Abstract: A solar panel mounting assembly including a bracket having a base, a central member extending from the base defining a channel opening in a direction away from the base, and first and second coplanar rails carried on the central member and spaced apart from the base, and a locking cap that lockingly engages within the channel including first and second spaced legs and a head that overhangs a portion of each of the first and second rails. A solar panel mounting system including a solar panel, bracket and locking cap.

Abstract: A solar panel mounting bracket having a pipe clamp portion defining a channel between spaced legs configured to clamp around a supporting pipe, a flange clamp extending from the pipe clamp portion configured to clamp a flange of a solar panel to the bracket. A solar panel mounting system including a bracket having a pipe clamp portion defining a channel between spaced legs and a flange clamp extending from the pipe clamp portion, a solar panel having a flange on its frame, and a pipe positioned within the channel of the pipe clamp portion.

Abstract: Superheated steam generated by passing wet steam through a superheater containing a fluidized or partially fluidized bed of hot particulate solids recovered from a retorting process especially useful in a process for recovering hydrocarbon vapors from a hydrocarbonaceous solid such as oil shale.

Abstract: A nonpolluting process for neutralizing corrosive acid components in the overheads of petroleum distillation units is disclosed. In the process, ammonia is added to said units and carried overhead. The overhead is condensed to yield hydrocarbon phase and an ammonia-containing aqueous phase. The aqueous phase is stripped to yield an ammoniacal steam that is returned to the distillation units and a substantially ammonia-free bottoms.

Abstract: In a radial flow catalytic reactor, a centerpipe is gravity supported in a central socket member and restrained as to vertical upward movement within a predetermined maximum distance to prevent unseating of the centerpipe due to thermal cycling of the catalyst and/or the reactor internal members.Such vertical movement of the centerpipe is restrained by means, such as one or more rods, interposed between the top of the centerpipe and an upper portion of the vessel. Similarly, restraining rods may be used to confine vertical movement of the screen segments enclosing the catalyst bed.Additionally, the centerpipe may include a perforated pipe enclosed within a cylindrical screen member forming a major portion of the centerpipe. The pipe is independently seated in the central socket member so it may expand and contract independently of catalyst action on the centerpipe screen section.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for evenly loading each level of a bed catalyst in a reactor vessel. A cylindrical flow of catalyst particles is divided into one or more annular flow and a smaller cylindrical flow. Each portion of the divided flow is distributed simultaneously to a different radial distance from the center of the vessel so that the catalyst bed is evenly filled at each level. In the apparatus embodiment, a distributor rotor includes a plurality of discs driven by a common drive shaft. Each upper disc is formed with a hub that is radially displaced from the shaft sufficiently to intercept one annular portion of the divided catalyst flow. The upper discs are in each case greater in diameter than the next lower disc so that the peripheral velocity of the disc and the catalyst distributed thereby is greater than the next lower disc. In this way two or more areas are simultaneously filled at each level.

Abstract: In a radial flow catalytic reactor, a centerpipe is gravity supported in a central socket member and accommodated as to vertical upward movement within a predetermined maximum distance to prevent unseating of the centerpipe due to thermal cycling of the catalyst and/or the reactor internal members.Such vertical movement of the centerpipe is accommodated by extending the length of the socket member so that it exceeds the expected lift distance of the centerpipe due to such cycling.Desirably, but not necessarily, the centerpipe may include a perforated pipe member axially coextensive with and enclosed within the screen member. The pipe and screen members are independently supported in the socket member by gravity.

Abstract: In a radial flow catalytic reactor, a gravity supported centerpipe is restrained from vertical upward movement due to thermal cycling of the catalyst and the reactor internals by forming the centerpipe to have uniform vertical and radial permeability in a frustoconical configuration. Gravity effect of the catalyst particles forming the bed act along the tapered side of the centerpipe. Additionally improved permeability to radial flow through the uniformly packed catalyst bed, independently of radial resistance to flow through the reactor due to pressure gradient between top and bottom of the vessel is achieved by compensation for differences in radial distance to the centerpipe from the upper portion to the lower portion of the catalyst bed by changes in the permeability of the tapered conical surface of the centerpipe.

Abstract: An energy efficient design of fractionation column in which the liquid at the column bottom must be cooled to prevent thermal degradation, the column being provided with a perforated annular baffle through which liquid from the lowermost tray is channeled to the outlet of the column bottom, while a body of cooler recycled liquid is maintained in the column bottom outside of said baffle.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for reforming two hydrocarbon feedstocks by contacting one feedstock and hydrogen with a reforming catalyst in a first reforming zone at reforming conditions including a relatively high reforming pressure; separating a hydrogen-rich gas and first hydrocarbon product from the effluent from the first zone at a pressure below the first reforming pressure; recycling a first portion of the hydrogen-rich gas to provide hydrogen for the first reforming zone; contacting the other feedstock and a second portion of the hydrogen-rich gas with a second reforming catalyst in a second reforming zone at reforming conditions including a pressure lower than the first reforming pressure, with all of the hydrogen gas introduced into the second reforming zone being obtained solely from the first reforming zone effluent; and recovering a second hydrocarbon product from the effluent from the second reforming zone.