Abstract: The invention described herein provides a method and apparatus for the treatment of explosive waste. The method involves the use of a vessel containing a hot granular bed such as sand to ignite the waste and to dampen explosive forces generated by the ignition of the waste. When the waste contains non-combustible components, the granular bed serves to decrease the force of impact of the non-combustible materials on the vessel walls thereby increasing the life of the vessel and as a media for collection of the non-combustible materials. The granular bed may be removed from the chamber, the non-combustible material separated, and the bed returned in a continuous or intermittent recycle for an efficient operation which conserves the bed material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying particulate matter such as vegetables and the like is disclosed. The apparatus has a centrifugal dryer that includes a drum adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis which is canted with respect to the vertical. The drum is open at its upper end to receive the particulate matter, the lower end of the drum includes a lower opening to facilitate dispensing of the particulate matter after it has been dried. The drum includes a perforate wall and a radially inwardly extending annular member which preferably extends from the lower end of the perforate wall. In use, the drum is rotated at a low speed whilst the particulate matter is introduced, the drum then being accelerated through the drying cycle and decelerated again for dispensing through the lower opening. In the preferred form the dryers are used in coupled pairs which allows for effectively continuous processing, despite the batch type operation of the individual dryers.

Abstract: A unit for disposing of refuse and contaminants by thermal oxidation includes a housing having a bottom, side walls and a top disposed in surrounding relation to an interior thereof. A partial wall structure divides the housing interior to define a first thermal oxidation chamber sized and configured to contain the refuse and contaminants and a second flue gas burning chamber disposed in air-flow communication with said first chamber. Heating elements are provided in the first and second chambers to raise the temperature to a predetermined level in order to induce thermal oxidation of refuse in the first chamber and the resultant flue gasses passing through the second chamber. An exhaust stack receives the flue gasses exiting from the second chamber and includes a filter therein for removing remaining contaminants from the flue gasses prior to entering the atmosphere.

Abstract: The heating method, more particularly for dwellings, in which a pulverulent or granular mixture comprising a plastic and a stabilizing agent, which is vortexed with air in a dry mixer, in which the outer wall of the dry mixer, for the dissipation of heat, is circumcirculated with water circulating in a heating circulation system, consists in that, as a stabilizing agent for the small plastic particles, a mercaptide is used and/or in that the vortexing is performed in a reposingly disposed container extending via a vortexing path over a horizontal area; which is carried out in a device comprised of a double-walled container (10) with a vortexing means of a wing mixer (20), while water is circulated as a part of a heating circulation system in the interspace of the double wall (11, 12), and in that the preferably cylindrical container is disposded so as to be reposing and is provided with a wing mixer (20) capable of rotating about a horizontal shaft (FIG. 1).

Abstract: Oxygen is lanced into the main combustion reaction of a cement kiln to increase heat transfer to the clinker bed and to increase clinker production. Oxygen is separately lanced along the floor, i.e. the lowest wall of the kiln, to delay mixing with the flame to provide deep staging. The deeply staged oxygen flow is adjusted frequently to control emissions and stabilize the burning zone while the primary oxygen flow is maintained constant.

Abstract: A deodorizing device for a refrigerator is disclosed. The deodorizing device includes a deodorizing unit which is detachably mounted to a cooling air return port of a cooling chamber and sucks the cooling air laden with odor and bacteria thereinto by the blowing force of a cooling air fan. The deodorizing unit includes a cooling air grille provided with a plurality of cooling air through holes, a deodorant container provided on each side of the top surface of the grille a guide cover detachably coupled to the grille for guiding the cooling air to the cooling: air return passage, and a fixing plate for fixing the guide cover to an inner case of the freezing chamber so as to mount the deodorizing unit to the second cooling air return port. The fixing plate is placed on the top of the guide cover.

Abstract: An exhaust system for use with a high temperature furnace used to perform oxidation and/or annealing operations of the type used in semiconductor fabrication. The exhaust system is designed to permit the furnace to be used with a controlled environment chamber surrounding the entry to the process chamber of the furnace. The exhaust system allows a relatively high velocity flow of exhaust gas from the process chamber through the exhaust system to occur when a positive pressure (e.g., annealing) operations are performed. Such high velocity flow prevents (a) backstreaming and (b) the accumulation of non-uniform concentrations of exhaust gases in the exhaust system, thereby permitting the accurate monitoring of the concentration of a selected gas in the exhaust system. Based on such monitoring, the opening of the door to the process chamber of the furnace may be prevented when the concentration of the selected gas exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: High temperature combustion apparatus incorporating a pneumatically suspended combustion zone and capable of supporting relatively high combustion temperatures, in excess of 2400.degree. C. (4352.degree. F.) for essentially total combustion with minimal pollutant production. The combustion apparatus may be employed for waste material incineration in general, toxic waste incineration, and for smokeless burning of wood and vegetation. The combustion apparatus may be employed in an efficient steam electric power generating plant which employs municipal solid waste as fuel, and/or in combination with a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) electric generator. The pneumatically suspended combustion zone is created by having streams of combustion air directed upwardly from a floor grate and from the sides of a combustion chamber such that combustion occurs in a swirling turbulent mass which does not directly contact either the walls or the floor of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A filter-dryer unit has an agitator having an agitator arm provided with gas discharge nozzles directed at the bottom wall, which includes a liquid discharge filter element, of the vessel of the filter-dryer unit. High pressure, high velocity gas is discharged through the nozzles to break up and remove the heel, consisting of finished product not expelled by agitator action. Product particles from the heel, after the heel has been broken up, are removed by agitator action and by the pressure of the gas discharged through the nozzles, through a standard product discharge opening. A separator/filter unit is provided to separate particles from the gas being discharged through the vessels discharge opening. The agitator arm is provided with a nozzle directed at the side wall of the vessel to remove any residual product on the side wall and a nozzle directed at an angle to the side wall to facilitate removal of the heel adjacent the side wall.

Abstract: A description is given of an apparatus for shooting of whole automobile tires, preferably into a cement rotary kiln, which apparatus comprises a gun barrel, a charging device for placing automobile tires in the gun barrel, and a device for generating compressed air for propelling the automobile tire through the gun barrel. The gun barrel consists of a tube having a cross-section which is essentially rectangular over its entire length. By designing the gun barrel with a cross-section which corresponds to the cross-section of the automobile tire, the automobile tire will fill out the entire cross-sectional area of the gun barrel thereby making it possible to provide an air pressure behind the automobile tire which is sufficient for propelling the tire through the gun barrel.

Abstract: A paper sludge drier includes a somewhat attrition style mill discharging to a horizontal, rotary drum drier. The mill has two mill plates facing each other. As one rotates relative to the other, sludge is broken down as it passes between the plates. The sludge flows generally from the center of the plates and outward through grooves running radially across the plates. The sludge is subsequently dried in the horizontal drum which has an integral internal screw that conveys the sludge through the drum. The sludge drier reduces the moisture content of the paper sludge from over 50 percent down to less than 20 percent.

Abstract: A burner block for mounting a burner within a furnace containing a melt to be heated by the burner. The burner block comprises a body having a passageway terminating in a divergent opening. The passageway is configured to receive the burner so that the burner is recessed within the divergent opening and a flame produced by the burner is directed out of the divergent opening and over the melt. The divergent opening has a lower section angled in a downward direction and the lower section has a reversed step to produce a primary recirculation zone beneath the flame, thereby to draw the flame in a downward direction toward the melt. The reversed step is positioned within the divergent opening so that when the burner is in use, a secondary recirculation zone forms between the opening and the melt and further draws the flame in the downward direction toward the melt.

Abstract: A process for the vitrification of products in the form of solid pieces or particles without the release of dust as a pollutant, according to which there is used a furnace (3) provided with a burner (15). There are introduced into the furnace the products to be vitrified, and the products are permitted to heat in the furnace until they form a liquid or pasty vitreous mass, then this vitreous mass is removed from the furnace and permitted to cool. The internal walls of the furnace are preheated with the burner to a temperature exceeding the temperature at which the products to be vitrified can form a liquid or pasty vitreous mass, then the energy supplied by the burner is reduced substantially or even cut off, before introducing waste into the furnace.

Abstract: The invention relates to a one-pot mixer/granulator/dryer constituting a single step or one-pot production apparatus for successively mixing, moist-granulating and drying solid pharmaceutical products, for example in the manufacture of powdered products, pellets or granules. The dryer according to the invention has a substantially improved drying performance compared with conventional production equipment. The high efficiency of drying is achieved by the simultaneous use of four different drying mechanisms.

Abstract: A furnace comprises an enclosure, a hearth plate within the enclosure for supporting combustible material, a first heater element adjacent the hearth plate for initial combustion of the combustible material, a filter disposed above the hearth plate for filtering uncombusted products of combustion of the combustible material, and a second heater element adjacent the filter for final combustion of the uncombusted products of combustion filtered by the filter. A controller controls the first and second heater elements independently.

Abstract: The pressure within a compartment of a refrigerator is kept equalized with ambient atmospheric air to facilitate the opening of the refrigerator door. An air passage capable of communicating the compartment with ambient air is closed when the compartment pressure is equal to the ambient air pressure, and is automatically opened when the compartment pressure become less than the ambient air pressure. The opening of the air passage is under the control of water contained in a trap portion of defrost water drain conduit of the refrigerator. The level of that trapped water fluctuates in height in response to differences in pressure between the compartment and ambient air, and the change in that height is used to open (or close) the air passage. The trapped water itself can be used to block the air passage, or a closure member floating on the water can block the air passage.

Abstract: A drying apparatus such as a hand-held hair dryer comprising a housing including a nozzle and containing an air outlet and a fan assembly contained within the housing for generating a flow of air from the outlet. The apparatus further includes a flow guide including a plurality of holes therein contained within the nozzle, the flow guide forming a closed shape in cross-section and having open ends. The flow guide is separated from the nozzle so as to form a space between the nozzle and the flow guide for flow of air therethrough. The flow guide tends to attenuate noise generated by operation of the apparatus by lowering the frequency of the noise.

Abstract: A reactor includes a bulk waste inlet and a gas outlet. A baffle within the reactor has a lower edge which can be immersed by a molten metal bath within the reactor. The baffle partitions are gaseous volume above the molten metal bath into a first region, proximate to the bulk waste inlet, and a second region, proximate to the gas outlet. The gas conduit extends from the first region to a portion of the reactor beneath the second region. Gas is directed from the first region through the gas conduit to a portion of the molten metal bath beneath the second region. The gas pressure is thereby equalized above the molten metal bath in the first and second regions during dissociation of bulk waste directed into the first region.

Abstract: In order to maintain the flue gas temperature from a steam generator up to the temperature required for a NO.sub.x catalytic reactor during low load operations, the flow of feedwater through the steam generator economizer is controlled to control the degree to which the flue gas is cooled as it passes over the economizer heat exchange surface. More specifically, an economizer bypass line is provided and the flow of feedwater during low load operations through the bypass line and the economizer is regulated to maintain a desired flue gas temperature to the catalytic reactor. As the flue gas temperature changes with load, the flow through the economizer and bypass line is modulated to maintain a proper temperature. At full or near full load, the bypass line is fully closed.

Abstract: A process for upgrading low-quality wood to high-quality wood comprising the following stages:a) softening the wood by directly heating it electrically in the presence of a softening agent at a pressure of at least the equilibrium vapor pressure of the softening agent at the operating temperature;b) drying the softened wood;c) curing the dried wood; andd) cooling the cured wood.