Abstract: A wastewater treatment process wherein a portion of a mixture of influent waste water and biomass are transferred from a first anaerobic region to a second anaerobic region having a relatively long retention time in order to produce additional very short chain fatty acids therein which are thereafter returned to the first anaerobic region so that biomass therein takes up the very short chain fatty acids. The contents of the first anaerobic region thereafter flow downstream into an aerobic region wherein the biomass takes up phosphorus. A portion of the biomass is returned to the first anaerobic region and a second portion of the biomass is wasted with phosphorus therein, thereby removing phosphorus from the wastewater being treated.

Abstract: A system and method for dewatering a continuous stream of slurry at high flow rates demonstrates enhanced efficiency, economy and ease of operation. A stream of slurry is subject to continuous or continual measurement of flow rate and pulp density and the measurements are used to control the rate of addition of a flocculating agent to the slurry. The flocculated slurry is delivered to a dewatering unit where it is passed through a diffuser and evenly delivered to a tracking screen for filtering solids from a liquid filtrate. The pulp density of the filtrate may also be measured and used to control addition of a flocculating agent. The tracking screen is adjusted to achieve an angle of repose suited to the particular composition of the filter cake. The diffuser has a base having a horizontal section aspect ratio of from about 1:1 to about 4:1 and continuously changing vertically into an upper portion having a horizontal section with an aspect ratio of from about 40:1 to about 100:1.

Abstract: A process and facility for treating and disinfecting water supplies comprising first treating the water with chlorine, then with ammonia, then with ozone to substantially disinfect the water, then passing the water through a filter with microorganisms to reduce the amount of small organic compounds and carbon in the water and finally again treating with chlorine so as to produce a residual level of chlorine in the water.

Abstract: A system and process for vaporizing liquefied natural gas (LNG) and separating natural gas liquids from the LNG. The process vaporizes the LNG to produce natural gas meeting pipeline or other commercial specifications. The process in some embodiments uses a closed loop power generation system.

Abstract: A process for separating a feed gas stream containing methane, C2 components, C3 components, and heavier components into a volatile gas stream containing a major portion of the methane and C2 components and a less volatile stream containing a major portion of the C3 and heavier components by adjusting the temperature and pressure of the feed gas stream and charging it to a separator/absorber where the gas stream is separated into a first gas stream containing a major portion of the methane and C2 components with a minor content of C3 and heavier components and a first liquid stream containing a major portion of the C3 and heavier components with a lesser concentration of C2 and lighter components with the first liquid stream being fractionated in a deethanizer into an overhead stream and a bottoms stream with the bottoms stream containing primarily C3 and heavier components with the overhead stream containing primarily C2 and lighter components being at least partially condensed and separated into a liquid re

Abstract: A limestone furnace calcination process involves injecting finely divided limestone particles into a zone in a furnace at which the temperature of the flue gas stream, as it passes through the zone, is above the minimum calcination temperature and below the minimum effective quicklime utilization/sulfation temperature. In conventional furnaces, the minimum calcination temperature, or the calcium carbonate decomposition temperature, ranges from about 1,365 to 1,430° F. The minimum effective quicklime utilization/sulfation temperature refers to the temperature below which the rate of quicklime sulfation of the lime produced by calcination of the limestone is sufficiently slow to result in negligible calcium sulfate formation on the resultant lime, and in conventional furnace applications ranges from 1,600 to 1,800° F.

Abstract: A system and a method for efficiently removing natural gas liquids from a natural gas stream at an elevated pressure and liquefying the natural gas stream at an elevated pressure by use of a turbo expander and a compressor.

Abstract: An apparatus for injecting ozone into water includes a riser leg, a down leg and a plurality of crossovers joining the riser and down legs. A partial side stream of water from a main under substantial hydraulic pressure is directed through the apparatus. A crossover is chosen in accordance with the hydraulic head pressure of the side stream such that the water flowing therethrough is at a substantially lower pressure than the water in the main. A source of ozone is connected by a manifold and valving to allow the ozone to be injected into the water in the selected crossover. After injection of ozone, the side stream is returned to the water main to allow mixing of the ozone containing water with the remainder of the water in the main. A pump is also alternatively used to provide additional head pressure to the water in the side stream where head losses cannot be overcome by diverting to a lower crossover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing hydrogen sulfide from a molten sulfur stream containing hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen polysulfides by mixing the molten sulfur stream with a degassed molten sulfur stream in an eductor to form a mixture, contacting the mixture with a finely dispersed gaseous oxidant stream, separating hydrogen sulfide from the mixture and recovering molten sulfur having a reduced hydrogen sulfide content.

Abstract: A method for producing hydrogen and sulfur from a first gaseous mixture containing hydrogen sulfide and ammonia by separating ammonia from the first gaseous mixture to produce a second gaseous mixture containing hydrogen sulfide; combusting a portion of the hydrogen sulfide in the second gaseous mixture to produce a third gaseous mixture containing hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide; heating the ammonia to a temperature of at least 1800.degree. F. to produce a fourth gaseous mixture containing nitrogen and hydrogen; and, combining the third gaseous mixture and the fourth gaseous mixture and passing the combined gaseous mixture to a sulfur recovery process wherein the hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide are recovered as sulfur.The ammonia may be partially oxidized by the use of substoichiometric amounts of oxygen or thermally dissociated.

Abstract: A flow camera apparatus (10) operable for photographing large original documents in continuous, moving fashion includes a camera (74) located within the housing (12). An aperture adjustment mechanism (86) allows adjustment of the camera aperture from the outside of the housing (12) without opening the housing (12). The iris adjustment mechanism also allows the aperture to be changed during photographing of a document. The apparatus includes lamps (214, 216 and 218) for illuminating the document during photographing and a "T" mask assembly 22 provided with baffles (204 and 208) for allowing only light reflected from the document to enter the image path (88) to the camera (74). The apparatus (10) also includes precisely balanced detectors (126) for detecting entry of a document into the apparatus (10).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided that are useful in a process for treating organic wastewater for the removal of phosphorus and nitrogen compounds. The apparatus includes an anoxic zone, an oxic zone, and an anaerobic treatment zone, each having therein microorganisms that are operable to affect biological denitrification, BOD oxidation, luxury-uptake of phosphorus and formation of nitrates.

Abstract: An apparatus for digitally archiving analog film images includes a support surface on which an analog film image may be supported, and a digitizer that is spaced from the support surface in a direction defining a Z axis perpendicular to the support surface. A light transilluminates the film image and projects it toward the digitizer through an objective lens which focuses the image. The positions of the digitizer and the lens along the Z axis are adjustable so that the size of the image projected onto the digitizing means can be varied. For example, it is possible to move the digitizer and objective lens between a range of enlarging positions in which the lens is closer to the film image than to the digitizer, and a range of reducing positions in which the lens is further from the film image than from the digitizer so that the film image may be either enlarged, reduced or reproduced at the same size before being sensed and converted into digital data.

Abstract: A biosolids tracking system monitors the quantity and quality of biosolids deposited on a plot of land. Global positioning system technology is used to determine the land coordinates of the boundary of the plot of land for accurate area calculation in order to determine the loading per unit area of biosolids including metals deposited on the plot. The system includes the ability to display superposed topographic and digitized photographic imagery of the plot with textual annotation.

Abstract: A flow camera equipped with a microprocessor based control system accepts large original documents in continuous, moving fashion and photographs them through a specifically shaped slotted aperture positioned between the original document and an objective lens. The originals are illuminated during exposure simultaneously from the front and the back, recording congruent images from two-sided material such as engineering drawings on translucent media having positionally related information on both sides. The light from the underneath side, opposite the lens, not only reveals and exposes the image on the second side but it enhances the quality and sharpness of the primary image on the side toward the lens. Avoidance of image loss is accomplished by using in the optical system a single mirror which deflects the optical path substantially less than 90.degree..

Abstract: A reflector assembly for a solar energy system including a circular dish-shaped concentrator which may be oriented towards the sun. The concentrator provides a conical flux concentration with a circular, cross-sectional image. A photovoltaic receiver with a square surface is positioned partly within the flux concentration . The reflector assembly includes reflector elements for redirecting concentrated flux from marginal portions of the flux concentration image to corner portions of the receiver surface.