Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing temperature within a broad temperature range, includes a fiber optic having an etalon at one end for reflecting light supplied at an opposite end by a pair of light sources operating at different wavelengths. The light sources are either applied to the optical fiber at different times for discriminating between the wavelengths and producing a temperature signal based on the two wavelengths, or the light is simultaneously applied to the optical fiber from both sources and thereafter divided into its component wavelengths before reflected and reference light detectors detect light signals at the different wavelengths. Known etalon/optical fiber based temperature sensors having a usual maximum temperature range of 500.degree. C. are thus modified to increase their range to as much as double this range.

Abstract: An improved Cyclone furnace particularly suitable for retrofit applications to an existing boiler incorporates a Cyclone furnace and an integrated de-slagging chamber as a single manufactured piece. The Cyclone furnace and the de-slagging chamber are provided with a water cooling circuit which is separate from a water cooling circuit of the existing boiler to which it may be coupled, permitting the improved Cyclone furnace to be easily retrofitted to existing boilers or furnaces, even those not originally designed for Cyclone firing.

Abstract: A device for using the density control water to continuously flush the oxidation air header and the sparge pipes in a flue gas wet scrubber agitation tank. The density control line is routed to the elevation where the control valve is located. A U-shaped trap is located between the control valve and air sparge header such that the density control water joins the humidified oxidation air. A liquid layer forms on the floor of the header and is moved toward the distant side of the header by the motion of the air passing on top of the liquid layer and by the continuous flow of water. The bottom section of the main header is perforated to allow the flowing water to exit the header into the tank and flush any accumulated solids that might penetrate the header through the air holes. The air holes are located in a section at a minimum of five degrees off the floor and maximum of one hundred eighty degrees off the header bottom and preferably at forty-five degrees.

Abstract: A subsea flowline or pipeline with passive insulation having improved transient heat-loss characteristics. The flowline or pipeline has a phase change material insulating the flowline pipe joints and/or pipe sections to greatly extend the cooldown time of produced or processed hydrocarbon fluid mixtures being transported therethrough during shut-in conditions. The phase change material surrounds a carrier pipe of the flowline or pipeline. The phase change material may be either dispersed or encapsulated within standard insulation. Additional insulation and/or a jacket pipe surrounds the phase change material and holds it against the carrier pipe. The phase change material can be of a micro-encapsulated or bulk-encapsulated type.

Abstract: A method for welding horizontal pipe along the inner diameter of the pipe and outer diameter of the pipe to prevent weld root defects on the bottom half of the pipe.

Abstract: A marine connector that facilitates docking of large floating objects during a sea state that produces significant relative motion between the two objects. A toggle nose is mounted on one floating object and a mating device, a toggle nose receiver, is mounted on the second floating object. The toggle nose contains a toggle mechanism that extends and retracts two opposed transverse pins having conical ends. The toggle nose receiver is provided with corresponding conical sockets to receive the ends of the pins.

Abstract: A wire cleaner having a chamber and containing an arc ring for passing a wire therethrough, such that when the wire and arc ring are provided with opposite electrical potentials, an electric arc discharge occurs from the wire to the arc ring which carries off impurities from the surface of the wire. An inert gas is used to purge the chamber to prevent oxidation of the wire during and following the discharge from the wire. A pair of annular permanent magnets are positioned around the wire on each side of the arc ring to produce a magnetic field parallel to the wire which interacts with the electrical arc discharge and causes the arc to rotate around the circumferences of the wire and arc ring, thereby cleaning the entire wire. A second embodiment is provided in which the pair of permanent annular magnets is replaced by a variable strength electromagnet surrounding the arc ring and wire path. Other embodiments employ a pair of arc rings to carry the electric current so that two arcs are created in tandem.

Abstract: A wire cleaner having a chamber and containing an arc ring for passing a wire therethrough, such that when the wire and arc ring are provided with opposite electrical potentials, an electric arc discharge occurs from the wire to the arc ring which carries off impurities from the surface of the wire. An inert gas is used to purge the chamber to prevent oxidation of the wire during and following the discharge from the wire. A pair of annular permanent magnets are positioned around the wire on each side of the arc ring to produce a magnetic field parallel to the wire which interacts with the electrical arc discharge and causes the arc to rotate around the circumferences of the wire and arc ring, thereby cleaning the entire wire. A second embodiment is provided in which the pair of permanent annular magnets is replaced by a variable strength electromagnet surrounding the arc ring and wire path.

Abstract: A compact, mobile fuel converter for producing molecular hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels, such as automotive gasoline, or other fuels such as methanol and ethanol has a steam reformer for producing molecular hydrogen from a pressurized and desulfurized fuel and water vapor preheated by flue gases from the fuel processor. The fuel processor is fed with the desulfurized fuel and water mix and a burner is provided to combust off-gas from the fuel processor reaction. Uncombusted off-gas is depressurized and mixed with auxiliary fuel used in the burner. Hydrogen produced in the fuel processor by the steam reforming process is separated from other reformate products using membrane filtration.

Abstract: A thermally integrated burner/emitter/recuperator (BER) for a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) electric generator achieves improved energy efficiency using either liquid or gaseous fuels. A mixed ceramic and metallic alloy heat exchanger, together with a high temperature emitter, achieves increased energy density in a compact and lightweight assembly.

Abstract: An air sparger assembly for a flue gas desulfurization wet scrubber agitation tank that eliminates the need for a mixer and reduces the amount of piping required. The air sparge pipes are arranged to be concentric with the agitation tank. A single main header provides air to the air sparge pipes. The discrete location of the air discharge holes in the sparge pipes utilizes the buoyant energy of the oxidation air to mix the slurry in the agitation tank.

Abstract: An improved plasma arc welding arm method and apparatus for keyhole welding rotating workpieces has an arcuate gear track supporting a corresponding arcuate geared cart bearing a plasma arc welding torch prevents voids in keyhole weld starts and finishes. The gear track is mounted on a manipulator arm for positioning the welding torch in proximity to a rotating workpiece to be welded. The torch may be rotated on the cart and gear track in the same direction and at the same rotational speed as the workpiece.

Abstract: An improved process for chromizing commercial quantities of small, industrial, ferrous-based parts, such as but not limited to threaded connectors, pins, bolts, nuts, washers, fasteners, fittings, couplings, studs, etc., uses a retort filled with layers of parts coated with a chromium-containing slurry. The plurality of parts are arranged in layers on sheets of refractory felt paper and are heat treated simultaneously for causing the chromizing reaction between the slurry and the ferrous-based parts.

Abstract: A combined cycle power generation and chemical recovery system has a gasifier system for producing a fuel gas from a by-product of an industrial process, such as a black liquor from a paper mill and a diesel, or dual-fuel, engine/generator connected to the gasifier system to receive the fuel gas for combusting to produce electrical power. Exhaust gases from the diesel engine/generator may be used for steam generation in a boiler.

Abstract: A coal-water slurry liquid fuel or coal or other liquid fuel is atomized for combustion in the reburn zone of a boiler with a relatively small addition of natural gas to produce NO.sub.x reductions comparable to the reburn effect of natural gas alone as well as a more uniform temperature profile in the upper combustion zone of the boiler.

Abstract: An integrated reburn system for a cyclone-fired boiler has a reburn fuel feed nozzle through a cyclone burner into the cyclone barrel, or furnace, at a region of low-velocity fuel and air movement. The reburn fuel is injected at high velocity and mostly does not mix with the combustion fuels and gases within the cyclone barrel. The reburn fuel passes through the re-entrant throat of the cyclone into the main furnace, where it forms a reburn zone having a reducing atmosphere in which the reburn fuel reacts with combustion gases from the main combustion zone to convert NO.sub.x to N.sub.2, thereby reducing the amount of NO.sub.x emissions produced by the furnace.

Abstract: A ceramic fiber composite structure particularly suitable for use as a hot gas cleanup ceramic fiber composite filter and method of making same from ceramic composite material has a structure which provides for increased strength and toughness in high temperature environments. The ceramic fiber composite structure or filter is made by a process in which a continuous ceramic fiber is intimately surrounded by discontinuous chopped ceramic fibers during manufacture to produce a ceramic fiber composite preform which is then bonded using various ceramic binders. The ceramic fiber composite preform is then fired to create a bond phase at the fiber contact points.

Abstract: A safe, environmentally sound method for transporting energy-containing hydrocarbons from a remote natural gas source of hydrocarbons to a local site for further processing or refining. The natural gas is converted at the remote site, using a modified Fischer-Tropsch process, to produce non-volatile, long chain hydrocarbons, i.e., paraffins (C.sub.20 -C.sub.36) at the remote site, transporting the paraffins via rail, ship, or cargo air plane to a local site, and then further processing and/or refining the paraffins via distillation, cracking, or combining with other hydrocarbon feedstocks to produce fuel products at the local site for use.

Abstract: An integrated flue gas treatment condensing heat exchanger having a particle charger located upstream of the second stage heat exchanger of the system for improved cleaning of flue gas and increased removal of fine particulate matter.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed processor has a processor enclosure at least partially defined by a front wall and a rear wall spaced away from the front wall. A bottom wall is connected between the front and rear walls and a mechanism is provided for supplying primary air through the bottom wall for fluidizing a circulating bed in the enclosure. Another mechanism is provided for recirculating the bed from a top of the enclosure back to the enclosure. One or more secondary air plenum(s) are provided in the enclosure between the front and rear walls for supplying secondary air into the fluidized bed, above the bottom wall, so that secondary air reaches deep into the enclosure. The plenum(s) are formed of a waterwall which has a plurality of openings therein to allow communication of gases and solids therethrough from one side of the waterwall to the other.