Abstract: Solids are removed from solids-containing undistillable or difficultly distillable liquid hydrocarbon fractions by cooling, solidifying and pulverizing the solids-containing fractions, by contacting the pulverized material with solvent and by separating the solids, then the solvent, resulting in relatively solids-free hydrocarbon fractions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrostatic precipitator with collecting electrodes which are arranged in rows adjacent to each other and in respective pairs at equal distances from a respective discharge electrode with which they cooperate. Spring elements are provided between the collecting electrodes and influence the stiffness and oscillating properties of the array of the collecting electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for compacting coal in a pounding box to convert it into a cake usable in coke ovens has one or more punners which are each composed of an upright the lower end of which carries a pounding foot. At opposite sides of the respective upright are arranged a pair of engaging elements which are made to engage the upright and are then moved to an upper position, during which movement they take along the upright to raise the pounding foot above the coal in the pounding box. On reaching their upper position the engaging elements release the upright so that the punner can drop by gravity onto the coal in the box.

Abstract: A process for the separation of solids containing residues from a liquid fraction containing higher boiling fractions produced in a coal hydrogenation process at elevated temperatures and pressures. The separation process involves two expansion steps, one step in an expansion engine and a subsequent expansion-evaporation step in a pressure release means and a separator chamber, whereby the higher boiling fraction is evaporated and separated from the residue fraction. The separation process in the chamber can be facilitated by creating vacuum conditions therein, or by introducing a foreign gas, preferably heat exchange with the removed hot residue fraction, to thereby reduce the partial pressure of the evaporated higher boiling fraction. The foreign gases can be steam or/and gases obtained from the hydrogenation of the coal.

Abstract: Coal is pounded in a pounding box to form it into a cake which is then introduced into a coke oven. The pounding is effected by members that are repeatedly lifted and then allowed to drop onto the coal in the pounding box. When the coal is thus formed into a cake, the members are retained in lifted condition by a locking-cam mechanism so that the cake can be pushed from beneath the members.

Abstract: A process for performing reactions in a reaction vessel contaning a catalyst bed of solid particles wherein the reaction between reactants is enhanced by imparting pulsating motion to the solid particles. The pulsating motion can be produced by pulsating introduction of at least one of the reactants, pulsating the introduction of recycled reaction products, etc.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing pollutants from flue gases generated in a steam generating power plant. The flue gases are partially cooled and directly contacted with a portion of the cooling water of a circulating cooling water system used to remove waste heat of the generated steam in a waste heat condenser. The pollutants are thereby washed out of the flue gases into the cooling water and thereafter removed from the cooling water. The heat exchange of the cooling water and the flue gases can take place in a cooling tower, wherein ambient cooling air is drawn in to cool the circulating cooling water. The flue gases can also be further cooled prior to the direct washing thereof by indirect heat exchange in the cooling tower with said upwardly moving cooling air and washed flue gases.

Abstract: A massive compacted coal charge body is made by pounding a particulate bed consisting of moist coal particles by a plurality of sequentially operated rams until the particulate bed is converted into a charge body the height of which exceeds its width by at least eleven times and the charge body having a specific density of at least 1.1 metric tons/m.sup.3. Each of the rams has a ram body and a ram rod extending upwardly from the ram body, the ram rod being engaged and clamped for joint lifting by one or a pair of lifting members. Each lifting member is pivotally mounted on a shaft and has an eccentric engaging surface which comes into engagement with the respective ram rod. When two lifting members are associated with each ram rod, both of them are pivoted in synchronism. In the upper position of the ram, each lifting member releases the respective ram rod to permit the respective ram to descend onto the particulate bed in a free gravitational fall.

Abstract: Coking coal is pounded into a compacted cake of substantially uniform density in a pounding box by means of a plurality of punners mounted on carriages which can move to-and-fro lengthwise of the box. The punners are alternately raised and then allowed to drop under the influence of gravity onto the coal in the box. The raising and dropping is so timed that at any time preferably the foot of only one punner per carriage is in contact with the coal in the box, so as to leave as much as possible of the coal surface area exposed.

Abstract: The specification describes a method for the consolidation of coal and/or rock in mines by injection of a liquid which subsequently hardens made up of magnesium chloride solution, having a specific gravity above 1.22, magnesium oxide and bentonite. Before transport the bentonite is suspended in the magnesium chloride solution and the suspension is stabilised by an agent which stiffens the consistency.