Abstract: A volume flow controller (1) for controlling the flow of a gas mixture of variable proportions through a conduit (3) has a valve means (5) for regulating the flow of gas through the conduit, a drive means (9) for driving the valve means, a volumetric flow meter (7), such as a Pelton wheel, for measuring the flow of gas through the conduit, which provides a feedback signal (29) for comparison with a setpoint signal (17) in an amplifier (15) which generates an adjustment signal (11) which is fed to the drive means.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide (CO) may be removed from flue gas generated by oxyfuel combustion of a hydrocarbon or carbonaceous fuel, by contacting the flue gas, or a CO-containing gas derived therefrom, at a first elevated temperature, e.g. at least 80° C., and at a first elevated pressure, e.g. at least 2 bar (0.2 MPa), with at least one catalyst bed comprising a CO-oxidation catalyst in the presence of oxygen (O2) to convert CO to carbon dioxide and produce carbon dioxide-enriched gas. The carbon dioxide produced from the CO may be recovered from the carbon dioxide-enriched gas using conventional carbon dioxide recovery techniques. NO in the flue gas may also be oxidized to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and removed using conventional NO2 removal techniques, or may be reduced in the presence of a reducing gas to nitrogen (N2) which does not have to be removed from the gas.

Abstract: A computer-based method for reducing or eliminating baseline drift from a biological (bio) signal includes the steps of dividing the bio signal into a plurality of shorter signals having fixed time intervals, fitting a corresponding portion of a baseline function to a baseline of a respective one of each of the shorter signals, and subtracting the baseline function from the bio signal, resulting in a bio signal with a flat baseline.

Abstract: Sulfur dioxide (SO2) may be removed from carbon dioxide feed gas by contacting the carbon dioxide at an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure with a catalyst for oxidizing SO2, in the presence of oxygen (O2) to convert SO2 to sulfur trioxide (SO3); contacting SO3 in the resultant SO3-enriched carbon dioxide gas with water to produce sulfuric acid and SO2-depleted carbon dioxide gas; and separating the sulfuric acid from the SO2-depleted carbon dioxide gas. If present, NOx is also removed from the carbon dioxide feed gas as nitric acid to produce SO2-depleted, NOx-lean carbon dioxide gas. The method has particular application in the removal of SO2 and NOx from flue gas produced by oxyfuel combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel or carbonaceous fuel, within or downstream of the CO2 compression train of a CO2 recovery and purification system.

Abstract: A feed stream, comprising hydrogen sulphide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen (H2) and, optionally, carbon monoxide (CO), is separated into at least a CO2 product stream and an H2 or H2 and CO product stream. The stream is separated using a pressure swing adsorption system, an H2S removal system and a further separation system, which systems are used in series to separate the stream. The method has particular application in the separation of a sour (i.e. sulphur containing) syngas, as for example produced from the gasification of solid or heavy liquid carbonaceous feedstock.

Abstract: A first contaminant selected from oxygen and carbon monoxide is removed from impure liquid carbon dioxide using a mass transfer separation column system which is reboiled by indirect heat exchange against crude carbon dioxide fluid, the impure liquid carbon dioxide having a greater concentration of carbon dioxide than the crude carbon dioxide fluid. The invention has particular application in the recovery of carbon dioxide from flue gas generated in an oxyfuel combustion process or waste gas from a hydrogen PSA process. Advantages include reducing the level of the first contaminant to not more than 1000 ppm.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting rare events, such as hospitalization events. Predictor sequences may be generated by example systems and methods. Further, the fitness of those sequences may be measured. Sequences may be refined and/or combined with other sequences to produce better sequences. Related sequences may have their relationship identified and associated with the respective sequences. Finally, the sequences may be used to create a predictive model designed to determine, based on a sequence of events related to a person, if a hospitalization event is likely to occur in a given timeframe. Other models may be constructed and used to predict other rare events, based on related event sequences.

Abstract: A gaseous mixture, comprising CO2, H2, H2S and optionally CO, is separated into an H2 or H2 and CO product stream (H2/CO product stream), and a CO2 enriched stream containing at least one combustible component selected from H2S, H2, CO and any additional combustible components present in the gaseous mixture. A support fuel stream, comprising one or more combustible components, is combusted to form a stable flame, and the CO2 enriched stream and flame are contacted in the presence of sufficient O2 to combust all or substantially all of the combustible component(s) present in said CO2 enriched stream. A CO2 product stream is formed from said combustion effluent. The support fuel stream may be generated from the process of generating or separating the gaseous mixture or from the H2/CO product stream. Where the CO2 enriched stream contains H2S, the support fuel stream may also be a stream obtained off-site that comprises H2S.

Abstract: A feed gas comprising CO2, H2S and H2 is treated to produce an H2-enriched product and a CO2 product. The feed gas is separated by pressure swing adsorption to provide a stream of the H2-enriched product, and two streams of sour gas depleted in H2 and enriched in H2S and CO2 relative to the feed gas. One of the streams of sour gas is processed in an H2S to elemental sulfur conversion system, in which H2S in the sour gas is converted to elemental sulfur order to obtain a stream of sweetened gas, from which the CO2 product is formed. The other of said streams of sour gas is processed in an oxidation system, in which H2S in the sour gas is oxidized to SOx(SO2 and SO3) which is introduced into the H2S to elemental sulfur conversion system.

Abstract: Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is removed from a carbon dioxide feed gas by maintaining the feed gas at elevated pressure(s) in the presence of oxygen (O2), water and NOx for a period of time sufficient to convert SO2 to sulfuric acid and NOx to nitric acid and produce SO2-depleted, NOx-lean carbon dioxide gas. The invention resides in separating the sulfuric and nitric acids from said SO2-depleted, NOx-lean carbon dioxide gas, and then neutralizing the acids by reaction with an alkaline sorbent in an acid/sorbent reactor system to produce sorbent-derive sulfate. The method has particular application in the removal of SO2 and NOx from flue gas produced by oxyfuel combustion of a carbonaceous fuel.

Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is removed from a hydrogen rich gas stream using adsorbents having a low loss of carbon dioxide adsorption capacity upon sulfur loading including high purity silica gels, titania or highly cross-linked, non-chemically reactive resins. The adsorbents may be used to adsorb both carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, or may be used as a guard bed upstream of a separate carbon dioxide adsorbent.

Abstract: Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is removed from carbon dioxide feed gas comprising SO2 as a contaminant by maintaining the carbon dioxide feed gas at an elevated pressure in contact with an alkaline sorbent for a period of time sufficient to react said alkaline sorbent with SO2. Where NOx, oxygen (O2) and water are also present, not only is the rate of reaction with the sorbent increased, but also additional SO2 is removed by conversion to sulfuric acid, and NOx is removed as nitric acid. The method has particular application in the removal of SO2 and NOx from flue gas produced by oxyfuel combustion of a hydrocarbon or carbonaceous fuel.

Abstract: A method for archiving biomedical data generated by a data collection device, includes the steps of automatically determining a data format in which the collection device is configured to store the biomedical data onto a computer-readable storage medium, based on the data format, extracting the biomedical data from the storage medium, and transmitting the extracted data to a database in which the extracted data is archived.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide and oxygen are separated from a feed gas, preferably derived from flue gas from an oxyfuel combustion process, by diffusion across at least one membrane in a membrane separation system to produce separated carbon dioxide gas comprising oxygen, which is fed to the oxyfuel combustion process to improve the performance of the process.

Abstract: A computer-based method for detecting features in a digitally sampled biological (bio) signal includes the steps of applying a wavelet transform to the bio signal to generate a list of wavelet transform coefficients, ranking the coefficients according to value or frequency, and removing at least one low value or low frequency coefficient. The method further includes the steps of performing an inverse wavelet transform using the remaining coefficients to generate a reconstructed signal, and detecting feature locations using the reconstructed signal.

Abstract: A method for storing data includes the steps of receiving a metadata parameter from a first user, the parameter being associated with a property in a database containing a plurality of data records, and storing the parameter. The method also includes the step of providing a second user with access to the stored parameter, the second user having an access level to the database which is different from that of the first user.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption cycle designed to reduce the variations in ozone concentration, and produce a higher average ozone concentration, in a product gas stream throughout the cycle. The cycle includes a relatively long air sweep stage and provides for the overlapping of the air sweep stage in two adsorber vessels. Effluent from an adsorber vessel in a feed rinse stage is routed to another adsorber vessel that is in an air sweep stage.

Abstract: Acid mist may be removed efficiently from a gas stream using at least one fiber bed mist eliminator operating at elevated pressure of typically at least 2 bar (0.2 MPa), e.g. at about 4 bar (0.4 MPa) to about 50 bar (5 MPa). The invention has particular application in methods for processing carbon dioxide flue gas in which SO2 and/or NOx contaminants are converted at elevated pressure to sulfuric acid condensate and/or nitric acid condensate respectively.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption process for producing oxygen comprising (a) providing at least one adsorber vessel having a first layer of adsorbent adjacent the feed end of the vessel and a second layer of adsorbent adjacent the first layer, wherein the surface area to volume ratio of the first layer is in the range of about 0.75 to about 1.8 cm?1; (b) introducing a pressurized feed gas comprising at least oxygen, nitrogen, and water into the feed end, adsorbing at least a portion of the water in the adsorbent in the first layer, and adsorbing at least a portion of the nitrogen in the adsorbent in the second layer, wherein the superficial contact time of the pressurized feed gas in the first layer is between about 0.08 and about 0.50 sec; and (c) withdrawing a product gas enriched in oxygen from the product end of the adsorber vessel.

Abstract: NO2 may be removed from a carbon dioxide feed gas comprising NOx and at least one “non-condensable” gas as contaminants by passing the feed gas at a first elevated pressure through a first adsorption system that selectively adsorbs at least NO2 to produce at least substantially NO2-free carbon dioxide gas. The adsorption system is at least partially regenerated using a carbon dioxide-rich gas recovered from the substantially NO2-free carbon dioxide gas after purification. The invention has particular application in removing NOx and water from flue gas generated by oxyfuel combustion.