Abstract: An apparatus to mix a slurry mixture with an oxidization air within a reaction tank of a wet scrubber spray tower of a flue gas desulfurization system for a furnace. The apparatus improves the contact between forced oxidization air and slurry mixture within the reaction tank.

Abstract: An integrated flue gas treatment and condensing heat exchanger is used to scrub sulfur dioxide from the flue gas produced by a power boiler used in a paper mill operating a kraft process. Sensible and latent heat from the flue gas is recovered and the condensate effluent from the condensing heat exchanger contains valuable chemicals that are returned to and used in the kraft process.

Abstract: An improved CFB reactor or combustor arrangement has at least a first and a second group of impact type particle separators or U-beams with cooling surfaces located adjacent and immediately upstream of the second group of U-beams which serve to cool flue gas/solids flowing through the CFB before it reaches the second group of U-beams. By reducing the gas temperature in the vicinity of and entering the second group of U-beams, the U-beams can be made of less expensive materials and are thus less expensive to produce and maintain. The heat absorbed by the local cooling surfaces can be applied to heat a working fluid supplied to a turbine or other process.

Abstract: A heat pipe heat exchanger for regulating the temperature of a wellstream fluid conveyed in a subsea pipeline from a wellhead has an annular reservoir surrounding a section of pipeline adjacent the wellhead. One or more heat pipes extend from the annular reservoir into the seawater. In a heat removal configuration, a working fluid is contained within the annular reservoir. The working fluid boils and is evaporated by heat from the wellstream fluid and forms a vapor, which rises upwardly into and is condensed within the heat pipes, releasing heat into the surrounding seawater. The recondensed working fluid flows back down into the reservoir to repeat the cycle. In a heat providing configuration, the working fluid is contained in the heat pipes, where it is boiled by heat transferred from the surrounding seawater. The resulting vapor rises upwardly into the annular reservoir and the heat is transferred to the cooler wellstream fluids.

Abstract: A deflector means having a trapezoidal cross section for reducing erosion of heat exchanger tubes caused by a flowing, particle-laden combustion gas produced in a fossil fuel-fired boiler, and a draft loss reduction means for use in connection with the deflector means. The deflector means preferably is attached to heat exchange tubes in a first row of a tube bank so as to precondition the combustion gas flow. The draft loss reduction means preferably is affixed to heat exchange tubes in a second row of a tube bank in order to reduce draft loss typically caused when combustion gas flows around heat exchange tubes.

Abstract: A fluidized bed boiler bottom with an ash cooling and removal system has a water-cooled tube panel floor with fluidization bubble caps above a windbox, and a structural support and at least one hopper, each of the at least one hoppers with a bed ash cooler region and drain control system positioned beneath the tube panel floor. The hoppers are formed from cooled enclosure tubes and have sloped upper walls and lower troughs having vertical walls. Standpipes are provided through the tube panel floor down into the troughs at the bottoms of the hoppers. The standpipes may be arranged in an H-pattern in the tube panel floor and subsequently channel several flowpaths together into fewer standpipes closer to the troughs. Solids flow through the standpipes is controlled by operation of fluidizing nozzles located underneath the standpipes. Pulsing the flow of air through the fluidizing nozzles prevents or allows solids to flow through the standpipe from the bed.

Abstract: An integrated flue gas treatment condensing heat exchanger having a particle charger located upstream of the second stage heat exchanger of the system for improved cleaning of flue gas and increased removal of fine particulate matter.

Abstract: A steam generator parallel back end arrangement divides a flue gas flow into a plurality of paths in the steam generator housing. A pendant primary superheater is located in the housing near the top of the housing and a baffle wall having tubes therethrough vertically extends from the bottom of the housing in the flue gas flow. The baffle wall is divided into enclosure walls which extend upwardly in the housing and define an interior space therebetween. A top directional baffle is connected to the enclosure walls for forming a gas-tight vestibule in which an inlet header of a reheater and an outlet header of an economizer are supported and contained therein for protection from the flue gas environment.

Abstract: An integrated flue gas treatment desulfurization system for treating flue gas exhausted from an electrostatic precipitator and passing at a flue gas flow velocity in the range of 10-20 ft./sec. or more through a condensing heat exchanger and a wet flue gas scrubber. The scrubber sprays a reagent throughto the flue gas effectively remove pollutants and metals prior to exhausting same in a dry form after treatment by mist eliminators located downstream of the system.

Abstract: A segmented automated sludge lance is described for cleaning sludge from tubes in a steam generator. The segmented lance guide and waterlance are moved inside the steam generator to direct a fluid between the tubes to effectively clean sludge from the tubes. The remote control system is mounted outside the steam generator where it is readily serviceable.

Abstract: Alignment during installation of an octant of a tokamak fusion toroidal magnetic takes place at room temperature or at low operating temperature of the magnet. In order to identify the magnetic center of the magnet, a toroidal magnet octant is electrically powered with equal but opposite flowing current and a spatially known probe is utilized to measure the magnetic field of such a powered octant.

Abstract: An automated sensor transport system for non-destructive inspection of a weld through the use of ultrasonic waves produced by an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT). The system includes: a computer control unit; a transport apparatus having a first EMAT for producing an ultrasonic SH shear wave and a second EMAT for receiving an ultrasonic SH shear wave reflected from a weld and a calibration means. The computer control unit, which is in electrical communication with a welding apparatus, the transport apparatus and a data acquisition unit, coordinates the weld test with completion of the weld. An edge detection sensor, which is affixed to the transport apparatus is used to automatically position the transport apparatus for a weld scan and to signal completion of the scan. The system includes an electrostatic shield to protect the second EMAT from electromagnetic and radio frequency interference.

Abstract: A roller wheel stand for providing long term storage for a roller wheel assembly and allowing scheduled rotation of the roller wheel assembly for proper lubrication includes a pair of vertically oriented channel members fastened to a pair of bottom members at substantially a right angle and spaced apart in an approximately a parallel relationship. The roller wheel stand is constructed to receive a roller wheel assembly for supporting it in a vertical orientation.

Abstract: A wedge shaped form is mounted on the splash plate of a black liquor nozzle with the sharp edge of the wedge located at the exhaust of the nozzle to split the black liquor from the nozzle into two flat sheets on each side of the wedge with no droplet formation at the center of the nozzle exhaust.

Abstract: An EMAT inspection system is utilized on a mill roll to identify surface and sub-surface defects such as firecracks in steel mill rolls with the results being displayed on a remote screen of a display and control system which also records the inspection results and controls the EMAT system.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for producing flexible fibers (30) of superconducting material includes a crucible (12) for containing a charge of the superconducting material. The material is melted in the crucible (12) and falls in a stream (18) through a bottom hole (16) in the crucible (12). The stream (18) falls through a protecting collar (22) which maintains the stream (18) at high temperatures. The stream (18) is then supplied through a downwardly directed nozzle (26) where it is subjected to a high velocity of a heated gas (36') which breaks the melted superconducting material into ligaments which solidify into the flexible fibers (30). The fibers (30) are collected by directing them against a collection filter (32).

Abstract: A once-through steam generator furnace having single pass non-split fluid flow circuitry to prevent steam-water separation with a one to one connection of smaller diameter tubes of the lower furnace spiral tube assembly being connected to the larger diameter vertical tubes of the upper furnace assembly through a reducing tube connecting spiral tubes angled to provide common centerlines with vertical tubes when the spiral tube centerlines are routed vertically.

Abstract: A spin vane for burners and over fire air ports in a furnace comprise a sheet-like vane element having a base and an extension extending perpendicularly off the base on the low pressure side of the vane element. The extension reduces the formation and propagation of vortices on the low pressure side of the vane, increasing flow efficiency and reducing pressure loss across the spin vanes.

Abstract: A system and method for producing product gas using residual waste liquor is described with a gasifier reactor having a fluidized bed located therein. The gasifier reactor is heated to a predetermined temperature range with either an external heater or a second fluidized bed located at a position below the first fluidized bed. A heat exchanger may be positioned in the first fluidized bed and/or the second fluidized bed for indirectly heating the respective fluidized beds. Condensing heat exchanger means recovers heat from the product gas and condenses an acid gas therefrom for recycling the chemicals. A reagent is sprayed in the condensing heat exchanger means to clean the product gas. Pressurization allows the cleaned product gas to be directly fired in a turbine.

Abstract: A field serviceable fill tube apparatus for use on a heat pipe employs a quick-disconnect fitting on one end of the heat pipe to facilitate filling, sealing and servicing the heat pipe, both during manufacture and afterwards in the field.