Abstract: An ion removal device includes a hard water storage section configured to store hard water; and a fine bubble generation means configured to generate fine bubbles and supply the bubbles to the hard water storage section, wherein, in the hard water storage section, metal ions in the hard water are adsorbed to the fine bubbles to be removed from the hard water.

Abstract: A method of producing a liquid product stream, for example, a liquid nitrogen product stream, at a production rate that is selectively varied. This variation is produced in either a waste expansion or air expansion process by increasing the pressure and flow rate of the feed stream during periods in which a high rate of liquid production is desired without substantially increasing the pressure of the exhaust stream produced by a variable speed turboexpander. This increases the expansion ratio across the turboexpander and therefore the refrigeration supplied to increase liquid production. At the same time, the increase in flow rate prevents a decrease in the performance of the variable speed turboexpander.

Abstract: A system comprising an air separation unit (ASU) is provided. The ASU is configured to produce liquid nitrogen and pressurize to higher pressure using a pump. ASU may be further configured to produce liquid oxygen that can be directly pressurized to be used in required applications. System may further include oxy-fuel combustion system, integrated gas turbines and integrated enhanced oil and/or gas recovery units. Methods of operating the system included.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of separating a nitrogen from a compressed and purified feed stream in a cryogenic rectification plant that employs a distillation column to produce a nitrogen-rich vapor as a column overhead and an oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms. Reflux is generated for the column by condensing part of the nitrogen-rich vapor within a down-flow heat exchanger. A stream of the oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms is introduced into an ejector which draws a stream of an oxygen-rich liquid phase produced from the outlet of a down-flow heat exchanger. The combined oxygen-rich liquid exiting the ejector is fed to the down-flow heat exchanger to condense the nitrogen-rich vapor. In such manner, part of the oxygen-rich liquid phase is recirculated to prevent dry-out of the down-flow heat exchanger outlet and to maintain effective condensation of the nitrogen-rich vapor.

Abstract: The process and the apparatus in accordance with the invention relate to cryogenic separation of air in a distillation column system that has at least one single column (12). A compressed feed air stream (6, 8) is cooled in a main heat exchanger (9) in counter-current flow to a first return stream (16, 23) from the distillation column system. Cooled feed air stream (11) is fed into the distillation column system. A nitrogen-rich fraction (15) is produced in the upper region of the single column (12). At least part (16b) of the nitrogen-rich fraction (15) is condensed in a top condenser (13), which is constructed as a condenser-evaporator. At least part (54) of the liquid nitrogen-rich fraction (52) produced in the top condenser (13) is fed into the single column (12) as reflux. An oxygen-containing recycle fraction (18a) is drawn off from the single column (12) in liquid form. The liquid recycle fraction (18a) is cooled in a counter-current subcooler (100).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for increasing liquid production involving retrofitting an existing air separation plant with a nitrogen liquefier. The nitrogen liquefier liquefies a nitrogen-rich vapor stream withdrawn from the higher pressure column to return a nitrogen-rich liquid stream to the higher pressure column. This increases liquid nitrogen reflux to the higher pressure column to in turn increase the production of liquid oxygen containing column bottoms of the higher pressure column and therefore, the production of oxygen-rich liquid in the lower pressure column. The increased production of the oxygen-rich liquid allows a liquid oxygen product to be taken at an increased rate or for the liquid oxygen product to be taken in the first instance, if the plant is not designed to produce such a product. Also liquid nitrogen and argon products can be produced at an increased rate as a result of the retrofit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of separating a nitrogen from a compressed and purified feed stream in a cryogenic rectification plant that employs a distillation column to produce a nitrogen-rich vapor as a column overhead and an oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms. Reflux is generated for the column by condensing part of the nitrogen-rich vapor within a down-flow heat exchanger. A stream of the oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms is introduced into an ejector which draws a stream of an oxygen-rich liquid phase produced from the outlet of a down-flow heat exchanger. The combined oxygen-rich liquid exiting the ejector is fed to the down-flow heat exchanger to condense the nitrogen-rich vapor. In such manner, part of the oxygen-rich liquid phase is recirculated to prevent dry-out of the down-flow heat exchanger outlet and to maintain effective condensation of the nitrogen-rich vapor.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing pressurized gaseous product by air separation. A compressed air stream is cooled in an exchanger to form a compressed cooled air stream. The stream is then cryogenically compressed in a first compressor to form a first pressurized gas stream. The first pressurized gas stream is further cooled in the exchanger, cryogenically compressed in a second compressor, and then it is cooled and partially liquefied. The cooled and partially liquefied product is then fed to a system of distillation columns. A liquid product is removed from the system of distillation columns. This product is then pressurized, vaporized and warmed in the exchanger to yield pressurized gaseous product.

Abstract: A technique for rejecting heat from a fuel cell stack. Heated stack coolant from the fuel cell stack is directed to a heat pump module where it is compressed to raise its temperature. The heated and compressed coolant is then directed through a radiator that cools the coolant through interaction with ambient air. The coolant is then sent through an expansion aperture to reduce its pressure, and thus, further reduce its temperature before it is sent back to the fuel cell stack to collect waste heat therefrom. The heated and compressed coolant can be sent to hydride bed to release hydrogen therefrom before it is sent to the radiator. In one embodiment, the coolant is hydrogen.

Abstract: In an integrated process and apparatus for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation and liquefaction of natural gas in which at least part of the refrigeration required to liquefy the natural gas is derived from at least one cryogenic air distillation plant comprising a main heat exchanger (7) and distillation columns (15, 17), wherein the natural gas (25) liquefies by indirect heat exchange in a heat exchanger (7, 32, 34) with a cold fluid (21, 26), the cold fluid being sent to the heat exchanger at least partially in liquid form and undergoing at least a partial vaporisation in the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for producing nitrogen by low-temperature fractionation of air in a rectification system which has a high-pressure column (4) and a low-pressure column (5). Feed air (1, 3) is introduced into the high-pressure column (4). An oxygen-containing liquid fraction (11) is removed from the high-pressure column (4) and fed into the low-pressure column (5). Gaseous nitrogen (18) is extracted from the low-pressure column (5) above a mass transfer section (25), which has at least one theoretical or practical plate, and is at least partially condensed in a top condenser (17) by indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant (13). High-purity nitrogen is removed from the low-pressure column below the mass transfer section (25), and is obtained as a nitrogen product (26, 27, 30). The process and apparatus have a refrigeration-supply system, in which a refrigeration fluid (31) flows.

Abstract: This plant comprises N (N>1) air distillation units (1) in parallel, each one of which comprises a main air compressor (3) driven by a steam turbine (4); an air distillation apparatus (8) producing liquid oxygen and/or liquid nitrogen; at least one pump (9) for pumping liquid oxygen and/or liquid nitrogen to a high production pressure; and a cycle compressor (10) adapted to compress part of a cycle fluid.

Abstract: A first process stream of the air separation is compressed in a first compressor (2). The first compressor (2) is mechanically coupled (4) to a steam turbine (1) and to an electric motor (3).

Abstract: A method to obtain a gaseous product by the low temperature fractionation of air includes supplying a first, purified and cooled stream of air to a high-pressure column. At least one liquid stream from the high-pressure column is passed into a low-pressure column. A product stream in the liquid state is drawn off from the low-pressure column and is brought to an elevated pressure. The product stream is then evaporated in an indirect heat exchange with a second purified stream of air. The second stream of air, which is condensed at least partly during the indirect heat exchange, is expanded at least partly in a work-producing manner. The second stream of air subsequently is passed into the low-pressure column. The pressure of the second stream of air at the outlet of the work-expansion is lower than the operating pressure in the sump of the high-pressure column. The work-expansion of the second stream of air is carried out in a single step.

Abstract: In an integrated power generation system, part of the air from a gas turbine compressor is separated in a single nitrogen wash column to remove oxygen and the gaseous nitrogen produced at the top of the column is sent back to a point upstream of the expander of the gas turbine. The wash column may be fed with liquid nitrogen from an independent air separation unit in which air is separated. Liquid from the bottom of the wash column may be fed back to the air separation unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elevated pressure air separation cryogenic process wherein feed air is compressed, treated to remove water and carbon dioxide, cooled to cryogenic temperature in a main heat exchanger having a cold end and a warm end and fed to a distillation column system having at least two (2) distillation columns for separation into at least a nitrogen-enriched product, an oxygen-enriched product and a gaseous waste stream characterized in that at least a portion of said waste stream is (isentropically) expanded to produce work and work produced by the expansion is used to provide at least a portion of the work required to compress a process stream other than the gaseous waste stream at a temperature warmer than the temperature of the cold end of said main heat exchanger. The alternative process streams to be compressed can be: at least a portion of the feed air, at least a portion of the oxygen-enriched product or at least a portion of the nitrogen-enriched product.

Abstract: A process is set forth for the cryogenic distillation of an air feed to produce at least two oxygen-rich gaseous streams having different oxygen purities. The process uses a mixing column system in addition to a distillation column system. A key to the process is that at least two oxygen-rich liquid streams having different oxygen purities are transferred from the distillation column system to the mixing column system in order to produce the oxygen-rich gaseous streams.

Abstract: Process and installation for the compression and expansion of at least one gaseous stream, in which a first stream of a gaseous mixture is compressed in a compressor (5) having at least one compression stage (5A, 5B, 5C); a second stream of a gaseous mixture is supercharged in a supercharger (7); a third stream of a gaseous mixture is expanded in an expansion engine (9); at least a portion of the energy generated by the expansion engine is recovered with the supercharger (7) and at least a portion of the second supercharged stream is sent upstream of one stage (5B) of the compressor. The first and second streams are compressed in at least one stage (5A) of the compressor before sending the second stream to the supercharger. The second stream comes from upstream of one stage of the compressor and at least a portion of the supercharged second stream is returned downstream of this stage.