Abstract: A system for cooling one or more discrete superconducting devices wherein a primary refrigerator subcools cryogenic liquid for desubcooling in the devices and subsequently resubcools this liquid in a recirculation loop, and additional cryogenic liquid is maintained in a subcooled condition within a reserve storage container by diversion of some of the refrigeration generated by the primary refrigerator into the reserve storage container.

Abstract: A method for operating a cryocooler wherein some cryocooler working gas is diverted from the pressure wave pathway before passing to the cold portion of the cryocooler, passed to a getter for adsorptive cleaning of contaminants, and returned to the pressure wave pathway at a warm portion of the pressure wave pathway.

Abstract: A method and electrode assembly for treating a substrate with a non-equilibrium plasma in which the electrode assembly has two or more spaced barrier electrodes and a ground electrode spaced apart from the two spaced barrier electrodes for passage of a substrate to be treated. Plasma fluid medium is introduced between the barrier electrodes and is biased to provide a greater flow to an inlet region of the electrode assembly to help inhibit the ingress of air. Each of the barrier electrodes can be provided with central and leg sections having passages for introducing a cooling fluid into one of the leg sections and discharging said cooling fluid from the other of the leg sections. The central section can be provided with a transverse cross-sectional area less than that of the leg sections to increase velocity in the central section.

Abstract: A resonant linear motor driven cryocooler system, particularly suited for providing refrigeration to a magnetic resonance imaging system, wherein vibrations from the resonant linear motor and noise from pulsed gas are isolated from the cryocooler by work transfer piping comprising connecting tubing and preferably a dashpot, and wherein the connecting tubing has a volume which exceeds the internal stroke volume of the resonant linear motor.

Abstract: A method of separating one or more light components, such as helium, from a carbon dioxide containing stream. A two-phase stream is obtained, at least in part, by cooling a pressurized feed stream to at least partially condense such stream. The stream that is subsequently degassed to produce a first vapor stream enriched in the light component(s) and a first liquid stream containing an entrained fraction of the light component(s). The first liquid stream is expanded to create another two-phase stream that is degasified to produce a second vapor stream that is also enriched in the light component(s) and a second liquid stream having an enriched carbon dioxide content. The second liquid stream is repressurized and vaporized. In case of a supercritical feed, the pressurized feed stream is expanded after having been cooled. Thereafter, the feed is degassed to produce the light component enriched vapor stream and a liquid stream enriched in the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method of making an electrolytic cell in which an electrolyte layer of an intermediate sintered form is coated with a pre-coat layer containing electrically non-conductive particles of less than about one-tenth of a micron in size to fill in defects existing within the electrolyte layer. The pre-coat layer is removed so that the electrically non-conductive particles remain within the defects of the electrolyte layer. The cathode layer is then applied to the electrolyte layer with the electrically non-conductive particles in place within the defects. The intermediate sintered form is fired with the applied cathode layer to produce the electrolytic cell.

Abstract: A method for operating a pulse tube cryocooler system wherein in the event the mean pressure of the working gas within the fixed volume of the cryocooler undergoes a change, the operation of the system is kept from severe degradation by changing the frequency of the pressure wave generator driving the cryocooler directly with the change in the mean pressure.

Abstract: A heat exchanger distributor which facilitates homogeneous flow of a two phase multicomponent heat exchange fluid, such as a refrigerant fluid, comprising a plurality of spaced dividers, extending longitudinally through some or all of the length of the finned section of the distributor, which prevent lateral movement and agglomerization of gas bubbles and a lower threshold for flow reversal and liquid logging.

Abstract: An oxygen transport membrane reactor having an oxygen transport membrane and a downstream fuel injector located within a chamber. The oxygen transport membrane and fuel injector are enclosed by a duct that constrains an incoming oxygen containing feed to flow along the outer surface of the duct and then reverse direction and flow within the duct and past the oxygen transport membrane and then the fuel injector. The oxygen transport membrane permeates part of the oxygen within the oxygen containing feed by ion transport to form a retentate. The retentate is used to support combustion of the fuel injected by the fuel injector. The resulting heat is used to heat the incoming oxygen containing feed by indirect heat exchange which in turn is used to heat the oxygen transport membrane.

Abstract: A pulse tube system for generating refrigeration for uses such as in magnetic resonance imaging systems wherein an oil-free compressor operating at a higher frequency generates pulsing gas which undergoes a frequency reduction and drives the pulse tube system at a more efficient lower frequency.

Abstract: A method of separating oxygen from an oxygen containing stream in which compressed and heated oxygen is introduced into cathode side of an oxygen transport membrane reactor. Oxygen is permeated from the cathode side to the anode side. Motive fluid that is introduced into an ejector draws an oxygen permeate containing stream from the anode side at a subatmospheric pressure to form an oxygen containing product stream. The motive fluid, which can be steam raised by combustion used in heating the reactor, can be separated from the oxygen containing product stream to form an oxygen product stream. The use of an ejector lowers the partial pressure of the oxygen at the anode side of the membrane reactor and therefore the degree to which the oxygen containing stream need be compressed.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system for producing elevated pressure nitrogen wherein a portion of the nitrogen product fed to the product compressor downstream of the primary heat exchanger is withdrawn as refrigerant nitrogen from the product compressor, preferably from an intermediate point of the product compressor, and turboexpanded to generate refrigeration for the system.

Abstract: A method of heating a fluid in a fluid heater integrated with a gas turbine. Fuel is burned in a radiant section of the fluid heater to heat the fluid and to produce combustion gases for the heating a downstream convective section. The combustion is supported by a combined oxidant stream. An oxygen containing stream or the combined stream, which is made up in part by the oxygen containing stream is preheated through indirect heat transfer with a first gas turbine exhaust stream produced by the gas turbine. A second gas turbine exhaust stream, also produced by the gas turbine is combined with the oxygen containing stream to form the combined oxidant stream. As such, the available heat energy supplied to the fluid heater is supplied not only by the combustion but also the gas turbine. This allows for the fuel to be conserved or for increased fluid throughput.

Abstract: A method of controlling liquid and gaseous production within a plurality of air separation plants to produce and distribute gaseous and liquid products to a plurality of customers in which the electrical power costs involved in producing gaseous and liquid products is optimized to be at a minimum together with road shipping costs of liquid products by a real time optimization program.

Abstract: A system for cooling a power transformer wherein cryogen in liquid or solid form is sprayed into a vaporizer or directly onto a power transformer radiator and the vaporizing and/or sublimating cryogen cools a cooling fluid within the vaporizer or cools the radiator directly to provide cooling to the power transformer.

Abstract: A method of heating a fluid in a fluid heater integrated with a gas turbine. Fuel is burned in a radiant section of the fluid heater to heat the fluid and to produce combustion gases for the heating a downstream convective section. The combustion is supported by a combined oxidant stream. An oxygen containing stream or the combined stream, which is made up in part by the oxygen containing stream is preheated through indirect heat transfer with a first gas turbine exhaust stream produced by the gas turbine. A second gas turbine exhaust stream, also produced by the gas turbine is combined with the oxygen containing stream to form the combined oxidant stream. As such, the available heat energy supplied to the fluid heater is supplied not only by the combustion but also the gas turbine. This allows for the fuel to be conserved or for increased fluid throughput.

Abstract: A method of storing and supplying a gaseous hydrogen product to a pipeline under a product purity specification in which a hydrogen stream made up of gaseous hydrogen is compressed to form a compressed hydrogen stream and introduced into a salt cavern for storage. A crude hydrogen stream, contaminated from storage in the salt cavern is recovered and purified by sufficiently removing at least carbon dioxide and water vapor to produce a hydrogen product stream having an impurity level at or below the product purity specification. The hydrogen product stream is supplied back to the pipeline. Alternatively, during periods of low demand, hydrogen produced by a production facility is both purified and supplied to the pipeline and stored in the salt cavern. During high demand period, both the output of the production facility and hydrogen retrieved from the salt cavern are purified and supplied to the pipeline.

Abstract: A method of heating a fluid in a fluid heater integrated with a gas turbine. Fuel is burned in a radiant section of the fluid heater to heat the fluid and to produce combustion gases for the heating a downstream convective section. The combustion is supported by a combined oxidant stream. An oxygen containing stream or the combined stream, which is made up in part by the oxygen containing stream is preheated through indirect heat transfer with a first gas turbine exhaust stream produced by the gas turbine. A second gas turbine exhaust stream, also produced by the gas turbine is combined with the oxygen containing stream to form the combined oxidant stream. As such, the available heat energy supplied to the fluid heater is supplied not only by the combustion but also the gas turbine. This allows for the fuel to be conserved or for increased fluid throughput.

Abstract: A method is disclosed a method for recovering olefins and for producing hydrogen from a refinery off-gas stream in which such stream is conventionally pretreated and separated to obtain a light ends stream that contains nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon monoxide and a heavy ends stream that contains the olefins. The light ends stream is subjected to reforming and a water gas shift reactions after addition of a natural gas stream. The addition of the natural gas increases the hydrogen recovery from the light ends and also stabilizes the hydrocarbon content in the stream to be subjected to the reforming and water gas shift reactions. The heavy ends can be further treated to recover olefins such as ethylene and propylene. The rate of natural gas addition is controlled so that the concentration of the nitrogen in a stream exiting the water gas shift reactor is less than about 5 percent by volume so that hydrogen separation from such stream becomes practical.

Abstract: A steam methane reforming method in which a feed stream is treated in a reactor containing a catalyst that is capable of promoting both hydrogenation and partial oxidation reactions. The reactor is either operated in a catalytic hydrogenation mode to convert olefins into saturated hydrocarbons and/or to chemically reduce sulfur species to hydrogen sulfide or a catalytic oxidative mode utilizing oxygen and steam to prereform the feed and thus, increase the hydrogen content of a synthesis gas produced by a steam methane reformer. The method is applicable to the treatment of feed streams containing at least 15% by volume of hydrocarbons with two or more carbon atoms and/or 3% by volume of olefins, such as a refinery off-gas. In such case, the catalytic oxidative mode is conducted with a steam to carbon ratio of less than 0.5, an oxygen to carbon ratio of less than 0.25 and a reaction temperature of between about 500° C. and about 860° C.