Abstract: A method for removal of a foulant from a carrier gas is disclosed. A solids conveyance device that spans a vessel and a solids coolant system are provided. A cold solid foulant is provided to the solid inlet of the vessel. The carrier gas containing the foulant is provided to the carrier gas inlet of the vessel. The foulant condenses or desublimates onto the recycled solid foulant, forming a foulant-depleted carrier gas and a solid foulant product. The solids conveyance device passes the solid foulant product out of the vessel. The foulant-depleted carrier gas leaves the vessel. The solid foulant product is split into a final solid foulant product and a recycled solid foulant. The recycled solid foulant is cooled through the coolant system to produce the cold solid foulant. In this manner, the foulant is removed from the carrier gas.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for separating a vapor component from a carrier gas is disclosed. The carrier gas is cooled in an outer chamber, causing a vapor component of the carrier gas to desublimate or condense onto an outer surface of an inner chamber, forming a solid product. A coolant is passed through the inner chamber to cool the carrier gas of the outer chamber. A means for causing the inner chamber to flex is provided, causing the solid product to fall from the outer surface of the inner chamber for collection. In this manner, the vapor component is separated from the carrier gas.

Abstract: A process for removing a foulant from a gas stream is disclosed. The gas stream, containing a foulant, is cooled across a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, producing a solid foulant entrained in cryogenic liquid as a foulant slurry, and a foulant-depleted gas stream. The foulant-depleted gas stream is passed through a cryogenic turbine and a first separation vessel, producing a light gas stream and further solid foulant. The solid foulants are recovered by a combination of pressurization, melting, and distillation to produce a liquid foulant product. Heat is recovered from the various streams in the various heat exchangers and the melter.

Abstract: A method for thickening a cryogenic slurry is disclosed. The method comprises providing a cryogenic slurry flow path, a cryogenic liquid discharge path, and a filter medium between the cryogenic slurry flow path and the cryogenic liquid discharge path. The cryogenic slurry comprises a solid and a cryogenic liquid. The cryogenic slurry is fed into the cryogenic slurry flow path, generally tangential to the filter medium. This causes a portion of the cryogenic liquid to cross the filter medium into the cryogenic liquid discharge path as a cryogenic liquid discharge and the cryogenic slurry to thicken to produce a thickened slurry. The filter medium comprises a cryogenically-stable material such that adsorption of gases is inhibited, deposition of solids is prevented, and temperature-change induced expansion and contraction of the filter medium is optimized.

Abstract: A device for thickening a cryogenic slurry is disclosed. The device comprises a cryogenic slurry flow path, a cryogenic liquid discharge path, and a filter medium between the cryogenic slurry flow path and the cryogenic liquid discharge path. The cryogenic slurry comprises a solid and a cryogenic liquid. The cryogenic slurry is fed into the cryogenic slurry flow path, generally tangential to the filter medium. This causes a portion of the cryogenic liquid to cross the filter medium into the cryogenic liquid discharge path as a cryogenic liquid discharge and the cryogenic slurry to thicken to produce a thickened slurry. The filter medium comprises a cryogenically-stable material such that adsorption of gases is inhibited, deposition of solids is prevented, and temperature-change induced expansion and contraction of the filter medium is optimized.

Abstract: A process for removing a foulant from a gas stream is disclosed. The gas stream is cooled in a series of heat exchangers, causing a portion of the foulant to desublimate and become entrained in a cryogenic liquid. This foulant slurry stream is pressurized, cooled, and separated into a pressurized foulant solid stream and the cryogenic liquid stream. The pressurized foulant solid stream is melted to produce a liquid foulant stream. Heat exchange processes, both internal and external, are provided that close the heat balance of the process. In this manner, the foulant is removed from the gas stream.

Abstract: A method for separating a vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. An air-sparged hydrocyclone is provided with a porous sparger covered by an outer gas plenum. A cryogenic liquid is provided to the tangential feed inlet at a velocity that induces a tangential flow and a cyclone vortex in the cyclone. The carrier gas is injected into the air-sparged hydrocyclone through the porous sparger. The vapor dissolves, condenses, desublimates, or a combination thereof, forming a vapor-depleted carrier gas and a vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid. The vapor-depleted gas is drawn through a vortex finder while the vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid is drawn through an apex nozzle outlet. In this manner, the vapor is removed from the carrier gas.

Abstract: A hydrocyclone for separating a vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. The hydrocyclone comprises one or more nozzles. A cryogenic liquid is injected to a tangential feed inlet at a velocity that induces a tangential flow and a cyclone vortex in the hydrocyclone. The carrier gas is injected into the cryogenic liquid, causing the vapor to dissolve, condense, desublimate, or a combination thereof, forming a vapor-depleted carrier gas and a vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid. The vapor-depleted carrier gas is drawn through a vortex finder and the vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid is drawn through an apex nozzle outlet. In this manner, the vapor is removed from the carrier gas.

Abstract: A method for separating a vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. A hydrocyclone is provided with one or more nozzles on the wall of the hydrocyclone. A cryogenic liquid is provided to the tangential feed inlet at a velocity that induces a tangential flow and a cyclone vortex in the hydrocyclone. The carrier gas is injected into the hydrocyclone through the one or more nozzles. The vapor dissolves, condenses, desublimates, or a combination thereof, forming a vapor-depleted carrier gas and a vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid. The vapor-depleted gas is drawn through the vortex finder while the vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid is drawn through the apex nozzle outlet. In this manner, the vapor is removed from the carrier gas.

Abstract: An air-sparged hydrocyclone for separating a vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. The cyclone comprises a porous sparger covered by an outer gas plenum. A cryogenic liquid is injected to a tangential feed inlet at a velocity that induces a tangential flow and a cyclone vortex in the air-sparged hydrocyclone. The carrier gas is injected into the cyclone through the porous sparger. The vapor dissolves, condenses, desublimates, or a combination thereof, forming a vapor-depleted carrier gas and a vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid. The vapor-depleted carrier gas is drawn through a vortex finder and the vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid is drawn through an apex nozzle outlet. In this manner, the vapor is removed from the carrier gas.

Abstract: A system, and a method, are disclosed with a plurality of valves acting as a group. The valves of the group are instructed by a master controller or other device to oscillate more open and more closed around a set point. The system controls the oscillation using an instruction to oscillate in a sine waveform pattern; the valves of the group oscillate so that the sine waveform is a positive phase shift of at least one other valve in the group. The phase shift may be calculated as 360/n degrees, where n represents the number of valves in the group.

Abstract: A method for removing carbon dioxide from a carrier liquid is disclosed. A heat exchanger is provided. A carrier liquid, containing carbon dioxide, is heated through the heat exchanger, causing the carbon dioxide to vaporize. The carrier liquid and the carbon dioxide gas pass to a liquid removal vessel. The carrier liquid is removed and the carbon dioxide gas is compressed. The compressed carbon dioxide gas is provided to the heat exchanger, cooling the carbon dioxide gas opposite the carrier liquid, producing a carbon dioxide liquid.

Abstract: A method for semi-continuous operation of a heat exchange process that alternates between two heat exchangers is disclosed. The method comprises, first, providing a contact liquid to a first heat exchanger while the second heat exchanger is on standby. The contact liquid contains a dissolved gas, an entrained gas, or residual small particles that foul the first heat exchanger by condensing or depositing as a foulant onto the first heat exchanger, restricting free flow of the contact liquid. Second, detecting a pressure drop across the first heat exchanger. Third, switching flows of the coolant from the first to the second heat exchanger. Fourth, removing the foulant from the now standby first heat exchanger by providing heat to the heat exchanger, passing a non-reactive gas through the heat exchanger, or a combination thereof. In this manner, the heat exchange process operates semi-continuously.

Abstract: Condensable vapors such as carbon dioxide are separated from light gases in a process stream. The systems and methods employ a circulating fluidized particle bed cooled by an out-bed heat exchanger to desublimate the solid form of condensable vapors from the process stream. Gas and solids may be sorted in a separator, and the solids may then be subcooled in a heat exchanger. The condensable vapors may be condensed on the bed particles or in the heat exchanger while the light gases from the process stream, which are not condensed, form a separated light-gas stream.

Abstract: A lockable display hook adapted to display items of merchandise in a retail environment includes a lock that directly engages the rod assembly of the display hook. The lock is configured to securely lock to the rod assembly without the need for teeth or notches to be formed in the rod assembly. One embodiment of the display hook provides an end assembly that prevents sweeping while allowing quick loading of merchandise.

Abstract: A lockable display hook adapted to display items of merchandise in a retail environment includes a lock that directly engages the rod assembly of the display hook. The lock is configured to securely lock to the rod assembly without the need for teeth or notches to be formed in the rod assembly. One embodiment of the display hook provides an end assembly that prevents sweeping while allowing quick loading of merchandise.