Abstract: The disclosure provides for the separation and combustion of at least one hydrocarbon, oxygenate, sulfur compound, and or nitrogen compound, from industrial gas or gasification derived syngas to generate steam. A gasification process and a gas fermentation process may be integrated using tail gas from the fermentation process for the flame to combust tar and other compounds from the syngas generated by a gasification process. Integration may be achieved by removing tar and other compounds from industrial gas or gasification derived syngas using an adsorbent and regenerating the adsorbent using tail gas from the gas fermentation process. Tail gas enriched with the desorbed tar and other compounds may be used to generate steam in a steam boiler and the steam may be used for a variety of purposes including power generation to power, for example, a compressor of the gas fermentation process.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for the separation and combustion of at least one hydrocarbon, oxygenate, sulfur compound, and or nitrogen compound, from industrial gas or gasification derived syngas to generate steam. A gasification process and a gas fermentation process may be integrated using tail gas from the fermentation process for the flame to combust tar and other compounds from the syngas generated by a gasification process. Integration may be achieved by removing tar and other compounds from industrial gas or gasification derived syngas using an adsorbent and regenerating the adsorbent using tail gas from the gas fermentation process. Tail gas enriched with the desorbed tar and other compounds may be used to generate steam in a steam boiler and the steam may be used for a variety of purposes including power generation to power, for example, a compressor of the gas fermentation process.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for the separation and combustion of at least one hydrocarbon, oxygenate, sulfur compound, and or nitrogen compound, from industrial gas or gasification derived syngas to generate steam. A gasification process and a gas fermentation process may be integrated using tail gas from the fermentation process for the flame to combust tar and other compounds from the syngas generated by a gasification process. Integration may be achieved by removing tar and other compounds from industrial gas or gasification derived syngas using an adsorbent and regenerating the adsorbent using tail gas from the gas fermentation process. Tail gas enriched with the desorbed tar and other compounds may be used to generate steam in a steam boiler and the steam may be used for a variety of purposes including power generation to power, for example, a compressor of the gas fermentation process.

Abstract: A fluid distribution apparatus includes a distributor pipe configured to carry a fluid and a continuously tapered, ring-shaped collar distributor connected to the distributor pipe. The collar distributor includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a continuous height along its circumference, the continuous height being at least as high as a diameter of the distributor pipe, the second portion extending from either end of the first portion and having a height that continuously tapers along its circumference from a height that is equivalent to the height of the first portion to a second height that is smaller than the height of the first portion. The distributor pipe connects to the collar distributor at the first portion. The apparatus further includes a plurality of inlet nozzles connected to the collar distributor. The second height is at least as great as a diameter of one the plurality of inlet nozzles.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are associated with the discovery of methods for operating rotary valves that reduce or minimize wear of the seal sheet, which is often the limiting factor in overall processing capability of the valve. The control of certain parameters associated with the rotary valve operation, and particularly the seating pressure of the seal sheet (e.g., the dome pressure), can extend the useful life of the seal sheet, thereby avoiding excessive maintenance and downtime costs. In preferred embodiments, control is on a real time basis.

Abstract: Embodiments of a liquid-solid countercurrent extraction system are provided, as are embodiments of a method for reducing the likelihood of rotary valve cavitation during liquid-solid countercurrent extraction. In one embodiment, the extraction system includes an adsorbent chamber and a rotary valve fluidly coupled to the adsorbent chamber. The rotary valve directs a first net stream into a different section the adsorbent chamber in each of a plurality of indexed positions. A first flow control element is fluidly coupled between the rotary valve and the source of the first net stream, and a controller is operably coupled to the first flow control element. The controller is configured to modulate the first flow control element during indexing of the rotary valve to reduce the flow rate of the first net stream and thereby maintain sufficient pressure of the first net stream to prevent cavitation within the rotary valve.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are associated with the discovery of methods for operating rotary valves that reduce or minimize wear of the seal sheet, which is often the limiting factor in overall processing capability of the valve. The control of certain parameters associated with the rotary valve operation, and particularly the seating pressure of the seal sheet (e.g., the dome pressure), can extend the useful life of the seal sheet, thereby avoiding excessive maintenance and downtime costs. In preferred embodiments, control is on a real time basis.

Abstract: A clock includes a publicly accessible distributed network, a user interface, and a timing device or a personal computer. The timing device is configured to track universal time and harvest user selected media including text, graphics, sound, video and/or multimedia. The timing device plays the selected media in a programmed order with commercial media at a launch time. After harvesting the publicly accessible network, the media is played in a progressive sequence before the personal computer or the timing device interfaces a Site.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the desulfurization of hydrocarbon fuels is presented. The apparatus and process use an inorganic metal peroxide and catalyst to oxidize the sulfur compounds. The oxidized sulfur compounds are then adsorbed on an adsorbent.

Abstract: A method for purifying liquid metal heat exchange fluids uses a contacting drum in combination with purifiers to control metal hydride precipitation in a process with high hydrogen permeation. The contacting drum receives a slip stream of a circulating liquid metal stream and removes hydrogen from dissolved hydride by providing a high interfacial surface area and sufficient temperature for hydride decomposition under vacuum conditions. The liquid metal with a reduced hydride level may be returned to the circulating heat exchange stream or undergo further purification by hydride precipitation and filtration in a cold trap. The drum may be integrated with the cold traps to decompose re-dissolved hydride from a regenerant stream that dissolves precipitated hydride from the cold traps.