Abstract: A system useful for superadiabatic combustion generation of a reducing atmosphere for metal heat treatment includes a superadiabatic reactor which supplies a reducing atmosphere to a metal heat treatment apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method for purifying liquefied corrosive gases of metallic impurities is described. The principle for this purification method relies on vapor-phase transfilling the vapor phase from a source container into a receiving container. This method has been observed to decrease metal concentrations by a factor of at least 1000 and, decreases the metallic impurity levels in the resulting condensate. The vapor transfer is accomplished by controlled differential pressure rather than mechanical pumping, thereby generating no particle or metal impurities.

Abstract: The gas treatment installation operating on a treatment cycle, in which part of the cycle is performed at a pressure below atmospheric pressure, particularly a PSA, TSA or VSA installation, includes one or more gas treatment vessels containing adsorbent. Each vessel has at least one orifice, at least one gas pipe communicating with the orifice, at least one valve arranged on the gas pipe and controlling the flow of the gas flowing through the pipe. The valve comprises a shaft for operating the valve and sealing elements. A device for maintaining a protective gaseous atmosphere is arranged around the sealing elements and the operating shaft to create and to maintain a protective gaseous atmosphere around these items and thus prevent the ingress, into the treatment vessel, of contaminants harmful to the adsorbent, particularly the ingress of moisture liable to deactivate the molecular sieve, that is to say the adsorbent.

Abstract: A method and system for carrying out the disinfestation of a product by means of the use of disinfesting gas under atmospheric pressure with pretreatment in vacuo, the said product being introduced into a first container in which the vacuum is produced and in which, subsequently, the said vacuum is broken by the introduction of the disinfesting gas, the said method comprising: a) the introduction of the first container into a second container before the vacuum is produced, b) the creation of the vacuum in both containers and the subsequent breaking of the said vacuum by passing the disinfesting gas into the two containers, c) the removal of the said gas from the second container, the gas being retained in the first container, d) the extraction of the first container from the second container so as to permit the use of the latter for subsequent disinfestation, the disinfesting gas being retained in the first container for the time necessary to complete the disinfestation of the product.

Abstract: A process for the treating of a product comprising the steps of: contacting the product with a solution of ozonized water subjected to stirring during all or part of the contacting, wherein all or part of the stirring is hydraulic in origin; recirculating at least a portion of the solution contacted with the product to one or more points where the contacting step occurs so as to establish turbulent water conditions capable of allowing achievement of a sufficient contact time between the product and the ozone dissolved in the water to attain a required level of treatment.

Abstract: The electric arc furnace is equipped with a supersonic injector comprising a so-called Laval nozzle arranged at a certain distance above the bath. The dimensions of the nozzle are calculated as a function of the desired flow rate of oxygen and the desired velocity of the jet, and the pressure of the oxygen at the intake of the nozzle is such that the static pressure of the jet at the exit of the injector is substantially equal to the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere. Preferably, the injector comprises an annular channel for injection of natural gas, and can be used in burner mode at the start of the melting of scrap iron. The velocity of the oxygen is then subsonic.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating artificial atmospheres in a furnace for the heat treating of materials. The furnace includes a substantially isolated chamber having a discharge receiving orifice for accepting a bi-phasic cryogen into a hot/work zone of the chamber. A low pressure cryogen source feeds a bi-phasic inert gas into the chamber in order to allow the volumetric expansion of the evaporating liquid constituent of the bi-phasic cryogen to purge a substantial portion of the ambient oxygen from the chamber and to allow a substantial residual concentration of the inert gas to blanket the process area without significant dissipation during the heat treating process. Oxidizable materials heat treated in artificial atmospheres generated by use of bi-phasic cryogens show no signs of scaling or staining through the process and thus do not need to undergo acid bathing prior to subsequent processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an air separation plant integrated with another process. Work is recovered from a nitrogen enriched stream produced by an air separation process either by expanding the nitrogen enriched stream directly or by combustion of the nitrogen enriched stream with a fuel stream and expanding gas produced by the combustion.

Abstract: A mixed matrix membrane for gas separations is provided with a nonporous continuous phase of a polymer and a dispersed phase of molecular sieve particles reacted with a monofunctional organosilicon compound. The monofunctional organosilicon compound is characterized by (a) at least one silicon substituent group which reacts or is compatible with the polymer, and (b) at most one displaceable radical that can react with the molecular sieve. A process for making a selectively gas permeable mixed matrix membrane involves reacting a molecular sieve with the monofunctional organosilicon compound, uniformly dispersing the reacted sieve with a polymer, and forming the resulting mixed matrix composition into a membrane structure. These mixed matrix membranes provide an improved combination of permeability and selectivity as compared to polymer-only membranes and mixed matrix membranes in which the molecular sieve is not reacted with a monofunctional organosilicon compound.

Abstract: Atmospheric air passes through a droplet separator and then through one or more filtration stages. The first filtration stage is made of bag-filter elements with filter medium made up of synthetic fibres with a density which increases in the direction of air flow. The air is introduced thereinto at its natural temperature when between approximately −20° C. and +5° C.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for nitrous oxide purification, wherein the nitrous oxide product is for use in semiconductor manufacturing. The system and process involve a first sub-system having a purification tank for holding a liquefied nitrous oxide, therein; a vaporizer in communication with the purification tank to receive, vaporize and convey a nitrous oxide vapor back to the purification tank; a distillation column disposed on a distal end of the purification tank to receive a nitrous oxide vapor; a condenser disposed on the distillation column, wherein light impurities are removed and wherein a nitrous oxide devoid of light impurities is conveyed and converted into vapor in the vaporizer. A second sub-system having a first dry bed vessel is disposed downstream of the vaporizer to receive the vapor and reacting the acid gas therein; a second dry bed vessel is disposed downstream of the first dry bed vessel for removing water and ammonia in the vapor.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a method and a device for filling a distribution line (20) with corrosive gas. The said method is a method for filling with gas, with passivation, a line (20) for distributing corrosive gas, which line is intended to distribute the said corrosive gas to a system (3) located immediately downstream of the said line (20); the said method comprising: prior conditioning of the said line (20); the actual filling of the said line (20) with the said corrosive gas known as an active gas. Characteristically, the said actual filling with gas comprises: at least one cycle of filling the said line (20) with active gas as far as immediately upstream of the system (3) and of removing the said active gas thus introduced into the said line (20); the said removal being performed without the said active gas passing through the said system (3); followed by the final filling of the said line (20) with gas so as to make the said gas available to the said system (3).

Abstract: A plant for transferring a gas in the gaseous or liquified state into a liquid. The plant includes a pressurized-gas circuit (2) having a device (21, 22) for injecting gas in the gaseous or liquid state into a liquid, a chamber (13) for mixing the gas with the liquid, the chamber located downstream of the gas injection device and having an outlet connected to the overhead of a buffer tank (14) in order to introduce, into the latter, liquid, in the form of droplets or streams, with which the gas is mixed, and a mechanism (15) for withdrawing the liquid/gas mixture from the tank. The plant may be used for the carbonation of consumable liquids.

Abstract: A method for operating a boiler using oxygen-enriched oxidants includes introducing oxygen-enriched air, or oxygen and air, in which the oxygen concentration ranges from about 21% to about 100% by volume. Fuel and oxygen-enriched air are introduced into the combustion space within the steam-generating boiler. The fuel and oxygen-enriched air is combusted to generate thermal energy. At least a portion of the flue gases are collected and at least a portion are recirculated through the boiler. In the steam-generating boiler, the oxygen-enriched oxidant is introduced at one or more locations within the radiation zone and the convection zone of the boiler. Additionally, flue gas is collected and recirculated into one or more locations within the radiation zone and/or the convection zone of the boiler.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficient utilization of a cryogen in inerting of solid and molten metals are presented. One method and apparatus of the invention includes providing a source of liquid cryogen; transporting the liquid cryogen through a conduit connected to the source of liquid cryogen to a gas/liquid separator, wherein a portion of the liquid cryogen transforms into gaseous cryogen en route; transporting a portion of the liquid cryogen through a first conduit connecting the gas/liquid separator to a cryogen supply nozzle; transporting the gaseous cryogen through a second conduit connecting the gas/liquid separator to a cryogen supply nozzle; and flowing at least a portion of liquid cryogen and at least a portion of the gaseous cryogen through the cryogen nozzle separately and near a surface of solid or molten metal. Thus liquid that transforms into gaseous cryogen en route from storage is not vented and not wasted, but used in inerting of solid or molten metals.

Abstract: Provided is a novel chamber effluent monitoring system. The system comprises a chamber having an exhaust line connected thereto. The exhaust line includes a sample region, wherein substantially all of a chamber effluent also passes through the sample region. The system further comprises an absorption spectroscopy measurement system for detecting a gas phase molecular species. The measurement system comprises a light source and a main detector in optical communication with the sample region through one or more light transmissive window. The light source directs a light beam into the sample region through one of the one or more light transmissive window. The light beam passes through the sample region and exits the sample region through one of the one or more light transmissive window. The main detector responds to the light beam exiting the sample region.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for decreasing the bacteria count of a food commodity without affecting its overall organoleptic quality (taste, odor, and color). This is accomplished using a treatment fluid comprising ozone, which is injected into a treatment chamber containing the food commodity. Some water is preferably added to obtain better contact of the ozone with the food by forming a thin film of ozonated water on the food surface. Spices and/or other ingredients may preferably be added with the water. The food is placed in a tumbler and the tumbler is set in motion. During treatment good contact between the treatment fluid and the food commodity is obtained by reversibly oscillating the tumbler. A log reduction of 40% or more in bacteria count may be obtained as compared without the ozone.

Abstract: An air separation plant producing pressurized gaseous oxygen includes at least one column having a bottom reboiler. The column is fed with a stream of air. The bottom reboiler is warmed by a nitrogen-enriched gas compressed in a cold compressor and pumped liquid oxygen is withdrawn from the bottom of the column, pumped and vaporized. The refrigeration for the process is produced by air expansion in a turbine.

Abstract: A method of improving conditions for breeding aquatic life in a breeding farm comprising the steps of injecting an ozonated gas into a stream of water to achieve a level of ozonation; adding a reducing chemical species to the stream of water in order to substantially remove a possible content of oxidizing by-products and/or ozone resulting from the step of injecting the ozonated gas; and feeding the stream of water to a breeding basin wherein the reducing chemical species is added to the stream of water in situ and continuously between the step of injecting the ozonated gas and the step of feeding the stream of water into the breeding basin.

Abstract: A ceramic membrane having a non-zero volume and including: a) a dense layer, having opposed faces of areas S and S′ and having a non-zero thickness e, of a solid electrolyte; b) two porous electrodes, which are hybrid conductors and have non-zero thicknesses e1 and e′1, which are identical or different, coated on non-zero areas s1 and s′1, which are identical or different, of the two opposed faces of areas S and S′ of the solid electrolyte; c) two porous current collectors, of non-zero thicknesses, e2 and e′2, which are identical or different, coated on non-zero areas s2 and S′2, which are identical or different, of the two porous electrodes; and d) at least one porous covering layer, of non-zero thickness e3, coated on a non-zero area s3, of at least one of the collectors, a thickness E of the membrane is equal to the sum of the thickness of each of the elements a)-d).