Abstract: There is used a refrigerant which is lower in a saturated water concentration in gas phase than in liquid phase, such as, for example, Freon-134a or Freon-22. In a body block 46 of a box-shaped expansion valve there are formed by-passes 77, 81 and 86 for by-passing a portion of the refrigerant evaporated in an evaporator 41. Halfway in the by-passes 77, 81 and 86 a cooling cylinder 73 is disposed for cooling the refrigerant present in those by-passes, and further a filter 83 is disposed for collecting the water contained in the refrigerant. In addition, a water permeating membrane 88 is disposed in a water discharge passage 79 formed in the body block 46.

Abstract: A self-powered, mobile maintenance apparatus for continuously supplying slush hydrogen as a powering fuel to an aerospace vehicle prior to take-off including a first apparatus for obtaining liquid hydrogen from the vehicle, a second apparatus for generating slush hydrogen, a third apparatus for delivering the liquid hydrogen obtained from the vehicle to the second apparatus for generating slush hydrogen so that the liquid hydrogen can be converted to slush hydrogen, pump apparatus communicating with the second apparatus generating slush hydrogen for developing a vacuum in a region of the second apparatus for generating slush hydrogen so that a solid hydrogen fraction is produced, and apparatus for delivering the slush hydrogen mixture to the aerospace vehicle to be used as the powering fuel.

Abstract: A control apparatus for maintaining constant the temperature and pressure of the vapor phase in a very low-temperature controlled liquefied gas container includes a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, two electromagnetic valves, and a refrigerator. When operation of the refrigerator disturbs measurement at low temperature, the refrigerator is stopped. Gas vaporizes from a liquid phase, and gas is discharged from the container. In this manner, the temperature and pressure of the liquefied gas in the container can be maintained constant. After measurement, the liquid level in the container will be lowered by evaporation, so that the liquefied gas is supplied to the container. In this manner, the liquid level in the container can be maintained constant.

Abstract: Hybrid cryo-mechanical apparatus is provided to collect condensable vapors from an incoming gas flow. The gas flow is refrigerated in a series of upstream mechanical refrigeration stages, and fed to an indirect contact heat exchanger suitable for operation with a cryogen refrigerant. Temperature of the cryogen leaving the heat exchanger is monitored, and is used to operate a control valve which throttles the heat exchanger output.

Abstract: A process for cooling, phase separating, rectifying and stripping a hydrocarbon containing feed gas stream to recover a heavy hydrocarbon product wherein a predominant amount of the refrigeration for the process is provided from a single loop vapor recompression refrigerator employing a mixed refrigerant.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of C.sub.2 components (ethylene and/or ethane) and heavier hydrocarbon components from a gas stream containing a significant quantity of components more volatile than methane (e.g., hydrogen, nitrogen, and/or others) is disclosed. The cooled, partially condensed hydrocarbon bearing gas stream is separated into a vapor containing substantial quantities of the component(s) more volatile than methane and a liquid containing predominantly hydrocarbons. The vapor is expanded to the distillation column pressure and then supplied to the column at an upper mid-column feed position. The liquid is expanded to column pressure and supplied to the column at a lower mid-column feed position. A recycle stream is withdrawn from the column at a point below the upper mid-column feed position where the bulk of the volatile components are supplied to the column.

Abstract: A direct sequenced three column cryogenic rectification system wherein material flow is unidirectional from higher to lower pressure through the system enabling high recovery of each of the three major components of feed air.

Abstract: Inefficiencies in an evaporator for a refrigerant in a refrigeration or air-conditioning system may be avoided in an evaporator having a plurality of tubes (18) in fluid and geometrical parallel through which the refrigerant may pass by providing a refrigerant distributor between an inlet (26) and the tubes (18) which includes an orifice (86) connected to the inlet (26) for directing a stream of refrigerant toward a flat impingement surface (102) from which it is disbursed to a plurality of receiver passages (34) angularly spaced about the periphery of the impingement surface (102) and respectively connected by a fluid passage (38, 44, 50) to an associated one of the tubes (18).

Abstract: The four processes of a reverse Stirling heat pump cycle; isothehermal compression with the heat of compression being transmitted to a constant, relatively high temperature sink, regenerative cooling, isothermal expansion with heat flow from a cooler, constant temperature source followed by regenerative heating from the heat derived from the previously compressed gas are all performed with constant rather than intermittent flow. A constant flow, constant volume counter-flow heat exchanger, placed between the compressor and expander, rather than an alternately heated and cooled heat storage matrix, provides for the steady flow regenerative heat transfer as required for a steady reverse Stirling cycle heat pump. This invention therefore provides for increased heat pump rate per unit volume.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage apparatus for use in refrigeration and air conditioning holdover systems is disclosed. The apparatus comprises thermal energy storage media encapsulated in a way that enables use of corrosive and/or aqueous thermal energy storage media in high efficiency refrigeration and air conditioning thermal storage systems; natural convection of a non-freezing, non-corrosive heat exchange fluid provides heat transfer between the encapsulated thermal energy storage media and the refrigeration/air conditioning circuit. Several possible embodiments of the encapsulated media and thermal coupling system that provide efficient heat transfer between the refrigeration circuit and the thermal energy storage media are described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of precooling precooled materials such as fruits and vegetables under vacuum, and keeping it in a precooled state for a long time, and to a refrigerating container therefor. Precooling and keeping the precooled state for a long time have been regarded as impossible in the past, but these problems are resolved in this invention even for materials closely stored in the container. This container is formed with ventilating communication conduits of a desired length for providing communication between the inside and outside of the container when the container is closed. As a result, the materials such as the fruits and vegetables can be transported a long distance and stored for a long time with an increased reliability of freshness, yet without deteriorating precooling effects.

Abstract: The invention relates to cryogenic engineering.The heat-insulating means of cryogenic objects is a bank of cooled radiation shields (2) arranged coaxially with the cryogenic object, i.e. vessel (4), provided with heat-exchange channels (6) which intercommunicate through connecting pipes (7). The entire bank of shields (2) is made as an integral whole, the channels (6) being located in the body of the shields (2). The bank of shields (2) is made of a multilayered strip with a pattern of the development of the entire bank of shields (2) applied to it. Then a system of channels (6) and connecting pipes (7) is created between the strip layers in compliance with the pattern. Then the development is cut out and formed into a bank, arranging the shields (2) coaxially with pipes (7) therebetween. The heat-insulating means is intended primarily for use in vessels for storage of cryogenic fluids.

Abstract: Apparatus, and a method for using the apparatus, for stripping solid material containing at least one volatile organic compound (VOC). The apparatus is provided with a dryer having a heat source to heat the VOC-containing material to a first temperature, hot enough to volatilize the VOC, but below the cracking temperature of the VOC. The VOC in the dryer is volatilized to form VOC gases. A means for combusting the VOC gases (e.g. a kiln) heats the VOC gases with excess air to a second temperature, hot enough to destroy the organics in the VOC gases. Simultaneously the combustion means preferably can be used to treat a kiln processable material to form a desired product. The kiln includes means for feeding the kiln processable material to the heating chamber, means for cooling and recovering the desired product, and means for providing heat for the VOC dryer. The apparatus also includes a conduit for conducting the gases containing VOC from the dryer to the kiln.

Abstract: A method for chilling carcasses which comprises the steps of introducing a cryogenic fluid into a rotatable drum of a meat tumbler, the drum having inner walls which are cooled by the cryogenic fluid; placing carcasses to be chilled inside the drum; and rotating the drum so that the carcasses contact each other and the inner walls until they are chilled to a sufficient degree. The cryogenic fluid cools the drum to a temperature of approximately 32 .degree. F. A small quantity of water may be introduced into the drum of the tumbler either immediately before or immediately after the introduction of the cryogenic fluid. The water forms an ice layer on the inner walls to prevent the carcasses from sticking to the inner walls. The primary chilling of the carcasses takes place between the tumbling carcasses and the cold inner walls and/or ice layer. The carcasses may also be tumbled in the drum in an inert gas or vacuum atmosphere to massage surface moisture back into the carcasses.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for supplying from a vessel to a pump liquified gas with subcooling so as to avoid cavitation during pumping. A supply conduit supplies liquified gas from the vessel bottom to a pump sump which envelops the flowpath elements of a pump and the pump suction. A return conduit returns vapor and excess liquified gas from the sump to the bottom of the vessel. Heating means, preferably heat leak into the return conduit, reduces the density of the fluid in the return conduit thereby increasing the rate of liquified gas flow in the supply conduit and reducing its temperature rise enroute to the pump. Further subcooling is secured by locating the intake to the supply conduit remote from a wall of the vessel in a cooler strata of liquid, and the discharge of the return conduit proximate to a wall of the vessel in a warmer strata in the vessel.

Abstract: A muffler and an oil separator located within a common shell. The muffler includes a plurality of chambers tuned to different frequencies. The flow path is serially through the muffler into contact with an agglomerating pad followed by flow through demister pads and a coalescer.

Abstract: The grain moisture sensor of the present invention includes a plurality of conductors for communicating a variable voltage between two points. The conductors are mounted on the continuous flow dryer wall between the exterior and interior walls, in the heat plenum and oriented such that the grain flows between the conductors in response to the action of the variable discharge means. The sensor further includes electrical circuitry for measuring the capacitance of the conductor, calculating the percent moisture content of the grain and controlling the speed of a discharge means so as to control the discharge of grain from the dryer in response to the moisture content of the grain being lowered to a predetermined level.

Abstract: An improved vacuum treatment system includes containers for accommodating articles to be treated, a tunnel-like casing in which a plurality of the casings can move contiguously, a driving device for making the containers move in the casing, a plurality of evacuation ducts open to the casing at a plurality of locations, sealing devices for sealing the clearance between the outer surfaces of the containers and the inner surface of the casing at the positions between the openings, and an evacuation facility for evacuating the inside of the casings through the evacuation ducts. The locations of the evacuation ducts closest to the opposite ends of the casing are spaced apart from the ends of the casing by distances greater than the length of the container. The intervals between the locations of the evacuation ducts are preferably longer than the length of the container.

Abstract: A cyclone combustion apparatus includes a combustion chamber having a substantially cylindrical wall, a substantially cylindrical exit throat at the rear end of the combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel into the combustion chamber at a front end thereof, means for supplying air into the combustion chamber and for forming a cyclonic flow pattern of hot gases for combustion within the chamber, and heat exchange means surrounding and extending throughout the axial length of the combustion chamber. The means for supplying air includes a plenum chamber having an air inlet and an annular air supply opening in communication with and coaxial with the combustion chamber. The annular air supply opening has spaced radial vanes tilted at a selected angle from the axis of the combustion chamber. The means for supplying fuel includes a fuel plenum chamber having a fuel inlet and a plurality of radially spaced fuel holes for supplying fuel in the annular air supply opening between the spaced radial vanes.

Abstract: A safety door for a furnace or like apparatus is operable to open under the force of a hydraulic cylinder when the pressure under the furnace exceeds a predetermined upper limit corresponding to an abnormally high pressure caused by an explosion within the furnace or like apparatus. The safety door thereby prevents the furnace from being permanently damaged by an explosion.