Abstract: An improved process for vaporizing a crude petroleum feedstock, preferably one boiling in the vacuum gas oil range or higher, prior to thermal cracking to olefins, wherein such feedstock is preheated, in one or more stages, in the convection section of a tubular steam cracking furnace, characterized by conducting the preheating in the presence of a small amount of hydrogen, preferably at a hydrogen/feed ratio of from about 0.01 to about 0.15 wt. %, so as to inhibit coke formation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process by which a gas containing nitric oxide is contacted with an anaerobic microbial culture of denitrifying bacteria to effect the chemical reduction of the nitric oxide to elemental nitrogen. The process is particularly suited to the removal of nitric oxide from flue gas streams and gas streams from nitric acid plants. Thiobacillus dentrificians as well as other bacteria are disclosed for use in the process.

Abstract: A contacting thickness gauge comprising a unique surface follower (46). The bottom surface (56) of the surface follower (46) has both contacting areas (64,66) and non-contacting areas (62). The surface follower (46) is in substantially continuous contact with a moving sheet (2) and embodies an electrically conductive target having a target surface that intersects a magnetic field but is substantially free from contact with the sheet during normal operation. The surface follower (46) is designed to minimize damage to the sheet (2) that would otherwise occur from contact between the surface follower and a protruberance of the sheet, and to preserve the characteristics of the target surface.

Abstract: A starch based adhesive for use in manufacturing corrugated paper and board is prepared in a single preparation tank 20 by admixing, under high shear vortex mixing, a first portion of aqueous medium, a first starch portion, an aqueous sodium hydroxide, a borating additive, a second portion of aqueous medium and a second starch portion to produce a finished starch adhesive. At least one of the first and second portions of aqueous medium comprises a mixture of fresh water and recycled wash water selected from the group consisting essentially of untreated flexographic printing press wash water, untreated corrugator wash water, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A pellet cooler (10) includes an endless traveling grate conveyor (30), drive apparatus (34,36,40) operatively associated with the conveyor (30) for moving the conveyor in continuous travel about a continuous path, and a plurality of non-perforated material support trays (32) mounted to the conveyor in juxtaposed overlapping relationship to form a substantially continuous surface about the continuous path defined by the conveyor. Each of the material support trays comprises an elongated, laterally extending bi-lobed plate (50) having a first laterally extending outwardly projecting arcuate larger radius lobe (60) along one lateral extend thereof, a second laterally extending outwardly projecting arcuate smaller radius lobe (70) along the other lateral extent thereof, and a substantially flat laterally extending mid-portion (56) interconnecting the first lobe and the second lobe.

Abstract: A heat pipe is formed of two elongated tubular members each having an open end and a closed end and joined at their open ends in gas-tight relationship by means of an annular collar. The annular collar is adapted at one end to fit over the open end of one of the elongated tubular members and at its other end to fit over the open end of other of the elongated tubular members, with the ends of the annular collar being sealably secured, such as by welding, bonding, threading or otherwise, to their respective tubular members thereby providing a gas-tight enclosure within the interconnected tubular which constitutes the working chamber of the heat pipe. Advantageously, the two elongated tubular members may be formed of dissimilar materials. For example, one tubular member may be formed of a more expensive material having a relatively high corrosion resistance and the other tubular member may be formed of a less expensive material having a relatively low corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing the sulfide (H.sub.2 S, HS.sup.-, S.sup.-2) in sour water to convert the sulfide to sulfate by producing a sulfide tolerant strain of Thiobacillus denitrificans and then co-immobilizing the T. denitrificans and CaCO.sub.3 on or within a carrier to form the biofilter. The sour water is contacted with the biofilter in a continuous process.

Abstract: Mutant strains of Thiobacillus denitrificans are used to inoculate an environment containing sulfate and sulfate-reducing bacteria to control the net formation of sulfide. The mutant strains are tolerant of significant concentrations of soluble sulfides and may also be tolerant of glutaraldehyde which is a biocide effective against sulfate-reducing bacteria and which may also be added to the environment. One environment for use of the invention is in a water injection well for the secondary production of petroleum and another is the control of sulfide production in the treatment of waste materials.

Abstract: A sheet inspection station including pneumatic means for guiding the sheet past one or more measurement sensors in non-contacting fashion, thus eliminating measurement error resulting from fiber/dust buildup associated with friction between the sheet and conventional guide rails. Air is directed from components, that extend from a sensor surface, onto the sheet surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for desulfurizing gases by microbiological techniques which involve the use of chemoautotrophic bacteria of the Thiobacillus genus to convert sulfides to sulfates either as a sulfide removal process or as a process for producing biomass. More specifically, the invention involves the use of Thiobacillus denitrificans under aerobic conditions to oxidize sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide to sulfate compounds. The process may be carried out by various techniques such as in a continuous bioreactor system using an immobilization matrix. The method is particularly suited to the disposal of hydrogen sulfide which has been otherwise removed from natrual gas and producing a biomass byproduct.

Abstract: A circuit and method for converting a binary number having a plurarity of bits, D.sub.o to D.sub.n, to a signal having a proportionally equivalent characteristic. The circuit comprises a parallel input for receiving each bit, D.sub.o to D.sub.n, of the binary number and means for generating a plurarity of wavetrains, W.sub.o to W.sub.n, having frequencies decreasing by powers of two from the least significant wavetrain, W.sub.o, to the most significant wavetrain, W.sub.n. Each wavetrain comprises pulses having a pulse width equal to the inverse of twice the frequence of the least significant wavetrain, W.sub.o, so that the duty cycle of each of the wavetrains is proportional to the corresponding frequency thereof. The pulses of each of the wavetrains are not overlapping with the pulses of the other wavetrains. The circuit also comprises logic means, connected to the input and the generating means, for logically multiplying each wavetrain taken in an order from the least significant to the most significant, W.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for use in measuring the moisture content of heavy-grade sheets of paper during their continuous manufacture. In one aspect, means employing infrared absorption techniques for determining the fiber weight per unit area of a sheet having a fiber weight of up to 1100 grams per square meter are provided. In another aspect, means employing infrared absorption techniques including the use of two moisture absorption bands and associated moisture reference bands for calculating the average temperature of the sheet are provided. The latter aspect may be used to produce an indication of moisture weight per unit area, wherein the indication is substantially independent on changes in the average temperature, and enables accurate measurement of the moisture weight per unit area of heavy grades of paper having moisture weights of up to 450 grams per square meter.

Abstract: A beam of X rays is directed into a traveling product such as paper having a constituent such as ash made up of components such as clay, chalk and titanium dioxide.X rays from the product may produce signal channel responses that are the same to one component but different to another component, and a resultant response indicative of the content of the constituent or component.The X rays from the product may produce a response to a detected spectrum wherein the intensities of the rays are so distributed as a function of energy that the average effective absorption coefficients for the components are substantially equalized, so that the response will be indicative of the constituent and comparatively unaffected by the relative amounts of the components.

Abstract: A pair of electrodes in the configuration of parallel plates represents how multiple pathways are formed through which emulsions of relative polar and relative non-polar liquids are passed. The electrode plates are comprised of materials which render the plates varying in electrical conductivity to establish multiple electric fields which degrade in the direction of emulsion flow.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the thickness of a sheet of metal by irradiating the sheet with x-rays. The intensity of the initial x-rays, the transmitted x-rays, and the backscattered x-rays are detected and the detector signals are processed to produce a signal representing the thickness of the metal sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed are sheet inspection apparatus and methods for rapid, repetitive measurement of a quality attribute in each of a plurality of measurement zones of a continuously-manufactured sheet of material, wherein measurement is based on the interaction of one or more radiation wavelength bands with one or more constituents of the sheet. Simultaneous resolution of measurement zones is provided in both scanning and non-scanning applications.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is formed in the green state with a binder and then a combination of microwave and conventional heating is employed to first remove the binder at a lower temperature and then sinter the oxides at a higher temperature to form the fuel cell. This heating technique not only reduces the time and power requirement but also eliminates large temperature gradients within the oxide material and reduces the attendant problems of internal cracking, separation of components, blistering and delamination.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for desulfurizing gases by microbiological techniques which involve the use of chemoautotrophic bacteria of the Thiobacillus genus to convert sulfides to sulfates either as a sulfide removal process or as a process for producing biomass. More specifically, the invention involves the use of Thiobacillus denitrificans under aerobic conditions to oxidize sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide to sulfate compounds. The process may be carried out by various techniques such as in a continuous bioreactor system using an immobilization matrix. The method is particularly suited to the disposal of hydrogen sulfide which has been otherwise removed from natural gas and producing a biomass byproduct.

Abstract: Internal tube sheet sealing apparatus assembly for tubular heat exchangers which operate with pressures of, e.g., greater than 1000 psi on both sides of the tube sheet and wherein the tube sheet itself is usually subject to a lower differential pressure, comprising tube sheet loading means including a plurality of shear means assemblies and bolts the can load the tube sheet joint independently of each other, said tube sheet loading means enabling (1) the tightness of the tube sheet joint and tube joints to be inspected during differential pressure hydrotesting of the shell side without the channel cover assembly mounted in place and (2) "in-service" re-loading of the tube sheet joint without removing the channel cover assembly.

Abstract: An incinerator, or furnace, receives low-level radiation waste from a nuclear installation in varying volumes and calorific values. A supplemental, conventional fuel is concomitantly supplied under the control of the exhaust temperature of the products of combustion. The low-level radiation waste and supplemental fuel are mixed with combustion air in a first stage where combustion is initiated, the products of combustion being flowed downward into a second stage where the combustion is complete prior to exhaust.