Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering water from a heated gas mixture. The heated gas mixture is passed across one or more heat pipe heat exchangers connected in series. Each heat pipe heat exchanger includes an upper chamber separated from a lower chamber, and sealed heat pipes extending between the chambers. The heated gas mixture is passed across the lower chamber, where the heated gas mixture is cooled with the plurality of heat pipes, passing heat into the heat pipe fluid and thereby condensing water vapor to liquid water on an outside of the of heat pipes. Ambient air or other gas of a cooling temperature is passed across the upper chamber to reduce the heated temperature controlled fluid inside the plurality of heat pipes.

Abstract: A method for removing gaseous inclusions from a viscous liquid in which a viscous liquid stream having gaseous inclusions is introduced into a refining chamber, resulting in a flowing viscous liquid layer. The viscosity of a bottom portion of the viscous liquid layer is reduced in a first refining zone in the refining chamber so as to produce an upwardly mobile reduced viscosity portion of the viscous liquid layer. Heat is introduced into the viscous liquid layer from above the viscous liquid layer in a second refining zone in the refining chamber downstream of the first refining zone, reducing the gaseous inclusions in said viscous liquid layer. Thereafter, the viscous liquid layer having substantially reduced gaseous inclusions is discharged from the refining chamber.

Abstract: A thermal energy conveyance process involving at least one of transferring heat to a first heat transfer fluid and recovering heat from a second heat transfer fluid, wherein the first and the second heat transfer fluids include a gaseous carrier containing a quantity of micron sized solid particles and wherein the at least one of transferring heat and recovering heat is conducted to involve at least one of a) a temperature in excess of 1000° F. and b) a dilute-to-dense phase of the micron sized solid particles. Also provided is a media adapted for such heat conveyance operation.

Abstract: A method for removing gaseous inclusions from a viscous liquid in which a viscous liquid stream having gaseous inclusions is introduced into a refining chamber, resulting in a flowing viscous liquid layer. The viscosity of a bottom portion of the viscous liquid layer is reduced in a first refining zone in the refining chamber so as to produce an upwardly mobile reduced viscosity portion of the viscous liquid layer. Heat is introduced into the viscous liquid layer from above the viscous liquid layer in a second refining zone in the refining chamber downstream of the first refining zone, reducing the gaseous inclusions in said viscous liquid layer. Thereafter, the viscous liquid layer having substantially reduced gaseous inclusions is discharged from the refining chamber.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring a physical property of a fluid in which light having wavelengths in the near-infrared is directed into a test cell containing the fluid and portions of the light not absorbed by the fluid and passing out of the cell are spatially dispersed by wavelength, forming a light spectrum that is projected onto a detector. The light spectrum is digitized and inputted into a data processing unit in which it is compared to the actual spectrum of the light source stored in the system to determine the absorbance spectrum of the fluid. The system is spectrally calibrated by identifying known spectral features of the fluid absorbance spectrum. To correct for deviations in the original light source spectrum, a calibration method in which the pressure of the fluid in the test cell is alternated between a first positive pressure and a second positive pressure is employed.

Abstract: A system and method for real-time monitoring of the interior of a combustor or gasifier wherein light emitted by the interior surface of a refractory wall of the combustor or gasifier is collected using an imaging fiber optic bundle having a light receiving end and a light output end. Color information in the light is captured with primary color (RGB) filters or complimentary color (GMCY) filters placed over individual pixels of color sensors disposed within a digital color camera in a BAYER mosaic layout, producing RGB signal outputs or GMCY signal outputs. The signal outputs are processed using intensity ratios of the primary color filters or the complimentary color filters, producing video images and/or thermal images of the interior of the combustor or gasifier.

Abstract: A submerged combustion melter having a plurality of side walls, a bottom wall adjacent the side walls, and a top wall adjacent the side walls, the walls collectively enclosing a melting chamber, and the bottom wall forming a plurality of openings, each of which is adapted to receive a submerged combustion burner. Each of the submerged combustion burners is positioned at least 4 inches from the side walls, at least twice as far apart from each other as the distance between the submerged combustion burners and the side walls, and less than or equal to about 20 inches apart.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring a physical property of a fluid in which light having wavelengths in the near-infrared is directed into a test cell containing the fluid and portions of the light not absorbed by the fluid and passing out of the cell are spatially dispersed by wavelength, forming a light spectrum that is projected onto a detector. The light spectrum is digitized and inputted into a data processing unit in which it is compared to the actual spectrum of the light source stored in the system to determine the absorbance spectrum of the fluid. The system is spectrally calibrated by identifying known spectral features of the fluid absorbance spectrum. To correct for deviations in the original light source spectrum, a calibration method in which the pressure of the fluid in the test cell is alternated between a first positive pressure and a second positive pressure is employed.

Abstract: A system for real-time monitoring of flame properties in combustors and gasifiers which includes an imaging fiber optic bundle having a light receiving end and a light output end and a spectroscopic imaging system operably connected with the light output end of the imaging fiber optic bundle. Focusing of the light received by the light receiving end of the imaging fiber optic bundle by a wall disposed between the light receiving end of the fiber optic bundle and a light source, which wall forms a pinhole opening aligned with the light receiving end.

Abstract: A method for removal of gaseous inclusions from a viscous liquid in which a layer of filter particles is positioned in the viscous liquid and the viscous liquid is passed through the layer of filter particles, whereby the gaseous inclusions combine or coalesce within the layer of filter particles, forming larger gaseous inclusions which rise to the top of the viscous liquid and escape therefrom.

Abstract: A combustion method and apparatus which produce a hybrid flame for heating metals and metal alloys, which hybrid flame has the characteristic of having an oxidant-lean portion proximate the metal or metal alloy and having an oxidant-rich portion disposed above the oxidant lean portion. This hybrid flame is produced by introducing fuel and primary combustion oxidant into the furnace chamber containing the metal or metal alloy in a substoichiometric ratio to produce a fuel-rich flame and by introducing a secondary combustion oxidant into the furnace chamber above the fuel-rich flame in a manner whereby mixing of the secondary combustion oxidant with the fuel-rich flame is delayed for a portion of the length of the flame.

Abstract: A method for producing a catalytically-active material having at least one base component and at least one catalytically-active component in which the at least one base component is heated to a softening or melting temperature to form a softened or molten base component. While the base component is in the softened or molten state, at least one catalytically-active component is incorporated into or onto the base component, forming the catalytically-active material. In accordance with one embodiment, a catalyst precursor is introduced into the base component and subsequently transformed to a catalytically-active component.

Abstract: A method for removal of gaseous inclusions from a viscous liquid in which a layer of filter particles is positioned in the viscous liquid and the viscous liquid is passed through the layer of filter particles, whereby the gaseous inclusions combine or coalesce within the layer of filter particles, forming larger gaseous inclusions which rise to the top of the viscous liquid and escape therefrom.

Abstract: A system and method for real-time monitoring of the interior of a combustor or gasifier wherein light emitted by the interior surface of a refractory wall of the combustor or gasifier is collected using an imaging fiber optic bundle having a light receiving end and a light output end. Color information in the light is captured with primary color (RGB) filters or complimentary color (GMCY) filters placed over individual pixels of color sensors disposed within a digital color camera in a BAYER mosaic layout, producing RGB signal outputs or GMCY signal outputs. The signal outputs are processed using intensity ratios of the primary color filters or the complimentary color filters, producing video images and/or thermal images of the interior of the combustor or gasifier.

Abstract: A system for real-time monitoring of flame properties in combustors and gasifiers which includes an imaging fiber optic bundle having a light receiving end and a light output end and a spectroscopic imaging system operably connected with the light output end of the imaging fiber optic bundle. Focusing of the light received by the light receiving end of the imaging fiber optic bundle by a wall disposed between the light receiving end of the fiber optic bundle and a light source, which wall forms a pinhole opening aligned with the light receiving end.

Abstract: A method for producing a catalytically-active material having at least one base component and at least one catalytically-active component in which the at least one base component is heated to a softening or melting temperature to form a softened or molten base component. While the base component is in the softened or molten state, at least one catalytically-active component is incorporated into or onto the base component, forming the catalytically-active material. In accordance with one embodiment, a catalyst precursor is introduced into the base component and subsequently transformed to a catalytically-active component.

Abstract: A method for producing a catalytically-active material having at least one base component and at least one catalytically-active component in which the at least one base component is heated to a softening or melting temperature to form a softened or molten base component. While the base component is in the softened or molten state, at least one catalytically-active component is incorporated into or onto the base component, forming the catalytically-active material. In accordance with one embodiment, a catalyst precursor is introduced into the base component and subsequently transformed to a catalytically-active component.

Abstract: A submerged combustion burner having co-axial fuel and oxidant tubes forming an annular space therebetween, wherein the outer tube extends beyond the end of the inner tube. A burner nozzle having an outside diameter corresponding to the inside diameter of the outer tube is connected to the outlet end of the inner tube and forms a centralized opening in fluid communication with the inner tube and at least one peripheral longitudinally oriented opening in fluid communication with the annular space. In accordance with one embodiment, a longitudinally adjustable rod is disposed within the inner tube for adjustment of fluid flow therethrough, and a cylindrical insert having at least one flame stabilizer for stabilizing a flame produced by the burner is attached to the outlet end of the outer tube. In accordance with another embodiment, fluid flow through the inner tube is achieved by a flow control valve operably connected to the inner tube.

Abstract: A method for determining the heating value of a fuel gas or fuel gas mixture in which the chemiluminescense intensity of at least one chemical bond in a known volume of the fuel gas or mixture is measured. Based upon the results of the measurement(s), the amount of the at least one chemical bond in the known volume of the fuel gas or mixture is determined. Having determined the amount of the at least one chemical bond, the heating value of the fuel gas or mixture can be determined.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus comprising a pre-combustor stage and a primary combustion stage, the pre-combustor stage having two co-axial cylinders, one for oxidant and one for fuel gas, in which the fuel gas is preheated and the primary combustion stage having rectangular co-axial passages through which fuel and oxidant are admitted into a refractory burner block. Both passages converge in the vertical plane and diverge in the horizontal plane. The passage through the refractory burner block also has a rectangular profile and diverges in the horizontal plane. The outlets to the primary combustion stage are recessed in the refractory burner block at a distance which may be varied.