Abstract: A fluidized bed heat exchanger in which a grid plate is supported in a housing for receiving a bed of particulate material, at least a portion of which is combustible. At least one perforated support pier projects from the surface of the grid plate and air is passed through the grid plate, the support pier and the material to fluidize the material. One or more heat exchange tubes extend within the housing and are supported by the support pier so that the air passing through the pier also passes over the tubes. Each tube extends in a serpentine relation to form a plurality of spaced parallel sections and a support structure is provided for supporting the sections relative to each other.

Abstract: The activation of coal, in which coal that has been partially oxidized with Sulfur Dioxide is introduced into a reaction zone. The coal is contacted with super-heated steam and then impregnated with vanadium.

Abstract: A furnace in which burners are incorporated into water-cooled tube panels without the need for heavy steel castings, the furnace including one or more walls formed of upright tubes having fins connecting adjacent tubes, some of said tubes and associated fins in said wall or walls for at least part of their length being outwardly, with respect to the interior of the furnace, out of line with other tubes in said wall to define upright recesses, fuel nozzles and openings for the entry of combustion air being provided through the portions of said fins which define in part the upright recesses, the arrangement of said fuel nozzles and said openings being adapted such that fuel supplied from said fuel nozzles and combustion air supplied from said openings enter the recesses in converging streams.

Abstract: A fluidized bed heat exchanger in which air is passed through a bed of particulate material containing fuel disposed in a housing. A steam/water natural circulation system is provided in a heat exchange relation to the bed and includes a steam drum disposed adjacent the bed and a tube bank extending between the steam drum and a water drum. The tube bank is located in the path of the effluent gases exiting from the bed and a baffle system is provided to separate the solid particulate matter from the effluent gases. The particulate matter is collected and injected back into the fluidized bed.

Abstract: An industrial control system in accordance with the present invention is provided with a plurality of diverse controlled devices (e.g., fans, pumps, valves, solenoids, relays, etc.) for effecting overall system control. Each device has a unique set of logic control functions and/or command sequences and is connected, through an input/output interface, to a stored-program single board computer that provides device control and monitoring. The computers each include a central processor controlled by a composite or "master" program which is common to all the computers and which includes instruction sequences for all logic control functions and command sequences that exist within the system. A user alterable interconnection device (UAID) permits only those logic control function and/or command sequence portions of the master program that relate to a particular one of the controlled devices to operatively connect with the particular input/output ports associated with that controlled device.

Abstract: A vapor generator in which a plurality of vertically aligned fluidized beds are disposed in a furnace section with one of the boundary walls of the furnace section having openings therein for permitting the discharge of effluent gases from the fluidized beds. A heat recovery enclosure is formed adjacent said furnace section and shares a common wall with the furnace section for receiving the effluent gases, and a convection enclosure is disposed adjacent the heat recovery enclosure and shares a common wall with the latter enclosure for receiving the effluent gases from the heat recovery enclosure. The boundary walls of the furnace section, the heat recovery enclosure and the convection enclosure are formed by a plurality of interconnected tubes through which fluid is passed in a predetermined sequence to transfer heat from the fluidized beds to the fluid.

Abstract: A furnace structure has a particle separator for separating a mixture of a transport fluid and pulverized coal into a coarse coal fraction and a fine coal fraction, a furnace, a burner assembly for burning the pulverized coal, and a windbox for providing combustion supporting gas to the burner assembly. The burner assembly 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.

Abstract: A heat transfer conduit is provided having a groove formed in its inner wall and a lip extending along the groove adjacent thereto. The lip and groove inhibit the formation of a vapor barrier between the tube inner wall and heat transfer fluid passed therethrough.

Abstract: A vapor generator including an upright furnace section the boundary walls of which are formed by a plurality of tubes, a portion of which extend at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane. A plurality of divisional walls are provided which extend from an area externally of the boundary walls and which penetrate a boundary wall and terminate within the furnace section. The latter boundary wall is provided with a seal assembly extending over the area of penetration of the boundary wall. Fluid is passed sequentially through the tubes forming the boundary walls and the division walls to heat the fluid and convert it to vapor.

Abstract: A method of operating a vapor generating system for use in a power plant having a turbine control valve means, steam turbine and condenser connected in a main flow circuit in a series flow relationship, in which fluid is passed through a vapor generator furnace section at a predetermined flow rate and a firing rate is established in the furnace section to apply heat to the fluid while controlling the pressure of the fluid as it exits from the furnace section. The turbine control valve means are fixed at a predetermined percent open. The firing rate is increased to a predetermined percent of full load firing rate until the firing rate approximately corresponds to the percentage of full load flow rate of the fluid. The fluid flow rate is then increased together with the firing rate in a manner to increase the throttle pressure of the fluid to the turbine in proportion to load demand on the turbine until the load on the turbine reaches a predetermined percentage of full load.

Abstract: There is disclosed an adjustable buckstay system for use in association with the walls of vapor generators or the like and whereby the magnitude of necessary clearances in various connecting elements of the system may be adjusted to reduce or eliminate vibration in the system.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of methanol is provided. A purge gas is removed from the synthesis reaction stage at an elevated pressure and is expanded prior to combustion in a gas turbine combustor. Exhaust gases are expanded and then sent to the reforming stage for either preheating reformer feed streams or providing heat necessary for the reforming of a feed stream with steam.

Abstract: Disclosed are after-treatment processes and apparatus for synthesis plants, particularly urea and ammonium nitrate plants, but applicable also to various other plants in which the synthesis reaction does not go to substantial completion. In such plants product is fed to an evaporator for concentration and then to a solidification stage. The vaporous overhead stream from the evaporator contains entrained synthesis product, one or more unreacted starting materials, and solvent (usually H.sub.2 O). It is condensed, and the condensate is brought into mass and heat exchange relationship with the vaporous overhead stream from the evaporator substantially without material transfer of solvent to the condensate stream. The condensate stream is thereby enriched in synthesis product, heat is added to it, and unreacted starting material is desorbed from it. The product-enriched condensate is delivered to the solidification stage for processing there.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion or gasification unit in which a grate is disposed in a housing to divide the housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A bed of particulate material including burning fuel is supported by the grate and extends in the upper chamber. The lower chamber has an inlet for receiving pressurized air for passing through the lower chamber, the grate, and the bed of particulate material to fluidize the particulate material. A cooling device is provided for receiving the particulate material from the bed and cooling same prior to the material being discharged to external equipment.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus in which each of a plurality of thermal siphon pipes has an upper portion extending in an upper heat exchange section and a lower portion extending in a lower heat exchange section. Each pipe is closed at its ends and contains a heat transfer fluid so that when a hot fluid is passed through the lower heat exchange section, the heat is transferred from the hot fluid to the heat exchange fluid. A cool fluid is passed through the upper heat exchange section to remove the heat from the heat exchange fluid.

Abstract: A method of suppressing formation of heat exchange fluid particles into standing waves is provided. Pursuant to the method a plurality of metal fins attached to a plurality of tube sections extending within a shell are disposed within a heat exchanger shell such that the fins extend parallel to the tube sections and parallel to the direction of flow of fluid through the shell. The fins define with the tube sections a barrier adapted to interrupt movement of columns of fluid particles in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow of fluid through the shell.

Abstract: A gas desulfurization process is disclosed wherein a particulate, partially oxidized coal is used as an adsorbent for gaseous sulfur oxides and is regenerated by contact with a low temperature recycled stream of its own desorbed off-gas containing at least 40% steam and 15% SO.sub.2. A bleed stream of the desorbed off-gas may be reacted with coal at 1150.degree. F. to 1550.degree. F. to partially oxidize the coal and transform it into an adsorbent suitable for use in the adsorber.

Abstract: A data transmission system is provided for transmitting data over a communication link extending between a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is connected to a data containing unit and operates through a data cycle which addresses the data unit to provide a plurality of serially arranged message frames during each data cycle. Each message frame includes a marker bit, a sync word, data words having either digital or analog information, address and error words, a checkword, and various parity and start bits. The receiver, which is connected to another data unit, is adapted to recognize each message frame by means of the marker bit and the sync word, and evaluate the message validity by means of the parity and start bits, and the checkword. The data received in each verified message frame is then used to update a portion of the other data unit.

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.

Abstract: A system for reducing sulfur dioxide in which a vessel is provided with an inlet for receiving coal and a plurality of gas distribution nozzles for receiving the sulfur dioxide and discharging same downwardly in the lower portion of the vessel for flowing upwardly in a counterflow relation to the coal. The coal flows through a distribution device located in the hopper section of the vessel for insuring an even distribution of coal through the vessel.