Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process which includes switching a plurality of adsorption columns packed with an adsorbent successively to an adsorption step, a pressure equalization step, an evacuation step, a vacuum purge step, a pressure equalization step and a repressurization step to allow a more strongly adsorbable component gas contained in a gaseous mixture to be adsorbed on the adsorbent and to separate a less strongly adsorbable component gas. The process further includes compressing the thus separated less strongly adsorbable component gas by a product gas compressor to supply it as a product gas.

Abstract: A condenser-evaporator is constituted in such a way that first fluid chambers and second fluid chambers are alternately formed by multiple vertical partitions and a liquid in the first fluid chambers exchange heat with a fluid in the second fluid chambers, characterized in that a plurality of heat exchanger plates are arranged in multiple stages in the first fluid chambers to form a liquid passage having one end open, a plurality of liquid reservoirs communicating with the liquid passage and having a top open are provided in multiple stages on a side of the other end of the liquid passage, and a liquid is introduced in the liquid passage for heat exchange while being supplied to the liquid reservoir in each stage. Accordingly, the depth of the liquid is shallow so as to prevent a boiling point elevation due to the liquid head pressure, thus improving the efficiency of the condenser-evaporator.

Abstract: An outdoor unit of an air conditioner of an engine heat pump type comprises an engine; first and second compressors driven by the engine and having substantially same capacity and heat exchangers for the compressors, said heat exchanger for the first compressor being adapted to utilize an atmosphere as a heat source in a heating operation, said heat exchanger for the second compressor being adapted to utilize a waste heat of the engine as a heat source in the heating operation, a rotation speed of the second compressor being set smaller than that of the first compressor in the heating operation, only the second compressor is adapted to operate in a defrosting operation for the heating operation while utilizing the waste heat of the engine as the heat source, said compressors being adapted to operate in a cooling operation and a rotation speed of the engine and a number of the compressors to be operated being controlled so as to control a cooling capacity in the cooling operation.