Abstract: Superior heat transfer in a kiln is achieved by the use of at least one injector which injects both an oxidant, preferably containing oxygen, and a secondary fuel into the kiln. The injectors are provided so that the energy resulting from the combustion of the different fuels in the kiln heats specified regions of the kiln, without causing hot spots on the refractory walls. A firing scheme is described for the oxygen and fuels which allows an increase in the amount of heat released toward the load, resulting in significant increases in kiln efficiency and production. Low quality fuels may be used, as well as using and/or recycling more insufflated dust, without an adverse effect on the main flame.

Abstract: A burner assembly having improved flame length and shape control is presented, which includes in exemplary embodiments at least one fuel fluid inlet and at least one oxidant fluid inlet, means for transporting the fuel fluid from the fuel inlet to a plurality of fuel outlets, the fuel fluid leaving the fuel outlets in fuel streams that are injected into a combustion chamber, means for transporting the oxidant fluid from the oxidant inlets to at least one oxidant outlet, the oxidant fluid leaving the oxidant outlets in oxidant fluid streams that are injected into the combustion chamber, with the fuel and oxidant outlets being physically separated, and geometrically arranged in order to impart to the fuel fluid streams and the oxidant fluid streams angles and velocities that allow combustion of the fuel fluid with the oxidant in a stable, wide, and luminous flame. Alternatively, injectors may be used alone or with the refractory block to inject oxidant and fuel gases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for supplying gas to a chamber which is supplied via a supply network which includes at least one primary line connected in its upstream part to a supply of the said gas, and at least two respective secondary lines connected to the primary lines, being characterized in that the content of a given component of the atmosphere in the chamber is measured at least at one point in the chamber, the measured content is compared with at least one predetermined control value for the content of the said component of the atmosphere in the chamber at the said point and, where necessary, the pressure of the gas at one of the points in the network is varied, depending on the result of this comparison.

Abstract: Input/output chamber for a fluid, for part of a body (1) of an apparatus in which this fluid circulates, this part of the body including a face (3) for inlet or outlet of the said fluid, the chamber (6A) being intended to be connected with a leaktight joint to this face. At least part of the chamber consists of at least one spherical or ellipsoidal portion (20A) and of sectors of cones (22A) tangential to this spherical or ellipsoidal portion.

Abstract: The device comprises an adsorber (1) and three outlet capacities (2-4), first (8, 9) and second (10, 11) structure to establish bidirectional communication between the adsorber and the elution capacity (2) and the repressurization capacity (3), respectively, and third structure (14A, 15; 16) to establish unidirectional communication from the adsorber to the production capacity (4).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods suitable for recovery of heat from hot flue gases are presented comprising primary heat transfer means for exchanging heat between a hot flue gas and an intermediate fluid to create a hot intermediate fluid from an originally cold intermediate fluid; one or more oxidant-fuel burners which create the main flow of hot flue gas, and transport means for transporting the hot intermediate fluid to the heat exchanger means. The apparatus and method of the invention solve the problem of recovery of heat from dirty, toxic, or erosive flue gases.

Abstract: Method of sequentially spraying a cryogenic liquid comprising sequentially applying a dose of a propellant gas to a dose of the cryogenic liquid and sequentially spraying this liquid, the pressure of the propellant gas being greater than that of the cryogenic liquid.

Abstract: A PSA process for the separation of a feed gas, for example air, containing at least one first component, such as nitrogen, and a second component, such as oxygen, by preferential adsorption of the first component at a high adsorption pressure, on at least one bed of particles of an adsorbent material and recovery of a gas flow enriched in the second component, with desorption of the first component at a low desorption pressure. The ratio (.mu./.sigma.) of the mean granulometry (.mu.) of the adsorbent particles contained in the bed, to the breadth of granulometric distribution (.sigma.) of the particles, is comprised within the range 1.5 to 15, the particles of adsorbent material being particles of zeolite, such as zeolite X or zeolite LSX, exchanged by metallic cations, preferably cations of lithium and/or calcium.

Abstract: The invention relates, on the one hand, to an electric-arc work process, such as a plasma cutting or TIG welding process, in which a torch is supplied with at least one non-oxidizing gas, the said torch being provided with at least one electrode made of pure or alloyed metal, such as a tungsten electrode, characterized in that the said non-oxidizing gas contains a concentration of impurities of the oxygen type [O.sub.2 ] of less than 80 ppmv and a concentration of impurities of the water vapor type [H.sub.2 O] of less than 400 ppmv and, on the other hand, to such a welding gas.

Abstract: Air is supplied to an air separation apparatus via a heat exchanger in which the entering air is cooled against an air gas separated in the separation apparatus. The air is first compressed in an adiabatic compressor. The air gas separated in the separation apparatus is humidified after it leaves the separation apparatus but before it reaches the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A plant which, when used to produce pressurized oxygen gas, includes a switch, e.g. a liquid oxygen/liquid air switch, for meeting relatively long-term peak demand as well as short-term, high-amplitude peak demand, and a circuit (13,30) for compressing oxygen to a pressure higher than the production pressure. This circuit leads to a buffer (15) at least partially meeting short-term, high-amplitude peak demand.

Abstract: A gas-consuming unit (HF) is fed partially by a flow delivered directly by a compression unit (21) and partially by one delivered by a separation apparatus (25) which is itself fed by a flow delivered directly by the compression unit. Another flow produced by the separation apparatus, but at lower pressure, is returned to a compression unit before being sent to the consumer unit.

Abstract: The process for generating at least one warning signal relating to the level in a tank (3) for storing a product (4) comprises the following steps:the storage level of the product in the tank, together with the values of the product quantity consumed during predefined time intervals are determined,these values are placed in memory together with the associated measurement instants,at other successive instantsthe values placed in memory of the product quantity consumed are used to calculate a value of the estimated quantity of product which will be consumed in the future,this estimated value is subtracted from the last measurement value so as to obtain an estimated value of the storage level at a future instant,this estimated value of the storage level is compared with a preset threshold, anda warning signal is generated if the estimated value is less than the preset threshold.

Abstract: A plant for the separation of gases by adsorption, which is of the PSA type, includes, in a container (1) of vertical axis, at least one annular bed of particulate material (5, 6) supported on a lower wall (9) which is itself supported by a perforated prismatic wall (11) bearing on a domed end (2) of the container. A lower wall (9), advantageously in the form of a very wide inverted V (9A, 9B), has no part forming an angle (.alpha., .beta.) in excess of 15.degree. with the horizontal. The plant is useful in the separation of gases from air.

Abstract: A process for the abatement of a ClF.sub.x containing gas such as exhaust gases from a reactor wherein at least one step of the manufacture of integrated circuit is carried out, wherein the ClF.sub.x containing gas is passed through a bed of adsorbent comprising sodalime having a moisture content of less than 3% by weight, to substantially remove all of the ClF.sub.x compound from the ClF.sub.x containing gas with substantially no generation of byproducts.

Abstract: A heterogeneous adsorbent for the separation of gases, comprising particles of at least one zeolite containing at least one exchanged metal cation selected from monovalent, divalent and/or trivalent cations, the zeolite having an exchange-factor distribution of given mean having a standard deviation for the exchange-factor distribution of between about 0.3% and 5%, and a PSA, VSA or TSA process for separation of a gas flow, such as air, containing at least a first compound, such as nitrogen, which is adsorbed preferentially on the heterogeneous adsorbent, and at least a second compound, such as oxygen, which is less preferentially adsorbed on the heterogeneous adsorbent than the first compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the treatment or prevention of hypoperfusions of abdominal organs comprising administering a gaseous medication containing nitrogen monoxide and carbon dioxide to the patient. The gaseous medication is administered by the intra-abdominal route.

Abstract: There is provided a unit capable of simultaneously producing nitrogen of ra high purity and oxygen of ultra high purity from air as a feed material. Feed air is introduced into to the bottom 15 of a first rectification column 6. Liquid nitrogen of ultra high purity is recovered from between the upper rectifying part 12 and middle rectifying part 13, and liquid air free of high boiling point components is recovered from between the middle rectifying part 13 and lower rectifying part 14. Oxygen-rich liquid air collected in the bottom 15 is reduced in pressure by an expansion valve 31, and then introduced into a nitrogen condenser 8 as a refrigerant. After a portion of said liquid air is reduced in pressure by an expansion valve 33, it is introduced into the second rectification column 7, where low boiling point components are separated from the top part 21 and liquid oxygen of ultra high purity is recovered from the bottom 23.

Abstract: A separation process, involving an adsorber containing at least one adsorbent with an inlet and outflow, involves the following stages of the cycle:--stage I, repressurization from the low pressure of the cycle;--stages II and III during one of which the high pressure of the cycle is reached; and stage IV, depressurization/purging, during which the low pressure of the cycle is reached. Each stage (I to IV) involves a fixed gas flow (F) at one end of the adsorber and a free gas flow (.lambda.) at the other end of the adsorber, the fixed flows (F) addressing the inlet (E) and outlet (F) ends of the adsorber from one stage (I to IV) to the next. The process is particularly applicable to the production of oxygen from air.

Abstract: A device and a process for preparing a high-purity inert gas from air, includes the successive steps of:a) cryogenically distilling compressed air,b) recovering an impure inert fluid containing hydrogen impurities (H.sub.2) and residual impurities,c) adsorbing at least some of the residual impurities contained in the impure inert fluid by at least one bed of at least one adsorbent,d) recovering an intermediate inert fluid containing hydrogen impurities,e) removing the hydrogen impurities contained in the intermediate inert fluid by permeation, andf) recovering a high-purity inert fluid in the gas state.