Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning hot gases containing gaseous contaminants and particulate contaminants, including sticky components where a vessel contains a walled housing and a divider which separates an enclosed area therebetween into dirty and clean gas sections. A moving bed of coarse particulate material is contained in the walled housing with gases, after flow through a portion of the moving bed, passing into the second section where hollow, ceramic, barrier filter units remove the remaining solids therefrom. Sorbent material removes gaseous contaminants, sticky components are retained in the moving bed of coarse particulate material, and the filter units remove fines so that the hot gases are discharged clean from the vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing particulate contaminants, and optionally gaseous contaminants, from a hot gaseous stream where a vessel is provided containing a fluidized bed zone and the gases are passed through the fluidized bed zone containing a fluidized bed of granular media prior to passage of a major portion of the gas through a plurality of first hollow, ceramic, barrier filter elements at least partially disposed in the fluidized bed, and a minor portion thereof through a plurality of second hollow, ceramic, barrier polishing filter elements removed from the fluidized granular media. The plurality of first filter elements are scoured by the granular media to remove collected deposits while fine particulates collected on the plurality of second filter elements are removed by back flushing of a gas therethrough.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hot gas filter system employing ceramic tube filters, or candles, in which the ratio of filter surface to system cross-section can exceed 50. The system includes a pressure vessel having an internal wall dividing the pressure vessel into first and second vessel portions, a gas inlet for directing a hot gaseous stream having particulate matter entrained therein into the first portion and a gas outlet for exhausting a filtered gaseous stream from the second vessel portion, a plurality of gas filter units supported by the internal wall and extending into the first vessel portion. Each filter unit includes a central gas plenum having an outer wall with one end of the outer wall attached to the internal wall, and a plurality of filter modules supported by the central gas plenum. Each module includes a ceramic tube, and support structure extending from the central gas plenum for supporting the ceramic tube and communicating gas between the ceramic tube and the central gas plenum.

Abstract: A filter cleaning process for filters for separating particulates from a hot gas stream using hollow, tubular filter elements. Blowback and hot purge gas systems provide for cleaning of the filter elements and maintenance of the blowback system clear of the solids or condensation products that might form during separation. The process is especially useful in filtering solids from a hot, corrosive gaseous stream, such as a zirconium tetrachloride process gaseous stream, where the gas stream contains gaseous constituents that are subject to condensation directly to a solid during separation of the particulates and prior to discharge from the filtering apparatus.

Abstract: A filtering apparatus for separating particulates from high temperature, high pressure gas streams has a vessel divided into upper and lower chambers by a tubesheet, the tubesheet having a flexible support means with the rim thereof resting in a groove in outwardly extending flange portions securing together upper and lower sections of the vessel wall. The flexible support means for the tubesheet has a cylindrical wall depending from a support plate and a conical wall depending from the rim, the two walls secured together, with insulation between and about the walls. The vessel is insulated and preferably has a steam coil cooling device in the lower section thereof. A backflush system includes vertically spaced rows of pipes having tubes depending therefrom directed to the open tops of the filter elements, with the spaced rows connected together by pivotal links, and alignment means provided to align the open ends of the tubes with the open tops of the filter elements.

Abstract: A filter module for use in filtering particulates from a high temperature gas has a central gas duct and at least one horizontally extending support mount affixed to the duct. The support mount supports a filter element thereon and has a chamber therein, which communicates with an inner space of the duct through an opening in the wall of the duct, and which communicates with the clean gas face of the filter element. The filter element is secured to the support mount over an opening in the top wall of the support mount, with releasable securement provided to enable replacement of the filter element when desired. Ceramic springs may be used in connection with the filter module either to secure a filter element to a support mount or to prevent delamination of the filter element during blowback.

Abstract: A filtering unit for filtering particulates from high temperature gases uses a spiral ceramic spring to bias a ceramic, tubular filter element into sealing contact with a flange about an aperture of a metallic tube sheet. The ceramic spiral spring may contact the upper edge of the filter element and be restrained by a stop member spaced from one end of the tube sheet, or the spring may contact the bottom of the filter element and be restrained by a support member spaced from the opposite end of the tube sheet. The stop member and support member are adjustably secured to the tube sheet. A filtering system uses the ceramic spiral spring to bias a plurality of ceramic, tubular filter elements in a respective plurality of apertures in a tube sheet which divides a vessel into upper and lower enclosed sections.

Abstract: A filtering apparatus for separating particulates from a hot gas stream using hollow, tubular filter elements has a housing with a laterally extending support plate for the filter elements separating the housing into upper and lower sections. The tops of the filter elements are biased against the support plate and the bottoms thereof restrained from lateral movement by restraining rings. Blowback and purge gas systems provide for cleaning of the filter elements and maintenance of the blowback system clear of the solids or condensation products that might form during the separation. The apparatus is especially useful in filtering solids from a hot, corrosive gaseous stream, such as a zirconium tetrachloride process gas stream, where the gas stream contains gaseous constituents that are subject to condensation or solids formation during separation of the particulates and prior to discharge from the filtering apparatus.

Abstract: A waste disposal system for the combustion of waste materials, that may include toxic chemical waste, wherein the wastes are combusted in a combustion unit with combustion gases directly discharged into a refractory lined housing having a plurality of ceramic filters disposed in the gas outlet wall thereof. The combustion gases are maintained in the refractory lined housing for a period of time sufficient to effect combustion of the major portion of residual vaporous waste constituents therein and then passed through the ceramic filters to remove the remainder of said vaporous waste constituents and the residual solid waste constituents. The waste-free, hot combustion gases, after passage through the filters, are directed to a heat exchanger for recovery of heat values therefrom.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator especially useful in separation of particulate matter from gas streams under high pressure and high temperature conditions has a collection electrode that is formed of a porous material and means to effect a flow of gas from the clean side of the electrode, through the porous electrode, to dislodge solids collected on the electrode for cleaning purposes. A chamber is formed on the clean side of the collecting electrode and a jet pulse of gas is charged to the chamber, which pulse of gas is distributed through the porous collecting electrode to dislodge the solids from the collecting surface thereof. In one embodiment, a porous flexible member is disposed adjacent the collecting surface of the collecting electrode and the solids are deposited thereon and dislodged therefrom by passage of a gas through the porous collecting electrode.

Abstract: A filter system wherein a hollow tubular member having an imperforate wall with a plurality of slots therein is coaxially positioned within a perforated mandrel that supports a ceramic bag filter. Gases to be filtered pass through the bag filter and deposit particulate matter thereon, enter a chamber between the perforated mandrel and the hollow tubular member, and are directed through the slots into the interior of, and are discharged from an open end of the hollow tubular member. Vapor phase contaminants in the gas can also be removed by providing a bed of solid absorbent material in the hollow tubular member such that the gas contacts the solid absorbent material and the vapor phase contaminant is removed prior to discharge of the gas from the open end of the hollow tubular member.

Abstract: A filter system wherein a cylindrical shell having open ends and a gas-impervious wall with means for supporting a filter tube coaxially within the shell to form an annular chamber therebetween has means for securing the filter tube to the other open end, such that gases from the enclosure must pass through the filter tube into the annular chamber and then out of the cylindrical shell. A jet pulse means is provided to provide a jet pulse of fluid to the annular chamber to flex the filter tube inwardly to dislodge solids collected on the interior surface of the filter tube.

Abstract: Filtration system configurations particularly useful for cleaning high temperature raw gas containing fine particulates such as that discharged from coal gasification and fluidized bed combustion processes. Thin filter elements, having elongated clean channels on one side of a gas permeable ceramic membrane and shorter dirty channels on the other side, extend radially outward from a central duct. Raw gas flows about and through the filter elements, and clean gas which permeates the membrane enters the duct. The elements are cleaned by a back pulse of clean air, spitting the particulates to the bottom of the containing vessel and through an outlet. A high density filter packing within a containing pressure vessel is achieved by nesting a plurality of the duct and filter element modules, or through other orientations and filter element configurations.

Abstract: A process for converting silicon intermediates to high purity silicon by an arc heater characterized by the steps of preliminarily reacting gaseous silicon intermediate, such as a silicon halide, with a metal reductant, such as sodium, to form preliminary reaction products including small solid silicon particles and droplets of salt of the metal reductant, at temperatures below the boiling point of the metal reductant, subsequently heating the reaction products to temperatures above said boiling point in an arc heater chamber to convert the reaction products to droplets of silicon to merge and form larger silicon droplets, and thereafter separating the mixture of silicon droplets and salt vapor.

Abstract: Wire is cleaned by passing it through an electrolytic cleaner then through an ultrasonic rinse. The electrolytic cleaner comprises a graphite tube through which the wire passes, an alkaline aqueous solution between the wire and the graphite tube, and an electric current, at least half D.C., between the wire and the graphite tube.

Abstract: A method of casting ultra-thin semipermeable membranes comprises the steps of: (A) applying a coating of a film forming water soluble solution, containing a leachable pore producing agent and a polymer which is not substantially degraded by organic polar solvents, onto a smooth casting surface, (B) drying the coating to form a support film about 0.5-10 mils thick, (C) applying a coating of an organic polymeric membrane coating solution onto the support film, and drying the coating to form a semipermeable reverse osmosis membrane film about 0.01-1.0 mil thick and (D) applying a leaching liquid to the films, to cause pore formation in the support film and to form a composite consisting of a 0.01-1.0 mil thick semipermeable membrane, supported by a 0.5-10 mils thick water soluble film support of between about 5-50% porosity.