Abstract: Farm animal biomass, such as the waste and shredded carcasses of poultry and hogs, and/or animal bedding, is incinerated by being delivered to the inlet of a duct. During a processing period the biomass is heated uniformly to a temperature while advanced through the duct by a feed screw without sufficient oxygen to support combustion. The temperature and processing time are sufficient for partially carbonizing the biomass into combustible gas and partially carbonized char. The char is discharged to a first combustion chamber to be combusted and converted to ash. The combustible gas is discharged to a second combustion chamber to be combusted within hot porous cylindrical ceramic combustors. A portion of the duct passes through the second combustion chamber in order to supply heat for partially carbonizing the biomass. Additional heat is provided by passing hot air through the feed screw. That hot air is discharged from the feed screw and supplied to the combustion chambers to support combustion therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting heat from a combustible material are disclosed which include the formation of a solid material strip of the combustible material, the formation of a series of spaced holes in the material strip, and the combustion of the material strip. The method and apparatus are particularly useful when a mixture of coal, clay, and lime is used as the combustible material, and the products of the combustion then include a structurally intact, solid residual strip composed substantially only of dehydrated clay and calcium sulfate, and a fluegas substantially free of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and micro fly-ash. Because of the stable and uniform combustion characteristic, it is also suitable for the co-combustion and reduction of most toxic and solid wastes into safe, recyclable residues.

Abstract: A four-electrode open-cell conductivity sensor for measuring the conductivity of ocean water. A simplified version of the conductivity sensor may be used as a standard conductivity cell for measurement of fluid conductivity in a laboratory, or for monitoring fluid conductivity in a chemical processing plant. The sensor includes opposed electrode pairs each of which include a hemispherical current electrode and a coaxial ring-shaped voltage electrode. In operation, an alternating current is generated across the opposed current electrodes and the resultant electric field is sensed by the voltage electrodes. A feedback circuit is utilized to adjust the amplitude of the electric current generated across the current electrodes so that the inphase potential across the voltage electrodes is maintained at a substantially constant level.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydraulic force-exerting machine, such as a trash compactor, punch press, etc., which is characterized by the use of a flexible container in the hydraulic system as the force-exerting means.