Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removing sulfur species from a gas stream without the use of a sulfur species removal process, such as an amine scrub. The sulfur species are removed by directly subjecting the gas stream to a sulfur recovery process, such as a Claus or sub-dewpoint Claus process at high pressure and moderate temperatures, wherein the sulfur recovery process comprises a catalyst which does not comprise activated carbon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removing sulfur species from a gas stream without the use of a sulfur species removal process, such as an amine scrub. The sulfur species are removed by directly subjecting the gas stream to a sulfur recovery process, such as a Claus or sub-dewpoint Claus process at high pressure and moderate temperatures, wherein the sulfur recovery process comprises a catalyst which does not comprise activated carbon.

Abstract: A floating platform uses a plurality of modules to define a substantially continuous surface between at least two of the modules. In one embodiment, each module is substantially independently positioned. Relative positioning elements on the modules place the modules in a configuration maintaining a surface between two adjacent modules in a substantially continuous configuration. Preferably, the platform includes a runway connector spanning an operational distance between the modules. The connector preferably has an upper surface allowing for aircraft or wheeled vehicles to roll from the end of one module to an adjacent end of another module while the modules are free to move in all six degrees of freedom. Preferably, the runway connector will not hold the modules in position, instead relying on thrusters to maintain position. The runway connector may have an end surface maintained substantially in alignment and contact with a module end surface.

Abstract: A method of liquid iron production using high sulfur fuels is provided in which the level of sulfur in the iron is maintained below 0.1%. The low sulfur content is achieved even in the presence of high sulfur concentrations in the reducing gases and without the introduction of lime or limestone. According to one aspect, liquid iron in the fusion zone of a smelting system is saturated with carbon, thereby desulfurizing the liquid iron. The carbon saturation level is at least 4.5% carbon by weight and preferably, at least 5.0% carbon by weight. According to another aspect, the desulfurization of the liquid iron is enhanced by elevating the tapping temperatures to temperatures in excess of 1465° C., and preferably of about 1490° C. According to another aspect, the desulfurization process is supplemented by the presence of significant levels of silicon and/or manganese, both of which are highly soluble in the liquid iron.

Abstract: A self-adjusting extraction nozzle for extracting a surface disposed over a base fluid includes a suction tube having at least one slot extending therethrough. A nozzle channel extends outwardly from the at least one slot. The nozzle channel is slidably coupled to the exterior of the suction tube and to a float to support the nozzle channel at a level of the surface fluid.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for purifying hydrogen sulfide gas having impurities therein. In one exemplary method, the hydrogen sulfide gas is purified by passing the gas through a filter media, with at least some of the impurities being trapped within the filter media. A catalyst may also be provided to break down some of the impurities to hydrogen sulfide and sulfur, so that the sulfur may be trapped and collected within the filter media.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for both disposing of an environmentally undesirable material comprising petroleum coke and the sulfur and heavy metals contained therein and of providing fuel for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier having an upper fuel charging end, a reduction gas discharging end, a lower molten metal and slag collection end, and means providing an entry for charging ferrous material into the melter gasifier; introducing a carbonaceous fuel including petroleum coke into the melter gasifier at the upper fuel charging end; blowing oxygen-containing gas into the petroleum coke to form at least a first fluidized bed of coke particles from the petroleum coke; introducing ferrous material into the melter gasifier through the entry means, reacting petroleum coke, oxygen and particulate ferrous material to combust the major portion of the petroleum coke to produce reduction gas and molten iron or steel preproducts containing heavy metals freed

Abstract: In a tank confined electrolysis process, such as electrowinning or electrorefining, having circulated electroplating solution containing sulfuric acid, a multi-element cover system is applied below the electrode conductor connections and above the surface of the electrolyte bath. This cover is evacuated in the interstices below the cover and above the bath at a rate exceeding the stoichiometric ratio causing any leakage to occur into the volume overlying the bath thereby preventing acid aerosol from escape. The rate of evacuation is restricted so that humidity is maintain under the cover and over the surface of the bath to prevent the formation of crystals formed from aerosol droplets which become supersaturated. In a preferred embodiment, a circular weir in combination with gas discharge over the weir to a downcomer is disclosed. Entrainment of air over the weir and into the downcomer is disclosed to provide sufficient pumping for evacuation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a process flow diagram from a process model. Process models include processing nodes and process streams. User defined process models can be stored and retrieved for later use. A processor utilizes the process model to determine coordinates for each node and to determine the routing coordinates for each process stream for display. Icons are substituted for nodes for display on the output device, and lines are substituted for process streams also for display on the output device.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a method of direct steel making wherein liquid iron is produced in a melter gasifier system using a solid fuel reductant, preferably petroleum coke, and low silica containing iron ore, preferably less than 2.0% by weight, and the liquid iron is transferred directly to an oxygen blown steel making reactor for steel production and refining.

Abstract: The invention provides a molten carbonate fuel cell system having a plurality of fuel cell stacks, with each fuel cell stack having an anode and a cathode. Each of the anodes includes an anode feed inlet and an anode exhaust outlet, and each cathode includes a cathode feed inlet and a cathode exhaust outlet. A combuster for receiving unreacted fuel from the anode exhaust outlet of a first one of the fuel cell stacks is connected to the cathode feed inlet of a second one of the fuel cell stacks for delivering exhaust from the combuster. An intercooler is disposed between the cathode exhaust outlet of the second fuel cell stack and the cathode feed inlet of the first fuel cell stack for cooling gases passing therebetween.

Abstract: In a tank confined electrolysis process, such as electrowinning or electrorefining, having circulated electroplating solution containing sulfuric acid, a multi-element cover system is applied below the electrode conductor connections and above the surface of the electrolyte bath. This cover is evacuated in the interstices below the cover and above the bath at a rate exceeding the stoichiometric ratio causing any leakage to occur into the volume overlying the bath thereby preventing acid aerosol from escape. The rate of evacuation is restricted so that humidity is maintain under the cover and over the surface of the bath to prevent the formation of crystals formed from aerosol droplets which become supersaturated. In a preferred embodiment, a circular weir in combination with gas discharge over the weir to a downcomer is disclosed. Entrainment of air over the weir and into the downcomer is disclosed to provide sufficient pumping for evacuation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for processing environmentally undesirable materials including petroleum coke and the sulfur and heavy metals contained therein and agglomerated waste dust from an electric arc furnace and the zinc, cadmium, lead and iron oxides contained therein and of providing fuel and a charging material for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier. Metallized arc furnace waste dust material from a reduction furnace is introduced into the melter gasifier. The petroleum coke, oxygen and metallized waste dust material are reacted to produce reduction gas and molten iron from the iron oxides in the waste dust material. The molten iron contains the metals freed from combustion of the petroleum coke. The reduction gas is removed from the melter gasifier for use in the reduction furnace to produce an top off gas containing vapors of zinc, cadmium and lead.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing environmentally undesirable materials including petroleum coke and the sulfur and heavy metals contained therein and oily steel and iron ferrous waste from machine shop and steel and iron processing to provide fuel and a charging material for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier.

Abstract: A method is provided to improve the production of hot direct reduced iron in a melter-gasifier; reduction furnace system. All of the reduction gas produced in the melter gasifier and the top gas produced in reduction furnace which has been stripped of CO.sub.2 are recycled to the reduction furnace. The reduction furnace is sized to process all this gas and bypassed direct reduced iron may result.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for both disposing of an environmentally undesirable material comprising petroleum coke and the sulfur and heavy metals contained therein and of providing fuel for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier having an upper fuel charging end, a reduction gas discharging end, a lower molten metal and slag collection end, and means providing an entry for charging ferrous material into the melter gasifier; introducing petroleum coke into the melter gasifier at the upper fuel charging end; blowing oxygen-containing gas into the petroleum coke to form at least a first fluidized bed of coke particles from the petroleum coke; introducing ferrous material into the melter gasifier through the entry means, reacting petroleum coke, oxygen and particulate ferrous material to combust the major portion of the petroleum coke to produce reduction gas and molten iron or steel preproducts containing heavy metals freed from combustion of the petrole

Abstract: The invention provides a method for both disposing of an environmentally undesirable material comprising rubber tires and the sulfur and metals contained therein and of providing fuel for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier. The metals freed from combustion of the rubber tires is contained in the molten iron and sulfur freed from combustion of the rubber tires is contained in the slag.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for both disposing of an environmentally undesirable material comprising petroleum coke and the sulfur and heavy metals contained therein and of providing fuel for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier having an upper fuel charging end, a reduction gas discharging end, a lower molten metal and slag collection end, and means providing an entry for charging ferrous material into the melter gasifier; introducing petroleum coke into the melter gasifier at the upper fuel charging end; blowing oxygen-containing gas into the petroleum coke to form at least a first fluidized bed of coke particles from the petroleum coke; introducing ferrous material into the melter gasifier through the entry means, reacting petroleum coke, oxygen and particulate ferrous material to combust the major portion of the petroleum coke to produce reduction gas and molten iron or steel preproducts containing heavy metals freed from combustion of the petrole

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for processing environmentally undesirable materials including petroleum coke and the sulfur and heavy metals contained therein and agglomerated waste dust from an electric arc furnace and the zinc, cadmium, lead and iron oxides contained therein and of providing fuel and a charging material for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier. Metallized arc furnace waste dust material from a reduction furnace is introduced into the melter gasifier. The petroleum coke, oxygen and metallized waste dust material are reacted to produce reduction gas and molten iron from the iron oxides in the waste dust material. The molten iron contains the metals freed from combustion of the petroleum coke. The reduction gas is removed from the melter gasifier for use in the reduction furnace to produce an top off gas containing vapors of zinc, cadmium and lead.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas with a low slag forming process utilizing petroleum coke as a fuel in a melter gasifier.