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 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.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for distilling nitrogen from a gaseous mixture containing nitrogen and oxygen. Oxygen-enriched bottoms liquid is partially vaporized within a first heat exchanger to condense part of the column overhead to produce reflux. Thereafter, the partially vaporized oxygen-enriched liquid is phase separated. A second oxygen-enriched liquid stream composed of at least part of the liquid phase is used to substantially condense all or part of the vapor stream derived from said phase separation, thereby to form a nitrogen-rich liquid stream. At least part of the nitrogen-rich liquid stream is reintroduced into the column to increase nitrogen recovery. The second oxygen-enriched liquid stream is then used to condense a second part of the reflux for the column.

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: Separation method and apparatus for separating a gaseous mixture, for example, air, in a cryogenic rectification plant in which a compressed stream is divided into subsidiary streams that are extracted from a main heat exchanger of the plant at higher and lower temperatures. The two streams are then combined and expanded in a turboexpander to generate refrigeration for the plant. The flow rates of the two streams are adjusted to control inlet temperature of a turboexpander supplying plant refrigeration and to minimize potential deviation of the turboexpander exhaust from a saturated vapor state. Control of the expansion ratio can advantageously be applied to allow variable liquid production from the rectification plant.

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 plate-fin heat exchanger having a plurality of layers for indirectly exchanging heat between two or more fluids. The heat exchanger is provided with two sections and inlets and outlets to the sections to cause streams of the fluids to flow within the two sections parallel to the length of the heat exchanger between central locations and the ends of the heat exchanger. In such manner, the cross-sectional flow area of such a heat exchanger is greater than the heat exchanger in which the flow is from one end to the other end of the heat exchanger. This increase in cross-sectional flow area reduces the pressure drop within the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A plate-fin heat exchanger having alternating layers for exchanging heat between fluids to be warmed against fluids to be cooled. One or both of the layers is subdivided into flow passages to allow for the flow of two or more fluids flowing through one of the layers to engage in indirect heat transfer with one or more fluids flowing through another adjacent layer. The flow through the heat exchanger is parallel to the width of the heat exchanger. The first and second layers provide a greater cross-sectional flow area for each of the fluids than otherwise would have been provided had the fluids flow been parallel to the length of the heat exchanger with layers thereof dedicated to the flow of each of the fluids.

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: A method for producing liquefied natural gas employing two separate adsorption steps for removing water and carbon dioxide from natural gas and employing a subambient expansion to produce regeneration gas for the regeneration of the dehydration adsorption step in addition to supplying refrigeration for the cooling or liquefaction of clean natural gas.

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 light components, such as helium, from a carbon dioxide containing stream. A two-phase stream is obtained, at least in part, by cooling a pressurized feed stream to at least partially condense such stream. The stream that is subsequently degassed to produce a first vapor stream enriched in the light component(s) and a first liquid stream containing an entrained fraction of the light component(s). The first liquid stream is expanded to create another two-phase stream that is degasified to produce a second vapor stream that is also enriched in the light component(s) and a second liquid stream having an enriched carbon dioxide content. The second liquid stream is repressurized and vaporized. In case of a supercritical feed, the pressurized feed stream is expanded after having been cooled. Thereafter, the feed is degassed to produce the light component enriched vapor stream and a liquid stream enriched in the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method for generating refrigeration for cooling a product gas wherein a first or working gas undergoes a staged expansion to a first temperature and a subsequent turboexpansion to a second higher temperature and both the expanded gas and the turboexpanded gas provide cooling to the product gas.

Abstract: Multicomponent refrigerant fluids for generating refrigeration, especially over a wide temperature range including cryogenic temperatures, which are advantageous over conventional refrigerant fluids especially for certain applications, and which are non-toxic, non-flammable and low or non-ozone-depleting and preferably are maintained in variable load form through compression, cooling, expansion and warming steps in a refrigeration cycle.

Abstract: A method for operating a transcritical refrigeration system wherein a more optimal compressor parameter such as output pressure, pressure ratio or power consumption is determined using heat exchanger refrigerant inflow temperatures and/or outflow temperatures and also the enthalpy change across the evaporator and adjusting the compressor operation or refrigerant fluid working mass accordingly.

Abstract: A method for operating a transcritical refrigeration system wherein a more optimal compressor parameter such as output pressure, pressure ratio or power consumption is determined using heat exchanger refrigerant inflow temperatures and/or outflow temperatures and also the enthalpy change across the evaporator and adjusting the compressor operation or refrigerant fluid working mass accordingly.