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: A carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon conversion device and method are disclosed. A partially produced hydrocarbon subterranean reservoir comprising residual hydrocarbons is provided. A carbon dioxide source is provided, positioned on a surface proximate to the reservoir. A surface mounted high-pressure fluid injector system connecting the carbon dioxide source and the reservoir is provided. A backflow preventer is disposed in-line between the injector system and the reservoir. The injector system injects a catalyst-free feed stream, comprising carbon dioxide, into the reservoir up to an operating pressure. The backflow preventer maintains the operating pressure in the reservoir and sequesters the feed stream in the reservoir. The sequestered carbon dioxide reacts with water and at least a portion of the residual hydrocarbons over a time period to produce additional hydrocarbons. The water is present in the reservoir, provided by the feed stream, or both.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for a distillation column. The distillation column comprises a first liquid portion below a first gas portion. The first liquid portion comprises an opening through a side wall comprising a gas backflow preventer. A horizontal reboiler is attached to the opening, the reboiler comprising a second gas portion above a second liquid portion. The recycle gas outlet and the recycle gas inlet are connected by a recycle gas pipe. A descending process liquid stream passes through a recycle gas stream in the first gas portion, forming a bottoms liquid stream, which pools and passes through the opening into the reboiler, and is separated in the reboiler into a product liquid stream, which passes out a liquid outlet, and the recycle gas stream, which is prevented from passing back through the opening by the gas backflow preventer, passing instead through a recycle gas outlet.

Abstract: A device and process for removing vapors from a gas is disclosed. A tower is provided. Sub-cooled pellets are distributed by the solids distributor across a horizontal cross-section of the tower. A process gas, comprising a product vapor, passes through the gas inlet. The product vapor and the sub-cooled pellets comprise the same material. The product vapor and the sub-cooled pellets agglomerate as the product vapor desublimates onto the sub-cooled pellets, forming product pellets and a vapor-depleted gas. A crushing device, a screening device, and a solids heat exchanger are provided. A portion of the product pellets are recycled as sub-cooled pellets to the solids distributor by crushing and screening the portion of the product pellets to the size distribution of the sub-cooled pellets and cooling the portion of the product pellets to produce the sub-cooled pellets.

Abstract: A process and device for separating a vapor from a gas is disclosed. A direct-contact exchanger comprising a droplet-generating apparatus in a top portion of the exchanger and a bubbling apparatus in a bottom portion of the exchanger is provided. An inlet gas, comprising a vapor, is passed through the bubbling apparatus, forming bubbles in a bottoms liquid. The bottoms liquid strips a portion of the vapor and exchanges heat with the bubbles, producing a product liquid and a middle gas. A barren liquid is passed through the droplet-generating apparatus to form droplets of the barren liquid in the top portion. The droplets descend against the middle gas and strip a second portion of the vapor from and exchange heat with the middle gas, producing the bottoms liquid, which collects in the bottom portion, and a product gas.

Abstract: A device is disclosed comprising a pinchable hose with an inner wall and an outer wall. The hose comprises a flexible material and one or more springs. A central axis of the one or more springs is contained within a space between the inner wall and the outer wall of the hose.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recycling streams in a separations process comprising: determining a measured reading of a parameter of the separations processor is in a suboptimal range; separating, via a separation unit having a volume of contact fluid, the inert gas from the pollutant gas in the inlet flue gas stream to form a clean gas stream and a purified pollutant gas stream; removing at least 1% of the volume of contact fluid to form a removed volume of contact liquid; performing some unit operations on the removed volume of contact fluid; injecting the clean gas stream into the inlet flue gas stream to form a flue gas stream of lower pollutant concentration; and, repeating at progressively lower pollutant concentration, as the inlet stream until the processor determines that a measured reading of the parameter has been returned to a substantially optimal range.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a heat exchanger and one or more induction heating elements is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a coolant side conduit and a process side conduit, the process side conduit being susceptible to fouling by at least partial desublimation, condensation, crystallization, deposition, or combinations thereof of a fouling component of a circulating process fluid. An electrically conductive first metal is disposed adjacent to the process side conduit. The one or more induction heating elements are disposed proximate to the heat exchanger. The one or more induction heating elements are connected to a source of electrical current. When the electrical current flows through the induction heating elements, eddy currents are induced in the first metal, heating the first metal such that the fouling component sublimates, melts, absorbs, or a combination thereof into the circulating process fluid.

Abstract: A method for removing a foulant from a heat exchanger is disclosed. A process fluid, comprising a process liquid and a fouling component, are provided to a process side of the heat exchanger. A flow of a coolant to the coolant side is provided by opening an inlet to the coolant side. The process fluid is cooled, a portion of the fouling component desublimating, crystallizing, freezing, condensing coupled with solidifying, or a combination thereof as a first portion of the foulant onto an outer surface of the coolant side. The inlet to the coolant side is periodically closed such that the flow of the coolant slows or stops, warming the process side, and causing the first portion of the foulant to sublimate, melt, absorb, or a combination thereof off the outer surface of the coolant side. The process then returns to the providing the flow of the coolant step.

Abstract: A process for separating a vapor from a gas is disclosed. A cryogenic liquid is provided to an inlet of a froth flotation device. A carrier gas is provided to a gas distributor of the froth flotation device. The carrier gas comprises a product vapor. Bubbles of the carrier gas are produced and passed through the cryogenic liquid in the froth flotation device. A portion of the product vapor desublimates, condenses, crystallizes, or a combination thereof to produce a solid product and a product-depleted carrier gas. Bubbles of the product-depleted carrier gas collect the solid product as a froth concentrate. The froth concentrate is removed by overflowing out of the froth flotation device.

Abstract: A method for separating solids from liquids is disclosed. A double-roller system is provided. A process fluid is provided to the double-roller system. The process fluid comprises a suspended solid and a process liquid. The suspended solid comprises non-fibrous solid particles. A portion of the process fluid is compressed through the double-roller system to produce a compressed portion of the suspended solid. A product stream and a dilute fluid stream are separated. The product stream comprises a compressed portion of the suspended solid and a first portion of the process liquid. The dilute fluid stream comprises a second portion of the suspended solid and a second portion of the process liquid.

Abstract: A process for separating a gas and a vapor is disclosed. A cross-flow horizontal spray vessel comprising horizontally-situated sections is provided. Each of the sections comprise a spray nozzle or nozzles, and a collection hopper. A carrier gas, comprising a product vapor, is passed through the sections. A contact liquid is provided through the spray nozzle or nozzles such that the carrier gas passes across the contact liquid and a portion of the product vapor desublimates, condenses, crystallizes, or combinations thereof as a product solid into the contact liquid, leaving a product-depleted carrier gas. The contact liquid and the product solid are passed to a next preceding upstream spray nozzle or nozzles such that a temperature profile is established across the sections by the contact liquids, as the contact liquids are progressively warmer. The contact liquid and the product solid are removed. The product-depleted carrier gas is removed.

Abstract: A process for separating a mixture of components is disclosed. A liquid mixture is provided to a separation vessel substantially near a temperature at which a product component freezes. The liquid mixture comprises the product component and a carrier component. The product component and the carrier component are essentially immiscible substantially near the temperature. The liquid mixture is separated into two or more phases, the two or more phases comprising a product component-rich liquid phase and a product component-depleted liquid phase. In this manner, a mixture of components is separated.

Abstract: A process for forming a solid product or products is disclosed. The process is provided with n desublimating exchangers. An exchanger E1 being associated with a first exchanger and an exchanger En being associated with an nth exchanger, n representing the number of exchangers. The n exchangers comprise at least one direct-contact exchanger comprising a contact fluid. A process fluid is passed through the n exchangers in order from E1 through En. The process fluid comprises a product component or components. The solid product or products form from the product component or components in the plurality of exchangers by desublimation. The solid product or products are separated from the process fluid. In this manner, a solid product or products is formed.

Abstract: A method for removing a vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. A heat exchanger is provided. A coolant is provided to the coolant side. A slurry is provided to the process side. The slurry comprises a contact liquid and scouring solids. The carrier gas is provided to the heat exchanger, the carrier gas comprising a vapor. A portion of the vapor desublimates, condenses, absorbs, or reacts such that the portion of the vapor solidifies to form a product solid. At least a portion of the product solid deposits as a foulant on an outer surface of the coolant side and is scoured with the scouring solids to remove the foulant from the outer surface of the coolant side. A vapor-depleted carrier gas is removed from the heat exchanger. The slurry and product solid from the heat exchanger. In this manner, the vapor is removed from the carrier gas.

Abstract: A method for preventing blockage of a cryogenic injection system is disclosed. The cryogenic injection system is provided comprising a gas feed line attached to a gas distributor. A gas is fed through the gas feed line and the gas distributor into a cryogenic liquid. A portion of the gas feed line passes through the cryogenic liquid. An insulative layer is provided for the portion of the gas feed line that passes through the cryogenic liquid. Heat transfer through the insulative layer between the portion of the gas feed line and the cryogenic liquid is countered sufficiently to prevent blockage of the gas feed line by a component or components of the gas. In this manner, blockage of the cryogenic injection system is prevented.

Abstract: A method for producing a purified product stream is disclosed. A process stream is provided to a screw compressor, the process stream comprising a contact liquid stream and a product stream, wherein the product stream comprises a solid portion. The process stream is passed through the screw compressor and into a melting device. The solid portion of the product stream is melted in the melting device to a temperature and a pressure such that a portion of the product stream vaporizes, forming a purified product stream, and vaporization of the contact liquid stream into the purified product stream is essentially prevented. A restricted outlet is provided to an upper portion of the vessel. The restricted outlet is proportionally controlled such that the pressure and the temperature is maintained as the purified product stream passes through the restricted outlet. In this manner, the purified product stream is produced.

Abstract: A method for causing a phase change from a cryogenic solid to a cryogenic liquid is disclosed. A melting device, a vessel, and a solids pressurization device are provided. The solids pressurization device passes through at least a portion of the vessel. The cryogenic solid is provided to the vessel with a recycled portion of the cryogenic liquid. The cryogenic solid is conveyed and pressurized towards an outlet of the vessel to a pressure above the triple point by the solids pressurization device. The cryogenic solid is warmed by the melting device to a temperature above the solid-liquid phase transition curve, causing the cryogenic solids to change phase and become the cryogenic liquid.

Abstract: A method for preventing fouling of a demister is disclosed. A process fluid is provided into a vessel. A gas is provided to a gas inlet of the vessel. The gas comprises a component that desublimates, crystallizes, solidifies, reacts, or a combination thereof, in the process fluid, forming a first solid. The gas is passed through the process fluid, the component of the gas forming the first solid, resulting in a component-depleted gas. The component-depleted gas is passed out of the process fluid, causing splashing or spurting of the process fluid and the first solid. The diverter section is provided between the demister and the gas inlet, the diverter section comprising a physical obstruction preventing the process fluid and the first solid from splashing or spurting onto the demister. In this manner, fouling of the demister is prevented.

Abstract: A process to prevent fouling using a desublimating heat exchanger is disclosed. An outlet stream from the desublimating heat exchanger may be split into a plurality of parallel streams. The parallel streams may be sent through other devices for performing a unit operation, and the devices for performing a unit operation may change the temperature of at least one of the parallel streams. Parallel streams of differing temperature may emerge from the devices for performing a unit operation. The parallel streams of differing temperature may be sent to a mixing chamber. A mixed stream of uniform temperature may emerge from the mixing chamber, and the mixed stream may be recycled back to the desublimating heat exchanger. The mixing chamber may be separate from the desublimating heat exchanger, or the parallel streams of differing temperature may be mixed in the desublimating heat exchanger.