Abstract: Liquefier arrangements configured for flexible co-production of both liquid natural gas (LNG) and liquid nitrogen (LIN) are provided. Each liquefier arrangement comprises separate and independent nitrogen recycle circuits or loops, including a warm recycle circuit and a cold recycle circuit with a means for diverting nitrogen refrigerant between the two recycle circuits or loops. The warm recycle circuit includes a booster loaded warm turbine, a warm booster compressor and warm recycle compression whereas the cold recycle circuit includes a booster loaded cold turbine, a cold booster compressor and a separate cold recycle compression.

Abstract: A method of supplying refrigeration to air separation plants within an air separation plant facility in which a refrigerant stream is produced at cryogenic temperature within a centralized refrigeration system. Streams of the refrigerant at the cryogenic temperature are introduced into the air separation plants such that all or a part of the refrigeration requirements of the air separation plants are supplied by the streams of the refrigerant.

Abstract: An air stream is compressed in multiple stages using refrigeration derived from a refrigerant comprising natural gas for inter-stage cooling. The possibility of natural gas leaking into the air stream is reduced by use of an intermediate cooling medium (“ICM”) to transfer the refrigeration from the refrigerant to the inter-stage air stream. The compressed air stream can be fed to a cryogenic air separation unit that includes an LNG-based liquefier unit from which a cold natural gas stream is withdrawn for use as said refrigerant.

Abstract: A reliquifier using a cryocooler in which an insulated sleeve surrounds a portion of the cold head, a first stage cooling station, and a second stage cooling station, including a condenser. Gas is conveyed from a cryostat to the insulated sleeve, where it is liquefied as it passes over the cold head. An end of the insulated sleeve is connected to a liquid transfer tube for conveying condensed fluid back to the cryostat.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for condensing vapor in a gas. A cryogen, such as liquid nitrogen, may be provided into first and second coil sets in a condenser housing to cool the condensable vapor in the housing to condense the vapor into a liquid or solid form. The flow of cryogen in the first and second coil sets may be independently controlled, coils in the first and/or second coil sets may have a substantially equal length, and/or coils in the first and/or second coil sets may have uppermost portions that are located at a substantially equal height.

Abstract: A cryogenic refrigeration system includes a cryogenic heat exchanger system adapted for vaporizing a liquid cryogen and using the gaseous cryogen to cool heat transfer fluid and a heat transfer cooling circuit that cools the lyophilization chamber as well as the condenser. The disclosed heat transfer cooling circuit includes a primary recirculation loop adapted for cooling the lyophilization chamber with the heat transfer fluid, a secondary recirculation loop adapted for cooling a condenser with the heat transfer fluid, and one or more valves operatively coupling the cryogenic heat exchanger system, the primary recirculation loop, and the secondary recirculation loop.

Abstract: A method for producing a supercritical cryogenic fuel (SCCF) includes dissolving a hydrogen gas in fuel value proportions into a supercritical hydrocarbon fluid. The method is performed by placing a hydrogen gas and a hydrocarbon fluid at a pressure greater than the critical pressure of the hydrocarbon, placing the hydrogen gas and the hydrocarbon fluid at a temperature below or approximately equal to the critical temperature of the hydrocarbon forming the supercritical hydrocarbon fluid, and then mixing to dissolve the hydrogen gas into the supercritical hydrocarbon fluid. A system for performing the method includes a vortex mixer configured to turbulently mix the hydrogen gas and the supercritical hydrocarbon fluid. The supercritical cryogenic fuel (SCCF) produced by the method and the system includes the supercritical hydrocarbon fluid with a selected mole fraction of the hydrogen gas dissolved therein.

Abstract: A reliquifier using a cryocooler in which an insulated sleeve surrounds a portion of the cold head, a first stage cooling station, and a second stage cooling station, including a condenser. Gas is conveyed from a cryostat to the insulated sleeve, where it is liquefied as it passes over the cold head. An end of the insulated sleeve is connected to a liquid transfer tube for conveying condensed fluid back to the cryostat.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for controlling the temperature of a process fluid. An exemplary apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a process fluid tank, a cryogenic fluid tank, and a plurality of heat transfer plates for transferring heat from a process fluid in the process fluid tank to a cryogenic fluid in the cryogenic fluid tank. Heating devices can be used to heat a portion of one or more of the heat transfer plates to regulate the transfer of heat from a process fluid in the process fluid tank to a cryogenic fluid in the cryogenic fluid tank.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making noncommercial amounts of a gas a liquid using a Joule-Thomson device. The device uses a precooler, a compressor, a Joule-Thomson valve and a thermally insulated housing.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for reducing the heating value of imported LNG by removing natural gas liquid products while condensing boil-off gas. The LNG is pumped from a storage container and is then heated by cross exchange to a dew point temperature. A portion of this heated LNG is sent out to be vaporized while the remaining portion is further heated by cross exchange with demethanizer overhead vapors and is then sent as feed to the demethanizer. NGL is recovered at the bottom of the demethanizer, and the overhead vapors are mixed with boil off gas coming from the LNG storage container. These mixed vapors are condensed by cross exchanging with the LNG feed portion and then pumped to pipeline pressure and sent to the gas pipeline through the vaporizers.

Abstract: A cryogenic refrigeration system for lyophilization is disclosed. The cryogenic refrigeration system includes a cryogenic heat exchanger system adapted for vaporizing a liquid cryogen and using the gaseous cryogen to cool heat transfer fluid and a heat transfer cooling circuit that cools the lyophilization chamber as well as the condenser. The disclosed heat transfer cooling circuit includes a primary recirculation loop adapted for cooling the lyophilization chamber with the heat transfer fluid, a secondary recirculation loop adapted for cooling a condenser with the heat transfer fluid, and one or more valves operatively coupling the cryogenic heat exchanger system, the primary recirculation loop, and the secondary recirculation loop.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing ammonia from syngas with excess air for reforming and nitrogen removal with low pressure losses is disclosed. Auto-refrigeration for cooling the syngas for cryogenic hydrogen enrichment is provided by expansion of a hydrogen-lean waste fluid stream from a distillation column.

Abstract: The method for loading pressurized compressed natural gas into a storage element on a floating vessel entails introducing compressed natural gas from a source into a storage element located on the floating vessel raising the storage element pressure from about 800 psi to about 1200 psi at an ambient temperature; allowing a portion of the compressed natural gas to cool forming a liquid in the storage element; removing remaining vapor phase compressed natural gas from the storage element to a refrigeration plant, wherein the refrigeration plant is adapted to cool the vapor; removing the liquid from the storage element to the refrigeration plant; wherein the refrigeration plant is adapted to cool the liquid; mixing the cooled vapor phase with the cooled liquid phase and returning the mixture to the storage element; repeating the steps until the vapor has been cooled and is substantially a liquid.

Abstract: A method of treating gaseous waste from an optical fiber preform fabrication unit containing halogenated compounds includes a step of forming a liquid effluent from the gaseous waste by condensing the gaseous waste. The gaseous waste is preferably condensed by cooling it. Plant for implementing the method includes a condenser and a container for collecting condensate. The condenser is preferably a refrigerating device. The plant can further include a soot box.

Abstract: A gas liquefaction method which uses the pressure energy of a natural gas processing system to generate refrigeration for high temperature cooling of a gas, and uses a mixed gas refrigerant fluid to generate refrigeration for low temperature cooling of the gas to produce liquefied product.

Abstract: Methods of cooling an object are presented, the methods comprising contacting a heat transfer fluid with a liquid cryogen to form a precooled, substantially pure heat transfer fluid, and contacting the object with the precooled substantially pure heat transfer fluid to form a cooled object and a recycle flow of the heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid consists essentially of a compound selected from the group consisting of substantially pure hydrogen, substantially pure helium, substantially pure argon, substantially pure nitrogen, and substantially pure carbon dioxide. Each of the contacting steps may be either direct contact, indirect contact, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating perfluorocarbon compounds from a gas mixture passes an incoming stream of a gas into a cold trap, the gas stream including a plurality of perfluorocarbon compounds. The gas mixture is cooled within the cold trap to a temperature below −100° C. to produce a condensate that is enriched in at least one perfluorocarbon compound and a non-condensed stream from which the condensate was separated. The condensate is withdrawn from the cold trap. The condensate may be withdrawn by warming the cold trap to vaporize the condensate and thereafter flowing the vaporized condensate into a storage vessel. The non-condensed stream may be vented to the atmosphere, re-circulated into the cold trap or flowed through subsequent separation processes to extract additional perfluorocarbon compounds.

Abstract: An apparatus for liquefying and storing a gas is provided. The apparatus is adapted to liquify relatively small quantities of gas, and to do so in a residence or place of business. The apparatus generally includes a cryocooler, a heat transfer assembly, and an insulated subsystem. Liquid condensate produced by the apparatus is stored in an insulated dewar. The method of the present invention includes the liquification of air or an enriched gas on a small scale in a residence or place of business. The method and apparatus of the invention are particularly well suited for providing liquified oxygen for use by a patient on oxygen therapy in the patient's residence.

Abstract: A station for dispensing a gas, in particular nitrogen, under a dispensing pressure, includes a line (10) for gas inlet under an inlet high pressure, a line (14) for dispensing the gas under a lower dispensing pressure, and a device (16) for reducing the pressure of the gas to be dispensed from the inlet pressure to the dispensing pressure. The pressure-reducing device (16) includes a machine for pressure reduction with external work production. The station includes upstream of the pressure-reducing device (16), a conduit (18) for dividing the inlet gas into a fraction to be dispensed and a complementary fraction, downstream of the conduit (18), a device (20) for liquefaction of the complementary fraction of the inlet gas that includes a heat exchanger (26) for exchanging heat with the reduced-pressure fraction of the inlet gas, and a reservoir (40) for collecting the liquefied complementary fraction.

Abstract: Natural cocoa flavor and aroma compositions are prepared by passing a natural aroma gas, preferably from cocoa beans, through one or more condensers to remove water and substantially all the acetic acid present therein. The aroma gas may then be placed into a cryogenic collector in which liquid nitrogen is sprayed directly into the aroma gas stream to rapidly condense the aroma frost suspended in a stream of nitrogen gas, while minimizing contract of the cooled gas with the walls of the collector. The suspension of aroma frost particles in gaseous nitrogen is passed through a tubular porous filter to remove the aroma frost particles which collect on the outer surface of the tubular filter, with the nitrogen gas passing through the porous filter and being exhausted from the collector. The aroma particles recovered are suitable for incorporation in various food products where a natural cocoa or chocolate flavor is desired, including soluble cocoa products, cake mixes, confectionery products, and the like.

Abstract: The method of the invention recovers CO.sub.2 from an inlet cold feed stream containing a low concentration thereof, and includes the following steps. An inlet feed stream is passed through a heat exchanger, against a compressed flow of the inlet feed stream, to cool the compressed flow. The compressed flow is further cooled and compressed to a high pressure, fed to a distillation column and there converted into a vent gas including CO.sub.2 and a high purity bottom liquid CO.sub.2. A first portion of the bottom liquid CO.sub.2 is expanded to achieve a first cooled liquid CO.sub.2 refrigerant flow, which is then vaporized against the vent gas to recover condensed CO.sub.2 therefrom. The condensed CO.sub.2 is then reintroduced into the distillation column. A second portion of the bottom liquid CO.sub.2 is expanded to achieve a second cooled liquid CO.sub.2 refrigerant flow, which is then used to subcool the CO.sub.2 product output.

Abstract: Provided is a gas recovery unit which is more efficient in its recovery and less expensive to run. The gas recovery unit comprises a CVD device, an exhaust gas recovery part and an exhaust gas purification part. The exhaust gas recovery part is constructed so as to have an inert gas reservoir part capable of accommodating liquid nitrogen, to have an exhaust gas supply part for supplying an exhaust gas to said inert gas reservoir part so that it can be brought in gasliquid contact with the liquid nitrogen, and to have a recovered and liquefied gas discharge part for discharging the recovered and liquefied gas which has been liquefied in the inert gas reservoir part.

Abstract: The compact oxygen production system of the present invention provides an oxygen concentrator and a cryocooling device for liquefying the concentrated oxygen gas to provide liquid oxygen. The compact size of the system permits the system to be employed in home applications, especially for home oxygen patients.

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: A method of chilling, cooling or likewise refrigerating a product with the aid of the cold content of a condensed gas, wherein the product, preferably in a gas or liquid state, is caused to pass at least one product-cooling heat-exchanger. According to the invention, the condensed gas is vaporized in at least one evaporation heat-exchanger and the vaporized gas is delivered to the product-cooling heat-exchanger for cooling the product therein. The gas heated by the product in the product-cooling heat-exchanger is then returned to the evaporation heat-exchanger for vaporization of the condensed gas therein. The invention also relates to an arrangement for use in carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of mixing liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen to form a liquid mixture in which such streams are passed through a parallel flow heat exchanger in order to form a subcooled liquid oxygen stream and a partly vaporized liquid nitrogen stream both having the same temperature. The partly vaporized liquid nitrogen stream is phase separated in a phase separator to form liquid and vaporized nitrogen phases. The liquid phase stream composed of the liquid nitrogen is mixed with the subcooled liquid oxygen stream, preferably in a mixing tee, in order to form the desired mixture.

Abstract: A method of draining a tank that has been containing liquid gas, and a plant for use in such draining. After draining of the major part of the tank contents, but while residual contents of gas are present in vapourized state in the tank, the residual contents are conveyed for exchanging heat directly or indirectly with cold nitrogen. Nitrogen is vapourized and heated and conveyed to the tank, while the residual gas is cooled and condensed and conveyed to a collector tank. The plant comprises a heat exchange system connected to the supply of nitrogen, and residual gas is forced from the tank to be drained and through the heat exchange system in order to cause vapourization and heating of nitrogen to be conveyed to the tank, in such a manner that the residual gas from the tank condenses, whereby a collector container is connected for receiving condensed residual gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for the condensation of one or more gasses out of a gas stream. The degree of the condensation of volatile compound out of the gas stream A is controlled by regulating the liquid level of the cooling agent in a heat exchanger (8). Preferably a gas stream A from which the volatile compound has been removed is led to a further heat exchanger (1) and is utilized to pre-cool the gas stream A that is still to be treated. In order to be able to control the degree of condensation of volatile compound out of the gas stream A as accurately as possible, the apparatus is provided with an elongated, vertical heat exchanger (8).

Abstract: Two heat exchangers are hooked up together in order to generate a flow of cold gas. A deep-frozen liquefied medium is evaporated in the first heat exchanger (1) by means of heat exchange with a heat transfer medium. The evaporated medium is re-cooled in the second heat exchanger. The deep-frozen liquefied cryogenic medium used for this purpose is likewise evaporated in this process. The two flows of gas thus generated are conveyed to a mixing site and then combined to form a flow of cold gas.