Abstract: There is provided an improved method and apparatus for renewal of a plurality of faces across which gas enters a panel of a granular material. The panel is for contacting the gas and granular material with each other to effect physical or chemical treatment of at least one of them (for example, to filter dust from a gas or to remove a constituent from a gas by means of adsorption or absorption). In the panel, gas-entry faces are transversely disposed, upwardly spaced, and held in place by supporting members. These supporting members are subjected to a sharp motion in a direction toward the gas-entry faces, causing body movement of the granular material toward the faces, thereby causing moieties of granular material to fall away therefrom. Removal of these moieties and exposure of previously underlying granular material renew the faces. Flat-plate louvers are preferred supporting members.

Abstract: A low-pressure multifunctional filter separates CO2 and other air pollutants from flue, coal, natural and other gas mixtures. The separation agent is a solid carbon-rich sorbent, such as coke, charcoal, coal or activated carbon, that captures CO2 and other air pollutants at lower temperatures and liberates them at higher temperatures. The sorbent is regenerated by heating with direct steam, hot CO2 or other source of thermal energy. The recovered CO2-rich product can be used for enhanced oil recovery, enhanced methane recovery, and subsequent storage in depleted oil and gas reservoirs.

Abstract: A composite sorbent is formed which is the reaction product of a solid alkali metal carbonate, rehydratable alumina and water or an aqueous solution of a metal salt. The reaction between the components occurs while forming particulates followed by curing and activation. In one embodiment, the composite contains an appreciable amount of a Dawsonite-type hydroxycarbonate as a final product or as an intermediate in at least one of the production stages. The alkali metal in the sorbent exhibits a highly reactive and accessible state that is very favorable for various sorption applications. The sorbent is especially useful for removal of HCl and other acid contaminants from gas and liquid hydrocarbon streams. It combines a high capacity for the contaminants with a low reactivity towards the hydrocarbon components of the main stream.

Abstract: A process for purifying polluted air includes passing the polluted air through a fluidized bed of micro-organism-containing particulate media. As the polluted air passes through the fluidized bed, organic pollutants therein are decomposed by the micro-organisms. Purified air containing a lower level of the organic pollutants than the polluted air that enters the fluidized bed, emerges from the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A bromination process includes contacting fly ash with liquid bromine to increase the mercury adsorbing ability of the fly ash. The resultant brominated fly ash can be used to adsorb mercury in a high temperature combustion gas.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is method and envelope structure for handling gas diffusion of airships and other balloons to significantly decrease, respectively fully eliminate envelope diffusion of gases through envelopes of airships and other balloons. During the method according to the invention the gases diffused through the envelope (8, 9) of airships and other balloons are collected into a separator space (2). These gases are separated from the mixture of this separator space by physical and/or chemical action and forwarded back to their sources. The invention is further an envelope structure for handling gas diffusion of airships and other balloons for applying methods according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of expensive and highly selective adsorbents and catalysts for trace contaminant gas removal to generate products of high and ultra-high purity. Mixing such highly selective materials with other less expensive, less selective materials results in the ability to achieve higher purity, higher capacity and/or lower cost without adding additional expensive selective material.

Abstract: A process and system for the purification of germane containing phosphine to provide a purified germane product. One aspect of the present invention is a process for making a purified germane product containing less than 50 ppb of phosphine which comprises providing a phosphine contaminated germane gas hydrogen gas mixture; passing the germane gas hydrogen gas mixture through an adsorbent which selectively adsorbs phosphine and withdrawing therefrom a purified germane gas hydrogen mixture; and separating the purified germane gas from the hydrogen germane gas mixture.

Abstract: A method of improve the removal of particulate matter, heavy metals, neutralizing acid, and kill microorganism pollutants, known to be in contaminated air volumes of occupied confined spaces, when exposed in close contact under pressure to a mixture of alkaline sorbent materials, having a known synergism between said pollutants using a self propelled fluidized bed reactor and packed bed filter apparatus system to optimize the contact collection efficiency of submicron particles and organic compounds.

Abstract: An economic parameter estimator is provided for a process that has multiple process parameters (MPPs) and is performed to control emission of a pollutant into the air. The performance of the process is associated with one or more economic factors (EFs). The estimator includes either a neural network process model or a non-neural network process model. In either case, the model represents a relationship between one or more of the MPPs and an economic parameter. Also included is a processor configured with logic, e.g. programmed software, to estimate a monetary value of the economic parameter based on a value of each of the one or more MPPs, a value of each of at least one of the one or more EFs, and the one model.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a coal combustion flue gas. In one embodiment, the method includes injecting a halogen into a flue gas, and injecting partially combusted, carbon enriched alkaline coal ash solid particles into the flue gas ahead of a particulate collection device. In another embodiment, the method includes exposing partially combusted, carbon enriched alkaline coal ash solid particles to a halogen containing atmosphere, and injecting the halogen atmosphere treated alkaline carbon containing solid particles into the flue gas ahead of a particulate collection device.

Abstract: A controller for directing operation of an air pollution control (APC) system, requires a consumable to perform a process to control emissions of a pollutant. The process has multiple process parameters (MPPs). One or more of the MPPs is a controllable process parameters (CTPPs) and one of the MPPs is an amount of the pollutant (AOP) emitted by the system. A defined AOP value (AOPV) represents a limit on an actual value (AV) of the emitted AOP. An interface receives a value corresponding to a unit cost of the consumable. A control processor determines the cost of operating the system based on the received value corresponding to the unit cost of the consumable, and directs control of at least one of CTPPs based on the current value of that CTPP and the determined operating cost.

Abstract: A continuous concentration system for volatile organic compounds for concentrating volatile organic compounds that undergo an absorption process and a removal process includes: a moving-bed chamber in which modules for absorbing volatile organic compounds are absorbed. An absorption bed line to which the volatile organic compounds are supplied to be absorbed to the module is provided on one side of the moving-bed chamber. A removal-cooling bed line for performing a removal process for removing the volatile organic compounds absorbed to the module and a cooling process for cooling the module that has undergone the removal process is provided on the other side of the moving-bed chamber.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed for making and using micro-porous particulates at least partially composed of metal sulfides, particularly alkaline earth metal and transition metal sulfides, as sorbents for removal of mercury from flue gas. Calcium sulfide micro-porous powders derived from the high temperature reduction of calcium sulfate and calcium sulfite are disclosed to be reactive substrates for a group of sorbents for adsorption of mercury from coal combustion flue gases produced by the utilities industry, as well as from natural gas and gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons. The sorbents are useful for cost-effectively adsorbing elemental mercury and oxidized mercury species such as mercuric chloride from flue gases, including those containing acid gases (e.g., SO.sub.2, NO and NO.sub.2, and HCl), over a wide range of temperatures.

Abstract: A method of separating a coal particle-laden gas mixture into a flue gas recirculation stream and a concentrated sorbent stream includes initiating combustion of a mixture of air and coal in a combustion chamber, extracting a mixture of flue gas and partially-combusted coal particles from the combustion chamber, inducing flow of the mixture of flue gas and partially-combusted coal particles toward a core separator apparatus, and separating the mixture of flue gas and partially-combusted coal particles into the flue gas recirculation stream and the concentrated sorbent stream using a centrifugal action of the core separator apparatus. The recirculation stream and the concentrated sorbent stream flow out of the core separator apparatus on a substantially continuous basis.

Abstract: A filter separator and method, including an annular microfilter and a separation chamber within the microfilter including a plurality of mixing blades circulating fluid upwardly and downward within the chamber. When the apparatus is used to purify syngas, adherent metal oxide particles are circulated in the chamber to adsorb waste oxides. The apparatus is purged by injecting hot CO2 free gas into the chamber through the filter and the filter pores may be expanded during purging.

Abstract: A sorbent composition comprising a vanadium compound and a ZrO2 support material is disclosed. Methods of making and using the composition to remove heavy metals or heavy metal containing compounds from a fluid stream are also provided. Such methods are particularly useful in the removal of mercury and mercury compounds from flue gas streams produced from the combustion of hydrocarbon-containing materials such as coal and petroleum fuels.

Abstract: The invention relates to regenerative, supported amine sorbents that includes an amine or an amine/polyol composition deposited on a nano-structured support such as nanosilica. The sorbent provides structural integrity, as well as high selectivity and increased capacity for efficiently capturing carbon dioxide from gas mixtures, including the air. The sorbent is regenerative, and can be used through multiple operations of absorption-desorption cycles.

Abstract: A composition comprising a vanadium oxide compound and an alkali metal promoter loaded onto a porous support material is disclosed. Methods of making and using the composition to remove heavy metals or heavy metal containing compounds from a fluid stream are also provided. Such methods are particularly useful in the removal of mercury and mercury compounds from flue gas streams produced from the combustion of hydrocarbon-containing materials such as coal and petroleum fuels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sorption element for a sorption-supported air conditioning unit for the humidification and/or heating and/or cooling of a room or an airflow. According to the invention, the heat and material transfer may be improved with a reduction in the size of the embodiment, variable amounts of the employed sorption agent and increased resistance to over-saturation, whereby the sorption element is embodied as a tubular piece with a tubular cross-section with a first and an opposing second open end with a first air-permeable grid element (23), defining the first open end and a second air-permeable grid element (14), defining the second open end thereof, whereby the grid elements do not permit a sorption agent to pass.

Abstract: A moving bed system for removing contaminates from a fluid stream is provided. The system can include a housing and a first bed system disposed in the housing. The first bed system can be coupled to the housing, and can include at least one flow channel adapted to enable an adsorbent material to flow through the first bed system. The system can include a second bed system disposed in the housing, which can include at least one flow channel in fluid communication with the first bed system to receive the adsorbent material from the first bed system. The channel of the second bed system can be symmetrical to the flow channel of the first bed system about a horizontal axis. The first bed system and the second bed system can direct a contaminated fluid stream into contact with the adsorbent material to remove the contaminates from the fluid stream.

Abstract: In a method of separating gaseous pollutants from hot process gases, the process gases are passed through a contact reactor (22), in which an absorbent material in a moistened state is introduced to convert the gaseous pollutants into separable dust. The dust is separated in a dust separator (10). The separated dust is cooled in a first step by being brought into direct contact with a cooling fluid. In a second step, the cooled dust is mixed with a gas containing water vapour, said gas having a saturation temperature that is higher than the temperature of the cooled dust. The dust moistened by condensation of the water vapour is introduced into the contact reactor (22) to be mixed with the process gases. A mixer (24) for moistening of absorbent material has a first end (26) and a second end (28) and is divided into two zones. A first zone is a cooling zone (68) located at the first end (26). A second zone is a moistening zone (80) located at the second end (28).

Abstract: A controller directs the operation of an air pollution control (APC) system having one or more controllable operating parameters and a defined operating limit representing a regulatory limit on an allowed amount of pollutant to be emitted by the APC system. An interface receives data representing a value of a regulatory credit available for emitting less of the pollutant than the regulatory limit on the allowed amount of pollutant. A control processor (i) determines a target set point for each of at least one of the one or more controllable operating parameters, which will maximize the regulatory credits earned, based on the received data and (ii) to directs control of each of the at least one controllable operating parameter based on the determined target set point for that parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for producing fluorine by providing a contained fluorine precursor source located proximate to or remotely from an adsorbent bed, optionally in a replaceable unit that may be a replaceable module comprising both the fluorine source and the adsorbent bed. Fluorine derived preferably from a nitrogen trifluoride source and used to remove deposited silicon-containing impurities in reaction chambers is reclaimed from an adsorbent bed, and made available to the reaction chamber as a supplemental fluorine source to reduce the total required amount of nitrogen trifluoride source gas. The separation column adsorbent is regenerated in cyclical intervals using a reverse flow of inert gas.

Abstract: Distributed valve simulated moving beds are described in which junctions located between successive columns interrupt the flow of process fluid between columns, and either transmit the process fluid through a zone bypass to a succeeding column within the same zone or, if the junction is located between zones, direct the process fluid to an input/output line that is dedicated to the particular zone that immediately follows the junction. At each step of the SMB's operation, the distribution of flows in each junction is modulated to accomplish movement of ports consistent with the SMB's design. Further described are simulated moving beds that contain one or more decoupled on-line regeneration zones. The regeneration zone is decoupled from the separation zones in the sense that it observes a step time (a “regeneration interval”) that is different than the step time observed by the separation zones of the SMB.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for the removal of dust, HF, HCl, SO2, SO3, heavy metals, heavy-metal compounds, polyhalogenated hydrocarbons and polycyclic hydrocarbons from combustion flue gases by treating the pollutant-containing combustion flue gases with a sorbent in a circulating fluidized bed. The process is characterized in that the sorbent used is a mixture of Ca(OH)2, at least one naturally occurring zeolite and a carbon-containing substance, in that the treatment of the pollutant-containing combustion flue gases with the sorbent is carried out at from 120 to 180° C.

Abstract: A decentralized cleaning plant for dry cleaning by removing fluorine containing waste gases from a reduction process in several electrolytic cells for aluminum, comprising: a storing place for aluminum oxide; a transportation system to distribute aluminum oxide from the storing place to the decentralized cleaning plant, a filter portion to store aluminum oxide before and after use in the decentralized cleaning plant; and an exhaust fan integrated with a top filter part of the plant, wherein a chimney and a separate silo are not required.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing sulfur containing compounds such as H2S and COS from a gas stream, comprising contacting the gas stream with an absorbent in a fluidized bed, which absorbent is based on at least one oxide of a first metal selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn, in combination with at least one oxide of a second metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mo and W on a carrier selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, TiO2, or ZrO2 or mixtures thereof, said absorbent being in the form of particles.

Abstract: A receptacle (14) open in its upper part into which opens a conduit (13), is inserted between a device (11) for fast extraction and the stripping zone (18). The receptacle (14) consists at its base of at least one diffuser (15) fed in fluidization gas and to which the solid particles are put in a dense fluidized bed state (17), whose density ranges between 300 and 800 kg.m−3, then escape by overflow from the receptacle (14) toward the stripping zone (18) located below.

Abstract: A device for removing contaminants from a natural gas stream is provided. The device comprises a first adsorbent positioned within a first fluidized bed operating at a first predetermined temperature for removing at least a portion of the contaminants from the natural gas stream and creating a partially sweetened natural gas stream. A second adsorbent is positioned within a second fluidized bed operating at a second predetermined temperature for receiving the partially sweetened natural gas stream with the second adsorbent removing at least a portion of the contaminants from the partially sweetened natural gas stream. Furthermore, a conversion apparatus can be provided for converting H2S within the removed contaminants to elemental sulfur and hydrogen at a third predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A method for removing vapor phase contaminants from a gas stream. Sorbent particles are injected into the gas stream to react with vapor phase contaminants in the gas stream. Each sorbent particle is made from a support particle of a material coated with a layer of sorbent material different than the material of the support particle. The gas stream is directed through a particulate control device to remove the sorbent particles from the gas stream. A sorbent particle for use in the method and a method for manufacture of the sorbent particle are provided.

Abstract: According to the invention, regeneration is performed by filtering and by regenerating simultaneously the used absorbent; two stages are carried out for the regeneration: one, which is a rough stage, is performed in the presence of a regeneration gas; the other, a free stage, is performed in the presence of a fresh regeneration gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a particulate material containing an inflammable component, such as ethanol or another solvent, comprises a fluidized bed chamber with a perforated bed plate arranged therein. The particulate material may be fluidized on the bed plate by supplying fluidizing air upwardly through perforations in the bed plate. In order to reduce the risk of explosion in the fluidizing air after its passage through the fluidized bed formed on the bed plate, dilution gas is fed into the fluidized bed chamber. The dilution gas is introduced into the fluidized bed chamber at least at one position spaced from the side walls of the chamber and preferably located centrally within the fluidized bed chamber in order to obtain a substantially uniform mixing of the dilution gas with the fluidizing air including the inflammable component immediately above the fluidized bed. The explosion safe gas mixture may be discharged from the upper part of the processing chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for glass manufacture is described having batch preheating and reduced pollution emission. The apparatus includes two modules containing pelletized glass and/or cullet. One module functions as a pelletized glass preheater, and the other as a filter for removing pollution emissions from furnace exhaust gases. The modules are switchable, such that the preheating module can be converted to a filter module, and the filter module converted to a preheating module, thus allowing periodic cleaning and routine maintenance.

Abstract: Catalyst and hydrocarbon vapors are separated in separator-stripper vessel by a reverse flow separator assembly in a top portion of the separator vessel. The separator assembly contains a shrouded eductor where the particles and gas enter the eductor, and upon exit the gas reverses direction to travel through the passage between the eductor and the shroud, thus causing disengagement of the particles. The gas free of particles then passes out the vessel exit and the particles return to the particle bed in the lower portion of the vessel.

Abstract: A method for reducing gaseous emission of halogen compounds in a fluidized bed reactor in which the fine particles entrained in flue gases are used to form a temporary layer of particles on the baghouse filter to absorb halogen gases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating gas introduced into a vessel containing a particulate material at a temperature less than that of the gas in a manner so that said material reduces the temperature of the gas and the gas entrains at least a portion of the material. The entrained material is then separated from the gas and passed to a heat exchanger to cool the material while the separated gas is passed to a turbine to drive same. At least a portion of the exhaust gas from the turbine is passed to the heat exchanger in a manner to fluidize the material in the heat exchanger and the cooled separated material is returned back to the vessel.

Abstract: A combustion exhaust gas which is to be dedusted and denitrated is mixed with NH.sub.3 and at temperatures in the range of about 250.degree. to 600.degree. C. is passed through a fluidized bed. The fluidized bed contains a denitrating catalyst, which contains FeSO.sub.4. The combustion exhaust gas serves as a fluidizing gas in the fluidized bed. Fresh denitrating catalyst is supplied to the fluidized beg and comprises at least 90% by weight FeSO.sub.4, which contains water of crystallization and has particle size in the range from 1 to 150 micrometers. The treated exhaust gas is dedusted in an electrostatic precipitator.

Abstract: A fluidized bed scrubber for use in gas cleaning systems, comprising means for introducing a quantity of polluted gas into a first chamber; means for removing a portion of the pollutants from the polluted gas in the first chamber; means for introducing the polluted gas into a second chamber; and means for removing additional pollutants from the polluted gas in the second chamber. The invention also provides an improved method for cleaning polluted gas, comprising the steps of passing the polluted gas from a combustion source through a fluidized bed scrubber, removing a plurality of pollutants within the fluidized bed scrubber, passing the fluidized gas through a reactor, passing the fluidized gas through a filter in order to remove further quantities of pollutants, and emitting the now-clean gas into the atmosphere.

Abstract: Highly durable and chemically reactive zinc titanate materials are prepared in a particle size range of 50 to 400 .mu.m suitable for a fluidized-bed reactor for removing reduced sulfur species in a gaseous form by granulating a mixture of fine zinc oxide and titanium oxide with inorganic and organic binders and by optional additions of small amounts of activators such as CoO and MoO.sub.3 ; and then indurating it at 800.degree. to 900.degree. C. for a time sufficient to produce attrition-resistant granules.