Abstract: An improved hot gas filter candle is disclosed including an increase density flange portion adjacent the top of the filter for improving candle service life when the candle is mounted on a tube sheet. The area of flange densification is extended to a position beyond the bottom of the tube sheet. During vibration or swaying of the candle only the denser portion of the candle may impinge on the edge of the tube sheet aperture on which the candle is mounted Further, the denser portion of the candle is not so porous as to draw dirty particles into the clearance between the candle and the tube sheet aperture creating an area of increased stress in the candle adjacent the bottom of the tube sheet aperture.

Abstract: A tube type hot gas filter having a ceramic tube sheet supporting a plurality of tubular filter elements in a filter chamber includes an annular heating chamber surrounding the edge of said tube sheet and through which hot gas from the downstream side of the tube sheet passes as it exits the filter.

Abstract: An improved cross flow ceramic filter is disclosed for utilization in high temperature, high pressure applications such as found in hot gas cleaning in coal based power generation. The cross flow ceramic filter of the present invention includes a plurality of identical corrugated sheets composed of chopped ceramic fiber matrix material and a plurality of predetermined sized end blocks shaped to fill the cross section passageways formed between the partly spaced corrugations of adjacent sheets of the filter material. One advantage of the corrugated sheet cross flow filter of the present invention is that the filter may be shipped to its site in semi-cured form unassembled. When the filter is received on site, the corrugated sheets are partially separated from each other until passageways of the desired dimension are achieved. Thereafter, the end blocks and glue may be applied between the blocks and the ends of the corrugated sheets and between the apexes of the corrugations where the corrugated sheets overlap.

Abstract: A unitary candle filter employs a wrapping of continuous filamentary ceramic material in the form of a yarn or twine wrapped over a porous ceramic support tube to hold the support structure intact during a high pressure backwash operation. A thin filtering layer of a ceramic material is deposited over the support structure and the wrapping is embedded in the filtering layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a combined gas flow resistance device and safety shield which incorporates a plurality of narrow parallel passageways through which filtered gas from a plurality of filter elements passes to a clean gas outlet. The device also has inlet for carrying pulses of high pressure gas to the downstream side of a plurality of filter elements, and a porous safety shield connected across the passageways to prevent solid particles from passing from the filter elements to the clean gas outlet.

Abstract: A composite filter element for filtering hot gasses is made up of a porous ceramic core to which a porous ceramic, thin outer layer is integrally bonded. The outer layer has a mean pore size which is at least several times smaller than the mean pore size of the substrate and the substrate is at least several times thicker than is the outer layer. The outer layer and the substrate are preferably formed of the same material or of two different materials having essentially the same coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: A filter suitable for the filtration of high temperature gasses includes a high pressure tank enclosing a chamber divided into a plurality of separate chambers by horizontally disposed rigid tube sheets. A plurality of banks of filter tubes are positioned in mutual alignment between adjacent ones of the tube sheets. Guide channels are provided on the tops and bottoms of the tube sheets for sealably mounting the filter tubes in place between the tube sheets. Fluid outlets open to the ambient through the wall of the tank between each adjacent pair of tube sheets and covers are removably secured over openings in the wall of the tank for access to the filter tubes.

Abstract: A ceramic filter element for filtering hot gasses is manufactured by first forming a skeletal member made up of randomly disposed ceramic fibers by pulling an aqueous solution of the fibers and a liquid binder onto a mandrel and then heat treating the member to dry the binder. The dried member is then coated with alumina gel, colloidal aluminum or colloidal silica and heat treated at a temperature within the range of 1700 degrees F. to 2300 degrees F. to dry the coating and increase the resistance of the coating to corrosion by hot gasses.

Abstract: A multi-apertured flow control device is mounted over the exit end of a tubular filter element and is provided with a central bore through which a high velocity gas pulse is directed into the associated filter tube to dislodge a filter cake deposited on the exterior of the filter tube.

Abstract: A process for filtering fine particulates from a stream of hot gas wherein the particulates vary in size between about 0.15 and 250 microns includes the steps of removing a majority of the larger size particles from the gas stream, while leaving a majority of the smaller particles in the stream, then introducing into the gas stream particulates having an average size greater than the smaller size particulates, and thereafter passing the gas stream through a porous filter medium having a pore size exceeding the size of the smaller size particulates.

Abstract: Particulates which are less than and greater than a predetermined size and are entrained in a fluid are separated according to their respective sizes by passing the fluid and entrained particulates through a porous, crossflow separator element while continuously vibrating the separator element to prevent buildup of particulates on the upstream side of the separator element.

Abstract: A filter apparatus for clarifying liquids or gases includes a tank having a rigid horizontally disposed tube sheet contained therein for supporting a plurality of elongate tube filter elements. Each tube filter has an enlarged hub at one end configured with an exterior annular beveled surface. The tube sheet has apertures through which the tube filters extend and each aperture is configured with an interior annular beveled surface serving to cooperate with the beveled surface of a tube filter and prevent its downward movement within the tank. A gasket is interposed between the beveled surfaces of the tube sheet aperture and tube filter, and pins extend at an angle through the tube sheet into the hub of each filter for securing the filters in compressed engagement with the gaskets. The arrangement of the beveled surfaces and pins is such that the filter tubes remain sealed to the tube sheet regardless of the effects of differing coefficients of thermal expansion as between the filter tubes and tube sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for filtering a fluid or gas stream under pressure includes a tank having inlet and outlet ports with a tube sheet disposed therebetween. The tube sheet supports one or more generally elongate filter tubes disposed in tube sheet apertures arranged in spaced relation one to another. Each filter tube has a flange which is sealed to the tube sheet by an annular gasket which expands as its temperature rises. The tube sheet is provided with upstanding circular wall members circumscribing the filter tube apertures. The inside diameter of the wall members is larger than the outside diameter of the filter tube flange forming a recess within which the flange is receivable. A plurality of through holes in the wall members receive pins extending across the filter tube flanges.

Abstract: An aqueous saline vapor is passed through a porous mass having a temperature no less than that of the vapor and subsequently condensed to provide substantially salt-free water.

Abstract: A pressure filter utilizes a vibratory impactor for imparting vertically directed high frequency shock waves to a rigid manifold from which a plurality of rigid filter tubes incorporate a fine mesh sleeve held tightly by spaced elastic bands against a unitary plastic core having inner and outer tubes interconnected by integral web portions.

Abstract: Liquid is circulated from bottom to top in a pressure tank by means of a gas pump including an upstanding pipe located within the tank and up through which gas is pumped at a pressure exceeding tank pressure to carry liquid which enters the pipe at the bottom up to the top of the tank.

Abstract: Cake control members are mounted at the peripheries of filter leaves and filter tubes to confine the build-up of filter cakes and prevent the cakes from extending over the peripheries of the elements.

Abstract: The exhaust manifold in a pressure filter is spring mounted and vibrated along a vertical axis to dislodge filter cakes from filter tubes suspended from the manifold.

Abstract: A filter element utilizes a perforate inner filter tube sock tightly fitted within an outer perforate support tube sock, the two socks being sealably mounted at their open ends to a tube sheet with the support tube held in tension by the pressure differential across the filter tube during operation of the associated filter.

Abstract: An acidic organic agricultural product is made by conditioning organic sewage sludge with amounts of FeCl.sub.3 and sugar factory waste lime to provide an acidic conditioned sludge, of pH greater than 3.0 but less than 5.7 and then mechanically dewatering the conditioned sludge.