Abstract: Connecting apparatus for placing at least one single fluid flow path in fluid communication with at least two single fluid flow paths of a plurality of single fluid flow paths.

Abstract: A cryogenic vessel features an inner tank containing cryogenic liquid with a head space above and a jacket surrounding the inner tank. An internal pressure builder coil is helically disposed about the inner tank, connected to the jacket and in communication with the bottom of the inner tank. An external pressure building heat exchanger is connected to the internal pressure builder coil and the head space of the inner tank. Liquid from the inner tank flows into the internal pressure builder coil and the exiting fluid is driven by a resulting pumping action to the external pressure building heat exchanger where it is vaporized and warmed. The warmed gas is directed to the head space of the inner tank to rapidly build the pressure therein. Gas may be dispensed directly from the head space of the vessel via an economizer valve. Alternatively, liquid may be withdrawn from the inner tank by a dip tube and vaporized in a vaporizer and dispensed.

Abstract: In a system for detecting overflow of a liquid cryogen storage tank, a differential pressure gauge measures the pressure of the tank at the top and bottom of the tank while liquid cryogen is introduced into the tank. Once the measurement reaches a predetermined amount, the operator terminates the fill. Alternatively, the differential pressure gauge sends a signal to the controller and the controller shuts the valves off. The tank includes an outlet pipe connected to either an audible device or avisual device and a vent stack. The excess cryogen, liquid or vapor, flows out of the tank through the outlet pipe. The audible device whistles when vapor passes through but is silent when the liquid passes through the audible device. This audible device provides a back-up warning which signifies when liquid cryogen is flowing out of the tank so that the operator may shut off the valves.

Abstract: Refrigerants containing HCFC's are replaced with new blends by using R-236fa and R-125, or R-125 with R-245fa, or R-236ea, or R-134a with R-236fa in place of HCFC's. No hardware or oil composition changes are required to maintain temperatures, pressures and capacity substantially unchanged in a refrigeration system.

Abstract: Oxygen and nitrogen are produced by low-temperature separation of air in a rectification system that has a pressure column (4) and a low-pressure column (5). Charging air (1, 3) is introduced into pressure column (4). An oxygen-containing liquid fraction (8, 10) is removed from pressure column (4) and fed into low-pressure column (5). Gaseous nitrogen (17) from low-pressure column (5) is at least partially condensed in a top condenser (7) by indirect heat exchange with an evaporating cooling fluid (15). A nitrogen product stream (19) is removed from low-pressure column (5) and/or pressure column (4). An oxygen product stream (61, 62, 63) is pulled off from low-pressure column (5). The cooling fluid for top condenser (7) of low-pressure column (5) is formed by an intermediate liquid (15) that is drawn off from an intermediate point on low-pressure column (5).

Abstract: A displacement generator (10) has a housing (12) defining a chamber (14) containing an incompressible liquid (15). A port (22) of the housing (12) is closed by a movable member (24). Within the chamber (14), opposing, convex, flexible walls (16.1, 16.2) form an internal modulating chamber (18), which optionally contains a compressible gas. Opposed ends of the walls (16.1, 16.2) can be displaced toward and away from each other by a motion transducer, e.g. a stack of ceramic piezoelectric members (20), respectively to pressurize and depressurize the chamber (14) and thus to displace the member (24) to and fro to form an output of the displacement generator.

Abstract: A method for cooling a process stream in which one of a plurality of open-loop refrigerant streams is cooled by indirect heat exchange with other of the open-loop refrigerant stream in a refrigerant heat exchanger to yield a cooled primary refrigerant stream. The process stream is cooled by indirect heat exchange with a process refrigerant stream in a separate process heat exchanger, wherein the process refrigerant stream comprises at least a portion of the cooled primary refrigerant stream. The method is particularly useful in large process plants which require multiple parallel heat exchangers to cool the process stream.

Abstract: In accordance with this method, air bled from the engine is compressed in a turbocompressor (4) and the air compressed in this way is cooled in an exchanger (3) through which is passed air outside the aircraft, a turbine (5) of the turbocompressor (4) is fed with the air cooled in this way, and the cool air inlet (10) of the cabin is fed with the air leaving the turbine (5). In accordance with the invention, mechanical energy is extracted from the air leaving the cabin (11) of the aircraft and that mechanical energy is injected into the turbocompressor (4). Cooling energy is also extracted from the air leaving the cabin (11) and that cooling energy is injected into the air which is fed to the turbine (5).

Abstract: An air separation plant producing pressurized gaseous oxygen includes at least one column having a bottom reboiler. The column is fed with a stream of air. The bottom reboiler is warmed by a nitrogen-enriched gas compressed in a cold compressor and pumped liquid oxygen is withdrawn from the bottom of the column, pumped and vaporized. The refrigeration for the process is produced by air expansion in a turbine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for disinfecting a microtome and cryostat is provided. The cryostat comprises a chamber, a pump communicating with the chamber, an ozone generator and an ozone destroyer. A microtome is located in the chamber. Oxygen molecules in ambient air are converted to ozone that is injected into the cryostat chamber, disinfecting the chamber and the microtome. After disinfection, the air and ozone present in the chamber is directed to an ozone destroying unit that eliminates any remaining ozone. This eliminates the risk of ozone exposure to nearby operators and minimizes damage to the cryostat and microtome from extended ozone contact.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pump system for delivering cryogenic liquids. Said pump system can be used for refuelling motor vehicles with H2 and consists of a container (1) for receiving the cryogenic liquid. At least one pump (2) is arranged in said container (1) and delivers the cryogenic liquid to a pressure housing (3) which is connected to a user, e.g. a motor vehicle, via an output line (4). The liquid level (m) in the container (1) is automatically maintained by means of a special arrangement of the liquid inlet (i) and the gas recirculating line (j) and by separating the container (1) into two chambers (h and f) which are preferably separated by the pressure housing (3). A secure operating mode of the pump system is thus obtained.

Abstract: Refrigerants containing R-22 are replaced with new blends by using R-125, or R-125 with R-124, or R-218, or R-218 with R-124, in place of R-22. No hardware or oil composition changes are required to maintain temperatures, pressures and capacity substantially unchanged in a refrigeration system.

Abstract: In a single column distillation system for obtaining gaseous and liquid nitrogen with a variable proportions of liquid product by low-temperature separation from air, a first portion (12, 13) of nitrogen-rich fraction (5, 7, 8) is fed downstream of circulation compressor (9) to the liquefaction chamber of a condenser-evaporator (14) associated with the single column and condensed under a pressure higher than the operating pressure of the single column (4). A liquid oxygen-enriched fraction (228, 231) from the distillation column system is at least partially evaporated in the evaporation chamber of condenser-evaporator (14). A portion (18) of nitrogen-rich liquid (15, 16) from condenser-evaporator (14) is drawn off at least at times as liquid product. A second oxygen-enriched gas (221, 521) is removed from one of columns (546) of the distillation system and/or from the evaporation chamber of condenser-evaporator (14), machine expanded(23), and heated in main heat exchanger (2).

Abstract: A compressor (11), a four-way switching valve (12), an outdoor heat exchanger (13), an expansion valve (14) and an indoor heat exchanger (15) are sequentially connected together through gas piping (31) and liquid piping (32), thereby forming a refrigerant circuit (10). The refrigerant circuit (10) is filled with an R32 single refrigerant or an R32/R125 mixed refrigerant containing at least 75% by weight of R32. Synthetic oil is used as refrigerating machine oil. When the rated cooling capacity is 5 kW or less, the liquid piping (32) is formed from piping having an inner diameter of less than 4.75 mm.

Abstract: Method for delivering a vapor component product to an end user from a storage system which contains the component in coexisting liquid and vapor phases. The method comprises withdrawing from the storage system a component stream comprising vapor at a first total pressure and a first temperature, passing the component stream through a transfer line to a reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, and condensing vapor in the reservoir to provide a liquid component at a second total pressure and a second temperature at the outlet of the reservoir. The liquid component is withdrawn from the outlet of the reservoir and vaporized to yield the vapor component, which is provided to the end user. The invention includes apparatus to effect the steps of this method.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring fluid from a vessel includes a pump, a first conduit, and a control means in fluid communication with the pump and having open and closed positions. The first end of the conduit is in fluid communication with the vessel and a second end of the conduit is in fluid communication with an inlet of the pump. The control means alternates between the open and the closed positions, whereby a stream of fluid flows into the pump inlet from the conduit when the control means first alternates to the open position, the control means alternates to the closed position and the fluid vaporizes in the pump thereby forming a vaporized portion of the fluid, and a stream of the vaporized portion of the fluid flows out of a pump outlet when the control means alternates again to the open position.

Abstract: In a regenerator for use in a Stirling cycle based system, a plurality of ribs are formed on a surface of a resin film by applying screen printing thereto using photo-curing ink. The resin film is then wound up to produce three separate regenerator cores of identical size. These three regenerator cores are joined together in the direction of the axes thereof. The ribs on the surface of the resin film are formed at regular intervals and parallel to the axes of the cores.

Abstract: A gas compressor refrigeration system including a chiller for cooling gas, a separator for separating condensate from the gas, and a reheater for heating the gas. The system also includes a closed refrigerant system which passes a charge of refrigerant in series, through a compression unit, then through the reheater in which the refrigerant exchanges heat with the gas, then through a condenser in which the refrigerant exchanges heat with ambient air, and then through the chiller.

Abstract: For obtaining gaseous nitrogen by low-temperature separation from air, a distillation column system has a single column (4). Compressed air (1) is cooled in a main heat exchanger (2) and fed (3) to single column (4). A nitrogen-rich fraction (5, 7, 8) is drawn off from the distillation column system and compressed at least in part in a circulation compressor (9, 1063). A first part (12, 13) of nitrogen-rich fraction (5, 7, 8) is fed downstream from circulation compressor (9) to the liquefaction chamber of a condenser-evaporator (14) and is condensed under a pressure higher than the operating pressure of single column (4), so to form nitrogen-rich liquid (15, 16). A liquid oxygen-enriched fraction (231) from the distillation column system is at least partially evaporated in the evaporation chamber of condenser-evaporator (14). A first oxygen-enriched gas (234, 533) formed in the evaporation chamber of condenser-evaporator (14), is introduced into single column (4).

Abstract: A system and apparatus for condensing boil-off vapor from a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) container are disclosed. A system for condensing vapor includes the steps of providing contact area within a condenser vessel, directing vapor to the condenser vessel, providing a condensing fluid and a pump fluid, directing the condensing fluid to the condenser vessel, varying the flow of the condensing fluid to control the pressure in the vessel, contacting the vapor with the condensing fluid to create a condensate, and combining the condensate and the pump fluid. An apparatus for condensing vapor includes a vessel, a liquified gas input to the vessel, control means on the liquified gas input for varying a first liquified gas stream to control the pressure in the vessel, a vapor input to the vessel, means for condensing vapor in the vessel, and means for combining condensed vapor with a second liquified gas stream.