A method for subcooling liquid cryogen that is used by a cutting tool uses the steps of dividing liquid phase cryogen between a subcooler feed line and tool feed line. The cryogen in the subcooler feed line is expanded to lower the pressure and decrease the temperature of the cryogen, and the expanded liquid cryogen from the subcooler feed line is added to the interior of a subcooler. A heat exchanger is positioned in the subcooler in contact with the expanded liquid cryogen. The cryogen in the tool feed line is subcooled below its saturation temperature by passing the cryogen through the heat exchanger, and the subcooled cryogen from the heat exchanger is supplied to the cutting tool. As a result, the subcooled cryogen supplied to the cutting tool is substantially 100% liquid cryogen without any vapor content.

A thermal interface between a removable cryogenic refrigerator (4) and an article (10) to be cooled by the cryogenic refrigerator. The thermal interface consists of a recondensing chamber filled with a gas (12), the recondensing chamber being in thermal contact with a cooling surface (9) of the refrigerator and the article (10) to be cooled.

A new procedure for constructing cryogenic storage tanks involves erecting a freestanding metal liner. The liner is sized and configured to withstand the hydraulic forces the concrete wall of the tank being poured without the need for temporary stiffeners on the inside surface of lower portions of the liner. Lateral tension ties can be connected to anchor ties on an outward surface of the liner and used to tie the liner to outer formwork. These ties may be spaced up to about 2 m apart. Studs can also be provided on the outer surface of the liner, and a cylindrical ring of cryogenic steel can be integrated into the liner.

An improved system and method for the automated refilling of cryogenic helium is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a dewar in fluid communication with a liquid helium cryostat through a cryogen transfer line. A controller regulates operation of a three-way valve to pre-cool the transfer line and to cause gaseous helium to flow to the dewar and force liquid helium through the transfer line into the cryostat. The controller is coupled to the output of a cryogenic level sensor, such that the controller regulates the helium liquid level within the cryostat. During filling cycles, the dewar liquid level is also monitored by the cryogenic level sensor and an alarm sounds if the dewar liquid level is undesirably low. Between filling cycles, the controller is operable to ventilate the dewar through a solenoid vent valve in fixed time intervals to ensure the dewar pressure is sufficiently low so as to not bleed liquid helium into the cryostat.

A valve integrated pressure regulator (VIPR) device that can be attached to the outlet of a gas cylinder, which can monitor the amount of gas in the cylinder is provided. Features of the disclosed device include an electronic control, electronic alarm and the electronic display that are powered by rechargeable battery that may be disposed within the VIPR shroud or within a removable cylinder base affixed to a bottom of the gas cylinder. Additional functionality and security features may be provided via additional internally disposed sensors and/or wireless or hard-wired communications with one or more auxiliary devices.

A double-shell tank includes: an inner shell storing liquefied gas; an outer shell surrounding the inner shell, the outer shell forming a vacuum space between the inner shell and the outer shell; at least one metal sheet mounted to the inner shell, such that the metal sheet faces at least a bottom surface of the inner shell; an adsorbent placed on the metal sheet, the adsorbent adsorbing gas molecules by physisorption; and a thermal insulator covering the inner shell over the metal sheet.

A storage container for liquefied gas, having a first, inner tank extending in a horizontal longitudinal direction and configured to store the liquefied gas, a second, outer tank disposed around the first tank, the container having a device for supporting the first tank in the second tank, the support device having a fixed and rigid connection extending in a longitudinal direction (A) between one end of the second tank and an adjacent end of the first tank, the fixed and rigid connection including a set of walls forming back-and-forths in the longitudinal direction (A) to constitute a thermal insulation path between the second tank and the first tank, wherein the set of walls forming back-and-forths in the longitudinal direction (A) of the fixed and rigid connection has at least one wall made of titanium.

A low vibration cryostat includes a cryocooler with a cold head having a flange and a cooling body extending from the flange. A housing is coupled to the cold head, with the housing having an opening receiving at least a portion of the cooling body. A first bellows extends between the housing and the flange to mitigate the transfer of vibrational forces between the housing and the flange. The first bellows, the flange, and the housing collectively define a first chamber. A force balancing assembly containing a second bellows is coupled to the housing and includes a second chamber spaced from the first chamber. The two chambers are arranged to create a net zero force on the cold head when the pressure in the bellows changes. A viscous damping assembly mitigates bouncing of the cold head on support springs.

A transport container for helium, with an inner container for receiving the helium, a coolant container for receiving a cryogenic liquid (N.sub.2), an outer container, in which the inner container and the coolant container are contained, a thermal shield, in which the inner container is contained and which can be actively cooled with the aid of a liquid phase of the cryogenic liquid (LN.sub.2), the thermal shield having at least one first cooling line, in which the liquid phase of the cryogenic liquid can be received for actively cooling the thermal shield, and an insulating element, which is arranged between the outer container and the thermal shield and which can be actively cooled with the aid of a gaseous phase of the cryogenic liquid (GN.sub.2), the insulating element having at least one second cooling line, in which the gaseous phase of the cryogenic liquid can be received.

A system and method of operation is described wherein a cryogenic liquid transport fluid is used as in a thermal cascade with at least one volatile gas. The volatile gas in the liquid state enables transport thereof. In operating this system, the liquid volatile gas is maintained at a temperature below its boiling point, below its flash point, but above its freezing point.