Abstract: Apparatus and process for an energy saving system for the fractionation of a C.sub.4 stream containing predominately n-butane and isobutane using an open heat pump cycle in which the n-butane bottoms from the fractionation are the compressing medium and isobutane overhead is used to vaporize the n-butane by indirect heat exchange. A problem which would be expected to prevent this system is the unusual characteristic of n-butane (also isobutane) that on compression a liquid-vapor phase results, which is damaging to the compressor. This is overcome by passing the vaporized n-butane prior to compression, through an apparatus that removes any entrained liquids and heats the vapors to a temperature sufficient to prevent the formation of the liquid phase under compression. It has been found that this process results in the use of only about 9% of the outside energy previously used in conventional operation for a specific unit.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water and solids from aqueous solids. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by heat evaporation whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids. Those solids carrying residual light fluidizing oil are then brought into direct contact with steam, referred to herein as "blowing steam". The presence of the blowing steam reduces the boiling point of the water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to effect its more efficient removal from the solids. Effluent blowing steam and light oil vapor removed from the solids may be used to supply heat to the overall process.

Abstract: Gas produced from coal and containing CH.sub.4, CO, CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S is contacted with CO.sub.2 scrub liquid to form (1) a liquid CO.sub.2 stream containing as solutes CH.sub.4, H.sub.2 S and minor portions of the CO and H.sub.2, and (2) a gas stream containing CO.sub.2 and major portions of the CO and H.sub.2, the CO and H.sub.2 in this stream being recycled to the means which produces gas from coal, and CO.sub.2 in the stream being recycled to the scrub liquid. The solute-bearing liquid CO.sub.2 stream is fractionated into (1) a liquid CO.sub.2 stream containing CH.sub.4 and H.sub.2 S, and (2) a H.sub.2 /CO gas stream which is recycled into contact with the scrub liquid. The last-mentioned liquid CO.sub.2 stream is fractionated into (1) a CH.sub.4 /CO.sub.2 gas stream the CO.sub.2 of which is recycled to the scrub liquid, and (2) a liquid CO.sub.2 stream containing H.sub.2 S, and CO.sub.2 of this stream is also recycled to the scrub liquid.

Abstract: A liquid seal for a multistage molecular evaporator which is in the form of an elongated vessel having convex evaporating surfaces for carrying out a continuous redistillation. The evaporator includes at least two vacuum stages superposed one over the other in the vessel. The upper stage has two inwardly extending troughs one superposed over the other. An overflow tube extends from the upper trough into a collecting trough of the adjacent lower vacuum stage to form a first liquid seal. A collecting member in the upper stage extends into the lower trough of the upper stage to collect distillate therein and to form a second liquid seal therein. The upper and lower vacuum stages have evaporator bodies which are connected to each other by sealing means.

Abstract: A process of and an apparatus for saving energy in a method of liquefying a natural gas by cooling same with the vapor from a liquid coolant sub-cooled after expansion thereof in the liquid condition, the vapor simultaneously sub-cooling the liquefied coolant, the process consisting in expanding the sub-cooled high-pressure liquid coolant in a hydraulic turbine providing mechanical power possibly for driving a rotary machine.

Abstract: Method of mixing particulate materials comprising contacting a primary source and a secondary source thereof whereby resulting mixture ensues; preferably at least one of the two sources has enough motion to insure good mixing and the particulate materials may be heat treated if desired.Apparatus for such mixing comprising an inlet for a primary source, a reactor communicating therewith, a feeding means for supplying a secondary source to the reactor, and an inlet for the secondary source. Feeding means is preferably adapted to supply fluidized materials.

Abstract: A device for controlling evaporation of a liquid has a container and a heating element for heating and evaporating liquid in the container. The container is disposed on a base plate which is supported by a leaf spring which allows the base plate to move between two microswitches depending upon the amount of liquid in the container. The microswitches are connected to a control circuit for activating the heating element and interrupt the flow of power to the heating element when little or no liquid is present in the container, or when a maximum amount of liquid is present in the container.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for the desalination of sea water or brine. The apparatus comprises one or more vertical columns divided into a number of cylindrical portions. Each portion constitutes one stage comprising one or more film evaporators formed by vertical tubes, a single brine collection tank of circular section provided with upper lateral apertures, a throttle system, one or more syphon tubes and one or more preheaters having vertical tubes expanded into the same tube plates as the vertical tubes of the film evaporators. The apparatus also comprises pipes and water boxes located inside the tanks for connecting the preheaters of the several stages, connecting pipes between the stages and a final tube bundle condenser positioned below the last stage.

Abstract: Apparatus for evaporating radioactive liquid and calcinating the residue wherein the radioactive liquid is sprayed across the interior of a casing on to the heated, external surface of a hollow drum so that the droplets evaporate and partially calcinate as they cross the casing interior and then adhere to the drum for a sufficient period to be calcinated thereon. A scraper scrapes the calcinated residue from the drum.

Abstract: A method of liquefying Freon gas using a vessel having an inner and an outer tank, and a jacket around the inner tank which comprises the steps of operating a vacuum pump, opening a solenoid valve to evacuate the air in the space formed between the outer periphery of the inner tank and said jacket to form a vacuum, then supplying Freon gas from a bomb into the inner tank, and cooling the Freon gas in the inner tank through a heat exchange medium such as helium in said space while supplying a cooling medium to a second space between said jacket outer wall and said outer tank inner wall space to thereby liquefy the Freon gas.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of heat and easily evaporable components from hot gases in which a liquid flowing downwards along heat exchanger surfaces is simultaneously heated indirectly, the hot gases are fed into the lower section of a gas space, blast gas containing evaporable components is removed at the upper section of the gas space, and a condensate derived from the hot gases is removed at the bottom of the gas space, comprising further bringing the blast gases into one or several indirect heat exchange contacts with the liquid, in successive additional gas spaces, recovering condensate accumulated at the bottoms of these additional spaces, and withdrawing the blast gases from the last additional gas space.

Abstract: A method of removing water from a mixture of glycol and water comprises introducing a feed mixture of glycol and water to a distillation column, and collecting a first concentrated glycol-water liquid as still bottoms. The first concentrated liquid is then conveyed to a reboiler where a portion of that liquid is vaporized to form a reboiler vapor and a second concentrated glycol-water liquid. The reboiler vapor is returned to the still for intimate contact with the feed mixture of glycol and water in the distillation column. The second concentrated liquid is then conveyed to a water exhauster at a temperature and pressure such that an equilibrium vapor of said second concentrated liquid, at said conditions, has a glycol/water weight ratio of at least 0.54. At this condition, a portion of the second concentrated glycol-water liquid is vaporized in the water exhauster to form a third concentrated glycol-water liquid and an equilibrium vapor in contact with the third concentrated liquid.

Abstract: Process for separating the ice crystals contained in a slurry of an aqueous solution and ice crystals from the aqueous solution and washing the ice crystals with an aqueous wash liquid, whereby a packed bed of ice crystals is created which is subjected to a continuous translatory movement, while a washfront is being created within the packed bed of ice crystals between the aqueous solution and the aqueous wash liquid, the aqueous solution and the aqueous wash liquid adjacent to the washfront being substantially stagnant, a stable washfront being created lying in a plane perpendicular to the translatory movement of the packed bed of ice crystals.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing a hydrogen stream and a carbon dioxide stream from a mixed gas feedstock containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and contaminant sulfur compounds. The method comprises scrubbing the gas feedstock with a carbon dioxide laden solvent in an initial scrubbing zone under conditions such that not more than 70% of the carbonyl sulfide in the feedstock is removed in the initial zone, physically scrubbing the initially scrubbed feedstock with a solvent under conditions sufficient for removing substantially all the carbon dioxide and carbonyl sulfide therefrom to leave a pure hydrogen stream desorbing carbon dioxide and carbonyl sulfide and other gases from the liquid from the second scrubbing zone and then fractionating the resultant carbon dioxide stream containing hydrogen, carbon oxides, etc. to produce said carbon dioxide stream for use in urea synthesis.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously, cryogenically separating natural gas liquids from a lean natural gas stream and a rich natural gas stream; including, compressing the lean gas feed, cooling the compressed lean gas feed, separating the cooled lean gas feed to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase, expanding the vapor phase lean gas feed, separating the expanded vapor phase lean gas feed to form a second vapor phase and a second liquid phase, fractionating the second vapor phase lean gas feed to form a methane-enriched, low pressure bottoms fraction and a nitrogen-enriched, high pressure overhead fraction, flashing a portion of the methane-enriched bottoms fraction and passing the same in countercurrent, indirect heat exchange with the nitrogen-enriched overhead fraction, to cool the same and produce a vapor phase nitrogen-enriched product and a liquid phase reflux for the fractionator, passing the remainder of the methane-enriched bottoms fraction, the flashed methane-enriched bottoms fraction and the vapor phase

Abstract: Valuable products are obtained from Theobroma fruits by preferably removing the peels from said fruits, opening the fruits, separating the seeds from the preferably peeled parenchymatous part of the fruits, and immediately thereafter fermenting the seeds and processing said parenchymatous part. Preferably the fruits are pretreated, for instance, with an alkaline solution and, after peeling, are neutralized, or they are pretreated with a preserving agent. The parenchymatous part of the fruits is expressed to yield the fruit flesh juice containing a hydrocolloid which has proved to be a valuable emulsifying, thickening, stabilizing, suspending agent and protective colloid. The expressed Theobroma fruit flesh is converted into a nutritious animal feed, especially for small animals. Thus the Theobroma fruits are substantially completely utilized.

Abstract: A process for the concentration of dilute phosphoric acid in a phosphoric acid process characterized by a plurality of separate phosphoric acid cycles when the phosphoric acid is concentrated in each cycle by a vacuum evaporation is described wherein the phosphoric acid cycles is heated by indirect heat exchange by heat of formation formed in a sulfuric acid contact process.

Abstract: This invention relates to heat exchangers comprising vertically arranged plates, and passages are provided which extend from an inlet casing to an outlet casing, as well as further passages which extend from a two-phase inlet casing to other outlet casings. Other passages for an auxiliary fluid extend between the latter casing outlet and an upper extremity of the heat exchanger.Heat exchangers according to the invention can be used for the liquefaction of natural gas in particular.

Abstract: A noncondensable gas such as H.sub.2 S is removed from a condensable vapor in a two-sided heat exchanger employing multi-stage condensation or counter current flow, and the condensate so formed is employed as a cooling medium on the opposite side of the heat exchanger while itself being vaporized into a clean gas. In multi-stage condensation, a portion of the condensate is formed at each stage of a system and the condensate so formed does not progress to the next stage. In a counter current flow system, the condensate is at least temporarily retained in the condensing area so that additional noncondensable gas may be stripped from the condensate by the gaseous mixture of noncondensable gas and condensable vapor. Before condensate from either type of system is employed as a coolant, it is subjected to flash evaporation.

Abstract: In a process for producing a solid koji for a fermented food product which comprises inoculating a koji mold in a modified koji substrate and cultivating it at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. to about 40.degree. C. for a time sufficient to produce a solid koji for fermented food products, the improvement wherein at a certain time during a period of about 10 hours to about 20 hours after the inoculation of the koji mold, the cultivation system is subjected to a drying treatment to adjust its water content to about 30.+-.5%.