Abstract: A tube spacer is provided for use in a tube bundle including a plurality of spaced apart rows of tube sections. The spacer comprises an elongated member having a contour defining a helix, is adapted to extend through the spaces defined between adjacent tube sections of the rows of tube sections and to contact the outside surfaces of the tube sections, and is adapted to be removed from the tube bundle in the direction in which it extends into the tube bundle.

Abstract: A register for regulating the flow of air toward an inner combustion region has a plurality of spaced and inwardly directed vanes affixed between two annular members. A plurality of spaced guide means peripherally disposed around the vanes, are mounted across the two annular members. A sleeve which is linearly movable upon the guide means enshrouds the vanes by a variable amount. By moving the sleeve, the inward flow of air past the vanes can be regulated.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a carbonaceous material to produce a gas in which the carbonaceous material and a heated inert heat exchange medium are passed into a reactor vessel for mixing and for transferring the heat from the heat exchange medium to the carbonaceous material to produce gas. An outlet opening is provided through the reactor vessel for discharging the gas and an impingement plate is disposed in the interior of the vessel and extends across the outlet opening in a spaced relation thereto in the path of the gas. As a result the gas impinges against the plate before discharging from the outlet opening to separate solid particles from the gas.

Abstract: A vapor generator which includes an upright furnace section the boundary walls of which are formed by a plurality of tubes for passing fluid through the length of the furnace section to convert a portion of the fluid to vapor or to heat the fluid. One portion of the tubes forming one of the boundary walls are bent out of the plane of the latter wall for connection to a plurality of headers. A single tube extends upwardly from each of the headers in fluid communication with the other tubes connected to said header, with the single tubes being disposed in a spaced relationship to form a screen for the passage of combustion gases from the furnace section to a heat recovery section disposed adjacent the furnace section.

Abstract: A conduit used to convey particulate matter in which erosion is substantially diminished. A liner placed within the outer wall of the conduit is of ceramic material which is highly resistant to erosion.

Abstract: A distribution duct for a reactor which can be easily fabricated. The duct has an elongated back plate and an elongated perforated front plate made up of flat segments separated by elongated angular breaks, and two flat marginal edge portions on the opposite sides thereof, the marginal edge portions being in flush engagement with, and secured to the back plate adjacent to the sides thereof, the flat segments defining with the back plate a flow chamber.

Abstract: A method of agglomerating solid particulate waste material includes heating and fluidizing a bed of non-combustible granular material, the temperature being lower than the melting temperature of the granular material and the fluidization being accomplished by passing a gas through the granular material. A slurry containing the material to be agglomerated is introduced into the bed. The combustible material in the slurry is partially oxidized by means of heat generated by fuel combined with material in the slurry for drying and agglomerating said material and the dried and agglomerated material is removed from the bed.The apparatus includes a combustion chamber, a bed of non-combustible granular material in the chamber, circulating means for passing a gas through the bed, and heating means for heating and maintaining the bed at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A continuous process for the selective removal of hydrogen sulfide from a hot gas stream containing hydrogen sulfide by contacting the effluent with particulate nickel or nickel oxide at a temperature whereby the hydrogen sulfide will react to form surface coatings of a sulfur/nickel liquid phase. The temperature of the system is maintained in a range so that the sulfur-containing liquid phase continuously drains off of the particulate solid phase exposing fresh surface areas for further reaction. The liquid phase separates from the solid phase, is removed from the reaction zone and collected for processing for recovery of nickel.

Abstract: A system for detecting leaks in a duplex tube heat exchanger. A tube sheet is provided with a plurality of straight bores passing laterally through the tube sheet, a number of channels connecting with each bore, each of the channels communicating with an annular space between the inner and outer walls of a duplex tube and an elongated probe adopted to be inserted into each of said bores to communicate with one of the channels and thereby be used to detect which, if any, of the duplex tubes is leaking.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sequential operating mechanism for valves for applications requiring actuation of one valve, or set of valves, prior to actuation of another valve, or set of valves. The equipment preferably includes an actuator driver mounted for powered selective reciprocation through a stroke of selected length. The actuator carries cam pins which engage cams (preferably cam slots) on cam plates attached to the stems of the respective valves during the course of an actuator half stroke. The cams are configured with respect to the paths of movement of the cam pins and with respect to the valve stems so that one valve is fully actuated to its extreme position before actuation of the other valve begins. If additional valves, in the same or different piping networks, require actuation at the same time as one or both of the cam actuated valves, such additional valves are ganged for simultaneous operation with the appropriate one of the cam actuated valves.

Abstract: A vapor generating system in which a vapor generating section and a superheating section are connected in a series flow relationship. The vapor generating section includes an upright furnace section formed by a plurality of tubes, a portion of which extend at an angle with respect to the horizontal plane for passing fluid through the length of the furnace section to convert a portion of the fluid to vapor or to heat the fluid. The angularly extending portion of each tube has a rifled bore.

Abstract: A process is disclosed in which a spent mixed anion/cation exchange resin bed is hydraulically separated into cation, anion and interface resin cuts. The interface resin cut is further classified by various physical separation techniques. Cation and anion resins are separately chemically regenerated. In an alternative embodiment cation resin fines are physically separated from the anion resin cut.

Abstract: A material transfer system for transferring particulate material from a first fluidized bed to a second fluidized bed includes a rectangular, vertically-aligned downcomer communicating at its lower end with a rectangular, horizontally-aligned exhaust duct. A sparger assembly having plural gas injection tubes communicates with the exhaust duct and is provided to direct horizontally spaced gas flows into the exhaust duct. A control valve coupled to the sparger assembly selectively starts and stops the flow of an activating gas to define gas flow pulses having a selected pulse duration. Particulate material from the first fluidized bed enters the downcomer through a catch pocket formed at the upper end of the downcomer and fills both the downcomer and the exhaust duct. The gas flow pulses entrain the particulate material in the exhaust duct and transport it through an outlet into the second fluidized bed.

Abstract: A method for removing a tube from an opening in a tubesheet in which a containment plug is placed in the tube at a predetermined distance from the end of the tube and a granular material is placed into a portion of the tube between the plug and the latter tube end. A push rod is applied through the tube end and to said granular material to apply a force to the granular material against the plug to cause the granular material to exert a shear force on the inner wall of the tube of a magnitude to push the tube from the tubesheet opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting and starting up a fluidized bed in which a grate is disposed in a housing for receiving a single bed of particulate material, portions of which are combustible. The interior of the housing below the grate is divided into a plurality of compartments, and an air damper is disposed in each for selectively controlling the flow of air through the compartments and through the respective portions of the grate to selectively fluidize the corresponding portions of the bed of particulate material. A start-up burner is provided for igniting that portion of the combustible portion of the bed of particulate material extending above one of the compartments and additional combustible particulate material is selectively supplied to the portions of the bed.

Abstract: A coal feed system for use in a fluidized bed in which a grate is supported in a housing and is adapted to receive, on its upper surface, 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 which is distributed over the upper surface of the bed and a relatively fine material which is distributed into the bed below the upper surface.

Abstract: A fluidized bed 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 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. An electrical heating unit is provided for preheating the air as it passes through the lower chamber to ignite the fuel material during startup.

Abstract: A method of pulverizing is provided which allows for blending different pulverized solids before passing the pulverized solids to points of use. The method steps of pulverizing a plurality of solids feedstocks in a plurality of pulverizing sections, mixing the pulverized solids, and regulating the rates at which the solids feedstocks are fed to respective pulverizing sections.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for preventing buckling of a narrow member which is subjected to a compression load. The apparatus comprises a rigid bar of substantially the same length as the narrow member, having angularly disposed legs adapted to contact the narrow member along its length, with means for maintaining the narrow member in contact with the rigid bar.

Abstract: A vapor generating system in which a vapor generating section and a superheating section are connected in a series flow relationship with a fluid separating section extending between the vapor generating section and the superheating section. The vapor generating section includes an upright furnace section formed by a plurality of tubes, a portion of which extend at an angle with respect to the horizontal plane for passing fluid through the length of the furnace section to convert a portion of the fluid to vapor or to heat the fluid.