Abstract: In a carbon black manufacturing process in which a carbon black dryer is utilized to produce a product carbon black having a specified dryness, method and apparatus is provided for controlling the flow of fuel to the carbon blackdryer so as to insure that the dryness of the carbon black product will meet predetermined specifications. Feedforward, predictive control of the flow rate of the fuel to the carbon black dryer is utilized to compensate for changes in the flow rate of wet carbon black or for changes in the moisture content of the wet carbon black. In this manner, the dryness of the carbon black product is maintained at a predetermined specification even though process variations may occur.

Abstract: An apparatus which monitors and controls the mass flow rates of two or more fuels and air is connected to a burner of a conventional asphalt drum mixer. Several fuels are combined and ignited to produce predictable burner temperatures. In this manner, fuels which ordinarily burn inefficiently can be used in conjunction with other more combustible fuels to produce hot mix asphalt. The regulation of the total fuel to air ratio results in controlled combustion which reduces overheating of the asphalt.

Abstract: Oxygen sensor comprising solid oxygen-ion-conducting electrolyte with a platinum group metal film electrode contacts and monitors nonoxidizing or reducing gas atmosphere in a metal heat treatment (gas carburizing) furnace after a getter of the same platinum group metal as in the film electrode removes platinum group metal contaminants from such atmosphere before it contacts the electrode. Getter is held in a thin-walled, multi-passaged honeycomb body.

Abstract: An automatic control system for a continuous ring furnace, wherein the chambers and groups of chambers are operated successively in different phases of the baking cycle; the condition of certain chambers being monitored to obtain signals representing actual parameters and the signals being fed to a computer for comparison to optimum values and correction of any observed deviations therefrom.

Abstract: A method for automatically controlling the burning process for CaCO.sub.3 and MgCO.sub.3 materials in a kiln which includes feeding burnt material and liquid reagent into a reaction chamber. Then, the amount of heat per unit weight burnt material per unit time liberated in the reaction chamber is determined. The kiln is controlled using the amount of heat determined above.

Abstract: A heating-ventilating system including an air duct adapted to be installed in an exterior wall of a poultry house and having a fan mounted near the interior end of the duct and a fuel burner mounted in the duct upstream from said fan, the fuel burner being adapted to burn fuel efficiently in the high velocity air flow provided by the fan; an igniter including an electric spark generator for igniting the burner in response to an electrical signal, a first stage fuel control valve and a second stage fuel control valve with the main fuel control valve responding to a flame sensor and to a thermostat in the interior of the poultry house and the second stage fuel control valve responding to a second independent thermostat; a control for the fan which operates the fan alone in response to a warmer than desired temperature in the poultry house, which causes the fan to turn off at a desired temperature range in the poultry house, and which causes the fan to operate in conjunction with the fuel burner for lower than d

Abstract: A method for preventing fires and explosions and thus controlling excess temperature within a burn-off or reclamation furnace including a water injection nozzle within the furnace, an automatic valve assembly connected to a source of water under pressure to turn the water on and off, an input burner to heat contaminate materials, an afterburner to burn volatile gases given off by the contaminate materials as they are heated, a temperature sensor located in the discharge from the afterburner to actuate the automatic valve assembly open and closed responsive to the temperature of the discharge, the temperature of the discharge depending on the rate of emission of volatile gases from the contaminate material so that if a high emission rate causes a predetermined temperature to be exceeded the valve assembly opens and the water injection nozzle sprays water on the contaminate materials to cool them and decrease the emission rate until the valve assembly closes.

Abstract: The cooking process comprises the steps of providing a food treatment chamber equipped with a vapor pervious conveyor; preparing a moving stream of a process vapor at a temperature having a lower range of between 165.degree. F. to 212.degree. F.; circulating the stream along the conveyor; injecting water vapor into the moving stream of process vapor and supplying heat to the moving stream to control the temperature and moisture content of the process vapor; placing the food product in discrete pieces upon the conveyor; and moving the product continuously in its original position on the conveyor through the treatment chamber.

Abstract: In a dry type method and apparatus for quenching coke wherein hot coke charged in a coke quenching installation is cooled by circulating cooling gas in the installation through a closed circulating system including a blower and a heat exchanger, the composition of the cooling gas is analyzed and compared with a reference gas composition and air or nitrogen gas is supplemented to the closed circulating system in accordance with the result of comparison. A portion of the circulating gas is discharged to the atmosphere when air or nitrogen gas is supplemented. Air is supplemented on the high temperature discharge side of the circulating cooling gas while nitrogen gas is supplemented on the low temperature inlet side. The cooling gas is discharged to the atmosphere before the supplementation of the nitrogen gas.

Abstract: A method of preventing a raw mix disposed on a pallet of a moving grate type sintering machine from being unevenly sintered in the transverse direction extending across the width of the sinter and an apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed. The raw mix is fed on moving pallets which form the bed. The temperature distribution of waste gas soon after it has passed through the bed in a direction perpendicular to the bed is measured at the sinter exit side of the sintering machine. The temperature thus measured is utilized to adjust the amount of raw mix to be delivered from a surge hopper upon the pallet and adjust the density of the packed layer and hence correct the gas-permeability of the bed and the sintering effect upon the bed in its transverse direction. Thus, the sintering bed is prevented from being unevenly sintered by the sintering machine.