A system and method for increasing the efficiency of natural gas liquefaction processes by using a hybrid cooling system and method. More specifically, a system and method for converting a transcritical precooling refrigeration process to a subcritical process. In one embodiment, the refrigerant is cooled to sub-critical temperature using an economizer. In another embodiment, the refrigerant is cooled to a sub-critical temperature using an auxiliary heat exchanger. Optionally, the economizer or auxiliary heat exchanger can be bypassed when ambient temperatures are sufficiently low to cool the refrigerant to a sub-critical temperature. In another embodiment, the refrigerant is isentropically expanded.

A system and method for liquefaction of a natural gas stream utilizing a plurality of asymmetric parallel pre-cooling circuits. The use of asymmetric parallel cooling circuits allows for greater control over each refrigerant stream during the cooling process and simplifies process control by dedicating heat exchangers to performing similar duties.

A system comprising: (a) a liquid natural gas compression module having a compressed liquid natural gas conduit; (b) an active magnetic regenerative refrigerator H.sub.2 liquefier module; (c) at least one H.sub.2 gas source fluidly coupled to the active magnetic regenerative refrigerator H.sub.2 liquefier module via an H.sub.2 gas conduit; and (d) a heat exchanger that receives the compressed liquid natural gas conduit and the H.sub.2 gas conduit.

A cryogenic fluid containment system is disclosed. The system can store a fluid such as hydrogen at a cryogenic temperature and pressure. As the fluid naturally warms, the fluid can be directed to a portion of a liquefaction system that is configured to perform a cooling technique on the fluid. The cooling techniques may be Joule-Thomson cooling techniques. The liquefaction system may be equipped to perform both non-Joule-Thomson cooling techniques and Joule-Thomson cooling techniques. The system is configured to direct fluid to an appropriate portion of the liquefaction system, which may be based at least in part upon a Joule-Thomson coefficient of the fluid.

A process that includes pre-cooling a H.sub.2 gas feedstock with a compressed liquid natural gas via a heat exchanger, introducing the pre-cooled H.sub.2 gas feedstock into an active magnetic regenerative refrigerator H.sub.2 liquefier module, and delivering liquid H.sub.2 from the active magnetic regenerative refrigerator H.sub.2 liquefier module to a liquid H.sub.2 vehicle dispenser.

An installation and method for purifying and liquefying natural gas having, arranged in series, an adsorption purification unit, a unit for separating hydrocarbons by refrigeration, and a liquefier. The installation has a gas power plant for combined production of heat and electricity by hydrocarbon combustion. The installation has at least one electrical member, with the power plant being electrically connected to at least one of the electrical members in order to supply them with electrical energy.

Systems and methods disclosed herein relate to a cryogenic refrigeration system which may use a compression based cryocooler or liquid nitrogen pre-cool to cool a medium to ˜80K, and may in conjunction with a magnetic refrigeration system operating in the sub-80K temperature regime to provide cooling to a medium to temperatures below 80K. In some embodiments, the disclosed system may be useful for cooling on the order of about 3 kg/day to about 300 kg/day of hydrogen gas to liquid form, with higher efficiency than a standard vapor compression based system. This higher efficiency may make the system a more attractive candidate for use in cryogenic cooling applications.

A process that includes pre-cooling a H.sub.2 gas feedstock with a compressed liquid natural gas via a heat exchanger, introducing the pre-cooled H.sub.2 gas feedstock into an active magnetic regenerative refrigerator H.sub.2 liquefier module, and delivering liquid H.sub.2 from the active magnetic regenerative refrigerator H.sub.2 liquefier module to a liquid H.sub.2 vehicle dispenser.

Liquefaction of industrial gases or gas mixtures (hydrocarbon and/or non-hydrocarbon) uses a modified aqua-ammonia absorption refrigeration system (ARP) to chill the gas or gas mixture during the liquefaction process. The gas is compressed to above its critical point, and the heat of compression energy may be recovered to provide some or all of the thermal energy required to drive the ARP. A Joule Thomson (JT) adiabatic expansion process results in no requirement for specialty cryogenic rotating equipment. The aqua-ammonia absorption refrigeration system includes a vapour absorber tower (VAT) that permits the recovery of some or all of the heat of solution and heat of condensation energy in the system when anhydrous ammonia vapour is absorbed into a subcooled lean aqua-ammonia solution. The modified ARP with VAT may operate at pressures as low as 10 kPa, and the ammonia gas chiller may operate at temperatures as low as −71° C.

A hydrogen liquefaction apparatus according to the present disclosure comprises a compressor located on a hydrogen flow path to perform the first isothermal process; a precooler, a heat exchanger, and a first cryocooler which are connected to the compressor on the hydrogen flow path in this order to perform the first isobaric process; a Joule-Thomson valve connected to the first cryocooler on the hydrogen flow path to perform the isenthalpic process; a storage tank connected to the Joule-Thomson valve on the hydrogen flow path to perform the second isothermal process; and second cryocoolers which are connected to the storage tank on the hydrogen flow path to perform the third isobaric process between the isenthalpic process and the second isothermal process.