Abstract: A concentric tube type recuperative heat exchanger that includes an outer transparent tube 22 and an inner metallic tube 24 connected to suitable headers 12 and 14. The outer tube 24 is closed at the bottom end and open at the top end in order that cool air may be directed down through the open ended inner tube and up through the annular space therebetween where it may accept radiant energy transmitted through transparent tube 22. A tubular heat shield 36 of apertured metal lying in the annular space between tubes absorbs radiant heat passing directly through transparent tube 22 and that which is reflected from inner tube 24. Shield 36 serves simultaneously as a means for increasing the turbulence of fluid flowing through the annular space between tubes and as a heat sink that absorbs heat radiated between tube walls.

Abstract: The flue gases from a wet-operating flue gas desulfurization plant contain liquid droplets loaded with solid material. These can lead to incrustations which are hard to remove and to corrosion. Previously, in order to dry the droplets, the flow of flue gases was heated by unpurified crude gas, steam or hot water or indirectly by hot air. In order to use less energy in drying the droplets, it is now proposed that the drying energy for evaporating the liquid from the droplets is supplied to the gas flow in a channel by radiant energy from a radiator. The gas flow is only heated to such a degree that the water vapour and carbon dioxide contained in the gas flow selectively absorb radiation of certain wavelengths, while the liquid droplets directly absorb the necessary heat for evaporation. It is also possible for the radiant energy to be absorbed by an assembly which can be heated by radiation and which then releases energy into the gas flow.

Abstract: The wall of an oxidizing chamber for the continuous thermal oxidative stabilization of organic fibers which undergo exothermic reaction during treatment thereof possesses high thermal conductance and has an internal surface of high total normal emissivity to absorb heat from the fibers generated by the exothermic oxidation reaction.

Abstract: Cold generating apparatus, wherein it comprises a cold storage enclosure filled with a material having a solid-liquid transmission in the vicinity of the operating temperature of the apparatus, a first panel forming a radiating surface, whose radiation drops into at least one of the atmospheric windows, a substantially vertical second panel immersed in the material of the cold storage enclosure, a pipe in the form of a coil on each of the first and second panels, said pipes being connected by plastically deformable couplings to form a closed circuit and a certain quantity of a fluid which is vaporizable under the operating conditions of the apparatus within the closed circuit, the assembly constituted by the first and second panels, the closed circuit and the heat transfer fluid forming a device of the heat pipe type serving as a thermal diode which only transmits heat in the direction from the storage enclosure to the radiating surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for heating materials such as metal rods whereby hot combustion gases are blown against the material and allowed to pass through a gas-permeable partition located inside the heating apparatus so that the partition is heated to radiate a great amount of heat into the apparatus, further increasing the temperature of atmosphere in the apparatus heated by the hot combustion gases so as to accelerate the heating of the material. After the combustion gases have thus passed through the partition, heat is further transferred from the gases to a recuperator means located inside the apparatus so that the gases are then allowed to discharge into a flue under lowered temperatures.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cooling hot bulk material, such as red-hot coke, sinter, or clinker, and, in particular, for relieving a gas stream flowing through the hot bulk material to cool the same includes continuously charging hot bulk material into a cooler housing and onto the free surface of spread bulk material already contained within the cooler housing and cooling the hot bulk material by absorbing and removing the intensive heat radiation radiated from the surface of the hot bulk material in a radiation cooling surface extending over in facing relationship to the free surface of hot bulk material.

Abstract: A method and radiative cooling device 10 for use in passively cooling spaces, applicable to any level of thermal radiation in vacuum and to high-intensity thermal radiation in non-vacuum environments. The device includes an enclosure 12 nested in a multiplicity of thin, low-emittance, highly-reflective shields 13 and 13' suspended in a casing 14 in mutual angular relation and having V-shaped spaces defined therebetween for redirecting, by reflection, toward the large openings of the V-shaped spaces, thermal radiation entering the sides of the shields, and emitted to the spaces, whereby successively reduced quantities of thermal radiation are reflected by the surfaces along substantially parallel paths extended through the V-shaped spaces to a common heat sink such as the cold thermal background of space.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for enhancing the heat transfer efficiency and lowering the temperature of tube walls used in a tubular gas to gas heat exchanger. The heat exchanger utilizes essentially flat sided tubes for the transfer of heat from hot gas flowing over the tubes to a cooler gas flowing therethrough. The apparatus of the invention includes a metallic heat shield inserted into the tubes between sides thereof to intercept radiation from the outer walls of said tubes and transfer it to the cooler gas flowing therethrough.

Abstract: A radiant heater system with a heat-radiating tubular conduit and a reflector for reflecting heat radiated by the conduit. The tubular conduit is supported along its length by spaced support structures. The reflector is disposed between and spaced from two successive ones of the support structures by attachment assemblies secured to and carried by the conduit and that permit full rotational adjustment of the reflector about the longitudinal axis of the tubular conduit. In a preferred arrangement, the heater system has a dispersing reflector adjacent a relatively hot portion of the conduit and a parabolic or concentrating reflector adjacent a colder portion of the conduit to compensate for a varying intensity of heat radiated by the different temperature portions of the conduit.

Abstract: Coal, either as coal fines or as coal briquettes, is introduced into a coking chamber and is thereat exposed to microwave radiation to transform the coal into hot coke. Preferably, the microwave radiation is at a frequency of from twenty to 3000 MHz. The hot coke is then passed to a cooling zone whereat photocells absorb radiant energy from the hot coke and transform the thus absorbed radiant energy into electricity.

Abstract: A heat shield, for example, for a pump for liquid sodium, formed so that the space between the shield and a wall can be optimally sealed during operation. The heat shield thus retains more radiant heat and prevents a disturbance of a rotation-symmetrical thermal condition. To achieve the object, the heat shield, in one form, consists of two layers of materials having different coefficients of expansion, and in an alternative form, of two parts the spacing between which can be adjusted by mechanical means in a pivoting manner.

Abstract: A self-insulating water wall designed to modify the temperature of a region. Each water wall module is a single container that uses solar energy or the night environment to create convection currents which either heat or cool a storage fluid. The invention is switched between its heating and cooling modes by movement of a lever. A baffle in the container aids in maintaining the efficiency of the energy storage. A door selectively covers the wall of the container in contact with the outside environment. The inner-surface of the door is a reflector to increase the efficiency of the energy-radiating process when the door is in its open position.

Abstract: A passive cooling device especially suitable for application where unattended high performance is required for long periods, such as with space satellite sensors, optics and electronic systems, contains multiple stages of heat radiators insulated from each other and from the supporting structure, with heat pipes thermally attached to some or all of the stages of the radiators to transport heat from the heat producing sources. The multi-stage radiator system utilizes intermediate radiator stages to intercept heat loads conducted through the insulation and supports in order to reduce such conductive loads on the outermost stage and to permit that stage to reject substantial heat loads at extremely low temperatures. These intermediate stages can also provide efficient thermal rejection at the different temperature levels of various elements to be cooled.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating hydrogen and oxygen from water molecules. A solar reflecting means reflects solar energy onto a water containing tank to boil water contained therein and form steam. The steam is transferred either to a turbine-generator assembly for producing power, or to a dissociating means for producing hydrogen and oxygen. The steam in the dissociating means is forced to traverse a spiral path wherein it undergoes a circular motion to subject it to centrifugal force while contacting a heat transfer surface. Solar energy is concentrated on the heat transfer surface and heat in amounts sufficient to raise the temperature of the steam to the dissociation temperature thereof is transferred thereto. Hydrogen and oxygen are separated from each other by the centrifugal forces, and are withdrawn from the dissociating means. An electric starter and means for moving solar reflecting means are also disclosed.