Abstract: A method of producing at least one air gas using cryogenic distillation is provided. The expanded streams coming from the two turbines are combined and then split into two fractions. The first fraction is sent to the medium-pressure column of the system in gaseous form, whereas the second fraction is returned to the cold end of the heat exchange line. At a temperature T4 below ?100° C. and above T2, the second fraction is sent to a turbine where it expands up to a temperature T5, forming an air stream. This air stream is then warmed in the heat exchange line before being discharged into the atmosphere, so that the distillation is not disturbed. A liquid product is withdrawn from the column system as final product. The sole liquid product from the apparatus is liquid oxygen, but of course other products may be produced.

Abstract: Methods of production planning, including a novel method of optimized production planning for a plurality of production plants producing a product for delivery to a plurality of customers using a common distribution network, wherein the product consumption by customers can vary, and the variable cost of producing the product can vary between production plants, over time, and production quantity. The method maximizes profitability by characterizing raw material costs over varying production rates and minimizing variable cost across the network for any given production demand. The method considers the variable cost of producing product in varying production quantities, the variable cost structure of raw material supplies, and how these variable costs vary between production plants. The method also considers the variable cost impact of purchasing product from outside sources.

Abstract: In a process for supplying a pressurized gas, a pressurized gas at a high production pressure is produced as an end product by separating a gaseous mixture in a separator apparatus (3, 5), a liquid to be pressurized is stored in a store (9), storing liquid is tapped, and it is pressurized with a pump (11) and at least part of the pressurized liquid is sprayed in a sprayer (27) to produce the pressurized backup gas (29) having substantially the same pressure or a pressure higher than the pressurized gas to be produced, liquid is circulated in a substantially vertical duct (13), optionally within the cold box (33) of the separator apparatus, and at least part of the duct length is at a level above the sprayer and before and/or after starting up the pump (11), liquid is sent from the duct to the sprayer where the liquid is sprayed to provide pressurized backup gas having substantially the same purity or a purity higher than the pressurized gas to be produced (31).

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a 1-alkyl glycerol ether of the formula (I) in which: (a) an alkyl glycidyl ether of the formula (II) in which R is an unbranched or branched C1- to C24-alkyl group, where the alkyl group may be substituted with one or more hydroxy and/or C1- to C4-alkoxy group(s) and/or the alkyl chain may be interrupted by up to four oxygen atoms, is added to: (x) a carboxylic acid having 1-10 carbon atoms; (y) an ester of a carboxylic acid having 1-10 carbon atoms; and/or (z) an anhydride of a carboxylic acid having 1-10 carbon atoms. The low-water reaction mixture containing a catalytic amount of a strong acid is reacted at a temperature of more than 40° C. to give an acylated alkyl glycerol ether; and (b) the acylated alkyl glycerol ether is reacted in order to obtain the alkyl glycerol ether of the formula (I).

Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir includes separating air into a nitrogen-rich gas and an oxygen-rich gas, oxidizing a hydrocarbon fuel with at least part of the oxygen-rich gas to produce steam and a CO2-rich gas, injecting at least part of the steam through an injection well into the reservoir to heat the hydrocarbons, purging the injection well with at least part of the nitrogen-rich gas, and injecting at least part of the CO2-rich gas into the reservoir containing the heated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods to remove residual fluorine left in a chamber surface without the use of a plasma device or temperature elevation. The disclosed methods may permit the next step in the deposition process to occur more quickly.

Abstract: A process for the combustion of a carbon-containing fuel, wherein the flue gases are filtered so as to achieve a solid particle concentration of less than 1 mg/m3 before compression, purification and sequestration or transport is presented.

Abstract: Device for filling and distributing gas comprising a body intended to be placed in the orifice of a pressurized-gas storage reservoir, a gas withdrawing circuit running between an upstream first end intended to be connected to the inside of the reservoir and a downstream second end intended to be connected to a user of the gas, the withdrawing circuit comprising a pressure regulator, a low-pressure chamber and an isolation valve positioned in series in that order from upstream to downstream, the low-pressure chamber being connected to a passage for discharging the gas to the outside of the device via a safety relief valve sensitive to the pressure in the low-pressure chamber and designed to close off the discharge passage when the pressure in the low-pressure chamber is below a first threshold, to open the discharge passage when the pressure in the chamber is higher than the first pressure threshold and below a second pressure threshold, and to close the discharge passage when the pressure in the chamber is h

Abstract: The inventive method of gaseous hydrogen purification from a gaseous mixture comprises purifying hydrogen from a permeate gas enriched with compressed hydrogen by pressure modulation (PSA) in which one or more adsorbers are used that each follow a cycle at intervals with an adsorption phase at a high cycle pressure and a regeneration phase, producing two regeneration flows; a first recycled regeneration flow and a second non-recycled regeneration flow, characterized by the fact that the recycled regeneration flow exiting the adsorber(s) is recycled, directly or indirectly, by a sole compressor, without intermediate compression so that the sole compressor ensures both the compression of the hydrogen-enriched permeate and compression of the recycled regeneration gas.

Abstract: A fast gas is recovered from a feed gas containing a fast gas and at least one slow gas using a gas separation membrane. A controller may control a control valve associated with a partial recycle of a permeate gas from the membrane for combining with the feed gas. A controller may control a control valve associated with the backpressure of a residue gas from the membrane.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fin defining a general corrugated direction (D1), comprising a plurality of corrugations (123) alternately linked by a corrugation top (121) and a corrugation base (122). The fins are formed exclusively from sintered metal particles. The invention is applicable to plate heat exchangers of a unit for air separation of H2/CO mixtures by cryogenic distillation.

Abstract: Method of heating a mineral feedstock in a firing furnace of the tunnel furnace type, having a hearth with an upstream inlet, a downstream outlet and sidewalls fitted with burners, in which method the feedstock is transported as a layer of approximately constant thickness along a treatment path in which the feedstock is heated and fired by means of said burners so as to obtain a fired product, said path being located between the upstream inlet and the downstream outlet of the furnace, characterized in that said burners comprise at least one fuel injector and at least one oxidizer injector and are positioned and oriented in such a way that their flames do not impact the layer, the at least one oxidizer injector being positioned relative to the at least one fuel injector so that the at least one fuel jet injected by the at least one fuel injector is separated from the layer by at least one oxidizer jet injected by at least one oxidizer injector.

Abstract: The device according to the invention for the cooling of articles, comprising at least one channel which can be connected to a first coolant source such that a first stream of a first coolant can flow through the channel, the articles to be cooled being introducible into the stream, is distinguished in that at least one cross-sectional stabilizer for stabilizing the cross section of the at least one channel is formed. The device according to the invention advantageously allows the defined cooling of articles, in particular the freezing of drops of a liquid or pasty material, in particular of liquid or pasty foods. In particular, a deformation, such as warping, of the channels on account of pronounced temperature gradients and/or temperature transients is effectively reduced. Thus, even after cooling-down operations, uniform cooling conditions can be ensured.

Abstract: An oxygen generator is controlled to producing oxygen during a period t at a pressure P2 higher than P1, or during a period t? with a flow rate D2 higher than D1, optionally with a pressure P2 higher than P1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the steam reforming of a hydrocarbon mixture in order to produce synthesis gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for compressing and drying a gas flow rich in carbon dioxide, for example containing more than 50 mol % of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method and a plant for producing a cooled compressed syngas is presented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for welding with a laser beam, using a welding nozzle comprising: a nozzle body having an axis and including at least an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral wall; an axial cavity extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the nozzle body so as to define an outer channel recessed from the surface of said peripheral wall; and a plurality of inner passages drilled through the nozzle body between the upper and lower surfaces. The laser welding method of the invention provides a dynamic gas jet mechanically interacting with the molten metal bath, and further enables better control of the bath hydrodynamic flows, and thus better laser-welding efficiency.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for melting raw material in an electric arc furnace using a flame of variable direction, the apparatus comprising a burner and a lance whereby the lance outlet opening and the burner outlet opening are not concentric and are located at a distance from one another, and whereby the lance axis forms an angle with the burner axis in the range from 10° to 40.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of combustion of a fuel using an oxygen containing gas and at least one mainly inert gas, in which: the said oxygen containing gas comprises at least 80% of oxygen in volume, the said fuel and the said oxygen containing gas are injected in such a way as to create a flame, the said mainly inert gas is injected in such a way that it is contiguous to and surrounds the flame created by the said fuel and the said oxygen containing gas and that it has a divergent swirl with regard to the flame.