Abstract: This disclosure relates to a heat pump including a plurality of interconnected elements, each of said elements comprising a piston body having an evaporator section at one end thereof and a condenser section at the other end thereof, each condenser section being connected to a vapor condenser. Each element has its evaporator section connected by a vapor bridge to the condenser of an adjacent element. Each piston body contains a working fluid having a liquid phase and a vapor phase, the liquid phase forming a liquid piston which oscillates during operation and the pistons of the elements oscillating with a phase displacement. The evaporator sections are located in relatively warm areas and the condensers are located in another cooler area. Portions of the liquid in the evaporator sections vaporize and the vapor is heated, and the heated vapor is condensed in the condensers thereby transferring heat from the warm areas to the cooler areas.

Abstract: A cryogenic storage tank having inner and outer storage vessels having spaced top, bottom, and upstanding side walls defining an annular insulating space therebetween. Granular insulating material is provided in the annular insulating space between the side walls, and a composite, resilient, insulating blanket, which remains elastically compressible at cryogenic temperatures and which has a flexible, high tensile strength facing on at least one side thereof, is likewise provided in the annular insulating space. The compressibility of the blanket compensates for dimensional changes in the annular insulating space, which would otherwise cause attrition of the granular insulating material, and the high tensile strength flexible facing on the blanket prevents local tearing or rupturing of the blanket when subjected to the vertical drag forces of the behavior of the granular material and due to the thermally induced changes in the dimensions of the annular insulating space.

Abstract: A resilient seal located in and spanning the vapor space between a tank wall and a floating roof wall with the seal including a vapor resistant flexible strip of material having parallel longitudinal edges attached to the roof defining a horizontal pouch extending around the roof periphery and a horizontal coil spring located in the pouch for the length of the vapor space.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a coating to the exterior surface of a double curved shell which is circular in horizontal section comprising a guide track, having top and bottom ends, adapted to be vertically positioned outwardly from the shell and when so positioned having a contour generally like that of the double curved shell; apparatus at the guide track top and bottom ends for rotating the guide track around the shell about a substantially vertical axis; a carriage mounted on, and movable along a substantial length of, the guide track from which a coating can be applied to the shell; and drive apparatus cooperating with the guide track for driving the guide track around the shell.A method is also disclosed in which the apparatus is used to apply a series of horizontal circular coating bands on the shell.

Abstract: A method of launching a large object such as a ship, barge or floatable offshore structure from a dock to water at a lower level than the dock surface by pushing the object over the dock edge, supporting the portion of the object extending past the dock edge on open bottom launch cans and continuing the procedure until the object is fully supported above the water only by the launch cans. By ballasting the launch cans the object is lowered into the water where it floats.

Abstract: A liquid storage tank for storing a liquid at a temperature substantially above or below atmospheric temperature comprising a primary liquid containment vessel capable of storing liquid; an outer vessel spaced outwardly from and surrounding a substantial portion of the primary vessel; a liquid conduit communicating with and joined to the primary liquid containment vessel and extending through an oversized hole in the outer vessel; a flexible expansion and contraction unit surrounding the liquid conduit, in spaced apart arrangement, exterior of the outer vessel with the expansion unit having an end joined to the outer vessel around the oversized hole and another end joined to the liquid conduit; at least one closeable access port in the flexible unit for feeding insulation into the flexible unit and around the liquid conduit; and insulation around the liquid conduit and inside the flexible unit.

Abstract: In a liquid storage tank having a floating roof with a circular rim, a substantially ring-like vertical cylindrical shoe adapted to slide along the inside wall surface of the tank outwardly from the roof rim, a primary flexible seal extending from the roof rim to the shoe, and with the shoe containing a plurality of vertically positioned spaced apart flexures in the form of an open ended trough which terminates below the shoe top edge and with a longitudinal opening substantially flat against the tank wall, the improvement comprising a flexure closure of resilient polymeric material with a lower body portion inside the open top end of a substantial number of the flexure troughs, with the lower body portion being in contact with the trough; and with the flexure closure having a thin flat upper portion placed by the shoe inside surface.

Abstract: A freeze concentration apparatus comprising a cold concentrator tank; a conduit to deliver an aqueous liquid mixture feed stream to the cold concentrator tank; a conduit to feed the liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank to a freeze exchanger for indirect cooling by heat exchange to a cold fluid to form ice crystals in the liquid mixture; a conduit to feed the liquid mixture containing ice crystals from the freeze exchanger to the cold concentrator tank; a conduit to withdraw liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank concentrated by the freezing of water therefrom; a conduit to withdraw an ice slurry from the cold concentrator tank and deliver it to an ice slurry washer; a spray system to wash the ice slurry in the washer with water; a washer to collect washed ice and an aqueous mixture; a conduit to remove the aqueous mixture from the washer; and an unloader to remove the washed ice from the washer.

Abstract: Provided is a freeze concentration apparatus and method which embody means designed, sized and arranged for inhibiting ice deposition including an enclosed cyclonic concentrator vessel having unobstructed, smooth faced interior walls.

Abstract: An improved heat exchanger in which a liquid is cooled by contacting a surface to crystallize a component therefrom by indirect heat exchange with a fluid on the otherside of the surface, having a layer of a polymeric material, to which the crystallized component does not significantly adhere, on the surface which contacts the liquid, and with said layer being sufficiently thin for efficient heat transfer through the surface.An improved method of crystallizing a component from a liquid by indirect heat exchange by passing the liquid into contact with a surface covered with a thin layer of a polymeric material to which the crystals do not substantially adhere, and cooled by a cooling fluid which is sufficiently cold to cool the liquid to a temperature low enough to form crystals as the liquid contacts the surface.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of cooling and condensing exhaust steam from a power plant which rejects heat to air and uses a peak shaving water based cooling system to supplement a primary cooling system. During regeneration of the cooling water, which is heated during peak shaving, the hot water is fed directly to the boiler.

Abstract: A falling film freeze exchanger having a shell connected to vertically spaced apart horizontally arranged circular upper and lower tube sheets; a plurality of vertically positioned parallel tubes, with each tube extending through and connected to a hole in each tube sheet; an inlet to feed a liquefied refrigerant gas to the lower part of the shell side of the heat exchanger and an outlet to withdraw refrigerant vapor from the upper part of the shell side of the heat exchanger; a liquid distribution box positioned above the upper tube sheet and a conduit to deliver an aqueous feed liquid to the liquid distribution box; a solid walled sleeve, surrounding and spaced outwardly from each tube, joined to the upper tube sheet and extending downwardly a short distance below the refrigerant liquid/gas interface on the shell side thereby providing a refrigerant vapor space between each sleeve and tube; and a hole in and through the upper part of the sleeve wall near the upper tube sheet.

Abstract: A method of applying a coating to the inside surface of a double-curved shell circular in horizontal section. Apparatus having a work platform for coating equipment is positioned in the shell. The work platform is displaceable on extendable and retractable legs so that it can move vertically and horizontally so as to be positioned adjacent the shell. As the apparatus is rotated about its vertical axis a coating is applied from the work platform to the shell surface as a horizontal band extending circumferentially around the shell surface. By extending or retracting the legs, the work platform can be positioned adjacent an area of the shell surface which has not been coated and that area coated as described.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for a regeneration of a solid adsorbent used to pretreat a gas before liquefaction. The spent adsorbent is subjected to a two-step regenerative process, in the first of which the adsorbent is subjected to a low pressure produced by the use of mechanical vacuum pumps. When the pressure of the atmosphere in contact with the adsorbent has been reduced to a level sufficiently low to insure that the gas will flow under laminar rather than viscous conditions, the adsorbent is exposed to the action of a cryoplate condenser maintained at a sufficiently low temperature to cause any molecules of water which impinge thereon to condense and freeze, thereby reducing the partial pressure of water vapor within the chamber. The reduced partial pressure of the water vapor in turn causes adsorbed water on the adsorbent to be desorbed, thereby effectively removing the water from the adsorbent and depositing it as solid ice on the cryoplate condenser.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a plurality of spaced apart tubes loosely penetrating aligned oversized holes in two spaced apart tube sheets; a shell around the tube sheets; each tube sheet being secured against inward displacement axial to the tubes by contact with stop means on the shell; each tube sheet being barred against outward displacement axial to the tubes by keys mechanically engaging the tube sheet and shell so that upon release of the keys they no longer bar removal of the tube sheet from the shell; a solid binder joining and sealing the tubes to the tube sheet and joining and sealing the tube sheet to the shell, with said solid binder having substantial compressive, tensile and shear strength, and being convertible by heat at a sufficiently high temperature to a physical state in which it has much lower compressive, tensile and shear strength; a conduit to deliver a heat exchange fluid around the tubes inside of the shell between the tube sheets; and a conduit to deliver a liquid feed stream into a fee

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a coating to one of two walls forming a narrow vertical elongated space comprising a vertical guide track supporting a vertically displaceable carriage thereon adapted to removably fit in the said narrow vertical elongated space; a power driven system for vertically displacing the carriage; and a system supported by the guide track for releasably securing the guide track against movement lateral to the two walls and sideways in the narrow vertical elongated space.

Abstract: Apparatus for overhead welding a first metal plate to a second metal plate comprising a base; an electrically insulated support for granular flux, adapted to span and cover with flux an overhead joint to be welded, on the base; a welding wire guide for directing the wire to an overhead joint covered by the flux support; and a flux feeder at least partially supported by the base for forcing granular welding flux onto the flux support to cover the joint with flux.A method of welding using the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for draining a liquid which has been inadvertently freed from a primary storage container and captured in a containment space comprising a drain conduit extending from the containment space to a remote location, with said drain conduit having an opening in a lower part of the containment space into which captured liquid can flow by gravity when not closed; a valve, in the drain conduit, outside of the containment space; a pressurization line, containing a valve, communicating with the drain conduit between the drain conduit valve and the conduit opening; a closure in the drain conduit opening adapted to bar flow of captured liquid into the drain conduit; and a closure retainer releasably securing the closure in the drain conduit opening; whereby when it is desired to remove captured liquid from the containment space the pressurization line valve can be opened and fluid under pressure can be fed to the pressurization line to deliver it to the drain conduit with the drain conduit valve closed so that

Abstract: A freeze concentration apparatus comprising a warm concentrator tank; a conduit to deliver an aqueous liquid mixture feed stream to the warm concentrator tank; a cold concentrator tank; a conduit to feed the liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank to a primary freeze exchanger for indirect cooling by heat exchange to a cold fluid to form ice crystals in the liquid mixture; a conduit to feed the liquid mixture containing ice crystals from the primary freeze exchanger to the cold concentrator tank; a conduit to withdraw liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank concentrated by the freezing of water therefrom; a conduit to withdraw an ice slurry from the cold concentrator tank and deliver it to the warm concentrator tank; a conduit to withdraw an ice slurry from the warm concentrator tank and deliver it to an ice slurry washer; a spray system to wash the ice slurry in the washer with water and to collect washed ice and an aqueous mixture; a conduit to remove the aqueous mixture from the washer and de

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a coating to the inside surface of a spherical or spheroidal shell comprising a work platform for coating equipment; a first extendable and retractable leg in compression joined at its upper end to the platform and joined at its lower end through a horizontal axis pivot to a collar rotatable about a vertical axis on a lower fixed base; and a second extendable and retractable leg in tension joined at its lower end to the platform and joined at its upper end through a horizontal axis pivot to a collar rotatable about a vertical axis on an upper fixed base spaced upwardly from the lower fixed base whereby the lower end of the first leg and the upper end of the second leg can rotate about the same vertical axis.A method of coating the inside surface of a spherical or spheroidal shell using the apparatus is also disclosed. By use of the apparatus horizontal bands of a coating are applied to the shell surface. The coating can be an insulating foam.