Abstract: Self-contained closed-loop cooling systems and related methods for rapidly cooling individual beverage containers of different sizes to a suitable target temperature, in the range of 35° F. to 50° F. Each system includes a chiller, a coolant circuit with a hyper-chilled supply reservoir, a refrigerant circuit for cooling the reservoir, and an electronic controller to operate the system upon operator command. The chiller is preferably formed like a barrel, with a cylindrical array of hollow chill elements arranged about a cylindrical area into which a beverage container, such as beverage bottle or can is placed. Then, very cold coolant from the coolant supply is pumped through the array of chill elements to rapidly cool the beverage container, which makes physical contact with the hyper-chilled elements, which are thus excellent heat absorbers. The chill elements are preferably separated from one another by keystone spacers, and are flexibly held in place with a plurality of coil springs.

Abstract: A pulse tube refrigerator includes a compressor, an after-cooler, a regenerating unit, a pulse tube, an inertance tube, a reservoir, and a vibration absorbing unit which are structured such that vibrations during motor operation are minimized. The vibration absorbing unit is attached with the compressor and is positioned within the reservoir, and has a fixed shaft having one end attached with a housing of the compressor, a plurality of spring plates attached to another end of the fixed shaft, and a mass body attached with the spring plates.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating carbon monoxide and hydrogen from a gaseous mixture thereof. The process comprises separating a cooled and partially condensed stream of feed gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen into hydrogen-rich vapor and carbon monoxide-rich liquid. A portion of the carbon monoxide-rich liquid is at least partially stripped of hydrogen in a hydrogen stripping column, having an operating pressure below the feed pressure to produce hydrogen-stripped carbon monoxide liquid and hydrogen-enriched carbon monoxide vapor. A further portion of the carbon monoxide-rich liquid or a stream derived therefrom is vaporized to provide refrigeration for the feed gas. The vaporized carbon monoxide-rich liquid is compressed in a compressor to below the feed pressure, cooled and partially condensed by heat exchange and at least a portion is recycled to the hydrogen stripping column.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a shaft 2, a ball-shaped balloon 1 twisted in the form of a screw and mounted on the head of the shaft 2, and a two-way stop cock 5 connected through connection tube 4 with hub 3 on the proximal end of the shaft 2. Injection opening 6 for physiological saline is arranged on the proximal end of the two-way stopcock 5 in order to inflate the balloon. The balloon catheter in the present invention, of which the balloon is of a small diameter during deflation and for which a thinner sheath introducer can be used, can readily occlude a blood vessel.

Abstract: A secondary loop refrigeration system includes plural refrigeration zones serially connected in a secondary cooling loop using a R-134a as a liquid refrigerant in increasing order of operating temperatures, the secondary cooling loop being in heat exchange relationship with a primary cooling loop using direct expansion refrigerants. The primary cooling loop may be selectively isolated allowing the latent heat of the units in the zones to increase the circulating temperature of the secondary refrigerant sufficient to defrost the cooling coils.

Abstract: In the method and apparatus of this invention a wafer for manufacturing semiconductor devices is held by a vortex-type substrate holder against a moveable frame during processing. Motion of the wafer is controlled with movement of the frame. The frame is shaped to provide a sealed chamber through which gas that is used to create the vortices is also re-captured. With such sealed chamber a higher heat conducting but more expensive gas can be recycled and used for the vortex holder and cooling of the wafer. In another technique of this invention, damage of the wafer edges from impacts with position limiters is avoided by inserting a small physical off-set of the center of mass of the wafer relative to that of the frame used to rotate the wafer. This prevents sliding of the wafer within the holder. In another feature of the invention end effects during treatment of the wafer are avoided by providing an extension around the wafer.

Abstract: A cooling system to reduce damage resulting from panel singulation is provided. A panel may be formed by encapsulating a lead frame with mounted dice. The encapsulating material may be a composite, plastic, or ceramic. Singulation may be a cutting done by laser, water jet, or saw. A chiller system cools a fluid, such as water, to a temperature below 16° C. The cooled fluid is dispensed to a part of the panel being singulated. For example, if a circular saw is used to cut the panel, a plurality of nozzles may be used to direct the fluid to the part of the saw cutting the panel, which defines the part of the panel being singulated. The cooled fluid, cools the panel preventing burring, smearing, and melting of metal contacts.

Abstract: In a process for refrigeration in the 65 to 150 K temperature range, in which the refrigerant is compressed using an oil-lubricated compressor, then cooled to ambient temperature and then oil is removed from the refrigerant before the refrigerant is fed to a Joule Thomson heat exchanger, the refrigerant is additionally cooled after it has been cooled to ambient temperature and before it enters the Joule Thomson heat exchanger. In a device for refrigeration in the 65 to 150 K temperature range, which has an oil-lubricated compressor for compressing a refrigerant, an aftercooler connected downstream for cooling the refrigerant to ambient temperature, a device following on from this for removing oil from the refrigerant and a Joule Thomson countercurrent heat exchanger connected downstream of the device for removing the oil, an oil condenser is arranged between the aftercooler and the Joule Thomson countercurrent heat exchanger.

Abstract: A rotary valve unit in a pulse tube refrigerator is quiet, and has high durability and improved refrigeration efficiency by restricting the generation of unidirectional flow. A center hole is formed on a sliding plane side as a recessed space in the sliding surfaces between the sliding plane and another sliding plane. Since the second center hole is in communication with a low pressure input port via a communication passage, the leakage between the sliding surfaces of the sliding planes can be introduced to the low pressure input port with low pressure.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system comprising three columns wherein high purity oxygen is produced in the third column which is fed from at least one of the first and second columns, which do not share a common condenser/reboiler, and reboiled using feed air or first column top vapor.

Abstract: Insertion holes (3c, 4e) into which a connection pipe (9) are inserted are formed from a casing (3) to a cylinder (4). The connection pipe (9) has a flange (9a) formed on the outer periphery at a set distance from the end of the connection pipe (9). With the flange (9a) in contact with the wall outer surface of the casing (3), the end part of the connection pipe (9) is inserted into the insertion holes (3c, 4e). Between the flange (9a) and the wall outer surface of the casing (3), an O-ring (01) is fit so as to surround an internal passage (9f) of the connection pipe (9). Another O-ring (02) is fit between the end part of the connection pipe (9) and the insertion hole (4e) of the cylinder (4).

Abstract: A cryogenic vacuum pump includes, in an integral assembly, temperature sensors and heaters associated with the first and second stages of the cryopumping array, a roughing valve and a purge valve. An electronic module removably coupled in the assembly responds to all sensors and controls all operations of the cryopump including regeneration thereof. System parameters are stored in a nonvolatile memory in the module. Included in the regeneration procedures are an auto-zero of the pressure gauge, heating of the array throughout rough pumping, and a change in pressure rate test to determine stall in rough pumping. The electronic module also restarts the system after power failure, limits use of a pressure gauge to safe conditions, provides warnings before allowing opening of the valves while the cryopump is operating and stores sensor calibration information. Control through a control pad on the pump may be limited by a password requirement. Password override is also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling the composition of the atmosphere within a refrigerated container during the storage and/or transportation of perishable and/or respiring produce in which carbon dioxide and ethylene (and other evolved hydrocarbons) are removed from the container atmosphere by adsorption, the adsorptive materials being regenerated with ambient air.

Abstract: A cryogenic vessel system for containing cryogenic fluid wherein refrigeration is generated by applying and withdrawing a magnetic field to a bed of magnetizable particles, and the refrigeration is provided to the vessel interior to counteract heat leak into the vessel.

Abstract: The invention is directed to novel cryogenic liquid transport and storage containers, which utilize external coolant tanks to supply cooling to a cryogenic liquid storage tank. The coolant tanks are mounted above the cryogenic liquid storage tank such that the length of the cryogenic liquid storage tank is capable of extending the entire length of the transport container.

Abstract: A process for liquefaction of and nitrogen extraction from natural gas, an installation for implementation of the process, and gases obtained by this process. In the process, a first top fraction is cooled and liquefied, separated into a second top fraction which is relatively volatile and which provides gaseous nitrogen, and into a second bottom fraction which is withdrawn. The first bottom fraction is cooled in order to provide liquefied natural gas essentially free nitrogen.

Abstract: An air conditioning system and method are provided for use in an aircraft having a pressurized area and an unpressurized area. The air conditioning system includes an air conditioning pack located in the unpressurized area of the aircraft that conditions fresh air. The air conditioning system also includes a first air duct for directing a flow of recirculation air from the pressurized area, through a pressure bulkhead, and into the unpressurized area. A mixer is also provided and advantageously positioned in the unpressurized area for mixing the conditioned air from the air conditioning pack and the recirculation air from the pressurized area. Advantageously, the mixer obviates the need for a mix manifold and saves valuable space for passengers, cargo, and other aircraft equipment. The air conditioning system also includes a second air duct that directs the mixture of conditioned air and recirculation air from the mixer to the pressurized area of the aircraft.

Abstract: A process for partial liquefaction of a fluid G at least partially formed from hydrocarbons simultaneously produces: a fraction that is liquid after expansion; a gas fraction representing at least 10% by weight, which can either be re-injected or used to produce electricity; and comprises at least two refrigeration steps during which: in the first step a), the essentially gaseous fluid G is cooled using an external refrigerant M such that at the end of said first step, it is at least partially liquid at the operating pressure; and in the second step b), liquefaction of said fluid G is completed if necessary and said fluid G is sub-cooled, using a portion of the same fluid G, said portion being thus expanded and vaporised to produce the cooling necessary to recover the other portion of said fluid G that is completely liquid at the storage pressure.

Abstract: A system achieving a high density of transported natural gas by compressing it to high pressures typically above 5 MPa to transport the gas in a modified composition that permits a very low compressibility factor at near ambient temperature either above or below. This reduces greatly the size of the cooling systems that are required. In some cases cooling of the compressed gas may be achieved in a simple heat exchanger cooled by air or water. The transport of the gas takes place in self propelled ships or non-self propelled barges fitted with a cargo containment system capable of storing the cargo at high pressures, typically above 5 MPa and usually not above 25 MPa. The transport vessel may carry a store of higher molecular weight gases (c2 through c7) that when mixed with the incoming cargo results in a molecular weight of the mixture of at least 22 and possibly as high as 28 or higher.

Abstract: Systems and methods for regulating, for example, the temperature of high temperature superconducting (HTSC) thin film filters used in connection with a Stirling cycle cryocooler. The system employs a digital signal processor-based control system. The system includes a cryocooler drive control loop for controlling the cryocooler drive in response to a measured cryocooler driving current and a cryocooler driving current set point. The system also includes a temperature control loop for generating the cryocooler driving current set point in response to either a cooldown profile algorithm or a comparison between a measured temperature and a set point temperature stored in DSP memory.