Abstract

Improved systems and methods are disclosed for producing sulfur dioxide using oxygen and submerged combustion. By incorporating a vapour phase combusting step in addition to the submerged combusting step, the downstream sulfur condenser may be made substantially smaller with reduced complexity and cost. Further, energy recovery is simplified and improved.

IPC Classes  ?

• C01B 17/48 - Sulfur dioxideSulfurous acid
• C01B 17/54 - Preparation of sulfur dioxide by burning elemental sulfur
• C01B 17/76 - Preparation by contact processes
• C01B 17/80 - Apparatus

Abstract

Undershot turbines with dynamic blades are disclosed for improving energy capture from a flowing stream. The blades are provided on respective rotatable swing arm assemblies attached to the circumference of a turbine support. In operation, the blades are uniquely adjusted as a function of rotation of the support wheel for improved efficiency and energy capture.

IPC Classes  ?

• F03B 17/06 - Other machines or engines using liquid flow, e.g. of swinging-flap type
• F03B 13/26 - Adaptations of machines or engines for special useCombinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatusPower stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using tide energy

Abstract

Integrated plants and associated processes for producing ammonia and sulfuric acid have been developed comprising air separation and water electrolysis subsystems and which make surprisingly efficient use of the products from these subsystems (i.e. oxygen and nitrogen from the former and hydrogen and oxygen from the latter). The invention is particularly suitable for use as part of an integrated fertilizer production plant.

IPC Classes  ?

• C01B 17/76 - Preparation by contact processes
• C01B 17/80 - Apparatus
• C01B 21/087 - Compounds containing nitrogen and non-metals containing one or more hydrogen atoms
• C01B 25/22 - Preparation by reacting phosphate containing material with an acid, e.g. wet process
• C01B 25/28 - Ammonium phosphates
• C01C 1/04 - Preparation of ammonia by synthesis
• C02F 1/44 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis
• C05B 7/00 - Fertilisers based essentially on alkali or ammonium orthophosphates
• C25B 1/04 - Hydrogen or oxygen by electrolysis of water

Abstract

Austenitic stainless alloys have been discovered that exhibit unexpectedly superior corrosion resistance, particularly to sulfuric acid solutions, when compared to that exhibited by conventional alloys with closely related compositions. These alloys advantageously are corrosion resistant to a relatively wide range of sulfuric acid concentration and temperature and are thus particularly suitable for use in the industrial production of sulfuric acid.

IPC Classes  ?

• C21D 6/00 - Heat treatment of ferrous alloys
• C22C 30/00 - Alloys containing less than 50% by weight of each constituent
• C22C 38/00 - Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
• C22C 38/02 - Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing silicon
• C22C 38/58 - Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel with more than 1.5% by weight of manganese
• C22F 1/16 - Changing the physical structure of non-ferrous metals or alloys by heat treatment or by hot or cold working of other metals or alloys based thereon
• C21D 8/00 - Modifying the physical properties by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment
• C22C 27/06 - Alloys based on chromium
• C22F 1/11 - Changing the physical structure of non-ferrous metals or alloys by heat treatment or by hot or cold working of chromium or alloys based thereon

Abstract

Improved mixed metal oxide catalysts and preparation processes are disclosed for use in catalytic converters and other applications. The metallic elements in the catalysts comprise copper, cobalt, and aluminum. Precious metals and rare earth elements are not required. The catalysts desirably exhibit low reaction initialization temperatures, improved thermal stability and lifetime. A particular benefit is that the catalysts maintain desirable conversion performance upon aging.

IPC Classes  ?

• B01J 23/00 - Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group
• B01J 23/75 - Cobalt
• B01J 35/00 - Catalysts, in general, characterised by their form or physical properties
• B01J 35/02 - Solids
• B01J 37/02 - Impregnation, coating or precipitation
• B01J 37/08 - Heat treatment
• B01D 53/94 - Chemical or biological purification of waste gases of engine exhaust gases by catalytic processes
• B01J 23/72 - Copper
• B01J 35/04 - Foraminous structures, sieves, grids, honeycombs

Abstract

Improved designs are disclosed for linear bearings and assemblies used to support and position moving loads. The designs inexpensively provide for high load carrying capacity with high precision. Such a bearing (2) comprises two components to be used as a carriage (4) and a base (3), two rows of recirculating rolling elements (8a, 8b), and a set of raceways in each component. At least one raceway (5a, 5b) is used that can be slidably inserted into a shaped groove (6a, 6b) in one of the components and thereafter can rotate within the groove. When using a rotatable, insertable raceway of relatively high precision, this approach allows for the bearing to precisely compensate for carriages and bases of lower precision, while accommodating rolling element configurations capable of handling high loads. Two of such bearings can be employed to provide a four-row linear recirculating bearing assembly with similar characteristics and benefits.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16C 29/00 - Bearings for parts moving only linearly
• F16C 29/06 - Ball or roller bearings in which the rolling bodies circulate partly without carrying load
• F16C 33/61 - RacewaysRace rings divided formed by wires
• B23Q 1/26 - Movable or adjustable work or tool supports characterised by constructional features relating to the co-operation of relatively movable membersMeans for preventing relative movement of such members
• B23Q 1/40 - Movable or adjustable work or tool supports characterised by constructional features relating to the co-operation of relatively movable membersMeans for preventing relative movement of such members using ball, roller or wheel arrangements

Abstract

A contact process, sulfuric acid system and method are disclosed for producing sulphuric acid with improved operating efficiency in humid environments. The system comprises a pre-drying absorber for pre-drying humid air with weak sulfuric acid. Weak sulfuric acid from the pre-drying absorber is provided to a subsystem comprising two sulfur trioxide absorbers and a heat exchanger for the recovery of heat via steam production. This arrangement allows for a marked increase in steam production (i.e. energy efficiency). In a separate improvement, the emission apparatus for the system can be simplified using a peroxide tail gas scrubber comprising upper and lower scrubber sections in which the upper scrubber section consists essentially of tray type scrubbers.

IPC Classes  ?

• C01B 17/765 - Multi-stage SO3-conversion
• C01B 17/80 - Apparatus
• C01B 17/54 - Preparation of sulfur dioxide by burning elemental sulfur

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for removing alkali metal iodide from concentrated aqueous alkali metal chloride solutions using ion retardation resins. The methods are suitable for solutions comprising substantially more than 1 ppm iodide and greater than 100 g/l alkali metal chloride and can remove the iodide to levels below 1 ppm. To effect removal, the pH of the solution is adjusted to be less than about 10 and is then flowed through a separation bed comprising the resin in a series of loading and elution cycles. The method is particularly useful for removing iodide impurity from the concentrated feed brine used in chloralkali electrolysis.

IPC Classes  ?

• C02F 1/42 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by ion-exchange
• C01B 7/14 - Iodine
• C25B 9/08 - Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof with diaphragms
• C02F 1/66 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by neutralisationTreatment of water, waste water, or sewage pH adjustment

Abstract

A method of welding a ferritic stainless steel part to a carbon steel part is described. The method comprises arc welding (e.g. GTAW welding) the ferritic stainless steel part to the carbon steel part using a duplex stainless steel filler metal. Welded article made in this way is useful for industrial electrolyzers and particularly for corrosion resistant cathode and carrier plate assemblies in a sodium chlorate electrolyzer.

IPC Classes  ?

• B23K 9/00 - Arc welding or cutting
• B23K 9/167 - Arc welding or cutting making use of shielding gas and of a non-consumable electrode
• B23K 9/23 - Arc welding or cutting taking account of the properties of the materials to be welded
• B23K 35/30 - Selection of soldering or welding materials proper with the principal constituent melting at less than 1550°C
• C25B 11/04 - ElectrodesManufacture thereof not otherwise provided for characterised by the material
• B23K 101/18 - Sheet panels
• B23K 103/04 - Steel alloys
• B23K 103/18 - Dissimilar materials
• B23K 101/36 - Electric or electronic devices

Abstract

An undivided electrolysis cell for electrolyzing a liquor is disclosed which has a narrow gap between the electrodes and improved energy efficiency. The electrolysis cell comprises a porous anode, a porous cathode, and an electrically insulating separator therebetween which are all permeable to the liquor. Electrolysis is performed while directing the liquor through the porous anode, the electrically insulating separator, and the porous cathode. Gas products generated during electrolysis are carried out with the liquor and do not remain between the electrodes thereby reducing "gas blinding". The electrolysis cell is particularly suitable for chlorate electrolysis.

IPC Classes  ?

• C25B 1/26 - ChlorineCompounds thereof
• C25B 9/02 - Holders for electrodes
• C25B 9/06 - Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
• C25B 9/20 - Assemblies comprising a plurality of cells of the filter-press type

Abstract

Commercial production of sulfuric acid is almost entirely accomplished nowadays using the contact process. And the trend is to increase conversion efficiency and reduce emissions of unconverted sulfur dioxide. By using a special combination of contact catalyst beds, a single contact single absorption (SCSA) system can be engineered to achieve the conversion and emission capabilities of conventional double contact double absorption systems. Thus, the complexity and cost of incorporating a second absorption tower and associated heat exchanger in the system can be omitted. In the SCSA system, the initial catalyst bed or beds comprise vanadium oxide catalyst and the last catalyst bed or beds comprise platinum catalyst operating at a much lower temperature than the initial beds.

IPC Classes  ?

• C01B 17/79 - Preparation by contact processes characterised by the catalyst used containing vanadium
• B01J 23/847 - Vanadium, niobium or tantalum
• B01J 23/42 - Platinum
• C01B 17/80 - Apparatus

Abstract

Hollow fibre membrane modules (1) with a shell-side configuration often comprise a hollow fibre bundle (2) and a perforated hollow internal core (4) inside the bundle. A plug (5) in the core and a baffle (15) in the bundle are typically employed in order to desirably distribute supplied fluid over the bundle for separation purposes. The fluid flow distribution can be improved by incorporating suitable flow distributors (20, 21) within the internal core itself. Such modules are particularly useful for osmotic membrane distillation.

IPC Classes  ?

• B01D 61/36 - PervaporationMembrane distillationLiquid permeation
• B01D 63/02 - Hollow fibre modules