Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for nitrogen oxide reduction and flue gas reheating wherein a catalyst surface is heated to an operating temperature to facilitate a catalytic reduction reaction in the presence of relatively cool flue gas. To avoid conventional complication the catalytic reduction reaction is performed downstream of both particulate control operations and desulfurization procedures. That is, the catalyst surface itself is placed just before the stack. The method of the present invention reheats the flue gas prior to its exit into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a flue gas is provided. The gas sampling system includes a conditioning unit proximate to a point where the sample is taken, an analyzing unit at a location removed from the point where the sample is taken and a gas sample transport line connecting the conditioning unit and analyzing unit.

Abstract: A gas flow distribution system for directing the flow of gas across the inlet portion of and into an electrostatic precipitator. The gas distribution system including a corrugated perforated plate for shifting and spreading gas across the inlet portion of an electrostatic precipitator.

Abstract: A method for the removal of nitrogen oxides from waste gases by contacting the waste gas with the products of the pyrolytic decomposition of methane containing CH and CH.sub.2 radicals to reduce the nitrogen oxides to nitrogen.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating high temperature plasmas for enhanced chemical processing of gaseous fluids, toxic chemicals, and the like, at a wide range of pressures, especially at atmospheric and high pressures includes an electro-magnetic resonator cavity, preferably a reentrant cavity, and a wave guiding structure which connects an electro-magnetic source to the cavity. The cavity includes an intake port and an exhaust port, each having apertures in the conductive walls of the cavity sufficient for the intake of the gaseous fluids and for the discharge of the processed gaseous fluids. The apertures are sufficiently small to prevent the leakage of the electro-magnetic radiation from the cavity. Gaseous fluid flowing from the direction of the electro-magnetic source through the guiding wave structure and into the cavity acts on the plasma to push it away from the guiding wave structure and the electro-magnetic source.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the distruction of toxic materials adsorbed on large masses of non-toxic materials by subjecting a mixture of the materials to a high power electron beam or to gamma rays.

Abstract: A splash bar for use in crossflow cooling tower fill assemblies. The splash bar has (1) a substantially horizontal upper surface, (2) two downwardly extending side surfaces terminating at their lower edges in substantially horizontal inwardly directed flanges, and (3) at least one downwardly extending rib intermediate the side surfaces and terminating at its lower edge in a substantially horizontal flange. All of the flanges are in the same substantially horizontal plane, and all are spaced from one another to facilitate extrusion of the splash bar and to prevent accumulation of water and debris in the splash bar. The upper surface may be perforate or imperforate.

Abstract: A method for reduced temperature operation of flue gas collectors is disclosed wherein the benefits of low temperature operation are made possible by avoidance of the acid dewpoint limit. The process increases the specific collecting area of the collector, results in lower pressure drop through the collector and, where the collector is an electrostatic precipitator, allows improved collection efficiency through higher electric field strength and reduced particulate resistivity.

Abstract: A process uses limestone injection into a combustion boiler burning pulverized coal or liquid hydrogen fuel. Effluent gas from the boiler is humidified and cooled to below 200.degree. F. During the humidifying and cooling step, sulfur dioxide removal occurs in addition to that which takes place in the combustion zone of the boiler. The effluent gas and unreacted alkali is then fed into an electron beam irradiation chamber which produces energetic conditions for rapid reaction of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the presence of water vapor. The remaining unreacted alkali reacts rapidly and in-situ with the sulfuric acid and nitric acid formed in the electron beam chamber.

Abstract: Converting both organic and inorganic sulfur compounds in coal to removable forms utilizing electron beam irradiation. The removable forms of sulfur include elemental suflur, gaseous compounds, and water-soluble compounds. Coal is pulverized and slurried and introduced into the electron beam reaction chamber where the conversion reactions take place. As a further benefit, coal dechlorination inherently results.

Abstract: Filling sheets are disclosed for use in a gas and liquid contact apparatus. The sheet members are identical and each of the sheet members has a plurality of male type and female type locking tabs. The tabs are positioned in rows and columns and male type tabs in any row or column are adjacent a female type tab whereby rotation of alternate sheets 180.degree. bring the male and female type tabs of alternate sheets into alignment.

Abstract: Voltage and current supplied to the primary winding of the transformer-rectifier (T-R) set of an electrostatic precipitator via silicon-controlled rectifiers and a reactor are automatically controlled by sensing spit and spark discharges within the precipitator and the phase shift which occurs between line voltage and line current (usually referred to herein as primary current) when precipitator voltage drops to a low value, as caused by a heavy spark or arc. Signals are developed therefrom which are used to control precipitator voltage through phase control of the SCR's. An arc is extinguished at the end of the current one-half cycle in which it starts. An inhibit circuit is provided for preventing detectable transients caused by SCR turn on from falsely triggering the automatic control system thereby permitting increased sensitivity in the spit sensing circuit.

Abstract: A chimney having a tubular inner liner and a tubular outer wall is provided with a seal for sealingly closing the upper end of the space between the liner and outer wall notwithstanding the radial and longitudinal displacement between the liner and outer wall. The seal includes a plurality of slidingly engageable seal elements which permit such relative movement between the liner and outer wall while maintaining an effective seal therebetween at all times. One of the seal elements may be fixedly mounted to one of the liner or outer wall and the other of the seal elements may be movably associated with the other of the liner and outer wall. An annular rain hood is provided above the seal in the illustrated embodiment. In one form, the seal is disposed in overlying relationship to the space between the liner and outer wall and in another embodiment, the seal is disposed radially outwardly thereof.

Abstract: A double alkali process employs limestone to regenerate spent sodium sulfite and then recirculates the unreacted limestone to attain a high internal stoichiometry and high limestone utilization. The regeneration of the sodium sulfite is carried out in a plurality of reactors and separation of the slurry from the reactors is carried out in at least one hydroclone. The at least one hydroclone has two primary functions: one to promote the reaction of Na.sub.2 SO.sub.3, which reduces the reactor volumes and reduces the temperature of conversion; and two to reduce the concentration of the limestone overflow, thus increasing the limestone utilization.

Abstract: A framework structure defined by a first plurality of tetrahedral elements laterally juxtaposed in a first array and a second plurality of tetrahedral elements laterally juxtaposed in a second array, with the projecting apices of the first array received in the spaces between the projections of the second array and the projecting apices of the second array received in the spaces between the projections of the first array. In the illustrated embodiment, the bases of the tetrahedral elements of the first array define a common plane and the bases of the tetrahedral elements of the second array define a common plane extending parallel to the plane of the first array bases. The tetrahedral elements in the illustrated embodiment are formed of edge elements and corner connectors. The corner connectors are secured in interconnected association and, in the illustrated embodiment, the corner connectors are secured by connecting plates.

Abstract: A discharge electrode and discharge electrode assembly having longer more reliable service life than conventional tensioned wires wherein the electrode is categorized as rigid because its mechanical behavior more closely resembles that of a structural beam than a wire of equal length and the electrode in the preferred embodiment has a flattened ellipsoidal configuration with corona members projecting substantially along a plane passing through the long axis of the ellipsoidal electrode.

Abstract: Sulfur dioxide is scrubbed from boiler flue gases in a double-loop alkali scrubber, one a quencher loop and the other an absorption loop. Preferably, the reagent flow of the two loops is isolated so that none of the reagent from the quencher loop is cycled to the absorber loop. A substantial portion of the make-up water for the quencher loop is received from the absorber loop and solids are concentrated in a dewatering system which includes a hydroclone.

Abstract: Some flue gas desulfurization processes applied to fuels containing high chloride concentrations are utilizing, or plan to utilize, by-product gypsum from the process stream. The utilization of such a process results in a calcium chloride buildup in the flue gas desulfurization system from fuels or water resource containing significant chlorides which interferes with the absorption and utilization of the lime or limestone reagent.In this invention, a method is used to convert the calcium chloride to a dry material by utilizing flue gas at elevated temperatures, normally found before an air preheater on steam generators used to produce power or any other conventional large size steam boilers. The monohydrate is produced at temperatures above 350.degree. F. By applying this drying process with a power plant system, energy consumed for this drying operation is very efficient.

Abstract: Sulfur dioxide is scrubbed from boiler flue gases in a double-loop alkali scrubber, one a quencher loop and the other an absorption loop. The reagent flow of the two loops is isolated so that none of the reagent from the quencher loop is cycled to the absorber loop and a portion of the make-up water for the quencher loop is received from the absorber loop. By controlling recycled water from a dewatering system and selective utilization of high and low solids streams from the absorber system, the quencher slurry concentration may be controlled and the requirement for new make-up water reduced. The two loop process isolates the main absorber system including the demisters, which are prone to scaling and corrosion, from the evaporative quencher portion of the process. All the recycled water is returned to the evaporative quencher loop and none to the loop controlling the demisters and the primary absorber sections. However, under varying SO.sub.

Abstract: A rapper plunger displacement indicator for an electrostatic rapper control system of the type which supplies a pulse of controlled energy to the rapper coils. Means are provided for sensing current supplied to each rapper coil during the controlled energy pulse. The resultant sensed current is integrated with respect to time over the period of the pulse of controlled energy, and the result of the integration indicates plunger displacement. In a system where a short boost pulse of full lift energy is supplied immediately prior to the lift pulse of controlled energy for enhanced control accuracy, the integration is performed only during the controlled energy pulse, thus ignoring the boost pulse.