Abstract: A distillation column packing in the form of a spherical body constructed by assembling a pair of hemispherical members of the same shape and structure. Each of the hemispherical members includes a suitable number of cutout openings formed in the hemispherical surface portion thereof to leave covering portions, a plurality of mating assembly posts and tubes formed in the hollow inside of the hemispherical member, and reinforcing and gas-liquid contact area increasing contact pieces formed to connect the posts and the tubes with one another but not to close the hollow inside of the hemispherical member. The packing thus constructed is best suited for use in distillation columns.

Abstract: The packing of the present invention is a continuous coil which has at least three turns, and preferably about six turns. Each turn has at least three sides which preferably are generally curved and has a generally rounded vertex between each pair of adjacent sides. Each turn of the packing is rotatably offset at least about 15.degree., and preferably between about 15.degree. and 20.degree., relative to each adjacent turn of the packing. The coil packing preferably is generally cylindrical in cross-section, and defines a generally cylindrical passage which extends axially through the coil packing. The coil packing is suitable for use in columns or towers for absorption, adsorption or rectification.

Abstract: A fuel vaporization system for hydrocarbon users, such as internal combustion engines, gas turbines and the like wherein the prior art gas generating and carburetor functions are accomplished in a novel chamber or fuel generator with additional benefits afforded through the use of controlled amounts of hydrogen.

Abstract: A carburetor for an internal combustion engine comprises a housing, porous matter contained in the housing, means for injecting fuel into the housing and onto the porous matter to effect completion of vaporization of the fuel, means for admitting air into the housing to form a mixture with the vaporized fuel and means for conducting the mixture out of the housing for combustion in the engine.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to packing elements for fluid-fluid contact apparatus of the packed tower type. The packing elements comprise open-ended tubular members of any desired cross-sectional configuration having a maximum transverse dimension or diameter greater than its width in the axial direction, and having one or more protuberances or ribs extending inwardly from the inside wall of the member. Additionally, the overall length of the packing element is at least as great as the diameter of the tubular portion thereof, and none of the protuberances extend the whole of the length of the packing element.

Abstract: Packing elements for fluid-fluid contact apparatus comprising a pair of oppositely curved strip members connected together at their ends so that the two curved members have generally parallel non-coincident planes of curvature. The curved strip members should be "under square" as is also, preferably, the whole packing element.

Abstract: A sulphur-burning and gaseous products absorption system incorporating control means to establish generation of sulphur dioxide at a rate which is compatible with the capacity of absorption means for absorption of the gases by water, together with controls which make the system fail-safe even when unattended. In order to provide an absorption efficiency compatible with clean air standards, a unique absorption tower is provided, together with pre-cooling means further to improve the absorption tower efficiency. Further, the control efficiency and the purity of the product are improved by ebullition control. A unique joint is provided for sealing the sulphur-burning tower against undesirable leakage which also enables this tower readily to be disassembled for maintenance and repair.

Abstract: A fluidized bed type spent activated carbon regenerator with an upper drying chamber and a lower reactivating chamber within a column through which spent activated carbon particles are treated in a fluidized state. The regenerator has a distributor at the lower end of a spent carbon feed pipe which opens into the upper chamber to distribute the feed of spent activated carbon uniformly on all sides of the feed pipe and over a larger area in the upper chamber. A hood is mounted around an upper end of a first overflow pipe which provides a passage to the lower chamber for carbon particles devolatilized in the upper chamber to block shortpasses of incompletely devolatilized carbon particles to the lower chamber. The regenerator is further provided with a louver strainer at the ceiling of the upper chamber to block fine carbon powder which tends to leave the regenerator entrained in upward streams of a regeneration gas flowing through the upper chamber toward a gas outlet at the top of the regenerator.

Abstract: A method of biological treatment of effluent and the like in a packing tower or bed. Individual plastic packing elements are disposed in open-weave or open-mesh sacks, and are arranged in the tower or bed. Effluent is then passed through the tower or bed, bacteria and the like forming as a biological film on wetted surfaces of the packing elements. The open-weave arrangement allows the passage of air to the biological film, and allows passage of the biological film out of the tower when it becomes loosened from time to time. The sacks are disposed permanently in the tower, no cleaning or the like thereof being necessary.

Abstract: Gas-liquid contact apparatus comprising a packed bed formed of at least two superimposed layers of fabricated packings including an upper layer of randomly dumped members comprising ribbed tubular elements and a lower layer of stacked packing elements.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for drying odoriferous organic substances wherein the substances are introduced into a ring-shaped piping system via a turbulence mechanism in which the substances are comminuted and thereafter circulated through the piping system and dried by a heated air flow produced by a heater and a blower. Air flow containing the dried substances is discharged from the piping system and passed over a separation system where the dried substances are separated from the humid odoriferous air flow. The air flow withdrawn from the piping system is introduced into a sprinkling bed where a chemical reaction takes place to deodorize the air flow.

Abstract: A gas scrubber is provided for the removal of particulates and chemical contaminants from air and other gases. The particulates and chemical contaminants are removed from gas drawn through the scrubber, by inertial separation, spraying with water or liquid chemicals, and filtering techniques. A throat section of adjustable cross-sectional area is utilized in the scrubber to provide optimum air velocity and turbulence for maximum scrubbing efficiency over a wide range of air handling capacities. The cross-sectional area of the throat is adjusted by controlling the level of the liquid in a liquid-filled sump which is provided for the spray water or liquor. Removable filter baskets of variable depth are utilized during final treatment of the air or gas being cleaned.

Abstract: When the ambient temperature is high, proper temperature control is assisted within the poultry house using a spray means that sprays water onto a filter pad that is positioned in front of the fresh air inlet. The water spray and pad act to cool air being taken into the building through the inlet without objectionably raising the humidity.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for removing particulate matter from a gas stream. The method includes a packed wet scrubber through which a scrubbing liquid such as water is flowed vertically downwardly and through which gas to be cleaned is flowed in a direction transverse to the direction of flow of the scrubbing liquid. The packing material is disposed in a chamber and the packing material and scrubbing liquid are maintained electrically neutral. A stream of gas to be treated is ionized prior to its flow through the wet scrubber to provide particles in the gas stream with an electrical charge of a given polarity, usually negative. Upon flow of the gas stream through the wet scrubber, the charged particles in the gas stream are carried into close proximity with and are attracted to the scrubbing liquid and/or packing elements as a result of attraction forces between the charged particles and the electrically neutral packing elements and liquid.

Abstract: Vapor-liquid contact methods wherein the vapor and liquid are subjected to one or more contact zones having contiguous grids and bulk packing so as to obtain optimum pressure drop characteristics, surficial area, vapor passage area, structural rigidity and vapor-liquid distribution characteristics with maximum economical efficiency, the grid configuration being utilized to confine and/or support the bulk packing so as to minimize displacement thereof as well as functioning to fractionate, separate, or effect other mass and/or energy transfer reactions between the liquid and vapor in conjunction with said bulk packing.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to packing elements for fluid-fluid contact apparatus of the packed tower type, and also to a method of contacting a fluid with another fluid in such an apparatus. The packing elements comprise open-ended tubular members of any desired cross-sectional configuration having a maximum transverse dimension or diameter greater than its width in the axial direction, and having one or more protuberances or ribs extending inwardly from the inside wall of the member.

Abstract: An inert gas generator arrangement in which a rotationally symmetric burner is substantially vertically oriented with respect to a cylindrical housing having within it a heatresistant steel cylindrical wall enclosing a firing chamber, the cylindrical housing having a funnel-shaped bottom and the lower edge of the firing chamber wall being disposed thereon. A cooling jacket surrounds the firing chamber wall to form a cooling arrangement. The cooling jacket is constructed in the form of a washing cooler.

Abstract: Pollution control apparatus is provided for use in scrubbing a gas, which is normally vented to the atmosphere, with a liquid, which apparatus embodies in one unit a section to remove solid particulates and entrained liquid from the gas, as well as a packed tower scrubbing section for removing noxious gaseous components from the gas. The apparatus is comprised of an outer shell; and an inner shell disposed within and spaced from the outer shell, the inner shell defining an inner contact zone and the space between the inner shell and the outer shell defining an outer contact zone; liquid feed means for introducing liquid into the inner contact zone; gas feed means for introducing a gas into contact with the liquid in the inner contact zone and for introducing the gas into the outer contact zone; outlet means for liquid; and outlet means for processed gas. The inner contact zone preferably includes a packing material.

Abstract: Apparatus for atomising and/or vaporising a liquid in a stream of gas employs a porous body wetted by the liquid and through which the gas is passed. The body is composed of a number of generally parallel lines of porous rope-like bundles made up from whiskers. These may be polycrystalline metal whiskers or metallised non-metallic whiskers. The gas flow is parallel to the lines, which have passages between them. Provision can be made for heating the body and the liquid distribution may be aided by a coarser porous member upstream of the body.

Abstract: A vapor injection system for an internal combustion engine including a mist chamber having a perforated section communicating with the inlet to the carburetor and a water tube and an air tube discharging jets of water and air, respectively, in convergent paths within the mist chamber to create an atomized water spray. The perforated section of the mist chamber assures the complete atomization of all water particles passing into the carburetor.