Abstract: Apparatus and processes are presented to contact a dry, preferably high purity inert gas with a chemical composition in a pressure vessel, or a wetting composition, to form a wet inert gas, which is then used to pressurize the chemical composition out of the pressure vessel. No additional space is needed for an external humidifier. Since a very small amount of vapor is needed to form a wet inert gas, the composition of chemical composition will not be significantly affected.

Abstract: A method of controlling a plant for processing a gas by adsorption, with N adsorbers R1 to R0 and variable N phase times. The method utilizes a mobile parameter for identifying the operating state of N adsorber which is in each successive phase time of the cycle. For a given phase time, a parameterized sequence (S, S′) of control steps for the plant are defined. A control sequencer of the plant is generated by matching an adsorber (R1 to R0) with each mobile parameter of the parameterized sequence during each phase time of the cycle, causing the succession of phase times of the cycle to be followed at all the adsorbers in operation.

Abstract: An improved methane wash cycle is disclosed wherein a reduced amount of methane wash is required, thereby allowing for savings in energy costs in operation of the cycle and capital costs in constructing the cycle. Further embodiments allow for an energy recovery and an enhanced recovery of a carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen product.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the power efficient production of high-pressure gaseous oxygen product. In a preferred embodiment, a liquid oxygen stream is pumped to a low to medium pressure and warmed within a first heat exchanger such as a brazed aluminum plate fin heat exchanger. The liquid oxygen stream is then pumped to a further pressure and then vaporized in a second heat exchanger to produce a high-pressure gaseous oxygen stream. In an embodiment, a high-pressure air stream may be utilized in the second heat exchanger for vaporizing the oxygen stream and cooling the air stream. The air stream may be utilized as a feed for the cryogenic air unit. A portion of the air stream at a medium pressure may be utilized in the first heat exchanger. A portion of the air stream may also be expanded to recover energy.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for generating energy, which consists in conveying to an air separation apparatus (5) air from a compressor (1) coupled to an expansion machine (3). A nitrogen-enriched gaseous flow (11) containing between 3 and 18% of oxygen is conveyed to a combustion chamber (19) with a combustible flow (17) and the combustion gases (33) are expanded in the expansion machine. Optionally air from an auxiliary compressor (21) can be conveyed to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented which allow efficient environmental testing of components such as printed circuit boards, integrated circuits, sub-systems and other components. In one method of the invention, a component can be placed into a chamber having an internal space filled with a gaseous atmosphere. The component is indirectly cooled by smartly positioning one or more cooling coils near the component to be tested, and the cooling coils are fed with a cryogenic fluid from a source of cryogenic fluid. The warm cryogenic fluid is recycled by one of two means: a thermosiphon conduit loop, and a storage and compression facility for reusing the warm cryogenic fluid. The internal space is preferably filled with a dry gas.

Abstract: The invention concerns a valve assembly or an on-off pressure reducer device for a pressurised gas container designed to co-operate with a conditioning connection for filling said container. The valve assembly or on-off pressure reducer comprises a filler connection (14) with a longitudinal axis, a guide end (18), and a thread (22) axially offset relative to said end. The end (18) has a periphery (20) provided with at least an impression (40) protruding outside the periphery, projecting in a plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis, the impression (40) of said connection end being secant to a circle centred on said axis and whereof the diameter is equal to the smaller of the internal and external diameters of said thread.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to processes and apparatuses for the integration of a blast furnace and an air separation plant to increase blast furnace production. The present invention recovers energy from the air separation through the expansion of a product stream.

Abstract: A method of preparing a liquid sample is provided. The method involves steps of: providing a pressurizable vessel that contains a liquid sample in a container, and a sample tube extending from beneath the surface of the liquid sample to a point outside of the vessel; introducing a purge gas into the vessel through a purge-gas inlet conduit, and simultaneously removing the gas atmosphere in the vessel through a purge-gas outlet conduit, thereby displacing the atmosphere in the pressurizable vessel; and pressurizing the vessel with the purge gas to transfer a portion of the liquid sample from the container through the sample tube. Also provided are apparatuses for preparing a liquid sample, as well as methods and apparatuses for performing an analytical measurement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel in a combustion chamber of a furnace or boiler are presented, the combustion normally using only air as an oxidant, part of the air entering the combustion chamber through one or more burners, and a remaining portion of air entering the combustion chamber at a plurality of locations downstream of the burners. The methods comprise injecting oxygen-enriched gas through a plurality of lances into the combustion chamber at a plurality of downstream locations, the oxygen-enriched gas injected at a velocity ranging from subsonic to supersonic, and the oxygen-enriched gas being present in an amount sufficient to provide an oxygen concentration of no more than 2% on a volume basis greater than when air is used alone as oxidant.

Abstract: The invention concerns a herbicide composition comprising N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine or one of its salts, at least a compound of formula (I): RO—(X)p wherein: p represents a decimal number between 1 and 5; X represents the xylose radical; and R represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical comprising 6 to 18 carbon atoms, a dispersing medium both for the active principle and the compound of formula (I), optionally, one or several surfactants and optionally one or several inert adjuvants. The invention also concerns a phytosanitary method using said composition and the use of a product of formula (I), to prepare a herbicide composition.

Abstract: A method for sanitizing a food processing environment includes preparing an ozonated foam sanitizing medium and applying the sanitizing medium to either objects in the food processing environment, such as food processing equipment, food contact surfaces, interior surfaces of the food processing facility, or the ambient environment within the food processing facility, or both the objects within the food processing facility and the ambient environment of the food processing facility. An ozonated foam sanitizing medium includes a foaming agent dissolved in an aqueous solution and an ozone concentration of at least about 0.1 ppm and is prepared by either injecting gaseous ozone or introducing an aqueous ozone solution into an aqueous solution containing a foaming agent. In a system for generating the ozonated foam medium, the gaseous ozone can be injected with a feed gas, such as oxygen, air, an inert gas, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cooling an object using a heat transfer fluid are presented. One of the methods comprises the steps of contacting the object with a heat transfer fluid comprising helium as a major component, the object traversing through a heat exchange unit having an object inlet end and an object outlet end; preventing ingress of contaminants into the heat exchange unit inlet end and outlet end using a seal gas, the seal gas exiting with the heat transfer fluid to form an exit gas; compressing the exit gas to form a compressed recycle gas; routing the compressed recycle gas to a gas-liquid separator, thus forming a helium enriched gas which function as the heat transfer fluid and an enriched liquid; and heating the enriched liquid to form the seal gas.

Abstract: A method of treating an object containing a material of metal, oxidized metal, non-metal, and the like and combinations thereof. The method includes (a) exposing an object to a controlled gas atmosphere, and (b) during at least a portion of time during such exposing, subjecting a specific area of the material to an energy beam, preferably a focused energy beam, more preferably a focused and filtered energy beam, having sufficient intensity to provide for the treating of the specific area. Such treating includes heating, welding, cutting, dicing, soldering, singulating, reducing, oxidizing, fusing, melting, and the like and combinations thereof. The energy beam source can be a laser selected from a group which includes YAG lasers, excimer lasers, gas lasers, semiconductor lasers, solid-state lasers, dye lasers, X-ray lasers, free-electron lasers, ion lasers, gas mixture lasers, chemical lasers, and the like and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An oxy-fuel burner generates a long, luminous, stable and adjustable flame temperature profile flame by incorporating separate, fuel and oxygen jets oriented in a unique geometry. In one preferred embodiment, the fuel is injected horizontally at medium injection velocity (50-200 m/s) while primary oxygen is injected underneath the fuel jet at supersonic velocity (300-500 m/s). The supersonic velocity oxygen jet (20 to 50% required for stoichiometric combustion) entrains fuel and furnaces gases in it's core for the primary flame development over the furnace load. The subsequent mixing of the fuel, primary oxygen and entrained furnace gases establish a low NOx, stable, long and luminous primary flame. The secondary oxidant, preferably air or low purity oxygen (50 to 80% of stoichiometric needs), is injected above the flame using one or more oxygen jets to create an oxy-fuel flame with adjustable flame characteristics.

Abstract: Heat transfer fluid mixtures and methods of making and using same are presented. The inventive heat transfer fluid mixtures consist essentially of at least one light gas, such as hydrogen, and at least one heavy fluid, such as helium wherein the mixture will not be capable of mixing with air in any proportions to produce a self-sustaining flammable or combustible mixture, or wherein a concentration of hydrogen is sufficient to reduce cost of the mixture to an amount substantially less than cost of pure helium.

Abstract: A system for ammonia vapor generation includes a liquid ammonia supply source, a vapor generation tank including an inlet to receive liquid ammonia from the supply source and an outlet to discharge ammonia gas from the vapor generation tank, a first heat transfer system to cool liquid ammonia fed from the supply source to the vapor generation tank and to provide external cooling to the vapor generation tank, and a second heat transfer system to heat liquid ammonia within the vapor generation tank. The first and second heat transfer systems facilitate the discharge of ammonia gas from the vapor generation tank at a substantially constant flow rate and pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the decarburization of steel components in a furnace during heat treating processes. The concentration of CO2 and/or CO in the furnace is monitored in a first batch in order to determine periods of elevated CO2/CO concentrations, and inert gas is injected in subsequent batches during the previously determined periods of elevated CO2/CO concentrations.

Abstract: An air separation unit including an air intake, a high pressure cryogenic distillation column receiving air from the air intake and producing an oxygen rich liquid reflux, and a low-pressure cryogenic distillation column. An adaptive controller controls the flow rate of the oxygen-rich liquid from the first distillation column into the second distillation column, wherein during plant upsets, the adaptive controller maintains the level of oxygen-rich liquid in the first distillation column at a substantially constant level by adjusting a flow rate of the oxygen rich liquid into the second distillation column, and wherein the argon content of the argon-rich output stream from the second distillation column remains substantially constant.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention relates use of a warm and dry atmosphere in electronic component storage areas. The warm and dry atmosphere provides the benefit of eliminating the baking process and other moisture management issues by removing moisture from the components. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a component storage system includes an enclosed component storage area and a dry gas delivery system for delivery of a dry gas to the storage area to prevent moisture from being absorbed by the components, and a temperature control system for controlling a temperature of the dry gas to about 10° C. to about 60° C.