Abstract: A system and a method for controlling the concentration of dissolved matter in a liquid in a boiler or still, wherein a first sensor measures the electrical conductivity of the incoming liquid and a second sensor measures the electrical conductivity of the liquid in the boiler or still. The measured conductivities are then compared and a signal is generated which represents the relation of the conductivities. This signal is, in turn, compared with a preset value and the difference is used to control the flow of incoming liquid which serves to dilute the liquid in the boiler.

Abstract: A single drum all-welded boiler system is disclosed for a furnace having a combustion chamber and a convection pass connected to the combustion chamber in a transition area, comprising a superheater in the transition area, an economizer in the convection pass and a boiler between the superheater and the economizer. The boiler and economizer can be made of a plurality of modules each comprising several tubes welded at the top to an outlet header and at the bottom to an inlet header.

Abstract: The build up of ash in a pulverized coal-fired boiler is achieved by comparing the heat flux simultaneously detected by a first flux detector which is maintained free of deposits and a second flux detector on which deposits are permitted to form. The net values from the heat flux comparison is proportional to the heat flux which is not reaching the boiler walls as a result of the ash deposits.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes through which shuttle type cleaning elements are carried by the fluid, the direction of which is reversable. The cleaning elements are captured adjacent the tube ends by a transverse plate having cleaning element receiving openings therein. The plate is adapted to be mounted so that the openings register with the tube ends, and the plate openings are of sufficient length to contain the cleaning elements. At least some of the plate openings are connected by fluid flow slots which also communicate with the end chamber of the heat exchanger. A cleaning element stop device is disposed at the outer ends of the plate openings so that the cleaning elements are retained therein.

Abstract: A process for cleaning surfaces of installations fouled by products of combustion of carbon-bearing materials, such as in particular boiler combustion chambers, rotary or static heat exchangers, combustion product ducts and flues, electrostatic filters, etc., which are to be cleaned without having to stop the combustion process, in order to maintain maximum thermal efficiency in order thereby to make a substantial energy saving, in which an aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate is injected into the installation, the deposited substances being detached from the installation by means of sound sources.

Abstract: In a humidifier, an evaporator has a vessel containing two or more spaced vertical electrodes across which a voltage can be applied. The current which flows depends on the cross-section of the immersed portion of the electrodes, the size, shape and spacing of the electrodes, the applied voltage and conductivity and volume of the water. The invention provides a probe for measuring the conductivity of the water in the vessel and replacing some of the water in the vessel with fresh water when necessary to reduce the conductivity to the value for which the evaporator is designed. The probe may be connected directly into the evaporator or it may be connected to a voltage source so that a current dependent on the water conductivity will flow between these electrodes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed in a form particularly adapted for use in the handling of viscous liquids, such as viscous oil, on a barge. The technique includes provision of an engine for driving an oil pump, heat exchange mechanism through which the oil is pumped and arranged to effect heat transfer from the engine to the oil in order to maintain the oil at a temperature sufficiently high to facilitate pumping, for instance for the purpose of delivery of the oil at the destination of the barge.

Abstract: A steam generator includes a tank with a water inlet valve, a steam outlet, an electric immersion heater in said tank, and a normally closed drain valve. A water level control, connected to the inlet valve and the heater, is arranged to apply power to the heater only when it is immersed, and to admit make up water into the tank as steam is used. A drain valve control is connected to said drain valve and operates to open the drain valve to flush the tank only upon starting the generator after completion of a generator cooling period sufficient to condense residual steam in the tank which follows shut down of the generator. The completion of such a cooling period is sensed by either a pressure sensitive or a temperature sensitive switch which responds to conditions in the generator. The switch is connected to the drain valve control to prevent opening of that valve should the generator not be cooled to ambient temperature.

Abstract: A nuclear steam generator has a blowdown pump arranged to pump water from the blowdown lines through a filter for return to the steam generator. The piping is arranged so that the same pump may operate to reverse the direction of pumping through the blowdown line, whereby reverse circulation may be established during wet lay up of the steam generator. A blower is arranged to withdraw nitrogen from an upper elevation in the steam generator and injected into the blowdown line in combination with the pumped reverse circulation during wet lay up.

Abstract: There is provided a coffeemaker comprising a water reservoir, a quartz-glass tubular heating chamber having an external electrical heating element in contact therewith, an inlet tube for conducting water from the reservoir through the chamber, and an outlet tube for discharging the heated water over ground coffee. Associated therewith is a switch responsive to the temperature of the heating chamber wall for automatically de-energizing the heating element. When the flow of water through the heating chamber ceases, the heat capacity of the heating chamber, the electrical power consumption of the heating element, and the location and the adjustment of the temperature-responsive switch are so related to each other that the heating chamber walls will be rapidly heated to a temperature of at least about 450.degree. C. before the heating element is de-energized by the temperature-responsive switch. The result is that any scale on the heating chamber walls is thereby thermally decomposed and removed.

Abstract: A boiler of the type having a convection enclosure with convection surfaces in which the convection enclosure is partially enclosed by walls which form a downwardly closed water-tight container. These walls extend downwardly to at least the upper portion of the convection enclosure. Inlet and outlet piping and valves are provided for the water-tight container to permit the container to be filled with water for dissolving soot and other deposits on the convection surfaces in order to clear the surfaces and to remove the contaminated water from the water-tight container. The inlet piping is equpped with nozzles located above the convection enclosure to distribute the rinsing water on the convection surfaces. Chemicals may be mixed with the rinsing water for the purpose of neutralizing the contaminated water prior to removal.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning the air nozzles of a chemical recovery boiler, including a scraping sleeve slidable back and forth in the nozzle for removing built-up deposits. Also included is an air damper for regulating air flow to the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously cleaning tubular heat exchangers during use is disclosed, including a separator for continuously circulating cleaning bodies through the heat exchanger along with the heat transfer-medium being employed. The separator thus recirculates the cleaning bodies along with fresh heat transfer medium while separating out a major portion of the heat-transfer medium withdrawn from the tubular heat exchanger, and includes means for withdrawing the cleaning bodies from a downstream portion of the separator and means for withdrawing the heat-transfer medium withdrawn from the heat exchanger from an upstream portion of the separator. The separator is preferably vertically disposed, so that the cleaning bodies are aided by gravity in reaching the downstream portion of the separator, and the cleaning bodies therefore do not impinge upon any screen for separating them from the heat-transfer medium.

Abstract: The fusion point of coal ash in a boiler is reduced by introducing a boron-containing compound into a boiler containing coal ash and mixing the compound and the coal ash. Preferably the compound is introduced into the furnace box of the boiler as an intimate mixture of pulverized or crushed coal and the compound, the coal being intimately mixed with the compound prior to introduction of the mixture into the furnace box.

Abstract: A device which is a natural circulation cooling water system, comprising coolers made up of several rows of vertical tubes for cooling water, a header supplying cooling water to said tubes from a separating tank, being referred hereinafter to as a separator, and a header discharging steam-water mixture from the coolers to the separator.Both the inlets and outlets of the rows of the cooler tubes are in addition individually connected through cutoff means to a service water supply pipe and to a drain pipeline accordingly. The cutoff means are designed so that when they are placed in one position the tubes are connected to the cooling water natural circulation system while in another position they are coupled to a service water cooling system.

Abstract: Heat exchanger tubes exposed to high-temperature gases from which dust or scale is deposited on the tubes are subjected to forces applied at the resonant frequency of the tube array to remove deposits on the tube surfaces.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel tubular heat exchanger of the type subjected to hot gases and employs rappers to dislodge particulate material adhering to tubes of the exchanger. At least two parallel rows of serpentine tubes are positioned within a hot gas duct and are so arranged that the upper and lower loops define in a direction transverse to the rows of tube, parallel upper and lower loops. The rows are flexibly suspended at their upper ends. First knocker plates are positioned on opposed transverse faces of the upper loops and in a like manner, second knocker plates are positioned on the bottom loops. At least one rapping rod is positioned intermediate the upper and lower loops and extends between the tubes in the transverse direction. Raping of the tubes causes adjacent tubes to rap one another at their upper and lower loops. Relatively uniform rapping along the full vertical component of the tubes is achieved.

Abstract: The arrangement comprises a working member formed by a pair of intercommunicating nozzles of which one nozzle comprises a bellmouth mounted above the oven platform with a certain spacing, facing with its enlarged portion the bottom part of the oven and intimately adjoining this part upon engaging the oven, and the second nozzle is of cylindrical shape and has an ejector communicated with a compressed gas source for reducing pressure within the nozzles, whereby the first nozzle functions as a suction nozzle to collect the remainders of coke from the platform, and the second nozzle functions as a delivery nozzle to project the collected remainders of coke into the oven chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to devices for cleaning the surfaces of pipes, and, in one embodiment particularly useful for cleaning the surfaces of suspended pipe coils in boilers, comprises a drive-cylinder actuated, two-armed lever, interconnected with the pipes to be cleaned by means of upper and lower connectors, wherein the arms of the lever are unequal in length and the distance c of its pivot point below the suspension level of the pipe coils with which it is associated, is equal to 2ab/(a+b),Where a is the distance of the upper connector from said suspension level and b is the distance therefrom of the lower connector.