Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the solids to fluids ratio of a slurry is constructed from a chamber which has a substantially circular cross section with a high pressure slurry inlet mounted through said chamber wall with the axis of the inlet normal to a diameter of the chamber. A high pressure slurry outlet is mounted through the chamber wall with the axis normal to a chamber cross section. A low pressure outlet is mounted through the chamber wall with its axis substantially aligned with the axis of the circular cross section so that a certain portion of the fluid entering the high pressure inlet will exit the low pressure outlet. The amount is controlled by a valve inserted in the low pressure outlet. The fluid is preferably of the type which operated by reducing its diameter. Anticavitation may be provided for the chamber by passing air from the outside of the chamber into the chamber when the pressure in the chamber becomes less than the air pressure outside the chamber.

Abstract: A method of methyl alcohol treatment and distribution for an automobile internal combustion engine including the sequence of steps as follows:(a) heating a catalyst bed reactor to a start-up temperature using exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine being operated on atomized methyl alcohol; the catalyst bed reactor including a partial combustion catalyst and a methanol dissociation catalyst;(b) isolating the catalyst bed reactor from the exhaust;(c) vaporizing liquid methyl alcohol to form alcohol vapor;(d) mixing the alcohol vapor with air in a constant ratio of oxygen to alcohol at variable alcohol flow rates, to form a partial combustion mixture;(e) contacting the partial combustion mixture and the partial combustion catalyst to exothermically form dissociation mixtures the dissociation mixture including methanol vapor, water vapor, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen each in substantial proportion;(f) contacting the dissociation mixture and the dissociation catalyst to endothermically form hydrogen-rich

Abstract: A method for the treatment of oil well production streams to process oil-contaminated sand to recover oil therefrom and produce an ecologically acceptable clean sand residue. The process involves separating the production fluid from an oil well having sand entrained therein into a plurality of components, one of which comprises an oil-contaminated sand. The contaminated sand is contacted with a light oil solvent to initiate a solvating action of the oil contaminant. The resulting mixture of oil-contaminated sand and solvent is then contacted with water and the system then gravity separated into discrete sand, water and oil phases. The oil and water phases may be removed from the sand and the sand phase again contacted with water and the resulting mixture then subjected to gravity separation to produce separate sand and water phases. The water phase is then removed and the sand passed to a suitable disposal facility.

Abstract: A process for preparing alcohols from internal olefins is disclosed. Briefly, the process comprises (a) hydroformylation of internal olefins to aldehydes using a small amount of a ligand modified recycled rhodium catalyst, (b) separating the reaction product from the catalyst by flash vacuum distillation, (c) hydrogenating the aldehydes to form a product containing alcohols, and (d) removing impurities and recovering the desired alcohol product. An important feature of this process, centers around the use of internal olefins to make an alcohol product which has a large amount of linear alcohol and 2-methyl-branched alcohol in the product.

Abstract: An underwater shear wave vibrator apparatus has a housing with a vibratory generating system mounted inside the housing for generating a force along an axis substantially parallel to the underwater seabed surface. A coupling apparatus which has an attachment surface and an underside surface for engaging the seabed is connected through a pivotal arm to the housing. A hydraulic apparatus is used for positioning the seabed engaging apparatus normal to the force axis of the vibratory generating apparatus by movement about the pivotal attachment so as to maintain contact of the seabed engaging apparatus with the seabed as the vibratory generating apparatus applies force against the seabed. Apparatus is also included for maintaining orientation of the underside surface of the positioning apparatus as the positioning apparatus moves the seabed engaging means.

Abstract: This purification process has been developed for liquid polymer feed streams having one or more impurities present at levels of 2% or less by weight of the stream. This purification process comprises: (a) forcing the liquid polymer feed stream through a spray nozzle into an inert atmosphere at a temperature of from about 68.degree. F. to about 392.degree. F. where the pressure is at or below 1 atmosphere in such a manner to atomize the feed stream into particulate drops having a size in the range of from about 1,000 microns to about 50 microns in diameter, (b) retaining particulate drops under the conditions of (a) and at a temperature in the range of from about 68.degree. F. to about 392.degree. F. for at least 0.10 seconds to form impurity vapors, (c) removing the vaporous impurities that form during step (b), and (d) collecting the purified atomized feed stream liquid wherein the purified feed stream has a vapor pressure no higher than 1.times.10.sup.-3 (mm) of mercury (Hg) at 68.degree. F.

Abstract: A method of fuel treatment and distribution for an automobile internal combustion engine comprising the steps as follows:(a) vaporizing liquid alcohol to form alcohol vapor;(b) providing a substantial amount of engine exhaust heat to an endothermic reactor having an endothermic dissociation catalyst therein,(c) contacting said vapor and said endothermic dissociation catalyst for form a hydrogen-rich gaseous-vapor mixture,(d) mixing said hydrogen-rich gaseous-vapor mixture with air to form a partial combustion mixture,(e) operating an adiabatic reactor without a substantial amount of exhaust heat within an operational temperature range, said adiabatic reactor having a catalyst bed comprising a partial combustion catalyst and a dissociation catalyst,(f) contacting said partial combustion mixture and said partial combustion catalyst and said dissociation catalyst whereby a fuel mixture is formed.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a slurry of finely divided particulate solids in a liquid, the method consisting essentially of dispersing from about 1 to about 10 weight percent, based on the particulate solids, finely divided wood particles in the slurry, thereby improving the stability of the slurry.

Abstract: A process of tar destruction in gasification of carbonaceous material comprising providing a mixture of finely divided calcium compound of a particle size smaller than 65 mesh and finely divided carbonaceous material of a particle size smaller than 65 mesh, the calcium compound to carbonaceous material ratio being from about 0.5 to 1.0 and contacting the mixture with CO.sub.2 and tar exothermally whereby the tar is destroyed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for installing and removing a downhole rod pump form a well while preventing flow of fluids from the well through a production tubing string.

Abstract: High activity catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene and other .alpha.-olefins are made by contacting a soluble magnesium compound of the general formula Mg(OSiR.sub.3).sub.2, wherein each R is, independently, alkyl, alkoxy or aryl, with a titanium tetralkoxide (titanate) in a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon solution, followed by chlorination and precipitation by a suitable chlorinating agent. These catalysts show high activity for the polymerization of ethylene under slurry polymerization conditions.

Abstract: A method of forming a liquefied coal product having a lower sulfur percent by weight than the solid coal from which it is derived comprising the steps as follows:(a) providing solid coal having a sulfur percent by weight of a particle size less than about 14 Tyler mesh,(b) providing calcium oxide of a particle size less than about 40 Tyler mesh,(c) mixing said solid coal and said calcium oxide with liquefaction solvent to form a liquefaction mixture,(d) hydrogenating and heating said liquefaction mixture to at least about 750.degree. F. forming a liquefied coal product having residual coal solids and calcium sulfide solids,said liquefied coal product having a liquefied coal product sulfur percent by weight, which is less than said solid coal sulfur percent by weight.

Abstract: A high ash fusion catalyzed gasification process comprising providing a mixture of 50 to 90 weight percent finely divided carbonaceous material particles of a size smaller than 65 mesh and 10 to 50 weight percent finely divided calcium compound particles of a size smaller than 65 mesh,gasifying the carbonaceous material,the gasifying comprising heating the mixture of finely divided carbonaceous material and finely divided calcium compound to a temperature above the ash fusion temperature of the carbonaceous material and below the ash fusion temperature of the mixture to form a carbonaceous suspension of calcium compound whereby the calcium compound catalyzes the gasification.

Abstract: A method of separating fine coal particles from refuse particles comprising the step of:(a) providing a coal filter cake(b) forming a slurry of fine coal particles, refuse particles in a liquid mixture comprising water and organic liquid,(c) contacting said coal filter cake with said slurry,whereby a major portion of said water and a major portion of said refuse pass through said filter cake and a major portion of said organic liquid and a major portion of said fine coal particles pass across the top of said filter cake.

Abstract: Tethered or bottom-ballasted offshore platforms preferably have a pyramidal configuration. Struts connect the apexes of a polyhedron configuration to form a triangle defining each face. The pyramidal configuration can be ballasted to the bottom in relatively shallow water. A hexadron configuration can be tethered in deep water with tension members and flotation members.

Abstract: Internal olefins are subjected to metathesis closely coupled after an isomerization reaction to obtain desired molecular weight range linear olefins. Specific process steps and separation conditions are necessary to obtain the desired linear olefins.

Abstract: An improved sulfonate suitable for waterflooding is formed by sulfonating a blend of two alkyl aromatic feedstocks, one being a high molecular weight monoalkylbenzene while the second is a mixture of normal alkyl aromatic compounds such as monoalkyl benzenes, dialkylbenzenes, and diphenyl alkanes. This feedstock is either sulfonated after blending or before blending to provide a blended non-sulfonate/sulfonate ratio in the range of 0.10 to 0.25. The sulfonate effectiveness of this system increases as the non-sulfonate/sulfonate ratio increases.

Abstract: A damping device for use with acoustic information generation machines for isolating a generation portion of the generation device from contamination by extraneous acoustic emissions. A metal isolation piece consisting of a shape-memory alloy is disposed between an extraneous noise source and the generation portion of the device. Acoustic information generation devices in accordance with the present invention include phonograph record playing devices and testing devices for recording acoustic signals generated upon stressing a test piece. Thus, the present invention provides improved phonograph record playing devices and an improved testing device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting the presence of hydrocarbons and other substance that fluoresces or absorbs light within a body of water which utilizes a controlled submersible vehicle scanning at or near the water bottom. The method utilizes a selected frequency light source as carried by the submersible to scan the water bottom, and the returned light energy, either at the wavelength of oil fluorescing in water or the source frequency backscatter, is detected and processed for the water bottom as well as a water region that is a selected distance above the water floor. Alternative forms of apparatus are disclosed for carrying out the functions of both oil fluorescence detection, and for obtaining differential absorption readings as to light source backscatter energy that is created by the ambient water and other factors in the water environment such as marine life, turbidity, etc.

Abstract: A method is provided for the production of ultrahigh molecular weight drag reducing substances and the like comprising:(a) preparing under an inert atmosphere a catalyst comprising: p1 (1) titanium halide of the general formula TiX.sub.m wherein m=2.5 to 4.0;(2) a co-catalyst of the formula AlR.sub.n X.sub.3-n where R is a hydrocarbon radical, X is a halogen or hydrogen and n is 2 or 3;(3) a phosphorous compound of the formula PR.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 or P(OR.sub.1) (OR.sub.2) (OR.sub.3) where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are, independently, aryl, alkyl, aralkyl, or alkaryl, containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms and placing the catalyst in contact with;(b) alpha-monoolefinic hydrocarbons from C.sub.2 -C.sub.30 under suitable temperature conditions to provide a hydrocarbon soluble ultrahigh molecular weight polymer, then ceasing polymerization at a polymer content level of 20% by weight or less, based on the total reaction mixture.