Abstract: A method to reduce or attenuate the amplitude of time-variant properties of a fluid stream by introducing the stream into a defined enclosed volume in a controlled manner such that the residence time distribution of the fluid exiting the enclosed volume approaches that of a preferred flat residence time distribution. This is accomplished by the concept of temporal mixing in which different residence times are imparted to a fluid in a mixing zone by physically dividing the fluid into individual portions, each of which has a different residence time while passing through the mixing zone. The desired fluid portions are created by means of specifically-designed multiple inlets into the mixing zone and/or by means of specifically-designed multiple outlets from the mixing zone.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process which comprises introducing a feed gas mixture into an inlet of an adsorber vessel during a feed period, wherein the feed gas mixture contains a more strongly adsorbable component and a less strongly adsorbable component and the adsorber vessel contains a bed of adsorbent material which selectively adsorbs the more strongly adsorbable component, and withdrawing a product gas enriched in the less strongly adsorbable component from an outlet of the adsorber vessel during at least a portion of the feed period, wherein a dimensionless cycle-compensated mass transfer coefficient defined as K tfeedVads/Vfeed is maintained in the range of about 23 to about 250.

Abstract: System for restraining the upward motion of granular material in a vessel containing a bed of the granular material through which a fluid flows in an upward direction. The system comprises flexible porous basket within the vessel in contact with the top of the bed of granular material and in contact with the inner walls of the vessel above the bed of granular material, wherein the porous basket has openings which are smaller than the smallest particles of the granular material such that granular material does not pass through the openings. The system also includes a layer of solid bodies located within the flexible porous basket wherein the solid bodies press the flexible porous basket against the top of the bed of granular material and against the inner walls of the cylindrical vessel above the bed of granular material.

Abstract: A method for controlling the sulfur dioxide partial pressure in a pressurized, heated, oxygen-containing gas mixture which is contacted with an ion-conducting metallic oxide membrane which permeates oxygen ions. The sulfur dioxide partial pressure in the oxygen-depleted non-permeate gas from the membrane module is maintained below a critical sulfur dioxide partial pressure, pSO2*, to protect the membrane material from reacting with sulfur dioxide and reducing the oxygen flux of the membrane. Each ion-conducting metallic oxide material has a characteristic critical sulfur dioxide partial pressure which is useful in determining the required level of sulfur removal from the feed gas and/or from the fuel gas used in a direct-fired feed gas heater.

Abstract: A method for operating a pressure swing adsorption process at turndown conditions by adding selected steps to the normal design operation of the process. The selected steps include the extension of a make product/no feed step and the addition of idle steps at specific points in the process cycle during depressurization and repressurization. The average volumetric flow ratio of the pressurized feed gas to the final product gas during design operation and during turndown operation may be essentially equal. The average oxygen concentration in the final product gas during design operation and during turndown operation also may be essentially equal.

Abstract: Method for the recovery of hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a feed gas mixture containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, and hydrocarbons heavier than methane. The method comprises utilizing a cryogenic methane wash column to recover hydrogen from an intermediate feed stream containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, and hydrocarbons heavier than methane, wherein the methane wash column utilizes a methane wash stream which contains less than about 5 mole % of hydrocarbons heavier than methane, and wherein the methane wash stream consists of components obtained from the intermediate feed stream.

Abstract: A method for the separation of a gas mixture comprises (a) obtaining a feed gas mixture comprising nitrogen and at least one hydrocarbon having two to six carbon atoms; (b) introducing the feed gas mixture at a temperature of about 60° F. to about 105° F. into an adsorbent bed containing adsorbent material which selectively adsorbs the hydrocarbon, and withdrawing from the adsorbent bed an effluent gas enriched in nitrogen; (c) discontinuing the flow of the feed gas mixture into the adsorbent bed and depressurizing the adsorbent bed by withdrawing depressurization gas therefrom; (d) purging the adsorbent bed by introducing a purge gas into the bed and withdrawing therefrom an effluent gas comprising the hydrocarbon, wherein the purge gas contains nitrogen at a concentration higher than that of the nitrogen in the feed gas mixture; (e) pressurizing the adsorbent bed by introducing pressurization gas into the bed; and (f) repeating (b) through (e) in a cyclic manner.

Abstract: A method to reduce the cycle time in a pressure swing adsorption process by reducing the required pressure equalization time in a cycle, thereby reducing the overall cycle time and increasing product recovery per unit of adsorbent used. This reduces the amount of adsorbent required in the beds for a given feed rate while continuing to provide product at an acceptable product purity, and has the desirable effect of reducing the capital cost of the process equipment required for a given volumetric production rate.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of hydrogen and one or more hydrocarbons having one or more carbon atoms from a feed gas containing hydrogen and the one or more hydrocarbons, which process comprises cooling and partially condensing the feed gas to provide a partially condensed feed; separating the partially condensed feed to provide a first liquid stream enriched in the one or more hydrocarbons and a first vapor stream enriched in hydrogen; further cooling and partially condensing the first vapor stream to provide an intermediate two-phase stream; and separating the intermediate two-phase stream to yield a further-enriched hydrogen stream and a hydrogen-depleted residual hydrocarbon stream. Some or all of the cooling is provided by indirect heat exchange with cold gas refrigerant generated in a closed-loop gas expander refrigeration cycle.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption process for the recovery of high purity oxygen from a feed gas comprising oxygen, nitrogen, and argon. The process includes a forward flow stage which comprises (a) passing the feed gas into a first adsorption zone containing an adsorbent selective for the adsorption of nitrogen over oxygen and argon, and withdrawing therefrom a nitrogen-depleted intermediate gas; (b) passing the nitrogen-depleted intermediate gas into a second adsorption zone containing an adsorbent which is selective for the adsorption of nitrogen over argon and selective for the adsorption of argon over oxygen; (c) withdrawing an oxygen-enriched product gas from the second adsorption zone; and (d) terminating the passing of feed gas into the first adsorption zone and withdrawing an oxygen-enriched depressurization gas from the second adsorption zone in the same flow direction as (c).

Abstract: A method for cooling a process stream in which one of a plurality of open-loop refrigerant streams is cooled by indirect heat exchange with other of the open-loop refrigerant stream in a refrigerant heat exchanger to yield a cooled primary refrigerant stream. The process stream is cooled by indirect heat exchange with a process refrigerant stream in a separate process heat exchanger, wherein the process refrigerant stream comprises at least a portion of the cooled primary refrigerant stream. The method is particularly useful in large process plants which require multiple parallel heat exchangers to cool the process stream.

Abstract: Method for delivering a vapor component product to an end user from a storage system which contains the component in coexisting liquid and vapor phases. The method comprises withdrawing from the storage system a component stream comprising vapor at a first total pressure and a first temperature, passing the component stream through a transfer line to a reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, and condensing vapor in the reservoir to provide a liquid component at a second total pressure and a second temperature at the outlet of the reservoir. The liquid component is withdrawn from the outlet of the reservoir and vaporized to yield the vapor component, which is provided to the end user. The invention includes apparatus to effect the steps of this method.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of a pressurized feed gas containing at least one more strongly adsorbable component and at least one less strongly adsorbable component.

Abstract: Method for separating a pressurized hydrocarbon mixture containing at least a more volatile component and a less volatile component. The method comprises (a) cooling and partially condensing the hydrocarbon mixture to yield a first hydrocarbon vapor and a first hydrocarbon liquid; (b) work expanding at least a portion of the first hydrocarbon vapor and introducing it into a distillation column at a first column location; (c) reducing the pressure of the first hydrocarbon liquid and introducing it into the distillation column at a second column location; and (d) withdrawing an overhead vapor enriched in the more volatile component from the distillation column; cooling, partially condensing, and separating the overhead vapor to provide a condensed overhead liquid and an uncondensed vapor overhead, introducing the condensed overhead liquid into the distillation column as reflux, and withdrawing from the bottom of the distillation column a stream enriched in the less volatile component.

Abstract: A single bed pressure swing adsorption process with at least one transfer tank is utilized to separate less adsorbable components from more adsorbable components such as the separation of oxygen from air. Depressurization gas is collected in the transfer tank and is used later exclusively for purging the bed during the regeneration period.

Abstract: Dephlegmator system without headers, collectors, or distributors at the bottom end of feed circuits in plate and fin exchangers operating in condensing or rectifying service. Each dephlegmator is installed within a pressure vessel, thereby eliminating the need for headers, collectors, or distributors at the bottom end of the feed circuits. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, upper and lower segments of the pressure vessel are isolated by a mid-vessel seal between the vessel and dephlegmator walls, and headers or collectors are not required at the upper and lower ends of the feed circuits.

Abstract: A method of gas liquefaction wherein the refrigeration to cool and liquefy an essentially water-free feed gas is provided by a single recirculating mixed refrigerant cycle in which refrigeration is provided by the vaporization of two mixed refrigerant streams of different compositions at a lower and higher pressure levels respectively. A lower pressure level vaporizing refrigerant cools the feed gas stream in a first cooling zone and a higher pressure level vaporizing refrigerant further cools and condenses the cooled gas in a second cooling zone to provide the final liquid product. The lower pressure level vaporizing refrigerant is provided by one or more liquids obtained by ambient cooling of compressed mixed refrigerant vapor.

Abstract: Method of producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) whereby refrigeration for cooling and liquefaction is provided by a mixed refrigerant system precooled by another refrigeration system. At least one liquid stream is derived from the partial condensation and separation of the mixed refrigerant at a temperature higher than the lowest temperature provided by the precooling system when the mixed refrigerant is condensed at a final highest pressure. When the mixed refrigerant is condensed at a pressure lower than the final highest pressure, condensation is effected at a temperatures equal or higher than the lowest temperature provided by the precooling system. The mixed refrigerant liquid is used to provide refrigeration at a temperature lower than that provided by the precooling system.

Abstract: An integrated gas turbine and air separation process and system having an air separation unit integrated with a gas turbine-driven air compression system which operates using fuel as the primary energy source. Feed air for the air separation unit is provided by two separate compressors driven by the gas turbine expander wherein one compressor provides air to the air separation unit and to the gas turbine combustor, and the other compressor provides feed air to the air separation unit. The ability to control an integrated air separation/gas turbine process during off-design or turndown conditions is improved by the use of two air compressors in the present invention compared with the usual single compressor gas turbine system. In the design of the integrated gas turbine and air separation system, the power requirement for a given air compression duty can be matched more readily to the power output of an available expansion turbine when two air compressors are used rather than a single air compressor.

Abstract: Refrigeration process for gas liquefaction which utilizes one or more vaporizing refrigerant cycles to provide refrigeration below about −40° C. and a gas expander cycle to provide refrigeration below about −100° C. Each of these two types of refrigerant systems is utilized in an optimum temperature range which maximizes the efficiency of the particular system. A significant fraction of the total refrigeration power required to liquefy the feed gas (typically more than 5% and often more than 10% of the total) can be consumed by the vaporizing refrigerant cycles. The invention can be implemented in the design of a new liquefaction plant or can be utilized as a retrofit or expansion of an existing plant by adding gas expander refrigeration circuit to the existing plant refrigeration system.