Abstract: A rotary die cut stacking system for use with a rotary die cutter having a rotary die configured to output die-cut sheets of material, the system including a stacker and a layboy for carrying die-cut sheets of material in a first direction from the die cutter to the stacker, wherein, the layboy has upper arms and lower arms defining a nip region therebetween for receiving the die-cut sheets, at least some of the upper arms and at least some of the lower arms being moveable transversely to the first direction, the layboy including at least one optical beam generator configured to direct an optical beam against a portion of the rotary die cutter so that a position of the arms relative to the rotary die can be determined based on the location of the optical beam on the portion of the rotary die cutter.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a liquid-vapor contact column housing an array of vertically spaced liquid-vapor contact trays and an arrangement of downcomers that conduct liquid from tray-to-tray down the array. In a vapor space between the trays there are liquid-vapor disengagement devices having vapor passages therethrough and defining surfaces for the flow thereacross of any liquid disengaged from vapor ascending the column. Each of the devices is typically provided by a sheet of expanded metal and has an outlet edge in liquid flow communication with the next lower tray via the downcomer.

Abstract: Cooled and purified air is introduced into a higher pressure rectification column and separated into oxygen-enriched liquid and nitrogen vapor. A stream of the oxygen-enriched liquid is flashed through a pressure reducing valve to form a mixture of liquid further enriched in oxygen and vapor depleted of oxygen. The liquid is reboiled by reboiler. A stream of the further enriched liquid is reboiled in condenser and is introduced into a lower pressure rectification column for separation into oxygen and nitrogen products. Reflux for the columns and is formed by condensing in condenser nitrogen vapor separated in the higher pressure rectification column. A reboiler provides an upward flow of vapor through the column. The condenser and reboiler take the form of a single heat exchanger. The reboiler is located in a phase separator, the reboiler is located in a rectification column containing liquid-vapor contact devices above the level at which fluid issuing from the valve is introduced.

Abstract: Iron ore, coal and oxygen are fed to a reactor to produce iron and a fuel gas. The fuel gas leaves the reactor at a temperature of at least 200.degree. C. and is passed through a hot filtration apparatus. The resulting hot, filtered gas then passes through a heat exchanger. A heat exchange fluid, preferably a stream of nitrogen at above ambient pressure passes through the heat exchanger countercurrently to the hot filtered as stream. The heat exchange fluid is thereby heated. The hot heat exchange fluid stream is then expanded with the performance of external work in an expansion turbine, for example it may be used in the generation of electrical power. The hot, filtered, fuel gas may be sent for power recovery downstream of the heat exchanger or may be separated into its constituent components. If the heat exchange fluid is nitrogen it may be separated from air in the same plant that is used to feed the reactor with oxygen.

Abstract: The present invention provises a method and apparatus for separating a gas mixture. In accordance therewith, the gas mixture is rectified in a dephlegmator. The dephlegmator has first and second sets of heat exchange passages which are in a heat exchange relationship with the gas mixture being rectified. A stream of a first heat exchange fluid is passed through a first of the set of heat exchange passages so as to condense some of the gas mixture. A stream of a second heat exchange fluid is sub-cooled by passage through a second set of the heat exchange passages.

Abstract: An air stream is compressed in a compressor, and purified in an apparatus. A major portion of the compressed, purified air stream is then cooled in a main heat exchanger to a temperature suitable for its separation in a double rectification column comprising a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column. The lower pressure column typically operates at a pressure in the range of 2.5 to 4.5 bar. A minor portion of the compressed, purified air stream is employed to generate refrigeration for the air separation by being further compressed in the compressor and expanded in a turbine. Oxygen and nitrogen product streams are withdrawn from the lower pressure column. The nitrogen product stream is passed through the main heat exchanger countercurrently to the major air stream. A part of this nitrogen stream is withdrawn at an intermediate region of the heat exchanger and is expanded in an expansion turbine.

Abstract: A liquid-gas contact device comprising a liquid-gas contact tray comprising a multiplicity of the elongate apertures in the tray for the passage of gas from below to above the tray, each aperture having a gas deflector associated therewith in being so disposed as to impart to the gas a component of velocity in the general direction of liquid flow, and at least several liquid flow in impedance members arranged so as to control the liquid velocity on the liquid-bearing surface to prevent it from reaching so great a magnitude that the residence time of liquid on the tray is insufficient for adequate gas-liquid contact to take place. Preferably the tray comprises a sheet of expanded metal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering work from a nitrogen stream, wherein the nitrogen is preheated via heat exchange with hot fluid from a chemical process, which process utilizes the oxygen product of the air separation. Preferably at least a part of the expanded nitrogen is utilized to preheat at least one fluid reactant of the chemical process. The chemical process may be gasification or direct reduction of iron oxide, as well as the conversion of natural gas into synthesis gas.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for separating air to form oxygen and nitrogen in at least one cryogenic distillation column is disclosed. Nitrogen vapor taken from the colunm is warmed in countercurrent flow to incoming air in a heat exchanger wherein compressed air is being cooled for separation. A portion of the warm nitrogen is compressed, cooled in the heat exchanger and passed through an expansion turbine. The expanded nitrogen is passed through a reboiler associated with the column and further cooled in the heat exchange means. Part of the resulting liquid nitrogen is used to provide reflux for the column and the remainder is taken as product. Preferably, at least a portion of the compressed air stream is expanded in a turbine, passed through the reboiler associated with the column to provide reboil therefor, liquified by heat exchange and introduced to the distillation column through a throttling valve.

Abstract: A packing for a liquid-vapor contact column is provided which comprises metallic sheets defining liquid-vapor passages and having at least one wettable surface comprised of a coating of porous metal. The sheets are perforated to permit vapor to pass between them. The porous metal coating is formed by spraying a particulate mixture of metal and a plastics material onto the sheet to form a coating of plastics particles embedded in metal and then heating to volatilize the plastic thereby forming porosity in the metal coating.

Abstract: A process for the separation of air to obtain oxygen, nitrogen and argon is disclosed which comprises: subjecting air from which carbon dioxide and water have been removed to fractional distillation in a first column to form oxygen-nitrogen vapor and argon-enriched oxygen; separating argon from the latter in a second column operating at substantially lower pressure than the first; liquefying a portion of the nitrogen vapor in a cycle including heat exchange with incoming air and compression to a pressure above that of the first column, a portion of the liquid nitrogen being taken as product and a second portion being returned to the first column as reflux. Liquid-oxygen and nitrogen vapor from the first column are mixed in a liquid-vapor contact column, impure liquid nitrogen is withdrawn therefrom and used as reflux in the first column. A remixed oxygen-nitrogen stream is withdrawn from the contact column and expanded to create refrigeration for the system.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for separating air to form oxygen and nitrogen in at least one cryogenic distillation column is disclosed. Nitrogen vapor taken from the column is warmed in countercurrent flow to incoming air in a heat exchanger wherein compressed air is being cooled for separation. A portion of the warm nitrogen is compressed, cooled in the heat exchanger and passed through an expansion turbine. The expanded nitrogen is passed through a reboiler associated with the column and further cooled in the heat exchange means. Part of the resulting liquid nitrogen is used to provide reflux for the column and the remainder is taken as product. Preferably, at least a portion of the compressed air stream is expanded in a turbine, passed through the reboiler associated with the column to provide reboil therefor, liquified by heat exchange and introduced to the distillation column through a throttling valve.

Abstract: An incoming stream of gas mixture typically comprising methane and up to 12% by volume of carbon dioxide is subjected to rectification in a first column to form a carbon dioxide depleted fraction that is withdrawn as product from the top of the column and a carbon dioxide-enriched fraction which is withdrawn from the bottom of the column is warmed in a heat exchanger and is introduced into a second rectification column operating at a higher pressure than the first column. A stream in which carbon dioxide predominates is withdrawn from the bottom of the higher pressure column while a stream 34 containing a lower proportion of carbon dioxide than said enriched fraction is withdrawn from the top of the higher pressure column is throttled through a valve and is united with the incoming stream of gas mixture upstream of or in the lower pressure column.

Abstract: A distillation tray of the sieve type with a chordal weir or outlet has vapor passages therethrough. The density of vapor passages in the main liquid flow area immediately between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet of the tray is higher than in the remaining area of the tray so that more vapor flow will be directed into the more active main liquid flow area of the tray, whereby the vapor leaving the tray from the main liquid flow area has substantially the same composition as the vapor leaving the tray from the other area.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for separating air a distillation zone is employed to separate air into an oxygen-enriched liquid fraction and a nitrogen-enriched vapor-fraction. A first stream is taken from the nitrogen-enriched vapor fraction and is mixed with a stream taken from the oxygen-enriched liquid fraction. At least part of the resultant mixture is employed to perform a refrigeration duty, for example the condensation of nitrogen-enriched vapor to provide reflux for the distillation column.