Abstract: A highly efficient refrigeration system and process for precooling/liquefaction of a hydrogen feed stream and method of turndown of such system is disclosed. The disclosed refrigeration system and associated methods employ a reverse Brayton refrigeration cycle using a nitrogen based refrigerant and a fully integrated three pinion bridge (BriM) machine operatively coupling at least two turbine/expanders and at least four nitrogen refrigerant compression stages. Turndown of the hydrogen precooling and liquefaction process requires removal of nitrogen refrigerant from the refrigeration recycle loop by retaining liquid nitrogen in the phase separator, which is sized to accommodate the bulk of the nitrogen refrigerant used in the refrigeration circuit.

Abstract: A pre-cooling circuit for supplying helium refrigeration to at least one consumer to be cooled, comprising a feed line and a return line which are connected to one another via a refrigerating device, said refrigerating device being designed to exchange heat with the at least one consumer to be cooled; a helium cooling system, which is designed to dissipate heat to the environment, to compress helium flowing back and to feed the compressed helium into the feed line; a first and a second cooling bath container, the feed line running through a first heat exchanger located in a bottom region of the first cooling bath container and subsequently in the direction of the refrigerating device through a second heat exchanger located in a bottom region of the second cooling bath container.

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: The present invention relates to a refrigerant composition. According to the invention it is envisioned that the composition comprises comprising an inert gas selected from nitrogen, argon, neon and a mixture thereof, and a mixture of at least two C1-C5 hydrocarbons. The present invention further relates to the use of the refrigerant composition in a method for liquefying a gaseous substance, particularly hydrogen or helium.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for filling a transport tank with a product medium in a liquid state in a gas liquefaction plant, comprising a step of supplying the product medium in the liquid state from a storage tank (18) of the gas liquefaction plant to the transport tank. The method is characterized in that it further comprises a step of discharging the product medium in a gaseous state from the transport tank into the storage tank (18).

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a cooling method for liquefying a feed gas, comprising the steps of providing a cooling cycle with a refrigerant stream; dividing the refrigerant stream into a first partial stream and a second partial stream; expanding the first partial stream in a first expansion device; and transferring cooling energy from the expanded first partial stream to a feed gas stream to be cooled, particularly comprising hydrogen and/or helium. Further the method comprises the steps of guiding the expanded first partial stream to a suction inlet of an ejector; and guiding the second partial stream to a propellant inlet of the ejector such that, upon expanding the second partial stream in the ejector, the expanded first partial stream is compressed and merged with the expanded second partial stream.

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: The present invention relates to a method for liquefying hydrogen, the method comprises the steps of: cooling a feed gas stream comprising hydrogen with a pressure of at least 15 bar(a) to a temperature below the critical temperature of hydrogen in a first cooling step yielding a liquid product stream. According to the invention, the feed gas stream is cooled by a closed first cooling cycle with a high pressure first refrigerant stream comprising hydrogen, wherein the high pressure first refrigerant stream is separated into at least two partial streams, a first partial stream is expanded to low pressure, thereby producing cold to cool the precooled feed gas below the critical pressure of hydrogen, and compressed to a medium pressure, and wherein a second partial stream is expanded at least close to the medium pressure and guided into the medium pressure first partial stream.

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: The present invention relates to a refrigerant composition comprising neon and hydrogen. The present invention further relates to the use of the refrigerant composition in liquefying gaseous substances such as hydrogen or helium.

Abstract: A method of cooling a process stream with an auxiliary stream is described, wherein the exchange of heat between the process stream and the auxiliary stream is effected in a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger connected downstream thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for liquefying hydrogen, the method comprises the steps of: cooling a feed gas stream comprising hydrogen with a pressure of at least 15 bar(a) to a temperature below the critical temperature of hydrogen in a first cooling step yielding a liquid product stream. According to the invention, the feed gas stream is cooled by a closed first cooling cycle with a high pressure first refrigerant stream comprising hydrogen, wherein the high pressure first refrigerant stream is separated into at least two partial streams, a first partial stream is expanded to low pressure, thereby producing cold to cool the precooled feed gas below the critical pressure of hydrogen, and compressed to a medium pressure, and wherein a second partial stream is expanded at least close to the medium pressure and guided into the medium pressure first partial stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerant composition. According to the invention it is envisioned that the composition comprises comprising an inert gas selected from nitrogen, argon, neon and a mixture thereof, and a mixture of at least two C1-C5 hydrocarbons. The present invention further relates to the use of the refrigerant composition in a method for liquefying a gaseous substance, particularly hydrogen or helium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerant composition comprising neon and hydrogen. The present invention further relates to the use of the refrigerant composition in liquefying gaseous substances such as hydrogen or helium.

Abstract: A method of cooling a process stream with an auxiliary stream is described, wherein the exchange of heat between the process stream and the auxiliary stream is effected in a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger connected downstream thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling unit for cooling a load having a refrigeration circuit, at least one compressor for compressing a refrigerant that circulates in the refrigeration circuit, several heat exchangers, in which the refrigerant is cooled against itself, and two expansion devices that operate at different temperature levels, in which, at least temporarily, at least one partial stream of the refrigerant is expanded to produce cold. At least one additional expansion device is provided. The latter is connected to the refrigeration circuit in such a way that the refrigerant that can be, at least temporarily, at least partially expanded in the additional expansion device to produce cold.

Abstract: An expansion turbine, exhibiting at least one turbine rotor that is mounted on an axial bearing, wherein an axial disk (2l) of the axial bearing is configured in the shape of an axial bearing spindle. The axial disk (2l) is preferably positioned substantially in the middle of the overall length of the turbine shaft (1).