Abstract: A vapor generator in which a plurality of tubes are connected together and arranged to form at least a portion of the boundary walls of a gas-tight enclosure. Portions of the tubes are bent to form a plurality of openings extending through at least one of the boundary walls. Some of the bent tube portions extend around the openings in the plane of the wall, and others of the bent tube portions extend out of the plane of the wall. The tubes, including the bent portions, extend at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane for their entire lengths to enable the tubes to drain. A burner is associated with each opening to apply heat to the enclosure, and fluid is passed through the tubes to apply heat to the fluid.

Abstract: A process for the desulfurization of coal and apparatus for carrying out the process. The process includes the steps of: first, treating dry coal particles with dry chlorine gas; and, second, treating the coal particles with a purging gas. The purging gas may be, for example, dry steam or an inert gas, such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide. The apparatus includes a chlorinator means for treating the dry coal particles with dry chlorine gas and a stripper means for treating the coal particles with a purging gas.

Abstract: A support structure for a bundle of tubes includes a plurality of parallel grid strips having indentations, wherein the strips are fixed in pairs and are attached by fasteners to other pairs to define a support grid. The indentations of adjacent pairs of grid strips are in alignment to receive the tubes and maintain them in a spaced arrangement. The support grid is reinforced by key strips which extend along opposite sides of the support grids. The grids are prevented from moving along the tubes by collars secured to selected tubes adjacent to the sides of the support grid. The bundle may be arranged in sections wherein a support grid is provided for each section, in which case keeper bars having flanges are inserted between adjacent sections to support the sections with respect to one another and to prevent the shifting of one section with respect to another.

Abstract: A wet/dry steam condenser in accordance with the present invention includes two spaced-apart, vertically aligned groups of heat pipes with each group having the lower, evaporator sections of their respective heat pipes exposed to the interior of an associated, longitudinally extending steam-receiving plenum. The upper, condensing section of each heat pipe is provided with fin structures and can be selectively cooled by a fan-induced air flow and/or deluge water supplied from either a flood water trough and/or a spray-head assembly.

Abstract: A wet/dry steam condenser in accordance with the present invention includes two spaced-apart, vertically aligned groups of heat pipes with each group having the lower, evaporator sections of their respective heat pipes exposed to the interior of an associated, longitudinally extending steam-receiving plenum. The upper condensing section of each heat pipe is cooled by a fan-induced air flow and has a portion that is finned. The other portion of the condensing section of each pipe is cooled by deluge water from either a flood water trough and/or a spray-head assembly in addition to being cooled by a fan-induced air flow.

Abstract: A process for producing a reducing gas for a direct reduction or blast furnace which comprises partially oxidizing oil and/or coal and/or coke in the presence of air to produce a gas stream containing hydrogen and nitrogen together with other gases, treating the gas stream to remove substantially all gases other than hydrogen and nitrogen, drying the gas stream if there is water present, subjecting the gas stream to a separation stage, e.g. in a cryogenic separator, to separate a hydrogen-rich gas stream and a nitrogen-rich gas stream, heating the hydrogen-rich gas stream and injecting it into the furnace.In the case of a direct reduction furnace the gas stream may be obtained by partial oxidation of coal and/or oil. In the case of the blast furnace the reducing gas may be derived from the top gas in addition or as an alternative to partial oxidation of coal and/or oil.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor in which a grate is disposed in a housing for receiving a single bed of particulate material. The interior of the housing below the grate is divided into a plurality of zones and air is selectively passed through portions of the grate to fluidize corresponding portions of the bed above the zones. A plurality of pipes are provided in the bed for receiving excess particulate material accumulating in various portions of the bed and for blowing air into said latter portion, to reduce the build-up of particulate material in the bed.

Abstract: A burner assembly in which an inlet is located at one end of an annular passage for receiving fuel, and an outlet is located at the other end of the passage for discharging the fuel. A divider cone is disposed within the annular passage for dividing the stream of fuel passing through the passage into two parallel coaxial streams and additional secondary air is introduced into the outer stream. A plurality of V-shaped members are disposed within the annular passage for splitting up the outer stream of fuel so that, upon ignition of said fuel, a plurality of flame patterns are formed. A register assembly is provided which includes an enclosure for receiving air and a divider for direction the air from the enclosure towards the outlet in two parallel paths extending around the burner. Register vanes are disposed in each of the paths for regulating the spin and/or quantity of air flowing through the paths.

Abstract: In an industrial control system, a plurality of remote data processing units communicate with one another over a communications link. Some of the processing units called primary remotes have inputs and outputs and control a process operation in response to signals received on the inputs by signals transmitted over the outputs. One or more of the remote processing units, referred to as a redundant remote, monitors a plurality of the other primary remotes to determine whether any of the monitored primary remotes has failed. If any of the primary remotes fails, the redundant remote takes over operation of the process controlled by the failed primary remote by sending instructions and commands over the communications link interconnecting the primary and redundant remotes.

Abstract: A vapor generating system in which a vapor generating section and a superheating section are connected in a series flow relationship. The vapor generating section includes an upright furnace section formed by a plurality of tubes, a portion of which extend at an angle with respect to the horizontal plane for passing fluid through the length of the furnace section to convert a portion of the fluid to vapor or to heat the fluid. The angularly extending portion of each tube has a rifled bore.

Abstract: A vapor generating system in which a furnace section is provided that is formed by four upright walls, the lower portion of two opposed walls being slanted inwardly to form a hopper portion. A plurality of openings are formed in each of the opposed walls immediately above its slanted portion. Two gasifiers extend adjacent said opposed wall portions, respectively, and surround the respective slanted wall portions and openings, so that the respective interiors of the gasifiers communicate with the openings. A bed of adsorbent material is supported in each gasifier for adsorbing the sulfur generated as a result of the gasification of fuel introduced into the gasifier and air is passed through the bed of adsorbent material to fluidize said material so that, upon combustion of said fuel, a substantially sulfur-free product gas is produced which passes from the gasifier, through the openings and into the furnace section.

Abstract: An integral generator/gasifier system in which a vapor generator is provided that includes an upright furnace section and a plurality of nozzles, each having one end registering with the interior of the furnace section. A gasifier extends adjacent to the furnace section and supports a bed of adsorbent material for the sulfur generated as a result of the gasification of fuel introduced to the gasifier. Air is passed through the bed of adsorbent material to fluidize said material so that, upon gasification of the fuel, a substantially sulfur-free product gas is produced. The other ends of the nozzles communicate with the gasifier so that the product gas passes from the gasifier through the nozzles and into the furnace section for combustion.

Abstract: A fluidized bed heat exchanger in which a perforated plate is disposed within a housing for supporting a bed of particulate material. Air is passed through the plate to fluidize the particulate material and nozzles are provided for distributing air across the inlet end of a drain pipe for the spent particulate material to insure a continuous draining of the material.

Abstract: A fluidized bed boiler, and a method of operating same in which air is passed through a grate to fluidize a bed of particulate material containing fossil fuel disposed on the grate. A raw acceptor for the sulfur produced as a result of the combustion of the fuel is introduced into the housing and confined within an area of the housing isolated from the bed of particulate material. The area containing the acceptor is maintained at conditions optimal for calcining the acceptor, after which the latter is introduced into the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A rotatable valve protector for a compressed gas cylinder having a neck to which a valve is attached. The valve protector comprises a rigid, hollow, open-ended, generally frustoconical element having large lateral openings affording access to the valve and enabling the use of the protector as a handle for the cylinder. The valve protector is rotatably mounted so that the access openings may be oriented in any direction without movement of the cylinder. In addition, the cylinder can be tipped and supported at the neck by the rotatable protector while the bottom of the cylinder is rolled along a supporting surface.

Abstract: A system for supporting a fluidized bed in a boiler in which a plurality of support frames are supported in an abutting relationship spanning the interior of the boiler. One or more of the support frames are connected or attached relative to each other and to their supports in a manner to permit limited relative movement between the frames and between each frame and its support. A grid is supported by each frame and is connected or attached thereto in a maner to permit limited movement of the grid relative to the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting and starting up a fluidized bed in which a grate is disposed in a housing for receiving a single bed of particulate material, portions of which are combustible. The interior of the housing below the grate is divided into a plurality of compartments, and an air damper is disposed in each for selectively controlling the flow of air through the compartments and through the respective portions of the grate to selectively fluidize the corresponding portions of the bed of particulate material. A start-up burner is provided for igniting that portion of the combustible portion of the bed of particulate material extending above one of the compartments and additional combustible particulate material is selectively supplied to the portions of the bed.

Abstract: A pollution control system and method in which sulfur oxides in flue gases are adsorbed by activated char in a gas-solid contacting device. The saturated char is regenerated in an integrated desorption-reduction vessel, to which crushed coal and combustion-supporting air are supplied. A portion of the crushed coal is burned to provide the heat for the regeneration of the char, resulting in the formation of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide gases, and the chemical consumption of a portion of the char. The remaining crushed coal reduces the sulfur dioxide to gaseous sulfur, and results in a material having a porous system suitable for use in the adsorption of sulfur oxides. The remaining regenerated char and the oxidized coal are cycled back to the gas-solid contacting device, and the gaseous sulfur is condensed to liquid in a condenser.

Abstract: A device for controlling the flow distribution through a regeneration vessel of a mixture of a carbonaceous adsorbent material and an inert material in an adsorbent material regeneration process in which a lower, conical section is supported by a hopper portion of the vessel, and an upper, conical section extends within the vessel. A plurality of angularly spaced flow passages extend longitudinally through the device, from the upper surface of the upper section to an interior chamber of the device disposed within the hopper, which is in fluid communication with the discharge of the vessel. The longitudinal axis of each passage is inclined at an angle of between 55.degree.-90.degree. relative to a base plane of the device, with 70.degree. being a preferred value.

Abstract: A system for removing pollutants from gases in which one or more beds of activated char are formed in a housing having an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A first series of beds of activated char extend through both the lower chamber and the upper chamber and an additional series of beds of activated char are disposed only in the lower chamber. A system of passages and baffles are provided in the housing to direct the gases in the upper chamber through the first series of beds of activated char, and the gases in the lower chamber through the first series of beds of activated char and then through the additional beds of activated char, before the gases exit from the housing.