Abstract: A method is provided for the underground mining of thin seams of certain minerals, such as coal, particularly minerals capable of being bored or cut, employing walls formed in place. A relatively narrow substantially rectangular drift is cut in the seam, usually the entire height of the ore formation. The drift is then filled with low-grade concrete to form a wall. After the concrete has set to have sufficient compressive strength to provide support for the overburden, additional drifts are driven immediately adjacent to the wall and are joined behind the wall, so as to allow for air circulation around the wall and provide space to repeat the process. In this way, a plurality of tandem walls can be introduced through the working area of the seam. Between each tandem wall, a temporary barrier is erected, having manways with closeable doors therein as required, so that forced ventilation will travel the full length of one drift and return back through the companion drift.

Abstract: A multi-effect system for using the heat, water and solids content of geothermal brine to produce useful work, fresh product water and inorganic salts. A flash separator receives brine from a geothermal well and provides the initial steam forming the heat source for the brine flowing through a first effect of the system. The system has a number of effects in series with each effect having means for generating steam from the brine flowing through it, and using the generated steam to provide the heat source for the next adjacent effect. Steam from each effect is also moved in heat exchange relationship to a binary fluid in a closed loop containing a gas turbine so that the binary fluid can be heated sufficiently to drive the turbine, the latter, in turn, being coupled to a work-producing apparatus, such as a generator. In one form of the invention, the steam to heat the binary fluid is the uncondensed part of the steam used as a heat source for each effect.

Abstract: A seal-welded pipe joint mechanically braced by a clamp for preferred use in handling toxic and radioactive materials is disclosed together with a process for joining the same. The joint comprises a pair of abutted male frustroconical skirts, each attached integrally to the pipe segments to be joined and confronting each other at opposed mating and finished surfaces which define a sunken ridge at their periphery. A uniform continuous seal weld of relatively slight penetration seals the opposed mating and finished surfaces at the ridge. The pipe joint is physically secured by a plurality of, for example, three female frustroconical segments forming a circumscribing collet which is circumferentially clamped to the skirt. When the collet is clampd over the abutted skirts with seal weld there between, the mating and finished surfaces are compressd together, relieving the seal weld of shearing and normal stresses.

Abstract: A seal-welded pipe joint mechanically braced by a clamp for preferred use in handling toxic and radioactive materials is disclosed together with a process for joining the same. The joint comprises a pair of abutted male frustroconical skirts, each attached integrally to the pipe segments to be joined and confronting each other at opposed mating and finished surfaces which define a sunken ridge at their periphery. A uniform continuous seal weld of relatively slight penetration seals the opposed mating and finished surfaces at the ridge. The pipe joint is physically secured by a plurality of, for example, three female frustroconical segments forming a circumscribing collet which is circumferentially clamped to the skirt by a plurality of, for example, three tangentially disposed bolts. The abutted frustroconical skirts taper from a broad cross section adjacent the pipe wall radially outwardly to a narrower cross section.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a by-pass valve in which the discharge valve is opened or closed in an interlocked relation woth a turbine flow regulating means such as wicket gates of a water-turbine in order to bypass a stream of water with respect to the turbine in synchronism with the movement of wicket gates, thereby decreasing pressure fluctuation in a penstock of the turbine during transient conditions of operation, and is eventually closed when the wicket gates are held in an equilibrium state, thereby eliminating prolonged wasting of the available water.

Abstract: A spar having fluid flow lines or material conveyors extending along the same is anchored by a ball joint, U-joint, elastic joint or the like to a base on the bottom of a body of water, such as a sea bottom. The spar has a buoyancy chamber near its upper end for applying an upward tension thereto at all times. When a vessel is adjacent to the upper end of the spar, tension means extends between the spar and structures on the vessel bow to couple the two together. The tension means provides a lateral force exerted on the spar to bias the spar toward the vessel even as the latter changes position relative to the spar due to current, wave and wind action. Several embodiments of the tension means are disclosed. The fluid flow lines carried by the spar connect a base manifold on the bottom of a body of water with delivery hoses or other conductors which can provide flexibility and are connected to the vessel for the transfer of crude oil and other fluids thereto.

Abstract: A seal-welded pipe joint mechanically braced by a clamp for preferred use in handling toxic and radioactive materials is disclosed together with a process for joining the same. The joint comprises a pair of abutted male frustroconical skirts, each attached integrally to the pipe segments to be joined and confronting each other at opposed mating and finished surfaces which define a sunken ridge at their periphery. A uniform continuous seal weld of relatively slight penetration seals the opposed mating and finished surfaces at the ridge. The pipe joint is physically secured by a plurality of, for example, three female frustroconical segments forming a circumscribing collet which is circumferentially clamped to the skirt by a plurality of, for example, three tangentially disposed bolts. The abutted frustroconical skirts taper from a broad cross section adjacent the pipe wall radially outwardly to a narrower cross section.

Abstract: Carnallite, comprising principally of MgCl.sub.2. KCl.6H.sub.2 O, with varying amounts of sodium chloride and other impurities, is dissolved in a lower saturated monohydric aliphatic alcohol having from one to four carbon atoms such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropyl alcohol, N-butyl alcohol, secondary-butyl alcohol, iso-butyl alcohol, and tert-butyl alcohol, to dissolve the magnesium chloride therein leaving an insoluble residue of principally potassium chloride, sodium chloride and other materials. The residue is filtered from the solution, dried and stored or further processed. The filtrate, a magnesium chloride hydrate solution is further processed by injecting steam or water into the solution and removing, e.g., evaporating the methanol from the solution leaving an aqueous magnesium chloride hexahydrate brine. The recovered methanol is dried by distillation, condensed and recycled.

Abstract: A transmission line is established between two distant points utilizing a pair of pipelines, one of which is insertable within the other. The outer or larger diameter pipeline is first installed or laid between the two distant points and the pipe is filled with a suitable high density lubricating liquid. The other pipeline which carries and houses the transmssion line is initially filled with an inert gas and in this condition the pipeline and transmission line are "floated" into and through the outer pipeline. After both the inner pipeline and transmission line are in place inside the outer pipeline, the high density lubricating liquid between the pipes may be removed and substituted with a high thermal-conducting non-polluting fluid. The inert gas within the inner pipeline is also replaced with a standard electrical grade insulating oil.

Abstract: A system for softening of water in a manner to minimize heat requirements in the water softener unit of the system. Flashed water vapor from a flash box coupled to the downstream end of the softener unit is used to preheat incoming hard feed water by directly contacting the feed water in respective preheating chambers upstream of the softener unit. The system is suitable for use in a distillation plant to produce potable water.

Abstract: An improved housing embedded in the ground for use in crushing of ore. The housing has a generally figure eight configuration in plan defined by a pair of hollow, upright cylindrical segments with a common wall between the points of intersection of the segments. One segment houses a dump pocket, an ore crusher, a surge chamber and a discharge feeder and conveyor in descending order, and the other segment contains drive machinery, dust control apparatus, a lubrication system, hoist ways, elevator shaft, and other service facilities. The crusher in the first segment is supported on a floor supported by the wall of the first segment itself. The housing requires only a minimum of concrete and reinforcing steel since the cylindrical configuration of the sections thereof provide the most efficient resistance to lateral pressures resulting from earth backfill and surcharge from heavy haul trucks.

Abstract: Steam is removed from the steam cycle of a turbine when the back pressure on the turbine exceeds a predetermined level. Heat is then extracted from the removed steam and dissipated in a cooling tower of a cooling system for the turbine's condenser. Increased temperatures in the cooling tower augment thermal fan action, resulting in lower coolant temperatures and limiting the back pressure on the turbine. When the back pressure on the turbine decreases to an acceptable level, the steam is redirected into the steam cycle.In a preferred embodiment, heat is extracted from steam by passing the steam through the high temperature coil of a vapor-absorption generator. The high temperature vapor formed in the generator transfers the heat to the heat dissipating surfaces of a cooling tower or into heat-exchange relationship with an exhaust coolant discharged from a steam condenser.

Abstract: A method of separating and removing magnesium chloride hexahydrate from deep subterranean salt formations containing magnesium chloride hexahydrate, such as a carnallite bed or a bischofite bed, wherein one or more holes are drilled or provided through an overburden and into the bed. A solvent formed from any one of the lower saturated monohydric aliphatic alcohols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methanol, is directed downwardly in the hole and into contact with the bed, then upwardly through and out of the cased hole. Magnesium chloride hexahydrate is dissolved selectively by the solvent, but other salts, such as potassium chloride and sodium chloride, remain substantially insoluble in the solvent. The insolubles may be elevated out of the hole simultaneously with the lifting of the solvent-magnesium chloride hexahydrate solution or subsequent to such lifting.

Abstract: The method of inhibiting corrosion in a steel pipeline by a slurry comprising water as the vehicle for carrying a comminuted material which is reactive with oxygen, as for example, coal. Inhibition of corrosion is obtained by the addition to the slurry of pellets containing hexavalent chromate, which is released into the slurry in a controlled amount sufficient to inhibit corrosion but wherein the concentration of chromate is not so great that excessive amounts thereof are consumed by the slurry material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composite pipeline to be used in a submerged condition, usually in deep water. In accordance with this invention, the composite pipeline comprises a pipeline through which a fluid flows, e.g., oil, gas or a slurry; to provide for electrolytic protection, the pipeline includes a suitable coating or wrapping; finally, to enable the pipeline to be maintained in a submerged condition, an outer coating of concrete is provided about the wrapping. Further and in accordance with this invention, the concrete coating is integrally bonded to the pipeline in such fashion that the three element structure so provided can be said to be a composite structure rather than one made up of three separate elements. Because the composite structure pipeline is structurally one, it is possible to use a lighter weight of material in the pipeline with the result that a saving of as much as two-thirds of the pipeline weight is achieved.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing the heat energy of the effluent from a geothermal well. The system includes a surface evaporator which allows a preheated distillate, freed of impurities, to be vaporized by the heat energy of the steam and/or brine from the geothermal well. The resulting vapor is used to drive a power unit such as a multi-stage turbine. The vapor exhausted from the power unit is condensed by any of a number of conventional means. A portion of the condensate is then recycled through the system, wherein it becomes the direct contact condensing medium for the vapor produced by flashing hot geothermal brine in a multi-stage flash evaporator through which the brine and the condensate are passing countercurrently. The vapor thus condensed augments the aforesaid recycled condensate and, together, they constitute the aforementioned distillate entering the surface evaporator and carrying with it the heat energy extracted from the brine in the flash evaporator.

Abstract: Method for recovering bitumen from oil or tar sand using jets of hot water and/or steam introduced into the sand via raises connected to underlying spaced aprt tunnels. The jets are arcuately moved horizontally in overlapping patterns to slurry the sand. Caverns are formed by caving the tar sand and removal of the slurry into which the over burden is permitted to cave forming there above a surface depression usable as a tailing pond. Cavities are formed by other jets which connect with the priorly formed cavities so there is a continuous backward movement of interconnecting cavities.