A system for melting contaminant-laden solids that have been separated from a hydrocarbon-containing vapor stream in a hydrocarbon distillation tower, comprising at least one plate positioned where the solids form within the hydrocarbon distillation tower, hollow tubing forming an integral part of each of the at least one plate, and a heating medium disposed to flow through the hollow tubing at a higher temperature than a temperature of the solids to at least partially melt the solids.

An apparatus for producing a purified, pressurized liquid carbon dioxide stream includes a distillation column (B) having packing (C) therein and a sump (D) below the packing, the distillation column in fluid communication with the liquid carbon dioxide supply tank for receiving the liquid carbon dioxide stream and the packing stripping volatile impurities from the liquid carbon dioxide stream; a heater (E) in contact with the liquid carbon dioxide stream in the sump (D) for vaporizing the liquid carbon dioxide stream in the sump; a vent in the distillation column (B) from which a first vaporized portion (G) of carbon dioxide vapor in the sump (D) is withdrawn from the distillation column: and a conduit (I) in fluid communication with the sump (D) and from which a second vaporized portion (H) of the carbon dioxide vapor in the sump is withdrawn into the conduit (I) to be introduced into the carbon dioxide vapor feed stream.

In a process for the combined production of a) a hydrogen-enriched gas and a carbon monoxide-enriched gas and/or b) a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide by cryogenic distillation and scrubbing, a still liquor is extracted from a scrubbing column and sent to a stripping column, a still liquor is extracted from the stripping column and sent to a separating column for carbon monoxide and methane and a cooling fluid is used at a pressure greater than that of the head of the separating column for cooling at least one fluid extracted at an intermediate level from the scrubbing column.

A system and methods for processing a feed gas in a column are provided herein. A method includes feeding a feed gas into a port of a sleeve disposed around at least a portion of a periphery of the column. The sleeve includes a space between an outer wall of the column and an inner wall of the column. The sleeve releases the feed gas into the column through an opening disposed at an opposite end of the sleeve from the port.

A method for transfer of heat between a first and a second fluid, wherein the first and the second fluid circulate respectively on both sides of a thermally conductive wall of a monobloc assembly formed in a single piece. The monobloc assembly, which is arranged in the interior of a device, includes: a first, three-dimensional, cellular, thermally conductive structure through which the first fluid can pass; at least the thermally conductive wall; and a second, three-dimensional, cellular, thermally conductive structure through which the second fluid can pass. The first and second three-dimensional, cellular structures are situated on both sides of and integral with the wall such that heat transfer is carried out from the first to the second fluid through the wall, and both first and second fluids are under liquid phases and under gaseous phases, with the liquid phases circulating in a direction opposite that of the gaseous phases.

A double liquid distribution device (1) suitable for use in in a fractionating or wash column (10) including a high collector tray (2) connected to a manifold support (7) via at least two longitudinal liquid downflow ducts (5, 6), the manifold support (7) supporting at least two series of transverse tubular manifolds (8, 8a 8b) and serving to feed liquid respectively to the first series of manifolds (8a) via a first longitudinal duct (5) and to the second series of manifolds (8b) via a second longitudinal duct (6), each manifold (8, 8a 8b) including distribution orifices (8c) in its under face that are suitable for distributing the liquid onto the top face of the packing bed (9). The two longitudinal liquid downflow ducts (5, 6) are connected together in a low portion (5b, 6b) by a communication device (11) fitted with a valve (12) having controlled opening that is suitable for allowing the liquid to be transferred between the two longitudinal ducts in a controlled manner.

Disclosed is a packing made up of a stack of plates, having been shaped to form corrugations in the plate and assembled to form a cross-corrugated packing block for a mass and/or heat transfer application, wherein the material of the packing plates is an open-pore metal foam, and in that the specific surface area of the packing is greater than 500 m2/m3 and in that the thickness (e) of the plate is less than 2 mm before the shaping operation.

A method of separating a feed stream in a distillation tower. Vapor is permitted to rise upwardly from a distillation section of the distillation tower. A feed stream is introduced into a controlled freeze zone section of the distillation tower, the controlled freeze zone section being situated above the distillation section. The feed stream is released above a level of a liquid retained by a melt tray assembly in the controlled freeze zone section. Vapor from the distillation section is directed into the liquid retained by the melt tray assembly. A solid is formed from the feed stream in the controlled freeze zone section.

A two-stage liquid distribution device for use within an internal region of a mass transfer column to distribute liquid to an underlying mass transfer bed. The two-stage liquid distribution device includes a lower distributor with a lower parting box and lower troughs and an upper distributor with an upper parting box and upper troughs. The lower and upper parting boxes and troughs are enclosed to allow a liquid head in a lower downpipe section and an upper downpipe section that feed liquid to the lower distributor and the upper distributor to cause pressurization of liquid within the lower and upper parting boxes and troughs. The pressurization makes the lower and upper distributors less susceptible to rocking motion of the mass transfer column and reduces any maldistribution of liquid discharged from the lower and upper troughs to the mass transfer bed.

Process and apparatus for the separation of a compressed feed air stream to produce an oxygen product using a distillation column having a lower-pressure column and a higher-pressure column, a higher-pressure heat exchanger and a lower-pressure heat exchanger where the gaseous nitrogen expander receives a nitrogen-enriched fraction from a position intermediate the warmer end and the colder end of the higher-pressure heat exchanger.