An engine-driven cryogenic cooling system for an aircraft includes a first air cycle machine, a second air cycle machine, and a means for condensing a chilled air stream into liquid air for an aircraft use. The first air cycle machine includes a plurality of components operably coupled to a gearbox of a gas turbine engine and configured to produce a cooling air stream based on a first engine bleed source of the gas turbine engine. The second air cycle machine is operable to output the chilled air stream at a cryogenic temperature based on a second engine bleed source cooled by the cooling air stream of the first air cycle machine.

A method for operating a heat exchanger, in which a first operating mode is carried out in first time periods, and a second operating mode is carried out in second time periods that alternate with the first time periods; in the first operating mode a first fluid flow is formed at a first temperature level, is fed into the heat exchanger in a first region at the first temperature level, and is partially or completely cooled in the heat exchanger; in the first operating mode a second fluid flow is formed at a second temperature level, is fed into the heat exchanger in a second region at the second temperature level, and is partially or completely heated in the heat exchanger. A corresponding arrangement and a system with such an arrangement are also covered by the present invention.

The present invention provides a high efficiency prime mover with phase change energy storage for distributed generation and motor vehicle application. Phase change storage minimizes energy required for refrigerant liquefaction while reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

Apparatus, systems, and methods use cryogenic liquids such as, for example, liquefied natural gas and liquefied air or liquefied air components to store thermal energy. The cryogenic liquids may be produced using electrically powered liquefaction methods, for example, using excess electric power during periods of over-generation on the electric grid.

Enhancements to a dual column, nitrogen producing cryogenic air separation unit are provided. Such enhancements include an improved air separation cycle that uses multiple condenser-reboilers and recycles a portion of the vapor from one or more of the condenser-reboilers to the incoming feed stream and or the compressed purified air streams to yield improvements in such dual column, nitrogen producing cryogenic air separation units. The multiple condenser-reboilers preferably include an integrated condenser-reboiler arrangement comprising a heat exchanger having a set of nitrogen condensing passages, a first set and second set of boiling passages, and a phase separator.

A heat exchanger 1 comprises a shell 2 which has in an interior thereof a heat exchange chamber 20 in which a gas to be cooled or an intermediate medium is filled, and performs heat exchange directly or indirectly between liquid hydrogen and the gas to be cooled, in the interior of the heat exchange chamber 20; a tray 23 which is provided in the interior of the heat exchange chamber 20 and receives a liquefied gas and a deposited substance F which are generated by the heat exchange in the interior of the heat exchange chamber 20; and a liquid discharge mechanism (flashboard 22, drain port 25, and drain pipe 26) which discharges the liquefied gas from the tray 23 in a state in which the deposited substance F is left in the tray 23.

The invention relates to a liquid air energy storage system. The storage system includes a cryocooler, a dewar, and a Sterling engine. The cryocooler cools a tip of a cold head to cryogenic temperatures, the cryocooler further includes a heat sink to reject heat from the cryocooler and a cold head that protrudes into a dewar through a cryocooler cavity, the cold head to condense ambient air to create liquified air in the dewar. The dewar holds the liquified air at low temperatures, the dewar having the cryocooler cavity and a Stirling cavity. The Stirling engine drives an electric generator, the Stirling engine further including a cold finger protruding into the dewar through the Stirling cavity, the cold finger to move the liquified air from the dewar to a Stirling heat sink; the Stirling heat sink to expand the liquified air; and the electric generator to generate output electricity.

A piping module is described which comprises at least two fluid connections or ports for connection to at least one main heat exchanger of an air fractionation plant, whereby the main heat exchanger becomes linked to at least two fluid lines in a warm part of the air fractionation plant. The piping module comprises at least two ports on the main compressor side, couplable to at least two fluid lines in the warm part of the air fractionation plant, and at least two ports on the main heat exchanger side, couplable to at least two fluid ports of the at least one main heat exchanger, and at least two fluid lines connecting the ports on the main compressor side to the ports on the main heat exchanger side. A corresponding air fractionation plant and a method for erecting such an air fractionation plant (100) are likewise described.

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.

A method for operating an air separation unit during an unexpected disturbance is provided. The method can include the steps of: determining that a process disturbance has occurred; starting-up a liquid back-up system that is configured to deliver a product gas at a desired product pressure; and introducing compressed air from an air accumulator into the air separation unit at a location that is downstream a main air compressor and upstream a cold box, wherein the compressed air is introduced in an amount that is effective for maintaining nominal operation of the air separation unit during the process disturbance and until the liquid back-up system is delivering the product gas at the desired product pressure.