Abstract: This invention is a zone storage heat exchanger. In its most basic terms, the heat exchanger is comprised of a main body filled with an energy storage material. There is disposed within the main body a heat transfer fluid annulus for flow of the heat transfer fluid therethrough. The annulus has a hollow inner portion which is filled with an energy storage material.

Abstract: This invention is a phase change heat exchange unit which is comprised of upper and lower skeletal support frames having a container for a phase change material disposed therebetween. Each of the frames has a pair of support grids which provide support for the phase change material container and provide a passage for the flow of a heat transfer fluid therethrough so that it can come into direct contact with the container.

Abstract: A method for the beneficiation of gallium from fly ash involves subjecting the ash to particle size classification while avoiding substantial rupturing of cenospheres and plerospheres in the ash and isolating thereby up to 30 percent of the finest ash particles which are lower in iron content.

Abstract: A cascaded micro-groove aerodynamic drag reducer is provided by creating a plurality of spaced-apart, microscopic grooves in the aerodynamic surface. Each of the grooves is defined by oppositely disposed side walls with each of the side walls of each groove having at least one catenary shaped surface provided thereon. In the preferred embodiment, each of the side walls is provided with a plurality of catenary shaped surfaces with each of the catenary shaped surfaces having a plurality of smaller catenary surfaces provided thereon.

Abstract: An electrodeless discharge resonance lamp for producing light by microwave excitation of gas molecules is disclosed. The lamp comprises a head having a passage therethrough and a gas inlet port in communication with the passage. A window is removable mounted in the passage and a collimator is removably mounted in the passage adjacent and exterior to the window. Gas flow tubing is positioned in the passaged such that one end of the tubing is located between the gas inlet port and the window and the other end of the tubing extends out of the opposite passage. The tubing is smaller than the inside diameter of the passage to allow gas to flow therebetween. Finally, there are means for removably securing the tubing in place and microwave excitation means in communication with the tubing adjacent and exterior to the head.

Abstract: A double-layered thermal energy storage module comprising front and rear vertically disposed storage sections separated by a flat sheet positioned therebetween. The upper end, lower end, and sides of the storage sections are sealed except for inlet and outlet connections. Each of the storage sections are provided with a plurality of spaced-apart phase change material storage tube segments having fluid flow channel segments positioned therebetween. The segments in the front section are disposed at an opposite angle to the segments in the rear section. The ends of the tube segments in the front section communicate with ends of tube sections in the rear section. The ends of the channel segments in the front section communicate with ends of channel segments in the rear section. The tube segments are filled with a phase change material while the channel segments are filled with a heat transfer fluid.

Abstract: A continuous process for separating components of a fluid mixture is disclosed which comprises forming a sorption zone and a desorption zone, said zones being separated by a boundary of a sorbent material which continuously moves back and forth between the zones, causing a fluid mixture to flow into the sorption zone wherein the conditions are such to promote sorption of one of the components of the mixture by the sorbent material, and creating conditions in the desorption zone such that the sorbed component will be desorbed when the sorbent material containing the sorbed component moves into the desorption zone.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the purification of methane and/or ethane which comprises oxidizing acetylene and/or carbon monoxide in the gas with oxygen at 200.degree. C. to 375.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst which contains silver as the active component.

Abstract: A thermal shade for limiting the amount of thermal energy which enters a structure through an opening therein is disclosed. The shade comprises a plurality of integrally formed elongated closed rectangular tubes which have a dead air space, are arranged in parallel relation to each other, and are connected on the side opposite the opening by living hinges. The shade also includes means for positioning shade to limit the thermal energy entering the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for heating an air stream flowing through a conduit which minimizes the introduction of noxious burner exhaust emissions into the air stream. The apparatus utilizes a refractory radiant-type burner disposed within the air stream which includes means for supplying a combustible fuel to the burner and means for igniting the combustible fuel within the burner. The apparatus also includes means for removing the hot products of combustion from the burner and venting these products to the outside atmosphere until the temperature of the burner reaches steady state operating conditions. When steady state operating conditions are reached, a damper means on the burner opens and directs the products of combustion into the air stream to heat the air stream. When the burner is turned off, the damper means closes and directs the products of combustion to the outside atmosphere.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the recovery of iron, aluminum and titanium from coal ash. The method comprises magnetically extracting magnetite from the ash, leaching the ash with a solution of a mineral acid, precipitating and removing titanium and iron hydroxides from the leach solution by adding thereto a solution of a strong base, and precipitating and removing aluminum hydroxide by contacting the remaining solution with carbon dioxide or aluminum hydroxide seeding.

Abstract: A continuous process for separating components of a fluid mixture is disclosed which comprises forming a sorption zone and a desorption zone, said sorption and desorption zones being separated by a boundary of a sorbent material which continuously moves back and forth between the sorption and desorption zones, causing a fluid mixture to flow into the sorption zone wherein the conditions are such to promote sorption of one of the components of the mixture by the sorbent material, and creating conditions in the desorption zone such that the sorbed component will be desorbed when the sorbent material containing the sorbed component moves into the desorption zone. There may be disposed between the sorption and desorption zones at least one roller and at least one moving belt or at least two moving belts. The process can also be used to form a mixture with content of the sorbable component controlled by the sorption/desorption cycle.

Abstract: A continuous process for separating components of a fluid mixture is disclosed which comprises forming a sorption zone and a desorption zone, said sorption and desorption zones being separated by a boundary of a sorbent material which continuously moves back and forth between the sorption and desorption zones, causing a fluid mixture to flow into the sorption zone wherein the conditions are such to promote sorption of one of the components of the mixture by the sorbent material, and creating conditions in the desorption zone such that the sorbed component will be desorbed when the sorbent material containing the sorbed component moves into the desorption zone. This sorption separation process is used in a network (including a linear series) of sorption/desorption units for separation of multiple components of fluid mixtures or for more complete separation of one component of a fluid mixture.

Abstract: A method for analyzing various components in a natural gas pipeline with the aid of a computer controlled gas chromatograph comprising the steps of: (a) providing the computer control unit with a data base for operating the gas chromatograph including at least: (1) periodically causing a sample of the natural gas to be supplied to the gas chromatograph; (2) operating the gas chromatograph to analyze the various components in the natural gas stream; (3) computing the amount of the various components in the natural gas stream; and (4) reporting the amount of components in the natural gas stream.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for improving the selectivity of supported silver catalysts by incorporating a promoter therein. The improvement comprises forming a solution of a compound of the promoter and an anion which is not a catalyst poison and is selected from the group consisting of unsaturated carboxylic acids, aminoorganic acids, and hydroxybenzoic acids in a solvent and contacting the catalyst with the solution.

Abstract: A method for dewatering an aggregate solid substrate is disclosed which comprises placing the substrate between two moving permeable belts, compressing the substrate between the belts, contacting the substrate with a displacement fluid while it is still compressed between the belts such that the substrate and the fluid remain in plug flow while in contact with each other, removing relatively pure water which is expressed by the displacement fluid, further compressing the substrate between the belts to remove excess displacement fluid, and collecting the dewatered substrate. In a preferred embodiment, both the relatively pure water and the excess displacement fluid are collected for recycling, direct disposal, or other use.

Abstract: An apparatus for dewatering aggregate solid substrates is disclosed which is comprised of a frame, two moving permeable belts, means mounted on the frame for guiding the movement of the belts, roller means mounted on the frame for positioning the belts such that the substrate is guided and compressed between them, means for contacting the substrate with a displacement fluid while it is compressed between the belts such that the fluid collects between the top belt and the roller means before permeating through the top belt and contacting the substrate, means for removing relatively pure water which is expressed by the fluid through the bottom belt, means for further compressing the substrate to remove excess displacement fluid, and means for removing the dewatered substrate from the apparatus.

Abstract: A radiant energy exchanger is disclosed which comprises a relatively thin layer of gas permeable open-celled semi-opaque plastic foam, a layer of transparent gas impermeable plastic material on the side of the foam exposed to the atmosphere, and a layer of a gas impermeable reflective material on the other side of the foam.

Abstract: A pre-stressed impact testing device designed to measure the energy which is absorbed during fracture of metal samples under pre-stressed conditions. The device includes a base portion and a pendulum supporting portion which is positioned thereabove. The base portion includes first and second elongated and horizontally spaced-apart beams having opposite ends with a third beam secured to and extending between the first and second beams at one end thereof. A hydraulic ram is secured to and extends between the other ends of the first and second beams for selectively moving the other ends of the first and second beams away from each other so that the first and second beams will be elastically stressed. Connectors are provided on each of the first and second beams for attachment to the opposite ends of the sample material whereby the sample material will be placed in stress when the first and second beams are elastically stressed.

Abstract: The performance of silver-based catalyst used for the direct oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide is improved by regeneration in which from 1 to 1,000 parts per million of a regenerate is added to the catalyst in solution and the solvent is removed by drying the catalyst with a upflow of inert gas through the catalyst at ambient temperature and pressure.