Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for recovering ethane, ethylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The stream is cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied to a first fractionation tower at a mid-column feed position. A distillation liquid stream is withdrawn from the first fractionation tower below the feed position of the expanded stream, heated, and directed into a second fractionation tower that produces an overhead vapor stream and a bottom liquid stream. The overhead vapor stream is cooled to condense it, with a portion of the condensed stream directed to the second fractionation tower as its top feed and the remainder directed to the first fractionation tower at a lower column feed position. The bottom liquid stream from the second fractionation tower is cooled and directed to the first fractionation tower as its top feed.

Abstract: A process for recovering ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from LNG and a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The LNG feed stream is divided into two portions. The first is supplied to a fractionation column as a first upper mid-column feed. The second portion is heated while condensing a portion of a column distillation stream, thereby producing a “lean” LNG stream and a reflux stream. The reflux stream is supplied as top column feed. The second portion of LNG feed is heated further and supplied to the column as a first lower mid-column feed. The gas stream is divided into two portions. The second is expanded, then both portions are cooled while vaporizing the lean LNG stream and heating another portion of the distillation stream. The colder first portion is supplied to the column as a second upper mid-column feed, and the second is supplied as a second lower mid-column feed.

Abstract: This method comprises cooling the feed natural gas in a first heat exchanger and introducing the cooled, feed natural gas into a first separation flask. It comprises the dynamic expansion of a turbine supply flow in a first expansion turbine and introducing the expanded flow into a separation column. This method comprises removing, at the head of the separation column, a head flow rich in methane and removing a first recirculation flow from the compressed head flow rich in methane. The method comprises forming at least a second recirculation flow obtained from the head flow rich in methane downstream of the separation column and forming a dynamic expansion flow from the second recirculation flow.

Abstract: A cryopreservation device of the present invention includes: a cryopreservation vessel; a house which houses the cryopreservation vessel; and a handling robot provided on the house, wherein the cryopreservation vessel comprises a vessel body which holds a low-temperature liquefied gas, a cap which closes an opening section of the vessel body and has a plurality of insertion holes formed to pass through in a vertical direction, and ampoule storing tools which are housed so as to be able to pass through the insertion holes of the cap, in which the ampoule storing tools are each comprised of a support pillar and a plurality of ampoule storing sections which are attached to the support pillar so as to be arrayed in a vertical direction of the support pillar, and an ampoule-putting-in/out work hole is formed in the cap so as to pass through in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A heating/cooling device for a microfluidic apparatus having a thermal insulating substrate. The device includes heating/cooling chamber for heating and/or cooling a sample disposed in the chamber; a waste heat channel for carrying away waste heat and/or waste cooling; and at least one Peltier junction having first and second opposing faces, the first face thereof facing towards said heating/cooling chamber and being in thermal communication therewith for providing either heat or cooling to the chamber in response to a flow of electrical current through the at least one Peltier junction, the second face thereof facing towards said waste heat channel and being in thermal communication therewith for either receiving heat from or dumping heat to the channel in response to a flow of electrical current through the Peltier junction.

Abstract: A turbo compressor train is provided. The turbo compressor train includes a turbo compressor unit and a drive assembly for driving the turbo compressor unit. The drive unit has a gas turbine and a generator and a steam turbine. The steam turbine may be coupled together with the generator to the turbo compressor unit and the gas turbine by means of a coupling device. The coupling device has an overrun coupling and a coupling exciter with which the overrun coupling may be taken from a disengaged condition to an active condition by engaging of the overrun coupling at synchronous speed of the gas turbine and the steam turbine and if the overrun coupling is engaged, disengages upon a speed increase to the steam turbine and generator so that the generator may be driven by the steam turbine at a higher speed than the turbocompressor unit by the gas turbine.

Abstract: A process for the use of ambient air as a heat exchange medium for vaporizing cryogenic fluids wherein the vaporized cryogenic gases are heated to a selected temperature for use or delivery to a pipeline.

Abstract: The cryogenic fluid generator includes at least one pump assembly having an actuator mounted to a container assembly. A pump assembly housing includes a longitudinal positioning opening and a pressurization cavity at a distal end terminating with a pump assembly outlet. An internal check valve assembly includes a shaft positioned within an opening of the pump assembly housing that extends into the pressurization cavity. The shaft is attached to the actuator and includes a longitudinal guidance slot; a fluid passageway; and, an internal sealing surface. A positioning bar assembly is positioned within the guidance slot. A connecting rod is securely connected at a first end to the positioning bar assembly, the connecting rod being positioned within the fluid passageway and terminating with a flow inhibiting element. A seal is positioned between the pump assembly housing and the check valve to provide a closure for the pressurization cavity.

Abstract: A system and process to re-liquefy boil-off liquid natural gas in varied amounts by a process using a screw compressor having an effective compression range from about 10 to about 100 percent of its rated capacity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cryostat having a service neck for access to a superconducting magnet. In many cryogenic applications components, e.g. superconducting coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), superconducting transformers, generators, electronics, are cooled by keeping them in contact with a volume of liquefied, the whole cryogenic assembly being known as a cryostat. In order to operate a superconducting magnet, it must be kept at a temperature below its superconducting transition temperature. A cryostat must provide access to the vessel containing the liquefied helium for the initial cooling of the magnet to its low operating temperature, for periodic refilling of systems where there is a loss of helium, and provide sufficient access whereby to enable operation and maintenance of the magnet.

Abstract: An ice making method and device may include an ice making member inserting step in which an ice making member is inserted into water that is stored in an ice tray, an ice pieces making step in which the ice making member is cooled so that the water is frozen to form an ice pieces, an ice making member heating step in which the ice making member is heated so that a portion of the ice pieces sticking to the ice making member is melted, an ice making member drawing-out step in which the ice making member is drawn out from the ice pieces, and an ice pieces separating step in which the ice tray is deformed to separate the ice pieces from the ice tray. The ice pieces separating step and the ice pieces storing step are performed at positions under the ice making member.

Abstract: A dispensing head for dispensing a cryogenic fluid may comprise a flow passage configured to be placed in flow communication with a reservoir containing a cryogenic fluid, the flow passage defining a flow passage inlet opening configured to receive the cryogenic fluid from the reservoir, and a flow passage outlet opening opposite the flow passage inlet opening. The dispensing head may further comprise a dispensing member configured to dispense the cryogenic fluid, the dispensing member defining a lumen having a lumen inlet opening and a lumen outlet opening; and at least one porous member disposed in the flow passage, the at least one porous member being configured as a primary flow regulation mechanism to limit a flow rate of the cryogenic fluid as it flows from the reservoir to the lumen outlet opening.

Abstract: Processes for the separation of a hydrocarbon-containing feed streams are described herein.

Abstract: NGL recovery from natural gas is achieved by processing the natural gas in a scrub column that operates at high pressure. A C3+ depleted vapor stream is generated from the vapor portion of partially condensed scrub column overhead and expanded to provide refrigeration for the vapor portion to so form a second reflux stream and the C3+ depleted vapor stream. The C3+ depleted vapor stream is then combined with another vapor portion of partially condensed column overhead to produce a lean liquefaction feed stream.

Abstract: There are provided a first guide channel 240 for making a U-turn of a leading end of a filter 3 at a front side of a main unit cabinet 1 during forward movement of the filter 3 and a second guide channel 141 for drawing a rear end of the filter to a rear surface side of the main unit cabinet 1 during backward movement of the filter 3.

Abstract: Provided for an embodiment is a support member for a cryogenic cooler's expander. The support member provides stiffness to the expander to reduce movements at the expander's distal end and may increase the natural frequency of the expander. The support member may increase the natural frequency of the expander at least about two times in the bending and/or twisting sense. The bending natural frequency of the expander and support sub-assembly may be at least about two times greater or lower than the natural frequency of the electrical wires that connect an infrared sensor to a control processing unit to reduce the maximum stress applied to the electrical wires during use. In another embodiment, additional or redundant electrical pathways are provided for connections between the infrared sensor and the CPU. Furthermore, shock absorber and/or shock diverters are provided on rigid pins that connect the electrical wires to the CPU.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for regasification of LNG to form natural gas using ambient air as the primary source of heat are described. LNG is directed to flow through an ambient air vaporizer to form a natural gas stream through direct heat exchange between the LNG and ambient air. The temperature of the natural gas stream is adjusted to suit a predetermined delivery temperature in a trim heater exchanging heat with a circulating intermediate fluid. The intermediate fluid is directed to flow through an ambient air heater such that the intermediate fluid exchanges heat with ambient air. Heat transfer between the ambient air and the LNG is assisted using one or more force draft fans to direct the flow of ambient air over the ambient air heater and the ambient air vaporizer in turn to dry the ambient air before it arrives at the ambient air vaporizer.

Abstract: Method of cooling a hydrocarbon stream (10) such as natural gas, the method at least comprising the steps of (a) heat exchanging the hydrocarbon stream (10) against a first refrigerant stream (20) to provide a cooled hydrocarbon stream (30) and an at least partly evaporated refrigerant stream (40); (b) compressing the at least partly evaporated refrigerant stream (40) using one or more compressors (14, 16, 18) to provide a compressed refrigerant stream (50, 60, 70); (c) cooling the compressed refrigerant stream (50, 60, 70) after one or more of the compressors against ambient to provide a cooled compressed refrigerant stream (70a); (d) dynamically expanding the cooled compressed gaseous refrigerant stream (70a) to provide an expanded refrigerant stream (80); and (e) further cooling the expanded refrigerant stream (80) to provide an at least partially condensed refrigerant stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air conditioner for a vehicle that includes a closed refrigeration loop. The closed refrigeration loop includes a compressor, a refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger, a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and a refrigerant dryer in series fluid connection with one another. An engine coolant outlet connector is connected to the coolant-to-refrigerant exchanger. A compartment inlet connector connected to the coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger. A compartment outlet connector connected to the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger. An engine coolant inlet connector connected to the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger.

Abstract: The subject invention provides systems and methods that monitor and/or control turbulence of an immersion medium. The systems and methods relate to computer controlled techniques that reduce effects of immersion medium flow due to a liquid temperature gradient. According to an aspect of the subject invention, a number of temperature measurements of the immersion medium are obtained, and the temperature measurements are utilized to generate a gradient map of the immersion medium. By way of illustration, the temperature measurements can be made via wireless temperature sensors. The gradient map can be utilized to understand the stability of the immersion medium. According to an aspect of the subject invention, instability identified with the gradient map can be mitigated.