The invention relates to a method for determining and/or monitoring the air tightness of an enclosed room (2) which is equipped with an oxygen reducing system (1) and in the atmosphere of which at least one oxygen content that can preferably be determined in advance and is reduced in comparison to the normal surrounding air can be set and maintained in order to prevent and/or extinguish fires by introducing an oxygen-displacing gas. The oxygen reducing system (1) has a compressor system (4; 4.1, 4.2) for compressing an initial gas mixture and a gas separation system (3; 3.1, 3.2) downstream of the compressor system (4; 4.1, 4.2) for separating at least one part of the oxygen contained in the initial gas mixture and for providing a nitrogen-enriched gas which is supplied to the enclosed room (2). The differential pressure set in the room (2) is ascertained and compared to a corresponding reference value, whereby information regarding the air tightness of the room (2) is provided.

A system comprising a pumping system configured to pump respective exhaust gases from each of a plurality of chemical etching process chambers and to combine the exhaust gases to provide a combined exhaust gas, and a noble gas recovery system configured to process the combined exhaust gas to remove one or more noble gases therefrom.

A (V)PSA unit for purifying a gas stream by adsorption is provided. The (V)PSA unit comprises, arranged successively in the direction of flow of the feed gas stream, a rotary-structured adsorbent wheel configured so as to drive the gas stream therethrough in an axial manner and allowing the feed gas to dry to a level corresponding to a dew point below −30 C, and an adsorber with a centripetal radial configuration, comprising a bed of particulate adsorbent.

A mixed salt composition adapted for use as a sorbent for carbon dioxide removal from a gaseous stream is provided, the composition being in solid form and including magnesium oxide, an alkali metal carbonate, and an alkali metal nitrate, wherein the composition has a molar excess of magnesium characterized by a Mg:X atomic ratio of at least about 3:1, wherein X is the alkali metal. A process for preparing the mixed salt is also provided, the process including mixing a magnesium salt with a solution comprising alkali metal ions, carbonate ions, and nitrate ions to form a slurry or colloid including a solid mixed salt including magnesium carbonate; separating the solid mixed salt from the slurry or colloid to form a wet cake; drying the wet cake to form a dry cake including the solid mixed salt; and calcining the dry cake to form a mixed salt sorbent.

A method of providing a breath to a human patient. The patient has a patient connection connected, by a patient circuit, to a ventilator having a first ventilator connection and a different second ventilator connection. Each of the first and second ventilator connections are in fluid communication with the patient circuit. The method includes identifying, with the ventilator, initiation of an inspiratory phase of the breath, delivering a bolus of oxygen to the first ventilator connection before or during the inspiratory phase, and delivering breathing gases comprising air to the second ventilator connection during the inspiratory phase. The ventilator isolates the bolus of oxygen delivered to the first ventilator connection from the breathing gases delivered to the second ventilator connection.

A method for producing deuterium-depleted water by removing heavy water and semi-heavy water from water includes an adsorption step of supplying water vapor to a predetermined adsorbent at pressure at which heavy water and semi-heavy water are adsorbed by the adsorbent and light water is not easily adsorbed, causing the heavy water and semi-heavy water to be adsorbed, and recovering the water vapor not adsorbed by the adsorbent. The method also includes a desorption step of maintaining vapor pressure around the predetermined adsorbent which has adsorbed the water vapor in a range in which light water is desorbed and heavy water or semi-heavy water is not easily desorbed, and recovering the water vapor desorbed from the adsorbent.

A volatile liquid vapor recovery system is used to recover vapors produced in the loading of shipping vehicles with volatile liquid product from a storage tank. The recovery system uses a primary vessel with an adsorption bed for adsorbing the volatile liquid vapors and venting clean air including oxygen to the atmosphere. The recovery system regenerates the adsorption bed by recovering the volatile liquid vapors from the adsorption bed and directly delivering said vapors to the storage tank. The system may be adapted to remove oxygen from the primary vessel prior to regeneration, such as by purging and venting the primary vessel with a purge gas or by providing a secondary vessel to receive oxygen and vapors from the primary vessel prior to regeneration of the first adsorption bed. Adsorbed volatile liquid vapor from the secondary vessel can be recycled to the primary vessel for conservation.

A method for adjusting a gas stream separation unit having N adsorbers, where N≥2, each following a PSA, VSA or VPSA adsorption cycle, with a time lag of a phase time, said adjustment method including continuously measuring a physical parameter associated with the gas stream entering and/or leaving the adsorber; for at least one step of the adsorption cycle, determining at least one characteristic value of the step chosen in step a) which is selected from the values of the physical parameter measured in step a) or a function of those values; comparing this characteristic value with a target value; and modifying the flow of the gas stream in order to obtain the target value, in the event of a variation between the value of this (these) difference(s) and the target values.

The present invention relates to a method and system for improving VPSA plant energy and capital efficiency through optimizing direct drive variable speed centrifugal feed, vacuum, and/or product compressors to achieve lower unit gas product production cost. More specifically, the present invention relates to a new energy efficient VPSA process and system which employs high speed direct drive centrifugal compressors to achieve wider production range. Significant lower energy consumption can be achieved over the plant operation life by employing compressors sized with average ambient and production demand, utilizing direct drive variable high speed centrifugal compressors' speed and operating range to meet the desired production demand. Since majority of the plants tend to run at below peak production most of operating life of the plant. In addition, the smaller size machine offers plant capital savings from the initial investment.

Systems and methods are provided for regenerating a bed containing absorbed and/or adsorbed CO.sub.2 using a low value steam stream. The steam stream can have a pressure of 10 kPa-a to 50 kPa-a and a temperature of 46° C. to 81° C. The steam stream can be used to displace CO.sub.2 from the bed, resulting in formation of a low pressure stream including water vapor and CO.sub.2. The stream containing water vapor and CO.sub.2 is then passed through a liquid ring pump that includes an associated ring cooler. The ring pump provides the suction necessary to draw the low value steam stream through the bed to displace the CO.sub.2. Due to the nature of operation of the liquid ring pump, the majority of water in the steam containing H.sub.2O and CO.sub.2 can be removed within the liquid ring pump, resulting in production of a stream comprising 90 vol % or more of CO.sub.2 at a pressure of 90 kPa-a or more. An example of a bed that can be regenerated using a low value steam stream is a bed that corresponds to a liquid amine that is coated on/covering/impregnated into a porous solid, so that the liquid amine remains substantially in place during a cycle of sorption and desorption of CO.sub.2.