Abstract: It has been discovered that the tubes within a radiant heating section of a coking furnace can be advantageously arranged differently than in a single vertical column and connected together in a simple, planar serpentine pattern. By arranging the tubes in a plurality of offset or staggered vertical columns, the same number of tubes can be contained in a shorter vertical space with savings in the size of the coking furnace. This arrangement permits the upper tubes to be closer to the radiant heat source thus making the heating of the feedstock more efficient, and also allows the tube bends connecting adjacent tubes to be of greater radius, meaning that the pressure at which the feedstock is passed through the tube bundle can be lower allowing more vaporization of the cracked process fluids. The tendency for coke to deposit on the interior walls of the tubes is reduced, increasing operational availability and lowering maintenance costs for cleaning out the tubes.

Abstract: A spherical shaped semiconductor integrated circuit (“ball”) and a system and method for manufacturing same. The ball replaces the function of the flat, conventional chip. The physical dimensions of the ball allow it to adapt to many different manufacturing processes which otherwise could not be used. Furthermore, the assembly and mounting of the ball may facilitates efficient use of the semiconductor as well as circuit board space.

Abstract: An oxy-combustion firing configuration, process, and apparatus can reduce the consumption of oxygen and fuel in an oxy-fuel combustion processes. Processes in accordance with the present invention include operation of an automated logic control device which controls an oscillating valve and controller. The valve and controller are used to oscillate the fuel and/or oxygen supplied to individual burners in a furnace. The oscillating parameters, such as frequency, amplitude, duty cycle, and phase difference between individual burners and their stoichiometry ratio are set to initiate preferable oxy-combustion in that furnace. Selective burner placement in the furnace enables the formation of deflagration zones which can provide very intense heating and complete combustion.

Abstract: “Process for Adjusting the Water Vapor Content in Very High Temperature Furnace”

Abstract: In an apparatus for producing perlite granules, having an expansion tube and one or more burners arranged at one end of the expansion tube, the combustion air is blown into the flame through one or more combustion air nozzles. An additional subsonic nozzle is arranged in at least one combustion air nozzle. In a process for expanding raw perlite in the updraft from a flame, with the introduction of oxygen or oxygen-enriched air into this flame, the oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is introduced axially into the flame through subsonic nozzles.

Abstract: An improved convective heat transfer arrangement is disclosed achieving overall heat transfer efficiencies in the neighborhood of 30 Btu/(hr. ft.sup.2 .degree.F.). A heat transfer conduit including a heat transfer wall is axially divided into a plurality of axially extending heat transfer chambers by a plurality of transversely extending baffles. Each baffle is especially configured to have an axially extending recess formed therein through which extends an orifice opening. Heat transfer gas pumped through the conduit cascades through the heat transfer chambers forming and reforming nascent free standing jet streams through each baffle orifice which impinge the heat transfer wall to achieve very high heat transfer coefficients while efficiently utilizing the available heat in the heat transfer gas.

Abstract: A heating mantle for heating materials, such as metals, alloys or inorganic chemicals in a retort, includes a tubular wall and annular chambers cooperating with said wall for forming a tortious path around the retort for hot gases. The mantle provides a very high convective heat transfer coefficient.

Abstract: A burner unit is used for firing, for example, formed ceramic bodies in a firing furnace. The burner unit includes a burner tile assembly provided in a furnace wall and a burner connected to the burner tile assembly and provided out of the firing furnace. The burner is integrally provided with a connecting burner tile assembly having a tapered step. The burner tile assembly is also provided with a tapered step. The tapered steps of the connecting burner tile assembly and the burner tile assembly are connected through a sealing material to connect the burner to the burner tile assembly. With this arrangement, the burner unit reduces heat dissipation due to a burner construction and enables maintenance to be effected during operation of the burner.

Abstract: The calciner is an elongated, insulated chamber, in which material is fed to counter-rotating screw conveyors. The material is calcined by heat radiating from a muffle plate interposed between the conveyors and gas-fired burners. This radiant heating, applied evenly to material having a constantly-exposed fresh surface, results in increased production, lower fuel cost per pound of product, and higher quality product.

Abstract: A ring furnace including pits bounded laterally by side wall flues, the side wall flues being connected in series by means for conducting gases between the side wall flues of the pits, so that heat in previously fired side wall flues can preheat air for combustion in a fired side wall flue and exhaust gases from the fired side wall flue can give up heat to articles in pits bounded by yet-to-be-fired side wall flues, wherein the improvement includes a Y-baffle inverted and centered in at least one of the side wall flues.