Abstract: A method of heating a surface provides for a central fuel rich jet having a peripheral shroud of substantially stoichiometric combustion products and one or more fuel lean jets each having a peripheral shroud of substantially stoichiometric combustion products. The fuel lean jets are placed around the periphery of the central fuel rich jet. The fuel lean jet or jets each having shrouds of substantially stoichiometric combustion products and a careful choice of relative velocities for each results in minimizing the mixing of the fuel rich and fuel lean jets until they are at or near the surface of the material to be melted. The placement of the fuel lean jet and fuel rich jets may be reversed in applications where an oxidizing atmosphere is required at the surface to be heated.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling the composition of the atmosphere within a refrigerated container during the storage and/or transportation of perishable and/or respiring produce in which carbon dioxide and ethylene (and other evolved hydrocarbons) are removed from the container atmosphere by adsorption, the adsorptive materials being regenerated with ambient air.

Abstract: A metal foam object results from the mixing of a gasifier with metal powder and subjecting the mixture to an elevated temperature T1 and pressure P1 to form a sintered sheet placing at least a portion of the sintered sheet into a mold and subjecting the mold to a temperature T2 where T2 is greater than T1 at which the metal melts and the gas is released from the gasifier and quenching the metal foam object thus formed in the mold. The quenching is carried out by applying a cryogen to the object as a high velocity mixture of gas and liquid droplets.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for protecting electronic, mechanical, or other components from contamination which includes a distribution manifold, a pressurized gas in fluid communication with the manifold; and a plurality of apparatuses which are capable of enclosing at least one electronic device, wherein the apparatuses are individually connected to the manifold by a conduit; the conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the manifold and the second end is connected to the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of making a metal foam object includes the steps of mixing a gasifier with metal powder and subjecting the mixture to an elevated temperature T1 and pressure P1 to form a sintered sheet; placing at least a portion of the sintered sheet into a mold and subjecting the mold to a temperature T2 where T2 is greater than T1 at which the metal melts and the gas is released from the gasifier; quenching the metal foam object thus formed in the mold; and passing a hot inert gas through the metal foam object.

Abstract: An apparatus for the chilling or freezing of items, particularly food items includes an entrance module, an exit module and may include one or more intermediate modules. Each module includes a portion of a belt for conveying items and a motor driven impeller for circulating a stream of cryogenic gas around the items. The velocity of the stream of cryogenic gas is increased through the use of one or more impingers creating impingement jets above and below the belt. The impinger may be a plate having a series of holes or it may be a series of channels. The impinger effects the rate of heat transfer from the cryogen to the items. A sprayer for spraying liquid cryogen into the impingement jets provides an immediate freezing of the surface of an item. A pneumatically actuated ball valve is used to vibrate the impingers to remove snow and ice on the impingers.

Abstract: A process for separating minerals of different mineralogical character. A milled slurry or flotation concentrate is subjected to a first conditioning step (20) followed by a first flotation step (30) followed by a second conditioning step (50) followed by a second flotation step (60). One of the conditioning steps is with an oxidising gas, the other of the conditioning steps being with a non-oxidising gas and an oxidisable surface modifying reagent. The process allows separation of mixtures of valuable minerals by tailoring both the first and second conditioning steps and first and second flotation steps to particular mixed mineral ores.

Abstract: In an industrial glass furnace which contains recuperators, regenerators, electric boost or other devices for providing heat to glass batch material an oxy-fuel burner mounted in the roof of the furnace provides additional heat to melt the batch material. A method of mounting and using such a roof-mounted oxy-fuel burner including the operating parameters to maximize heat transfer while minimizing the disturbance of the batch material is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of combustion and an apparatus therefor in which separate streams of very lean and very rich fuel/oxidant mixture are combusted separately, the products of combustion therefrom being thoroughly mixed before final combustion takes place. The lean/rich primary combustion minimizes combustion temperatures and pollutant formation, whilst the final combustion is substantially stoichiometric.

Abstract: An apparatus for refrigerating goods in a container storing a cryogenic fluid and means for discharging the fluid into the container in order to reduce the temperature therein, characterized in that the storing means is adapted to operate at atmospheric pressures but not at pressures substantially greater than atmospheric. Such a system provides a single and inexpensive means for refrigerating goods in a transportable container, which may be divisible into smaller compartments, and may also be provided with eutectic plates to act as a thermal “buffer” whenever the container/a compartment is opened for loading/unloading.

Abstract: A container for cooling/refrigerating produce comprising at least one panel made from metal foam for storing a cryogenic fluid under pressure and means for discharging said fluid into the container in order to reduce/maintain the temperature within the container.

Abstract: A method for optimising a mineral recovery process. A slurry 10 is fed to a conditioning step 20. The condition slurry 30 is then provided to a flotation circuit 40 to recover a concentrate 50. The remainder of the slurry is then rejected as tail 60 or passed for further processing. The present invention provides apparatus for analysing a sample stream 100 of the slurry. A sample stream 100 is provided to an analysis device 200 which treats the sample with an oxidising gas similar to the oxidative treatment 20. Several parameters are measured before and/or after the oxidative treatment of the slurry. The flotability characteristic of the slurry is then determined as a function of the measured parameter(s). The result is used to optimise mineral recovery. This apparatus can be used intermittently or continuously to provide on-going optimisation of the mineral recovery circuit.

Abstract: In the processing of an item, particularly a food item, where the final equalized temperature is important to the processing a method and apparatus for predicting the equalized temperature is disclosed. A series of infrared sensors is used to measure the rate of change of the surface temperature of an item after the item is exposed to a known thermal shock such as heating or cooling. The predicted equalized temperature can be calculated from the series of surface temperatures using least squares, non-linear regression techniques. One means for applying a thermal shock to an item would be the use of cryogens such as liquid nitrogen, carbon dixoide snow or synthetic liquid air (SLA).

Abstract: In an industrial furnace used to melt glass batch or glass melt least two oxy-fuel burners are employed in the roof or side-wall of the furnace. At least one oxy-fuel burner is operated with a fuel-rich mixture and at least one other oxy-fuel burner is operated with a fuel-lean mixture. The flames are directed to intersect near the surface of the batch or the melt in order to substantially complete combustion in the vicinity of the melt thereby increasing heat transferred to the material to be melted while also reducing flame temperatures near the burner block. Axisymmetric burners are employed in the crown or roof while non-axisymmetric burners are employed in the side-wall of the furnace. Alternatively, curved burners could be employed in either location to enhance control of the respective fuel-rich and fuel-lean flame interaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for producing a pressurized high purity liquid carbon dioxide stream in which a feed stream composed of carbon dioxide vapor is purified within a purifying filter and then condensed within a condenser. The result liquid is then alternately introduced and dispensed from two first and second pressure accumulation chambers. The first and second pressure accumulation chambers are heated by electrical heaters to pressurize the liquid to the required or desired delivery pressure of the pressurized liquid carbon dioxide stream. Such stream is alternately extracted from the first and second pressure accumulation chambers on a continuous basis in which one of the first and second pressure accumulation chambers acts in a dispensing role while the other is being filled. The pressurized liquid carbon dioxide stream can be further filtered within a particulate filter.

Abstract: A tote for transporting refrigerated or frozen goods, e.g., foodstuffs, comprises an insulated container and a coolant insert. The insulated container comprises a durable, impact-resistant shell, an insulation insert, an optional corrugated liner, and a cover. The coolant insert fits within the container such that it rests on the top edge of the insulation liner sidewalls, and it holds a coolant, e.g., carbon dioxide snow. The insert has a perforated bottom wall and an insulated top wall. When the tote holds frozen goods, the perforated bottom wall is opposite the interior of the container. When the tote holds refrigerated goods, the insulated top wall is opposite the interior of the container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a liquid mixture in which mixture components are mixed to produce a product stream having a predetermined connection of a specified component. This mixing occurs within a fluidic network designed such that the components mix in inlet branches to form a first intermediate mixture having a lower concentration than that desired in the product stream. The specified component is metered into the intermediate product stream to produce a second intermediate product stream that is blended to produce a third intermediate product stream. The concentration of the specified component within the third intermediate product stream is measured and the metering pump is appropriately adjusted. The third intermediate product stream then passes through a recycle loop in which recycled product is mixed with an intermediate product stream to produce a liquid mixture stream that is divided into the recycle stream and a product stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for the chilling or freezing of items, particularly food items includes an entrance module, and exit module and may include one or more intermediate modules. The modules may be connected in order to provide an optimal solution in a food freezing or chilling process. Each module includes at least a portion of a belt for conveying items and a motor driven impeller for circulating a stream of cryogenic gas around the items. The velocity of the stream of cryogenic gas is increased through the use of one or more impingers creating impingement jets above and below the belt. The impinger may be a plate having a series of holes or it may be a series of channels. The configuration of the impinger effects the rate of heat transfer from the cryogen to the items. A sprayer for spraying liquid cryogen into the impingement jets to provide an immediate freezing of the surface of an item. Baffles between modules enable the user to control the flow of cryogen and the pressure differential between modules.

Abstract: A method of heating a surface provides for a central fuel rich jet having a peripheral shroud of substantially stoichiometric combustion products and one or more fuel lean jets each having a peripheral shroud of substantially stoichiometric combustion products. The fuel lean jets are placed around the periphery of the central fuel rich jet. The fuel lean jet or jets each having shrouds of substantially stoichiometric combustion products and a careful choice of relative velocities for each results in minimizing the mixing of the fuel rich and fuel lean jets until they are at or near the surface of the material to be melted. The placement of the fuel lean jet and fuel rich jets may be reversed in applications where an oxidizing atmosphere is required at the surface to be heated.

Abstract: Air is separated in a double rectification column comprising a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column, the latter operating at pressures of less than 2 bar absolute. An oxygen product is withdrawn from the column by a pump. A first vaporous nitrogen stream is taken from the top of the higher pressure column, is compressed in a compressor and is used in a gas turbine. Feed to the lower pressure column is derived from a stream of the bottom oxygen-enriched liquid fraction obtained in the higher pressure column. To this end, this stream is subjected to further separation (typically in further rectification column) to form a vaporous nitrogen fraction (a flow of which is condensed and is used as reflux in the lower pressure column) and an oxygen-containing feed to the lower pressure column which flows via an outlet and a condenser to the column. At least 60% of the nitrogen product flowing to the gas turbine is taken from the higher pressure column.