Abstract: This invention pertains to a liquid-gas contacting tray or plate of the sieve type. A plurality of segment zones are established on the tray each having approximately the same area and flow path length. Vertically extending baffles are established within the segment zones to define smaller stages, the baffles being arcuate in shape and of constant radius. A plurality of perforations appear in the floor of the segment zones for vapor passage. By virtue of the establishment of small segment stages of similar length and width, the liquid flow paths, gradients, etc. remain equal and inefficiencies due to local variations in liquid to vapor ratio are minimized.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an extractive distillation separatory technique wherein the improvement comprises a two stage column with a condenser only for the high pressure section and a reboiler only for the low pressure section, as well as a flash separation of a stream communicating between the sections.

Abstract: The removal of paint from a support device for a product in a paint finishing operation is improved by using a support device with a critical surface tension such that paint adheres to the surface, yet readily fractures and debonds when treated with a cryogenic liquid. The paint is then removed by contacting the cryogenically treated support device with a non-metallic, non-silica base solid, gas or liquid with sufficient force to effectively remove the paint.

Abstract: A method is provided for distinguishing between a solid surface or object treated by exposure to a reactive gas to have a measurable impermeability to a nonpolar fluid and a surface or object permeable to the fluid by the steps of:(a) contacting the surface or object being tested with a dilute solution of crystal violet for a fixed period of time,(b) separating the surface or object from contact with crystal violet solution and(c) making a visual or instrumental determination of the extent to which crystal violet has adhered to and/or penetrated into the surface or object.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an improved method of operating an activated sludge system whereby a significant amount of ammoniacal nitrogen is removed in the BOD sorption zone, which does not later appear in the system as protein or NOX. The improved method for achieving said ammoniacal nitrogen removal comprises decreasing the ammoniacal nitrogen concentration of the mixed liquor in the oxidation zone to a point where the mixed liquor leaving the oxidation zone has an ammoniacal nitrogen concentration less than about 0.3 ppm. Additionally, an overall F/M.sub.o ratio equal to or greater than about 0.05 is maintained.

Abstract: A process and system are set forth for improving an oxygen-enriched Claus plant by recycling effluent from the first condenser back to the reaction furnace to moderate oxygen induced high temperatures and thus allow additional oxygen-enrichment and attendant throughput in the Claus plant.

Abstract: The volume of atmosphere needed to inhibit the ingress of ambient oxygen into the furnace chamber (3) of a continuous heat treatment furnace (1) can be reduced by introducing a gas containing free oxygen (e.g. air) into the entrance section (2) and/or exit section (4) adjacent the roof thereof. Thus a relatively inexpensive gas may often be used in combination with an expensive atmosphere thereby significantly reducing overall process cost. Continuous heat treatment furnaces can readily be converted to perform the method by simply inserting adjacent the roof of the entrance and/or exit section a tube (3) having a slot and/or a plurality of downwardly facing holes (9) and connecting the tube to a supply of the requisite gas. The invention is applicable to both double open ended furnaces and continuous furnaces in which the exit section is filled with a liquid, e.g. oil or molten salt. In these latter cases the gas is introduced in the entrance section (2).

Abstract: A process for removing methane and argon from crude ammonia synthesis gas, which method comprises the steps of:(a) cooling said crude ammonia synthesis gas in a heat exchanger;(b) distilling the cooled crude ammonia synthesis gas to provide purified ammonia synthesis gas and a liquid fraction containing methane, argon and nitrogen;(c) expanding said liquid fraction containing methane, argon and nitrogen;(d) introducing at least part of the liquid from step (c) into indirect heat exchange with vapor from the top of said distillation column to condense part of said vapor and provide reflux for said distillation column while simultaneously separating said liquid into a liquid stream rich in methane, and a gaseous stream rich in nitrogen;(e) warming said gaseous stream from step (d);(f) compressing at least part of the warmed gaseous stream from step (e);(g) cooling at least part of the compressed gaseous stream from step (f);(h) expanding at least part of the cooled gaseous stream from step (g); and(i) passing t

Abstract: A method is set forth for the generation of net power and the recovery of by-product oxygen-enriched gas at low power requirements. Air is compressed to elevated temperature and pressure, at least a portion of the air is combusted and a portion of the oxygen is removed from the air or combustion effluent through a membrane or adsorbent before the oxygen lean combustion effluent is expanded through a turbine to recover power for the process and net power.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is described for liquefying natural gas using two closed cycle, multicomponent refrigerants wherein a low level refrigerant cools and liquefies the gas by indirect heat exchange and a high level refrigerant cools and partially liquefies the low level refrigerant by indirect multistage heat exchange. The high level refrigerant is phase separated in order to use lighter refrigerant components to perform the final lowest level of refrigeration while the liquid phase of the separation is split and then expanded for refrigeration duty in order to avoid multiple flash separations wherein heavier components are used to provide the lower levels of refrigeration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for adsorption of nitrogen from nitrogen-containing gases using faujasite-containing compositions in which the original hydrogen or monovalent forms are ion exchanged to their polyvalent form and then dehydrated in such a manner as to result in a preponderence of its polyvalent ions in a dehydrated/dehydroxylated state while maintaining substantially the same zeolite content. The resulting compositions, whose cations contained in the faujasitic portion are substantially in their dehydrated/dehydroxylated state, have been found to have surprisingly high selectivities and capacities for the separation of air into nitrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: A nitrogen generating air separation system is disclosed having dual air feeds to dual, low and high pressure, distillation columns wherein a reboiler-condenser is mounted overhead of the high pressure column and a vaporizer-condenser is mounted overhead of the low pressure column and preferably a portion of the high pressure air feed is expanded and desuperheated before being introduced into the low pressure column.

Abstract: A system for liquefying and subcooling natural gas wherein compression power is shifted off the closed cycle refrigerant by subcooling the liquid natural gas to a relatively warm exit temperature and subsequently reducing the pressure and flashing the liquefied natural gas to recover a gaseous phase natural gas in excess of plant fuel requirements, the excess being recompressed and recycled to the feed to the process.

Abstract: Novel carbamic and carbonic acid derivatives are provided by simultaneous reaction of a secondary amine and a tertiary amine with carbon dioxide. These derivatives correspond in general to the formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be individual substituents attached to the N or together form with N a heterocyclic moiety; R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 may be individual short chain alkyl or hydroxyalkyl substituents on the N or form therewith a monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic moiety. These described compounds find particular use as heat activatable delayed action catalysts especially for use in polyurethane formulations.

Abstract: A unique process arrangement is disclosed wherein the effluent flue gas from the removal of hydrocarbonaceous coke from particulate matter by combustion in a mixture of pure oxygen diluted with carbon dioxide is processed to provide a carbon dioxide-rich recycle gas stream to be mixed with oxygen as regenerator feed gas; and a net combustion product stream from which are recovered SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x to eliminate atmospheric emissions, and a pure CO.sub.2 product for export. An alternate embodiment also produces hydrogen or synthesis gas for export.

Abstract: Improved extraction and recovery of carbonaceous products are achieved by the aqueous alkali depolymerization of carbonaceous materials, low rank coals, followed by the supercritical extraction with ammonia when the depolymerized material retains a significant aqueous presence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing refrigeration without loss of refrigeration or introduction of magnetic disturbance when using a displacer-expander type cryogenic refrigerator pneumatically actuated by a rotary valve coupled directly to a motor, the displacer-expander, rotary valve and motor being a single unit, by removing the motor from the unit and driving the valve by means of a flexible shaft. The flexible shaft can be disposed within a fluid conduit used to deliver high-pressure fluid to said refrigerator.

Abstract: A process is set forth for depolymerizing coal in an aqueous alkaline medium in the presence of a quinone and a hydrogen atmosphere. The depolymerized solid product is significantly ethyl acetate soluble and can be extracted with ammonia under supercritical conditions.

Abstract: In a cyclic VSA system for air fractionation by selective adsorption of nitrogen from the feed air during an on-stream adsorption period in said cycle in which period an oxygen-enriched primary effluent discharged from the adsorption column is collected in a surge vessel, the duration of the on stream adsorption step is automatically controlled by a sensing device monitoring inventory of gas collected in said surge vessel. In an alternative embodiment the adsorbed nitrogen is withdrawn by vacuum desorption of the column and collected in a second surge vessel, from which second vessel a portion of the nitrogen is subsequently withdrawn for use in rinsing the nitrogen laden column, said second surge vessel being likewise equipped with inventory monitoring means operative for automatically controlling the extent of the rinsing step.

Abstract: The binder composition for nonwoven products comprising a vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymer emulsion and up to 25 wt %, based on emulsion solids, of a polyamine containing 5 or 6 member N-heterocyclic moieties prepared by the polymerization of at least one diallylamine of the formula ##STR1## where R is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group and R' is hydrogen or a methyl group.