Abstract: A variable residence time drying system for moist material includes a valveless pulse combustor and a drying chamber. The drying chamber includes a lower sidewall with an upward expanding configuration that defines a lower inverted partial cone, an upper sidewall with an upward contracting configuration, a lifting rotor disposed within the lower inverted partial cone to suspend material being dried within a shear/drying zone, an opening through which moist material is fed into the drying chamber, and an exit located at a top portion of the drying chamber through which dried material exits the drying chamber. The valveless pulse combustor produces drying gas and sonic vibrations that are introduced tangentially into the shear/drying zone. One or more cyclones receive dried material and collect small particles. The lifting rotor may rotate in a direction counter to a direction in which the heated drying gas is introduced into the drying chamber.

Abstract: A combustible pellet drying system includes a valveless pulse combustor and a drying column. The drying column includes a first drying region and optionally a second drying region. The first drying region receives heated drying gas from the pulse combustor to dry a quantity of moist pellets flowing downwardly through the drying column. Moisture-laden exhaust gas from the first drying region is processed by a condenser to remove water and recover thermal energy therefrom, and to produce a cooled dried exhaust gas which may be reheated by passing through a jacket around the pulse combustor. The reheated dry gas is introduced into the second drying region to further dry the pellets. The second drying region is preferably a downwardly expanding cone configuration. The drying column includes a plurality of temperature sensors. Adjacent temperature sensors may be used to determine a level of pellets within the drying column. The combustible pellets are preferably coal pellets.

Abstract: A wet quenching tower for quenching coke is disclosed. A lower housing portion defines a lower interior and a portal sized to allow ingress and egress of a coke laden receptacle. A plurality of quenching sprayers for directing water onto the lower interior of the lower housing portion are supported above the lower interior. An upper housing portion is removably secured to an upper edge of the lower housing portion and supports a plurality of baffles. The upper housing portion defines an open upper end and cooperates with the lower housing portion to allow steam to rise from the lower interior upward through the housing portions. Each baffle defines a surface for allowing condensation of the portion of the steam. A plurality of washing sprayers are supported above the baffles for washing the baffles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting and quenching coke, useful in quenching a batch of coke produced in one of a plurality of coke ovens forming a coke oven battery, is disclosed. A hot car defining a substantially planar receiving surface is positioned adjacent a coke oven of the coke oven battery, and a unitary cake of unquenched coke is placed onto the hot car receiving surface. The hot car and unquenched coke are transported to a transfer station having a dust collection system. A quenching car is positioned at the transfer station adjacent the hot car, under the dust collection system. The unitary cake of unquenched coke is dumped into the quenching car receptacle, thereby separating the unitary cake. At least a portion of the dust generated by separation is collected. The quench car is then transported to a quenching station, where the separated coke is quenched.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting and quenching coke, useful in quenching a batch of coke produced in one of a plurality of coke ovens forming a coke oven battery, is disclosed. A hot car defining a substantially planar receiving surface is positioned adjacent a coke oven of the coke oven battery, and a unitary cake of unquenched coke is placed onto the hot car receiving surface. The hot car and unquenched coke are transported to a transfer station having a dust collection system. A quenching car is positioned at the transfer station adjacent the hot car, under the dust collection system. The unitary cake of unquenched coke is dumped into the quenching car receptacle, thereby separating the unitary cake. At least a portion of the dust generated by separation is collected. The quench car is then transported to a quenching station, where the separated coke is quenched.

Abstract: A programmable system and methods for spark plasma sintering. Embodiments of the present invention allow for detailed waveform settings to be programmed by an operator prior to machine operation during a SPS process. The waveform settings for the machine can be adjusted at any point and can be programmed to have any pattern during the SPS process. Out-gassing patterns can be monitored and analyzed by an operator, who then adjusts the waveform settings for the SPS machine based on an analysis of the out-gassing patterns.

Abstract: A production system and methods for spark plasma sintering. Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and methods that allows for high throughput of material even when using spark plasma sintering technology. The production system includes, among other things, a load lock chamber that accepts a die set that can be loaded with material to be sintered. The die set is passed from the load lock chamber to a sintering chamber wherein the material is sintered. After the material has been sintered, the material is cooled in a cooling chamber. The cooling chamber includes a rotary carrousel that rotates the die set as it is being cooled. Once cooled, the die set including the sintered material can be removed.

Abstract: A passive fire protection system for a power facility having a fire resistant wrap enclosing cable joints and adjacent power cables; a fire resistant sheet carried between the power cables and the control cables defining a fire barrier to resist fire from the power cables damaging the control cables; a fire resistant wrap on a cable drop section of the control cables so that the cable drop section is protected from burning power cables; a radiant heat shield carried on a bottom side of a hatchway cover leading from the room containing the power cables to deflect heat from passing through the hatchway cover into a floor above the basement; and, a fire penetration seal in each cable penetration opening to resist fire and heat from passing upward into adjacent floors of the power facility.

Abstract: Conduits or chambers for use in directing and conditioning the flows of air or fluids using a wide variety of heat generation, cooling, variation of pressure or vacuum and the effect of this on a member that is moved or rotated from one chamber to other chambers to effect the removal of moisture, particles and some gasses from an air or fluid stream that is conditioned for a specified use; generally, but not limited to a living or storage environment.

Abstract: An air conditioning system is provided which utilizes both exhaust and outside air energy to regenerate the latent and sensible heat removal operations while not detrimentally increasing the bacterial contamination risks associated with exhaust air energy recoupment. The air conditioning system includes a supply air passageway through which supply air flows during conditioning thereof and a desiccant wheel for reducing the humidity of supply air in the supply air passageway. The system also includes separate exhaust air and outside air passageways. A first circulation assembly is provided for circulating a heat transfer medium between a refrigerant-type cooling assembly and a first transfer zone disposed in the exhaust air passageway and a second circulation assembly is provided for circulating a heat transfer medium between the cooling assembly and a second transfer zone disposed in the outside air passageway.