Abstract: A flue gas dry scrubbing process and system achieves higher sulfur dioxide removal efficiency with a better utilization of alkali reagent chemicals as well as increased dry product recovery performance using a combination of spray drying with an alkali reagent slurry and with a recycled stream comprising a mixture of unreacted alkali, sulfite and sulfate reaction products and flyash which directly contacts the sulfur dioxide-containing flue gas. Preferably the recycled mixture contacts the flue gas in the spray dryer. The invention utilizes a splitting method and a splitter apparatus wherein the particle product powder is separated into two fractions for recycling and for product disposal. The rate of splitting is fully adjustable over a wide range.

Abstract: A method of eliminating solids formation in a cryogenic distillative separation of acid gases from methane is disclosed. This method comprises adding a solids-preventing agent to the solids potential zone of the distillation column. Typical solids-preventing agents are one or more C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkanes, or other nonpolar liquids which are miscible with methane at the column conditions. The elimination of solids formation permits a more complete separation to be achieved.

Abstract: A system for processing hot flue gas to remove both gaseous contaminants such as sulfur dioxide and particulate matter such as flyash integrates spray scrubbing apparatus and wet electrostatic precipitation apparatus and provides for the advantageous extraction and utilization of heat present in the flue gas. The integrated system utilizes a spray scrubbing tower and a wet electrostatic precipitator which includes a portion constructed as a cross flow heat exchanger with flue gas saturated with water vapor moving vertically upwards inside tubes arranged in a staggered pattern and ambient air being pulled horizontally across the outside of those tubes to cool the tube walls and thereby remove heat from the flue gas and cause condensation of water vapor on the inside wall surfaces. The condensate washes the electrostatically collected flyash particles down from the inside tube walls.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fly ash utilization system and process for the removal of sulfur dioxide from the flue gas of coal fired boilers. The principal features of the invention are the maintaining of high ionic concentration in a closed loop, water balanced system which is operated at a low pH, i.e. less than 4 and preferably less than 3. The ionic concentration of the scrubber slurry is maintained at at least 5,000 parts per million of alkali metal cations, preferably over 10,000 parts per million, at least a substantial portion of which has been leached from fly ash.The ionic concentration of the scrubber slurry is maintained at a high level by either providing small diked areas in a waste pond for settling of undissolved solids wherein the returned supernatant has a high ionic concentration. A thickener and filter system may also be used to recover high ionic concentration supernatant for return to the scrubber.

Abstract: An upstream fluid chamber adapted for fluid flow in a given direction is interconnected to a downstream fluid chamber by a plurality of individually actuatable digital valve elements disposed in a plane substantially transverse to the given direction so that the pressure drop across each valve element is substantially the same. The valve elements are disposed so the fluid from the upstream chamber passing through the valve elements converges in the downstream chamber to dissipate the vena contracta. The areas of the valve elements are weighted so the smaller areas follow a geometric progression while the larger areas deviate from a geometric progression. Preferably, at least the two larger areas are the same size. The valve elements themselves each have an orifice, a plug, and means for maintaining the plug in one of two positions. The plug seals the orifice in the one position and lies outside of the fluid stream in the static fluid region in the other position.

Abstract: A process for steam stripping sulfur dioxide from a buffered aqueous solution in which it is absorbed in a flue gas desulfurization process is carried out at pressure greater than atmospheric. The process of pressure stripping of sulfur dioxide surprisingly results in increased steam economy as compared to stripping at atmospheric pressure and yields sulfur dioxide vapor which can be directly condensed to a liquid product with ordinary cooling water, eliminating the need for drying, refrigeration or compression operations. The high temperatures corresponding to high steam pressures enable economical use of stripping vessel overheads for preheating operations also. Stripping at pressures of 50 to 65 psig results in steam requirements which are only one-third to one-half of that at atmospheric pressure stripping. At the high pressures lower gas flow rates permit the use of more compact stripping equipment.

Abstract: A cotton lint cleaner having a number of new and unique features. The lint cleaner uses a common air stream laden with cotton to be cleaned through a moving screen and then through feed rollers to a cylindrical saw, where a centrifugal air flow doffing impeller doffs the cleaned cotton from said saw, for discharge from the device. Special spring biased feed bars are also a part of this invention. Additional features include special grid bars, special settling and collection chambers, guide vane structure, a rotating paddle wheel vacuum lock, an adjustable vacuum valve control, and filtering and discharging of the exhaust air flow through a cover over the operating drives for the overall machine in order to exclude contamination from the outside air of said drive components. Special tension mountings for the grid bars are also disclosed.

Abstract: Individually actuatable digital valve elements in parallel interconnect a fluid source to a receiver. In the flow passage of each valve element, there is a converging-diverging nozzle that feeds into the receiver. A trim adjustment screw is movable along the axis of each nozzle to vary the effective cross-sectional area of such nozzle. The nozzle and screw are part of an insert that can be mounted in the valve body after individual calibration.

Abstract: An upstream fluid chamber adapted for fluid flow in a given direction is interconnected to a downstream fluid chamber by a plurality of individually actuatable digital valve elements disposed in a plane substantially transverse to the given direction so that the pressure drop across each valve element is substantially the same. The valve elements are disposed so the fluid from the upstream chamber passing through the valve elements converges in the downstream chamber to dissipate the vena contracta. The areas of the valve elements are weighted so the smaller areas follow a geometric progression while the larger areas deviate from a geometric progression. Preferably, at least the two larger areas are the same size. The valve elements themselves each have an orifice, a plug, and means for maintaining the plug in one of two positions. The plug seals the orifice in the one positon and lies outside of the fluid stream in the static fluid region in the other position.

Abstract: A plurality of individually actuatable, value weighted digital bistable valve elements in parallel interconnect a fluid source to a fluid receiver. A linear relationship is preferably maintained between the resultant fluid flow rate from the source to the receiver and the product of a flow rate determinative fluid parameter times the sum of the weighted values of the digital valve elements in the open state. The fluid parameter is sensed, the states of the digital valve elements are controlled, and a flow rate representative signal is derived from the states of the valve elements and the fluid parameter. If the fluid is liquid, the parameter is the square root of the pressure difference across the valve elements, in the absence of cavitating venturis, and is the square root of the difference between the upstream pressure and the vapor pressure of the liquid in the presence of cavitating venturis. If the fluid is gas, the parameter is the source pressure divided by the square root of the source temperature.