Abstract: A process is disclosed for drying sol-gel derived porous wet bodies without inducing cracks therein. The wet gel preferably is immersed in a liquid solvent before being placed inside a drying chamber capable of withstanding relatively high pressures and temperatures. After the wet gel is loaded, the chamber is sealed from the outside environment, and then is heated from outside the chamber in a controlled manner until a prescribed subcritical pressure is reached. The final temperature and pressure are always lower than the critical temperature and pressure of the drying solvent. The solvent vapor is then evacuated from the chamber in a controlled fashion to decrease the pressure until ambient pressure is reached, while preferably maintaining the temperature inside the chamber at the prescribed level. Thereafter, the inside of the chamber is purged with an inert gas for a prescribed time period, after which the chamber is cooled to ambient temperature and the dry crack-free porous gel is removed.

Abstract: A method for the destruction of contaminated waste material comprising the steps of sufficiently heating the waste material in an oxygen deficient atmosphere to pyrolyze the material thereby producing a volatile fuel gas stream and a decontaminated solid residue, separately removing the fuel gas stream and the decontaminated solid residue, adjusting the stoichiometric ratio of the fuel gas stream reactant components for combustion downstream, oxidatively combusting the adjusted fuel gas stream to produce a low velocity, low oxygen gas stream, and a high velocity, low oxygen carrier gas stream, recycling at least a portion of the high velocity, low oxygen carrier gas stream for direct contact with the waste material to provide heat for pyrolysis of the same, contacting at least a portion of the low velocity, low oxygen carrier gas stream with water to produce an oxygen rich, substantially inert, heat exchange gas stream and indirectly heating the contaminated material with the heat exchange gas stream to provi

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion system in which a fluidized bed of particulate fuel material is established in a furnace. A duct is formed in the upper portion of said furnace for passing a mixture of flue gases and entrained particulate fuel material to a separator located adjacent the furnace outlet. A heat exchanger is also disposed in the upper portion of the furnace at approximately the same height as the duct so that a portion of the mixture passes over the heat exchanger and then exits via the duct and another portion of the mixture exits directly through the duct.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing the concentration of solvent vapor in the drum of a drycleaning machine upon completion of a cleaning and drying operation, during which articles are cleaned in the drycleaning machine, the drycleaning machine being of the type having a drum, and a solvent recovery system communicating with the drum for recovering solvent from solvent-laden air circulated through the solvent recovery system and the drum during a drying and solvent recovery cycle, the apparatus and method including an arrangement for circulating solvent-laden air from the drum through the solvent recovery system during the drying and recovery cycle, and closing communication between the drum and the solvent recovery system during a post-recovery cycle, subsequent to the drying and recovery cycle, and then circulating solvent-laden air from the drum through an adsorption unit during the post-recovery cycle to reduce the concentration of solvent vapor in the drum to an acceptable level prior to accessing the dru

Abstract: A method for removing gaseous pollutants from a polluted flue gas stream of an oil or coal-fired combustion furnace. A source of liquified combustible gas and a combustible gas-fired furnace are provided. The polluted flue gas stream is passed through a dust removal apparatus and removes flue dust from the flue gas stream so as to provide a de-dusted flue gas stream. Heat is recovered from the flue gas to generate power therefrom. The de-dusted flue gas is compressed to a pressure of at least 10 psi gauge using the generated power to at least in part compress the de-dusted flue gas. The compressed flue gas and the combustible gas are passed through at least one multi-sided heat exchanger, where the compressed flue gas is first passed through one side thereof and the liquified combustible gas in an at least partially vaporized state is passed through another side thereof. The compressed flue gas is cooled sufficiently by the combustible gas that water and at least one gaseous pollutant of NO.sub.2, SO.sub.

Abstract: A static mixer device for mixing separate fluid streams entering the device in order to achieve a more uniform, or homogeneous, characteristic, such as temperature for example, in the resulting fluid mixture stream exiting the device. An exemplary embodiment of device comprises a series of parallel rectangular walls arranged in side-by-side, spaced apart relationship to form a series of rectangular spaces. The perimeters of these spaces are selectively closed to define respective first and second inlets and an outlet. The inlets sub-divide the respective entering fluid streams into sheet-like streams that are interleaved as they exit the device at the outlet. This interleaving of one stream with the other promotes increased homogeneity of the mixture stream in a shorter distance downstream of the confluence of the entrance streams.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion system and method in which a recycle heat exchanger is located adjacent the furnace section of the recycle heat exchanger. Heat exchange surfaces are provided in a compartment of the recycle heat exchanger for removing heat from the solids, and a bypass compartment is provided through which the solids directly pass to the furnace during start-up and low load conditions. The flow of solids between compartments is selectively controlled and an L-valve connects one of the compartments to the furnace section. Air is passed into the L-valve to promote the flow of the separated materials from the latter compartment to the furnace. The flow rate of the air is modulated to vary the duty of the recycle heat exchanger.

Abstract: A mounting and linkage system for mounting an air or air-fuel discharge device for pivotal and axial movement relative to a furnace in a manner so that the device is isolated from the walls of the furnace. The system includes a linkage apparatus extending between the furnace walls and connected to the device for pivoting same.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted system for drying articles of clothing with recaptured heat includes an evaporation chamber and a condensation chamber. The evaporation chamber is enclosed inside the condensation chamber. Heat transfers from the condensation chamber to the evaporation chamber when vapor condenses on the exterior of the evaporation chamber. Pressure is reduced in each chamber by an automated regulation system which pumps vapor from between the chambers to optimize drying.

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: The invention is directed to an implement for an air-moving appliance for personal use, in particular a hair dryer or a hot-air curling brush, comprising a body (10) and a two-dimensional air discharge means (12) which includes a series of air exit apertures (14) and carries a series of hair pickup elements (16) arranged adjacent to each other. Downward ends (18) of the hair pickup elements (16) lie on a substantially concave surface.

Abstract: An installation for the destruction of solid fuel rocket engines. The installation comprises a pressure and temperature resistant vessel having a neck portion and a gas chamber portion with heat dissipating means. In operation the rocket engine is gripped in the neck portion and upon ignition of the solid fuel combustion gases are discharged into the gas chamber. Means are provided for the controlled discharge of combustion gases into a gas disposal device.

Abstract: Equipment and process for dissolving a metal container filled with ultra hazardous liquids and gases underneath a molten alloy surface at a temperature of about 800.degree. C. in order to completely molecularly decompose and react resultant product of the hazardous liquids and gases to allow environmentally safe discharge of the final non-hazardous products.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dryer for uniform drying of moisture laden particulate material. The dryer comprises a substantially vertical tower having a top, a bottom, side walls, a moist material inlet, a moist material distribution section below the inlet, a drying section below the distribution section and a cooling section below the drying section. The drying section contains a heated air inlet and air exhaust assemblies, wherein the air exhaust assemblies are formed from a plurality of discharge chambers extending horizontally across the tower between the side walls for flow of particulate material therebetween. Each discharge chamber contains at least one horizontally disposed exhaust tubular member having an aperture in the lower portion of the tubular member for exhausting air. Each discharge chamber also contains at least one aperture in the upper portion thereof for receiving air.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of operating a fluidized bed reactor for combusting refuse derived fuel is disclosed. The reactor includes a fluidized furnace section 30 and stripper/cooler section 80. A downwardly sloping grid 28 extends across the furnace section 30 and stripper/cooler section 80 to a drain 78 in the stripper/cooler section 80, and directional nozzles 38 disposed in the grid fluidize the beds in the furnace section 30 and stripper/cooler section 80 and forcibly convey relatively large particulate material across the grid 28, through the furnace section 30 and stripper/cooler section 80, and to the drain 78 for disposal. A refractory layer 36 is provided along the grid 28 surface to reduce the height of the nozzles 38 within the furnace section 30, thereby helping to prevent relatively large particulate material from becoming entangled with or stuck to the nozzles 38.

Abstract: To attain this, the present invention essentially relates to a fiber declumper device for use in conjunction with a fiber-filled construction such as a down-filled sleeping bag during treatment of such construction in a rotary drum dryer which comprises a solid foot-shaped structure formed of dense heat-resistant plastic, rubber or the like. This device is placed in the dryer along with the fiber-filled construction to be dried and, as the dryer drum rotates, the device preferably in the shape of a foot, beats on the fiber-filled construction preventing clumping of the fiber contained therein. A cavity within the beating member device contains heat-activated scent material which will impart a pleasant odor to the construction being heated.

Abstract: Equipment and process for using molten alloy in a low oxygen atmosphere for destruction of hazardous compounds and partial or complete extraction of heavy metals in slurries and solids with continuous discharge of undissolved solids and aqueous scrubbing of off-gas from the unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are presented for incinerating waste in increments in a controlled and efficient manner, based on an arbitrary factor labeled Relative Power Factor. Also, presented are methods and apparatuses for determining the Relative Power Factor.The Relative Power Factor is defined as the ratio of the maximum difference in temperatures recorded at a point in the combustion effluent stream and at a point in the hot gaseous stream prior to combustion to the time interval between ignition of the waste and the achievement of the maximum temperature difference.

Abstract: A portable heater including a heat generator and a fan device respectively mounted inside a housing and controlled by a respective switch to produce heat and an axial-flow of air for heating or drying the human body or clothes by means of air outlet pipes at one end of the housing, wherein the heat generator consists of a lamp bulb and a plurality of heat distribution devices surrounding the lamp bulb and disposed between the air outlet pipes and the fan device, each heat distribution device having a plurality of heat conductive radiating flanges for transmitting heat from the lamp bulb; the housing is covered with a light-permeable glass at one end through which the light of the lamp bulb passes for illumination.