Abstract: A process for beneficiating a crude kaolinitic clay mineral to produce a clay filler for use in papermaking to improve the brightness, the color characteristics and the light scattering efficiency of the paper product. The crude kaolin clay is blunged with water containing a dispersing agent consisting of a blend of from about 20% to about 50% by weight of a water-soluble carbonate, about 20% to about 50% by weight of a water-soluble polyacrylate, and from 0% to about 60% by weight of a water-soluble anionic phosphate, to form a high solids fluid aqueous clay suspension having an acidic pH. This clay suspension is then fractionated to reduce the percentage of particles therein larger than 45 microns to not more than 0.2% by weight. The fractionated clay suspension is treated with an alkaline leaching solution containing a reducing agent effective in converting ferric ions to ferrous ions.

Abstract: A self-contained, portable memory module for transferring configuration data from one programmable panel controller to another. An internal replaceable lithium battery is provided for powering the memory integrated circuit chip when the module is not connected to a powered controller. The battery and module are interconnected by a three wire battery lead that can be plugged into the module in either direction. The module also has a hinged case with molded feet allowing the module to be stored upright on a flat surface to prevent damage to the internal lithium battery. The module further comprises a connector, recessed for protection from static electrical discharges, for interfacing the module to the controller, and a special battery connector which allows battery replacement without loss of the stored data.

Abstract: An aqueous clay slurry 7 is partially dewatered by filtration to remove a first portion of water therefrom which is collected as the filtrate 71. The partially dewatered clay slurry 9 is then contacted with a hot drying gas 25 in a spray dryer 20 to remove an additional water therefrom which is entrained as water vapor in the drying gas 27 exhausted from the spray dryer. The drying gas 27 exhausted from the spray dryer 20 is contacted in a cooling tower 40 with cooling liquid 59 to cause at least a portion of the water vapor evaporated from the aqueous slurry to condense.

Abstract: A collecting electrode panel assembly comprises a plurality of collecting electrode plates disposed in successively aligned relationship beneath and suspended from an electrode support member supported by the housing of an electrostatic precipitator, such that the collecting electrode plates making up the collecting electrode panel assembly extend downwardly in a substantially vertical plane into the precipitation chamber defined within the housing. Each of the plates has a pair of spaced end members and a central web portion which extends between and interconnects the spaced end members. Each end member has an edge surface extending substantially transverse to the central web portion thereof. A plurality of suspension lugs are mounted to the electrode support member and are disposed therealong such that a suspension lug extends outwardly therefrom adjacent each of the end members of the plates. A fastener is provided for mounting each end member to one of the suspension lugs.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed furnace (10) is disclosed wherein a non-cyclonic particulate separator (18) is integrally disposed in the flue gas flow path between the furnace gas outlet (14) and the flue gas duct (16). The separator (18) comprises an arcuate duct (20 ) having a curvilinear inner wall (24), the portion thereof which is disposed across the inlet to the flue gas duct (16) having a plurality of openings (28) therein which provide a flow area through which a portion of the flue gas pass into the flue gas duct (16). Gas/solids separation is accomplished as the flue gas turns sharply from its arcuate path to pass through the openings (28) in the inner wall (24). The momentum of the particulate solids and the centrifugal forces acting thereon prevent the solids from sharply turning and cause the solids to continue on their arcuate flow path through the duct (20) in the remaining flue gas to a solids collection means (40) opening to the solids outlet (26) of the arcuate duct (20).

Abstract: A mobile coal-fired fluidized bed furnace system (10) is provided for generating steam to power a locomotive. Coal is combusted within the fluidized bed furnace chamber (30) in the fluidizing air to produce a hot flue gas which pass from the furnace chamber (30) through a boiler tank (90) and an economizer (34). The steam generated in the boiler bank and the walls of the furnace chamber is collected in steam drum (40) and passed therefrom through an in-bed superheater (100) and thence to the power generating means (22) to produce the power which drives the locomotive.

Abstract: An improved nozzle tip (30) which provides enhanced ignition and stabilization of pulverized fuel flames in furnaces operating at low load. The nozzle tip (30) comprises open-ended inner and outer shells (32,34) mounted to the fuel delivery pipe (12) and defining a flow passageway within the inner shell through which the pulverized fuel is directed into the furnace and an annular flow passageway (50) between the inner and outer shells through which additional air is directed into the furnace. A pair of diverging splitter plates (41,42) are disposed within the inner shell (32) so as to divide the flow passageway therethrough into two separate, diverging subpassages (52,54) so that the pulverized fuel stream discharging from the fuel delivery pipe is split into first and second streams (60,70) which pass from the nozzle tip (30) into the furnace in a diverging manner thereby establishing an ignition stabilizing pocket in the low pressure zone (80) created between the diverging fuel streams.

Abstract: A rotary regenerative heat exchanger is particularly adapted for use in exchanging heat from a hot gas entering the heat exchanger at a temperature in the range of 2000.degree.-3000.degree. F. to low temperature air to be heated. An upper rotor and a lower rotor are supported concentrically about a rotor post mounted for rotation successively through the hot gas and air flows at a vertical axis. The hot gas enters and the heated air exits through the top of the heat exchanger, while the cooled gas exits and the cold air to be heated enters through the bottom of the heat exchanger. The upper rotor houses ceramic heat absorbent blocks adapted to withstand the high temperatures existing in the upper portion of the heat exchanger, while the low rotor houses typical metallic element suitable for use at more moderate temperatures.

Abstract: Zinc is extracted from an aqueous zinc containing brine (3) by contacting the brine with an organic reagent (5) consisting essentially of an extracting agent comprising a quaternary amine salt, a phase modifier, and an organic diluent so as to form a zinc amine complex (7) whereby a substantial portion of the zinc ions in the brine is transferred to the organic phase. The quaternary amine salt is a methyl triakyl ammonium chloride herein the alkyl groups contain from 8 to 10 carbon atoms. The zinc amine complex (7) is then contacted with an aqueous strippant (11) comprising a solution of sodium sulfate in water so as to form a sulfated quaternary amine salt whereby a substantial portion of zinc in the zinc amine complex is stripped therefrom and transferred to the aqueous phase as an aqueous zinc chloride solution (13) from which zinc may be recovered by electrowinning or chemical precipitation.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor (10) wherein a sulfur-containing particulate fuel is combusted or gasified in a fluidized bed (30) of particulate material, which includes a sulfur oxide absorbent, is provided with a solids cooling apparatus (40) adapted to receive particulate material draining from the bed and cool same via indirect heat transfer to a cooling fluid.

Abstract: A hot support bracket for supporting an in-bed heat exchanger of a fluidized bed furnace is comprised of a plurality of plates having openings or cut-outs along and intersecting at least one edge at each tube support location. Adjacent plates may be interconnected for stability. The hot support bracket is coupled to the top and bottom heat exchanger tube supported thereby with the resulting assembly slidably engaging a wear channel which supports the support bracket and to which the mechanical load of the in-bed heat exchanger is transferred.

Abstract: A process for beneficiating a poor grade crude kaloinitic clay mineral to produce a clay filler for use in papermaking to improve the brightness of the paper product. The crude kaolin clay is blunged with water containing a dispersing agent to form a high solids fluid aqueous clay suspension. This clay suspension is then screened and fractionated to reduce the particle size thereof to 92-95% finer than 2 microns. The fractionated clay suspension is treated with an alkaline leaching solution containing a reducing agent effective in converting ferric ions to ferrous ions and, preferably, a water-soluble anionic phosphate. The leached clay suspension, which has a solids content of at least 55%, is then treated with an oxidizing agent to oxidize unreacted leaching agent and byproducts formed during the leaching process.

Abstract: An element basket for a rotary regenerative heat exchanger having an array of heat absorbent plates that comprise heat transfer elements therefor. Retaining means are affixed at opposite ends to basket walls to positively position the element plates within the basket. The element plates have curved recesses at opposite ends thereof to receive the retaining means, the recesses having a dimension greater than that of a transverse section of the adjacent retaining means to permit freedom of movement therebetween and to preclude a concentration of stresses that would effect premature failure thereof.

Abstract: A first portion (50) of a sulfur and nitrogen-bearing carbonaceous fuel is gasified in a gasification reactor (20) in the presence of a reducing atmosphere of air to produce a hot, char-containing, carbon-monoxide-rich fuel gas (42) having a low Btu content. After cooling, the char-containing carbon-monoxide-rich fuel gas (42) is introduced into a steam generating furnace (10) and combusted therein with a second portion (40) of the carbonaceous fuel in the presence of at least sufficient additional air to substantially complete combustion whereby a hot flue gas is produced. A sulfur-capturing material (60) is introduced into both the gasification reactor (20) and the combustion zone of the steam generating furnace (10) to absorb a substantial portion of the sulfur-containing gases produced during the gasification and combustion processes.

Abstract: A burner (10) is provided for supplying coal-liquid slurry and combustion air to a furnace (2). The burner housing (12) is mounted about the burner throat opening (6) and interconnected to a combustion air supply duct (8). A coal slurry gun (14) is disposed coaxially within the housing for spraying the coal-liquid slurry into the furnace. A first conduit means (20) is disposed coaxially about the coal slurry gun to define a primary air flow passage (22) surrounding the slurry gun. Additionally, a second conduit means (30) is disposed coaxially about the first conduit means (20) to define a secondary air flow passage (32) between the first and second conduit means and a tertiary air flow passage (34) between the second conduit means and the burner throat (4). Independently controllable dampers 41, 42 and 43 are provided in the air inlets to the primary, secondary and tertiary air flow passages to permit independent control of air flow velocity.

Abstract: A fluidizing feed apparatus (20) for supplying particulate material to a fluidized bed furnace (12) having a housing (22) which defines a chamber which is divided by a perforated distribution plate (24) into a gas plenum (26) beneath the plate and a particulate fluidizing plenum (28) above the plate. Conveying gas is fed under pressure to the gas plenum to pass upwardly therefrom through the perforated distribution plate. The upwardly directed conveying gas fluidizes the particulate material so as to establish a discrete bed (60) of fluidized particulate material superadjacent the distribution plate (24) and a splash zone (70) thereabove. Transport conduits (14) open into the splash zone (70) at a selected distance above the surface (65) of the discrete bed (60) to receive particulate material and conveying gas therefrom for transport to the fluidized bed (16) of the furnace (12).

Abstract: A rotary regenerative heat exchanger 10 having a rotor 12 mounted to a central rotor post 18 for rotation within a surrounding housing 20 whereby heat absorbent material carried in the rotor is alternately exposed to a flow of heating gas and a gas to be heated. A radial seal assembly 50 including a flexible sealing strip 72 is mounted to the hot end edge of each radially extending partition 16 of the rotor 12 to establish a seal across the gap between the radially extending partitions 16 and the confronting face of the sector plate 24 of the housing 20 as the rotor is rotated. Each radial seal assembly 50 is provided with a back support leaf 64 having an outward portion 68 which provides a backstop to limit the backward bending of the flexible sealing strip 72 so as to preclude stressing of the sealing strip beyond its yield point.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus (10) formed of a plurality of heat exchange modules (20) mounted together in side-by-side relationship to form a box-like array. Each heat exchange module (20) houses a multiplicity of heat exchange tubes (44) which provide a flow passage through which a first heat exchange fluid, such as air, is passed in heat exchange relationship with a second heat exchange fluid, such as flue gas, passing through the heat exchange apparatus over the heat exchange tubes.

Abstract: A hollow metallic envelope 10 of a finned cast recuperator tube is cast with preformed interior fins 12 and exterior fins 16 integral therewith. A sand core 30 is formed about the preformed interior fins 12 with portions of the fins 12 protruding outwardly from the sand core, and a sand mold 40 is formed to a cavity for receiving the sand core 30 with the preformed exterior fins 16 embedded in the sand mold with portions of the fins 16 protruding therefrom into the cavity. The sand core 30 is placed into the sand mold 40 in spaced relationship therewith so as to provide a clearance space 50 between the sand core 30 and sand mold 40 into which the portions of the interior fins 12 and exterior fins 16 extend. Molten metal is poured into the space 50 which upon cooling solidifies to form the envelope 10 with the interior fins 12 and exterior fins 16 fused integrally therewith.

Abstract: A process gas is introduced into a treatment chamber (40) through a horizontal spiral gas supply duct (30) having a tangential inlet (31) and opening to a pair of concentric, inner and outer annular gas inlet ducts (12,22) surrounding a liquid spray apparatus (2). Partition means (32) divide the spiral supply duct (30) into independent inner and outer sub-ducts (34,36) which define separate inner and outer flow passages (44,46) connected respectively to the inner and outer annular gas inlet ducts (12,22). Damper means (70) is provided in the inlet to the outer sub-duct (36) to selectively control the flow of process gas (7) therethrough as a means of maintaining the velocity of the flow of process gas (5) through the inner flow passage (44) above a minimum acceptable velocity.