Abstract: A centrifugal pump comprising a cylindrical outer housing having a fluid feed conduit concentrically arranged therein with the outer wall portions thereof spaced from the inner walls of this outer housing to provide a fluid discharge outlet therebetween and a stator secured to one end of said housing having fluid discharge channels open to said fluid discharge outlet and a rotor casing encompassing said stator rotatable relative thereto wherein air bubbles in the fluid feed are sheared in a deaerating chamber adjacent said stator and vent means provided for discharging air from the rotor casing.

Abstract: A method for treating the fine-grained spend absorbent (primarily calcium sulfite and calcium sulfate) from a dry flue gas desulfurization process. The absorbent, having a small amount of binder therein, is oxidized in a fluidized bed reactor at a temperature in the range from about 700.degree. C. to about 1000.degree. C. to produce a dry essentially fully oxidized pelletized calcium sulfate product.Calcium sulfate pellets having an average diameter of from about 0.5 mm to 5 mm and containing from about 1% to about 3%, by weight, of binder constituents, are composed of agglomerated calcium sulfate particles having an average diameter of from about 50.mu. to about 100.mu. bound to each other by the binder constituents.

Abstract: A pressure filter for separating a liquor from mud liquor slurry and for concentrating a filter cake as a heavy slurry discharge comprising a tank having a ring of filter elements supported by a plate which separates the filter tank from a filtrate chamber. The feed enters the tank under pressure through an enlarged feed cylinder tube located in the center of the ring of filter elements. In the backwashing mode of operation the feed rate is maintained or increased to assist in displacing filter cake from the filter elements.

Abstract: A low pressure filtration and thickening device comprising a tank having a plurality of suspended filter elements therein and a plurality of filtrate receiving compartments in the upper portion of the tank for receiving filtrate from the filter elements wherein a filtrate discharge system is provided for providing separate and uninterrupted flow paths for the filtrate from the filter tank to a storage tank.

Abstract: A strong, relatively inert filter cloth is impregnated with an ion exchange resin to provide, for an electrofiltration process, a reinforced solid polymeric electrolyte having ion transport properties and at the same time constituting a positive barrier to mass transport.

Abstract: A cyclone for use at elevated temperature and pressure has a refractory lining and a metallic vortex finder supported by a thermal sleeve.

Abstract: A treatment system for liquids includes apparatus for dissolving gas in the liquid and a container for providing the necessary reaction time between the gas and the liquid or constituents thereof. The device for dissolving the gas in the liquid includes gas injection means for introducing gas into the liquid and a contact chamber for containing a downflowing stream of the liquid to be treated. The pressure within the downflowing stream increases as it descends and at the elevated pressure the capacity of the liquid to take gas into solution is greatly increased. This apparatus for dissolving gas may conveniently be located below ground level. A conduit return means is provided for routing undissolved gas from a region at high pressure to an upstream portion of the liquid stream so that the gas can be reintroduced for dissolution.

Abstract: An electrically augmented vacuum filtration apparatus and process wherein a suspension of solids is dewatered in a bath located between electrodes of opposite polarity with intermediate biodes (a biode being in a sense a combined anode and cathode structure) positioned in the bath between the electrodes.

Abstract: A treatment system for liquids includes apparatus for dissolving gas in the liquid and a container for providing the necessary reaction time between the gas and liquid or constituents thereof. The device for dissolving the gas in the liquid includes gas injection means for introducing gas into the liquid and a contact chamber for containing a downflowing stream of the liquid to be treated. The pressure within the downflowing stream increases as it descends and at the elevated pressure the capacity of the liquid to take gas into solution is greatly increased. This apparatus for dissolving gas may conveniently be located below ground level. A conduit return means is provided for routing undissolved gas from a region at high pressure to an upstream portion of the liquid stream so that the gas can be reintroduced for dissolution.

Abstract: A motorized lifting mechanism for the rake arms of a sedimentation tank which comprise spaced vertical pairs of pivot link arms interconnecting the rake arm frame to a main center rake arm drive cage and wherein the rake arm frame is in turn interconnected to a motorized jack lifting screw by means of a cable to raise the arm upon the pivoting of the pivot arms.

Abstract: A surface skimmer means for a settling tank comprises curved skimmer blades extending across the diameter of the tank and are interconnected to and movable with the main rake structure of the tank wherein cam actuated means are provided for pivoting the blades about a pivot arm to the periphery of the tank to move floating material to a collector tank for discharge from the tank.

Abstract: A fluidized bed boiler having a water-wall type construction has a steam-water natural circulation system for heat exchange. Vertical in-bed heat exchange tubes are provided and the steam drum of the boiler extends across the full length of the boiler combustion chamber and the convection heat exchange chamber. An air distributor grate is provided for introduction of fluidizing air into the combustion chamber and the air flow therefrom can be controlled to afford a flexible turn-down capability.

Abstract: A nozzle type centrifuge having a bottom feed inlet to a main pumping chamber at the base of the machine for injecting the feed slurry to a rotor bowl having separator discs for effecting a two-fraction separation comprising an overflow at the top and an underflow at the peripheral mid portion of the bowl with a portion of the underflow delivered to a return pumping chamber beneath the main pumping chamber and seal means between said chambers to prevent dilution of the underflow fraction.

Abstract: A flotation separation cell is disclosed having a rotor-stator pump assembly wherein a rotor body comprises integrally formed hub, blade and top plate members. These members form a gas chamber in an upper sector of the rotor. The blades are curvilinear and of parabolic or vortex shape. A gas stream which is conveyed to the gas chamber is discharged from the gas chamber in a transverse direction and flows in gas pockets along surfaces of moving blades for dispersion in a slurry.

Abstract: A strong, relatively inert filter cloth is impregnated with an ion exchange resin to provide, for an electrofiltration process, a reinforced solid polymeric electrolyte having ion transport properties and at the same time constituting a positive barrier to mass transport.

Abstract: A fluid bed reactor includes an integral flow circulator which eliminates the need for recirculation equipment external to the reactor and permits utilization of multiple distributor modules to provide a wide range of reactor capacities.

Abstract: A cam-actuated stop member in an electrode stripping mechanism prevents any lifting of the electrode away from the hooked lifting elements during lowering of the electrode against the doctor blades and so avoids damaging the electrode and/or lifting elements by dropping the electrode after doctoring.

Abstract: Sulfur-containing atmospheric pollutants are effectively removed from exit gas streams produced in a fluidized bed combustion system by providing a fluidized bed of particulate material, i.e. limestone and/or dolomite wherein a concentration gradient is maintained in the vertical direction. Countercurrent contacting between upwardly directed sulfur containing combustion gases and descending sorbent particulate material creates a concentration gradient across the vertical extent of the bed characterized in progressively decreasing concentration of sulfur, sulfur dioxide and like contaminants upwardly and decreasing concentration of e.g. calcium oxide, downwardly. In this manner, gases having progressively decreasing sulfur contents contact correspondingly atmospheres having progressively increasing concentrations of calcium oxide thus assuring optimum sulfur removal.

Abstract: A system for the comminution of coal, slurry formation and feed of the coal slurry to a fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: An ultrafiltration step is used in the production of cream cheese to provide a cheese pre-mix which is cultured to form cream cheese without generating whey. The raw materials for this process include whole milk, cream and whey protein solids. The whey protein solids are substituted for the skim milk powder formerly used. Ultrafiltration yields a retentate having the butterfat and non-fat solids content required for cream cheese manufacture.