Abstract: The invention is a method for controlling sootblowing in a power boiler or chemical recovery boiler. The method comprises assigning the sootblowers into a number of groups. Sootblowers within a group are generally adjacent to each other and cover heat transfer surfaces having similar fouling deposit formation characteristics. Each group will typically have up to 4 sootblowers. Every sootblower is assigned a weight factor which is the percentage of the total number of sootblowing cycles that the sootblower will be operative. Every sootblowing cycle in the boiler begins with the most upstream sootblower group and proceeds progressively through all of the other groups in the direction of the flow of combustion gases until the most downstream sootblower group is reached. By blowing in this manner the dislodged fouling deposits from the upstream heat transfer surfaces are swept in the direction of combustion gases.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for non-contact measurement of the length and height or diameter of geometrically regular objects. The objects enter a first measurement station where horizontally opposed echo ranging transducers make sequential differential measurements to determine the length and transverse position of the object. Position information is sent to a microprocessor. The object is then advanced under a transverse array of downwardly oriented echo ranging transducers. The microprocessor preferrably selects the single transducer located most closely to the mid-length position of the object to make a height or diameter measurement. In the case of cylindrical objects, the object should be oriented with its axis parallel to a line projected between the opposed length measuring transducers. As the object is moved by the diameter sensing transducer, the microprocessor selects the measurement indicating the shortest distance between the object and the transducer.

Abstract: A seed sowing system and method employing photoelectric sensing equipment to detect singulated seeds and to actuate stepping equipment that ensures separate delivery of seeds to individual planting loci. The seed may come to the sensing equipment via a singulator and a low-pressure air stream. The photoelectric sensor is actuated each time the air stream carries a seed past a certain locus, and the sensor, in turn, actuates a cyclic stepping device by which each seed in a cycle is delivered into a different delivery tube and from there is deposited in a separate receptacle of a shutter. The stepping device is interconnected electronically with shutter indexing mechanism, by which the shutter is advanced and reindexed after each row of its seed-receiving openings has received its seeds, which may come from a single cycle or from a plurality of cycles.

Abstract: Monitoring of the recirculated atmosphere of an oxygen pulping reactor to determine when the inflammability level of combustible gases in the reactor atmosphere has reached a predetermined percentage of the lower explosive limit (LEL) of the reactor atmosphere in terms of combustible organic vapors and carbon monoxide is disclosed. Continuous or discrete samples of the reactor atmosphere are taken at spaced regions, and the samples are applied to: (1) flame ionization detectors, which determine the concentration of combustible organic vapors (e.g., aliphatic, olefinic, aromatic, acetylenic, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, etc.) in the samples; and, (2) carbon monoxide analyzers, which determine the concentration of carbon monoxide in the samples. The outputs of the flame ionization detectors are calibrated in terms of percent LEL for the contributing combustible organic vapors and, thus, provide percent combustible organic vapor LEL information.