Abstract: Staged combustion in a single regenerator of a FCC unit is disclosed. The regenerator has a spent catalyst distributor at the top of the catalyst bed, and an air grid at the lower end of the bed. A baffle separates the catalyst bed into upper and lower stages. Excess oxygen is present in the lower bed; partial CO combustion mode is maintained in the upper bed. The baffle inhibits backmixing flux to achieve sufficient staging to burn the catalyst clean under partial CO combustion. This achieves a clean burn of the catalyst in a single regenerator vessel in the partial CO combustion operating mode. Surprisingly, the baffle also reduces catalyst entrainment in the dilute phase, thereby cutting particulate emissions from the regenerator and reducing cyclone wear.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous production of organometallic compounds from a metal precursor and an alkylating agent. The reactants are delivered separately to a reaction centre (26) in a distillation column (2) wherein the reaction is maintained at a predetermined temperature to allow collection of the vaporised organometallic compound from the top of the column and removal of the waste products from the bottom of the column.

Abstract: A particulate catalyst is regenerated by upward transport in a combustor having an extended length and separated from combustion gases with a single stage of cyclones. The extended length combustor ends with a termination device arranged to tangentially discharge particulate catalyst and gases into an open disengaging vessel and to achieve a high separation efficiency. Initial high separation efficiency provided by the termination device permits a single downstream stage of cyclones to reduce particulate emissions to acceptable levels. The combination of the separation device and the extended combustor can accommodate changes in particulate densities in the extended combustor without inducing cyclone overload.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sparger system provided for appropriately feeding reactant streams to fluidized bed reactors of hydrocarbon partial oxidation processes that are retrofitted to selectively recover and recycle unreacted hydrocarbons. As a result of the sparger system, the reactor productivity and selectivity is enhanced while employing only two spargers. Also, the capital cost required for retrofitting existing sparging equipment is minimized, while at the same time, the desired fluidization and catalyst oxidation characteristics are achieved without the formation of flammable mixtures within the sparging system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for treating a particulate material, in which particles of the material to be treated interact with non-static particles of a second material, the process comprising the steps of: (i) providing a processing chamber (1) having an inlet (7) and an outlet (10) spaced downstream therefrom, the base (15) of said chamber comprising a plurality of outwardly radiating inclined vanes (20, 25), (ii) providing a host bed of particles (30) which include inert particles, alumina, limestone and activated carbon in the chamber (1) and generating a flow of fluid through the vanes (20, 25) at the base (15) of the processing chamber such that the bed of host particles (30) circulates about an axis of the chamber in a compact band, (iii) injecting particles of the material to be treated including sulphide ore, kaolin, gypsum and talc through an inlet (5) of the chamber (1) to contact with the circulating bed of the host particles (30), wherein the relative terminal velocity of the partic

Abstract: CaS oxidation has CaS particles oxidized into CaSO4 completely as far as to the interior of the particle. The interior of an oxidation apparatus 1 is partially partitioned by a partition 22 to thereby form a first fluidized bed 20 on the inner side, a second fluidized bed 21 on the outer side and a space portion 23 thereabove. A heat exchanger 27 having a baffle plate is disposed on the inner side of the partition 22 and an in-bed heat exchanger 33 is disposed on the outer side of same. A desulfurizing product-containing fine powder 204 and coarse powder 205 and a mixture gas 206 of nitrogen, oxygen and steam are supplied into the second fluidized bed 21. Also, coal 200 and coal char 201 are supplied into the first fluidized bed 20 from below.

Abstract: A delivery system for generating a sparging gas containing catalyst particles and delivering them to a flame zone of a combustion reaction is disclosed. A catalyst mixture receptacle for the delivery system includes a floating ball check valve on an air inlet to an inlet tube of the receptacle which is spaced from a vertical wall of the receptacle. A secondary splash chamber having an opening smaller than the body of the chamber is also included between the main body of the receptacle and the sparging gas outlet for the receptacle to reduce the opportunity for catalyst mixture in liquid form to reach the sparging gas outlet. An enrichment circuit is disclosed including a controller, pump, and a one-way check valve for adding additional sparging gas to a flame zone of a combustion process in times of added load. The receptacle may be mounted with a vibrator, such as the pump, to increase the consistency of the bubbles in the sparging process.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reduction reactor has a plurality of fluidized bed reactors (10) with inner gas distributors (19). A charge duct (12) passes through the top of the fluidized bed reactor (10) with a free end to charge a fine iron ore into said reactor (10). The free end of the iron ore charging duct (12) is positioned close to the top center of the gas distributor (19). A spiral-shaped partition weir (13) is placed over the gas distributor and surrounds the iron ore charging duct (12) while being spirally extended to an inner wall of the fluidized bed reactor (10) where it is fixed. The fine iron ore is fluidized and reduced while spirally flowing from the center of the fluidized bed reactor (10) to its inner wall. In this structure, the back mixture phenomenon where the reacted fine iron ore is mixed with the non-reacted fine iron ore does not occur.

Abstract: An improved system and method is provided for operating a parallel entrainment fluidized bed gasifier system. A first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for reducing ash agglomeration in a parallel entrainment fluidized bed gasifier/combustor system by adding a quantity of MgO to the feedstock used in the gasifier/combustor system. A second aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reducing erosion at piping bends in fluidized particulate piping systems which utilizes sand retention cavities positioned to receive and retain a portion of the fluidized particulate. A third aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for facilitating the flow of sand and char fragments from a first compartment to a second compartment while minimizing the flow of gases between the first and second compartments.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for discharging and transferring upwardly fluidized particles from a dense fluidizing layer forming section to a high-velocity transferring section having a diameter which is smaller than the dense fluidized layer forming section, wherein at least one intermediate cylindrical section is provided between the dense fluidized layer forming section and the high-velocity transferring section. The process can decrease the degree of changes in the amount of particles to be discharged from the dense fluidizing forming section and transferred by the riser, thereby proving a stable and uniform transfer of the fluidized particles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for catalytic production of carbon nanotubes. Catalytic particles are exposed to different process conditions at successive stages wherein the catalytic particles do not come in contact with reactive (catalytic) gases until preferred process conditions have been attained, thereby controlling the quantity and form of carbon nanotubes produced. The method also contemplates methods and apparatus which recycle and reuse the gases and catalytic particulate materials, thereby maximizing cost efficiency, reducing wastes, reducing the need for additional raw materials, and producing the carbon nanotubes, especially SWNTs, in greater quantities and for lower costs.

Abstract: A recuperative and conductive heat transfer system (10, 10′) that is operative to effect therewith the heating within the second portion (20, 20′) of the heat transfer system (10, 10′) of a “working fluid” flowing through the heat transfer surfaces (32, 32′) as a consequence of the transfer thereto by conduction of heat from a multiplicity of regenerative solids (24, 24′). The multiplicity of regenerative solids (24, 24′) derive their heat from a recuperation thereby within the first portion (12, 12′) of the heat transfer system (10, 10′) from either an internally generated or an externally generated source of heat (22, 22′).

Abstract: The upstream portion of a reactor (1), contains, between the feeding area of the catalyst flow and the injection area of the charge to be cracked, at least one solid and attached packing element (6, 6′), that extends over all or part of the cross section of the reactor and consists of a network of cells through which pass the catalyst particles. This network makes it possible to create at least one step of division and recombination of the flow of catalyst particles, so as to redistribute the latter in a homogenous manner over the cross section of the reactor.

Abstract: There are provided: (1) a fluidized bed reactor for gas phase olefin polymerization, which has at least one drawing-out means for drawing out olefinic polymer powder within every zone of: (i) a zone (zone X) from a gas distribution plate to a height L1 satisfying the following formula (1); and (ii) another zone (zone Y) from a height L2 satisfying the following formula (2) to a powder level height of a fluidized bed, L1<0.1×D  (1) L2=0.

Abstract: Process for gas-phase polymerization carried out in two interconnected polymerization zones, to which one or more &agr;-olefins CH2═CHR are fed in the presence of catalyst under reaction conditions and from which the polymer product is discharged. The process is characterized in that the growing polymer flows through a first polymerization zone under fast fluidization conditions, leaves said first zone and enters a second polymerization zone through which it flows in a densified form under the action of gravity, leaves said second zone and is reintroduced into the first polymerization zone, thus establishing a circulation of polymer around the two polymerization zones. The novel process allows olefins to be polymerized in the gas phase with high productivity per unit volume of the reactor without incurring the problems of the fluidized-bed technologies of the known state of the art.

Abstract: A loading device for distributing solid particles into a multi-tube reactor in which the reactor tubes are substantially vertical and held together by an upper and a lower tube sheet, the loading device comprising a plurality of discrete polygonal, i.e. triangular, quadrangular or hexagonal, plates, each polygonal plate having from 1 to 30 holes, each hole corresponding to one reactor tube, each hole having an diameter not greater than 95% of the inner diameter of the reactor tube and not smaller than 1.1 times the greatest dimension of a single particle to be loaded, the polygonal plates also comprising fixing means for holding the holes in correspondence with the respective reactor tubes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for producing synthetic crude oil from oil bearing material, e.g., oil shale or tar sand, through continuous process for producing synthetic crude oil from bituminous tar sand or shale. The process includes treating the tar sand or shale to produce a fluidizable feed, feeding the fluidizable feed to a fluidized bed reactor, and fluidizing and reacting the fluidizable feed in the fluidized bed reactor with substantially only hydrogen.

Abstract: Injection of particulate materials into industrial processes can be improved through use of a vessel mounted on a weighing device and which is vented through use of two separate and distinct valves. Optionally, a predetermined pressure in the vessel is maintained through use of a pressure transmitter and an on/off mode of operation.

Abstract: A fluid feed distributor improves particle and feed contacting by using a flow actuated plug to prevent back flow of fluidizable particles through a fluid feed outlet when fluid feed to a riser conduit ceases. The plug is located at or near the bottom of a riser contacting conduit where a back flow of particles can occur. The plug drops into the fluid feed outlet when fluid flow stops. The plug and a supporting stem will usually have an at least partially vertical orientation to provide the preferred gravity closure of the flow actuated plug. The plug arrangement can also provide improved feed distribution. Preferably the fluid actuated plug will act in conjunction with a fluid dispersion device. The dispersion device may be located upstream in a feed conduit that houses the plug and a fluid outlet at its downstream end. In addition, the fluid actuated plug can also serve to adjust the dispersion of feed fluid during operation of the unit.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling heat transfer in a fluidized bed reactor having a heat transfer chamber (312) with a bed (314) of solid particles therein, means (320,322) for introducing fluidizing gas into the heat transfer chamber for fluidizing the bed of solid particles therein and heat transfer surfaces (316) in contact with the bed of solid particles in the heat transfer chamber. Heat is transferred to said heat transfer surfaces from the solid particles. The fluidization of the bed of solid particles is varied according to a periodical function, e.g. by control means (34) periodically varying the flow velocity of fluidizing gas being introduced into the heat transfer chamber. Thereby the instantaneous heat transfer, as well as, the effective heat transfer from solid particles to the heat transfer surfaces may be controlled.

Abstract: This invention provides a PCB decomposition reactor which can decompose PCB efficiently. In this PCB decomposition reactor, an injector for injecting a mixture of water and sodium hydroxide into a reaction vessel is connected to the lower part of the reaction vessel. An outlet pipe for withdrawing the fluid treated within the reaction vessel is connected to the sidewall of the reaction vessel. The other end of the outlet pipe is connected to a cyclone for separating sodium carbonate from the treated fluid. A discharge pipe is connected to the top of the cyclone, so that the treated fluid from which the precipitated sodium carbonate has been removed is discharged therethrough. A downcomer for the separated fluid is connected to the bottom of the cyclone, so that the precipitated sodium carbonate and some fluid containing it are discharged therethrough. The lower end of the downcomer is connected to an injector, which has connected thereto a feed pipe for feeding a mixture of PCB and mineral oil.

Abstract: A process for the dual riser contacting of a primary feed and a secondary recycle feed fraction uses independent recovery of the separate streams from the riser cracking zone to improve the product yields and properties. Separate recovery segregates the upgraded recracked components from the rest of the primary cracked products. The benefits of selective of recracking are lost if the upgraded products from the recycle stream become recombined with the primary cracked product. The selectively recovered recycle feed may undergo hydroprocessing to hydrogenate, hydrocrack and/or hydrotreatment before recracking. The process can also make highly efficient use of the high residual activity in the catalyst that has contacted the secondary feed.

Abstract: A mixing and blending method for powdered or granular material includes supplying pulsating vibration air into an airtight tank from a bottom thereof. An airtight tank having a porous bottom plate on which the material is stored is provided for the mixing and blending method. In the system pulsating vibration air is generated by periodically increasing and decreasing the amount of blowing air at a low frequency. Pulsating vibration air is introduced into the airtight tank from the bottom of the airtight tank so as to generate air flow going upward through the porous bottom of the airtight tank. As a result, powdered or granular material stored on the porous bottom plate in the airtight tank is uniformly mixed and blended in the airtight tank while continuously moving up and down as in a convectional manner.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling heat transfer in a fluidized bed reactor having a heat transfer chamber (312) with a bed (314) of solid particles therein, means (320,322) for introducing fluidizing gas into the heat transfer chamber for fluidizing the bed of solid particles therein and heat transfer surfaces (316) in contact with the bed of solid particles in the heat transfer chamber. Heat is transferred to said heat transfer surfaces from the solid particles. The fluidization of the bed of solid particles is varied according to a periodical function, e.g. by control means (34) periodically varying the flow velocity of fluidizing gas being introduced into the heat transfer chamber. Thereby the instantaneous heat transfer, as well as, the effective heat transfer from solid particles to the heat transfer surfaces may be controlled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for removing water from a recycle gas stream in a catalyst regeneration process. A recycle gas stream contacts catalyst and the catalyst sorbs water from the recycle gas. Some of the now-dried recycle gas recirculates to the regeneration process, thereby decreasing the water content in the regeneration process. The catalyst containing sorbed water passes to a desorption zone, where water is desorbed from the catalyst and the desorbed water is rejected from the process. This method and apparatus are useful for extending the life of catalyst in catalytic hydrocarbon processes that employ continuous or semi-continuos catalyst regeneration zones.

Abstract: A CFB furnace or reactor unit is provided having enhanced circulation of the reagents finest particles. The improved circulation is achieved by recycling gas having entrained fine particles from a solids collection hopper connected to the solids separator back into the reactor. A system of one or more conduits connects the upper portion of the solids collection hopper with the reactor. The conduit system is equipped with means for recycling gas from the hopper to the reactor. The invention is an inexpensive system which permits recycling of the finest particles that would otherwise be carried over with the gas flow exiting the separator.

Abstract: A method of combustion in a pressurized, fluidized bed and in the freeboard thereof. The combustion method is further characterized by the recirculation of solid sulfur absorbing materials. A gas channel, designed so as to prevent fluidizing gas from entering the channel from below, is provided such that it opens to the freeboard and to a separating member which separates particulate matter from the combustion gasses.

Abstract: An improved stripper section design is provided for use in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units. The stripper section contains means for imparting rotational movement to the FCC cracking catalyst as it traverses the stripping section. In one embodiment the stripper section contains at least one rotation vane that is preferably disposed on the surface of a stripper section tray. The rotation vane provides angular, rotational movement to the cracking catalyst as it traverses the stripper section. Vertical movement is imparted to the cracking catalyst due to gravity and radial movement is imparted to the catalyst due to the slanted nature of the tray. Through the use of the rotation vanes the contact between the catalyst particles and the stripping steam is increased, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the FCC operation.

Abstract: An FCC apparatus places a quench chamber above a reactor vessel and a hot stripper below a reactor vessel to provide a progressively decreasing temperature profile up the structure of the FCC arrangement and equipment for sequential reaction control. A riser contains the primary catalytic reactions of the hydrocarbon vapor and delivers the reacted vapors to the reactor structure. Starting from the bottom of the structure the hot stripper has the highest temperature and desorbs or displaces hydrocarbons from the catalyst to terminate long residence time catalytic reactions. Above the hot stripper bulk separation equipment divides the main vapor and catalyst stream to limit residence time of major catalytic reactions. At a yet higher elevation and lower internal temperature quench equipment arrests thermal reactions of the vapor stream. This structure arrangement permits reliable control of reaction time to obtain desired products and enhances mechanical reliability of the structure.

Abstract: A horizontal cyclone separator in which a furnace section and a vortex chamber communicating with the furnace section and having an inlet which extends a fraction of the length of the furnace section receives a mixture of the gaseous products of combustion and solids entrained by the gases. A coaxially disposed tube extends partially into the chamber to allow the separated gases to exit the separator. A ring-shaped solids deflector is disposed on the vertical wall opposite the coaxially disposed tube to prevent solids from bouncing off the rear wall towards the center of the separator and into the path of the separated gas stream. The separated solids fall into an outlet trough formed in a lower portion of the furnace section for returning the solids to the furnace section.

Abstract: A pressurized vertically-oriented catalytic reactor vessel has a fluid flow distribution grid plate fixedly mounted transversely in the reactor lower portion for supporting a bed of particulate catalyst above the grid plate, and has at least one elongated conduit for catalyst addition/withdrawal extending upwardly through the reactor lower head and the grid plate. The catalyst addition/withdrawal conduit has a concentric bellows type expansion unit sealably attached at its lower end to the upper side of the grid plate, the bellows unit being sealably attached at its upper end to the catalyst conduit, so that the conduit can thermally expand vertically, and gas leakage cannot occur around the conduit and the grid plate into the catalyst bed.

Abstract: In a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, a regenerator or a stripper includes a standpipe for circulating catalyst from one vessel to another, the standpipe having an inlet design which reduces gas entrainment during catalyst transport by partial de-fluidization in the standpipe inlet region. The standpipe inlet design could include multiple inlet openings through the top of the standpipe or from the side wall by means of slots, or both, and a horizontal disk surrounding the standpipe below the slots for blocking the upward flow of bubbles, the combination thereby forming a dense fluidization zone above the disk and surrounding the inlet, including the slots. Additionally, the disk may include a downwardly-projecting lip or edge forming an inverted void space around the standpipe and the downwardly-projecting edge may further include vent holes around its circumference which allow bubbles trapped under the disk to be vented outside the standpipe inlet region.

Abstract: Process for radial distribution of fluid into a fluid mass wherein fluid is radially conveyed within and isolated from the fluid mass and discharged via a plurality of distribution points located radially in the fluid mass.

Abstract: A method of operating a fluidized bed reactor system for reacting fuel. The method includes introducing solid material particles, fluidization medium and fuel into a reactor chamber to provide a fluidized bed therewithin, reacting the fuel material within the fluidized bed to produce exhaust gas and discharging the exhaust gas from a reactor chamber outlet, introducing the exhaust gas into a particle separator and separating solid particles from the gas in the particle separator, discharging from the particle separator gas through a gas outlet and a first flow of separated solid particles through a solid particle outlet, and cooling, in a gas cooler, the gas discharged from the separator. A second flow of solid particles is branched off from the first flow of solid particles, before or after discharging the first flow of solid particles from the particle separator.

Abstract: A first reactor includes a circulating fluidized-bed rector with a reaction space of an axially annular cross section, and the second reactor includes a circulating fluidized-bed reactor surrounding the first reactor in a symmetrically concentric fashion, whereby also the second reactor has a reaction space of an axially annular cross section. The construction according to the invention makes it possible to implement also large equipment with a small height-to-diameter ratio, whereby the footprint/space requirements of the equipment are minimized and problems associated with thermal expansion are reduced essentially.

Abstract: An FCC process combines ultra short catalyst and feed contacting with the blending of spent and regenerated catalyst in a disengaging vessel that recovers a primary product and passes the separated catalyst to a riser for controlled cracking of the adsorbed heavier hydrocarbons. The disengaging vessel is used as a separation zone to quickly withdraw lighter products that are initially cracked and the riser is used for the remaining hydrocarbons as a controlled secondary cracking section to further convert heavier feed components that are not quickly displaced from the catalyst in the blending/disengaging vessel zone. A separate feed may be added riser downstream of the blending disengaging vessel for cracking of secondary feeds. The arrangement provides a great deal of flexibility in the operation of ultra short catalyst contact systems.

Abstract: An oxygenate conversion process and fast-fluidized bed reactor are disclosed having an upper disengaging zone and a lower reaction zone. The process is carried out in a reaction zone having a dense phase zone in the lower reaction zone and a transition zone which extends into the disengaging zone. The feedstock in the presence of a diluent is passed to the dense phase zone containing a non-zeolitic catalyst to effect at least a partial conversion to light olefins and then passed to the transition zone above the dense phase zone to achieve essentially complete conversion. A portion of the catalyst is withdrawn from above the transition zone in the disengaging zone, at least partially regenerated, and returned to a point above the dense phase zone, while catalyst is continuously circulated from the disengaging zone to the lower reaction zone.

Abstract: A fluidized catalytic cracking apparatus includes a riser containing a regenerated catalyst and adsorbant, and has a first inlet for introduction of high velocity steam, a second inlet for introduction of a feed stream containing heavy residual fractions with high concentrations of conradson coke, metals including vanadium and nickel, and additional poisons including nitrogen, a third inlet for introduction of an adsorbent, and a fourth inlet disposed above the third inlet means for introduction of a regenerated catalyst, the adsorbent having a particle size which is larger than that of the regenerated catalyst.

Abstract: An arrangement for the controlled production of an essentially linear array of hydrocarbon feed injection jets reduces required clearances and elevation while facilitating modification of the contacting locating a feed distributor containing a linear array of jets at a standpipe junction point to provide choke point for particle flow control. The flow properties of the extended particle layer are controlled by adjusting the density of the particles above the choke point created by the upper part of the standpipe inside diameter and the top of the distributor. Steam or another fluidization medium may be added to the particles directly above the distributor for this purpose. This invention can also modify the particle or feed injection characteristics by changing the projection of the distributor into the standpipe to adjust the flow area over the choke point and by the use of bottom slides or baffles to change the flow area size and configuration.

Abstract: A fluidized-bed reactor is suitable for uniformly oxidizing, i.e. combusting or gasifying, solid material containing combustible material and incombustible material, and for stably recovering thermal energy from the oxidized combustible material while smoothly discharging the incombustible material. The fluidized-bed reactor comprises a plurality of fluidizing gas diffusion devices disposed at a bottom of a fluidized-bed furnace for imparting different fluidizing speeds to the fluidized medium in a fluidized bed in the fluidized-bed furnace to form an upward flow of the fluidized medium in a fluidizing region with a substantially high fluidizing speed of the fluidized medium and a descending flow of the fluidized medium in a fluidizing region with a substantially low fluidizing speed of the fluidized medium. A plate-like thermal energy recovery device is disposed in the fluidizing region with the substantially low fluidizing speed of the fluidized medium and has a heat recovery surface extending vertically.

Abstract: The conversion apparatus comprises in succession: a reactor provided with injectors of UF.sub.6, steam, and nitrogen so as to cause UO.sub.2 F.sub.2 to be formed by hydrolysis; a rotary tubular pyrohydrolysis furnace for transforming UO.sub.2 F.sub.2 into uranium oxide, and provided with heaters distributed in at least five zones; and a tail end for conditioning the oxide powder. The injectors comprise three concentric nozzles connected respectively to inlets for UF.sub.6, nitrogen, and steam, UF.sub.6 being fed to the central nozzle and nitrogen being injected between UF.sub.6 and steam.

Abstract: According to the present invention, boiler water is pressurized so that its boiling point is set at approximately 200.degree. C. to 320.degree. C. The boiler water is heated in at least two stages. Thermal energy of gases containing chlorine compounds is used to heat the water to its boiling point. Thermal energy of gases which do not contain chlorine compounds is used to heat the water from its boiling point until superheated steam of a given temperature is generated. The heating which uses the thermal energy of gases containing chlorine compounds is accomplished using the thermal energy from the combustion of pyrolysis gases obtained from a pyrolysis means in which waste material is supplied into a chamber containing a fluidized bed medium which has been heated to at least 300.degree. C., and a pyrolytic reaction is induced.

Abstract: A pollution control and fuel energy saving device for use in boilers and furnaces which includes a container for a catalyst. The catalyst contains Aegle marmelos and Ocimum basilicum. The device may contain a backup container that is used to maintain the level of the catalyst in the container.

Abstract: Heat exchanger, consisting of a reservoir, having upwardly directed tubes that are flowed through by a liquid to be heated and by fluidized bed particles for cleaning the tubes internally. Connected to the reservoir is an external downcomer (2) for receiving fluidized bed particles coming from the top box (21) of the reservoir and to be conveyed again to the bottom box (25) of the reservoir. Provided in the downcomer (2) is an inner tube (1) of smaller diameter, which is open at its bottom end (5) and provided, directly below the closed top end (9), with openings (8) for effecting a circulation flow in the downcomer (2).

Abstract: A lysis chamber of an assay device capable of producing lysis of cells in a sample fluid such as whole blood, said chamber comprising a surface which contacts the sample fluid when the sample fluid is placed into the assay device; and a lytic material immobilized on the surface, whereby cells of the sample fluid are lysed when they contact the lytic material. The chamber can delimit a capillary space, and lytic material can be saponin or a detergent. Methods employing devices comprising such chambers can assay for whole blood amounts of cyclosporin or hemoglobin A1c.

Abstract: A process is described for catalytic cracking of a petroleum feed in which a catalyst from a regeneration zone 4 is caused to flow in a dense fluidized bed conditioning zone 2 upstream of an injection zone 10, the fluidization rate being 0.1 to 30 cm/s. The throughput of catalyst into injection zone 10 is regulated by a constriction means 11. The hydrocarbon feed 12 is injected below the constriction means and flows counter-current to the direction of flow of the shaped catalyst flow. The hydrocarbon feed 12 is injected at a set injection angle depending on the movement of the feed and the catalyst.

Abstract: A method and bioreactor (10) apparatus is described for maintaining cells in a culture medium containing gas or liquid aphrons. A preferred microbubble generator (42, 42A) of a gas which is necessary for maintaining the cells to produce plant derived chemicals is described. Bioparticles (11) containing magnetically susceptible particles are provided in a column (12) surrounded by a solenoids (13, 14, 14A) which act to hold the bioparticles in position in the column. Preferably, one of the solenoids with a magnetically susceptible screen (24) acts as a valve to allow a portion of the bioparticles to be removed from the column.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a physical and/or chemical process, such as a heat exchanger, including a reservoir in which a series of riser pipes (2) are arranged. Disposed in the reservoir (1) is a fluidized bed of granular material. The apparatus includes means for circulating the particles of the fluidized bed through the riser pipes (2), which means include a downcomer (15) arranged outside the reservoir (1), this downcomer being closed off at the bottom end by an inclined closing plate (16). Above the closing plate (16), via a bypass line (17), a part of the medium to be treated is fed to the particle bed resting on the plate (16).

Abstract: A laboratory scale fluid catalytic cracking apparatus and method of use thereof, which provides cracking performance that emulates commercial riser cracking. The apparatus includes a reactor having a removable feed injector to quickly facilitate changing hydrocarbon contact time without varying the feed rate or diluent rates, or catalyst charge, and also without the expense of a new reactor. The feed injector is a tube within a tube design. The feed injector allows hydrocarbon feed as well as fluidization gas to be delivered to a prescribed axial position within a catalyst bed in the reactor to directly affect hydrocarbon contact time. The reactor also includes a conical bottom head having a conical section and a lower fluidization gas nozzle connected at its apex. The total included angle of the conical section may vary between 10.degree. and 1700.degree.

Abstract: Methods, devices, apparatus and kits for amplifying and detecting nucleic acid are provided. The apparatus is a one or two-tier thermal cycling device that operates in conjunction with a reaction/detection unit. A sample is loaded into a reaction chamber of the device which is then mated with a detection chamber to form the reaction/detection unit. A first heating element of the thermal cycling apparatus applies a desired temperature to the reaction/detection device to amplify target nucleic acid in the sample. The reaction mixture is then transferred to the detection chamber by the second heating element and amplified target nucleic acid is immobilized on a support in the detection chamber. Microprocessor control controls the heat applied by the second element independently of the heat applied by the first element. A detection system associated with the apparatus detects and analyzes the immobilized amplified nucleic acid target.