Abstract: A method and apparatus for the controlled storage of liquefied gases such as liquefied natural gas in an enclosed insulated container, in which part of the liquid is withdrawn and fed to an external refrigeration unit for subcooling and the subcooled liquid is reintroduced into the container via one or more valve-controlled headers under the control of a control system operated in response to pressure and temperature signals from within the container, wherein the level of subcooling is matched to the heat inleak into the container and most or all of the subcooled liquid is reintroduced directly into the stored liquid so as to maintain stable conditions in the stored liquid and to minimise evaporation thereof.

Abstract: A novel computer program product and method for thermally characterizing a device used for cooling an electronic device is disclosed. A cooling device, being operated, is thermally coupled to a heat pipe having a surface to receive a test chip. A heater is patterned on a circuitry side of the test chip. The heater is separate from operational circuitry of the test chip. A localized heat source is applied to at least one region on a test chip thermally coupled to the heat pipe to locally heat more than one region on a second surface of the test chip to test more than one hot spot. The second surface is the circuitry side of the test chip. The heater provides a bias heat to the test chip, independent of operating the test chip, while the localized heat source is selectively applied directly to the test chip. A temperature detector is used to measure a temperature distribution on the second surface of the test chip.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an apparatus for determining the cooling characteristics of a cooling device used for transferring heat from an electronic device. The apparatus comprising a cooling device thermally coupled to a heat pipe. The heat pipe having an exposed surface for the selective application of heat thereon. A localized heat source is selectively applied to at least one region of the exposed surface. The heat source preferably capable of being varied both positionally relative to the exposed surface and in heat intensity. A heat shield is preferably positioned around the exposed surface of the heat pipe to isolate the operational cooling device from the localized heat source. A temperature detector repeatedly measures a temperature distribution across the exposed surface while the cooling device is in a heat transfer mode. The temperature distribution is then used to thermally characterize the cooling device.

Abstract: A method and system for the small-scale production of LNG.

Abstract: A continuous cryogenic process for the separation and removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using, in part, the existing cryocooling apparatus that is a component of the inventor's patented high temperature superconducting wind turbine electric generating and energy storage system. The proposed system is contained within a long, large, non-corrosive, open-ended, double-walled tubular-shaped vacuum or conventionally insulated dewar, which is cantilevered in two or more units from the wind turbine's steel tower. The major internal components consist of a large screen grid, a small screen filter, a low-speed electric turbo-style fan and, most importantly, a series of coated frost-free heat exchangers of differentiated design that freeze the carbon dioxide in the moving air into a form of flake-like dry ice which is then captured for potential reuse or underground sequestering.

Abstract: Apparatus to convert LNG to gas, comprising a vaporizer having passages to pass the cool or cold LNG in heat transfer relation with warming gas flowing downwardly to discharge in multiple directions, and flow control means to control discharge of the gas flow in selected direction or directions, as a function of wind direction.

Abstract: A control system and method for interactive startup and shutdown of a steam turbine driven chiller unit is provided. The chiller unit includes an integrated central control panel to control operation of both the steam turbine system and the refrigerant system. The central control panel has startup control system to assist an operator manually start the steam turbine system and the refrigerant system and a shutdown control system to assist an operator manually shutdown the steam system and the refrigerant system. Both the startup control system and the shutdown control system include logic for performing necessary protective actions and for notifying an operator when to perform required actions.

Abstract: A control system and method are provided for the automatic startup and shutdown of a steam turbine driven chiller unit. The chiller unit includes an integrated central control panel to control operation of both the steam turbine system and the refrigerant system. The central control panel has a startup control system to automatically start the steam turbine driven chiller unit while performing necessary protective actions and a shutdown control system to automatically stop the steam turbine driven chiller unit while performing necessary protective actions.

Abstract: A compressor for a turbo chiller that can stably and efficiently operate in various operating states is provided. An aerodynamic feature map showing a rotating stall line at which rotating stall occurs is provided on a map represented by a flow parameter reflecting the volume flow based on the output thermal capacity of the chiller and by a pressure parameter reflecting the head based on the evaporator pressure and the condenser pressure. A minimum rotation speed obtaining unit obtains a minimum rotation speed from the pressure parameter and the rotating stall line on the aerodynamic feature map in the current operating state, and a rotation speed greater than or equal to the minimum rotation speed thus obtained is designated to the inverter.

Abstract: An energy conversion apparatus and method using recovered energy sources including motor vehicle kinetic energy (deceleration and shock) and wind resistance, supplemented by liquefied air transferred to the vehicle and by solar radiation thereto. The energy sources are combined, as available, to drive a compressor for supplying intake working fluid of a motor vehicle prime mover, wherein liquefied air provides pre-compression cooling of an atmospheric air portion of the working fluid. The liquefied air is made by recovered energy, stored and transferred between vehicles and between vehicles and stationary sites. In a hybrid version of the vehicle, exhaust heat from a combustion engine part of the prime mover increases working fluid temperature in a gas expander part, thereof; the engine and expander operating independently or together for improved vehicle propulsion efficiency.

Abstract: An NGL recovery plant includes a demethanizer (7) in which internally generated and subcooled lean oil absorbs CO2 and C2 from a gas stream (11), thereby preventing build-up and freezing problems associated with CO2, especially where the feed gas has a CO2 treatment at ethane recoveries above 90% and propane recoveries of at least 99%.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Stirling cooler, in which a partition contacting a front surface of an inner stator is formed on a cylinder and a second stopper serving as a snap ring contacting a rear surface of the inner stator is detachably inserted into a ring-shaped groove of the cylinder, thus allowing the inner stator to be easily attached to and detached from the cylinder. Further, a protrusion inserted into a ring-shaped groove formed in the front surface of the inner stator is formed on the partition, and serves as an end ring of the inner stator, thus simplifying the assembly and disassembly of the inner stator.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for providing reflux to a refluxed heavies removal column of a LNG facility. The apparatus comprises stacked vertical core-in-kettle heat exchangers and an economizer disposed between the heat exchangers. The reflux stream originates from the methane-rich refrigerant of the methane refrigeration cycle. The liquid reflux stream generated by cooling the methane-rich stream in the vertical heat exchangers via indirect heat exchange with an upstream refrigerant.

Abstract: A method of generating a high-level vacuum comprises evacuating a chamber having a substantially-pure gas therein to a medium-level vacuum, and freezing the residual gas to generate the high-level vacuum within the chamber. Impurities, such as atmospheric air, may be purged from the chamber by evacuating the chamber to a medium level vacuum (e.g., around 10?2 Torr) and subsequently filling the chamber with the gas. This purging process may be repeated multiple times to decrease the level of impurities in the gas filling the chamber. The substantially-pure gas may have an impurity-level of less than approximately 100 PPM and may comprise carbon-dioxide, although the scope of the invention is not limited in this respect. The medium level vacuum may range between approximately 1×10?2 Torr and 5×10?2 Torr allowing the use of a roughing pump, and the high-level vacuum may range between approximately 1×10?5 and 1×10?8 Torr.

Abstract: An automatically actuated line connection and delivery system is disclosed for the delivery of a cryogenic fluid coolant to tools mounted on manufacturing machines such as vertical and horizontal machining centers, punching presses, thermal spray systems, welding systems, laser cutters, etc. The system includes a linearly-actuated, cryogenic fluid socket/plunger connection “(20)” with a differential, thermal contraction-controlled sealing mechanism, “(22,24)” as well as provisions for installing this connection on automated manufacturing machines “(60,84)” and integrating operation of the connection “(20)” with the manufacturing cycle controlled from a remote control panel “(70)”.

Abstract: A double cooler device consistent with certain embodiments has an outer housing shell and an inner housing shell disposed within the outer housing shell and coupled thereto to form an outer reservoir to make up the housing. An inner core resides within the inner shell to form an inner reservoir. A first tap is coupled to the outer reservoir and a second tap is coupled to the inner reservoir to permit dispensing of a liquid stored in each respective reservoir. The inner reservoir has a drain and a vent spout. A lid is provided for closing the housing. The lid has an outer seal adjacent a periphery thereof to seal the outer reservoir and an inner seal to seal the inner reservoir. When the lid is in a first position with respect to the housing, both the inner and outer reservoirs are sealed by the inner and outer seals and the vent and spout are closed.

Abstract: A cryocooler having two operating modes so that its operating range is broadened, its gas bearing system is maintained in an operable state and it can utilize piston stroke modulation for energy efficiency. A piston stroke modulator modulates the piston stroke when the commanded piston stroke exceeds the minimum stroke and maintains the minimum stroke when the commanded stroke is less than the minimum stroke. A heater applies heater power to the thermal load when the commanded piston stroke is less than the minimum piston stroke. A closed loop feedback control system is used which has two branches of its dynamic leg. One branch controls the modulation of the cryocooler and the second, parallel branch controls the modulation of the heater.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling a component within a housing adapted for subsurface disposal using a vortex tube. The housing contains a first pressure chamber; a vortex tube coupled to the first pressure chamber; a cooling chamber coupled to the vortex tube; and a second pressure chambercoupled to the cooling chamber; wherein the pressure chambers are adapted to stimulate a cool fluid flow from the vortex tube into the cooling chamber. A cooling method entails disposing the component to be cooled within the cooling chamber and adapting the system pressure chambers to stimulate a cool fluid flow from a vortex tube into the cooling chamber.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separator (accumulator) is arranged at a refrigerant suction side of a compressor of a refrigerant cycle system mounted in a vehicle. The gas-liquid separator includes a gas-liquid separation portion for separating refrigerant into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and a liquid refrigerant storage portion for storing therein the separated liquid refrigerant. In the gas-liquid separator, the gas-liquid separation portion is arranged approximately vertically, and the liquid refrigerant storage portion is arranged approximately horizontally with respect to the approximately vertically arranged gas-liquid separation portion. Therefore, mounting performance of the gas-liquid separator in the vehicle can be effectively improved while gas-liquid separation can be accurately performed.

Abstract: A method for preventing explosions while transporting compressed natural gas by a floating vessel entails obtaining pressurized high-energy content gas; separating the pressurized product stream into saturated gas and liquids; and removing impurities from the saturated gas. The saturated gas is dehydrated forming a dry pressurized gas that is subsequently cooled forming a two-phase gas. The two-phase gas, natural gas liquid, and condensate are loaded onto a storage element forming a mixture. The storage elements are loaded onto the deck to provide open ventilation of the storage element. The floating vessel transports the storage elements to a desired location at a lower cost than comparable submarine pipeline transport costs for distances of less than about 2500 nautical miles while utilizing the vapor phase during transit to power the floating vessel.