Abstract: A trap for collecting solid is connected to either an exhaust port or a suction port of a vacuum pump for trapping a solid material separated from a sublimed gas discharged by the vacuum pump. The trap includes a casing, a passage defining member disposed in the casing and defining a gas passage in the casing, and an intermediate member disposed between the casing and the passage defining member. The intermediate member is made of a flat thin sheet which is formed into a tubular member, and the tubular member is capable of being spread when taken out from the casing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the output of an oxygen concentrator wherein an oxygen concentrator indicator is comprised of an oxygen sensor monitor and circuit board which receives a gas sample from the concentrator, the oxygen concentrator indicator circuit board converts the concentration of oxygen to a DC voltage range from 0 to 1 volt corresponding to 0% to 100% oxygen. A plurality of set-point amplifiers accept the voltage and feed the voltage to a logic block where the voltage is analyzed to insure that only one of a plurality of solid state relays or switches is energized at a time. A plurality of taps on an AC motor winding are selectively energized by the solid state relays to drive the oxygen concentrator at a pre-determined rate in response to the concentration of oxygen generated by the concentrator.

Abstract: A filter assembly having first and second opposite frame members and a filter element removably secured to the first and second frame members is provided. The filter element is preferably a pleated paper filter, positioned in extension between opposite end panels. An arrangement is provided for securing the end panels to, and in extension between, the first and second opposite frame members. When the arrangement is assembled, an outer frame comprising the two frame members in the two end panels is provided. In the assembly, the pleated filter fills the area within the frame. The filter media can be conveniently removed and replaced in the frame, as desired.

Abstract: A canister which can control the diffusion of evaporated fuel to surely prevent the evaporated fuel from blowing through into the atmosphere has a main chamber having therein a first adsorbent layer for adsorbing evaporated fuel and including an evaporated fuel lead-in port and a purge port, a subchamber having therein a second adsorbent layer for adsorbing evaporated fuel and including an atmospheric air lead-in port, and an air chamber communicating with the main chamber and the subchamber are provided in a casing of a canister. The air chamber is divided into three parts: a first chamber at the side of the main chamber, a second chamber at the side of the subchamber and a third chamber between the first and second chambers. A nonlinear communication passage is formed inside of the third chamber by dividing the third chamber with a partition wall having its both ends opened to the first chamber and the second chamber respectively.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons are recovered from the product purge gas in an alkene polymerization process by absorption of heavier hydrocarbons from the purge gas by an intermediate hydrocarbon stream to yield a vapor rich in inert gas and alkene monomer. Alkene monomer is condensed and rectified by dephlegmation at low temperatures from the inert gas, flashed and vaporized to provide refrigeration for the condensation step, and recycled to the polymerization process. The intermediate hydrocarbon from the absorption step is recycled to the polymerization process. Optionally a portion of the inert gas is reused for purge gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a filter includes a support frame and a turn table for supporting the filter, wherein the turntable rotates in relation to the support frame during a filter cleaning operation. The apparatus also includes an air flow director for directing a flow of air against the filter, wherein the air flow director is fixed in relation to the support frame during the filter cleaning operation. A method of cleaning a filter is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for recovering a target material including using an adsorbent such as activated charcoal, the target material recovered in a continuous manner, as well as a method and an apparatus for recovering a solvent based on such a method and apparatus. The adsorbent for the target material is rotated to move the adsorbed material in direction of centrifugal force while the target material is attracted to the adsorbent. The excess target material is detached from a peripheral edge of the adsorbent by centrifugal force. The detached material is recovered by a recovery device provided in corresponding relation to the adsorbent.

Abstract: A device and method are described for the gas chromatographic separation of a sample, aimed in particular at the analysis of large volume samples. Provision is made for the use of calculating and memorizing a plurality of reference values corresponding to the evaporation rates of solvents combined with a carrier gas for a corresponding plurality of discrete values representing the conditions of pressure, temperature, injected sample volume and sample injection rate. The effective solvent evaporation rate is then calculated in correspondence to the effective conditions in which the process is carried out to determine the volumetric fraction of the sample which is transferred through the capillary column in relation to its characteristics and geometrical dimensions.

Abstract: A process for pressure swing adsorption of oxygen from a gas mixture containing at least oxygen and nitrogen to recover an unadsorbed nitrogen enriched product from a plurality of parallel piped adsorbent beds undergoing adsorption, depressurization and repressurization wherein the improvement is conducting a pressure transfer from one bed to another from an intermediate point of the bed finishing adsorption to a point closer to the feed end of a bed that is repressurizing to improve productivity and recovery of nitrogen enriched gas in the process.

Abstract: A composite metal membrane including a first metal layer of Group IVB met or Group VB metals, the first metal layer sandwiched between two layers of an oriented metal of palladium, platinum or alloys thereof is provided together with a process for the recovery of hydrogen from a gaseous mixture including contacting a hydrogen-containing gaseous mixture with a first side of a nonporous composite metal membrane including a first metal of Group IVB metals or Group VB metals, the first metal layer sandwiched between two layers of an oriented metal of palladium, platinum or alloys thereof, and, separating hydrogen from a second side of the nonporous composite metal membrane.

Abstract: A PSA method incorporating the invention is applicable to the separation of a preferred gas from a mixture of the preferred gas and a less preferred gas. The PSA method uses an adsorbent bed including one or more layers of O.sub.2 equilibrium selective adsorbents, and comprises the steps of: pressurizing the adsorbent bed to a high pressure with a feed of air to enable the adsorbent bed to adsorb O.sub.2 ; extracting from the bed at bed pressure, a flow of N.sub.2 and storing at least some of the flow in a product tank; desorbing O.sub.2 from the adsorbent bed by feeding void gas in the bed enclosure to a storage tank and venting the adsorbent bed to a low pressure region; purging the adsorbent bed by feeding thereto the void gas from the storage tank; and repressurizing the adsorbent bed to an intermediate pressure with a flow of void gas from the storage tank.

Abstract: The process comprises a cold absorption step 2 for removing acid gas from natural gas using a solvent phase at a pressure P.sub.2 which delivers a purified gas 5; a step for depressurizing and separating resultant acidic solvent phase containing hydrocarbons (lines 4, 11), at a pressure P.sub.12 which is lower than pressure P.sub.2 in a column-heat exchanger 12 which delivers a purified gaseous effluent 13 overhead and a further solvent phase at the bottom (line 17) which is enriched in hydrogen sulphide; and a solvent phase regeneration step carried out in a distillation column 18 at a pressure P.sub.18 and no higher than pressure P.sub.12. A gas 29 containing essentially hydrogen sulphide which is depleted in hydrocarbons is recovered from column 18 and is a suitable feed for a Claus plant for eliminating H.sub.2 S. The regenerated hot solvent phase 20 indirectly exchanges heat with the cold acidic solvent phase from absorber 2 or separator 6. It is then recycled to the absorbent after cooling.

Abstract: The flow rate of a nonadsorbed product gas stream from a multiple unit PSA plant can be reduced in response to a reduced product demand by isolating all units in the plant and inserting an idle step into the adsorption cycle immediately following bed equalization steps of the cycle. In a preferred embodiment, the duration of the idle step is inversely proportional to the percentage reduction in the product demand. To maintain the product gas purity at the desired level, minor adjustments of the idle step duration can be made following adjustment to the idle step in response to a change in product demand.

Abstract: According to the invention, regeneration is performed by filtering and by regenerating simultaneously the used absorbent; two stages are carried out for the regeneration: one, which is a rough stage, is performed in the presence of a regeneration gas; the other, a free stage, is performed in the presence of a fresh regeneration gas.

Abstract: A rotary valve at the inlets of a plurality of columns cyclically (1) selects first columns on a cyclic basis to receive compressed air, adsorb nitrogen and other components in the compressed air and pass oxygen and argon to a user (e.g. patient), second columns to desorb the adsorbed components in such columns and (3) third columns to equalize pressures where the first columns change progressively to the second columns and vice versa. A compressor having adjustable characteristics and regulated in an open or closed loop introduces the compressed air through the valve to the first columns to provide an adjustable air flow for obtaining a prescribed oxygen flow to the user. An indication may be provided when the compressor characteristics regulated for obtaining the prescribed oxygen flow rate are outside particular limits. The valve may have a variable speed related to the compressor flow variations to regulate the air pressure in the columns in accordance with the air flow rate into the columns.

Abstract: This invention comprises an improved process for generating Nitrogen from air in which a vacuum is placed on the permeate side of a gas separation membrane, usually of the polysulfone type, resulting in highly enhanced flow rates and nitrogen purity sufficient for oil and gas pipeline repair use and for use in grain silos.

Abstract: A process for concentrating ozone, which includes switching a plurality of adsorption columns each packed with an adsorbent capable of preferentially adsorbing ozone thereon sequentially to an adsorption step where the adsorbent is maintained at a low temperature to adsorb ozone thereon; a desorption step where the adsorbent is heated to desorb ozone therefrom, and a scavenger gas is introduced in a substantially fixed amount into the adsorption column to discharge the thus desorbed ozone being carried on the scavenger gas; and a cooling step where the adsorbent having completed the desorption step is cooled to the same low temperature level as in the adsorption step. Heating of the adsorbent in the desorption step is carried out depending on the time elapsed after desorption is started or on the ozone concentration of the gas discharged from the adsorption column performing the desorption step. A gas having a predetermined pressure is employed as the scavenger gas in the desorption step.

Abstract: A method for the separation and recovery of fluorochemicals from a gas stream containing a diluent gas and fluorochemicals by contact of the gas stream with a membrane, comprising the steps of: compressing a gas stream containing a diluent gas and fluorochemicals to an elevated pressure; heating the gas stream containing a diluent gas and fluorochemicals to an elevated temperature sufficient to increase the flux of the permeate stream and to increase the selectivity of the membrane for the permeation of the diluent gas relative to the permeation of the fluorochemicals; contacting the gas stream with a membrane which is selectively more permeable to the diluent gas than the fluorochemicals to result in a permeate stream rich in the diluent gas and a retentate rich in fluorochemicals; contacting the gas stream with one or more additional membranes which are selectively more permeable to the diluent gas than the fluorochemicals to result in a second permeate stream rich in the diluent gas and a second retentate

Abstract: A non-round unitary filter cartridge according to the present invention is provided having a unitary structure with pleated filter media formed securely about a perforated interior core. Opposite ends of the pleated filter media and perforated core are integrally formed with a bottom end cap and a flexible upper collar. The flexible upper collar is formed of a flexible molding compound which is deformable to pass through an opening in a tube sheet which retains the filter cartridge. The perforated core is oblong in configuration, having first and second parallel major side surfaces and first and second rounded outer ends. The flexible collar is elliptical in cross-section and has an outwardly facing groove located at the top of the barrel portion for sealably receiving a periphery of the tube sheet aperture.

Abstract: A method for performing a function or an operation involving a material, in particular, a non-gaseous material such as a biological material subjected to a scientific investigation, under a gaseous atmosphere in a closed chamber comprising performing the operation in a housing comprising i) first chamber walls defining a first chamber containing a gaseous atmosphere and ii) second chamber walls defining a second chamber substantially enclosing the first chamber, the second chamber containing a gaseous atmosphere between the first and second chamber walls, the operation being performed in the first chamber while a) the partial pressure of the selected gas species or the total gas pressure in the atmosphere of the second chamber is lower than the partial pressure of the selected species of the total gas pressure, respectively, of the gaseous atmosphere in an adjacent outer third chamber or space. The invention also relates to a housing for performing the operation mentioned above.