Abstract: The invention comprises of a method and a system to detect, monitor and report hazardous conditions of low visibility on roadways and waterways occurring due to fog or snow or rain or dust or smoke. A special vision camera installed on a post on the road or the waterway continuously views a set of lights installed on another post at a distance a few hundred feet away. The system software is used to set up a frame around the captured image. A value is assigned to the intensity of the light in the image under normal conditions of visibility. A tolerance range is set up around that assigned value. If the intensity value goes out of the set tolerance range due to low visibility conditions in the space between the camera and the target light(s), the software initiates an alarm state. This digital output is translated into an appropriate emergency message to be flashed on the electronic signboards on the roads or waterways.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes radiation reflectors on the refractory wall of a fired furnace opposite the spaces between adjacent tubes. The refractory radiation reflectors have a base contiguous with the refractory surface and secured to a subjacent structure, and an isosceles triangular cross section with similar sides extending from the base. The base has a dimension less than the spaces between adjacent tubes to facilitate installation in a modular construction. The radiation reflectors focus the reflected radiation from the flame onto the dark side of the tubes. The invention increases the overall heat transfer of the tube by increasing the heat flux rate for the backside of the tube, and also decreases the flux and temperature differentials between the front and rear sides of the tubes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a flame detection method and apparatus. More specifically, this invention relates to a flame d on method and apparatus designed for simultaneously monitoring several flames of different types such as pilot flames and main flames of differing sizes and intensity. These detected flames can be in one combustion unit or in several combustion units such as industrial furnaces or ground flares. The underlying principle of the invention is to collect and transmit light from each of the flames by use of optical fibers and to insect the collected light by a video camera vision system at the other end of the optical fibers and to transmit the “live” images of the glows as well as the “on/off” status of the burners to the control room, through modern electronic communication techniques such as Ethernet and/or wireless radio units.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes radiation reflectors on the refractory wall of a fired furnace opposite the spaces between adjacent tubes. The refractory radiation reflectors have a base contiguous with the refractory surface and secured to a subjacent structure, and an isosceles triangular cross section with similar sides extending from the base. The base has a dimension less than the spaces between adjacent tubes to facilitate installation in a modular construction. The radiation reflectors focus the reflected radiation from the flame onto the dark side of the tubes. The invention increases the overall heat transfer of the tube by increasing the heat flux rate for the backside of the tube, and also decreases the flux and temperature differentials between the front and rear sides of the tubes.

Abstract: A system of selective catalytic reduction units for reducing nitrogen oxides by operating a plurality of parallel combustion units in parallel with a spare selective catalytic reduction reactor is disclosed. A primary selective catalytic reactor with spent catalyst is isolated for maintenance while the flue gas is diverted to the spare selective catalytic reduction reactor while continuing to discharge flue gas essentially free of nitrogen oxides from the spare selective catalytic reduction reactor. The spare selective catalytic reduction reactor can include a spare induced draft fan to provide an alternate means for operation and maintenance.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes radiation reflectors on the refractory wall of a fired furnace opposite the spaces between adjacent tubes. The radiation reflectors focus the reflected radiation from the flame onto the dark side of the tubes. The invention increases the overall heat transfer of the tube by increasing the heat flux rate for the backside of the tube, and also decreases the flux and temperature differentials between the front and rear sides of the tubes.

Abstract: A system of selective catalytic reduction units for reducing nitrogen oxides by operating a plurality of parallel combustion units in parallel with a spare selective catalytic reduction reactor is disclosed. A primary selective catalytic reactor with spent catalyst is isolated for maintenance while the flue gas is diverted to the spare selective catalytic reduction reactor while continuing to discharge flue gas essentially free of nitrogen oxides from the spare selective catalytic reduction reactor. The spare selective catalytic reduction reactor can include a spare induced draft fan to provide an alternate means for operation and maintenance.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes extended surfaces, such as studs and fins, on a low-flux surface area of radiant heat transfer tubes in a fired furnace to more uniformly distribute heat flux. The invention increases the overall heat transfer of the tube by increasing heat flux rate for the backside of the tube, for example, and thus decreases the temperature differential between the opposing tube sides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flame detection apparatus and method. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring the status of a combustion unit having at least one bumer. Initially, a digital image of a flame corresponding to a flame is acquired. Next, a value for the relative light intensity of a frame defining an area of the image corresponding to the flame for the burner is calculated. The relative light intensity value is compared against a tolerance range for the frame. If the relative light intensity value is outside the tolerance range then an alarm state output is generated.

Abstract: A residuum oil solvent extraction process is improved by using direct fired convection heaters for heating the asphaltene, the solvent-deasphalted oil phase, the deasphalted oil and the stripping steam, instead of hot oil heat exchangers. The convection heaters are fired using recirculated flue gas so that the hot flue gas supplied to the convection heaters has a temperature between 800.degree. F. and 1400.degree. F.

Abstract: A regenerating system, for the removal of water and potentially harmful organic constituents from a dehydration fluid used to dehydrate natural gas. The system includes a device to assure positive flow of the water and organic constituent vapor out of the regenerator, to, in turn, control back pressure associated with the regenerator during the distillation process.