Abstract: A cooling device for a switchgear cabinet having an air-conducting conduit in which an air/water heat exchanger is arranged, and through which cooling air flows and to which a condensate collection container for collecting accumulating condensate. A pump installation conveys the condensate out of the condensate collection container.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a process fluid comprises a storage vessel, a process pump for pumping the process fluid from the storage vessel, a hydraulic drive system comprising a hydraulic drive unit operatively connected to drive the process pump, a pressure sensor for measuring hydraulic fluid pressure of the pressurized hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic drive system, and, an electronic controller programmed to monitor a signal representative of hydraulic fluid pressure that is measured by the pressure sensor, process the signal to determine when the storage vessel is empty, and stop the process pump when the storage vessel is empty. The disclosed method relates to using the disclosed apparatus to measure hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydraulic drive system, process measured hydraulic fluid pressure to determine when the storage vessel is empty, and stop the process pump when the storage vessel is empty.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for liquefying natural gas wherein an available methane-rich feed, i.e., natural gas, at an excess pressure is initially expanded to provide expansion work which may be utilized in a number of novel ways, such as to provide refrigeration in a refrigerant cycle used to cool the feed or in one or more refrigerant cycles used in a liquefaction zone to liquefy the feed, or to generate electrical power for use in the liquefaction process or for export. In one embodiment, the expansion work is obtained by use of an expander/compressor device (turboexpander) which expands the feed to (1) drive the compressor of the device and thereby provide compression for a closed loop propane refrigeration cycle to pre-cool the natural gas stream, and (2) produce an expanded, chilled natural gas feed for a liquefaction process.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for producing liquefied gas, such as liquefied natural gas. In one embodiment, a liquefaction plant may be coupled to a source of unpurified natural gas, such as a natural gas pipeline at a pressure letdown station. A portion of the gas is drawn off and split into a process stream and a cooling stream. The cooling stream may sequentially pass through a compressor and an expander. The process stream may also pass through a compressor. The compressed process stream is cooled, such as by the expanded cooling stream. The cooled, compressed process stream is expanded to liquefy the natural gas. A gas-liquid separator separates the vapor from the liquid natural gas. A portion of the liquid gas may be used for additional cooling. Gas produced within the system may be recompressed for reintroduction into a receiving line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using liquid nitrogen to render crises safe, as in circumstances of hostage crises, entering Methamphetamine labs, purging the accumulating toxic or flammable gases, ending the dispersal of substances from aerosols and capturing the material dispersed by condensing it and sealing it in containers for disposal, picking up spills by solidifying them or gelling the material and containing it for disposal—this includes Mercury spills, sealing and repairing broken pipes and dikes and dams, enabling a combustion engine to quit running, changing the conditions in a weather system to counter funnel formation in a tornado threat, strengthening levee structures by freezing the core for the length of the levee when severe crises occur, rapid cooling lava flows to structure the solid lava formation to something useful in that location, purging the coalmine fire environment of Oxygen to quell the long-term blaze, and treating industrial stack gas to useful soot, water and Carbon dioxide componen

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing hyperpolarized samples for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are provided. The apparatus comprises an ultra-compact cryogen-free cryostat structure for use in polarizing a sample of selected material, wherein the cryostat structure comprises a central bore being adapted to be evacuated to create a vacuum region, and a cooling device inserted in the central bore or optionally close to the central bore for maintaining a selected temperature of the sample.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbons from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream is disclosed. The LNG feed stream is divided into two portions. The first portion is supplied to a fractionation column at an upper mid-column feed point. The second portion is directed in heat exchange relation with a warmer distillation stream rising from the fractionation stages of the column, whereby this portion of the LNG feed stream is partially vaporized and the distillation stream is totally condensed. The condensed distillation stream is divided into a “lean” LNG product stream and a reflux stream, whereupon the reflux stream is supplied to the column at a top column feed position. The partially vaporized portion of the LNG feed stream is separated into vapor and liquid streams which are thereafter supplied to the column at lower mid-column feed positions.

Abstract: An improved method of reducing wear dust and torque required to turn a multi-port rotary disc valve utilizes a thrust bearing to hold the valve seat and/or valve disc such that they are not in contact with each other, or have light contact each other.

Abstract: A method and system for removal of nitrous oxide and volatile halocarbon gas components from waste anesthetic gases using a low-flow scavenging or reclamation system preferably including an intelligent waste anesthetic gas collection unit fluidly coupled between each individual anesthetic machine and the waste gas evacuation manifold. Through a system including a collection chamber, a pressure detector, and a exhaust valve which is actuated based on the detected pressure in the collection chamber, the waste anesthetic gas collection unit allows flow to the waste suction manifold only in the presence of waste gas and interrupts all flow into the suction manifold when no waste gas is present.

Abstract: An acoustic cooling device is provided. A coldhead and an acoustic power source of the acoustic cooling device are separated by way of a long tube connecting them to enable the cold tip to be installed in a remote location where a traditional unitary system would not fit, would generate too much vibration, or would be otherwise undesirable. The dimensions of the tube and the relevant parameters of the acoustic power source are selected to keep the system resonant at the desired drive frequency (e.g., 60 Hz) and to minimize the impact of the long tube on the system efficiency and capacity.

Abstract: In this method, the LNG stream is cooled using a refrigerating fluid in a first heat-exchanger. The refrigerating fluid is subjected to a second semi-open refrigeration cycle which is independent of the first cycle. The method comprises a step for introducing the stream of sub-cooled LNG into a distillation column and a step for recovering a stream of gas at the top of the column. The second refrigeration cycle comprises a step for forming a stream of refrigerating fluid from a portion of the top stream of gas, a step for compressing the stream of refrigerating fluid to a high pressure, then a step for expanding a portion of the stream of compressed refrigerating fluid in order to form a substantially liquid sub-cooling stream. The substantially liquid stream is evaporated in the first heat-exchanger.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are methods for transferring heat, for heating and cooling, and there is a solid state heat pump. The solid state heat pump can include a power supply that provides an electric field, a first metal layer, a dielectric layer disposed over the first metal layer, wherein the dielectric layer absorbs a first amount of heat upon application of the electric field and releases a second amount of heat upon alteration of the electric field, and wherein the second amount of heat is greater than the first amount of heat, and a second metal layer disposed over the dielectric layer. The alteration of the electric field can be achieved at least by one of reducing, removing, and/or reversing the polarity of the electric field. The solid state heat pump can also include a series resistor.

Abstract: A coupling unit device for unloading of a ship, where the coupling unit comprises a hull and is arranged to be connected to the ship by means of a connecting element wherein the coupling unit is provided with an evaporator for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the required pipe elements for transporting liquefied natural gas from the ship to the evaporator, as well as the required pipe elements for transporting the evaporated gas from the evaporator to a pipe for onward transport. The coupling unit is free-floating and is arranged to maneuver itself to the ship during the connection and disconnection from the ship by means of its own propulsion machinery.

Abstract: A cryogenic plant having at least two direct phase separation devices such as distillation columns whose circular perimeters serve to define the perimeter of the cold box encompassing the direct phase separation devices and ancillary equipment for the process.

Abstract: Method of controlling a pulse tube cryocooler in which the power input to the acoustic source is varied to maintain temperature of a refrigeration load or a temperature that is at least referable to the temperature of the refrigeration load, at a set point temperature. Additionally, the impedance of an inertance network of the pulse tube cryocooler is also adjusted to obtain a maximum cooling power to the refrigeration load at the particular temperature as sensed and the particular power that is being supplied to the acoustic source.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a distillation process for separating two or more components having different volatilities from a liquid mixture containing the components. The process employs microchannel technology for effecting the distillation and is particularly suitable for conducting difficult separations, such as the separation of ethane from ethylene, wherein the individual components are characterized by having volatilities that are very close to one another.

Abstract: A rotary multi-stage distiller for recovery of water from wastewater is provided. The rotary multi-stage distiller of the present invention can recover water from a wide variety of aqueous wastewaters such as, but not limited to, urine, condensate from air conditioning systems, wash water containing foaming soaps, seawater or polluted water. The multi-stage distiller can operate under vacuum conditions permitting the distillation to occur at low temperatures. The multi-stage distiller uses centrifugal forces for fluid pumping and for vapor/liquid separation. The multi-stage distiller comprises hydraulic seals for each stage which eliminate contamination of clean, recovered water by condensed waste water during the regeneration process. The multi-stage distiller also comprises a stationary shaft of stacked segments where each segment is associated with an individual stage of the multi-stage distiller.

Abstract: The process that includes providing the following elements for treating source refrigerated LNG, a heat exchanger/condenser through which refrigerated LNG passes, a vaporizer receiving LNG from the heat exchanger/condenser to produce heating grade LNG product, a distillation column producing distillate condensed in the heat exchanger/condenser to produce vehicle grade LNG, some of which is returned to the distillation column, the distillation column having input of refrigerated LNG, the distillation column having a lower outlet through which produced C2+ is delivered.

Abstract: In order to reduce the time until an acoustic wave is generated and perform heat exchange smoothly in a stack, a thermoacoustic apparatus 1 includes a first stack 3a sandwiched between a first high-temperature-side heat exchanger 4 and a first low-temperature-side heat exchanger 5 and a second stack 3b sandwiched between a second high-temperature-side heat exchanger 6 and a second low-temperature-side heat exchanger 7 in the inside of a loop tube 2, wherein a standing wave and a traveling wave are generated through self excitation by heating the first high-temperature-side heat exchanger 4, the second low-temperature-side heat exchanger 7 is cooled by the standing wave and the traveling wave, or/and a standing wave and a traveling wave are generated by cooling the first low-temperature-side heat exchanger 5, and the second high-temperature-side heat exchanger 6 is heated by the standing wave and the traveling wave.

Abstract: Improved therapeutic sclerosing microfoams and methods and devices for making them are provided that have advantage in producing a consistent profile injectable foam with minimal input by the physician yet using high volume percentages of blood dispersible gases, thus avoiding use of potentially hazardous amounts of nitrogen.