Abstract: Sulfur oxides (SO.sub.x) are scrubbed from combustion effluents with economies in capital and operating costs by virtue of an arrangement of spray header piping and nozzles which permits ease of access for service with reduced spacing (e.g., 0.5 to 1.25 meters) between spray levels. At least two spray levels in a spray zone include a plurality of spray header pipes arranged parallel to the other spray header pipes within a spray level and vertically parallel to spray header pipes in at least one adjacent spray level. Each of the spray levels includes a plurality of spray nozzles extending from said spray headers. A majority of nozzles in a reference spray level are positioned such that lines drawn between them form a pattern of squares with the nozzles located at the corners of the squares. And, a majority of nozzles in an adjacent spray level are positioned over the centers of squares defined by four nozzles in the reference spray level.

Abstract: Sulfur oxides (SO.sub.x) are scrubbed from combustion effluents with greater system reliability when an improved mist eliminator of the invention is employed. The mist eliminator has at least one section, preferably two sections, with two passes followed by an extended trailing edge. This design is shown in tests to be as effective as four pass designs, while being easier to clean. Encrustation and plugging are greatly reduced.

Abstract: Limestone is dried for grinding to very fine particles e.g., about 8.mu. or less with more than 99% of the particle by weight less than 44.mu., by utilizing waste heat from the flue gas from a large combustor. The finely-divided calcium carbonate is then introduced dry into a scrubbing tower where it mixes with and renews the slurry employed therein for scrubbing SO.sub.x -laden effluent.

Abstract: Sulfur oxides (SO.sub.x) are scrubbed from combustion effluents with aqueous limestone slurries with greater efficiency due to the use of an improved entrainment separator. In the preferred embodiment of a single-loop, counter-current limestone wet scrubber operating at bulk gas flow rates of greater than 4.5 meters per second, a vertical stream of flue gas is freed of a substantial portion of slurry droplets and diverted for effective mist removal by a well-drained, horizontal-flow mist eliminator. The entrainment separator is a single-pass device with individual blades aligned for effective operation with reduced droplet impingement on the upper walls (e.g., roof) of the scrubber and to permit periodic washing.

Abstract: Sulfur oxides (SO.sub.x) are scrubbed from combustion effluents with aqueous limestone slurries with greater efficiency and with economies in capital and operating costs. In the preferred embodiment of a single-loop, open-tower countercurrent limestone wet scrubber, effluent flow rates are greatly increased while L/G values and reaction tank residence times are decreased. Improved entrainment eliminator design, novel nozzle placement and spacing, and the use of a hydrocyclone to separate and recycle smaller particles of limestone from the byproduct gypsum, facilitate these advantages. The limestone is reduced to very fine particles, e.g. about 8.mu. or less with more than 99% of the particle by weight less than 44.mu., and introduced into a scrubbing slurry which is contacted with SO.sub.x -laden effluent.

Abstract: Limestone is dried for grinding to very fine particles e.g., about 8.mu. or less with more than 99% of the particle by weight less than 44.mu., by utilizing waste heat from the flue gas from a large combustor. The finely-divided calcium carbonate is then introduced dry into a scrubbing tower where it mixes with and renews the slurry employed therein for scrubbing SO.sub.x -laden effluent.

Abstract: Sulfur oxides (SO.sub.x) are scrubbed from combustion effluents with aqueous limestone slurries with greater efficiency due to the use of an improved entrainment separator. In the preferred embodiment of a single-loop, counter-current limestone wet scrubber operating at bulk gas flow rates of greater than 4.5 meters per second, a vertical stream of flue gas is freed of a substantial portion of slurry droplets and diverted for effective mist removal by a well-drained, horizontal-flow mist eliminator. The entrainment separator is a single-pass device with individual blades aligned for effective operation with reduced droplet impingement on the upper walls (e.g., roof) of the scrubber and to permit periodic washing.

Abstract: An oven module for use in industrial baking applications is disclosed having apparatus for accommodating the longitudinal thermal expansion in the interior walls of the oven module located intermediate the ends of the module. The oven module is easily assembled into an oven baking line because its ends are fixed and do not vary due to thermal expansion. Therefore, the present oven module alleviates numerous disadvantages in the shipping and assembly of an oven baking line which has been experienced with prior known oven modules. The floor, walls and roof of the oven module have both an interior and an exterior structure so that the interior surfaces of the oven module can be independently and rigidly supported. At opposite ends of the module, the interior and exterior structures for the floor, walls and roof are fixed to a common support member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the debris that enters the air inlet of a paint overspray scrubber includes at least an upper collection pond positioned above the air inlet. Lower collection ponds are placed beneath the upper collection pond in horizontally overlapping positions with the upper collection pond so that debris not settling in the upper collection pond will settle in the lower collection pond, providing coverage beneath an entire paint application zone. Debris settling in the collection ponds is removed by providing flush water to rinse the accumulated debris from the collection ponds for removal from the system. Such a system prevents clogging of the air inlet and accumulation of debris on flood sheets in an-air scrubber chamber.

Abstract: A coating material color change system includes a manifold having a first passageway through which a selected color flows during its selection, a plurality of coating material passageways intersecting the main passageway, and an equal plurality of coating material supply valves mounted to the manifold. Each coating material supply valve has a body and a member movable in the interior of the valve body for controlling the flow of the coating material to be supplied by that coating material supply valve through a respective coating material passageway to the main passageway, and a mechanism for actuating the member. The mechanism is controllable by a superatmospheric pressure fluid signal selectively to control the position of the member and thus the supply of the coating material to the first passageway. The manifold and valve bodies include second passageways and means for coupling the second passageways to a source of operating fluid under superatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A first bring up zone of a camel-back oven utilizes a plurality of short and/or medium wave infrared lamps to raise the component temperature up to a desired level. Once within the paint baking oven, the component enters into the bring up zone where a computer activates the requisite number of infrared lamps at the proper intensity to achieve the desired component temperature. While the infrared lamps are activated, inlet air is directed over the lamps to prevent them from overheating. The invention allows for smoother car finishes by preventing bubbling and pops and raises the component temperature more quickly than conventional dark radiation panels.

Abstract: A paint baking oven utilizes air flow throughout the oven to ventilate solvents and/or resins which evaporate off during the paint baking process. Air is continuously introduced through air seals located along the paint baking oven at various points. This ventilation air is directed toward the center of the paint baking oven where it is exhausted at a rate proportional to the rate at which the ventilation air is introduced into the paint baking oven. Removing the solvent and/or resin laden air from the paint baking oven results in a more desirable final finish on the component being baked.

Abstract: A convection air holding zone utilizes turbulent ejector air flow along paths parallel to the path of travel of the article being baked in a paint bake oven. Air recirculation means are provided within the convection air holding zone which filters dirt particles from the air and a heat source is applied to the air to compensate for temperature loss due to heat exchange with the article and oven walls. Maintaining a turbulent air flow over the articles being baked in the convection air holding zone helps insure an even temperature throughout the zone, thereby enabling a more consistent paint finish on the article.

Abstract: A paint spray booth utilizes longitudinal air flow along paths parallel to a path of travel through a tunnel in the booth of objects to be painted, the air flow directed inwardly from both entrance and exit ends of the tunnel. An exhaust duct for the inwardly directed, longitudinally flowing air is positioned between the entrance and exit ends and includes an exhaust slot which surrounds at least a portion of a paint spray application area within the tunnel for drawing out overspray-laden exhaust air. Maintaining flow of exhaust air along the path of travel of the painted objects increases paint transfer efficiency and minimizes contamination of paint recovered from the exhaust air. The invention finds particular advantage in powder spray booth applications and is adapted to modularization thereby enabling retrofitting of existing spray booths with apparatus arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention.

Abstract: Partitions in a paint spray booth are adjustably coupled to a grated ceiling of the booth and extend to preselected heights above a grated floor of the booth. The adjustable partitions define a paint spray application zone therebetween wherein air flow rate between the ceiling and the floor of the booth is chosen for optimum paint transfer and overspray removal efficiency, while air flow between the partitions and the booth outer walls may be much lower to conserve investment and running costs. Air flow reducers, such as adjustable perforated plates, are positioned on the grated ceiling above the low rate air flow spaces between the partitions and the outer walls.

Abstract: An apparatus for adsorptive filtering of contaminants from a gaseous stream is provided. The apparatus includes a frame member. The frame includes a base member which is rotatable about an axis. A plurality of walls are attached to the base member and extend axially therefrom to a top member for providing a plurality of circumferential segment areas. The walls include a radially inner side for defining an axially extending inner chamber and a radially outer side for defining an outer periphery. A plurality of adsorption elements, each having an axial first side and an axial second side, are axially spaced in each of said circumferential segment areas. A duct or the like radially directs contaminated air into at least an entire one of the segment areas.

Abstract: An apparatus for adsorptive filtering of contaminants from a gaseous stream is provided. The apparatus includes a frame member. The frame includes a base member which is rotatable about an axis. A plurality of walls are attached to the base member and extend axially therefrom to a top member for providing a plurality of circumferential segment areas. The walls include a radially inner side for defining an axially extending inner chamber and a radially outer side for defining an outer periphery. A plurality of adsorption elements, each having an axial first side and an axial second side, are axially spaced in each of said circumferential segment areas. A duct or the like radially directs contaminated air into at least an entire one of the segment areas.

Abstract: Method for cleaning the floor and sub-floor region of a paint spray booth by flooding with a cleaning solution and allowing the cleaning solution to soak on the various structures for a preselected period of time. The drains, scrubber section, and conveyor openings of the floor and sub-floor region must be blocked off to prevent the cleaning solution from exiting the booth. This method does not require the manual cleaning of the floor and sub-floor region thereby saving labor costs.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a traveling cleaner for textile machines, particularly ring spinners, operable to strip yarn ends from the whirls of the spindles for the bobbins of the ring spinner apparatus. A whirl cleaner blade is pivoted to the frame of the ring spinner adjacent each spindle so that its free blade end may be displaced into engagement with the whirl of the spindle by a jet of compressed air impinged against the blade. The compressed air is supplied by a nozzle suspended from the carriage of the pneumatic cleaner to impinge against the blade. The compressed air is fed from a central junction box under the track for the carriage through the energy chain which houses the power supply cables for the carriage. From the carriage, the compressed air is piped to the nozzle positioned at the level of the spindle whirls.

Abstract: A paint spray booth enclosure having fixed, outer walls and movable, inner walls. Many inner walls throughout the length of a paint spray booth enclosure could be placed such that the total air volume moving through the work stations inside the paint spray booth enclosure would be minimized, thus lowering energy costs and capital investment for related equipment.