Abstract: The invention relates to a bipolar plate for a fuel cell stack that extends in a vertical plane in the use position, the plate comprising opposed first and second transverse edges, upper and lower longitudinal edges, a central region arranged between the edges, a first opening for a heat transfer fluid inlet, a second opening for heat transfer fluid collection a third opening for an oxidant inlet, a fourth opening for oxidant collection, a fifth opening for the inlet of a fuel, a sixth opening for fuel collection, wherein the first, third and sixth openings are arranged in the first transverse edge and are arranged axially in relation to one another, the second, fourth and fifth openings are arranged in the second transverse edge and are arranged axially in relation to one another, and, in the vertical position of use of the plate: the sixth opening are arranged below the first and third openings, the fourth opening is arranged below the second and fifth openings, and the second opening is arranged above the

Abstract: In a method for regulating at least two fluids, a fluid feed flow Q is divided into n parts, the sum of the n parts being equal to Q, each of the n parts is sent to one of n processing units, each of the n processing units produces at least one processed flow, at least one processed flow of a first of the processing units is regulated by control means in order to keep the flow thereof constant at a value Q1 in nominal operation, at least one processed flow of a second of the processing units is regulated by control means in order to keep the pressure thereof constant in nominal operation and, in the event of a reduction of the feed flow Q, in reduced feed operation, if, preferably only if, the flow of the flow processed in the second processing unit of step v) drops and thus reaches a first minimum flow threshold, a processed flow in the first processing unit is regulated such that the processed flow having a value Q1 in nominal operation is reduced to a value less than Q1.

Abstract: An optical refrigerator for cooling an infrared detector or sensor, that includes a laser radiation source, a cooling crystal for receiving laser radiation from the source and to be cooled, an element to be cooled, and a thermal link in heat exchange between the crystal and the element to be cooled, in order to transfer frigories from the crystal to the element to be cooled. The thermal link comprises two plates having respective first ends in heat exchange with two distinct surfaces of the crystal, respectively, the two plates having second ends in heat exchange with the element to be cooled.

Abstract: A plant for producing a synthesis gas chiefly consisting of hydrogen and carbon monoxide by catalytic steam reformation of a hydrocarbonaceous feed gas, wherein the heat of burners required for the chemical reforming reactions to take place is generated by producing a flue gas and wherein, by utilizing the heat contained in the synthesis gas and in the flue gas, a pure steam is generated from boiler feed water and a process steam is generated from process condensate, wherein for the generation of the pure steam synthesis gas and flue gas are used and for the generation of the process steam a part of the pure steam is used as heat-transfer medium and the remaining part of the pure steam is discharged from the process as export steam.

Abstract: A process for producing synthesis gas using at least a first and a second steam reforming reactor each having at least one reaction stage enabling the circulation of a reaction mixture and at least one heat supply stage enabling the circulation of a heat transfer fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus for the distillation of air by cryogenic distillation is provided. The apparatus can include an enclosure; a first distillation column configured to operate at a first pressure; a second distillation column configured to operate at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure, the second distillation column being placed above the first distillation column and forming therewith a double column; a subcooling heat exchanger configured to cool at least one liquid from the first distillation column upstream of the second distillation column and configured to warm a gaseous nitrogen stream from the second distillation column; and an argon column configured to separate an argon enriched stream from the second distillation column and configured to produce an argon rich stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of air gases by the cryogenic separation of air with front end purification and air compression can include using an available compressed dry gas such as nitrogen, oxygen, stored purified air, or synthetic air to repressurize the adsorber without diverting any of the purified air just exiting the currently on-line adsorber or changing the flow rate of the main air compressor or air sent to the cold box. This enables the main air compressor (MAC) to operate at a relatively constant flow rate while also sending a relatively constant air flow to the cold box during this repressurization step, thereby reducing the risks of process upsets and minimizing capital expenditures related to the MAC and other warm-end equipments.

Abstract: The invention can include a device for distributing a fluid in an industrial facility that comprises at least a fluid distribution pipe, a discharge pipe originating from the distribution pipe, a distribution valve that is positioned on the distribution pipe and controlling the distribution of fluid between the upstream area and a downstream dient, a discharge valve positioned on the discharge pipe, and measuring means for measuring, in real time, a characteristic parameter of the distribution of the fluid within one of the pipes.

Abstract: A method for improving thermal efficiency of steam production in a steam reforming based syngas plant is provided. In one embodiment, the method can include the steps of: preheating a hydrocarbon feed stream in a first heat exchanger from a first temperature to a second temperature; preheating the hydrocarbon feed stream in a second heat exchanger to a third temperature, wherein the third temperature is greater than the second temperature; introducing the hydrocarbon feed stream in the presence of steam to a steam methane reformer under conditions effective for producing a product stream comprising hydrogen, carbon oxides, and water vapor; and exchanging heat between the product stream and a boiler feed water stream in a third heat exchanger, wherein prior to exchanging heat with the product stream, the boiler feed water stream is used to provide the preheating to the hydrocarbon feed stream in the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention relate to a spacer element for a heat exchanger of the brazed plate and fin type, intended to be fitted between a first plate and a second plate of the exchanger, said spacer element comprising at least a first assembly portion configured to be assembled with the first plate and comprising a first pair of opposite surfaces, one of the surfaces of the first pair being oriented toward the first plate and the other of the surfaces of the first pair being oriented toward the second plate when the spacer element is in the fitted state, several fins or corrugation legs extending from said first assembly portion so as to delimit, when the spacer element is in the fitted state, a plurality of channels for the flow of a first fluid, and at least one surface texturing in the form of a porous structure or of reliefs formed on the surface of the spacer element, at least one fin or corrugation leg exhibiting said surface texturing.

Abstract: In a method for producing a series of at least a first and a second plate and fin heat exchanger, each having at least one fluid distribution tank capping at least some of the openings of the matrix unit and which is connected to a pipe, the tank is partitioned into several compartments using at least one partition, so as to distribute the number of openings assigned to a first fluid and to a second fluid, the partition being designed to divide the tank into several compartments which are each connected to a pipe for the passage of the first fluid or of the second fluid and which each communicate with a number of openings that varies according to the configuration adopted by the at least one partition, for the exchanger of the series.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a pneumatic delivery device having three successively-arranged chambers, a membrane element arranged in the third chamber so as to ensure a tight separation of the third chamber into a lower chamber and upper chamber, a membrane element arranged between the second chamber and the lower chamber of the third chamber so as to ensure a tight separation between said lower chamber and second chamber, a stem integrally fixed to the first membrane element and to the second membrane element, a valve cooperating with an outlet orifice arranged between the first chamber and the second chamber, and a flow adjustment element arranged on a gas conduct in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the second chamber, said flow adjustment element being operable by a user for setting a quantity of gas circulating in said gas conduct.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention lies in providing a high-purity oxygen production system which is capable of supplying liquid nitrogen in order to supply the cold required by a high-purity oxygen production apparatus, without the use of a costly conventional liquefaction apparatus.

Abstract: A method and a device for producing an air product based on cryogenic rectification; after being cooled by a main heat exchanger, raw material air and nitrogen compressed by means of a compressor are sent to a rectification system for low temperature separation. In the rectification system, products such as oxygen and nitrogen are obtained by means of low temperature separation, and oxygen-enriched liquid air is obtained at or near the bottom of a rectification tower. The oxygen-enriched liquid air or liquid-state air in the rectification system is sent out after being raised to a target pressure by means of a low temperature liquid air pump; air products of various pressures can be produced by means of selecting low temperature liquid air pumps with different lifts or by connecting in series different amounts of low temperature liquid air pumps.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling products includes 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, a first guiding element for guiding the cooling gas on a first conveyor side, and a second guiding element for guiding the cooling gas on a second conveyor side, wherein the first and second guiding elements are arranged within the chamber such that the cooling gas can impinge the first side, and the first and second guiding elements are oriented obliquely compared to the conveyor.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation setup in a cold box, wherein gaseous oxygen under elevated pressure is produced through hydraulic force caused by the geodetic distance between where liquid oxygen is drawn from the distillation column and where liquid oxygen is vaporized to form gaseous oxygen, such as in an auxiliary evaporator. To increase the vertical distance between the above-mentioned two location, the components are arranged directly below one another in the following sequence: the lower-pressure column, the main condenser evaporator, the higher-pressure column, the subcooler, the main heat exchanger and the auxiliary evaporator).

Abstract: Gas/liquid separation column, containing a device for dispensing a liquid, intended for a gas/liquid separation column, comprising: a plate, in which several orifices are arranged, through which the liquid is able to leave the dispensing device; a plurality of stacks extending from the plate, each stack being configured to be followed by the gas; a plurality of plugging means respectively arranged at one end of one of the stacks, each plugging means having a gutter shape allowing a first portion of the liquid to be collected; a plurality of troughs for directly collecting a second portion of the liquid, at least one part of the orifices being distributed in the base of said troughs, each plugging means comprising a first open longitudinal end and a second closed longitudinal end.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving thermal efficiency of steam production is provided.

Abstract: An air separation apparatus and process, which produces gaseous oxygen and/or nitrogen products at an elevated pressure through internal compression of respective liquid products, are disclosed. Split-core main heat exchangers are employed to warm up product streams generated in an air rectification unit against 1) a main feed air stream in the low-pressure heat exchanger and 2) at least one boosted pressure air stream in the high-pressure exchanger. Because the boosted pressure air stream is at a higher pressure and temperature than the main feed air stream, after separate heat exchange in the split main heat exchangers, the subsidiary waste nitrogen stream exiting the high-pressure heat exchanger is also warmer than the subsidiary waste nitrogen stream exiting the low-pressure heat exchanger. The warmer waste nitrogen stream is fed into the air purification unit for regeneration purposes and the cooler waste nitrogen stream is introduced into the nitrogen water tower to perform cooling duty.

Abstract: A valve for a pressurized fluid, including a body housing a fluid circuit including an upstream end configured to be placed in communication with a reserve of pressurized fluid and a downstream end configured to be placed in communication with a receiver apparatus, the circuit including a control member controlling the flow rate in the circuit, said flow rate control member being operated by a mobile actuating member configured to move relative to the body of the valve, the valve including at least a first functional electronic member and a second functional electronic member, the second functional electronic member being mounted removably on the body of the valve.