Abstract: Air separation by low temperature liquefaction and fractionation wherein feed air is compressed and cooled and supplied to a single stage air separation column from which gaseous nitrogen is removed frown the top and wherein an oxygen-rich liquid is removed from the bottom. The column contains solid material providing solid surfaces on which mass and energy transfer takes place to effect fractionation over a substantial vertical height in the single stage of the column. Liquid is removed from the column intermediate that height, and the removed liquid is subcooled and expanded to produce a gas and a liquid. The liquid is an ultra-high purity nitrogen product, and can be withdrawn from the cycle in liquid or vapor phase. Vapor is removed from the top of the column, cooled and partially condensed and phase separated. Vapor from the last-mentioned phase separation is discharged, thereby to eliminate from the cycle most of the impurities boiling lower than nitrogen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating air by low temperature liquefaction and fractionation wherein feed air is compressed and cooled and supplied to the high pressure stage of a two-stage fractionation column from the bottom of the high pressure stage of which liquid is expanded and introduced at an intermediate level of the low pressure stage and a gaseous nitrogen product is removed from the top of the high pressure stage of the column, and wherein an oxygen product is removed from the bottom of the low pressure stage and a gaseous nitrogen product is removed from the top of the low pressure stage. Both stages contain solid material providing solid surfaces on which mass transfer takes place to effect fractionation over a substantial vertical distance. The improvement comprises removing a liquid from the high pressure stage intermediate the height of the solid material therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and device to prevent the liquefaction-leakage phenomenon of a gas in a pressure regulator, in which a gas pipe between a high pressure gas supply source and a pressure regulator for reducing the pressure of gas comprises a double pipe consisting of an inner pipe and an outer pipe, wherein a high pressure feed gas is caused to flow through the inner pipe and a heated inert gas through the outer pipe, thereby heating the high pressure feed gas. After sweeping the inner pipe, the inert gas is analysed to detect the presence of even small traces of the high pressure gas which indicate a leak in the inner pipe.

Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which comprises first and second gas adsorbing columns each having inlet and outlet pipes; and switch-over pipes connecting the first and second gas adsorbing columns being alternatively arranged in parallel to or in series with each other, the switch-over pipes having valves arranged therein.

Abstract: The invention concerns the separation of air with an external cold source. An internal cold source is provided to supply cold heat to a compressed inert gas by expansion of a part of a liquefied inert gas when the cold from the external cold source proves to be insufficient. This part of the liquefied inert gas is combined with recycling and compressed gases. The desired production of liquid oxygen and nitrogen is thus assured in spite of variations in the external cold source.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing pressurized, sealed containered food is disclosed, in which a predetermined quantity of low-temperature liquefied gas is charged through two or more low-temperature liquefied gas outlets into a succession of individual containers which have already a predetermined quantity of food including liquid content and are successively travelling upright with the top end open at a constant speed, and each container is subsequently sealed with a lid.

Abstract: A method of preventing the atmosphere from entering a heat-insulating container adapted to temporarily reserve a low-temperature liquefied gas, wherein a dry gas is constantly supplied to the inside of the heat-insulating container when it is in an inoperative state, in order to maintain the inside of the heat-insulating container in a dry gas atmosphere having a pressure slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure. The dry gas is a vaporized gas of a low-temperature liquefied gas of the same kind as the low-temperature liquefied gas to be used. The dry gas is led out in the gas phase from a supply container for supplying the low-temperature liquefied gas to be used, or is a gas obtained by vaporizing a part of the low-temperature liquefied gas to be used, outside the supply container.

Abstract: In a low-temperature liquefied gas constant outflow device having a heat-insulating container having an opening at the top, a cover member closing the opening of the heat-insulating container, a low-temperature liquefied gas outlet which runs through the base of the heat-insulating container, a level sensor which detects the level of low-temperature liquefied gas in the heat-insulating container, and a vaporized-gas exhaust conduit which opens from the cover member, the improvement wherein a pressure absorbing container is located within the heat-insulating container, a low-temperature liquefied gas supply conduit and a vaporized-gas exhaust conduit are both inserted into the pressure absorbing container through the cover member, a low-temperature liquefied gas outlet is provided in the pressure absorbing container, and a check valve is provided in the low-temperature liquefied gas supply conduit, which opens or closes in response to a signal from the level sensor.

Abstract: A low-temperature liquefied gas outflow device wherein an outflow nozzle having a plurality of through-holes is provided through the base of a heat-insulating container having an opening at the top, and a cover member closing the opening, a control device for selectively opening or closing any desired number of the plurality of through-holes provided in the outflow nozzle is provided. The heat-insulating container has a level sensor located within the heat-insulating container, a liquefied gas supply conduit running through the cover member, a vaporized-gas exhaust conduit provided in the cover member, and a check valve inserted into the liquefied gas supply conduit, operating in response to a signal from the level sensor. The control device for selectively opening or closing the through-holes comprises a plurality of valve elements for selectively closing the through-holes, and an elevation cylinder for controlling the operation of the plurality of valve elements.