Abstract: A method and system for purging an ultra-high purity gas supply manifold comprising: a process connection through which ultra-high purity gas is communicated to a process; a first pigtail conduit in selective flow communication with a high purity gas source; a second pigtail conduit in selective flow communication with said process connection; means for creating a vacuum and means for selectively placing said vacuum means in communication with said first pigtail; an ultra-high purity process gas source; a block valve assembly comprising an inlet port in flow communication with said process gas source, a first outlet port in selective communication with said purge gas supply through connection with said first pigtail and second outlet port in selective communication with said process connection through connection with said second pigtail.

Abstract: A non-refill valve for a non-refillable container, comprising a valve body having an inlet and an outlet and a passage through the valve body interconnecting the inlet and the outlet. A valve stem slides in the passage and has an axial passageway that extends partway therethrough and that terminates laterally in a passageway that extends through a side wall of the stem intermediate the ends of the stem. A ball in the stem rests on a seat on the stem and closes the valve stem passageway against the flow of gas from the outlet towards the inlet. A first spring urges the ball against the seat to permit flow of gas only in a direction from the inlet to the outlet by displacing the ball from the seat against the action of the first spring in an open position of the valve. A second spring urges the stem in the direction of the flow of gas from the inlet to the outlet, and a seal acts between the stem and the valve body.

Abstract: A process for casting high oxygen affinity metals or metal alloys such as titanium through use of an induction furnace while preventing the pick up of contaminating gas by the metals or metal alloys during melting. An inert shielding gas such as nitrogen or argon or carbon dioxide is introduced as a liquid in a closed environment above the metal or metal alloys being melted such that there is preferably no more than approximately 1% contaminating gas in the gaseous environment proximate the surface of the molten metal or metal alloy. Simultaneously, the mold placed under the induction furnace is purged with a similar or different inert gas.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cleaning elongated objects of surface contaminants. The elongated objects are exposed to a liquid or solid inert gas at suitable quantities to embrittle the contaminants. The elongated objects are then drawn through a die orifice causing the embrittled surface contaminants to be removed from the elongated objects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling metal oxide fume generation during the oxygen-induced subdivision into smaller physical units of a body containing metal values in a control gas-enriched oxygen environment in the absence of a fuel gas.

Abstract: In a method for decarburizing metals and alloys, a two-gas component mixture consisting only of oxygen and carbon dioxide is introduced into molten metals or alloys at least during the first decarburization phase.

Abstract: A method for providing a controlled atmosphere in a food storage facility, which comprises:a) feeding a portion of an atmosphere from a food storage facility, containing carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen, to a feed side of a membrane having a higher permeability to carbon dioxide than to nitrogen,b) recycling the carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen not permeating the membrane back to the storage facility, and venting the carbon dioxide-enriched gas permeating the membrane to the atmosphere, andc) using a membrane-based system to maintain the required atmospheric composition and pressure in the food storage facility.

Abstract: A gas mixture for preserving fish and sea-food products, comprising carbon dioxide, oxygen and argon with partial pressures in the following range:______________________________________ CO.sub.2 50%-68% O.sub.2 5%-20% Ar 27%-45% ______________________________________This mixture slows down enzymatic reactions and microbiological development at the surface and inside the fish or sea-food product.

Abstract: To remove a thick insulating coating from a steel pipeline, with high efficiency and speed, multiple cooling and scraping steps are performed sequentially. In a first cooling step, a low temperature coolant is sprayed onto the coating for a time sufficient to cool only a portion of the coating to a temperature below the embrittlement temperature thereof. After scraping away the embrittled outer layers of the coating, subsequent cooling and scraping steps are performed until all of the coating has been embrittled and removed. It has been found that the time required for removing the coating by use of such multiple spraying and scraping steps is substantially less than that where the coating is to be embrittled in a single step.

Abstract: A process for the detection of carbonyl sulfide in a gas such as carbon dioxide is provided. The process comprises providing a known volume of gas to be analyzed and removing any hydrogen sulfide from the gas as by passage through a lead acetate column. The carbonyl sulfide is then converted to hydrogen sulfide. Preferably, this is accomplished by passage of the gas through acidified water and subsequent reaction by contact with an alumina hydrolysis catalyst. The converted H.sub.2 S is then detected and measured. The amount of hydrogen sulfide detected represents an equimolar amount of carbonyl sulfide present in the original volume of gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing steel in a ladle furnace in which the molten steel is stirred by injection of an inert gas in the lower part of the furnace. According to the invention, the stirring of the bath of steel is effected by the injection of gaseous argon so as to distribute in a homogeneous manner the additives added and the metal temperature in the course of the treatment, while there is simultaneously injected liquid argon above the surface of the bath in the region of intumescence. In this way, substantially any increase in the concentration of nitrogen of the bath of steel in the course of the treatment is avoided. In some cases, and in particular when wires of the type filled with silico-calcium are employed, a reduction in the concentration of nitrogen in the bath of steel is found.

Abstract: A process for the detection of carbonyl sulfide in a gas such as carbon dioxide is provided. The process comprises providing a known volume of gas to be analyzed and removing any hydrogen sulfide from the gas as by passage through a lead acetate column. The carbonyl sulfide is then converted to hydrogen sulfide. Preferably, this is accomplished by passage of the gas through acidified water and subsequent reaction by contact with an alumina hydrolysis catalyst. The converted H.sub.2 S is then detected and measured. The amount of hydrogen sulfide detected represents an equilmolar amount of carbonyl sulfide present in the original volume of gas.

Abstract: A protective coating on a pipe is embrittled by enclosing a portion of the pipe in a body defining an annular space around the protective coating. A pressurized LN2 cryogen is expanded within this annular space for sufficient time to lower the temperature of both the protective coating and the underlying pipe to a temperature below the temperature of embrittlement of the coating. The LN2 is expanded so as to form elliptical patterns on the pipe surface.

Abstract: The protective coating on a pipe is embrittled and removed by enclosing a portion of the pipe in a body defining an annular space around the protective coating. A pressurized liquid nitrogen cryogen is expanded within this annular space for a sufficient time to lower the temperature of both the protective coating and the underlying pipe to a temperature below the temperature of embrittlement of the coating.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method is disclosed for generating fluorine which has an improved efficiency by reducing the resistance between the electrodes and by reducing the chemical action on the electrodes through a design whereby the structure and positioning of the electrodes as well as the flow of electrolyte provide this reduction of the resistance. The shape of the cell unit constituting the electrode structure reduces the chemical action on the electrode by increasing the flow of electrolyte past the electrode structure.

Abstract: A gas mixture comprising carbon dioxide, oxygen and argon is provided to extend the shelf life of sea-food products and fish from 15 to 21 days at the storage temperature of 4.degree.0 C.Comparison is made with similar mixtures comprising nitrogen in lieu of argon which shows the unexpected results obtained with the mixtures of the invention.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the ultrapurification of cryogenic low boiling liquified gases such as oxygen and nitrogen which contain trace impurities. The impure gas is introduced into a first distillation column provided with a top column condenser and a bottom column reboiler. The impure gas is substantially at its liquid-gas equilibrium temperature at the pressures within the first distillation column. Here the gas is separated by distillation into a first vapor fraction containing low boiling point impurities and a first liquid fraction containing high boiling point impurities. The first vapor fraction is withdrawn and introduced into a second distillation column provided with a top column condenser and a bottom column reboiler. The first vapor fraction is substantially at the liquid-gas equilibrium temperature at the pressures within the second distillation column.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for balancing the discharge of liquified gases from a multi-orifice manifold. The manifold includes at least one main conduit each having a central axis, and two or more discharge conduits each having a central axis. Each discharge conduit projects from the main conduit in a manner whereby the central axis of each discharge conduit extends from the central axis of the main conduit. The discharge conduits are positioned about the central axis of the main conduit such that each central axis of a discharge conduit provides with respect to a substantially horizontal plane passing through the central axis of the main conduit, an included angle in the range of about -30.degree. to about -60.degree. relative to the horizontal plane. A discharge orifice is attached to each discharge conduit and is oriented to provide downward discharge.

Abstract: A multi-tier refrigeration tunnel of modular construction, with lateral doors, in which fans are disposed between each tier, in which they are driven by shafts extending from ceiling to floor of the tunnel, and in which the shafts are driven by top mounted fan motors. A multi tier refrigeration tunnel, not of modular construction and without lateral doors, in which fans are disposed between each tier, in which the fans are driven by shafts extending from the floor of the tunnel and from the ceiling of the tunnel, in which the shafts are driven by top mounted and bottom mounted fan motors. A multi tier refrigeration tunnel, and by extension also a single tier refrigeration tunnel, in which two products of different required processing times can be processed simultaneously. A multi tier refrigeration tunnel, preferably without lateral doors but not necessarily, in which fans are disposed above the upper tier and in which fans are disposed next to, and to the side of, the lower tiers.

Abstract: This process comprises eliminating the ammonia from a gaseous effluent of the treatment of scrubbing with a liquid essentially comprising water, regenerating the scrubbing liquid by stripping countercurrent with respect to the gas to be treated, then recycling at least most of the regenerated scrubbing liquid by putting it into thermal exchange relation with the scrubbing liquid to be regenerated.Application in the production of CO.sub.2 by the treatment of smoke with ammonia.