Abstract: Described herein are coil wound heat exchangers (CWHEs), and methods of cooling and/or liquefying streams of fluid using said CWHEs, in which one or more tube layers of the tube bundle are provided with a non-uniform tube winding angle and tube pitch in order to facilitate the equalization of radial pressure imbalances on the shell side of the CWHE, thereby reducing radial maldistribution of fluid on the shell side and improving the heat transfer efficiency of the CWHE.

Abstract: A method for operating a pressure swing adsorption process at turndown conditions by adding selected steps to the normal design operation of the process. The selected steps include the extension of a make product/no feed step and the addition of idle steps at specific points in the process cycle during depressurization and repressurization. The average volumetric flow ratio of the pressurized feed gas to the final product gas during design operation and during turndown operation may be essentially equal. The average oxygen concentration in the final product gas during design operation and during turndown operation also may be essentially equal.

Abstract: A method for operating a pressure swing adsorption process at turndown conditions by adding selected steps to the normal design operation of the process. The selected steps include the extension of a make product/no feed step and the addition of idle steps at specific points in the process cycle during depressurization and repressurization. The average volumetric flow ratio of the pressurized feed gas to the final product gas during design operation and during turndown operation may be essentially equal. The average oxygen concentration in the final product gas during design operation and during turndown operation also may be essentially equal.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of a pressurized feed gas containing at least one more strongly adsorbable component and at least one less strongly adsorbable component.

Abstract: A single bed pressure swing adsorption process with at least one transfer tank is utilized to separate less adsorbable components from more adsorbable components such as the separation of oxygen from air. Depressurization gas is collected in the transfer tank and is used later exclusively for purging the bed during the regeneration period.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process including an adsorption apparatus having a plurality of beds and counter-currently purging at least two of the beds simultaneously throughout the process. The number of beds and number of pressure equalization steps are not particularly limited, but a ten-bed, four pressure equalization step process in advantageous. In addition, other ten-bed, four pressure equalization step processes are disclosed which do not counter-currently purge at least two of the beds simultaneously, but which have an average of at least two of the ten beds being simultaneously regenerated by simultaneously providing off-gas from a feed end of each of the beds to an off-gas line.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption process and system for separating gas mixtures comprising at least one more strongly adsorbable component and at least one less strongly adsorbable component. The process includes storing gas enriched in one of the components in a first storage tank and a second storage tank which are arranged in series. Final product gas is provided from the second storage tank while gas for purge, rinse, and/or repressurization is provided from the first storage tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a structured packing element, the element being corrugated with corrugations which form alternating peaks and troughs across the element, the corrugations having a longitudinal axis, the element having at least one band of first fluting at an angle between 0.degree. and 180.degree. to the longitudinal axis of the corrugations and at least one band of second fluting at an angle between 0.degree. and 180.degree. to the longitudinal axis of the corrugations, the first fluting being at an angle greater than zero to the second fluting. The element preferably has a plurality of holes through the element. The foregoing structured packing is suited for use in processes requiring a contact device for accomplishing mass and/or heat transfer.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a structured packing element, the element being corrugated with corrugations which form alternating peaks and troughs across the element, the corrugations having a longitudinal axis, the element having plural portions of first fluting at an angle between 0.degree. and 180.degree. to the longitudinal axis of the corrugations and plural portions of second fluting at an angle between 0.degree. and 180.degree. to the longitudinal axis of the corrugations, the fluting of the first portions being at an angle greater than zero to the fluting of the second portions, the respective first and second portions alternating both laterally and longitudinally of the element with respect to each other. The element preferably has a plurality of holes through the element. The foregoing structured packing is suited for use in processes requiring a contact device for accomplishing mass and/or heat transfer.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for the cryogenic separation of air to recover at least one of its constituent components, which is carried out in an air separation unit having at least one distillation column; wherein the distillation column has at least two mass transfer sections, wherein, in each mass transfer section, a flow of vapor and a flow of liquid are counter-currently contacted to accomplish mass transfer and the flow of vapor or liquid or vapor and liquid is different in one section as compared to the other section; wherein contact of the flows of vapor and liquid in each mass transfer section is accomplished using a structured packing; wherein the structured packing comprises elements which are corrugated with substantially parallel corrugations, wherein the parallel corrugations have a longitudinal axis at an angle .beta. relative to horizontal and wherein each corrugation when approximated to be a triangular cross-section has a crimp angle .alpha.