Abstract: In a coal-water slurry producing system, low grade coal is wet-ground to not greater than 3 mm in particle size to produce a ground coal slurry. An upgrading treatment is applied to the ground coal slurry under a pressurized hydrothermal atmosphere not less than 300.degree. C. to produce an upgraded coal slurry. The upgraded coal slurry is subjected to a dehydration treatment to produce an upgraded coal cake and a filtrate. A final coal-water slurry is produced from the upgraded coal cake. The filtrate is recycled for producing the ground coal slurry. A slurry transfer mechanism is provided in the coal-water slurry producing system for ensuring a stable transfer of the upgraded coal slurry from a high-pressure slurry vessel to a low-pressure slurry vessel.

Abstract: A process for producing a carbonic acid diester, which comprises carrying out a reaction in a vapor phase of an alcohol, carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst in a fluidized-bed reactor so that an oxidative carbonylation of the alcohol occurs, thereby obtaining a carbonic acid diester, wherein a heat of reaction is removed by the latent heat of vaporization of the alcohol as a raw material. In the process, for example, either at least part of the alcohol may be directly fed in liquid phase into the fluidized bed or cooling pipes are disposed in the fluidized bed and at least part of the alcohol is introduced in liquid phase into the cooling pipes as a heat transfer medium so that the liquid alcohol is vaporized and fed into the fluidized-bed reactor. Carbon monoxide may be introduced together with the liquid alcohol into the cooling pipes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing water slurry of SDA asphaltene by dispersing residue resulting from solvent deasphalting of petroleum vacuum residue produced in refineries, which has low viscosity even at a high solid concentration and is stable for a long period of time, in industrial scale under stable operation. The method comprises a grinding step of grinding the SDA asphaltene with water in a grinding apparatus in the presence of a dispersing agent, followed by a stabilizing step of stirring the resulting slurry to stabilize it. In the grinding step a suitable amount of a thickener such as carboxymethyl cellulose is added. Grinding is preferably carried out at a temperature not higher than 80.degree. C. Jacketed ball mills are conveniently used. In the stabilizing step a stabilizer such as Attapulgus clay is added after stirring the slurry to decrease viscosity thereof and stirring is continued.

Abstract: A gas transfer pipe arrangement includes a pipe in which gas containing droplets flows. A centrifugal force type separation unit is provided in the pipe for applying a radial centrifugal force to the gas flowing in the pipe so that the droplets in the gas adhere to an inner periphery of the pipe to be separated from the gas. A liquid collecting unit is annularly provided on the inner periphery of the pipe at a position downstream of the centrifugal force type separation unit for collecting a liquid from the droplets separated by the centrifugal force type separation unit. A discharge unit is provided at a lower side of the pipe for discharging the liquid collected by the liquid collecting unit to the exterior of the pipe.

Abstract: A gas transfer pipe arrangement includes a pipe in which gas containing droplets flows. A droplet separation unit is provided in the pipe for separating the droplets from the gas. A liquid collecting unit is annularly provided on the inner periphery of the pipe at a position downstream of the droplet separation unit for collecting a liquid from the droplets separated by the droplet separation unit. A liquid discharging mechanism is provided at a lower side of the pipe for discharging the liquid collected by the liquid collecting unit to the exterior of the pipe.

Abstract: A clamp-type isolating pipe joint is disclosed, which can connect pipes by providing insulation between them, is easy to assemble and disassemble, has high reliability and allows easy replacement of parts and is inexpensive to manufacture and install. The joint comprises hubs weldable to connectable pipes, a seal ring interposed between butted surfaces of the hubs and a clamp disposed around the circumferences of the hubs for clamping itself with bolts in the radial direction of the hubs to be fixed as insulated from each other. The clamp and hubs are insulated by interposing between them a metal plate with an insulating resin coat formed thereon. Insulation layers are also provided between the seal ring and the hubs.

Abstract: Solid particles which comprise a substantially homogeneous mixture of an active carbon and an attrition-resistant inorganic substance and which have an average particle size of smaller than 300 .mu.m. The average particle size is preferred to range from 20 to 200 .mu.m. The inorganic substance is, for example, silica, titania, zirconia, alumina or silica-alumina. The active carbon is preferred to be contained in an amount of 5 to 70% by weight. The solid particles can be produced by spray drying a slurry containing an active carbon or a precursor thereof and an attrition-resistant inorganic substance or a precursor thereof so that particles having an average particle size of smaller than 300 .mu.m are obtained, and calcining the particles. The inorganic substance or precursor thereof is preferably present in a colloidal or hydrogel state in the slurry. The particles are excellent in attrition resistance and mechanical strength.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of disposal of metallic aluminum-containing solid waste comprising the steps of reacting radioactive solid waste containing metallic aluminum with an alkali solution to generate a hydrogen gas and then mixing the resulting reaction liquid with a solidifying material containing a latent hydraulic material as a main component to solidify the liquid. According to the method of the invention, solidification of aluminum-containing radioactive solid waste in a highly filled state (high concentration) is feasible and a solid having excellent mechanical strength and properties of preventing oozing of radioactive nuclide can be obtained.

Abstract: In a crystallization method, a liquid mixture containing a crystallizable component is cooled so as to form and separate crystals of the crystallizable component. Then, a purified melt having purity substantially equal to that of the separated crystals, to which a polymerization inhibitor is added and which is heated to a temperature higher than a freezing point of the separated crystals, is circulated to flow contacting the crystals so as to accelerate melting. Then, the melted crystals are recovered along with the purified melt containing the polymerization inhibitor.

Abstract: A thermal insulating supporting device for piping has a supporting member which is formed by cutting to specified dimensions a long member which has a specified cross-sectional shape, and which is made of a resin material that has heat-insulating properties and sufficient strength to support piping. The supporting device supports piping by connecting the supporting member to a supporting frame which is fastened to the piping.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for regeneration and reuse of He--N.sub.2 --CO.sub.2 mixed gas for carbon dioxide gas laser. The laser gas after use is contacted with a noble metal catalyst (for example, Pt--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) at a temperature of 200.degree.-300.degree. C. to react CO and O.sub.2 formed by laser discharge so as to form CO.sub.2. A suitable quantity of moisture in the contained laser gas causes steam-reforming reaction of H.sub.2 O and CO, and reaction of H.sub.2 and O.sub.2 following thereto, and continuous operation over a long period is thus possible. Poisoning of the catalyst by NO.sub.x is suppressed at this relatively high temperature of reaction. Activity of the catalyst, when decreased, may be recovered by reactivation by passing a reactivating gas consisting of carbon monoxide, oxygen and helium through the catalyst bed at a temperature of 400.degree. to 500.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for producing a carbonic acid diester, which comprises carrying out a reaction in a vapor phase of an alcohol, carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst in a fluidized-bed reactor so that an oxidative carbonylation of the alcohol occurs, thereby obtaining a carbonic acid diester, wherein a heat of reaction is removed by the latent heat of vaporization of the alcohol as a raw material. In the process, for example, either at least part of the alcohol may be directly fed in liquid phase into the fluidized bed or cooling pipes are disposed in the fluidized bed and at least part of the alcohol is introduced in liquid phase into the cooling pipes as a heat transfer medium so that the liquid alcohol is vaporized and fed into the fluidized-bed reactor. Carbon monoxide may be introduced together with the liquid alcohol into the cooling pipes.

Abstract: A process for producing a carbonic acid diester, a method of removing CO.sub.2 and an absorbent for CO.sub.2 and an apparatus therefor are provided and are capable of selective removing of CO.sub.2 by absorption from a CO-containing gas admixed with CO.sub.2 which is recovered from a reactor to thereby enable recycling CO to the reactor for use. The invention is characterized by (1) carrying out a reaction of an alcohol, carbon monoxide (CO) and oxygen in a reactor and withdrawing a gas (i) which contains CO and CO.sub.2 produced as a by-product of the reaction from the reactor; (2) contacting the withdrawn gas (i) with an alcohol solution so that at least part of the CO.sub.2 contained in the gas (i) is absorbed by the alcohol solution and removed from the gas (i), thereby obtaining a CO-containing gas (ii), and (3) recycling the CO-containing gas (ii) to the reactor. It is preferred that the gas (i) is subjected to vapor-liquid separation and a separated gas is contacted with the alcohol solution.

Abstract: A thermal insulating support device for piping comprises a base frame constituted by a bottom plate, a pair of side plates and a pair of end plates integrally formed with each other; a support frame of a plate shape and formed with a support hole, the support frame being fixed at a bottom of the piping; and a support shaft made of resin or ceramic material extending through the support hole of the support frame and fixedly supported by the pair of side plates on the base frame, the support shaft having thermal insulation properties and mechanical strength sufficient for supporting the piping.

Abstract: There are provided a solidifying material used for radioactive waste which comprises a latent hydraulic material, an ultra-fine powder substance and a dispersing agent, and a process for the solidification of radioactive wastes which comprises kneading the above solidifying material with a cure stimulating agent, radioactive waste and, as occasion demands, water, and then curing the mixture by aging. Since the solidifying material of the present invention has excellent properties such as large treating capacity, excellent water resistance and large compressive strength, not only temporary storage but also permanent storage of radioactive wastes can be made.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for treating waste water containing volatile and corrosive substances by steam-stripping to remove the volatile and corrosive substances from the waste water. The apparatus has a liquid pooling zone installed at a part over the waste water supplying part of a stripper tower and liquid distributor at the top of the tower, and pipe arrangement is prepared to recycle liquid drawn from the liquid pooling zone to the liquid distributor. In the pipe arrangement, a cooler for the recycling liquid is installed. Serious corrosion can be avoided utilizing this apparatus.

Abstract: A heat exchanging unit is provided that includes a closed vessel separated into first and second compartments by a vertical partition plate thereby leaving a passage above the vertical partition plate. The first compartment has a cooling medium inlet pipe connected thereto, and a through pipe, through which a fluid to be cooled is passed. The through pipe is arranged to pass through the first compartment and includes a heat exchange member placed at a location lower than the top of the vertical partition plate. The second compartment is provided with a demister, and a cooling medium gas outlet pipe connected to the demister. A cooling medium liquid outlet pipe is connected to the second compartment. The heat exchanging unit is preferably used as part of a combined heat exchanging apparatus formed by combining the heat exchanging unit with a mist processing unit, or as part of a multistage heat exchanging apparatus formed by integrating two or more of the heat exchanging units.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel catalyst having a stable catalytic activity for catalyzing the reaction of an alcohol with carbon monoxide and oxygen to produce carbonic acid esters (i.e., carbonate), and also the present invention relates to a method of producing carbonic acid esters using this catalyst. The catalyst of the present invention comprises a copper halide and at least one hydroxide compound selected from a group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides and alkali earth metal hydroxides carried on a porous carrier, and also provide a process of regenerating a catalytic activity of the catalyst.

Abstract: A small-capacity multi-purpose batch plant comprises a multi-floor type structure and reaction vessels with jackets for heating and/or cooling. The jacket consists of two halves which are attachable to and detachable from the vessel by closing and opening. The vessels are transported to any position in the structure by stacker cranes and/or conveying trucks in horizontal directions in the same stages and in vertical directions between the different stages. Heating and cooling of the vessels can be done with any heating and cooling media. The usable temperature range is wide, and there is no risk of distortion and cracking at the welded parts of the vessels due to thermal stress. Processes in which transfer of the liquid, particularly, separation of two phases or dropping is involved can be carried out without using pipings and pumps, and thus, contamination is minimized.

Abstract: An aqueous high concentration coal slurry having a high dispersion stability is produced by a process in which a coal material is wet pulverized at a low concentration in a dispersing agent-free aqueous medium, the resultant coal slurry is hydrated, the dehydrated coal cakes are mixed with an aqueous dispersing additive solution to provide an aqueous coal slurry (A), a portion (B) of the slurry (A) is further pulverized, and the pulverized portion (B) is mixed with the remaining portion (D) of the slurry (A), or by a process in which a coal material is pulverized in an aqueous dispersing agent solution to provide a slurry moiety (E), separately a cake moiety (E) is provided, the slurry moiety (E) is mixed with the cake moiety (E) the above-mentioned process being carried out to an extent such that the resultant coal slurry contains coal particles having a size of 5 .mu.m or less in a content of 15% by weight or more and coal particles having a size of 500 .mu.