Abstract: A gamma ray detector and measurement device having a generally elongate housing (11); a scintillator module (12) movably mounted in the housing (11) and arranged to respond to the presence of gamma rays in the local environment in which the device is located and which rays pass through the wall (13) of the housing and into the scintillator module, the module having an optical output (14) for transmitting an optical signal based on converted incoming gamma rays and an optical transducer module (15) also movably mounted in the housing (11) and having an input (16) arranged to receive the optical output from the scintillator module, the transducer module being able to convert the instantaneous optical output into an electrical output corresponding to the energy and flux of the incoming gamma radiation as detected in the scintillator module; in which the output (14) of the scintillator module (12) and the input of the transducer module (15) are closely spaced to each other, and define a space (17) therebetween to

Abstract: A machine includes a rotor with a magnetic field produced therein that is fixedly oriented with respect to the rotor. The rotor is rotatably mounted within a stator which has a plurality of windings. Means are provided for applying voltage pulses to the stator windings. When voltage pulses are applied to the stator windings, there is a torque due to the interaction of a magnetic field produced in the stator windings and the rotor magnetic field that causes the rotor to rotate. A control system responds to voltage induced across unpowered stator windings by the rotating rotor magnetic field and controls application of the voltage pulses to the stator windings. The voltage pulse sequence, frequency, and duration are determined by the control system. The control system may also adjust the voltage pulse amplitude. The voltage pulses are applied to the stator windings in such a way that the machine operates at optimum efficiency and at a selectable speed over a wide range of loads and/or line voltages.

Abstract: A machine includes a rotor with a magnetic field produced therein that is fixedly oriented with respect to the rotor. The rotor is rotatably mounted within a stator which has a plurality of windings. Means are provided for applying voltage pulses to the stator windings. When voltage pulses are applied to the stator windings, there is a torque due to the interaction of a magnetic field produced in the stator windings and the rotor magnetic field that causes the rotor to rotate. A control system responds to voltage induced across unpowered stator windings by the rotating rotor magnetic field and controls application of the voltage pulses to the stator windings. The voltage pulse sequence, frequency, and duration are determined by the control system. The control system may also adjust the voltage pulse amplitude. The voltage pulses are applied to the stator windings in such a way that the machine operates at optimum efficiency and at a selectable speed over a wide range of loads and/or line voltages.

Abstract: Nahcolite-containing ore particles are separated from oil shale particles in a mixture of particles of nahcolite-bearing oil shale ore by irradiating the mixture of ore particles with electromagnetic energy in the infrared region of the spectrum and sorting the particles according to energy reflected at one or more selected wavelengths within that region to separate the nahcolite-containing ore particles from the oil shale particles.

Abstract: A plurality of hydrocarbon fractions are recovered from hydrocarbon-bearing material such as oil shale in a continuous retort wherein a bed of the material is moved through a heating chamber, the heating being for a time and at a temperature effective to strip increasingly heavier hydrocarbon fractions from the material as it moves through the heating chamber. The hydrocarbon fractions are collected by a plurality of collection means disposed along the path of movement of the bed for recovery of a corresponding plurality of hydrocarbon fractions.

Abstract: In the process for recovering energy values from oil shale by the cross-flow retort technique, an improvement is disclosed wherein controlled oxidation of non-vaporizable carbonaceous residue not only provides additional heat for the continuation of the oil educing process without application of external heat but also enables the continuation of a temperature profile which is below that at which adverse chemical and physical changes occur in the shale. According to the invention the moving bed is removed from exposure to external heat as soon as oil eduction has been completed in the upper bed regions. It is thereafter immediately exposed to unheated gases containing measured amounts of oxygen. Oxidation is initiated in those regions of the bed which are above about 800.degree. F. The heat generated by such oxidation may be utilized, in place of externally heated gases, to transfer heat to the lower regions of the bed for oil eduction from those lower regions.

Abstract: Sulfur dioxide is removed from a gas stream, such as that generated by the combustion of a sulfur-containing fuel or ore processing, by introducing particulate nahcolite into the gas stream in a high temperature zone. The high temperature zone provides an environment for the size reduction of the particulate nahcolite and an effective environment for the removal of the sulfur dioxide. The size reduction of particulate nahcolite is accomplished by a thermal crushing process.

Abstract: A method for improved operation of a cross-flow device for heating and/or cooling a moving bed of solids by reducing residence time and eliminating gas leakage between adjacent heating and cooling zones. A bed of solid particles is formed on a grate for movement through heating and cooling zones or chambers. As the bed of particles is moved through the heating and cooling zones, cross flows of hot or cool gas are passed through the bed normal to the direction of bed movement. The use of downdraft gas flow in each zone of the cross-flow device permits the same pressure profile to be produced in each zone, and a zero pressure differential between zones from top to bottom of the bed. Thus active grate space between adjacent zones is reduced, and greater efficiency obtained.

Abstract: A machine which operates like a DC commutator motor continuously variable in speed with load change or held to a fixed selectable speed. The machine includes a rotor member with means for producing a magnetic field therein fixedly oriented with respect to the rotor. The rotor is rotatably mounted within a stator which has a plurality of windings. Means are provided for applying periodic power pulses to the stator windings. When current passes through a stator winding, there is a torque due to the interaction of the winding generated flux and the rotor field, that causes the rotor to rotate. A power control system responds to signals induced in unpowered stator windings by the rotating rotor field to produce power pulses at a predetermined frequency. The pulse duration and amplitude are adjusted by the control system.

Abstract: Alkali metal and alkaline earth metal carbonate compounds (in a variety of forms), including sodium ores of nahcolite and calcium ores of limestone, can be thermally comminuted or crushed. Size reduction is accomplished by a thermal treatment process called thermal crushing. The solids are subjected to a high temperature environment which causes a rapid temperature rise within the solid particles. This rapid temperature rise apparently results in a rapid generation of gases within the particle that exceeds the rate at which the gases can escape, thus resulting in a pressure buildup inside the solid particles. This causes the particles to explode or disintegrate into many smaller particles or powder.The resulting generation of small particles or powder by thermal crushing of thermally crushable carbonate compounds improves their application for removing reactive gaseous impurities, such as sulfur dioxide, NO.sub.x, etc., from a flue gas.

Abstract: A method of reducing the sulfur and nitrogen content of a hydrocarbon, specifically, a liquid or gaseous phase hydrocarbon which comprises contacting the hydrocarbon with nahcolite in an amount effective to remove sulfur and nitrogen compounds from the hydrocarbon. The nahcolite containing combined sulfur and nitrogen can be removed from the hydrocarbon, producing a hydrocarbon having a reduced sulfur and nitrogen content.The method is particularly applicable to the reduction of the sulfur and nitrogen content in shale oil by contacting shale oil and nahcolite in a shale oil retort or process.