Abstract: A method for heating liquid including the steps of pressurizing the liquid; and heating the liquid while under pressure. An apparatus for heating liquid including a conduit system for transporting a liquid to be heated; an assembly for applying heat to the conduit system to heat the liquid in the conduit system; and an assembly for pressurizing the liquid during transporting substantially to prevent conversion of the liquid to vapor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving, processing, and delivering waste materials to the interior of a rotary cement kiln to be burned therein. Apparatus includes a feeding mechanism which provides continuous in-feed of entrained solids or solid waste, materials including hazardous waste material having low fuel value, directly into the calcining zone of the kiln. A bulk receiving system is provided for receiving, processing and transferring materials from one or more collection stations. The system further includes processing for sizing and segregating metal extracted from a contaminated hazardous waste stream. Methods are provided for providing induction of forced, combustion air directly into the calcining zone of a rotating cement kiln.

Abstract: This invention relates to a control of drying period of time of a laundry dryer which is provided to use the microwave generated from a magnetron and the heat generated from a heater efficiently, and allows to dry every nook and corner of laundry within a short period of time by utilizing that the dielectric loss coefficient of water compared with that of textile is greater only using the microwave of the magnetron in the initial stage of drying operation, and allows to prevent damages to clothes as well as a uniform drying by carrying out drying operation altering the heat source from the microwave to heater and vice versa permitting to dry uniformly due to the steam of the textile flowing smoothly on progression of the drying operation, and improvement of dryness by using only the heat of the heater again within the drying finish section.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for lowering NO.sub.x levels in flue gases of a fluidized bed reactor using selective non-catalytic reduction. A reactor is connected to a separator by a duct, and a reactant is introduced into the duct for decreasing NO.sub.x levels in the flue gases passing from the reactor, through the duct, and into the separator. The reactant, such as ammonia or urea, is selectively injected into a gaseous-rich region of the duct, near an upper, inner portion of the duct, so that a high degree of mixing of the reactant with flue gases is achieved while maintaining a low degree of mixing of the reactant with the particulate materials. The point of injection of the reactant into the duct is also at a location nearer to the reactor than to the separator to provide for increased residence time. In this manner, the reactant is used efficiently while obtaining the desired lowering of NO.sub.x levels in the flue gases.

Abstract: A warm air furnace and method for securing a thermostat to a wall of a warm air furnace utilizes a thermostat mounting flange which has its ends forced inwardly into openings formed in a wall of the furnace, and the thermostat may be secured to the wall of the furnace without the use of screws.

Abstract: A system and method for purification of combustion gases cools the combustion gases to an optimal oxidation temperature, oxidizes the combustion gases, injects water or uses natural moisture content to form acid aerosols, neutralizes the acid aerosols with an alkaline solution, and then filters the acid aerosol, alkaline solution and water from the combustion gases. The purified gas stream is then exhausted from the system. Oxidation can be provided in stages to obtain optimal oxidation of different combustion gas components with different optimal oxidation temperature ranges. When used in a thermal power plant, the cooling of exhaust gases can be accomplished by regenerative preheating of combustion air, boiler feedwater or combustion fuel, and the clean exhaust gas can be cooled below the conventional exhaust stack temperature range, thus enhancing power plant efficiency.

Abstract: A process for incinerating solids, especially for burning rubbish in a combustion vessel comprising at least one combustion chamber and an after-burner chamber. Here, instead of secondary or tertiary air, water vapor under increased pressure is sprayed into the combustion vessel after the combustion gases have left the combustion chamber. Only primary air is supplied as the combustion air. In this manner and with the use of minimum quantities of combustion air, it is possible to increase the effectiveness of the overall process while at the same time reducing the emission of pollutants. It is also possible to feed back flue gas together with the water vapor, so that, for example, the maximum temperatures, the temperature reduction and the dwell times in the 1st and 2nd flue of the vessel can be easily set to the optima.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.

Abstract: A method and system for recycling a sulfur sorbent present in the combustion residue of a circulating, fluidized bed, fossil-fuel combustor is disclosed. The method can comprise the steps of, adding water to the combustion residue, classifying the combustion residue into a fuel ash portion and a hydrated sorbent portion, and returning the hydrated sorbent portion to the circulating, fluidized bed, fossil-fuel combustor.

Abstract: A dryer drum coater reduces blue smoke emissions by evacuating the blue smoke from the dryer drum coater independently of the exhaust of combustion products. The blue smoke, produced when heated and dried aggregate is mixed with other asphaltic products such as RAP or liquid asphalt, is preferably evacuated from a vapor outlet formed remote from the exhaust products outlet of the coater and adjacent the heated and dried aggregate inlet of the mixing chamber. Evacuating the blue smoke at this location obviates the need to separate the blue smoke from the combustion products and also prevents the introduction of excess oxygen into the combustion zone of the dryer drum coater. In a particularly preferred arrangement, the evacuated blue smoke is fed directly to the combustion air inlet of the coater's burner blower and is thereby incinerated.

Abstract: Several methods and apparatus for transferring heat, mass and momentum between a fluid and a surface are disclosed wherein the fluid is separated into a multiplicity of tiny jets that impinge upon a surface to be treated and flow across it for very short distances before reforming jets that leave the surface. While in contact with the surface, the fluid flow is laminar and the boundary layer that resists transfer of heat, mass and momentum is extremely thin. Hence, heat, mass and momentum transfer coefficients are large and predictable from first principles of physics. The pressure drop and fan power required to form these jets are generally less than that required to drive the flow parallel to the surface for long distances, where the boundary layer grows much thicker.

Abstract: Paper mill sludge or similar organic sludges with a high ash content are converted by burning the sludge in a cyclone furnace along with another source of fuel. The heat content of the sludge is recovered and the ash content of the sludge is converted to a glassy slag. A flux, such as limestone, may be added to the sludge before introduction into the cyclone furnace. The slag is useful as a construction material, an abrasive, for roofing products, or for other purposes.

Abstract: A process of improving overall quality of coals or other solid fuels comprising heat treating those coals in a controlled, spontaneous, fluidized bed reactor system. The bed system is of such a geometry that in combination with the control system a higher velocity region exists where the fluidizing gas and fuel are fed than where the treated solids exit. The offgas exiting the top of the reactor has a velocity of the average of the inlet gas velocities. Treated coal is withdrawn intermediate to top and bottom. Residence time is controlled by the amount of the solid fuel feed, the location of the treated solid fuel overflow, and the temperature is maintained by oxygen to flue gas ratio, feedstock size and fluidizing velocity. The unit can be operated in a drying mode or a devolatilization mode, to control volatiles, moisture and fines.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for feeding a reaction gas, such as oxygen or oxygen-enriched air to a flash smelting furnace through a concentrate burner, so that the gas is fed in around a pulverous material distribution channel located in the middle of the burner. Oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is fed into the reaction shaft through tubular channels in several separate gas jets, and the discharge velocity of the gas jets is adjusted.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion system and method in which a recycle heat exchanger is disposed integrally with the furnace of a fluidized bed combustor. The recycle heat exchanger includes a plurality of stacked sections for receiving the recycled solids and are arranged in such a manner that the recycled solids are introduced into an upper level of the sections and pass through these sections to a lower level of sections before returning to the furnace. A portion of the stacked sections contain heat exchange surfaces for removing heat from the solids therein while another portion does not. The solids in the various sections are selectively fluidized to control the flow of the solids through the sections to control the temperature of the solids accordingly.

Abstract: A process and apparatus which mixes yard waste and municipal waste sludge to form fuel, fertilizer, or animal feed supplement. The yard waste and sludge are thoroughly mixed in a mixer and fed into a thermal dryer. A portion of the dried material is then fed back to the mixer to raise the solids content of the mixture entering the dryer and control the solids content of the mixture exiting the dryer. It is preferable to reduce the particle size of the yard waste to shreds or to the consistency of a meal before mixing with the sludge. Yard waste considered usable in this invention is grass, leaves, wood from pallets, and waste grains.

Abstract: A column of fast moving air with entrained seed cotton is jetted upward from a nozzle in the bottom of a fountain dryer. The column will remain intact until it hits the top of the fountain dryer. At the top, the column will disburse and the mixture of air with entrained cotton will return to the bottom of the dryer in an annulus between the column and the wall of the dryer. There will be an interface of the upward column with the downward annulus. The opposing flows will be roiled and cause turbulence at the interface between the upward column and the downward annulus. The rolling and turbulence will be increased along the walls of the vessel by structure which will reverse the direction of the downward flow of the cotton. The downward flow of the cotton is collected in an annular plenum surrounding the bottom of the column and is directed to an outlet duct. The outlet duct and the annular plenum with the inlet at the center thereof, form a banjo separator.

Abstract: A bonnet style hair dryer includes integral left and right speakers. Each of the speakers is positioned proximate a respective ear of the user. A two conductor stereo audio cable is separately attached to each speaker with the opposite end connected to an audio jack. The speakers can thus be connected, via a removable external audio cable, to any suitable audio source, including radio, television audio, stereo music source, etc. so that a user can receive audio entertainment or information while her or his hair is being dried. At the same time, should the user not desire to listen to audio programming, the external cable can be easily removed and the entire stereo audio system becomes virtually invisible from the exterior of the hair dryer.

Abstract: A cleaning system to remove soluble hydrocarbon residue and other contaminants from essentially nonporous objects or surfaces including a vapor generating chamber having a vapor generating system and a gas flow control disposed therein to generate a solvent vapor to clean the nonporous surfaces and control the flow of gas through the vapor generating chamber respectively, and a system control to control the vapor concentration or humidity of the solvent vapor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a domical structure capable of enclosing the majority of operational and structural elements of a waste-to-energy or waste processing facility. The domical structure according to the present invention improves the aesthetic appearance of the facility by enclosing the majority of the machinery, equipment and activities from outside view. The domical structure also reduces the cost of construction and operation by reducing the support structure and improving lighting and climate control. Domical structure according to the present invention also includes means for easily transferring waste and materials between different areas or processing portions of a waste-to-energy facility and for reducing downwash airflow characteristics associated with wind patterns in the wake of tall chimneys and rectangular structures.