Abstract: An improved process and apparatus are disclosed for the supercritical water oxidation of organic waste materials which avoids or at least substantially reduces the corrosion and solids deposition problems associated with prior art techniques. According to this invention, externally heated supercritical water is fed to a platelet tube reactor to both protectively coat its inner surface and heat the waste stream to oxidation reaction conditions. Higher reaction temperatures can be used as compared to prior art processes, which significantly improves the reaction rate and permits smaller reactors to be used. The protective film of water on the reactor inner surface, coupled with the elimination of preheating of the waste material, substantially reduces solids deposition and corrosion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating electrical energy utilizing a boiler and a gas turbine powered by a carbonizer. A carbonizer is provided which produces low-Btu gases which are passed to a gas turbine for driving the turbine, and a char which is passed to a boiler for powering the boiler. The turbine utilizes the low-Btu gases as its sole source of power and is operated independently of the boiler.

Abstract: An integrated gasification combined cycle power generation system in which a carbonaceous material, such as coal, is gasified combusted in a gasifier to provide synthesis gas which mixes with ash produced as a result of the gasification. The mixture is cooled below the softening temperature of the ash before the gas is separated from the ash and is used to drive a gas turbine. Heat from the combustion process is removed from the gas and the ash and is used to produce steam.

Abstract: A pyrolyzer unit and two-staged furnaces are provided in a compact furnace assembly for combusting coal to generate power. Coal is reacted in the pyrolyzer to produce a clean hot fuel gas and char. The hot fuel gas is combusted in the first-stage furnace, which contains a high-temperature heat exchanger utilized to heat a pressurized air stream for expansion in a gas turbine and a heat exchanger for superheating steam for expansion in a steam turbine to produce power. Char is combusted in the second-stage furnace and the resulting combustion products are mixed with primary combustion gas from the first-stage furnace to product a secondary combustion gas and preheat the pressurized air stream, and also to superheat steam. The heated air stream is expanded in a gas turbine to produce shaft power to drive an air compressor and an electric power generator.

Abstract: An integral generator/gasifier system in which a vapor generator is provided that includes an upright furnace section and a plurality of nozzles, each having one end registering with the interior of the furnace section. A gasifier extends adjacent to the furnace section and supports a bed of adsorbent material for the sulfur generated as a result of the gasification of fuel introduced to the gasifier. Air is passed through the bed of adsorbent material to fluidize said material so that, upon gasification of the fuel, a substantially sulfur-free product gas is produced. The other ends of the nozzles communicate with the gasifier so that the product gas passes from the gasifier through the nozzles and into the furnace section for combustion.

Abstract: A coal feed system for use in a fluidized bed combustor in which a grate is supported in a housing and is adapted to support a bed of particulate material including a combustible fuel. Air is passed through the grate and into the bed to fluidize the particulate material. The particulate fuel material is separated externally of the bed into a relatively coarse material and a relatively fine material. The fine material is agglomerated and it, along with the coarse material, is passed to a distributor which distributes the material onto selected areas extending across the upper surface of the bed.

Abstract: A vapor generator in which a plurality of vertically aligned fluidized beds are disposed in a furnace section with one of the boundary walls of the furnace section having openings therein for permitting the discharge of effluent gases from the fluidized beds. A heat recovery enclosure is formed adjacent said furnace section and shares a common wall with the furnace section for receiving the effluent gases, and a convection enclosure is disposed adjacent the heat recovery enclosure and shares a common wall with the latter enclosure for receiving the effluent gases from the heat recovery enclosure. The boundary walls of the furnace section, the heat recovery enclosure and the convection enclosure are formed by a plurality of interconnected tubes through which fluid is passed in a predetermined sequence to transfer heat from the fluidized beds to the fluid.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus in which each of a plurality of thermal siphon pipes has an upper portion extending in an upper heat exchange section and a lower portion extending in a lower heat exchange section. Each pipe is closed at its ends and contains a heat transfer fluid so that when a hot fluid is passed through the lower heat exchange section, the heat is transferred from the hot fluid to the heat exchange fluid. A cool fluid is passed through the upper heat exchange section to remove the heat from the heat exchange fluid.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided having first and second fluid chambers for passing primary and secondary fluids. The chambers are spaced apart and have heat pipes extending from inside one chamber to inside the other chamber. A third chamber is provided for passing a purge fluid, and the heat pipe portion between the first and second chambers lies within the third chamber.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing methane by reacting carbon monoxide with hydrogen, the improvement comprising feeding a gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide into at least one tubular reactor containing a helical, nickel-containing catalyst (turbulator) are disclosed. The catalyst defines a spiral-shaped path for the gas. The exterior of the reaction tube is cooled to remove the heat of reaction. Preferably, additional heat of reaction is removed by passing a cooling medium through the center of the turbulator catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing a fuel gas and sulfur from a hydrocarbon fuel wherein a fuel oil containing sulfur is at least partially combusted in a fluidized bed of sorbent material which produces a substantially sulfur free fuel gas and a sulfided sorbent. The sulfided sorbent is passed to a second fluidized bed which regenerates the sulfided sorbent and produces a sulfur dioxide containing gas. The latter gas is contacted with granular coal in the presence of steam to reduce the sulfur dioxide to elemental sulfur.