Abstract: A device for pressurizing a tank containing a supply of cryogenic liquid features a tubular enclosure disposed within the cryogenic liquid. The tubular enclosure features an opening in its bottom and is in communication with a pressure builder coil external to the tank. The vapor side of the pressure builder coil is in communication with the head space of the tank. An electric heater element is disposed in the bottom of the tubular enclosure. An insulating tube may optionally be disposed about the tubular enclosure. In addition, a ball may optionally be positioned adjacent the opening in the tubular enclosure so that a check valve is formed. The device fits through the tops of existing cryogenic tanks.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the purification of a cryogenic fluid in liquid, diphase, gaseous or supercritical state, having boiling point Pe, with at least one of its impurities having a boiling point Pe', with Pe'>Pe. The process includes at least one step selected from the group comprised by:a filtration step of at least one impurity in solid state,and an adsorption step of at least one impurity in liquid or gaseous state;and in which there is recovered at least one portion of the cryogenic fluid at least partially purified.

Abstract: This invention provides a mechanical support for a two-pill Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (ADR). The support utilizes a suspension of the two pills from one side of the magnet bore only. In the two pill ADR, the thermal ground is at 4K, a guard pill positioned in the front of the bore cools to 1K and a base pill positioned in the back of the bore cools to 50-100 mk. A connector rod of the base pill traverses the guard pill, and connector rods to both the guard pill and base pill exit through the front aperture. A preferred embodiment of the two-pill support for the front loaded magnet bore utilizes planar support modules comprising three members connected by Kevlar strings. Each member is thermally connected either to one of the pills or to thermal ground. The ground member, the guard member and the base member of the support module are strung with Kevlar threads, such that the base member is suspended only from the guard member, and the guard member only from the ground member.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement to a nitrogen generator enabling the process to efficiently coproduce oxygen with low recovery, typically less than 70% and preferably less than 55%, in addition to the primary product, nitrogen. In the nitrogen generator process, air is distilled in a distillation column system having a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column. The feed air is compressed, treated to remove water and carbon dioxide, cooled to near its dew point and fed to the higher pressure column of the distillation column system. The nitrogen product is produced by removing an overhead vapor stream from at least one of the columns of the distillation column system. At least one oxygen-enriched stream is removed from the lower pressure column.

Abstract: A system for rapidly filling cylinders with gas while avoiding superambient temperature excursions of the cylinder contents wherein cylinder charging gas is produced by vaporizing pressurized cryogenic liquid in admixture with pressurized gas to simultaneously in one step produce the charging gas and control the temperature of the charging gas to enable the subsequent rapid filling rate.

Abstract: An active magnetic regenerator refrigeration apparatus includes one or more reciprocating regenerator beds and a heat transfer fluid distribution valve that is activated as the bed is moved between a position in which it is in the magnetic field of a magnet to a position in which it is outside the magnetic field of the magnet. The distribution valve has a first valve member and a moving second valve member slidingly engaged to each other, each of which has ports by which heat transfer fluid may be provided to and received from the valve member. The bed is mounted to the moving second valve member so that heat transfer fluid is conveyed to and through the valve in a single direction into the regenerator bed. The material of the bed exhibits the magnetocaloric effect and the temperature of the bed rises when it enters the magnetic field of the magnet and decreases when it exits the magnetic field, providing a refrigeration cycle.

Abstract: A process of generating fog by providing a transport vessel, loading predetermined quantities of liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen into the transport vessel, and subjecting the transport vessel to a plurality of accelerations and decelerations to achieve a homogeneous mixture of the liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen. The homogeneous mixture is delivered to a fog generator and fog is produced therefrom.

Abstract: The spray dryer comprises a rectangular upper body(1), a middle body(2) having a pair of side walls inclining inward and approaching mutually along larger side walls of the upper body, a rectangular bottom body(3), a ceiling board(4), a bottom plate(5), a vertical partition wall(6) for separating the upper body into a larger chamber(7) and a smaller chamber(8), and a gas stream dispersing perforated plate(14) disposed in a middle portion of the bottom body. The larger chamber(7) works as a spray drying zone and the upper half portion(17) of the bottom body works as a fluidized drying zone. Raw material fluid and hot gas are introduced downward into the larger chamber, and sprayed smaller size fluid particles are dried completely in the spray drying zone to have a low density, and enter to the lower bottom part of the smaller chamber with exhausted hot gas and turn upward to be discharged from outlet(13) disposed in an upper portion of the smaller chamber.

Abstract: A system delivers cryogenic gas at a high pressure from a supply of cryogenic liquid maintained at a low pressure in a bulk tank. The bulk tank supplies liquid to at least one transfer tank. The transfer tank is pressurized by connecting it to a pressure building tank contaning gas at a high pressure. A heat exchanger is connected in circuit between the transfer tank and the pressure building tank. The transfer tank provides liquid at a high pressure to the heat exchanger so that a vapor is produced. This vapor is fed to the pressure building tank so that the high pressure therein is maintained. The transfer tank provides a high pressure flow of liquid to a vaporizer and a high pressure gas storage tank so that high pressure cryogenic gas may be produced and stored.

Abstract: A compressor assembly for cryogenic gas separation wherein the assembly comprises a compressor, an expansion turbine and an electric motor integrally connected via a gear drive, and processes for using the compressor assembly.

Abstract: A method for producing a small amount of oxygen, related to a nitrogen generator unit, is provided. In a nitrogen rectification column which cools down and liquefies feed air after moisture and carbon dioxide contained therein are removed, thereby producing nitrogen, oxygen-rich liquid air is used as a cold source for a nitrogen condenser and the thus-obtained oxygen-rich air is then used as a heating source for a reboiler in an oxygen rectification column.

Abstract: A method for directly producing lower purity oxygen with high recovery, employing a non-adiabatic distillation device within a distillation column to provide high purity liquid nitrogen reflux to the upper section of the column. This invention provides for a variety of feed air options to the non-adiabatic distillation device and to the distillation column.

Abstract: A storage unit includes a housing with a storage chamber, a carrier disposed inside the chamber for supporting a plurality of specimens in a predetermined array, and an access port on the housing for enabling access to the chamber for insertion and retrieval of specimens from the carrier. The access port includes an opening in the housing and a plug member removably located in the opening. The carrier is provided with a seat for receiving the plug member during an access operation, so that the plug member is located in the chamber during the access operation. A drive is operatively connected to the carrier for moving the carrier in the chamber to juxtapose different specimens to the access port. An insertion and removal mechanism is coupled to the housing for alternately inserting and removing specimens from the chamber via the access port during the access operation.

Abstract: The transportation and storage of phenol is enhanced by additions of up to 70% by weight of acetone to liquid phenol.

Abstract: A method for conditioning water vapor bearing compressed air for supply as conditioned air to an enclosure includes the steps of flowing the compressed air into a condenser-evaporator heat exchanger and then cooling the compressed air with a liquid evaporating refrigerant in the condenser-evaporator. Thus, the water vapor in the compressed air can become condensed liquid water available for subsequent separation to form a dehumidified air. The dehumidified air undergoes reheating with a vapor condensing refrigerant in a reheater-condenser such that the dehumidified air becomes a reheated air. The reheated air is then routed through a turbine to provide the supply to the enclosure. An apparatus is also provided for accomplishing the above steps and includes a condenser-evaporator heat exchanger capable of placing the compressed air in heat exchange relationship with a vapor cycle subsystem.

Abstract: In order to deliver ultrapure helium to a utilization line (1), helium is withdrawn, in liquid or supercritical form, from a storage tank (3), it is filtered in this liquid or supercritical form (at 4), the filtered helium is vaporized and the resulting helium gas is sent to the utilization line (1). The process is applicable to the cooling of integrated-circuit wafers.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system for producing argon employing an argon stripping column which receives a feed in its upper portion from an associated cryogenic air separation plant, and which is reboiled by another fluid taken from the cryogenic air separation plant.

Abstract: Both an system and method are provided for transferring liquid carbon dioxide from a storage tank pressurized at 300 psi to a truck-transportable tank pressurized at about 110 psi. The system includes an inlet conduit having a hose portion connected between the storage and transportable tanks for conducting a flow of liquid carbon dioxide therebetween, and a vent hose connected to the transportable tank for venting gaseous carbon dioxide. Pressure regulators are connected to the inlet and vent hoses, respectively. In operation, the pressure regulator connected to the inlet conduit reduces the pressure of the flow of liquid carbon dioxide entering the transportable tank from 300 psi to 175 psi, while the pressure regulator connected to the vent conduit maintains a back pressure of 110 psi in the transportable tank while the allowing the venting of gaseous carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the purification of a cryogenic fluid in liquid, diphase, gaseous or supercritical state, having boiling point Pe, with at least one of its impurities having a boiling point Pe', with Pe'>Pe. The process includes at least one step selected from the group comprised by:a filtration step of at least one impurity in solid state,and an adsorption step of at least one impurity in liquid or gaseous state;and in which there is recovered at least one portion of the cryogenic fluid at least partially purified.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes an air cycle subsystem and a liquid cycle subsystem. The air cycle subsystem includes a liquid-to-air condenser, a liquid-to-air reheater downstream of the condenser, and a turbine downstream of the reheater. The liquid cycle subsystem is in heat exchange relationship with the air cycle subsystem, with the liquid cycle subsystem comprising the condenser, the reheater, a first liquid-to-air heat exchanger, and a second liquid-to-air heat exchanger. The heat exchange relationship occurs at the condenser and the reheater.