Abstract: A system for preparing subcooled liquid oxygen based on mixing of liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen and then vacuum-pumping, including atmospheric-pressure saturated liquid nitrogen and oxygen tanks. An inlet of the liquid nitrogen tank communicates with pressurized gas, and an outlet is connected to an inlet a of a secondary subcooler. An inlet of the liquid oxygen tank communicates with the pressurized gas, and a first outlet is connected to an inlet b of the secondary subcooler. An outlet c of the secondary subcooler is connected to an inlet d of a primary subcooler. An outlet e of the primary subcooler is connected to a pumping-out device through a rewarming device. A second outlet of the liquid oxygen tank is connected to an inlet n of the primary subcooler. An outlet o of the primary subcooler is connected to an inlet r of the secondary subcooler.

Abstract: A system and method for flexible production of argon from a cryogenic air separation unit is provided. The cryogenic air separation unit is capable of operating in a ‘no-argon’ or ‘low-argon’ mode when argon demand is low or non-existent and then switching to operating in a ‘high-argon’ mode when argon is needed. The recovery of the argon products from the air separation unit is adjusted by varying the percentages of dirty shelf nitrogen and clean shelf nitrogen in the reflux stream directed to the lower pressure column. The cryogenic air separation unit and associated method also provides an efficient argon production/rejection process that minimizes the power consumption when the cryogenic air separation unit is operating in a ‘no-argon’ or ‘low-argon’ mode yet maintains the capability to produce higher volumes of argon products at full design capacity to meet argon product demands.

Abstract: A method of designing, constructing, and operating a hydrocarbon gas treatment plant is disclosed. A target hydrocarbon production range for a hydrocarbon gas meeting a required product specification is established. A cryogenic distillation column is designed and constructed with a vapor capacity to meet the target hydrocarbon production range. A variable feed refrigeration system is incorporated to cool an inlet feed of the hydrocarbon gas. The variable feed refrigeration system is designed to handle the target hydrocarbon production range and a wide range of contaminant concentrations in the inlet feed. A variable bottoms heating system is incorporated to handle heating duties associated with the wide range of contaminant concentrations in the inlet feed. A variable bottoms pumping system is incorporated to handle liquid flows associated with the wide range of contaminant concentrations in the inlet feed.

Abstract: A cryogenic fluid delivery system includes a main tank system with a main tank adapted to contain a first supply of cryogenic liquid, and reserve tank system with reserve tank adapted to contain a second supply of cryogenic liquid. A pressure building circuit is adapted to delivery vapor to the head space of the main tank to build pressure in the main tank and a fuel delivery line supplies cryogenic fuel from either the main tank or the reserve tank to a use device. The reserve tank stores saturated cryogenic fuel that is delivered to the use device via the fuel delivery line while the cryogenic liquid in the main tank is being saturated. The fluid delivery system automatically switches to delivering cryogenic fuel from the main tank to the use device via the fuel delivery line upon saturation of the cryogenic liquid in the main tank.

Abstract: Method of liquefaction of methane and filling a tank (2) with liquefied methane, said method comprising: a step of liquefaction of the methane comprising an operation of cooling the methane to its saturation temperature, a step of filling the tank with the liquefied methane, a step of reinjection of the vaporized methane into the liquefaction system.

Abstract: A hybrid expander for producing refrigeration at a cryogenic temperature includes a Brayton expander producing refrigeration at a first temperature; a GM expander producing refrigeration at a second temperature, the first temperature being colder than the second temperature, the second temperature being 200K or less. A high pressure line receives a gas from a compressor at a first pressure and supplies it at the first pressure to the Brayton expander and the GM expander simultaneously. A low pressure line returns the gas to the compressor at a second pressure from the Brayton expander and the GM expander, the first pressure being greater than the second pressure. The Brayton expander piston is attached to the cold end of the GM expander displacer and the Brayton expander piston and the GM expander displacer reciprocating together.

Abstract: A transport container for helium, with an inner container for receiving the helium, a coolant container for receiving a cryogenic liquid (N2), an outer container, in which the inner container and the coolant container are contained, a thermal shield, in which the inner container is contained and which can be actively cooled with the aid of a liquid phase of the cryogenic liquid (LN2), the thermal shield having at least one first cooling line, in which the liquid phase of the cryogenic liquid can be received for actively cooling the thermal shield, and an insulating element, which is arranged between the outer container and the thermal shield and which can be actively cooled with the aid of a gaseous phase of the cryogenic liquid (GN2), the insulating element having at least one second cooling line, in which the gaseous phase of the cryogenic liquid can be received.

Abstract: A liquefier device which may be a retrofit to an air separation plant or utilized as part of a new design. The flow needed for the liquefier comes from an air separation plant running in a maxim oxygen state, in a stable mode. The three gas flows are low pressure oxygen, low pressure nitrogen, and higher pressure nitrogen. All of the flows are found on the side of the main heat exchanger with a temperature of about 37 degrees Fahrenheit. All of the gasses put into the liquefier come out as a subcooled liquid, for storage or return to the air separation plant. This new liquefier does not include a front end electrical compressor, and will take a self produced liquid nitrogen, pump it up to a runnable 420 psig pressure, and with the use of turbines, condensers, flash pots, and multi pass heat exchangers. The liquefier will make liquid from a planned amount of any pure gas oxygen or nitrogen an air separation plant can produce.

Abstract: A method and the apparatus for the cryogenic separation of air in an air separation plant which has a main air compressor, a main heat exchanger and a distillation column system with a high-pressure column and a low-pressure column. All of the feed air is compressed in the main air compressor to a first air pressure which is at least 3 bar higher than the operating pressure of the high-pressure column. A first part of the compressed total air flow, as first air flow at the first air pressure, is cooled and liquefied or pseudo-liquefied in the main heat exchanger, then expanded and introduced into the distillation column system. A second part of the compressed total air flow, as second air flow, is post-compressed in an air post-compressor to a second air pressure and at least part is further compressed in a first turbine-driven post-compressor to a third air pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus serve for the cryogenic separation of air in an air separation plant which has a main air compressor, a main heat exchanger and a distillation column system with a high-pressure column and a low-pressure column. All of the feed air is compressed in the main air compressor to a first air pressure which is at least 3 bar higher than the operating pressure of the high-pressure column. A first part of the compressed total air flow, as first air flow at the first air pressure, is cooled and liquefied or pseudo-liquefied in the main heat exchanger, then expanded and introduced into the distillation column system. A second part of the compressed total air flow, as second air flow, is post-compressed in a turbine-driven post-compressor to a second air pressure.

Abstract: A pressure vessel includes curved sidewalls configured as a frame having a polygonal outline, a planar top side and a planar bottom side attached to the curved sidewalls forming a sealed pressure chamber therebetween. Each planar side includes a contoured surface having shaped pressure resistant features formed thereon. A preferred method for forming the pressure resistant features includes hydraulic pressurization to induce plastic strain. The pressure vessel also includes an array of internal support posts within the sealed pressure chamber attached to the planar sides in a geometrical pattern, such as a hexagonal array. The support posts can be solid metal cylinders, hollow tubes or tubes through which reinforcing materials, such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, or fiber/epoxy tape have been passed. A composite pressure vessel includes tubular internal support posts reinforced with reinforcing materials, as well as contoured surfaces and curved sidewalls reinforced with these same reinforcing materials.

Abstract: A fuel cell system using natural gas, which includes a fuel cell including a cathode and an anode and a cryogenic heat-exchanging apparatus configured to heat-exchange natural gas supplied from a natural gas station with introduced air or exhaust gas of the fuel cell. With the configuration, oxygen which is introduced into the fuel cell can be produced using cold energy of the natural gas, and energy consumed for the oxygen production can be reduced. Also, a discharge of seawater of low temperature can be minimized, thereby reducing negative effects caused by the discharge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cold box cycle which allows for independent control of the heat supplied for reboilers associated with the separation columns. More specifically, the invention relates to the tight control of the hydrogen removal separation, thus avoiding the possibility of excess reboiling in this separation. Optimal reboiling also results in a lower temperature of the hydrogen depleted liquid from this separation. As this stream is used to provide a portion of the cooling at the cold end of the primary heat exchanger, lower temperatures facilitate cooling of the incoming syngas feed, reducing carbon monoxide (CO) losses into the crude hydrogen stream from the high pressure separator. Lower CO in the crude hydrogen allows for smaller hydrogen purification equipment.

Abstract: An expansion engine operating on a Brayton cycle which is part of a system for producing refrigeration at cryogenic temperatures that includes a compressor, a counter-flow heat exchanger, and a load that may be remote, which is cooled by gas circulating from the engine. The engine has a piston in a cylinder which has nearly the same pressure above and below the piston while it is moving. A valve connecting the warm end of the cylinder to a buffer tank allows a partial expansion and recompression of gas in the cold displaced volume that increases the refrigeration produced in each cycle with the same compressor flow rate.

Abstract: Disclosed are an in-line direct cryogenic method and system for cooling heated fluid food products, such as sauces. The method includes injecting cryogen directly into the fluid to be cooled while the flow rate of the fluid to be cooled is adjusted in response to downstream temperature measurements and while maintaining the injection rate of the cryogen into the fluid. According to the method the flow of the sauce is adjusted during the flow of the cryogen to achieve process stability, product uniformity and efficient use of the cryogen.

Abstract: Method and device for generating gaseous compressed nitrogen by the low-temperature separation of air in a distillation column system, having a pre-column, a high-pressure column and a low-pressure column. The feed air is compressed, purified in a purification apparatus and cooled. A first sub-flow of the cooled feed air is introduced in a predominantly liquid state into the distillation column system. A gaseous fraction from the pre-column in introduced into the liquefaction chamber of a pre-column head condenser with liquid formed therein fed as reflux into the pre-column. A first gaseous nitrogen product fraction is drawn from the high-pressure column, heated, and obtained as first gaseous compressed nitrogen product. At least a part of the second sub-flow is introduced into the evaporation chamber of the pre-column head condenser. A third sub-flow of the cooled feed air is expanded to perform work and subsequently introduced into the liquefaction chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for operating a natural gas liquids plant in ethane rejection and in ethane recovery. A natural gas liquid plant may comprise an absorber configured to produce an ethane rich bottom stream and an ethane depleted vapor stream; a stripper fluidly coupled to the absorber configured to, during ethane rejection, fractionate the ethane rich bottom stream from the absorber into an ethane overhead product and a propane plus hydrocarbons product, and configured to, during ethane recovery, fractionate the ethane rich bottom stream into an ethane plus NGL stream and an overhead vapor stream; and an exchanger configured to, during ethane recovery, counter-currently contact the ethane rich bottom stream from the absorber with the ethane depleted vapor stream from the absorber, thereby heating the vapor stream and chilling the ethane rich bottom stream before the ethane rich bottom stream is fed to the stripper.

Abstract: In a cryocooler for developing coldness of 4 K or lower by expanding helium, an expander expands high-pressure helium. A compressor compresses low-pressure helium returned from the expander, to generate high-pressure helium, and supplies the high-pressure helium to the expander. When helium temperature in the expander is 2.17 K or lower, the pressure of the low-pressure helium is equal to or higher than pressure given by a curve, in a helium state diagram in which the horizontal axis is temperature and the vertical axis is pressure, along which helium's volumetric thermal expansion coefficient is 0.

Abstract: A method and the apparatus for obtaining a compressed gas product by means of cryogenic separation of air in a distillation column system which has a high-pressure column and a low-pressure column. All of the feed air is compressed in a main air compressor to a first pressure which is at least 4 bar higher than the operating pressure of the high-pressure column. A first partial flow of the feed air compressed in the main air compressor is cooled to an intermediate temperature in a main heat exchanger and is expanded so as to perform work in a first air turbine. At least a first part of the first partial flow expanded so as to perform work is introduced into the distillation column system.

Abstract: A portable cooler container with active temperature control system is provided. The active temperature control system is operated to heat or cool a chamber of a vessel to approach a temperature set point suitable for a medication stored in the cooler container.