Abstract: An improved method for measuring temperature of hot gases inside a vessel which radiates microwave energy, which method comprises sensing the energy at a frequency above about 100 gigahertz whereby the effect on said measurement of any solids entrained in the gases and of the vessel is minimized. The method is particularly suited to determining rapidly fluctuating temperatures.

Abstract: Apparatus for contacting a gas with solid particles comprising a housing, an inlet space, an outlet space and at least one contacting unit, where the contacting unit comprises a first wall, a second wall parallel to the first wall, a plurality of gas conduits connecting the inlet space with the outlet space, which conduits are defined between the first wall and a permeable corrugated plate attached to the first wall on the side of the second wall, and a plurality of zones filled with particles defined between the second wall, the permeable corrugated plate and separating means positioned between the second wall and the permeable corrugated plate and perpendicular to the conduits.

Abstract: Multitube reactor for carrying out a process for catalytic conversion, comprising a normally substantially vertically extending vessel, a plurality of open-ended reactor tubes (2) arranged in the vessel parallel to its central longitudinal axis of which the upper ends are fixed to an upper tube plate (5) and in fluid communication with a fluid inlet chamber (8) above the upper tube plate (5) and of which the lower ends are fixed to a lower tube plate and in fluid communication with an effluent collecting chamber below the lower tube plate, an inlet (13) for supplying liquid to the fluid inlet chamber (8), inlet for supplying gas to the fluid inlet chamber (8), and an effluent outlet arranged in the effluent collecting chamber, wherein the upper end part of each reactor tube is provided with a cap (25) having a gas inlet opening (27), which defines a liquid inlet (28) and an outlet (30) in fluid communication with the upper end part of the reactor tube (2), and a liquid riser (33) extending between a level in

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of methanol by the reaction of a carbon monoxide and hydrogen mixture obtained by steam reforming of light hydrocarbons in the liquid phase in the presence of the catalyst system obtainable by combination of at least:(a) the salt containing a cation of a metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements,(b) an alcoholate from an alkaline metal or alkaline earth metal, in a single pass through reactor, by conversion of the hydrogen-carbon monoxide gas mixture, which has been treated after steam treatment of natural gas by scrubbing carbon dioxide from the obtained gas mixture, and which has a hydrogen-carbon monoxide molar ratio in the range of from 2.8-4.5, and using the off-gas from the reaction after recovery of methanol as fuel to the reformer furnace.

Abstract: Process for the partial oxidation of a liquid or solid and/or a gaseous fuel using a multi-orifice burner comprising a central channel and four concentric channels encircling the central channel. Liquid or solid fuel is supplied through the second concentric channel and the oxidizer is supplied through the first concentric channel and the third concentric channel. Hydrocarbon gas and/or moderator is supplied through the central channel and the fourth concentric channel. The mass ratio of liquid or solid fuel to hydrocarbon gas ranges from 0 to 1.

Abstract: Disclosed is a burner for the partial combustion of a solid carbonaceous fuel wherein coal, e.g., finely divided coal, is supplied to a reactor space via a central channel disposed along the longitudinal axis of the burner, and oxygen-containing gas is supplied via an annular channel surrounding said central channel, and heat from the combustion is removed from the hollow front face of the burner by coolant flowed through said front face spirally about the longitudinal axis of the burner.

Abstract: Gas/liquid contacting apparatus (1) comprising a housing (2) provided with a gas inlet (3), a liquid outlet (5), a liquid inlet (7) and a gas outlet (9) arranged above the gas inlet (3), and a horizontal tray (11) arranged between the gas inlet (3) and the liquid inlet (7) and provided with a cyclonic separator (13) extending from below the horizontal tray (11) to above the horizontal tray (11), which cyclonic separator (13) comprises a vertical swirl tube (17) internally provided with swirl imparting means (19), a coaxial gas outlet tube (21) arranged above the vertical swirl tube (17) and provided externally with an annular deflector (32), an outer tube (23) arranged around the swirl tube (17) and provided at its upper end with an inwardly directed annular deflector (35) and with a gas outlet (33), and at least one conduit (31) extending from the exterior of the cyclonic separator ( 13) above the tray (11) to the interior of the swirl tube (17) below the swirl imparting means (19).

Abstract: A protruding mantle separates burner internals from the hot gasification environment. The mantle is cooled by at least one of the feedstreams. The lining can be made of ceramics such as silicon carbide and/or silicon nitride. In order to lower thermo-mechanical stress the lining is thin-walled.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating dispersed phases from fluid mixtures comprising a fluid separation chamber provided with a plurality of fluid outlet ports for discharge of fluids with different densities, and fluid inlet means for introducing the mixture into the chamber comprising at least one tubular neck portion in which a cluster of fibers is compressed to a fibrous bed. Each tubular neck portion is arranged to a level between the top portion and a bottom portion of the chamber and at an angle relative to the vertical thereby reducing the chance of accumulation of foamy or solid contaminants in the fibrous bed and allowing continuous removal thereof from the separation chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a burner for the partial combustion of a solid carbonaceous fuel wherein coal, e.g., finely divided coal, is supplied to a reactor space via a central channel disposed along the longitudinal axis of the burner, and oxygen-containing gas is supplied via two annular channels surrounding said central channel, and heat from the combustion is removed from the hollow front face of the burner by coolant flowed through said front face spirally about the longitudinal axis of the burner.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for reducing the level of corrosive impurities in sulfolane solution originating from a process for the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from petroleum, which process comprises providing an aqueous solution of sulfolane having a sulfolane concentration less than about 80% by weight and electrodialyzing said aqueous solution to obtain a diluate stream containing a great majority of the sulfolane and having greatly reduced level of corrosive impurities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a burner for the partial combustion of a solid carbonaceous fuel, and suitable for use in an reactor having a plurality of burners wherein e.g. finely divided coal is supplied to a reactor space via a central channel disposed along the longitudinal axis of the burner, and oxygen-containing gas is supplied via an annular channel surrounding said central channel and configured for said gas to intersect said coal at an acute angle, and heat from the combustion is removed from a dimensioned curvilinear hollow front of the burner by coolant flowed radially at constant momentum through said hollow front.

Abstract: A process for recovery of hydrocarbon (C.sub.2.sup.+) containing at least two carbon atoms per molecule (e.g. LPG) from a fluid feed containing C.sub.2.sup.+ hydrocarbons and components having at most one carbon atom per molecule (e.g. refinery gas) comprising the following steps:(i) contacting the fluid feed with one side of at least one membrane which is substantially non-permeable for C.sub.2.sup.30 hydrocarbons and removing a first fluid (permeate) containing a substantial amount of components having at most one carbon atom per molecule from the other side of the membrane(s), and(ii) fractionating fluid (retentate) obtained from the one side of the membrane(s) into at least a product containing C.sub.2.sup.30 hydrocarbons and a gaseous product.

Abstract: Process for the partial oxidation of fuel using a multi-orifice burner comprising a central channel and three substantially concentric channels encirling the central channel. Fuel is supplied through each of the first and third concentric channels and the oxidizer is supplied through each of the central channel and the second concentric channel. The reactant fuel and oxidizer are supplied at specific mass flow distribution and velocities.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for reducing the level of corrosive impurities in sulfolane solution originating from a process for the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from petroleum and having a pH of at least 8.5, comprises combining a sulfolane-soluble polyprotic acidic substance with said sulfolane to form a solid phase containing at least a portion of said corrosive impurities, and separating the sulfolane from the solid phase.

Abstract: An analytical system is disclosed employing dual valve injector sampling and suitable for continuous flow injection analysis employing extraction of a liquid sample with an immiscible liquid solvent for a component of said sample liquid.

Abstract: A method for starting up a partial combustion process, using a burner, wherein finely divided carbon-containing fuel is supplied to a reactor or gasifier and an oxygen-containing gas is supplied separately from the said fuel to the reactor or gasifier and is mixed with the said fuel adjacent the outlet of the burner in the reactor or gasifier. During a predetermined period a low rank particulate carbon-containing fuel is supplied to the reactor prior to the start of the partial combustion process, said low rank fuel spontaneously reacting with oxygen when brought into contact with the said oxygen-containing gas and subsequently switching the burner to a less reactive finedly divided carbon-containing fuel.

Abstract: An improved process for recovering organic values from aqueous solutions containing scale-forming ions by electrodialysis and fractionation-distillation, wherein an aqueous substantially free of organics is introduced into the concentrate side of the electrodialysis membranes to substantially reduce or avoid scaling on said membranes.

Abstract: Process for separating a fluid feed mixture containing hydrocarbon oil and an organic solvent (e.g. obtained from a furfural extraction unit) by contacting said fluid feed mixture at elevated pressure with one side of a hydrocarbon oil-selective membrane containing a layer of a silicone polymer which is substantially impermeable to said organic solvent and recovering hydrocarbon oil permeate from the other side of the membrane.

Abstract: In a process for the direct oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide, ethylene is recovered from normally vented gas by contacting first with an activated carbon adsorbent then by pressure swing adsorption with a zeolitic molecular sieve adsorbent.