Abstract: A process is provided for cracking hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid comprising: heating the feedstock, mixing the heated feedstock with a fluid and/or a primary dilution steam stream to form a mixture, optionally further heating the mixture, flashing the mixture within a flash/separation vessel to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase, partially condensing the vapor phase by contacting with a condenser within the vessel, to condense at least some coke precursors within the vapor while providing condensates which add to the liquid phase, removing the vapor phase of reduced coke precursors content as overhead and the liquid phase as bottoms, heating the vapor phase, cracking the vapor phase in a radiant section of a pyrolysis furnace to produce an effluent comprising olefins, and quenching the effluent and recovering cracked product therefrom. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.

Abstract: An improved burner and a method for combusting fuel in burners used in furnaces, such as those used in steam cracking, are disclosed. The burner includes a burner tube having an upstream end, a downstream end and a venturi intermediate said upstream and downstream ends, the venturi including a throat portion having substantially constant internal cross-sectional dimensions such that the ratio of the length to maximum internal cross-sectional dimension of the throat portion is at least 3. A burner tip is mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel gas takes place downstream of said burner tip.

Abstract: A staged-air burner for use in furnaces such as in steam cracking. The burner includes a burner tube including (i) a downstream end, (ii) an upstream end for receiving fuel and air, flue gas or mixtures thereof from a primary air chamber, and (iii) a burner tip mounted on the downstream end of said burner tube and directed to the first flame opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel takes place downstream of said burner tip; a secondary air chamber for supplying a second portion of combustion air, said secondary air chamber in fluid communication with at least one air port; and a wall peripherally surrounding said burner tip to provide a barrier between a base of a flame at said burner tip and said at least one air port.

Abstract: An improved burner and a method for combusting fuel in a burner used in furnaces such as those found in steam cracking. The burner includes a burner tube having a downstream end and an upstream end, the burner tube having a venturi therein; a fuel spud located adjacent the upstream end of the burner tube, for introducing fuel gas into the burner tube; a burner tip mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace; at least one passageway having a first end and a second end adjacent the upstream end of the burner tube; means for drawing flue gas from the furnace, through the passageway, in response to an inspirating effect of uncombusted fuel gas exiting the fuel spud, the uncombusted fuel gas flowing through the burner tube from its upstream end towards its downstream end; and means for increasing the inspirating effect of uncombusted fuel gas exiting the fuel spud.

Abstract: An improved burner and a method for combusting fuel in burners used in furnaces such as those found in steam cracking. The burner includes a burner tube having a downstream end and an upstream end for receiving fuel and air, flue gas or mixtures thereof, a fuel orifice located adjacent the upstream end of the burner tube, for introducing fuel into the burner tube, a burner tip mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube and adjacent a first opening in the furnace, the burner tip having a plurality of air flow notches positioned about an outer periphery thereof, a peripheral tile surrounding the outer periphery of the burner tip, forming the first opening in the furnace, and a burner tip seal in contact with at least a portion of the outer periphery of the burner tip and the peripheral tile, wherein a plurality of air gaps is formed between an inner periphery of the burner tip seal and the air flow notches, the plurality of air gaps effective for providing a portion of the air for combustion.

Abstract: A burner for use in furnaces such as the type employed in steam cracking.

Abstract: A burner for use in furnaces such as in steam cracking. The burner includes a primary air chamber; a burner tube including (i) a downstream end, (ii) an upstream end in fluid communication with the primary air chamber, and (iii) a burner tip mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube and directed to a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of fuel takes place downstream of the burner tip; at least one flue gas recirculation duct having a first end at a second opening in the furnace and a second end opening into the primary air chamber, the first end being spaced an effective distance from the first opening for minimizing entrainment of a burner flame into the second opening.

Abstract: An improved burner and a method for combusting fuel in burners used in furnaces, such as those used in steam cracking, are disclosed. The burner includes a burner tube having an upstream end, a downstream end and a venturi intermediate said upstream and downstream ends, the venturi including a throat portion having substantially constant internal cross-sectional dimensions such that the ratio of the length to maximum internal cross-sectional dimension of the throat portion is at least 3. A burner tip is mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel gas takes place downstream of said burner tip.

Abstract: A burner for use in furnaces such as in steam cracking. The burner includes a primary air chamber; a burner tube having an upstream end, a downstream end and a venturi intermediate said upstream and downstream ends, said venturi including a throat portion having substantially constant internal cross-sectional dimensions such that the ratio of the length to maximum internal cross-sectional dimension of said throat portion is at least 3; a burner tip mounted on the downstream end of said burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel takes place downstream of said burner tip; and a fuel orifice located adjacent the upstream end of said burner tube, for introducing fuel into said burner tube.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in burners of furnaces such as those used in steam cracking. The apparatus includes a burner tube having a burner tip mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent to a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel takes place downstream of the burner tip. At least one passageway from a second opening in the furnace ending adjacent to the upstream end of the burner tube is provided. Also provided is a means for drawing flue gas from the furnace through the passageway in response to an inspirating effect created by uncombusted fuel flowing through the burner tube. At least one heat exchange tube disposed in the passageway wherein air that is cooler than the flue gas flows through the heat exchange tube into a secondary air chamber permitting heat to be transferred from the flue gas to the air to create preheated air.

Abstract: System for reducing NOx emissions from burners of furnaces such as those used in steam cracking. The system includes a furnace having at least one burner, the at least one burner including a primary air chamber; a burner tube including a downstream end, an upstream end in fluid communication with the primary air chamber for receiving air, flue gas or mixtures thereof and fuel, a venturi portion positioned between the downstream end and the upstream end, and a burner tip mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent the first opening in the furnace for combusting the fuel downstream of the burner tip; and a fuel orifice located adjacent the upstream end of the burner tube for introducing fuel into the burner tube; a source of flue gas, said source positioned so as to enable the flue gas to achieve a temperature of less than 2000° F.

Abstract: This invention relates mainly to a method for constructing low cost solar electric cells and panels. The Seeback effect is used in the conversion of solar heat to electricity. Temperature differential between two sides of the solar panel is achieved with the use of thermal absorbing materials and insulating materials. Dissimilar metal wires or strips are used in series and parallel to obtain the appropriate voltage and current.

Abstract: An optical transceiver comprises a signal transmitter emitting an outgoing communication signal and transmit optics to transmit that includes a transmit telescope. The transceiver additionally comprises receive optics that includes a receive telescope to receive an incoming communication signal and a signal receiver. A dual-axis tilt mirror optically couples the signal transmitter to the transmit optics so that the outgoing communication signal is transmitted by the transmit telescope. The same dual-axis tilt mirror also optically couples the receive optics to the signal receiver so that the incoming communication signal is received by the signal receiver. Thusly configured, the angular orientation of the dual-axis tilt mirror simultaneously controls the reception and transmission orientations of the receive and transmit telescopes, respectively.

Abstract: A highly efficient thermoelectric cooler controller for temperature stabilization. The circuit comprises a temperature sensor and a thermoelectric cooler, both in thermal communication with a component to be temperature stabilized. The circuit further comprises a power amplifier electrically coupled to the thermoelectric cooler. The power amplifier is employed as a controlled current source to efficiently supply current to the thermoelectric cooler when maximum cooling is required.

Abstract: An optical wireless transceiver for communicating broadband signals through free space includes an input, a regenerator, a splitter and a plurality of lasers in transmitter modules. A very fast (low f-number) optical receiver module includes a reflector aligned with an input aperture. A photodiode receives the signal from the reflector for subsequent demodulation. A background rejection filter is disposed between the reflector and the photodiode at the focal point of the mirror. The transceiver provides signal regeneration and switchable data rates. Connections are made to optical or electrical digital inputs and outputs bearing signals of various protocols. The plurality of lasers includes adjustable-beamwidth collimating lenses. An efficient high-current, high power laser driver capable of modulating a laser between 100 and 1500 mA at data rates greater than 10 Mbits/sec is provided. A highly efficient thermoelectric cooler operates to cool the laser diode, or other components requiring cooling.

Abstract: A burner for use in furnaces such as in steam cracking. The burner includes a primary air chamber; a burner tube having an upstream end, a downstream end and a venturi intermediate said upstream and downstream ends, said venturi including a throat portion having substantially constant internal cross-sectional dimensions such that the ratio of the length to maximum internal cross-sectional dimension of said throat portion is at least 3; a burner tip mounted on the downstream end of said burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel takes place downstream of said burner tip; and a fuel orifice located adjacent the upstream end of said burner tube, for introducing fuel into said burner tube.

Abstract: An improved burner and a method for combusting fuel in burners used in furnaces such as those found in steam cracking. The burner includes a burner tube having a downstream end and an upstream end for receiving fuel and air, flue gas or mixtures thereof, a fuel orifice located adjacent the upstream end of the burner tube, for introducing fuel into the burner tube, a burner tip mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube and adjacent a first opening in the furnace, the burner tip having a plurality of air flow notches positioned about an outer periphery thereof, a peripheral tile surrounding the outer periphery of the burner tip, forming the first opening in the furnace, and a burner tip seal in contact with at least a portion of the outer periphery of the burner tip and the peripheral tile, wherein a plurality of air gaps is formed between an inner periphery of the burner tip seal and the air flow notches, the plurality of air gaps effective for providing a portion of the air for combustion.

Abstract: A process to increase the non-volatile removal efficiency in a flash drum in the steam cracking system. The gas flow from the convection section is converted from mist flow to annular flow before entering the flash drum to increase the removal efficiency. The conversion of gas flow from mist flow to annular flow is accomplished by subjecting the gas flow first to at least one expander and then to bends of various degrees and force the flow to change directions at least once. The change of gas flow from mist to annular helps coalesce fine liquid droplets and thus being removed from the vapor phase.

Abstract: An improved burner and a method for combusting fuel used in furnaces such as those found in steam cracking. The burner includes a burner tube having a downstream end and an upstream end, a burner tip adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel takes place at the burner tip, a lighting chamber adjacent to the first opening in the furnace, and a removable lighting chamber plug having a shape effective to substantially fill the lighting chamber when positioned within the lighting chamber.

Abstract: An improved burner and a method for combusting fuel in burners used in furnaces, such as those used in steam cracking, are disclosed. The burner includes a burner tube having an upstream end, a downstream end and a venturi intermediate said upstream and downstream ends, the venturi including a throat portion having substantially constant internal cross-sectional dimensions such that the ratio of the length to maximum internal cross-sectional dimension of the throat portion is at least 3. A burner tip is mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel gas takes place downstream of said burner tip.