Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting against the abrasion of pipe walls in a slurry pipeline caused by slack flow when the pipeline is operated in the batch mode, i.e., when one or more water batches and one or more slurry batches are transported through a pipeline. Pressure transducers sense the pressure at each relatively high point of the pipeline as an interface between a water batch and a following slurry batch passes that point. When one of the sensed pressures falls below a predetermined low value of pressure, a control device actuates valves to divert the flow downstream in the pipeline through a staged choke containing flow restrictors, thus raising the fluid pressure in the water batch which then counteracts the effect of the static head of the slurry batch. The flow is redirected away from the staged choke when one of the sensed pressures exceeds a predetermined high value of pressure, thus lowering the fluid pressure and preventing pipe wall overpressure.

Abstract: A method and structure for partially isolating a building or other structure from the effects of an earthquake is disclosed. A generally vertical trench is formed spaced apart from the building and between the building and a known or suspected earthquake source. The trench is at least 100 meters deep and is filled with a material having a low shear modulus such as a fluid. The fill material inhibits the transmission of seismic waves, particularly S waves, through the material and further prevents the failure of the trench walls.

Abstract: A rotary apparatus, such as an ore grinding mill, has a wrap-around drive motor secured thereto for rotating the apparatus about a central axis. The drive motor includes a rotor attached to and surrounding the apparatus and a stator surrounding and spaced from the rotor and coupled to the apparatus by anti-friction or journal bearings. Thus, the rotor can rotate relative to the stator yet the stator is supported by the apparatus and the gap between the rotor and stator is maintained substantially uniform at all circumferential locations along the rotor. The journal bearings include a number of wheels or rollers mounted on an annular carrier for the stator and engaging an annular track on the apparatus. The stator has a pair of legs for coupling the stator to a fixed support to prevent rotation of the stator about the central axis relative to the support yet permit small lateral displacements of the stator with the apparatus relative to the axis support.

Abstract: An agitation tank adapted to contain a slurried pulp or slurry containing particles, such as carbon particles, to be separated from the slurry. The tank has a screen unit removably mounted therein, the screen unit having a hollow body provided with an opening and a screen across the opening to allow the slurry to pass into the hollow body but to prevent the particles in the tank from passing into the hollow body. The slurry in the hollow body can then pass out of the screen unit and the tank through an outlet which communicates with the interior of the hollow body and an adjacent vessel. The screen unit can be removed from the tank to permit replacement of the screen surrounding the hollow body. The screen is removably mounted on the screen unit by a clamp to permit rapid change of the screen if the screen becomes defective.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for using a beaded liquid to reduce the coefficient of friction between the inner surface of an elongated support, such as a tubular conduit or pipe, and the outer surface of an inner member, such as a pipe or cable, disposed in and moveable along the support when the latter has horizontal and/or inclined portions. The support contains a flowable liquid which may or may not be provided with beads therein, and the inner member contacts the liquid as the inner member moves along the support. Beads are dispensed into the liquid in the support either in a dry condition or in a mixture with another liquid as the inner member moves along the support.

Abstract: Improved methods are provided for the efficient and economic removal of sulfur dioxide from gases, which comprise contacting the gas with neutralizing values obtained from Type S hydrated lime, i.e. calcined dolomite, slaked with water under elevated temperature and pressure. The Type S hydrated dolomitic lime may be used in conjunction with a wet scrubber to provide base and neutralizing magnesium values, in a spray dryer or dry scrubber, or directly introduced into the boiler. The use of Type S hydrated dolomitic lime greatly enhances the efficiency of sulfur dioxide removal, providing for enhanced utilization of base values and more rapid rate of reaction.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for using the vapor fraction of geothermal or geopressured fluid to produce useful work and for using the solid fraction of the fluid for producing minerals of commercial value while providing protection from scaling. The fluid is directed into a first chamber in which the fluid flashes to generate the vapor fraction. A circulatory flow through the first chamber occurs as a result of the flashing of the vapor fraction, causing the vapor fraction to separate from the solid and liquid fractions and allowing the vapor fraction to pass to a fluid-actuated, work-producing apparatus. The solid and liquid fractions gravitate into a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber and extending below the first chamber. The second chamber permits at least a portion of the liquid fraction to separate from the solid fraction by clarification. Crystal growth continuously occurs in the first and second chambers as the circulation of the fluid continues through the first chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method of adding CO.sub.2 to softened water flowing through a series of interconnected flash chambers after the softened water has been directed out of a settler. The inlet of the settler receives preheated hard water after the hard water has passed through a series of interconnected preheating chambers, there being a preheating chamber for each flash chamber, respectively. Each preheating chamber and the corresponding flash chamber comprise a stage of a multi-stage water softening system, the preheating and flash chambers of each stage being separated by a partition defining an opening near the top portion of the stage to place the respective first and second chambers of each stage in fluid communication with each other and to allow flashed, heated water vapor from the flash chamber to pass into direct, admixing contact with cooler, hard water sprayed into the preheating chamber to preheat the hard water.

Abstract: Method for simulating the effect upon liquid properties after the passage of a slurry composed of a mixture of solid particulates and liquid through a length of pipeline uses for simulation an apparatus including an outer cylinder closed at both ends. The outer cylinder is horizontally mounted for rotation about its axis and includes a removable cap. Mounted coaxially within the outer cylinder is a relatively small diameter cylindrical pipe. The outer cylinder is made of a material which is substantially inert with respect to a slurry. The outer surface of the cylindrical pipe corresponds to the material for which the actual pipeline is designed. The outer cylinder and the cylindrical pipe are sized so that by rotating the outer cylinder, with a test slurry located between the cylindrical pipe and outer cylinder, for a predetermined time at a chosen speed, the properties of the water in the slurry after passage through the pipeline is simulated.

Abstract: A novel vertical induced circulation reactor is utilized to carry out the oxidation of p-xylene and p-methyltoluate with air in the presence of a catalyst to produce p-toluic acid and monomethylterephthalate (MMT). A novel method for preparation of dimethylterephthalate (DMT) is provided wherein the p-toluic acid and MMT formed according to the invention are esterified by conventional means in the presence of methanol to produce p-methyl toluate and dimethylterephthalate (DMT), respectively, the p-methyl toluate being recycled to the reactor as a reactant stream.

Abstract: A ship lock system having a ship lock interconnecting two bodies of water at different water levels. The system includes one or more underground hydroelectric pumped-storage units connected by one or more penstocks with the ship lock which serves as the upper reservoir to the pumped-storage units so that water can be drained from the ship lock through the penstocks to drive one or more reversible pump-turbines of the pumped-storage units which generates electrical energy, particularly during high demand hours for electrical energy. A lower reservoir adjacent to the pump-turbines is used to store the water which drives the turbines. The lowering of the water in the ship lock permits ships which entered the lock at the upper water level to leave the lock at the lower water level. By a pumping action, the pump-turbines can pump the water from the reservoir upward into the ship lock through the penstocks, particularly during periods of low power demand.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for laying a pipeline on the bottom of an ocean wherein a wheel-like, buoyant body is adapted to carry a single, continuous length of pipe in the form of horizontal convolutions from a first site at which the pipe is wrapped on the body to a second site where the convolutions are moved into vertical positions and the pipe is unwrapped from the body and allowed to gravitate toward and to be laid on the bottom of the ocean. The pipe is wrapped on the body when the latter is horizontally disposed and floating on the water near a dock, and the wrapping can be accomplished whether the elastic bending limit of the pipe is exceeded or not. The body with the convolutions of pipe are towed to the second site while the body and the pipe remains horizontally disposed. Then a tank forming part of the body receives sea water to unbalance the body and cause it to be moved into a vertical position.

Abstract: An improvement in the screen circumscribing or partially circumscribing the rim of an agitation tank is disclosed. A screen substantially impermeable to the charcoal is provided which is inclined inwardly at an angle between about 35.degree. and 55.degree. from vertical. The metal-bearing charcoal adhering to the screen is readily washed from the screen by the rolling motion of the mixture in the tank.

Abstract: Improved methods are provided for the efficient and economic removal of sulfur dioxide from gases which comprise contacting the gas with neutralizing values obtained from Type S hydrated lime, i.e. calcined dolomite slaked with water under elevated temperature and pressure. The Type S hydrated dolomitic lime may be used in conjunction with a wet scrubber to provide base and neutralizing magnesium values, in a spray dryer or dry scrubber, or directly introduced into the boiler. The use of Type S hydrated dolomitic lime greatly enhances the efficiency of sulfur dioxide removal, providing for enhanced utilization of base values and more rapid rate of reaction.

Abstract: A product and method for reducing the coefficient of friction between the inner surface of a support, such as a larger conduit, and the outer surface of a member such as a smaller, inner conduit, disposed in and movable along the support when the latter has horizontal and/or inclined portions. The support may be an open trough or pipe of metal, plastic or other material, and the member to be moved can be of similar materials and can be an electrical cable. The product includes a flowable mixture of a liquid and a plurality of spherical beads typically in the range of 0.005 to 0.040 inch in diameter. The mixture can be pumped in and along the support even though the liquid and the beads have different specific gravities. The beads in the liquid contact both the inner surface of the support and the outer surface of the member to be moved to produce a planar ball bearing effect to minimize the frictional forces between them.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting against the abrasion of pipe walls in a slurry pipeline caused by slack flow when the pipeline is operated in the batch mode, i.e., when one or more water batches and one or more slurry batches are transported through a pipeline. Pressure transducers sense the pressure at each relatively high point of the pipeline as an interface between a water batch and a following slurry batch passes that point. When one of the sensed pressures falls below a predetermined low value of pressure, a control device actuates valves to divert the flow downstream in the pipeline through a staged choke containing flow restrictors, thus raising the fluid pressure in the water batch which then counteracts the effect of the static head of the slurry batch. The flow is redirected away from the staged choke when one of the sensed pressures exceeds a predetermined high value of pressure, thus lowering the fluid pressure and preventing pipe wall overpressure.

Abstract: For use in providing back pressure in a slurry flow, a first pipe has an inlet for receiving the slurry and an outlet for discharging the slurry. A number of inverted U-shaped second pipes communicate at their ends with the first pipe at respective, spaced locations along the length of the first pipe. Each second pipe has a pair of spaced sides and each side has an orifice choke therewithin. The sides of each second pipe extend upwardly from the first pipe so that the second pipes are self-draining. A valve is provided for each second pipe, respectively, each valve being carried by the first pipe near one end of the corresponding second pipe. A generally horizontal third pipe is coupled to the first pipe in bypass relationship thereto. Valve means controls the flow of a slurry into either the first or the third pipe.

Abstract: A method of mining thick seam materials is performed by forming a pair of generally horizontal, vertically spaced, vertically aligned passes or drifts in one side of the thick seam. A number of contiguous vertical holes are drilled in the material from the lower to the upper drift to form a relatively large opening extending the length of the drifts. This large opening is then filled with low grade concrete to support the overburden and, after the concrete is set, a second pair of generally horizontal, vertically spaced, vertically aligned drifts are formed adjacent to the first mentioned drifts and the foregoing process is repeated. The above steps are continued until the entire seam of material has been removed.

Abstract: A method for preparing industrial ores, e.g., coal, for pipelining and pipelining the ores to a site for subsequent processing or use.Ore from a mine is screened into two fractions, one having a large size particle distribution and one having a small size particle distribution, each fraction retaining both the ore and the refuse. The large size particle fraction is cleaned of refuse and the clean ore therefrom crushed to a size distribution of the smaller size or small size ore fraction. The separated refuse from the large size particle fraction is ground to provide superfines to the extent required for the proper particle size distribution for pipelining. The ore and superfine refuse are combined in a water slurry for pipelining.After pipelining the ore, the ore is cleaned and dewatered conveniently as known in the art for fine ore. The resulting ore may then be stockpiled or directly used.

Abstract: One or a plurality of positive displacement slurry pumps are connected to common intake and discharge manifolds at a typical slurry pipeline pumping station. Each pump is connected at its inlet by inlet piping from the intake manifold through an intake isolation valve with a flushing water inlet between the intake isolation valve and the pump. Similarly, each pump is connected at its outlet by outlet piping to the outlet manifold through an outlet isolation valve with a pump drain between the outlet isolation valve and the pump. Conventional pulsation dampeners are connected to the piping at least at the pump outlet and communicate a volume of gas under pressure to the pump for dampening of shock waves. The inlet and outlet piping has a pipe length and slope between the pump on the high side to the station intake manifold and to the discharge manifold on the low side.