Abstract: The present invention consists of an improved method and apparatus to upgrade bitumen in various forms which comprises four main components; namely, a fractionator equipped with a condenser, a heavy gas oil catalytic treater, a catalyst regenerator/gasifier and a gas cleanup assembly. In operation, the bitumen in liquid form is fed to the fractionator for initial separation of fractions with the bulk of the bitumen leaving the bottom of the fractionator in the form of a heavy gas oil which is pumped to the catalytic treater and sprayed on a hot catalyst to crack the heavy gas oil (an endothermic reaction) to release lighter hydrocarbons in the form of H2 rich volatile matter while depositing carbon on the catalyst. The volatile matter from the treater is directed to the fractionator where the condensable fractions are separated from the non-condensable H2 rich gas, a valuable primary gas.

Abstract: A method for pyrolyzing coal to produce a raw hydrogen-rich gas and a hot char composed of carbon that is divided into two streams, one gasified to make a second gas and one reacted with steam to produce hot activated carbon that is divided into a first sub-stream and a second sub-stream. The hydrogen rich gas, after cleanup, is converted to methanol which, in turn, is synthesized into gasoline or synthetic natural gas. The second gas, after clean-up, fuels a turbine to generate electricity while exhausting a flue gas (N2+CO2) that is reacted with the first sub-stream of hot activated carbon and with hydrogen for synthesis into urea (CO(NH2)2). The urea is mixed with the second sub-stream of activated carbon to produce a fertilizer which is introduced into soil to store plant nutrients. This process produces fuel, electricity, and enhancement of plant growth.

Abstract: A method for co-producing electric power and urea from carbonaceous fuels such as coal, by pyrolizing the coal with oxygen to produce a raw rich gas and a hot char which is gasified with air to produce a raw lean gas. Subsequent to the cleaning of the two gases, the cleaned rich gas is made up of CO and 2H2, and the clean lean gas is made up of N2+CO. The CO in the rich gas is separated from the 2H2 and is added to the lean gas to enrich it with CO to become a lean fuel gas which fuels a gas turbine and is part of a combined cycle system which efficiently generates electric power while exhausting an off-gas (flue gas) made up of N2+CO2. The 2H2 separated from the CO, and the N2+CO2 of the exhausted flue gas are together synthesized to produce urea —CO (NH2)2.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering energy from a fossil resource that contains organic matter together with mineral material such as oil shale, coal. oil sand, etc., wherein a hydroretort and a gasifier are interconnected and are utilized in such a way as to have the hydroretort serve as the vessel for pyrolizing the resource by direct contact with hot syngas produced in said gasifier in order to extract oil from the resource while co-producing a residual mineral laden with carbon and some hydrocarbons. This residual mineral is fed from said hydroretort to said gasifier via a lockhopper and by means of oxygen and steam injected into the gasifier, the carbon and the hydrocarbons are converted to a hot syngas and the mineral matter converted to a molten slag which is cooled to a non-leaching substance.

Abstract: The present invention consists of an improved method and apparatus to upgrade bitumen in various forms which comprises four main components; namely, a fractionator equipped with a condenser, a heavy gas oil catalytic treater, a catalyst regenerator/gasifier and a gas cleanup assembly. In operation, the bitumen in liquid form is fed to the fractionator for initial separation of fractions with the bulk of the bitumen leaving the bottom of the fractionator in the form of a heavy gas oil which is pumped to the catalytic treater and sprayed on a hot catalyst to crack the heavy gas oil (an endothermic reaction) to release lighter hydrocarbons in the form of H2 rich volatile matter while depositing carbon on the catalyst. The volatile matter from the treater is directed to the fractionator where the condensable fractions are separated from the non-condensable H2 rich gas, a valuable primary gas.

Abstract: A method for producing clean energy from coal by feeding the coal in a reactor which is sealed to the atmosphere and moving the coal in the reactor while injecting oxygen to combust a portion of the coal in a substoichiometric mode to devolatilize the coal and yield a pressurized hydrogen rich raw gas which contains coal-derived cancer causing distillates and hydrocarbons together with a hot char. The distillates and the hydrocarbons are cracked to result in a cracked gas of essentially 2H2 and 1CO which after desulfurization becomes an ideal synthesis gas that can be synthesized to a liquid fuel for heating and transportation as an alternate to petroleum. The hot char is gasified in an air blown gasifier to produce a fuel gas and a molten slag which are jointly directed out of the gasifier through a common port which is maintained open for the free flow of both.

Abstract: A fully implantable nerve stimulation system includes an event-triggered, closed-loop control unit that detects physiological events from nerve signals and delivers stimulation pulses to a nerve to produce a desired physiological response. The stimulation system includes a low-noise, low-power nerve signal amplifier, accelerometers that detect position and a battery powered processor that selectively powers components in the system to detect physiological events and deliver stimulation pulses with a minimum of battery power.

Abstract: A method for producing clean energy from coal by feeding the coal in a reactor which is sealed to the atmosphere and moving the coal in the reactor while injecting oxygen to combust a portion of the coal in a substoichiometric mode to devolatilize the coal and yield a pressurized hydrogen rich raw gas which contains coal-derived cancer causing distillates and hydrocarbons together with a hot char. The distillates and the hydrocarbons are cracked to result in a cracked gas of essentially 2H2 and 1CO which after desulfurization becomes an ideal synthesis gas that can be synthesized to a liquid fuel for heating and transportation as an alternate to petroleum.

Abstract: An energy efficient, coal-based method and apparatus that are environmentally friendly which produce under pressure metallized/carbon product and molten metal directly from abundant coal or other carbonaceous material, and low cost fines (or ore concentrate) wherein the metal is devoid of gangue material and possesses the inherent advantage of retaining the heat for subsequent processing. This method and apparatus which are modular and highly integrated significantly reduce capital and operating costs; they also provide the capability selective placement of the reductant for the delivery of high levels of thermal energy input which leads to ease of desulflurization and high productivity. The technology herein disclosed is entirely closed and is applicable to various ores including ferrous and non-ferrous.

Abstract: This invention relates to making steel directly from ore concentrate and non-coking coal to which flux material is added. The method eliminates numerous steps by reducing the ore with the coal in a sealed chamber and under pressure termed “carbotreating” to make a fluxed iron/carbon product which after crushing, is injected while hot into a melting furnace. The hot product is melted with oxygen under reducing conditions using excess carbon from the coal to make a carburized molten iron and a slag low in FeO termed “oxymelting”. After the tapping of the slag, the carburized molten iron to which flux material is added, is blown with oxygen to make steel, CO, and a slag high in FeO termed “decarburizing”. The steel is tapped while the slag is retained in the furnace. All of the above steps are carried out in an efficient and environmentally sound manner which render the art of steelmaking significantly more economical than conventionally practiced.

Abstract: The present invention deals with a method to produce uniform quality coke for a blast furnace by quenching coke at a pre-determined rate to produce coke with essentially uniform moisture; further, this invention possesses specific features to produce coke of uniform stability (strength) by equilibrating the temperature of the coke prior to its being quenched. Uniform moisture and uniform stability are very important factors that contribute to the efficient operation of the blast furnace to result in lowering the cost of making a ton of iron. This method is carried out under pressure, in a closed system, and in an environmentally acceptable manner with minimum formation of CO.sub.2. Further, the method possesses additional features which lead to the production of coke of higher stability than obtained conventionally.

Abstract: An apparatus for the carbonization of materials, such as coal, comprising an elongated coking retort defined by an annulus which constitutes the coking chamber within which the coal is carbonized indirectly by conduction. In order to provide an efficient mechanism for transferring thermal energy to the coal by conduction, highly conductive tiles equipped with flues and adapted to transport hot flue gas makes up the walls of the annulus within which the coal is carbonized. The raw gas (discharged from carbonization) and the cooled flue gas (discharged from the flues) are collected and separately treated to prevent polluting emissions.

Abstract: This invention discloses a new method for the production of coke from coals. In the present invention, coke is continuously produced by heating a moving charge of coal inside the annular space between two tubes. The coking chamber, which includes a large tube and a smaller tube, is force-fed with a coal such as a metallurgical coal. The coal is bi-directionally heated along a controlled temperature gradient between the outer wall of the small tube and the inner wall of the large tube. The coal is transformed to coke as it travels through the annulus of the coking chamber. Coke is discharged from the chamber at the end opposite to which it was charged and is cooled before being exposed to the atmosphere. Gases generated during the coking process are collected and treated. All of these operations are accomplished in a closed system to prevent pollution.

Abstract: A method for the co-production of fuel and iron from coal and from iron ore respectively, which is comprised of heating the coal in the absence of oxygen to make a raw coal gas and a residual coke, and of increasing the content of free hydrogen in the coal gas through the cracking against a desulfurizing hot reagent, of the hydrocarbons contained in the gas in order to yield a hydrogen rich, desulfurized, hot reducing synthetic gas. This synthetic gas which is highly reactive, is fed through a bed of iron ore in order to directly reduce the ore to metallized iron. The off-gas exiting from the bed of ore is divided into three parts:-a first part is mixed with the raw coal gas, and is recycled for further use; a second part is used to provide the thermal energy required for the heating of the coal to make the raw gas and the coke; and a third part which is purged to maintain the process in balance, is utilized for other thermal needs.

Abstract: A method for upgrading a petroleum material comprises charging the material into a vessel having a cylindrical wall, then heating the cylindrical wall. The petroleum material adjacent the wall is heated to a temperature sufficient to form a layer of carbon on the wall, and volatile material generated at the wall during the carbon formation passes through the bulk of the petroleum material thermally cracking it to form smaller molecules and simultaneously desulfurizing same.

Abstract: A twin wing sailing yacht having a pair of wing appendages depending from a canoe or hull, the wing appendages including structures which support at their lower ends a fore and aft extending ballast tandemly suspended between them. The wings are rotatable about generally vertical axes under the control of collective and cyclic steering mechanisms.

Abstract: High performance sailing yacht designs are disclosed based on a keelless sailing yacht concept having fore and aft cambered foils for leeway control which foils replace the function of the standard keel. A keelless sailing yacht of this type is disclosed with dynamic ballast which is laterally movable to apply a variable counter-heeling force; a tiltable mast which may have a rotatable mast and sail leading edge; cambered foils for cyclic and collective steering; and adjustable camber controls for adjusting lift and leeway. The foregoing features allow disclosed improvements and modifications to hull design in having a duplex hull form, with lower and upper hull shapes, the lower of low drag shape, and of reduced section, while the upper hull extends laterally abeam from the lower hull for added buoyancy when heeled and for accommodation room.

Abstract: A gasifier for the gasification of a fuel material includes a chamber in which the material is converted into a gas and a molten slag. A quenching apparatus is provided for cooling and solidifying the molten slag. A nozzle extends between the chamber and the quenching apparatus. The nozzle includes an orifice having an inlet end for receiving the molten slag from the chamber and an outlet end for discharging the molten slag into the quenching apparatus. A recessed zone is provided between the outlet end of the orifice and the quenching apparatus. The recessed zone may be formed within the nozzle. An electric induction heating coil provides heat in the recessed zone to prevent the solidification of the slag at the outlet end of the orifice.

Abstract: A method for the repowering of an existing coal-fired facility used in the generation of electric power which makes the facility more efficient while reducing its emissions in a cost-effective manner using the following steps: a) processing the coal in use to co-produce a clean liquid fuel and a clean low Btu gas; b) replacing the pulverized coal burners of the boiler contained in the facility with burners adapted to burn low-Btu gas; c) burning clean low-Btu gas in the boiler instead of coal; d) making up the derate of the boiler by the addition of efficient combined cycle power generation; and e) crediting the revenue derived from the sale of the liquid fuel co-produced to the existing facility to render such repowering commercially viable.

Abstract: A method of generating a de-sulphurized volatile matter and a relatively low Btu gas includes the initial step of pyrolyzing coal to produce volatile matter and a char. The volatile matter is fed to a first de-sulphurizer containing a de-sulphurizing agent to remove sulphur therefrom. At the same time, the char is gasified to produce a relatively low Btu gas. The low Btu gas is fed to a second de-sulphurizer containing the de-sulphurizing agent to remove sulphur therefrom. A regenerator is provided for removing sulphur from the de-sulphurizing agent. Portions of the de-sulphurizing agent are moved among the first de-sulphurizer, the second de-sulphurizer, and the regenerator such that the regenerator regenerates the de-sulphurizing agent. Preferably, the portions of the de-sulphurizing agent are moved from the second de-sulphurizer to the first de-sulphurizer, from the first de-sulphurizer to the regenerator, and from the regenerator to the second de-sulphurizer.