Abstract: A method of storing foodstuffs and an apparatus for practicing the same, in which an electrolytic cell includes a gas diffusion cathode capable of reducing oxygen electrolytically and an oxygen liberating anode, and a DC voltage is applied to the electrolytic cell while the gas in a food storage chamber is brought into contact with the cathode to remove oxygen from the storage chamber, whereby the oxygen concentration in the storage chamber is controlled to a desired value.

Abstract: The specification discloses and describes a method and means of operating an incinerator whereby the concentration of evaporated solvent or other combustible materials delivered to an incinerator is controlled as a reflection of the temperature of the gas stream made up of products of combustion exhausted from the incinerator. By maintaining the fuel input to the incinerator constant and also maintaining the temperature of the stream of gases entering the incinerator constant, the variation of the temperature of the stream of products of combustion emitted from the incinerator with respect to a standard value reflects the variation in the concentration of evaporated solvents or other combustibles in the stream of gases supplied to the incinerator.

Abstract: A sterilization device for processing a pluraity of containers disposed on support devices therefor, includes a housing provided with a passage for receiving and discharging a succession of the support devices, a preheating arrangement for preheating the containers to a first predetermined temperature within the housing, a heating arrangement for heating the containers to a predetermined sterilization temperature within the housing upon the containers having been heated to the predetermined temperature, and a cooling mechanism for cooling the containers to a second predetermined temperature following sterilization of the containers by the heating arrangement.

Abstract: A sterilization apparatus includes a housing adapted for receiving a removable rack with open shelves supporting containers with the substance to be sterilized, a fan arranged at the top of the housing, and a cooling device for subsequent cooling of the sterilizing fluid introduced into the housing. To increase the uniformity of whirling of the fluid around the containers on different levels of the rack and thus to increase the heat transfer to, and the subsequent heat removal from the containers, a timing-and flow-controlling device is provided for cyclically changing the flow of the sterilizing fluid through the rack during the heating-up and cooling-down of the sterilization cycle, either by alternating the direction of the flow, or by distributing periodically partial streams through different shelves of the rack.

Abstract: A continuous flow stream of combustion products conducted through a chamber, is mixed with moisture-laden ambient air and ignited by discharge from a spark plug connected to the high voltage terminal of a secondary winding in an ignition coil assembly having a primary winding connected between a source of d.c. voltage and a terminal exposed to a gaseous mixture in the chamber. The high voltage applied to the spark plug is induced by intermittent interruption of the flow of current through the ionized gaseous mixture grounded in the chamber, resulting from restricted inflow of said moisture-laden air into the chamber.

Abstract: A boiler apparatus having a furnace and a plurality of heat exchanger stages disposed in a channel for the combustion gas discharged from the furnace. The boiler apparatus is equipped with a denitrator which utilizes a catalyst and which is disposed in the optimum reaction temperature region for the catalyst in the channel. In order to control the temperature of the combustion gas in the optimum reaction temperature region, this region is adapted to communicate with a high temperature gas source or a low temperature gas source through a control valve. Desirably, the portion of the combustion gas channel which includes the optimum reaction temperature region is divided into a plurality of systems and dampers whose opening and closing are controlled are provided upstream and downstream of the region.

Abstract: Process and apparatus to control the chemical state of a material. Bulk control of the chemical state of such material which permits maintenance of chemicals including enzymes by both restoration and stabilization. Optical and electrical power sources act in the presence of chemical mediators to control the rate of charge transfer to substances including metals contained in proteins, for example. Controlled charge transfer to the proteins enables construction of devices including small molecule detectors, e.g., electrically restored ferrous deoxyhemoglobin in a discrete component electrooptical circuit to monitor, for example, oxygen and carbon monoxide partial pressures. Restoration of chemical activity in molecules which have deteriorated enables construction of chemical reactors composed of stabilized catalysts and enzymes, e.g., restored functional nitrogenase in solar energy conversion devices which evolve molecular hydrogen or in chemical reactors which convert molecular nitrogen into ammonia.