Abstract: In a method for separating argon by cryogenic distillation, in which a flow containing argon, oxygen and nitrogen and being more rich in argon than the air is sent to a distillation column, and an argon-rich gas flow is withdrawn at the top of the column, a portion of the argon-rich gas flow is mixed with beads to form a gas mixture containing beads, the beads being capable of adsorbing oxygen in the presence of argon at the column operating temperatures; the portion of the argon-rich gas flow mixed with the beads is condensed and then sent to the top of the column; and a bottom liquid containing beads is withdrawn from the column and treated to remove the beads, the beads removed being regenerated to remove the adsorbed oxygen and being again mixed with the argon-rich gas flow.

Abstract: System for purifying argon by cryogenic distillation, comprising a single column surmounted by a top-end condenser, a fluid inlet in the lower part of the column, a fluid outlet in the upper part of the column, and N distillation sections where N?4, of which at least the two uppermost sections of the column are equipped respectively with a first liquid distributor and with a second liquid distributor, the second distributor being capable of performing a function of mixing together liquids that fall onto the distributor, each of the first and second distributors being positioned above the respective section and of which the two lowermost sections of the column are respectively equipped with a (N?1)th and an Nth liquid distributor capable of performing a function of mixing together liquids that fall onto the distributor, and which is arranged above the respective section, the first, second, (N?1)th and Nth distributors each being dimensioned to contain a maximum height of liquid head, that (those) of the first

Abstract: Disclosed is a packing made up of a stack of plates, having been shaped to form corrugations in the plate and assembled to form a cross-corrugated packing block for a mass and/or heat transfer application, wherein the material of the packing plates is an open-pore metal foam, and in that the specific surface area of the packing is greater than 500 m2/m3 and in that the thickness (e) of the plate is less than 2 mm before the shaping operation.

Abstract: A stackable modular element comprises a parallelepipedal caisson, the caisson comprising at least one layer of thermal insulation of thickness less than one-third of the width of the caisson, the layer of insulation covering at least the lateral and frontal faces of the caisson and surrounding at least one chamber having a parallelepipedal volume within the caisson, the chamber containing at least one body of material that permits the exchange of mass and/or of heat, the body being parallelepipedal in shape and filling at least part of the chamber, the chamber having an opening on the upper face and/or an opening on the lower face to allow fluid to be transferred to the body from outside the element and/or from the body to outside the element.

Abstract: In a process for supplying oxygen and/or nitrogen and also argon to a geographic zone, the geographic zone comprising n units for air separation by cryogenic distillation, of which a first unit and n-1 second units produce oxygen and/or nitrogen but do not produce argon, the oxygen and/or nitrogen for at least certain clients come from at least one of the n-1 second, non-argon-producing units, and argon for these clients comes from the first unit, where the first unit operates by means of a column system comprising a double column composed of a higher pressure column operating at a first pressure and a lower pressure column, whose bottom is connected thermally to the top of the higher pressure column, operating at a second pressure, which is lower than the first pressure, and of an argon-producing column and a mixing column, wherein the mixing column is fed at the bottom with an auxiliary gas consisting of gaseous nitrogen from the first or the lower pressure column, and at the top with a liquid which is rich

Abstract: A unit for producing argon by cryogenic distillation, suitable for connection to a double air separation column consisting of first and second columns interconnected thermally, comprises an argon separation column surmounted with a top condenser and a denitrogenation column, means for withdrawing an argon-rich and nitrogen-depleted product (LAR) at the bottom of the denitrogenation column, means for connecting the top of the argon separation column to the denitrogenation column, means for sending a top gas from the argon separation column to the atmosphere, means for withdrawing a nitrogen-rich fluid from the top of the denitrogenation column, an analyser for measuring the nitrogen content at the top of the argon separation column, and means for opening and closing the means for connecting the top of the argon separation column to the denitrogenation column depending on the nitrogen content detected by the analyser.

Abstract: In a method for separating argon by cryogenic distillation, in which a flow containing argon, oxygen and nitrogen and being more rich in argon than the air is sent to a distillation column, and an argon-rich gas flow is withdrawn at the top of the column, a portion of the argon-rich gas flow is mixed with beads to form a gas mixture containing beads, the beads being capable of adsorbing oxygen in the presence of argon at the column operating temperatures; the portion of the argon-rich gas flow mixed with the beads is condensed and then sent to the top of the column; and a bottom liquid containing beads is withdrawn from the column and treated to remove the beads, the beads removed being regenerated to remove the adsorbed oxygen and being again mixed with the argon-rich gas flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for constructing or altering a matter- and/or heat-exchange device, said mass- and/or heat-exchange device comprising an assembly of at least one first and one second stackable modular elements (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L), in which the first element is secured over the second element or the second element is secured below the first element in a sealed manner, such that a fluid can flow from the body of the first element to the body of the second element and/or from the body of the second element to the body of the first element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising parallel plates and spacers arranged in parallel and defining i) rough primary channels and ii) secondary channels arranged so as to exchange heat. Said heat exchanger comprises a primary liquid inlet to be fluidically connected to a primary liquid dispenser. Each rough primary channel has the shape of a prism having a polygonal cross-section and consisting of a plurality of essentially flat faces. The primary channels comprise rough primary channels. Each rough primary channel has microstructure elements which are distributed along the entire length of the channel and have dimensions of between 1 ?m and 300 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distribution device having a container having side walls and a bottom with perforations; a distributor arranged beneath the container and provided with distribution channels that each have a polygonal cross-section; and mechanical connection bodies between the distributor and the linear elements, which extend beneath the distribution channels and fluidically connect the distribution channels to the linear elements when the distribution device is built into the contacting assembly.

Abstract: Process for purifying a gaseous feed stream using an adsorption unit comprising at least two adsorbers, a cryogenic distillation unit, an exchanger and a compressor operating at a temperature less than or equal to ?50° C., in which the heat necessary for the regeneration of the adsorbers is derived, at least partly, from at least one portion of the heat generated by the compressor, during the compression of a fluid.

Abstract: A method for separating a feed gas, containing nitrogen and carbon monoxide as main components, in a distillation column: the feed gas is cooled in a heat exchanger; at least a portion of the feed gas, or at least a portion of a gas derived from the feed gas, is sent to a reboiler of the distillation column so as to condense the gas while producing a liquid, and optionally a gas; at least a portion of the liquid is sent to the distillation column; a nitrogen gas-rich flow is extracted from the distillation column; a carbon monoxide-rich flow is extracted from the distillation column, heated in the heat exchanger, and compressed so as to provide a carbon monoxide-rich material at production pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cooling, purifying and separating a gaseous mixture containing at least one impurity, in which the gaseous mixture is cooled to a temperature no higher than the temperature at which the at least one impurity solidifies in a heat exchanger having cooling passages, the cooling passages being at least partially covered with a coating and/or physically treated and/or chemically treated, the coating and/or the treatment serving to limit or even prevent the solidified impurity from forming and/or adhering to a surface of the passages; at least one portion of the solidified impurity exiting the cooling passages of the heat exchanger is collected; and the gaseous mixture is withdrawn from the heat exchanger.

Abstract: In a method for separating air by separation at sub-ambient temperature, a first heat pump, using the magnetocaloric effect, exchanges heat between a cold source at sub-ambient temperature and a hot source at sub-ambient temperature, thus providing at least some of the separation energy, and a second heat pump, using the magnetocaloric effect, exchanges heat between a cold source at sub-ambient temperature and a hot source at ambient temperature thus providing at least some of the cold needed to maintain the refrigeration balance of the method, the separation taking place in a single column at a pressure of below 2 bara.

Abstract: In a method for separation at sub-ambient temperature, a mixture of fluid at sub-ambient temperature is sent to a system of separation columns comprising at least one separation column, a fluid enriched in a lighter component of the mixture leaves the top of one column of the system and a fluid enriched in a heavier component is withdrawn from the bottom of one column of the system, the cold source of a heat pump using the magnetocaloric effect is thermally connected to a first zone of one column of the system and the hot source of the same heat pump is thermally connected to a second zone of the same or of another column of the system.

Abstract: A process for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation operates either with a product ratio greater than 2.5, in which case nitrogen enriched liquid is sent from a storage tank to the column system and nitrogen enriched gas from the column system is compressed in a first compressor having an inlet temperature of less than ?50° C. and then warmed in the heat exchanger, or with a product ratio less than 2.5, in which case a second nitrogen rich gas removed from the column system is expanded in a turbine having an inlet temperature lower than the ambient temperature or liquefied in a liquefier and nitrogen enriched liquid is sent to the storage tank from the outlet of the turbine and/or from the column system and/or from the liquefier.

Abstract: A method for repairing a plate heat exchanger of the type comprising a plurality of plates which, together with side bars arranged on the plates, define fluid flow paths is presented.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption purification unit (PSA unit) comprising: N adsorbers comprising N inlets and N outlets with N?2; at least one rotary distributor connected via N connections to the N inlets or to the N outlets of the N adsorbers; and characterised in that each of these N connections comprises a means for regulating a flow rate.

Abstract: A method for separating a feed gas, containing nitrogen and carbon monoxide as main components, in a distillation column: the feed gas is cooled in a heat exchanger; at least a portion of the feed gas, or at least a portion of a gas derived from the feed gas, is sent to a reboiler of the distillation column so as to condense the gas while producing a liquid, and optionally a gas; at least a portion of the liquid is sent to the distillation column; a nitrogen gas-rich flow is extracted from the distillation column; a carbon monoxide-rich flow is extracted from the distillation column, heated in the heat exchanger, and compressed so as to provide a carbon monoxide-rich material at production pressure.

Abstract: A method for repairing a plate heat exchanger of the type comprising a plurality of plates which, together with side bars arranged on the plates, define fluid flow paths is presented.