Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering energy from a wet oxidation products stream flow includes channeling the stream flow to an energy recovery assembly (10). The assembly (10) includes a rotatable reactor barrel (32). The reaction barrel (32) is mounted on an axle (33) for rotation therewith. The reaction barrel (32) has races (40) disposed in juxtaposition and circumferentially about the axle (33). Each race (40) is disk-like in shape, has an outer rim, and may be juxtapositioned adjacent to another race (40). The reactor barrel (32) is provided with a plurality of rocket nozzles (41) on each race (40), and rocket nozzles (41) on adjacent races (40) may be in staggered alignment with the rocket nozzles (41) of an adjacent race (40). The stream flow is channeled to and expelled through the rocket nozzles (41), thus causing the reactor barrel (32) to rotate. The stream flow may be channeled via nozzle ducts (52) having varying lengths to control the flow to the rocket nozzles (41).

Abstract: A fluid is continously processed by being fed to the top of a hydraulic downdraft tube (15) which forms a downdraft column which is of a height such that the pressure at the bottom thereof will approximately be at the pressure necessary to dissolve sufficient oxygen in water to control the surgical oxidation of lignite in paper pulp in concert with proper retention time and predetermined temperature high and low limits. The fluid is conducted to the bottom of the tube (15) and treated in a variable depth reaction zone (25) in which turbulence is introduced with an injected mixture of reactant and non-reactant gases. The result is that lignite in the pulp will be bleached releasing a controlled proportion of heat to the fluid which enhances the reaction. The treated fluid is fed into an updraft annulus (26) wherein the reaction is selectively restrained by variable depth cooling device (21) and the non-reacting gas is allowed to expand inducing controlled updraft velocities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering energy from a wet oxidation products stream flow includes channeling the stream flow to an energy recovery assembly (10). The assembly (10) includes a rotatable reaction barrel (32). The reaction barrel (32) is provided with a plurality of rocket nozzles (41). The stream flow is channeled to and expelled through the rocket nozzles (41), thus causing the reactor barrel (32) to rotate. Rotational energy is transferred from the reactor barrel (32) to a generator (43) where electrical power is produced.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning an annulus (13) formed between two generally concentric pipes (11, 12) includes a cleaning head (14) carried by feed tubes (15, 16) which position the head (14) at selected vertical positions within the annulus (13). The feed tubes (15, 16) carry fluid under pressure to the head (14). A valve (40) controls which of the feed tubes (15, 16) is receiving fluid under pressure. When valve (40) provides fluid through the tube (16), fluid is emitted through nozzles (18, 22, 25) in the head (14) to move the head (14) in one direction around the annulus (13) and clean the annulus (13). When valve (40) alternatingly provides fluid through the tube (15), fluid is emitted through nozzles (31, 32, 33) in the head (14) to move the head (14) in an opposite direction around the annulus (13). The head (14) may be simultaneously moved vertically within the annulus (13).

Abstract: A continuously flowing fluid is processed by being fed to the top of a hydraulic downdraft column (17) which is of a height such that the pressure at the bottom thereof will approximately be at the pressure necessary to create supercritical water conditions. The fluid is conducted to the bottom of the column (17) and received in a reaction chamber (21) in which the majority of the fluid is recirculated around an annular baffle plate (24). The material in the reaction chamber (21) is heated to a temperature above that necessary to create supercritical water conditions by an independent reaction taking place in a heating chamber (32). The result is that the fluid will undergo chemical reactions at the supercritical temperature and pressure range and will be of a lower specific gravity than the unprocessed fluid.