Abstract: An air separation unit and associated method for separating air by cryogenic distillation using a distillation column system including a higher pressure column, a lower pressure column, an intermediate pressure kettle column, and an argon column arrangement is provided. The disclosed air separation unit and method is particularly suited for production of high purity nitrogen for electronics applications and includes nitrogen recycle circuit necessary to attain the higher purity nitrogen products. In addition to the intermediate pressure kettle column, the present air separation unit and associated method employs a once-through argon condenser, preferably disposed within the lower pressure column as well as a once-through kettle column reboiler, a once-through kettle column condenser.

Abstract: A cryogenic vaporization system and a method for controlling the system are provided. The system includes a first vaporizer arrangement and a second vaporizer arrangement configured for receiving a liquid cryogen and outputting a superheated vapor. The second vaporizer arrangement is connected in parallel with the first vaporizer arrangement, and includes one or more banks of ambient air vaporizer (AAV) units or loose fill media with a high heat capacity. The second vaporizer arrangement has a different configuration than that of the first vaporizer arrangement. The system further includes at least one control valve controlling provision of the liquid cryogen to at least one of the first vaporizer arrangement and the second vaporizer arrangement.

Abstract: A composition comprising acetylene fluid at least partially solubilized in an improved solvent is described. The improved solvents exhibit non-toxicity and are further characterized by low vapor pressures to minimize solvent carryover during delivery of the acetylene fluid, while retaining suitable acetylene solubilizing capacity.

Abstract: Enhancements to a dual column, nitrogen producing cryogenic air separation unit are provided. Such enhancements include an improved air separation cycle that uses multiple condenser-reboilers and recycles a portion of the vapor from one or more of the condenser-reboilers to the incoming feed stream and or the compressed purified air streams to yield improvements in such dual column, nitrogen producing cryogenic air separation units. The multiple condenser-reboilers preferably include an integrated condenser-reboiler arrangement comprising a heat exchanger having a set of nitrogen condensing passages, a first set and second set of boiling passages, and a phase separator.

Abstract: A moderate pressure nitrogen and argon producing cryogenic air separation unit is provided that includes a three distillation column system and turbine air stream bypass arrangement or circuit. The turbine air stream bypass arrangement or circuit is configured to improve argon and nitrogen recoveries in select operating modes by optionally diverting a portion of the turbine air stream to a nitrogen waste stream circuit drawn from the lower pressure column of the cryogenic air separation unit such that the diverted portion of the turbine air stream bypasses the distillation column system.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the performance of an oxygen, nitrogen, and argon producing air separation unit configured to produce a gaseous nitrogen product stream is provided. By recycling the argon condenser boil-off vapor stream to the main air compression train, the argon recovery and oxygen recovery while maintaining the production level of a medium or high pressure gaseous nitrogen product stream. In addition, some operational cost savings in terms of lower power costs can also be realized compared to some prior art oxygen, nitrogen, and argon producing air separation units.

Abstract: A system and method for producing two or more nitrogen product streams and a crude argon stream from a nitrogen and argon producing air separation unit is provided. The disclosed embodiments of the cryogenic-based nitrogen and argon producing air separation units and associated air separation cycles include the means for directing a first portion of a boil-off stream from an argon condenser of the air separation unit to a waste expansion refrigeration circuit and concurrently recycling a second portion of the boil-off stream from the argon condenser to the main air compression system of the air separation unit to be mixed or blended with the incoming feed air. Optionally, a third portion of the boil-off stream from the argon condenser may be further compressed in a cold compressor and returned to the lower pressure column.

Abstract: Fuel gas compositions for use in metal fabrication are provided comprising fuel gases comprising a base fuel gas mixed with from about 1% to less than 30% hydrogen.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for loading, removing, accessing, positioning or preserving one or more items in a presence of dry ice are provided. The apparatus includes a tapered container that has a barrier-like structure which can partition the inner volume of the tapered container into an internal product storage volume and a dry icechamber. Each of the regions remain substantially undisturbed during handling, operation, use and transport of the tapered container. Methods for selectively introducing dry ice into the dry ice chamber of the tapered container and engaging the barrier-like structure within the tapered container can be achieved with a novel guiding assembly apparatus. The methods and apparatuses are particularly useful when loading and retrieving one or more items in the presence of dry ice for tapered containers that have single restrictive access openings and/or other characteristics which make access and handling difficult.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an intensified process cycle that utilizes the adsorption beds present to a substantially greater degree allowing the processing of significantly more gas and/or the generation of significantly more product. The elimination of purge steps, reduction in equalization step times, and introduction of overlapping feed and equalization steps which normally cause a degradation in performance for equilibrium-based cycles, frees extra step for other actions to be taken, such as additional equalization steps, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to welding gas compositions used as shielding gases in an electric arc welding process. More particularly, the invention is directed a shielding gas compositions used in gas metal or tungsten metal arc welding processes for welding aluminum or aluminum alloy containing work pieces. The compositions comprise from 200 to less than 400 ppm oxygen; from 200 to less than 400 ppm of a second gas selected from nitrous oxide, nitrogen, and combinations thereof; and the remainder being an inert gas preferably selected from argon, helium, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A system and method of pre-purification of a feed gas stream is provided that is particularly suitable for pre-purification of a feed air stream in cryogenic air separation unit. The disclosed pre-purification systems and methods are configured to remove substantially all of the hydrogen, carbon monoxide, water, and carbon dioxide impurities from a feed air stream and is particularly suitable for use in a high purity or ultra-high purity nitrogen plant. The pre-purification systems and methods preferably employ two or more separate layers of hopcalite catalyst with the successive layers of the hopcalite separated by a zeolite adsorbent layer that removes water and carbon dioxide produced in the hopcalite layers. Alternatively, the pre-purification systems and methods employ a hopcalite catalyst layer and a noble metal catalyst layer separated by a zeolite adsorbent layer that removes water and carbon dioxide produced in the hopcalite layer.

Abstract: A system and method of pre-purification of a feed gas stream is provided that is particularly suitable for pre-purification of a feed air stream in cryogenic air separation unit. The disclosed pre-purification systems and methods are configured to remove substantially all of the hydrogen, carbon monoxide, water, and carbon dioxide impurities from a feed air stream and is particularly suitable for use in a high purity or ultra-high purity nitrogen plant. The pre-purification systems and methods preferably employ two or more separate layers of hopcalite catalyst with the successive layers of the hopcalite separated by a zeolite adsorbent layer that removes water and carbon dioxide produced in the hopcalite layers.

Abstract: A mobile storage apparatus for containers is provided. The apparatus provides a unique support assembly for holding a container. The assembly includes a latch mechanism that allows a clamp of cylinder to be moved from a closed position to an open position which creates clearance around a neck of cylinder to allow it to rotate without falling out of clamp. The other end of apparatus is structurally configured with a release plunger that can be retracted to allow rotation of cylinder along said other end. Rotatable wheels on a user side with a braking mechanism along a handle and a foot ledge allow improved maneuverability and stability.

Abstract: Particulate material is cooled by passing into the material a coolant stream of liquid nitrogen having a gaseous product around at least a portion of the liquid nitrogen, wherein the coolant stream is formed outside the particulate material in a nozzle body from which the coolant stream is passed into the particulate material.

Abstract: Liquefier arrangements configured for flexible co-production of both liquid natural gas (LNG) and liquid nitrogen (LIN) are provided. Each liquefier arrangement comprises separate and independent nitrogen recycle circuits or loops, including a warm recycle circuit and a cold recycle circuit with a means for diverting nitrogen refrigerant between the two recycle circuits or loops. The warm recycle circuit includes a booster loaded warm turbine, a warm booster compressor and warm recycle compression whereas the cold recycle circuit includes a booster loaded cold turbine, a cold booster compressor and a separate cold recycle compression.

Abstract: The process of the present invention provides high recovery and low capital cost giving it an economic advantage over previously known purification processes. The present process has particular applicability to the purification of synthesis gases comprising at least hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), CO2, and H2O to obtain a gas stream including at least H2, CO, and CH4, that is substantially free of H2O and CO2. The process also has applicability to the purification of natural gases inclusive of at least CH4, N2, CO2, and H2O to produce a gas stream including at least CH4 and N2, but which is substantially free of H2O and CO2.

Abstract: A method for leak detection in a system including a compressor. A first pressure differential is determined in the system via a first pressure differential indicator (PDI). The first pressure differential is converted into a first flow measurement. A second flow measurement is determined downstream of the compressor using a second PDI. The first flow measurement and the second flow measurement are compared to determine whether a leak exists between the first PDI and the second PDI.

Abstract: A system and method for argon production in an air separation plant facility or enclave having multiple cryogenic air separation units is provided. The present system and method include a centralized argon refining system disposed within one of the cryogenic air separation units and which is configured to include an argon superstaged or ultra-superstaged column arrangement having one or more argon columns and an argon condenser. Crude argon streams from one or more of the other cryogenic air separation units are directed to the argon superstaged or ultra-superstaged column arrangement of the centralized argon refining process.

Abstract: Enhancements to a dual column, nitrogen producing cryogenic air separation unit are provided. Such enhancements include an improved air separation cycle that uses multiple condenser-reboilers and recycles a portion of the vapor from one or more of the condenser-reboilers to the incoming feed stream and or the compressed purified air streams to yield improvements in such dual column, nitrogen producing cryogenic air separation units. The multiple condenser-reboilers preferably include an integrated condenser-reboiler arrangement comprising a heat exchanger having a set of nitrogen condensing passages, a first set and second set of boiling passages, and a phase separator.