Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided having first and second fluid chambers for passing primary and secondary fluids. The chambers are spaced apart and have heat pipes extending from inside one chamber to inside the other chamber. A third chamber is provided for passing a purge fluid, and the heat pipe portion between the first and second chambers lies within the third chamber.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the reaction efficiency of a fluidized bed combustor or reactor in which a combustion supporting gas is passed upwardly through a bed of particulate material to fluidize same and to entrain the relatively fine particulate material in the bed. The entrained material is separated from the gas and is agglomerated externally of the housing before being passed back into the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A process for the extraction of gold and silver from their ores in which the ore is reduced to a particle size of 1 mm or less and mixed with a lixiviant, e.g., alkaline sodium or potassium cyanide, in an amount to provide a liquor content of about 8 to 12%, the lixiviant coated particles are allowed to react for a time sufficient for the lixiviant to extract the noble metal and the particles washed with water to obtain a solution of the noble metal salt from which the noble metal is recovered.

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. Fluid is passed through the length of the furnace section to convert a portion of the fluid to vapor or to heat the fluid. A plurality of vertical bars are provided which define support surfaces for the tubes and which are welded to the tubes for supporting same.

Abstract: A collar for controlling thermal and mechanical stresses and for reducing failures caused by such stresses in gas-transfer tubings, or pigtails, used in a steam reformer. The control collar, in the form of a section of tubing and having the same alloy composition as the pigtail, is placed over each end portion of the pigtail connected to an extension member attached respectively to a catalyst tube in the steam reformer and to a gas-removal manifold. The control collar fits closely over the pigtail and is welded to the extension member. Use of the same alloy composition in the pigtail and in the control collar eliminates stresses associated with differences in thermal expansion and contraction, and the use of the collar reduces mechanical stress fatigue by displacing the point of maximum bending movement from the area of mechanical stress concentration of the weld, and the metallurgical notch in the heat-affected zone of the weld.

Abstract: Described herein is a damper for controlling the passage of hot gases through a duct. The damper has a frame through which are passages. Along these passages coolant is passed to cool the frame and so reduce its thermal expansion as a result of the passage of hot gases through the duct. One or more damper blades are positioned within the opening in the frame, these blades being mounted on shafts rotatably journalled in a bearing cooled by the coolant passing through the frame, a seal being provided where the shafts extend through the frame to allow flow of coolant from the frame into the duct and prevent flow in reverse.

Abstract: A process and process plant for the manufacture of ammonium nitrate using urea process tail gas are provided. Water is reacted with nitrogen dioxide to form nitric acid, which is thereafter reacted with the urea process tail gas to yield an aqueous solution and a tail gas including carbon dioxide, ammonia and water vapor, A carrier gas is added to the tail gas, in order to control the amount of water vapor condensed out of the tail gas upon its being cooled to approximately 60 degrees C. Condensed water vapor is removed and passed to an absorption tower for use in the formation of the nitric acid, while the remainder of the cooled resultant stream is passed to the atmosphere.

Abstract: The orbital welding torch described herein has a horse-shoe shaped body arranged to engage partially around the tubes to be butt welded when inserted from one side of the tubes, and a crescent shaped table carrying a welding head which is rotatably carried by the body so that rotation of the table relative the body orbits the welding head around the region of the weld, the open mouth of the table being capable of alignment with the open mouth of the body to enable the body to be inserted from one side of the tube to engage partially around the tubes.

Abstract: A plurality of rappers which are periodically energized to clean the electrodes of electrostatic precipitators are connected by a wiring system which requires less wiring than conventional wiring systems. The rappers are arranged so that several have lead wires connected to a common power feed wire and these several have lead wires connected to a common power return wire.

Abstract: A fluid heating unit is provided which includes upper and lower drums, a plurality of riser tubes connected between the drum and defining an enclosure, and means defining a cell within the enclosure for maintaining a fluidized bed of particulate material. The heating unit is of the natural circulation type thereby eliminating the need for forced recirculation pumps.

Abstract: A jet pump is provided in the downcomer of a natural circulation fossil fuel burning vapor generator to enhance circulation in the vaporizer circuits of the vapor generator. A driving fluid pump is adapted to introduce liquid taken from the drum as driving fluid for the jet pump, and the liquid passing through the downcomer acts as driven fluid for the jet pump.

Abstract: A furnace enclosure is provided in which one wall includes tubes of different passes which are free to move longitudinally relative to each other. A seal plate and filler means are disposed outside of the enclosure to provide for gas-tightness.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing methane by reacting carbon monoxide with hydrogen, the improvement comprising feeding a gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide into at least one tubular reactor containing a helical, nickel-containing catalyst (turbulator) are disclosed. The catalyst defines a spiral-shaped path for the gas. The exterior of the reaction tube is cooled to remove the heat of reaction. Preferably, additional heat of reaction is removed by passing a cooling medium through the center of the turbulator catalyst.

Abstract: An automated poking system includes a plurality of pokerod assemblies positioned around the periphery of a two-stage, fixed-bed coal gasifier at two separate elevations. Each pokerod assembly includes an elongated pokerod selectively actuatable to extend into the coal bed within the gasifier, and appropriate sensors to provide data relating to the temperature of the coal bed, the resistance encountered by the pokerod, and the position of the pokerod. Alternatively, the temperature sensing function is separate from the pokerod activation, and the coal bed temperature is continuously moinitored. The mechanism for controlling activation of the pokerod may be a hydraulic cylinder-piston device or an electric motor driving the pokerod via mechanical means, such as a rack and pinion apparatus. Poking of the lower zone coal bed agitates the bed, detects and breaks up clinkers, and monitors the coal bed temperature.

Abstract: A separator for separating water from a mixture of water and steam in which an elongated, outer, water scroll is concentrically spaced from an elongated, inner, steam scroll. One longitudinal edge of each scroll is connected to a girth baffle disposed adjacent the side of a steam drum, and both scrolls extend through semi-circular curves of 180.degree. in cross section. The steam scroll is covered through the first 90.degree. of its curve, and is provided with a longitudinally-elongated opening extending circumferentially the second 90.degree. of its curve. A perforated plate encloses the bottom of the steam scroll to form a longitudinal flow passage. The centrifugal action imparted by the 180.degree. curvature of the separator causes the water to sepate from the steam-water mixture introduced between the steam and water scrolls, to flow along the inner surface of the water scroll, and to discharge downwardly through perforated, water splash diffuser plates.

Abstract: A distributor duct for a reactor which can be easily fabricated. The duct has an elongated back plate and an elongated perforated flat 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 welded to the back plate adjacent to the sides thereof, the flat segments defining with back plate a flow chamber.

Abstract: An electrode rapper assembly for electrostatic precipitators which increases the life of switches used to energize the rapper and will not be damaged if improperly connected. The rapper assembly has a solenoid and two diode rectifiers, one being connected in parallel with the solenoid coil and the other in series with the coil.

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.

Abstract: A burner nozzle for feeding the combustion zone of a vapor generator with a mixture of pulverized fossil fuel and air in a controlled, turbulent flow. The fuel pipe for the burner nozzle has a relatively small diameter so that a relatively small amount of primary air is sufficient to carry the fuel to the burner nozzle. An atomizer is fitted to the outlet of the fuel pipe for introducing atomizing air in a generally tangential direction relative to the axial flow of the fuel. The air creates turbulence to swirl the fuel and distribute it in a controlled manner to provide for even burning of the fuel in the combustion zone. A pipe of smaller diameter may be concentrically positioned within the fuel pipe so that alternative fuels, such as gas and oil, may also be efficiently used with the burner nozzle.

Abstract: There has been provided an improved saddle for use as a packing or contacting element formed into a shape resembling an inner peripheral half section of a hollow torus having respective edges in generally parallel planes relative to a transverse axis of the torus and in generally the same plane as the cross-sectional axis of the torus, each edge having a plurality of integral protrusions forming points extending a selected distance from the surface adjacent the respective edge for providing drip points for liquids and spacing of the element one from the other such that there can be substantially no pooling of liquids regardless of how the saddles are disposed adjacent one another in the tower.