Dinitrogen tetroxide (N.sub.2O.sub.4) is synthesized in an apparatus by the reaction of concentrated nitric acid with copper. Oxygen is applied as a carrier gas to convert NO to NO.sub.2, and water vapor is removed with a tube dryer. A molecular sieve is applied to reduce and remove impurities.

Dinitrogen tetroxide (N.sub.2O.sub.4) is synthesized in an apparatus by the reaction of concentrated nitric acid with copper. Oxygen is applied as a carrier gas to convert NO to NO.sub.2, and water vapor is removed with a tube dryer. A molecular sieve is applied to reduce and remove impurities.

A system and a method for reducing nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2) content of a flue gas are provided. The system comprises a wash column that is designed to receive a flue gas containing nitrogen dioxide and treat the flue gas with a first water stream. The first water stream contains a thiosulfate salt reactant. The thiosulfate salt reactant reacts with the nitrogen dioxide to remove the nitrogen dioxide from the flue gas. The wash column can provide a treated flue gas that is substantially free of nitrogen dioxide, or a treated flue gas that contains less nitrogen dioxide than untreated flue gas.

Systems and methods of preventing an event occurrence or mitigating effects of an event occurrence in an industrial facility are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a first input is received from a first sensor and, based at least in part on the first input, an initial action is automatically generated. In response to the initial action, a second input is received from a second sensor and, based at least in part of the received first and second inputs, a likelihood of an event occurrence is determined. Based at least in part of the determined likelihood, a remedial action configured to prevent the occurrence of the event occurrence is automatically generated. In some embodiments, the remedial action is generated in real-time and can be directed to a process condition, environmental condition, or secondary source.

Systems and methods of preventing an event occurrence or mitigating effects of an event occurrence in an industrial facility are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a first input is received from a first sensor and, based at least in part on the first input, an initial action is automatically generated. In response to the initial action, a second input is received from a second sensor and, based at least in part of the received first and second inputs, a likelihood of an event occurrence is determined. Based at least in part of the determined likelihood, a remedial action configured to prevent the occurrence of the event occurrence is automatically generated. In some embodiments, the remedial action is generated in real-time and can be directed to a process condition, environmental condition, or secondary source.

The method for producing dinitrogen tetraoxide comprising the steps of operating a decompressor (3) to reduce a pressure within the space area (2) maintained in the hermetically sealed condition to the decompressed or vacuum condition below the saturated vapor pressure curve of dinitrogen tetraoxide, supplying the dinitrogen tetraoxide liquid as a sterilant feedstock from a vessel (4) to a spray device (25) while preventing gasification of the dinitrogen tetraoxide liquid on the way between the vessel (4) and spray device (25), and spraying the dinitrogen tetraoxide liquid through the spray device (25) into the space area (2) under the decompressed or vacuum condition to, at the time of the spraying, gasify at least some of the dinitrogen tetraoxide liquid within the space area (2) decompressed below the saturated vapor pressure curve.

The method for producing dinitrogen tetraoxide comprising the steps of operating a decompressor (3) to reduce a pressure within the space area (2) maintained in the hermetically sealed condition to the decompressed or vacuum condition below the saturated vapor pressure curve of dinitrogen tetraoxide, supplying the dinitrogen tetraoxide liquid as a sterilant feedstock from a vessel (4) to a spray device (25) while preventing gasification of the dinitrogen tetraoxide liquid on the way between the vessel (4) and spray device (25), and spraying the dinitrogen tetraoxide liquid through the spray device (25) into the space area (2) under the decompressed or vacuum condition to, at the time of the spraying, gasify at least some of the dinitrogen tetraoxide liquid within the space area (2) decompressed below the saturated vapor pressure curve.

The sterilization system includes a plurality of spaces to be sterilized by a sterilization process; a gas supply source generating nitrogen dioxide gas; a piping system and a valve device; a nitrogen dioxide gas sensor; and a control device. The control device performs a gas filling process in which each of the plurality of spaces to be sterilized is connected to the gas supply source one by one for a first predetermined length of time and successively filled with the nitrogen dioxide gas by controlling the valve device, and when the concentration of the nitrogen dioxide gas in a space to be sterilized that is being filled with gas is detected by the sensor to have reached a predetermined level, the control device performs control such that the subsequent gas filling process is performed with this space to be sterilized being excluded from the gas filling process.

The sterilization system includes a plurality of spaces to be sterilized by a sterilization process; a gas supply source generating nitrogen dioxide gas; a piping system and a valve device; a nitrogen dioxide gas sensor; and a control device. The control device performs a gas filling process in which each of the plurality of spaces to be sterilized is connected to the gas supply source one by one for a first predetermined length of time and successively filled with the nitrogen dioxide gas by controlling the valve device, and when the concentration of the nitrogen dioxide gas in a space to be sterilized that is being filled with gas is detected by the sensor to have reached a predetermined level, the control device performs control such that the subsequent gas filling process is performed with this space to be sterilized being excluded from the gas filling process.

Oxygen generators and methods related to the generation of oxygen using activated aluminum alloys and inorganic acids such as nitric acid are generally described. In some embodiments, aluminum nitrate is thermally decomposed to produce oxygen and nitrogen dioxide. The nitrogen dioxide may also optionally be used to produce oxygen gas. In some embodiments, a reaction between nitric acid and an activated aluminum alloy may be used to produce the aluminum nitrate. In other embodiments, a reaction between nitric acid and aluminum hydroxide may be used to produce the aluminum nitrate.