Abstract: A heat radiation shield has an electrically insulating support on which a mosaic of electrically conductive elementary layers is arranged on at least one side.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for chucking and machining a workpiece using a freezing type chuck device. A macromolecular freezing agent whose freezing point is higher than that of water is interposed at least between a workpiece and a fixing surface, and the workpiece is fixed using this macromolecular freezing agent as an adhesive medium by cooling the fixing surface. The macromolecular freezing agent may be a liquid, a cream or a paste, and is typically silicone oil based. The workpiece may be directly fixed to the fixing surface of a freezing type chuck device by the macromolecular freezing agent or alternatively the workpiece may be fixed to a pallet by the macromolecular freezing agent and the pallet may be fixed to the fixing surface.

Abstract: Air is supplied to an air separation apparatus via a heat exchanger in which the entering air is cooled against an air gas separated in the separation apparatus. The air is first compressed in an adiabatic compressor. The air gas separated in the separation apparatus is humidified after it leaves the separation apparatus but before it reaches the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An air conditioning system including a compressor for compressing high temperature air supplied by an engine, a turbine for cooling the compressed air by expanding the compressed air, a condenser which is connected to the turbine and condenses air, and an axially hollow rotation shaft coaxially coupling the compressor and the turbine, the shaft allowing a portion of the high temperature air flowing in the compressor to pass through the shaft toward the turbine for mixing with the air cooled in the turbine and supplied to the condenser.

Abstract: A cryogenic liquid transfer system, for servicing a use device, releases stored cryogen from a bulk storage tank to a gas supply tank and a dispenser tank. The liquid cryogen in the gas supply tank is circulated through a circuit that includes a heat exchanger and the gas thus generated is returned to the gas supply tank so as to pressurize it. The pressurized liquid cryogen is released from the gas supply tank so that it flows through a vaporizer. The gas produced by the vaporizer is bubbled through the liquid cryogen in the dispenser tank so as to raise its temperature and pressure to the level required by the use device being serviced. Gas from the vaporizer is then delivered to the space above the liquid cryogen in the dispenser tank to as to create a pressure head that will cause the liquid cryogen to flow to the use device upon release. A venturi is connected to the tubing between the gas supply tank and the dispenser tank and is used to reduce the pressure in the bulk storage tank.

Abstract: A method for chilling a plurality of layers of in-shell eggs includes immersing at least one stack of a plurality of layers of in-shell eggs in cooled liquid until the eggs are cooled to a predetermined temperature or below. A preferred apparatus for conducting the method includes a liquid bath container with chilling heat exchangers and a source of bubbles for vertically perturbating liquid in the container.

Abstract: A reservoir is filled under pressure with a gas, by introducing a quantity of a gas into an intermediate receptacle (3), liquefying this quantity of gas, upon its introduction into the intermediate receptacle, by heat exchange with a refrigerant fluid, reheating and vaporizing this quantity of gas in the intermediate receptacle by thermal contact with a heat source (15), and placing in fluid communication the intermediate receptacle and the reservoir (2) when the pressure in the intermediate receptacle becomes greater than the pressure in the reservoir.

Abstract: A cryostat (12) with an actuator (40) which reacts to sensed temperature changes via externally controlled thermal heating generated therein. The actuator (40) is constructed with material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. A flexible heating element (44) is embedded in the actuator material. A temperature sensor (62) provides a signal to cryostat control electronics. Responding to the temperature signal, the control circuitry (60) regulates current to the heating element (44) in the actuator (40). As the actuator temperature increases due to the heat generated by the heating element (44), it expands and moves open an attached needle (50) relative to an orifice (30), thereby increasing cryogen flow and regulating cooling. When the desired cold temperature is attained, current and heating are stopped. Flowing cryogen cools the actuator which shortens the actuator and pulls the attached needle into the orifice to regulate flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elevated pressure air separation cryogenic process wherein feed air is compressed, treated to remove water and carbon dioxide, cooled to cryogenic temperature in a main heat exchanger having a cold end and a warm end and fed to a distillation column system having at least two (2) distillation columns for separation into at least a nitrogen-enriched product, an oxygen-enriched product and a gaseous waste stream characterized in that at least a portion of said waste stream is (isentropically) expanded to produce work and work produced by the expansion is used to provide at least a portion of the work required to compress a process stream other than the gaseous waste stream at a temperature warmer than the temperature of the cold end of said main heat exchanger. The alternative process streams to be compressed can be: at least a portion of the feed air, at least a portion of the oxygen-enriched product or at least a portion of the nitrogen-enriched product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for freezing products or materials to a super-frozen state, storing them until shipment and shipping them in a super-frozen state. The apparatus consists of two self-contained, super-insulated containers. The first apparatus has at least two compartments, one for freezing and one for storage. The product or material to be frozen is placed in the freezing compartment and frozen to a super-frozen state and then transferred to the storage compartment where it is stored until shipment. The second apparatus is a self contained super-insulated shipping container. When shipment is to be effected, product or material is transferred from a storage compartment of the first apparatus in a super-frozen state to the second or shipping apparatus. The doors of the shipping apparatus are closed and the self-contained, super-insulated apparatus containing super-frozen product or material is shipped to a remote venue.

Abstract: A thermodynamic closed cycle power and cryogenic refrigeration apparatus which simultaneously produces power and refrigeration. A mixture of a non-condensable first gas such as helium or hydrogen that is in state far from its saturation point and a condensable second gas such as nitrogen or ammonia that is capable of condensing during a working process but non-freezable is isothermally compressed in a sliding-blade gas/liquid compressor then the liquid content that absorbed adiabatic heat during compression of the gas/liquid mixture is separated from the mixture in a vortex separator. The cool non-condensable first gas is supplied to a heat exchanger and isobarically heated using heat of the ambient air or other low-temperature heat source to produce cool refrigerated air. The heated and compressed first gas enters a sliding-blade gas expander and adiabatic expanded and cooled while performing useful work by causing simultaneous rotation of the gas/liquid compressor rotor and gas expander rotor.

Abstract: The electricity generating engine has modest efficiency, but may be attrave in remote applications where high-reliability or low cost or low environmental noise or solar powering is important. The generator is likely to be most attractive in capacities of a few kW to below 100 W where a tiny engine would be impractical using other technologies.

Abstract: A system for providing a fluid refrigerant to a cooling element is provided herein. The system includes a vessel which holds the fluid refrigerant, a heat source evaporating a portion of the fluid in the vessel, and a heat exchanger condensing a portion of the gaseous phase of the fluid in the vessel. A conduit establishes fluid communication between: (i) the vessel and the cooling element; and (ii) the cooling element and the heat exchanger. Importantly, the system controls the flow rate of the fluid refrigerant to the cooling element by controlling the pressure of the fluid in the vessel. The system is particularly useful with cryogenic fluid refrigerants to cool a superconductor for an MRI System.

Abstract: Molded bodies of a hydrogen absorbing alloy accommodated in a hydrogen storage container are made readily replaceable to ensure stabilized supply of hydrogen gas. When exhibiting an impaired hydrogen absorbing-desorbing capacity, the molded bodies can be easily replaced by new molded bodies, whereby a specified hydrogen absorbing-desorbing capacity can be maintained. The hydrogen gas released from the storage container is partly utilized to heat the container and thereby maintain the alloy at a predetermined temperature, consequently assuring a device, such as a fuel cell, of stabilized supply of hydrogen from the container.

Abstract: In a second displacer (33), a final layer (33c) measuring 10 K or lower in temperature is filled with spherical particles (34) of HoCu.sub.2 which exhibit a specific heat greater than that of Er.sub.3 Ni. An intermediate layer (33d) of 10 K to 15 K is filled with spherical particles (35) of Er.sub.3 Ni, Er.sub.3 Co or Nd. Further, an initial layer (33e) of 15 K or higher is filled with spherical particles (36) of Pb. By the use of such regenerative materials that exhibit the highest specific heats respectively for the individual temperature regions of 10 K or lower, 10-15 K, and 15 K or higher, the second displacer (33) exhibits an enhanced refrigerating capacity, as compared with the case of filling the final layer with the spherical particles of Er.sub.3 Ni as conventionally done. This further makes it possible to construct the second displacer (33) in a compact size and in a reduced weight.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. In recent years, the preferred method of separating a hydrocarbon gas stream generally includes supplying at least a portion of the gas stream to a work expansion device, then directing the work expanded stream to a distillation column at a mid-column feed point below an upper rectification section. The top column feed above the upper rectification section is typically a condensed and subcooled gaseous stream, frequently comprised of a gas stream that would otherwise feed the work expansion device. In the process disclosed, the work expanded stream is further cooled prior to feeding the distillation column at the mid-column feed point, so that a lesser volume of top column feed is required to maintain the column overhead temperature at a temperature whereby the major portion of the desired components is recovered.

Abstract: Process for treating a gas comprising one or more constituents to be separated, wherein the gas to be processed (G) is mixed at least partly with a solvent S selected to selectively retain at least part of the gas constituents to be separated, the mixture of gas (G) and of solvent (S) is cooled by circulating in at least one heat exchange zone so as to obtain, at the outlet of said heat exchange zone, at least a gas phase (G.sub.1) depleted in at least one of the constituents to be separated and a solvent phase (S.sub.1) enriched in said constituents, said enriched solvent phase (S.sub.1) is separated from said gas phase (G.sub.1) and it is recycled to the heat exchange zone in order to cool said gas-solvent mixture (stage b), said solvent phase (S.sub.1) consisting, at the outlet of the heat exchange zone, of at least a gas phase (G.sub.2) enriched in the constituents to be separated and of a liquid solvent phase (S), the gas phase (G.sub.

Abstract: The suction device according to the invention for cryostatic microtomes has a filter for the separation of cutting wastes from the suction air stream, and a device arranged following the filter for sterilization or disinfection of the suction air stream. For this purpose, the air stream is first heated and then exposed to a strong UV irradiation. In the subsequent two-stage cooling arrangement, the air stream is cooled down again to about the cryostat temperature and is conducted back into the cryostat. The filter for the separation of the cutting wastes from the air stream is preferably constructed outside the cryostat as a liquid container with a disinfecting liquid, so that the cutting wastes are disinfected in the disinfecting liquid. A contamination of the surroundings or of the internal space of the cryostat with disease germs is largely prevented.

Abstract: A filter standpipe is mounted within a relief conduit of a cryopump. The relief conduit is joined to an exhaust conduit, and the exhaust conduit is joined to a housing which defines a vacuum chamber. The relief conduit and exhaust conduit define passages which are in fluid communication with one another and also with the vacuum chamber. The filter standpipe extends, from where it is mounted in the relief passage into the exhaust passage. A method for installing the filter standpipe includes the steps of removing a relief valve from a mount on the end of the relief conduit, inserting the filter standpipe through the mount, and remounting the relief valve.

Abstract: The present invention teaches an efficient and easier to operate distillation embodiment to separate mixtures containing three or more components into streams enriched in one of the components. In this invention, from one end of an earlier distillation column, a liquid or a vapor stream containing two or more components is sent to a subsequent column, then a return vapor or a liquid stream is implemented between the same locations of the two columns. This establishes a two-way communication between one end of the earlier distillation column and the subsequent distillation column. From the other end of the earlier distillation column, a vapor or a liquid stream is eventually fed to another location of the subsequent distillation column; no return stream is implemented between the same locations of the two columns. This establishes the one-way communication between the other end of the earlier distillation column and the subsequent distillation column.