Air Liquide: Driving Liquid Air

Have you ever heard of liquid air? The process of liquifying air was a major scientific achievement that took place over 100 years ago. Even after 100 years there are only a few companies that liquify air, which is probably why you've never heard of it before. Liquifying air is a cheap way to isolate different gasses like oxygen and nitrogen.

The task of liquefying air began in 1892, when Frenchman Georges Claude began working with acetylene. At the time, acetylene was thought to be a very promising substance as it was used in lighting fixtures, but it was very difficult to produce and transport. Georges Claude worked out a method for liquefying air in order to remove its different components and isolate the oxygen. Oxygen had nothing to do with acetylene at the time, except Claude felt that using oxygen could help reduce costs of producing the fires necessary to separate acetylene.

When Georges Claude heard that a scientist named Carl von Linde had managed to liquefy air, Claude set out to do it himself but vowed to do it faster and more efficiently. During the day he worked as an engineer at Thomson-Houston and he spent his nights conducting tests in an old warehouse. For two years he worked with a second-hand expansion engine, conducting experiments by trial and error to solve all his technical problems. When he needed to lubricate refrigerated moving parts he replaced oil with petroleum ether so it would remain liquid down to 140 degrees. To seal moving parts he used dry leather packing between the piston and the cylinder liner.

And finally, after all these small tricks were put in place, he succeeded! He created a system using cold air from the expansion cylinder to liquefy pre-cooled pressurized air at the exchanger outlet. It was a simple and inexpensive matter to extract the oxygen from this liquefied air. If liquifying air sounds like a mystical process now, in an age full of advanced technology, just imagine what people thought of Georges Claude when he told the world he was going to form a company that liquified air!

The company he formed is called Air Liquide, and it is now the world leader in industrial and medical gases and similar services. Air Liquide's core business is to supply oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and other gasses and services to all kinds of industries. Steel, oil refining, chemicals, glass, electronics, healthcare, food processing, metallurgy, paper, and aerospace are all industries that employ Air Liquide products and services. With a global presence of 130 subsidiaries in over 70 countries. What began as a small private experiment to build the components of old light bulbs has grown into a major modern company.

Air Liquide is a private carrier, which means it maintains its own fleet and hires truck drivers. Because Air Liquide is such a diverse, international company, driving jobs with Air Liquide are stable, well supported positions. Solo Air Liquide drivers can expect to be home 80-90% of the time and make between $50,000 and $70,000 a year depending on the type of run and work performance. Air Liquide provides benefits like medical and life insurance, performance benefits, ample vacation time, flexible spending accounts, and quarterly profit sharing. As Air Liquide grows and succeeds, so do each of its employees! If you are interested in a truck driving job, you should apply here to drive for Air Liquide, or to find out more about Air Liquide.

In The News:


Google News
Updated : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:25:52 GMT

US Oil, Gas Producers, Pipelines Brace for Gustav (Update1) - Bloomberg


ABC News
US Oil, Gas Producers, Pipelines Brace for Gustav (Update1)
Bloomberg - 1 hour ago
By Margot Habiby Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BP Plc plan to finish shutting oil and gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and Enbridge Energy Partners LP will close pipelines as Hurricane Gustav gains strength and moves ...
More volatility seen with hurricane, payrolls Reuters
Airlines bounce as oil gives up early gains MarketWatch
Forbes - DesMoinesRegister.com - CNNMoney.com - guardian.co.uk
all 3,463 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:21:02 GMT

Sign of the times - BBC News


San Diego Union Tribune
Sign of the times
BBC News - 1 hour ago
As Russia and the West warn of a new Cold War after the Georgian conflict, the BBC's Humphrey Hawksley in Moscow tries to imagine what it would look like.
European Union to Hold Urgent Meeting on Russia Voice of America
last straw" for Russia Reuters
New York Times - Financial Times - Wall Street Journal - Jerusalem Post
all 333 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:10:28 GMT

Experts: Silver lining for ‘viable’ Mitt Romney - Boston Herald

Experts: Silver lining for ‘viable’ Mitt Romney
Boston Herald - 8 hours ago
By Edward Mason Mitt Romney - once a top contender to be John McCain’s running mate - may have suffered a bruised ego when he was passed over for the little known Gov.
It's not Pawlenty, it's Palin Worthington Daily Globe
Pawlenty, after the pick, another day at fair Minneapolis Star Tribune
Post-Bulletin - Washington Post - Grand Forks Herald - CNN
all 2,700 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:13:29 GMT

S. Ossetia to be absorbed into Russia - United Press International


BBC News
S. Ossetia to be absorbed into Russia
United Press International - 1 hour ago
TSKHINVALI, Georgia, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- South Ossetia says it will become part of Russia and host Russian military bases under a new agreement.
Video: UN does have double standards RussiaToday
Kremlin announces that South Ossetia will Times Online
The Associated Press - AFP - Civil Georgia - New York Times
all 6,104 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:01:52 GMT

Comcast to Place a Cap on Internet Downloads - New York Times


ABC News
Comcast to Place a Cap on Internet Downloads
New York Times - 3 hours ago
By BRIAN STELTER Comcast, one of the country’s largest Internet providers, said this week that it would place limits on customers’ broadband usage.
Comcast's Answer to ... InternetNews.com
Critics Question Comcast Broadband Caps PC World
CNET News - Wall Street Journal - ZDNet - InformationWeek
all 386 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:08:14 GMT

Hurricane Gustav Strengthens, Accelerates, Heads for Cuba, Gulf - Bloomberg


BBC News
Hurricane Gustav Strengthens, Accelerates, Heads for Cuba, Gulf
Bloomberg - 1 hour ago
By Patrick Donahue and Robin Stringer Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Gustav strengthened and picked up speed as it headed toward western Cuba and the US Gulf Coast cities ravaged by Katrina and Rita in 2005, after lashing the Cayman Islands with ...
Video: Gustav Follows Katrina's Path CBS
Some leave Gulf Coast ahead of likely evacuations The Associated Press
Reuters - Minneapolis Star Tribune - New York Times - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal
all 6,069 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:40:06 GMT

Obama campaign buoyed by convention - Los Angeles Times


ABC News
Obama campaign buoyed by convention
Los Angeles Times - 5 hours ago
He sees an unusually strong jump in support after the carefully choreographed event in Denver. By Peter Nicholas, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer DENVER -- Amy Pearl is the sort of Democrat who made the Barack Obama campaign nervous.
Look out, Palin The Hillary factor . . . Chicago Sun-Times
Hillary supporters aren't bitter; they're concerned Chicago Tribune
The Associated Press - CNN - Philadelphia Inquirer - New York Daily News
all 8,528 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:00:48 GMT

Make Money With Blogs
RSS to HTML


PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

The Global Work Marketplace - The Revolution Of How Work Gets Done

Will cubicles be a distant memory for today's workforce? Will... Read More

Preparation is Key

Interviewing for a new job, or a promotion, can be... Read More

Writing Resumes That Attract Your Perfect Job

Let me introduce you to Ben. He made it happenBen... Read More

Booster & Drainers

Like huge anchors on cruise ships, other people... Read More

Thank-You Notes: An Integral Part of Your Career Design

There is one little practice that is vital to generating... Read More

How Can Qualifications Help Your Proof Reading Career?

For those who are looking for a career as a... Read More

The Top 10 Reasons to have a Career Coach

Many people in the last decade have experienced for themselves... Read More

Is a Career Change on Your Horizon?

Making a career change is nothing new in today's job... Read More

What is Experience Anyway?

I learned in first grade that one plus... Read More

Learn How To Succeed At Career Fairs

This career article will give you some great tips on... Read More

175 Power Verbs and Phrases for Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews

While you're revamping your resume or cover letter or constructing... Read More

Resume Success Factors--What Exactly Is A Resume Anyway?

You know you're good...real good. The problem, though, is that... Read More

Creating Your Own Luck

Losing my job in the last recession of... Read More

Top 10 Resume Writing Tips to Get You the Interview

There are many reasons why you could be in the... Read More

How To Prepare For A Telephone Interview

It is important to prepare thoroughly for your telephone interview.Begin... Read More

Surviving Unemployment Through Emotional Damage Control

Looking for work is a roller-coaster ride: high with elation... Read More

Searching for Employment

Searching for a job can be a daunting and confusing... Read More

50 Things To Do To Your Boss That Are Fun For You, But Not For Them

1. You're eavesdropping and you hear your boss has reservations... Read More

Searching for an IT Job

Looking for an IT job is one of the easiest... Read More

No Experience? No Problem!

Are you a new graduate with little or no work... Read More

Are You Living Your Career Dreams?

Inherent within the human spirit is a desire for fulfillment,... Read More

Should You Telework/Telecommute

"WOW! I can work from home and make money? I... Read More

Make a Good Living Doing What You Love

Don't let anyone talk you into going to college when... Read More

Resume Writing - Get That Job

Looking for a new job, whether it is with a... Read More

Dissatisfied With Work? Perhaps Its You

Just about every month, there's a new research report detailing... Read More