Abstract: This invention relates to a novel kit, transportable apparatus and method for generating in-situ CO2 snow block within the apparatus. An item such as a biological sample can be stored and transported within the same apparatus that is employed for creating the CO2 snow block. The apparatus is capable of preserving the sample during transport. The invention also includes a specially designed CO2 snow charger system including a charger and meshed conduit. The charger system is operated in accordance with the methods of the present invention to create the in-situ CO2 snow block within a container that can be also used for transport.

Abstract: A specimen holder for a high-pressure freezing device comprises a first shaped part (2) and a second shaped part (3) that form, in the mutually joined state, a specimen space (6). The first shaped part (2) is embodied in a cup shape, and possesses a bottom (5) that closes off the specimen chamber (6) toward the outside to prevent contact between the specimen and a pressure medium.

Abstract: A desalinating process is disclosed. The process comprises freezing sea water as ice of sea water, exerting an external force on the ice of sea water to separate salt therefrom for converting the ice of sea water into ice of fresh water, storing the salt and the ice of fresh water in two different places, and melting the ice of fresh water to produce drinkable fresh water.

Abstract: An improved dry ice pelletizer and method for significantly increased pellet production. The improvement consists of multiple injection ports used for the timed introduction of liquid carbon dioxide into a dry ice extrusion cylinder so that the cylinder can be more completely filled with carbon dioxide snow before extrusion takes place. Part of the improvement stems from the use of a solid mass of carbon dioxide, called a puck, which is chamfered and serves to capture carbon dioxide vapor and snow within the compression cylinder. The resulting improvement in carbon dioxide pellet output is roughly 400% over that achieved by conventional methods. The inventive improvement may also be installed as a retrofit to conventional dry ice pellet extrusion machines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for safely, conveniently, and inexpensively liberating gas from gas hydrates includes the use of a device, provided adjacent to or in the bulk gas hydrates, for exposing the gas hydrates to heat from a gas or liquid (preferably steam). The gas hydrates can be directly exposed to the gas or liquid or indirectly exposed through a thermally conductive coil or channel. The heat from the gas or liquid dissociates the gas hydrates into the corresponding gas component and water component. After liberation, the gas component can be collected for further storage, transport, or use. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for moving at least a portion of the gas or liquid through the device for exposing the gas hydrates to heat. The device for exposing the gas hydrates to heat also can be movable, so it can be maintained in close proximity to or in contact with the gas hydrates for continued efficient gasification of the hydrates.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus especially for cooling high-temperature-superconducting lectronic components includes a cold gas cooling machine, such as a Stirling machine, thermally connected to a pressure vessel serving as a cold reservoir vessel. The pressure vessel contains a working medium having a triple point in the temperature range from about 60K to about 90K and a critical temperature at least as high as the maximum operating room temperature of the apparatus. The working medium is propane, for example. A cooling surface of the electronic component is thermally connected to the pressure vessel. In the method of operating the apparatus, the electronic component does not require continuous cooling. During a charging or refrigerating phase, the cooling machine freezes the working medium. Then during a useful cooling phase, the cooling machine is switched off and the electronic component is operated while being cooled by the frozen working medium.

Abstract: An insulated chamber (1) for preservation and transportation comprises a container (2) of carbon dioxide snow provided with a lateral opening (5) permitting the injection, within the container, of liquid CO.sub.2 under pressure by a distribution device (10) connected to a source of liquid CO.sub.2 (6). The distribution device is provided with an electrovalve (18) controlled by a control block (19) comprising a timer permitting selecting the duration of injection of liquid CO.sub.2 into the container (2) to form there a controlled volume of carbon dioxide snow. The installation is useful for the preservation and transportation of fresh food products as well as frozen food products.

Abstract: Fugitive methane or natural gas vapors are recovered from a handling or delivery system and are blown through solid methane chips or a slush of solid and liquid methane. The solid methane melts and cools the vapors below the vaporization temperature to condense them. The condensed vapors and melted solid can be mixed with liquid methane for use therewith. The solid methane is produced by cooling liquid methane or natural gas in a liquid nitrogen heat exchanger or refrigerator. The liquid methane is solidified in a sheet on an endless belt, which breaks the sheet into pieces at a tail section.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a mixture of solid and liquid components including a tank for the mixture with at least one inlet for the mixture under pressure and at least one outlet. One or more separators are provided within the tank and including one or more circular-cylindrical filter elements within the tank. Each of the filters includes a wall portion which is permeable to the liquid component of the mixture. Further, a helical transporting and scraping element is mounted within the circular-cylindrical wall of the filter and is sized so as to scrape the solid component of the mixture as cake from the inner wall of the filter and return it to the mixture within the tank.

Abstract: Process for separating the ice crystals contained in a slurry of an aqueous olution and ice crystals from the aqueous solution and washing the ice crystals with an aqueous wash liquid, whereby a packed bed of ice crystals is created which is subjected to a continuous translatory movement, while a washfront is being created within the packed bed of ice crystals between the aqueous solution and the aqueous wash liquid, the aqueous solution and aqueous wash liquid adjacent to the washfront being substantially stagnant, a stable washfront being created lying in a plane perpendicular to the translatory movement of the packed bed of ice crystals.

Abstract: A process for the separation of one or more kinds of solute in a cryohydrate characterized in that a cryohydrate obtained by freezing a solution together with a high tensile member is passed through pressure-application zones whose inner sectional area is reduced toward the direction in which the high tensile member is pulled to thereby separate fractions having high solute contents from fractions having low solute contents, and apparatus therefor.

Abstract: A desalinization process is disclosed employing freezing and pressure steps. In the process, salt water is frozen to provide - liquid free ice. The ice is then crushed and subjected to a compression force and external heat for a period sufficient to liquify at least 30 percent of the crushed ice. The remaining ice is recovered and melted to yeild purifed water.

Abstract: Process for separating the ice crystals contained in a slurry of an aqueous solution and ice crystals from the aqueous solution and washing the ice crystals with an aqueous wash liquid, whereby a packed bed of ice crystals is created which is subjected to a continuous translatory movement, while a washfront is being created within the packed bed of ice crystals between the aqueous solution and the aqueous wash liquid, the aqueous solution and the aqueous wash liquid adjacent to the washfront being substantially stagnant, a stable washfront being created lying in a plane perpendicular to the translatory movement of the packed bed of ice crystals.

Abstract: A method for purifying silicon comprises the steps of providing a body of molten silicon-rich material and extracting heat therefrom to provide a solid phase containing silicon in crystal form and to concentrate impurities in a molten phase. After a desired amount of heat has been extracted, a substantial part of the molten phase is separated from the solid phase. A fraction or portion of the solid phase is remelted for purposes of removing solvent metal, including impurities, from the crystals, and at least one fraction of the remelted material is separated from the crystals.

Abstract: Apparatus for separation of mixtures wherein a mixture is cooled very slowly in a quiescent, nondisturbed condition to produce large dendritic crystals of solidified solvent, then heated very slowly while liquid of high solute concentration is drained from the large interstices between the crystals, the cooling and reheating being effected by slowly conveying containers of mixture in a continuous circular path through a long heat transfer conduit or tunnel having a central refrigeration zone. Adjacent trains of containers travel through the tunnel in opposite directions. Arrangements are provided for collecting liquid having high concentrations of solute and recycling this liquid back through the foregoing process in said containers after they have been emptied of liquid treated in a preceding cycle.

Abstract: Selected chemical species in fluid media such as solutions, mixtures of liquids, and suspensions are crystallized by indirect cooling of the fluid media. Crystals are prevented from sticking to the heat exchange surface by pulsating the fluid with a component of pulsation parallel to the heat exchange surface. The crystals can then be separated from the residual fluid.

Abstract: An improved method for the concentration of a slurry containing a solid particulate component is described. In the method, the slurry is contacted with a rotatable filtration assembly and some liquid is withdrawn from the slurry. When the rotational velocity of the unit is sufficient to develop a substantial centrifugal force at the periphery of the assembly, the process is continuous. The method is especially useful for the concentration of a p-xylene slurry.

Abstract: Pulping liquor borne solids are concentrated within an aqueous solution by a successive plurality of freezing steps wherein a discrete quantity of the solution is crystallized in each step by freezing. The water crystals from each freezing step are subsequently separated from the remaining liquid solution by screening and applying axial pressure to the crystalline mass. Greater efficiencies may be obtained in some cases by mixing or reslurrying a pressed, crystalline mass and pressing a second time. Another auxiliary separation step comprises a quiescent thaw of the crystalline mass from the first two press steps to permit additional dissolved solids to be drained away from the purified water ice.