Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of contaminated materials including soils and solids to stabilize and reduce the mobility of heavy metal contaminated materials. Compositions and processes are disclosed for encapsulating and/or complexing certain heavy metals to render waste non-hazardous. Preferred treatment compositions include mixtures of monoammonium phosphate and bed ash which includes among other components, lime. The bed ash typically comprises lime, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, sulfur, and may comprise additional components such as, for example, magnesium oxide, and iron oxide. Processes are disclosed for using the treatment compositions at various application amounts, including relatively low application amounts, such as an amount of 5% by weight, to treat waste such as heavy metal contaminated soil to reduce the levels of certain heavy metals, and, in particular barium, to acceptable limits.

Abstract: A fuel flowmeter has a flowmeter with rotating impellers with meshed lobes rotatable in partially cylindrical housings joined in a case having an inlet at one side and an outlet at an opposite side. Fuel moves in the inlet filling voids between lobes in both impellers and moves cylindrically around opposite partially cylindrical walls and turning the impellers until reaching the outlet. Flow conditioners in the inlet and outlet allows smooth flow, reducing turbulence and promoting lamellar flow into and out of the case. One of the rotors may have a magnetic marker. A transmitter with a Hall effect sensor is mounted on the case. A signal conditioning software is connected to the Hall effect sensor for adjusted transmitted information according to measured pulse rate and a standard flow.

Abstract: The present invention is a flow control actuator capable of exciting a fluid via the coupling of edge tones generated along a wedge and resonance generated within a cavity. The invention consists of a resonance cavity and ejector port separated by a wedge with fluid flow provided by a pressurized cavity and directed through a throat over the wedge. Several actuators may be arranged independently or in a coupled arrangement to generate a pulsed fluid field of desired shape.

Abstract: A gas flow rate measurement apparatus for obtaining a normalized flow rate of a gas having at least one liquid component. The gas travels from an upstream position and in a downstream direction.

Abstract: A valve system that affords up stream isolation and recirculation of fluid flowing along a flow path, while simultaneously enabling a purge process to be performed is provided. The valve system allows recirculating fluid flow on a supply side thereof, while enabling componentry on a load side thereof to undergo maintenance, for maintaining the temperature and flow rate of supply side fluid. Upon completion of maintenance, setup or initialization time is reduced, since the supply fluid is continuously recirculating. Fluid flow rate and temperature are constant on the supply side, for reducing wear on temperature control devices. The supply side is preferably mechanically isolated from load side componentry during maintenance for eliminating contamination of critical components on the supply side, so that the system is suited for use with process equipment.

Abstract: A chemical additive for cleaning a well drilling system and equipment includes an alcohol, preferably a terpene, and either an ether amine or a base fluid or combination of the two. The additive can be mixed with an aqueous solution that may be a water, salt or brine solution.

Abstract: An adjustable fluid valve assembly includes a body that is operable to receive a spool that can be adjusted to vary the flow rate of the valve assembly. A lock nut secures the spool to the body and maintains the flow rate during operation of the valve assembly. The spool has a plurality of radially extending passages that allows fluid to be evenly distributed around the perimeter of the spool in a balanced manner in order to deliver a smooth continuous flow of fluid to an internal passage of the spool. An alternative embodiment employs a swivel fitting connected to the spool to allow adjustment of the fluid flow without disturbing the piping connected to the valve assembly.

Abstract: A process for cleaning a well system and equipment has been developed using a chemical additive that includes an alkene alcohol, preferably a terpene, and either an ether amine or base fluid or combination of the two. The additive can be used in an aqueous or salt solution. The process includes circulating the chemical additive in the well system with spacer fluids.

Abstract: An improved chemical composition and process for cleaning pipe dope from wellbores has been established. The chemical composition is of an aliphatic hydrocarbon and/or esters with a biodegradable water insoluble monoterpene preferably having a flash point (PMCC) greater than 140.degree. F. the mixture then used neat, or in a dispersion of seawater, being used to remove pipe dope from tubing, casing and the like.

Abstract: A cleaning tool for tubular members has a pattern of scratching elements arranged on the outside of an elongate member such as a mandrel. The mandrel is coated with a rigid or resilient polymeric material or a combination of both. The scratching elements are affixed in the polymeric material in an arrangement to allow fluid flow around the mandrel.

Abstract: A tool for cleaning oil, gas, and water well wall casing is disclosed. The cleaning tool includes a cylindrical member and a helical swath of scratching elements affixed to the side walls of the cylindrical member positioned for scouring the interior wall of the casing. Also included in the side walls of the cylindrical member is a helical channel adjacent to the swath of scratching elements. Typically, a workstring maneuvers the tool through the casing under mechanical force. Fluid is circulated through the channel of the tool to carry to the surface the loosened debris scoured from the interior wall of the casing. A method of cleaning a well casing is also disclosed. The method includes the use of a tool with scratching elements and flow channels, which tool can be used either with or without cleaning solvents.

Abstract: A mechanical displacement flowmeter calibrator has a first fluid line external of the measuring cylinder of the calibrator connected between the inlet and outlet thereof. A flowmeter that produces flow-representative passes is connected in the fluid line. A rod is connected to a measuring piston adapted to travel through the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier. The rod draws the measuring piston through the measuring cylinder at a predetermined, constant speed and thereby determines the flow rate of the calibration. A reservoir means, connected to the measuring cylinder, is provided which maintains the pressure within the measuring cylinder at a substantially constant value. The displacement of the measuring piston is sensed as it travels through the measuring cylinder during a test run, while the pulses produced by the flowmeter are counted during the time interval in which the piston displaces a given volume. The flowmeter is preferably connected in the fluid line at the pressure null point.

Abstract: A moveable fluid barrier (16) is driven from an upstream position to a downstream position through a measuring cylinder (18) connected fluidically in series with the flowmeter (22) under test to induce fluid flow therethrough at a flow rate related to the movement of the barrier. The response of the flowmeter is sensed during a plurality of time intervals as the barrier is driven through the conduit from the upstream position toward the downstream position in the course of a test run. The movement of the fluid barrier is also sensed (28) during these intervals. From the flowmeter response and the fluid barrier movement, a K-factor sample is determined for each interval. The K-factor samples are compared (12) with each other to selected a valid K-factor data point for the particular test run. Specifically, the criterion for determining a valid K-factor data point is the variation between K-factor samples under comparison.

Abstract: A mechanical displacement flowmeter calibrator has a first fluid line external of the measuring cylinder of the calibrator connected between the inlet and outlet thereof. A flowmeter that produces flow-representative passes is connected in the fluid line. A rod is connected to a measuring piston adapted to travel through the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier. The rod draws the measuring piston through the measuring cylinder at a predetermined, constant speed and thereby determines the flow rate of the calibration. A reservoir means, connected to the measuring cylinder, is provided which maintains the pressure within the measuring cylinder at a substantially constant value. The displacement of the measuring piston is sensed as it travels through the measuring cylinder during a test run, while the pulses produced by the flowmeter are counted during the time interval in which the piston displaces a given volume. The flowmeter is preferably connected in the fluid line at the pressure null point.

Abstract: A fluid displacement measuring cylinder has near its ends, respectively, an inlet and an outlet. A fluid displacement measuring piston is adapted to travel through the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier. A control piston having first and second sides is adapted to travel through the control cylinder as a fluid barrier. A rod connects the control piston only to the side of the measuring piston facing toward one end of the measuring cylinder. A gas pressurized plenum chamber is connected to the control cylinder so the force of the gas pressure urges the measuring piston toward the other end of the measuring cylinder. The movement of the measuring piston through the measuring cylinder is sensed and the movement of the control piston through the control cylinder is fluidically controlled. The pressure in the plenum chamber, which has a substantially larger volume than the control cylinder, is selected so as to cancel the force imbalance caused by the rod.

Abstract: A freely rotatable turbine is placed in the path of flowing fluid to drive the turbine at an angular velocity that, at steady state, is dependent upon the linear velocity of the flowing fluid. A transient condition is created in the angular velocity of the turbine. The time constant of the transient condition is determined. The time constant is representative of the density of the flowing fluid--the shorter the time constant, the higher the density and vice versa. The transient condition is created by disturbing the free rotation of the turbine, namely, by imnpairing free rotation to reduce the angular velocity of the turbine to zero, and then permitting the turbine to return to free rotation.

Abstract: A flow meter includes a flow channel having walls and defining a direction of flow. Stators are provided, having walls, disposed at least partially within the flow channel. A rotor is included for rotating with respect to the stator. A one piece retainer is provided for assisting in limiting axial rotor movement comprising a first pair of spaced apart wall portions for engaging the flow channel walls wherein each wall portion in the first pair of wall portions is located on a side of an axis opposite from the other. A second wall portion is located on the axis for engaging the stator wall wherein compression of each of the first pair of wall portions toward the axis results in a component of force being applied to the second wall portion along the axis.

Abstract: A mass flowmeter uses a transducer comprised of a small block of insulating material. The transducer has a bypass channel and a detector channel passing through it. The bypass channel is used to bypass most of the flow so that the flowmeter can handle a large flow range without overloading the detector. Depending on the flow range to be measured, the bypass channel may contain calibrated resistances to the flow to force appropriate flow amounts to the detector. The detector channel has a carefully controlled cross-section and contains three thermistor beads mounted along a line parallel to the flow direction. The center thermistor is heated by a constant current or constant temperature source. The remaining two thermistors are placed upstream and downstream of the heated thermistor bead at equal distances. The voltages developed across the two outside thermistors due to heat transfer caused by the flow are provided to a differential amplifier to generate a direct mass flow measurement.

Abstract: A mechanical displacement flowmeter calibrator has a first fluid line external of the measuring cylinder of the calibrator connected between the inlet and outlet thereof. A flowmeter that produces flow-representative pulses is connected in the fluid line. A rod is connected to a measuring piston adapted to travel through the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier. The rod drives the measuring piston through the measuring cylinder at a predetermined, constant speed and thereby determines the flow rate of the calibration. The displacement of the measuring piston is sensed as it travels through the measuring cylinder during a test run, while the pulses produced by the flowmeter are counted during the time interval in which the piston displaces a given volume. The flowmeter is preferably connected in the fluid line at the pressure null point. First and second annular edge seals around the periphery of the measuring piston form an annular cavity into which pressurized fluid, preferably a lubricant, is injected.

Abstract: A measuring cylinder has at its ends an inlet and an outlet connected in a fluid system in series with a flowmeter. A measuring piston is adapted to travel through the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier. A poppet valve on the inlet side of the measuring piston is adapted to seal a passage through the measuring piston when closed so the measuring piston travels through the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier, and to permit fluid flow through the passage when open. A retracting piston is adapted to travel through a retracting cylinder having a smaller cross-sectional area than the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier. A rod is connected between the retracting cylinder and the poppet valve to open and close the poppet valve as the retracting piston moves relative to the measuring piston.