Abstract: A steel-reinforced concrete gravity structure mounts a support framework with which to elevate a production deck above sea level. The structures are separately fabricated on shore, assembled in bordering shallow water, transported as a unit to the subsea well site, and subsequently installed on the sea floor.

Abstract: A sensor (16) is affixed to a piece of rotatable equipment (10). The sensor has a rolling member (26) freely moveable within a cage member (18). In operation, the rolling member (26) contacts electrically conductive surfaces (28,30) disposed about the interior of the cage member. By determining which particular pair of surfaces are currently in contact with the rolling member, the orientation of the cage member with respect to the horizontal is known. The preferred embodiment utilizes a resistor network (34) and an electrical measuring device (48) for making this determination.

Abstract: A direct fired system (10, 10') includes pulverizer means (14, 24), classifier means (12, 16, 18, 48, 76), burner means (16, 16') as well as a defined fluid flow path that serves to interconnect the pulverizer means (14, 24) and the classifier means (12, 26, 28, 48, 76) in fluid flow relation with the burner means (16, 16'). In accord with the mode of operation thereof, at the classifier means (12, 26, 28, 48, 76) a separation is had of the stream of the gaseous medium such that a portion of the gaseous medium is recirculated along with the oversize solid fuel particles back to the pulverizer means (14, 24) while the remainder of the gaseous medium is operative to convey the solid fuel particles that are of the desired size from the classifier means (12, 26, 28, 48, 76) to the burner means (16, 16') for burning, i.e., firing, in the latter.

Abstract: A locking device (1) for use with joints between two telescoping members (28,30) include a bushing (2) with an enlarged head (8) and a neck (6) for inserting into a pair of aligned holes (34) in the telescoping members (28,30). The device is locked by drawing a bolt (16) into the central bore (10) of the bushing (2) by drawing means (20,22,24). The bolt (16) includes a lug (18) for contacting the inner telescoping member (28). Also provided is a channel (14) in the neck (6) which permits the lug (18) to slide within the bushing (2), thus allowing effective engagement of the device (1) for a range of telescoping member wall thicknesses.

Abstract: A fluidized bed gasifier (10) for gasifying a first fuel (50) receives heat indirectly from a combusting fluidized bed (24) disposed at least partially within the gasifier fluidized bed (12). Fuel for the combusting bed (24) may be provided by removing a portion of the fluidized first fuel from the gasifier bed (12) and transporting (30,34) this removed portion into the combusting bed (12). Heat is transferred across the conductive walls of the combustor vessel (26). Product gas heating value is increased by separately removing (28) the products of combustion from the gasifier (10) and by recycling a portion of the product fuel gas (74) as the fluidizing gas (54) for the gasifier fluidized bed (12). A radiation shield (18) is also provided to reduce heat loss from the gasifier bed (12) and to remove elutriated material from the product fuel gas.

Abstract: A process is disclosed with which a viscous liquid vehicle is applied as a coating to strands, or fibers, of stainless steel to hold finely-divided brazing material at the surfaces of the strands. A mat of the coated strands/fibers is spread in a layer over the surface of a substrate and brought to the brazing temperature to form the desired bond. At the brazing temperature forming the bond, the viscous vehicle is evaporated, leaving no residue which deteriorates the quality of the brazing bond of the strands/fibers to each other, and the brazing bonds between the strands/fibers and the substrate.

Abstract: A once-through steam generator has both radiant and convection sections. The flue gases discharged from the convection section are passed through a wet scrubber to remove both sulfur oxides (SO.sub.x) and particulate matter. The feedwater to the convection section has its temperature controlled by the temperature of the flue gases discharged from the convection section, reducing the temperature of the feedwater by the use of a feedwater exchanger, as the convection section progressively fouls due to particulates in the flue gases. An additional heat exchanger upstream of the feedwater exchanger and convection section which scavenges additional heat from the wet scrubber liquids while the temperature of the flue gases into the scrubber are lowered to a temperature equal to or less than the water dew point temperature of the flue gases entering the scrubber.

Abstract: Fuel and oxidant feed rates into a gasifier 202 are regulated by monitoring overall output 14 and comparing with a pre-selected setpoint valve 10. An overall load demand signal 50, responsive to this comparision is generated and used as an input to control 102 oxidant feed rate. The heating value of the product gas is measured 76 and used to control 64 overall fuel feed rate to the gasifier 202. For a two stage slagging gasifier, the present invention controls 114 fuel feed rate to the slagging stage 210 responsive to the measured slagging stage reaction temperature 128.

Abstract: A soot blower system comprising a plurality of soot blowers (60) each of which is selectively operable to clean ash deposits (54) from the walls (12) of a furnace chamber (10) in direct response to the local heat transfer rate from the hot combustion products to the walls of the furnace sensed by one or more heat flux meters (62) mounted to the furnace wall in the general region surrounding each of the soot blowers.

Abstract: A pair of parallel flow rotary regenerative air heaters (16, 18) which extract heat from the combustion gases exhausted from a furnace (10). The gases, after giving up heat in the air heaters, flow to an electrostatic precipitator (30). In order to eliminate any temperature unbalance across the width of the main duct (28) leading to the precipitator, the duct (24) from the first air heater is connected to the main duct in such a manner that the hottest portion of the gases (H-1) are introduced along one side, and the relatively cooler portion (C-1) of the gases are introduced along the other side. The duct (26) from the second air heater is connected to the main duct in such a manner that the relatively cooler portion of the gases (C-2) are introduced along said one side, and the hottest portion of the gases (H-2) are introduced along said other side, thereby eliminating temperature unbalances across the width of the main duct.

Abstract: A system (10) particularly suited for reclaming used foundry sand by means of thermal reclamation. The subject system (10) includes, arranged in cooperatively associated series relation, thermal reclaimer means (14), post reclaimer means (15), primary cooling means (16), separator means (18), classifying and dust removal means (19), scrubber means (20) and secondary cooling means (22). The used sand, which preferably is first fed through a lump-crusher, shake-out apparatus (12), is made to pass through thermal reclaimer means (14) while being heated to a predetermined temperature for a preestablished period of time in order to accomplish the burning away of the organic materials, i.e., matter, which are present in the used sand. From the thermal reclaimer means (14), the used sand passes to and through the post reclaimer means 15 for further reclaiming and then to and through the primary cooling means (16) wherein the heated sand is cooled to a suitable temperature.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrocarbons suitable for use as a chemical feedstock uses coal (10) and methane-rich gas (56) as raw materials. The coal and gas are heated over 6000.degree. F. (3316.degree. C.) in an electric-arc (14) forming an atomic plasma (16). The plasma is cooled and held (18) between 5000.degree. and 6000.degree. F. (2760.degree. and 3316.degree. C.) to allow formation of the desired hydrocarbons. The product stream (22) is then quenched (24) and the hydrocarbons separated (40, 42).

Abstract: A sampling valve having a stem which reciprocates between a liquid filled chamber and a vaporizing chamber is provided with a stem seal comprised by a thermoplastic bushing fitted to the valve stem with an interference fit. The bushing is encircled by a compression band exerting a radial compressive force and is mounted in the valve body with end clearance to avoid axial compression.

Abstract: A process for preparing stoichiometric V.sub.6 O.sub.13 usable as the cathode active material in high energy density primary and secondary batteries comprises the steps of: (a) raising the temperature of ammonium metavanadate up to a temperature of from about 350.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C. over an approximately 2 hour time period in a dynamic atmosphere of nitrogen gas to thermally decompose the ammonium metavanadate into a nonstoichiometric V.sub.6 O.sub.13 product while evolving successively ammonia, water vapor and oxygen; (b) holding the nonstoichiometric V.sub.6 O.sub.13 product at said temperature of from about 350.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C. for about 4 hours in said dynamic atmosphere of nitrogen gas; (c) heating the nonstoichiometric V.sub.6 O.sub.13 product at a temperature of from about 400.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C.

Abstract: Shells of fluid separators are represented by an elongated horizontally extended separator. A high velocity mixture stream is received in the front end of the separator shell upon a partition as part of a structure to absorb the momentum of the stream. A passage is connected to a compartment formed between the partition and vessel wall, with diverter structure mounted on the sides of the passage as additional momentum absorber structure which functions in separating the fluids of the mixture.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical tube repair assembly (26,80) having an outer diameter approximately equal to the tube inner diameter. The assembly includes three main components, one of which is compressed and expanded by the other two into sealing engagement with the tube wall. The components include an elongated tension member (28) having an enlarged head portion (30) at its upper or lead end, and a stem portion (34) at the other end. A generally cylindrical expander ring member (40) is disposed about the lower portion of the tension member, and a ferrule-type, radially expandable compression member or sleeve (44) is interposed between the enlarged head and the ring. Means (42) are included for immobilizing the ring member against the tube sheet (12) while drawing down the tension member head.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel solvent, N-2-methoxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone, that can be used in two ways. First, in the pure or undiluted form, it absorbs hydrogen sulfide and other sulfurous gases selectively and simultaneously dries the gas. Second, when mixed with an alkanolamine and water, it is a superior absorbent of mercaptans, sulfides, and disulfides, and removes acid gases. The chemical structure of N-2-methoxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone is shown below.

Abstract: A nozzle plug (22) for blocking a nozzle (46) in a nuclear steam generator (16) is improved by the addition of hinges (40a, 40b) which allow the nozzle plug (22) to be inserted into the steam generator (16) through an access port (52) of substantially smaller diameter than the nozzle (46). A recess (54) is provided in one of the semi-circular plates (28) allowing the plates to nest, further reducing the necessary size of the access port (46).

Abstract: A ceramic fiber composition suitable for use in the temperature range of 650.degree. C. to 1100.degree. C. formed from aluminum silicate and feldspar. The aluminum silicate is preferably calcined kaolin and comprises 65 percent to 95 percent by weight of the mixture with the remainder being the feldspar.

Abstract: A plug means for effecting a temporary blockage of a passage through which liquid is designed to flow. The subject plug means includes a frame means capable of being readily disassembled and embodying in the assembled state dimensions corresponding to the cross-sectional dimensions of the passage in which the plug means is to be employed, and inflatable means mountable on the frame means and co-operable therewith for providing a liquid tight seal in the passage. The frame means comprises a frame member including a plurality of readily interconnectable sections of plate, the latter each possessing a high strength-to-weight ratio; interconnecting means for effecting the interconnection of the plurality of plate sections; and securing means cooperable with means provided in the side walls of the passage for securing the frame means and thereby the plug means in the passage in blocking relation thereto.