What is claimed is:
1. A method for purifying carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon gas mixture comprising the steps of:
removing water from the hydrocarbon gas mixture;
separating the hydrocarbon gas mixture into vapor, light liquid, and heavy liquid phases to remove the light liquid;
distilling the separated vapor phase to remove light hydrocarbons therefrom and produce liquid carbon dioxide; and
polishing the liquid carbon dioxide.
2. A method of producing BTEX fuel from a hydrocarbon gas mixture comprising the steps of:
removing water from the hydrocarbon gas mixture
separating the hydrocarbon gas mixture into vapor and liquid phases;
heating the liquid phase to approximately 80 F. and separating the heated liquid phase in a three-phase high pressure tank into vapor, water, and liquid hydrocarbon phases, the liquid hydrocarbon phase including the BTEX hydrocarbons; and
drawing the liquid hydrocarbon phase including the BTEX hydrocarbons off of the water phase in the high pressure tank; and
stabilizing the liquid hydrocarbon phase from the high pressure tank in a two phase tank at a pressure lower than the pressure in the high pressure tank, thereby further separating vapor from the liquid hydrocarbon phase to produce BTEX fuel therefrom.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all generic and specific features of the invention described herein. When describing the invention, what is claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent is:
1. An apparatus for ultrasonically evaluating an in vivo pressure, the apparatus comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting a first ultrasonic wave to an in vivo target region and detecting a second ultrasonic wave reflected from the in vivo target region;
a pressure applicator acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic transducer for applying an external pressure to the target region, the pressure applicator being filled with an acoustically transmissive medium for propagation of the first and second ultrasonic waves between the transducer and the target region;
a pressure sensor coupled to the pressure applicator for measuring the external pressure applied by the pressure applicator; and
a data processor in communication with the pressure sensor and the ultrasonic transducer for evaluating an in vivo pressure based on the external pressure and the first and second ultrasonic waves.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pressure applicator comprises a bladder filled with an acoustically transmissive medium.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the acoustically transmissive medium comprises a liquid.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the liquid is water.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic transducer is adapted to detect a second ultrasonic wave which is a Doppler shifted transformation of the first ultrasonic wave.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressure applicator is adapted for placement against a fontanelle on the neonatal cranium.
7. A method for ultrasonically evaluating an in vivo pressure, the method comprising the steps of:
transmitting a first ultrasonic wave into the target region;
applying a pressure applicator filled with an acoustically transmissive medium to the target region, thereby developing an external pressure in the target region;
detecting a second ultrasonic wave, the second ultrasonic wave generated by an interaction between the first ultrasonic wave and the target region;
measuring the applied external pressure, thereby generating an external pressure measurement;
calculating the in vivo pressure in the target region based on the first and second ultrasonic waves and on the external pressure measurement.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of applying an external pressure to the target region comprises the step of placing a bladder against the target region, the bladder being filled with an acoustically transmissive medium.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of measuring the applied external pressure comprises the step of providing a transducer coupled to the bladder.
10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the acoustically transmissive medium is a liquid.
11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the liquid is water.
12. The method according to claim 7 wherein the step of detecting a second ultrasonic wave comprises the step of detecting a Doppler shifted transformation of the first ultrasonic wave.
13. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of selecting the target region to be a neonatal cranium and the step of measuring the applied external pressure includes the step of placing the pressure applicator against a fontanelle on the cranium.
14. A pressure applicator for coupling to an ultrasonic probe, the pressure applicator comprising:
a bladder containing an acoustically transmissive medium, the bladder having a contact surface for exerting an applied pressure against a target region, and a side wall;
a housing enclosing at least a portion of the bladder to provide support for the bladder; and
for coupling the bladder to an ultrasonic probe, thereby permitting ultrasonic waves to propagate through the bladder between the ultrasonic probe and the target region.
15. The applicator of claim 14 wherein the applicator further comprises a pressure transducer coupled to the bladder to provide a measurement of pressure applied by the contact surface.
16. The applicator of claim 14 wherein the applicator further comprises a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure applied by the bladder.