Abstract: The air coming from a blowing turbine (13) and intended for the low-pressure column of a double column (2) is cooled by indirect heat exchange with a liquid (15, 20). This liquid is a purge stream from a condenser (5, 6) of the system.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a cryogenic liquid comprising a thermally insulated main pipe in which a device for throttling a flow of liquid is mounted, a degassing pipe which is tapped off the upper part of the main pipe downstream of the throttling device.

Abstract: A pressure gauge comprising a body (14) and a pressure sensing member consisting of a resiliently flexible curved tube (12) attached to the body (14) and having a fixed end (16) for communication with a fluid to enable pressure measurement, and a closed opposite end (18) freely movable by the fluid pressure relative to the body (14) and controlling a pressure indicator (20). The gauge comprises at least one stop (36) arranged between the body (14) and the tube (12) for restricting the resiliency of the tube (12).

Abstract: A combustion assembly adapted for a furnace is provided. The assembly includes an axis comprising at least one pair of burners having axes. An oxidant lance is arranged between the burners of the pair and has a lance axis. A source of oxidant is connected to the burners and to the lance. The combustion assembly can provide uniform heating of a charge of glass in a furnace.

Abstract: Provided is a process for melting a charge in a furnace. Energy of fusion is supplied to the charge, and gases including at least one combustible gas are generated during the the melting. A post-combustion of the combustible gas is performed by injecting an oxidant gas containing more than 25% by volume of oxygen during at least some periods of the process. The oxidant gas is injected above the charge, in the form of at least one oxidant gas jet. Each jet has a flow rate of between approximately 50 and 1200 Sm.sup.3 /h and a speed of injection into the furnace of between approximately 5 m/s and 150 m/s. The process has particular applicability to an electrical furnace for melting scrap for the production of steel.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for heating gas in which a flow rate D0 of a warm fluid is caused in an input line, connected at its upstream portion to a source of warm fluid and at its downstream portion to the inlet of one of the passages of a heat exchanger; a portion of the flow D0 is diverted before it reaches the inlet of the first passage, into a branch line connected at its upstream portion to a so-called primary point of the inlet line located between the source of warm fluid and the inlet of the first passage; the gas to be heated is caused to circulate in another passage of the exchanger, so as to effect heat exchange between the gas to be heated and the warm fluid, thereby to obtain at the outlet of the second passage a warmed gas, and at the outlet of the first passage, a cooled warm fluid; the temperature of the warmed gas is controlled by the aid of a flow rate regulating valve located in a selected position in the inlet or outlet line.

Abstract: A reservoir is filled under pressure with a gas, by introducing a quantity of a gas into an intermediate receptacle (3), liquefying this quantity of gas, upon its introduction into the intermediate receptacle, by heat exchange with a refrigerant fluid, reheating and vaporizing this quantity of gas in the intermediate receptacle by thermal contact with a heat source (15), and placing in fluid communication the intermediate receptacle and the reservoir (2) when the pressure in the intermediate receptacle becomes greater than the pressure in the reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heating apparatus for effectively heating a gas container, and more particularly a liquified gas filled in the gas container. The heating apparatus comprises a mounting base having a first space and a second space, each formed in its inside, and an air fan heater for supplying heated air to the first space of said mounting base. In said mounting base, a first through hole communicating with said first space and second through holes communicating with said second space are formed inside of a mounting area, and third through holes communicating with said second space are formed outside of said mounting area. When a gas container is mounted on the mounting base, the heated air is blasted from said first space onto the bottom face of said gas container through said first through hole, whereby heat is effectively transmitted from the bottom face of the gas container to the liquified gas contents of the gas container.

Abstract: Provided is a method for improving energy input in heating and melting of a scrap bulk. The method includes burning a channel into a scrap bulk with hot, oxygen-containing gas jet. Additional energy for the heating and melting of the scrap bulk is then input through this channel.

Abstract: A PSA process for the separation of a gas flow containing essentially oxygen and nitrogen by preferential adsorption of the nitrogen, at a high adsorption pressure, on at least one bed of adsorbent material inserted in at least one separation zone. The material preferentially adsorbs nitrogen. Each bed of adsorbing material is subjected to successive separation cycles. Each separation cycle comprises at least: a purge phase comprising a desorption of the nitrogen adsorbed on the adsorbing material at a low desorption pressure below the high adsorption pressure, and a supply phase comprising introduction of the gaseous flow at a supply temperature (T.sub.sup) into the separation zone with passage from the low desorption pressure to the high adsorption pressure. The supply temperature (T.sub.sup) of the gaseous flow to be separated is regulated and the high adsorption pressure is adjusted.

Abstract: A blast furnace (1) is supplied with a flow of optionally oxygen-enriched air coming from an isothermal compressor (3) or a (radial) centrifugal compressor (11).

Abstract: Method and plant for cooling a food mass contained in a vessel are provided. The method includes, supplying a cryogenic liquid from a source and injecting the cryogenic liquid into the food mass through a bottom portion of the vessel. The pressure of the injected liquid is greater than 3 bar, and is preferably between 5 and 15 bar.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling the oxygen content of water at an outlet of a unit for dissolving oxygen in water. The method comprises measuring the oxygen content C.sub.o of the water at the outlet of the unit with a sensor, and comparing the oxygen content C.sub.o with a setpoint value C.sub.set. If the measured oxygen content C.sub.o is less than the setpoint value C.sub.set, a cycle of feeding oxygen to the unit is initiated. The feed cycle comprises a period T.sub.i of injecting oxygen into the unit, during which a valve controlling the flow rate of the oxygen feeding the unit is in the open position, and a pause period T.sub.p during which the valve is in the closed position. The pause period corresponds substantially to the inertia of the unit in responding to the oxygen being injected. The invention also relates to units for dissolving oxygen in water. Particular applicability is found in fish farming.

Abstract: For the separation of nitrogen from oxygen in air, an adsorbent is used which preferentially adsorbs the nitrogen. The adsorbent is a heterogeneous zeolite whose particles have a distribution of the capacity to adsorb nitrogen relative to oxygen, with a ratio (.sigma..sub.c /.mu..sub.c) comprised between 0.02 and 0.15, and/or having a distribution of selectivity of adsorption of nitrogen relative to oxygen with a ratio (.sigma..sub.s /.mu..sub.s) comprised between 0.02 and 0.25.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for dry cleaning or dry fluxing metallic surfaces before, during, or after a reflow soldering operation. The metallic surfaces that are dry cleaned or dry fluxed include (1) the metallic substrate on which an at least partially metallic, electronic component is to be mounted, (2) the solder paste, and (3) the metallic portions of the electronic component. The method comprises treating the metallic surface with a gaseous treatment atmosphere comprising unstable or excited gaseous species, and is substantially free of electrically charged species.

Abstract: A process and device for continuously measuring the quantity of particles spended in a liquid, which exist in at least two different physical states, such as detached or attached within the paper pulp. A separation assembly separates the particles into divisions depending on their size, and the separation assembly is continuously fed with liquid via an input pipe. A measuring and processing assembly has two channels or ducts coming from the separation assembly and are provided with translucent windows. A measurement and capture unit illuminates the windows, and at least two cameras located opposite each of the respective windows are synchronized with the illumination unit to capture, at regular intervals, an image of the windows. A system for digitizing the captured images and processing them to determine the quantity of particles for each physical states is forwarded to an output unit in a digital or analog form.

Abstract: In a process for separating a gas mixture in a pressure swing adsorption device comprising an adsorber, two outlet vessels and a rotary machine at the inlet, the rotation of the rotary machine is reversed during the first depressurization step (c-d) then during the first repressurization step (g-h), so that these first steps are each broken down into two sub-steps in which the inlet for the adsorber successively experiences two opposite flows, whereas the outlet of the adsorber experiences a flow, respectively leaving or entering, of constant direction. The process is particularly useful in the production of oxygen from air.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a heat treatment atmosphere by a catalytic reaction in a catalytic reactor (16) between a first gas mixture (12) containing oxygen and a second gas mixture (26) containing a hydrocarbon, characterized in that the catalytic reactor is arranged in substantially vertical position and in that the reaction mixtures are introduced into the catalytic reactor through the bottom (19) of the reactor with recovery of the heat treatment atmosphere resulting from the reaction at the top (20) of the reactor.

Abstract: A process for liquefying a gas, wherein the gas is compressed, cooled, then expanded in a first turbine and at least partially liquefied, wherein a portion of the liquid produced is also cooled, and then expanded in a second turbine, wherein the second turbine operates with a higher inlet temperature than the first turbine and the first turbine operates at an outlet pressure different than that from the second turbine.

Abstract: This column, of the type having a cross-undulating lining, includes means for returning liquid to the vicinity of the edges of the lining and liquid and gas distribution means which contribute to decrease substantially the height of the column. Application to plants for separating gases from air.