Abstract: An arrangement of insulation within a container to prevent heat leakage from the ambient to an apparatus located within the container that operates at a cryogenic temperature. The arrangement of insulation includes bulk insulation filling the container and an insulation layer that is located within the container, between the apparatus and the container. The insulation layer as opposed to the bulk insulation has a lower thermal conductivity. An exterior region of the apparatus is situated closer to an opposite container wall region of the container than remaining exterior regions of the apparatus. The insulation layer is sized to only insulate the exterior region of the apparatus from heat leakage from the opposite container wall region. The insulation layer can be formed of an aerogel.

Abstract: A condenser reboiler system located within a bottom region of a low pressure column of a double column arrangement that is used in an air separation system to separate air. The condenser reboiler system incorporates first and second heat exchangers of the down-flow type that are situated in a side-by-side relationship and with the first heat exchanger being shorter than the second heat exchanger so that the first heat exchanger will remain functional after a shut-down of the air separation system when the second heat exchanger(s) are not capable of operating due to liquid dumping into a sump region of the low pressure column. The side-by-side relationship allows the column to be fabricated without excessive height.

Abstract: An arrangement of insulation within a container to prevent heat leakage from the ambient to an apparatus located within the container that operates at a cryogenic temperature. The arrangement of insulation includes bulk insulation filling the container and an insulation layer that is located within the container, between the apparatus and the container. The insulation layer as opposed to the bulk insulation has a lower thermal conductivity. An exterior region of the apparatus is situated closer to an opposite container wall region of the container than remaining exterior regions of the apparatus. The insulation layer is sized to only insulate the exterior region of the apparatus from heat leakage from the opposite container wall region. The insulation layer can be formed of an aerogel.

Abstract: An arrangement of insulation within a container to prevent heat leakage from the ambient to an apparatus located within the container that operates at a cryogenic temperature. The arrangement of insulation includes bulk insulation filling the container and an insulation layer that is located within the container, between the apparatus and the container. The insulation layer as opposed to the bulk insulation has a lower thermal conductivity. An exterior region of the apparatus is situated closer to an opposite container wall region of the container than remaining exterior regions of the apparatus. The insulation layer is sized to only insulate the exterior region of the apparatus from heat leakage from the opposite container wall region. The insulation layer can be formed of an aerogel.

Abstract: A multistage compressor installation in which compression stages utilizing centrifugal compressors are independently driven by drivers that can be electric motors configured to be controlled by a speed controller. Intercoolers are located between stages to remove the heat of compression and the stages are connected such that outlets are located opposite to inlets of the compressors and conduits connecting the intercoolers to the stages are in an in-line relationship to inhibit the formation of pressure drops between stages. The conduits connecting the stages incorporate tapered transition sections configured such that flow velocity gradually decreases towards the intercooler and gradually increases from the intercooler to the next succeeding compression stage to further inhibit pressure drops.

Abstract: A multistage compressor installation in which compression stages utilizing centrifugal compressors are independently driven by drivers that can be electric motors configured to be controlled by a speed controller. Intercoolers are located between stages to remove the heat of compression and the stages are connected such that outlets are located opposite to inlets of the compressors and conduits connecting the intercoolers to the stages are in an in-line relationship to inhibit the formation of pressure drops between stages. The conduits connecting the stages incorporate tapered transition sections configured such that flow velocity gradually decreases towards the intercooler and gradually increases from the intercooler to the next succeeding compression stage to further inhibit pressure drops.

Abstract: A multistage compressor installation in which compression stages utilizing centrifugal compressors are independently driven by drivers that can be electric motors configured to be controlled by a speed controller. Intercoolers are located between stages to remove the heat of compression and the stages are connected such that outlets are located opposite to inlets of the compressors and conduits connecting the intercoolers to the stages are in an in-line relationship to inhibit the formation of pressure drops between stages. The conduits connecting the stages incorporate tapered transition sections configured such that flow velocity gradually decreases towards the intercooler and gradually increases from the intercooler to the next succeeding compression stage to further inhibit pressure drops.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which air is liquefied and stored for later energy recovery during which the liquid air is pumped to high pressure, heated and then expanded to recover the energy. During the recovery of energy, the pumped liquid air is heated within a regenerator that stores the refrigeration within the liquid air. During the liquefaction of the air, part of the refrigeration required is obtained from the refrigeration stored in the regenerator.

Abstract: A multistage compressor installation in which compression stages utilizing centrifugal compressors are independently driven by drivers that can be electric motors configured to be controlled by a speed controller. Intercoolers are located between stages to remove the heat of compression and the stages are connected such that outlets are located opposite to inlets of the compressors and conduits connecting the intercoolers to the stages are in an in-line relationship to inhibit the formation of pressure drops between stages. The conduits connecting the stages incorporate tapered transition sections configured such that flow velocity gradually decreases towards the intercooler and gradually increases from the intercooler to the next succeeding compression stage to further inhibit pressure drops.

Abstract: A method of storing biological samples in which the biological samples are stored in a stack within a vessel interior of an insulated vessel. A pool of liquid cryogen is maintained within the vessel interior by condensing cryogenic vapor boiled off of the pool of liquid cryogen with a cryocooler having a cold finger. The cryocooler and cold finger are positioned so that a cold heat exchanger of the cold finger is in thermal contact with the cryogenic vapor and is positioned above the stack, so as to also maintain a temperature difference within the insulated vessel, between a bottom region of the stack and a top region of the stack, of no greater than about 65K.

Abstract: A method for establishing a cryogenic insulation system wherein aerogel is provided to a sealable insulation space which is pressurized and depressurized, preferably using carbon dioxide gas, and cooled to cryogenic temperatures typically by the application of refrigeration from cryogenic liquid.

Abstract: A condenser reboiler system located within a bottom region of a low pressure column of a double column arrangement that is used in an air separation system to separate air. The condenser reboiler system incorporates first and second heat exchangers of the down-flow type that are situated in a side-by-side relationship and with the first heat exchanger being shorter than the second heat exchanger so that the first heat exchanger will remain functional after a shut-down of the air separation system when the second heat exchanger(s) are not capable of operating due to liquid dumping into a sump region of the low pressure column. The side-by-side relationship allows the column to be fabricated without excessive height.

Abstract: A cryogenic liquid storage system and method in which cryogenic liquid is stored within an active cryogenic liquid storage tank and one or more passive cryogenic liquid storage tanks. Headspace regions of the passive cryogenic liquid storage tanks are connected to the active cryogenic liquid storage tank and the active cryogenic liquid storage tank is refrigerated to collapse the headspace vapor within the active cryogenic liquid storage tank causing the flow of headspace vapor from the headspace regions of the passive cryogenic liquid storage tanks to the active cryogenic liquid storage tank. The increased head of liquid produces a pressure differential that drives liquid from the active cryogenic liquid storage tank back to the passive cryogenic liquid storage tanks.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system wherein nitrogen vapor from a higher pressure column and oxygen liquid from a lower pressure column each pass down through a once-through main condenser in heat exchange relation and some but not all of the oxygen liquid is vaporized such that the oxygen liquid and vapor exit the condenser in a liquid to vapor mass flowrate ratio within the range of from 0.05 to 0.5 whereby the need for a recirculation pump to ensure avoidance of oxygen boiling to dryness is eliminated.

Abstract: A superconducting cable cooling system, wherein coolant continually provides cooling to superconducting cable, comprising a plurality of nodes within a superconducting cable network and a plurality of legs of superconducting cable which interconnect each of the nodes of the superconducting cable network.

Abstract: An arrangement of insulation within a container to prevent heat leakage from the ambient to an apparatus located within the container that operates at a cryogenic temperature. The arrangement of insulation includes bulk insulation filling the container and an insulation layer that is located within the container, between the apparatus and the container. The insulation layer as opposed to the bulk insulation has a lower thermal conductivity. An exterior region of the apparatus is situated closer to an opposite container wall region of the container than remaining exterior regions of the apparatus. The insulation layer is sized to only insulate the exterior region of the apparatus from heat leakage from the opposite container wall region. The insulation layer can be formed of an aerogel.

Abstract: A cryogenic biological preservation unit having a removable lid and an integrated cryocooler positioned apart from, or within a fixed portion of, the lid and which provides refrigeration to the upper portion of the interior of the unit which also contains a pool of liquid cryogen and at least one biological sample preferably positioned above the pool of liquid cryogen.

Abstract: A system for cooling one or more discrete superconducting devices wherein a primary refrigerator subcools cryogenic liquid for desubcooling in the devices and subsequently resubcools this liquid in a recirculation loop, and additional cryogenic liquid is maintained in a subcooled condition within a reserve storage container by diversion of some of the refrigeration generated by the primary refrigerator into the reserve storage container.

Abstract: A pulse tube system for generating refrigeration for uses such as in magnetic resonance imaging systems wherein an oil-free compressor operating at a higher frequency generates pulsing gas which undergoes a frequency reduction and drives the pulse tube system at a more efficient lower frequency.

Abstract: A system for cooling a power transformer wherein cryogen in liquid or solid form is sprayed into a vaporizer or directly onto a power transformer radiator and the vaporizing and/or sublimating cryogen cools a cooling fluid within the vaporizer or cools the radiator directly to provide cooling to the power transformer.