Abstract: A for preparing uniform, agglomerate free, submicron/nanosize ceramic powders from a polymeric foam comprising metal cations homogeneously incorporated within a foam cell structure of the polymeric foam. The polymeric foam is heated to remove any solvent, and calcined at a temperature of about 400.degree. C. to about 1400.degree. C. for about 1 minute to about 96 hours to produce the desired ceramic or metal powder.

Abstract: A porous matrix of lithium aluminate particles for molten alkali metal carbonates electrolytes having about 5 to about 50 volume percent, based upon the volume of the solids, of electrically non-conductive, active electrolyte compatible fibers having an average diameter of about 1 to about 50 microns and an average length greater than about 5 times the average diameter. Such matrices reduce matrix cracking upon loading with molten carbonates active electrolyte and provide high surface area over long term fuel cell operation.

Abstract: A process for producing porous structures for use in molten carbonate fuel cells in which a powder comprising at least one of a non-alloyed metal powder and a metal oxide powder, and a ceramic oxide powder is mixed, formed into a desired shape and sintered in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature between 900.degree. C. and about 1400.degree. C. via reactive oxidation to form a sintered oxide structure, which is then cooled to 700.degree. C. to 1100.degree. C. and treated in a reducing atmosphere to form a metallic structure with the non-reducible oxide dispersed within the metal.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for thermal treatment and stabilization of waste materials in which waste material is introduced into an uppermost first combustion zone of a vertically oriented combustion chamber and a fuel and an oxidant are tangentially injected into the first combustion zone, oxidizing at least a portion of any organic material in the waste materials and melting at least a portion of any inorganic material in the waste materials. A second portion of fuel and oxidant is injected into a second combustion zone disposed immediately below and in communication with the first combustion zone, melting any remaining inorganic material in the waste material after which the melted waste material is removed from the bottom area of the combustion chamber for disposal.

Abstract: A process for combustion of the combustible material includes introducing the combustible material into the combustion chamber, advancing the combustible material through the combustion chamber, supplying combustion air to the combustion chamber for drying and partially combusting the combustible material and final ash burnout in a primary combustion zone, and removing ash products from the combustion chamber. The fuel or fuel/carrier fluid mixture is supplied into the combustion chamber to create an oxygen deficient secondary combustion zone for NO.sub.x reduction and other nitrogen bearing compounds decomposition. An oxidizing fluid is supplied into the combustion chamber above the oxygen deficient secondary combustion zone for thorough mixing with combustion products and at least partial burnout of combustibles in an oxidizing tertiary combustion zone.

Abstract: A premixed fuel/air burner with velocity and fuel/air ratio control having a nozzle with a nozzle wall forming a Venturi mixer and a nozzle exit, means for separately introducing fuel and air into the Venturi mixer, a hollow body disposed in the nozzle and moveable in a longitudinal direction toward the nozzle exit, the hollow body having at least one orifice through a wall thereof at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle such that fuel is injected through said orifice into the Venturi mixer. Movement of the hollow body toward the nozzle exit changes the cross-sectional area of the Venturi mixer and nozzle exit thereby permitting control of nozzle velocity of the resulting fuel/air mixture. To control the fuel/air ratio, a fixed orifice baffle is provided inside the hollow body which changes the opening of the orifice as the hollow body is moved toward the nozzle exit.

Abstract: A process for pretreating oil shale prior to retorting by contacting with an organic acid, such as formic and acetic acids, at temperatures below about 100.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to react at least a portion of the oil shale carbonates and separating the shale from the organic acid solution containing at least a major portion of the reaction products of the carbonates and organic acid. The process is preferably carried out in an aqueous solution of organic acid having a pH of 3 and less for a time of about 1/2 to about 4 hours and at ambient temperatures about 20.degree. to about 30.degree. C. Pretreatment of oil shale by this process prior to retorting results in higher liquid and aromatic product fractions being produced by conventional retorting.

Abstract: A combination pipe cutter and gate valve for plastic pipe insertable into an in service pipe through which a fluid is flowing. The combination pipe cutter and gate valve comprises a valve body, means for securing a valve body around a portion of the plastic pipe into which the valve is to be inserted, a shear disposed within the valve body, means for lowering the shear toward the pipe and a cutting element secured to the leading edge of the shear, the cutting element forming a single cutting edge having a length such that the pipe is completely severed after the shear has passed completely through the pipe. As the shear passes through the pipe, the plastic material of the plastic pipe is deformed forming a seal against the faces of the shear.

Abstract: An apparatus for hot tap cutting of plastic pipe comprising an electrode having a cutting edge, means for heating said electrode, and an insulating sheath, means for controlling movement of the electrode, and a housing containing the electrode, said housing sealingly securable to at least a portion of a plastic pipe whereby fluid pressure is maintained in the plastic pipe.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for generating electricity from coal comprising a vertically stacked, three-stage combustor in which a sorbent is calcined in a calciner zone of the combustor and transferred to a carbonizer zone disposed below the calciner zone, coal introduced into the carbonizer zone is carbonized, producing char and spent sorbent, both of which are transferred to a combustor zone disposed below the carbonizer zone, in which the char is combusted at a substoichemetic air-to-coal ratio, producing a fuel gas. The fuel gas is cleaned and combusted in a turbine combustor, producing a flue gas which is introduced into a gas turbine for producing electricity.

Abstract: A process for preparing uniform, agglomerate free, submicron/nanosize ceramic powders from a polymeric foam comprising metal cations homogeneously incorporated within a foam cell structure of the polymeric foam. The polymeric foam is heated to remove any solvent, and calcined at a temperature of about 400.degree. C. to about 1200.degree. C. for about 1/2 to about 8 hours to produce the desired ceramic or metal powder.

Abstract: An assembly of fuel cell components comprising a matrix tape having an active area and a peripheral wet seal area, an anode and/or a cathode in contact with a face of the matrix tape, the anode and cathode extending beyond a periphery of the active area of the matrix tape and contacting the peripheral wet seal area, and a portion of the peripheral wet seal area forming a frame around the anode and cathode to prevent gas crossover between the electrodes during cell operation and to prevent oxidation of the edges of the electrodes.

Abstract: A premixed fuel/air burner with velocity and fuel/air ratio control having a nozzle with a nozzle wall forming a Venturi mixer and a nozzle exit, means for separately introducing fuel and air into the Venturi mixer, a hollow body disposed in the nozzle and moveable in a longitudinal direction toward the nozzle exit, the hollow body having at least on orifice through a wall thereof at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle such that fuel is injected through said orifice into the Venturi mixer. Movement of the hollow body toward the nozzle exit changes the cross-sectional area of the Venturi mixer and nozzle exit thereby permitting control of nozzle velocity of the resulting fuel/air mixture. To control the fuel/air ratio, a fixed orifice baffle is provided inside the hollow body which changes the opening of the orifice as the hollow body is moved toward the nozzle exit.

Abstract: A parallel porting valve assembly having a parallel valve body. The parallel valve body forms an inlet channel cavity and an outlet channel cavity. A plurality of plug valves are each mounted within the parallel valve body between the inlet channel cavity and the outlet channel cavity for selectively permitting an preventing communication between the inlet channel cavity and the outlet channel cavity. An actuator is used to open and close each plug valve.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of expansion turbines of the type having working fluid vapor passing rotating blades within a casing and means for conducting the working fluid vapor into and out of the casing in which condensation nuclei are mixed with said working fluid vapor prior to passing said rotating blades, said condensation nuclei being supplied in sufficient numbers and size to form droplets of condensate of said vapor having an average diameter of below about 20 microns, thereby providing increased condensation of the working fluid vapor as compared with condensation without condensation nuclei.

Abstract: A fully internally manifolded fuel cell stack is provided by each separator plate, current collector, electrode, and electrolyte in the fuel cell stack having a plurality of aligned perforations forming gas manifolds extending for the length of the cell stack. Each perforation through the separator plate is surrounded by a flattened manifold wet seal structure extending to contact the current collector and/or electrode on each face of the separator plate to form electrolyte/electrode wet seals under cell operating conditions.

Abstract: A process for cyclonic combustion of fuel in a combustor comprising mixing the fuel and oxidant forming a fuel/oxidant mixture prior to injection into said combustor, tangentially injecting the fuel/oxidant mixture into a first combustor chamber, igniting the fuel/oxidant mixture producing combustion products, exhausting the combustion products at a downstream end of a second combustor chamber in fluid communication with the first combustor chamber, and cooling a wall of the second combustor chamber, and an apparatus for carrying out this process.

Abstract: A low pollutant emission, high efficiency cyclonic burner and cyclonic combustion process for firetube boilers and heaters in which the combustion air required for complete combustion is introduced into the cyclonic burner in stages. Fuel and primary combustion air in an amount of about 30% to about 90% of the stoichiometric requirement for complete combustion of the fuel are tangentially injected into a primary combustion zone of a combustion chamber within the burner. Secondary combustion air in an amount of about 10% to about 90% of the stoichiometric requirement for complete combustion of the fuel is introduced into a secondary combustion zone in the combustion chamber downstream of the primary combustion zone. The combustion chamber walls are cooled to maintain the combustion chamber temperature between about 1600.degree. F. and 2400.degree. F.

Abstract: A process for combustion of the combustible material includes introducing the combustible material into the combustion chamber, advancing the combustible material through the combustion chamber, supplying combustion air to the combustion chamber for drying and partially combusting the combustible material and final ash burnout in a primary combustion zone, and removing ash products from the combustion chamber. The fuel or fuel/carrier fluid mixture is supplied into the combustion chamber to create an oxygen deficient secondary combustion zone for NO.sub.x reduction and other nitrogen bearing compounds decomposition. An oxidizing fluid is supplied into the combustion chamber above the oxygen deficient secondary combustion zone for thorough mixing with combustion products and at least partial burnout of combustibles in an oxidizing tertiary combustion zone.

Abstract: A molten alkali metal carbonates fuel cell porous anode of lithium ferrite and a metal or metal alloy of nickel, cobalt, nickel/iron, cobalt/iron, nickel/iron/aluminum, cobalt/iron/aluminum and mixtures thereof wherein the total iron content including ferrite and iron of the composite is about 25 to about 80 percent, based upon the total anode, provided aluminum when present is less than about 5 weight percent of the anode. A process for production of the lithium ferrite containing anode by slipcasting.