Abstract: A high pressure synthetic gas stream is produced by gasifying coal. Hydrogen sulfide is removed by contacting the high pressure gas stream with a physical solvent, such as an alcohol, in an absorber column. A low temperature is maintained in the absorber column, typically by chilling both the solvent and the incoming high pressure synthetic gas stream, where a portion of the cooling requirement is supplied by adiabatically expanding the cleaned high pressure gas stream exiting the absorber. Typically, the cleaned high pressure gas stream will be expanded in a turbine expander to provide mechanical energy in addition to cooling capacity. The cleaned synthetic gas is useful as a fuel or chemical feedstock.

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 relates to a method of making iron or steel preproducts and reduction in gas a substantially slag free process utilizing petroleum coke as a fuel in a melter gasifier.

Abstract: A high pressure synthetic gas stream is produced by gasifying coal. Hydrogen sulfide is removed by contacting the high pressure gas stream with a physical solvent, such as an alcohol, in an absorber column. A low temperature is maintained in the absorber column, typically by chilling both the solvent and the incoming high pressure synthetic gas stream, where a portion of the cooling requirement is supplied by adiabatically expanding the cleaned high pressure gas stream exiting the absorber. Typically, the cleaned high pressure gas stream will be expanded in a turbine expander to provide mechanical energy in addition to cooling capacity. The cleaned synthetic gas is useful as a fuel or chemical feedstock.

Abstract: A passive emergency ventilation system and method. The system includes a storage facility for a substantial volume of compressed or preferably liquified air in or near a room to be ventilated. During an emergency event, air from the storage facility is gasified in a liquid air gasifier and flows through one or more eductors. The eductors are used to draw additional ambient air into the system. The ambient air may optionally be cooled through one or both of mixing with the incoming stored air and/or using the incoming ambient air to heat liquid air gasifiers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing light hydrocarbons, such as heptane, from coal agglomerates includes an enclosed chamber having a substantially horizontal perforate surface therein. The coal agglomerates are introduced into a water bath within the chamber. The agglomerates are advanced over the surface while steam is substantially continuously introduced through the surface into the water bath. Steam heats the water and causes volatilization of the light hydrocarbons, which may be collected from the overhead of the chamber. The resulting agglomerates may be collected at the opposite end from the surface and subjected to final draining processes prior to transportation or use.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for handling geothermal brine containing high non-condensible gas concentrations. The brine is directed into a pre-flash chamber where a vapor fraction is separated from a liquid fraction, the vapor fraction including steam and a non-condensible gas. The vapor fraction is directed into and through a reboiler in countercurrent flow relationship to a condensate. This action causes the steam of the vapor fraction to be stripped from the non-condensible gas and also causes the condensate to be heated by the steam. The non-condensible gas flows out of the reboiler to a gas expander collection station, or to the atmosphere while the condensate flows to a first flash chamber where it flashes to obtain clean steam for driving a first work producing apparatus, such as a turbine. The condensate from the first flash chamber is partially returned by a pump to a condensate inlet of the reboiler to form a closed system.

Abstract: Multiple vehicles located within a predefined search space are located and tracked using at least two spaced-apart transmitters. Each transmitter can broadcast an omnidirectional initialization signal and a positioning signal having a null or break in its wavefront. By rotating the positioning signal, the null will sweep the predefined search space and by detecting both the initialization signal and the null in the positioning signal, the position of each vehicle can be determined. In the preferred embodiment, the locational information from each vehicle is collected at a central location, typically in a data acquisition system or controller. In the particularly preferred embodiment, the locational information is further relied on to provide for command information for feedback control of the vehicles.

Abstract: A combustion air heating system includes both an air heater for preheating the combustion air by heat exchange with flue gases and an air preheater for preheating the combustion air prior to entry into the air heater. The air preheater operates by heat exchange between the combustion air discharge from the air heater and a bypass stream of combustion air located upstream of the air preheater. The amount of combustion air flowing through the bypass duct is controlled so that the temperature in the air heater does not fall below the dew point of the acid gases present in the flue gas.

Abstract: A central solar receiving tower includes an air permeable heating surface which is exposed directly to the ambient. The heating surface receives solar radiation from a heliostat field and a warm airstream is circulated to the forward exposed face of the heating surface. As the warm airstream passes through the heating surface, its temperature is further raised and energy can be extracted from the air prior to being returned to the heating surface. The warm air introduced to the exposed face of the heating surface is directed in a generally converging pattern and flows through the heating surface with a generally uniform flow profile. A protective airstream is provided adjacent the warm air return airstream in a similar converging pattern. By properly controlling the relative flow rates, a flow boundary between the warm air and the protective air can be maintained, with the warm air flowing inward through the heating surface and the cold air flowing outward to buffer the warm air from ambient conditions.

Abstract: Solid organic substrates, such as sewage sludge, peat, and biomass, are dewatered in a three-stage process comprising mechanical dewatering of the substrate, followed by combination of the dewatered substrate with an organic solvent, followed by removal of the water-solvent mixture. The dried product is a granular, free-flowing substance suitable for incineration in relatively low-cost equipment. Conveniently, solvent will be recovered from the water-solvent mixture by conventional means, such as distillation, and recycled to the solvent mixing stage.

Abstract: Primary waste containers are placed in prefabricated canisters and sealed with a curable fluid sealant, such as grout. The canisters are then stacked in an interlocking manner to form a stable integrated structure. The containers are not, however, permanently attached to one another, so that individual containers are able to shift relative to one another in response to earth movements. In this way, the integrity of the individual container is maintained and the sealed wastes protected even when the integrated structure as a whole experiences significant stresses from earth movement.