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: An organic digester apparatus is provided for the production of liquid fertilizer and methane gas from organic waste materials. The apparatus includes a plurality of digesters each having a gas sealing well between the tank and the roof member of the digester. In addition, each digester includes means for supporting the roof with pressurized gas, for rotating the roof, for washing the digester, and for observing the interior of the digester.

Abstract: A low energy process for the production of hydrogen-rich gas which involves the process sequence of primary reforming and secondary reforming includes parallel steam reformers for the primary reforming of the hydrocarbon feed, one portion of the hydrocarbon feed being heated using radiant heat, i.e., a steam reforming furnace, and another portion of the hydrocarbon feed being heated using indirect heat exchange with the effluent from the secondary reforming, i.e., an exchanger-reactor.

Abstract: An exchanger reactor including a shell assembly having a tube bundle assembly mounted in and separate from the shell assembly. Inlet and outlet means are provided to the tube bundle assembly which includes a tube inlet chamber, a tube outlet chamber, tubes extending between the tube inlet and outlet chambers and an expansion means positioned between the inlet means to the tube bundle assembly and the inlet chamber for providing relative movement between the shell assembly and the tube bundle assembly. The shell assembly includes a shell inlet chamber and a shell outlet chamber.

Abstract: Ethanolamines are prepared by the reaction of ethylene oxide with ammonia, using an apparatus consisting of a reactor (A) comprising a vertical multitube heat exchanger type reaction chamber 20 composed of a shell plate 9, a top tube plate 10a, a bottom tube plate 10b and tubes 11 and including buffer plates 18 within a shell-side space 15; a gas-liquid separating drum 12 located over the top tube plate 10a of the reaction chamber 20; a circulating pipe 14 connecting the gas-liquid separating drum 12 to a bottom space 32 leading to a tube-side space 13 of the reaction chamber 20; an ammonia solution-introducing tube 8 and a plurality of ethylene oxide-introducing tubes 19, which are both provided so as to be opened into the shell-side space 15 of the reaction chamber 20; and a conduit 16 connecting the shell-side space 15 of the reaction chamber 20, the bottom space 32 of the reaction chamber 20 and the gas-liquid separating drum 12 and pressure control valve 17a and valve 17b provided in the path of the cond