Abstract: A process and apparatus for oxygen-enriched combustion of a fuel in an industrial furnace in which a preheated primary oxidant from a heat exchanger and a fuel to be combusted are introduced into a combustion chamber and ignited, a secondary oxidant having an oxygen concentration in excess of the concentration of oxygen in air is introduced into the combustion chamber downstream of the flame, and the resulting combustion products are exhausted. In accordance with one embodiment, the secondary oxidant comprises preheated oxidant aspirated from the heat exchanger using industrial-grade oxygen, resulting in an oxygen-enriched mixture being injected into the combustion chamber downstream of the flame. As a result, NO.sub.x emissions are reduced without adverse effects on the overall furnace operation.

Abstract: An anionically stabilized lithium catalyst wherein the anion is sulfate, phosphate, aluminate, silicate and mixtures thereof. The anionically stabilized lithium catalyst may be supported on a metal oxide support of magnesium oxide, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, calcium oxide, barium oxide, strontium oxide, zirconium oxide, hafnium oxide, yttrium oxide, lanthanum oxide, samarium oxide, and mixtures thereof or when aluminate or silicate is used as the anion the aluminate or silicate may act as the support. The catalyst may be used to promote reactions at temperatures higher than prior lithium catalysts, particularly higher than about 600.degree. C., such as oxidative coupling of aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons to produce higher molecular weight compounds and oxydehydrogenation of aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons to produce unsaturated hydrocarbons or to change the functional group of the hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A process for thermal management by feed gas conditioning in high temperature fuel cell systems wherein at least a portion of a fuel feed stream is chemically reacted in an exothermic chemical reaction in an external zone thermally separated from the fuel cell system and at least a portion of the products of such exothermic chemical reaction are passed to an internal zone in thermal exchange with the fuel cell system and reacted in an endothermic chemical reaction thereby absorbing heat from the exothermic electrochemical reaction within the fuel cell system producing a process stream of higher thermal energy. At least a portion of the higher thermal energy stream is removed from the fuel cell system, thereby maintaining the desired operating temperature in the fuel cell system. The process significantly reduces energy requirements of the system and significantly increases overall system efficiency and the output voltage of the system.

Abstract: A mutant Bacillus sphaericus strain ATCC No. 53969 which has the property of sulfur removal and sulfur metabolism by selective cleavage of C-S bonds in organic carbonaceous materials.

Abstract: A heat pump system using a non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture comprising a main refrigeration circuit, an engine coolant circuit, and a refrigerant rectifier circuit interfacing with main refrigeration circuit, and the engine coolant circuit. The refrigerant rectifier circuit comprises in order of decreasing relative elevation a condenser, a storage vessel in communication with a condenser, a rectifier in communication with a storage tank and a condenser, a receiver vessel in communication with a rectifier, and a boiler in communication with the rectifier and the receiver vessel. The refrigerant rectifier circuit is used to adjust the relative concentrations of lower boiling point refrigerant, and higher boiling point refrigerant in the non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture thereby changing the cooling or heating capacity of the heat pump system.

Abstract: A heat exchange system for a heat pump in which the cooled fluid and the cooling fluid are maintained in a counterflow heat exchange relationship in a heat exchanger in both the heating and cooling modes of operation of the heat pump. The heat exchange system comprises a refrigeration coil, a liquid distributor, a vapor distributor, an outlet manifold, expansion means, vapor refrigerant/inlet distributor valve means, vapor refrigerant/outlet manifold valve means, liquid refrigerant/inlet distributor valve means and liquid refrigerant/outlet manifold valve means.

Abstract: A process for combustion of hydrocarbonaceous materials containing high levels of sulfur, fuel-bound nitrogen and low levels of ash which inhibits the emissions of oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, reduces solid waste disposal, and produces useable by-products. In the first step of the process, the hydrocarbonaceous material is burned in a fluidized bed into which a calcium based sorbent is introduced, producing a mixture of gaseous products of combustion and particulate matter, ash and calcium containing solids. In a second step of the process, the mixture of gaseous products of combustion and particulate matter is completely burned in a cyclonic combustion reactor. In a third step of the process, the ash and calcium-containing solids generated in the fluidized bed are withdrawn from the fluidized bed, cooled and contacted with steam in a regenerator producing calcium hydroxide, ash and unspent sorbent which are recycled to the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ultra-low pollutant emission combustion of fossil fuel is disclosed in which a first portion of fuel to be combusted is introduced into a primary combustion chamber together with primary combustion air, producing either a reducing or oxidizing combustion zone and a portion of water having a heat capacity equivalent to the heat capacity of a portion of primary combustion air. The first portion of fuel is combusted in the primary combustion chamber and the combustion products derived therefrom pass through an orifice into a secondary combustion chamber. Also introduced into the secondary combustion chamber is a second portion of fuel and secondary combustion air in an amount sufficient to complete combustion of the total amount of fuel in the apparatus. In addition, water is introduced into the secondary combustion chamber in an amount having a heat capacity equivalent to an amount of secondary combustion air.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for thermal agglomeration of high melting temperature ashes in fluidized bed processes is disclosed. Carbonaceous material to be combusted, incinerated or gasified is introduced into a fluidized bed supported on a perforated sloping supported grid through which a fluidizing gas is injected. An upflowing discharge control gas is injected through a density/size solids withdrawal conduit in communication with the base of the perforated sloping support grid. Positioned within the solids withdrawal conduit is a central jet pipe through which fuel and oxidant are injected into the base of the fluidized bed forming a hot temperature zone in which ash melts and agglomerates. Positioned above the perforated sloping support grid and peripherally mounted through the reactor wall are one or more burners through which fuel and oxidant are injected into the fluidized bed forming supplemental hot temperature zones in which ash melts and agglomerates.

Abstract: A radiant gas burner having a porous matrix bed with a cross-sectional area that diverges along a generally longitudinal axis in a direction from an upstream end to a downstream end of the porous matrix bed. The burner has a fuel/air inlet and a flow distributor positioned near a downstream end of the fuel/air inlet, for distributing the fuel/air mixture throughout the porous matrix bed. A radiant surface layer is positioned adjacent and downstream from the downstream end of the porous matrix bed. The fuel/air mixture is combusted within the porous matrix bed and a combustion flame is stabilized completely within the porous matrix bed. The porous matrix bed is constructed as a bed of refractory particles.

Abstract: An electrode for an electric discharge machining apparatus comprising a wall which forms a hollow body open on at least one end, the open end having a shape of the opening to be cut in a structural member. The cutting edge of the electrode is formed by the wall at the open end of the electrode and has a contour which is complementary to the surface contour of the side of the structural member facing away from the electrode. The cutting edge has a thickness of about 0.005 inches to about 0.125 inches.

Abstract: An extract of membrane fragments, an enzyme, and a composition of enzymes associated with cell membranes of Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain ATCC No. 53968 and Bacillus sphaericus strain ATCC No. 53969 is prepared which have the ability to selectively react with organic sulfur of sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material by cleavage or organic C--S bonds.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for a temperature measuring pyrometer probe that measures gas temperatures above the melting point of conventional thermocouple material. The apparatus is used to calculate radiation heat losses and compensate for pneumatic cooling from the thermocouple junction of the pyrometer probe. The pyrometer probe has an inner hollow body which defines an inner chamber. The inner hollow body has an open end and the inner chamber is in communication with ambient gas surrounding the pyrometer probe. The inner hollow body is mounted within an outer hollow body and such mounting defines cooling channels. The cooling channels accommodate fluid flow which cools the inner hollow body. The ambient gas is directed into a converging-diverging nozzle, mounted within the inner hollow body, toward a thermocouple junction. The converging-diverging nozzle has a wall suction channel through which a boundary layer of the ambient gas is drawn away from the thermocouple junction.

Abstract: A combustion process and apparatus for simultaneously reducing nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and hydrogen chloride in a high temperature furnace. A combustible material is introduced and combusted within the furnace, forming a primary combustion zone. Combustion air, sorbent and a first portion of hydrocarbon fuel are mixed and combusted within a calciner to form a product gas/calcined sorbent mixture. The product gas/calcined sorbent mixture and a remaining portion of fuel are injected into the furnace, forming an oxygen deficient secondary combustion downstream of the primary combustion zone. Overfire air is injected into the furnace, forming an oxidizing tertiary combustion zone downstream of the oxygen deficient secondary combustion zone.

Abstract: A mutant Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain ATCC No. 53968 which has the property of sulfur removal and sulfur metabolism by selective cleavage of C-S bonds in organic carbonaceous materials.

Abstract: A liquid catalyst composition for the oxidative coupling of methane and other hydrocarbon compounds to produce higher hydrocarbons and for the oxidative dehydrogenation of aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon compounds, aliphatic and alicyclic substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for mild gasification of crushed coal in a single vertical elongated reaction vessel providing a fluidized bed reaction zone, a freeboard reaction zone, and an entrained reaction zone within the single vessel. Feed coal and gas may be fed separately to each of these reaction zones to provide different reaction temperatures and conditions in each reaction zone. The reactor and process of this invention provides for the complete utilization of a coal supply for gasification including utilization of caking and non-caking or agglomerating feeds in the same reactor. The products may be adjusted to provide significantly greater product economic value, especially with respect to desired production of char having high surface area.

Abstract: A fully internally manifolded fuel cell stack is provided by each separator plate 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 electrolytes on each face of the separator plate to form separator plate/electrolyte wet seals under cell operating conditions.

Abstract: A process for production of electricity in molten carbonate fuel cells using a sulfur contaminated fuel gas wherein anode polarization is reduced by use of a porous anode of greater than about 10 weight percent copper resulting in improved fuel cell operation using fuel gas mixtures of over about 10 volume percent carbon monoxide and up to about 10 ppm hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: A fully internally manifolded fuel cell stack is provided by each separator plate 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 electrolytes on each face of the separator plate to form separator plate/electrolyte wet seals under cell operating conditions. Conduits through the extended manifold wet seal structure provides gas communication between one set of manifolds and the anode chambers on one face of the separator plates and conduits through the extended manifold wet seal structure on the opposite face of the separator plates provides gas communication between the other set of the manifolds and the cathode chambers on the other face of the separator plates. Extended wet seal structures formed of thin plate metal provide limited flexibility and resiliency to assure good sealing.