Abstract: Systems and methods for regulating, for example, the temperature of high temperature superconducting (HTSC) thin film filters. A multi-stage temperature controller comprises a first loop and a second loop. The first loop is used to regulate the cold finger temperature of, for example, a Stirling cycle cryocooler, and the second loop is used to set a reference for the first loop based upon a comparison between a reference signal and a signal received from a cold stage temperature sensor. A filter loop also may be used to regulate the temperature of independent HTSC thin film filter carrier packages.

Abstract: A system, such as a gap drying system, moves a substrate having a substrate tension over a curved plate at a substrate speed such that the substrate floats over at least a region of substantially constant clearance (H0) between the substrate and the curved plate. H0 is controlled without adjusting the substrate speed and without adjusting the substrate tension.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for liquefying natural gas to produce a pressurized liquid product having a temperature above −112° C. using two mixed refrigerants in two closed cycles, a low-level refrigerant to cool and liquefy the natural gas and a high-level refrigerant to cool the low-level refrigerant. After being used to liquefy the natural gas, the low-level refrigerant is (a) warmed by heat exchange in countercurrent relationship with another stream of the low-level refrigerant and by heat exchange against a first stream of the high-level refrigerant, (b) compressed to an elevated pressure, and (c) aftercooled against an external cooling fluid. The low-level refrigerant is then cooled by heat exchange against a second stream of the high-level mixed refrigerant and by exchange against the low-level refrigerant. The high-level refrigerant is warmed by the heat exchange with the low-level refrigerant, compressed to an elevated pressure, and aftercooled against an external cooling fluid.

Abstract: A process for purifying a cryogenic fluid, especially argon, helium or oxygen, containing N2O, CnHm or NOx impurities, in which the impurities are removed by bringing the cryogenic fluid to be purified into contact with particles of an adsorbent having an average size of less than or equal to 1.5 mm, preferably from 0.8 mm to 1.1 mm. A purified cryogenic fluid is then recovered which contains less than 100 ppb of impurities, preferably less than 10 ppb of impurities. This process can be used for producing ultrapure gases intended especially for the electronics field.

Abstract: A device for increasing pressure in a storage container for cryogenic liquids comprises a housing within a storage container, the housing having at least one intake opening for liquid and, inside, a heating device for evaporating liquid. A vapor line is arranged in the upper third of the housing to remove the vapor bubbles that are produced during evaporation. The cross-section of the vapor line is large so that when the device is operated, more vapor than liquid, preferably only vapor, exhausts through the vapor line.

Abstract: A method for transporting cold latent-heat which comprises contacting a source of cold latent-heat with a liquid-liquid clathrate capable of crystallization when an onium salt having a C4H9 group and an iso-C5H11 group is included as a guest into basket-like inclusion clathrate lattices including water molecules.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing from a pressurized methane-rich gas stream a pressurized methane-rich liquid stream having a temperature above −112° C. (−170° F.) and having a pressure sufficient for the liquid to be at or below its bubble point. In this process, a methane-rich liquid stream having a temperature below about −155° C. (−247° F.) is supplied and its pressure is increased. A pressurized methane-rich gas to be liquefied is supplied and introduced to the pressurized methane-rich liquid stream at a rate that produces a methane-rich liquid stream having a temperature above −112° C. (−170° F.) and a pressure sufficient for the liquid to be at or below its bubble point.

Abstract: A plant for the treatment of food product. The plant comprises an apparatus for cooling food products by bringing the products into contact with a cryogenic fluid, a conveyor for introducing the products into the apparatus and for extracting the products from the apparatus, and a detector which determines at least one of (i) a value representative of the quality and (ii) the quantity of products treated by the apparatus.

Abstract: An acoustic refrigeration apparatus includes an acoustic wave generation device arranged directed to the channel of a hollow annular tube, and a regenerator provided at a predetermined position in the channel of the annular tube. A temperature gradient is obtained across the regenerator by an acoustic wave emitted from the acoustic wave generation device. Therefore, an acoustic refrigeration apparatus realizing a gas cycle approximating the Carnot cycle which is an ideal gas cycle, and realizing simplification of the structure and high efficiency of the apparatus is provided.

Abstract: A portable device for wearing by a user and removing deposits from a surface. The device includes a first portion for delivering a fluid that is a cryogen and a second portion for overlying and dispensing the fluid onto and removing the deposits from the surface. The first portion includes a pole for hand-holding, a fitting that fluidly engages in the pole, a first valve that fluidly engages the fitting, a hose that fluidly engages the first valve, a second valve that fluidly engages the hose, a portable tank that fluidly engages the second valve and which contains the fluid which flows through the second valve when opened, through the hose, to the first valve, which when opened, allows the fluid to flow into the fitting and into the pole, and a harness that is operatively connected to the portable tank for attaching the portable tank to the back of the user or to the pole during use.

Abstract: A fluid compression system includes a plurality of compressors, each compressor having a local controller for controlling operation thereof and a sensor for sensing the pressure of compressed fluid discharged therefrom. A method for controlling operation of the fluid compression system includes establishing a set point pressure threshold for loading and unloading each compressor, and assigning a ranking to each compressor for identifying a highest ranked compressor and a lowest ranked compressor, whereby the highest ranked compressor for the compression system initiates all commands for controlling all of the lower ranked compressors in the compression system.

Abstract: A cold pack 10 made in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes a container 18. Disposed within the container 18 is a first endotherm-producing chemical 15. Also disposed within the container 18 is a solvent packet 13 and a chemical packet 11. Second endotherm-producing chemical 43 is disposed in the chemical packet 11. First endotherm-producing chemical 15, the solvent packet 13 and the chemical packet 11 are collectively components of the cold pack. Preferably the container 18 is sealed so as to surround and encase the components of the cold pack 10. The first endotherm-producing chemical 15 and the second endotherm-producing chemical 43 are selected to be different. Both the first endotherm-producing chemical 15 and the second endotherm-producing chemical 43 may be selected from among those compounds with a positive enthalpy of solution (&Dgr;sol/H°, kJ/mol) and which produce a reduced temperature of solution that is greater than 10° F.

Abstract: A method for forming a mating piston and cylinder sleeve wherein the piston includes an outer diameter and a cylinder sleeve includes a bore for receiving the piston therein and wherein the piston outer diameter and the bore each form bearing surfaces having a gas film maintained in a gap therebetween. The method includes the steps of coating the piston outer diameter with a layer of PTFE based composite material and then diamond turning the piston outer diameter to a final piston diameter. The cylinder wall is also coated with a PTFE based composite layer which may be deposited by an electroless nickel plating process. The cylinder longitudinal bore is then diamond turned to a cylinder final diameter for mating with the piston final diameter.

Abstract: A rectangular double walled cryogenic freezer has a vacuum space filled with layers of a reflective material. The support material is an open-celled three dimensional geometric grid that provides structural support for the freezer walls to prevent wall deformation when a vacuum is drawn.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a liquefier for the production of liquid air with an oxygen content of between 16 and 21 mol % in a low-temperature process, whereby atmospheric air is used as a feed gas; in a warm part of the process, H2O, carbon dioxide and contaminants entrained in the air are removed in a purification step, e.g. adsorption; cold is produced by compression and engine expansion of process streams. Liquid air is obtained as a liquid head product in a cold part of the process by low-temperature rectification in a column having less than four theoretical plates. In addition, a liquid bottoms product is obtained in the rectification, used exergetically and vented as a warm residual gas into the atmosphere or used at least partially in the purification step.

Abstract: Ergonomic systems which provide medical therapy, comfort and enhanced function are provided. Surfaces are provided with adjustable contour, transient force damping and temperature. The technologies are applied to footwear, seating surfaces an cryotherapy devices. The cooling and cryotherapy system employ an evaporator in close proximity to skin, and therefore employ methods to reduce risk of frostbite. Advanced control and power supply options are disclosed.

Abstract: A curing apparatus comprises a curing chamber for accommodating a controlled atmosphere for a product being treated and an irradiator for providing radiation directed at the product. The curing chamber has spaced inlet and outlet openings for the product establishing a path of travel underneath the irradiator. First and second nozzle assemblies are disposed adjacent respective inlet and outlet openings for supplying inert gas into the chamber and maintaining an inert atmosphere within the chamber. The nozzle assemblies are removably secured to the chamber. A pre-chamber is provided in the nozzle assemblies to moderate the pressure distribution of the gas within the nozzle assemblies.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for processing effluent gases from vacuum fabrication processes. The effluent gases are condensed on cold surfaces (512 and 514) inside a novel pump (220) resulting in a high vacuum. The pump (220) can be connected to a vacuum fabrication processing chamber (210) and to a turbo molecular pump (275). The condensate which is formed on the cold surfaces of the pump (220) is subsequently evaporated to form regenerated gases during the regeneration of the pump. A pressure vessel (280) is removably connected to the pump during regeneration, causing the regenerated gases to fill the pump and the pressure vessel at pressures ranging from about 10,343 torr (200 psi) to about 103,430 torr ( 2,000 psi). The pressure vessel is closed when substantially all condensate has evaporated. The vessel containing regenerated gases can then be connected to an on-site or to a remote gas treatment facility for removal of noxious substances.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improving the after-cooling process of preforms from the injection molding process in respect to its efficiency and its economy.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of refrigeration purification and power generation of industrial gas and apparatus therefor. The apparatus is comprised of two parts, the front part of which is constituted by a multi-stage phase changeable refrigeration cycle of pure-phase changeable non-heat refrigeration technique for effectively obtaining cool quantity; the rear part of which makes use of the feature that the toxic and harmful gas in the waste gas has the higher boiling point than clean gas, the waste gas is firstly condensed and liquefied to be separated; the liquefied clean gas and the liquid refrigeration medium of the last stage absorb heat from waste gas in order to be evaporated into steam to drive expansion turbine groups respectively to work, while collecting a mechanical power in a negative compression region and adding a mechanical energy loss of initial cooled waste gas during compression.