Abstract: An apparatus 10 for feeding solid particles from a low pressure zone to a high pressure zone which generally comprises a live bottom bin 11 for feeding solid particles into a flow dividing auger 12 filling compartments 13 and 14 which in turn alternate in feeding chambers 19 and 20 in reciprocating feeder 15. Chambers 19 and 20 alternate after filling in moving to the zone of high pressure where the solid particles are discharged into a paddle wheel device 16 for even distribution into high pressure chamber 17. Reciprocating piston assembly 24 is actuated by a double acting cylinder 23 which is timed in consonance with the live bottom bin 11 to move the assembly to a discharge mode after either chamber 19 or 20 is filled.

Abstract: An indium gasket having a configuration which allows the indium to reach its yield point at a relatively low contact pressure. The indium gasket is provided with a multiplicity of openings which are filled by the deforming indium during compression between the cryocooler and the cryocooler interface sleeve of a superconducting magnet system. The creation of openings in the gasket has the effect of decreasing the mechanical interface pressure at which the indium yields. The indium flows at a mechanical interface pressure that does not exceed the structural strength requirements of the cryocooler. The indium flows into the empty spaces formed by the openings, thereby providing the necessary thermal conductance between the cryocooler and the interface sleeve. The result is a relatively small temperature difference between the interface sleeve and the cryocooler during cooling of the superconducting magnets.

Abstract: The invention comprises a downflow shell and tube condenser, especially useful for cryogenic rectification, which includes a shell having an upper tube sheet and a lower tube sheet, the shell extending above the upper tube sheet to create a first reservoir. A plurality of heat transfer tubes extend between the upper tube sheet and the lower tube sheet and also pass through the lower tube sheet. Cold liquid entering the heat transfer tubes flows down through the tubes and causes a condensation of vapor that is in contact therewith within the shell. The cold liquid is at least partially vaporized and exits from the lowermost ends of the heat transfer tubes.

Abstract: A process is set forth for the cryogenic distillation of an air feed to produce nitrogen, particularly high pressure nitrogen of various purity, varying from low purity (up to 98% nitrogen) to ultra-high purity (less than 1 part per billion of oxygen). The nitrogen may be produced at two different pressures and two different purities. The process uses an auxiliary low pressure separation zone in addition to the conventional high pressure column and low pressure column. The auxiliary low pressure separation zone, which is operated at the same pressure as the low pressure column and which is heat integrated with the top of the high pressure column by means of its bottom reboiler/condenser, pretreats the crude liquid oxygen from the bottom of the high pressure column.

Abstract: A modular metal hydride hydrogen storage system which can provide a robust and reliable source of hydrogen that can quickly and easily be modified for a variety of applications and environments. The hydrogen storage system comprises at least one storage module. Each storage module comprises a container for storing metal hydride and gaseous hydrogen, and an adapter for connecting storage modules together end-to-end to form a connected sequence of storage modules.

Abstract: A burner for the combustion of a pulverized coal plus primary air mixture includes a nozzle pipe having an inlet for receiving a pulverized coal plus primary air mixture and an outlet for discharging same. A hollow plug extends axially within the nozzle pipe and defines an annular space between the plug and the nozzle pipe for conveying the pulverized coal plus primary air mixture therethrough. The hollow plug is axially moveable within the nozzle pipe. A variable amount of core air is supplied into the hollow plug so that it mixes with the primary air plus pulverized coal mixture at an outlet of the burner to vary the PA/PC ratio and maintain a desired primary air to primary coal ratio at the outlet of the burner. Natural gas can also be supplied into the hollow plug as a supplemental fuel for cofiring at the outlet end of the burner.

Abstract: Furnace exhaust gases extremely low in harmful substances are achieved by means of a specially designed postcombustion space.

Abstract: An apparatus for ice seeding during cryopreservation of biological samples such as cells, harvested tissues, and cellular biological constructs such as culture tissue equivalents wherein ice seeding is performed by discharging a liquefied or chilled gas from a nozzle to the surface container containing said biological sample in cryopreservative. Inside a freezing chamber, containers are placed on racks that are located proximal to a sprayrail containing nozzles. Ice seeding is performed by discharge of liquefied or chilled gas from the nozzles to the container surface at the solid-liquid equilibrium temperature of the cryopreservative. Localized cooling of the container surface by the discharge results in ice seed formation within the container.

Abstract: A method of burning coal with less than 10% volatiles in a burner supported by air. The coal is pulverized in a pulverizer and supplied to the burner mixed with a vehicle in the form of air. The object is more reliable ignition. The coal is separated from the air before it enters the burner and is combined into a new mixture with heated air. The second mixture is forwarded at a higher temperature and with a lower level of coal. The coal is separated from the second mixture and combined into a third mixture with heated air. The third mixture is forwarded at a higher temperature and with a higher level of coal.

Abstract: In a method of and a device for reducing the dust content of the exhaust gases (18) of a steam generator which consists of a combustion chamber (1), a radiation part (2) and a convection part (3) and has at least two vertical gas passes (4, 5), the dust portion of the exhaust gases (18) is reduced before the exhaust gases (18) enter the convective part (3) of the steam generator.

Abstract: A furnace body (4) consists of drums (D1, D2, and D3) which are supported and drove by rotation drive assemblies (3) independently of each other. Each drum has open ends at both sides, and adjacent open ends are engaged to each other in a rotatable manner. One open end of the furnace body (4) are provided with a waste feeding assembly (6), and the other is provided with a gas exhausting assembly (7). Oxygen supply units (5) are connected to the joint between the open ends of adjacent drums.

Abstract: A demountable thermal coupling for engaging a refrigeration unit with a cryogenic device includes a collet assembly which is slidingly mounted against a retainer ring in the passageway of a sleeve assembly. When the refrigeration unit is engaged with the sleeve assembly, the collet assembly closes onto a cooling probe of the refrigeration unit to establish a thermal contact between the cooling probe and the collet assembly. An interconnect between the collet and the superconducting device then allows the cooling probe to cool the superconducting device. Withdrawal of the cooling probe from the collet disengages the refrigeration unit from the superconducting device.

Abstract: An expander for a concentric pulse tube cooler. The inventive expander includes a central pulse tube; a concentric insulation tube disposed around the central pulse tube, the insulation tube having a concentric chamber therein and the chamber being filled with an insulator and the insulator being atmospheric; and a regenerator disposed around the concentric insulation tube. In a particular implementation, the insulator tube includes a vent which allows the insulation chamber to communicate with the surrounding atmosphere. When used in space, the chamber is filled with a void and the insulator becomes a vacuum and provides effective insulation at cryogenic temperatures.

Abstract: A method and a plant for the pyrolytic treatment of waste containing organic material, particularly for treating municipal solid waste. The method comprises: a step for loading the waste to be treated onto transport trolleys; a step for the insertion of the trolleys, which contain the waste, into a treatment tunnel wherein a pyrolysis chamber is formed; a step for the indirect heating of the waste inside the pyrolysis chamber up to a temperature adapted to cause waste pyrolysis, with extraction from the pyrolysis chamber of the gaseous-phase substances generated by the pyrolysis process; and a step for the extraction of the trolleys from the tunnel to unload the solid residues remained in the trolleys.

Abstract: A device for the combustion of solid fuels so as to provide complete combustion from the start and thereby reduce environmental influence and the generation of carcinogens, includes two chambers interconnected by a ceramic filter, which chambers have one or more heat sources, one chamber being adapted for drying and degasification of the fuel and the other chamber being adapted for combustion of the gas generated on degasification. The heat sources are mainly connected with the solid-fuel device to act at an initial stage until combustion takes place in a normal way so that complete combustion may be achieved from the start.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion system in which a partition is disposed in an enclosure to divide the enclosure into two furnace sections for receiving beds of combustible particulate material. Air is introduced into each bed in quantities sufficient to fluidize the material and insufficient to completely combust said material, and additional air is introduced through said partition and into said sections in quantities sufficient to completely combust said material. An equalization port is provided through the partition for equalizing the pressure between the furnace sections.

Abstract: In the process for treating slag from refuse incineration plants, the crude slag, after passing through the firing grate, is separated into at least two fractions directly and without previous quenching in a water bath. These two fractions are further processed separately, the coarse fraction being fed to a wet deslagger. For optimum separation of the two fractions, the first fraction, having a particle size preferably up to 32 mm, is separated off in a first screening stage and the screen oversize of the first screening stage is fed to the wet deslagging. The screen undersize and if appropriate the material passing through the firing grate are fed to a second screening stage to separate off the fine fraction 0 . . . 2 mm. The screen oversize of the second screening stage, if appropriate after removing metallic and inert materials, is mechanically comminuted. In an optional third screening stage (8), the fine fraction 0 . . .

Abstract: An icing system for a beverage package includes a platform for supporting a container for the package to be iced, a liquid spray nozzle(s) for applying a mist or coating of water droplets to the container, a refrigeration unit for freezing the water droplets on the exterior of the container and a delivery station for presenting an iced package beverage to a customer for consumption. In one embodiment, the entire icing system is contained within a cabinet of a vending machine and preferably the front door thereof. In this embodiment, a can orienting funnel is provided in communication with a gravity feed vent chute within the vending machine cabinet to receive and orient the container on the platform. A linear actuator or elevator coupled to the container supporting platform is provided to move the container seriatim past the spray nozzle(s) and refrigeration unit to the delivery station.

Abstract: A plant for thermal waste disposal includes a pyrolysis reactor having a first heating device for indirectly heating the waste and a second heating device for directly heating the waste within the pyrolysis reactor. The pyrolysis reactor converts the waste into low-temperature carbonization gas and solid pyrolysis residue. The low-temperature carbonization gas and the solid pyrolysis residue, possibly after passing through a treatment device, are fed to a high-temperature reactor for combustion. The first heating device ensures a basal heating of the waste in the pyrolysis reactor. A separate fuel or waste heat from the flue gas of the high-temperature reactor can serve the purpose of ensuring the basal heating. Supplementary heating is provided as required with the aid of the second heating device by providing an air feed into the interior of the pyrolysis reactor. A process is also provided for operating the plant for thermal waste disposal.

Abstract: A gasification system for biomass fuel. The system includes a bulk biomass feeder in which biomass fuel is stored and from which biomass fuel is supplied to the system. A pneumatic conveyor system is employed that transports the biomass fuel from the feeder to a high pressure feed tank. Once deposited in the feeder, the pressure on the fuel is raised and maintained throughout the balance of the gasification process. From the feeder, the fuel travels on a variable speed pressurized conveyance and is dispensed in a controlled and regulated manner to the reactor vessel that takes the form of a fluidized bed reactor. The fuel is gasified in the reactor and the resulting gas and ash mixture is separated. At a cyclone, most of the suspended ash is removed from the mixture. After the cyclone, the gas may be is further filtered before transmission to an end use. The system may optionally be automated by computer control.