Abstract: This invention is a method and system for troubleshooting a breakdown or malfunction in an industrial plant facility identified by alarm or shutdown signals based upon forming a knowledge base of knowledge elements for providing advice and guidance to the technician. Each fault condition has a set of knowledge elements arranged in a sequence having an ordered hierarchy corresponding to different levels of information. The subordinate knowledge elements are linked to permit selection for display on a computer monitor in a specified manner and in a predetermined cascade arrangement relative to each higher level knowledge element to which it is linked.

Abstract: A rotary fluid handling machine having reduced fluid leakage through the back annular seal of a shaft-mounted wheel which exhibits essentially a zero net axial thrust force on the thrust bearing.

Abstract: In the removal of particles from a gas stream by high intensity ionization and then collection by electrostatic precipitation, flow of the electrostatically charged gas entering the precipitation is restricted in a non-uniform manner.

Abstract: In the pipe-type of high intensity ionization-wet collection method and apparatus for particle removal from a gas stream, corona current is distributed between adjacent ionization and collection zones.

Abstract: Fine particles are removed from a gas stream by successive passage through an upstream plate-wire electrode type electrostatic precipitation (ESP), a high intensity ionization (HII), and a downstream electrostatic precipitation, all in accordance with a predetermined ESP particle collection area relationship.