Abstract: Fuels are gasified in a fluidized state by a treatment with oxygen-containing gas and water vapor in a gasifying reactor. A solids mixture which contains ash and fine-grained fuels is combusted in a heating-up phase, which precedes the gasification and in which the temperature in the reactor is increased approximately to the temperature desired for the gasification. In a succeeding inertizing phase the supply rate of oxygen-containing gas is decreased and an inert gas is fed to the reactor until the product gas no longer contains free oxygen whereas the temperature is maintained virtually constant. In the succeeding gasification the fuel supply rate is increased and, after an adjusting time, the temperature is maintained virtually constant at the value desired for the gasification in the range from 600.degree. to 1500.degree. C. The gasification temperature is controlled by a change of the fuel supply rate.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing materials within a bore is disclosed to provide separation of the bore-defining elements without any relative movement between surfaces which are in engagement. Such lack of relevant movement precludes generation of frictional forces which may have catastrophic results where materials being processed are volatile or unstable such as explosives.

Abstract: A method for gasifying coal is disclosed. Coal is fed to the gasifier using lockhoppers which are in fluid communication with each other. Energy is recovered during depressurization steps by passing gas through a pressure recovery device such as a turbo-expander.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for the two stage oxidation of white liquor. The reaction vessel includes a central first stage chamber (24) and a second stage annular outer chamber (26). Heated air is first introduced through the outer second stage chamber (26) by pipes (36) and then directed through elements (38, 40, 44) to the central first stage chamber (24) for completion of the oxidation reaction. Unoxidized white liquor with a small amount of black liquor to catalyze the process is introduced to the first stage of the reaction vessel at a temperature in excess of 185 degrees F. Oxidized white liquor is removed from the second stage chamber and air is venter to atmosphere through the stack at the top of the first stage chamber. The second stage is preferably pressurized for greater efficiency.

Abstract: A two-stage fixed bed coal gasifier wherein an annular region is in registry with a gasification zone underlying a devolatilization zone for extracting a side stream of high temperature substantially tar-free gas from the gasifier. A vertically displaceable skirt means is positioned within the gasifier to define the lower portion of the annular region so that vertical displacement of the skirt means positions the inlet into the annular region in a selected location within or in close proximity to the gasification zone for providing a positive control over the composition of the side stream gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for fixed-bed coal gasification is described in which coal such as caking coal is continuously pyrolyzed with clump formation inhibited, by combining the coal with a combustible gas and an oxidant, and then continually feeding the pyrolyzed coal under pressure and elevated temperature into the gasification region of a pressure vessel. The materials in the pressure vessel are allowed to react with the gasifying agents in order to allow the carbon contents of the pyrolyzed coal to be completely oxidized.The combustion of gas produced from the combination of coal pyrolysis and gasification involves combining a combustible gas coal and an oxidant in a pyrolysis chamber and heating the components to a temperature of at least 1600.degree. F. The products of coal pyrolysis are dispersed from the pyrolyzer directly into the high temperature gasification region of a pressure vessel.

Abstract: A mechanism for the prevention of distributor plate pluggage by dust-laden gases in multistage fluidized-beds is disclosed. Slanted tubes are used to control the flow of gases into a fluidized bed, where the angle between the slanted tube and the distributor plate is less than the angle of repose of the bed solids.

Abstract: A process for the production of power from a carbonaceous fuel comprising the steps of partially oxidizing the fuel with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas to yield a gas stream containing combustible gas and steam, quenching that stream with quench water to cool and saturate the stream, passing the stream (A) through a heat exchanger in which the stream is further cooled by heat exchange with circulating water so condensing liquid water from the stream, expanding the stream (D) by lowering its pressure and removing sulphur compounds from the stream before or after lowering its pressure, heating and resaturating the steam (E), and then burning the stream (F) in a gas turbine to produce power, wherein it is the circulating water aforesaid which is used to provide the heat for resaturating the stream.

Abstract: A catalytic cracking apparatus is provided for cost-effectively separating and stripping hydrocarbon from catalyst while limiting the occurrence of undesired catalytic overcracking and thermal cracking reactions. The apparatus includes a reactor, a combined gross separator and catalyst stripping vessel, and a disengaging vessel. The combined vessel is positioned to quickly separate catalyst from reactor products, reduce catalytic overcracking and strip volatile hydrocarbon from coked catalyst in one unitary vessel. The disengager is designed to dampen the flow of grossly separated hydrocarbon, substantially separate catalyst fines from the grossly separated hydrocarbon, and convey the catalyst fines to the combined gross separation and catalyst stripping vessel.

Abstract: A reactor for carbothermal reduction is disclosed. By supplying gaseous nitrogen throughout a discrete aliquot of a preferably pelletized mixture of aluminum oxide, carbon and, optionally, calcium oxide during the carbothermal reduction thereof to aluminum nitride and continuously removing gaseous reaction products therefrom, a high quality aluminum nitride is produced. One means of supplying gaseous nitrogen to the mixture of solid reactants is a perforated tray having a hollowed-out bottom. Gaseous nitrogen supplied to the hollowed-out portion flows through the perforations and throughout solid reactants contained in the tray. The carbon may be alternatively supplied, in whole or in part, as a gaseous reactant.

Abstract: A method for determining blockage of a coal gasification process quench zone or heat exchanger by monitoring changes in the heat transfer values.

Abstract: Apparatus for analyzing the compositions of metal particles. The apparatus includes a cup which, when filled to maximum capacity will hold substantially the same amount of metal particles each time it is filled, and has a profile that diverts any excess particles away from the cup. A vessel is provided for receiving the particles from the cup and for dissolving the particles when a solvent is sent to the vessel. A known amount of solvent is directed to the vessel to dissolve the particles and thereby provide a dissolved sample of metal for analysis. An optical emissions spectrometer receives the dissolved sample and is employed to produce emission spectra from the dissolved sample. The spectra is compared to emission spectra produced by a known amount of a known alloy of the same metal as the sample metal to determine the composition of the sample metal.

Abstract: A hydrogen generating apparatus has, at least, a material gas supply system, steam generator, an air supply system, a reforming system including a reformer and a shift converter each incorporating a catalyst, a product hydrogen transporting system, and a reformer combustion gas exhaust system. The apparatus is characterized by further having a shift converter jacket surrounding the catalyst of said shift converter, a branch pipe branching from said reformer combustion gas exhaust system and leading to said shift converter jacket, and a change-over valve provided at a portion of said reformer combustion gas exhaust system where said branch pipes branches off said reformer combustion gas exhaust system. During the start-up of the apparatus, the combustion gas exhausted from the reformer is introduced into the shift converter jacket to heat the shift converter thereby realizing a quick start-up, i.e., temperature rise, of the reformer system.

Abstract: Apparatus for the catalytic conversion of waste gases such as those which accumulate in the synthesis of vinyl chloride is presented in which the waste gases are successively treated at an elevated temperature with a catalyst for oxidative cracking and with a catalyst for oxidative afterburning.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a tire in which an annular component (11) is placed onto a flexible annular support (12) and the support (12) with component (11) insitu is brought into proximity with a shaped-up tire carcass for assembly of the component to the carcass. The insitu component (11) is assembled to the shaped-up carcass by applying a load through the flexible support (12) to press said component against the carcass. The annular support (12) is locatable on an operating head (34) which includes an applier means (81) which acts on the flexible support causing it to distort and thereby transfer the component (11) to the shaped-up tire carcass.

Abstract: A gas mixer and distributor has an array of parallel gas mixing and distributing tubes which extend from a first chamber through successive second and third chambers. Respective coaxial tubular sections surround the tubes and communicate between the second and third chambers. Openings in the walls of the tubes communicate from the third chamber into the tubes. The first gas is fed into the first chamber for distribution into the first ends of the tube. The second gas is fed into the second chamber and passes through the annular passages formed by tubular sections over the tubes into the third chamber. The annular passages provide indirect heat exchange between the first and second gases to produce uniform temperature and density of the second gas in the third chamber before passing into the tubes through the tube wall openings.

Abstract: An elongated, generally vertically extending reactor vessel for the production of hypochlorous acid by the mixing and reaction of a liquid alkali metal hydroxide and a gaseous halogen is provided with solids discharge handling apparatus connected to the bottom to remove the solid by-product. The discharge handling apparatus uses the solids to effect a seal to prevent the intrusion of outside air into the reactor and the escape of halogen and product gas to the outside atmosphere.

Abstract: An analyzing apparatus includes a turntable, and a plurality of reaction containers which are arranged on the turntable. This turntable is intermittently rotated so that the train of reaction containers is alternately in a conveyed state and a stopped state. The outer walls of part of the reaction containers in the train of reaction containers are in contact with a fixedly provided friction flange, while the remaining reaction containers in the train of reaction containers is not in contact with the friction flange. Since the reaction containers located in an area where they make contact with the friction flange are conveyed while they are contacting with the friction flange as the turntable is rotated, the motion of the turntable is transmitted to the reaction containers, and the reaction containers are thereby rotated on their own axes so as to allow the reaction liquid in the containers to be stirred.

Abstract: An ebullated bed reactor into which is introduced a mixture of a gaseous substance, such as hydrogen-rich gases, and a liquid substance, such as vacuum reduced crude or resid, beneath a grid plate disposed in the reactor. Bubble cap risers extend through the grid plate uniformly transmit this gaseous and liquid substance mixture to a catalyst bed disposed above the grid plate. The grid plate is connected to an inner wall of the reactor so that a leakage path might be formed between the grid plate and the support ring of the reactor wall. A skirt is disposed beneath the grid plate to maintain a portion of the gaseous substance in a specific area beneath the grid plate to allow proper distribution of the gaseous flow through the bubble cap riser assemblies. Thus, the portion of the gaseous substance which is maintained beneath the grid plate is prevented from escaping into the reactor via any space which may appear in the grid plate and outside the area which is surrounded by the skirt.

Abstract: A system for mechanically removing mercury from natural gas is provided. A mercury trap is positioned at substantially the coldest point in the system before a main heat exchanger. The trap includes a bend in the natural gas flow path, baffles, a demister and/or a perforated cylinder for changing the direction of the flow path and causing mercury to be deposited therein.