Abstract: This invention relates to a novel gas-liquid contacting apparatus and method utilizing recycle spray contact trays disposed within a substantially vertical vessel. Each contact tray contains one or more housings defined by upstanding vertical wall members, said housings being open to gas flow at top and bottom. Within the housings, liquid spray is continuously generated by means of gas flowing upward past a first array of horizontally spaced-apart gas venturi-generating liquid conductors. Liquid flows from the tray floor outside the housing through the liquid conductors, is distributed into the gas, and is entrained upward as spray by the gas venturi action. Horizontally-disposed foraminous or perforated flow-restrictive elements, vertically spaced apart, mounted on top of the housings, cause the liquid spray to coalesce and regenerate at the first flow-restrictive barrier element which occupies the cross-sectional area of the vertical housing.

Abstract: A coal pulverizer, that supplies a coal-in-air mixture to combustion means for a power plant and comprises grinding means consisting of wheels revolving in a power driven trough from which pulverized coal is centrifugally thrust into a stream of forced air blown upward through air passages in a throat ring consisting of uniformly sized segments, is provided with a wear ring of uniformly sized segments resting flush on the throat ring segments of equal arcuate dimension. Each said wear ring has a substantially trapezoidal cross section, the base of which rests on a throat ring segment, the vertical face of which fits against the inner wall of the pulverizer and the sloping face of which rises upward from its base at an angle measured from the vertical of between ten and seventeen degrees for approximately 21/2 and 31/2 inches, so as to deflect the coal-air stream away from direct impingement on the pulverizer housing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel gas-liquid contacting apparatus and method utilizing recycle spray contact trays disposed within a substantially vertical vessel. Each contact tray contains one or more housings defined by upstanding vertical wall members, said housings being open to gas flow at top and bottom. Within the housings, liquid spray is continuously generated by means of gas flowing upward past a first array of spaced-apart gas venturi-generating liquid conductors. Liquid flows from the tray floor outside the housing through the liquid conductors, is distributed into the gas, and is entrained upward as spray by the gas venturi action. The major apart of the liquid spray is captured by an array of horizontal open-ended foraminous or perforated tubes, in substantial side-by-side contact with each other. The spray issuing laterally from the tubes impinges on the vessel walls and liquid therefrom drains downward or falls by gravity to the tray floor, where the process is repeated.

Abstract: In the vertically oriented generally cylindrical coal pulverizers that are widely employed to supply a coal-air dispersion to the combustion zones of boilers producing steam for the turbines of electric-power plants, forced-air requirements are reduced and coal fall-back and resultant coal fires are substantially eliminated by the novel throat ring of invention. A throat ring surrounds circumferentially the coal grinding assembly of each such pulverizer and contains a plurality of angularly disposed air channels through which air is forced upwardly into contact with pulverized coal thrust centrifugally from the said assembly causing the coal-air mixture to swirl upwardly to means directing the mixture to the said combustion zones.

Abstract: A method for removing acid gases, particularly the sulfur oxides and hydrochloric acid from a hot flue gas without substantially cooling or humidifying the latter consists in withdrawing a small stream of the flue gas, preferably the purified gas, and introducing it into a stream of humid gas consisting of steam and/or humid air containing dispersed therein a finely-divided, porous, alkaline earth metal hydroxide upon which surface is adsorbed at least a monomolecular layer of water, and thereby reacting carbon dioxide in the withdrawn portion of the flue gas with the pore surfaces of the hydroxide to form an alkaline earth metal carbonate thereon. The so-formed reactant in the humid gas is then brought into contact with the main flow of hot flue gas, thereby removing acid gases from the flue gas, the solid reaction products and excess reactant thereafter being separated from the flue gas in a baghouse or electrostatic precipitator, and the so-treated flue gas being discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing acid gases such as halogen acids and sulfur oxides from a hot flue gas by contacting the gas with a finely-divided, pre-moistened and partially-agglomerated, intimate mixture of a solid alkaline reagent and a deliquescent compound. The dry akaline reactang/deliquescent compound mix is pre-conditioned by exposure to a gas of controlled humidity for a time sufficient to cause partial liquefaction of the deliquescent compound. Contact at controlled humidity conditions may be effected in a treating vessel or in a transport duct prior to injection into the hot flue gas. Alternatively, the dispersed deliquescent compound may be separately liquefied prior to mixing with the alkaline solids. Liquefaction of the deliquescent compound is achieved by controlling the partial pressure of water vapor in the conditioning gas mixture at a level higher than the equilibrium vapor pressure of the liquefied deliquescent material or its highest hydrate.

Abstract: A substantially wrinkle free ironing pad of convenient dimension that can be folded without creasing and carried with luggage and can be placed on a support surface for ironing without either need for an ironing board or risk of harmful effect of heat or moisture on the said surface comprises a central layer of a heat resistant foamed polymer, a layer irreversibly adhered thereon of a highly heat reflective metallized, preferably aluminized, polyester, polyethylene, or nylon film laminate, and a cover of either cotton, a cotton blend, or a synthetic cloth coated with a heat-resistant resin to improve iron glide and scorch resistance.

Abstract: A power system is provided that uses the latent heat of fusion of water to raise the potential energy of a working fluid to a level that upon release generates power, preferably electrical power. The system is self-sustaining except for the energy that is supplied in water entering the system. The inlet water can be at any temperature within its liquid range under atmospheric or super atmospheric pressure, can advantageously contain the sensible waste heat typical of effluent from fossil fuel or nuclear power plants, can be relatively pure or be contaminated as with sewage or be the medium of a colloidal suspension, or consist of marine or other saline waters. In every case, purification of the water by freezing, for example, desalination, is accomplished without additional power consumption.

Abstract: A vertically symmetrical mechanical stirrer adapted for submersion in a metallurgical melt includes an entrance canal in the bottom of the stirrer and at least two discharge canals in communication with the entrance canal. The community or common zone of the entrance canal and the discharge canals defines an inner mixing and degassing chamber. The entrance canal has a length which is not more than twice its inner diameter; the discharge canals have a length at least twice their average inner diameter and inner diameter of which uniformly diminish in the direction of flow from the mixing chamber to the point of discharge. The discharge canals are inclined upwardly at an angle from the horizontal of at least 10.degree.. The distance between the lowest points at the entrances to the discharge canals proximate to the mixing chamber is at least 20 percent greater than the inner diameter of the entrance canal.

Abstract: A urea-formaldehyde resin based adhesive that is resistant to heat and hydrolysis and hence is useful for exterior use in plywood and laminated timbers consists of a resorcinol terminated urea-formaldehyde resin having the general formula: ##STR1## where .eta. = 0 to 10, that is cured by conventional hardeners under neutral or alkaline conditions.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of dihydroxybenzenes whereby there are obtained primarily meta isomers of the dihydroxybenzenes includes the steps of: preparing a mixture of sulfonic acid isomers by sulfonation-isomerization of an hydroxybenzene having the formula: ##STR1## in which R and R' are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl radical having at most 4 carbon atoms per molecule, the total carbon atoms in radicals R and R' being at most 4; subjecting the so-produced sulfonic acids to selective hydrolyzation in aqueous medium at a temperature between about 100.degree. and 150.degree. C., the monohydroxy benzene being recovered by the said selective hydrolyzation in an enriched concentration that makes it readily recoverable by recycle in the process or other separation methods, and unhydrolyzed sulfonic acid remaining in the said aqueous medium; caustically fusing the said unhydrolyzed sulfonic acid, and liberating by acidification the desired dihydroxybenzene.

Abstract: A cleaner head is pivotally mounted to a shaft carried by an actuating arm that is so powered that, as the actuating arm pivots about an axis, the cleaner head, which is resiliently biased, engages and cleans the bottom surface of a coke oven door plug or lining.

Abstract: A solvent of coal is pumped through pipes drilled into the earth to a coal seam. The coal is digested or dispersed into the solvent and solvent recycle, and is thereafter pumped as a solution up to the surface and processed to remove the coal from the solvent. The method produces low-ash coal, stripped of all the extraneous ash, leaving the inherent ash, and stripped of all the sulfur except the organic type. The method comprises making a coal solution in situ and bringing it to the earth surface economically, without the hazards and environmental problems of conventional coal mining and without the need of coal washing facilities.

Abstract: A coke oven door, having a sealing ring that coacts with a plurality of spring plungers, is provided with a plurality of equalizing pads located between the top and bottom latches to ensure that the sealing ring is seated at these locations. Also the sealing ring is installed in slots in the door frame which are open at both ends.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning ascension pipe lids and lid seats comprises a pivotable tool holder mounted to a larry car and the tool holder carries two sets of cleaning tools. One set is rotatable for cleaning the lid seat in the ascension pipe opening and the other set is rotatable for cleaning the ascension pipe lid. The other set of cleaning tools is retractable when not in use. The tool holder is manually or mechanically operable.

Abstract: Molten steel is continually and directly made within the bath of a metallurgical furnace by the rapid reduction of iron compounds through their reaction with carbonaceous fines continually injected below the molten metal surface. Heat for the process in one instance is supplied mainly by electric arc. The iron compounds may preferably also be injected. Flux materials are also continually fed to the surface, and molten steel and slag are continually tapped from the bath. In order to augment the economics of the process, the carrier gas for injection may be a reducing gas, such as steam-reformed natural gas, and the furnace off-gas may be used to preheat and partially reduce the feed compounds.

Abstract: An improvement in the Koppers-Totzek coal gasification system comprises the step of adding cool and clean recycle gas to the product gas as it leaves the gasifier unit, thereby eliminating the use of water sprays to quench the product gas.

Abstract: In a sintering process a sinter mix containing solid fuel is fed in a layer onto a traveling-grate type of sintering machine. The fuel in the layer is ignited and it burns downwardly under downdraft air to form a resulting solid sinter cake. The sinter cake has an upper portion of sinter that is cool enough to be conveyed on a rubber conveyer belt. The lower portion of the sinter contains a fire zone.A sinter cake cutter or plow separates along a horizontal plane the cool upper portion of sinter cake and removes it, while the remainder of the sinter containing the fire zone travels along on the strand. The lower portion of the sinter is cooled by updraft air which is recycled into the burning zone.

Abstract: A versatile steelmaking method and apparatus therefor including both electric-arc furnace and basic-oxygen furnace capabilities. Iron and steel scrap is charged to an open top metallurgical vessel and there preheated, if desired, with a flame, such as fuel-oxygen or fuel-air flame. Thereafter an electrode-bearing vessel roof may be placed upon the open top vessel and the steel charged therein further heated and melted to a desired degree by means of electrically generated heat in the electrodes. The vessel and heated charge may then be advanced to an oxygen blowing station where molten iron and basic slag-making additives may be charged to the vessel. A removable vessel extension is placed upon the top vessel and the total charge refined into steel by means of a high velocity stream of high purity oxygen passing from an oxygen lance into the charge.

Abstract: A metallurgical furnace has an annular conduit or hot blast plenum encircling and formed as a part of the shell of the furnace, and such plenum has a variable venturi throat or passageway through which the wind or hot blast enters the furnace proper. The furnace shell above the plenum is supported by fluid-actuated cylinder-piston means connected to conventional shell supporting legs anchored to a fixed support.