Abstract: A mounting arrangement for electronic circuit chips in which at least one chip is mounted upon an appropriately electrically insulating chip plate. A connector board is mounted on top of the chip plate to electrically connect the chip with a cable allowing signals to be passed to and from the chip. The chip plate is mounted for good thermal conductivity to a refrigerator cold head. A plate formed of a material with good heat conductitivity properties may be interposed between the chip plate and the cold head. This plate may include an element, such as a spring biased piston, which contacts the chip to allow heat transfer by conduction. The refrigerator cold head forms the upper surface of the expansion space in a Stirling-cycle cryogenic cooling engine. To reduce power requirements, the elements are insulated from contact with the atmosphere.

Abstract: A process by which a vapor side product stream is taken from the bottom section of a cryogenic distillation column, such as a propane or ethane recovery column, which process optionally employs a nonpolar liquid additive for use in the separation of acid gases from a hydrocarbon feed stream. The withdrawal of the vapor side stream prevents the build-up of water in the column which would ordinarily lead to free-water formation or the formation of solid hydrates in the cryogenic distillation column.

Abstract: A recycle process for the separation of landfill gas containing a wide variety of impurities into a carbon dioxide product stream and a fuel-grade-pressurized methane product stream, the process providing for the removal of both the impurities and the carbon dioxide in a cryogenic column as a bottom stream, the separation of the methane from the overhead product stream by a membrane process, and, optionally, the removal of impurities from the carbon dioxide bottom stream in a separate purification column, to recover a high-quality, liquid, carbon dioxide stream.

Abstract: Distillative separations of hydrocarbon feed mixtures containing at least methane and carbon dioxide, as well as other components, such as ethane, higher hydrocarbons, and hydrogen sulfide are disclosed. In the separations described, methane is preferably separated from an acid gas under conditions of composition, temperature and pressure which would normally produce acid gas solids. Acid gas solids are prevented by adding a liquid solids-preventing agent into this distillation column. A second distillation column is subsequently employed to further separate the feed gas mixture. The second distillation column is operated under conditions which an azeotrope would normally form between the light hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide, which azeotrope would limit the carbon dioxide overhead composition. The azeotrope is prevented by introducing an agent for preventing azeotrope formation. Alternatively, the second distillation column may be operated to separate carbon dioxide from hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: An improvement in a Ryan/Holmes separation of methane from carbon dioxide is disclosed wherein the upper portion of a distillation column is operated, i.e., -70.degree. F., while still effectuating a separation of methane from carbon dioxide. This is achieved by increasing the amount of nonpolar liquid agent added to the condenser of the column to an amount sufficient to maintain the condenser and all portions of the column above such temperatures.

Abstract: A method for the distillative separation of a feed stream containing light hydrocarbons and acid gas components in a distillative column into an enriched overhead product, such as a carbondioxide fraction, and an enriched bottom product of C.sub.2 + and hydrogen sulfide, the method which comprises: introducing a liquid alkane additive into the column, to provide a relatively uniform, constant temperature zone in the column above the point of feed inlet of the feed stream; extracting heat from the upper portion of the low-temperature zone; and introducing heat into the lower portion of the temperature zone approximately at or above the feed inlet of the feed stream, to reduce the energy requirement of the distillation.

Abstract: An improved method for the distillation of a feed stream containing hydrocarbon components, which method is directed toward the production of a bottom product stream and an overhead product stream, both with desired specifications, which method comprises recycling a minor portion of the bottom product stream typically, but not necessarily, derived from said separation directly to a reflux condenser for the overhead product stream of said method, in order to effect a savings in energy in said distillative method, such as by adjusting the column operating conditions, such as the column operating pressure or the top or bottom operating temperatures of said column.

Abstract: Radioactive waste treatment apparatus in which the waste is burned in a controlled combustion process, the ash residue from the combustion process is removed and buried, the gaseous effluent is treated in a scrubbing solution the pH of which is maintained constant by adding an alkaline compound to the solution while concurrently extracting a portion of the scrubbing solution, called the blowdown stream. The blowdown stream is fed to the incinerator where it is evaporated and the combustibles in the blowdown stream burned and the gaseous residue sent to the scrubbing solution. Gases left after the scrubbing process are treated to remove iodides and are filtered and passed into the atmosphere.

Abstract: An improvement in a Ryan/Holmes separation of methane from carbon dioxide is disclosed wherein the upper portion of a distillation column is operated at temperatures above the triple point of carbon dioxide, i.e., -70.degree. F., while still effectuating a separation of methane from carbon dioxide. This is achieved by increasing the amount of non-polar liquid agent added to the condenser of the column to an amount sufficient to maintain the condenser and all portions of the column at such temperatures.

Abstract: A distillative separation of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide is improved by adding a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkane, a mixture of C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkanes, SO.sub.2 or SO.sub.3 to a distillation column to increase the relative volatility of carbon dioxide to hydrogen sulfide. Increasing the relative volatility facilitates the separation.

Abstract: An improved distillative separation of carbon dioxide and light hydrocarbons is disclosed in which the formation of an azeotrope between these components is prevented by addition of an agent to said distillation column and in which prevention of the azeotrope allows a more complete separation to be achieved.

Abstract: A method of eliminating solids formation in a cryogenic distillative separation of acid gases from methane is disclosed. This method comprises adding a solids-preventing agent to the solids potential zone of the distillation column. Typical solids-preventing agents are one or more C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkanes, or other nonpolar liquids which are miscible with methane at the column conditions. The elimination of solids formation permits a more complete separation to be achieved.

Abstract: An improved method for the distillation of a feed stream containing hydrocarbon components, which method is directed toward the production of a bottom product stream and an overhead product stream, both with desired specifications, which method comprises recycling a minor portion of the bottom product stream typically, but not necessarily, derived from said separation directly to a reflux condenser for the overhead product stream of said method, in order to effect a savings in energy in said distillative method, such as by adjusting the column operating conditions, such as the column operating pressure or the top or bottom operating temperatures of said column.

Abstract: An improved method for the distillation of a feed stream containing hydrocarbon components, which method is directed toward the production of a bottom product stream and an overhead product stream, both with desired specifications, which method comprises recycling a minor portion of the bottom product stream typically, but not necessarily, derived from said separation directly to a reflux condenser for the overhead product stream of said method, in order to effect a savings in energy in said distillative method, such as by adjusting the column operating conditions, such as the column operating pressure or the top or bottom operating temperatures of said column.