Abstract: A method for automatically dispensing and vending carbon dioxide (CO2) snow block is disclosed. The automatic dispensing system contains multiple containers of different volumes. A user can input the volume of CO2 snow block into a controller, such as a programmable logic controller (PLC). The controller uses the inputted volume and process information to determine which container to utilize for the automated filling process. The controller can configure the selected container into a filling orientation into which liquid CO2 can flow to generate CO2 snow block. Upon detection of the completion of the fill, the container is configured into a dispensing orientation from which the CO2 snow block is released into an access region from which the user can retrieve the CO2 snow block. The control methodology may also be used to auto charge a single container located within a charging station as disclosed herein.

Abstract: Liquefier arrangements configured for co-production of both liquid natural gas (LNG) and liquid nitrogen (LIN) configured to operate in two distinct operating modes are provided.

Abstract: A gas flow arrestor is provided that is configured to be coupled at one end to an oxygen concentrator, a VIPR type device associated with a compressed gas cylinder, or other gas delivery component such as a regulator or flowmeter and at the opposing end to a length of flexible tubing or hose that delivers the medical gas to the patient or patient breathing apparatus, such as a nasal cannula or breathing mask. The gas flow arrestor device includes a firebreak together with a visual flow indicator that is actuated by the flow of gas through the gas flow arrestor device. The visual flow indicator allows a user or patient to visually confirm from a distance whether or not gas is flowing to the patient or breathing apparatus.

Abstract: A burner comprises a central passageway and outlets for fuel and for stabilizing oxidant arranged peripherally around the central passageway, and comprises outlets within the burner through which biasing gas, such as gas comprising oxygen, can be injected to enable control of the direction of the flame that is generated by combustion of the fuel and the oxidant at the face of the burner.

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: Closed-loop refrigeration cycles for liquid oxygen densification are disclosed. The disclosed refrigeration cycles may be turbine-based refrigeration cycles or a Joule-Thompson (JT) expansion valve based refrigeration cycles and include a refrigerant or working fluid comprising a mixture of neon or helium together with nitrogen and/or oxygen.

Abstract: A system and method for flexible production of argon from a cryogenic air separation unit is provided. The cryogenic air separation unit is capable of operating in a ‘no-argon’ or ‘low-argon’ mode when argon demand is low or non-existent and then switching to operating in a ‘high-argon’ mode when argon is needed. The recovery of the argon products from the air separation unit is adjusted by varying the percentages of dirty shelf nitrogen and clean shelf nitrogen in the reflux stream directed to the lower pressure column. The cryogenic air separation unit and associated method also provides an efficient argon production/rejection process that minimizes the power consumption when the cryogenic air separation unit is operating in a ‘no-argon’ or ‘low-argon’ mode yet maintains the capability to produce higher volumes of argon products at full design capacity to meet argon product demands.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel kit, transportable apparatus and method for generating in-situ CO2 snow block within the apparatus. An item such as a biological sample can be stored and transported within the same apparatus that is employed for creating the CO2 snow block. The apparatus is capable of preserving the sample during transport. The invention also includes a specially designed CO2 snow charger system including a charger and meshed conduit. The charger system is operated in accordance with the methods of the present invention to create the in-situ CO2 snow block within a container that can be also used for transport.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel method and system for dispensing CO2 vapor without over pressurization from a system having multiple containers. The system includes one or more liquid containers and one or more vapor containers. The system is designed to operate in a specific manner whereby a restricted amount of CO2 liquid is permitted into the vapor container through a restrictive pathway that is created and maintained by a shuttle valve during the filling operation so that equalization of container pressures is achieved, thereby allowing shuttle valve to reseat when filling has stopped. During use, a pressure differential device is designed to specifically isolate the vapor container from the liquid container so as to preferentially deplete liquid CO2 from the vapor container and avoid over pressurization of the system until the vapor container becomes liquid dry. The system can be operated so that at least 50% of the CO2 vapor product is dispensed from the vapor container.

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: Manual and automated methods of pre-charging an empty or partially empty insulated container with CO2 snow are provided. A first location such as a charging location charges CO2 liquid into a container to create a pre-charged container with CO2 snow. The charging location prepares the pre-charged container for delivery to a second location, either by itself, or through a third party. The second location may be a clinical site, which upon receipt of the pre-charged container, loads a perishable item such as a biological sample into the pre-charged container. A user receives the pre-charged container with perishable item and removes the perishable item from the pre-charger container for testing (e.g., biological testing). Depending on the level of depletion of the CO2 snow in the pre-charged container, the user returns the depleted container to the first location or the intermediate location.

Abstract: When a food processing vessel under vacuum is repressurized, the tendency of product in the vessel to be forced into feed lines is relieved or overcome by establishing an effectively high pressure in the feed lines.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an oxygen transport membrane syngas panel whereby the reformer layer of the panel is eliminated, and the primary reforming function is integrated into the manifold as a gas heated reformer with product syngas as the source of heat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cold box cycle which allows for independent control of the heat supplied for reboilers associated with the separation columns. More specifically, the invention relates to the tight control of the hydrogen removal separation, thus avoiding the possibility of excess reboiling in this separation. Optimal reboiling also results in a lower temperature of the hydrogen depleted liquid from this separation. As this stream is used to provide a portion of the cooling at the cold end of the primary heat exchanger, lower temperatures facilitate cooling of the incoming syngas feed, reducing carbon monoxide (CO) losses into the crude hydrogen stream from the high pressure separator. Lower CO in the crude hydrogen allows for smaller hydrogen purification equipment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to reactor tubes packed with a catalyst system employed to deliberately bias process gas flow toward the hot tube segment and away from the cold segment in order to reduce the circumferential tube temperature variation.

Abstract: An adjustable device for mounting an angular position sensor such as an encoder to a large diameter rotating shaft such as a motor shaft is provided. The adjustable device includes a specially configured alignment plate, a coupling shaft, a spherical joint, and a plurality of fixing bolts and adjustment screws that are disposed symmetrically on the adjustment plate and radially offset from the shaft rotation axis. The fixing bolts and adjustment screws are generally disposed the same radial distance from the central rotation axis.

Abstract: A top-fired reformer box is provided. The top-fired reformer box includes a burner row, a tube row, a reformer tunnel including a closed end, an open end, and a plurality of tunnel ports formed along a side wall of the reformer tunnel, the plurality of tunnel ports including a one or more tunnel port located along the side of the tunnel, and a flow resistor positioned at least one tunnel port applying a flow resistance for flue gas entering the reformer tunnel via the at least one tunnel port such that uniform flow is achieved within the reformer tunnel.

Abstract: A burner that is useful for providing a melting flame whose axis can be altered during operation, and for providing a supersonic jet of oxidant that can penetrate through the surface of the molten material, has a unique combination of features including a specially contoured flame collar at its open discharge end.

Abstract: A novel method, composition and storage and delivery container for using antimony-containing dopant materials are provided. The composition is selected with sufficient vapor pressure to flow at a steady, sufficient and sustained flow rate into an arc chamber as part of an ion implant process. The antimony-containing material is represented by a non-carbon containing chemical formula, thereby reducing or eliminating the introduction of carbon-based deposits into the ion chamber. The composition is stored in a storage and delivery vessel under stable conditions, which includes a moisture-free environment that does not contain trace amounts of moisture. The storage and delivery container is specifically designed to allow delivery of high purity, vapor phase antimony-containing dopant material at a steady, sufficient and sustained flow rate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel two-stage dry ice system for preserving perishable items during transport and methods thereof. The improved two-stage dry ice system includes dry ice and a phase change material specifically configured within a single and continuous holding volume with perishable items. Preservation of the perishable items for extended durations in comparison to other refrigeration techniques can be achieved as a result of the two-stage dry system having the ability to re-orient itself during transport.