Abstract: Apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from an air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture of the type including a pair of alternatively used carbon bed adsorbers which are used to remove hydrocarbon vapors from the mixture and which are desorbed of hydrocarbons by subjecting the beds alternatively to vacuum regeneration using a vacuum pump the output of which is passed through an absorber using liquid gasoline as the absorbent liquid. The efficiency of the process is increased by interrupting the flow of the absorbent liquid during the initial period of the regeneration during which period the hydrocarbon vapor content of the mixture is low due to the fact that a substantial vacuum is required to separate the hydrocarbons from the carbon bed.

Abstract: A large capacity air-powered flare for smokeless combustion of very large volumes of vented waste gases, comprises a first inner vertical conduit of diameter D1, for the flow of waste gas, and a second larger coaxial conduit of diameter D2, for the flow of primary combustion air, at a selected velocity in the annular space therebetween. Above the top the inner conduit there is a cylindrical obstruction of diameter D3 which is greater than D1, but less than D2. This forces the upwardly flowing gases to be deflected outwardly and upwardly into the second annular space between the obstruction and the outer conduit. The velocity of primary combustion air in the second annular space is at least 50 f.p.s., which serves to thoroughly mix with the inflowing gases so that as they rise through the second annular space they continue flowing above the top of the flare as an annular wall of high velocity gas, air and flame. This high velocity annular flow has large surface area on the outside and inside.

Abstract: A portable adjustable flow rate flare for smokeless burning of viscous liquid fuels such as crude oil, which comprises an assembly of four coaxial circular manifolds one each for pressurized fuel, water, atomizing medium, and gas, supplying a plurality of burner heads, radially spaced, symmetrically, about at least the upper portion of the circular manifolds. The planes through each of the manifolds are parallel to each other and coaxial and adapted for mounting with axis horizontal on a base structure, so that it can be moved from one location to another. Each of the burner heads comprises a central tube receiving pressurized fuel leading to an orifice of selected size and continuing downstream from the orifice with a tubular portion of selected diameter. An annular chamber about the burner tube provides pressurized atomizing medium to the inside of the burner tube through a plurality of spaced openings so as to mix at high velocity with the flow of oil from the orifice and to atomize the oil.

Abstract: A forced draft, radiant wall, fuel burner, comprises a burner constructed with a central circular pipe for the conduction of pressurized combustion air, a second larger diameter pipe coaxial with the air pipe, with pressurized gas supplied to the closed annular space between the two pipes. The inner pipe extends forwardly beyond the end of the outer pipe. Fuel orifices are drilled in the forward end of the annular space, so that the gas flow will be parallel to the axis of the pipes. A second series of gas orifices are drilled through the outer wall of the second tube so that the gas glow is radial along the front of the burner tile. A plurality of air orifices are drilled radially in the forward end of the air pipe, so that the air flow is radial and directed perpendicularly against the principal longitudinal gas flow. The air tube spreads conically outwardly at its forward end.

Abstract: An improved fuel oil atomizer which comprises a burner tube through which fuel oil is supplied under selected pressure, and a coaxial surrounding steam tube providing an annular space therebetween, the flow of steam being under greater pressure than the oil pressure. A burner head is joined to the burner oil tube through an orifice of selected diameter. The burner head has a long axial bore of constant selected diameter, which leads to the burner tip, which has a plurality of tip ports. There are a number of transverse ports between the annular steam path and the central bore, so that the steam can flow under pressure into the central bore of the burner head to mix thoroughly with the pressurized oil flowing from the orifice. Two factors are important in the construction of the burner head, namely that the central bore must be of constant diameter from the point where the steam and oil mix, outwardly toward the burner tip ports.

Abstract: An apparatus for immediate ignition of waste gases and their smokeless burning which is built into a cylindrical stack, for the flow of waste gases. Near the top of the stack, there is positioned, coaxially, a steam-air pipe for supplying a mixture of steam and air. The steam and air are introduced into the pipe, by means of radial tubes, connected to a circular manifold on the outside of the stack. A circular cover plate or baffle over the steam-air pipe is supported by a plurality of broad strips equally spaced circumferentially, around the periphery of the steam-air pipe. There are a plurality of radial support arms between the stack and the steam-air pipe. These can be made from angle iron of sufficient width, the purpose being to deflect upwardly flow of the annular column of gas, to break it into a plurality of spaced circular segments of gas, the space above the arms protects a stable flame, for instant reignition of the mixture of gas, air and steam.

Abstract: A fluid fuel burner system for minimum production of NOX under varying rates of fuel firing and varying rates of combustion air or oxidant supply, which comprises a fuel burner including means for burning liquid and gaseous fuel. Liquid fuels are burned in an axial burner tube, and the gaseous fuels are burned in a plurality of gas burner tubes located in a circle coaxial with the liquid burner. A first air or oxidant plenum supplies primary-plus-secondary air or oxidant, the primary air or oxidant going to the liquid burner and the secondary air or oxidant going to the gas burner. The total of primary plus secondary is less than stoichiometric flow so that the combustion of the fuel in a first combustion chamber provides a reducing atmosphere to preclude the formation of NOX. Means are provided for independently controlling the primary air or oxidant flow compared to the secondary air or oxidant flow, or vice versa.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from an air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture such as the mixture of air and vaporized light hydrocarbon compounds expelled as a result of loading gasoline or the like into storage tanks, tank cars and tank trucks. The air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture is caused to flow through a bed of solid adsorbent whereby the hydrocarbons ar removed from the mixture and a residue gas stream comprised of substantially hydrocarbon-free air is produced. The substantialy hydrocarbon-free air is vented to the atmosphere and while the first bed is removing hydrocarbons from the air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture, a second bed of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons adsorbed thereon is simultaneously regenerated by evacuating the bed with vacuum pumping and the air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture produced in the regeneration of the bed is contacted with a liquid absorbent whereby a major portion of the hydrocarbons are absorbed therefrom and recovered.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from inert gas-hydrocarbon vapor mixtures wherein the mixture is caused to flow through a bed of solid adsorbent whereby the hydrocarbons are removed from the mixture and a residue gas stream comprised of substantially hydrocarbon-free inert gas is produced. A second bed of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons previously adsorbed thereon is regenerated by evacuating the bed and the inert gas-hydrocarbon vapor mixture produced by the evacuation is contacted with a liquid absorbent whereby a major portion of the hydrocarbons are absorbed therefrom and recovered. The evacuation of the beds is accomplished using a vacuum pump with an integral cooling jacket for cooling the pump as well as the fluids pumped thereby attached thereto. A cooling medium such as the rich liquid absorbent produced in the process is caused to flow through the vacuum pump cooling jacket thereby cooling the pump and the inert gas-hydrocarbon mixture pumped thereby.

Abstract: An improved process for recovering hydrocarbons from an air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture such as the mixture of air and vaporized light hydrocarbon compounds expelled as a result of loading gasoline or the like into storage tanks and tank trucks. The air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture is caused to flow through a bed of solid adsorbent whereby the hydrocarbons are removed from the mixture and a residue gas stream comprised of substantially hydrocarbon-free air is produced. The substantially hydrocarbon-free air is vented to the atmosphere and a second bed of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons adsorbed thereon is subjected to conditions which cause desorption of the hydrocarbons and thereby regeneration of the bed.

Abstract: A burner assembly for the smokeless flare burning of low calorific value gases, or diluted hydrocarbon gases, which comprises a plurality of separate burner heads arranged in a horizontal array, each of the burner heads being mounted on top of a vertical pipe through which the low calorific gases are supplied. A plurality of hollow radial arms are inserted into the wall of the head, arranged in equally-spaced array, each of the arms having a plurality of ports in the top surfaces, near the ends of the arms. These ports are of selected size and selected angle of their axes, which are tilted inwardly towards the central axis of the burner heads. Additionally, there is between each pair of arms at least one port drilled downwardly from the inside of the burner head, at a selected angle, so that jets of gas will impinge downwardly on an annular plate positioned beneath the arms, to close off the vertical flow to the space between the arms.

Abstract: An air conditioning unit mounting curb adapted for flat roof-top mounting with provisions for ducts for passage of air to and from an air conditioning unit from and to a plurality of rooms immediately subadjacent and spaced below the roof top. The mounting curb is comprised of a rectangular outer perimeter, a closed bottom, a wall dividing the curb into two plenums, and at least one opening in one of the plenums for supply of air to the rooms and at least one opening in the second plenum for return air from said rooms. The improvement in the mounting curb comprises a bypass means between the plenums, which is responsive to pressure differential acting thereon, providing a variable air volume system. The bypass means consists of an opening in the dividing wall, a damper blade covering the opening and hingeably connected to the return air side of the dividing wall, a lever attached at one end to the damper blade and at the opposite end thereof to an axle rod, which extends through the curb.

Abstract: A burner-stack-furnace system comprising a stack of selected diameter and height, which is supported on a circular base ring, which is, itself, supported on a plurality of circularly positioned upright columns. The columns are supported on grade and are spaced equally circumferentially. The furnace or combustion section of the system is of the same diameter as the stack, and has a plurality of re-entrant vertical channels in its outer wall, spaced to surround each of the columns, with a selected air space between them. The combustion section thus hangs partly within the circle of the columns or piers, and partly between the piers. A shallow excavation is made below grade within and between the columns, and the combustion section extends downwardly into the excavation, which is deep enough that the bottom edge of the wall is above the base of the excavation. The combustion section is open on the bottom, but is filled with a porous fill of heat-resisting material, to a selected level.

Abstract: A premix-type gaseous fuel burning system for alternate or simultaneous combustion of low BTU gas and normal BTU gas comprises a gas supply means for providing both high BTU gas and low BTU gas at selected substantial velocity, and a burner tube for receiving said gas, whereby primary air is inducted into the burner tube and mixed with the gas flow. A burner head comprises a long narrow rectangular structure of tapered construction that is inserted upwardly into a corresponding rectangular opening in the floor of the furnace. The opening is also tapered in the same direction as the burner head, but with a selected annular spacing between the walls of the opening and the burner head. Means are provided for vertically adjusting the position of the burner head within the opening. Secondary combustion air is directed through the annular space between the burner head and the opening in the floor of a furnace.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from an air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture such as the mixture of air and vaporized light hydrocarbon compounds expelled as a result of loading gasoline or the like into storage tanks and tank trucks. The air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture is caused to flow through a bed of solid adsorbent so that the hydrocarbons are removed from the mixture and a residue gas stream comprised of substantially hydrocarbon-free air is produced. The substantially hydrocarbon-free air is vented to the atmosphere and a second bed of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons adsorbed thereon is subjected to conditions which cause desorption of the hydrocarbons and thereby regeneration of the bed.

Abstract: In a flare system for waste gases, apparatus is provided for controlling the flow of purge gas into the flare gas line, as required, and not on a continuing basis. Sensor means are provided for detecting a change in temperature in the flare gas line, and means are provided for controlling the flow of purge gas whenever the temperature in the flare gas line changes to a lower value. No purge gas flow is required when the temperature is constant or when the temperature is rising.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from an air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture such as the mixture of air and vaporized light hydrocarbon compounds expelled as a result of loading gasoline or the like into storage tanks and tank trucks. The air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture is caused to flow through a bed of solid adsorbent whereby the hydrocarbons are removed from the mixture and a residue gas stream comprised of substantially hydrocarbon-free air is produced. The substantially hydrocarbon-free air is vented to the atmosphere and a second bed of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons adsorbed thereon is subjected to conditions which cause desorption of the hydrocarbons and thereby regeneration of the bed.

Abstract: A low NOx burner for a furnace operating under natural draft in which primary and secondary combustion air are provided to a first burning zone, in which either or both liquid and gaseous fuel can be used. Less than stoichiometric air is supplied in the primary burning zone and tertiary combustion air is supplied in a second combustion zone downstream from the first combustion zone. The total air supply is over the stoichiometric requirement. Air control means is provided so that a fixed ratio of primary-secondary air/tertiary air is provided for all burning and fuel rate conditions, so as to maintain the less than stoichiometric air supply to the first combustion zone. In addition, water atomization is provided upstream of the first burning zone to provide a burning chemistry which favors the reduction of NOx in the first burning zone.

Abstract: A multi-fuel gas burner using preheated forced draft air, comprising a cylindrical inner burner tube, supported by the wall of a furnace, and inserted into an opening in said wall, and including means to inject through the upstream end combustion air preheated to a selected temperature, and compressed to a selected pressure. The downstream end of the inner burner tube closed, and a plurality of longitudinal slots, circumferentially spaced, in the wall of the tube at the closed end. Means to inject rich fuel gas up to 3,500 btu/cu feet under selected pressure into the inner burner tube along its axis. An outer burner tube axially surrounding said inner burner tube and forming an annular passage therebetween. Means to pass low pressure, lean, combustible gas of as low as 50 btu/cu feet down said annular passage and outwardly through a circumferential slot at the end of said outer burner tube inside the furnace.

Abstract: A burner for reduced NOx emission and also for the control of the shape of the flame as regards its length and spread, comprises a first combustion zone, which is contained within a cylindrical chamber lined with refractory material. A burner tube is inserted through an opening in the upstream end of the first combustion zone, the burner including means for providing and burning liquid and gaseous fuel. A first air plenum is provided upstream of the first combustion zone with means for supplying less-than-stoichiometric combustion air in a tangential swirling manner, prior to entering the first combustion zone.