The present invention relates to a cryocooler suitable for gas liquefaction applications, that comprises a coldhead (1) with one or more refrigeration stages (2, 3); further comprising: a refrigerator compressor (4) for distributing compressed gas-phase cryogen inside the coldhead (1); a heat exchanging coil (9) arranged at least partially around the external region of the coldhead (1); at least one extraction orifice (8) communicating a gas circulation circuit (5) inside the coldhead (1) with the heat exchanging coil (9); acting said extraction orifice/s (8) as pass-through port/s which allow the gas inside the coldhead (1) to flow through the inside of the heat exchanger coil (9) for exchanging heat with the exterior thereof, and wherein the heat exchanging coil (9) is adapted to connect and redirect the gas to one return port (8) connected to the gas circulation circuit (5). Another object of the invention relates to a cryogen-gas liquefaction system (11) and a method for liquefaction of gases that comprises said system (11).

Various embodiments include an apparatus for liquefying gas comprising: an inlet for a pressurized gas; a countercurrent heat exchanger with a first channel for the pressurized gas to flow in a first direction; an expansion nozzle, such that the pressurized gas flows from the first channel into the nozzle, and flows out to form an aerosol comprising a gaseous phase and liquid droplets; an aerosol breaker separating at least some of the droplets out of the gaseous phase; a collecting region for gathering and collecting droplets dripping off the aerosol breaker; and a second channel of the countercurrent heat exchanger surrounding the first channel. The flow of the gaseous phase out of the expansion nozzle is colder compared to the gas flowing through the second channel in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second channel surrounds the first channel. The apparatus comprises a monolithic structure.

The amount of consumption of gas is reduced when the gas is expanded to be cooled by using a plurality of expansion turbines. A high-pressure expansion turbine includes: a gas supply passage through which bearing gas is supplied to a bearing portion; and a gas discharge passage through which the bearing gas which has been supplied from the gas supply passage to the bearing portion is discharged from the bearing portion. A low-pressure expansion turbine includes: a gas supply passage through which the bearing gas is supplied to a bearing portion; and a gas discharge passage through which the bearing gas which has been supplied from the gas supply passage to the bearing portion is discharged from the bearing portion. The bearing gas discharged from the gas discharge passage of the high-pressure expansion turbine is supplied to the gas supply passage of the low-pressure expansion turbine.

An arrangement comprising at least one liquefaction plant for liquefying a gaseous medium to produce a liquefied medium; and at least one storage tank for storing the liquefied medium. A first transfer line is provided which is connected between the liquefaction plant and the storage tank, for transferring liquefied medium from the liquefaction plant into the storage tank. A second transfer line is connected between the liquefaction plant and the storage tank, for transferring gaseous medium from the storage tank into the liquefaction plant. The second transfer line, which used for transferring medium from the storage tank into the liquefaction plant, is arranged so that it is routed at least partially through the area of the storage tank in which the liquefied medium is stored in use.

A raw material gas liquefying device includes a feed line which feeds a raw material gas, a refrigerant circulation line which circulates a refrigerant, the refrigerant circulation line including an expansion unit of a turbine type which expands the refrigerant to generate cryogenic energy, and an expansion unit entrance valve provided at an entrance side of the expansion unit, a heat exchanger which exchanges heat between the raw material gas and the refrigerant, a cooler which performs initial cooling of the raw material gas and the refrigerant by heat exchange with liquid nitrogen, and a controller which manipulates the opening rate of the expansion unit entrance value and performs a feedback control so that the rotation speed of the expansion unit reaches a predetermined target value, and outputs the opening rate command to the expansion unit entrance valve, at start-up and stop of the expansion unit.

A raw material gas liquefying device includes a feed line; a refrigerant circulation line; and a controller. In a refrigerant liquefaction route, a refrigerant flows through a compressor, a heat exchanger, a circulation system JT valve, a liquefied refrigerant storage tank, and the heat exchanger, and returns to the compressor. In a cryogenic energy generation route, the refrigerant flows through the compressor, the heat exchanger, an expansion unit, and the heat exchanger, and returns to the compressor. The controller determines if a refrigerant storage tank liquid level is within an allowable range, manipulates a feed system JT valve opening rate to control refrigerant temperature at the high-temperature-side refrigerant flow path exit side of the heat exchanger, and manipulates the opening rate of the feed system JT valve to control the refrigerant storage tank liquid level so that the refrigerant storage tank liquid level falls into the predetermined allowable range.

Apparatus and processes for liquefying process gases using multi-stage active magnetic regenerative refrigerators are disclosed. The apparatus and processes can be configured to liquefy process streams that liquefy below .sup.200 K, such as ethane, methane, argon, nitrogen, neon, hydrogen and/or helium process gases. Active magnetic regenerative liquefiers use multiple successive active magnetic regenerator stages, with each stage using a compositionally distinct magnetic refrigerant material having a distinct Curie temperature. In some aspects, the refrigerant material in each successive stage has a Curie temperature of about 20 K-40K different from that of neighboring stages. Heat transfer fluid flows are directed to improve system efficiency.

Cryogenic refrigeration device comprising a working circuit intended to cool a working fluid circulating in the said circuit, the working circuit comprising, arranged in series in a loop: a compression portion, a cooling portion, a portion with valve(s), an expansion portion and a reheating portion, in order to subject the working fluid to a recuperative working cycle comprising compression, then cooling, then expansion and then reheating to prepare for a new cycle, wherein the compression portion comprises at least one compressor having a linear piston driven by a linear motor, the expansion proportion comprises at least one expander with a linear piston, the portion with valve(s) comprises at least one regulating valve linearly actuated by a linear motor and controlled in order to supply or extract the working fluid from the at least one expansion piston.

An arrangement comprising at least one liquefaction plant for liquefying a gaseous medium to produce a liquefied medium; and at least one storage tank for storing the liquefied medium. A first transfer line is provided which is connected between the liquefaction plant and the storage tank, for transferring liquefied medium from the liquefaction plant into the storage tank. A second transfer line is connected between the liquefaction plant and the storage tank, for transferring gaseous medium from the storage tank into the liquefaction plant. The second transfer line, which used for transferring medium from the storage tank into the liquefaction plant, is arranged so that it is routed at least partially through the area of the storage tank in which the liquefied medium is stored in use.

The present invention relates to a cryocooler suitable for gas liquefaction applications, that comprises a coldhead with one or more refrigeration stages; further comprising: a refrigerator compressor for distributing compressed gas-phase cryogen inside the coldhead; a heat exchanging coil arranged at least partially around the external region of the coldhead; at least one extraction orifice communicating a gas circulation circuit inside the coldhead with the heat exchanging coil; acting said extraction orifice/s as pass-through port/s which allow the gas inside the coldhead to flow through the inside of the heat exchanger coil for exchanging heat with the exterior thereof, and wherein the heat exchanging coil is adapted to connect and redirect the gas to one return port connected to the gas circulation circuit. Another object of the invention relates to a cryogen-gas liquefaction system and a method for liquefaction of gases that comprises said system.