Abstract: Apparatus and a process for producing high purity oxygen containing not more than 1 ppm by volume of hydrocarbons. An oxygen stream containing up to about 100 ppm by volume of hydrocarbons is subjected to cryogenic temperature swing adsorption in an adsorption bed containing calcium-exchanged type X zeolite, type 5A zeolite or 13X zeolite, for the removal of the hydrocarbons and any nitrogen present in the oxygen stream.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a high purity nitrogen vapor product from the rectification of air within high and low pressure columns operatively associated with one another by a condenser-reboiler. The high pressure column incorporates a sufficient number of theoretical stages to produce a high purity nitrogen vapor which after being condensed by the condenser-reboiler, serves to partially condense a lower purity nitrogen vapor tower overhead produced in the low pressure column through indirect heat exchanger. In such service, the condensed, high purity nitrogen vapor is at least partially vaporized and utilized as a product stream. Since there is no direct heat exchange with the high purity nitrogen produced within the high pressure column and the lower purity nitrogen vapor produced in the low pressure column, the low pressure column can incorporate fewer theoretical stages and therefore can be built at less expense than similar air separation plants of the prior art.

Abstract: A distillation column for separating atmospheric gases in which structured packing having varying crimp angles is utilized within at least two sections or subsections of a single section of a distillation column. In the case of the use of structured packing in multiple sections, the crimp angle of the structured packing used in the first section is greater than that of the second section and is selected such that both sections operate at the same maximum design percentage of flooding limit. The increased crimp angle of the first section decreases the HETP of the packing and thereby allows a column design of reduced height. Structured packing having different crimp angles can be used in a single section of a column when such section is subjected to possible variation of vapor rate. Here the crimp angles are again manipulated so that the subsections operate at the same maximum design percentage of flooding limit. The foregoing adaptation improves turndown performance.

Abstract: Perfluorocarbons are recovered from gas streams by subjecting the gas stream to an adsorption process in a bed of one or more energetically homogeneous adsorbents such as silicon-rich adsorbents of the FAU structure, silicon-rich adsorbents of the BEA structure, silicon-rich adsorbents of the MOR structure. The adsorption process is preferably pressure swing adsorption or temperature swing adsorption.

Abstract: A gas mixture comprised of nitric oxide and, optionally an inert gas, and containing small amounts of nitrogen dioxide, and perhaps moisture and sulfur dioxide, is purified by passing the gas stream through a bed of metal cation-free alumina-deficient zeolites of types Y or ZSM-5. The concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and moisture in the gas stream are reduced to about 1 ppm or less as the gas mixture passes through the bed of zeolite.

Abstract: A method of depositing a solid substance on the surface of the substrate in which the solid substance is dissolved in a solvent to create a first solution. The solid substance is less freely divided prior to dissolution than when deposited on the substrate and the deposition density of the solid substance on the substrate is regulated at least in part by solid substance concentration. The solid substance is insoluble in a liquified gas and the first solution is soluble in the liquified gas. The solvent also is capable of depressing the freezing point of the liquified gas upon expansion of the liquified gas. The first solution is dissolved in the liquified gas to create a second solution having a sufficient concentration of the solvent relative to the liquified gas that solidification of the liquified gas is substantially prevented upon the expansion thereof. Preferably, this concentration of solvent is a minimum to prevent overuse of environmentally hazardous solvents.

Abstract: A planar magnetron sputtering device with improved target utilization and cooling capacity is provided. The device includes a magnet yoke as the main structure of the cathode body. The magnet yoke is made of low carbon steel which provides magnetic shunt and physical strength. The target is attached to a metal backing plate so that the side surface of the target is substantially flush with the side surface of the backing plate. Suitable magnets are adapted for producing a closed-loop magnetic field over the lower surface of the target. The magnets include an outer magnet that has an annular structure positioned around an inner elongated magnet. The outer magnets are positioned along the perimeter of the backing plate and small magnets are employed to create larger active target area. The magnet yoke also comprises extension structures which are positioned along the side surface of the target. These extensions shunt the magnetic field at the edges of the target.

Abstract: A method of cryogenically separating a mixture of atmospheric gases within a distillation column system having at least one distillation column. In accordance with the method, liquid and gaseous phases of the mixture of atmospheric gases to be separated are countercurrently passed through structured packing. The column is operated with a pressure greater than 2 bars and with a vapor rate of the vapor phase that is less than a critical vapor rate at which the column floods and which varies with the liquid rate of the liquid phase. Minimum and critical vapor rates at which the column floods are set in accordance with experimentally derived data for maximum column utilization in terms of packing volume or column throughput. Additionally, separation performance in terms of HETP increases with the increase in pressure so that a lower than prior art height of structured packing can be used to obtain a particular separation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for subcooling a liquid composed of a volatile fluid, for instance, a saturated liquid cryogen, in which two chambers are filled with the fluid and are each initially pressurized after filling so that the fluid is converted to a subcooled liquid. The pressurization of the two chambers is maintained as the subcooled liquid is delivered from each of the two chambers. The filling and the delivery of the two chambers is effected in accordance with a cycle in which one chamber is filled and initially pressurized just prior to the completion of the delivery from the other chamber to allow the continual delivery of the subcooled liquid.

Abstract: A gas-lance apparatus and method for injecting a rate-enhancing gas between a flame and a thermal load to augment combustion of fuel undergoing combustion in the flame. A fan-shaped main jet is introduced between the flame for producing a low pressure field of the rate-enhancing gas between the flame and the thermal load. The low pressure field deforms the flame into the shape of the main jet and draws the flame toward the thermal load. The main jet decays along its length due to entrainment of combustion-environment gas in the main jet. In order to delay such decay, a fan-shaped booster jet of rate-enhancing gas is introduced between the main jet and the thermal load. The booster jet has a higher velocity than the main jet and is positioned adjacent to the main jet.

Abstract: A low temperature rectification process and apparatus in which a compressed gaseous mixture, for instance, air, is rectified to produce a lower volatility component in liquid form which is then pumped to a delivery pressure. After having been pumped, the lower volatility component is vaporized within a main heat exchanger. In order to effect the vaporization, a stream of the compressed gaseous mixture being cooled in the main heat exchanger is further compressed to form a further compressed stream. In order to minimize thermodynamic irreversibility within the main heat exchanger above a theoretical pinch point temperature thereof a portion of the further compressed stream is removed from the main heat exchanger at or near the theoretical pinch point temperature and then is still further compressed and introduced at a level of the main heat exchanger warmer temperature than the theoretical pinch point temperature.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a gaseous oxygen product at a delivery pressure so as to contain a low concentration of heavy impurities in which compressed and purified air is cooled in a main heat exchanger to near dew point temperatures and then introduced into an air separation unit designed to rectify the air into a liquid oxygen fraction. The air separation unit comprises high and low pressure columns operatively associated with one another in a heat transfer relationship by provision of a condenser-reboiler. The liquid phase of the air being separated becomes increasingly more concentrated in heavy impurities as it descends within the low pressure column so that liquid oxygen collected in the sump of the condenser-reboiler becomes concentrated in the heavy impurities and the liquid phase flowing into the sump contains a low concentration of the heavy impurities.

Abstract: An infrared reflecting interference filter capable of transmitting a desired proportion of visible radiation while reflecting a large portion of incident solar radiation is provided. The filter consists of a transparent substrate coated first with a dielectric layer, next a partially metal reflectance layer, and finally an outer protective dielectric layer. In addition, between each metal-dielectric interface is deposited a nucleation or glue layer that facilitates adhesions and improves chemical and mechanical resistance. The interference filters are durable and can be modified to provide a full range of optical and electrical characteristics. The dielectric layer can comprise of composite films consisting of silicon nitride in combination with zirconium nitride, titanium nitride, and/or hafnium nitride.

Abstract: A cryogenic station for delivering a cryogen substantially free of higher boiling impurities. The cryogenic station includes an insulated main tank and an auxiliary tank. Liquid stored in the main tank and pressurized by a pressure building circuit is driven into the auxiliary tank. Cryogenic vapor formed in the auxiliary tank is warmed to ambient temperature by an external heat exchanger and is then recirculated back to an internal heat exchanger located within the auxiliary tank. The internal heat exchanger is configured such that a portion of the cryogen driven into the auxiliary tank is vaporized to form the cryogenic vapor and a remaining portion of such cryogen is left within the auxiliary tank to substantially retain the higher boiling impurities in a solidified state. As such, the cryogenic vapor is substantially free from the impurities when delivered as a product stream.

Abstract: A butterfly valve comprising a valve body, a throttle plate located within a throat of the valve body, and opposed projecting pins connected to the throttle plate and extending into two opposed bores of the valve body. At least one pin has an annular bearing surface. A spring urges either a thrust bearing against a needle bearing which in turn bears against the annular bearing surface or a needle bearing against the thrust bearing to bear against the annular bearing surface. This urges the throttle plate against an opposed thrust bearing which bears against the opposed projecting pin connected to the throttle plate to center the throttle plate within the throat of the valve body. A set screw can be provided to accurately position the throttle plate within the throat of the valve body. Preferably the throttle plate has tapered end sections to diminish turbulence within the valve throat.

Abstract: Method of separating a gaseous alkene from a gaseous alkane by a pressure swing adsorption process unit alone or in combination with the distillation column wherein the alkene is preferentially adsorbed onto a bed of 4A zeolite at a temperature of about 50.degree. to about 200.degree. C.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for chilling a food product which includes a food distribution device having a pair of circular members including at least one spaced-apart partition defining a food receiving area; the circular members rotating to cause food delivered to the food product receiving area to fall into a food storage compartment in a uniform manner; and a cryogen releasing device connected to one of the circular members which uniformly distributes a cryogenic substance to the food product within the food storage compartment.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating air in which a refrigerant stream produced at the top of a single column is expanded with the performance of work. Such expansion can be carried out in an expansion machine coupled to a recycle compressor by an energy dissipative brake. An oxygen stream is removed from a bottom region of the column and a compressor compresses an oxygen stream to column pressure which is at an above atmospheric delivery pressure. After compression, the oxygen stream is divided into two partial streams. One of the two partial streams is fed back into a bottom region of the column as a vapor to provide boil up while the other of the two partial streams is taken as a product which having been derrived from the compressed stream is therefore at the above-atmospheric delivery pressure. The refrigerant stream is heat exchanged countercurrently with incoming air to be separated in order to add refrigeration.

Abstract: A plasma treating apparatus is useful for coating substrates with thin films having vapor barrier properties at relatively rapid deposition rates. The apparatus comprises an evacuable chamber, an electrically powered electrode defining a plasma-facing surface within the chamber, and a shield spaced a distance .DELTA. transverse to the plasma-facing surface. During plasma treatments, the plasma is confined to within distance .DELTA. while a substrate is continuously fed through the confined plasma.

Abstract: A burner for burning fuel in an oxidant having a fuel nozzle sandwiched between upper and lower oxidant nozzles. The fuel nozzle and upper and lower oxidant nozzles produce fuel and oxidant jets of outwardly divergent, fan-shaped configuration to provide a wide uniform flame and thus the elimination of hot spots. Upper and lower secondary oxidant nozzles can be provided in staged combustion such that fuel is burned and oxidant supplied by the upper and lower oxidant nozzle means in the substoichiometric ratio and then combustion is completed by oxidant supplied by the secondary upper and lower oxidant nozzles. In another aspect, a nozzle is provided in which a passageway is divided in a lengthwise direction and thus the flow of oxidant flowing through the passageway is divided into a plurality of subflows of equal velocity and of gradually divergent configuration to prevent the decay of a fan-shaped flow of oxidant from the nozzle.