Abstract: A process is described for both (i) quenching a fuel gas mixture including at least one gaseous hydrocarbon foulant (described more particularly herein) and (ii) removing at least a portion of the foulant without substantial formation of mist thereof in the gas mixture. The process includes contacting a flow of the gas mixture with a liquid jet spray of large droplets of a coolant mixture comprising liquid water and viscous liquid hydrocarbon. The contact is maintained for a sufficient period of time such that at least a portion of the foulant is liquefied and collected on the droplets. The droplets having foulant thus deposited thereon are removed from the treated gas mixture in a separation zone.

Abstract: Peat, lignite, coal, many forms of biomass (land or marine) and solid wastes may have from 1/2 to 30 times as much water associated with the dry solids. Some of this water may be chemically bound or otherwise may be practically inseparable by mechanical means. The solids may be partially oxidized by oxygen or air in the first chemical reactions of a Wet Air Oxidation (WAO) taking place in the presence of the large amount of water at temperatures of 175.degree. C. to 325.degree. C. and pressures of 10 to 100 atmospheres--preferably 240.degree. to 300.degree. C. and 70 to 100 atmospheres. All sulfur in high sulfur coal is oxidized selectively to the sulfate radical; and heat to bring the combustible up to the necessary temperature is supplied by burning part of the combustible itself. The sulfur free coal may be used as conventionally. Residual solids (now 70 to 95% of the original fuel) have a higher heating value on a dry basis, and are mechanically separated from all but 1/2 to 2 pounds of water.

Abstract: The accumulation of potassium values in a closed cycle pulp mill process usually using sodium hydroxide as a pulping chemical is prevented by removal of potassium values as potassium chloride by crystallization. A variety of procedures are described, including coprecipitation from white liquor with sodium chloride followed by separation of the codeposited salts, precipitation from white liquor separate from sodium chloride precipitation, and intermittent precipitation from green liquor with intermittent precipitation of sodium chloride from white liquor.

Abstract: Coal or other high ash containing carbonaceous solid fuel is reacted with a free-oxygen containing gas, with or without a temperature moderator, in a down-flow partial oxidation gas generator to produce a stream of raw synthesis gas, fuel gas, or reducing gas. A large portion of the combustion residue, i.e., molten slag and/or particulate solids that is entrained in the down-flowing generated gas stream is removed by gravity when the gas stream is passed through a diversion chamber where the velocity of the gas stream is reduced and its direction is diverted. The main gas stream leaving the diversion chamber through the side outlet passes upward through a solids separation zone, optionally including gas-gas quench cooling, cyclones, filters, impingement separators, or combinations thereof, where additional entrained solids are removed and where some cooling of the gas stream may be effected by impingement with a cooled cleaned recycle portion of the gas stream.

Abstract: A method for gasifying the bottoms fraction from a coal liquefaction process by mixing the bottoms fraction with at least one finely-divided calcium compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide with the calcium compound being of a size consist no larger than about -200 Tyler mesh and present in an amount sufficient to produce agglomerate particles upon mixing with the bottoms fraction and thereafter gasifying the resulting agglomerate particles by reacting the agglomerate particles with steam in a fluidized bed.

Abstract: Coal or other high ash containing carbonaceous solid fuel is reacted with a free-oxygen containing gas, with or without a temperature moderator, in a down-flow partial oxidation gas generator to produce a stream of raw synthesis gas, fuel gas, or reducing gas. A large portion of the combustion residue, i.e. molten slag and/or particulate solids that is entrained in the down-flowing generated gas stream is removed by gravity when the gas stream is passed through a diversion chamber. The main gas stream leaving the diversion chamber through the side outlet passes upward through a solids separation zone, optionally including gas-gas quench cooling, cyclones, filters, impingement separators, or combinations thereof. Next, most of the sensible heat in the gas stream is recovered by indirect heat exchange with boiler feed water and steam. Saturated and superheated steam are produced.

Abstract: For use in a welding system which uses combustible gases and the like, a flash arrester comprising a main body having an opening therethrough and including a frusto-conical seat, and a ball cage body positioned in the main body and having an axial opening therein. The ball cage body has a frusto-conical seat complementary to the first-mentioned seat of the main body. The other end of the ball cage body has axially extending slots to provide spaced axially extending fingers. The fingers have frusto-conical surfaces. A ball seat member is provided on the other end of the main body and has a frusto-conical ball seat. A ceramic ball is provided between the fingers and is freely movable between the second valve seat and the ball seat.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for converting crude carbon such as coal, carbonaceous wastes and the like into valuable chemical products and/or energy. A mass of solid crude carbonaceous fuel is fed into a high temperature liquid which acts as a solvent for carbon at a temperature sufficient to carbonize the mass and by which the carbon is separated from impurities. Volatile fractions are removed from the mass which acts as a distillation column. Air, or another oxygen source, is introduced into the reactor wherein it reacts with the carbon dissolved in the liquid therein, which may preferably be iron to form a hot fuel gas. The hot fuel gas is then used to produce useful energy, generally via a stepwise procedure.

Abstract: Coal or other carbonaceous material is gasified by reaction with steam and oxygen in a manner to minimize the problems of effluent water stream disposal. The condensate water from the product gas is recycled to slurry the coal feed and the amount of additional water or steam added for cooling or heating is minimized and preferably kept to a level of about that required to react with the carbonaceous material in the gasification reaction. The gasification is performed in a pressurized fluidized bed with the coal fed in a water slurry and preheated or vaporized by indirect heat exchange contact with product gas and recycled steam. The carbonaceous material is conveyed in a gas-solid mixture from bottom to top of the pressurized fluidized bed gasifier with the solids removed from the product gas and recycled steam in a supported moving bed filter of the resulting carbonaceous char. Steam is condensed from the product gas and the condensate recycled to form a slurry with the feed coal carbonaceous particles.

Abstract: Water used in the treatment of waste paper is now commonly re-cycled. Hard water is required for such processes. For maintaining the hardness of the water, the re-cycled water is hardened by dissolving calcium carbonate and carbon dioxide in it, thereby forming calcium bicarbonate. An apparatus for hardening the water comprises a mixing container with inlets for waste water, carbon dioxide, and calcium carbonate, and with outlets for foam, hardened water and undissolved calcium carbonate.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide-containing gas streams are passed over a catalyst capable of catalyzing the disproportionation of carbon monoxide so as to deposit a surface layer of active surface carbon on the catalyst essentially without formation of inactive coke thereon. The surface layer is contacted with steam and is thus converted to methane and CO.sub.2, from which a relatively pure methane product may be obtained. Dilute carbon monoxide-containing streams, as from underground coal gasification with air or the effluent from blast furnace operations, can be used without pretreatment to convert the carbon monoxide and/or to separate inert gases therefrom. Conversion of the active surface carbon with high pressure steam enables a high pressure product methane stream to be generated without expensive compression equipment and high energy consumption. Nickel, cobalt, iron, ruthenium, rhenium and alloys thereof are preferred catalysts, with the surface area thereof being preferably at least about 10 m.sup.2 /gr.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide-containing gas streams are passed over a catalyst capable of catalyzing the disproportionation of carbon monoxide so as to deposit a surface layer of active surface carbon on the catalyst essentially without formation of inactive coke thereon. The surface layer is contacted with steam and is thus converted to methane and CO.sub.2, from which a relatively pure methane product may be obtained. For practical commercial operations utilizing the two-step process of the invention of a cyclic basis, nickel, cobalt, ruthenium, thenium and alloys thereof are especially prepared for use in a metal state, with CO disproportionation being carried out at temperatures up to about 350.degree. C. and with the conversion of active surface carbon to methane being carried out by reaction with steam. The catalyst is employed in such cyclic operations without the necessity for employing a regeneration step as part of each processing cycle.

Abstract: A method for oxidizing and removing remaining sodium sulfide as well as generated sulfur compounds by introducing oxygen into cooking liquor at high temperature and high pressure in the end stage of kraft cooking.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide-containing gas streams are passed over a catalyst capable of catalyzing the disproportionation of carbon monoxide so as to deposit a surface layer of active surface carbon on the catalyst essentially without formation of inactive coke thereon. The surface layer is contacted with steam and is thus converted to methane and CO.sub.2, from which a relatively pure methane product may be obtained. While carbon monoxide-containing gas streams having hydrogen or water present therein can be used only the carbon monoxide available after reaction with said hydrogen or water is decomposed to form said active surface carbon. Although hydrogen or water will be converted, partially or completely, to methane that can be utilized in a combustion zone to generate heat for steam production or other energy recovery purposes, said hydrogen is selectively removed from a CO--H.sub.2 -containing feed stream by partial oxidation thereof prior to disproportionation of the CO content of said stream.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock and steam using heat stored in a vessel, and the vessel is then regenerated to restore the heat. Regeneration is done by preheating, separately and within the vessel, an oxygen containing gas and a hydrogen purge gas, and mixing these preheated gases so that they combust within the vessel and heat material disposed in the vessel. This is the heat which is used in converting the hydrocarbon feedstock to hydrogen.

Abstract: High recovery of useful energy from the heat of reaction in the oxidation of black liquor is obtained by integrating the oxidation into the multiple effect evaporation system of the pulp mill recovery sequence. The heat of reaction is thereby recovered as flash steam, which when combined with the vapors from an appropriate evaporator body enables recovery of its energy through further evaporation. The oxidation reaction may be carried out on the liquor leaving the second effect of the evaporation sequence for maximum energy recovery, or in accordance with an alternative embodiment, the reaction is carried out between the first effect and the flash tank with preferable addition of a second flash tank in series with the first.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for synthesis of methanol including reacting hydrocarbons with steam to produce carbon oxides and hydrogen which are reacted to form methanol wherein low grade heat sources comprising gases at 150.degree.-300.degree. C. are available. Previously the recovery of heat from such low grade heat sources has been inefficient or inconvenient. According to the invention the heat is recovered by means of an intermediary liquid coolant, which is brought into direct heat exchange with streams to be used in the process. Preferably the liquid is water under pressure and is brought into direct heat exchange with a gas to be fed to the process; by this means 10-30% of the steam can be provided from low grade waste heat.

Abstract: Process is provided for controlling the degree of causticization of white liquor in its preparation from green liquor by the addition of calcium oxide, which comprises determining the sodium carbonate concentration of green liquor fed to the causticization; determining the sodium carbonate concentration of white liquor resulting from the causticization; and controlling the degree of causticization within a predetermined range while taking both sodium carbonate concentrations into account, so as to maintain the degree of causticization of the white liquor within the range despite variations in sodium carbonate concentration of the green liquor and variations in calcium oxide content of the calcium oxide added for causticization.

Abstract: A synthesis gas stream having a H.sub.2 /CO ratio of less than 3/1 is split, with one stream being subjected to water gas shift essentially to completion, adjusted with a portion of the other stream to a carbon monoxide content of about 3-6% by volume, and reacted in an adiabatic methanation zone. The high hydrogen composition and high H.sub.2 /CO ratio of the stream passed to the adiabatic zone is effectively regulated in this manner, preventing carbon formation and catalyst sintering. The effluent from said adiabatic zone is mixed with the remaining portion of the other stream and passed to an isothermal methanation zone. Carbon dioxide can be removed from the product methane-rich gas or from the methanation feed gas. In preferred embodiment, high pressure superheated steam is simultaneously produced by utilization of the heat of reaction of the methanation operations, enhancing the overall efficiency of the synthesis gas production-methanation operation.

Abstract: Coke oven gas is subjected, immediately after the discharge thereof from coke ovens, and without any preliminary cooling operation or any purification operation other than desulfurization, to a catalytic cracking operation to form a hot cracked gas which is rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The catalytic cracking reaction is carried out in the presence of a hydrogen-containing and/or CO.sub.2 -containing gas, with a steam reforming catalyst.