Abstract: An improved nitrogen gas generating pyrotechnic composition is provided which consist of a stoichiometric mixture of an alkali metal azide or alkaline earth metal axide fuel and an oxidant consisting of a mixture of at least two metal oxides selected from the oxides of iron, silicon, manganese, tantalum, niobium and tin. The mixed metal oxides provide a synergistic effect and result in a composition having improved ignition delay time, burn rate and gas pressure as well as a reduction in toxic by-products and dust.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided for the treatment of sewage waste in a long vertical shaft bioreactor wherein waste sewage is caused to circulate under air injected oxidizing conditions around a loop comprising adjacent riser and downcomer chambers connected at their upper and lower ends. The improved method comprises the steps of introducing influent waste at depth into the riser chamber at a point higher in the riser than the point of air injection and withdrawing treated effluent from the riser at a point lower in the riser than the point of air injection. A separation chamber may also be operatively connected to the riser chamber to recover sludge for return to the bioreactor. The method provides an improvement in oxygen uptake rate and reduces the anoxic zone in the reactor thus providing additional capacity for BOD.sub.5 removal.

Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of a slurry of calcium hypochlorite wherein a solution of sodium hydroxide is fed to one end of an elongated tubular reaction and a calcium hydroxide slurry and chlorine are introduced through a number of injection sites along the length of the reactor. The redox potential of the reaction mixture at any injection site must not be inferior to that at the immediately preceding site and must be in the range 900 to 950 mV at the exit end of the reactor. The process permits easy control of the reaction temperature and of the viscosity of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a disc and doughnut baffle configuration, in which the tubes are laid out in a set of concentric rings. Each ring of a set contains the same number of tubes as each other ring of the set, and the tubes in each ring are spaced uniformly apart. Each tube in each ring is located circumferentially midway between the two adjacent tubes of each neighboring ring and is separated from each of the two adjacent tubes in each adjacent ring by a ligament distance h. The distance h is held constant for all tubes in the set, by varying the radial spacing between rings, and the distance between any two adjacent tubes in any ring of the set is made greater than or equal to 2 h. The ligament gaps h which are constant therefore determine the minimum flow area between adjacent rings, and therefore the mass flow velocity through the tube bundle is constant.

Abstract: A water-in-oil explosive composition based on colloidal dispersions is provided. Unlike conventional emulsion explosive compositions, the microemulsion composition of the invention displays exceptional long term storage stability retaining sensitivity to propagation even in small diameter charges. The composition is also tolerant to doping with further fuel and energy enhancing ingredients. The microemulsion-producing component of the composition comprises a combination of at least one conventional water-in-oil emulsifier and at least one amphiphatic synthetic polymeric emulsifier selected from graft, block or branch polymers.

Abstract: In a blow-molded, cylindrical plastic container for explosives adapted for end-to-end coupling with like containers, an improvement is provided in the sealing of the container at the exposed explosives end. The improvement comprises a section of reduced diameter in the portion of the container immediately beyond the point of connection of a like container. The section of reduced diameter is adapted to receive therein a resilient plastic, disc-like sealing member in fluid-tight engagement. The seal prevents contamination of the explosive yet yields upon the pressure exerted by an adjacent, connected container.

Abstract: In a long vertical shaft bioreactor for the treatment of degradable wastes in a circulating loop, a process is provided for separating and treating the slowly biodegradable components of the waste. The process comprises the steps of aerating and oxidizing the waste liquor in the reactor to produce an effluent and a foam which foam contains the slowly biodegradable components, which have not been degraded in the oxidizing step, separating and collecting the foam, collapsing the foam and subjecting the collapsed foam to further aeration/oxidation treatment to produce a treated effluent. The thus further treated effluent is returned to the bioreactor for reprocessing.

Abstract: An explosive booster is provided for the detonation of insensitive blasting agents. The booster contains TNT as the sole explosive ingredient, is sensitive to blasting cap initiation yet remains insensitive to impact initiation. The booster comprises an elongate structure having a gradually increasing density from end to end, only the less dense end being cap sensitive. Reduced density is accomplished by the incorporation of voids or pockets, by means of, for example, glass microspheres. Particulate sodium nitrate and vermiculite are included as density enhancers.

Abstract: An improved gland seal is provided for an extrusion, chub container packaging apparatus. The seal comprises a rigid ring sealing element adapted to swivel upon a ball-like holder attached to the end of the filling horn. The sealing element may be simply positioned to compensate for variations in casing diameters and is not subject to expansion caused by pressure pulses during packaging. Package breakage and malformation is reduced and a uniform product is provided.

Abstract: An improved method of gassing an aqueous slurry explosive composition with an inorganic nitrite gassing agent is provided. The method makes use of a thiocyanate ion-containing material in the composition as a gassing accelerator. The presence of the thiocyanate ion produces improved rate and quantity of gas generation even under low temperature where gas generation is normally retarded.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided for maintaining a constant gas-to-solids ratio in the effluent from a long vertical shaft waste treatment bioreactor. In a vertical bioreactor wherein waste is circulated under air-injected oxidation conditions around a loop comprising adjacent downcomer and riser chambers connected at their terminals and operatively connected to a separation apparatus, the improvement comprises withdrawing treated effluent from the riser chamber into a cylindrical vessel from whence the effluent is directed either to the separation chamber or into the influent stream depending on the total level of fluid in the bioreactor. Removal of large air bubbles from the effluent is also effected in the cylindrical vessel. The method provides improved gas-to-solids ratio in the effluent and improves sludge flotation in the separation apparatus.

Abstract: An explosive package is provided which is particularly adapted to be placed against and around the inside and outside curvature of a metal pipe for explosive welding purposes. The package is a substantially flat trapezoidal-shaped container, the shorter, non-parallel ends of which can be adjustably abutted against the non-parallel ends of a similar package in order to provide a continuous ring or band of explosives inside or outside the circumference of a pipe.

Abstract: In a long vertical shaft activated sludge bioreactor for the treatment of waste water and the flotation/separation of solids therefrom, an improvement is provided whereby fluctuations in flow through the bioreactor are maintained level without the use of complex control mechanisms and whereby separation from the effluent of dispersed air bubbles occurs directly in the flotation/separation vessel rather than in the shaft or an auxiliary vessel. The improvement provides for the installation of a holding reservoir between the shaft and the flotation/separation vessel. Influent passes through the reservoir on its way to the bioreactor and some make-up effluent from the flotation/separation vessel is directed into the holding reservoir as the level of liquid in the reservoir falls. In addition, means are provided in the separation/flotation vessel to split off large dispersed gas bubbles which would otherwise disrupt sludge flotation.

Abstract: An improved long vertical shaft bioreactor for the treatment of degradable waste is provided wherein the head tank or basin surmounting the vertical downcomer and riser chambers is surrounded by a foam oxidation vessel. Conduits are provided between the head tank and the foam vessel through which (a) foam accumulated in the head tank is passed to the foam vessel and (b) through which excess fluid in the head tank may be vented.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided whereby a pressurized long vertical shaft bioreactor is protected against extreme surges of influent waste liquid. The method provides for the transfer of excess waste from the top of the bioreactor head tank to an adjacent collection vessel where, in response to the pressure created in the bioreactor, the collected waste is caused to overflow and is returned to the influent waste stream. The method permits the return of waste from the reactor to the influent stream while bypassing the normal circulation route through the reactor. Simplification of control is provided and float or level control valves may be eliminated thereby reducing construction, operating and maintenance costs.

Abstract: A nitrogen gas generating composition is provided which consists of a stoichiometric mixture of an alkali metal azide or an alkali earth metal azide and a doped iron oxide of high chemical reactivity. The doped iron oxide contains up to 1.0% by weight of another metal oxide impregnated into its particle lattice. The resulting composition has improved properties of ignition delay time, total burn time, filter-ability and reduced toxic by-products.