Abstract: A non-contact system suitable for measuring velocity/distance of an object travelling inside a ferromagnetic pipeline utilizes magnetic dipoles written into the pipe surface by a transmission coil. These dipoles can be detected by a magnetic detector situated a fixed distance from the transmission point. If the time taken for a dipole to travel from the transmitter to the detector is recorded then this time will be proportional to the velocity of the system. The system functions both as a velocity measurement device and as a distance marker.Once the system detects a dipole it requests a further imprint, hence, a constant spacing is maintained between dipoles equal to the spacing between transmitter and detector.

Abstract: An apparatus for the heat treatment of a product includes a metallic heat transfer assembly for transmitting heat either directly to the product or to a mould containing the product. The heat transfer assembly comprises a plurality of separate parts which are joined together either permanently or in an operationally separable manner. Each part includes a gas distribution passageway, the passageways together defining a closed loop path for receiving and circulating around the heat transfer assembly hot permanent gas from a hot gas source. One or more heat transfer passageways formed in the heat transfer assembly itself, or between the heat transfer assembly and the mould, communicate with the closed loop path in the heat transfer assembly so as to receive hot gas therefrom and lead this gas to an exhaust outlet to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A catalyst composition, suitable for steam reforming or methanation reactions, comprising a Feitknecht compound intermixed with or interstratified with and bonded with phyllosilicate layers of a clay mineral such as kaolin or benotonite. Conventional catalyst formulations can be modified so as produced catalysts have good dispersion of the catalytic sites.

Abstract: A compact gas-fired water heater in which a reservoir of bulk water is bath heated, indirectly by a gas burner-fired immersion tube and directly heated by mutual contact between the hot flue gases from the immersion tube outlet and feed water droplets as they pass each other in a contra-flow through apertures in a plurality of plates.

Abstract: A fuel fired burner assembly comprises a fuel supply conduit (2) terminating in a nozzle (1) which extends with annular clearance (8a) into a combustion chamber (7) located within a tunnel (3). The nozzle (1) is provided with radially directed outlet passages (18) which convey the fuel from the conduit (2) to the clearance (8a) where the fuel mixes with air entering the clearance (8a) from passages (15), (16) and (8b). These passages formed between the tunnel body (3), an outer tunnel sleeve (11) and an intermediate sleeve (14) between the body (3) and the sleeve (11). The nozzle (1) is also provided with a through-going aperture (19) which is located between two adjacent fuel ports (18) and which is axially offset from the nozzle axis. Extending through the aperture (19) with annular clearance (20) is an electrically operated flame detection probe (21) whose electrode tip (22) is disposed within the central section (6) of the tunnel (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for applying heat to a portion of a pipeline, particularly a pipeline carrying natural gas, for the purpose of curing a heat shrinkable plastic sleeve used to repair leaks in the pipeline wall. The apparatus comprises an elongate manifold 1 for mounting on the pipeline and having an inlet 5 to receive hot gas from a forced draught gas burner 6 and an outlet 8 to discharge the hot gas along the portion of the pipeline. The apparatus also comprises a flexible blanket 2 of a heat insulated material such as illuminated glass wool and having one edge 71 for securing to the manifold 1 so that the blanket 2 can be wrapped around the portion of the pipeline to form therearound a heat shroud having openings 75 and 76 respectively to receive hot gas from the manifold outlet 8 and to discharge the gas after circulation around the wall of the pipeline 26.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for minimizing the amount of fluid leaked from a component in a hydraulic power system when the component has failed.The apparatus comprises a tank for use as a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid, the tank having a first chamber for storing a main volume of the fluid and a second chamber communicating with the first chamber for storing a reference volume of the fluid. The second chamber is provided with a fluid level switch which deactivates the system power source when the quantity of fluid in the second chamber has fallen to or below a preset level as a result of its leakage from the system via a burst hose or the like. The chambers 2 and 3 are dimensioned so that for a given quantity of fluid entering or leaving the tank, fluid level fluctuation in the second chamber is greater than the corresponding fluid level fluctuation which would occur in the first chamber if the fluid were only entering or leaving the first chamber.

Abstract: Raw synthesis gases produced by the gasification of coal are treated to remove tars and oils by direct and indirect cooling to produce condensate streams which are treated under high pressure viz 5 to 150 bar to rapidly separate out aqueous and organic phases. Elevated temperatures may then be used to further minimize residence time. The invention is further characterized in that the size of the separation vessels is of several orders of magnitude smaller than used in conventional ambient pressure separation procedures.

Abstract: A mole 1 for replacing an existing main, for example a cast iron gas main, with a new main. The mole 15 is of steel and is inserted into and along the existing main 94. The mole 51 has a front portion comprising a head 52 and a cylindrical body portion and a rear portion 53 having a clamp 54 for clamping a new main to the mole 51. The head 52 has a cutting face 55 for engaging the internal wall of the existing mole 51 therealong. The new main which in use is clamped to the mole 51 is towed along behind the mole 51 to replace the fractured old main 94.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel-fired heating element of the tubular kind particularly though not exclusively for use as an immersed heating tube in molten metals, salts or fluidized beds of solid particles for conductive heating or for use in an enclosed or partially enclosed chamber to provide radiant and convective heating.The element includes a tubular housing 1 having one end 2 closed and an opening to provide an outlet 4 for combustion products. A burner assembly 6 is received with an annular clearance 51 within the housing between the outlet 4 and the closed end 2 and is arranged to direct its combustion products as a stream towards the closed end 2.The tube 7 encloses with clearance three axially aligned tubes 60, 61 and 62 whose external and internal diameters decrease sequentially from the burner 6 to the end 2.

Abstract: A system is described for removing CO.sub.2 from the manufactured process gas in an SNG manufacturing plant, the system operating the hot carbonate process wherein hot potassium carbonate solution absorbs CO.sub.2 from the process gas under pressure in an absorber column 1 and is regenerated by pressure reduction and steam stripping in a regenerator column 14 and a reboiler 17 before being returned to the absorber by a circulating pump 7. The system is completely automated and is controlled by a computer so that start-up, running and shut-down of the system is carried out automatically upon initiation by an operator, whereby the system is particularly suited for use in peak load SNG plants.

Abstract: A slagging gasifier has a hearth comprising an annular solid cast structure formed from a high thermal conductivity metal such as copper and shaped to fit above a slag tap of the gasifier. The hearth is provided with one or more integrally formed passageways for circulating a coolant liquid therethrough and has an upper tundish surface with a slope of at least 10.degree. to the horizontal (preferably between 25.degree. and 45.degree.), across which tundish surface the molten slag flows downwardly and inwardly towards to slag tap. The annular structure may be formed from at least three sector-shaped cast parts secured together in situ in the gasifier.

Abstract: A pipeline gauging vehicle has two resilient driving cups arranged to contact the interior surface of the pipeline to create a pressure differential which will propel the vehicle along the pipeline. A plurality of first monitoring arrangements, each consisting of six detecting elements located at circumferentially spaced positions, are axially spaced on a support structure, their orientation being commensurate with a minimum radius of curvature of bends in the pipeline which the vehicle needs to negotiate. A plurality of second monitoring arrangements axially spaced on the support structure have detecting tabs radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle by a distance commensurate with a desired minimum radial clearance are arranged to provide an indication when the minimum clearance is exceeded. The vehicle can monitor pipelines having complex three-dimensional geometry involving a succession of bends in different directions.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve has a body enclosing a transfer passageway whose bounding surface is profiled to provide streamline flow conditions. The passageway is constricted by means of a piston-like valve moving transverse to the direction of fluid flow. A profiled shield protects the valve from direct impingement of fluid.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for non-destructive investigation of the surface properties of a body of ferromagnetic material such as a pipeline in which a non-saturating source of magnetic flux is placed adjacent to said surface to create a magnetic circuit having a substantial proportion in non-ferromagnetic material and a sensor is used to measure the magnetic flux in said circuit, an indication of the surface properties of the body being derived from a plurality of such measurements.

Abstract: A sealable pressure vessel 5 has a closure member 8 held on by means of a bayonet fixing member which is movable between two positions while retaining the mechanical linkage between the vessel 5 and the closure member 8 forming a container 1. The bayonet fixing comprises a vessel lug 19 which co-operates with a stepped slot 18 in a locking ring 9 secured to the closure member. In one position of the lug 19 in the slot 18 the closure member is sealed on the vessel and the container is closed to atmosphere while in another position the seal is broken and the container is open to atmosphere. The closure member 8 incorporates a sliding valve 29 which has a spring urged piston 32 carrying a locking pin 33 to lock the lug 19 within the slot 18 when the container is closed to atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of operating a gasifier having at least four, and preferably eight, tuyeres, so as to bring about a rapid turndown from full operational loading to a relatively lower operational loading without the risk of either a temporary or permanent loss of a tuyere. The gasifying medium is arranged to be supplied to the tuyeres at either a first velocity and loading or a second, lower, velocity and loading and in carrying out the method the gasifying medium supplied to some or all of the tuyeres is changed abruptly from the first to the second velocity and loading at selected frequent intervals, in a predetermined pattern, so that a selective pulsing operation of the tuyeres occurs to bring about the required reduction in loading.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the heat treatment of a product such as in the curing of rubber-like materials and the thermoforming of plastics materials. A metallic heat transfer member is provided for contacting the product to transmit heat thereto. In order to obtain a uniform temperature distribution over the heat transfer member/product interface, one or more gas distribution passageways receive hot gas from a hot gas source such as a gas burner and lead the hot gas to the heat transfer member. One or more heat transfer passageways contiguous with the heat transfer member communicate with the gas distribution passageway so as to receive hot gas from the latter passageway and lead same to an exhaust outlet.

Abstract: A pipeline inspection system in which a vehicle, which has sensors to detect flaws in the pipeline, is moveable within the pipeline by a fluid flowing in the pipeline, and wherein a speed control for the vehicle is provided by a braking device which imposes a continuous axial drag on the pipeline wall. This continuous axial drag is adjustable between upper and lower limits such that the summation of the variable drag characteristics of the pipeline and the imposed drag remains approximately constant and the vehicle will move at a speed substantially equal to the average flow velocity of the fluid in the pipeline.

Abstract: Passivated coprecipitated nickel-alumina catalysts are provided which require minimal reactivation treatment for use as primary steam reforming gasification catalysts and no reactivation treatment when used for catalyzing methanation reactions. The catalysts are prepared by conventional coprecipitation techniques but are calcined at temperatures in excess of 480.degree. C. and reduced at temperatures less than 600.degree.. Passivation is effected by conditioning at 175.degree. to 200.degree. C. in carbon dioxide.