A method for treating a metal strip, where the metal strip undergoes heat treatment in a directly fired furnace and is subsequently heat-treated further in a radiant tube furnace. At least part of the exhaust gases from the radiant tubes is fed to the directly fired furnace.

A multi-functional composition of matter that is useful for injection into a flue gas stream to rapidly and efficiently remove mercury from the flue gas streams, particularly at above average flue stream temperatures of about 340 F. or higher. The multi-functional composition of matter may include a fixed carbon content of at least about 20 wt. %, a mineral content of from about 20 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, a sum of micropore plus mesopore volume of at least about 0.20 cc/g, a micropore volume to mesopore volume ratio of at least about 0.7, and a tapped density of not greater than about 0.575 g/ml. These compositions may be further characterized by number of particles per gram of the composition of matter such that the composition may have at least about 0.8 billion particles per gram, or even as many as 1.5 billion particles per gram. These physical and chemical properties may enhance (1) the oxidation reaction kinetics for the oxidation of mercury species, (2) frequency of contact events, and (3) capture and sequestration of mercury, to achieve efficient mercury capture by the composition even in high temperature flue gas streams.

In a method and system for the combustion of ammonia, wherein a first combustion chamber receives ammonia and hydrogen in controlled proportions, and an oxygen-containing gas such as air. Combustion of the ammonia and hydrogen produces nitrogen oxides among other combustion products. A second combustion chamber receives the nitrogen oxides along with further ammonia and hydrogen in further controlled proportions along with further oxygen-containing gas such as air. The nitrogen oxides are combusted into nitrogen and water.

A boiler includes an enclosure having at least a supply for fuel and oxidizer and at least a supply for a SNCR reagent. The supply for the SNCR reagent includes at least a regulation valve for the SNCR reagent. The boiler includes at least a sensor for measuring information indicative of the NO.sub.x concentration over at least one given enclosure cross section. The boiler includes a controller connected to the at least a sensor and to the at least a regulation valve. The controller regulates the SNCR reagent supply according to the measured information indicative of the NO.sub.x concentration.

The arrangement of a combustor and a device for selective non-catalytic reduction includes a nozzle for injecting a reagent, a control system for controlling the flow from the nozzle, the control system being arranged for generating a pulsed flow from the nozzle.

A multi-functional composition of matter that is useful for injection into a flue gas stream to rapidly and efficiently remove mercury from the flue gas streams, particularly at above average flue stream temperatures of about 340 F. or higher. The multi-functional composition of matter may include a fixed carbon content of at least about 20 wt. %, a mineral content of from about 20 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, a sum of micropore plus mesopore volume of at least about 0.20 cc/g, a micropore volume to mesopore volume ratio of at least about 0.7, and a tapped density of not greater than about 0.575 g/ml. These compositions may be further characterized by number of particles per gram of the composition of matter such that the composition may have at least about 0.8 billion particles per gram, or even as many as 1.5 billion particles per gram. These physical and chemical properties may enhance (1) the oxidation reaction kinetics for the oxidation of mercury species, (2) frequency of contact events, and (3) capture and sequestration of mercury, to achieve efficient mercury capture by the composition even in high temperature flue gas streams.

A lithographic apparatus includes a support table and a gas extraction system. The gas extraction system is configured to extract gas from a gap between the base surface of the support table and a substrate through at least one gas extraction opening when the substrate is being lowered onto the support table. The lithographic apparatus is configured such that gas is extracted from the gap at a first loading flow rate when the distance between the substrate and the support plane is greater than a threshold distance and gas is extracted from the gap at a second loading flow rate when the distance between the substrate and the support plane is less than the threshold distance, wherein the second loading flow rate is lower than the first loading flow rate.

The nozzle for injecting a reagent into a combustor has a body with a cavity, an occlusion for the cavity, a slit for injecting the reagent, at least one intermediate disc between the body and the occlusion, the at least one intermediate disc having at least one opening for the passage of the reagent, wherein the nozzle further has a first slit between the body and the at least one intermediate disc, a second slit between the occlusion and the at least one intermediate disc (56), and/or at least one slit having at least one corrugated border defining a variable size slit between a minimum size and a maximum size.

A lithographic apparatus includes a support table and a gas extraction system. The gas extraction system is configured to extract gas from a gap between the base surface of the support table and a substrate through at least one gas extraction opening when the substrate is being lowered onto the support table. The lithographic apparatus is configured such that gas is extracted from the gap at a first loading flow rate when the distance between the substrate and the support plane is greater than a threshold distance and gas is extracted from the gap at a second loading flow rate when the distance between the substrate and the support plane is less than the threshold distance, wherein the second loading flow rate is lower than the first loading flow rate.

The boiler (1) has side tubed walls (2) enclosing an inner space (3) and a device for selective non catalytic reduction (7). The device for selective non catalytic reduction (7) has a lance (8) carrying a hose (9) having at least a nozzle (10) and a hose drive mechanism (11) for driving the hose within the lance. The lance (8) protrudes into the inner space (3) from a side tubed wall (2) of the boiler (1).