Abstract: A wind machine turns a shaft to activate a multi-stage positive displacement pump having intake and discharge means respectively coupled to intake and discharge fluid lines in a recirculating hydraulic system. Control means regulates the operative positions of the intake means, discharge means or separate idling means to remove selected stages from effective pumping while at the same time fluid passes into and from the selected stages. The stages can be of different capacities and selected groups or all of them may be periodically idled by a common or individual idling means. Constricting means is located in the common discharge line from all stages and can be additionally located in each discharge line from each stage.

Abstract: A wind machine turns a shaft to activate a multistage pump having intake and discharge means respectively coupled to intake and discharge fluid lines. Idling means is provided for each stage and constricting means is located in series with each stage between the intake and the discharge lines. Control means regulates the idling means and constricting means to remove selected stages from effective pumping while at the same time fluid passes into or from the selected stage. Pressure in the fluid discharge line is retained substantially constant without the need for energy accumulation and at the same time the torque on the shaft can be adjusted to retain the shaft speed in a range for effective wind energy conversion. During starting the constricting means is closed while the idling means opens until an operational speed is reached. Power assisted starting is achieved by initially reversing the fluid flow through selected stages.

Abstract: A wind machine turns a shaft to activate a multistage pump having intake and discharge means respectively coupled to intake and discharge fluid lines. Control means regulates the operative positions of the intake means or discharge means to remove selected stages from effective pumping while at the same time fluid passes into and from the selected stages. The stages can be of different capacities and selected groups or all of them may be periodically sequentially idled. Torque on the shaft is thereby adjusted to retain the shaft speed in a range for effective wind energy conversion. During starting the stages are idled until an operational speed is reached. Power assisted starting can be achieved by initially reversing the fluid flow through selected stages. Constricting means is located in the common discharge line from all stages and can be additionally located in each discharge line from each stage.

Abstract: The production of hydrogen by reacting an ash containing material with water and at least one halogen selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine and iodine to form reaction products including carbon dioxide and a corresponding hydrogen halide. The hydrogen halide is decomposed to separately release the hydrogen and the halogen. The halogen is recovered for reaction with additional carbonaceous materials and water, and the hydrogen is recovered as a salable product. In a preferred embodiment the carbonaceous material, water and halogen are reacted at an elevated temperature. In accordance with another embodiment, a continuous method for the production of hydrogen is provided wherein the carbonaceous material, water and at least one selected halogen are reacted in one zone, and the hydrogen halide produced from the reaction is decomposed in a second zone, preferably by electrolytic decomposition, to release the hydrogen for recovery and the halogen for recycle to the first zone.

Abstract: A process for the production of a synthesis gas, capable of being upgraded to a high BTU pipeline gas, by the partial oxidation and substantially complete gasification of a carbonaceous material under CO-promoting conditions wherein the carbonaceous material, oxygen, and recycled carbon dioxide from the process are introduced into a molten salt containing an alkali metal carbonate and a minor portion of an alkali metal sulfide, the system being operated at a selected temperature and pressure between 1400.degree. and 2000.degree. F and between 1 and 100 atmospheres. The molar ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen employed is controlled at from about 0.6:1 to about 1.2:1 to control the CO production and also to maintain the molten salt at a desired operating temperature. Sulfur and ash introduced with the fuel are retained in the molten salt.