Abstract: A compressible gas ejector is configured to present unexpanded motive gas to a load gas, wherein the interface of the unexpanded motive gas and the load gas can be located in a suction chamber or within a downstream diffuser. The ejector includes a motive funnel for increasing the velocity of a relatively high pressure motive gas, the motive funnel substantially precluding adiabatic expansion of the motive gas.

Abstract: A system for instantaneously heating water has a heat exchanger for heating cold water to produce overheated water; a hot water supply member connected to a first intake of the heat exchanger; a cold water supply member connected to a second intake of the heat exchanger; and a blending valve having two intakes and an outtake. A hot water outlet member is connected to an outtake of the heat exchanger and to the intake of the blending valve. The cold water supply member is also connected to the blending valve. The blending valve has a chamber for blending the cold water with the overheated water from the heat exchanger to produce blended hot water at a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A heat exchange method and apparatus having a cooled fluid flowing in contact with a first surface of a heat exchange wall and a cooling fluid flowing in contact with a second surface of the wall. At least one temperature sensor is located to directly monitor the temperature of the first surface. Flow of the cooling fluid is throttled when the temperature of the first surface drops at least 50 degrees below the freezing temperature of the cooled fluid.

Abstract: A method for reducing residual ammonia gas from a steam in a steam condenser. The method includes forming a condensate and a residual gas in a first stage, then forming a condensate curtain in the second stage and passing the residual gas through the condensate curtain prior to exiting the steam condenser. The method may be employed to remove ammonia and carbon dioxide gas from a geothermal steam.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a housing for retaining a coil bundle, wherein the housing includes a first and second movable end for contacting one housing end with one end of the coil bundle and the remaining housing end with the second end of the coil bundle. The housing includes a sliding seal between the movable ends to permit relative motion between the ends while maintaining a sealed relation therebetween. Each movable end includes an aperture and a corresponding fastener for engaging the adjacent portion of the coil bundle to draw the coiled bundle against the respective end, thereby permitting removal of one end of the housing upon removal of a single fastener.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a required deaerating temperature differential between incoming water and sparge steam in a steam generation system having a vacuum deaerator. The present invention selectively combines raising the energy of the sparge steam with flash cooling of the incoming water to provide the required deaerating temperature differential. The energizing of the sparge steam is accomplished by a thermocompression device. The thermocompression device may also be used to reduce the pressure in a portion of the vacuum deaerator to cause the flash cooling of the incoming water.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a required deaerating temperature differential between incoming water and sparge steam in a steam generation system having a vacuum deaerator. The present invention selectively combines raising the energy of the sparge steam with flash cooling of the incoming water to provide the required deaerating temperature differential. The energizing of the sparge steam is accomplished by a thermocompression device. The thermocompression device may also be used to reduce the pressure in a portion of the vacuum deaerator to cause the flash cooling of the incoming water.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously aseptically processing a food product comprising delicate food chunks of fruit, vegetables or the like immersed in a liquid. The apparatus comprises a heating enclosure into which the food product and a nonsterile gas are introduced into the food product heated to a sterilization temperature, and a holding enclosure which may be integral with or separate from the heating enclosure for holding the food product and a sterile gas introduced therein at the steriIization temperature for a predetermined time. The apparatus further preferably comprises a cooling enclosure for cooling the food product. In a preferred embodiment, a first separator is interposed between the heating and holding enclosures for separating a nonsterile gas from the food product. The food product and an added sterile gas are fed into a rotatable helical feed pump in the holding enclosure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a required deaerating temperature differential between incoming water and sparge steam in a steam generation system having a vacuum deaerator. The present invention selectively combines raising the energy of the sparge steam with flash cooling of the incoming water to provide the required deaerating temperature differential. The energizing of the sparge steam is accomplished by a thermocompression device. The thermocompression device may also be used to reduce the pressure in a portion of the vacuum deaerator to cause the flash cooling of the incoming water.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for dispensing a predetermined volume of a food chunk/liquid mixture having a predetermined ratio of food chunks to liquid without damaging the food chunks. The apparatus comprises at least one hopper, and a chute for receiving and selectively directing food chunks of the food chunk/liquid mixture into a cushion of liquid in the hopper. The metering apparatus preferably has sensing means for controlling the level of food chunks in the hopper, and a sensing means for selectively controlling the level of liquid in the hopper. When a constant predetermined volume of a food chunk/liquid mixture having a constant predetermined ratio of food chunks to liquid is consistently obtained in the hopper, a flap valve at the bottom of the hopper is repetitively opened for successively dispensing the food chunk/liquid mixture from the hopper into any suitable container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for continuously and gently aseptically processing a food product comprising delicate food chunks of fruit, vegetables or the like immersed in a liquid. The apparatus comprises a heating enclosure into which the food product and a nonsterile gas are introduced and the food product heated to a sterilization temperature, and a holding enclosure which may be integral with or separate from the heating enclosure for holding the food product and a sterile gas introduced therein at the sterilization temperature for a predetermined time. The apparatus further preferably comprises a cooling enclosure for cooling the food product.

Abstract: A rotary conical cutter lies adjacent to the lower edge of a food-retaining hopper to grate, shred or slice food in the hopper. Cut food enters the center of the cutter through openings defined by cutting edges which project from the conical wall in the cutter. A set of interchangeable such cutters have cutting portions with cutting edges which project different distances from their cutter axes and from their respective walls. The lower edge of the hopper is movable to vary its distance from the cutter cones, and retaining means are provided for holding the lower edge of the hopper at an adjusted position proximate to the path of the cutting edges of the cutting portions.

Abstract: Food in a hopper is sliced or shredded by a conical cutter which rotates adjacent to the lower edge of the hopper. A set of interchangeable cutters are provided for producing products of different shapes. Such cutters have conical walls of differing conical diameters and cutting portions which project different distances from the walls so that the cutting edges of the cutters in the set all lie substantially the same distances from their cutter axes and from the lower edge of the hopper.