Provided is a method for improving efficiency of heat transmission that enables improving the efficiency of heat transmission by steam in a steam system at a pH of less than 7. A method for improving the efficiency of heat transmission by steam, wherein, in a step of introducing steam into a heat exchanger to heat an object to be heated or a step of contacting the steam with a cooling body to liquefy the steam, a sarcosine compound is allowed to be present in the steam system at a pH of less than 7. As the sarcosine compound, a long-chain sarcosine compound represented by the following formula (I) is preferable. R.sup.1C(?O)N(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2).sub.nCOOR.sup.2 . . . (I) In formula (I), R.sup.1 is an unsaturated or saturated linear or branched hydrocarbon group having 7 to 24 carbon atoms, n is an integer of 0 to 2, and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or a salt-forming group.

Provided is a method for improving efficiency of heat transmission that enables improving the efficiency of heat transmission by steam in a steam system at a pH of less than 7. A method for improving the efficiency of heat transmission by steam, wherein, in a step of introducing steam into a heat exchanger to heat an object to be heated or a step of contacting the steam with a cooling body to liquefy the steam, a sarcosine compound is allowed to be present in the steam system at a pH of less than 7. As the sarcosine compound, a long-chain sarcosine compound represented by the following formula (I) is preferable. R.sup.1C(?O)N(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2).sub.nCOOR.sup.2 . . . (I) In formula (I), R.sup.1 is an unsaturated or saturated linear or branched hydrocarbon group having 7 to 24 carbon atoms, n is an integer of 0 to 2, and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or a salt-forming group.

A method for the co-production of hydrogen and methanol including a hydrocarbon reforming or gasification device producing a syngas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; introducing the syngas stream to a water gas shift reaction thereby converting at least a portion of the CO and H2O into H2 and CO2 contained in a shifted gas stream; cooling the shifted gas stream and condensing and removing the condensed fraction of H2O; then dividing the shifted syngas stream into a first stream and a second stream; introducing the first stream into a first hydrogen separation device, thereby producing a hydrogen stream, and introducing the second stream into a methanol synthesis reactor, thereby producing a crude methanol stream and a methanol synthesis off gas; introducing at least a portion of the methanol synthesis off gas into a second hydrogen separation device.

A heat engine system and a method for cooling a fluid stream in thermal communication with the heat engine system are provided. The heat engine system may include a working fluid circuit configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, and a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to flow the working fluid therethrough. The cooling circuit may include an evaporator in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid stream. The evaporator may be further configured to receive a second portion of the working fluid from the working fluid circuit and to transfer thermal energy from the fluid stream to the second portion of the working fluid.

A heat engine system and a method for cooling a fluid stream in thermal communication with the heat engine system are provided. The heat engine system may include a working fluid circuit configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, and a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to flow the working fluid therethrough. The cooling circuit may include an evaporator in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid stream. The evaporator may be further configured to receive a second portion of the working fluid from the working fluid circuit and to transfer thermal energy from the fluid stream to the second portion of the working fluid.

A heat exchanger, such as for example, a condenser coil constructed as a fin and microchannel tube is fluidly connected with a volume constructed and configured to store refrigerant in certain operations, such as for example during a pump down operation. The volume is fluidly connected to a fluid port of the heat exchanger, where the fluid port is an inlet (in the cooling mode) to the heat exchanger, such as the high side condensing section of the heat exchanger. The volume receives refrigerant exiting the heat exchanger from the fluid port in a mode other than a cooling mode, e.g., a pump down operation

A method for the co-production of hydrogen and crude methanol, including; a hydrocarbon processing reforming or gasification process generating a syngas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; introducing at least a portion of the syngas stream to a once-through methanol synthesis reactor: introducing at least a portion of the stream from methanol reactor to a separation device separating this stream into a crude methanol stream and methanol synthesis off gas stream; introducing at least a portion of the methanol synthesis off gas to a hydrogen separation device, thereby producing a pure hydrogen stream.

A process for extracting a condensable vapour from a supplied gas, comprising the steps of: i) condensing the condensable vapour by cooling the supplied gas at a condensing surface, such that the supplied gas is divided into at least one condensed fraction and a product gas; while ii) removing the at least one condensed fraction from the condensing surface by mechanical scraping means.

A process for extracting a condensable vapour from a supplied gas, comprising the steps of: i) condensing the condensable vapour by cooling the supplied gas at a condensing surface, such that the supplied gas is divided into at least one condensed fraction and a product gas; while ii) removing the at least one condensed fraction from the condensing surface by mechanical scraping means.

An apparatus for the production of air gases by the cryogenic separation of air can include a cold box having a heat exchanger, and a system of columns; a pressure monitoring device; and a controller. The cold box can be configured to receive a purified and compressed air stream under conditions effective for cryogenically separating the air stream to form an air gas product. The apparatus may also include means for transferring the air gas product from the cold box to an air gas pipeline. The pressure monitoring device is configured to monitor the pipeline pressure, and the controller is configured to determine whether to operate in a power savings mode or a variable liquid production mode. By operating the apparatus in a dynamic fashion, a power savings and/or additional high value cryogenic liquids can be realized in instances in which the pipeline pressure deviates from its highest value.