Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a windmill pump driven by a spool.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an Integrated Drive Generator (IDG) geared to a low spool to selectively accelerate the low spool during a transient condition.

Abstract: Embodiments of a gas turbine engine cooling system for deployment within a gas turbine engine are provided, as are embodiment of a method for producing a gas turbine engine cooling system. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine cooling system includes an impeller having a hub, a plurality of hub bleed air passages, and a central bleed air conduit. The plurality of hub bleed air passages each have an inlet formed in an outer circumferential surface of the hub and an outlet formed in an inner circumferential surface of the hub. The central bleed air conduit is fluidly coupled to the outlets of the plurality of hub bleed air passages and is configured to conduct bleed air discharged by the plurality of hub bleed air passages to a section of the gas turbine engine downstream of the impeller to provide cooling air thereto.

Abstract: A compressor bleed cooling fluid feed system for a turbine engine for directing cooling fluids from a compressor to a turbine airfoil cooling system to supply cooling fluids to one or more airfoils of a rotor assembly is disclosed. The compressor bleed cooling fluid feed system may enable cooling fluids to be exhausted from a compressor exhaust plenum through a downstream compressor bleed collection chamber and into the turbine airfoil cooling system. As such, the suction created in the compressor exhaust plenum mitigates boundary layer growth along the inner surface while providing flow of cooling fluids to the turbine airfoils.

Abstract: In a cooling structure for a recovery-type air-cooled gas turbine combustor having a recovery-type air-cooling structure that bleeds, upstream of the combustor, and pressurizes compressed air supplied from a compressor, that uses the bled and pressurized air to cool a wall, and that recovers and reuses the bled and pressurized air as combustion air for burning fuel in the combustor together with a main flow of the compressed air, wall cooling in which cooling air is supplied to cooling air passages formed in the wall of the combustor to perform cooling involves a downstream wall region, closer to a turbine, that is cooled using the bled and pressurized air as the cooling air and an upstream wall region, closer to a burner, that is cooled using, as the cooling air, bled compressed air bled from a main flow of the compressed air through a housing inner space.

Abstract: A shaft cover support for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The shaft cover support not only provides enhanced support to a shaft cover of the gas turbine engine, but also includes a cooling fluid chamber for passing fluids from a rotor air cooling supply conduit to an inner ring cooling manifold. As such, the shaft cover support accomplishes in a single component what was only partially accomplished in two components in conventional configurations. The shaft cover support may also provide additional stiffness and reduce interference of the flow from the compressor. In addition, the shaft cover support accommodates a transition section extending between compressor and turbine sections of the engine. The shaft cover support has a radially extending region that is offset from the inlet and outlet that enables the shaft cover support to surround the transition, thereby reducing the overall length of this section of the engine.

Abstract: A shaft cover support for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The shaft cover support not only provides enhanced support to a shaft cover of the gas turbine engine, but also includes a cooling fluid chamber for passing fluids from a rotor air cooling supply conduit to an inner ring cooling manifold. Furthermore, the shaft cover support may include a cooling shield supply extending from the cooling fluid chamber between the radially outward inlet and the radially inward outlet on the radially extending region and in fluid communication with the cooling fluid chamber for providing cooling fluids to a transition section. The shaft cover support may also provide additional stiffness and reduce interference of the flow from the compressor. In addition, the shaft cover support accommodates a transition section extending between compressor and turbine sections of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an open rotor type aircraft turbine engine (1), comprising a contrarotating propeller receiver (30) and a dual-body gas generator (14) comprising a low-pressure compressor (16) and a high-pressure compressor (18) separated by an intermediate housing (27), said gas generator being arranged upstream from said receiver. According to the invention, the turbine engine further comprises a structural casing (50) for supporting the receiver (30), surrounding the gas generator (14) and having a downstream end (50a) attached to said receiver and an upstream end (50b) attached to said intermediate housing (27). Furthermore, it comprises additional connection means (60) between said structural supporting casing and the gas generator, arranged between the upstream and downstream ends (50b, 50a) of the casing.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a constant speed transmission driven by a spool.

Abstract: A temperature control device includes: a top plate; a heat exchanger plate; a thermoelectric module including a temperature-control-side electrode disposed near the top plate, a heat-exchanger-side electrode disposed near the heat exchanger plate and a thermoelectric element of which one side is connected with the temperature-control-side electrode and the other side is connected with the heat-exchanger-side electrode; and a polyimide film provided on the thermoelectric module near the top plate. The thermoelectric module is spaced apart from and surrounded by a seal wall having a ceramic outer circumference and disposed between the polyimide film and the heat exchanger plate. An adhesion sheet or an adhesive is interposed between the seal wall and the polyimide film.

Abstract: A self-cooling beverage container comprising a space between outer and inner walls, the space containing a liquid that is mixed with a chemical contained within a compartment within the base of the beverage container. The compartment within the base of the beverage container has a rupture portion located within the space between the outer and inner walls, and pressure on the base of the beverage container causes the rupture portion to open, allowing mixing of the chemical and the liquid. The chemical and the liquid react in an endothermic reaction, cooling the contents of the beverage container.

Abstract: A pressure control apparatus for a cryogenic storage tank includes a heat pipe extending into the storage tank and having a first end in contact with liquid cryogen in the storage tank, and a second end exposed to an atmosphere external to the storage tank such that heat flux occurs in the liquid cryogen proximate the first end of the heat pipe for providing a cryogenic gas and pressure to the liquid cryogen in the storage tank. Another embodiment includes a sleeve for the second end to control the heat flux in the liquid cryogen.

Abstract: An HVAC system includes an electronic expansion valve, a motor, an obturator connected to the motor, the obturator being selectively movable in response to operation of the motor, a removable seat selectively received within a complementary portion of the electronic expansion valve, the removable seat being selectively movable in response to operation of the motor.

Abstract: An air conditioning system has a controller and a receiver located between an indoor and outdoor units. The receiver serves as an auxiliary reservoir for refrigerant. The controller generates signals to adjust the amount of refrigerant to be stored in this reservoir as a way of adjusting the amount of refrigerant flowing in the system during various modes of operation. By increasing or decreasing the amount of refrigerant in the receiver, the controller may achieve or maintain a desired level of performance and/or efficiency.

Abstract: An air conditioner and a method of operating an air conditioner are provided. The air conditioner may include a heat pump having a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that condenses or evaporates a refrigerant by heat exchange with heat source water; a heat source water flow path connected to the water-refrigerant heat exchanger; a pump installed on the heat source water flow path; a variable flow valve installed on the heat source water flow path; and a variable flow valve controller that controls an opening degree of the variable flow valve. The variable flow valve controller may include a heat source water minimum flow manipulator that manipulates a minimum flow rate of the heat source water and regulates the opening degree of the variable flow valve according to the manipulation of the heat source water minimum flow manipulator. Accordingly, a user or installation personnel may selectively regulate power consumption and efficiency as desired.

Abstract: A high performance refrigerator includes a cabinet with a refrigerated interior, an insulating cover separating a portion of the cabinet from the refrigerated interior, and a refrigeration fluid circuit having an evaporator located within the portion of the cabinet separated by the insulating cover from the refrigerated interior. The refrigerator also includes a controller that commands the refrigerator to perform a defrosting cycle when the evaporator coil requires defrosting. This defrosting cycle includes closing dampers in the insulating cover during the defrosting of the evaporator coil, thereby keeping the refrigerated interior thermally isolated from the evaporator during the defrost cycle. The controller is also operable to stop operation of a defrost heater when the evaporator reaches a first target temperature above the freezing point of water, and to re-open the dampers when the evaporator reaches a second target temperature above the freezing point of water.

Abstract: A high performance refrigerator includes a cabinet with a refrigerated interior, a refrigeration fluid circuit having an evaporator located within an insulated evaporator compartment outside the cabinet, and at least one damper that opens to permit air circulation from the refrigerated interior through the evaporator compartment. The refrigerator also includes a eutectic member configured to melt at an operating temperature of the refrigerator. The evaporator cools the refrigerated interior to a temperature below the operating temperature so that the eutectic member melts to cool the refrigerated interior or the evaporator compartment during a defrost cycle. The insulated evaporator cover limits heat transfer into the refrigerated interior during the defrost cycle to avoid temperature spikes in the refrigerated interior.

Abstract: A high performance refrigerator includes a cabinet with a unitary refrigerated interior and a refrigeration fluid circuit having first and second evaporators located within the cabinet and separated from the refrigerated interior by respective first and second evaporator covers. The refrigerator also includes a first damper controlling flow between the first evaporator and the refrigerated interior, and a second damper controlling flow between the second evaporator and the refrigerated interior. A controller directs the refrigerator to operate a three-way valve in the refrigeration fluid circuit so as to direct refrigerant to only one of the evaporators when the other requires defrosting. Both evaporators may be used to remove heat from the unitary refrigerated interior during an initial cooling or immediately after the cabinet is opened.

Abstract: A high performance refrigerator includes a cabinet with a refrigerated interior and a refrigeration fluid circuit having first and second evaporators located within the cabinet and separated from the refrigerated interior by an insulating cover. The refrigerator also includes a first damper controlling flow from the refrigerated interior into the first evaporator, a second damper controlling flow from the first evaporator to the second evaporator, and a third damper controlling flow from the second evaporator to the refrigerated interior. The first evaporator operates with refrigerant at a lower temperature than the second evaporator such that substantially all frost formed on the first and second evaporators is collected on a first evaporator coil in the first evaporator. Thus, the first evaporator acts as a sacrificial evaporator that undergoes defrost more frequently than the second evaporator.

Abstract: A high performance refrigerator or freezer includes a cabinet with a refrigerated interior, a first evaporator cover separating a first evaporator compartment within the cabinet from the refrigerated interior, and a refrigeration fluid circuit having a first evaporator located within the first evaporator compartment, a second evaporator, and a three-way valve enabling selective communication of refrigerant to one or both of the evaporators. The second evaporator includes an air diffuser that receives chilled air from the first evaporator compartment and delivers the chilled air into the refrigerated interior. During normal operation, the three-way valve only directs refrigerant into the first evaporator such that the first evaporator cools the cabinet and the chilled air from the first evaporator passively defrosts the second evaporator by sublimation.

Abstract: A mist cooling assembly (20) comprising a housing (21), a plurality of water misting outlets (55) generally aligned in a row along said housing (21), the misting outlets (55) being spaced along a misting width, and at least one air flow source (50) disposed within said housing (21) for supplying an air flow (59), wherein the housing (21) comprises at least one air flow outlet (36) adapted to direct the air flow (59) in use adjacent said misting outlets (55) and substantially spanning the misting width.

Abstract: A method and system for condensing water from ambient air. A dew extracting device with a dew extraction zone having surfaces has the surfaces chilled to below dew temperature for a first period of time. An air moving device directs a flow of air over the chilled surfaces so that liquid water condenses on the surfaces, raising the temperature of the surfaces. The chilling of the surfaces is terminated for a second period of time and liquid water is removed from the surfaces and heat of condensation is removed from the dew extraction zone. Then the process repeats to obtain additional liquid water.

Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet; a first compartment; and a second compartment. The first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a horizontal mullion. The cabinet also typically includes a coolant system that has: a single compressor for regulating a temperature of the first compartment and a temperature of the second compartment operably connected to at least one evaporator; a shared coolant fluid connection system; and a coolant fluid spaced within the shared coolant fluid connection system used to regulate both the temperature of the first compartment and the second compartment. The compressor can provide the shared coolant at at least two different pressures to at least one evaporator using the shared coolant fluid connection circuit. The ratio of the substantially steady state heat gain for the first compartment to the substantially steady state total heat gain for the overall cabinet is about 0.65:1 or greater.

Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet; a first compartment; and a second compartment. The first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a vertical mullion. The cabinet also typically includes a coolant system that has: a single compressor for regulating a temperature of the first compartment and a temperature of the second compartment operably connected to at least one evaporator; a shared coolant fluid connection system; and a coolant fluid spaced within the shared coolant fluid connection system used to regulate both the temperature of the first compartment and the second compartment. The compressor can provide the shared coolant at at least two different pressures to at least one evaporator using the shared coolant fluid connection circuit. The ratio of the substantially steady state heat gain for the first compartment to the substantially steady state total heat gain for the overall cabinet is about 0.65:1 or greater.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator. Data about operations and states of the refrigerator are accumulated in a portable memory unit detachably attached to the refrigerator. Therefore, the portable memory unit can be detached from the refrigerator and connected to a personal computer (PC) to analyze reasons of errors of the refrigerator and find out potential errors of the refrigerator. Accordingly, maintenance of the refrigerator can be easily carried out.

Abstract: A chiller control apparatus increases or decreases chillers in order to efficiently operate an entire chiller system. When the number of chillers increases, an insufficient load value calculation unit calculates an insufficient amount of a load for a required load. Then, using a COP obtained according to an operating environment of the chiller, a chiller-to-be-operated selection unit selects, from among stopped chillers, a chiller having the highest COP when operated with an insufficient amount of a load, as the chiller to be subjected to stage increase. Further, when the number of chillers decreases, an operation pattern extraction unit extracts operation patterns that are combinations of chillers to be operated according to the required load.

Abstract: A cooling system has a cabinet and a plurality of separate cooling stages including an upstream cooling stage and a downstream cooling stage. At least the upstream cooling state is a variable capacity cooling stage. Each cooling stage has a cooling circuit. Evaporators of the cooling circuits are arranged in the cabinet so that air passes over them in serial fashion. A controller when a Call for Cooling first reaches a point where cooling is needed, operating the upstream cooling circuit to provide cooling and not the downstream cooling circuit. When the Call for Cooling has increased to a second point, the controller additionally operates the downstream cooling circuit to provide cooling. The cooling capacity at which the upstream cooling circuit is being operated is less than its full capacity when the Call for Cooling reaches the second point.

Abstract: A cooling system has a cooling circuit that includes an evaporator disposed in a cabinet, a condenser, a compressor, an electronic expansion valve and a liquid pump. a direct expansion mode and a pumped refrigerant economizer mode. When the cooling system is in the pumped refrigerant economizer mode, the controller controls a temperature of the refrigerant to a refrigerant temperature set point by regulating a speed of a fan of the condenser, controls a temperature of air in a room in which the cabinet is disposed to a room air temperature setpoint by regulating a speed of the liquid pump, and maintains a pressure differential across the liquid pump within a given range by regulating an open position of an electronic expansion valve.

Abstract: A cooling system has a tandem compressor, a condenser, an electronic expansion valve and an evaporator arranged in a direct expansion cooling circuit. The tandem compressor includes a variable capacity compressor and a fixed capacity compressor. A controller controls the electronic expansion valve and selects which of a plurality of superheat control modes to use in operating the electronic expansion valve based on control parameters and a current operating status of each of the variable capacity compressor and fixed capacity compressor of the tandem compressor.

Abstract: A cooling system has a plurality of separate cooling stages including an upstream cooling stage having an upstream cooling circuit and a downstream cooling stage including a downstream cooling circuit, which are each a direct expansion cooling circuit including a tandem compressor. Each tandem compressor includes a fixed capacity compressor and a variable capacity compressor. A controller controls the fixed capacity compressor and variable capacity compressor of each tandem compressor based on a Call for Cooling, which of a plurality of ranges the Call for Cooling falls within, and whether the Call for Cooling is ramping up or ramping down.

Abstract: Disclosed are a compressor control device, a method for controlling a compressor, and a refrigerator including the same. The present invention enables: a compressor to be driven by using a mode selectively to be driven by an inverter and a mode which directly uses a supply voltage, according to the quality of electricity of the supply voltage; loss which is caused by the use of the inverter to be reduced or removed by directly providing the supply voltage to the compressor within a certain voltage or frequency range; and increased energy efficiency by reducing power consumption.

Abstract: An air-conditioning unit for a vehicle that has an idling stop function, may include: a blower fan configured to blow air; a first air-outlet port configured to permit air blown from the blower fan toward a first portion of a vehicle cabin; a second air-outlet port configured to permit air blown from the blower fan toward a second portion of the vehicle cabin; and an air-conditioning controller.

Abstract: A refrigerated device has an evaporative condensate dissipation system for disposing water from its cooling element during defrosting. Progressive stages operating at increasing temperatures provide a cascading evaporative dissipation. One pan receives water from the cooling coil and operates at ambient temperature for a first evaporative dissipation. Overflow from the pan flows through a first standpipe to a second stage. The second stage includes another pan that receives water from the first standpipe, and is heated by hot gas refrigerant for operation at a higher second temperature to provide a second evaporative dissipation. Overflow from the second pan is directed through a second standpipe to a third stage. The third stage includes a third pan that receives the water from the second pan via the second standpipe, and is heated by an electric heater for operation at a higher third temperature to provide a third evaporative dissipation.

Abstract: A first bypass pipe has one end connected to a main pipe extending from a compressor to an indoor heat exchanger, and its other end branched off into parts that are each connected to the main pipe on an inlet side of an outdoor heat exchanger, and a second bypass pipe has one end connected to an injection port communicating with the compression chamber of the compressor in which compression is taking place and its other end branched off into parts that are each connected to the main pipe on an outlet side of the outdoor heat exchangers. During a defrosting operation that removes frost on the outdoor heat exchangers, a part of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is supplied from the first bypass pipe to the outdoor heat exchanger to be defrosted, and is then passed through the second bypass pipe and injected from the injection port of the compressor.

Abstract: A combination modular drain pan and horizontally positioned cooling coil assembly, providing dual pass dehumidification, including a housing, a plurality of adjacent discrete horizontal cooling coils each receiving air from an air distribution manifold. The air distribution manifold receives air from a inlet air stream and forming a single large horizontally positioned cooling coil module assembly. Each discrete horizontal cooling coil has a respective heat exchange area directly thereabove and a drain pan therebelow.

Abstract: An indoor unit of an air conditioner includes an intake port, a heat exchanger, a fan, and a discharge port. The intake port introduces air. The heat exchanger exchanges heat with the introduced air. The fan is disposed above the heat exchanger. The discharge port discharges the air after exchanging heat with the heat exchanger. The intake port is lower than a center of the fan. The discharge port is higher than the center of the fan.

Abstract: A modular drain pan assembly with one-piece construction, having no seams in the condensate collection area and using multiple small drain pans with drip caps to avoid leakage between individual pans.

Abstract: A heat pump system includes a heat pump circuit, a heat load circuit, first and second heat exchangers, a flow rate regulation mechanism and a controller. A first passage connects branching and converging portions of the heat load circuit. A second passage connects the branching and converging portions without converging with the first passage. The first and second heat exchanger perform heat exchange between discharge refrigerant from the low and high stage compression mechanisms and fluid in the first and second passages, respectively. The flow rate regulation mechanism regulates a ratio between flow rates through the first and second passages. The controller controls the flow rate regulation mechanism so that the fluid is allowed to flow to the first heat exchanger when a temperature of refrigerant flowing into the first heat exchanger is lower than a heating target temperature of converged fluid flowing through the heat load circuit.

Abstract: A refrigerator with an ice making device. The refrigerator includes a body defined with a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, and an ice making compartment, the ice making compartment arranged in the refrigerating compartment while being thermally insulated from the refrigerating compartment, a first evaporator arranged in the refrigerating compartment, a second evaporator arranged in the freezing compartment, a refrigerating duct for circulating cold air from the first evaporator to the refrigerating compartment, a freezing duct for circulating cold air from the second evaporator to the freezing compartment, and an ice making flow passage for communicating the second evaporator and the ice making compartment. The second evaporator, ice making compartment, and ice making flow passage form a closed circuit such that the cold air in the ice making compartment does not enter the refrigerating compartment.

Abstract: A machine for producing products such as ice cream, frozen beverages or granita comprises a product container which is provided with a tap for dispensing the product. A cylinder with a substantially horizontal axis, which forms the evaporator of a refrigerating circuit of the machine for cooling the product in the container, projects from a rear wall into the container. A mixer element is present around the cylinder and rotates coaxially with the axis of the cylinder by means of a motor unit connected to the mixer element by means of a drive shaft which passes along the axis of the cylinder and which is connected to the mixer element at one end of the cylinder which is opposite to the said rear wall. The motor unit is at least partially housed inside the cylinder through the said rear wall, so as to reduce the overall dimensions of the machine.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an ice bucket for a refrigerator and methods of using the same. The ice bucket is mounted on a door of the refrigerator and includes a platform that is movable along a vertical axis from a lowered position at a bottom portion of the ice bucket to a raised position at a top portion of the ice bucket.

Abstract: The refrigeration compressor according to the invention includes a sealed enclosure containing a compression stage and provided with a refrigerant inlet and outlet, the compressor being configured such that under usage conditions, a flow of refrigerant circulates through the refrigerant inlet, the compression stage, and the refrigerant outlet. The compressor has an oil pan and oil recirculation means arranged to orient the oil contained in the oil pan into the flow of refrigerant when the oil in the oil pan exceeds a predetermined oil level. The recirculation means include a recirculation line housed in the sealed enclosure and including an inlet port situated at a height substantially corresponding to the predetermined oil level, an outlet port emerging in the refrigerant flow, and an intermediate part connecting the inlet and outlet ports. The intermediate part includes a first portion extending below the predetermined oil level.

Abstract: According to a compressor and a refrigeration cycle device using same of the present invention, a refrigerant and refrigeration oil 103 are sealed in an container 101, the refrigerant is a hydrofluoroolefin having double bond of carbon in its composition or a mixture of hydrofluoroolefin as a base component and hydrofluorocarbon having no double bond, and at least one of benzotriazole, dialkyl dithiophosphoric acid zinc, dialkyl selenium, metal phenate, and organic nitrogen compound is included in the refrigeration oil 103, and it is an object to suppress the decomposition and polymerization of refrigeration oil and a refrigerant, and to secure reliability of the compressor and the refrigeration cycle device.

Abstract: A heat pump system includes a heat pump circuit, a load distribution element, and a controller. The heat pump circuit includes low-stage and high-stage compression mechanisms having a fixed capacity ratio relationship. The load distribution element establishes a load distribution between first and second heat loads subjected to heating processes by heat exchange with refrigerant discharged from the low-stage and high-stage compression mechanisms, respectively. The controller performs distribution control to maintain a ratio of 1 between temperatures of the refrigerant discharged from the low-stage and high stage compression mechanisms and after heat exchange with the first and second heat loads, respectively. Alternatively, the controller performs distribution control to reduce a difference between the temperatures of the refrigerant discharged from the low-stage and high stage compression mechanisms and after heat exchange with the first and second heat loads, respectively.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for treating a hydrocarbon stream having methane, at least a part of the hydrocarbon stream and a main refrigerant stream are cooled by indirect heat exchanging against a pre-cooling refrigerant. The pre-cooled hydrocarbon stream is passed to a first inlet of an extraction column, and an effluent stream is discharged from the extraction column. The effluent stream and at least a part of the pre-cooled main refrigerant stream are passed to a further heat exchanger, where they are both cooled thereby providing a cooled methane-enriched hydrocarbon stream and at least one cooled main refrigerant stream. The passing of the effluent stream to the further heat exchanger and the passing of the pre-cooled hydrocarbon stream to the first inlet of the extraction column includes indirectly heat exchanging the effluent stream against the pre-cooled hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A gas cleaning system is operative for removing water vapour from a carbon dioxide rich flue gas generated in a boiler combusting a fuel in the presence of a gas containing oxygen gas. The gas cleaning system comprises a flue gas condenser (12) being operative for condensing water from at least a portion of the carbon dioxide rich flue gas generated in the boiler by bringing the carbon dioxide rich flue gas into contact with a circulating cooling liquid, thereby generating a cleaned carbon dioxide rich flue gas having a lower concentration of water vapour than the carbon dioxide rich flue gas leaving the boiler. The gas cleaning system comprises a heat pump (100) being operative for absorbing heat at a first temperature from the cooling liquid, and for desorbing heat at a second temperature, being higher than the first temperature, to a heat sink (124).

Abstract: A system for removing acid gases from a raw gas stream is provided. The system includes a cryogenic distillation column. The cryogenic distillation column receives a dehydrated and chilled sour gas stream, and separates the sour gas stream into an overhead gas stream comprised primarily of methane, and a bottom acid gas stream comprised primarily of carbon dioxide. The system also includes a series of co-current contactors. The co-current contactors may be placed in series to receive the bottom acid gas stream and recapture any entrained methane gas. Alternatively or in addition, the co-current contactors may be placed in series to receive the overhead gas stream, and sweeten it using a reflux liquid such as methane. In this instance, the sweetened gas is optionally liquefied and delivered for commercial sale, or is used as fuel gas on-site.

Abstract: In a process for separating air by cryogenic distillation, an oxygen-rich stream having a first oxygen purity of less than 98 mol % oxygen is withdrawn from the column system and sent to a customer, an oxygen-rich liquid stream having a second oxygen purity, possibly lower than 98 mol % oxygen, is sent to a storage tank, liquid is periodically withdrawn from the storage tank and sent to a back-up reboiler, to produce a back-up product, and a liquid stream having a third oxygen purity, lower than the first purity, is withdrawn from the bottom of at least one column of the column system and/or from the auxiliary reboiler and sent to the storage tank as a purge stream during a stoppage in the operation of the column system.

Abstract: Various aspects described or referenced herein are directed to different apparatus and systems relating to hinged backing apparatuses for jewelry and piercings. One aspect disclosed herein relates to articles of jewelry and particularly stud earrings and other jewelry to be introduced and fixed in a hole practiced in some parts of the body (earlobes, mouth, nostril, etc.).

Abstract: Hardened cobalt alloys for forming jewelry, including finger rings as well as methods and processes for producing such alloys. In one illustrative embodiment, such an alloy can contain cobalt in an amount of from about 35 wt % to about 65 wt %, in combination with chromium in an amount of from about 16% wt to about 32 wt %, and molybdenum in an amount of from about 8 wt % to about 31 wt %. Aluminum, silicon, boron, titanium, and other hardness enhancing materials may also be present. Hot investment casting may be used to form items from the alloys, which may then be shaped or polished to a final form. Annular finger rings constructed from these materials may have a white appearance similar to white gold or platinum, may have increased resistance to scratching compared to traditional cobalt chromium rings, and may be easily be removed by cracking in an emergency situation.