Abstract: Produced water from fraccing operations is treated by removing contaminants that are contained therein by evaporating the produced water and feeding the evaporated produced water to a combustion chamber preferably along with an oxygen gas and a hydrocarbon fuel source to separate solids from vapors. The vapors are condensed to produce liquid water and waste gases and the liquid water is recovered for reuse or more environmentally friendly disposal. The waste gases may also be employed in a turbine or expander to produce electricity.

Abstract: Stable, gas-filled bubbles on the surface of proppant particles are formed by placing proppant in selected organic solvent having a much greater solubility of a selected gas compared to water, pressurizing the solvent with the selected gas, e.g., nitrogen, at pressures equal of greater than the operating pressure for a set time period to achieve saturation, and then replacing the solvent with water before reducing the pressure back to operating pressure level to create a local supersaturation near the solvent-solid interface, which will result in gas-filled bubble formation on the surface of proppant particles. The pressurized mixture of bubble surrounded proppant particles and water can then be combined with a respective fracturing fluid, e.g., slick water or carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen foam or an emulsion, which can be used in oil or gas producing wells to improve efficiency of hydraulic fracturing thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing particles from cooling water employing a flotation process to remove particulate matter from the cooling water, particularly during times of the year when particle content in the water is at its peak.

Abstract: A method for fraccing oil or gas wells to recover natural gas. Liquefied natural gas is vaporized to form a foam or dense fluid. The foam or dense fluid is compressed to high pressures. The high pressure natural gas foam or dense fluid is fed into the oil or gas well and once the well is pressurized to a pre-determined pressure and fracturing has begun, the flow of the foam or dense fluid is stopped. After a suitable period for fracturing to occur, the flow is reversed and the natural gas from the well and the foam or dense fluid fracturing fluid is recovered. The recovered and produced natural gas can be treated and made ready for use in other applications.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that provides refrigeration and is powered by an engine for burning liquefied natural gas. The vehicle contains on-board storage tanks for liquefied natural gas and liquid nitrogen. These two tanks are in thermal communication with each other and natural gas from the liquefied natural gas storage tank will periodically contact the liquid nitrogen and return as liquefied natural gas.

Abstract: A method for concentrating a single gas component from a gas mixture is disclosed. The method utilizes concentration units and recovery units to concentrate the single gas component which is often at very low concentrations in the gas mixture. This method allows for the recovery of a valuable gas depending upon application such as oxygen and Ar-40.

Abstract: Methods for recovering argon from a natural gas stream being purified are disclosed. The argon will be separated from the natural gas with helium and other impurities and can be recovered as liquids from the flash separation step of purifying the helium. The argon that is separated from the helium can be rectified to remove further impurities from the argon which can be recovered for storage or other uses.

Abstract: Methods for recovering and recycling helium and unreacted chlorine from a process for manufacturing optical fiber are disclosed. Helium-rich and chlorine-rich gas streams are recovered from the consolidation furnace and separated. The helium-rich stream is dried and blended with make-up helium and the chlorine-rich stream is purified and blended with make-up chlorine so that each may be reused in the optical fiber production process.

Abstract: A cap assembly for collecting cooling gas from a coolant chamber tube is disclosed. The cap assembly having connecting means and outlet means extending from its side walls being generally shaped and sized for detachable mounting on the body of the cooling gas chamber tube. The cap assembly is also employed in a hot optical fiber process which is being cooled by helium.

Abstract: A cap assembly for collecting cooling gas from a coolant chamber tube is disclosed. The cap assembly having connecting means and outlet means extending from its side walls being generally shaped and sized for detachable mounting on the body of the cooling gas chamber tube. The cap assembly is also employed in a hot optical fiber process which is being cooled by helium.

Abstract: A cap assembly for collecting cooling gas from a coolant chamber tube is disclosed. The cap assembly having connecting means and outlet means extending from its side walls being generally shaped and sized for detachable mounting on the body of the cooling gas chamber tube. The cap assembly is also employed in a hot optical fiber process which is being cooled by helium.

Abstract: A cap assembly for collecting cooling gas from a coolant chamber tube is disclosed. The cap assembly having connecting means and outlet means extending from its side walls being generally shaped and sized for detachable mounting on the body of the cooling gas chamber tube. The cap assembly is also employed in a hot optical fiber process which is being cooled by helium.

Abstract: A process for separating a gas component from a gas mixture is disclosed. A gas mixture is passed through an adsorption zone which contains an adsorbent which will selectively adsorb a gaseous component from the gas mixture. The adsorption zone contains a layer of monolithic adsorbent and a layer of adsorption beads. Optionally, a third monolithic layer may be employed. The adsorption zone is typically contained in an adsorption vessel.

Abstract: Improved methods for recovering helium gas from a multiple-stage consolidation furnace are disclosed. It has been discovered that a multi-valve can be actuated to respond to each of the stages of the consolidation furnace and their corresponding exhaust gases. By using this valve, the various exhaust gases can be directed to membrane separation units, PSAs, scrubbers and GRCs to remove, N2, O2, HCI, Cl2 and H2O from the gas streams and recover the helium gas.

Abstract: An improved method for preparing and activating monolith adsorbents is disclosed. A regeneration gas is passed through the formed monolith adsorbent at a temperature sufficient to decompose at least part of the binding agents in the adsorbent. The present invention also provides for the use of the treated adsorbent monoliths in separating gases in cyclical separation processes such as vacuum swing adsorption processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved cold gas-dynamic spraying process utilizing a carrier gas and small-diameter particulates whereby the particulate-laden carrier gas is directed to a ceramic filter unit where the particulates are separated out and the particulate-free carrier gas is analyzed and returned to the spraying process or to other gas purification systems.

Abstract: Ethene is separated from a gas mixture containing ethane by a pressure swing adsorption process carried out at a temperature in the range of about 50 to about 200° C., wherein the adsorption step of the process is conducted by passing the gas mixture through an adsorption zone containing type A zeolite whose exchangeable cations are preferably made up of at least about 60 but not more than 75% sodium ions and more than 25 and up to about 40 percent potassium ions.

Abstract: An ozone-oxygen gas stream is introduced into feed side of a membrane separation unit containing an elastomeric polymer membrane. Ozone-enriched gas passes through the membrane to a permeate zone and is contacted with an ozone-reactive substance-containing gas stream in the permeate zone, thereby oxidizing the substances or is removed from the permeate zone. Removal of the ozone-enriched gas from the permeate zone may be effected by purging the permeate zone with an inert gas and/or evacuating the permeate zone. Ozone-enriched gas removed from the permeate zone may be mixed with a liquid or gas stream which contains ozone-reactive substances in, for example, a venturi device, thereby oxidizing the substances.

Abstract: Hot optical fiber being drawn from a preform is cooled in a helium cooled heat exchanger by a two-stage process. In the first stage, in which the rate of draw of fiber through the heat exchanger is increased to the design draw rate, the rate of flow of helium to the heat exchanger is increased as the rate of draw of fiber is increased. Helium is withdrawn from the heat exchanger by a variable speed blower, and during the first stage the rate of withdrawal of helium from the heat exchanger is controlled primarily by the rate of flow of helium into the heat exchanger, and during the second stage, the rate of flow of helium to the heat exchanger is maintained constant and the rate of withdrawal is determined primarily by the pressure in the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Ammonia is purified by a membrane unit to concentrate ammonia and/or ammonia and moisture. Moisture is removed in a temperature-swing adsorption unit. The resultant product of such purification is then partially condensed to remove light components of other impurities and then partially vaporized to produce a pressurized ammonia product lean in heavy components. If the feed stream is processed through the membrane unit first, the permeate stream will be lean in such impurities as carbon dioxide, nitrogen and methane. Moisture and any carbon dioxide not removed in the membrane unit is then removed by the adsorption unit. The resultant stream produced by action of the membrane and adsorption units is then partially condensed to produce a liquid lean in light impurities. Such liquid is then partially vaporized within a product pressure vessel to produce ammonia vapor lean in heavy impurities and at a required operational pressure.