Abstract: A closure mechanism (16) for controlling charging of material through a port into a rotary kiln such as a cement kiln comprises a first and second portion (24,26), and a passage (29) which communicates with the port (12) to enable material to pass into the kiln when the mechanism is open. The first portion (24) acts to prevent reactive material passing through the passage and the closure (26) acts to close the port when the mechanism is in a closed position. The mechanism is movable to enable material such as tires to pass into the kiln but helps prevent premature degradation of the material by the heat of the kiln when the mechanism is closed.

Abstract: Heating and/or temperature-maintaining furnace (11) for slabs (35), which includes lateral intake (12a) and outlet (12b) roller conveyors the axis of which is at a right angle to the axis of movement of the slabs (35) within the furnace (11), the roller conveyors (12a-12b) consisting of a plurality of roller-bearing bogies (13) able to move at a right angle to the axis of the roller conveyors (12a-12b), the roller-bearing bogies (13) having a first maintenance/replacement position (13a) outside the furnace (11) and a second working position (13b) in which they cooperate with the inside of the furnace (11), means being also included for the movement of the slabs (35) in the furnace (11), the rollers (10) being supported at both their ends on the roller-bearing bogies (13) by supporting means (19) and being driven by appropriate motor means (21), the supporting means (19) and motor means (21) being located outside the furnace (11) when the roller-bearing bogies (13) is brought to its second working position (13

Abstract: A fixture for holding a plurality of masking elements while the masking elements are being baked to remove impurities is disclosed. The masking elements are used to mask dies used for forming sputtering targets used to deposit thin films on a substrate. The fixture includes a housing having first and second end walls connected between first and second side walls wherein the first and second end and side walls form an interior aperture. In addition, the fixture includes a several slots which are formed in the first and second side walls wherein each of the slots are suitable for holding a single masking element. In particular, the interior aperture is of a sufficient size and the slots are positioned such that suitable air circulation is provided between each of the masking elements to expose the masking elements to a predetermined temperature suitable for removing the impurities from the masking elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for the enhanced drying of shoes and boots is provided, having a main housing cylinder having a first end cap secured to a main housing, with a fan motor and screen directing forced air into a heated grid of the main housing cylinder, with the main housing cylinder including directing conduits, with the directing conduits arranged for receiving L-shaped tubes for insertion within boots, and wherein the organization is arranged for disassembly for securing the L-shaped conduits within the main housing during transport and storage of the organization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a plurality of burners of a cupola. The method includes the steps of separately supplying air and fuel to each burner of the cupola, measuring the flow rates of air and fuel supplied to each burner, controlling either the flow rate of air or flow rate of fuel supplied to each burner as a function of a desired heat energy output of the burners and controlling the other of the flow rate supplied to each burner as a function of the measured flow rate of air or fuel supplied to each burner and a preselected ratio of flow rate of air supplied to each burner and of flow rate of fuel supplied to each burner.

Abstract: A process for controlling combustion of burners arranged in a plurality of respective control zones divided in a furnace, includes the step of repeating a cycle of successively subjecting the burners to combustion for a short time. At least one temperature sensor is fitted in each control zone, a time period during which each burner is subjected to combustion is controlled according to a difference between a temperature detected by the corresponding temperature sensor and a preset temperature in a respective control zone. An apparatus is also disclosed for effecting such a controlling process.

Abstract: Apparatus for drying a wet material such as sewage sludge comprises a drum (11) mounted for revolution about a horizontal axis and containing interconnected inner (22) and outer (21) concentric spirals containing a continuously-recirculatable charge of particulate heat exchange/pulverizing medium in each coil of the spirals. Sludge is introduced at one end and mixed with the heated charge; the charge and sludge traverse the length of the drum together through the outer spiral while drying takes place; the dried material is removed at the other end and the charge transferred to the inner spiral for transmission to the first end while re-heating takes place by ducted heated air.

Abstract: A ceramic heater composed of a ceramic substrate and a resistant heating element embedded within the ceramic substrate along a predetermined planar pattern is obtained by holding a convolution of a spiral-coiled high melting metallic filament in the above predetermined planar pattern and heat-treating the convolution at a temperature not higher than a primary recrystallization commencement temperature of the high melting metal under a non-oxidative atmosphere to provide the resistant heating element, embedding the resulting resistant heating element within a ceramic shaped body, and then, sintering the ceramic shaped body.

Abstract: A substrate heat treatment apparatus includes a heat treatment furnace of a flat configuration, and having a cavity in which a substrate is accommodated. The heat treatment furnace includes a gas supply unit at one side end face, an opening for communication between the cavity and the outside world, and a gas discharge unit in the vicinity of the opening for discharging gas from the cavity at the other side end face. The heat treatment furnace further includes a cover for shutting the opening allowing opening/closing thereof. In the gas exhaust unit, an exhaust chamber is formed on the other side end face along the opening with a partition wall between the opening and the exhaust chamber. An exhaust portion is formed in communication with the outside world in the exhaust chamber.

Abstract: A sootblower for cleaning heat exchanger surfaces in a boiler. The sootblower includes a carriage assembly supported by a frame and adapted to cause translational and rotational movement of a lance tube to insert and retract the lance tube into and out of the boiler. The lance tube includes nozzles which project a blowing medium against the heat exchanger surfaces in the boiler. A mechanism is provided to articulate the sootblower so that the angular orientation of the lance tube can be altered with respect to the heat exchanger surfaces in the boiler. The articulating mechanism permits the carriage assembly to advance and withdraw the lance tube in and out of the boiler along a different axes thereby enabling greater cleaning coverage of the heat exchanger surfaces.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling reheater steam temperature is disclosed. The method can be carried out by selectively adjusting the flow of superheated steam into a superheater positioned between two reheater sections in the convection pass of a carbonaceous fuel boiler system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a smoke and heat source recycling device for a tunnel kiln in order to prevent smoke pollution. It has an exhaust fan in the preheating zone, the exhaust fan absorbing heat from the preheating zone and delivering such heat to a heat energy adjustment zone and waste gas treatment system for treating pollutants such as coal dust. Heat in the dry zone is delivered into the exhaust duct through an exhaust collector. A and pollution controller detects the pollution and enters signal into an electronic control to control gates for exhaust gas to enter either a gas treatment system or to be emitted into the air through the chimney.

Abstract: A control measuring and supply apparatus and method for receiving a substantially, continuous flow of fluent material from a source of supply; the assembly having a bottom-sealed diverter plate, optionally positionable to direct the fluent material, by gravity, to either one or the other of a pair of adjacent, parallel supply chambers, each of the supply chambers having lower, sealed valve plates which can be optionally opened or closed, a and visa versa, one of the supply chambers being filled with the fluent material while the other is simultaneously emptied, and power operated control motors for controlling the operation of the diverter and valve plates; the diverter plate and valve plates cooperating with seals disposed out of the path-of-movement of the fluent material.

Abstract: A method for sintering industrial waste into environment conserving stones. The process mixes waste industrial earth and industrial waste in a predetermined ratio, and forms sterile environment protecting stones with high strength by the following processes: vacuum ejection, drying, breaking, screening, separating, sintering, and vibrating screening. The stones can be uses in the construction of civil engineering projects, or used as stone additives in asphalt pavement.

Abstract: In a procedure for continuously crystallizing and polymerizing polyester and polyamide materials, amorphous material is first precrystallized, preferably in a fluidized bed (1,2), then heated up to the reaction temperature in a preheating zone (4) and finally polymerized and largely liberated from byproducts in a reactor (3). In this procedure, material from the discharge area of the preheating zone (4), of the reactor (3) or of a cooler (8) is subjected to an optical analysis in an analyzing unit whereby the degree of polymerization of the material and/or the contents of byproducts can be determined. The result of the analysis as actual value is compared in an comparator unit with a predetermined nominal value obtained in at least one calibration procedure for forming at least one controlled value serving to form at least one control signal that can be supplied to at least one final control element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating steam in a forced-through-flow boiler. During operation, water is conveyed through a preheater, an evaporator and, if needed, a superheater. For such a boiler operated with waste heat, the evaporator is divided into at least two sections, a first one of which is supplied with water at the beginning of a start-up phase and is included in a water circulation, while a second one of the evaporator sections, starting from a dry state, is gradually supplied with water in a controlled manner until, in an operating state, water successively flows through both of the evaporator sections. During the start-up phase, and if desired in low load states, a water-steam mixture is conveyed to a separation tank, from which steam is withdrawn and separated feed water is supplied to the preheater.

Abstract: A vertical bright-annealing furnace 1 for metal strips includes a muffle-type heating station 12, a refractory-type heating station 13. The refractory-type heating station 13 includes a shell 24 lined with a heat-insulating material 26 and a second heater 27. These two stations 12 and 13 are connected to one another by a flexible connecting unit 14 which is extensible in the longitudinal direction of the heating zone. A metal strip S conveyed in the furnace 1 is heated in the muffle-type heating station 12 and subsequently heated in the refractory-type heating station 13 up to a predetermined temperature, for example, about 1,100.degree. C. According to this constitution, a large-sized vertical annealing furnace may be constructed. Also, the period of durability of the muffle may be extended, the running expenses may be decreased, and metal strip having good brightness may be produced.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing the NOX levels in stack emissions of compact boilers and fluid heaters through selective injection of exhaust flue gases into the combustion process. Flue gas injection into the primary and secondary air of the burner along with flue gas injection directly into the combustion process is utilized. Injection of generated steam obtained from various components of a compact boiler, selectively injected into the combustion process is also provided.

Abstract: A rotary kiln has a generally cylindrical housing centered on and extending along an axis inclined to the horizontal and having an upper upstream end and a lower downstream end and a drive that rotates the kiln about its axis. Particles to be heat-treated are fed into the housing at the upstream end and are extracted from the downstream end. A plurality of axially separate heat-exchange radiators fixed in the housing are connected axially in series and a fluent heat-exchange medium is flowed serially through the radiators from the downstream end of the housing to the upstream end of the housing.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed thermal reactor such as a boiler or gasifier, having the riser divided into a sequence of stages by a plurality of restrictions which create multiple beds dynamically suspended. Circulation occurs below transport velocity, solids distribution is substantially uniform, average bed density can be varied from near-zero to very high values, solids mobility is unrestricted, temperature is uniform. Gases follow multistage CSTR flow regime, specially suited for fuels which break down into volatiles upon heating, such as biomass, hazardous wastes and most fuels other than coal.