Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering boil-off gas from a head space of a liquid storage tank having a fluid contained therein is provided. The method can include the steps of withdrawing the boil-off gas from the storage tank and introducing said boil-off gas to a heat exchanger using a vapor flow inducer; cooling the boil-off gas in the heat exchanger by using cold energy from vaporization of liquid nitrogen to form a cooled fluid; and introducing the cooled fluid to the liquid storage tank, thereby reducing the temperature within the liquid storage tank.

Abstract: In another embodiment of the invention, a method for recovering boil-off gas from a head space of a liquid storage tank having a fluid contained therein is provided. In one embodiment, the method can include the steps of flowing the boil-off gas from the liquid storage tank to a heat exchanger by opening a valve; creating a vacuum within the heat exchanger by cooling and condensing the boil-off gas in the heat exchanger by using cold energy from vaporization of liquid nitrogen from a liquid nitrogen storage tank to form a cooled fluid; and introducing the cooled fluid to the liquid storage tank, thereby reducing the temperature within the liquid storage tank.

Abstract: A biomass fire inside an installation is suppressed with dripping liquid nitrogen from over the biomass and injecting gaseous nitrogen underneath the biomass.

Abstract: The invention uses both heating and cooling zones to prevent the precipitation of solids onto equipment surfaces until they are efficiently removed from the gas phase via one or more heat exchangers. Each heat exchanger may be regenerated to melt off the solids when the amount collected becomes excessive. A storage plenum is available under each heat exchanger to store the melted solids until final removal to avoid the need to open the equipment for the removal of the unwanted solids.

Abstract: A multicomponent, ground based system for reducing the hazard of explosion of aircraft fuel in the on board tanks of aircraft. The system is adapted to provide a supply of scrubbed fuel having a low concentration of dissolved oxygen. The scrubbed fuel can be supplied from bulk storage tanks to dispensing stations nearby the aircraft loading and boarding positions at an airport. The system also includes equipment adapted to wash the ullage of the aircraft fuel tanks to remove excess oxygen above the fuel in the tanks. The system further includes a gas cleaning unit to strip excessive amounts of volatile organic compounds from gas exhausted during operation of the system thereby producing environmentally benign atmospheric emissions. The system also includes redundant sources of inert gas so that the system can continue to operate in the contingency that one of the inert gas sources temporarily ceases to operate.

Abstract: A multicomponent, ground based system for reducing the hazard of explosion of aircraft fuel in the on board tanks of aircraft. The system is adapted to provide a supply of scrubbed fuel having a low concentration of dissolved oxygen. The scrubbed fuel can be supplied from bulk storage tanks to dispensing stations nearby the aircraft loading and boarding positions at an airport. The system also includes equipment adapted to wash the ullage of the aircraft fuel tanks to remove excess oxygen above the fuel in the tanks. The system further includes a gas cleaning unit to strip excessive amounts of volatile organic compounds from gas exhausted during operation of the system thereby producing environmentally benign atmospheric emissions. The system also includes redundant sources of inert gas so that the system can continue to operate in the contingency that one of the inert gas sources temporarily ceases to operate.

Abstract: A multicomponent, ground based system for reducing the hazard of explosion of aircraft fuel in the on board tanks of aircraft. The system is adapted to provide a supply of scrubbed fuel having a low concentration of dissolved oxygen. The scrubbed fuel can be supplied from bulk storage tanks to dispensing stations nearby the aircraft loading and boarding positions at an airport. The system also includes equipment adapted to wash the ullage of the aircraft fuel tanks to remove excess oxygen above the fuel in the tanks. The system further includes a gas cleaning unit to strip excessive amounts of volatile organic compounds from gas exhausted during operation of the system thereby producing environmentally benign atmospheric emissions. The system also includes redundant sources of inert gas so that the system can continue to operate in the contingency that one of the inert gas sources temporarily ceases to operate.

Abstract: A multicomponent, ground based system for reducing the hazard of explosion of aircraft fuel in the on board tanks of aircraft. The system is adapted to provide a supply of scrubbed fuel having a low concentration of dissolved oxygen. The scrubbed fuel can be supplied from bulk storage tanks to dispensing stations nearby the aircraft loading and boarding positions at an airport. The system also includes equipment adapted to wash the ullage of the aircraft fuel tanks to remove excess oxygen above the fuel in the tanks. The system further includes a gas cleaning unit to strip excessive amounts of volatile organic compounds from gas exhausted during operation of the system thereby producing environmentally benign atmospheric emissions. The system also includes redundant sources of inert gas so that the system can continue to operate in the contingency that one of the inert gas sources temporarily ceases to operate.

Abstract: Provided are novel methods and systems for separating a mixed gas containing oxygen and chlorine. According to one method in accordance with the invention, the mixed gas and a refrigerant are introduced into a separator unit. At least a portion of the chlorine is condensed from the mixed gas in the separator unit, thereby forming a condensed chlorine-rich liquid fraction and an oxygen-enriched gas fraction. The condensing duty is supplied by the refrigerant, which can be liquid oxygen. The mixed gas and refrigerant can be brought into direct or indirect contact with one another. The invention can be advantageously applied to the treatment of exhaust gases from an ore treatment plant, and can result in enriched oxygen and chlorine streams which may be recycled or used in other applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous processing apparatus and method for cleaning articles with a liquified compressed gaseous solvent mixture. The continuous processing apparatus includes three processing chambers including an entrance chamber, a cleaning chamber, and an exit chamber. The chambers are provided with hatches which are opened and closed at appropriate times to allow the articles to be cleaned to pass into and out of the chambers. The entrance chamber is used for evacuation of the incoming articles to remove the majority of the air and moisture from the articles. After evacuation of the incoming articles, the entrance chamber is pressurized and the articles pass into the cleaning chamber. The cleaning chamber is maintained at a temperature and a pressure at which the liquified compressed gaseous solvent mixture is in a subcritical state and a liquid/gas interface exists between a liquid and a gas portion of the liquified compressed gaseous solvent mixture.

Abstract: The cleaning process according to the present invention includes three main steps including supercritical extraction of soluble contaminants with a solvent composition, subcritical removal of particulate material with agitation, and solvent recovery and recycle. The supercritical extraction of soluble contaminants is performed by pumping a solvent composition into a cleaning vessel containing articles to be cleaned and pressurizing and heating the fluid in the vessel to a supercritical state. Then the subcritical phase is begun to remove particulate material from the articles by reducing the pressure and temperature of the solvent composition in the cleaning vessel to a subcritical state and reforming the liquid/gas interface. Agitation of the articles in the cleaning vessel is provided by recirculation of the solvent composition or by motion of a mechanical device within the cleaning vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a sterile cryogenic liquid (for example into a container of food) is provided, as well as a method of use of same using a just-in-time approach to production. The apparatus includes at least one cryogenic liquid filter, the filter including filter media having the capability to effectively sterilize cryogenic liquids, the filter media positioned within a housing to accept non-sterile cryogenic liquid and produce sterile cryogenic liquid. The apparatus further includes at least one sterile cryogenic liquid receptor tube, the sterile cryogenic liquid receptor tube having a sterile cryogenic liquid outlet for outflowing sterile cryogenic liquid. The receptor tube is surrounded by a manifold which collects and drains spent condensed steam after a periodic filter sterilization cycle. The receptor tube also collects raw cryogenic fluid, which helps insulate sterile cryogen in the receptor tube. The cryogenic liquid filter is provided within a vacuum jacketed tank.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing and injecting a sterile cryogenic liquid (for example into a container of food) is provided, as well as a method of use of same. The apparatus includes at least one purge-swept cryogenic liquid filter, the filter including filter media having the capability to effectively sterilize cryogenic liquids, the filter media positioned within a housing to accept non-sterile cryogenic liquid and produce sterile cryogenic liquid, and to recycle an amount of the non-sterile cryogenic liquid. The apparatus further includes at least one sterile cryogenic liquid accumulator, the sterile cryogenic liquid accumulator having a sterile cryogenic liquid outlet for dispensing sterile cryogenic liquid, the sterile cryogenic liquid outlet having a passageway for a sterile cryogenic gas, whereby the sterile cryogenic gas prevents contact of the sterile cryogenic liquid with a non-sterile atmosphere via pressurization and purging during dispensing of same.

Abstract: A method for providing a controlled atmosphere in a food storage facility, which comprises:a) feeding a portion of an atmosphere from a food storage facility, containing carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen, to a feed side of a membrane having a higher permeability to carbon dioxide than to nitrogen,b) recycling the carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen not permeating the membrane back to the storage facility, and venting the carbon dioxide-enriched gas permeating the membrane to the atmosphere, andc) using a membrane-based system to maintain the required atmospheric composition and pressure in the food storage facility.

Abstract: A process for recovering CO.sub.2 from a CO.sub.2 liquifaction plant vent gas, which comprises feeding vent gas from a CO.sub.2 liquifaction plant to a first semi-permeable gas separation membrane through which and at a pressure at which CO.sub.2 is capable of diffusing therethrough, to form a CO.sub.2 -enriched permeate, and then returning the CO.sub.2 -enriched permeate to a feed side of said CO.sub.2 liquifaction plant at a pressure capable of effecting the same.

Abstract: A method for the substantial separation of at least one gas component from a gas mixture to generate a residue gas substantially depleted of the gas components to be separated. A semipermeable membrane is provided which has a feed gas side and a sweep gas side. The feed gas side is contacted with a feed gas mixture containing at least one gas to be retained and at least one gas to be separated therefrom. The sweep side is simultaneously contacted with a sweep gas having a pressure lower than that of the feed gas. The partial pressure of certain gas components present on both sides of the membrane are balanced to cause the remaining gas components to diffuse in either direction across the membrane depending upon their differential partial pressures. Apparatus for the gas separation is also provided.