Abstract: A membrane distillation module is provided with a thin, flexible microporous membrane positioned against an impermeable condensor sheet that is stiffer in bending than the membrane. Distillate vapor diffuses through the membrane from the hot feed flowing rapidly past the membrane, and condenses and collects between, and in intimate contact with, the membrane and the condensor sheet. The condensed distillate is stripped by forces exerted by the hot feed acting on the distillate across the membrane, and flows toward a distillate outlet located in the downstream direction of the hot feed flow. Cold feed flows past the condensor sheet in the counter direction to that of the hot feed for absorbing the latent heat of condensation, and is subsequently additionally heated and introduced into the hot feed channel. Expanded microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is the preferred membrane material, and a spiral-wound assembly is the preferred configuration.

Abstract: Free oil, often an objectionable impurity in synthetic organic detergents, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, is removed from aqueous solutions by extraction thereof with hexane in the presence of lower alkanol, with the proportion of the alkanol present being in a relatively narrow range with respect to the sodium lauryl sulfate, in which range it helps to promote efficient extraction of the free oil by the hexane without solubilizing the hexane in the aqueous medium to such an extent as to result in an extracted detergent containing an unacceptably high proportion of hexane. Separation of the free oil from the aqueous detergent solution is effected in an extractor, to which the hexane is added, in mixture with a minor proportion of lower alkanol, normally isopropanol, and extraction of the free oil takes place after a preliminary mixing of isopropanol with detergent acid or neutralized base in a neutralization vessel and/or in a mixer upstream of the extractor.

Abstract: Devolatilizable fine-grained material which contains hydrocarbons is devolatilized by means of fine-grained solids which have been heated to temperatures of about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C. The devolatilizable fine-grained material is mixed with the heated solids and is thus heated to temperatures of about 400.degree. to 900.degree. C. The mixture is passed through a dwell zone, and gaseous and vaporous devolatilization products are withdrawn and cooled. The heated solids are fed to the dwell zone as a loosened stream in a trickling and/or agitated state of motion, and the devolatilizable fine-grained material is introduced into said stream in order to be admixed thereto. The heated solids and the devolatilizable fine-grained material can be mixed in a weight ratio of 3:1 to 12:1. The stream of trickling heated soids can be deflected at least in part.

Abstract: Pyrolysis reaction apparatus and method are described in which carbonizable waste material is fed into the pyrolysis reaction chamber by an inlet conduit which passes through the wall of a heating furnace surrounding such chamber. As a result, the material is immediately vaporized in the reaction chamber due to the high temperature at the inlet portion of the chamber where the material is introduced. A fluid cooling jacket surrounds the inlet conduit to maintain the temperature within such conduit below the melting temperature of the material being transmitted therethrough in order to prevent clogging of the conduit. The material is fed into the reaction chamber by the inlet conduit along an input feed direction which is laterally offset from the axis of the shaft of an impeller for conveying such material through such chamber and is preferably directed toward the tips of the impeller blades in order to prevent clogging of the impeller.

Abstract: An apparatus unit for the fractional distillation and rectification of liquid mixtures includes a plurality of horizontal superimposed tubular main sections interconnected in series by a plurality of tubular connecting sections, e.g. U-shaped, to define an elongated space along which liquids and vapors flow. Intimate contact between liquids and vapors and efficient heat and mass transfer are provided by a stirrer rotating within the main section about horizontal axes and magnetically driven from the outside. Suitable inlet and outlet ports and heating and cooling devices are provided. An arrangement for joining the adjacent sections without the use of flanges or threaded portions is provided. A number of such units are preferably associated to form a modular apparatus, the individual units being operatively connected as desired to provide series, parallel or mixed flow of the fluids.

Abstract: A process and system for obtaining fresh water from salt water such as sea water, by direct contact heat transfer using staged evaporator-condenser units operating with a low boiling water-immiscible liquid hydrocarbon. Each stage comprises a closed vessel divided into two compartments, an evaporator and a condenser, by a bubble cap tray similar in construction to those used in distillation. Relatively hot fresh water is introduced into the liquid hydrocarbon contained in the lower compartment of each stage, causing boiling of the hydrocarbon at a temperature differnce of 2.degree.-4.degree. F. Hydrocarbon vapors pass from the evaporator compartment through the bubble caps to the upper condenser compartment where they are condensed in contact with a colder saline stream, and the condensed hydrocarbon is returned to the lower compartment.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting the pyrolytic treatment of solid carbonizable materials, such as coal, shredded scrap-tires, comminuted municipal waste, sawdust and wood shavings, and the like. The treatment takes place in a cylindrical, horizontally-disposed reactor vessel including a material conveying device which transports the carbonizable materials through the vessel as a moving bed. A heating chamber is arranged coaxially around the reactor vessel and is configured as an annulus of substantially uniform inner diameter and of decreasing outer dimension from its forward end adjacent the materials outlet end of the reaction vessel, to its rearward end, adjacent the materials inlet end of such vessel. The material passing through the reaction vessel is subject to an indirect heat transfer relationship with a burning air-fuel mixture spirally swirling within the heating chamber and moving in a direction generally counter-current to the material passing through the reaction vessel.

Abstract: An automated poking system includes a plurality of pokerod assemblies positioned around the periphery of a two-stage, fixed-bed coal gasifier at two separate elevations. Each pokerod assembly includes an elongated pokerod selectively actuatable to extend into the coal bed within the gasifier, and appropriate sensors to provide data relating to the temperature of the coal bed, the resistance encountered by the pokerod, and the position of the pokerod. Alternatively, the temperature sensing function is separate from the pokerod activation, and the coal bed temperature is continuously moinitored. The mechanism for controlling activation of the pokerod may be a hydraulic cylinder-piston device or an electric motor driving the pokerod via mechanical means, such as a rack and pinion apparatus. Poking of the lower zone coal bed agitates the bed, detects and breaks up clinkers, and monitors the coal bed temperature.

Abstract: A process for destructive distillation of solid wastes and an apparatus for achieving the process whereby organic solid waste material which has been shredded, is exposed to a pyrolytic process to remove water and organic materials by a pyrolytic process wherein the off gases, after having been fractionally distilled to extract useable combustion products, are recycled through the process to enhance the destructive distillation of the solid waste material.