Abstract: Process for heating a hollow needle (2) consisting essentially of a metal tube (3), the inside and/or outside of which have previously been brought into contact with a contaminating medium, according to which an electric current is supplied to the said needle, flowing in the metal wall and over the length of the said tube (3) and dissipating thermal energy therein through the ohmic effect, characterized in that a predetermined quantity of electrical energy is supplied to the said needle (2), metered as a function of the electrical characteristics of the said tube (3), on the one hand to suffice for decontamination of the needle, both inside and outside, and on the other hand to limit the heating and preserve the integrity, including the original shape, of the said needle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a domical structure capable of enclosing the majority of operational and integrating many of the structural elements of a waste-to-energy, waste processing or other combustion facility. The domical structure according to the present invention improves the aesthetic appearance of the facility by enclosing the majority of the machinery, equipment, activities and chimney 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.

Abstract: A method for burning fuels, particularly garbage, in incinerators with a stoker grate, for which the primary air is supplied below the stoker grate into the fuel layer and the secondary air is supplied above the fuel layer, is controlled in such a way that the intensity of the combustion of the fuel on the stoker grate is increased by increasing the oxygen content of the primary air and the intensity of the combustion in the secondary combustion zone is choked by decreasing the oxygen content in the secondary air. Flue gas, preferably from the combustion process, is recirculated in order to reduce the oxygen content of the secondary air.

Abstract: A thermal method for continuously processing waste having a calorific value and any degree of moisture, wherein waste is put in a flow of hot, heat-resistant, heat-exchanging material which is warmer than 100.degree. C. The heat exchanging material cools due to heat exchange, the waste dries and the non-evaporated waste components are heated. The cooled, heat-exchanging material is subsequently separated from the dried waste materials and the separated dried waste material is mixed with a percentage of the separated heat-exchanging material. The dried waste material and heat-exchanging material mixture is subsequently heated to pyrolyze waste material and heat the heat exchanging material in preparation for its subsequently use in the continuous process.

Abstract: Plasma energy recycle and conversion (PERC) reactor and process for disposal of energetics such as solid rocket propellants, liquid rocket fuel, chemical agents such as nerve gas, industrial waste such as paint sludge, medical waste or any aqueous/organic liquid or slurry that is pumpable and for separation/consolidation/conversion of low-level radioactive waste or mixed waste incorporating an induction coupled plasma heat source, insulated primary and secondary reaction chambers and associated peripheral control, process and filter devices.

Abstract: In a method of this invention, a first oxidant flow including oxygen and/or air, is injected into an exhaust gas flow from a primary burn zone in a furnace combustion chamber. The first oxidant flow is injected into the exhaust gas flow in a secondary burn zone downstream from the primary burn zone, but inside of the furnace chamber so that heat released from combustion of the first oxidant flow can be used for the purpose to which the furnace is applied. Also, the injection of the first oxidant flow into the secondary burn zone combusts fuel pollutants that might otherwise be released from the furnace into the atmosphere. The method can also include mixing a gaseous hydrocarbon fuel flow with the exhaust gas flow from the secondary burn zone to reduce the NO.sub.x, level in the exhaust gas. Also, the method can include mixing a second oxidant flow including air and/or oxygen, with the exhaust gas, preferably after reducing the NO.sub.x.

Abstract: In a power plant with combustion of particulate fuel in a fluidized bed, unburnt particles are after-burnt in a burner which is based on the principle of vortex collapse and coarser particles are separated in connection with the after-burning. Such a burner may be designed as a double-cone burner, wherein unburnt fuel particles are burnt. Larger particles move around in a helical movement inside the extension of the burner cone. A coarse particles separator integrated with the burner, is arranged and comprises a circular gap which is located near the extension of the burner cone and which collects coarser particles rotating at the side of the combustion zone of the burner. These separated particles, collected by the circular gap, are forwarded to a space which surrounds the burner and from where the separated coarser particles are returned to the primary combustion space, for example, to the fluidized bed in the plant.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus, capable of cooling, dehumidifying, and reheating air, using refrigeration reheat. The apparatus comprises rooftop unit (1), which includes a standard refrigeration loop for cooling operation. A multiple circuit reheat coil (54), is added in a parallel arrangement with outdoor coil (34), with respect to refrigerant flow. A portion of the hot refrigerant gas of the system is diverted through reheat coil (54) during dehumidification mode, to reheat the supply air to room temperature. A multiple step discharge air control system is included to control multiple stop valves (52) during the dehumidification mode. Reheat coil (54) is arranged in series air flow relationship with evaporator coil (46), so that a mixture of any proportion of outside air and return air may be conditioned. A pressure control (28) is provided to maintain system pressure during all modes of operation.

Abstract: There are provided a pretreatment facility (1) and a incineration/melting facility (2). In the incineration/melting facility, an incineration chamber (3) and a melting chamber (5) are integrally formed through a partition wall (7) so that incineration residue can be continuously transferred. Fine crushed material finely crushed by the pretreatment facility (1) is supplied as fuel to a burner (4). This enables it to obtain melting heat source from waste, and to efficiently treat the waste at a low cost by directly superheating and melting non-cooled incineration residue from the incineration chamber (3).

Abstract: A new apparatus and process for efficient removal of carbon from fly ash has been developed, whereby carbon removal occurs through oxidation as combustion. The ignition of the carbon is accomplished by bulk heating and molecular impingement of a suspended layer of fly ash by a heated oxidizing gas stream, and the desired level of carbon burnout is accomplished by maintenance of combustion conditions.

Abstract: A control arrangement for cooling of an apparatus comprising a compressor, a condenser, and at least one branch with an expansion valve and an evaporator in series, contains a controller, a superheat temperature measuring device, and an ambient temperature sensor. The controller controls the expansion valve for maintaining the superheat temperature substantially at the desired value. The flow of coolant to the evaporator is controlled by the signal from the temperature sensor for maintaining the ambient temperature constant. The controller operates continuously and in two operating modes in which the first mode the superheat temperature is controlled to the maximum admissible state of fill of liquid coolant in the evaporator and is switchable to a second mode in which the state of fill of liquid coolant is controlled by the expansion valve.

Abstract: A method of operating a heat pump or air conditioner system is provided. The air conditioner comprises a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, a cooling coil and an air mover (blower). According to the preferred embodiment, the air mover (blower) is activated at a time after the compressor has been activated to pre-cool the cooling coil and allow for more efficient and effective moisture removal. Also, deactivation of the air handler is delayed for some time after the compressor is deactivated to allow for utilization for the residual cooling ability of the cooling coil due to the presence of cold refrigerant in the cooling coil when the compressor is deactivated.

Abstract: A mobile waste incinerator has a moving vehicle having an engine with an exhaust gas system, a receiving chamber arranged to receive waste to be incinerated and to preliminarily heat the waste, the receiving chamber being connected with the exhaust system so as to receive the exhaust gases for preliminary heating of the waste, a preparation chamber connected with the receiving chamber for receiving the waste heated in the receiving chamber and provided with means for reducing a size of the wastes, the preparation chamber also having means for injecting fuel, an incineration chamber connected with the preparation chamber and provided with means for mixing the fuel with air and igniting a mixture, the incineration chamber being connected with the preparation chamber so that hot gases from the incineration chamber are supplied into the preparation chamber, means for connecting the chambers with one another and closing chambers from one another, and means for discharging the wastes from the incineration chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant to a refrigeration device is provided. The system includes a mixing chamber that retains and produces the product, a compressor, and an evaporator secured to the exterior of the mixing chamber for providing freezing of the product being produced within it. The system further includes a expansion valve coupled to the evaporator that regulates the flow of the refrigerant through the evaporator. A scraper rotatably mounted within the mixing chamber is provided for scraping the frozen product from the interior surface of the mixing chamber. A beater motor rotates the scraper. An electronic control is provided for controlling the refrigeration cycle. The electronic control employs a microprocessor which is operated in accordance with an algorithm for controlling the operation of the expansion valve.

Abstract: An air conditioning circuit of a motor vehicle is used for heating the cabin of the vehicle. The air conditioning circuit accordingly operates in a cooling mode and a heating mode, selectively. In the heating mode, the refrigerant fluid flowing in the air conditioning circuit flows in a branch of the circuit which bypasses the condenser. The evaporator therefore receives this fluid in the gaseous state and acts as a heat exchanger for dissipating the heat produced in the compressor. The heat dissipated by the evaporator can be used for heating the cabin when that produced by the engine of the vehicle is insufficient for this purpose. To this end, an ejector draws a complementary mass of fluid into the heating loop for the purpose of adjusting the heat energy produced.

Abstract: Reduction of slagging is improved by targeting slag-reducing chemicals in a furnace with the aid of computational fluid dynamic modeling. Chemical utilization and boiler maintenance are improved.

Abstract: Undermelted waste plastics which have not been completely melted from the exterior of a thermal cracking vessel is introduced into a container provided in an upper position within said thermal cracking vessel and having a net-like opening, allowing the plastics to melt within said container, allowing the resulting plastic melt to drop into the thermal cracking vessel through said net-like opening, the plastic melt is thermally cracked within the thermal cracking vessel.

Abstract: A method for recovering energy from waste, which includes: a first waste trituration step; fermentation of the waste in the presence of air. The method allows to recover the energy produced by waste combustion with an efficiency that is at least 50% higher than methods used so far.

Abstract: A novel burner and burner method has been invented which burns an ultra lean premixed fuel-air mixture with a stable flame. The inventive burning method results in efficient burning and much lower emissions of pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen than previous burners and burning methods. The inventive method imparts weak swirl (swirl numbers of between about 0.01 to 3.0) on a fuel-air flow stream. The swirl, too small to cause recirculation, causes an annulus region immediately inside the perimeter of the fuel-air flow to rotate in a plane normal to the axial flow. The rotation in turn causes the diameter of the fuel-air flow to increase with concomitant decrease in axial flow velocity. The flame stabilizes where the fuel-air mixture velocity equals the rate of burning resulting in a stable, turbulent flame.

Abstract: A heat pump apparatus which includes: an accumulator and a sub-accumulator for additionally accommodating the refrigerant arranged between the accumulator and the compressor, in which at least the accumulator or the sub-accumulator is provided with a flow control valve for controlling the refrigerant flow upstream of the accumulator or the sub-accumulator in association with the liquid refrigerant level detected by the level sensor; a bypass line with a bypass valve for bypassing the expansion valve, for controlling the opening of the bypass; and, preferably, a level sensor for sensing the liquid refrigerant level therein; thereby inhibiting the occurrence of foaming of the refrigerant and preventing the refrigerant from entering the compressor, especially at the start-up of the compressor.