Abstract: A coupling unit is provided for joining flanged pipe ends. The ends are held in a pair of semicircular clamp members having inclined recesses and wedge elements for separating the flanges apart and bringing them into contact with the clamp.

Abstract: A compliant offshore drilling and producing structure is disclosed. Axial piles extend from articulated joints on a pile base at the sea floor to above the water's surface and are enveloped by sleeves extending downwardly from a rigid platform. Buoyant chambers attached to the sleeves support most of the platform weight and provide righting stability. The platform weight is supported by the axial piles through hydraulic means.

Abstract: A sealed thermosiphoning solar energy system is disclosed which uses oil as a nonfreezing transport fluid. The oil is heated in an absorber exposed to the sun's radiation, passes through a check valve and into thermal exchange with a second fluid. Expansion means are provided to prevent excessive pressure buildup in the system.

Abstract: A system for the thermal dissociation of gaseous matter into its component parts using solar energy and a molecular beam skimmer.

Abstract: A hull heating system for an offshore production structure for use in arctic waters wherein the heat from the produced fluids is used to maintain the temperature of the outer surface of the structure above the melting temperature of the ice adjacent the structure.

Abstract: A ball check valve is provided for use in a thermosiphoning solar energy system. The valve is extremely sensitive to low pressure variations and will permit reverse thermosiphoning above specified operating temperatures.

Abstract: A reactor for mixing fluid components at relatively low flow rates wherein the components have a very short reaction time. The reactor comprises a plurality of spaced-apart, flow-converging members for directing the flow of fluid components along the central axis of the reaction chamber. The reactor further includes a flow-deflecting element arranged downstream of each flow-converging member to divide and direct and the body of fluid flow at right angles from the central axis of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: The present invention presents a novel method for injection molding a header to the open-ended tubes of an elastomeric solar collector. Special mold pieces and mandrels are required to carry out the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a three-stage process for liquefying coal in which a coal-solvent slurry is sequentially passed through a first dissolving stage and two catalytic reaction stages in series. The first catalytic reaction stage contains a catalyst having a selectivity for converting heptane insolubles to lower molecular weight compounds and a portion of the effluent from said stage is recycled for use as solvent in the dissolver. The second catalytic reactor is operated under hydrocracking conditions.

Abstract: A dust-collection head for use in a dust-collection system. The outer end of the head has a substantially C-shaped configuration with a substantially curved face formed therein. At least two curved, parallel slots extend generally along the length of the face. A plurality of flow directors are disposed within a chamber formed in the housing of the head. And the flow directors extend inwardly from the face to form a number of flow passages within the chamber for providing a substantially even capture velocity along the face.

Abstract: Disclosed is an oil shale retorting process which is suitable for retorting lean oil shale containing less than 0.13 liters of oil per kilogram of shale. The raw shale is preferably retorted in a staged turbulent bed and the retorted hydrocarbonaceous vapors containing entrained shale fines are withdrawn therefrom. The fines are concentrated in a portion of the liquid product and fed to a combustion with the previously retorted shale to provide the heat required for retorting the raw shale.

Abstract: An improved coal liquefaction process is disclosed wherein subdivided coal is substantially dissolved in a process-derived solvent in the presence of added hydrogen, thereby forming a mixture of dissolved coal, solvent and insoluble solids, and said mixture is passed through a guard bed of solid porous contact material, such as alumina, in the presence of hydrogen, to deposit titanium, iron and calcium from the mixture prior to hydrocracking.

Abstract: Disclosed is a two-stage process for the production of clean liquid hydrocarbons from coal. In the process subdivided coal is dissolved in a process derived solvent at a temperature in the range 425.degree.-480.degree. C. The dissolver effluent is passed through a catalytic reactor operating under hydrocracking conditions, including a temperature in the range 340.degree.-400.degree. C. to produce normally liquid products and recycle solvent. The solvent is further subjected to treatment with an antisolvent to precipitate unconverted asphaltenes prior to recycle to the dissolution stage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a three-stage process for liquefying coal. In the process subdivided coal is slurried with a hydrogen-lean hydrogen-donor solvent and passed through a dissolving zone at a temperature in the range 400.degree.-480.degree. C. and at a space velocity in the range 2-150 hr..sup.-1 to substantially dissolve said coal. The effluent from the dissolver is stabilized with a hydrogen-rich hydrogen-donor solvent in a stabilization zone at a temperature in the range of 400.degree.-440.degree. C. and at a space velocity in the range 1-12 hr..sup.31 1 to partially hydrogenate the dissolved coal. A portion of the effluent from the stabilizer is recycled for use as hydrogen-lean hydrogen-donor solvent and the remainder is passed to a catalytic reaction stage operating under hydrocracking conditions to produce the net product and hydrogen-rich hydrogen-donor solvent.

Abstract: A porous sulfur sorbent is disclosed which has principal use in desulfurizing reformer feedstreams. The sorbent is prepared by peptizing alumina with acid and mulling the peptized alumina with a copper compound to form an extrudable dough. The dough is extruded, dried and impregnated with additional copper. The resulting sorbent has a higher capacity for adsorbing sulfur compounds than conventional prior art materials.

Abstract: A heat transmission module wherein a natural-circulation, solar collector, storage tank, insulation and other interrelated parts are fabricated as a unitary structure capable of bearing a load.

Abstract: Control method and apparatus for optimizing the operation of a natural draft combustion zone through which a conduit containing a process fluid to be heated passes, by decreasing the supply of combustion air until one or more of the following predetermined limiting conditions is reached: maximum CO in the flue gas, minimum O.sub.2 in flue gas, minimum draft in the combustion zone, maximum temperature of the outer surface of said conduit, and increase in the rate of fuel addition above a minimum amount. When a limiting condition is reached, the supply of combustion air is increased until the limiting condition is no longer present, and the cycle then repeated.

Abstract: An offshore structure which is able to withstand the ice forces imposed thereon by impinging ice sheets and other larger masses of ice wherein the structure has an upper conical portion coaxially positioned relative to a lower conical portion. The walls forming both the upper and lower portions are inclined at an angle to the horizontal to receive ice masses moving into contact with the structure. The angle of inclination from the horizontal of the upper portion is greater than the angle of inclination of the lower portion, and the cross-sectional diameter of the upper conical portion is no greater than that at the top of the lower conical portion.

Abstract: A unidirectional valve for use, e.g., in a thermosyphon solar heating system including a collector, a storage tank, and a liquid having a transfer portion in the collector and a storage portion in the tank, the valve comprising a partition, having a predetermined vertical extent, transversely separating the portions, the partition being transversely spaced such that the surface area of the transfer portion is much less than the surface area of the storage portion, whereby changes in the density of the transfer portion cause the surface thereof to travel vertically along the partition, permitting the transfer portion to flow around the end of the partition into the tank, but changes in the density of the storage portion cause only inconsequential movement of the surface thereof along the partition preventing flow of the storage portion around the end of the partition into the collector.

Abstract: Control method and apparatus for optimizing the operation of a natural draft combustion zone through which a conduit containing a process fluid to be heated passes, by decreasing the supply of combustion air until one or more of the following predetermined limiting conditions is reached: maximum CO in the flue gas, minimum O.sub.2 in flue gas, minimum draft in the combustion zone, maximum temperature of the outer surface of said conduit, and increase in the rate of fuel addition above a minimum amount. When a limiting condition is reached, the supply of combustion air is increased until the limiting condition is no longer present, and the cycle then repeated.