Mg Industries

American Air Liquide, Inc.

Other

Sudhir R Brahmbhatt

Christopher R Young

J Michael Forde

Richard R Masi

George A Timberlake, Jr

Gerald A Dornblaser

A tool, for opening a variety of valves associated with gas cylinders, includes an elongated body. One end of the body defines a hook. The body has a generally square cut-out extending through the thickness of the body. The body also includes two or three threaded holes which enable a set of threaded pins to be screwed into the holes. The body also includes an opening defining regions of distinct widths. The tool can be used to remove or insert a cap or cover on a gas cylinder, to operate a valve of a welding gas cylinder, to open or close a nut or fitting associated with a gas cylinder, and to open or close a valve wheel associated with a gas cylinder. The tool thus simplifies the management of gas cylinders, by reducing or eliminating the need for auxiliary tools such as wrenches and hammers.

Multi-purpose tool for use with gas cylinders

Tool for use with gas cylinders

A process and system for lyophilizing a product. The product is first cooled in a cooling chamber () and then passed through a liquid nitrogen bath () where it is frozen. It is then freeze dried in a lyophilization chamber () during which the water or non-aqueous media is sublimated using a combination of gaseous nitrogen and vaporized nitrogen from liquid nitrogen supplied to the lyophilization chamber. Water and non-aqueous media removed from the product during sublimation is purged from the chamber. The system of the present invention provides more energy efficient operation, eliminates the use of hot oils and oil leaks, operates more reliably, and the liquid nitrogen can be used both as a refrigeration source, for heating shelves instead of hot oil and also can maintain the lyophilization temperature in case of power failure with minimum electric power supply in case of a power outage.

Liquid nitrogen (LIN) integrated lyophilization system for minimizing a carbon footprint

An integrated industrial plant includes various systems, all of which use a cryogenic liquid obtained from a common source. One system includes a fermentation unit, in which cold air, chilled by heat exchange with the cryogenic liquid, absorbs excess heat generated by the fermentation. Another system is a lyophilization unit, in which a refrigeration step is performed through the use of air that has been chilled by heat exchange with the cryogenic liquid. Another system is a device for freezing discrete samples of biological products, the samples being frozen by partial immersion in the cryogenic liquid. The invention substantially reduces the use of electric power, and provides systems which operate economically and reliably.

Freezing of biological products

A fermentation process uses substantially pure oxygen. The oxygen is the only reactive gas which is injected into a fermentation vessel. The oxygen is moved through the vessel solely by its own pressure. The process can be used with both mechanically-agitated and air-lifted fermenters. The mechanically-agitated fermenter includes an analyzer for measuring oxygen concentration in the exhaust line, and adjusting the flow of fresh oxygen into the vessel accordingly. In the air-lifted fermenter, an analyzer measures the oxygen concentration in the head space of the vessel, and operates valves which either recycle the gas from the head space, or vent that gas to the outside, according to the measured concentration. A stream of nitrogen is periodically injected into the vessel to drive out carbon dioxide and other gases, to control the pH of the fermentation medium. The present invention substantially improves the efficiency of a commercial fermentation process.

Oxygen-assisted fermentation process

A medical device is sterilized or sanitized by at least partially submerging it within liquid nitrogen and imparting ultrasonic energy to it.

Methods and systems for sanitizing or sterilizing a medical device using ultrasonic energy and liquid nitrogen

A fermentation process uses substantially pure oxygen as the sole gas introduced into a fermentation vessel while fermentation reactions are active. The oxygen is introduced at multiple locations along the height of the vessel, and is preferably introduced in the vicinity of the blades of an impeller. The invention enhances the rate at which oxygen can be transferred to the fermentation medium, and is especially useful for fermentation media which become very viscous as the process continues. The invention can be used in the manufacture of viscous products such as xanthan gum, or other products having viscosities greater than about 100 cp.

Use of pure oxygen in viscous fermentation processes

Fermentation unit with liquid nitrogen cooling

Lyophilization unit with liquid nitrogen cooling

A system and method for removal of solvents, or other materials, from an exhaust stream, uses an active adsorption bed and a bed that is periodically regenerated. Electrically heated nitrogen may be used to regenerate the beds. A portion of the exhaust stream to be cleaned is diverted to a heat exchanger, so as to pre-heat the nitrogen used for regeneration. Liquid nitrogen, preferably from the same source as that used to provide gas for regeneration, is directed to the active bed, lowering its temperature and increasing its efficiency. The invention avoids the need for the use of steam to heat the nitrogen, and provides a system that is more efficient than those known in the prior art.

Regeneration of adsorption beds using heated nitrogen

A multi-purpose wrench ( ) used to open valves (V) on gas cylinders of various sizes. An elongate handle ( ) has a ratchet formed at one end ( ). A socket ( ) mounts on the ratchet and has a plurality of openings ( ) formed on opposite surfaces ( ) for engaging the stem of a valve (V , V ) to open and close the valve. A disc ( ) is attached to a ratchet ( ) adjacent the other end of the handle to open gas cylinders of a different size. The disc includes a plurality of pins ( ) which engage differently shaped wheels of valves (V , V ) the wrench to open the valve when rotated.

Multi-purpose wrench for use on gas cylinders

Oxygen is mixed with waste water at an early stage in a water treatment facility, to reduce odor caused by anaerobic reactions of sulfur. Waste water is withdrawn from a collection basin, by a pump connected to a suction pipe, and is mixed with oxygen from an external source. The mixture, having been saturated with oxygen, is then returned to the collection basin through a discharge pipe. The end of the discharge pipe is positioned at a higher vertical level than the end of the suction pipe, to prevent gas from entering the pump which would cause cavitation. Also, the end of the discharge pipe has a blind flange, such that the oxygen-enriched water exiting the discharge pipe flows in a direction which is non-parallel to the axis of the pipe. This arrangement provides better mixing of the oxygen with the water in the basin, and prevents the oxygen-enriched water from flowing too soon to the suction pipe. The invention substantially improves the efficiency and efficacy of waste water treatment, because it provides an economical way to oxygenate the waste water at an early stage in the treatment process.

System and method for oxygenation of waste water

A compact device for injecting cryogenic liquid into containers is capable of use with containers of varying sizes. A vessel containing the cryogenic liquid is connected to a nozzle by a thermally-insulated, flexible hose. The nozzle is connected to an arm which is mounted to a support, such that the arm can move in different directions relative to the support. The nozzle can thus be moved with three degrees of freedom, and can be easily positioned over a container to be filled. The apparatus also includes conduits for conveying excess gas from the vessel into a process controller housing, to keep moisture out of that housing. The nozzle includes ports which receive gas formed by vaporizing cryogenic liquid from a supply. Gas flowing into these ports can be used to control the formation of droplets. When heated, such gas can also be used to prevent ice formation in the nozzle, or to remove ice that has already formed. The device of the present invention will work easily with nozzles or nozzle orifices of varying sizes, and can be installed in relatively cramped surroundings.

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Glencoe, MO, United States of America

Sudhir R Brahmbhatt