Abstract:
An apparatus for maintaining the consumable components of an electroless plating solution at predetermined concentration in a plating tank containing the plating solution while workpieces are being processed in the tank. The apparatus measures the concentrations of the consumable components in a sample stream of the electroless plating solution and based on these measurements, meters the required amounts of the components into the plating solution. A portion of the apparatus provides for the introduction of plating solution poison into the sample stream to prevent autocatalytic decomposition and deposition of the plating metal, e.g., copper, onto to the walls and sensors of the apparatus.
Abstract:
A process for liquefying natural gas in which heavier hydrocarbons are separated in a scrub column from the natural gas prior to liquefaction. The feed to the scrub column is intercooled against the methane-rich overhead from said column and isentropically expanded before being introduced to the column and separated from the heavier hydrocarbons. The methane-rich overhead stream is compressed utilizing the mechanical energy of expansion and liquefied in a refrigerated heat exchanger.
Abstract:
Power is recovered from the vaporization of liquefied natural gas by liquefying a multicomponent refrigerant. The liquefied multicomponent refrigerant is then pressurized, vaporized and expanded in two stages through two expanders which are coupled to a generator.
Abstract:
Refrigeration for liquefying natural gas is provided by a closed cycle refrigeration system employing a multicomponent refrigerant. A stream of multicomponent refrigerant flowing in the closed refrigeration system is compressed and then successively fractionated by partial condensation in a plurality of steps to provide condensates at progressively decreasing temperature levels. The condensates are separated and introduced under reduced pressure into a common zone in heat exchange with the natural gas and vaporization of the condensates. A stream of multicomponent refrigerant including the resulting vapor from the condensates is withdrawn from the zone for recycle. The multicomponent refrigerant includes a mixture of components consisting essentially of nitrogen and a plurality of hydrocarbons. In one presently preferred variant, the refrigerant is a mixture of nitrogen and more than three hydrocarbons having molecular weights between the molecular weight of methane and the molecular weight of hexane. Two of the hydrocarbons are methane and ethane. Ethane is the component of greatest percentage, methane is the component of second greatest percentage, and nitrogen is present in a percentage substantially less than that of methane.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a tubular phase separator for removing entrained liquid from a gas stream having a feed inlet, a gas outlet spaced apart from the feed inlet, a liquid outlet spaced apart and below the feed inlet and gas outlet, and a mist eliminator pad disposed between the feed inlet and the gas outlet. The improved phase separator has a plate disposed between the mist eliminator pad and the gas outlet having a plurality of perforations therein for effecting improved gas flow across the mist eliminator pad and for improving the efficiency in removal of entrained liquid.
Abstract:
A closed loop single component, e.g. propane or Freon refrigerant, refrigeration cycle is added to a single or dual mixed refrigerant natural gas liquefaction process to precool the natural gas prior to adsorptive drying. By means of pressure control, the single component refrigerant temperature can be accurately controlled to ensure against hydrate formation in the natural gas feed and to maximize the precooling of the natural gas feed prior to drying. The addition of the single component refrigeration cycle overcomes the difficulty of controlling the precooling temperature which occurs when cooling by a multicomponent refrigerant, and thus improves plant reliability and minimizes the equipment sizes associated with the drying operation.
Abstract:
A system for liquefying and subcooling natural gas wherein compression power is shifted off the closed cycle refrigerant by subcooling the liquid natural gas to a relatively warm exit temperature and subsequently reducing the pressure and flashing the liquefied natural gas to recover a gaseous phase natural gas in excess of plant fuel requirements, the excess being recompressed and recycled to the feed to the process.
Abstract:
Power is recovered from the vaporization of natural gas by warming the natural gas against a multicomponent stream which is cooled and liquefied. The liquefied multicomponent stream is pumped to an elevated pressure and is warmed against one or more streams of propane which are cooled and liquefied. The warmed multicomponent stream is heated, expanded through a generator loaded expander and recycled. The liquefied propane is pumped to an elevated pressure in single or multi-staged streams, vaporized, expanded through a second generator loaded expander and recycled.
Abstract:
Power is recovered from the vaporization of liquefied natural gas by warming and vaporizing the liquefied natural gas against a first multicomponent stream which is cooled and liquefied. The liquefied multicomponent stream is pumped to an elevated pressure and is warmed and vaporized against a second multicomponent stream which is cooled and liquefied. The warmed first multicomponent stream is heated, expanded through a generator loaded expander and recycled. The liquefied second multicomponent stream is pumped to an elevated pressure, heated, vaporized and expanded through a second generator loaded expander and recycled.
Abstract:
The present invention is an improvement to a liquefaction process for natural gas, wherein refrigeration for the liquefaction process is provided by two closed-loop refrigeration cycles. The first or low level refrigeration cycle uses either a mixed refrigerant or a single component refrigerant as the heat pump fluid, and the second or high level refrigerant uses a mixed (multicomponent) refrigerant as the heat pump fluid. In the liquefaction process the second or high level refrigeration cycle cools the low level heat pump fluid. The low level refrigeration cycle cools and liquefies the cooled natural gas feed. The improvement to the process is the use of an absorption refrigeration cycle to precool the natural gas feed, the low level heat pump fluid, the high level heat pump fluid and, if required, the deep flash recycle. Heat to drive the absorption refrigeration cycle is provided by the exhaust gas from one or more drives for the compressors in the process.