Abstract: A vacuum pump comprising a plurality of vacuum stages and having a first pump inlet through which gas can pass through all the pump stages and a second inlet through which gas can enter the pump at an interstage location and pass only through subsequent stages of the pump, wherein the pump stages prior to the interstage are sized differently to these stages subsequent to the interstages such that the pump overall suits the pressure requirements and pumping capacity of the different systems attached to the first and second inlet, respectively.

Abstract: A beverage chiller which chills the liquid through the desorption of gas from an adsorbent within a vessel, wherein the chiller comprises a plurality of heat transfer elements, formed of thermally-conductive material and in direct thermal contact with the adsorbent and adapted to transfer heat between the vessel walls and the adsorbent therein, and wherein the elements are configured so as to cooperate in use in order to conduct desorbed gas from the adsorbent to the vessel walls and thence along the vessel walls prior to its exit from the vessel. The chiller provides more effective heat transfer and fully utilizes the chilling capacity of the desorbed gas by channeling it to and along the vessel walls.

Abstract: A conveyance vehicle for the transportation of a vessel to be evacuated includes a heat sink in the form of one or more heat pipes located adjacent a seal forming part of a gripper assembly. The heat sink inhibits degradation of the seal when subjected to elevated temperatures consequent to engaging the neck of the vessel to be evacuated.

Abstract: Air is separated in a double rectification column including a lower pressure rectification column. A first oxygen product containing less than 3.5% by volume of argon impurity is withdrawn through an outlet of the column which has a packed section below the level of the outlet. The argon impurity is striped from liquid descending through the packed section and a second relatively pure oxygen product containing less than 100 volumes per million is withdrawn from below the section through an outlet thereof. Impurities less volatile than oxygen are preferably separated from the second oxygen product in a side rectification column.

Abstract: A double rectification column air separation method and apparatus in which a stream of oxygen-enriched liquid air from a higher pressure rectification column is at least partially vaporized in indirect heat exchange with a stream of purified, compressed, gaseous air. The stream of purified, compressed air is condensed and a stream of the resulting vapor after having been warmed is expanded in a turbine with the performance of external work. After expansion, the resulting vapor is introduced into the lower pressure rectification column and a stream of the resulting condensed air is introduced into the higher pressure column at an intermediate mass exchange level thereof.

Abstract: A product cryogenic liquid mixture comprising oxygen and nitrogen having a chosen mole fraction of oxygen is produced by expanding, typically through a valve, a pressurized stream of a precursor fluid mixture, which may be liquid air, having a mole fraction of oxygen greater than said chosen mole fraction, and thereby forming a vapor phase depleted of oxygen and a liquid phase enriched in oxygen. The vapor phase is disengaged from the liquid phase in a phase separator. A stream of the vapor phase is condensed in a condenser. The condensate is collected in a storage vessel as the product cryogenic liquid mixture.

Abstract: An air separation plant includes an air compressor, a gas turbine arranged to drive the air compressor, a product nitrogen compressor, and a steam turbine arranged to drive the product nitrogen compressor. The steam turbine forms part of a circuit including a steam generator in which stream is able to be raised by heat exchange of water with hot gaseous exhaust from the gas turbine or another gas turbine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a clean respirable atmosphere in a clean room. A liquefied breathable gas is supplied from a source thereof and filtered. The filtered liquid is vaporised and the gas produced by the vaporisation is filtered. Thereafter the filtered gas is introduced into the clean room.

Abstract: An air separation plant includes a product nitrogen compressor, a gas turbine and a steam turbine. The gas turbine and the steam turbine are operatively associated with the product nitrogen compressor so as to be able to drive the product nitrogen compressor. The steam turbine has an inlet communicating with a steam generator adapted to recover heat from the gas turbine. The air separation plant also includes an air compressor which is typically similarly operatively associated with a gas turbine and a steam turbine. The steam turbine has an inlet communicating with a steam generator adapted to recover heat from the gas turbine.

Abstract: A first, solid, carbon-containing fuel is gasified and iron is melted in a gasifier-melter. A first flow of resulting fuel gas is employed to form the iron in a vertical shaft furnace by direct reduction of iron ore. A second flow of resulting fuel gas is mixed with fuel gas produced by separately gasifying a second carbon-containing fuel in a second gasifier, in which no iron is melted and which supplies essentially no carbonaceous solid fuel to the first gasification stage. This mixing helps to dampen fluctuations in the flow rate of the second flow of the resulting fuel gas.

Abstract: A capsule for storing a fluid, for example helium, under pressure comprises a hollow body from which extends a hollow neck. A stopper engages with the neck in a fluid tight manner. The stopper includes a main hollow portion and a stem extending outwardly from the main hollow portion. The root of the stem where it joins the main hollow portion forms a frangible section which, when broken, will allow fluid in the capsule to escape under pressure.

Abstract: A method is provided for converting the hydrogen sulfide in a hydrogen sulfide containing feed gas into elemental sulfur by oxidizing the hydrogen sulfide with an oxygen containing gas to produce elemental sulfur in a Claus plant, wherein the oxygen containing gas is axially introduced into an end portion of the reaction cylinder of the Claus plant and the hydrogen sulfide containing gas is introduced through at least one gas inlet in the side wall of the reaction cylinder at an oblique or perpendicular angle with respect to the direction of the flow of the oxygen containing gas so that the hydrogen sulfide containing gas introduced through the side wall surrounds and swirls about the oxygen containing gas, thereby allowing higher combustion temperatures to be achieved within the reaction cylinder which enhances the efficiency of the combustion and enhances the efficiency of decomposing any ammonia in the gas while keeping the very hot zones away from the refractory material lining the interior of the reactio

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for freezing products, such as food products, in which a breathable liquid cryogen is sprayed onto the products as they are conveyed into the insulated enclosure of a mechanical conveyor freezer. Some of the cryogen vaporized through contact with the products is ducted into the top of the enclosure, and means may be provided for spraying cryogen directly into the freezer enclosure.

Abstract: A garment for use by a patient during an operation comprises an inner skin and an outer skin which between them define a space. A source and value are provided for passing a gas mixture of air and a predetermined volume of helium through the space to control the body temperature of the patient.

Abstract: A road tanker for carrying two or more separate cryogenic liquids in which the inner tank of the vacuum insulated system is divided by a sheet of material of similar thermal expansion properties to those of the tank. This allows the cryogenic liquids to equilibrate in temperature. Also provided, external or internal to the tank, is a variable inline mixing system so that the appropriate mixture of cryogenic liquids can be dispensed upon delivery.

Abstract: In cooler used for coating a product such as food with a uniform layer of a liquid coating material, the mass of the product is measured either in the cooling chamber or just before it is introduced into the cooling chamber; the mass of a liquid cryogen which will suffice, when introduced into the cooling chamber and into contact with the product, to reduce the temperature of the mass of product to a first predetermined temperature below the melting point temperature of the coating material is calculated; the introduction of the calculated mass of liquid cryogen into the cooling chamber is controlled and the product is thereby cooled to the first predetermined temperature prior to application of a predetermined mass of coating material onto the cooled product to provide a coating thereon.

Abstract: A system for controlling the atmosphere in the container comprising a membrane separation apparatus to separate nitrogen and a second separation apparatus, adapted to separate carbon dioxide and water vapor from a gas mixture in the container. The separated nitrogen is returned to the container, as is at least a portion of the carbon dioxide and water vapor, so as to produce and/or maintain a pre-determined atmosphere composition within the container thereby to prevent spoilage of perishable products within the container.

Abstract: Acetylene is stored at elevated pressure by charging with acetylene at elevated pressure a pressure vessel (typically a gas cylinder) containing carbonaceous adsorbent able reversibly to adsorb acetylene. The adsorbent has: (a) a specific micropore volume equal to or greater than 0.5 cm.sup.3 /g; (b) a specific mesopore volume equal to or greater than 0.5 cm.sup.3 /g; (c) a bulk density equal to or greater than 0.25 g/cm.sup.3 ; and (d) a surface area per volume equal to or greater than 400 m.sup.2 /cm.sup.3. Alternatively or in addition to (a) and (b) above, the specific volume of pores having a diameter in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 nm is equal to or greater than 0.3 cm.sup.3 /g, but the sum of the specific mesopore volume and the specific micropore volume should always be equal to or greater than 1.0 cm.sup.3 /g. Preferably, at least 75% of the specific mesopore volume is contributed by mesopores having a diameter in the range of 2 to 5 nm and at least 90% of the micropores have a diameter of at least 0.4 nm.

Abstract: A medical gas mixture which comprises from 20 to 70% oxygen, from 1 to 10% carbon dioxide and the balance, except for incidental constituents not adversely affecting the basic properties of the gas mixture, being helium. The subject mixtures are useful in the treatment of asthma and in enhancing magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: A diffusion pump having a hollow outer body and a heater to heat working fluid that is used in the pump. The hollow outer body includes an outlet for connection to a backing pump and an inlet for communication with the chamber to be evacuated. A sump contains the working fluid and a reservoir for the working fluid surrounds the sump as an integral part of the hollow body. The surrounding reservoir decreases service intervals and reduces heat up and cool down time. The reservoir can be formed of two cylindrical surfaces concentric with the central axis of the pump.