Abstract: A valve assembly for a pressurized fluid vessel such as a propane tank has a housing defining a main fluid passageway therebetween with a valve seat (734) defined in the main passageway, a main valve member (742) movable against the valve seat (734) to block the passageway, an insert (738) defining an internal chamber within the interior of the housing within which the main valve member (742) is disposed, a secondary fluid flow passageway through the insert (738), through a conduit (748) connected to the main valve body, and through openings (751) in an end of the conduit (748) facing second ports opening into the vessel, and a secondary valve member (760) movable to block the openings (751) under the action of a float (721) on a predetermined fluid level being reached, thereby exposing the main valve member (742) to a pressure differential to close the valve.

Abstract: A drill stem stabilizer used in a decoking apparatus that includes a drill stem and a drilling structure on which the drill stem is supported for vertical movement above and within a coke drum. The stabilizer includes a bearing and a support member. The bearing is adapted to guide the longitudinal movement of the drill stem. The support member extends laterally from the bearing and attaches to the drilling structure, and maintains the bearing in a position to guide the drill stem as it is moved into or out of the coke drum. In one embodiment, the drilling structure includes a pair of substantially vertical guide rails, and the support member attaches to the guide rails.

Abstract: A top-supported circulating fluidized bed boiler system includes a furnace, having sidewalls of a tube wall construction, for combusting fuel and producing combustion products, a particle separator, connected to the furnace, for separating particles from the combustion products from the furnace, an external, preferably non-cooled, heat exchange chamber connected to the particle separator for removing heat from the combustion products, a return duct, connected to the heat exchange chamber, for returning particles separated by the separator to the furnace, a rigid support construction for supporting elements of the system, and a suspension arrangement for suspending the heat exchange chamber from the rigid support construction. The suspension arrangement includes, for preferably 60% or more of its length, at least one of steam tubes and water tubes at a temperature of about 300 to about 550° C.

Abstract: A nozzle for feeding combustion maintaining medium into a furnace at high temperature conditions includes a nozzle tip, at least partly protruding into the furnace, and a feeding mechanism for feeding the combustion medium from a source of the medium to the nozzle tip. The nozzle tip includes a mainly open ended outer shell, an air cooling zone, a shroud, and an air channel. The outer shell includes a first end wall portion in flow connection with the feeding mechanism and a second end wall portion protruding into the furnace. The cooling zone is formed on the interior side of at least a portion of the second end wall portion of the outer shell, by providing an air flow along the interior side. The shroud includes a shroud wall portion disposed to cover at least a portion of the first end wall portion of the outer shell.

Abstract: A method of reducing vibration in a bank of tubes due to fluid crossflow, the tubes having substantially parallel longitudinal axes. The method includes the steps of selecting a plurality of tubes from the bank of tubes and interconnecting the selected tubes so as to restrain motion of the selected tubes relative to one another in at least one direction, transverse to the longitudinal axes of the tubes, while permitting each of the selected tubes to rotate on its longitudinal axis and expand and contract in a region adjacent to the interconnection. Also disclosed are various apparatus for reducing vibration in a bank of tubes due to fluid crossflow.

Abstract: A mechanism for selectively securing a cover to a flange of a pressure vessel. A plurality of such devices can be employed, using a plurality of studs that extend through matching openings in the flange and cover. A movable anchor plate or plates, also with holes through which each stud extends, is disposed adjacent to the flange or cover. The head of each stud will fit through its associated hole of the anchor plate (and into the opening of the closer one of the flange or cover) only if the anchor plate is properly oriented. When the anchor plate is so oriented, a piston head at the opposite end of the stud can be actuated away from the flange and cover to retract the stud head into the opening of the flange or cover. This protects the stud when the cover is disengaged from the flange. The stud can be biased in the opposite direction to permit the anchor plate to be reoriented into a position in which the stud head cannot pass through the anchor plate, so the stud can clamp the flange and cover together.

Abstract: An air nozzle for introducing secondary air into a furnace and including a housing provided with an inlet at one end thereof for receiving air and an outlet at the other end thereof for discharging the air. A damper is disposed in the housing in the path of the air for splitting the flow of the air into two flow streams which extend to different areas of the furnace and is adapted for pivotal movement in the housing to vary the amount of air flow in each of the streams and the discharge angle of one of the streams.

Abstract: A heater includes a radiant section having a wall and a roof, the roof having a longitudinal opening. A radiant heat exchange tube is disposed in the radiant section, and the tube has an inlet and outlet through which a process fluid can be carried respectively into and out of the radiant section. The tube between the inlet and outlet is arranged in generally horizontal tube lengths. A plurality of burners is provided, at least two of the burners being disposed on opposing sides of the tube. A plurality of tube supports is releasably positioned at longitudinal intervals along the tube lengths and define tube seats on which the tube lengths rest. The tube and tube supports are liftable as a unit through the longitudinal opening of the roof of the radiant section.

Abstract: An air nozzle for introducing secondary air into a furnace and including a housing provided with an inlet at one end thereof for receiving air and an outlet at the other end thereof for discharging the air. A damper is disposed in the housing in the path of the air for splitting the flow of the air into two flow streams which extend to different areas of the furnace and is adapted for pivotal movement in the housing to vary the amount of air flow in each of the streams and the discharge angle of one of the streams.

Abstract: A burner assembly in which an inlet is located at one end of a tubular member thereof for receiving a fuel/air mixture, and an outlet is located at the other end of the tubular member for discharging the mixture. Secondary air is directed towards the outlet and a register vanes are provided in the path of secondary air flow for regulating the quantity of air flowing through the paths. A stabilizer vane extends from the outer surface of the burner housing and is constructed and arranged to stabilize the secondary air flow without affecting the discharge of the fuel from the burner.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor and a method of operating same in which a bed of particulate material is supported on a grate in an enclosure. Air is passed through the grate to fluidize the particulate material and promote the combustion of the fuel. At least one separating unit is disposed adjacent each of two walls forming the enclosure for receiving the mixture of air, the gaseous products of combustion and the relative fine particulate material entrained by the air and gaseous products of combustion. Each separating unit operates to separate the particulate material from the mixture, and a distributor unit is associated with each separating unit for receiving the separated particulate material and distributing it to the bed at multiple locations.

Abstract: An integral nuclear reactor having between the core and the reactor shell an annular passage in which is situated at least one bundle of tubes leading to and from an outlet and inlet header respectively to which they are butt welded. Heated fluid from the reactor core flows around the tubes causing a cross-flow heat exchange with the fluid in the tubes. Preferably some of the tubes in the upper region of the or each bundle near where they are welded to the headers are bent so that they lie in a higher plane than others in the bundle, thereby offering a greater welding area to the headers.

Abstract: In horizontal tubes in which water evaporates steam tends to separate as an upper layer and, when such tubes are heated by hot gases passing downwardly over them, the upper regions which are in contact with steam and not water tend to overheat and be subject to corrosion. This is overcome according to the invention by covering the upper regions with shields, preferably of inverted V shape, which prevent the hot gases impinging on these regions. The tubes form part of a heat exchanger which can, for example, be an evaporator tube bank positioned in a convection pass in a steam boiler.