Abstract: A facility for generating electrical energy includes a pump jack having a walking beam provided with a head that oscillates upwardly and downwardly. In addition, the facility has a balance weight that moves upwardly and downwardly with the oscillations of the head on the walking beam. An intermediate assembly converts the oscillations into rotation of an output shaft, with the head elevating the balance weight as the head rises and the balance weight causing the head to descend. The output shaft is coupled to a drive shaft which drives an electrical generator.

Abstract: An oscillating beam imparts rotation to a shaft that turns an electrical generator. The beam may be the walking beam of a pump jack, whereas the shaft may be part of a crank having a journal that is offset from the shaft, with one end of the beam being connected to the journal of the crank.

Abstract: This disclosure involves a process for treating wet phospho-gypsum, a by-product from wet phosphoric acid manufacture, to remove fluorine values so as to make the sulfur values in the phospho-gypsum usable in making sulfuric acid in a contact sulfuric acid plant. The process involves drying the phospho-gypsum at 400.degree.-600.degree. C. to vaporize the fluorine values, the P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values and water and reacting the hot vapors with lime or limestone to remove the fluorine values as fluorspar. The P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values are subsequently condensed and used in a phosphoric acid plant. The dry phospho-gypsum is heated to 1200.degree.-1250.degree. C. under reducing conditions to produce SO.sub.2 gas and siliceous lime. The SO.sub.2 is then passed through a lime or limestone scrubber to eliminate any remaining fluorine values, dried and utilized in a contact sulfuric acid plant.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns an improved phospho-gypsum recovery process in which phospho-gypsum waste product and coke are first heated to remove moisture, some SO.sub.2 and other vaporous matter, then heated to a higher temperature in a reducing atmosphere to remove and separately recover SO.sub.2, then further heated in an oxidizing atmosphere to about 1200.degree. to 1250.degree. C. to remove any unreacted carbon and calcium sulfide before entering an electric furnace. The disclosure also concerns passing the gas stream from the condenser-heat exchanger over the clinker from the electric furnace to scrub SO.sub.2 from said gas stream. The essence of the invention is the unique absorber system used to remove any and all remaining fluorine in the gases from the calciner/furnace. If not removed, the fluorine will severely harm the catalyst used in the contact sulfuric acid plant to which the gases are sent for recovery of sulfur values.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing hydraulic cements such as portland cement utilizing electrical energy as the heat source is described. The electrical heat source includes a plasma arc torch operating in the transferred mode. A feature of the apparatus and process is in utilizing a liner within the furnace composed of a material having substantially the same chemical composition of the cement that is to be produced in the furnace. Preferably the feed materials properly proportioned to have the desired constituency of cement are fed below the melt of the furnace. The process is compact and efficient relative to the conventional rotary kiln used for producing cement.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a process for treating phospho-gypsum waste product from the wet process method of making phosphoric acid including the steps of water washing the phospho-gypsum to remove all but an acceptable level of fluorine before the phospho-gypsum is calcined. The process allows the use of high sulfur coal for the production of steam if desired for use in the overall process. The process also allows for production of SO.sub.3 from part of the phospho-gypsum in an electric furnace to enrich the SO.sub.2 stream for making sulfuric acid.

Abstract: A hydraulic cement, such as portland cement, is produced by filling a furnace shell with the desired cement in a powdered condition. By the application of intense heat to the filling a skull is developed that lines an upwardly opening cavity. The heat, which may be supplied by electric arcs, is continued within the skull to maintain a pool of melt that has the same chemical composition as the skull and therefore does not react with the skull. Feed materials are introduced into the melt, and these materials are suitably proportioned to chemically combine within the melt without changing the chemical composition of the melt. The melt is drawn off through a tap hole and cooled to provide the desired cement.

Abstract: An improved process for the wet-acid process for manufacture of phosphoric acid with recovery of valuable co-products is provided. Phosphate rock is digested in a sulfuric acid/phosphoric acid mixture. Phosphoric acid is filtered from the digested rock, the gypsum thus formed, and sludge from the phosphoric acid, are second-stage acid treated, washed, and heated in a drier-calciner at 900.degree. to 1300.degree. C. Sulfur dioxide evolved from the gypsum and the fossil fuel is used to replenish the sulfuric acid. The hot impure lime remaining is fused in an electric furnace to form valuable calcium aluminum silicate products, which are then tapped, cooled, stored, and sold. The only waste products from the process are common, sulfur dioxide free combustion gases from the high sulfur content fossil fuel. Nearly 100% recovery of all phosphorus and fluorine values is claimed.

Abstract: A process for the production of portland and other hydraulic cement products is provided. The process is characterized by an electric furnace into which the reactant materials are fed. The process is further characterized by avoiding the necessity for pulverizing and intergrinding the feed materials. Another characteristic is that all feed materials become molten and remain molten until after removal from the furnace.