Abstract: A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry items according to an automatic cycle of operation can include a cabinet defining an interior and having an access opening providing access to the interior. A tub can be located within the interior and can at least partially define a liquid chamber. A drum is rotatably mounted within the liquid chamber and at least partially defines a treating chamber. A clothes mover is located within the treating chamber and rotatable about a vertical axis. The clothes mover can include a base and a barrel.

Abstract: A high conversion of biomass, such as wood, sawdust, bark, or agricultural wastes, to liquids is obtained bypyrolysis at short reaction tines in a reactor capable of high heat transfer rates; the reactor being of the fluidized bed, circulating fluidized bed or transport type in which the conveying gas contains low and carefully controlled amounts of oxygen, allowing a reaction system with low concentrations of carbon monoxide or flammable gases with a resulting improvement in operating safety and potential improvement in thermal efficiency and capital costs. The oxidation steps may be carried out in one or two stages. The resulting liquid product may be used as an alternative liquid fuel or as a source of high-value chemicals.

Abstract: A process is described for hydrotreating a heavy hydrocarbon oil containing a substantial portion of material which boils above 524.degree. C. to form lower boiling materials, which comprises adding to the heavy hydrocarbon oil as solvent a paraffinic, isoparaffinic or cyclic paraffinic hydrocarbon which is also hydrogen-rich and has a critical temperature of less than 500.degree. C. to thereby form a diluted feedstock mixture and subjecting said feedstock mixture to hydrotreating in the presence of activated carbon catalyst at a temperature and pressure substantially at or greater than the critical temperature and pressure of the solvent.

Abstract: A process is described for the production of anhydrosugars such as levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-.beta.-D-glucopyranose), from liquids obtained by the fast thermal pyrolysis of pretreated lignocellulosics or celluloses. In this process, the pyrolytic liquids containing the anhydrosugars are produced with a substantially reduced amount of lignin-derived components by using as feedstock materials which have been previously delignified and then pretreated, or by preferential oxidation of the lignin fraction of a pretreated biomass during pyrolysis. The preparation from pretreated biomass of pyrolytic liquors from which the lignin derived chemical products of fast pyrolysis are absent or in low concentrations permits simpler and more economical recovery of crystalline levoglucosan and other anhydrosugars, or a more economical preparation of readily fermentable aqueous sugar solutions therefrom. A new procedure for the recovery of crystalline levoglucosan from such solutions is described.

Abstract: Calcium salts, such as calcium acetate, calcium formate or calcium proprionate, are obtained from aqueous liquors derived from the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass containing cellulose, hemicelluloses or starch. The above biomass is subjected to rapid pyrolysis to obtain a crude product containing an aqueous phase and an organic phase. The product obtained, preferably as the aqueous phase, is then distilled to produce a distillate containing at least one acid selected from acetic acid, formic acid and propionic acid as well as their esters and formaldehyde. An alkaline source of calcium is added to this distillate to adjust the pH to an alkaline level sufficient to hydrolyze the esters, cause at least partial oxidation of the formaldehyde and prevent volatilization of acetate, formate or propionate ions as acetic acid, formic acid or propionic acid respectively.

Abstract: A process for the production of fermentable sugars from wood or other cellulose-containing biomasses, comprises the steps of (a) hydrolysing the biomass with a dilute sulfuric acid to dissolve hemicellulose while leaving most of cellulose in a solid phase, (b) separating the cellulose-containing solid phase, (c) subjecting the solid phase to rapid pyrolysis at a temperature of 400.degree.-600.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure, preferably in a fluidized bed reactor with a short vapor residence time, to obtain a crude pyrolysis product by condensing the pyrolytic vapors, (d) adjusting the water content of the crude product to form an aqueous phase with high carbohydrate content and a water-insoluble phase containing lignin-derived material, and (e) separating the aqueous phase. Optionally, the aqueous phase may be purified, e.g. by absorption.

Abstract: A method of removing acid gas pollutants from flue gases and the like involving contacting the gas with a coal-water slurry, said coal being a type that has exchangeable cations. The exchangeable cations are exchanged with hydrogen ions and form salts with the sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides in the flue gas, thereby removing substantially all of the pollutants from the flue gas.

Abstract: A process for hydrogasification of biomass to produce high yields of methane utilizes a reactor capable of carrying out rapid pyrolysis. Biomass particles, hydrogen, particles of a suitable catalyst that has both cracking and hydrogenation activity, and heat are introduced into said reactor. Pyrolysis is carried out in a hydrogen-rich atmosphere under the following conditions: (a) a temperatue ranging from 500.degree. C. to 550.degree. C.; (b) a pressure equal to or greater than one atmosphere; (c) a gas residence time not exceeding two seconds; (d) a biomass particle residence time at least as long as the gas residence time; (e) a biomass particle size not exceeding 2 mm. The methane-rich product gas is then recovered. Conversion of carbon to methane of 69% has been attained using the process of the present invention.

Abstract: The tubular flowmeter is capable of measuring two different physical parameters in a flowing mixture of liquid and gas (such as wet steam). These measurements are such that they can be used to determine the individual gas and liquid flowrates. The flowmeter comprises first means, such as an orifice plate or a twisted tape, for causing an accelerational or frictional pressure drop in the total flow. Suitable means measure such pressure drop. Downstream of the first means, is positioned means for inducing rotational motion of the total flow, to cause the mixture to separate while remaining within the same conduit into discrete liquid and gas flows. Such means may comprise a rib extending helically along the inner surface of the flowmeter. Means, such as a pitot-static tube assembly, measure a pressure head indicative of the velocity of the gas flow. Downstream from this velocity measurement device, the two phases are permitted to mix freely again, all the time remaining within the same conduit.