Abstract: An assembly and method provide for the simultaneous heating of process inlet water from a clean water source, and condensing of a condensable gas using the process inlet water and a closed loop of condensing water. A plurality of pairs of condenser plates are disposed in an annular array in a vertical cylindrical vessel. First and second liquid inlets are disposed at the top of the vessel separated by a radially extending fixed baffle, and first and second liquid outlets are disposed at the bottom of the vessel separated by a radially extending fixed baffle. A condensable gas passes through the interiors of the pairs of condensing plates. Movable top and bottom baffles are rotatable through arcs to change the number of condensing plates operatively communicating the first liquid inlet with respect to the second liquid inlet, the liquid flowing between the first liquid inlet and outlet being always segregated from the liquid flowing between the second liquid inlet and outlet.

Abstract: An assembly and method provide for the simultaneous heating of process inlet water from a clean water source, and condensing of a condensable gas using the process inlet water and a closed loop of condensing water. A plurality of pairs of condenser plates are disposed in an annular array in a vertical cylindrical vessel. First and second liquid inlets are disposed at the top of the vessel separated by a radially extending fixed baffle, and first and second liquid outlets are disposed at the bottom of the vessel separated by a radially extending fixed baffle. A condensable gas passes through the interiors of the pairs of condensing plates. Movable top and bottom baffles are rotatable through arcs to change the number of condensing plates operatively communicating the first liquid inlet with respect to the second liquid inlet, the liquid flowing between the first liquid inlet and outlet being always segregated from the liquid flowing between the second liquid inlet and outlet.

Abstract: Methane is produced from peat by solubilizing the phenolic polymers therein, and oxidizing the solute to produce short chain molecules. The short chain molecules are fermented to produce a gas that this scrubbed to remove CO.sub.2 to produce methane. Solubilizing takes place in a vertically oriented pressurized vessel that is circular in cross-section and divided into a number of regular vertically elongated compartments, each comprising a circular sector in cross-section, and extending the majority the height of the vessel. Slurried peat is fed into the top of one compartment while another compartment is being emptied from the bottom, the compartment being filled or emptied being progressively changed in response to rotation of a central shaft in the vessel. Oxidation of solubilized peat takes place in a structure that transports the solubilized peat in a substantially vertical wave path from an inlet to an outlet with oxygen being introduced at the bottoms of segments of the wave path, and CO.sub.