Abstract: A collecting electrode panel assembly comprises a plurality of collecting electrode plates disposed in successively aligned relationship beneath and suspended from an electrode support member supported by the housing of an electrostatic precipitator, such that the collecting electrode plates making up the collecting electrode panel assembly extend downwardly in a substantially vertical plane into the precipitation chamber defined within the housing. Each of the plates has a pair of spaced end members and a central web portion which extends between and interconnects the spaced end members. Each end member has an edge surface extending substantially transverse to the central web portion thereof. A plurality of suspension lugs are mounted to the electrode support member and are disposed therealong such that a suspension lug extends outwardly therefrom adjacent each of the end members of the plates. A fastener is provided for mounting each end member to one of the suspension lugs.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed furnace (10) is disclosed wherein a non-cyclonic particulate separator (18) is integrally disposed in the flue gas flow path between the furnace gas outlet (14) and the flue gas duct (16). The separator (18) comprises an arcuate duct (20 ) having a curvilinear inner wall (24), the portion thereof which is disposed across the inlet to the flue gas duct (16) having a plurality of openings (28) therein which provide a flow area through which a portion of the flue gas pass into the flue gas duct (16). Gas/solids separation is accomplished as the flue gas turns sharply from its arcuate path to pass through the openings (28) in the inner wall (24). The momentum of the particulate solids and the centrifugal forces acting thereon prevent the solids from sharply turning and cause the solids to continue on their arcuate flow path through the duct (20) in the remaining flue gas to a solids collection means (40) opening to the solids outlet (26) of the arcuate duct (20).

Abstract: A control system (44, 112) particularly adapted to be cooperatively associated with a mill (10) and in particular a roller mill (10) of the type that is operative to effectuate the grinding and/or pulverization of solid materials. When so employed, the subject control system (44, 112) enables the roller mill (10) to be operated over a wide range of varying levels of output of pulverized material, while yet ensuring that both the proper air/solids ratio and the desired degree of fineness of the pulverized material are being maintained. To achieve this result, the subject control system (44, 112) is operatively connected in circuit relation with the feed means (12) that supplies to the roller mill (10) the material that is to be pulverized therein, with the drive means (20, 22) through which the mill (10) is driven, with the classifier means (38) that effects a separation of the pulverized material according to fineness, and with the means which receives the output from the roller mill (10).

Abstract: A high efficiency separator system (10) operative for processing material that includes grinding means (12), high efficiency separator means (14), dust collector measn (16) and fan means (18) all of which are interconnected in a predefined flow path. In accord with the nature of the construction of the subject high efficiency separator system (10), the grinding means (12) is connected to the high efficiency separator means (14) and the high efficiency separator means (14) in turn is interconnected to both the grinding means (12) and the dust collector means (16) whereby the mode of operation of the subject system (10) is such that the material supplied to the system (10) is ground in the grinding means (12), is classified on the basis of particle size in the high efficiency separator means (14), and ultimately is discharged from the dust collector means (16) in the form of finished product which consists of material that has been ground to a predetermined particle size.

Abstract: A hot support rack (46) for supporting an in-bed heat exchanger (44) of a fluidized bed furnace (22) is comprised of a plurality of support bars (54, 56) disposed diagonally between spaced vertical support posts (58). The support bars (54, 56) form a criss-cross array of quadrangular openings through which the tubes (44) of in-bed heat exchanger (44) pass with each tube (44) passing through a quadrangular opening being supported by the upper surface of the lower bars (54, 56) forming the quadrangular opening.

Abstract: An improved nozzle tip (30) which provides enhanced ignition and stabilization of pulverized fuel flames in furnaces operating at low load. The nozzle tip (30) comprises open-ended inner and outer shells (32,34) mounted to the fuel delivery pipe (12) and defining a flow passageway within the inner shell through which the pulverized fuel is directed into the furnace and an annular flow passageway (50) between the inner and outer shells through which additional air is directed into the furnace. A pair of diverging splitter plates (41,42) are disposed within the inner shell (32) so as to divide the flow passageway therethrough into two separate, diverging subpassages (52,54) so that the pulverized fuel stream discharging from the fuel delivery pipe is split into first and second streams (60,70) which pass from the nozzle tip (30) into the furnace in a diverging manner thereby establishing an ignition stabilizing pocket in the low pressure zone (80) created between the diverging fuel streams.

Abstract: A non-linear pipe segment, such as an elbow or the like, is disclosed having an inner liner (14) of a wear-resistant material. The outer shell of the segment is in two halves (10, 12) which are coated with a layer of bedding material (16) before being secured around the lines (14) by clamps (28).

Abstract: A distributed control system controlling a plurality of energize-to-start, energize-to-stop subprocesses is designed for on-line maintenance. One or more of the process control computers (86) forming the distributed control system (86-100) can be removed from service and the input and output connections (130) thereto switched to another of the process control computers that remains on-line. A bumpless transfer of control is achieved by reconstructing the status of the latches in the process control computer (86) removed from service that are history dependent and establishing that status in the latches of control circuits of the process control computer (96) assuming control. The status that the history dependent latches should have is derived based upon the operating status of the subprocess at the time switching is complete. Control functions dependent on the status of a latch are delayed until the reconstructed status of latches are complete.

Abstract: A mobile coal-fired fluidized bed furnace system (10) is provided for generating steam to power a locomotive. Coal is combusted within the fluidized bed furnace chamber (30) in the fluidizing air to produce a hot flue gas which pass from the furnace chamber (30) through a boiler tank (90) and an economizer (34). The steam generated in the boiler bank and the walls of the furnace chamber is collected in steam drum (40) and passed therefrom through an in-bed superheater (100) and thence to the power generating means (22) to produce the power which drives the locomotive.

Abstract: Press element insertion apparatus (10) is a press-like apparatus used to insert pins (28) or sockets (28) into a cable connector (14) where the outside diameter of the insulation on the conductor (30) is less than or equal to the outside diameter of the element (38) shank. One-piece element insertion tool (24) wraps more than 180.degree. around the shank of element (28) and securely holds element (28) with a conductor (30) attached thereto during the insertion of an element (28) into a cable connector (14).

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring and evaluating the degree of risk associated with continued operation of a nuclear power plant while one or more plant components has failed or is otherwise unavailable. The apparatus has several functional sections, including means for storing a plant-specific data base of component-level core damage logic paths and component level failure probabilities, means for selecting plant condition scenarios by modifying the component failure probabilities to represent plant components actually or potentially unavailable, means for associating a figure of merit with the change in risk of core damage resulting from the unavailable components, and means for displaying the figure of merit relative to a base or reference value. As an interactive tool in the plant, the apparatus PSES displays the probability or risk of core damage almost instantly for any given state of plant readiness.

Abstract: A microwave transmitter irradiates each outlet pipe flow path of a coal pulverizer with a beam of electromagnetic energy at a microwave frequency. The microwave energy absorbed in each outlet pipe flow path is monitored and is proportional to the pulverized fuel flow therethrough. Knowing the fuel flow rate into the pulverizer, the fuel flow rate through each outlet pipe flow path may be determined. The portion of pulverized fuel flow exiting the pulverizer through a given pipe is determined as the ratio of microwave energy absorbed in each outlet pipe flow path to the average microwave energy absorbed in all outlet pipe flow paths of the pulverizer, multiplied by the fuel flow rate into the pulverizer divided by the number of outlet pipe flow paths.

Abstract: A register system is provided for making molds for metal casting which reduces flaws attributable to parting line shift. This is accomplished by urging the cope mold flask (11) against two fixed stops (50, 52) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (54) on the short axis of the flask. This same register principle is applied in the drag mold making station 18, where the drag flask (15) is urged against two fixed stops (100, 102) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (90) on the short axis of the flask. At the closer station (24), where the mold halves are assembled, they are again urged against two fixed stops (134, 136) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (142) on the short axis of the flasks. Thus the flasks are properly aligned to the patterns at the mold making stations, and again properly aligned to each other at the closer station, so as to eliminate parting line shift problems of the mold halves.

Abstract: Means for supplying liquid or gaseous fuel to a burner includes a flow regulating device having three coaxial diaphragms, between each adjacent pair of which there is defined a chamber, these chambers being connected with respective sensing stations in an air flow path to the burner. Outer faces of the outer diaphragms are subjected respectively to pressures derived from sensing stations in the fuel flow path and the diaphragms are connected with one another and with a valve for controlling the rate of flow of fuel.

Abstract: Zinc is extracted from an aqueous zinc containing brine (3) by contacting the brine with an organic reagent (5) consisting essentially of an extracting agent comprising a quaternary amine salt, a phase modifier, and an organic diluent so as to form a zinc amine complex (7) whereby a substantial portion of the zinc ions in the brine is transferred to the organic phase. The quaternary amine salt is a methyl triakyl ammonium chloride herein the alkyl groups contain from 8 to 10 carbon atoms. The zinc amine complex (7) is then contacted with an aqueous strippant (11) comprising a solution of sodium sulfate in water so as to form a sulfated quaternary amine salt whereby a substantial portion of zinc in the zinc amine complex is stripped therefrom and transferred to the aqueous phase as an aqueous zinc chloride solution (13) from which zinc may be recovered by electrowinning or chemical precipitation.

Abstract: In a shell and tube type heat exchanger, flattened tubes (50) are inserted between each layer of tubes (36) in the tube bend region thereof. The flattened tubes are then pressurized, to expand them in the region below the tube bends (60), so that they lock the batwing support plates (41) into place, thus preventing them from vibrating and causing damage to the tubes in the first few rows of the tube bundle.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor (10) wherein a sulfur-containing particulate fuel is combusted or gasified in a fluidized bed (30) of particulate material, which includes a sulfur oxide absorbent, is provided with a solids cooling apparatus (40) adapted to receive particulate material draining from the bed and cool same via indirect heat transfer to a cooling fluid.

Abstract: A system and method for handling nuclear fuel in which a consolidation stage (26), including a disassembly station (60), an interim transfer station (62) and a consolidation station (64), and a multiple rod pulling tool (78) and interim fuel transfer canister (86) are employed to remove fuel rods (42) from two fuel assemblies (32) and consolidate them into one storage box (96). A key feature of the disclosure is the alignment of the transfer canister (86) over the box (96) such that the canister base (92) with the weight of the consolidated rods, is released and lowered into a new position as the base of the storage box (96). A duel elevator arrangement (108, 110) is disclosed for moving the base (29) and box (96) to transfer the rods therebetween.

Abstract: A hot support bracket for supporting an in-bed heat exchanger of a fluidized bed furnace is comprised of a plurality of plates having openings or cut-outs along and intersecting at least one edge at each tube support location. Adjacent plates may be interconnected for stability. The hot support bracket is coupled to the top and bottom heat exchanger tube supported thereby with the resulting assembly slidably engaging a wear channel which supports the support bracket and to which the mechanical load of the in-bed heat exchanger is transferred.