Abstract: A digester vessel for containing material to be subjected to a high temperature pulsating high pressure process with an inner tubular enclosing metal wall of a helically corrugated sheet material forming a chamber thereon, an outer containing tubular wall, and an intermediate layer of stacked ceramic material with a vent opening through the outer wall, mold bodies fitting the corrugation spaces between the inner wall and the intermediate layer, corrugated flanges at the ends of the inner wall welded to the outer wall, and an end closure for the chamber having a flange meeting a flange of the outer wall with a packing therebetween.

Abstract: A fluid-wall reactor for high temperature chemical reactions is described, the reactor comprising (A) a porous reactor tube, at least a portion of the interior of which defines a reaction zone, the tube being made of a fabric of a fibrous refractory material; (B) a pressure vessel enclosing the reactor tube to define an inert fluid plenum, the pressure vessel having at least one inlet for admitting the inert fluid which is directed under pressure through the porous tube wall to provide a protective blanket for the inside surface of the reactor tube; (C) means for introducing at least one reactant into the reaction zone, the reactants being directed in a predetermined path axially of the reactor tube and being confined by the protective blanket substantially centrally within the reaction zone; (D) means disposed within the plenum for heating the reactor tube to the temperature level at which it emits sufficient radiant energy to initiate and sustain the desired chemical reaction, the radiant energy being direc

Abstract: Chemical synthesis apparatus includes a differential pumping device mounted in an evacuable container between an evaporant source providing a first chemical constituent and the reaction region. The differential pumping can be provided by apertured diaphragms or hollow cones, which may be cooled, mounted directly above the source which is thereby maintained at a lower pressure than the reaction region. The source may be an electron beam source or a resistively heated source arranged to direct the evaporant upwards into the reaction region and a second chemical constituent may be introduced into the reaction region. The invention also provides a method of chemical synthesis in which differential pumping is carried out between the reaction region and the source of one of the constituents.

Abstract: An electrical resistance heater for high temperature chlorination of alumina bearing material by gaseous chlorine within a reaction chamber. The heater comprises two, closely spaced, side-by-side, elongated posts made of a carbonaceous material electrically connected together adjacent one of their ends. Two metal bars extend respectively into the other ends of the posts for directing electrical current through the posts. Means are provided for directing an inert gas along the external surfaces of the posts that tend to be cooler than the portions of the posts located to provide the high temperature.

Abstract: A sodium storage and injection system for delivering atomized liquid sodium to a chemical reactor employed in the production of solar grade silicon. The system is adapted to accommodate start-up, shut-down, normal and emergency operations and is characterized by a jacketed injection nozzle adapted to atomize liquefied sodium and a supply circuit connected to the nozzle for delivering thereto liquefied sodium comprising a plurality of replaceable sodium containment vessels, a pump interposed between the vessels and the nozzle, and a pressurizing circuit including a source of inert gas connected with the vessels for maintaining the sodium under pressure.

Abstract: Disclosure is made of an apparatus for reacting carbonaceous material with heated hydrogen to form hydrocarbon gases and liquids suitable for conversion to fuels wherein the reaction involves injection of carbonaceous material such as pulverized coal entrained in a minimum amount of gas and mixing the entrained coal at near ambient temperature with a separate source of heated hydrogen. The hydrogen is heated in a coil having an increasing inside diameter. The heated hydrogen and entrained coal are injected through a rocket engine type injector device. The coal particles are reacted with hydrogen in a reaction chamber downstream of the injector. The products of reaction are rapidly quenched as they exit the reaction chamber and are subsequently collected.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing fluids comprises a radiation chamber which comprises a source of ultraviolet radiation; a housing surrounding said source and including an inner casing permeable to ultraviolet radiation and bounding a channel with said source, and an outer casing surrounding said inner casing and forming a treating space therewith; a conduit for conducting a stream of gas containing molecular oxygen through said channel for exposure to said ultraviolet radiation to produce an ozone-enriched gas; a conduit for conducting a fluid through said treating space so as to become sterilized by the ultraviolet radiation; and a conduit for introducing at least a portion of said ozone-enriched gas from said channel into said treating space to become united with said fluid, whereby said introduced portion of ozone-enriched gas is again exposed to ultraviolet radiation in order to produce an increased content of ozone in said ozone-enriched gas and an additional sterilizing effect is produced in said fluid.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making vitreous silica of high purity including producing a melt of liquid silicon in a first chamber, mixing the liquid silicon with carbon dioxide in an upper zone of a second chamber to produce silicon monoxide, mixing the silicon monoxide with oxygen in a lower zone of the second chamber producing silicon dioxide in gaseous form, condensing the silicon dioxide on the wall of the second chamber, and withdrawing the resultant tube of vitreous silica from the lower end of the second chamber. The apparatus is lined with silica to prevent introduction of impurities. The liquid silicon is produced by mixing hydrogen and trichlorosilane.