Abstract: A drainable discharge pan apparatus for an impact type particle separator used on circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers employs a plurality of funnel shaped discharge pans located at a lower end of each of the impingement members in the impact type particle separator. The funnel shaped discharge pans prevent accumulation of collected particles thereon, allowing particles collected by the impingement members to fall therethrough, while preventing bypassing of flue gas around lower ends of the impact type particle separator. The outlet ends of the funnel shaped discharge pans provide substantially the same open area for the collected particles to fall therethrough as exists within each associated impingement member.

Abstract: A fluidized bed boiler bottom with an ash cooling and removal system has a water-cooled tube panel floor with fluidization bubble caps above a windbox, and a structural support and at least one hopper, each of the at least one hoppers with a bed ash cooler region and drain control system positioned beneath the tube panel floor. The hoppers are formed from cooled enclosure tubes and have sloped upper walls and lower troughs having vertical walls. Standpipes are provided through the tube panel floor down into the troughs at the bottoms of the hoppers. The standpipes may be arranged in an H-pattern in the tube panel floor and subsequently channel several flowpaths together into fewer standpipes closer to the troughs. Solids flow through the standpipes is controlled by operation of fluidizing nozzles located underneath the standpipes. Pulsing the flow of air through the fluidizing nozzles prevents or allows solids to flow through the standpipe from the bed.

Abstract: An integrated flue gas treatment condensing heat exchanger having a particle charger located upstream of the second stage heat exchanger of the system for improved cleaning of flue gas and increased removal of fine particulate matter.

Abstract: An asymmetrical, or non-uniform arrangement of heat exchanging tubes in a second stage heat exchanger of an integrated flue gas treatment system provides improved flow characteristics and reduces or eliminates flooding caused by the counter-flow of upwardly rising flue gases and downwardly falling reagent and condensate through the heat exchanging tubes. The non-uniform spacing produces a non-uniform velocity profile with at least one low velocity region in each row, allowing reagent and condensate to drain downward at said low velocity region, thereby preventing high gas phase pressure drop caused by the onset of flooding. Embodiments are provided in which one of every six tubes are removed from each row in a uniform array of tubes, or one of every four tubes are removed from each row in a uniform array of tubes. Other asymmetrical, or non-uniform spacings are possible.

Abstract: An integrated flue gas treatment desulfurization system for treating flue gas exhausted from an electrostatic precipitator and passing at a flue gas flow velocity in the range of 10-20 ft./sec. or more through a condensing heat exchanger and a wet flue gas scrubber. The scrubber sprays a reagent throughto the flue gas effectively remove pollutants and metals prior to exhausting same in a dry form after treatment by mist eliminators located downstream of the system.

Abstract: A segmented automated sludge lance is described for cleaning sludge from tubes in a steam generator. The segmented lance guide and waterlance are moved inside the steam generator to direct a fluid between the tubes to effectively clean sludge from the tubes. The remote control system is mounted outside the steam generator where it is readily serviceable.

Abstract: Alignment during installation of an octant of a tokamak fusion toroidal magnetic takes place at room temperature or at low operating temperature of the magnet. In order to identify the magnetic center of the magnet, a toroidal magnet octant is electrically powered with equal but opposite flowing current and a spatially known probe is utilized to measure the magnetic field of such a powered octant.

Abstract: A roller wheel stand for providing long term storage for a roller wheel assembly and allowing scheduled rotation of the roller wheel assembly for proper lubrication includes a pair of vertically oriented channel members fastened to a pair of bottom members at substantially a right angle and spaced apart in an approximately a parallel relationship. The roller wheel stand is constructed to receive a roller wheel assembly for supporting it in a vertical orientation.

Abstract: An automated sensor transport system for non-destructive inspection of a weld through the use of ultrasonic waves produced by an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT). The system includes: a computer control unit; a transport apparatus having a first EMAT for producing an ultrasonic SH shear wave and a second EMAT for receiving an ultrasonic SH shear wave reflected from a weld and a calibration means. The computer control unit, which is in electrical communication with a welding apparatus, the transport apparatus and a data acquisition unit, coordinates the weld test with completion of the weld. An edge detection sensor, which is affixed to the transport apparatus is used to automatically position the transport apparatus for a weld scan and to signal completion of the scan. The system includes an electrostatic shield to protect the second EMAT from electromagnetic and radio frequency interference.

Abstract: A shim for improving plasma arc weld quality has ends tapered at about 25.degree. and notches at each end roughly centered over the corner between the tapered ends and main body of the shim. The improved shim allows lower starting plasma arc heat input and reduces the occurrence of sagging, or overpenetration, of the weld.

Abstract: A sootblower system for a furnace combustion zone has two types of blower pipes. A first type is made of a high temperature resistant material, and projects a short distance vertically through the floor of the furnace into the combustion zone and has blower orifices substantially parallel to the floor. The second type of blower pipe is made of conventional metallurgical materials and the blower outlet is positioned between and extends through adjacent tubes in a membrane wall at a location proximate the furnace floor. Both types of blowers are stationary and continuously remain in position, inserted in the combustion zone. Both types are small in size and large in number and only a small number of blowers are active at any time. In operation, discrete puffs of blowing medium are forced through the blower pipes and across the furnace floor, entraining ash and particulates into the combustion gas stream, preventing small amounts of ash buildup within the furnace.

Abstract: An integral deaerator for a heat pipe steam condenser has a main steam duct connected to a heat pipe steam condenser duct by a riser. The heat pipe steam condenser duct is inclined slightly toward the riser and a weir is positioned at the connection between the riser and heat pipe steam condenser duct to prevent condensate from draining directly into the riser. The heat pipe steam condenser duct has a drain for draining a condensate from within the heat pipe steam condenser duct to a distribution header for distributing the condensate within the riser. Steam is provided to the main steam duct for condensation in the heat pipe steam condenser and while in transit, the steam heats and deaerates the condensate. At least one drain boot is connected to the bottom of the main steam duct for draining deaerated condensate.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a leak in the storage tank which includes a transducer for detecting and converting a mechanical wave into an electrical signal, a support tube having an upper end extending outside of the tank and a lower end extending inside the tank into the fluid medium. The transducer is affixed to the lower end of the support tube. A signal processing unit for processing the electrical signal, and electrical cable for transmitting the electrical signal from the transducer to the signal processing unit is also present. A method of using the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A two-stage steam condenser that prevents freezing from occurring in the tube rows by continual purging of the tube rows. Such continual purging prevents any steam from back-flowing into a tube row thereby eliminating the possibility that condensate or noncondensable gases will become trapped therein. This is achieved by isolating each of the tube rows in the second stage of the condenser so that the pressure of one tube row is not exposed to the pressure occurring in another adjacent tube row. The condensate collected in the various tube rows of this second stage is delivered to a common drain pot that is hydraulically balanced to accommodate the various pressures in these tube rows. Such hydraulic balancing also prevents any back-flowing from occurring from one tube row into another.

Abstract: A wedge shaped form is mounted on the splash plate of a black liquor nozzle with the sharp edge of the wedge located at the exhaust of the nozzle to split the black liquor from the nozzle into two flat sheets on each side of the wedge with no droplet formation at the center of the nozzle exhaust.

Abstract: A dual draw works hoisting apparatus. A single derrick structure is provided for two drilling rigs. The crown block platform receives the crown blocks for both drilling operations such that both crown blocks are slidable along the crown block platform. The hoisting lines are reaved in a conventional manner, except for the dead lines. The dead lines from the two crown blocks are connected together by means of a sheave assembly which is locked in position during normal independent operation of the crown blocks and their respective travelling blocks. To provide increased lifting capacity for lifting the drilling riser, the crown blocks are moved closer together on the platform such that the travelling blocks may be attached to a spreader bar to be positioned above a drill slot and attached to the drilling riser. The sheave assembly connecting the two deadlines is unlocked to allow relative movement between the two deadlines during simultaneous use of the draw works for both travelling blocks.

Abstract: An EMAT inspection system is utilized on a mill roll to identify surface and sub-surface defects such as firecracks in steel mill rolls with the results being displayed on a remote screen of a display and control system which also records the inspection results and controls the EMAT system.

Abstract: A riser tensioning device that utilizes parallel air cans. A stem having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the riser is positioned around the riser and is fastened in position at the wellhead of the riser on the offshore structure. A yoke attached to the stem supports a number of sleeves around the stem. Each sleeve receives a variable buoyancy air can. The sleeves and air cans are provided with a retainer that retains the air cans in the sleeves and transfers the vertical loads of the air cans to the sleeve. The retainer is also designed to allow the air cans to be selectively removed from their individual sleeves without the need to pull the entire riser assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of inspecting for flaws in a specular reflector, where the flaws having an expected length and the reflector is electrically conductive. The method includes directing a beam of an electromagnetic acoustic transmitting transducer along a beam axis toward the specular reflector for producing a reflected electromagnetic acoustic beam. The transmitted beam has side lobes with zero points therebetween, at least some of the side lobes being major side lobes. The reflected beam is received using an electromagnetic acoustic receiving transmitter set at an angle to the beam axis, the angle being selected to be at one of the zero points and past all of the major lobes of the transmitted beam to eliminate root and crown signals of the weld, in the reflected signal.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for producing flexible fibers (30) of superconducting material includes a crucible (12) for containing a charge of the superconducting material. The material is melted in the crucible (12) and falls in a stream (18) through a bottom hole (16) in the crucible (12). The stream (18) falls through a protecting collar (22) which maintains the stream (18) at high temperatures. The stream (18) is then supplied through a downwardly directed nozzle (26) where it is subjected to a high velocity of a heated gas (36') which breaks the melted superconducting material into ligaments which solidify into the flexible fibers (30). The fibers (30) are collected by directing them against a collection filter (32).