The invention relates to a method for cooling hydrogen, in which method liquefied natural gas is heated by indirect heat exchange in a first heat exchanger with an intermediate fluid flow, the intermediate fluid flow is cooled, a hydrogen gas flow is cooled in a second heat exchanger without being condensed, and a gas flow derived from the cooled intermediate fluid is heated in a second heat exchanger to a temperature of between 150 C. and 90 C., which gas flow is withdrawn from the second heat exchanger at said temperature and compressed in a compressor with an inlet temperature of between 150 C. and 90 C.

Disclosed is a facility for the refrigeration and/or liquefaction of a fluid, comprising a circuit of fluid to be cooled comprising an upstream end intended to be connected to a source of fluid to be cooled and a downstream end intended to be connected to a member for collecting the cooled and/or liquefied fluid; the facility comprising an assembly of heat exchanger(s) in thermal exchange with the circuit of fluid to be cooled; the facility comprising a cooling device in thermal exchange with the assembly of heat exchange(s); the cooling device comprising a refrigerator with a refrigeration cycle for a cycle gas in a working circuit; the working circuit of the refrigerator comprising, a mechanism for compressing the cycle gas, a system for cooling the cycle gas, a mechanism for expanding the cycle gas and a system for heating the cycle gas; the mechanism for expanding the cycle gas comprising several turbines secured to shafts mounted so as to be able to rotate on aerostatic bearings; the facility comprising mechanisms for braking the turbines, the braking mechanisms each comprising a braking compressor secured to a shaft of a turbine and a braking gas circuit incorporating the braking compressor; the braking gas circuits comprising a system for cooling the braking gas downstream of the braking compressor and a mechanism for expanding the braking gas; the facility being equipped with a compressed lifting gas circuit comprising an end connected to a compressed lifting gas source and a downstream end connected to the bearings, and wherein the compressed lifting gas source comprises at least one of the braking circuits.

Disclosed is a device for refrigerating or liquefying a fluid such as natural gas or hydrogen, comprising a fluid circuit that is to be cooled and has an upstream end for connection to a source of gaseous fluid as well as a downstream end for connection to a member for collecting the cooled or liquefied fluid, the device comprising a heat exchanger assembly in heat exchange with the fluid circuit to be cooled, the device comprising a refrigerator in heat exchange with at least a portion of the exchanger assembly, the refrigerator being of the type that has a cycle for refrigerating a cycle gas containing at least one of: helium, hydrogen, nitrogen or neon; said refrigerator comprising in series in a cycle circuit: a mechanism for compressing the cycle gas, at least one member for cooling the cycle gas, a mechanism for expanding the cycle gas, and at least one member for reheating the expanded cycle gas, wherein the compression mechanism comprises a plurality of compression stages in series composed of a centrifugal compressor assembly, the compression stages being mounted on a set of shafts that are rotationally driven by a motor assembly, the at least one member for cooling the cycle gas comprising at least one heat exchanger at the outlet of at least one compression stage in heat exchange with the cycle circuit, said heat exchanger being cooled by a heat transfer fluid, characterized in that the compression mechanism comprises at least two compression stages that are arranged successively in series and do not include any member for cooling the cycle gas such as a heat exchanger therebetween.

A system and process for precooling of a hydrogen feed stream with concurrent nitrogen liquefaction is disclosed. The disclosed hydrogen precooling refrigeration system and associated methods employ two centrifugal hydrogen compressors, including a centrifugal hydrogen cold compressor and a centrifugal hydrogen low pressure compressor.