Abstract: A centrifugal compressor (1) including a single rotating shaft (5), a first (upstream) and second (downstream) impellers (2, 3) mounted on ends of the rotating shaft (5) respectively, and a casing (4) for accommodating these impellers. An air path (35) is provided for introducing an air pressurized by the upstream impeller (2) to the downstream impeller (3). An abradable layer (34) is embedded in the casing inner wall (4) such that it faces and is cut by the second downstream impeller (3). The expensive abradable layer (34) is only provided for the downstream impeller (3) since the effect of the abradable layer (34) is significant when provided for the downstream impeller.

Abstract: A high speed compressor (10) includes a gear box (11), two compressing units (12, 13) supported on opposite side walls of the gear box (11) and a bull gear (32) rotatably placed in the gear box (11). Each compressing unit includes a scroll (15, 16) and an impeller (18, 19) rotatably housed in the scroll (15, 16). The impellers (18, 19) share an impeller shaft (22) extending into the gear box (11). A pinion gear (23) is mounted on the impeller shaft (22) such that it engages with the bull gear (32). A drive shaft (30) extends from the bull gear (32) out of the gear box (11) along a center axis of the gear box (11). An induction motor (35) is connected with the drive shaft (30) for causing the impellers (18, 19) to rotate by way of the bull gear (32) and the pinion gear (23). An inverter (40) is connected with the induction motor (35) at its one end and with a commercial power source (43) at the other end for converting an A.C. power from the commercial power source (43) into an A.C.

Abstract: A method for reacting sulfur trioxide and sulfateable or sulfonateable liquid organic compounds such as alcohols, and unsaturated or aromatic compounds is disclosed which comprises contacting said organic liquid with a gaseous mixture of from 2 to 20% by volume of sulfur trioxide and the balance an inert gas diluent, in a vertical cylindrical reaction zone that is at least about 25 mm. in diameter and comprises a straight cylinder having a gas-liquid contact length of at least 1.5 meters and having an annular inlet means for the liquid at the lower end of the reaction zone; the contact being effected by means of an upward stream of the gaseous mixture having sufficient velocity to form the liquid into a rising annular film throughout the length of the zone.

Abstract: A sulfonation apparatus comprising a plurality of vertical first-stage reaction tubes in which the sulfonatable material and an SO.sub.3 -containing gas are flowed upwardly from the lower ends thereof and a single vertical second-stage reaction tube in which the reaction products from the upper ends of all of the first-stage reaction tubes are combined and are flowed downwardly together with fresh SO.sub.3 -containing gas in order to complete the sulfonation reaction.

Abstract: Sulfonation of a sulfonatable organic compound is effected by means of a two-stage reaction with an SO.sub.3 -containing gas, in which the first-stage reaction is carried out by flowing, in parallel flow relation, said organic compound and said SO.sub.3 -containing gas upwardly into the lower ends of a plurality of vertically positioned cylinders or double-cylinders, and the second-stage reaction is carried out by the steps of collecting the reaction product of the first-stage reaction, adding fresh SO.sub.3 -containing gas to the reaction product thus collected and flowing in parallel flow arrangement the reaction mixture downwardly into the upper end of a vertically positioned cylinder or double-cylinder.

Abstract: A colored detergent composition comprising a sulfate- or sulfonate-type anionic organic surfactant, a coloring agent, and from 0.02 to 1 percent by weight, based on the weight of said surfactant, of butylated hydroxytoluene or butylated hydroxyanisole. The detergent composition possesses the property of reduced color fading.

Abstract: A sulfonation apparatus comprising a gas feeder for feeding a first stream of SO.sub.3 -containing gas and a second stream of inert gas into contact with an annular film of sulfonatable material.

Abstract: A liquid cleaning and bleaching composition containing from 3 to 7% by weight of an alkali metal hypochlorite and from 0.5 to 8% by weight of a surface active agent having the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyls having from 1 to 13 carbon atoms with the proviso that the total number of the carbon atoms of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is from 8 to 14; and M is Li, Na or K.