Abstract: Continuous process apparatus and method for treating food products with ozone gas, primarily for sterilization. The food products, which may be delicate vegetable products such as potato chips, dehydrated onions and other dehydrated vegetables, are continuously conveyed through a treatment zone filled with ozone, and oxygen that is a by-product of the ozone treatment, and also air unavoidably entering the treatment zone with the food products, are gravity separated from the ozone in a separation zone located above the treatment zone.

Abstract: Highly saline geothermal brine, such as that produced from the lower geothermal reserve of the Salton Sea geothermal field, is diluted with non-geothermal water of much lower salinity in a mixing zone proximate the high temperature end of a geothermal power plant, and preferably down in the production well just above the production zone, so as to reduce the chloride salt content of the production brine to a level that is at or below the saturated level at reinjection temperatures, thereby preventing any material chloride salt scaling at any location in the plant through reinjection. The permanent cemented-in production casing in the well is protected against the corrosive effects of the hot production brine by means of a removable production liner that is generally coextensive with the casing.

Abstract: A system for extending the operational life of the reinjection system of a geothermal power plant energized by high temperature, high silica content geothermal brine from a source such as the Salton Sea geothermal field or the Brawley geothermal field. The stream of geothermal brine which flows through the plant is passed slowly through a zone of particulate material having a large cumulative surface area in contact with the brine to seed the precipitation of dissolved silica from the brine onto the particles so as to reduce the amount of dissolved silica available for precipitation in the reinjection system. The zone of particulate material may be established as a floating silica sludge blanket in a reactor clarifier which also has a reaction zone in which silica precipitation is initiated.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a well providing access to an underground source of high temperature geothermal brine against flashing as the hot brine is delivered upwardly through the well to surface power apparatus for use of heat from the brine in the generation of electrical power, thereby eliminating plugging of the well by precipitated mineral deposits as well as other problems which have heretofore caused most geothermal resources of this character to be beset with operational problems. A pump down in the well pressurizes the hot output liquid that is delivered to the surface generating equipment against flashing, the pump having a novel long tailpipe suspended therefrom which extends deep into the well.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a well providing access to an underground source of high temperature geothermal brine against flashing as the hot brine is delivered upwardly through the well to surface power apparatus for use of heat from the brine in the generation of electrical power, thereby eliminating plugging of the well by precipitated mineral deposits as well as other problems which have heretofore caused most geothermal resources of this character to be beset with operational problems. A pump down in the well pressurizes the hot output liquid that is delivered to the surface generating equipment against flashing, the pump having a novel long tailpipe suspended therefrom which extends deep into the well.