Abstract: An improved condensating-fractionating tower system used in the separation of gaseous mixture, comprising a dephlegmator, a column section and a tower bottom, the said dephlegmator being provided in the upper portion of the tower, is characterized in that the dephlegmator is a plate-fin dephlegmator.

Abstract: An air separation plant having prefabricated heat exchanger and distillation column sections. The heat exchanger can be used in air expansion, waste expansion and product expansion plants by simply connecting the appropriate piping to the heat exchanger. The air separation unit is built up of standardized sections preferably utilizing structured packing. Simplified liquid distributors and supports are used in order to distribute liquid to the packing and to support the packing within the column, respectfully.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique which makes it possible to restrain as much as possible the pressure loss, in particular, the pressure of return gas, generated in the main heat exchanger actually used when performing air separation and to reduce the power of the material air compressor as much as possible. In an air separation method of the type in which compressed air cooled through a main heat exchanger is supplied to a lower column of a rectifying tower equipped with upper and lower columns and in which return gas from the upper column of the rectifying tower is passed through the main heat exchanger to utilize it to cool the compressed air, an open end passage is provided in the main heat exchanger, and wherein the return gas is entirely or partly caused to flow through the open end passage, whereby a reduction in the pressure loss of the return gas is achieved.

Abstract: A method of operating a lower pressure of column of a double distillation column unit. In accordance with the method an ascending vapor phase is initiated within a lower pressure column by vaporizing a descending liquid phase at a column location situated between mass transfer elements and a sump region of the lower pressure column. The liquid phase is vaporized within two or more down-flow reboilers fed with the liquid phase so that the unboiled liquid from one of the down-flow reboilers is fed to another of the down-flow reboilers, thereby to cause vaporization to be distributed between the down-flow reboilers. The down-flow reboilers are configured such that sufficient vaporization occurs to produce a predetermined liquid-vapor ratio at the column location between the transfer elements and the sump without the requirement of recirculating sump liquid to prevent dry out.

Abstract: A heat exchanger unit having a housing into which a cryogenic liquid is introduced and permitted to evaporate and vaporize into a cryogenic cold gas. A process fluid to be cooled flows in a heat exchanger and heat exchange to cool the process fluid takes place between the cold gas and the heat exchanger, without making direct contact between the cryogenic liquid and the heat exchanger which would cause freezing. The refrigerating capacity of the cryogenic cold gas is replenished by heat exchange contact with the evaporating cryogenic liquid.

Abstract: A container that may be closed all around is useful for deepfreezing suspensions of living cellular materials kept in elastic bags. The container has two plane-parallel thin-walled metallic plates (14, 16) secured in swivellingly interconnected frame halves (20, 22). When the frame halves (20, 22) are superimposed, the plates (14, 16) secured therein are arranged with parallel faces at a slight defined distance from each other and form an intermediate cavity (12) in which the bag is placed. When the container is closed, the plates (14, 16) press the bag arranged inside (12) the container and flatten it until it has a small defined thickness. A microporous layer (30) that considerably increases heat transfer to the coolant that surrounds the container is secured to the outer side of plates (14, 16) by an adhesive layer. Furthermore, since the homogeneously flattened bag has a high surface/volume ratio and is pressed until it has no folds or bulges, the cellular material may be quickly and controllably cooled.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus, typically for use in association with a double rectification column for the separation of air, has a downflow reboiler with boiling passages. In addition, there is a condenser in a position at a higher elevation than the reboiler. The condenser is fed with liquefied gas to be reboiled from the sump of a lower pressure column forming part of the double rectification column. A first conduit feeds the liquefied gas under gravity to the reboiler. The feeding of the condenser is effected by a vapor lift pump comprising a second conduit and an expansion valve disposed therein. Some of the liquefied gas is vaporized by passage through the expansion valve, and this vapor provides the vapor lifting pumping effect. The vapor is recondensed in the condenser.

Abstract: A method for directly producing lower purity oxygen with high recovery, employing a non-adiabatic distillation device within a distillation column to provide high purity liquid nitrogen reflux to the upper section of the column. This invention provides for a variety of feed air options to the non-adiabatic distillation device and to the distillation column.

Abstract: The heat exchanger is of the type comprising a stack of parallel plates and, between these plates, undulant spacers, each pair of plates defining a passage for fluid of generally flat shape. Certain passages (20) are subdivided over one part of their length into two closed subpassages (at 45, 57) at locations longitudinally offset relative to each other. The exchanger is applicable in cryogenic heat exchangers of installations for the distillation of air.

Abstract: The device and the process are used to evaporate a liquid. A first (7) and a second (9) heat exchanger contain evaporation passages and passages for a heat transfer fluid. First heat exchanger (7) is designed as a falling film evaporator, second heat exchanger (9) is designed as a liquid bath evaporator. First heat exchanger (7) has means (13, 14) to introduce heat transfer fluid and means to drain heat transfer fluid. Second heat exchanger (9) includes means to introduce heat transfer fluid. The flow of the means for draining heat transfer fluid from first heat exchanger (7) is connected to the flow of the means for introducing heat transfer fluid into second heat exchanger (9).

Abstract: A liquefied gas mixture comprising at least two components of which one is more volatile than the other or others is boiled in an apparatus including stripping passages for vaporising part of a flow of the mixture. The passages are arranged alternately with condensing passages. The stripping passages each have at least one heat exchange surface which is heated to a temperature which causes the liquid to boil and along which the liquefied gas mixture flows in countercurrent mass exchange relationship with a vapour flow evolved from such liquid. The more volatile component is progressively stripped from the liquefied gas mixture such that the vapour flow is enriched in its direction of flow in the more volatile component and the mixture itself is depleted of the more volatile component in its direction of flow. Accordingly, separation of the mixture takes place in addition to its boiling.

Abstract: Air is separated in an arrangement of rectification columns including a double rectification column for separating oxygen and nitrogen from the air. The double rectification column comprises a higher pressure rectification column and a lower pressure rectification column. There is in addition a side rectification column for separating argon from a stream of argon-enriched oxygen/vapour withdrawn from the lower pressure rectification column. An intermediate pressure rectification column is employed to separate further nitrogen (oxygen-depleted vapour) from the air. An upward flow of vapour through the intermediate pressure rectification column is created by operation of a reboiler to boil liquid in the bottom of the column. In addition a flow of vaporised air is introduced into an intermediate mass transfer region of the column.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating air in which a compressed and purified air stream is cooled in a main heat exchanger. Thereafter, the compressed and purified air is separated in a distillation column system to produce product streams. The product streams warm within the main heat exchanger by indirectly exchanging heat with the compressed and purified air stream. One or more of the product streams is distributed to a plurality of vortex tubes at successively warmer temperatures so that warm and cold streams produced thereby become successively warmer and one or more of the warm streams has a temperature warmer than that of said compressed and purified air stream upon its introduction into said main heat exchanger. All but the warm stream(s) having the warmer temperature are recycled back to said main heat exchanger to participate in the indirect heat exchange and heat is rejected by discharging said warm stream(s) so that heat is rejected at the warmer temperature and refrigeration is produced.

Abstract: The heat exchanger is of the type comprising a stack of parallel plates and, between these plates, undulant spacers, each pair of plates defining a passage for fluid of generally flat shape. Certain passages (20) are subdivided over one part of their length into two closed subpassages (at 45, 57) at locations longitudinally offset relative to each other. The exchanger is applicable in cryogenic heat exchangers of installations for the distillation of air.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system employing two rectifying sections in parallel within either the lower pressure column of a double column or in a side column, for producing product oxygen at both low and high purity.

Abstract: A heat exchanging device of a gas liquefying plant including a precooling section with a single component refrigerant system, a liquefying section with a multi-component refrigerant system where the liquefying section has an array of plate-fin type heat exchangers installed in a vertical orientation with their hot end being set at an upper part of a refrigerating container and its cold end being set at a lower part of the refrigerating container. The plate-fin type heat exchangers are divided into predetermined temperature cooling ranges arranged in a vertical orientation with the hottest end being placed at the upper part and the coldest end being placed at the lower part of the refrigerating container.

Abstract: A method of chilling, cooling or likewise refrigerating a product with the aid of the cold content of a condensed gas, wherein the product, preferably in a gas or liquid state, is caused to pass at least one product-cooling heat-exchanger. According to the invention, the condensed gas is vaporized in at least one evaporation heat-exchanger and the vaporized gas is delivered to the product-cooling heat-exchanger for cooling the product therein. The gas heated by the product in the product-cooling heat-exchanger is then returned to the evaporation heat-exchanger for vaporization of the condensed gas therein. The invention also relates to an arrangement for use in carrying out the method.

Abstract: The heat exchanger is of the type comprising a stack of parallel plates and, between these plates, undulant spacers, each pair of plates defining a passage for fluid of generally flat shape. Certain passages (20) are subdivided over one part of their length into two closed subpassages (at 45, 57) at locations longitudinally offset relative to each other. The exchanger is applicable in cryogenic heat exchangers of installations for the distillation of air.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for use within a sump to condense an vapor and to vaporize the liquid. The heat exchanger includes a core having alternating passages to vaporize the liquid and to condense the vapor. Liquid is distributed into passages through a liquid distributor and the passages involved in vaporizing the liquid are provided with a down flow, stage and one or more thermosiphon stages situated below the down flow stage. In such manner, part of the liquid is vaporized within the down flow stage and the remainder is vaporized within the thermosiphon stage or stages.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for indirectly exchanging heat between first and second fluids. The heat exchanger is provided with a plurality of parallel plates to define first and second heat exchange passages for the first fluids to undergo indirect heat transfer. Corrugated fin-type material is positioned within the first and second heat exchange passages to increase the heat transfer area within the first and second heat exchange passages. Liquid distribution means are provided for distributing liquid composed of the second fluid to the second heat exchange passages. Overflow weirs are provided in such distribution means from which liquid overflows and falls into the second heat exchange passages. The overflow weirs are positioned to feed both sides of the second heat exchange passages and the corrugated fin-type material of the second heat exchange passage extend above the second heat exchange passage to ensure entry of the liquid into each corrugation. In such wetting of all corrugations is promoted.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of fugitive volatile organic vapors which comprises the steps of: (a) compressing said vapors to a pressure of at least 200 kpa; (b) feeding the hot compressed vapors to the desorption step of a Heat-Mass-Exchange (HME) system; (c) cooling the effluent resulted from the desorption step to the ambient temperature and separating out the condensed liquid obtained and (d) feeding the residual cold vapor phase, after the separation of the condensed liquid, to the adsorption step of said HME system, thus recovering the fugitive organic vapors. According to a preferred embodiment, the compressed vapors resulted from step (b) are at a temperature in the range of between 80.degree. to 150.degree. C., which may be reached by an external heating and the effluent resulted from the desorption step (c) is cooled at a temperature of about 5.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying a substance in which the substance is rectified within first and second distillation columns to produce a tower overhead in the second distillation column, lean in both heavy and light impurities. The column bottoms produced within the second distillation columns is boiled to provide boil-up within the second distillation column, thereby to initiate formation of an ascending vapor phase. A vapor stream in removed from the second distillation and then fed into a bottom region of the first distillation column to initiate formation of the ascending vapor phase therein. The vapor stream removed from the second distillation column is formed from the ascending vapor phase produced within the second distillation column. The second distillation column is reboiled by a reboiler that can include a reservoir containing a heat exchange fluid that condenses against boiling the column bottoms provided in the second distillation column.

Abstract: A downflow heat exchanger, particularly applicable as the main condenser/reboiler of a double column cryogenic air separation plant, wherein liquid distribution for uniform flow is carried out above the vapor passages and the well distributed liquid is passed into the liquid passages, preferably angularly onto the bridge fins, and then down through the liquid passages cocurrently with vapor in adjacent vapor passages.

Abstract: A liquid-vapor contact apparatus has pairs of vertical outer walls disposed in the manner of the vertical faces of a cuboid. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced, parallel, vertical plates. Between each pair of adjacent plates there is a packing comprising a vertical array of corrugated liquid-vapor contact elements of the type that are used in structured packing. The corrugations in each element slope from top to bottom in a direction opposed to that in which the corrugations in contiguous elements slope. The two outermost plates form the walls of the apparatus. The walls comprise alternate edge portions of plates and of spacer bars. The plates define first and second sets of passages, respectively. One set of passages performs a first fractionation duty, and the other set another fractionation duty.

Abstract: A liquid-vapour contact apparatus has pairs of vertical outer walls disposed in the manner of the vertical faces of a cuboid. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced, parallel, vertical plates. Between each pair of adjacent plates there is a packing comprising a vertical array of corrugated liquid-vapour contact elements of the type that are used in the assembly of structured packing, and having the apexes of the elements in fluid tight engagement with the respective plates. The corrugations in each element slope from top to bottom in a direction opposed to that in which the corrugations in contiguous elements slope. The two outermost walls form the walls of the apparatus. The other walls comprise alternate edge portions of plates and of spacer bars. Liquid is distributed appreciably evenly between the passages formed by adjacent vertical plates at the top of the apparatus and flows over the elements and effectively vertically downwards.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between first and second fluids. A plurality of vertically oriented passages are defined between alternating first and second passage walls. The first and second passages are provided for bringing the first and second fluids into a heat transfer relationship. To this end, the first passage incorporates an inlet and an outlet, for instance, to admit gaseous nitrogen into the top of the first passages and to discharge condensed nitrogen from the bottom of the first passages. An inlet is provided to introduce the second fluid into the second passages. The second fluid, which is a liquid is to be at least in part vaporized within the second passages. Liquid film, composed of the liquid, is distributed within the second passages by way of an arrangement of slotted dividing bars having staggered slots along the length of such slotted dividing bars to urge liquid against the passage walls defining the passages.

Abstract: A high efficiency oxygen/air separation system uses waste heat produced by an internal combustion engine to produce pure or enriched oxygen for combustion in the internal combustion engine. Nitrogen is eliminated from the combustion process, thus preventing the formation of nitrogen oxides. The formation of other particulates is also reduced as the exhaust gases are repeatedly burned. The separation system includes a manifold heat exchanger, a vane compressor/expander, a spent nitrogen heat exchanger and an insulated container. Air is first compressed in the integrated vane compressor/expander. Compression energy is provided from the expansion of the spent nitrogen after that nitrogen has been heated to exhaust manifold temperatures. High efficiency is achieved through simultaneous expansion and compression. The compressed air is cooled through a spent nitrogen heat exchanger and enters the insulated container, where the oxygen separation takes place.

Abstract: In a process for liquid evaporation by heat exchange with a gas which condenses, the pressure of the liquid to be evaporated is reduced and it is enriched in a constituent which has little volatility after evaporation. According to an alternative form, the gas to be condensed can be enriched in the constituent which has little volatility.

Abstract: An heat exchange-cum-rectification apparatus comprises a heat exchanger having a first set of passages for separating by dephlegmation a first flow of compressed vaporous air into nitrogen-rich fluid and oxygen-enriched liquid air, and, in heat exchange relationship with said first set of passages, a second set of passages for separating by stripping reboiling an oxygen product from the oxygen-enriched liquid air. A valve is provided for reducing the pressure of the oxygen-enriched liquid air intermediate the said first and second sets of passages.

Abstract: The heat exchanger is of the type comprising a series of first passages (4) in which a diphase fluid circulates, each of the passages being adjacent to at least one second passage (5) for the circulation of another fluid which is a heating or refrigerating fluid. At least one of the first passages (4) comprises, in at least one region of the length thereof, an increase in the cross section of the passage and means (9, 11) for receiving and discharging one of the two phases of the diphase fluid.

Abstract: A double column cryogenic rectification system for producing lower purity oxygen wherein a minor portion of the feed air is successively condensed in two vertically oriented stages within the lower pressure column before undergoing rectification.

Abstract: An improved cryogenic liquefied gas container, or a so-called cold evaporator (CE) for containing a plurality of different liquefied gases such as oxygen and nitrogen gases can be installed on a site with a limited surface area and can store the gases at a substantially equal and constant temperature level to ensure a stable gas supply to consumers that may include medical facilities and manufacturing plants. A plurality of inner tanks 4 are vertically arranged and surrounded by an insulation layer 3 in an outer shell 2 in order to economically utilize the site. The temperature of the high boiling point liquefied gas LG1 contained in the upper inner tank 4a and hence the internal pressure of the upper inner tank are stabilized by means of a heat exchanger section 11 to which the low boiling point liquefied gas LG.sub.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gas liquefying method in which a power saving of a compressor for refrigerant can be attained.

Abstract: In this process, which incorporates an integral cascade, the coolant mixture issuing from the penultimate stage (1B) of the compressor cycle (1) is delivered to a distillation apparatus (5) the head vapor of which is cooled (in 24) to a temperature significantly lower than the ambient temperature, then separated into two phases (in 6C); the vapor stage is supplied to the last stage (1C) of the compressor, and the liquid phase constitutes a coolant fluid for the hot part (8) of the heat exchange line (7).

Abstract: Light components are stripped from a multicomponent liquid feed mixture in a core type plate-fin heat exchanger by heating and partially vaporizing the mixture during downward flow in one of a plurality of multichannel flow passageways in the exchanger. The vapor thus formed flows upward and promotes vaporization of dissolved light components from the liquid to yield a liquid product substantially free of lighter components. The passageways are disposed in indirect heat exchange with one or more additional groups of passageways, and heat for partial vaporization of the downward-flowing liquid feed mixture is provided by indirect heat exchange with a condensing process stream. Alternatively, this heat is provided by a bottoms stream recovered from distillation of the stripped liquid product withdrawn from the core type plate-fin heat exchanger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cryogenic process and apparatus for production of an oxygen product from air, characterized in that a multiple passage plate-fin heat exchanger having at least two sets of passages is used to effectuate the rectifying and stripping functions, wherein one set of passages comprises a continuous-contact rectification dephlegmator which rectifies the separator vapor and produces the enriched-nitrogen rectifier overhead and the crude liquid oxygen bottoms; wherein a second set of passages comprises a continuous-contact stripping dephlegmator which strips the oxygen-enriched liquid to produce the nitrogen-enriched stripper overhead and the oxygen product; wherein reflux of the rectification device and boilup for the stripping device is provided, at least in part, by indirect heat exchange between and along said two sets of passages, thereby producing a thermal link between the rectification dephlegmator and the stripping dephlegmator.

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.

Abstract: A downflow heat exchanger, particularly applicable as the main condenser/reboiler of a double column cryogenic air separation plant, wherein liquid distribution for uniform flow is carried out above the vapor passages and the well distributed liquid is passed into the liquid passages, preferably angularly onto the bridge fins, and then down through the liquid passages cocurrently with vapor in adjacent vapor passages.

Abstract: This column, of the type having a cross-undulating lining, includes means for returning liquid to the vicinity of the edges of the lining and liquid and gas distribution means which contribute to decrease substantially the height of the column. Application to plants for separating gases from air.