Abstract: The invention provides a filter for removing liquid from an ice slurry. The filter includes a horizontal filter plate. The ice slurry is passed over the top of the filter plate. The filter includes a first stage where the liquid is removed from the ice slurry, thereby consolidating the ice particles into an ice bed. The liquid is removed by drawing the liquid out of the ice slurry through a set of slots in the filter plate by using a low suction pump. A second stage of the filter draws the remaining liquid entrained in the ice bed through another set of slots using a vacuum pump, which has a higher suction than the low suction pump used in the first stage. A clean water rinse may be sprayed on the ice bed in the second stage to improve the removal of liquid from the ice bed. The filter plate at the second stage may be heated to produce a rinse through the bottom of the ice bed.

Abstract: A resonantly coupled .alpha.-Stirling cooler has hot and cold variable-volume chambers, a regenerator, and a driver for maintaining reciprocating gas displacement between the chambers. Only the hot side of the cooler is driven; the cold side responds passively by resonant coupling. The phase difference between volume oscillations in the hot and cold variable-volume chambers are altered by adjusting the driving frequency.

Abstract: A electroacoustic cooling engine comprising a resonator pressure vessel for containing a compressible fluid, a double acting flexural disk centrally located in the resonant pressure vessel, an electromagnetic driver supported outside the vessel for driving the disk from outside the vessel, a thermodynamic element on each side of the disk and a pair of heat exchangers on opposite sides of the thermodynamic element. The electromagnetic driver linearly actuates the disk to cyclically drive a standing acoustic wave on both sides of the disk through each thermodynamic element and heat exchanger pair to generate a desired thermal response in a working fluid flowing through each heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat exchanging device of a gas liquefying plant including a precooling section with a single component refrigerant system, a liquefying section with a multi-component refrigerant system where the liquefying section has an array of plate-fin type heat exchangers installed in a vertical orientation with their hot end being set at an upper part of a refrigerating container and its cold end being set at a lower part of the refrigerating container. The plate-fin type heat exchangers are divided into predetermined temperature cooling ranges arranged in a vertical orientation with the hottest end being placed at the upper part and the coldest end being placed at the lower part of the refrigerating container.

Abstract: A portable, solar powered clothes dryer comprising a dark-colored portable hamper which is perforated; a hamper shaft journaled in the center of the dark-colored portable hamper which serves the dual functionality of (1) handles for facilitating the portability of the dark-colored portable hamper, and (2) a spinning axis for spinning the dark-colored portable hamper; and, a solar power motor system for spinning the dark-colored portable hamper about said spinning axis. The drying process of the solar powered clothes dryer utilizes, in combination, maximized attraction of the heat energy from the sun by a dark-colored portable hamper for collecting heat energy therein, wherein the drying process does not utilize artificially produced heat, and the air draft from the spinning motion of the solar powered motor system.

Abstract: A heater including a housing, a heating assembly having a burner, and at least one of an oxygen level detection assembly adapted to distinguish between a relatively normal oxygen level, a relatively low oxygen level and relatively unsafe oxygen, a carbon monoxide sensor and a combustible gas sensor. The heater may also include an indicator adapted to produce at least one of an audible indication and a visible indication in response to a detection of a relatively low oxygen level, a detection of a predetermined level of carbon monoxide, or a detection of combustible gas.

Abstract: A high purity nitrogen generator unit which is excellent in the energy efficiency and the recovery of high purity nitrogen gas, is provided. In a rectification column 1, feed air is separated to oxygen-rich liquid air and nitrogen gas. The oxygen-rich liquid air in its bottom is reduced in pressure by a first expansion valve 21 and sent to a composition regulation column 3. The nitrogen gas in its top is condensed in a nitrogen condenser 2, the resulting liquid nitrogen is returned as a reflux liquid to the rectification column 1 and non-condensed gas is released. After oxygen-rich waste gas in the lower part of the composition regulation column 3 is reduced in pressure by an expansion turbine 6, it is released by way of a first heat exchanger 4. Mixed gas in the top of the composition regulation column 3 is introduced for re-circulation into a first compressor 5.

Abstract: The present invention is an enhancement of the prior art use of partial effects and component distribution regarding NGL fractionation, especially relating to the separation of propane, isobutane, normal butane and gasoline components. The present invention distributes butanes in two separate columns and integrates the thermodynamic efficiency obtained with partial effects to cascade reboiling duty through as many as four separate columns. The resulting savings in energy are compared with the prior art process of sequential fractionation of NGL.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are used for liquefying a low-boiling gas, 1, 507, particularly nitrogen. Gas to be liquified is cooled 12 under an increased pressure, is expanded 14 and is then obtained as a liquid product 16. In a refrigeration cycle, cycle medium is compressed to a first pressure 4, 6, 8, 10. A first partial flow 101 of the cycle medium is expanded while carrying out work in a first expansion machine 102. A second partial flow 201 of the cycle medium is cooled 12a and is expanded while carrying out work in a second expansion machine 202. In addition, a third partial flow 301 of the cycle medium is cooled and is expanded in a third expansion machine 302 while carrying out work. All three expansion machines 102, 202, 302 have essentially the same inlet pressure. The cooling of the gas to be liquified is carried out at least partially by the indirect heat exchange with expanded cycle medium 103, 203, 17 in a cycle heat exchanger 12.

Abstract: A method for controlling an integrated cryogenic air separation unit (ASU)/gas turbine system which maintains peak power output in spite of ambient temperature variations. The ratio of air flow to the ASU from a source of supplemental air and a turbine compressor is adjusted to compensate for changes in ambient air temperature and to maintain air flow to the ASU at a level which enables production of the product, a fuel stream is controlled to maintain gaseous output from a combustor at a maximum practical temperature and a flow ratio of waste nitrogen and fuel fed to the combustor is maintained substantially constant.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system wherein higher pressure column kettle liquid is divided into a portion introduced directly into the lower pressure and a portion which is substantially completely vaporized to drive an argon column top condenser, enabling the vaporization of elevated pressure liquid oxygen against feed air while maximizing argon recovery.

Abstract: A container oxygen control system includes multiple containers to hold perishable goods in a controlled ripening atmosphere composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen. A first atmosphere control system controls the container atmosphere during the first transportation leg, such as from the place of harvest to a distribution port. The first atmosphere control system has a centralized nitrogen generator and multiple oxygen controllers which are provided for corresponding containers. The nitrogen generator generates a nitrogen enriched stream which is supplied to each oxygen controller. Each oxygen controller has an oxygen sensor to determine the oxygen content of the ripening atmosphere within the container. If the oxygen content remains above a preset threshold level, the oxygen controller injects the nitrogen enriched stream into the container at a constant rate to purge the container in a continuous manner. The container has an exhaust port to exhaust part of the ripening atmosphere from the container.

Abstract: A cryopanel is formed of aluminum to avoid copper ions in a work chamber, and the aluminum is coated with a Teflon.RTM. polymer for corrosion resistance. A corrosion resistant thermally conductive link is obtained by surrounding indium with a polymer coated C-ring. The cryopanel is shaped as a trough to enable draining of liquid during regeneration.

Abstract: Molded bodies of a hydrogen absorbing alloy accommodated in a hydrogen storage container are made readily replaceable to ensure stabilized supply of hydrogen gas. When exhibiting an impaired hydrogen absorbing-desorbing capacity, the molded bodies can be easily replaced by new molded bodies, whereby a specified hydrogen absorbing-desorbing capacity can be maintained. The hydrogen gas released from the storage container is partly utilized to heat the container and thereby maintain the alloy at a predetermined temperature, consequently assuring a device, such as a fuel cell, of stabilized supply of hydrogen from the container.

Abstract: Desiccant brine is heated and diluted in an air drier by coming into contact with air to be cooled in an evaporative cooler but is regenerated by dewatering in a vacuum chamber, from which it is discharged first into a sump, and then back into the vacuum chamber. Both the desiccant brine and air are heated in the air drier and the hot brine when in the vacuum chamber has a temperature above atmospheric, which provides a higher vapor pressure and its water is readily vaporized. The higher efficiency reduces the amount of heat input required, and thereby reduces the extent of heat exchanger requirement.

Abstract: Air is supplied to an air separation apparatus via a heat exchanger in which the entering air is cooled against an air gas separated in the separation apparatus. The air is first compressed in an adiabatic compressor. The air gas separated in the separation apparatus is humidified after it leaves the separation apparatus but before it reaches the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making gaseous oxygen at a delivery pressure in a single column oxygen generator. In accordance with the method and apparatus, a column bottoms stream composed of the product is pumped to the delivery pressure and then vaporized. A liquid coolant stream used in condensing reflux is recompressed by a recycle compressor and then recycled back into the bottom of the column. Such recycled stream has a higher nitrogen content than the column bottoms. Part of the nitrogen tower overhead, not used in forming the reflux, is turbo-expanded by a turbo-expander coupled to the recycle compressor.

Abstract: The invention relates to method and an arrangement for utilizing the heat comprised i the exhaust gas of the combustion chamber of a heating and refrigerating engine working on the basis of a regenerative cyclic gas process by preheating the combustion air supplied to the combustion chamber, with the process gas, which is displaced from the hot working volume or supplied to this working volume, flowing through a regenerator arranged inside of a pressure-proof housing in the region of the hot piston. In order to achieve an effective utilization of the exhaust gas heat without additional apparatus complexity and without insulation of the engine in the region of the warm regenerator while maintaining the temperature profile necessary for the operation of the regenerator, the combustion air to the cooling of the pressure vessel wall surrounding the lower section of the regenerator is used, which cooling corresponds to the lower section of the temperature profile of the regenerator.

Abstract: The present invention is a set of improvements in deethanizing and depropanizing fractionation steps in NGL processing. The several embodiments of the present invention apply component distribution to multiple columns, interreboiling, intercondensing, thermal coupling and "thermo-mechanical" coupling to the commonly practiced deethanizer/depropanizer fractionation sequence of NGL processing. Also included are methods of capacity expansion or efficiency improvement for existing high pressure NGL deethanization operations.

Abstract: A miniature mixed gas refrigeration system and method of operation are disclosed, having a coaxial catheter with an inner high pressure supply lumen and an outer low pressure return lumen. An optimum gas mixture is formulated from a group of component fluids, according to calculated thermodynamic properties of a group of candidate fluid mixtures. The gas mixture is pressurized by a compressor to a pressure less than 420 psia, for safety reasons. The distal portion of the outer lumen contains a micro-miniature heat exchanger constructed of laminated plates or sheets. The plates or sheets establish high pressure and low pressure passageways, with high surface area, having a tortuous path for the gas flow to maximize heat exchange. The high pressure outlet of the heat exchanger is connected to a Joule-Thomson expansion element where the high pressure gas is expanded isenthalpically to a lower temperature at least as low as 183K.