A method of treating a subject suffering from, or susceptible to, a condition that can be ameliorated by inhalation of gaseous nitrite comprises the use of apparatus comprising an activating unit that includes a photosensitiser excitable by absorption of light to excite oxygen to a singlet state, and a light source arranged to illuminate the photosensitiser. Air is caused to flow through the activating unit while said photosensitiser is illuminated by the light source, and after passing through the activating unit, is directed to the respiratory tract of the subject.

The specification and drawings present a new apparatus and method for continuously providing oxygen-enriched gas/air produced from a predefined atmospheric air (normally comprising 78% of nitrogen N.sub.2 and 21% of oxygen O.sub.2) to a combustion area/chamber, using an impeller-based apparatus having a duct system. The impeller system can comprise at least one plurality of gates for capturing the oxygen-enriched gas/air to automatically improve processes of combustion, exhaust and/or related properties of the apparatus. The impeller can comprise a plurality of blades which, when rotating/spinning, may create the desired gas density/mass separation of oxygen and nitrogen. Furthermore, a nitrogen-enriched gas/air can be further provided from a predefined atmospheric air using the impeller-based apparatus with at least one plurality of further gates system/duct, gates rotating in sync with impeller blades, for collecting the nitrogen-enriched gas/air to further improve one or more apparatus parameters.

Magnetic systems and methods for oxygen separation and purification from fluids utilizing the paramagnetic properties of oxygen. A magnetic field gradient is established in a tube having a first end in flow communication with a source of a fluid containing oxygen. The fluid is flowed through the tube. The magnetic field gradient causes oxygen to be enriched in the fluid on a first interior side of the tube as compared to a second interior side of the tube. For a fluid like air having oxygen, a paramagnetic substance, and other, e.g., diamagnetic, components like nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide and water vapor, the technology of the disclosure effectively separates oxygen molecules from the other components in magnetic field gradients of sufficient magnitude.

A system for extracting oxygen from a liquid includes a separator allowing a liquid to pass lengthwise through the separator to produce a liquid mixture with the liquid having at least a portion of oxygen removed from the liquid. The separator includes a wall surrounding an interior portion of a tube. The wall has at least one aperture formed in the wall. The separator also includes at least one magnet positioned adjacently to the at least one aperture. The magnet has a north pole end and a south pole end. A magnetic field gradient is formed between the north pole end and the south pole end, and extends into an interior portion of the tube. The system also includes a storage tank fluidly coupled to the at least one aperture for storing the at least a portion of the oxygen removed from the liquid via the separator.

The specification and drawings present a new apparatus and method for continuously providing an oxygen-enriched gas/air using a relative motion of selected surface(s) of an apparatus (such as fossil-fueled combustion device/vehicle) relative to an atmospheric air with a speed exceeding a threshold value for, e.g., improving combustion, exhaust and related properties of the apparatus. An oxygen-enriched gas/air layer can be formed along/near each aforementioned surface from the atmospheric air due to pushing the atmospheric air along the surface(s) during that relative motion and collected by corresponding collector gate(s) located inside the apparatus near/adjacent to the corresponding surface. The apparatus can be an object (e.g., a vehicle) moving through the atmospheric air with a relative speed exceeding the threshold value. Alternatively, the apparatus can be a stationary object (e.g., a power generator) while the atmospheric air, having a desired speed exceeding the threshold value, is moved/blown toward the stationary object.

The specification and drawings present a new apparatus and method for continuously providing oxygen-enriched gas/air produced from a predefined atmospheric air (normally comprising 78% of nitrogen N.sub.2 and 21% of oxygen O.sub.2) to a combustion area/chamber, using an impeller-based apparatus having a duct system. The impeller system can comprise at least one plurality of gates for capturing the oxygen-enriched gas/air to automatically improve processes of combustion, exhaust and/or related properties of the apparatus. The impeller can comprise a plurality of blades which, when rotating/spinning, may create the desired gas density/mass separation of oxygen and nitrogen. Furthermore, a nitrogen-enriched gas/air can be further provided from a predefined atmospheric air using the impeller-based apparatus with at least one plurality of further gates system/duct, gates rotating in sync with impeller blades, for collecting the nitrogen-enriched gas/air to further improve one or more apparatus parameters.

The specification and drawings present a new apparatus and method for a partial gas separation technique which can be used, e.g., for continuously providing, using a predefined atmospheric air (normally atmospheric air comprises 78% of nitrogen N.sub.2 and 21% of oxygen O.sub.2), oxygen-enriched gas/air and/or nitrogen-enriched gas/air in fossil-fueled combustion devices/systems to a combustion area/chamber and the like for improving combustion, exhaust and related properties of the apparatus. The partial gas separation technique can be based on forming a predefined directional pattern of a gas mixture of a plurality of gases, using a direction forming element, subsequently moving an output gas from the direction forming element at least along/against one surface of a gas separation element to spatially separate in part the plurality of gases having different molecular weights.

In various implementations, methanol is produced using a (CO+H.sub.2) containing synthesis gas produced from a combined PDX plus EHTR or a combined ATR plus EHTR at a pressure of 70 bar to 100 bar at the correct stoichiometric composition for methanol synthesis so that no feed gas compressor is required for the feed to the methanol synthesis reactor loop.

A heat exchanger comprises a plurality of cells formed by a stack of alternate planar flow-guide plates (1) and heat transfer plates (2), each heat transfer plate having at least three apertures (3, 4, 6) therethrough, each aperture defining a part of a respective one of at least three fluid flow paths in the heat exchanger. Each flow-guide plate has apertures therethrough corresponding to at least two of the flow paths and a larger aperture (5, 7, 8) therethrough configured to guide fluid in the remaining flow path across the face of the heat transfer plates between which the flow-guide plate is located, each successive flow-guide plate in the stack forming part of a different flow path from the preceding one in the stack.

A device and a method for producing hydrogen and byproduct oxygen by using green electricity electrolyzed water are provided. The device comprises an oxygen purifying system, a heat exchange system, an air separation compression and expansion system, an air separation rectification system and a liquid oxygen storage system. The method comprises the following steps: first, purifying oxygen prepared by electrolyzing water by green electricity to remove impurities such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and water in the oxygen, then feeding the pure oxygen into the heat exchange system, performing heat exchange liquefaction to obtain liquid oxygen, coupling the liquid oxygen generated by rectification of the air separation rectification system, and obtaining pressurized oxygen through the heat exchange system and the air separation compression and expansion system.