Abstract: Helium is recovered from gas streams containing high concentrations of hydrogen gas and low concentrations of helium gas, such as from the recycle stream from the production of ammonia. The inventive process provides for an integrated process for the recovery of both an enriched helium gas stream product and a high purity hydrogen gas stream product.

Abstract: Helium is recovered from gas streams containing high concentrations of hydrogen gas and low concentrations of helium gas, such as from the recycle stream from the production of ammonia. The inventive process provides for an integrated process for the recovery of both an enriched helium gas stream product and a high purity hydrogen gas stream product.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for detecting contaminants that can precipitate and deposit on a workpiece during a carbon dioxide application, especially contaminants that are already present and dissolved in the fresh carbon dioxide fed to the application. One aspect of this invention includes a method of detecting contaminants dissolved in a carbon dioxide stream, including the steps of sampling at least a portion of the carbon dioxide stream to form a carbon dioxide sample; modifying at least one physical condition of the carbon dioxide sample to form an aerosol that includes gaseous carbon dioxide and at least one suspended contaminant; and detecting the number of particles of suspended contaminant in at least a portion of the carbon dioxide sample with at least one particle counter. A system for continuously detecting contaminants dissolved in a carbon dioxide stream is also described.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide is purified through the use of catalytic oxidation. Carbon dioxide is exposed to at least one catalyst, oxidizing at least a portion of the nonvolatile organic residues to form purified carbon dioxide that is directed to an application. Carbon dioxide that is in a near-critical, critical, or supercritical phase can be exposed to the catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed are a carbon dioxide purification process and apparatus including (i) an adsorbing step for removing a predetermined amount of hydrocarbons from a carbon dioxide feed gas to reduce the caloric value of the feed stream, and (ii) a catalytic oxidation step located downstream of the adsorbing step for removing residual hydrocarbons from the feed gas by catalytic oxidation.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide is purified through the use of catalytic oxidation. Carbon dioxide is exposed to at least one catalyst, oxidizing at least a portion of the nonvolatile organic residues to form purified carbon dioxide that is directed to an application. Carbon dioxide that is in a near-critical, critical, or supercritical phase can be exposed to the catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for detecting contaminants that can precipitate and deposit on a workpiece during a carbon dioxide application, especially contaminants that are already present and dissolved in the fresh carbon dioxide fed to the application. One aspect of this invention includes a method of detecting contaminants dissolved in a carbon dioxide stream, including the steps of sampling at least a portion of the carbon dioxide stream to form a carbon dioxide sample; modifying at least one physical condition of the carbon dioxide sample to form an aerosol that includes gaseous carbon dioxide and at least one suspended contaminant; and detecting the number of particles of suspended contaminant in at least a portion of the carbon dioxide sample with at least one particle counter. A system for continuously detecting contaminants dissolved in a carbon dioxide stream is also described.

Abstract: Apparatus useful for purifying a gas stream comprises a heat exchanger, a monolithic supported catalyst system whose downstream end is connected in fluid communication with an inlet of the heat exchanger, a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, a catalyst system comprising a catalyst supported on a monolithic unitary support having passages therethrough, the support having a length and upstream and downstream ends at opposite ends of the length, wherein the diameter of said support is from one-half to two times the diameter of the shell of the heat exchanger, and wherein the downstream end of said support is connected in fluid communication with the inlets of said tubes by a passageway whose length does not exceed the length of the support and whose diameter is at no point less than the smaller of the diameter of said support and the diameter of said shell.

Abstract: Disclosed are a carbon dioxide purification process and apparatus including (i) an adsorbing step for removing a predetermined amount of hydrocarbons from a carbon dioxide feed gas to reduce the caloric value of the feed stream, and (ii) a catalytic oxidation step located downstream of the adsorbing step for removing residual hydrocarbons from the feed gas by catalytic oxidation.

Abstract: A process and a system for producing helium from a helium-bearing feed gas that is purified in a cryogenic processing unit to produce cryogenic crude helium containing at least 10% helium. The cryogenic crude helium is directly introduced into a thermal swing helium refinery where it is refined. Refrigeration is supplied to the refinery by the cryogenic crude helium from the cryogenic processing unit.

Abstract: A method and system for separating one or more components from gas mixtures uses a moving bed of adsorption material particles under continuous and substantially isobaric pressure conditions. Contaminated gases are likewise purified by removing one or more contaminants therefrom using such a moving bed of adsorption material particles under continuous and substantially isobaric pressure conditions.