Abstract: A method of supplying refrigeration to air separation plants within an air separation plant facility in which a refrigerant stream is produced at cryogenic temperature within a centralized refrigeration system. Streams of the refrigerant at the cryogenic temperature are introduced into the air separation plants such that all or a part of the refrigeration requirements of the air separation plants are supplied by the streams of the refrigerant.

Abstract: Air separation method in which air is separated within cryogenic rectification processes conducted in first and second cryogenic air separation plants. The first cryogenic air separation plant is designed to produce an oxygen-rich product stream and the second cryogenic air separation plant is designed to produce an impure oxygen vapor stream. At least part of the impure oxygen vapor stream is introduced into a lower pressure column of the first cryogenic air separation plant and oxygen contained in such stream along with air separated within the first air separation plant is used in producing the oxygen-rich product stream.

Abstract: Method of purifying a feed stream containing carbon dioxide wherein the feed stream after having been compressed and dried is partly cooled and then used to reboil a stripping column. Thereafter, the feed stream is further cooled and expanded to a lower operational temperature of the stripping column. A carbon dioxide product stream composed of the liquid column bottoms of the stripping column is expanded at one or more pressures to generate refrigeration, then fully vaporized within the main heat exchanger and compressed by a compressor to produce a compressed carbon dioxide product. Refrigeration is recovered in the main heat exchanger from a column overhead stream extracted from the stripping column within the main heat exchanger either directly or indirectly by auxiliary processing in which carbon dioxide is further separated and optionally recycled back to the main compressor used in compressing the feed stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cryogenic air separation processes and systems that employ a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) prepurification process. It is advantageous to operate the PSA process at a pressure comparable to or below the operating pressure of the highest pressure column in the cryogenic separation unit. Following PSA prepurification, the air can be split into at least two fractions, with at least a portion of the air being directed to the cryogenic separation unit and at least a portion of the remaining air being further pressurized in at least one stage of compression.

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 and apparatus of separating an oxygen and nitrogen containing feed stream, for example, air, in higher and lower pressure columns. A crude liquid oxygen stream condenses nitrogen vapor in the higher pressure column for reflux purposes and results in the partial vaporization of the crude liquid oxygen stream to produce vapor and liquid fractions thereof. The liquid fraction condenses a lower pressure part of the feed stream and results in the liquid fraction being at least partially vaporized. Both the vapor fraction of the crude liquid oxygen stream and the liquid fraction after having been at least partially vaporized are introduced into the lower pressure column. Boil-up is produced within a bottom region of the lower pressure column by partially vaporizing an oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms against condensing a higher pressure part of the feed stream and then utilizing vapor or residual liquid as an oxygen product.

Abstract: A distillation apparatus and method in which first and second compressed streams are formed from a compressed feed stream, for example, compressed air. The first compressed stream is fully cooled within a main heat exchanger so that it is substantially condensed. The second compressed stream is partly cooled within the main heat exchanger and then introduced into a turboexpander at a temperature such that the turboexpander exhaust stream is superheated. Part of the first compressed stream is mixed with the exhaust stream to produce a combined stream that is no more than 10° C. above saturation temperature at the pressure of the exhaust stream. The combined stream is introduced into a distillation column unit to produce one or more products that are enriched in components of the feed to be separated. In such manner the turboexpansion can occur at a higher temperature and with increased refrigerating effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for delivering lysosomal proteins. The compositions and methods described herein permit the targeted delivery of exogenous lysosomal proteins to cell surface proteins that allow their internalization via non-clathrin pathways. The present invention further relates to the use 10 of the compositions and methods for enzyme replacement therapy of lysosomal storage diseases. Nucleic acids, recombinant cells and kits useful for making and using the compositions of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: Argon, oxygen and nitrogen contained within an incoming air feed is fractionated within an air separation system having a multiple column arrangement that includes a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column to produce oxygen and nitrogen-rich fractions and an argon column to produce an argon-rich fraction for recovery of the argon as an argon product. A two-phase stream can be formed by either expanding at least part of a liquid air stream or by a liquid oxygen column bottoms formed within a higher pressure column of the multiple column arrangement. The liquid air stream is formed by liquefying part of the air feed to be fractionated against vaporizing a pumped liquid stream composed of nitrogen and/or oxygen. The diversion of the nitrogen vapor contained in the nitrogen-rich fraction increases the liquid to vapor ratio within the lower pressure column to increase the argon recovery.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a solid polymer electrolyte membrane having a fluorinated ionomer having imbibed therein a non-fluorinated, non-ionomeric polymer, wherein the fluorinated ionomer comprises at least 6 mole % of monomer units having a fluorinated pendant group with a terminal ionic group, and wherein the non-ionomeric polymer is selected from the group consisting of a polyamine, a polyvinyl amine, and derivatives thereof. The invention also provides a catalyst coated membrane and a fuel cell having this solid polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A method of producing a liquid product stream, for example, a liquid nitrogen product stream, at a production rate that is selectively varied. This variation is produced in either a waste expansion or air expansion process by increasing the pressure and flow rate of the feed stream during periods in which a high rate of liquid production is desired without substantially increasing the pressure of the exhaust stream produced by a variable speed turboexpander. This increases the expansion ratio across the turboexpander and therefore the refrigeration supplied to increase liquid production. At the same time, the increase in flow rate prevents a decrease in the performance of the variable speed turboexpander.

Abstract: A method for liquefying natural gas using the pressure energy of the natural gas is provided, wherein flash vapor from natural gas depressurization is employed in a refrigeration cycle for subcooling high pressure natural gas prior to flashing.

Abstract: A method for liquefying natural gas using the pressure energy of the natural gas, wherein flash vapor from natural gas depressurization is employed in a refrigeration cycle for subcooling high pressure natural gas prior to flashing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of separating a nitrogen from a compressed and purified feed stream in a cryogenic rectification plant that employs a distillation column to produce a nitrogen-rich vapor as a column overhead and an oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms. Reflux is generated for the column by condensing part of the nitrogen-rich vapor within a down-flow heat exchanger. A stream of the oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms is introduced into an ejector which draws a stream of an oxygen-rich liquid phase produced from the outlet of a down-flow heat exchanger. The combined oxygen-rich liquid exiting the ejector is fed to the down-flow heat exchanger to condense the nitrogen-rich vapor. In such manner, part of the oxygen-rich liquid phase is recirculated to prevent dry-out of the down-flow heat exchanger outlet and to maintain effective condensation of the nitrogen-rich vapor.

Abstract: A portable, lightweight, collapsible pet shelf for the attachment above a windowsill, to attach on a window or other smooth surface, generally comprised of a square or rectangular frame open in the middle to accept a soft fabric-like material suitable for a pet such as a domestic cat. The middle fabric is suitable for the animal to rest, view or sleep. The shelf is generally to be above ground level, often placed on or near a window for the pets viewing pleasure. The use of suction cups attached to the frame as well as on the ends of the front support cables or support arms, which attach to a surface above the shelf, to create a level shelf for the pet.

Abstract: A method for producing liquefied natural gas wherein high pressure liquid natural gas is subcooled and then flashed to form flash vapor and liquefied natural gas product, and the flash vapor is employed in a refrigeration cycle to generate refrigeration for subcooling the liquid natural gas.

Abstract: A method of separating one or more first light components from a carbon dioxide containing gaseous mixture that contains at least 30 mole percent carbon dioxide. In accordance with the method, a feed stream composed of the carbon dioxide is cooled to effect at least in part, liquefaction of the carbon dioxide containing gaseous mixture. The feed stream and a stripping gas stream are introduced into a liquid-vapor contact column to initiate counter-current vapor liquid mass transfer and the formation of a gaseous column overhead stream and a liquid column bottoms stream. The stripping gas stream contains one or more second light components having boiling point lower than that of carbon dioxide and higher than that of the first light component(s) to enrich the gaseous column overhead stream with the first light component(s).

Abstract: A method of separating one or more first light components from a carbon dioxide containing gaseous mixture that contains at least 30 mole percent carbon dioxide. In accordance with the method, a feed stream composed of the carbon dioxide is cooled to effect at least in part, liquefaction of the carbon dioxide containing gaseous mixture. The feed stream and a stripping gas stream are introduced into a liquid-vapor contact column to initiate counter-current vapor liquid mass transfer and the formation of a gaseous column overhead stream and a liquid column bottoms stream. The stripping gas stream contains one or more second light components having boiling point lower than that of carbon dioxide and higher than that of the first light component(s) to enrich the gaseous column overhead stream with the first light component(s).

Abstract: Byproduct solids produced in the processing of carbohydrate material to produce ethanol are dried in a recirculating stream of gaseous carbon dioxide into which carbon dioxide produced in that processing is fed. Organic contaminants and water vapor report to the recirculating carbon dioxide stream and are removed therefrom.

Abstract: A method for carrying out cryogenic air separation wherein feed air is processed in three streams which are at different pressures, wherein one stream is turboexpanded to generate refrigeration and the other two streams are condensed to effect pressurized product vaporization.