Method of cleaning gas cylinders with supercritical fluids
First Claim
1. Apparatus for cleaning a gas cylinder with a supercritical fluid, the cylinder having an interior region, the apparatus comprising:
- a) at least one roller, the roller comprising means for rolling the gas cylinder,b) means for heating the cylinder, andc) conduit means for directing a treating material and a topping gas into a manifold, and means for connecting the manifold to the cylinder, wherein the treating material and the topping gas can be directed into the interior region of the cylinder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The interior of a gas cylinder is cleaned using a supercritical fluid. A treating material, such as carbon dioxide, is injected into the cylinder, and the pressure in the cylinder is increased until the pressure of the treating material exceeds its critical pressure. Then, the cylinder is heated until the temperature of the treating material exceeds its critical temperature. The treating material therefore becomes a supercritical fluid. The treating material is maintained in its supercritical state while the cylinder is rolled for a period of time, while the supercritical fluid dissolves contaminants on the interior surface of the cylinder, and on objects within the cylinder. Then, the supercritical fluid is vented from the cylinder, preferably while the fluid in the cylinder is maintained in its supercritical state. This process provides exceptionally thorough cleaning of the interior of the cylinder, and makes it possible to provide a cylinder gas having a level of contaminants of the order of parts per billion or better.
15 Citations
5 Claims
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1. Apparatus for cleaning a gas cylinder with a supercritical fluid, the cylinder having an interior region, the apparatus comprising:
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a) at least one roller, the roller comprising means for rolling the gas cylinder, b) means for heating the cylinder, and c) conduit means for directing a treating material and a topping gas into a manifold, and means for connecting the manifold to the cylinder, wherein the treating material and the topping gas can be directed into the interior region of the cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification