Abstract: An improved process and apparatus are disclosed for the supercritical water oxidation of organic waste materials which avoids or at least substantially reduces the corrosion and solids deposition problems associated with prior art techniques. According to this invention, externally heated supercritical water is fed to a platelet tube reactor to both protectively coat its inner surface and heat the waste stream to oxidation reaction conditions. Higher reaction temperatures can be used as compared to prior art processes, which significantly improves the reaction rate and permits smaller reactors to be used. The protective film of water on the reactor inner surface, coupled with the elimination of preheating of the waste material, substantially reduces solids deposition and corrosion.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the supercritical water oxidation of organic waste materials which avoids or at least substantially reduces the corrosion and solids deposition problems associated with prior art techniques and which provides for efficient heating of the waste material to reaction conditions. Externally heated supercritical water is fed to a compound platelet tube reactor. The compound reactor includes a reaction zone and inner (smaller) and outer (larger) concentric platelet tubes supported concentrically within a shell. The water fed to the reactor both protectively coats surfaces of the inner and outer platelet tubes facing the reaction zone and heats the waste stream to oxidation reaction conditions. Higher reaction temperatures can be used as compared to prior art processes, which significantly improves the reaction rate and permits smaller reactors to be used.

Abstract: Anti-vibration spacer elements are located between adjacent elongated heat exchanger tubes for operation at temperatures above ambient in a tubular type heat exchanger. The spacer elements are formed of metal alloys having a shape-memory characteristic and are placed between adjacent rows of elongated tubes in the heat exchanger, such as a steam generator or feed water heater, and are supported from a girth ring in the casing of the heat exchanger. When the heat exchanger operating temperature is increased above a transition temperature (TT) for the spacer metal, such as a temperature between -100.degree. F. and 1000.degree. F., the spacer element increases in its overall effective thickness dimension so as to provide a lateral loading force against the adjacent tube pairs, and thereby dampen and prevent undesired vibrations of the elongated tubes. The invention also provides a method for providing vibration dampening for elongated tubes in heat exchangers operating at -100.degree. to 1000.degree. F.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the supercritical water oxidation of organic waste materials which avoids or at least substantially reduces the corrosion and solids deposition problems associated with prior art techniques and which provides for efficient heating of the waste material to reaction conditions. Externally heated supercritical water is fed to a compound platelet tube reactor. The compound reactor includes a reaction zone and inner (smaller) and outer (larger) concentric platelet tubes supported concentrically within a shell. The water fed to the reactor both protectively coats surfaces of the inner and outer platelet tubes facing the reaction zone and heats the waste stream to oxidation reaction conditions. Higher reaction temperatures can be used as compared to prior art processes, which significantly improves the reaction rate and permits smaller reactors to be used.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus are disclosed for the supercritical water oxidation of organic waste materials which avoids or at least substantially reduces the corrosion and solids deposition problems associated with prior art techniques. According to this invention, externally heated supercritical water is fed to a platelet tube reactor to both protectively coat its inner surface and heat the waste stream to oxidation reaction conditions. Higher reaction temperatures can be used as compared to prior art processes, which significantly improves the reaction rate and permits smaller reactors to be used. The protective film of water on the reactor inner surface, coupled with the elimination of preheating of the waste material, substantially reduces solids deposition and corrosion.

Abstract: A process for producing mechanical power utilizing compressed and humidified hot air and a fuel, which are mixed together and combusted and the resulting hot combustion gas is expanded through a gas turbine. The air is initially compressed and intercooled against a water stream, and then further compressed and passed directly to a heat recovery unit where it is humidified using the water from the compressed air intercooling step. The compressed humidified air is further heated against hot turbine exhaust gas and combined with a fuel in a combustor, and the resulting hot combustion gas is expanded through a gas turbine to produce mechanical power needed for driving the air compression. The hot turbine exhaust gas is cooled countercurrently against the compressed humidified air stream and against the water stream, and then discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating electrical energy utilizing a boiler and a gas turbine powered by a carbonizer. A carbonizer is provided which produces low-Btu gases which are passed to a gas turbine for driving the turbine, and a char which is passed to a boiler for powering the boiler. The turbine utilizes the low-Btu gases as its sole source of power and is operated independently of the boiler.

Abstract: An integrated gasification combined cycle power generation system in which a carbonaceous material, such as coal, is gasified combusted in a gasifier to provide synthesis gas which mixes with ash produced as a result of the gasification. The mixture is cooled below the softening temperature of the ash before the gas is separated from the ash and is used to drive a gas turbine. Heat from the combustion process is removed from the gas and the ash and is used to produce steam.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion system in which a duct connects a reactor and a separator and extends within the furnace section of the reactor. The duct is wedge shaped, having an inlet width greater than its outlet width, and the bottom wall of the duct angles upwardly from the outer side wall of the duct. A portion of the duct extending within the furnace section is formed by cooling tubes which also form a portion of a side wall of the reactor, and a portion of the duct extending outside the furnace section is formed by cooling tubes which also form a portion of an outer wall of the separator. The portion of the duct extending within the furnace section is secured to the portion of the duct extending outside the furnace section to connect the reactor and separator without the use of expansion joints or seals.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor in which a bed of particulate material including fuel is formed in a furnace section. Air is passed through the bed at a velocity to fluidize said material and promote the combustion of the fuel. A cooler is located adjacent the vessel for receiving particulate material from the vessel and for removing heat from the material. Drain pipes are provided in the furnace section and in the cooler for selectively removing particulate material from the furnace section and the cooler.

Abstract: A reactor in which a plurality of vertical panels are disposed in a vessel and are constructed and arranged so as to form three combustion cells. Three of the panels each form a common wall between adjacent cells, and each cell is heated by a fluidized bed. Two of the cells operate as boilers and one as a gasifier. A method of driving a gas turbine utilizing the boilers and the gasifier described above.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustor including a combusting cell for generating flue gases and a gasifier cell for generating a low BTU combustible off-gas. The off-gas is discharged from the vessel and is combusted to raise the temperature of the flue gases before they are passed to a turbine.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the cyclone collection efficiency and recycle rate in a fluidized bed reactor in which air is introduced into the cyclone separator in a direction opposite to that of the flow of the flue gases and entrained solids. The air entrains a portion of the fine solids and passes same through the separator and to a heat recovery area to reduce the solid inventory reduction as needed.

Abstract: A method for explosively welding a tube to a tubesheet having a cladding extending over an outer surface thereof. A layer of material is bonded over the cladding which absorbs the energy from the shock wave formed by the explosive welding, to prevent breaking up the bond between the cladding and the tubesheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for expanding a tube into a bore formed in a tube sheet in which a tubular force-transmitting member extends within the tube coextensive with the portion of the tube to be expanded. An explosive is disposed in the bore of the force-transmitting member, so that the forces resulting from the explosion of the explosive are uniformly transferred by the force-transmitting member to expand the tube into the bore. A tubular barrier member extends between the force-transmitting member and the tube and has a portion projecting from the tube sheet, and a plug is disposed in the end of the projecting portion of the barrier member to contain the debris and gases resulting from the explosion.

Abstract: A method for removing sulfur compounds from flue gases in which a slurry of calcium oxide and water is formed and exothermically reacted to form a hydrate containing calcium hydroxide in substantially saturated solution. The calcium hydroxide is converted to relatively fine particles as the saturated liquid is flashed to steam. The fine particles are passed in a counter-flow relationship with the flue gases so that the sulfur compounds from the flue gases react with the calcium hydroxide in the particles to form calcium sulfate.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting and starting up a fluidized bed in which a grate is disposed in a housing for receiving a single bed of particulate material, portions of which are combustible. The interior of the housing below the grate is divided into a plurality of compartments, and an air damper is disposed in each for selectively controlling the flow of air through the compartments and through the respective portions of the grate to selectively fluidize the corresponding portions of the bed of particulate material. A start-up burner is provided for igniting that portion of the combustible portion of the bed of particulate material extending above one of the compartments and additional combustible particulate material is selectively supplied to the portions of the bed.

Abstract: A fluidized bed unit in which a grate is disposed in a housing to divide the housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A bed of particulate material including fuel is supported by the grate and extends in the upper chamber. The lower chamber has an inlet for receiving pressurized air for passing through the lower chamber, the grate, and the bed of particulate material to fluidize the particulate material. An electrical heating unit is provided for preheating the air as it passes through the lower chamber to ignite the fuel material during startup.

Abstract: A steam generator in which a high-velocity, combustion-supporting gas is passed through a bed of particulate material to provide a fluidized bed having a dense-phase portion and an entrained-phase portion for the combustion of fuel material. A first set of heat transfer elements connected to a steam drum is vertically disposed above the dense-phase fluidized bed to form a first flow circuit for heat transfer fluid which is heated primarily by the entrained-phase fluidized bed. A second set of heat transfer elements connected to the steam drum and forming the wall structure of the furnace provides a second flow circuit for the heat transfer fluid, the lower portion of which is heated by the dense-phase fluidized bed and the upper portion by the entrained-phase fluidized bed.