Praxair Technology, Inc.

Praxair S.t. Technology, Inc.

James Patrick Meagher

Bryan R Bielec

Raymond Francis Drnevich

John Fredric Billingham

Shawn W Callahan

Friedrich Eduard Purkert

Mark Allen Kailburn

Steven R Falta

Troy Michael Raybold

David R Parsnick

Prasad Shrikrisnna Apte

William Thoru Kobayashi

Hai Du

John Frederic Billingham

Gerald A Paolino

Michael J Dray

Prasad Shrikrishna Apte

Willam Thoru Kobayashi

Prasad Shrikrismna Apte

David Parsnick

The present invention relates to an adsorption process for xenon recovery from a cryogenic liquid or gas stream wherein a bed of adsorbent is contacted with a xenon-containing liquid or gas stream selectively adsorbing the xenon from said stream. The adsorption bed is operated to at least near full breakthrough with xenon to enable a deep rejection of other stream components, prior to regeneration using the temperature swing method. After the stripping step, the xenon adsorbent bed is drained to clear out the liquid residue left in the nonselective void space and the xenon molecules in those void spaces is recycled upstream to the ASU distillation column for increasing xenon recovery. The xenon adsorbent bed is optionally purged with oxygen, followed by purging with gaseous argon at cryogenic temperature (&#x2264;160 K) to displace the oxygen co-adsorbed on the AgX adsorbent due to higher selectivity of argon over oxygen on the AgX adsorbent. By the end of this step, the xenon adsorbent bed is filled with argon and xenon. Then the entire adsorbent bed is heated indirectly without utilizing any of the purge gas for direct heating. Operating the adsorption bed to near full breakthrough with xenon and displacing the adsorbed oxygen and other residues with argon, prior to regeneration, along with indirect heating of the bed, enables production of a high purity product &#x2265;40 vol % xenon from the adsorption bed and further enables safely heating without any purge gas and ease for downstream product collection, even in cases where hydrocarbons are co-present in the feed stream.

Adsorptive xenon recovery process from a gas or liquid stream at cryogenic temperature

A method and backup system for backing up a supply oxygen in an air separation plant in which during normal operation, a stream of oxygen-rich liquid is pumped through a main flow path, extending from a surge tank to a heat exchanger, to deliver an oxygen product. The surge tank receives the oxygen-rich liquid from a bottom region of the lower pressure column of the plant. Additionally, during normal operations, a stream of the oxygen-rich liquid is also introduced to a reserve storage tank through a backup flow path. During a transient operation, where the air separation plant has ceased operation, the surge tank is isolated and liquid is pumped from the surge tank through an auxiliary flow path to an auxiliary vaporizer to continue the supply of the oxygen product and the surge tank is replenished with oxygen-rich liquid previously stored in the reserve storage tank.

Oxygen backup method and system

A valve useful in distributing gas received in one inlet to several outlets in a sequence, and burner apparatus including this valve for feeding material in sequence to outlets of a burner thereby forming a non-stationary flame at the burner.

Multi-output valve and burner useful to promote non-stationary flame

Multi-output valve useful to promote non-stationary flame

This invention relates to coatings for a metal or non-metal substrate comprising (a) a thermal sprayed bondcoat layer applied to the substrate, and (b) a thermal sprayed ceramic layer applied to said bondcoat layer; wherein said coating has a helium leak rate of less than 6&#xd7;10standard cubic centimeters per second. The thermal sprayed bondcoat layer comprises (i) a thermal sprayed inner layer alloy, and (ii) a thermal sprayed outer layer alloy. The inner layer alloy is thermally sprayed from a powder having a mean particle size of 50 percentile point in distribution of from about 5 microns to about 50 microns. The outer layer alloy is thermally sprayed from a powder having a mean particle size of 50 percentile point in distribution of from about 30 microns to about 100 microns. The coatings are useful for extending the service life under severe conditions, such as those associated with metallurgical vessels' lances, nozzles and tuyeres.

Thermal spray coatings and applications therefor

This invention relates to coatings for a metal or non-metal substrate comprising (i) a thermal sprayed bondcoat layer applied to the substrate, and (ii) a thermal sprayed ceramic layer applied to the bondcoat layer; wherein said coating has a helium leak rate of less than 6&#xd7;10standard cubic centimeters per second. The thermal sprayed bondcoat layer comprises an alloy of MCrAlM' wherein M is an element selected from nickel, cobalt, iron and mixtures thereof, and M&#x2032; is an element selected from yttrium, zirconium, hafnium, ytterbium and mixtures thereof. The alloy is thermally sprayed from a powder having a mean particle size of 50 percentile point in distribution of from about 5 microns to about 100 microns. The coatings are useful for extending the service life under severe conditions, such as those associated with metallurgical vessels' lances, nozzles and tuyeres.

A method of generating electricity in synthesis gas in which a fuel is combusted in a gas turbine to generate the electricity that at least about 60 percent by volume is derived from a source independent of the synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is produced by reacting a hydrocarbon stream, by for example, partial oxidation, autothermal reforming or steam methane reforming. After the synthesis gas stream is cooled, heat is transferred from the heated synthesis gas stream to the fuel prior to combustion in the gas turbine. All or at least a portion of the heat is transferred at a temperature no greater than about 500&#xb0; F. and at a flow ratio of the fuel to the gas turbine to the synthesis gas stream from at least about 1.5. The heating of the fuel to the gas turbine lowers fuel consumption and thereby the total expenses involved in generating electricity and syngas.

Electricity and synthesis gas generation method

A cryogenic rectification method for increasing the recovery of argon produced in an argon column of a cryogenic air separation plant wherein liquid nitrogen is mixed with higher pressure column kettle liquid to produce a liquid refrigeration mixture to drive the top condenser.

Gryogenic rectification method for increased argon production

A cryogenic air separation system wherein product oxygen may be produced effectively at a higher production rate and at a lower production rate than the nominal production rate by employing a liquid oxygen storage tank and, in addition, an oxygen-enriched liquid storage tank operating in conjunction with the higher pressure column sump.

Growing community of inventors

Buffalo, NY, United States of America

James Patrick Meagher