Abstract: Apparatus for aeration of water for reduction of the biological oxygen demand, which comprises a cylindrical vessel with vertical axis of selected cross-sectional area and height. A horizontal dividing wall is positioned near the bottom of the vessel. Water enters into the space below the dividing wall and passes upwardly through a plurality of narrow slots spaced equally from each other. An air manifold is provided including a plurality of small diameter pipes, or arms, each of which is positioned over one of the slots in the dividing wall. A plurality of small diameter orifices are drilled on the underside of the arms, divided substantially equally on each side of the center line, so that as the water rises it is immediately contacted by the air bubbles, which issue through these orifices. The air bubbles and liquid would rise in a column above the arms. Near the top of the chamber is a horizontal baffle plate, which has an annular space between its outer circumference and the inner wall of the tank.

Abstract: An improved construction for an upwardly extending flare stack for the emergency venting to the atmosphere of large quantities of combustible gases, such improvement being for the purpose of preventing the inflow, and upstream flow of air, into the flare stack, comprising an annular obstruction means attached to the inner surface of the flare stack a short distance upstream of the downstream end of the stack.

Abstract: A system for creating an alarm whenever the pressure inside of a combustion furnace is higher than atmospheric pressure. The system uses a pressure reference comprising a chamber which is designed to average out momentary wind-induced fluctuations of pressure in the atmosphere and to provide a substantial volume of air inside the chamber which is maintained at an average value of atmospheric pressure. A conduit is passed through the wall of the furnace to the point under the furnace arch where the pressure is to be measured. This conduit is connected by a tubing to the chamber. A temperature sensing means is inserted in the conduit so as to measure the temperature of gas flowing through the tubing from, or to, the furnace. Normally, because of the draft in the furnace, air will flow from the chamber to the furnace.

Abstract: An improved burner head for a flare stack for the smokeless combustion of waste combustible gases which comprises an outer and an inner cylindrical conduit, a burner comprising a multiplicity of radial arms attached to the inner cylinder, which is closed off at the top. Means are provided for producing an upward flow of primary combustion air at substantial velocity to flow up the annular space between the inner and outer cylinders and between the radial arms of the burner. Means are provided for conducting the combustible gases upwardly through the inner cylinder and through ports arranged along the radial arms to provide jets of gas directed upwardly and laterally from the arms, so that the jets of gas will turbulently mix with the primary combustion air. A plurality of triangular baffles are positioned symmetrically between each pair of radial arms.

Abstract: A flare for the burning of waste gases which is designed to provide a minimum of noise and smoke pollution, comprising a vertical stack having a shroud in the form of a cylinder surrounding, and spaced outwardly from, the top portion of the stack, and extending above the top of the stack. The space between the shroud and the stack is closed off by an annular plate which serves to support the shroud from the stack. At the top of the shroud is a steam manifold which carries a plurality of steam nozzles spaced angularly around the inner face of the manifold, so as to direct high velocity steam jets inwardly and upwardly toward the axis of the stack. The nozzles are placed on the inner face of the manifold so as to be substantially below and inside of the outer contour of the manifold and the shroud. The outer circumference of the shroud near its bottom end is perforated with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings through which air can pass to the annular space between the shroud and the stack.

Abstract: An air powered flare in which the blower or fan which provides the primary combustion air, is driven by a steam turbine, and the exhaust steam from the turbine is inserted into the stack to be mixed with the compressed primary air moving upwardly to a burner at the top of the flare stack. The mixture of low pressure steam and condensate in the exhaust from the turbine with the primary air serves to chemically improve the combustion of the fuel issuing from the burner, so as to facilitate its complete and smokeless combustion. Alternatively, it is possible to inject live steam into the column of primary combustion air in addition to or in place of the exhaust steam. Further, the live steam, and/or the exhaust steam can be ejected from nozzles surrounding the top of the flare stack and injected directly into the flame above the burner at the top of the flare stack.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separator for use in flare systems comprising a vessel which incorporates four stages of gas-liquid separation. The first stage employs centrifugal (tangential) separation means by injecting the incoming mixture of liquid and gas tangential to the internal cylindrical surface of the vessel. A second stage is provided by immediately following baffling. A third stage of separation involves the drop out of liquid droplets by reduction of flow velocity due to the large cross-sectional diameter of the vessel. A fourth stage of separation involves passing the gas through a demister which involves design of a special shape of contact members which insure contact of the demister elements by the flowing gas, to further reduce the liquid content.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant tubular air preheater in which combustion air is heated by heat transfer from flue gases from a furnace. The heat exchanger is of a longitudinal type having a central enclosure of rectangular cross-section in which a plurality of tubular heat transfer elements are mounted. Surrounding the central enclosure is an outer plenum. Cold combustion air enters at the bottom of the outer plenum and circulates around and up the plenum to a series of openings on top of the heat transfer elements. The partially heated combustion air then passes downwardly through metal tubes in the heat transfer elements and then passes outwardly to the furnace. The minimum temperature in metal structure enclosing the combustion gases is controlled by two means. One is the use of insulation in selected areas to limit heat transfer rate to cold air impinging upon metal surfaces.

Abstract: This invention describes a furnace system for the reduction of nitrogen oxide containing gases which utilizes a two-chambered refractory lined furnace. Fuel gas and stoichiometric air is introduced into the first chamber to provide an ambient temperature sufficient for the reaction of steam and hydrocarbon gases which are introduced into the first chamber to provide a reducing atmosphere. The nitrogen oxide (NO.sub.x) containing gases are also introduced into the first chamber where the NO.sub.x is reduced. The gases then pass into the second chamber where they are rapidly cooled to a temperature below that at which there is thermo-regeneration of nitrogen oxides. Additional air is supplied to the second chamber for the combustion of combustible gases remaining therein after reduction, care being taken that the temperature never rises above the temperature at which there is substantial regeneration of nitrogen oxides.

Abstract: Apparatus to burn liquid fuels in a gaseous fuel burner, which includes preparatory apparatus for the atomization of liquid fuel oil preferably by steam, and the heating of the fuel droplets and steam so as to completely vaporize the liquid fuel. If atomization is by other means, steam is added prior to vaporization heating. The resulting oil vapor-steam mixture then goes to a burner which utilizes the central orifice of a conventional gas burner, plus an annular orifice concentric with the gas orifice, through which steam is supplied. Primary air is induced into the burner tube due to the high velocity jets of steam and of oil vapor-steam. The steam protects the hot vapor from the air until the combination issues from the end of the burner tube. For the use of gaseous fuel, the same burner is utilized except that the steam flow is turned off since the steam is not needed for the induction of the primary air, due to the higher velocity of the jets of gas.

Abstract: Apparatus for improved recovery of heat from combustion gases in the convection section of a furnace by improved radiant heat transfer. Thin strips of selected metals are arrayed and supported on the fluid carrying pipes in the furnace, in such a way that interference to the vertical flow of combustion gases is held to a minimum. The metal strips are heated by flow parallel to their surfaces of the combustion gases. Heat is radiated from the metal strips to the pipes with a consequent increase of heat transfer to the fluid within the pipes.

Abstract: A flame arrester having a rectangular housing of internal width W, length L and heighth H filled with a plurality of contiguous convoluted planar laminae. Each lamina is comprised of a thin sheet of metal formed with a plurality of spaced parallel shallow channels of selected depth D. As the laminae are placed in the housing in parallel contiguous contact to fill the cross-section of the housing, there will be a great plurality of narrow slots of width D through which the gas will pass to the flame area. Means may be provided in the form of shallow protrusions of heighth D pressed into the metal in the flat areas of the sheet in order to insure that the spacing between sheets at all points is close to the value D.

Abstract: Hazardous inversion of ambient air into a waste gas elevated flare stack is prevented by the controlled injection of a purge gas into the bottom of the stack. Upward or downward flow of gases in the stack deflects a small horizontal, high velocity stream of gas relative to opposite tubes capable of sensing the impact energy relative to differential pressure detection devices. The devices thus send a signal to control the quantity of purge gas input as a function of the deflection of the stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for the control of the viscosity of fuel oil supplied to burners, which comprises, in series, pump means for supplying the fuel oil to the burner system under a selected pressure, means for heating the fuel oil output of the pump means, strainer means and control valve means and orifice means of selected length and diameter. A differential pressure cell monitors the pressure drop across the orifice due to the flow of fuel oil under a selected pressure set by the control valve. Any variations in differential pressure will be due to corresponding inverse variations of viscosity. The variations in the output of the differential pressure cell are communicated to a valve means which controls the amount of steam passing into the heating means, thus controlling the temperature of the fuel oil, and therefore its viscosity, to a proper value.

Abstract: Apparatus for using exhaust low pressure steam for smoke suppression in flares by mixing the steam with the vented hydrocarbon gases prior to combustion, and prior to flow to the flare stack. The device comprises a cylindrical housing with means at a first end for the inflow of hydrocarbon vent gases, and outflow at the second end of hydrocarbon gases plus water vapor. Exhaust steam is entered through the side wall near the second end and the steam conduit is bent into an axial position, facing upstream of the steam flow. The end of the conduit is closed. There are a plurality of radial pipes of small diameter closed at their outer ends, extending into the steam conduit and between it and the cylindrical housing. A plurality of small diameter holes are drilled into the small pipes in a plane through the small pipes which is transverse to the axis of the housing.

Abstract: This is an improved smokeless flare powered by air supply to the burner at substantial velocity. The flare includes an air flow-operated damper for the purpose of preventing the back flow of flame and hot gases under adverse wind conditions. The damper consists of two semicircular plates which are hinged along the diameter of the air supply pipe and are held in a closed (transverse) position by means of tension springs. Another feature of this flare is that in the sectors between the spider arms of the burner there are baffles which are triangular in shape and have substantial longitudinal dimension. There are narrow passages between the baffles and each of the adjacent spider arms so that the air flow from the blower must pass through these restricted passages and therefore will move at a higher velocity.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a thin-walled cylindrical metal conduit inserted into the path of the flowing hot gas with a thermal sensor positioned in the conduit along its axis. There are one or more smaller diameter thin-walled tubes positioned inside of the larger conduit over a portion of its length. The smaller tubes are concentric with each other and with the larger conduit and surround the sensor, so that there can be gas flow through the annular spaces between each of the tubes and between the sensor and the inner tube. Means are provided for causing a flow of hot gas through these annular spaces so as to bring at least the central small tube up to the temperature of the flowing gas and with it the temperature of the sensor.

Abstract: A noiseless premix burner comprising a cylindrical housing which is attached to the outer covering of the furnace wall, and closed at its opposite end by a closure plate which supports a concentric burner tube which extends from the closure plate through an opening in the furnace wall to the interior of the furnace. A gas fuel line is inserted along the axis of the burner tube. Pressurized fuel gas flows through an orifice in the fuel line in an expanding flow. The proximal end of the burner tube has a venturi type throat construction. The annular space between the burner tube and the cylindrical housing comprises two plenums, one adjacent the outer wall of the furnace supplying secondary air, which passes into the furnace through a narrow annular gap between the burner tube and the furnace lining.

Abstract: A vertically fired means for the combustion of waste gases in a noise-proof manner having a vertically oriented cylindrical furnace with burner insertion into the bottom of the furnace, which is raised a selected distance above the surface grade. The inlet air opening at the bottom of the furnace is of a cross section area less than a selected fraction of the cross section area of the combustion zone. A cylindrical windshield encircling the bottom of the furnace provides limited access of air to the area below the inlet air opening at the bottom of the furnace to suitably isolate wind flow from the inlet air opening. The cross-sectional area for air flow due to limited access is at least equal to a selected fractional area of the furnace, which is the inlet air opening. Suitable isolation of air flow energies from the inlet air opening requires the limited access area to be no greater than 2.5 times the air inlet area. The inlet air opening is preferably not more than 85% of the furnace area.