Abstract: Metal materials in contact with aqueous systems are prevented from corrosion by a method which comprises adding a copolymer having a molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 20,000 and formed between isobutylene and at least one member selected from among maleic acid, water-soluble salts thereof, and maleic anhydride to water of such quality that the Langelier index thereof is not less than 1.5 and the relation,(SiO.sub.2).times.(CaH).gtoreq.2,000(wherein (SiO.sub.2) stands for the SiO.sub.2 concentration in the water (mg/liter) and (CaH) for the calcium hardness (mg/liter as CaCO.sub.3 in the water).

Abstract: A specific baffle arrangement within a catalytic reactor improves separation of gaseous hydrocarbon reaction products from catalyst within the reactor vessel of a fluidized catalytic cracker unit. The catalytic reactor vessel includes an outer generally cylindrical shell having a stripping zone arranged at the lower end of the vessel. An inlet riser conduit forming a primary reaction zone extends generally within the shell from the lower end of the vessel to a location near the top of the vessel. A shroud surrounds the upper end of the riser conduit and forms an annular outlet for downwardly discharging a mixtrue of hydrocarbon and catalyst. An annular catalyst disengaging riser baffle for deflecting the mixture from the outlet toward the wall of the vessel is arranged on the outside of the riser conduit below the annular outlet and above the stripping zone.

Abstract: A container for the dissolution of a tablet of material is characterized by a plurality of projections mounted within the container. The projections cooperate to define a tablet-receiving recess adapted to confine a tablet inwardly therewithin in a relatively high energy zone during sonication of the tablet. Gaps between the projections define recirculating liquid channels whereby hydrating liquid passing through the tablet-receiving recess may be recirculated to other regions of the compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus for upgrading residual portions of crude oils comprising metal contaminants and Conradson Carbon contributing components by the combination of thermal visbreaking with fluid inert solids and catalytic upgrading of naphtha and higher boiling components of thermal visbreaking in separate systems of riser conversion and solids regeneration includes an external solids heat exchange apparatus arrangement utilized to partially cool hot regenerated solids utilized in the solids regeneration systems.

Abstract: A medical instruments sterilization container (10) includes a housing (12) and a removable lid (14). A removable tray (16) is adapted to hold various medical instruments to be sterilized. The container is formed of a polymer of relatively low thermal conductivity, with a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity being added thereto in order to substantially increase the overall thermal conductivity of the container to absorb radiant heat and rapidly conduct that heat throughout the container to reduce condensate within the container.

Abstract: Apparatus for altering the physical properties of particles while the particles are suspended in a circulating stream of air or other fluid. The apparatus includes a mechanism for mechanically forming a vortex in a volume of gas, a mechanism for introducing particles into the vortex, and, particle treatment apparatus generally adjacent the vortex for altering at least one of the physical properties of the particles in the vortex.

Abstract: An autoclave extraction apparatus where a supercritical fluid is used for supercritical fluid extraction of one or several compounds. The supercritical fluid containing the compoound(s) may then be processed in a pressurized, fluidized, bed reactor under supercritical conditions. The fluidized bed reactor is used to carry out a catalytic reaction of the compound(s). The method is particularly applicable to recover valuable lignin and other extractable components from kraft black liquor.

Abstract: A storage system (10) includes an interior envelope (12) and an exterior envelope (14). Tissue or other material to be stored may be placed in interior envelope (12), sealed and placed in exterior envelope (14). Exterior envelope (14) is sealable in a first sealed position that allows gas sterilization of the interior of exterior envelope (14) and the contents contained therein. After sterilization, exterior envelope (14) is sealed in a gas impermeable position. Each of interior and exterior envelopes (12, 14) have one side which is transparent. A grid (22) may be provided on the transparent side of interior envelope (12) for sizing tissue contained therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plug valve which effects the immediate and intimate mixing of fluidizable cracking catalyst with a fluid hydrocarbon in a riser reactor. Further, a stationary guide tube is located around a portion of the plug valve stem so as to define an upper and a lower annular compartment which are separated by a bushing. Bushings also define the upper end of the upper compartment and the lower end of the lower compartment. Each of the annular compartments has a bleed medium conduit connected thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus for the cooling of hot fluidized solid particles such as catalyst of an FCC petroleum refining process includes a conduit in which particles flow downward from a first dense phase fluidized bed into a cooling chamber and contact the shell side of a vertically oriented shell and tube heat exchanger where cooling occurs via indirect heat exchange with a cooling medium circulating in the tubes. The extent of cooling is controlled by the varying of the heat transfer coefficient between the tubes and particles in the heat exchanger. The coefficient is varied by changing the quantity of fluidizing gas fed to the fluidized bed in the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is located within a lower portion of the cooling chamber totally below the particle inlet and outlet conduits. The heat exchanger can therefore be removed from service and protected by being buried under unfluidized relatively cool catalyst. The fluidizing gas supports combustion within a lower combustion zone.

Abstract: A device for the acceleration of a reaction between media of solid and liquid phases comprising means for forming a fluidized bed, wherein the solid medium is held suspended in the liquid medium, and means for generating a centrifugal field for acting on the fluidized bed. The fluidized bed is defined between a rotating sieve drum and a first cylindrical sieve which is located within the sieve drum.

Abstract: Uniform flow distributor for trickle bed flow through a bed of solid catalyst particles. The reactants include constituents of a liquid and vapor mixture. A corrugated distributor acts to form pools of the liquid at normal minimum rate of flow and the vapor flows past the liquid pools to form a uniform mixture in the bed of catalyst particles.

Abstract: Flow control in a standpipe is improved by the introduction of aeration gas into the standpipe immediately above and in a direction of a valve forming the bottom of the standpipe.

Abstract: An aroma generator that is rendered operative only when a switch-controlled electric light bulb is in a predetermined state which is either "on" or "off," the generator then functioning to discharge an air current conveying an aromatic vapor which modifies the prevailing atmosphere. Included in the generator is a motor-driven fan that forces air through an air-permeable cartridge containing an aroma supply. The motor is connected to a battery through a signal-responsive electronic relay having time delay means such that when the relay is activated by a signal to turn on the fan, it is thereafter automatically deactivated after a predetermined time period. Applied to the relay is a binary signal derived from a light sensor adjacent the light bulb to intercept light rays therefrom, the signal being positive when the bulb is switched "on" and negative when it is switched "off.

Abstract: A crossflow reactor and operating technique provides a porous body of contact solids, such as a fixed catalyst bed, contained in a sloping configuration. Liquid, such as hydrocarbon oil, to be treated is applied to the bed surface and flows by gravity through the porous solid. Reactant gas flows transverse to the liquid, providing a horizontal component to the liquid to improve contact efficiency.

Abstract: One or more ports (34) are formed in a bottom wall (18) of a housing (12) and/or a lid (14) of a medical instrument sterilization container (10). As formed in bottom wall (18), the port (34) includes a circumferential, downwardly tapering side member (42) that extends to a bottom member (40) having a plurality of orifices (44) to communicate a sealed interior (26) with the exterior. A filter cartridge (36) is provided for insertion in the port (34) and has a filter medium (60) that permits the passage of sterilizing gas or steam but does not permit the passage of contaminants. A side member (54) of the cartridge (36) tapers downwardly and inwardly from its perimeter to the filter medium (60) and is adapted to sealingly register with the port side member (42). A retainer (38) may be provided for keeping the cartridge side member (54) in sealing registration with the port side member (42).

Abstract: An improved flow distribution system for a catalytic reactor plenum chamber for a gas-liquid-solids ebullated bed reactor incudes a baffled nozzle device containing at least two baffle plates usually oriented substantially normal to the nozzle inlet flow direction for providing good mixing and uniform flow distribution of gas-liquid materials in the lower portion of the plenum, used in combination with distribution grid to effect a substantially uniform flow distribution of the gas/liquid mixture upwardly into the ebullated catalyst bed. A sparger can be provided in the plenum above the baffled flow distributor device for feeding additional gas-liquid mixture into the reactor. The flow distribution system provides a substantially uniform flow distribution of the gas-liquid mixture into the ebullated bed and thereby provides fouling-free operation of the reactor.

Abstract: A process for preventing odor-fading of liquefied petroleum gas odorized with organosulfur compounds wherein the gas is stored in containers having new or recently cleaned interior surfaces, such surfaces having been pretreated with benzotriazole, tolyl triazole, mercaptobenzothiazole, benzothiazyl disulfide or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An improved ballistic separation device results from surrounding the downstream end of a progressive flow reactor or riser reactor with a concentric conduit that is in fluid communication with a cyclone separator and optionally in fluid communication with dipleg take-offs. The device may also include a bevelled lip or projection at the axial opening of the progressive flow reactor.

Abstract: A catalytic converter in which exhaust gases to be treated are introduced into a housing containing a catalytic material. Air is introduced into the lower portion of the housing to fluidize the catalytic material and promote the reaction between the material and the exhaust gases to remove poisonous elements such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides from the gases.