Abstract: A portion of feed air is expanded and cooled in front of a main heat exchanger, and is used as cold for precooling the remaining unexpanded feed air inside the main heat exchanger. A portion of the feed air precooled inside the main heat exchanger is removed to outside the main heat exchanger, expanded and cooled, and used as cold to cool the remaining unexpanded precooled feed air inside the main heat exchanger.

Abstract: Method for filling a tank with pressurized gas to a target pressure from at least one pressurized gas source via a transfer pipe provided with at least one valve, the tank having a predetermined inner length and predetermined inner diameter, the end of the transfer pipe forming an injector with a predetermined injection diameter; said method comprises a step for transferring pressurized gas from the source to the tank at a predetermined flow rate, the method comprising a step of controlling the transfer of gas from the source to the tank to reduce the heat produced in the tank, the step of controlling the transfer of gas comprising at least one of: sizing of the injection diameter, and sizing of the flow rate of the transferred gas; the control step being carried out according to the ratio L/D between the length and the diameter of the tank.

Abstract: Moulded insulation bodies, processes for the production thereof and use thereof consisting essentially of ceramic material comprising SiO2 fibers and Al2O3 fibers which has been produced using Al2O3 sol as a binder and kilned at a temperature of above 800° C. for insulation of the ends of cracking tubes of a tubular reactor for performing a steam reforming process for generating synthesis gas which project out of the reactor heating space.

Abstract: Heat exchanger with plates comprising a first series of passages for conducting at least one frigorigenic fluid and a second series of passages for conducting at least one calorigenic fluid, each passage being defined between two successive plates and extending parallel to a longitudinal axis, at least one mixing device arranged in at least one passage of the first series, said mixing device being configured to receive a liquid phase and a gaseous phase of the frigorigenic fluid and to distribute a mixture of said phases into said at least one passage.

Abstract: A process and a plant are specified, with which free fatty acids can be obtained in a simple manner by hydrolysis of fatty acid alkyl esters, especially fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), or alternatively of fatty acid triglycerides present in oils and fats of vegetable and animal origin. According to the invention, a portion of the free fatty acids already produced is recycled back into the reaction mixture, which results in self-acceleration of the hydrolysis reaction.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling products including a cooling chamber with a conveyor for conveying the products through the chamber, at least one circulator for circulating a cooling gas within at least a part of the chamber, and a first aperture element with a plurality of first aperture openings. The conveyor and the at least one circulator are arranged within the cooling chamber such that the cooling gas can impinge a first side of the conveyor, wherein the first aperture element is arranged within the chamber such that the cooling gas penetrates through the first aperture openings before impinging the first side of the conveyor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to preparation of hollow fiber membrane devices that exhibit improved durability and mechanical strength in air separation operations such as generation of nitrogen enriched air on board aircraft. In particular the invention provides for preparation of hollow fiber membrane modules with terminal tubesheets of superior mechanical properties and improved long term durability in air separation operations.

Abstract: A stackable modular element comprises a parallelepipedal caisson, the caisson comprising at least one layer of thermal insulation of thickness less than one-third of the width of the caisson, the layer of insulation covering at least the lateral and frontal faces of the caisson and surrounding at least one chamber having a parallelepipedal volume within the caisson, the chamber containing at least one body of material that permits the exchange of mass and/or of heat, the body being parallelepipedal in shape and filling at least part of the chamber, the chamber having an opening on the upper face and/or an opening on the lower face to allow fluid to be transferred to the body from outside the element and/or from the body to outside the element.

Abstract: A steam reformer, comprising a combustion chamber, catalyst tubes arranged in several rows, feed conduits for the educt gas, which extend below the bottom of the combustion chamber, burners for heating the catalyst tubes which are installed in the bottom of the combustion chamber and are directed vertically upwards into the combustion chamber, feed conduits extending below the bottom of the combustion chamber, each for supplying the air and the fuel gas to the burners, openings installed in the ceiling of the combustion chamber for discharging the burner waste gas, and channels extending above the ceiling of the combustion chamber for discharging the burner waste gas.

Abstract: Plant and process for the generation of hydrogen from a hydrocarbonaceous feed gas and steam by means of catalytic steam reformation, wherein the heat of the synthesis gas and the flue gas is utilized for generating export steam from boiler feed water and process steam from the condensate separated from the synthesis gas, and wherein the gases expelled from the boiler feed water during its degasification and the vapors obtained during the depressurization of the elutriation waters of the steam boilers for the generation of export and process steam are used for preheating the fuel gas for operation of the burners of the steam reformer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for cooling the neck of bottles, wherein the neck of the bottle, positioned in the inverted position, is submerged in a mass of a solid heat-transfer medium, for example copper shot, which mass is cooled using a cryogenic fluid, for example liquid nitrogen, or else liquid CO2 or else a mixture of such fluids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a plant for the methanol synthesis, in particular for the methanol synthesis from a synthesis gas which has a hydrogen deficiency. According to the invention, a purge gas stream therefor is branched off from the synthesis gas circuit of the methanol synthesis, liberated from methanol traces in a washing device, and then treated in a hydrogen separation device which comprises a membrane separation stage and a pressure swing adsorption stage. Depending on the application and magnitude of the hydrogen deficit the membrane separation stage and the pressure swing adsorption stage can be connected in series or in parallel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for producing a mixed feed stream for a steam reforming plant from a first feed stream containing methane and a second feed stream comprising higher hydrocarbons, olefins and diolefins. According to the invention, the required hydrogenation of the mono- and diolefins and the hydrodesulfurization of the organic sulfur compounds contained in the feed stream are carried out step by step under process conditions optimized in each case. Furthermore, the inlet temperature into the respective reaction zone is controlled such that overheating of the feedstocks is avoided, which otherwise leads to undesired coke deposits, cloggings and the accelerated deactivation of the catalysts used.

Abstract: An apparatus for separation of air by cryogenic distillation comprising: a system of columns; a first turbine; a warm compressor coupled to the first turbine; a second turbine; a cold compressor coupled to the second turbine; a heat exchanger; means for sending air cooled in the heat exchanger at an intermediate temperature of the heat exchanger to the cold compressor; means for sending expanded air from the second turbine to the system of columns; means for sending air compressed in the cold compressor to an intermediate point of the heat exchanger and then at least in part to the system of columns via a first valve; means for sending air compressed in the cold compressor to the inlet of the first turbine via a second valve without passing through the heat exchanger, wherein the means for sending air compressed in the cold compressor to the inlet of the first turbine via the second valve without passing through the heat exchanger is also connected to the inlet of the first turbine; means for sending a fracti

Abstract: The invention relates to a cabinet used for freezing or storing food, medical or biological products, using a cryogenic fluid as cooling fluid, said cabinet being of the type that is: provided with one or more convection fans located in the enclosure of the cabinet and capable of moving the air inside the cabinet and thus of contributing to the thermal exchange that occurs therein; and provided with a system for extracting the gases formed in the enclosure of the cabinet due to the vaporization of said cryogenic fluid, said extraction system including an extraction tube connecting to one wall of the cabinet and linking the enclosure to the outside; characterized in that it includes a flap, located on said wall, at the point where the extraction tube enters the cabinet, and extending into the cabinet, the shape, position and direction of said flap making it possible to divert all or part of the turbulence created by the or said convection fans towards the extraction tube.

Abstract: A furnace for performing an endothermic process comprising tubes containing a catalyst for converting a gaseous feed, wherein tubes are positioned in rows inside the furnace, wherein burners are mounted between the tubes and between the tubes and the furnace walls parallel to the tubes row and wherein the burners rows and the tubes rows are ended by end walls and are divided into sections with the distance from the end burner to the end wall being B2W, the distance between two adjacent burners in the section being B2B, and half the distance in-between two sections being B2S, wherein the burners in the rows are arranged in such a way that the ratios B2B/B2W and B2B/B2S are greater than 1.3 thus limiting the occurrence of the flame merging phenomenon and reducing significantly the quadratic mean of the tube temperature profile.

Abstract: With the invention a washing apparatus and a process for the efficient separation and recovery of methanol from waste gases loaded with methanol is proposed, wherein the invention also can be used in an integrated flow chart for the production and processing of methanol. The methanol fractions separated from the waste gases are recovered within the already existing, distillative processing of the crude methanol to pure methanol, so that no separate apparatuses are required for the recovery of the methanol from the loaded scrubber waste waters. The valuable substance methanol is recovered and the impact on the environment is reduced. By particular aspects of the invention the total degree of methanol separation can be adapted according to the locally applicable emission limit values.

Abstract: Device and method for purifying a gas mixture to produce a concentrated gas, notably neon, starting from a mixture comprising neon, said device including, in a cold box housing a cryogenic purification circuit comprising, in series, at least one unit for purifying the mixture by cryogenic adsorption at a temperature between 65K and 100K and notably 65K, then a unit for cooling the mixture to a temperature between 25 and 65 K and then a unit for cryogenic distillation of the mixture to produce the concentrated liquid at the outlet of the cryogenic distillation unit, characterized in that the unit for cooling the mixture to a temperature between 25 and 65 K comprises at least one cryocooler that extracts thermal power from the mixture via a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A nitrogen production system that can produce high purity nitrogen containing a desired concentration of oxygen and ultrahigh purity nitrogen containing a desired concentration of argon in a single rectifying column while restraining increase in electric power consumption, and a production process thereof are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a respiratory protection hood which comprises a sealed flexible shell including a pressurized oxygen vessel provided with a calibrated output opening leading into the inside space of the flexible shell and a device for trapping at least one portion of the carbon dioxide exhaled by the user, comprising a cartridge for adsorbing carbon dioxide with a radial structure comprising a tubular body extending in a longitudinal direction and covering a volume of material which absorbs carbon dioxide, said structure of the cartridge comprising a perforated tube arranged around the volume of absorbent material and extending in the longitudinal direction to allow the transit of air to be purified radially in the volume of absorbent material, at least one portion of the perforated tube being arranged around the volume of absorbent material in direct communication with the inside space of the hood.