Abstract: Multiple heat-receiving fluid passages, through which heat-receiving fluid flows, are arranged in layers in a fuel gas passage provided in a container. Multiple fins, on which an oxidation catalyst is carried, are provided on outer peripheries of the heat-receiving fluid passages. A feed port for combustion support gas is provided at one end of the fuel gas passage, and multiple combustible gas feed ports are provided in a wall of the fuel gas passage. Combustible gas is separately supplied to the respective layers of the heat-receiving fluid passages in accordance with a state of the heat-receiving fluid so as to suitably control a heat release value. Especially in the intermediate layer where the heat-receiving fluid is at its boiling point and thus exhibits a low heat transfer resistance, more combustible gas feed ports are provided than in the other layers. As a result, more fuel is supplied, the heat release value is increased, and the heat exchange efficiency is enhanced.

Abstract: An installation for quick thermal treatment of suspended powder substances, in particular for flash calcining of mineral substances, comprises modules advantageously arranged in mobile units including elements for supplying powder substances, a combustion chamber wherein the substances are introduced suspended in a hot air flux and a cooling assembly where the calcined substances are recuperated to pre-heat the combustion air. The substances are pneumatically transported in the heated air downstream of the supplying elements, via a pre-heating device up to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A processing chamber tube used in a semiconductor furnace is guided during its removal from the furnace by a plurality of circumferentially spaced guides. The guides are mounted for adjustable radial movement on a ring-shaped plate. The plate is secured on the base of the furnace. The guides are preferably in the form of rollers which engage and guide the tube during its removal from the furnace.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating solid wastes such as refuse-derived fuel or biomass wastes by pyrolysis gasification in a fluidized-bed gasification furnace 1, and then high-temperature combustion in a melting furnace 9. A primary combustion in a fluidized-bed 4 of the gasification furnace is carried out at a temperature of 600±50° C., a secondary combustion in a freeboard 3 of the gasification furnace is carried out at a temperature of 725±75° C., and a tertiary combustion in the melting furnace 9 is carried out at a temperature higher than a fusion temperature of ashes by 50 to 100° C. An oxygen ratio (a ratio of an amount of oxygen supplied for combustion to a theoretical amount of oxygen for combustion) in the primary combustion is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3, an oxygen ratio in the secondary combustion is in the range of 0.05 to 0.1, an oxygen ratio in the tertiary combustion is in the range of 0.9 to 1.1, and a total oxygen ratio is about 1.3.

Abstract: A seed corn dryer capable of being switched between a single pass mode and a dual path mode of operation. The invention includes an air supply unit adapted to delivery drying air to only one dryer plenum in a dual path mode and to both dryer plenums in a single pass mode. One air supply unit includes a supply upper plenum and a supply lower plenum with a closable air passage therebetween. The dryer includes a center plenum partitioned into upper and lower plenums, with a series of corn bins on either side. Each bin has an upper inside air door, a lower inside air door, a lower outside air door and an upper inside air door. In one single pass mode, air is forced into both upper and lower dryer plenums, then either up or down in a single pass through an individual bin, exiting to the outside. In one dual path mode, air is forced only through the upper dryer plenum, then downward through a first bin, through the lower plenum, upward through a second bin, exiting through an upper outside air door.

Abstract: A device for sealing a passageway in a flue from a carbon anode baking furnace, the flue being generally rectangular in shape and comprising a flue top and bottom, a headwall on either end of the flue, two walls, an opening in the flue top, at least one baffle, and a plurality of spacers which are connected to both walls of the flue, the headwall, the two walls and the flue top define a headwall port which permits fluid passage between adjoining flues; the sealing device comprises; an inflatable bladder; a means to deliver air under pressure connected to the inflatable bladder by a seal to prevent air leakage between the means to deliver air under pressure and the inflatable bladder; the inflatable bladder is long enough to extend from the flue top to a headwall and seal off the communication between flues at the headwall port when inflated.

Abstract: A device for combustion of granular material, for example wood flour pellets, chippings and the like, comprises a rotary solid fuel burner (1), air intake to the bumer, at least one conduit (18) for the supply of fuel and outlet (3) for combustion gases to a boiler part for heat transfer to water-cooled surfaces, for example. The rotary solid fuel burner is formed as a vessel with a rear wall, said outlet (3) for combustion gases and a jacket part between the rear wall and the outlet. A fuel feed pipe (18), which forms part of a fuel feed conduit, extends through the rear end wall, and an air admission pipe (19) surrounds the central fuel feed pipe at a distance from this, so that a space (20) which is ring-shaped in section is formed between the central fuel feed pipe (18) and the air admission pipe (19).

Abstract: A method of cooling a regenerative thermal oxidizer down rapidly includes the steps of increasing the cycle time of the heat exchangers once a decision has been made to shut the regenerative thermal oxidizer down. By increasing the cycle time, the regenerative thermal oxidizer rejects more heat from the system. That is, the efficiency of the system goes down, and more heat is lost. In this way, the system approaches an ambient temperature much more quickly then in known systems. In one method of performing this invention, the cycle time is increased as much as possible, and as rapidly as possible while monitoring the outlet temperature on the outlet gas. The cycles are reversed only when the outlet temperature approaches a maximum safe operating temperature. In a second method, the cycle times are increased in pre-programmed steps. By utilizing the present invention, one is able to cool a regenerative thermal oxidizer to ambient temperatures in less than half the time of the prior art systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying material, especially wood particles, having moisture therein, comprising depositing the material to a selected depth onto a transport conveyor at the first end of a drying chamber. Heat is applied to the material as it is transported toward the opposite second end of the drying chamber so that, adjacent the second end, the material forms essentially two layers, a first layer having a first level of moisture therein and a second layer having a second level of moisture therein which is different from the moisture content of the first layer. Means are provided adjacent the second end for removing the second layer, which has the desired moisture, from the conveyor and directing that layer exteriorly of the chamber. The first layer, which has a remaining moisture content greater than the first layer, may be further dried to achieve the desired moisture content.

Abstract: A vertical conveying apparatus is used particularly advantageously in a vertical continuous furnace, for example, in semiconductor production. Since rubbing contacts are avoided and there is thus barely any wear, continuous furnaces provided therewith are particularly suitable for the sensitive semiconductor products and production processes. Since no lateral guides are necessary for the specially designed carriers in the case of relatively small and average stack heights, there is no rubbing contact in the furnace region either, and wear is thus completely avoided. Furthermore, the invention is distinguished by its mechanical simplicity, which has advantages, in particular as far as durability and maintenance are concerned. The absence of retaining or transporting beams in the furnace region makes it possible to achieve a wide variety of different temperature zones over the vertical height of the stack.

Abstract: An intermediate fluid type vaporizer has an intermediate fluid evaporator for containing an intermediate fluid. The intermediate fluid evaporator includes heat source tubes for evaporating the intermediate fluid, and a low-temperature liquid evaporating section for evaporating a low-temperature liquid by exchanging heat between the low-temperature liquid and the evaporated intermediate fluid. In the intermediate fluid evaporator, members for dividing the intermediate fluid, and cover plates for covering both ends of the intermediate fluid level from above are provided to prevent the intermediate fluid level from changing due to the shaking of the intermediate fluid evaporator itself. This vaporizer and an LNG tank are mounted on a ship so as to vaporize LNG in the ship and to supply the LNG to an onshore consumer.

Abstract: Gravitational type furnace for the direct reduction of mineral iron comprising a median reaction zone (14) in which the reactions to reduce the mineral iron occur, means (11) to feed the mineral iron to said reaction zone (14), means (18) to introduce a mixture of reducing gas into said reaction zone (14) and means (15) to discharge the reduced metal iron, said discharge means comprising at least two extremities (15a-15c), shaped like a cone or a truncated cone, with the taper facing downwards, each of which being provided with a corresponding lower aperture (16a-16c) through which said reduced metal iron can be selectively discharged in a controlled and independent manner.

Abstract: A continuous drying apparatus for a porous web including a porous web for traveling on a drying line, a heating cylinder for contacting the porous web at its circumferential surface and rotating in synchronization with the travel of the porous web to heat the porous web, a drying band for contacting and supporting a surface of the porous web which is out of contact with the heating cylinder and also for rotating in synchronization with the travel of the porous web, and a pressure rotating body disposed near the circumference of the heating cylinder and outside the drying band. The pressure rotating body is constructed of a rotating member for rotating and contacting an exterior surface of the drying band and a pressure device for pressurizing the rotating member toward the heating cylinder. With this, a porous web can be efficiently dried.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a swirling-type melting furnace for gasifying combustible wastes and/or coal, and a method of gasifying wastes by the swirling-type melting furnace. In the swirling-type melting furnace (5), gaseous materials supplied to a combustion chamber (6) form a swirling flow which includes an outer swirling flow primarily containing particulate combustibles and an inner swirling flow primarily containing gaseous combustibles. Oxygen is supplied through an inner wall of the combustion chamber (6) to the outer swirling flow primarily containing the particulate combustibles for thereby accelerating gasification of the particulate combustibles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a thickened slimes fraction blended with a tailing fraction for delivery to a discharge or disposal point (38). The method includes the steps of forming a bed of tailings fraction on a de-watering screen (28) and delivering a thickened slimes fraction onto the bed of tailings fraction. The slimes fraction (30) is then allowed to de-water through the bed and the screen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the supply of intake air to a vehicle, incorporating a control unit which is arranged to indicate and initiate supply of intake air to at least three intake air regions in the vehicle which usually comprise a defroster region, a panel region and a floor region. The apparatus incorporates a control arrangement which is designed, depending on the setting of the control unit, to control dampers (15 A-C) which are situated in ducts which lead to the intake air regions. The control arrangement incorporates a cam arrangement designed to act upon an arm (14 A-C), arranged for each inlet air region, for variable setting of at least one of the dampers (15 A-C) between an open and a closed position.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for mechanical and thermal dewatering of solid-liquid mixture, particularly industrial and sewage sludges, feeds the sludge to a dewatering device to produce a dewatered material which is then dried in a thermal drier. The dewatered sludge is reduced to a granulate-like structure without any intermediate stage and is then dried immediately afterwards. An apparatus for implementing the process includes a mechanical dewatering device being directly connected to a feed unit to produce a granulate-like structure and which is permanently connected to the thermal drier.

Abstract: A cooling unit reduces the temperature of heat shrink tool holders and extensions to ambient temperature. The cooling unit includes a housing with a removable cooling tray. The cooling tray is formed with a plurality of receptacles configured to accommodate a heat shrink tool holder or extension. Additionally, a blower is disposed within the housing for propelling a flow of ambient temperature air over the cooling tray to cool the heat shrink tool holders or extensions to ambient temperature. The blower in the cooling unit may be an axial fan with an axial inlet in fluid communication with the ambient temperature air and a radial outlet to direct the flow of air over the cooling tray. Additionally, the housing may further includes a damper disposed between the radial outlet of the fan and the cooling tray for selectively regulating the flow of air over the cooling tray.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is described for drying a load of moist fibrous material, particularly a load of laundry washed and placed in a washer/drier machine or a clothes drier, wherein a closed-circuit flow of superheated steam at 102-180.degree. C. and substantially at atmospheric pressure is passed through the load of fibrous material. The method is characterized in that, prior to the superheated steam drying step, the air in the closed circuit is flushed therefrom with steam.

Abstract: A pulsed combustion high capacity boiler has air inlet flapper valves at an inlet air decoupler toward a combustion chamber, with a fuel supply and an ignitor upstream of the combustion chamber along a flow path. The combustion chamber is immersed in a water jacket, and downstream of the combustion chamber a plurality of exhaust pipes are immersed in the water jacket and lead to an exhaust decoupler. The exhaust decoupler is disposed outside of the water at the periphery of the unit. An orifice assembly along the flow path defines a flow restriction producing turbulence and preferably serially combines a reduction in cross sectional area followed by a diverter having vanes to induce further turbulence. The ignitor and fuel supply are enabled by a controller that senses spark and combustion flame, and also enables a blower at least during a startup interval. The air inlet flapper admits air, opening and closing at a resonant frequency during combustion.