Abstract:
What is disclosed is the use of metallic vessels having particularly high corrosion resistance which are made of(a) aluminum or alloys containing more than 95% aluminum, or of(b) nickel-chromium-iron alloys containing from 30 to 50% of nickel, from 20 to 30% of chromium, and from 18 to 50% of iron, by weight, in reacting or working up mixtures containing substantial amounts of hydrogen fluoride in addition to organic carboxylic acids and/or carbon monoxide and/or water.
Abstract:
Micro-scale chemical process simulation apparatus is disclosed which is useful for design of full-scale processes and associated equipment as well as emergency relief systems. A thin-walled vessel for receiving a quantity of the material to be evaluated is supportd within and thermally insulated from the walls of a surrounding containment unit. A guard heater is provided around the vessel and temperature thermocouples and pressure transducers are strategically located to monitor the temperature conditions existing in the material in the vessel as well as the pressure within the vessel and the containment unit respectively. Fluid may be selectively introduced into or exhausted from the containment unit to maintain a required pressure balance between the interior of the vessel and that of the containment unit. The wall thickness of the pilot vessel is such that the phi factor defined by the thermal mass of the material plus the thermal mass of the vessel divided by the thermal mass of the material is not significantly greater than the same ratio of thermal masses which obtain during a full-scale chemical operation in a pressure vessel.
Abstract:
A pressure vessel is provided with a single use safety valve composed of a partially buckled, hollow chamber which is susceptible to further buckling at a preselected pressure. The chamber is mounted and elastomerically sealed in an opening in the vessel held in position by a support frame either interior to or exterior of the vessel.
Abstract:
A method for determining the dynamic viscosity of a specimen of a polymeric resin which is subjected to a time-varying temperature includes the steps of passing an ultrasonic sensing wave of known amplitude through the specimen, sensing the amplitude of the wave after it has travelled through the specimen, and from the degree of amplitude attenuation, obtaining a value which has a linear relationship to the logarithm of the instantaneous dynamic viscosity of the resin.
Abstract:
An automated system for controlling the curing process of structures formed of fiber-reinforced composite material and the like in an autoclave is disclosed. The system uses sensors to monitor autoclave pressure, ambient and structure surface temperature, and structure viscosity during the cure cycle. Real time measurements are taken for each of these parameters, and the measured values are compared with predetermined optimum values which themselves change as the curing cycle progresses. The results of the comparisons are used to control the application of temperature and pressure in the autoclave to achieve the desired visco-elastic states of the structure which continually change as the curing process progresses. The viscosity data are obtained through measurements of attenuation of an ultrasonic wave in the composite material of the structure. It was found that the attenuation is directly related to the viscosity of the structure. Thus, the direct, non-destructive, in-process measurements of the ultrasonic wave attenuation permits generation of an actual, real time-versus-viscosity behavior profile which is then instantaneously compared with a "model" profile. The difference between the actual viscosity-versus-time profile and the "model" profile is also used to generate appropriate signals for controlling the curing process so as to bring the parameters of the process into close conformity with the "model" profile.
Abstract:
A stream of gas, e.g., natural gas to e.g., a reforming operation, is divided, and the two streams are interacted so as to lower the pressure and raise the temperature of one while doing the reverse to the other.
Abstract:
An explosive release clamp adapted to be opened suddenly by electrical initiation of an explosive charge, and a safety pressure release system for closed vessels such as chemical reactors, high pressure storage tanks, or the like, wherein one or more such clamps are used to secure a main hatch to a reactor vessel. Upon occurrence of an emergency condition such as over-pressure, all clamps are automatically fired simultaneously to release the hatch. A manual override circuit enables firing the clamps in case the hatch must be released without an emergency signal. A test circuit checks the clamps and their associated cabling for electrical continuity, using a current substantially less than that required to fire the clamps.
Abstract:
A leak detector for use with high vacuum seals as used in feedthroughs and hatch covers for manned spacecraft and vacuum systems. Two thermistors are used, one exposed directly to vacuum and the other exposed to a secondary chamber formed by the seal being monitored and a second auxiliary seal. Leakage into the secondary chamber causes an unbalance of an electrical bridge circuit in which the thermistors are connected.
Abstract:
A pressure vessel in which a plurality of shear pins are disposed along an innerface defined between a pair of adjoining vessel components. The studs extend at an angle with respect to the generatrix of the innerface.
Abstract:
THERMAL INSULATION FORMED FROM SHEET MEMBERS WITH SPACER MEMBERS SEPARATING THE SHEET MEMBERS TO FORM INTERSPACES WHICH ARE SEALED FROM ONE ANOTHER BY SEALS FORMED BY PAIRS OF CONTACTING SURFACES AT LEAST ONE SURFACE OF EACH PAIR BEING OF NON-METALLIC, HEAT RESISTANT MATERIAL, THE PERMEABILITY OF THE SPACER MEMBERS AND THE COMPRESSIBILITY OF THE NON-METALLIC MATERIAL BEING SUCH THAT THE SPACER MEMBERS IN CONJUCTION WITH SAID SEALS RESTRICT THE FLOW OF FLUID IN AND BETWEEN THE INTERSPACES.