Abstract: The present invention relates to concrete, mortar and other hardenable mixtures comprising cement and fly ash for use in construction. The invention includes a method for predicting the compressive strength of such a hardenable mixture, which is very important for planning a project. The invention also relates to hardenable mixtures comprising cement and fly ash which can achieve greater compressive strength than hardenable mixtures containing only concrete over the time period relevant for construction. In a specific embodiment, a formula is provided that accurately predicts compressive strength of concrete containing fly ash out to 180 days. In other specific examples, concrete and mortar containing about 15% to 25% fly ash as a replacement for cement, which are capable of meeting design specification required for building and highway construction, are provided. Such materials can thus significantly reduce construction costs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to concrete, mortar and other hardenable mixtures comprising cement and fly ash for use in construction and other applications, which hardenable mixtures demonstrate significant levels of acid and sulfate resistance while maintaining acceptable compressive strength properties. The acid and sulfate hardenable mixtures of the invention containing fly ash comprise cementitious materials and a fine aggregate. The cementitous materials may comprise fly ash as well as cement. The fine aggregate may comprise fly ash as well as sand. The total amount of fly ash in the hardenable mixture ranges from about 60% to about 120% of the total amount of cement, by weight, whether the fly ash is included as a cementious material, fine aggregate, or an additive, or any combination of the foregoing. In specific examples, mortar containing 50% fly ash and 50% cement in cementitious materials demonstrated superior properties of corrosion resistance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to concrete, mortar and other hardenable mixtures comprising cement and fly ash for use in construction. The invention provides a method for increasing the rate of strength gain of a hardenable mixture containing fly ash by exposing the fly ash to an aqueous slurry of calcium oxide (lime) prior to its incorporation into the hardenable mixture. The invention further relates to such hardenable mixtures, e.g., concrete and mortar, that contain fly ash pre-reacted with calcium oxide. In particular, the fly ash is added to a slurry of calcium oxide in water, prior to incorporating the fly ash in a hardenable mixture. The hardenable mixture may be concrete or mortar. In a specific embodiment, mortar containing fly ash treated by exposure to an aqueous lime slurry are prepared and tested for compressive strength at early time points.

Abstract: The present invention relates to concrete, mortar and other hardenable mixtures comprising cement and fly ash for use in construction. The invention includes a method for predicting the compressive strength of such a hardenable mixture, which is very important for planning a project. The invention also relates to hardenable mixtures comprising cement and fly ash which can achieve greater compressive strength than hardenable mixtures containing only concrete over the time period relevant for construction. In a specific embodiment, a formula is provided that accurately predicts compressive strength of concrete containing fly ash out to 180 days. In other specific examples, concrete and mortar containing about 15% to 25% fly ash as a replacement for cement, which are capable of meeting design specifications required for building and highway construction, are provided. Such materials can thus significantly reduce construction costs.

Abstract: In order to separate wax from lubricating oil, it is necessary both to introduce free excess charge which is net positive or net negative into the wax-laden oil, preferably by charge injection, and to reduce the solubility for the wax (for example by cooling the lubricating oil) sufficiently so that dissolved wax forms a dispersion of wax particles and crystals in the oil. The resulting electrophoretic effect results in wax particle agglomeration and particle size growth in the oil itself and/or on collector surfaces in contact with the charged oil. The charge injection and the wax solubility reduction such as by cooling can occur simultaneously, or one before the other in either order. Cooling can conveniently be effected wholly or in part by mixing with the oil an auto-refrigerant liquid which vaporizes to reduce the oil temperature. Ideally the auto-refrigerant liquid additionally has oil solvent properties, propane being an example of a suitable such liquid additive.

Abstract: Separation of dispersed liquid contaminant, for example removal of water droplets from oil, is achieved by introducing free charge into the mixture by means of charge injector (1) and discharging the charged mixture through a gas or vapor gap into a separation vessel (2) where the charged mixture comes into contact with a bed of beads (6) (FIG. 1) or other collector surfaces. The introduced charge causes both an electric field to be induced in the separation vessel (2) and the dispersed contaminant to acquire charge, and this results in migration of the charged contaminant. The beads are porous so that they soak up contaminant which can then encourage growth of islands of contaminant on the surface of the beads to a sufficient size that they can be removed from the mixture by gravity separation or other separation techniques. In another embodiment, (FIG.

Abstract: In order to separate wax particles and/or water droplets from lubricating oil, free excess electric charge which is net positive or net negative is introduced into the wax/water-laden oil, preferably by charge injection. Wax particle/water droplet agglomeration and particle/droplet size growth within the oil mixture due to the electrophoretic effect arising from the electric charge introduction is allowed to occur. In this way, wax particles or water droplets normally considered to be of insufficient size to be separated effectively by filtration can be removed by filtration if the lube oil is electrically pretreated as described. The filtration, conveniently, can be effected by passing the oil mixture containing the grown wax particles/water droplets through a bed of collector beads of low electrical conductivity or through a settler or, in the case of the wax, through a filter screen.

Abstract: To promote nucleation of a solute in a solution (e.g. wax dissolved in lubricating oil), free excess charge which is net unipolar is introduced into the solution, for example by charge injection, and the solubility for the solute is reduced (for example by cooling), at least until nucleation of the solution takes place. Nucleation is the physical mechanism which leads to precipitation of the solute and so this method can be applied for the electrical pretreatment of the solution to produce a precipitate, following which the precipitate can be removed from the solvent by conventional separation techniques or be present to provide desired physical or chemical characteristics. An alternative method is to reduce the solubility of the solute in the solution almost to the point of nucleation, and only then to introduce the free excess charge so as to precipitate the onset of nucleation.

Abstract: A charge injection device is disclosed which issues free charge injected fluid from an orifice (4) into a region of lower pressure downstream. To avoid significant impairment of charge injection level or efficiency by an electrode pair (5, 8) in the region of the orifice (4) due to the reduced downstream pressure, the pressure in the region of orifice (4) is raised, close to the pressure in the charge injection chamber (2), by feeding gas, such as sulfur hexafluoride, to a chamber (18) having an outlet orifice (27) issuing into the lower pressure downstream region.

Abstract: In a fluidized bed of solid particles having one or more heat exchange tubes immersed therein, the rate of heat transfer between the fluidized particles and a fluid flowing through the immersed heat exchange tubes is controlled by rotating an arcuate shield apparatus about each tube to selectively expose various portions of the tube to the fluidized particles.

Abstract: In a fluidized bed of solid particles having one or more heat exchange tubes immersed therein, the rate of heat transfer between the fluidized particles and a fluid flowing through the immersed heat exchange tubes is controlled by rotating an arcuate shield apparatus about each tube to selectively expose various portions of the tube to the fluidized particles.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the initiation and completion of self-sustaining combustion in fuel/oxidizer mixtures through the use of ultraviolet radiation absorbed throughout the mixture.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the initiation and completion of self-sustaining combustion in fuel/oxidizer mixtures through the use of ultraviolet radiation absorbed throughout the mixture.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the initiation and completion of self-sustaining combustion in fuel/oxidizer mixtures through the use of ultraviolet radiation absorbed throughout the mixture.