Abstract: The invention provides a method for recovering 3-Helium (3He) from natural Helium (He), comprising the following steps: supplying the feed stream comprising natural liquid helium from an appropriate liquid helium source; introducing a feed stream into a rectification column system; condensing at least a first portion of a vapour stream comprising 3He enriched Helium in the intermediate section of the rectification system, condensing at least a second portion of a vapour stream comprising 3He enriched Helium in the upper section of the rectification system by heat exchange with colder liquid Helium; merging and compressing of the low-pressure vaporous streams; withdrawing an overhead stream comprising 3He enriched Helium from a top section of the rectification system as a product; withdrawing a bottom stream comprising 3He depleted Helium from a bottom section of the rectification system; withdrawing of a vaporous helium stream from the lower part of the rectification system.

Abstract: Method and Apparatus for separating at least one CO isotope compound, especially isotope compound 13C16O, from natural CO, comprising: a rectification column system (110) comprising a plurality of rectification sections (112,114,116,118,120) arranged adjacent to one another in a chain-like manner, including an upper rectification section (112) and a plurality of lower rectification sections (114,116,118,120), each rectification section comprising a heating means (112a,114a,116a,118a,120a) to maintain evaporation of liquid present therein, provided that the heating means (112a) of the at least one of the plurality of rectification sections (112) is provided to comprise a heat pump cycle (112b).

Abstract: A method is provided for producing carbon dioxide by combusting a carbonaceous fuel with oxygen or with a gas mixture containing more than 25 mol % of oxygen obtaining a flue gas mixture, wherein the flue gas mixture is processed obtaining a secondary gas mixture containing carbon dioxide and oxygen, and wherein a part of the oxygen contained in the secondary gas mixture is catalytically reacted with a first auxiliary fuel in a reactor system comprising a series of multiple reactors, obtaining further carbon dioxide and water. A further part of the oxygen contained in the secondary gas mixture is catalytically reacted with a second auxiliary fuel in the reactor system. A corresponding apparatus is also described herein.

Abstract: Method and Apparatus for separating at least one CO isotope compound, especially isotope compound 13C16O, from natural CO, comprising: a rectification column system (110) comprising a plurality of rectification sections (112,114,116,118,120) arranged adjacent to one another in a chain-like manner, including an upper rectification section (112) and a plurality of lower rectification sections (114,116,118,120), each rectification section comprising a heating means (112a,114a,116a,118a,120a) to maintain evaporation of liquid present therein, provided that the heating means (112a) of the at least one of the plurality of rectification sections (112) is provided to comprise a heat pump cycle (112b).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cooling a superconducting cable (1) using a coolant containing or consisting of liquid nitrogen, wherein at least a part of the coolant is subjected to a subcooling step and thereafter brought into thermal contact with the superconducting cable (1) in a cooling cycle, wherein said subcooling step is at least in part performed using a refrigerant provided in a Brayton process in which at least a part of the refrigerant is cooled and heated in a main heat exchanger (11). According to the present invention, a part of the coolant is withdrawn from the cooling cycle and heated in the same main heat exchanger (11) in which at least a part of the refrigerant is cooled and heated in the Brayton process. A corresponding device and a corresponding system are also part of the present invention.

Abstract: A cryogenic refrigeration system and a corresponding method for increasing the cooling efficiency of the system, preferably the cooling of a thermally coupled load. Accordingly, the system comprises a supply means for providing a supply flow of a cryogenic refrigerant, a compressor fluidly coupled to said supply means and configured to compress the supplied cryogenic refrigerant, and a cold box fluidly coupled to the compressor, said cold box comprising a first expansion device and a first heat exchanger, wherein the first expansion device is configured to receive the compressed cryogenic refrigerant from the compressor and expand it and provide the expanded refrigerant to the first heat exchanger, and wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to be thermally coupled to a load. The system furthermore comprises a second heat exchanger arranged in the cold box comprising at least a first and second heat exchanging section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling a load using liquid nitrogen conveyed in a circuit are provided. Cooled liquid nitrogen is used for cooling the liquid nitrogen conveyed in the circuit. A first proportion of the liquid nitrogen is cooled in an open cooling system and a second proportion is cooled in a closed cooling system using one or more cooling units. The open cooling system and closed cooling system are used for cooling of a power supply having a first end and a second end. The open cooling system is arranged at the first end and the closed cooling system is arranged at the second end. Cooling power is provided in a first time period as a first, smaller amount of total cooling power and in a second time period as a second, higher amount of total cooling power. A first proportion of the amount of total cooling power is provided by means of the open cooling system and a second proportion is provided by means of the closed cooling system.

Abstract: Cooling system, preferably adapted for use in or including a refrigeration plant and/or liquefier plant, having a refrigeration circuit (1) configured to use a refrigerant including a mixture of helium and neon; wherein the refrigerant is based on a raw mixture, preferably is the raw mixture, including helium and neon, extracted from air by an air separation plant (2). Method for producing a refrigerant usable in a refrigeration circuit (1), comprising: extracting a raw mixture including helium and neon from air, wherein the raw mixture preferably further includes nitrogen and hydrogen; and using the raw mixture as the refrigerant or obtaining the refrigerant from the raw mixture.

Abstract: Integration of an oxyfuel combustion boiler at elevated pressures and a heat exchanger is achieved to produce carbon dioxide by feeding flue gas comprising carbon dioxide and water from the oxyfuel combustion boiler to a direct contact cooler column wherein water is condensed at a temperature of 0 to 10° C. lower than its dew point; feeding a portion of the condensed water from the direct contact cooler column to the oxyfuel combustion boiler; feeding a portion of the carbon dioxide from the direct contact cooler column to the oxyfuel combustion boiler; and recovering a portion of the carbon dioxide from the direct contact cooler column.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing carbon dioxide by combusting a carbonaceous fuel with a oxygen or with a gas mixture containing more than 25 mol % of oxygen obtaining a flue gas mixture, wherein the flue gas mixture is processed obtaining a secondary gas mixture containing carbon dioxide and oxygen, and wherein a part of the oxygen contained in the secondary gas mixture is catalytically reacted with a first auxiliary fuel in a reactor system comprising a series of multiple reactors, obtaining further carbon dioxide and water. A further part of the oxygen contained in the secondary gas mixture is catalytically reacted with a second auxiliary fuel in the reactor system. A corresponding apparatus is also described herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling a load using liquid nitrogen conveyed in a circuit are provided. Cooled liquid nitrogen is used for cooling the liquid nitrogen conveyed in the circuit. A first proportion of the liquid nitrogen is cooled in an open cooling system and a second proportion is cooled in a closed cooling system using one or more cooling units. The open cooling system and closed cooling system are used for cooling of a power supply having a first end and a second end. The open cooling system is arranged at the first end and the closed cooling system is arranged at the second end. Cooling power is provided in a first time period as a first, smaller amount of total cooling power and in a second time period as a second, higher amount of total cooling power. A first proportion of the amount of total cooling power is provided by means of the open cooling system and a second proportion is provided by means of the closed cooling system.

Abstract: The method and the device arc used for the cryogenic decomposition of air in a distillation column system for separating nitrogen and oxygen, said system having a first high-pressure column (23), a low-pressure column (25, 26), and three condenser-evaporators, namely a high-pressure column head condenser (27), a low-pressure column bottom evaporator (28), and an auxiliary condenser (29; 228).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for generating two purified partial air streams under different pressures. A total air stream (1) is compressed to a first total air pressure. The compressed total air stream (5) is cooled with cooling water under the first total air pressure by way of heat exchange (4, 6). The heat exchange with cooling water for cooling the total air stream (5) is carried out as a direct heat exchange in a first direct contact cooler (6), at least in part. The cooled total air stream (9) is divided into a first partial air stream (10) and a second partial air stream (11). The first partial air stream (10) is purified in a first purification device (18) under the first total air pressure, generating the first purified partial air stream (19). The second partial air stream (11) is re-compressed to a higher pressure (12), which is higher than the first total air pressure.

Abstract: A method for producing electrical energy in a combined energy generation plant which comprises an air treatment unit and a power station unit is proposed. In a first operating mode, air is liquefied to form an air liquefaction product and, in a second operating mode, an air liquefaction product is converted into a gaseous or supercritical state, in which said product is introduced into the power station unit and is used for producing electrical energy. In a third operating mode, air is condensed in the air treatment unit and used in the power station unit directly for producing electrical energy. It is envisaged that, in the first operating mode, the air is cooled to several temperature levels by two liquid coolants and the air liquefaction product is correspondingly heated. In addition, in the first operating mode, the air is condensed stepwise over several pressure levels.

Abstract: Integration of an oxyfuel combustion boiler at elevated pressures and a heat exchanger is achieved to produce carbon dioxide by feeding flue gas comprising carbon dioxide and water from the oxyfuel combustion boiler to a direct contact cooler column wherein water is condensed at a temperature of 0 to 10° C. lower than its dew point; feeding a portion of the condensed water from the direct contact cooler column to the oxyfuel combustion boiler; feeding a portion of the carbon dioxide from the direct contact cooler column to the oxyfuel combustion boiler; and recovering a portion of the carbon dioxide from the direct contact cooler column.

Abstract: The microscope for monitoring objects after nano-cutting and for investigating structures of macro- and micro-carriers under low temperature comprises a punch having a cutting edge, drives driving the punch along two axes, a platform rotatable in a plane, a piezo-scanner for recording a sample image along three axes, a holder with a carrier of the sample, and a probe unit to which a probe is fastened. The piezo-scanner is fastened to the platform, the punch is able to interact with the sample, and the probe unit is mounted on the platform so as to be movable along one of the axes. The assembly includes a module for mechanical action on the cutting edge of the punch to modify the cutting surface, which module is fastened to the same platform to which the piezo-scanner with the object carrier and the probe unit are fastened.

Abstract: An oxyfuel power plant having improved efficiency of operation by the provision of at least two condensation units, the first being a warmer operating direct contact cooler and the second being a colder operating direct contact cooler. Each apparatus is loaded with a different quantity of water, with the warmer direct contact cooler having two to three times the amount of water that is in the colder direct contact cooler.

Abstract: A method of integrating energy into a power cycle during production of carbon dioxide using the steps of a) combusting a fuel and oxygen in a reactor to produce a mixture of carbon dioxide and water, and form a heat of reaction; b) capturing the heat of reaction; c) converting the heat of reaction into electrical energy; d) feeding the electrical energy into the power cycle; and e) purifying and recovering carbon dioxide. Alternatively, a method for the production of carbon dioxide and power is disclosed by a) combusting a fuel and oxygen in a reactor to produce a flue gas comprising carbon dioxide and contaminants and a heat of reaction; b) recovering heat from the reactor and producing electricity from the heat; c) integrating the electricity into a power cycle; and d) removing contaminants from the carbon dioxide and recovering purified carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The microscope for monitoring objects after nano-cutting and for investigating structures of macro- and micro-carriers under low temperature comprises a punch having a cutting edge, drives driving the punch along two axes, a platform rotatable in a plane, a piezo-scanner for recording a sample image along three axes, a holder with a carrier of the sample, and a probe unit to which a probe is fastened. The piezo-scanner is fastened to the platform, the punch is able to interact with the sample, and the probe unit is mounted on the platform so as to be movable along one of the axes. The assembly includes a module for mechanical action on the cutting edge of the punch to modify the cutting surface, which module is fastened to the same platform to which the piezo-scanner with the object carrier and the probe unit are fastened.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for generating electrical energy in a combined system consisting of a power plant and an air handling system. The power plant comprises a first gas expansion unit connected to a generator. The air handling system comprises an air compression unit, a heat exchange system, and a fluid tank. In a first operating mode, feed air is compressed in the air compression unit and cooled in the heat exchange system. A storage fluid is generated from the compressed and cooled feed air and is stored as cryogenic fluid in fluid tank. In a second operating mode, cryogenic fluid is removed from fluid tank and is vaporized, or pseudo-vaporized, at superatmospheric pressure. The gaseous high pressure storage fluid generated is expanded in the gas expansion unit. Gaseous natural gas is introduced into the heat exchange system (21) to be liquefied.