Abstract: A shaped article is capable of at least one of containing and delivering a cryogenic fluid. The article has a porous structure that restricts the passage of cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase while permitting the passage of cryogenic fluid in the gaseous phase. The article may be in the form of a tube or container. The article permits a liquid cryogen to be transported to a specific site, and then cool the site by means of conduction from the cold article and convection of cold gas, the phase change of the evaporating liquid greatly enhancing the heat loss.

Abstract: A system for chilling and/or liquefying a fluid wherein a multicomponent refrigerant in a circuit is compressed, condensed, expanded and warmed to cool one or more portions of the fluid which are then turboexpanded to generate refrigeration and which are then used to provide refrigeration to a remaining portion of the fluid so as to chill and/or liquefy that remaining portion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cooling systems for cryogenic power conversion electronics are provided. The invention includes systems having electronic power conversion apparatus comprising at least one cryogenically operated semiconductor switch and at least one cryogenically operated capacitor and cooling means for cryogenically cooling the at least one cryogenically operated semiconductor switch and the at least one cryogenically operated capacitor to a temperature between 90K to 236K. The systems can also include input/output means for supplying power to said power conversion apparatus and receiving power from said power conversion apparatus. In alternative embodiments, liquid cryogens can be used in heat exchange systems in conjunction with refrigeration cold heads or heat pipes. In these embodiments, the cryogen can be recondensed if boiled.

Abstract: A process for supercooling a liquid or solid wherein the solid or liquid is placed in contact with a coolant, the coolant having a temperature of at or just above the metastable limit temperature of the liquid or solid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hair blower assembly comprising a hair blower comprising a barrel including a discharge portion having an outer surface, and a concentrator removeably mounted on the discharge portion and including an inner surface telescopically surrounding the outer surface of the discharge portion, and a pad of resilient plastic material fixed on the inner surface and grippingly engaging the outer surface of the discharge portion to prevent relative movement between the barrel and the concentrator in the absence of manual manipulation to remove the concentrator from the barrel.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing carbon dioxide, ethane and heavier components from high pressure natural gas (10) comprises: partly condensing and expanding the high pressure natural gas (10) to obtain a gaseous stream (30) enriched in methane and carbon dioxide and two liquid streams (37 and 40) enriched in ethane and heavier components which are introduced into fractionation column (35); removing from fractionation column (35) fluid stream (45), heating (46) the fluid stream to obtain a reboiling stream (47) which is introduced into the fractionation column (35); removing from fractionation column (35) liquid stream (50) enriched in carbon dioxide, ethane and heavier components; removing from the top of fractionation column (35) a gaseous overhead stream (55) enriched in methane; cooling (56) the gaseous overhead stream (55) to obtain a two-phase fluid, separating (58) the two-phase fluid into cooled gaseous overhead stream (60) and first reflux stream (62) which is introduced into the fractionation colum

Abstract: A process for the compression of helium at low temperature and low pressure, and a compression line and refrigeration unit corresponding thereto. A plurality of centrifugal compressors (C.sub.1 to C.sub.4) in series are so dimensioned as to supply nominal compression loads .tau..sub.1N, . . . .tau..sub.nN for same nominal mass flow rate D.sub.N. A (n+1)th centrifugal compressor (C.sub.5) is dimensioned for a nominal compression load substantially equal to .tau..sub.1N for a decreased mass flow rate D.sub.D is less than D.sub.N of the precompressed gas at a pressure P.sub.0 multiplied by .tau..sub.2N .times. . . . .times..tau..sub.nN. This extra compressor is placed in series upstream of the n centrifugal compressors. The (n+1)th compressor is adjusted such that the compressors of rows 2 to n ensure substantially constant compression loads that are equal respectively to .tau..sub.2N, . . . , .tau..sub.nN, and the compressors of rows 1 and (n+1) ensure compression loads .tau..sub.1 and .tau..sub.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for pelleting materials capable of forming drops, in which the materials to be pelleted are added dropwise into a coolant liquid bath (5), preferably a liquified gas, hardened and are kept separate on a vibratory conveyor unit (7) with supply of vibratory energy and are completely frozen solid, exploiting the temperature of the cold gas.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is divided into first and second streams, and the second stream is expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the column at a mid-column feed position. A recycle stream is withdrawn from the tower overhead after it has been warmed and compressed, and is combined with the first stream. The combined stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it, and is thereafter expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the fractionation tower at a top column feed position. The pressure of the compressed recycle stream and the quantities and temperatures of the feeds to the column are effective to maintain the column overhead temperature at a temperature whereby the major portion of the desired components is recovered.

Abstract: A liquid phase is placed into contact with a steam or gaseous phase to cause a reaction, heat and/or matter transfer, where the contact of the phases occurs within at least one annular chamber formed of two or more concentric and substantially coaxial elongated cylindrical members. The gaseous phase and the liquid phase typically enter the chamber at opposite ends cylindrically rotating in the same direction and in countercurrent, with the gaseous phase and at least a substantial portion of the product formed by the contact between the phases exiting the at one end of the apparatus and the residual liquid phase exiting at the other end.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sample-cooling device for efficiently cooling a sample observed with a scanning probe microscope down to a cryogenic temperature. Cryogenic temperature provided by liquid nitrogen is transferred to a stage base plate from a liquid nitrogen vessel via a heat shield on the side of the cryogenic source, a first flexible conductor, and a heat shield on the sample side. The whole stage base plate is cooled to the liquid nitrogen temperature. Cryogenic temperature provided by liquid helium is transferred from a liquid helium vessel to a heat conductor on the sample side via a heat conductor on the side of the cryogenic source, a heat shield on the side of the cryogenic source, a second flexible heat conductor, and a heat shield on the sample side. The heat conductor on the sample side is cooled to the liquid helium temperature. The cryogenic temperature is then transferred to the sample via a probe electrode in contact with the heat conductor on the sample side.

Abstract: A combination cryopump/getter pump including a cryopump section having a cryopump inlet, a getter pump section having a getter pump inlet, and a mechanism for coupling the cryopump section and the getter pump section to a single port of a process chamber to be evacuated. Preferably, a cylindrical cryopump section surrounds a cylindrical getter pump section. Preferably, the cryopump section and the getter pump section are coupled to the common port of the process chamber by a gate valve mechanism. In one embodiment of the present invention, the gate valve mechanism isolates the cryopump inlet and the getter pump inlet when in a closed position, and in another embodiment of the present invention the gate valve does not isolate the cryopump inlet from the getter pump inlet when in a closed position. Preferably, thermal insulation is provided between the getter pump section and the cryopump section to thermally isolate the two sections. The cryopump section preferably includes both a 15.degree. K array and a 80.

Abstract: Air is separated in an arrangement of rectification columns comprising a double rectification column (which has a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column), an intermediate pressure rectification column and a side rectification column communicating with the lower pressure column. The side rectification column is provided with a condenser and the intermediate pressure rectification column with a reboiler and a condenser. A stream of oxygen-enriched liquid and a stream of liquid air are withdrawn from the higher pressure column through outlets and are separated in the intermediate pressure rectification column. The reboiler is heated by a stream typically withdrawn from the side rectification column through an outlet. A stream of liquid is withdrawn through an outlet at the bottom of the intermediate pressure rectification column is used to cool the condenser and is separated in the lower pressure rectification column.

Abstract: A pulse tube refrigerator according to the present invention is capable of performing cryogenic operation sufficiently. The cryostat includes regenerators and pulse tubes. Each regenerator has a cold stage at an upper end thereof. Each pulse tube has a low-temperature end portion at a lower end thereof and a high-temperature end portion thereof, the low-temperature end portion being located lower than the cold stage. The cold stage and the low-temperature end portion are connected to each other through a line whose cubic volume is substantially negligible in comparison with that of the pulse tube. Since the pulse tube has working gas of relatively high density in an upper portion thereof and working gas of relatively low density in a lower portion thereof, there is no convection of working gas induced by the gravity. Thus, the cryostat performs cryogenic operation sufficiently without being adversely affected.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus is provided for use in cryogenic storage tanks. The monitoring apparatus is a combination cap and monitoring system. The monitoring system includes a sensor which is submerged in liquid nitrogen, a circuit for detecting changes in resistance of the sensor should the liquid nitrogen level fall to or below a selected level, and an audio output device which generates an audible alarm if the liquid nitrogen falls to or below the selected level.

Abstract: A primary compressor and a booster compressor connected in series is presented. A first conduit connects the low side of a heating/cooling or refrigeration system to the inlet of the booster compressor, the outlet of the booster compressor and the inlet of the primary compressor. A second conduit connects the outlet of the primary compressor to the high side of the system. The first conduit includes a check valve for closing or opening the connection between the first conduit and the outlet of the booster compressor. A sump conduit is positioned near the bottom of the primary and booster compressors to allow lubricant to flow from the booster compressor to the primary compressor.

Abstract: The air pressure within a part of an appliance (e.g., a refrigeration pipe of an air conditioner unit) is reduced as the part is conveyed on a conveyor. This pressure reduction is accomplished by connecting a first end of a vacuum hose to the part, and then rotating a rotatable member to which the second end is connected. That causes the second end to be alternately brought into and out of communication with a vacuum source, whereby a vacuum is intermittently induced in the part. During periods when the second end of the vacuum hose is out of communication with the vacuum source, that second hose end is placed in communication with a pressure at least at atmospheric, to temporarily increase the pressure in the part.

Abstract: A footwear dryer support rod that includes an interconnectable rod assembly including a fixed length rod section, a circuit housing rod section, and a spring loaded telescoping rod section; an alarm circuit housed within the circuit housing rod section including a detecting circuit and an alarm circuit, the alarm circuit including an electrically driven audible output device; two disk shaped, resilient protector pads, one resilient protector pad being securable to the end of the fixed length rod section and one resilient protector pad being securable to the end of the spring loaded telescoping rod section; a first moisture probe pair extending outwardly from the end of the fixed length rod section and positioned through one of the resilient protector pads; and a second moisture probe pair extending outwardly from the end of the telescoping rod section and positioned through a one of the resilient protector pads.

Abstract: A system for liquefying low boiling point gases wherein a mixture of feed gas and recirculating refrigerant gas is compressed, a first portion turboexpanded, a second portion compressed to a supercritical pressure, and the supercritical fluid cooled against the turboexpanded fluid to produce cryogenic liquid.

Abstract: The molar ratio of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in synthesis gas is changed by partially condensing at least a portion of the feed gas and separating the partially condensed feed mixture by non-fractionating phase separation. Preferably, the partially condensed feed mixture is separated by a first phase separation into a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream; the first vapor stream is partially condensed and separated by a second phase separation into a second liquid stream and a second vapor stream; the second vapor stream is warmed and expanded to provide refrigeration and partial condensation; and the expanded partially condensed stream is separated by a third phase separation to provide a third liquid stream and a third vapor stream. The synthesis gas product is at least partially derived from the third liquid stream and a portion of the third vapor stream.