Abstract: The integrity of mine roofs and rock bolts is tested by determining the natural frequencies of the roof and bolt. The roof is struck at a plurality of locations and the resulting vibrations sensed with accelerometers. The output of each accelerometer is separated into a plurality of signals of different frequencies by a comb filter having selected band passes. The amplitude of the outputs of each of the band passes of the filter are used to determine the condition of the roof and bolt adjacent each accelerometer. The high amplitude signal resulting from the initial impact of the striking implement is electrically gated from the accelerometer output.

Abstract: A zone of increased heat and enhanced fluid mobility is established between an injection well and a production well vertically traversing a heavy oil (bitumen, tar) reservoir by (a) first horizontally hydraulically fracturing between the wells, and (b) then injecting hot water and/or steam into the injection well at a very high rate, at a sufficient pressure, and for a sufficient time (holding sufficient back pressure on the production well if needed) to float the formation along the fracture system between the wells, to effect channel flow of fluids through the floated fracture system (with production from the production well), and to effect effective and uniform heating of substantial reservoir volume perpendicular to the channel flow. Thereupon, other thermal methods such as matrix flow steam flooding can be employed to recover additional oil.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement in the known process of making a coking feedstock from non-caking or weakly caking coals for slot-type coke ovens wherein the coal is subjected to solvent extraction; and at least the non-distillable extract in the effluent slurry product, after removal of part or all of the solvent, is mixed with carbonaceous solids to serve as a binder therefor. The improvement resides in the use of fluidizer char (which is produced by the low temperature carbonization of coal in a fluidized bed) as the carbonaceous solids. The fluidizer char is preferably mixed with the coal extract slurry (after removal of solvent) in a liquid state at elevated temperatures under pelletizing and non-carbonizing conditions. The pelletized product, after cooling and crushing, is suitable as part or all of the coking feedstock for coke ovens.

Abstract: In a process for agglomerating finely divided carbonaceous solids from an aqueous slurry containing from about 10 to 40 weight percent finely divided solids comprising finely divided carbonaceous solids and finely divided inorganic solids, comprising:(a) mixing the slurry with an amount of oil to produce agglomerates of the carbonaceous solids containing from about 10 to 15 weight percent oil; and,(b) recovering the agglomerates as a product,an improvement comprising:(c) admixing oil in an amount of about 40 to 70 weight percent based on the weight of finely divided solids with the slurry to produce a mixture; and,(d) mixing clean, finely divided carbonaceous solids with the mixture to produce agglomerates containing from about 12 to about 15 weight percent oil,whereby an aqueous slurry containing finely divided carbonaceous solids which do not agglomerate upon the addition of from about 10 to 30 weight percent oil can be agglomerated.

Abstract: A method for producing ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in a molar ratio (NH.sub.3 /H.sub.2 S) from about 2.8 to about 3.7 from an aqueous ammonium thiosulfate solution by a method consisting essentially of: (a) contacting the aqueous ammonium thiosulfate solution with hydrogen sulfide at a temperature from about 260.degree. to about 360.degree. F. (125.degree. to 182.degree. C.) at a pressure greater than 100 psig to react at least about 70 percent of the thiosulfate to produce an aqueous solution containing ammonium polysulfide; and (b) heating the resulting aqueous ammonium polysulfide solution to produce ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in a molar ratio (NH.sub.3 /H.sub.2 S) from about 2.8 to about 3.7 and sulfur.

Abstract: A gasification process is disclosed using a synthetic CO.sub.2 acceptor consisting essentially of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide and calcium carbonate supported in a refractory carrier matrix, the carrier having the general formula Ca.sub.5 (SiO.sub.4).sub.2 CO.sub.3. A method for producing the synthetic CO.sub.2 acceptor is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for producing hardened carbonaceous agglomerates from a feedstock selected from the group consisting of finely divided coal solids, finely divided coal-derived solids and hydrocarbonaceous binders is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for compacting, degassing and carbonizing carbonaceous agglomerates, the apparatus comprising a rotary kiln having an agglomerate inlet means for introducing green agglomerates into the kiln near the inlet of the kiln and a heating medium inlet for introducing a heating medium comprising a finely divided solid into the kiln at a preselected location intermediate the inlet end of the kiln and the outlet end of the kiln to produce a mixture at a temperature above the carbonizing temperature of the agglomerates and a sieve positioned to receive the products from the rotary kiln and separate the heating medium and the compacted, degassed, carbonized agglomerate product. A method for producing compacted, degassed, carbonized carbonaceous agglomerates by the use of the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in the regeneration system of aqueous regenerative processes for the removal of SO.sub.2 from SO.sub.2 -containing gas streams which have a scrubbing system containing (1) a scrubbing zone through which a recirculating stream of sodium or potassium thiosulfate solution continuously passes as a vehicle for the SO.sub.2 absorbent, sodium or potassium carbonate, under conditions favorable to the formation of sulfite by the reaction of carbonate and SO.sub.2 and (2) a thiosulfate generation zone in which the sulfite is converted by reaction with a sulfide to thiosulfate. The improvement comprises converting, in a regeneration system, the net make of thiosulfate to a mixture of sulfide and carbonate by first converting the thiosulfate to sulfate, then reducing the sulfate to sulfide; and thereafter partially carbonating the sulfide to form a mixture of sulfide and carbonate for return to the scrubbing system.

Abstract: An improved process for making metallurgical coke is provided as follows. An effluent slurry consisting essentially of coal extract, solvent and undissolved coal is obtained from the liquefaction of coal by solvent extraction. Solvent is removed from the slurry by distillation to produce a bottoms product which contains non-distillable extract, undissolved coal and residual solvent. The bottoms product is flowable at elevated temperatures below its carbonizing temperature and solidifiable at lower temperatures. The bottoms product is blended with sufficient finely divided hot coaly solids (unsuitable per se for making metallurgical coke) in a hot blending zone which is maintained at a temperature above the softening point of the non-distillable coal extract and below the coking temperature thereof to produce a solidifiable product which, in particulate solidified state, serves as part or all of the feedstock to a coking zone to produce coke suitable for use in a blast furnace.

Abstract: In methods for combusting carbonaceous sulfur-containing fuels in a fluidized bed wherein the fluidized bed contains at least one calcium compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and calcium bicarbonate to absorb sulfur oxides formed during the combustion of the carbonaceous fuel thereby producing calcium sulfoxy compounds having the formula CaSO.sub.x wherein x is 3 or 4, an improvement comprising (a) withdrawing a stream of fluidized bed solids containing said calcium sulfoxy compounds and mixing the fluidized bed solids and said calcium sulfoxy compounds with water to produce a slurry; (b) reacting the CaSO.sub.x compounds with NH.sub.3, H.sub.2 O and CO.sub.2 to produce water-soluble ammonium sulfoxy compounds such as NH.sub.4 (HSO.sub.x) where x is 3 or 4 and CaCO.sub.3 ; and (c) separating the ammonium sulfoxy compounds from the fluidized bed solids and CaCO.sub.3.

Abstract: A method for converting calcium sulfoxy compounds selected from the group consisting of CaSO.sub.x and Ca(HSO.sub.x).sub.2 and their hydrates wherein x is 3 or 4 into calcium carbonate, the method consisting essentially of; converting the Ca(HSO.sub.x).sub.2 compounds into CaSO.sub.x compounds by reacting the Ca(HSO.sub.x).sub.2 compounds with calcium carbonate in the presence of water, thereafter reacting the CaSO.sub.x compounds with ammonia and carbon dioxide in the presence of water to produce NH.sub.4 (HSO.sub.x) wherein x is 3 or 4 and calcium carbonate, thereafter separating the NH.sub.4 (HSO.sub.x) and calcium carbonate and reacting the NH.sub.4 (HSO.sub.x) with carbon to produce ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and carbon oxides.

Abstract: A synthetic CO.sub.2 acceptor comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide and calcium carbonate supported in a refractory carrier matrix of the general formula 3CaO(SiO.sub.2).sub.x (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3).sub.1-x wherein x is from about 0 to about 1.0.

Abstract: An improved method for increasing alumina pore volumes said alumina being produced by the hydrolysis of aluminum alkoxides, the improvement comprising diluting the aluminum alkoxide, prior to entering the hydrolysis reactor, with an alkanol containing from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and injecting the dilute solution into the reactor at high velocities.

Abstract: A gasoline boiling range hydrocarbon stream obtained by fractionation of overhead vapors from a delayed coker is treated for removal of organic silicon compounds prior to being processed in a desulfurizer and catalytic reformer. The stream is treated by a bed of material such as alumina, activated alumina or spent alumina-based desulfurizer catalyst at elevated temperature to reduce the level of organic silicon compounds. The organic silicon compounds, if not removed, are detrimental to desulfurizer and reformer catalysts. The organic silicon compounds are conventionally added to a delayed coker to control foaming.

Abstract: A coal liquefaction process is provided in which a hydrogen donor solvent is used to at least partially liquefy the coal. The process is maintained in hydrogen donor solvent balance by treatment of products obtained in the course of the coal liquefaction process. The required balance is achieved by catalytically hydrocracking a selected portion of the relatively high boiling distillable components obtained by intensive extraction of the coal. The underlying premise is that the high boiling components of a deeply extracted coal include hydrogen donor solvents or hydrogenatable precursors thereof which may be selectively recovered by solvent fractionation to yield the desired aromatic hydrocarbons for such solvent or precursor.

Abstract: A coal liquefaction process is provided in which a hydrogen donor solvent is used in the liquefaction of the coal. The process is designed to maintain the hydrogen donor solvent in balance by hydrogenation of the spent hydrogen donor solvent and precursors of the hydrogen donor solvent which are generated in steps of the overall liquefaction process. The principal sources of the desired hydrogenatable precursors are a solids-free and benzene insolubles-free portion of the coal extract, and particularly the coker distillates generated by coking a non-distillable hydrocracked fraction of said solids-free and benzene insolubles-free portion.

Abstract: A coal liquefaction process is provided in which a hydrogen donor solvent is used to at least partially liquefy the coal. The process is maintained in hydrogen donor solvent balance by treatment of selected products obtained in the course of the coal liquefaction process. The required balance is achieved by a series of inter-related operations performed on a hydrofined portion of a solids-free fraction of the coal extract. The inter-related operations include the recovery of an aromatic hydrocarbon-rich portion from the solids-free fraction by selective recovery from the solids-free fraction and from the products of a catalytic cracking operation wherein the remaining portion of the solids-free fraction is used as a feedstock. The aromatic hydrocarbon-rich portion boils within the range of the hydrogen donor solvent, and serves as makeup solvent for the required maintenance of solvent balance.

Abstract: A coal liquefaction process is provided in which a hydrogen donor solvent is used in the liquefaction of the coal. The process is designed to maintain the hydrogen donor solvent in balance by hydrogenation of the spent hydrogen donor solvent and selected precursors of the hydrogen donor solvent which are generated in selected steps of the overall liquefaction process. The principal sources of the desired hydrogenatable precursors are a hydrogenated solids-free and benzene insolubles-free portion of the coal extract, and particularly the coker distillates generated by coking a non-distillable hydrocracked fraction of said hydrogenated solids-free and benzene insolubles-free portion.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in the regeneration system of agueous regenerative processes for the removal of SO.sub.2 from SO.sub.2 -containing gas streams which have a scrubbing system containing (1) a scrubbing zone through which a recirculating stream of sodium, potassium or ammonium thiosulfate solution continuously passes as a vehicle for the SO.sub.2 absorbent--sodium, potassium, or ammonium carbonate--under conditions favorable to the formation of sulfite by the reaction of carbonate and SO.sub.2 and (2) a thiosulfate generation zone in which the sulfite is converted by sulfide to thiosulfate. The improvement comprises converting in a regenerating system, the net make of thiosulfate to sulfide and carbonate by converting one portion of the thiosulfate to formate and the reacting the other portion with said formate.