Abstract: The improved method of treating an exhaust gas from a combustion apparatus comprises adding ammonia to the exhaust gas and then irradiating it with an electron beam, characterized in that part or all of said ammonia is supplied as a separated portion of ammonia-containing water. The ammonia-containing foul water may contain feces excreted from humans and/or domestic animals and poultry, fermentation industry liquid waste or food processing wastewater. The organic waste-containing water may be digested anaerobically to convert the organic matter to methane gas and, subsequently, ammonia is separated from the supernatant liquor and used as the source of ammonia to be supplied. The methane gas is suitably used as a source of energy for the combustion apparatus. At least part of the organic matter in the organic foul water may be decomposed oxidatively and, subsequently, ammonia is separated for use as the source of ammonia to be supplied.

Abstract: In an air purifier apparatus, an electrostatic filter is detachably and operatively connectable to an electrical contact which in turn is connected to a terminal of a power supply. The electrostatic filter is also detachably and operatively connectable to a second electrical contact which is connected to an alarm device. When the electrostatic filter is properly mounted within the air purifier apparatus, the two electrical contacts are short-circuited, thus electrically connecting the power supply to the alarm device through the electrostatic filter. The alarm device provides an indication that the electrostatic filter is properly mounted within the air purifier apparatus when energized by the power supply.

Abstract: Input signals are processed to generate a plurality of signals having different features according to whether the input signals are speech signals or voiceband data signals, and these plural signals are entered into a neural network to be determined whether they have features closer to those of speech signals or of voiceband data signals. The classifying function of the neural network is achieved by inputting samples of speech signals and voiceband data signals and learning how to obtain correct classification results.

Abstract: A flue gas conditioning system features a self-contained sulfur burner control loop that operates to maintain a constant desired temperature supply of sulfur dioxide in air by varying the rate of supply of sulfur fuel to the sulfur burner, and the absence of device in the sulfur flow path to measure or monitor sulfur flow rate. In the system, a conditioning agent demand signal operates either a means to supply the sulfur burner with a flow of air, or an air heater in the air flow path upstream of the sulfur burner, or both, to provide conditions that would increase or decrease the temperature of the sulfur burner output absent the self-contained sulfur burner control loop, and as a result of the operation of the self-contained sulfur burner control loop, systems of the invention can provide a demanded flow of sulfur dioxide and air at a substantially constant concentration and a desired temperature to a catalytic converter in response to a conditioning agent demand signal.