Abstract:
A sight window assembly and a method of making same, the assembly being comprised of a windowpane panel mounted directly and under radial compression within an annular window-opening of a vessel wall panel and having cooperative annular peripheral portions which are complementary in shape to the window-opening defining portions of the wall panel, said panels having cooperative, mechanical, annular, positive interlocking elements. The method is comprised of providing the wall panel with the annular opening-defining portions, and the light-permeable windowpane panel, shaped to conform to the shape of the opening, and being slightly larger radially under predetermined equilibrium thermal conditions, and effecting a change in the equilibrium conditions to cause an increase in the radial differential of the wall panel opening and windowpane panel so as to permit the windowpane panel to be inserted within the opening in closing relation, inserting the windowpane panel in substantially such closing relation while maintaining said change in conditions, and maintaining the windowpane panel in such opening-closing position while permitting the wall panel and windowpane panel to return to a condition approaching such equilibrium conditions.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for producing nanoparticles at a high rate is provided. The system uses two chambers separated by a narrow duct. Contained within the lower chamber is the source material, preferably heated with an electron gun and fed with a continuous feeder for extended nanoparticle production runs. The upper chamber is used to nucleate the nanoparticles, the nanoparticles formed when the source vapor collides with a gas contained within the upper chamber. Depending upon the desired nanoparticles, the gas within the upper chamber is either inert or reactive. The duct connecting the upper and lower chambers is narrow enough to allow differential pumping of the chambers. Furthermore the vapor stream flowing though the duct at high speed provides a pumping action which helps to maintain the differential pressures within the two chambers. At least a portion of the top surface of the upper chamber is cooled, thus providing a condensation site for the nanoparticles. Periodically one or more scrappers remove the condensed nanoparticles from the condensation surface, allowing them to collect within particle collection containers surrounding the duct.
Abstract:
A high pressure and temperature microwave digestion vessel assembly with enhanced safety features is disclosed. The assembly includes a membrane that is rupturable for pressure relief, and a secondary pressure relief mechanism including a seal cap with an annular stress relief region that shears or fractures when excess pressure is in the vessel interior. The membrane is positioned on a post extending from the seal cap into the inner liner. The diameter of the venting orifice may be adjusted to vary the desired pressure relief. The assembly also includes a piercing mechanism for venting the vessel after digestion is completed.
Abstract:
Improved isoparaffin-olefin alkylation solid catalyst processes are provided which are characterized by low coke laydown and catalyst deactivation rates and production of valuable branched chain, high octane number alkylates. The processes of the invention involve providing a starting reactant mixture comprising an isoparaffin, an olefin and a co-solvent or diluent (carbon dioxide in molar excess, methane, hydrogen or mixtures thereof), and contacting the reactant mixture with an alkylation catalyst at near-critical or preferably supercritical conditions for the reaction mixture. The carbon dioxide serves as a co-solvent and reduces the critical temperature (T.sub.c) of the reaction mixture, thereby allowing lower reaction temperatures. The isoparaffin and olefin reactants are preferably pretreated to minimize moisture, peroxide and oxygenate impurities therein.
Abstract:
The invention is a process for recrystallizing sugar. The invention involves admixing a first quantity of a powdered sugar and a second quantity of an adjuvant, such as an invert sugar, to provide a sugar blend. The sugar blend has up to about 3 percent moisture. The invention then involves mixing the sugar blend with a high shear extruding means at a temperature between about 220.degree. F. and about 300.degree. F. with a residence time in the extruding means of between about 0.5 second and about 12 seconds. The invention includes the product of a combined phase recrystallized sugar.
Abstract:
A horizontal vacuum extrusion line includes a fixed bulkhead, a die inside the bulkhead, a telescoping vacuum chamber section and a fixed chamber section. A dam in the fixed section forms a pond for immersion cooling of the extrudate. A truss extends from the dam to the bulkhead supporting, shaping and calibration equipment and extends through the telescoping section. Fluid pressurizable seals at each end of the telescoping section are operable after the telescoping section is closed against the bulkhead and the telescoping and fixed sections are locked together. The telescoping section provide a more compact line and easier access to the complex equipment downstream of the die. The extrudate from the die passes down into the pond and then through an orifice in a hood projecting from the chamber into a lower level portion of the pond exposed to atmosphere. The hood also includes a tractor drive to push the extrudate through the underwater orifice. The hood and its contents are accessible through the atmospheric pond. A tractor haul-off and the tractor drive in the hood are the only extrudate drives between the calibration equipment and atmosphere. The higher level of the pond within the chamber downstream of the dam is controlled by a valve in turn controlling the output of a pump. The valve control senses the pond level and operates independently of the vacuum controls.
Abstract:
Process for carrying out gas/liquid reactions at from (-50.degree.) to 300.degree. C. and from 0.1 to 100 bar by carrying out the reaction in the absence of a continuous gas phase, and, as a special case, a process for the batchwise reaction of acetylene in the liquid phase at from 0.degree. to 300.degree. C. and from 2 to 30 bar, in which acetylene is introduced a) in the absence of a continuous gas phase and b) under isobaric conditions to a degree of saturation of from 5 to 100%.
Abstract:
An improved process and apparatus are disclosed for the supercritical water oxidation of organic waste materials which avoids or at least substantially reduces the corrosion and solids deposition problems associated with prior art techniques. According to this invention, externally heated supercritical water is fed to a platelet tube reactor to both protectively coat its inner surface and heat the waste stream to oxidation reaction conditions. Higher reaction temperatures can be used as compared to prior art processes, which significantly improves the reaction rate and permits smaller reactors to be used. The protective film of water on the reactor inner surface, coupled with the elimination of preheating of the waste material, substantially reduces solids deposition and corrosion.
Abstract:
A vacuum seal assembly that can be used in a plasma etch reactor to seal the chamber interior from the outside environment consists of a protective collar that is injection molded or machined of a high strength, high temperature and corrosion resistant thermoplastic material, the collar has an elastomeric gasket installed therein and is used in combination with a second elastomeric gasket to achieve a fluid-tight seal between two rigid surfaces made of silicon and quartz, respectively.
Abstract:
A method of continuous flow hydrothermal oxidation which provides for a low cost means of reaction initiation and propagation. The aqueous-organic feedstock and oxidant are introduced to a small reaction chamber and allowed to mix with the hot, partially reacted contents thereof. This backmixing serves to initiate the reaction of the incoming feedstock. Optionally, the contents of the chamber then pass to a second reactor located downstream, in order to allow for completion of the oxidation reaction.