstract: There is provided a precipitator system including a voltage controller which produces from an alternating power source a variable output. This variable output drives a high voltage converter which applies a high voltage to a precipitator. This variable output is controlled by a control signal from a command subsystem. Preferably, the command subsystem is operative to repress the drive to the high voltage converter in response to its loading exceeding a predetermined limit during a corresponding limit interval. After this limit interval, the command subsystem is operative to rapidly restore productive drive to the high voltage converter, preferably by the next half cycle of the power source that has a polarity opposite to that existing at the beginning of the limit interval. In this fashion stablized operation is quickly achieved. Also included, preferably, is a conductive element that is coupled to the high voltage converter.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a number of heat exchange tubes and an improved tube support. The support comprises a plurality of strips which are identical and joined together so that the support engages each tube.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for top-supporting a steam generator from a frame which is connected to a base. A plurality of dampers are connected between upstanding frame members and the steam generator, acting to absorb a portion of the energy resulting from dynamic loads imparted between the frame and the steam generator.

Abstract: The operation of an electric power plant is controlled by generating a control signal in response to the pressure at the throttle valves, the load demand signal and the megawatt output of the power plant. During the start-up, before the pressure ramp ends, the control signal varies in accordance with the difference between the pressure at the throttle valves and the pressure required at the throttle valves to produce the load represented by the load demand signal and, after the pressure ramp ends, the control signal is varied in accordance with the difference between the load represented by the load demand signal and the megawatt output of the power plant. Integral separators are employed during start-up to separate the water from the steam and a bypass system is provided to collect the water from the separators and recirculate it. The firing rate of the furnace is controlled in accordance with the control signal.

Abstract: A coal feed system for use in a fluidized bed combustor in which a grate is supported in a housing and is adapted to support a bed of particulate material including a combustible fuel. Air is passed through the grate and into the bed to fluidize the particulate material. The particulate fuel material is separated externally of the bed into a relatively coarse material and a relatively fine material. The fine material is agglomerated and it, along with the coarse material, is passed to a distributor which distributes the material onto selected areas extending across the upper surface of the bed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-mechanical method of converting coarsely ground limestone to a very fine powder. A slurry of ground calcium carbonate or limestone is contacted with carbon dioxide gas at high pressure to convert the solids in the slurry to an unstable form. The carbon dioxide pressure is then instantaneously released to form a slurry of activated calcium carbonate particles substantially reduced in size. This activated calcium carbonate slurry may be used to scrub flue gases.

Abstract: A fuel-staging burner assembly and method in which a burner nozzle has separate, concentrically disposed elements to burn coarse and fine coal particles under different combustion conditions to reduce the production of nitrogen oxides from the combustion of coal as a fuel. The burner assembly further includes a control nozzle for maintaining a swirling motion in the combustion flame and a separate, axially-movable adjustable sleeve for regulating the quantity flow of turbulence-free combustion-supporting air.