Abstract: An apparatus for processing material such as organically coated waste and organic materials including biomass, industrial waste, municipal solid waste and sludge, is provided. The apparatus comprises a rotatable and tiltable furnace (1) having a body portion (15), a single material entry point (11) and a tapered portion (13) between the entry point and the body. The furnace has a closure through which material can be introduced to the furnace (1) when open and in which the interior of the furnace is isolated from the external environment when closed. A director at or adjacent the entry point (11) directs gases inwardly of the furnace so as to provide a barrier of gas adjacent the opening to inhibit the entrance of oxygen containing atmospheric gas when the closure is in its open position.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing nano-particles includes a furnace defining a vapor region therein. A precipitation conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end is positioned with respect to the furnace so that the inlet end is open to the vapor region. A quench fluid supply apparatus supplies quench fluid in a gas state and quench fluid in a liquid state. A quench fluid port positioned within the precipitation conduit is fluidically connected to the quench fluid supply apparatus so that an inlet to the quench fluid port receives quench fluid in the gas state and quench fluid in the liquid state. The quench fluid port provides a quench fluid stream to the precipitation conduit to precipitate nano-particles within the precipitation conduit. A product collection apparatus connected to the outlet end of the precipitation conduit collects nano-particles produced within the precipitation conduit.

Abstract: A smelting furnace having a vessel (102) for receiving material to be smelted. An inner surface (109) of the furnace is concave and reflective, at least an upper part thereof. A conductive electrode (120) of the furnace is continuously formed in the furnace by casting.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing nano-particles comprises a furnace defining a vapor region therein. A precipitation conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end is positioned with respect to the furnace so that the inlet end is open to the vapor region. A quench fluid port positioned within the precipitation conduit provides a quench fluid stream to the precipitation conduit to precipitate nano-particles within the precipitation conduit. A product collection apparatus connected to the outlet end of the precipitation conduit collects the nano-particles produced within the precipitation conduit.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for regenerating spent acid liquor includes a primary roasting furnace for evaporating a substantial portion of the liquid from the spent acid to produce acid vapors and partially roasted metal salts. The partially roasted metal salts are transferred to a secondary roasting chamber where the acids adhering to the surface of the metal salts is vaporized and the metal salts are oxidized. The acid vapors from the primary roasting furnace are then transferred to an absorption column to regenerate the acid. The primary roasting furnace is operated at a different temperature from the secondary roasting chamber and has different retention times for the metal salts. The secondary roasting chamber includes a raking device to mix and convey the metal salts during the secondary roasting step to produce a uniformly roasted metal oxide.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the purification of residual products from flue gas purification plants.Between a wet-desulphurization plant (1) for flue gas and an associated waste water-treatment plant (2) for the purification of the water used in the wet-desulphurization there is inserted a leaching apparatus (3, 7, 4) for the purification of hazardous residual products supplied through a conduit (6) from flue gas purification in dry-and and semidry-desulphurization plants by means of waste water supplied through a conduit (5) from the plant (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separating the constituents of an alloy, especially an alloy comprising a refractory base metal and at least one nonrefractory additive metal, which consists in:heating said alloy by means for preferably continuous melting and casting of metals, while avoiding any chemical action on said alloy, and to at least one temperature and under controlled atmosphere permitting the boiling of at least one additive metal,collecting the distillation vapors of at least one additive metal, andcollecting, at the exit of said means for preferably continuous melting and casting, the substance resulting from the removal of at least one additive metal from the alloy.It also relates to a device for separating the constituents of an alloy comprising a refractory base metal and at least one nonrefractory additive metal.

Abstract: The process and the device according to the invention relate to the introduction, at a stable, known flow rate, of sublimable tetrachloride into a column for continuous extractive distillation under pressure of the chlorides. The sublimable tetrachloride is dissolved in a hot dissolver in a liquid solvent such as KAlCl.sub.4, and is then recirculated by pump at a stable, known flow rate into an evaporator connected to the column. The solution is then heated in an evaporator in order to sublime the majority of the product which it contains, the sublimed vapors thus passing into the column at a stable, known flow rate. The process according to the invention is adapted, in particular, to a plant for the production of ArCl.sub.4 of nulear purity and of HfCl.sub.4.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing cooling gas for a producer gas produced in a melt-down gasifier and surplus gas usable in an appropriate manner by cooling and cleaning at least part of the producer gas and the top gas of an iron ore reduction unit are proposed. The cooling gas is exclusively obtained by preparing producer gas. There is a cooling and a cleaning unit for the surplus gas and the cooling gas in each case. A constant gas flow is passed through the rear portion of the cooling and cleaning unit for the cooling gas with the aid of a constant volume blower. That part of the producer gas supplied to the cooling and cleaning unit for the cooling gas which exceeds this constant gas flow is passed into the cooling and cleaning unit for the surplus gas. The cooling and cleaning units can be constructed in two-stage manner, namely with in each case one packing washer (3 or 6) and a following adjustable Venturi washer (5 or 8).

Abstract: What is disclosed is an improvement in a process for the carbothermic reduction of silicon dioxide to form silicon, the improvement comprising (a) contacting the by-produced gases from the silicon furnace with a cooling medium such as a vaporizing liquified hydrocarbon-containing gas or an expanding compressed hydrocarbon-containing gas to cool the by-produced gases and to cause silicon-containing materials to completely condense and to form agglomerated solids; (b) removing the agglomerated, solid materials from the gases, and (c) recovering value from the solids-free by-produced gases as an energy source or as a chemical intermediate.

Abstract: A device and method are set forth for continuous, fumeless treating of products like steel wire. The device includes a generally closed tank having an inlet opening to pass the wire through a passageway to exit the tank at an outlet opening. Intermediate the inlet and outlet openings along the passageway are means for treating the wire in the desired manner. To prevent fumes from the treating means from escaping through the inlet and outlet openings, the tank is provided with means for continuously cascading a liquid across the openings to define barriers against the escape of such fumes while still permitting the product to be drawn through the tank. Preferably the tank has a removable top. Extending along the sides of the top are downwardly depending side skirts which are received by and are partially submerged in the liquid filled troughs to seal against the escape of fumes.

Abstract: A metal-refining process and a corresponding system characterized by being adapted to minimize the health hazard by appropriate purification of the gases or vapor products resulting from acid action on a metal compound. This metal refining features the use of vacuum at a downstream point to regulate the admixing of air with the vapor products in the effluent and to draw activating air in the mixture of acid and metal compound at the upstream point. This refining system includes gas outlet manifolds constructed and arranged to enhance the purification of the vapor products by comminuting the vapor products into small bubbles upwardly through a water tank. Each manifold consists of a casing having a plurality of small gas outlet apertures each communicating with a small tube which extends within the casing and has a bevelled end for self-cleaning of the tube. These tubes prevent clogging of the apertures by solid particles in the gas flowing through the casing.

Abstract: A scrubber bypass damper comprises a plate pivotally-mounted to a shaft running across the bypass duct transverse to gas flow. The damper plate self-actuates and rotates about the shaft in response to any pressure differential established across it. A scrubber booster fan is disposed in the main flue at a location downstream of the scrubber and upstream of the outlet of the scrubber bypass into the main flue. When the scrubber is in operation, the pressure rise imparted to the flue gas by the scrubber booster fan is adjusted to keep the damper plate disposed transverse to gas flow through the bypass duct thereby preventing gas flow therethrough. When the scrubber is taken out-of-service, the booster fan is shutdown and the damper plate self-actuates, opening in response to pressure forces exerted on it by the induced draft fan, thus preventing over-pressurization of the furnace.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the cleaning of combustible gases, particularly gases emitted in steel making plants, in which the gases are passed through a collecting duct together with additional air at conditions such as to cause the combustion of the combustible components of the gas with a reduced flame length, the said air being supplied as a double feed so as to give a protecting effect of the duct inner walls, and then the gases are saturated with water and washed, the saturation taking place by a countercurrent flow of the gases and of the saturating water, and the washing takes place by means of a Venturi scrubber, outside of the saturating tower and in which the saturated gases are recycled to the saturating stage, a pre-separation of liquid particles taking place downstream of the Venturi scrubber and upstream of the saturator, and lastly the gases are discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Dust-laden waste gases from a converter and from ancillary equipment are exhausted by respective blowers through a first and a second duct to a main and a secondary scrubbing station whence the purified gases escape through respective chimneys. The first duct is provided with two cascaded washing stages, the upstream stage being operable to throttle or block the flow of gases therethrough. An annular cowl for the interception of peripherally escaping converter gases is connected to a third duct which joins the first duct at a location between the two washing stages but is also connectable through a switching valve to the second duct.