Abstract: A system and method for the concurrent condensation of a nitrogen-rich vapor and vaporization of an oxygen-rich liquid in a distillation column based air separation unit is provided. The disclosed system includes a condenser-reboiler heat exchanger located between a lower pressure column and a higher pressure column and configured to condense a nitrogen-rich vapor from the higher pressure column and partially vaporize an oxygen-rich liquid from the lower pressure column. Within the condenser-reboiler heat exchanger, the nitrogen-rich vapor flows in an upward direction such that any non-condensables present in the nitrogen-rich vapor will accumulate proximate the upper portion or top of the condenser-reboiler modules where they can be easily removed through venting by means of a venting apparatus having a plurality of perforated tubes.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a natural gas well vapor processing system and method comprising recovering gaseous hydrocarbons to prevent their release into the atmosphere including providing a method for preventing the gaseous hydrocarbons from returning to a liquid state.

Abstract: This process includes the cooling of an introduction stream (72) inside an upstream heat exchanger (28). It includes the introduction of the cooled introduction stream (76) into a fractionating column (50) and the tapping at the bottom portion of the column (50) of the denitrided stream of hydrocarbons. It also includes the introduction of a stream (106) rich in nitrogen obtained from the head portion of the column (50) into a separation container (60) and the recovery of the head gaseous stream from the separation container (60) in order to form the stream (20) which is rich in helium. The liquid stream (110) is obtained from the bottom of the first separation container (60) is separated into a liquid nitrogen stream (18) and a first reflux stream (114) which is introduced as reflux into the head of the fractionating column (50).

Abstract: This method comprises cooling the supply flow in a first heat exchanger, separation in a first separation flask in order to produce a light upper flow and a heavy lower flow and dividing the light upper flow into a supply fraction of a dynamic pressure reduction turbine and a supply fraction of a first distillation column. The method comprises forming a cooled reflux flow from an effluent from a dynamic pressure reduction turbine, the portion of the effluent being cooled and at least partially liquefied in a heat exchanger. It comprises introducing the cooled reflux flow from the heat exchanger into the first distillation column.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enclosure for parts of a low-temperature air separation system. The side walls extending perpendicular to the base surface of the enclosure are each lined with a sheet metal jacket consisting of several panels (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b). The joints of the panels (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b) of a side wall all have the same distance from one another.

Abstract: A compressed air stream is cooled to a temperature suitable for its rectification within a lower pressure heat exchanger and a boosted pressure air stream is liquefied or converted to a dense phase fluid within a higher pressure heat exchanger in order to vaporize pumped liquid products. Thermal balancing within the plant is effectuated with the use of waste nitrogen streams that are introduced into the higher and lower pressure heat exchangers. The heat exchangers are configured such that the flow area for the subsidiary waste nitrogen stream within the higher pressure heat exchanger is less than that would otherwise be required so that the subsidiary waste nitrogen streams were subjected to equal pressure drops in the higher and lower pressure heat exchangers. This allows the higher pressure heat exchanger be fabricated with a reduced height and therefore a decrease in fabrication costs.

Abstract: This process comprises using unconventional processing of hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas, for recovering C2+ and NGL hydrocarbons that meet pipeline specifications, without the core high capital cost requirement of a demethanizer column, which is central to and required by almost 100% of the world's current NGL recovery technologies. It can operate in Ethane Extraction or Ethane Rejection modes. The process uses only heat exchangers, compression and simple separation vessels to achieve specification ready NGL. The process utilizes cooling the natural gas, expansion cooling, separating the gas and liquid streams, recycling the cooled streams to exchange heat and recycling selective composition bearing streams to achieve selective extraction of hydrocarbons, in this instance being NGLs. The compactness and utility of this process makes it feasible in offshore applications as well as to implementation to retrofit/revamp or unload existing NGL facilities.

Abstract: A process is described for separating a gas stream containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) impurities into a hydrogen (H2) rich vapor stream, a carbon dioxide (CO2) stream and an H2S rich vapor stream in an apparatus that comprises a compression and/or cooling system comprising at least one compressor and/or heat exchanger and a gas-liquid separator vessel, and an H2S recovery unit.

Abstract: Contemplated configurations and methods for gas processing use a refluxed absorber that receives a liquid and a vapor hydrocarbon feed. The absorber further receives a stripping medium that is at least in part formed from a vapor portion of a stabilizer overhead and also receives a scrubbing medium that is at least in part formed from a liquid portion of the stabilizer overhead. Most preferably, the absorber overhead is maintained at a temperature near or even below the hydrate point of the feed.

Abstract: A system for removing a contaminant from a refrigerant stream employed in a closed-loop refrigeration cycle of an LNG facility. The system employs a distillation column to separate the refrigerant stream into a contaminant-rich and a contaminant-depleted stream, wherein the contaminant-depleted stream is subsequently returned to the closed-loop refrigeration cycle. The distillation column can include a reboiler and/or condenser. The reboiler and condenser can utilize one or more process streams from within the LNG facility to provide heating and/or cooling to the distillation column.

Abstract: Contemplated plants for recovery of NGL from natural gas employ alternate reflux streams in a first column and a residue gas bypass stream, wherein expansion of various process streams provides substantially all of the refrigeration duty in the plant. Contemplated plants not only have flexible recovery of ethane between 2% and 90% while recovering at least 99% of propane, but also reduce and more typically eliminate the need for external refrigeration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for reducing a heating value of natural gas. The system includes a heat exchanger to liquefy a portion of components having high heating values, a gas-liquid separator to separate the liquefied component, and a nitrogen adding mechanism to add nitrogen to remaining non-liquefied components. The system includes an additional heat exchanger to cool and liquefy the remaining non-liquefied components after the gas-liquid separator separates the liquefied component from the natural gas. The heat exchangers employ cold heat generated upon regasification of LNG. The system can reduce the heating value of natural gas composed of a variety of hydrocarbon components according to requirements of a place of demand by separating the component with the higher heating value from the natural gas to allow the separated component to be used as fuel, thereby reducing an overall size and operating costs of the system.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is cooled and is thereafter expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the fractionation tower at a lower mid-column feed position. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the column below the feed point of the stream and is then directed into heat exchange relation with the tower overhead vapor stream to cool the distillation stream and condense at least a part of it, forming a condensed stream. At least a portion of the condensed stream is directed to the fractionation tower at an upper mid-column feed position. A recycle stream is withdrawn from the tower overhead after it has been warmed and compressed. The compressed recycle stream is cooled sufficiently to substantially condense it, and is then expanded to the pressure of the fractionation tower and supplied to the tower at a top column feed position.

Abstract: A low temperature device has a low temperature container with an investigational opening. A material sample to that is to be examiner is mounted on a sample-holding device in the low temperature container. A sample that is fastened to the sample holding device can be cooled to the desired temperature using a cooling device, such as a pulse tube cooler, with a cold head that is inside the low temperature container. The sample holder is disposed in the low temperature container in such a way that the sample can be seen through the investigational opening. Because the investigational opening is flexible and not rigidly connected to the low temperature container, vibrations produced by the mechanical cooling device are prevented from being transferred to the investigational opening. Thus, a vibration-sensitive investigating and manipulating device can be coupled to the investigational opening without vibrations being transferred to the investigating and manipulating device.

Abstract: Provided is a basket for storing food items in a temperature-controlled environment and a refrigeration appliance including such a basket. The basket includes a substantially-horizontal platform coupled to two or more upwardly-extending walls to form an open container for receiving the food items to be stored in the temperature-controlled environment. A partition is provided for dividing the basket into two or more storage regions. A guide is coupled to at least one of the platform and the walls, and extends substantially parallel to an upper perimeter of at least one of the walls to define a range of adjustment of the partition. A fastener securely couples the partition to the guide to be adjusted to two or more different locations where the partition is to divide the basket.

Abstract: A cryopump includes a second-stage cryopanel, a radiation shield that surrounds the second-stage cryopanel and has a shield opening, and a first-stage cryopanel provided in the shield opening. The first-stage cryopanel includes a first panel provided with opening regions thereon in a first distribution, and a second panel arranged closer to the second-stage cryopanel than the first panel and provided with opening regions thereon in a second distribution different from the first distribution when viewed in an arrangement direction of the first and second panels.

Abstract: An air refrigerant type freezing and heating apparatus has a compressing mechanism that compresses an air refrigerant. As the air refrigerant is heated by a first heat exchanger and further heated by a heater, the temperature of the air refrigerant is increased to more than 200° C. and the air refrigerant is supplied to an oven. Heat of the air refrigerant outputted from the oven is recovered by a second heat exchanger, and supplied to a high-temperature side of the first heat exchanger. The air outputted from the second heat exchanger is cooled by a cooler and a third heat exchanger, is adiabatically expanded by an expansion turbine to be cooled to ?85° C., and is supplied to a freezer. The air of the freezer is recovered to be supplied to the low-temperature side of the third heat exchanger, and then is supplied to the compressor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the separation of a hydrocarbon-rich, nitrogen-containing feed fraction (1, 101), preferably natural gas, wherein the feed fraction (1, 101) is at least in part liquefied (E1, E2) and divided by rectification (T1) into a nitrogen-enriched fraction (14, 110) and a hydrocarbon-rich, nitrogen-depleted fraction (11, 111) and wherein, in the upper region of the rectification (T1), a nitrogen-enriched stream (14) is taken off, cooled (E3) and applied (20) at least in part to the rectification (T1) as reflux and/or the nitrogen-enriched fraction (110) is cooled and partially condensed (E3), applied at least in part to the rectification (T1) as reflux (115) and the remaining stream (116) of the nitrogen-enriched fraction (110) is subjected to a double-column process (T3).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high pressure nitrogen is provided.

Abstract: The size of a miniature cryocooler (100) operating on the Stirling refrigeration cycle is further reduced by shortening a first thermal regenerator module (R) disposed on a cold side of a thermal barrier (T) and providing a second thermal regenerator module (R1) disposed on a warm side of the thermal barrier (T). A thermally insulated fluid flow passage (172) is disposed to interconnect the first and second regenerator modules to thermally insulate the fluid passage (172). In combination, the first and second regenerator modules provide 100% thermal regenerator effectiveness in the device.