Abstract: A novel stack application for improved carbon dioxide and particle removal/collection from flue gases produced during coal power-generation processes. Flue gas tangential inlet velocity is increased to subject upward-flowing flue gas in a stack to a centrifugal force, thereby propelling entrained solid particles and CO2 in the flue gas to the stack wall for collection. Collection efficiency is further improved by a cascading water film or algae-laden water film on the inside of the stack wall and on surfaces of an optional internally mounted vortex generator to eliminate the re-entrainment of small particles and for ease of transporting the captured particles in a slurry. The stack can also be utilized as a photochemical or a biological reactor to promote a photosynthesis reaction between carbon dioxide and algae-laden water to form carbohydrate substrates for carbon dioxide sequestration and utilization.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluidized-bed combustion apparatus provided with a U-shaped combustion zone. A cyclone is disposed in the combustion zone for recycling solid particulate material. The combustion zone configuration and the recycling feature provide relatively long residence times and low freeboard heights to maximize combustion of combustible material, reduce nitrogen oxides, and enhance sulfur oxide reduction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a combustion apparatus in the configuration of a oblong annulus defining a closed loop. Particulate coal together with a sulfur sorbent such as sulfur or dolomite is introduced into the closed loop, ignited, and propelled at a high rate of speed around the loop. Flue gas is withdrawn from a location in the closed loop in close proximity to an area in the loop where centrifugal force imposed upon the larger particulate material maintains these particulates at a location spaced from the flue gas outlet. Only flue gas and smaller particulates resulting from the combustion and innerparticle grinding are discharged from the combustor. This structural arrangement provides increased combustion efficiency due to the essentially complete combustion of the coal particulates as well as increased sulfur absorption due to the innerparticle grinding of the sorbent which provides greater particle surface area.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a combined fluidized bed retorting and combustion system particularly useful for extracting energy values from oil shale. The oil-shale retort and combustor are disposed side-by-side and in registry with one another through passageways in a partition therebetween. The passageways in the partition are submerged below the top of the respective fluid beds to preclude admixing or the product gases from the two chambers. The solid oil shale or bed material is transported through the chambers by inclining or slanting the fluidizing medium distributor so that the solid bed material, when fluidized, moves in the direction of the downward slope of the distributor.

Abstract: A useful additive for gasoline is a mixture of a methyl-substituted phenol and an ether containing a branched alkyl group and boiling below 460.degree.F. Preferably, the phenol and ether are present in amounts and in relative proportions sufficient to provide a synergistic increase in the research octane number of a gasoline. A preferred composition contains one part by volume of para-cresol to from 0.1 to 10 parts of methyl methoxy propane. The composition can also contain an aliphatic alcohol, an octane boosting cerium compound and conventional gasoline additives.

Abstract: A process for vapor phase ammoxidation of hydrocarbons which comprises reacting vapors of ammonia and said hydrocarbon in the presence of a molten salt eutectic mixture of V.sub.2 O.sub.5 and K.sub.2 O, said molten salt being atomized in the presence of said ammonia and hydrocarbon, and, optionally, said spent molten salt being regenerated by air oxidation and recycled for reuse. The invention also embodies an apparatus for the ammoxidation process which comprises a reactor vessel fitted with (a) input means for ammonia and hydrocarbon, (b) an atomizing apparatus within said reactor, (c) means for feeding the molten eutectic salt from an upper reservoir to said atomizing apparatus, (d) a lower reservoir for spent molten salt, and (e) a gas-lift to move said spent salt from said lower reservoir to said upper reservoir.