Abstract: A solar desalting method and apparatus includes a storage tank for receiving heated sea water at a first rate from a solar collector during daylight hours and for delivering the same to a flash evaporator a second rate. The flash evaporator is connected for delivery of the evaporated and unevaporated portions of the feed water as the heating vapor and feed liquid, respectively, to a serially connected multi-effect film evaporator. Sea water is used to condense the vapor from the last evaporator effect as the distillate product of the system. The storage tank permits nighttime operation with the brine from the last effect and a portion of the cooling water being fed to the solar collector during the daytime and discharged at night.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion device adapted for use with a boiler has an air distributor consisting of a row of generally horizontally oriented, apertured sparge pipes or tubes disposed in a bed of inert particulate material. The center pipes in the row are connected to a start-up burner for receiving heated combustion products and excess air and the outer pipes in the row are connected to selectively receive air through a separate delivery path. During start-up and low load conditions, only the center pipes are pressurized and so that only the center portion of the bed is fluidized to minimize the heat input requirements. Once the central portion of the bed has been heated to the required temperature, primary fuel is delivered to sustain combustion without the start-up burner. At the completion of the start-up process and during high fire conditions all of the tubes are pressurized to fluidize the entire bed.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion device adapted for use with a boiler has an air distributor consisting of a plurality of rows of generally horizontally oriented, apertured sparge pipes disposed in a bed of inert particulate material. The rows of pipes are vertically spaced apart with the upper row being connected to a start-up burner for receiving heated combustion products and excess air and the lower rows of pipes are connected to selectively receive air or inert gases through a separate delivery path. During start-up and low load conditions, only the upper row of pipes is pressurized and so that only the upper portion of the bed is fluidized to minimize the heat input requirements. Once the upper portion of the bed has been heated to the required temperature, primary fuel is delivered to sustain combustion without the start-up burner. At the completion of the start-up process and during high fire conditions all of the rows of tubes are pressurized to provide a deeper bed of fluidized material.

Abstract: An electric boiler includes a conductivity control having a controller responsive to both steam pressure and electrode current. The controller is operative to open a boiler feed water discharge valve when either the steam pressure or electrode current falls below predetermined values to discharge water from the boiler for a predetermined time interval after which the controller closes the discharge valve and opens a feed water valve to initiate the delivery of feed water to the boiler chamber. When the pressure or current sensor senses the elevation of steam pressure or electrode current to second preselected levels the controller closes the feed water valve. In addition, if the sensors determine that the steam pressure or electrode current have risen to third preselective levels, a transfer valve is opened to transfer boiler water to a storage tank until the pressure or current level falls to fourth preselected levels.

Abstract: A solar desalting method and apparatus includes a storage tank for receiving heated sea water at a first rate from a solar collector during daylight hours and for delivering the same to a flash evaporator a second rate. The flash evaporator is connected for delivery of the evaporated and unevaporated portions of the feed water as the heating vapor and feed liquid, respectively, to a serially connected multi-effect film evaporator. Sea water is used to condense the vapor from the last evaporator effect as the distillate product of the system. The storage tank permits nighttime operation with the brine from the last effect and a portion of the cooling water being fed to the solar collector during the daytime and discharged at night.

Abstract: A boiler economizer includes a first heat exchanger disposed in a boiler flue and a second heat exchanger which is external. Boiler feedwater is delivered in series to the first and second heat exchangers before passage to the boiler. A flow controller directs a first portion of the boiler feedwater directly to the first heat exchanger and a second portion is first delivered through the second heat exchanger where it is passed in a heat exchange relation with the feedwater exiting the first heat exchanger. The flow controller is positioned by a temperature transponder which is responsive to the temperature of the discharge flue gases and the feedwater entering the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: An electric boiler includes a first electrode disposed within a chamber and comprising an upwardly oriented water nozzle surrounded by a convolute electrode member. A second electrode is disposed within the chamber vertically above the first electrode and has a bottom center opening for receiving water from the nozzle and a dome for redirecting the same radially outwardly. The second electrode also includes an annular water receptor surrounding said opening and having a plurality of drain openings spaced from the center opening and a plurality of pipe sections of different lengths disposed respectively in said openings for discharging water downwardly onto the convolute electrode member. Control means is connected to the nozzle for varying the water delivery rate therefrom in response to steam pressure in said chamber.

Abstract: A vapor compression distiller having a shell for enclosing a pair of heat exchange tube bundles each having one end connected to a steam chest and its other end connected to a condensate collecting chamber. A vapor compressor has its inlet connected to the shell and the outlet to one steam chest which is coupled to a second steam chest through a steam ejector for elevating the inlet pressure to the second heat exchange tube bundle. A half partition extends across the lower end of the vessel and between the wells to divide the lower portion of the vessel into two sections which are in communication across the upper end of the vessel. One well is connected to receive fresh feed liquid and the other includes a density sensor to discharge a portion of the concentrate to therein maintain a desired concentrate level and each well is connected to a spray nozzle manifold disposed in its respective shell section.

Abstract: A vapor compression distiller has a vertically oriented cylindrical tank and a heat exchanger having a plurality of groups of heat exchange tubes disposed one above the other. Internal baffling channels vapor through the groups of heat exchange tubes in a serial relation commencing with the vertically lowest group. Feed liquid is distributed from the upper end of the vessel downwardly over the surfaces of the tubes. This causes the evaporation of a first portion of the feed liquid and a condensation of the vapor. The evaporated and unevaporated portions of the feed liquid pass downwardly past the heat exchange tubes with the unevaporated portion collecting in a liquor well at the lower end of the vessel and the vapor passes upwardly along the sides of the vessel heat exchanger and outwardly to a compressor, the outlet of which is connected to the vapor inlet of the system.

Abstract: A strongly basic anion-exchange resin loaded with iodine and a less than stoichiometic amount of an iodide salt or bromine and a less than stoichiometric amount of bromide salt is an effective demand bactericide for disinfecting water. The bactericidal resin according to the invention elutes only small amounts of halide ions and is especially suited for killing bacteria in feed water supplies having relatively high salt content.

Abstract: A strongly basic anion-exchange resin loaded with iodine and a less than stoichiometric amount of an iodide salt or bromine and a less than stoichiometric amount of bromide salt is an effective demand bactericide for disinfecting water. The bactericidal resin according to the invention elutes only small amounts of halide ions and is especially suited for killing bacteria in feed water supplies having relatively high salt content.

Abstract: A combination electrodialysis method and apparatus comprising ultrafiltration membrane cell pairs interposed between a cation-selective membrane and an ion-nonselective membrane. The solution to be treated is fed to one side of the ultrafiltration membrane cell, a concentrating solution is delivered between the cation-selective and ion-nonselective membranes, and an electric field is applied across the assembly. Cations pass through the ion-selective membrane, ions of both polarities and weakly ionized substances pass through the ultrafiltration membrane which rejects the larger sized particles and molecules and anions pass through the ion-nonselective membrane to maintain electrical balance.

Abstract: An electrodialysis method for deacidifying a feedstream comprises a first cell defined by anion-selective membranes and bounded by a pair of cells defined by the anion-selective membranes and a pair of cation-selective membranes. The solution to be treated is fed to the first membrane cell, a basic solution and a concentrating solution are delivered, respectively, to one of the adjacent cells, and an electric field is applied across the assembly. Hydroxyl anions from the basic solution pass into the first cell for neutralizing the acid hydrogen cation while the acid anion passes into one of the adjacent cells through which also flows the basic solution cation to maintain electrical balance.

Abstract: A vapor compression distiller having a shell for enclosing a generally horizontal heat exchange tube bundle having one end connected to a steam chest and its other end connected to a condensate collecting chamber. A vapor compressor has its inlet connected to the shell and the outlet to the steam chest. The shell includes a pair of spaced apart wells at its lower end which are interconnected by a pipe connected below the expected level of liquid in each well. A half partition extends across the lower end of the vessel and between the wells to divide the lower portion of the vessel into two sections which are in communication across the upper end of the vessel. One well is connected to receive fresh feed liquid and the other includes a density sensor to discharge a portion of the concentrate to therein maintain a desired concentrate level and each well is connected to a spray nozzle manifold disposed in its respective shell section.

Abstract: A boiler including a combustion chamber having an open upper end and a boiler section having an inlet above the furnace and extending generally horizontally therefrom. The combustion chamber includes a blower, a nozzle or burner for gas or liquid fuels and a coal combustion system. Water tubes lining the combustion chamber are interconnected with water tubes in the boiler section.

Abstract: Fuel is burned in a primary combustion chamber with less than the air required for stoichiometric combustion so that the combustion gases have a high carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon content and the temperature of the gases is held below that at which significant nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.2) would be produced. The combustion gases are then passed through a secondary combustion zone in which more air is injected into the gas stream to oxidize the CO and hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2). The secondary burner comprises a plurality of foraminous tubes through which secondary air is emitted. Combustion in the secondary zone is maintained at a temperature below that at which nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) will be produced in significant quantities.

Abstract: A combination electrodialysis method and apparatus comprising ultrafiltration membrane cell pairs interposed between a cation-selective membrane and an ion-nonselective membrane. The solution to be treated is fed to one side of the ultrafiltration membrane cell, a concentrating solution is delivered between the cation-selective and ion-nonselective membranes, and an electric field is applied across the assembly. Cations pass through the ion-selective membrane, ions of both polarities and weakly ionized substances pass through the ultrafiltration membrane which rejects the larger sized particles and molecules and anions pass through the ion-nonselective membrane to maintain electrical balance.

Abstract: Fuel and less than the amount of air for stoichiometric combustion are injected into a combustion chamber so that the fuel rich mixture burns as a core in the combustion chamber. The balance of the air for substantially stoichiometric combustion is injected coaxially and rotationally as a sheath or vortex which surrounds the core. Where the core is hot and rich, there is little mixing of the sheath air and core gases and the available oxygen combines preferentially with fuel components other than nitrogen so that little nitrogen oxides are produced. After some heat is extracted from the gases in the core, more complete mixing of the sheath air and core gases occurs. Under these lean and cool combustion conditions, production of nitrogen oxides is also unsubstantial. Means for mixing the gas streams may be disposed adjacent the exit end of the combustion chamber when necessary to promote turbulence and further mixing of the air and hot gases for bringing about complete combustion of any residual combustibles.

Abstract: Fuel is burned in a primary combustion chamber with less than the air required for stoichiometric combustion so that the combustion gases have a high carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon content and the temperature of the gases is held below that at which significant nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) would be produced. The combustion gases are then passed through a secondary combustion zone in which more air is injected into the gas stream to oxidize the CO and hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide (CO.sub. 2). The secondary burner comprises a plurality of foraminous tubes through which secondary air is emitted. Combustion in the secondary zone is maintained at a temperature below that at which nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) will be produced in significant quantities.

Abstract: A microporous membrane having a thin surface skin and a cellular body is described. The membrane is effective for separating soluble oils, proteins and other substances having large molecular weights from water or other carriers by means of the ultrafiltration process or for removing salts from liquids by means of the electrodialysis process.