Abstract: An apparatus and a method for trapping a toxic gas contained in an exhaust gas from a process chamber are disclosed. In the apparatus, two toxic gas traps are provided which are connected in series with a toxic gas sensor provided thereinbetween and in fluid communication with the two traps. When toxic gas is detected by the toxic gas sensor, i.e., an indication that the first toxic gas trap is fully consumed, the second toxic gas trap is used to replace the first toxic gas trap, while a new toxic gas trap is installed as the second toxic gas trap. The present invention novel apparatus and method enables the full use or utilization of a toxic gas trap and results in significant cost savings. Furthermore, the present invention novel apparatus and method improves the yield of a fabrication process by reducing the machine down time since the service frequency for the chamber is reduced.

Abstract: A method for regulating or controlling the content of NOx in the exhaust gases of a glass-melting furnace having several burners operated in alternation, wherein both the beginning and the end of a combustion break (FP+, FP−) are supplied to a binary signal generator (8) which passes a signal to a regulator (4) with a time delay and upon receipt of the time-regulator (4), and the amount of NH3 supplied to the denitrating plant is adjusted to a lower constant fixed value F1 via a control, and by means of a memory element (7) a higher constant fixed value F2 is calculated as amount of NH3 and supplied to the regulator (4), whereupon as soon as the regulator (4) has received the signal of the time-delayed end of a combustion break, the fixed value F1 is adjusted to the fixed value F2 via a control, and subsequently the regulation is directly continued.

Abstract: A vapor recovery system employs a sensor apparatus for determining the actual content of hydrocarbon in the effluent vapor stream. The vapor flow of the hydrocarbon effluents is regulated by controlling an adjustable valve configured at the intake or outtake side of the vapor pump in accordance with the measured hydrocarbon content. The vapor flow rate is effectively varied without requiring any change in the pump operating speed. Sensor apparatus for performing the hydrocarbon measurements include a fiber-optic sensor, an oxygen sensor, and a crystal oscillation sensor. A solenoid assembly is provided to suitably activate the valve in response to the sensor measurement data.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for recovering a noble gas, which can recover a noble gas exhausted from a noble gas employing system efficiently and also can supply the noble gas of a predetermined purity to the noble gas employing system and which can reduce consumption of the noble gas. In the process and apparatus for recovering a noble gas, when a noble gas contained in an exhaust gas exhausted from a noble gas employing system operated under reduced pressure is recovered, switching between introduction of the exhaust gas to a recovery system and exhaustion of the exhaust gas to an exhaust system is carried out under reduced pressure, and this switching operation is carried out depending on the content of impurity components contained in the exhaust gas or on the running state of the noble gas employing system.

Abstract: A gas purification system includes a gas purification unit and one or more safety devices. The gas purification unit includes an enclosure containing a purification material that exhibits an exothermic reaction when exposed to certain gas contaminants. The gas purification unit also has an inlet coupled to an unpurified gas inlet line and an outlet coupled to a purified gas outlet line. A safety device can be coupled either to the unpurified gas input line or the purified output line, or both, and develops an alarm signal when gas contaminants exceed a given concentration level for a period of time.

Abstract: A device for displaying the exhaustion of a gas filter filled with an adsorbent (3). A toxic gas detector (14) determines the toxic gas content at a sampling site (8) within the adsorbent (3). A reference sampling site (12) is located in the area of a gas inlet point (6) of the gas filter (2). The toxic gas detector is designed such that it determines the toxic gas content alternately at the sampling sites (8, 12), and the exhaustion of the filter is determined by a comparison of the toxic gas content at the sampling site (8) with the toxic gas content at the reference sampling site (12).

Abstract: An automatic control apparatus for effecting the continuous removal of contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a process fluid, such as water used to wash print towels or the like. The apparatus includes a pump for circulating wash water from a washer to a treatment tank. A diffuser is provided for air stripping the contaminants from the wash water in the tank. The diffused gas is exhausted through a vent in the tank, and a contaminant emissions concentration sensor detects the composition of VOCs in the exhaust. A controller signals the pump to vary the circulation based on the emissions concentration detected by the sensor. The wash water is continuously recirculated to the washer until a predetermined emissions concentration is reached. A drain in the tank releases the treated wash water to the environment.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are described for forming a chemical modulation of a substance present in a fluid stream, which utilize a movable device, such as a movable heater, to induce changes in the retention of a chemical substance flowing through the modulator tube. The modulator tube has an inlet, a first portion in communication with the inlet, a second portion in communication with said first portion, and an outlet in communication with said second portion. The method involves causing a chemical modulation by moving retention alteration device relative to a modulator tube.

Abstract: A membrane system controller and control method for maximizing retentate product output and incorporating compressor load detection apparatus and process parameter instrumentation for feeding essential monitoring information to a control unit. Product output maximization is accomplished by increasing the membrane operating temperature during periods when compressor capacity is underutilized.

Abstract: A deodorizing and disinfecting apparatus having catalyst deterioration detection function of the present invention comprises: an air supply portion for inhaling air inside; an ozone generating portion for discharging ozone to the inhaled air: a catalyst for accelerating deodorizing and disinfecting actions and decomposition of the ozone disposed downstream from the ozone generating portion; an ozone sensor for detecting the concentration of remaining ozone disposed downstream from the catalyst; and means for repeating a cycle including stop of ozone discharge from the ozone generating portion for a predetermined time period when the concentration of the remaining ozone reaches a predetermined concentration or more, and for determining that the catalyst is deteriorated when a condition wherein an interval between times when the concentration of the remaining ozone is not less than a predetermined concentration becomes shorter than a predetermined time period is recognized at a predetermined frequency, and then

Abstract: An air pollution control system using a novel control system is disclosed. The control system is particularly useful with a gas conditioning tower ("GCT") which uses a spray from a two-fluid nozzle to cool hot process gases prior to flowing to an electrostatic precipitator. A first control loop, employing, for example, a temperature feedback control system, is used during normal operation of the system, and an override control loop is used to protect the electrostatic precipitator from overheated gases which may be diverted in the case of a plant upset. The override control loop adjusts the spray based on a calculation of the spray characteristics needed to meet the new GCT conditioning requirements. In another aspect the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for optmizing the spray from a two-fluid nozzle used in a GCT. In particular, the spray droplets are made larger when possible, thereby reducing the energy usage of the system.

Abstract: A process to detect metal impurities in a gas or gas mixture including the steps of directing the gas or gas mixture through non-metallic pipings to a sampling device and sampling the gas or gas mixture for metal impurities detection, wherein the sampling device is close to an inlet and/or outlet of a machine employing the gas or gas mixture as a processing gas, the machine being surrounded by a booth containing a gaseous atmosphere which is continuously circulated in the booth, partially renewing said atmosphere continuously, and exhausting excess atmosphere.

Abstract: A system for generating oxygen enriched air includes a compressed air supply for supplying compressed air and a permeable membrane gas separation system for separating a nitrogen gas component and an oxygen enriched air component from the compressed air. An oxygen analyzer is provided to detect an oxygen concentration in the oxygen enriched air component. The nitrogen gas component is divided, by a vortex tube, into a cold gas stream and a hot gas stream, and solenoid valves are actuated to modify a flow path of the compressed air through the cold gas stream and the hot gas stream in order to selectively heat and cool the compressed air. The oxygen enriched air is then selectively distributed for further use.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing oxygen-enriched air at a first pressure and at a second pressure, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure. The apparatus comprises, in combination, a pressure swing adsorption system and a pressure intensifier. The pressure swing adsorption system for enriching the oxygen content of air has a pressure of at least the first pressure. The pressure swing adsorption system is adapted to provide oxygen-enriched air to a first outlet at the first pressure and to provide oxygen-enriched air to a pressure intensifier at the first pressure. The pressure intensifier pressurizes the oxygen-enriched air and provides the oxygen-enriched air to a second outlet at the second pressure.

Abstract: A system for generating oxygen enriched air includes a compressed air supply for supplying compressed air and a permeable membrane gas separation system for separating a nitrogen gas component and an oxygen enriched air component from the compressed air. An oxygen analyzer is provided to detect an oxygen concentration in the oxygen enriched air component. The nitrogen gas component is divided, by a vortex tube, into a cold gas stream and a hot gas stream, and solenoid valves are actuated to modify a flow path of the compressed air through the cold gas stream and the hot gas stream in order to selectively heat and cool the compressed air. The oxygen enriched air is then selectively distributed for further use.

Abstract: A process of removing carbon dioxide from a liquor in a vessel comprises the step of continuously passing a portion of the liquor into a sidestream and introducing discrete bubbles of between 0.005 mm and 1.0 mm diameter of nitrogen rich gas into the liquor before returning it to the vessel in which the nitrogen acts to adsorb carbon dioxide from the liquor and is then expelled from the liquor as an off-gas. The process also includes introducing a gas to be dissolved in the liquor into the sidestream as discrete bubbles having a diameter of between 0.005 mm and 1.0 mm.

Abstract: An air pollution control system incorporating a venturi scrubber and a method of cleansing a particulate-laden, contaminated gas flow are disclosed. Spray nozzles are used to introduce optimized droplets of a scrubbing liquid into the venturi to maximize particle collection efficiency. The present invention discloses automatic control systems which adjust the venturi as the properties of the effluent gases change. For example, in one embodiment, the spray volume and/or droplet size is adjusted as the particle concentration changes. In another embodiment, the spray volume is increased as the volume of effluent gas decreases.

Abstract: A wet scrubber control system is configured with a pH sensor and a conductivity sensor in the return solution, and with a conductivity sensor in the feed solution. Concentration of the scrubbing agent within the feed solution is determined using the conductivity of the feed solution, corrected by subtracting a bias therefrom. The bias is established by first measuring the concentration of scrubbing agent in the return solution using the pH sensor. An expected conductivity of the return solution is then looked-up. The bias is set as the difference between the expected conductivity of the return solution and a measured conductivity of the return solution.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the output of an oxygen concentrator wherein an oxygen concentrator indicator is comprised of an oxygen sensor monitor and circuit board which receives a gas sample from the concentrator, the oxygen concentrator indicator circuit board converts the concentration of oxygen to a DC voltage range from 0 to 1 volt corresponding to 0% to 100% oxygen. A plurality of set-point amplifiers accept the voltage and feed the voltage to a logic block where the voltage is analyzed to insure that only one of a plurality of solid state relays or switches is energized at a time. A plurality of taps on an AC motor winding are selectively energized by the solid state relays to drive the oxygen concentrator at a pre-determined rate in response to the concentration of oxygen generated by the concentrator.

Abstract: The flow rate of a nonadsorbed product gas stream from a multiple unit PSA plant can be reduced in response to a reduced product demand by isolating all units in the plant and inserting an idle step into the adsorption cycle immediately following bed equalization steps of the cycle. In a preferred embodiment, the duration of the idle step is inversely proportional to the percentage reduction in the product demand. To maintain the product gas purity at the desired level, minor adjustments of the idle step duration can be made following adjustment to the idle step in response to a change in product demand.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a contaminant from a gas effluent. The apparatus comprises an absorption tower in which is placed a suitable packing where the gas effluent and contaminant-absorbing liquid contact one another. A recirculation path transfers spent contaminant-absorbing liquid to the top of the tower allowing the liquid to effect a new contaminant-removal cycle. Reagent is introduced in the recirculation path to refresh the contaminant-absorbing liquid. A dual-controller system dynamically varies the amount of reagent introduced in the recirculation path in accordance with the amount of contaminant in the gas effluent. A master controller calculates a reagent concentration set-point. The set-point is communicated to a slave controller that meters reagent in the recirculation path according to the set-point value.

Abstract: A scrubber apparatus and controller includes an outlet gas sensor, and a processor operatively connected to the outlet gas sensor and a treatment chemical supply pump for controlling a level of treatment chemical in scrubbing solution responsive to the sensed undesired constituent, such as hydrogen sulfide and/or other odorous gases associated with wastewater. Accordingly, the controller enhances reduction of the undesired constituent in the gas being treated and while conserving consumption of treatment chemical. To enhance the operating life of the outlet and inlet gas sensors, the processor preferably only periodically exposes the gas sensors to gas, and also periodically supplies purging air to the gas sensors. The controller preferably includes an environmentally resistant housing containing the processor means and the outlet gas sensor. In addition, the inlet gas sensor is also preferably included to provide feed forward control and also to provide a log of both inlet and outlet gas readings.

Abstract: A scrubber apparatus and controller include a gas sensor, and processor for controlling treatment of gas responsive to the sensed undesired constituent so as to enhance reduction of the undesired constituent. The processor further determines a sensor fault and may generate an alarm signal responsive to the sensor fault. The gas sensor is preferably an electrochemical cell comprising an electrolyte and a pair of electrodes associated with the electrolyte. A sensor fault may be determined based upon an impedance of the electrolyte and the pair of electrodes. In addition, the electrochemical cell may include a gas permeable membrane and a pair of electrodes on opposing sides of the membrane to permit determination of damage to the membrane based upon an impedance measurement using the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: A water spray-based air purification system having a humidification portion and a dehumidifying portion is operatively installed in an air handling unit used to recirculate air within a conditioned space. A blower within the air handling unit housing operates to draw return air into the housing, flow the air across the entire air purification system, and then discharge the purified and humidified air back into the conditioned space. A water spray portion of the purification system is served by a pump forcing water from a sump structure through a filter, with the spray water draining back into the sump after cleansing air traversing the purification system. Upon a sensed demand therefor, an additive injector adds suitable chemical treatment material to the sump water, and a water pollutant monitor structure operates to backwash the filter upon sensing an undesirable pump back pressure increase or a buildup of particulate and gaseous pollutants in the sump water.

Abstract: A field test kit for determining quantity of hydrogen sulfide in a liquid st sample. The test kit includes a test container with an opening for a liquid test sample containing hydrogen sulfide gas and a cap provided over the opening. The cap has colorimetric particulate indicator on its top inside surface. A silicone barrier disposed over the indicator protects the indicator from contact with the test sample.

Abstract: A method for reducing gaseous emission of halogen compounds in a fluidized bed reactor in which the fine particles entrained in flue gases are used to form a temporary layer of particles on the baghouse filter to absorb halogen gases.

Abstract: An air pollution control system incorporating a venturi scrubber and a method of cleansing a particulate-laden, contaminated gas flow are disclosed. Spray nozzles are used to introduce optimized droplets of a scrubbing liquid into the venturi to maximize particle collection efficiency. Due to the very small size of the spray droplets they absorb gases in quantities in excess of the amount predicted by Henry's law. After passing through the venturi the spray droplets are reconsolidated and flow to an enclosed container. Due to the applicability of Henry's law to the relatively large reconsolidated volume of scrubbing liquid, the liquid is naturally effervescent. Bubbles formed in the liquid volume cause suspended particles in the liquid to rise to the surface where they form an easily collected surface scum. The effervescent gases, at least some of which may be noxious, are then incinerated or otherwise treated.

Abstract: A method for operating a filtration apparatus for flue gas, which removes dust from flue gas discharged from a burner using mainly solid fuel, wherein incombustible powder is introduced into the filtration apparatus upon detecting or foreseeing coming of unburnt combustible dust from the burner, or upon detecting or foreseeing a temperature rise of the flue gas, and the incombustible powder is suspended in the dust-containing flue gas to suppress combustion of the combustible dust, or to suppress the temperature rise of the flue gas, in the filtration apparatus.

Abstract: A flow passage into which water-to-be-treated flows is provided with, in order from an upstream side, a deaerator as a DO eliminating device having a power variable mechanism, an oxidation device for oxidizing TOC by irradiating ultraviolet-ray, an ion eliminating device for eliminating TOC ion generated at oxidation, and a particle eliminating device. Further provided thereat are a TOC density measuring device, a DO density measuring device and a data processing device. Before the water-to-be-treated is irradiated with ultraviolet-ray in the TOC eliminating device (oxidation device and ion eliminating device), the deaerator controls a DO density in the water-to-be-treated according to a TOC density. Thus, an oxidizer of the TOC is maintained and impurity is decreased.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for removing caprolactam emissions from a broad variety of sources, especially from caprolactam polymerization operations and thermoplastic polycaprolactam processing operations which contains a header for collecting air containing the emissions, a duct, and a candle filter housing, which is connected to the header by the duct, a candle filter located in the candle filter housing, which is connected to the duct, a nozzle for rinsing the candle filter with an aqueous caprolactam solution, which is connected to the candle filter; a reservoir having a drain which is connected to the candle filter, a circulation pump for recirculating the aqueous caprolactam solution from the reservoir to the candle filter, a refractometer and a feedback equipment for maintaining the caprolactam concentration in the reservoir at a predetermined level and a fan for moving the air through the header, duct, candle filter and candle filter housing.

Abstract: A method and system are described to remove solvent vapors emanating from a source in a work place. The air stream is passed through a fogging chamber in which a plurality of ultrasonic foggers are used to create a supersaturated condition in the form of vapor and droplets of a scrubbing liquid such as water. The supersaturated condition is accompanied with a large amount of turbulence and mixing flows throughout the chamber to reduce the ability of solvent vapors from bypassing contact with the scrubbing liquid. The scrubbing liquid droplets and vapor are then condensed out in a cooling condenser and collected to leave a scrubbed air stream from which a substantial amount of the solvent vapors is removed. The scrubbed cooled air stream may then be recirculated for reuse in the work place. Several embodiments are shown and described including a scrubbing system in which several fogging chambers and condensers are used in tandem for an enhanced removal of solvent vapor from the air stream.