Abstract: A gas conversion process including catalytic hydrocarbon synthesis from a synthesis gas comprising a mixture of H.sub.2 and CO, produces hydrogen from the synthesis gas and upgrades synthesized hydrocarbons by one or more hydroconversion operations which utilize this hydrogen. The hydroconversion also produces a hydrogen rich tail gas which is used in the process for at least one of (i) hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst rejuvenation, (ii) the hydrocarbon synthesis, and (iii) hydrogen production. In one embodiment the tail gas is used to hydrodesulfurize sulfur-containing hydrocarbon liquids recovered from the natural gas used to form the synthesis gas. The hydrogen production is accomplished by physical separation, such as PSA, with or without chemical means such as a water gas shift reaction.

Abstract: Pentane (or similar light hydrocarbon) is used in a gas conversion process to consume the exothermic heat of reaction in the Fischer-Tropsch process, and expanded to produce the energy to drive the air plant compressors.

Abstract: An invention involving a process and apparatus for isotope-separation applications such as uranium-isotope enrichment is disclosed which employs cascades of gas centrifuges. A preferred apparatus relates to an isotope-enrichment unit which includes a first group of cascades of gas centrifuges and an auxiliary cascade. Each cascade has an input, a light-fraction output, and a heavy-fraction output for separating a gaseous-mixture feed including a compound of a light nuclear isotope and a compound of a heavy nuclear isotope into light and heavy fractions respectively enriched and depleted in the light isotope. The cascades of the first group have at least one enriching stage and at least one stripping stage. An example of such a gaseous mixture is uranium hexafluoride incorporating uranium-235 and uranium-238.

Abstract: A process for cooling and condensing natural gas in a plurality of convective heat exchange stages by means of multicomponent refrigerants. The first refrigerant cools the natural gas and the second refrigerant from ambient temperature in a first heat exchange stage. Then the second refrigerant cools the natural gas further in a second stage and afterward is compressed while still below ambient temperature to an intermediate pressure where it is joined by the first refrigerant for further compression and cooling to ambient temperature before separating the two refrigerants and repeating the refrigeration cycle.