Abstract: The invention is a method and a device for measuring the filtering or purifying capacity of a purifier. The invention allows the use of a single analyzer for sampling the inlet and outlet streams. This is accomplished by sampling the inlet stream only at some times when the change in the inlet stream is expected to occur. At other times the outlet stream is sampled to monitor its composition. A computer system on the basis of the accumulated data decides when it is time to replace or to regenerate the purifier or the filter bed. The computer system also determines the strategy of when to sample the inlet stream. Various system sensors may be used to make this determination, such as pressure sensors and level sensors. The data from other sensors, such as flow sensors, may be used in the calculations performed by the computer system.

Abstract: A device for efficient transmission of electromagnetic waves comprising two layers of dielectric separated by a gap or space. The layers may be uniform or laminar, orthogonal or non-orthogonal to the direction of wave propagation, and made of Teflon, quartz, polypropylene, and the like. The preferred distance between layers is an odd multiple of quarter wavelength in the environment between the layers. The preferred thickness of the layers is an odd multiple of half of the effective wavelength for the layer. The device allows over 95% efficiency for transmission into a pressurized vessel for evaporation under high pressure and temperature and does not require a cooling system. The separating space may be connected with a pressure-sensing subsystem to monitor the device's integrity and shut down the system in the event of a breach. A sleeve connecting the device to the vessel may be coated with conductive material for improved efficiency.

Abstract: A method for producing carbon dioxide at a flow rate is disclosed. The method comprises several steps including the provision of an oxidant fluid to a fermentation broth, use of oxygen from the oxidant fluid to promote fermentation and microbial growth in a fermenter while producing carbon dioxide within the broth, passing a fermentation broth stream out from the fermenter, and then through a heat exchanger, and then back into the fermenter via a recirculation loop, bubbling carbon dioxide out therefrom the broth creating a gas mixture containing a carbon dioxide concentration of 97.5 mole percent and recovering the gas mixture as product carbon dioxide. The oxidant fluid is provided to the fermentation broth at a flow rate such that the amount of oxygen provided to the fermentation broth is not more than 5 weight percent of the total amount of carbon dioxide being produced. The oxidant fluid contains an oxygen concentration of at least 40 mole percent.

Abstract: A cooling tunnel system that includes a conveyor for carrying objects through a tunnel chamber. The conveyor enables a cooling fluid to pass therethrouqh and about the objects. A plurality of slot means feeds the cooling fluid to the conveyor means. Each slot means includes at least one aperture for enabling vapor flow onto and about the objects. A plenum adjacent the plurality of slot means distributes the cooling fluid. And at least one fan in the tunnel chamber causes a flow of the cooling fluid into the plenum and through the slot means with sufficient velocity to impinge upon and cool the objects and to recirculate the cooling fluid within the tunnel chamber.

Abstract: A method for providing main gas into a pool of molten metal, which is particularly useful for use in an electric arc furnace. The method employs combustion of secondary oxygen with fuel to form a flame envelope around a main gas stream which protects the main gas from entrainment of ambient gases as it passes through the headspace of the furnace. This enables the gas to retain to a substantial degree its original force upon injection into the headspace and thus may be injected into the furnace at a safe distance from the molten metal surface while still achieving substantially complete penetration into the molten metal.

Abstract: An interactive computer controlled management system for real-time data gathering and analysis of process information relating to a plurality of data sources in a facility and for controlling process functions of the data sources. In a preferred embodiment, the data sources include gas cabinet panels and related process equipment typically found in a wafer fab facility. The system operates in a distributed processor environment and includes a host processor having graphic, control and user interfaces and a multi-ported processor networked to the host processor. The multi-ported process includes protocol sensitive hardware interfaces for communication with the programmable logic controllers of each particular data source. The multi-ported processor also includes software means for emulating a common protocol such that each gas cabinet or other connected device appears to the host processor as an address location in a memory of the multi-ported processor.

Abstract: Lithium/alkaline earth metal X zeolites in which the lithium:alkaline earth metal equivalent ratio is from about 95:5 to about 50:50 and lithium/alkaline earth metal A zeolites in which the lithium:alkaline earth metal equivalent ratio is from about 10:90 to about 70:30 are useful for separating oxygen and nitrogen from mixtures because they combine high adsorption capacity with high thermal stability.