Abstract: The separation energy requirement of a conventional cryogenic process for separating carbon monoxide ("CO") from a gaseous feed containing primarily CO and hydrogen is reduced by an improvement to the process. In the process, CO is scrubbed from a vapor portion of the feed by a liquid methane wash and dissolved hydrogen is stripped from the resultant CO-loaded liquid methane stream. The hydrogen-stripped CO-loaded liquid methane stream is sub-cooled and split into at least first and second substreams. The first substream is expanded and introduced into a CO/methane fractionation column as a liquid feed. The second substream is partially vaporized and introduced into said fractionating column as a two-phase feed. The fractionating column separates the hydrogen-stripped CO-loaded liquid methane feeds to provide CO-rich vapor overheads and methane-rich bottoms liquid. A "high pressure" CO recycle heat pump stream provides reboil to the fractionation column.

Abstract: Hydrogen (4), and carbon monoxide (21) are separated from a gaseous mixture thereof, typically a mixture of essentially hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane (1) using liquid methane (3) to dissolve carbon monoxide in a methane wash column (2), removing (8) residual hydrogen (15) from the loaded methane wash (6,9), and separating (18) the residual loaded methane into carbon monoxide and methane fractions (21,22). The residual hydrogen (15) is removed in a hydrogen stripping column (8), said column being refluxed with a methane rich scrubbing liquid stream (13) withdrawn from an intermediate location of the methane wash column (2).

Abstract: Carbon monoxide is separated from a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen and methane and contaminated with nitrogen by scrubbing carbon monoxide from a vapor portion of the feed by a liquid methane wash; stripping dissolved hydrogen from the resultant CO-loaded liquid methane stream; fractionating the resultant hydrogen-stripped CO-loaded liquid methane stream to separate nitrogen therefrom; and fractionating the resultant nitrogen-freed bottoms liquid into CO product overheads vapor and methane bottoms liquid. If the gaseous mixture also contains argon, argon content can be removed with the methane content to obviate a separate argon-separation stage as required by prior art processes.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide is separated from a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen and contaminated with nitrogen by separating hydrogen and carbon monoxide contents to provide a carbon monoxide-enriched nitrogen-containing stream and separating carbon monoxide and nitrogen contents of said stream in a nitrogen-separation column to provide a nitrogen-enriched overheads vapor and a nitrogen-freed bottoms liquid. The overheads vapor is washed with liquid nitrogen to remove carbon monoxide therefrom and the resultant carbon monoxide-enriched liquid nitrogen is returned to said column as additional reflux. The liquid nitrogen wash simultaneously reduces the loss of carbon monoxide with the nitrogen-enriched vapor and provides refrigeration to the process. When the gaseous feed is a synthesis gas also containing methane, the methane and carbon monoxide contents can be separated before or after separation of the nitrogen and carbon monoxide contents.

Abstract: Process for treating a gas comprising one or more constituents to be separated, wherein the gas to be processed (G) is mixed at least partly with a solvent S selected to selectively retain at least part of the gas constituents to be separated, the mixture of gas (G) and of solvent (S) is cooled by circulating in at least one heat exchange zone so as to obtain, at the outlet of said heat exchange zone, at least a gas phase (G.sub.1) depleted in at least one of the constituents to be separated and a solvent phase (S.sub.1) enriched in said constituents, said enriched solvent phase (S.sub.1) is separated from said gas phase (G.sub.1) and it is recycled to the heat exchange zone in order to cool said gas-solvent mixture (stage b), said solvent phase (S.sub.1) consisting, at the outlet of the heat exchange zone, of at least a gas phase (G.sub.2) enriched in the constituents to be separated and of a liquid solvent phase (S), the gas phase (G.sub.

Abstract: Method for the liquefaction of a hydrocarbon-rich gas stream containing aromatic and heavy hydrocarbons, in particular a natural gas stream, where, prior to the liquefaction, a separation of the aromatic and the heavy hydrocarbons, in particular the C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons, comprisesa) a fraction (9, 11, 14) containing heavy hydrocarbons is admixed to the hydrocarbon-rich gas stream (1) to be liquefied,b) this mixed fraction (1, 2) is supplied to a separator (D),c) a gas fraction (3) freed of aromatic and heavy hydrocarbons is withdrawn from separator (D) and liquefied (E2), andd) a liquid fraction (5) enriched with aromatic and heavy hydrocarbons is withdrawn from separator (D).

Abstract: A method and a device for removing from a gas or vapor flow at least part of an ecologically unsound substance present therein, such as benzene, perchloroethylene or other hydrocarbons and/or solvents, includes passing the gas or vapor flow through a cooling room having a temperature which is at least substantially equal to or lower than the condensation temperature of the ecologically unsound substance, wherein a medium having a solidification temperature which is at least substantially equal to or higher than the temperature of the cooing room is introduced into the gas or vapor flow prior to and/or during the entry of said flow into the cooling room, and wherein the temperature in the cooling room is raised after a predetermined period and the gas or vapor flow is interrupted or diverted in order to liquify and discharge the solidified medium and the ecologically unsound substance contained therein.

Abstract: A method for processing pyrolysis gas prior to gas separation provides high economical efficiency due to low energy consumption for compression and low consumption of cooling water. This is due to the relatively low temperature of the pyrolysis gas and the low pressure losses during multistage compression, which in turn is determined by the organization of the processes of cooling by contact heat exchange between the pyrolysis gas and the washing water and operating liquid, by cooling them with an external medium in refrigerating machines and with a cold carrier in evaporators of absorption machines, and also by preliminarily cooling the washing water in the generators of those machines.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for recovering high purity olefins from cracked gas effluents or other parafin/olefin gaseous mixtures by use of a chemical absorption process.

Abstract: A process for producing ammonia synthesis gas and recovering argon in conjunction with a low-purity oxygen separating unit.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for recovering volatile liquid vapors from an air-volatile liquid vapor mixture. The process includes: (1) cooling the mixture to condense volatile liquid vapors and moisture; (2) collecting the condensed volatile liquid vapors and moisture; (3) circulating the cooled and dehumidified mixture through a bed of adsorbent; and (4) desorbing and recovering the volatile liquids from the bed. The apparatus includes a refrigeration unit, a cooler for cooling the mixture, two reaction vessels each including a bed of adsorbent, a pump, an absorber tower and a valve and conduit system for circulating the mixture through the various components of the apparatus. Heat may be recovered from the refrigerant and used to heat the bed during desorption.

Abstract: A process and associated apparatus for removing aromatics and/or higher molecular weight hydrocarbons from a methane-based gas stream comprising the steps of (a) condensing a minor portion of the methane-based gas stream thereby producing a two-phase stream, (b) feeding said two phase stream to the upper section of a column, (c) removing from the upper section of the column an aromatic- and/or heavies-depleted gas stream, (d) removing from the lower section of the column an aromatic- and/or heavies-rich liquid stream, (e) contacting via indirect heat exchange the aromatic- and/or heavies-rich liquid stream with a methane-rich stripping gas thereby producing a warmed liquid stream and a cooled stripping gas stream, (f) feeding said cooled stripping gas stream to the lower section of the column; and (g) contacting said two-phase stream and the cooled stripping gas stream in the column thereby producing the aromatic- and/or heavies-depleted gas stream and the aromatic- and/or heavies-rich liquid stream.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to two embodiments of a process for recycling an impure argon effluent from a silicon crystal growing furnace using cryogenics. The first embodiment uses cryogenic distillation techniques, and the second embodiment uses cryogenic adsorption, both of which use catalytic treatments and adsorption in conjunction with their cryogenic process steps to provide a pure argon recycle stream for a silicon crystal growth furnace.

Abstract: A retro fitted unit to an existing simple refrigerated natural gas plant that substantially increases the amounts of propane, butanes and natural gasoline, or ethane, propane, butanes and natural gasoline recovered from the natural gas in the existing gas treatment plant, wherein in one embodiment the existing natural gas treatment plant includes a refrigerated feed cooler, a separator and a stabilizer and the retrofitted unit comprises an NGL absorber, a refrigerated lean solvent cooler and a lean solvent regenerator; and wherein in a second embodiment the existing simple refrigerated gas treatment plant additionally includes an NGL fractionation train that separates the recovered NGL into saleable fractions and wherein the NGL fractionation train includes a debutanizer that produces all or part of the lean solvent utilized in the retrofitted unit which comprises an NGL absorber and a refrigerated solvent cooler; and wherein the natural gas treatment process utilizes a solvent that is pre-saturated with ligh

Abstract: A method of separating from gaseous media, such as air or technical gases, organic vapors by substantially isothermally raising the pressure of the media and subjecting them to cooling in a cold scrubber receiving its operating low temperature from circulating first and second flows of refrigerants of moderate and significant refrigeration parameters and provided by resulting condensates.

Abstract: Increased recovery of propane, butane and other heavier components found in a natural gas stream is achieved by installing an absorber upstream from an expander and a separator. The separator is downstream from the expander and returns the liquid stream generated by the separator back to the absorber. Additionally, the recovery of propane, butane and other heavier components is enhanced by combining the upper gas stream from a distillation column with the upper gas stream from the absorber prior to injecting this combination into the separator. The upper gas stream removed from the separator is then subsequently processed for the recovery of a predominately methane and ethane gas stream while the bottom liquid stream from the absorber is subsequently distilled for the generation of a stream consisting predominately of propane, butane and other heavy hydrocarbon components. Alternate embodiments include an additional reflux separator in the system, or substitution of an additional absorber for the separator.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of volatile organic components (VOC) released when loading liquid hydrocarbons into a storage or cargo tank, is described. The VOCs issuing from the tank are compressed, and injected into a sidestream taken from the main hydrocarbon stream, which is cooled and used as the absorbing medium, and is conducted to a VOC recovery unit comprising at least a bi-phase rotary separator turbine (BRST). In the BRST the VOC-containing gas is substantially separated into a VOC component and inert gas. The inert gas is vented to the atmosphere. The VOC component or VOC-enriched liquid stream is then returned to the main cargo stream or a cargo tank. Any methane contained in the volatile gases issuing from the cargo tank, instead of being vented to the atmosphere, is recovered or a catalytic process is used to convert methane to carbon dioxide and water for discharge to the atmosphere. The system is particularly intended for the offshore loading of oil into tankers.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for recovering volatile vapors from an air-volatile mixture. The process includes cooling the mixture to condense volatile liquid vapors and moisture, collecting the condensed volatile liquid vapors and moisture, circulating the cooled and dehumidified mixture through a bed of adsorbent, and desorbing and recovering the volatile liquids from the bed. The apparatus includes a refrigeration unit (24), a cooler (20) for cooling the mixture, two reaction vessels (36, 36') each including a bed of adsorbent (38, 38'), a pump (50), an absorber tower (72) and a valve and conduit system for circulating the mixture through the various components of the apparatus. Heat may be recovered from the refrigerant and used to heat the bed during desorption.

Abstract: A process for separating components of gas mixtures which have different hydrate forming characteristics which uses an aqueous liquid to absorb one of the gases preferentially by attaining conditions slightly above the catastrophic point at which gas hydrates form. Specifically, the separation of gas mixtures containing light hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide is accomplished without significantly reducing the pressure of the carbon dioxide or without requiring significant amounts of heat energy for regeneration.

Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas containing mercaptans. Mercaptans are concentrated into a distillate stream by distilling the feed gas stream without specific pretreatment for mercaptans removal. Thus, the mercaptans removal equipment is much smaller since mercaptans treatment can take place at a point in the process where the flowrate is much lower. A portion of the treated distillate stream can be reinjected to the upstream distilling stage to facilitate mercaptan absorption.

Abstract: Waste landfill gases are treated and separated by a combination of gas cleaning, gas compression, gas cooling, and gas absorption processes to produce high quality liquefied natural gas, liquefied carbon dioxide and compressed natural gas products.

Abstract: A system for processing nitrogen-containing effluent from an industrial process wherein the effluent is cooled and liquid nitrogen is added directly to the cooled effluent. The direct contact and heat exchange produces gaseous nitrogen and liquid organics which are both used to cool the effluent and are subsequently recovered.

Abstract: A system for the recovery of volatile compounds comprising a direct contact condenser and an indirect heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is driven by cryogenic fluid, and a heat exchange fluid, having the same composition as the volatile compound, recirculates between the condenser and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: In the recovery of a pure CO fraction from a charge containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane from which water and carbon dioxide have optionally been removed, the charge is cooled and partially condensed; and the carbon monoxide is scrubbed out with supercooled liquid methane. The resultant hydrogen is stripped out, and the recovered CO/CH.sub.4 -rich fraction is separated by rectification to obtain a pure CO fraction and a CH.sub.4 -rich fraction. The supercooled liquid methane used as the scrubbing agent contains at least 2 to 15 mol % carbon monoxide, preferably 7 to 10 mol % carbon monoxide. Also, the hydrogen stripper and methane scrubbing column can be combined in a single column.

Abstract: A retrofitted unit to an existing simple refrigerated natural gas plant that substantially increases the amounts of propane, butanes and natural gasoline, or ethane, propane, butanes and natural gasoline recovered from the natural gas in the existing gas treatment plant, wherein in one embodiment the existing natural gas treatment plant includes a refrigerated feed cooler, a separator and a stabilizer and the retrofitted unit comprises an NGL absorber, a refrigerated lean solvent cooler and a lean solvent regenerator; and wherein in a second embodiment the existing simple refrigerated gas treatment plant additionally includes an NGL fractionation train that separates the recovered NGL into saleable fractions and wherein the NGL fractionation train includes a debutanizer that produces all or part of the lean solvent utilized in the retrofitted unit which comprises an NGL absorber and a refrigerated solvent cooler.

Abstract: A vent gas stream containing volatile organic compounds is passed continuously through a condenser in counter-current flow with respect to cold clean vent gas combined with a cryogenic refrigerant. The volatile organic compounds are condensed at various temperatures inside the condenser, and are separately recovered at very low levels of refrigerant utilization.