Abstract: A dual-gas fuel tank assembly for a fuel cell driven vehicle wherein the fuel tank is interposed within the vehicle frame as an integral portion thereof with the tank assembly having a plurality of cylindrical pressure tanks of composite material construction for containing oxygen gas and the cylindrical tanks being partially nested within the tank assembly housing to leave substantial space around the pressure tanks for storing metal hydride powder therein for producing hydrogen gas to the fuel cell upon application of heat thereto.

Abstract: Activated carbon injection is provided for mercury removal in a flue gas treatment system having an electrostatic precipitator and a wet flue gas desulfurization tower by injecting fresh activated carbon into the flue along with recycled carbon from the exhaust of the precipitator to minimize fresh carbon make up along with an activated carbon bed in the desulfurization tower to maximize mercury and other toxin removal from the flue exhaust.

Abstract: A method of making ceramic fibers from a water soluble pre-ceramic polymer solution by forming fibers from a water soluble pre-ceramic polymer solution, drying the formed fibers at a first temperature ranging between 600.degree. C.-750.degree. C. at a temperature heating rate of about 1.degree. C. per minute. Next, raising the first temperature to a second temperature ranging from 800.degree. C.-1000.degree. C. at about 5.degree. C. per minute, and increasing the second temperature to still a third temperature of about 1200.degree. C. at about 10.degree. C. per minute and holding at the third temperature for about 1 hour. Finally, the fibers are cooled to room temperature at a rate of about 5.degree. C. to 30.degree. C. per minute.

Abstract: An arrangement for a furnace of a once-through steam generator includes a fluid mix header for holding a volume of a furnace mix fluid. A plurality of side wall tubes at the side wall of the furnace are connected to a side wall header. A roof outlet header is located at the roof of the furnace and a roof tube is connected at one end to the roof outlet header and at the opposite end to one end of a loop section of tube. A front wall tube located at the front end of the furnace is connected at one end to the opposited end of the loop section of the tube from the roof tube. A connection tube is connected between the roof outlet header and the fluid mix header. Rear and front screen tubes are connected directly to the fluid mix header of the furnace. Fluid from the fluid mix header is provided to the convection pass downcomer and convection pass tube enclosures of the steam generator.

Abstract: A cast abrasion resistant hollow ball is formed with a hollow ceramic core that generates no gas during the casting operation. Solid ceramic bars or supports hold the hollow ceramic core in a fixed location at the center of the cast ball during the casting process. There are no open holes or openings in the ceramic supports due to the fact that the hollow ceramic sphere is composed of an inert refractory material which eliminates any gases being generated during the pouring and solidification of the liquid metal in the casting process.

Abstract: A vane assembly defining a flow passage for gas moving in a flow direction has at least one spin vane in the flow passage, positionable at an angle with respect to the flow direction. The vane is made of-sheet material and has a leading portion which is perforated. This reduces pressure drop across the vane while still maintaining spin of the gas.

Abstract: A multi-directional after-air port for controlling air flow to a furnace in a staged combustion system has multiple sets of louvers or dampers oriented perpendicular to each other for improved control over combustion air-flow direction.

Abstract: A multi-phase DC chopper circuit having a different number of phases on each side of the current source. The ciruit utilizes fewer chopper phases and produces more discrete DC voltage steps.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection method for measuring the thickness of non-welded (non-metallurgically bonded) cladding on the inside surface of a vessel from an outside diameter surface of the vessel relies upon the occurrence of a phase change at an interface between the base metal and cladding layers to precisely determine its presence and location. By measuring the length of time for the ultrasonic pulse to propagate through the cladding material, suitable predetermined calibration standards for the cladding material in question can be used to convert the time of flight of the ultrasonic pulses through the cladding into a thickness of the cladding. The cladding thickness can be measured from an outside surface of the vessel whether or not it is empty and/or without stopping the process and/or draining it, and the method can even be employed at elevated temperatures through the use of known delay lines.

Abstract: A dual-fuel tank assembly for vehicles employing internal combustion engines wherein the fuel tank is interposed within the vehicle frame as an integral portion thereof with the tank assembly having a plurality of cylindrical pressure tanks of composite material construction for containing gas fuel and the cylindrical tanks partially nested with the tank assembly housing to leave substantial space around the pressure tanks for storing liquid fuel therein.

Abstract: A system and method for continuously supplying solids from a lower pressure storage reservoir to a high pressure feeder tank for use in an application such as a blast furnace employs a high pressure variable speed solids pump. A fluidizing device discharges solids in a dense phase flow to a deaerating device for deaerating the solids flow prior to entering a variable speed high pressure solids pump. A feeder tank having an outlet is connected to the outlet of the solids pump and the feeder tank is at a higher pressure than the source of the solids.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of separating a vessel which is partly welded to a tubesheet of a tube bundle, includes removing the weld seam and reducing the wall thickness of the vessel until only approximately 1/8" of wall thickness remains and thereafter parting the vessel from the tubesheet by extruding the remaining wall thickness using a wheel cutter. The wheel cutter itself comprises a uniform thickness disk having a frusto-conical, cylindrical and subsequent conical portion on its outer periphery, the conical portion tapering to a greater extent that the frusto-conical portion.

Abstract: A high velocity gas absorber for desulfurization of flue gas has a uniquely formed awning and inlet having an inclined awning extending upwardly from the inlet at an angle between 5 and 20 degrees and having strategically placed triangularly shaped gutters therealong for drawing the liquid flow across the inlet while the inlet bottom plate is inclined downward at an angle of approximately 60 degrees of the inlet horizontal bottom plate into the liquid of the absorber's recirculation tank to reduce splash into the inlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separately supporting and sealing a heat pipe within a heat exchanger. For support, the heat pipe with fins thereon passes through a support grid which consists of a series of rings secured or interconnected together. The fins of the heat pipe rest upon these rings of the support grid thereby supporting this region of the heat pipe. To seal these heat pipes in order to prevent any gas escape from the heat exchanger, a tubesheet with openings therein is placed over the ends of the heat pipe. These openings are oversized thus a considerable gap exists between the tubesheet and the heat pipe. This gap is covered or sealed by use of a cover disk which tightly fits around the heat pipe and spans across this gap before it is removably secured to the tubesheet. By this fashion, once the cover disk is removed from the tubesheet, it is a relatively easy task to then remove the tubesheet and the heat pipe from the heat exchanger for maintenance or repair purposes.

Abstract: An air-cooled steam condensing module with an integral vent condenser has a steam header, one or more rows of condensing tubes between the steam header and a (generally lower) common condensate header. The module also has at least one row of vent condenser or dephlegmator tubes located adjacent the condensing tubes which connect the lower header to a vent header. The dephlegmator tubes may be of the same or larger diameter than the condensing tubes.

Abstract: Contaminants such as sulfur oxides are removed from flue gas in a low pressure drop, turbulent mixing zone, vertical dry scrubber by channeling the flue gas through a low pressure drop gas distribution means which controls flue gas introduction to the scrubber, along with control of reagent introduction, by treating the flue gas with a finely atomized alkali solution or slurry reagent preferably from a single or multiple array of dual-fluid atomizers. The atomizers create a turbulent mixing zone downstream of the gas distribution means which results in a homogeneous distribution of the alkali solution or slurry reagent in the flue gas. Control means are provided for creating and maintaining the turbulent mixing zone. A transition at the bottom of the dry scrubber is used to entrain any particulates and/or spray dried materials in the bulk gas stream exiting the dry scrubber.

Abstract: A wet flue gas desulfurization scrubbing tower has means therein for evenly distributing the flue gas flowing through the tower for more efficient treatment therein including a ring plenum for evenly exhausting the flue gas around the periphery of the tower through a series of differently sized openings and a centrally located annular opening for evenly exhausting the flue gas to the center of the tower.

Abstract: A system and method for producing product gas using residual waste liquor is described with a gasifier reactor having a fluidized bed located therein. The gasifier reactor is heated to a predetermined temperature range with either an external heater or a second fluidized bed located at a position below the first fluidized bed. A heat exchanger may be positioned in the first fluidized bed and/or the second fluidized bed for indirectly heating the respective fluidized beds. Condensing heat exchanger means recovers heat from the product gas and condenses an acid gas therefrom for recycling the chemicals. A reagent is sprayed in the condensing heat exchanger means to clean the product gas. Pressurization allows the cleaned product gas to be directly fired in a turbine.

Abstract: A forced recirculation of a part of the untreated flue gas is established along the inside wall of a dry scrubber by providing a counterflowing gas flow along the length of a dry scrubber housing wall to prevent deposition of wet particulate material on the inside walls caused by recirculation of particulates and flue gas thereon.

Abstract: An anvil arrangement for receiving rapper impacts and transmitting them to a discharge electrode of a precipitator has an electrode tube made of deformable material, having an open end and forming part of the discharge electrode. An anvil having a head and a shank is connected to the head and the shank has a size for insertion into the open end of the tube. The head is larger than the tube for engagement against the open end of the tube. The shank has a recess therein and at least one crimp in the tube near the open end thereof and in the vicinity of the recess of the shank for retaining the anvil to the tube. An alternate embodiment receives the electrode tube therein and engages the tube with an angled groove.