Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating a gas, vapor or particulate matter or combinations thereof from a liquid.The liquid is contacted with a stripping gas or vapor which is immiscible in or which has low solubility in the liquid under operating conditions, which stripping gas or vapor is different from the gas or vapor to be separated from the liquid. The contact is achieved in an in-line stripping device which is capable of accelerating at least a portion of the stripping gas or vapor/liquid composition to a linear velocity which is supersonic for the composition.

Abstract: Composite membranes having advantageous combinations of selectivity and permeability are prepared by the coating of a separation layer on a porous support layer containing a controlled amount of liquid in the range of from about 10% to about 90% by weight of the liquid present in the fully wet support layer.

Abstract: A method for producing a composite hollow fiber membrane by coating a porous hollow fiber substrate with a dilute solution of a membrane-forming composition containing a membrane-forming material and a solvent therefor by contacting the porous hollow fiber substrate with the composition, partially evaporating some of the solvent from the coated porous hollow fiber substrate, contacting the partially dried coating porous hollow fiber substrate with a coagulant and recovering the composite hollow fiber membrane. Also included are the composite hollow fiber membranes so produced and their use as permeable membranes for separating at least one fluid from at least one other fluid in a fluid mixture.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to composite membranes having a separation layer comprised of at least one poly(tetramethyl) bisphenol A phthalate resulting in enhanced separation and permeating characteristics. Processes for making these composite membranes and the methods of using them for gas separations are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved pressure swing adsorption process enables the more readily adsorbable component of a feed gas to be economically recovered, e.g. nitrogen from air. The more readily absorbable component is used as copurge at upper adsorption pressure, and less readily adsorbable component is used for countercurrent purge at subatmospheric desorption pressure and for initial repressurization in a countercurrent backfilling step.

Abstract: Permeable membranes are operated, under reduced demand conditions, by reducing feed flow and the partial pressure driving force across the membrane, using the installed surface area, with product purity and/or flow being reduced. The driving force is reduced by reducing feed pressure and/or increasing permeate side pressure.

Abstract: A method for producing hollow fiber permeable devices having an essentially leak-free seal between the hollow fibers and the tubesheet that consists of heating the tubesheet containing the hollow fibers potted therein at a temperature essentially equal to or greater than the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material or the softening point of the thermoset material of the hollow fiber for a period of time sufficient to essentially densify the hollow fibers in the potted portion of the tubesheet and whereby a major portion of the interior diameter of the bores of the hollow fibers embedded in the tubesheet is enlarged; and the fiber permeable devices themselves.

Abstract: A self-contained trailer mounted proportioning, mixing, injection and collection system enables pipelines to be conveniently coated in-situ using two-component coating compositions moved through the pipeline by a double pig system without solvent vapor exposure, liquid spills or drips, undesired air bubble formation in the coating composition or exposure of operating personnel to pressurized gas, solvent vapors or liquid coating material splash or hazardous flammable or explosive conditions.

Abstract: A membrane system is positioned within an insulated enclosure heated to maintain superheat conditions for the feed gas to the system, wherein individual membrane modules are not insulated. The feed gas compression heat is desirably used to supply the superheat to the feed gas within the insulated enclosure.

Abstract: An aluminum refining vessel has two refining stages positioned side-by-side, with flow of molten aluminum into and out of the vessel being from the same side thereof. The vessel is readily adaptable for the reversal of flow therethrough, and for ease of installation, operation and maintenance.

Abstract: Composite membranes are post-treated by contact with a volatile solvent, with or without minute amounts of additives, followed by solvent evaporation, to repair defects in the thin separation layer thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quick-filling a full charge of compressed natural gas into an adsorbent filled cylinder.

Abstract: An aluminum melt is processed by the injection of a sparging gas through a spinning nozzle into the melt in a preheat, conditioning and processing step sequence, with a predetermined proportion of hydrogen being employed with the sparging gas during the processing step to assure that the hydrogen content of the melt is such that the density of the solidified product is within a desired range on a repeatable basis. The conditioning step is employed to facilitate the attaining of the desired result on such repeatable basis in an advantageous manner such as to minimize the processing time and the amount of the hydrogen/sparging gas mixture necessary for the desired density control.

Abstract: In air separation and other gas separations employing pressure swing adsorption technology, reduced cycle times are achieved by an advantageous combination of simultaneous processing steps. The repressurization step in which the upper adsorption pressure is reached in each adsorbent bed is carried out while simultaneously withdrawing product gas from that bed. Following cocurrent depressurization steps in which released void space gas is used for pressure equalization and provide purge gas purposes, each bed, in turn, is further cocurrently depressurized, and the released gas is used for pressure equalization purposes, while the bed is simultaneously being countercurrently depressurized. This latter countercurrent depressurization is then continued to a lower desorption pressure is reached, after which the bed is partially repressurized by pressure equalization, before being further repressurized to upper adsorption pressure with simultaneous withdrawal of product as the next processing cycle is begun.

Abstract: In a pressure swing adsorption system for the supply of enriched oxygen to a variable demand wastewater treatment system, the oxygen product to feed air ratio is increased during periods of reduced oxygen demand, with the enriched oxygen being supplied to the wastewater treatment system at lower purity levels during such periods of reduced demand than the purity levels supplied under maximum demand conditions. Operation in this manner enables oxygen recovery to be enhanced and the power requirements to be reduced under such variable demand conditions.

Abstract: Normal paraffins present in high concentrations in light naphtha streams are separated from non-normal paraffins in a four or more bed adsorption system employing, on a cyclic basis, the processing steps of (1) cocurrent purge/adsorption, (2) cocurrent feed/adsorption, (3) countercurrent purge and (4) countercurrent displacement. A processing sequence is employed wherein the cocurrent purge/adsorption and countercurrent purge steps are carried out on a discontinuous basis, while cocurrent feed/adsorption and countercurrent displacement steps are carried out in overlapping sequence.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide-containing gas streams are converted to methane by a cyclic, essentially two-step process in which said carbon monoxide is disproportionated to form carbon dioxide and active surface carbon deposited on the surface of a catalyst, and said carbon is reacted with steam to form product methane and by-product carbon dioxide. The exothermic heat of reaction generated in each step is effectively removed during each complete cycle so as to avoid a build up of heat from cycle-to-cycle, with particularly advantageous techniques being employed for fixed bed, tubular and fluidized bed reactor operations.

Abstract: The conversion of synthesis gas to liquid molar fuels by means of a cobalt Fischer-Tropsch catalyst composition is enhanced by the addition of molybdenum, tungsten or a combination thereof as an additional component of said composition. The presence of the additive component increases the olefinic content of the hydrocarbon products produced. The catalyst composition can advantageously include a support component, such as a molecular sieve, co-catalyst/support component or a combination of such support components.

Abstract: The in-situ cleaning of conduits containing oily deposits is facilitated by the concurrent passage of cleaning particles and a non-agglomerating drying agent therethrough in a propelling gas stream. In cycling cleaning operations, the preliminary injection of drying agent into the conduit prior to said concurrent use of cleaning particles and drying agent further enhances the overall in-situ cleaning operation.

Abstract: A reciprocating-type pump with simplified construction and enhanced performance is achieved by the use of a unitary, rigid pump body support structure and modular pump component designs. This unitary structure includes forward and rearward pump body mounting plates to which the pump body is secured, with the overall support structure being securely attached to the power frame of the pump by means of a power frame mounting plate. Rigid connecting members secure said plates together to form the unitary structure that is particularly advantageous for use in the fabrication of cryogenic pumps suitable for high pressure operation. Valve means, packing means and a pump body cooling jacket can be conveniently secured to the unitary support structure.