Abstract: The present invention is a system 100 for removing particulate matter and aerosols from a gas stream generated by gasification prior to the gas stream being used as fuel in an internal combustion device or as synthesis gas for subsequent processing. The present invention consists of removing excess ash by passing the gas stream through a high temperature cyclone separator 102, cooling the gas stream, oil scrubbing the gas to further cool it and to remove particulates and some tars, passing the gas stream through one or more vortex chambers 28 to remove additional tars, passing the gas stream through a heat exchanger 104 to cool the gas, and finally passing the gas stream through a demister 106 to remove aerosols from the gas.

Abstract: A method of filtering an air or gas stream utilizes a liquid, such as water, to saturate the gas stream. A sufficient quantity of water is presented to the gas stream to saturate the gas stream and knock particulate matter out of the gas stream. The gas stream can be cooled prior to saturating it with liquid. It may be desirable to reduce the flow rate of the gas stream to ensure maximum filtration. After the particulate matter is knocked out of the gas stream, it can be removed and processed as desired.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for removing particulate matter and aerosols from a gas stream generated by gasification prior to the gas stream being used as fuel in an internal combustion device or as synthesis gas for subsequent processing. The present invention consists of first cooling the gas stream, then oil scrubbing it to further cool it and to remove particulates and some tars, and finally passing the gas stream through one or more vortex chambers to remove additional tars. Each vortex chamber employs a high-speed fan that forces the tar droplets against the interior wall of the vortex chamber where the tar coalesces and is removed.

Abstract: Anaerobic digestion system and process in which the raw digester gas containing methane and other gaseous components is cooled at atmospheric pressure in the presence of a liquid to a temperature at which the other gaseous components have a substantially higher solubility in the liquid than methane and are substantially all absorbed into the liquid, leaving pure, dry methane gas. That methane gas is then used in other parts of the system, including the digester and a refrigeration system for cooling the raw gas.

Abstract: A particulate capture system has an air circulating chamber that separates a first portion of particulates trapped within an air stream. The particulate capture system also has a water injection chamber that separates a second portion of particulates trapped within the air stream. The first portion of particulates is separated via circulating air flow. The second portion of particulates is separated via encapsulating the particulates in water and returning the encapsulated particulates to a cooling chamber where the particulates are blended with a bulk product being processed within the cooling chamber prior to collection of the bulk product.

Abstract: Hydrogen fluoride production apparatus removes phosphate rock dust from a hot gas mixture exhausted from a phosphate rock defluorination kiln; cools the hot gas mixture in a heat exchanger to a low enough temperature that it can be brought into contact with acid-resistant polymeric materials without destroying them; uses a water spray scrubber for further cooling the gas and absorbing the fluoride values as HF-rich liquor; and pumps the HF liquor to a holding tank. One such plant uses a gas tube steam boiler as the heat exchange and has several series-connected scrubbers to extract the fluorine values from the kiln exhaust so that the residual gas mixture can be exhausted into the atmosphere without exceeding permissible fluorine value levels. In this arrangement water is fed into the scrubber furthest from the boiler to extract HF from the process gas, and an HF-laden process liquor is fed out of the furthest scrubber into the second furthest scrubber, where it is sprayed into the gas stream.

Abstract: A process of separating water from ambient air involves a liquid desiccant to first withdraw water from air and treatment of the liquid desiccant to produce water and regenerated desiccant. Water lean air is released to the atmosphere. Heat generated in the process is recycled. The drying capacity, or volume of water produced, of the system for a given energy input is favored over the production of dried air.

Abstract: A method for reducing residual ammonia gas from a steam in a steam condenser. The method includes forming a condensate and a residual gas in a first stage, then forming a condensate curtain in the second stage and passing the residual gas through the condensate curtain prior to exiting the steam condenser. The method may be employed to remove ammonia and carbon dioxide gas from a geothermal steam.

Abstract: Apparatus for recovering volatile organic compounds (VOC) from VOC/inert gas mixtures leaving tanker holds during crude oil loading includes an absorption column 12 in which incoming VOC is absorbed into cold kerosene, a portion of the VOC rich kerosene leaving the absorption column being cooled in a cooler 88 and returned to the absorption column to contact incoming VOC/inert gas mixture and absorb further VOC. The remainder of the rich kerosene leaving the absorption column 12 passes to a buffer tank 34 where it is held. It is then pumped to an elevated pressure distillation (stripper) column 46, where VOC is separated from the kerosene by conventional rectification. VOC vapor leaving the top of the distillation column is condensed in condenser 72 and held in the VOC reflux tank 76. Liquid VOC from the reflux tank is passed to a crude oil pipeline 82; a portion of the liquid VOC from the reflux tank enters the top of the distillation column to act as reflux.

Abstract: The apparatus has a container, which encloses a crude gas space, and at least one filter projecting into the crude gas space and having a filter axis and a shape-stable casing. This has a support member with two wire fabrics and a filtration member which forms its outer surface and has a wire fabric. The wire fabrics of the support member and of the filtration member are rotationally symmetrical with the filter axis, are adjacent to one another and are sintered with one another at the points of contact. When process gas is passed from the crude gas space through a filter, the process gas deposits dust present in it onto the outer surface of the casing. The or each filter is stable, durable and resistant to high or low temperatures and can be readily cleaned inside the container with a cleaning gas or a cleaning liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting condensable materials from exhaust gases which are produced by combustion. In a steam injected gas turbine driven powerplant, water is extracted from the exhaust gasses and returned to the cycle for steam raising and injection into the combustor. Exhaust gases pass flow co-currently with a cold water fog, water vapor in the fog condenses on the fog drops, the flow passes through a de-mister coalescing the drops so as to produce a warm rain of condensate, the condensate is cooled with a heat exchanger using a cooling medium such as seawater, and the cooled condensate is returned to the cycle.

Abstract: Particulate-containing hot flue gas flows are flowed into a boiler having a first and a second chamber. The first chamber has a gas side and a water side. The hot flue gas flows into the gas side of the first chamber which is in heat exchange relation with the water side. Steam is generated on the water side and transported to a power generator. Steam or another inert gas is periodically injected into the gas side of the first chamber for removing particulate fouling when the heat exchange relation for the gas side falls below a predetermined minimum level. Cooled flue gas leaving the gas side of the boiler is conducted to a purification chamber having spray nozzles thereby allowing large particulate to settle out of the flue gas and removing fine particulate entrained in the flue gas enabling purified flue gas to be released from an upper portion of the second chamber.

Abstract: A method of treating a gas, for example, natural gas containing at least one hydrocarbon and at least one acid gas to remove the acid gas from the natural gas and to produce at least one concentrated acid gas, wherein the gas is subjected to at least two stages of absorption using polar solvents having different properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optimized process for conditioning a stream of superheated steam laden with steam-volatile organic components by condensation of the steam phase with recovery of the heat of condensation and at least partial separation of the steam-volatile organic components from the water-based condensate. The process operates with a first heat exchange stage in which the continuously introduced vapor stream is combined with a circulated and cooled liquid stream of condensed vapors. In a following second energy transfer stage, heat is indirectly removed from the liquid stream thus heated. A sidestream is removed from the liquid circuit of the condensed vapors and subjected to separation in a membrane process while the rest of the liquid stream is returned to the first stage.

Abstract: A geothermal steam condenser for reducing residual ammonia gas from a geothermal steam. The present condenser includes a column attached to the condenser for forming a curtain of temperature conditioned condensate, such that residual ammonia gas is passed through the conditioned water curtain to be furthered absorbed prior to exiting the geothermal steam condenser.

Abstract: A process for concentrating and recovering methane and carbon dioxide from landfill gas includes absorption of commonly occurring pollutants using a reduced amount of carbon dioxide absorbent which itself may be an in situ derived and recoverable constituent. Separated methane may be concentrated into a high heating value fuel, and a highly pure food-grade carbon dioxide product may also be recovered. Process streams may be used to provide fuel for compression and refrigeration and/or to regenerate carbon dioxide absorbent.

Abstract: Exhaust gas is brought into contact with a washing liquid chiefly consisting of water in at least two washing stages. In the last washing stage, fresh water and/or a washing liquid containing fresh water is sprayed into the exhaust gas. In the penultimate washing stage, the exhaust gas is brought in contact with a circulating aqueous salt solution, which contains substances supplied by the exhaust gas. In the penultimate washing stage, the exhaust gas is passed through a washing zone at temperatures in the range from 30.degree. to 150.degree. C., where the quantity of aqueous salt solution passed into the washing zone per Nm.sup.3 exhaust gas flowing through the washing zone is 0.1 to 10 liters. The exhaust gas coming from the penultimate washing zone has a temperature in the range from 30.degree. to 80.degree. C., is saturated with steam for 90 to 100%, and does not contain more than 50% by weight of the dust content of the exhaust gas before the same enters the penultimate washing stage.

Abstract: Particulate-containing hot flue gas flows are flowed into a boiler having a first and a second chamber. The first chamber has a gas side and a water side. The hot flue gas flows into the gas side of the first chamber which is in heat exchange relation with the water side. Steam is generated on the water side and transported to a power generator. Steam or another inert gas is periodically injected into the gas side of the first chamber for removing particulate fouling when the heat exchange relation for the gas side falls below a predetermined minimum level. Cooled flue gas leaving the gas side of the boiler is conducted to a purification chamber having spray nozzles thereby allowing large particulate to settle out of the flue gas and removing fine particulate entrained in the flue gas enabling purified flue gas to be released from an upper portion of the second chamber.

Abstract: A method of removing organic contaminants from a process gas such as raw, untreated landfill gas is disclosed. The steps involve collecting the process gas that includes organic contaminants for removal. An absorption liquid such as a terpene, is injected as a mist into the process gas to form a two-state absorption liquid and process gas fluid. The two-state absorption liquid and gas fluid communicates through a heat exchange module for absorption of organic contaminants in the process gas by the absorption liquid resulting in a cleaned process gas. The absorption liquid then is separated from the cleaned process gas.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a mixture of air and vapour from volatile crude oil with recovery of the hydrocarbons, wherein the vapours are absorbed in an absorption means (3) by direct contact with a petroleum distillate, such as "petroleum" which has been cooled sufficiently beforehand to cause combined cooling condensation and absorption of the hydrocarbons, the petroleum distillate having a substantially constant hydrocarbon concentration is transferred from the absorption means (3) to a buffer tank (5), from which it is conveyed either to a stripping means (4) in which the hydrocarbons dissolved in the petroleum distillate are stripped so that the petroleum distillate circulates in a substantially closed circuit, or for further processing or use. Prior to absorption under pressure in the absorption means (3) the entering mixture of air and vapour is compressed in a compressor (1) and washed with crude oil under pressure in a washing column (2).

Abstract: In a method of cooling and scrubbing a hot gas a hot gas is supplied with a removal pipe into a scrubber. The hot gas is introduced into at least one liquid bath of the scrubber. The hot gas is forcibly dispersed to form small bubbles over at least a portion of a flow path of the hot gas through the liquid bath. The exterior of the removal pipe is cooled with liquid to be introduced into the liquid bath by guiding the liquid along the exterior of the removal pipe countercurrent to the flow of the hot gas in the removal pipe. The device for performing the method has at least one liquid bath. A removal pipe for removing hot gas from the combustion chamber and guiding it to the liquid bath is provided. At least one flow divider with a plurality of openings is arranged in the flow path of the hot gas. A gas removal device is positioned above the liquid bath for removing the cooled gas exiting from the liquid bath.

Abstract: An apparatus and a process for removing CO.sub.2 from a combustion exhaust gas, by effecting counterflow contact of aqueous alkanolamine solution with the combustion exhaust gas to absorb CO.sub.2 from the gas in the alkanolamine solution and effecting a further contact of the gas with either, condensate water formed by causing condensation of the gas after removal of CO.sub.2, or condensate water formed by causing condensation of the combustion exhaust gas directly after combustion of the fuel. The apparatus includes a tower (1), a first contact section (2) in the tower through which the exhaust gas flows upwardly in counterflow contact with the aqueous alkanolamine solution dispersed by a nozzle device (7) downstream of the first contact section (2), a second contact section (3) in the tower (1) downstream of the nozzle device (7) for effecting counterflow contact of reflux water from a spent absorbent liquor regenerating tower (28) with the gas after removal of CO.sub.2.