Abstract: Frying processes utilizing cooking oil at elevated temperatures can cause various degradation effects in the oil including oxidation, hydrolysis and/or polymerization. In the absence of additives to protect the oil, the nutritional profile and cooking performance of degraded oil diminishes the quality of food cooked therein. The disclosed methods and compositions provide beneficial and cost effective improvements in the cooking performance of oil used at elevated temperatures, for example, in food frying equipment.

Abstract: Frying processes utilizing cooking oil at elevated temperatures can cause various degradation effects in the oil including oxidation, hydrolysis and/or polymerization. In the absence of additives to protect the oil, the nutritional profile and cooking performance of degraded oil diminishes the quality of food cooked therein. The disclosed methods and compositions provide beneficial and cost effective improvements in the cooking performance of oil used at elevated temperatures, for example, in food frying equipment.

Abstract: Recycled tire rubber, either in the presence or the absence of carbonaceous waste solids such as those from petroleum refinery operations, is first subjected to a heat treatment to release volatile materials and then combined with a liquid asphalt composition to achieve an asphalt mastic that is storage stable and of uniform consistency.

Abstract: An asphalt mastic is prepared by combining spent activated carbon, that has not been regenerated, with liquid asphalt to achieve a composition that is useful for a variety of applications for which asphalt is used, including aggregate compositions and roofing materials. The activated carbon can also serve as a foaming initiator for the production of foamed asphalt. Still further, the activated carbon can be used as coking unit feedstock and as a quencher for a delayed coking unit.

Abstract: A compound conduit containing inner and outer conduits with apertures in the former that are angled to direct jets of fluid in a rearward direction from the inner conduit into the annular space is used to draw sludge or undesirable material from a vessel without imposing a vacuum on the system. In conjunction with the compound conduit is a rotary tube seal that allows the conduit to be mounted to an orifice in a tank wall and pivoted or rotated over a range of angles. A tubing drive mechanism grasps the tubing at locations well removed from the distal end and causes the tubing to travel in the direction of the tubing axis. The gripping members in the mechanism engage the sides of the tubing and are capable of shifting position relative to each other to accommodate changes in the curvature of the tubing.

Abstract: Frying processes utilizing cooking oil at elevated temperatures can cause various degradation effects in the oil including oxidation, hydrolysis and/or polymerization. In the absence of additives to protect the oil, the nutritional profile and cooking performance of degraded oil diminishes the quality of food cooked therein. The disclosed methods and compositions provide beneficial and cost effective improvements in the cooking performance of oil used at elevated temperatures, for example, in food frying equipment.

Abstract: A valve seat and a valve assembly incorporating such valve seat form tight dual seals with glass lined nozzle of a reagent or reaction vessel. This reduces or eliminates cavities and crevices between the value seat and the nozzle where residues or contaminants can accumulate. Additionally, the present valve assembly comprises flush ports to permit the valve seat and the valve to be cleaned-in-place. This eliminates the need to disassemble the valve seat and/or the valve to remove the contaminants, thereby minimizing process “down time.

Abstract: An asphalt mastic is prepared by combining comminuted waste solids from a petroleum refinery with liquid asphalt that is either a hot asphalt or an asphalt emulsion. The resulting composition is similar in performance to Trinidad Lake Asphalt and is useful either on its own or as a binder for asphalt-aggregate compositions, in both cases optionally in combination with polymeric additives that are common in the asphalt industry.

Abstract: The specification and drawings describe and show an embodiment of and method of forming a liquid flow through heat exchanger structure cast in a metal matrix composite. The composite comprises a preform reinforcement material infiltrated with molten metal. The composite reinforcement material is injection molded around the heat exchanger structure allowing for intimate contact between the composite and structure. The composite formed has a specific coefficient of thermal expansion to match an active heat-generating device mounted thereon. The present invention allows for enhanced thermal and mechanical properties by eliminating voids or gaps at the composite to heat exchanger structure interface, these voids or gaps being present in prior art fabrication methods or induced by usage due to thermal cycling of prior art composites.

Abstract: Frying processes utilizing cooking oil at elevated temperatures can cause various degradation effects in the oil including oxidation, hydrolysis and/or polymerization. In the absence of additives to protect the oil, the nutritional profile and cooking performance of degraded oil diminishes the quality of food cooked therein. The disclosed methods and compositions provide beneficial and cost effective improvements in the cooking performance of oil used at elevated temperatures, for example, in food frying equipment.

Abstract: A series of narrow and tall above-ground stainless steel tanks define independent brining cells into which cheese blocks are conveyed by common inlet and outlet flumes. Each cell has a removable conveyor assembly having a looped plastic link belt driven around a frame by an electric motor. Projecting plastic flights on the belt engage infed cheese blocks, and submerge a series of rows of blocks. An infeed flume delivers a stream of cheese blocks to a cell. Once a level below a flight is filled, the conveyor is actuated to submerge that level, and the next level is then filled until the tank is filled. After brining, the conveyor is incremented to discharge the cheeses flight by flight into an outlet flume.

Abstract: A drop former includes a rotary screen forming an internal chamber into which a flowable chemical is introduced, the chamber being kept at atmospheric pressure. The screen has a thickness in the range of 0.05 to 0.4 mm. As the screen moves, the flowable chemical is caused to impinge against a pressure member disposed within the chamber to create a hydrodynamic force which forces the chemical through openings of the screen, thereby forming drops which are transferred onto a transfer surface. The drops harden into particles on the transfer surface and are subsequently removed therefrom and collected. The screen may be formed of a photochemically etched, or laser-drilled, metallic sheet.

Abstract: A treater for electrostatically separating emulsified water from oil during longitudinal flow through a horizontally elongated coalescing section has a number of baffles with adjacent electrostatic wing grids therein. The electrostatic wing grids are externally connected to two or more transformers so that a higher voltage may be applied to subsequent grids along the coalescing section. Each of the electrostatic wing grids includes a front face and perpendicular side edges and a perpendicular bottom edge to extend the electrostatic field out beyond the front face, so as to enhance the electrostatic action and more efficiently remove water from the emulsion. The baffles preferably extend downwardly to a water/oil interface, so as to increase the efficiency of the emulsion flowing through the coalescing section and ensure that the electrostatic field is applied to the emulsion.

Abstract: A treater for electrostatically and/or mechanically separating emulsified brine from oil during longitudinal flow through a horizontally elongated metal tank, wherein adjustable distributor elements are provided for enhancement of the de-emulsification process. The adjustable distributor elements may be externally operated to more closely control the diffusion and distribution of the flowing emulsion across the transverse area of the treater. The emulsion may be first directed through electrical fields where the brine droplets take on an electrical charge, then move through the distributor elements to electrically grounded coalescing elements. De-emulsified oil is removed in a stream separate from the brine stream. The treater also operates mechanically, with reduced efficiency, when electrostatic operation is unavailable, and can also be operated if coalescing elements are not used.

Abstract: A pump installation used to maintain liquid level in a tank by pumping down liquid introduced into the tank with rotation of an impeller about a vertical axis features an air purging flow defined by axial openings through the pump impeller and an annular clearance space between the impeller drive and the pump housing cover, the space disposed above the impeller axial openings. A support sleeve surrounding the impeller drive and secured to the pump motor and tank top has openings at the bottom thereof which sets up a flushing liquid flow to eliminate solids forced up through the clearance space and into the sleeve interior.

Abstract: A process to bulk separate H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 from a sour gas by first cooling the inlet sour gas, passing the cooled sour gas through a separator and removing a liquid acid gas as a bottoms product in a fractionation tower, and then either pumping or free flowing the liquid acid gas into a disposal well. Potential sulphur deposition problems are controlled by recycling liquid acid gas to the plant inlet.

Abstract: The treating apparatus and method of the present invention improve the efficiency and reliability of flash treating crude oil by including a recycled oil pumping loop that takes crude oil from a flashing section of a vessel and feeds it to either the inlet of a treater section or through a heater into a connecting pipe between the treater section and the flashing section, thereby eliminating the need of a fired heater in the flashing section.

Abstract: A plurality of reinforced urethane belts define a conveyor path which changes direction for causing conveyed articles to turn a corner. Two sets of corner pulleys are mounted as part of a conveyor assembly which is cantilevered out over a rigid frame. Return pulleys are mounted to the frame beneath the corner pulleys. Continuous looped belts which have been preformed to a desired length, different for each set of corner pulleys, are installed on the corner turn by being passed over the projecting cantilevered conveyor assembly and fitted to the corner pulleys and a return pulley. The return pulleys move radially in slots and are tightened in place to achieve the desired belt tension.

Abstract: A revenue accuracy meter and a method are provided for measuring the amount and quality of power received by a power customer across electrical power lines. The revenue accuracy meter preferably has a variation determiner for determining undesired variations in an electrical signal representative of power received by the power customer during a plurality of predetermined time periods. A power usage measurer is coupled in electrical communication with the variation determiner for measuring the power usage of a customer responsive to an electrical signal representative of a customer load. The meter further has a communications interface coupled in electrical communication with the variation determiner and the power usage measurer for communication signals representative of the power variations and the power usage.

Abstract: Method, system and apparatus are disclosed for in-vessel composting of organic material. A compost handling apparatus moves forwardly through a bed of composting material in an elongate open bay. Specifically, an agitator comprises a feed belt such as a transversely mounted cylindrical drum, which feeds composting material to a conveyor which lifts the material and projects it rearwardly behind the agitator. A regulator, such as an adjustable deflector, controls the discharge of composting material by the conveyor. The deflector is adjusted as the agitator moves forward through the composting material to develop a level bed in the bay behind the agitator. A sensor may be employed to generate a depth signal corresponding to the depth of the composting material for controlling the deflector.