Abstract: An apparatus for immediate ignition of waste gases and their smokeless burning which is built into a cylindrical stack, for the flow of waste gases. Near the top of the stack, there is positioned, coaxially, a steam-air pipe for supplying a mixture of steam and air. The steam and air are introduced into the pipe, by means of radial tubes, connected to a circular manifold on the outside of the stack. A circular cover plate or baffle over the steam-air pipe is supported by a plurality of broad strips equally spaced circumferentially, around the periphery of the steam-air pipe. There are a plurality of radial support arms between the stack and the steam-air pipe. These can be made from angle iron of sufficient width, the purpose being to deflect upwardly flow of the annular column of gas, to break it into a plurality of spaced circular segments of gas, the space above the arms protects a stable flame, for instant reignition of the mixture of gas, air and steam.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from an air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture such as the mixture of air and vaporized light hydrocarbon compounds expelled as a result of loading gasoline or the like into storage tanks, tank cars and tank trucks. The air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture is caused to flow through a bed of solid adsorbent whereby the hydrocarbons ar removed from the mixture and a residue gas stream comprised of substantially hydrocarbon-free air is produced. The substantialy hydrocarbon-free air is vented to the atmosphere and while the first bed is removing hydrocarbons from the air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture, a second bed of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons adsorbed thereon is simultaneously regenerated by evacuating the bed with vacuum pumping and the air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture produced in the regeneration of the bed is contacted with a liquid absorbent whereby a major portion of the hydrocarbons are absorbed therefrom and recovered.

Abstract: An improved process for recovering hydrocarbons from an air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture such as the mixture of air and vaporized light hydrocarbon compounds expelled as a result of loading gasoline or the like into storage tanks and tank trucks. The air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture is caused to flow through a bed of solid adsorbent whereby the hydrocarbons are removed from the mixture and a residue gas stream comprised of substantially hydrocarbon-free air is produced. The substantially hydrocarbon-free air is vented to the atmosphere and a second bed of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons adsorbed thereon is subjected to conditions which cause desorption of the hydrocarbons and thereby regeneration of the bed.

Abstract: A burner assembly for the smokeless flare burning of low calorific value gases, or diluted hydrocarbon gases, which comprises a plurality of separate burner heads arranged in a horizontal array, each of the burner heads being mounted on top of a vertical pipe through which the low calorific gases are supplied. A plurality of hollow radial arms are inserted into the wall of the head, arranged in equally-spaced array, each of the arms having a plurality of ports in the top surfaces, near the ends of the arms. These ports are of selected size and selected angle of their axes, which are tilted inwardly towards the central axis of the burner heads. Additionally, there is between each pair of arms at least one port drilled downwardly from the inside of the burner head, at a selected angle, so that jets of gas will impinge downwardly on an annular plate positioned beneath the arms, to close off the vertical flow to the space between the arms.

Abstract: A burner-stack-furnace system comprising a stack of selected diameter and height, which is supported on a circular base ring, which is, itself, supported on a plurality of circularly positioned upright columns. The columns are supported on grade and are spaced equally circumferentially. The furnace or combustion section of the system is of the same diameter as the stack, and has a plurality of re-entrant vertical channels in its outer wall, spaced to surround each of the columns, with a selected air space between them. The combustion section thus hangs partly within the circle of the columns or piers, and partly between the piers. A shallow excavation is made below grade within and between the columns, and the combustion section extends downwardly into the excavation, which is deep enough that the bottom edge of the wall is above the base of the excavation. The combustion section is open on the bottom, but is filled with a porous fill of heat-resisting material, to a selected level.

Abstract: A pipeline pig having a shaft of flexible plastic with an enlarged head portion, a plurality of dish members of flexible plastic, a plurality of flexible spacers, the dish member and spacers each having an axial opening therethrough receiving the shaft, each spacer having an integral cup portion at one end, two spacers being received on the shaft in back-to-back relationship between adjacent dish members, and a retainer member on the shaft adjacent the rearward end holding the dish members and spacers in engagement with each other, and thereby holding the dish members in spaced apart relationship, the dish members being of an outside diameter configured to closely correspond with the inside diameter of the pipeline in which the pig is used.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from an air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture such as the mixture of air and vaporized light hydrocarbon compounds expelled as a result of loading gasoline or the like into storage tanks and tank trucks. The air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture is caused to flow through a bed of solid adsorbent whereby the hydrocarbons are removed from the mixture and a residue gas stream comprised of substantially hydrocarbon-free air is produced. The substantially hydrocarbon-free air is vented to the atmosphere and a second bed of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons adsorbed thereon is subjected to conditions which cause desorption of the hydrocarbons and thereby regeneration of the bed.

Abstract: Apparatus for the smokeless combustion of gases, supplied at substantial pressure, such that they will aspirate the required combustion air when discharged to atmospheric pressure. The apparatus comprises a plurality of spaced apart burner assemblies, each of which has a plurality of orifices arranged in a circular symmetrical pattern. Each burner assembly comprises a vertical tube supplying gas, with a plurality of short substantially radial arms, each of which has a plurality of orifices in its top surface. The arms themselves are tilted upwardly at a selected angle to the horizontal so that the orifices that are perpendicular to the arms will provide gas jets which will intersect each other along the axis of the assembly. In another embodiment, the top surface of the arms form a plane fingered plate of substantial thickness. The orifices are drilled at a selected angle toward the axis, in the top surface of the plate.

Abstract: An improved flare system in which steam is injected into the column of gas to be burned, from circumferential nozzles at at least two spaced levels, above the tip of the flare stack. A circular manifold surrounds the stack just below the tip and an even number of small diameter riser pipes are attached to the manifold, spaced equally circumferentially. The riser pipes have nozzles all of which are directed radially inwardly and upwardly at a selected angle. Half of the nozzles are spaced at a first selected distance above the tip of the flare stack, and the other half are positioned at a greater selected elevation above the tip of the flare stack. Alternate risers have different elevations of the nozzles. By this means, a minimum diameter of the cross-section of the gas flow is occluded by the steam flow.

Abstract: An improved molecular seal for installation in a flare stack system designed for burning of waste gases of lesser density than air, and for installation at an intermediate point in the flare stack, comprising a housing of larger cross-section than that of the flare stack, the housing being closed by plates at both ends with an outlet conduit sealed through the plate at the outlet end of the housing, and connected to the flare stack. An inlet conduit is sealed through the inlet end of the housing and is connected to the source of waste gases. Inside the housing the two conduits are deflected past each other so that they are substantially parallel, and have their axes in the same plane. The downstream end of the inlet conduit goes to a higher elevation inside the conduit than the upstream end of the outlet conduit.

Abstract: A smokeless burner apparatus for single structure flare systems which is capable of simultaneously burning emergency dumped gases from high and low pressure sources with minimal energy requirements for the low pressure gas combustion.

Abstract: An improved flare stack for the smokeless burning of smoke prone fuel gases, comprising a cylindrical flare stack, an inner cylindrical conduit which is closed at its bottom end and positioned with its top at substantially the same elevation as the top of the flare stack. The flow of the smoke-prone fuel gas up the stack is diverted into the annular space between the inner conduit and the flare stack, providing an annular flow of fuel gas. Smoke suppressant, such as a mixture of steam and air, is conducted into the inner conduit and vertically upwardly to the top thereof from which it can either continue unaltered flow direction or it can be diverted outwardly and upwardly into the inner wall of the annular flow of gas, to provide quick and intimate mixing of the smoke suppressant with the fuel gas.

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: 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: An improved low pollution invisible flare burner comprises a tall stack lined with ceramic. The stack is supported above the ground level and has a wind screen surrounding the open portion below the stack floor. Primary air is introduced under pressure in a tube below and coaxial with the stack. The top of the tube contains a burner for the vented hydrocarbon gases. The top of the tube and the burner are at the level of the floor of the stack. Secondary air is introduced into the stack in the annular space between the primary air conduit and an opening in the floor of the stack. Turbulent mixing of the primary air and the vent gas, plus the availability of sufficient atmospheric air for complete combustion, plus the effect of heated ceramic in the vicinity of the flame, provide means for complete combustion of the vented gases with low emission of smoke and light.

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: 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.