Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical purification of vinylene carbonate (VC) by means of a simple thermal treatment with organic compounds which possess amidic nitrogen-hydrogen bonds, followed by a distillation and a melt crystallization. In this way VC of ultra-high purity is obtained. The high-purity vinylene carbonate can be stored and transported without stabilizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for eliminating nitrogenous organic compounds from a salt-containing water which contains more than 0.5% by weight of salt in the form of CaCl2 or NaCl, less than 200 ppm of dissolved carbonic acid or carbonates and more than 50 ppm of nitrogenous organic compounds, by treating the water by wet oxidation at a temperature of below 100° C. with chlorine or a chlorine-containing oxidizing agent and feeding this, preferably after additional oxidation with a gaseous oxidizing agent and/or by adsorption with an adsorbent, to an electrolysis for producing chlorine and/or sodium hydroxide solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the industrial production of vinylene carbonate (VC) by eliminating hydrogen chloride from chloroethylene glycol carbonate (CGC) or solid catalysts in the gas phase, the reaction being carried out over a catalyst bed agitated by thorough mixing.

Abstract: A rotary valve is disclosed having a rotor and stator that utilizes at least one compression spring to provide contact between the rotor and stator. The spring(s) is configured to oppose the pressure forces that urge the rotors and stators apart and reduce the amount of torque necessary to turn the rotors in the valve while preventing leakage from between the rotor and stator. The spring(s) may be positioned within the valve by a spring locating features.

Abstract: Portable medical oxygen concentrator comprising an air separation system adapted to recover oxygen from air; a bottom platform and a shell having an outer wall, wherein the shell is detachably connected to the bottom platform, wherein the shell and bottom platform define an enclosed volume when the shell is connected to the bottom platform, and wherein the air separation system is disposed in the enclosed volume; and one or more rechargeable batteries detachably connected to the outer wall of the shell and adapted to provide power to drive the air separation system. The air separation system may comprises a pressure swing adsorption system having two or more adsorbent columns and a rotary valve for directing gas flow sequentially to, from, and among the columns. A base assembly attached to the bottom platform may be adapted to support the two or more adsorbent columns and the rotary valve.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system may use a capacitive membrane or electrostrictive ultrasound transducer to realize isotropic volumetric imaging with bias-line element selection and a variety of aperture synthesis techniques. Two dimensional beam formation may be performed by using a beamformer to focus along one dimension, and then perform a second round of “off-line” or “retrospective” beam formation along the other direction.

Abstract: In a capacitive membrane ultrasound transducer, one or more electrodes include multiple layers of conductive or semiconductive material. The layers may be positioned adjacent an insulator or cavity in an arrangement to reduce electrical degradation. For example, a conductive layer with less work function and less resistivity is spaced from an insulator by a conductive layer with more work function and more resistivity. The different layers of electrode material may provide for less electrical degradation due to the type of material used and relative location.

Abstract: A CMUT or other semiconductor-based transducer is stacked with a piezoelectric transducer (PZT). The CMUT is sufficiently thin to avoid or limit interference with sound propagation through the CMUT from or to the PZT or crosstalk between transmitter elements. The PZT/CMUT layered structure is used as a matrix array, such as an array with a multi-dimensional arrangement of elements. The CMUT array is formed and thinned using semiconductor processing. The PZT transmits acoustic energy through the thin CMUT. The CMUT receives responsive echoes. Using integrated electronics in the thin wafer of the CMUT limits interconnection problems for the matrix receive array.

Abstract: Rotary valve comprising (a) a rotor having a rotor face rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the rotor face, a plurality of openings, and at least one passage connecting at least one pair of the plurality of openings; (b) a stator having a stator face in sealing contact with the rotor face to form a planar rotary valve seal with an outer periphery, a plurality of openings in the stator face that are connected to respective passages through the stator, and wherein at least one of the passages through the stator is a stator vacuum passage directly connected to a vacuum pump; (c) a sealed valve chamber having an interior volume contiguous with the outer periphery of the rotary valve seal, which chamber is sealed from the atmosphere surrounding the rotary valve; and (d) a vacuum vent passage connected to the sealed valve chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semibatchwise process for the mild distillative separation of mixtures, in a first stage a column being supplied continuously with a feed and the feed being separated at least into different fractions, one of the fractions being removed continuously into a container, and, in a second step, the fraction removed into the container being recycled to the column and being separated again batchwise into different fractions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the industrial purification of vinylene carbonate (VC). It was found that it is advantageous to subject the VC to be purified, before the purifying distillation, to a simple thermal treatment with organic compounds which have amidic nitrogen-hydrogen bonds.

Abstract: System for producing an oxygen-rich gas comprising (a) a primary gas mover including a first and a second compressor, wherein the primary gas mover is characterized by a weight Wp; (b) a drive motor adapted to drive the first and second compressors; (c) a rechargeable power supply characterized by a weight, Wb; and (d) a pressure/vacuum swing adsorption unit adapted to separate the pressurized feed air into an oxygen-rich product at a product flow rate Fp and an oxygen-depleted waste gas, wherein the adsorption unit comprises a plurality of adsorber beds containing an adsorbent and characterized by a total adsorbent weight Wa; and wherein the combined weight, Wt, of the adsorbent, the primary gas mover, and the rechargeable power supply is characterized by the expression 0.75 Fp<Wt<2.02 Fp where Fp is in liters per min (at 23° C. and 1 atma pressure), and Wa, Wp, and Wb are in pounds.

Abstract: A storage system for storing a plurality of fluids or other goods has a plurality of containers adapted to fit within a receptacle. Each of the containers has an inner sidewall, an outer sidewall, and a top sidewall having a spout sealable with a cap such that the container contains the fluid or other goods when the cap is engaged with the spout. The plurality of containers are shaped such that the containers are stackable or nestable within the receptacle such that the containers tessellate, the inner sidewalls of the containers abutting each other, and the outer sidewalls abutting the inner surface of the receptacle, completely filling substantially all of the receptacle.

Abstract: An infeed device provides a configuration that improves the flow of particulate material into a double wash deck dedusting apparatus. The infeed device is formed with a circular inlet opening, an oval-shaped discharge opening and step sides interconnecting the inlet and discharge openings to prevent bridging in particulate material being fed through the infeed device onto the wash decks. The infeed device can be formed as a separate member that can be inserted into the infeed opening of existing dedusters. The oval-shaped discharge opening is substantially smaller transversely than the diameter of the inlet opening, but has a longitudinal length that is equal to the diameter of the inlet opening and equal to the longitudinal length of the wash decks. The joinder of the wash decks is blunted to eliminate a divider edge on which plastic streamers can hang up while being fed to the wash decks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semibatchwise process for the mild distillative separation of mixtures, in a first stage a column being supplied continuously with a feed and the feed being separated at least into different fractions, one of the fractions being removed continuously into a container, and, in a second step, the fraction removed into the container being recycled to the column and being separated again batchwise into different fractions.

Abstract: A compact housing for a dedusting apparatus utilizes a magnetic flux field to disrupt the static charge attracting dust particles to product particles, which along with fluidization and counter current airflow principles that are proven to dislodge dust particles from the product, provides a highly efficient, compact deduster. The housing supports a double wash deck with product flow separated between the back-to-back primary wash decks. A deflector directing the flow of product onto the primary wash decks is provided with an extension that extends parallel to the wash deck to eliminated product bouncing off of the wash deck. The lower air outlets are eliminated, while the upper air outlets are positioned in extensions to the main housing above the product inlet opening. Air flow through the Venturi zones is enhanced by directing clean air through slots formed in the lower deck members into the Venturi zones.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for eliminating nitrogenous organic compounds from a salt-containing water which contains more than 0.5% by weight of salt in the form of CaCl2 or NaCl, less than 200 ppm of dissolved carbonic acid or carbonates and more than 50 ppm of nitrogenous organic compounds, by treating the water by wet oxidation at a temperature of below 100° C. with chlorine or a chlorine-containing oxidizing agent and feeding this, preferably after additional oxidation with a gaseous oxidizing agent and/or by adsorption with an adsorbent, to an electrolysis for producing chlorine and/or sodium hydroxide solution.

Abstract: A compact housing for a dedusting apparatus utilizes a magnetic flux field to disrupt the static charge attracting dust particles to product particles, which along with fluidization and counter current airflow principles that are proven to dislodge dust particles from the product, provides a highly efficient, compact deduster. The housing supports a double wash deck with product flow separated between the back-to-back primary wash decks. A deflector directing the flow of product onto the primary wash decks is provided with an extension that extends parallel to the wash deck to eliminated product bouncing off of the wash deck. The lower air outlets are eliminated, while the upper air outlets are positioned in extensions to the main housing above the product inlet opening. Air flow through the Venturi zone is enhanced by re-directing clean air directly to the backside of the Venturi panels, thereby eliminating the extraneous by-pass boxes.

Abstract: A heat tunnel for applying heated air to articles enclosed in shrink-wrap film includes at least one air supply unit; a conveyor; and a heat shroud spaced from the conveyor. The air supply unit includes a source of heated air, a fan, a heated air plenum, air ducts, and a return air plenum. Multiple air supply units can be provided along the conveyor to create a heat tunnel of desired length.

Abstract: Oxygen concentrator system having a portable oxygen generator unit adapted to generate a non-humidified oxygen-rich gas and a stationary base unit adapted to generate a humidified oxygen-rich gas, wherein the portable oxygen generator unit and the stationary base are adapted for operation in a coupled mode and an uncoupled mode. The portable oxygen generator unit includes a first flow coupling adapted to receive the humidified oxygen-rich gas when operating in the coupled mode, piping means adapted to combine the non-humidified oxygen-rich gas and the humidified oxygen-rich gas to form a humidified oxygen-rich gas product, and an oxygen-rich gas product delivery port. The stationary base unit is adapted to recharge a rechargeable power supply system in the portable oxygen generator unit when the units are coupled.