Abstract: An apparatus and method for converting exhaust gases to innocuous products is disclosed. Exhaust gas is conveyed by a first conduit to, and passed through a first multicellular unit in which a portion of the cells are catalyzed with a first catalyst for reacting at least a portion of the NO.sub.x to ammonia, and thereafter the resulting modified mixture only is conveyed by a second conduit from the first unit and to a second multicellular unit to react the ammonia and the remaining NO.sub.x to produce innocuous products. The second conduit is connected only to the first and second units. The passage of the exhaust gas through the units results in conversion of NO.sub.x, CO, and hydrocarbons to innocuous products.

Abstract: A natural gas reformer comprising a stack of thermally conducting plates interspersed with catalyst plates and provided with internal or external manifolds for reactants. The catalyst plate is in intimate thermal contact with the conducting plates so that its temperature closely tracks the temperature of the thermally conducting plate, which can be designed to attain a near isothermal state in-plane to the plate. One or more catalysts may be used, distributed along the flow direction, in-plane to the thermally conducting plate, in a variety of optional embodiments. The reformer may be operated as a steam reformer or as a partial oxidation reformer. When operated as a steam reformer, thermal energy for the (endothermic) steam reforming reaction is provided externally by radiation and/or conduction to the thermally conducting plates. This produces carbon monoxide, hydrogen, steam and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A fuel gas selective oxidizer assemblage for use in a fuel cell power plant is formed from a series of repeating components, each of which includes a plurality of separate selective oxidizer gas passages and a plurality of adjacent coolant passages. The selective oxidizer gas and coolant passages are preferably formed by corrugated metal sheets which are interposed between planar metal sheets. One of the planar metal sheets forms a common wall between the selective oxidizer gas passages and the coolant passages so as to provide enhanced heat transfer between the reformate gas in the selective oxidizer gas passages and the coolant. Each of the components includes a first outer planar metal sheet, a medial planar metal sheet, and a second outer planar metal sheet. Each of the planar metal sheets is separated from the next by the corrugated metal gas and coolant passage sheets.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for gasification of organic materials (typically incorporated in domestic and industrial wastes, including auto shredder residues) to produce useful synthesis gas (primarily CO & H.sub.2) with effectively non-toxic ash residue by means of a preferably stoichiometric burner directed into a single stage reactor containing a tumbling charge thus heated to 650.degree. to 800.degree. C. (below the incipient fusion temperature of the charge) resulting in thermally cracking and gasifying the organic materials in the charge and reacting the complex hydrocarbons and gas evolved with the CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O generated by the burner by combustion of a fuel and oxygen-containing gas at a high flame temperature, typically 2500.degree. to 3000.degree. C.

Abstract: A solid phase synthesis reaction vessel includes a vessel with a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. A first stopcock is disposed within the first inlet and a second stopcock is disposed within the outlet. Solid phase material is prevented from escaping the reaction vessel via the outlet while allowing fluid to flow through the outlet by a frit. In one embodiment, the reaction vessel includes an outer hollow shell surrounding the vessel to allow cooling or heating fluid to flow therein for controlling the temperature in the interior reaction volume. The solid phase synthesis reaction vessel provides for the independent opening and closing of each of the inlets and outlet to provide for various ways of draining the vessel, varying the conditions within the vessel, and/or adding additional materials into the vessel.

Abstract: An injection system and method for feeding a particulate material to a process vessel, including a valve with at least one cavity adapted for receipt of a predetermined volume of particulate and a sweep stream source for providing a sweep stream having flow in a direction generally toward the valve to remove substantially all of the particulate from the cavity of the valve.

Abstract: A process for producing liquid pig iron or liquid steel preproducts and sponge iron from iron ore. The iron ore in a first reduction zone (4) is directly reduced to sponge iron. The sponge iron in a meltdown gasifying zone (10) is melted under the supply of carbon carriers and an oxygen-containing gas, and a reducing gas containing CO and H.sub.2 is produced. The reducing gas is introduced into the first reduction zone (4), is reacted there, and is drawn off as an export gas. The drawn-off export gas is subjected to CO.sub.2 elimination as well as heating, and as a reducing gas, at least largely free of CO.sub.2, is fed to at least one further reduction zone (29) for the direct reduction of iron ore. In order to enable the export gas drawn off the further reduction zone (29) to be utilized as completely as possible, heat of the export gas leaving the further reduction zone (29) is used for heating the export gas derived from the first reduction zone (4).

Abstract: A plate-type chemical reactor and method of using same to react two or more mutually separated fluid component streams are disclosed, wherein the reactor contains one or more reactor plates including at least one reaction-chamber reactor plate; at least one reaction chamber formed on a front facial surface of the reaction-chamber reactor plate(s); and at least one heat exchange channel passing through the reaction-chamber reactor plate(s) such that at least one section of heat exchange channel(s) is disposed in a heat exchange relationship with the reaction chamber(s); the reaction chamber containing: a plurality of inlet means for receiving and directing a plurality of mutually separated fluid component streams, a first mixing zone for mixing the separated fluid component streams to form a single at least partially reacted multicomponent fluid stream thereof, and at least one outlet means.

Abstract: Quench fluids being charged to a hydroprocessing reactor and liquid flowing downward within the reactor are admixed between the catalyst beds located in the reactor by an apparatus comprising three circular trays (16, 21, 22) and a mixing chamber (20). The mixing chamber receives liquid collected by the top tray and the quench material. The liquid effluent of the mixing chamber then falls upon a first distribution tray (21) while the vapor flows through an annular gap (17) between the first distribution tray (21) and the vessel wall (1). The two phases are then recontacted as they pass through a plurality of mixing caps (13) distributed over the surface of a lower second distribution tray (22).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to separating 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a from fluorocarbon impurities by using extractive distillation with an extractive agent comprising an alcohol. Examples of suitable extractive agents comprise at least one member from the group of methanol, butanol, ethanol, propanol, their isomers and cyclic compounds thereof, among others.

Abstract: A dispenser system is provided, comprising a dispenser head (3), a feeding jet for water (7) at the dispenser head, and a reservoir immediately above the dispenser head for material to be dispensed, wherein an external supply of water is fed to a tank (4) arranged at a predetermined head above the dispenser head (3), wherein a feeding line (9) connects the tank (4) to the feeding jet (7), and wherein variations of flow to the tank (4) are accommodated by means of an overflow line (10) from the tank to a flushing jet (10) at the dispenser head, such that the water at the feeding jet (7) is always at a known pressure. This dispenser system was found to be a flexible arrangement in which low water pressures and/or varying water pressures can be adequately accomodated.

Abstract: A spud end fuel metering tube in an air-fuel mixing passage in a propane carburetor for enhancing performance of the system. The fuel supplying spud end is located in a venturi throat within the mixing chamber of the carburetor. The spud end includes linearly aligned fuel supply apertures that face downstream of the airflow therethrough. This combination provides increased power and fuel economy over a wide range of RPMs and demand levels while substantially reducing undesirable pollutant emission levels. The butterfly valve of the carburetor includes apertures formed therein for permitting the engine to idle when the butterfly valve closes eliminating the necessity for other downstream ports.

Abstract: A method and device for the detection of allergenic substances in food products. The device comprises a dining mat, such as a doily, formed of an absorbent material and small spots of reagents are applied to isolated zones on the mat. Each reagent is characterized by the ability to change its characteristics when contacted by an allergenic substance. A label can be applied to the mat adjacent each reagent indicating the respective allergenic substance. In use, a small amount of a food product is applied to a reagent and if the food product contains the allergenic substance, the reagent will change its appearance indicating the presence of the allergenic substance in the food product.

Abstract: An air nozzle assembly for use in associated combustion apparatus which includes a first elongated housing having first and second axial extremities. The first axial extremity thereof is open to the interior of the first housing and tapers axially from a larger to a smaller cross section that constitutes a generally flat nozzle at the first axial extremity. A second elongated housing has first and second axial extremities. The fist axial extremity is open to the interior of the second housing, at least the first axial extremity and an axial portion of the second elongated housing are dimensioned and configured to extend with at least the first axial portion disposed within the first elongated housing. The first axial portion tapers axially from a larger to a smaller cross section at the first axial extremity. The apparatus also includes means for selectively preventing flow in the second elongated housing.

Abstract: An integrated flue gas treatment and condensing heat exchanger is used to scrub sulfur dioxide from the flue gas produced by a power boiler used in a paper mill operating a kraft process. Sensible and latent heat from the flue gas is recovered and the condensate effluent from the condensing heat exchanger contains valuable chemicals that are returned to and used in the kraft process.

Abstract: The invention is a microcomponent sheet architecture wherein macroscale unit processes are performed by microscale components. The sheet architecture may be a single laminate with a plurality of separate microcomponent sections or the sheet architecture may be a plurality of laminates with one or more microcomponent sections on each laminate. Each microcomponent or plurality of like microcomponents perform at least one chemical process unit operation. A first laminate having a plurality of like first microcomponents is combined with at least a second laminate having a plurality of like second microcomponents thereby combining at least two unit operations to achieve a system operation.

Abstract: A water purifier which purifies water by superheated steam. The water purifier includes a raw water reservoir for contaminated water; a heater at least partially disposed within the raw water reservoir and including a heat source, an inlet for steam and an outlet for superheated steam; an inlet conduit in fluid communication with the inlet of the heater for transporting steam produced by boiling said raw water; and a condenser in fluid communication with the outlet of the heater. The heater both boils the raw water to produce a substantially saturated steam and superheats the substantially saturated steam. The water purifier can further include a purified water reservoir in fluid communication with the condenser.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are disclosed for optimizing the repetitive steps in a solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis by continuous optical scanning of the effluent stream from the reaction module and by computerized processing and implementation of the scanning data.

Abstract: An electrically heatable honeycomb body includes a plurality of passages which are each defined by partition walls made of an electroconductive material and which are substantially parallel to the direction of a gas flowing through the honeycomb body, and two ends which are the gas inlet and outlet sides of honeycomb body, wherein the heat generation of the honeycomb body by electrification is controlled by adjusting the flow of electricity therein and wherein those cells each constituted by a passage and partition walls, present in the vicinity of each current-concentrating portion are formed in such a structure that the stress caused by current concentration can be reduced. This honeycomb body can reduce the stress caused by current concentration and thereby can prevent the rupture of its cells.

Abstract: In a device for dissolving water-soluble, powdery polymers which has a pipe with an inlet to introduce the polymer solution containing gel components and an outlet to discharge the polymer solution, the gel content in the polymer solution is reduced without reducing the viscosity of the polymer solution by means of the fact that the pipe is formed of a plurality of pipe sections which are provided with filters and can be connected with one another.