Abstract: Improved support means are disclosed for a plurality of vertically arranged transversely oriented fill sheets or grids for direct contact cooling towers.

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: A combination spray drying and electron beam treatment for effluent gases provides air pollution control for even high sulfur coals.Liquid and a reagent are injected into the effluent gas in the spray dryer, thereby cleansing the effluent gas, decreasing its temperature, and increasing its moisture content. The spray drying decreases the temperature at least to below 100.degree. C. and, most preferably, to between 60.degree. C. and 70.degree. C. The decreased temperature, increased moisture content effluent gas including both reacted compounds and unreacted reagent is conveyed into an irradiation chamber, whereat radiation causes the gaseous sulfur oxides and/or nitrogen oxides to convert into mist and/or solid particles. The unreacted reagent may then react with the acid mist. The effluent gases are then subjected to dry particular collection.

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: A reaction turbine is used in a refrigeration (or heat pump) process, to improve efficiency.

Abstract: A solid fuel boiler or furnace with a flue gas-air mixture introduced into the fuel grate is disclosed. The flue gas is mixed with air such that approximately 30% of the mixture is flue gas. By providing this mixture under the burning fuel bed, the temperature of the fuel bed is lowered and excess oxygen is reduced. A more reactive fuel bed results providing various advantages including improved boiler operation and a clinker-free fuel bed.

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 method and apparatus for optimizing the operating efficiency of an electrostatic precipitator based on controlling the average input power of the precipitator electrodes in response to control signals derived by sensing changes in specific instantaneous peak voltages associated with the average electrode voltages. The method is particularly well suited for electrostatic precipitators processing high resistivity fly ash and exhibiting an inflection region in its KVmin electrode voltage characteristic. The apparatus is organized to serve as a stand alone control system, or as an adjunct to existing electrostatic precipitator control systems.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing and collecting dust from dust laden air includes a traveling manifold which travels through an upper clean-air chamber back and forth from one end of the baghouse to the other. Process air is directed upwardly and inwardly through the walls of an array of filter bags suspended in a lower chamber. At the upper ends of the filters bags are open mouths which communicate with the upper chamber. Pressurized reverse-direction air is injected from the traveling manifold into the mouths of the filter bags through openings in a flat cover plate. A bag support plate, located beneath the cover plate, separates the lower dust-laden air chamber from the upper clean-air chamber. The reverse air is injected successively into the mouths of a single row of filter bags for forcing air outwardly through the fabric walls of the filter bags to cause dust accumulated thereon to drop off and fall into the lower chamber.

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.

Abstract: Apparatus are provided for reducing detrimental wind influence on cooling towers by mounting at the air inlet to the towers a plurality of spaced baffles, each of which have continuous, smooth, curved, low wind resistance surfaces directed outwardly of the air inlet and high wind resistance surfaces directed toward the interior of the tower.

Abstract: The time of travel of an electromagnetic rapping device plunger is measured between two predetermined points so that the height of lift of the plunger and the terminal velocity can be determined.

Abstract: Coal is oxidized by NO.sub.x in the presence of a liquid in which NO.sub.x is soluble. Oxidized sulfur species are removed by washing with water and dilute sulfuric acid. NO.sub.x is not consumed in the process and is recycled. More than 70% of sulfur in coal is removed.