Abstract: A downhole jet pump wherein pressurized gas from an outside portion of a string of tubing is directed through a nozzle having a venturi which causes fluids to be sucked from an outside portion of the string of tubing and ejected through an inside portion of the sting of tubing.

Abstract: The invention is a coolant system for a rocket engine. The rocket engine includes an injector, a fuel supply, an oxidizer supply, a pump for feeding fuel from the fuel supply to the injector, a pump for feeding oxidizer from the oxidizer supply to the injector, a combustor, and a nozzle, the combustor and nozzle forming a combustor and nozzle assembly. The coolant system includes a cooling jacket surrounding the combustor and nozzle assembly. A coolant fluid is supplied to the combustor jacket by a coolant pump that circulates the coolant fluid through the jacket. The coolant fluid vaporizes to cool the combustor and nozzle assembly. A turbine is operatively connected to the coolant pump and is driven by the vaporized coolant from the jacket. A heat exchanger transfers heat from the vaporized fluid to fuel or oxidizer from the supply thereof prior to the feeding of the fuel or oxidizer into the injector.

Abstract: A bioreactor for reacting an aqueous heavy metal and sulfate containing mine drainage solution with sulfate reducing bacteria to produce heavy metal sulfides and reduce the sulfuric acid content of the solution. The reactor is an elongated, horizontal trough defining an inlet section and a reaction section. An inlet manifold adjacent the inlet section distributes aqueous mine drainage solution into the inlet section for flow through the inlet section and reaction section. A sulfate reducing bacteria and bacteria nutrient composition in the inlet section provides sulfate reducing bacteria that with the sulfuric acid and heavy metals in the solution to form solid metal sulfides. The sulfate reducing bacteria and bacteria nutrient composition is retained in the cells of a honeycomb structure formed of cellular honeycomb panels mounted in the reactor inlet section. The honeycomb panels extend upwardly in the inlet section at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal.

Abstract: A permeable wall for the in situ treatment of groundwater flowing therethrough is formed by a plurality of hexagonal cells removably placed in a frame in watertight relation to the frame and each other. The frame is mounted in a gate between barriers or pilings in the flow path of the groundwater. Each cell is formed by a hexagonal shell of water impermeable material defining a central chamber opening therethrough and containing a permeable water treatment material. Sealing tongues project from a portion of the shell, and sealing grooves are defined in another portion. The tongues on one cell are received in sealing grooves on an adjacent cell when the cells are mounted in the frame. Removable panels are mounted on the frame to prevent water flow when the cells are being inserted or removed. The same construction can be utilized for other fluid-solid reactors.

Abstract: Removal of Light, non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (LNAPLs) from contaminated soils is expedited by injecting gas into extraction wells. The extraction wells are operated with a vacuum assist which produces a mounding of groundwater around the well. Gas is injected into the groundwater within the extraction well in the form of micro-bubbles. The bubbles rise through the LNAPL and volatilize it. The volatilized LNAPL is drawn to the surface and groundwater is left in the well.

Abstract: A single-stage earth-to-orbit launch vehicle employs a combination of rocket engines and turbojet engines to propel a device into orbit. The vehicle is driven through a unique set of operating conditions of the engines to conserve oxidizer and optimize acceleration. Cooling effects of fuel used by both types of engines is employed to maintain operating temperature of the turbojet engines within limits of lightweight materials. The rocket engines are used during initial acceleration and then permitted to remain deeply throttled or idle until the vehicle reaches a speed of about Mach 6. The rocket engine, with most of its oxidizer intact, is then used to accelerate the vehicle into orbit.

Abstract: A turbojet engine has a capability for propelling an air-borne vehicle over an extremely wide range of operating speeds. A vehicle can be propelled from take-off conditions through speeds in excess of Mach 5. The engine is equipped with a cooling fluid injection system which cools intake air at high operating speeds. Cooling of intake air permits continued turbojet engine operation at speeds which produce stagnation air inlet temperature in excess of those which critical compressor components can tolerate. The inlet air entering the compressor is pre-cooled with injected fluid so that its temperature is reduced below the critical operating temperature limits of the critical compressor components.

Abstract: A method of treating industrial gases to remove contaminants is disclosed. Ions are generated in stream of injectable gas. These ions are propelled through the contaminated gas as it flows through a collection unit. An electric field is applied to the contaminated gas. The field causes the ions to move through the contaminated gases, producing electrical charges on the contaminants. The electrically charged contaminants are then collected at one side of the electric field. The injectable gas is selected to produce ions which will produce reactions with particular contaminants. The process is thus capable of removing particular contaminants. The process does not depend on diffusion as a transport mechanism and is therefore suitable for removing contaminants which exist in very low concentrations.

Abstract: Effluents from a waste treatment operation are incinerated and oxidized by passing the gases through an inductively coupled plasmas arc torch. The effluents are transformed into plasma within the torch. At extremely high plasma temperatures, the effluents quickly oxidize. The process results in high temperature oxidation of the gases without addition of any mass flow for introduction of energy.

Abstract: A method of treating industrial gases to remove contaminants is disclosed. Ions are generated in stream of injectable gas. These ions are propelled through the contaminated gas as it flows through a collection unit. An electric field is applied to the contaminated gas. The field causes the ions to move through the contaminated gases, producing electrical charges on the contaminants. The electrically charged contaminants are then collected at one side of the electric field.The injectable gas is selected to produce ions which will produce reactions with particular contaminants. The process is thus capable of removing particular contaminants. The process does not depend on diffusion as a transport mechanism and is therefore suitable for removing contaminants which exist in very low concentrations.

Abstract: Weldolets or threadolet type fittings are welded onto pipe while being clamped in position with a clamp assembly that includes a threaded bolt, a wing nut, a positioning star with tapered arms which can slide along the axis of the bolt, and a tapered swivel anchor that is pivotally connected to an end of the bolt. In operation, the fitting is positioned at a hole in the pipe. The swivel anchor and bolt are inserted through the fitting into the pipe. The positioning star is engaged with a free end of the fitting and then the wing nut is tightened to produce a forced engagement between the positioning star and the fitting. This positions the fitting into concentric alignment with the hole and orthogonal alignment with the pipe.