Abstract: A rotary retort system includes a pressurized furnace vessel configured to be operated within a desired elevated pressure range and within a desired elevated temperature range, and a rotary retort positioned within the pressurized furnace vessel and configured to be operated within the substantially the same elevated pressure range as the pressurized furnace vessel. The rotary retort is configured for mixing and advancing a material disposed therein.

Abstract: A process for the pyrolysis of at least one material includes: introducing the material into a pressurized rotary retort system, heating the material in the pressurized rotary retort system within a desired temperature range and within a desired pressure range for a desired period of time; and, advancing the heated and pressurized material from a first end to a second end of the pressurized rotary retort by rotating the pressurized retort about its longitudinal axis; where at least a quantity of the material is converted into one or more end products. Also the system generally includes: a pressurized rotary retort system configured for producing at least one gaseous product from pyrolysis of material, and having a pressurized furnace vessel and a retort positioned within the pressurized furnace vessel; and; a solids reactor system operatively connected to the rotary retort for receiving material from the pressurized rotary retort system.

Abstract: System(s) and process(es) are provided to produce synthesis gas from feedstock through, in part, multi-phased gasification and steam reformation. In the multi-phased gasification, an amount of feedstock is supplied to a pyrolysis chamber in which high-pressure pyrolysis at a first temperature reforms into gas at least a portion of the amount of feedstock; the gas includes synthesis gas (syngas). An amount of feedstock by-product that results from the high-pressure pyrolysis is conveyed to a solids reactor functionally coupled to the pyrolysis chamber. At least a portion of the amount of feedstock by-product is reformed into syngas at high-pressure and a second temperature within the solids reactor; an amount of disposable solids is ejected from the solids reactor. Gas produced in the pyrolysis chamber or syngas produced in the solids reactor is saturated via steam reformation and cleaned. Clean syngas is supplied for fuel production.

Abstract: A pressure pad array is used to float glass sheets from a glass heating furnace to a ring mold in a press bending station. The pressure pads have transversely spaced, longitudinally-extending slotted nozzles angled towards one another to provide a static pressure area for floating the glass sheet. The slotted nozzles are aligned with the direction of glass sheet travel and the space between adjacent pressure pads is covered by a spacer baffle to generate additional static pressure flotation areas. The static pressure areas formed by the slotted nozzles generally produce uniform pressure profiles extending longitudinally and transversely against the sheet's underside to stably float the glass sheets on a heated gas cushion.

Abstract: An improved cooling arrangement is disclosed for an industrial heat treat furnace. The furnace includes a closed end cylindrical heat treat chamber in which a plenum plate is suspended adjacent the rear end thereof. The plenum plate has a central underpressure opening and a fan between the rearward end of the furnace and the plate develops a wind mass which circulates into the furnace chamber and is drawn back into the fan through the plates central underpressure opening. Between the plenum plate and the furnace rearward end is positioned a first fixed fan diffuser followed by a second fixed fan diffuser. The first fan diffuser permits wind mass flow therethrough when the fan is rotated in a first direction but not in a second direction and similarly the second fan diffuser permits wind mass flow therethrough when the fan is rotated in a second direction but not in a first direction.

Abstract: An improved cooling arrangement is disclosed for an industrial heat treat furnace. The furnace includes a closed end cylindrical heat treat chamber in which a plenum plate is suspended adjacent the rear end thereof. The plenum plate has a central underpressure opening and a fan between the rearward end of the furnace and the plate develops a wind mass which circulates into the furnace chamber and is drawn back into the fan through the plate central underpressure opening. Between the plenum plate and the furnace rearward end is positioned a first fixed fan diffuser followed by a second fixed fan diffuser. The first fan diffuser permits wind mass flow therethrough when the fan is rotated in a first direction but not in a second direction and similarly the second fan diffuser permits wind mass flow therethrough when the fan is rotated in a second direction but not in a first direction.

Abstract: An improved pressure pad is provided for stably floating thin metal strip while heat treating the strip. The pressure pad includes an oval pad housing which is slitted adjacent the strip. An elliptical plenum chamber is disposed within the pad housing with a portion thereof spanning the slit and forming with the slit margins a leading and a trailing slot jet nozzle. Opposing jet streams of gaseous medium exit the slot jet nozzles and collide with one another to provide a zone of pressure which stably supports the strip.

Abstract: An improved industrial furnace employing a new and unique heat transfer arrangement is disclosed. The furnace is a closed end cylindrical chamber with a circular, concentrically positioned plate dividing one side of the furnace into a fan chamber containing a fan and the other side of the furnace into a heat treat chamber containing the work. The plate has a central under-pressure opening and its outer circular edge is spaced from the cylindrical wall to define an annular space which is non-orificing. Fan rotation in the fan chamber produces an annulus of wind mass swirling at high circumferential speed which axially travels through the non-orificing space towards the closed end of the heat treat chamber at slow speed. Heating elements extend through the non-orificing space into the heat transfer chamber and are constantly impinged by the swirling annulus wind mass to effect good heat transfer therewith.

Abstract: An improved industrial furnace employing a new and unique heat transfer arrangement is disclosed. The furnace is a closed end cylindrical chamber with a circular, concentrically positioned plate dividing one side of the furnace into a fan chamber containing a fan and the other side of the furnace into a heat treat chamber containing the work. The plate has a central under-pressure opening and its outer circular edge is spaced from the cylindrical wall to define an annular space which is non-orificing. Fan rotation in the fan chamber produces an annulus of wind mass swirling at high circumferential speed which axially travels through the non-orificing space towards the closed end of the heat treat chamber at slow speed. Heating elements extend through the non-orificing space into the heat transfer chamber and are constantly impinged by the swirling annulus wind mass to effect good heat transfer therewith.

Abstract: An internal heat exchange tube for cooling work within an industrial furnace is positioned to extend within the furnace and is closed at its axial end which is inside the furnace. Within the tube is an open ended, thin wall inner tube formed in the shape of a helical coil. Water introduced into the inner tube distributes thermally induced, circumferential stress gradients about both tubes to prevent tube bending while achieving fast cooling of the outer tube.

Abstract: An improved industrial furnace employing a new and unique heat transfer arrangement is disclosed. The furnace is a closed end cylindrical chamber with a circular, concentrically positioned plate dividing one side of the furnace into a fan chamber containing a fan and the other side of the furnace into a heat treat chamber containing the work. The plate has a central under-pressure opening and its outer circular edge is spaced from the cylindrical wall to define an annular space which is non-orificing. Fan rotation in the fan chamber produces an annulus of wind mass swirling at high circumferential speed which axially travels through the non-orificing space towards the closed end of the heat treat chamber at slow speed. Heating elements extend through the non-orificing space into the heat transfer chamber and are constantly impinged by the swirling annulus wind mass to effect good heat transfer therewith.

Abstract: An internal heat exchange tube for cooling work within an industrial furnace is positioned to extend within the furnace and is closed at its axial end which is inside the furnace. Within the tube is an open ended, thin wall inner tube formed in the shape of a helical coil. Water introduced into the inner tube distributes thermally induced, circumferential stress gradients about both tubes to prevent tube bending while achieving fast cooling of the outer tube.

Abstract: A low cost, improved convective heat transfer furnace is disclosed which includes a cylindrical casing to which is attached blanket insulation and the casing is closed at its ends to define a closed end cylindrical furnace enclosure. An annular fan face plate is positioned within the enclosure to define a pressure zone on one side and a work zone on the other side. A paddle wheel fan in the work zone develops a large mass of circumferentially swirling wind which is initially formed as a stationary swirling mass without an axial force component but which under pressure travels axially in the form of a swirling annulus through the non-orificing annular space. The under pressure zone established by the central opening in the fan face plate causes the swirling wind annulus in the work zone to expand radially inwardly and uniformly impinge the complete surface of the work in an effective heat transfer manner before being recirculated back to the pressure zone.

Abstract: An inside-outside quench arrangement is disclosed for long steel pipe which utilizes a tangential quench arrangement to cool the pipe's outside surface and an axial flow nozzle to cool the pipe's inside surface at approximately the same cooling rate. The O.D. quench arrangement includes a manifold carrying jet nozzles circumscribing the pipe which can be pivoted apart to permit a four-bar linkage mechanism to smoothly and efficiently transfer the pipe into and out of the arrangement for quenching. A roller drive arrangement rotates the pipe in a longitudinally stationary position to minimize pipe bow and enhance pipe cooling.

Abstract: A steel strip (10) is conveyed through a galvanizing bath (20) of molten zinc, a zinc coating weight control device (12), and a minispangle box assembly (16). The steel strip emerges from the zinc coating weight control device (12) with a non-uniform temperature distribution across its width in which it is warmer in the center and cooler at its edges. A differential, pre-cooler assembly (18) cools the steel strip selectively and non-uniformly across its width in a manner which is complimentary to the temperature distribution thereacross. In this manner, the steel strip exits the pre-cooler assembly (18) and enters the minispangle box assembly (16) with a more uniform temperature distribution. This results in a more uniform minispangle appearance on the strip (10) as it exits the minispangle box assembly (16). The pre-cooler assembly includes a plurality of nozzle pairs (32a, 32b; 34a, 34b; 36a, 36b; 38a, 38b).

Abstract: A steel strip (10) is conveyed through a galvanizing bath (20) of molten zinc, a zinc coating weight control device (12), and a minispangle box assembly (16). The steel strip emerges from the zinc coating weight control device (12) with a non-uniform temperature distribution across its width in which it is warmer in the center and cooler at its edges. A differential, pre-cooler assembly (18) cools the steel strip selectively and non-uniformly across its width in a manner which is complimentary to the temperature distribution thereacross. In this manner, the steel strip exits the pre-cooler assembly (18) and enters the minispangle box assembly (16) with a more uniform temperature distribution. This results in a more uniform minispangle appearance on the strip (10) as it exits the minispangle box assembly (16). The pre-cooler assembly includes a plurality of nozzle pairs (32a, 32b; 34a, 34b; 36a, 36b; 38a, 38b).