Abstract: In various implementations, feed streams that include methane are reacted to produce synthesis gas. The synthesis gas may be further processed to produce ultrapure, high-pressure hydrogen streams.

Abstract: In various implementations, various feed gas streams which include hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be processed for conversion to product streams. For example, the feed gas stream may be processed using the Fischer-Tropsch process. Unconverted hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be recycled using an off-gas catalytic reformer and a gas turbine exhaust gas heat exchanger that will perform preheating duties.

Abstract: In various implementations, various feed gas streams which include hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be processed for conversion to product streams. For example, the feed gas stream may be processed using the Fischer-Tropsch process or a methanol synthesis process. Unconverted hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be recycled at high recovery and/or inert components removed to prevent build-up in the recycle system by using an arrangement of pressure swing adsorption systems designed to recover impure product gas streams.

Abstract: A process of liquefying gas to produce a liquid cryogen comprising compressing a gas stream using a compressor, work expanding the compressed gas stream using at least one expansion turbine to produce an expanded gas stream together with power, mechanically transferring the power generated by the expansion turbine(s) to drive the compressor, using the expanded gas stream to provide refrigeration duty for liquefaction, and recycling the cooled expanded compressed gas stream to the compressor.

Abstract: A containment enclosure (1) for a cryogenic unit (2) has a chamber (7) in which the cryogenic unit (2) is located. A chamber wall (4, 5, 6) includes thermally insulating bricks (10, 11) for thermally insulating the cryogenic unit (2) in the chamber (7). The chamber wall (4, 5, 6) is impermeable to liquid leaking from the cryogenic unit (2). A sump (30) is provided for receiving any liquid leaking from the cryogenic unit (2). Withdrawing means (31) are provided for withdrawing liquid from the sump (30) through an open uppermost end of the sump (30).

Abstract: High pressure gaseous oxygen is obtained safely and without compression by heating pumped liquid oxygen in a printed circuit type heat exchanger having layers of transversely extending laterally spaced channels with each layer being in thermal contact with at least one other layer. Oxygen is vaporized in channels of oxygen-layers against heat exchange fluid passing through channels of heat exchange layers. The walls of the oxygen layer channels are formed of ferrous alloy and have a cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the direction of flow, having a thickness at its narrowest of at least about 10%, and on average at least about 15%, of the combined hydraulic mean diameters of the adjacent channels, and the ratio of cross-sectional area, in said plane, of the walls to the cross-sectional area of the channels is no less than about 0.7.

Abstract: High pressure gaseous oxygen is obtained safely and without compression by heating pumped liquid oxygen in a printed circuit type heat exchanger having layers of transversely extending laterally spaced channels with each layer being in thermal contact with at least one other layer. Oxygen is vaporized in channels of oxygen-layers against heat exchange fluid passing through channels of heat exchange layers. The walls of the oxygen layer channels are formed of ferrous alloy and have a cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the direction of flow, having a thickness at its narrowest of at least about 10%, and on average at least about 15%, of the combined hydraulic mean diameters of the adjacent channels, and the ratio of cross-sectional area, in said plane, of the walls to the cross-sectional area of the channels is no less than about 0.7.

Abstract: An ozone containing gas stream is produced from oxygen by subjecting oxygen to an electric discharge and the ozone is then adsorbed on to a solid adsorbent, such as zeolite, the oxygen containing stream leaving the adsorbent is recycled to the ozonising process. Periodically, oxygen adsorbed on the adsorbent is desorbed by co-currently passing a purge gas over the adsorbent and the desorbed oxygen is also recycled to the ozoniser. Lastly ozone is desorbed from the adsorbent by a counter-current flow of purge gas and used in an ozone demanding process.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation unit (ASU) provides flows of oxygen and nitrogen. The oxygen is used in a process such as COREX iron making or the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons, or in an oxycoal fuelled blast furnace, producing an off-gas containing useful components (H.sub.2 and CO) and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is removed by pressure swing adsorption using nitrogen from the ASU as a regeneration gas and the purified off-gas becomes a feed gas to a further process such as production of iron by direct reduction of iron ore or the production of a NH.sub.3 making ammonia or is recycled into the first process as a feed gas.

Abstract: Oxygen is separated from air by a high temperature ion transport membrane which is integrated with a gas turbine system for energy recovery from the membrane nonpermeate stream. Air is compressed, heated in a first heating step, and passed through the feed side of a mixed conductor membrane zone to produce a high purity oxygen product on the permeate side of the membrane zone. Nonpermeate gas from the membrane zone is heated in a second heating step and passed through a hot gas turbine for power recovery. Water is added to the nonpermeate gas prior to the hot gas turbine to increase mass flow to the turbine and thus balance the mass flows of the air feed compressor and the expansion turbine.

Abstract: A refrigeration system using air as the refrigerant comprises a compressor which compresses air to 84 bar g. The compressed air is cooled first by cooling water and then by returning air in a plate-fin heat exchanger before being expanded to 59 bar g in an expander. The expanded air at -61.degree. C. is passed through indirect cooling coils in a cold store which it leaves at -45.degree. C. This air is then passed through the plate-fin heat exchanger before being recycled to the compressor. The refrigeration delivered is about 1.05 kw refrigeration/kw power input.

Abstract: An integrated cryogenic air separation unit power cycle system is disclosed wherein the air separation unit (ASU) is operated at elevated pressure to produce moderate pressure nitrogen. The integrated cycle combines a gasification section wherein a carbon source, e.g., coal is converted to fuel and combusted in a combustion zone. The combustion gases are supplemented with nitrogen from the air separation unit and expanded in a turbine. Air to the cryogenic air separation unit is supplied via a compressor independent of the compressor used to supply air to the combustion zone used for combusting the fuel gas generated in the gasifier system.

Abstract: The present invention is a reformation process using a compact, plate-fin heat exchanger with multi-stream, multi-passage capability to provide parallel juxtaposed heat exchange of the various process streams of a reformation process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for utilizing one stream from a gas separation unit in an evaporation cooler to provide cool water which is used to cool the feed gas mixture by direct or indirect contact prior to entering the gas separation unit.

Abstract: An integrated cryogenic air separation unit power cycle system is disclosed wherein the air separation unit (ASU) is operated at elevated pressure to produce moderate pressure nitrogen. The integrated cycle combines a gasification section wherein a carbon source, e.g., coal is converted to fuel and combusted in a combustion zone. The combustion gases are supplemental with nitrogen from the air separation unit and expanded in a turbine. Air to the cryogenic air separation unit is supplied via a compressor independent of the compressor used to supply air to the combustion zone used for combusting the fuel gas generated in the gasifier system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement to a cryogenic air separation process having an argon sidearm column. The improvement to the process for maximizing argon recovery comprises effectuating the intimate contact of the liquid phase stream and the vapor phase stream in the low pressure column and the argon sidearm column of an integrated multi-column, e.g. three column, cryogenic distillation system by utilizing a structured or ordered packing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement to a conventional cryogenic air separation process having an argon sidearm column. The improvement to the process comprises reducing the pressure of the feed gas to the argon sidearm column across a control valve and operating the argon sidearm column at the lowest possible pressure consistent with a minimum temperature difference across the overhead condenser and the unrestricted return of crude oxygen vapor from the overhead condenser to the low pressure column.

Abstract: An ammonia synthesis gas mixture comprised of substantially pure hydrogen and nitrogen in approximately 3/1 molar ratio is obtained form two stage reforming of a methane-rich hydrocarbon charge such as natural gas. About 40% of the fresh natural gas is charged to primary steam reforming and the obtained primary reformate product, containing about 17 volume percent of unreacted methane, is mixed with the other 60% of the fresh natural gas and the mixture is subjected to oxidative reforming with enriched air containing 30 to 35 of O.sub.2, said enriched air being supplied in an amount to produce a secondary reformate containing principally hydrogen and nitrogen, accompanied by a minor amount of oxides of carbon (CO and CO.sub.2). The secondary reformate subjected to shift reaction with steam results in conversion of contained CO to CO.sub.2, thereby releasing hydrogen in an amount which together with the hydrogen previously present in said reformate obtains a H.sub.2 /N.sub.2 molar ratio of about 3/1.

Abstract: Low pressure steam leaving a turbine (108) is used to preheat a major part of the feed water to a boiler (107) to a higher temperature than the balance of the feed water. The preheated part of the feed water is then introduced into the boiler (107) at a higher temperature zone than the remainder of the feed water.

Abstract: The fuel required to provide the energy for compressing a gas can be reduced by compressing the gas substantially adiabatically through a pressure ratio of at least 2.5:1 in a compressor, cooling the hot compressed gas by heat exchange with water at superatmospheric pressure, further heating the water to produce super-heated steam and using the superheated steam to drive the compressor. The total amount of fuel consumed can be considerably less than that used for compressing gas conventionally (i.e. substantially isothermally).