Abstract: A mass flow meter particularly adapted for measuring the mass flow rate of finely divided coal being transmitted through a conduit, for example, as used in large scale fossil fuel power plants. The invention is particularly related to several embodiments of transducer assemblies mounted to the conduit which enable ultrasound pulses to be transmitted across the conduit and detected such that the downstream drift and attentuation of the pulses can be evaluated and correlated to coal concentration and velocity. In a first embodiment, a pair of transducers on variable pitch mounts are located at diametrically opposite positions across the conduit. The transmitting transducer is aimed upstream with respect to the flow and simultaneously the receiving transducer is aimed downstream a corresponding angular amount such that it receives the transmitted pulse in a manner which produces a maximum amplitude output signal.

Abstract: A flow meter (10) particularly adapted for measuring the mass flow rate of pulverized coal being introduced into large scale power generation boilers. The meter includes a transmitter (14) which generates a pulsed beam of ultrasonic impulses. A receiver (18) is positioned across the flow filed from the transmitter and receives the ultrasound pulses. The meter measures the downstream drift of the ultrasound pulses and their attenuation which is related to flow velocity and concentration, respectively. The instrument includes electronic circuitry (28) for automatically adjusting the relationship between transmitter and receiver, and performs numerical analysis routines on the signal outputted from the receiver to provide a signal related to coal concentration and velocity.

Abstract: Improved closed-loop pyrochemical processes for the decomposition of water in which at least one of the reaction steps in each process is carried out pyrochemically within the central reaction chamber of a thermonuclear reactor during and immediately after a thermonuclear reaction, and in which one of the reagents in or products of the chamber reaction is a metal having a boiling temperature which is higher than the decomposition temperature of the associated metal oxide. The product of the pyrochemical reaction which includes the metal element is in the condensed phase after completion of the reaction and may thus be easily separated from the remaining gaseous reaction products.

Abstract: A multi-step chemical and radiolytic process for the production of gas such as hydrogen and oxygen. A highly radiosensitive gas such as carbon dioxide is injected directly into the reaction chamber of a fusion reactor and is molecularly dissociated to form carbon monoxide and pure oxygen when the fusion fuel is burned. The carbon monoxide is then mixed with steam at an elevated temperature to form carbon dioxide and pure hydrogen. The carbon dioxide is recycled and injected into the central reaction chamber to complete a closed-loop process for production of pure hydrogen and oxygen at the expense of water.

Abstract: Combustible synthetic fuel is produced by radiolytic separation of a raw material gas such as CO.sub.2 having a combustible element CO by exposure to neutron radiation in the presence of an intermixed inert gas such as helium. The helium serves both to absorb radiation energy for transfer to the raw material gas thereby increasing available energy and also serves as a dilutant which decreases possibilities of explosive recombination of dissociated elements thereof, and the mixture provides a convenient carrier vehicle from which the desired synthetic fuel element can be separated efficiently by methods known in the existing state of technology.

Abstract: A process is described wherein solid carbon particles C(S) of various forms are suspended in a carbon dioxide gas (CO.sub.2) and exposed to a flux of neutrons from a fusion neutron source for the purpose of converting the very high kinetic energy of the neutrons to chemically stored energy using the endothermic reaction C(S)+CO.sub.2 .fwdarw.2CO. In contrast to previous art involving the direct radiolytic dissociation of the CO.sub.2 molecule, the means described in this invention are aimed at thermally driving the reaction C(S)+CO.sub.2 .fwdarw.2CO such that a very much higher yield of CO is obtained.