Abstract: Process for the purification of a chemically inert gas, containing at least one of the O.sub.2 and/or CO impurities, from at least one of the impurities, characterized in that:a) the gas to be purified is passed through an adsorbent comprising at least one porous metal oxide, the gas having a temperature greater than or equal to -40.degree. C.,b) a gas which is substantially purified from at least one of the O.sub.2 and CO impurities is recovered. Device for implementation of the process.

Abstract: A PSA process for the separation of a gaseous flow containing essentially oxygen and nitrogen, such as air, by preferential adsorption of the nitrogen on at least one bed of a thickness (e) of an adsorbent material of mean granulometry (d) in at least one separation zone, in which there is selected a thickness (e) of the adsorbent bed such that: ##EQU1## e and d being expressed in mm.

Abstract: A process for the generation of energy and of a hydrogen-rich mixture (30), includes the following steps:a) a partial oxidation of an incoming hydrocarbon gas mixture (15) is carried out using an oxidant mixture (16) which contains oxygen, so as to obtain as output from the unit a reaction gas (17) which contains hydrogen and CO;b) the reaction gas produced at the end of step a) is passed into a membrane separator (24) which generates, as its permeate output, a permeate gas mixture (25) enriched in the more permeable components of the reaction gas and, as its retentate output, a retentate gas mixture (26) enriched in the less permeable components of the reaction gas;c) the retentate gas mixture (26) is treated in an electricity generation unit (27);d) the permeate gas mixture (25) is separated in a preferential adsorption separator (29) so as to obtain, as unadsorbed product gas, the desired hydrogen-rich gas mixture (30).

Abstract: Method of regulating the level of a given element in an atmosphere of an enclosure to a value below a predetermined upper limit (L.sub.h), comprising the steps of:a) providing at least a first gas source and a second gas source, the level of said element in the first source being greater than the level of the element in the second source;b) under nominal conditions, using the first gas source to supply the enclosure with a nominal flow rate Q.sub.n ;c) measuring the level of the element in the atmosphere of the enclosure at at least one point in the enclosure to obtain a measurement;d) if the result of the measurement taken during step c) is greater than a first predetermined upper threshold (L.sub.h -.epsilon.), cutting the supply to the enclosure from the first gas source and supplying the enclosure from the second gas source at a flow rate equal to, or substantially equal to, Q.sub.

Abstract: A process to detect metal impurities in a gas or gas mixture including the steps of directing the gas or gas mixture through non-metallic pipings to a sampling device and sampling the gas or gas mixture for metal impurities detection, wherein the sampling device is close to an inlet and/or outlet of a machine employing the gas or gas mixture as a processing gas, the machine being surrounded by a booth containing a gaseous atmosphere which is continuously circulated in the booth, partially renewing said atmosphere continuously, and exhausting excess atmosphere.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving the flow of fluid to be treated in boundary regions of a mass (2) of particulate material. The apparatus has at least one deflecting surface (4), making an angle with the main direction of the flow of fluid passing through the mass, in the boundary region in order to divert the flow of the fluid locally. The apparatus may be used in plants for purifying or separating gas mixtures.

Abstract: A gas treatment unit is operated or placed in over-capacity mode during periods of low or zero electrical consumption by a metal treatment unit in order to produce a gas, at least a major part of which is not sent to the metal treatment unit during those periods but is at least temporarily stored in liquid or gas form.

Abstract: A method of in-line surface-hardening of products is provided. In the process, the products are introduced into a chamber with at least one conveyor. The chamber includes a frigorie transfer means for surface-hardening the products. A surface hardened product is extracted from the chamber upon receipt of a product request signal emitted by a preparation unit located downstream of the device. The at least one conveyor is controlled to, upon receiving the product request signal, extract from the chamber the surface-hardened product which has resided longest in the chamber and, substantially at the same time, introducing into the chamber a new product to be surface hardened. The frigorie transfer means is controlled so as to control the quantity of frigories to be transferred to the products present in the chamber per unit time as a function of at least one elapsed period between two successive times at which preceding request signals from the preparation unit were received.

Abstract: Device for freezing fluid substances with the aid of a cryogenic fluid comprising:a conveying channel which conveys the substance to be frozen and the cryogenic fluid in a conveying direction relative to a horizontal, the conveying channel comprising, in the conveying direction, (i) at least one section which is inclined in relation to the horizontal to which is joined (ii) an essentially horizontal section comprising a conveying device;a metering device; anda withdrawing device for the substance to be frozen, wherein the metering device and the withdrawing device are placed at opposite ends of the conveying channel.

Abstract: This process carries out a cycle on a monoadsorber (1) connected, on the one hand, to at least one container (2, 3) via a line (8, 10) fitted with a variable-opening valve (9, 11) and, on the other hand, to a reversible compression/pumping machine coupled to a speed variator (5). Application in particular to the production of oxygen at a variable flow rate from atmospheric air.

Abstract: A gas treatment bottle comprises at least one gas dispenser (24;50) and has a distributor (25;51) intended to be fixed in a gas treatment bottle (10) in front of an inlet or outlet orifice (18;56). The distributor (25;51) has a head (26) which covers the orifice and has an openworked end wall (28) and an openworked side wall (30), typically inclined in the direction of the end wall (28) and surrounding it. The degree of openworking in the side wall (30) is greater than the degree of openworking in the end wall (28).

Abstract: Process for purifying an inert fluid in the liquid state, containing at least one of the impurities hydrogen (H.sub.2) and carbon monoxide (CO), with respect to at least one of the impurities, characterized in that:a) the fluid in the liquid state which is to be purified is passed through at least one bed of particles of at least one adsorbent in order to adsorb at least one of the impurities H.sub.2 and CO;b) a fluid in the liquid state which is substantially purified with respect to at least one of the impurities H.sub.2 and CO is recovered.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a process for spraying a product, especially a liquid fuel, into a working space which is external to the device. The device includes a nozzle for prespraying the liquid fuel into a confinement chamber and an outlet for ejection of a presprayed mixture into the working space. An additional pipe is provided for ejection of a gaseous spraying stream into the presprayed mixture inside the working space, at the outlet which ejects the presprayed mixture. The invention is particularly applicable to burners for glass melting furnaces.

Abstract: The distributor (2) includes a pattern of irrigation points with advantageously substantially constant surface pitch (6, 6') over most of the irrigation area, the pattern being, typically, regular in a main region of the distributor and irregular, with associated surface regions which are also irregular (6', 6") in a junction region, the irrigation points delivering predetermined flow rates defined by calibrated orifices (4, 4', 4") which have cross-sections chosen from a predetermined group of n cross-sections, n not being greater than four and advantageously not greater than two.

Abstract: A gas excitation device, comprisinga gas excitation chamber comprising a gas inlet passage defining a path of gas in communication with a primary gas supply sources, an outlet passage for excited gas, a venturi-effect constriction arranged on the path of the gas between the primary supply source and the inlet passage, and at least one secondary gas supply source in communication with a region located downstream of the constriction, the gas delivered by the secondary source being entrained by venturi effect into the excitation chamber under the effect of the gas delivered by the primary source.

Abstract: The heat exchanger is of the type comprising a stack of parallel plates and, between these plates, undulant spacers, each pair of plates defining a passage for fluid of generally flat shape. Certain passages (20) are subdivided over one part of their length into two closed subpassages (at 45, 57) at locations longitudinally offset relative to each other. The exchanger is applicable in cryogenic heat exchangers of installations for the distillation of air.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the purification of a cryogenic fluid in liquid, diphase, gaseous or supercritical state, having a boiling point Pe, with at least one of its impurities having a boiling point Pe', with Pe'>Pe. The process includes at least one step selected from the group comprised by:a filtration step of at least one impurity in solid state,and an adsorption step of at least one impurity in liquid or gaseous state;and in which there is recovered at least one portion of the cryogenic fluid at least partially purified.

Abstract: Method of heating the charge of a glass furnace in which at least one burner is placed in a wall of a furnace so as to heat the bath of glass, characterized in that at least one assembly consisting of a first and a second burner which are fed with fuel gas and with oxidizer gas containing at least 50 vol. % of oxygen is arranged in one of the walls of the furnace at a distance (D) at least equal to approximately 3 meters from each other, in that an oxygen lance is arranged between the first and second burners, the first burner, the second burner and the lance forming a combustion assembly and in that from approximately 30 vol. % to approximately 80 vol. % of oxidizer gas is sent into the lance and from approximately 20 vol. % to approximately 70 vol.

Abstract: The invention concerns a hygienic agent for use in hemodialysis. This hygienic agent based on peracetic acid has an aqueous solution containing 6 to 8 weight % hydrogen peroxide, 0.1 to 1 weight % peracetic acid and 2 to 10 weight % acetic acid. Application to the disinfection, sterilization of dialysis generators, dialyzers, hemofilters and hemodialyzers and circuits of water treatment for hemodialysis.

Abstract: A process for operating a permeable membrane generator at above or below design conditions therefor, which entails adjusting the permeation temperature of a feed stream permeating said membrane generator by heating or cooling means, thereby providing a desired amount, purity and pressure of a product gas.