Abstract: The invention relates to a method for low-temperature cooling/liquefaction of a working fluid, in particular a working fluid including helium or consisting of pure helium by means of a refrigerator/liquefier that includes a working circuit provided with a compressor station and a cold box. The refrigerator/liquefier subjects the working gas within the working circuit to a cycle that includes, in series: compressing the working fluid within the compressor station, cooling and decompressing the working fluid in the cold box, and heating the working fluid with a view to the return thereof to the compressor station. The compressor station includes one or more compression levels, each one using one or more compressors mounted on landings.

Abstract: The invention concerns a distillation column (1) comprising means (21) for conveying at least one mixture to be distilled to the column, means (23) for drawing at least one fluid enriched in one constituent of the mixture from the column, inside the column, an evaporator-condenser (3) and means (25) for conveying a gas to be condensed and a liquid to be evaporated to the evaporator-condenser as well as means for removing the condensed gas and the evaporated liquid, at least one module of packing materials (5) located above the evaporator-condenser and at least one firebreak barrier (7A, 7B, 7C) between the evaporator-condenser and the module of packing materials.