Patent classifications
F25J1/0276
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE LIQUEFACTION RATE IN CRYOCOOLER-BASED CRYOGEN GAS LIQUIFIERS
The present invention relates to a cryogen-gas liquefaction system (1) and method comprising: a storage container (2) comprising a liquid storage portion (3) and a neck portion (4) with a liquefaction region (8) above said bath (7); a coldhead (9) arranged at the neck portion (4) comprising one or more refrigeration stages (10, 11); a gas intake module (12) containing an amount of gas-phase cryogen for its introduction into the storage container (2); and a pressure control mechanism (13) for controlling the cryogen gas pressure within the liquefaction region (8) of the storage container (2). Advantageously, the coldhead (9) further comprises: a refrigeration compressor (17) for distributing gas-phase cryogen inside the coldhead (9); one or more extraction orifices (22) communicating a gas circulation circuit inside the coldhead (9) with the external region of the refrigeration stages (10, 11), acting as pass-through ports (23); and a gas injection source (19) connected with the gas circulation circuit of said refrigeration compressor (17) through a gas injection valve (20), that maintains a total amount of gas constant in the compressor gas circuit, to compensate for the amount of gas extracted and liquefied through the extraction orifices (22).
System, Apparatus and Methods for a Superduct based on a Thermally Reactive Nosecone
A system, apparatus and method for a superduct representing a unique process for helium distillation/liquefaction by means of a hypersonic stochastic switch is described. A supersonically expanded isentropic continuum is switched into a stochastic vortex flux by means of a thermally reactive slanted shafted nosecone and an extreme high pressure source hypersonic vortex flux. The concept can be further developed to a bridge spanning 1-10 miles of superduct segments, owing to its virtual nature and extreme power packaged kinetic energy of the hypersonic stochastic motive system.
METHOD FOR ADJUSTING A CRYOGENIC REFRIGERATION APPARATUS AND CORRESPONDING APPARATUS
The invention relates to a method for adjusting a cryogenic refrigeration apparatus including a plurality of liquefiers/refrigerators arranged in parallel in order to cool a single device. The method includes a step of calculating in real time the dynamic mean value of at least one operating parameter for all the liquefiers/refrigerators. The apparatus controlling in real time the at least one valve for controlling the stream of working gas of at least one liquefier/refrigerator in accordance with the difference between the instantaneous values of the parameter relative to said dynamic converge toward said dynamic mean value.
Refrigeration method and installation using parallel refrigerators/liquefiers
An installation for refrigerating a same application by means of a single refrigerator/liquefier or several refrigerators/liquefiers arranged in parallel, the refrigerator(s)/liquefier(s) using a working gas of the same type having a low molar mass, each refrigerator/liquefier comprising a compression station to compress the working gas, a cold box intended for cooling the working gas at the outlet of the compression station, the compression station comprising only compression machines of the lubricated screw type and systems for removing the oil from the working fluid at the outlet of the compression machines, and the compression station comprises a plurality of compression machines defining several levels of pressure for the working fluid, the compression station comprising at least two compression machines defining at least two levels of pressure increasing above the level of pressure of the fluid at the inlet of the compression station, two main compression machines being arranged in series and defining, at their respective fluid outlet, levels of pressure respectively called “low” and “high”, another secondary compression machine being supplied at the inlet with a fluid coming from the cold boxes at an intermediate level of pressure called “medium” between the low and high levels, this secondary compression machine also defining, at its fluid outlet, a “high” level of pressure.
HIGH TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
A cryogenic refrigeration system and a corresponding method for increasing the cooling efficiency of the system, preferably the cooling of a thermally coupled load. Accordingly, the system comprises a supply means for providing a supply flow of a cryogenic refrigerant, a compressor fluidly coupled to said supply means and configured to compress the supplied cryogenic refrigerant, and a cold box fluidly coupled to the compressor, said cold box comprising a first expansion device and a first heat exchanger, wherein the first expansion device is configured to receive the compressed cryogenic refrigerant from the compressor and expand it and provide the expanded refrigerant to the first heat exchanger, and wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to be thermally coupled to a load. The system furthermore comprises a second heat exchanger arranged in the cold box comprising at least a first and second heat exchanging section.
MAGNETIC REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS FOR CRYOGENIC APPLICATIONS
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.
HELIUM GAS LIQUEFIER AND METHOD FOR LIQUEFYING HELIUM GAS
Disclosed are a helium gas liquefier and a method for liquefying a helium gas. The disclosed helium gas liquefier includes: a first cooling part including a first cooling column; a first cold head installed on the first cooling column, and a first cylinder in which the first cooling column and the first cold head are built; a second cooling part including a second cooling column, a second cold head installed on the second cooling column, and a second cylinder in which the second cooling column and the second cold head are built; and a liquid helium storage disposed under the second cooling part.
Cryocooler Suitable for Gas Liquefaction Applications, Gas Liquefaction System and Method Comprising the Same
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).
Helium management control system
A refrigerant management system controls the supply of refrigerant from two or more variable speed and fixed speed compressors to a plurality of cryogenic refrigerators. The system employs a plurality of sensors to monitor and regulate the overall refrigerant supply to deliver an appropriate refrigerant supply to each of the cryogenic refrigerators. The amount of refrigerant to supply is based on an aggregate demand for refrigerant from the plurality of cryogenic refrigerators and a refrigerant correction metric. An appropriate supply of refrigerant is distributed to each cryogenic refrigerator by adjusting the speed of the variable speed compressors or, alternatively, selectively turning the compressors on or off. The speed of the variable speed compressors is adjusted by determining an amount of refrigerant to supply to the plurality of cryogenic refrigerators. If the aggregate demand for refrigerant exceeds the capacity of the compressors, then the speed of a refrigerator within the plurality of refrigerators is adjusted.
Cryogenic Analytical Systems and Methods
Cryogenic analytical systems are provided that can include: a cryogenic fluid source; one or more analysis components; at least one cryogenic thermal conduit operably coupled between the cryogenic fluid source and the one or more analysis components; and a pressure control component operably engaged with the cryofluid source. Methods for performing cryogenic analysis are provided. The methods can include adjusting the pressure of cryofluid within a cryogenic fluid source to configure one or more analysis components with a cryogenic temperature. Methods for configuring a cryogenic analytical system to perform cryogenic analysis are also provided. The methods can include: increasing the pressure within a cryogenic fluid source to rapidly cool one or more analysis components to a first temperature; and decreasing the pressure within the cryogenic fluid source to reduce the first temperature of the one or more analysis components.