US3473342A - Method and apparatus for liquefaction of neon - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for liquefaction of neon Download PDF

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US3473342A
US3473342A US627995A US3473342DA US3473342A US 3473342 A US3473342 A US 3473342A US 627995 A US627995 A US 627995A US 3473342D A US3473342D A US 3473342DA US 3473342 A US3473342 A US 3473342A
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neon
cooling
compressed
cooled
heat exchanger
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Evgeni Iliev Leyarovski
Zvetan Spassov Nanev
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NAUTCHNO IZSLEDOVATELSKI SEKTO
NAUTCHNO IZSLEDOVATELSKI SEKTOR PRI PHISITCHESKIA FAKULTET NA SOFYISKI UNIV
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NAUTCHNO IZSLEDOVATELSKI SEKTO
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02C—GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
    • F02C1/00—Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of hot gases or unheated pressurised gases, as the working fluid
    • F02C1/02—Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of hot gases or unheated pressurised gases, as the working fluid the working fluid being an unheated pressurised gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
    • F01D15/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of engines with devices driven thereby
    • F01D15/005—Adaptations for refrigeration plants
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0005—Light or noble gases
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0032—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration"
    • F25J1/0035—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration" by gas expansion with extraction of work
    • F25J1/0037—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration" by gas expansion with extraction of work of a return stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0032—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration"
    • F25J1/004—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration" by flash gas recovery
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0221—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using the cold stored in an external cryogenic component in an open refrigeration loop
    • F25J1/0224—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using the cold stored in an external cryogenic component in an open refrigeration loop in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0257—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0257—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J1/0275—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines adapted for special use of the liquefaction unit, e.g. portable or transportable devices
    • F25J1/0276—Laboratory or other miniature devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2210/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the feed stream
    • F25J2210/42—Nitrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2215/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
    • F25J2215/32—Neon
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
    • F25J2230/04—Compressor cooling arrangement, e.g. inter- or after-stage cooling or condensate removal
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
    • F25J2230/20—Integrated compressor and process expander; Gear box arrangement; Multiple compressors on a common shaft
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/02—Expansion of a process fluid in a work-extracting turbine (i.e. isentropic expansion), e.g. of the feed stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2245/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams
    • F25J2245/90—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams the recycled stream being boil-off gas from storage
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/90—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration
    • F25J2270/912—Liquefaction cycle of a low-boiling (feed) gas in a cryocooler, i.e. in a closed-loop refrigerator
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/42—Modularity, pre-fabrication of modules, assembling and erection, horizontal layout, i.e. plot plan, and vertical arrangement of parts of the cryogenic unit, e.g. of the cold box

Definitions

  • FIG. 2A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIQUEFACTION OF NEON Filed April 5, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 2A
  • Apparatus compressing neon and cooling it comprising means to divide the compressed neon main flow and expand a part thereof in a turboexpander and using the expanded cooled neon to cool compressed unexpanded neon, in a heat exchanger group, which is then throttled and liquefied by a main throttle.
  • the neon itself thus provides the principal cooling agent.
  • the present invention relates to a method and apparains for liquefying a gas and more particularly for liquefaction of neon.
  • a first method is a cycle based on simply throttling the gas after preliminary cooling with liquid nitrogen. The final etiiciency of this cycle is quite low. In order to obtain an acceptable coefiicient of liquefaction (0.15- 0.18) it is necessary to subject the neon to a very high compression pressure, for example 100 to 220 atmospheres, which results in the consumption of a very large amount of energy and the need of heavy and expensive apparatus.
  • a second known method for liquefaction of neon is based on condensation of neon conveyed through a bath of liquid hydrogen. The method is very simple and effective but the system for liquefying the neon depends on a system for liquefying hydrogen which is very expensive and dangerous. The liquefaction of one liter of neon in this system requires the evaporation of about four liters of hydrogen. Thus this second method is practical for production of large quantities or volumes of liquid neon only in the vicinity of very large sources of liquid hydrogen.
  • the method makes use of an isentropic expansion of a part of the neon flow after preliminary cooling thereof with liquid nitrogen and the expanded cooled neon cools the unexpanded neon which is then liquefied by throttling.
  • This method allows reduction of the compression pressure applied to neon to about 30 atmospheres.
  • the energy consumption, proportional to the ratio of the pressure, is diminished about six times in comparison with the method described, with a cycle of simple throttling.
  • the reduction in work input is very important in industrial production of liquid neon.
  • the method according to the ice invention eliminates the use of liquid hydrogen which is both very expensive and dangerous to handle.
  • a feature of the method for liquefaction of neon according to the invention makes use of a combined cycle consisting of preliminary cooling, by means of nitrogen throttling and expansion of a part of the compressed neon in a turboexpander and using the expanded neon for cooling compressed neon which is throttled after cooling to liquefy it.
  • the main source of cooling is the neon itself since the expanded neon is directed in a counter-flow heat exchanger arrangement to cool unexpanded compressed neon of the main flow.
  • turboexpander for liquefaction of neon is quite advantageous and particularly more advantageous than using hydrogen or helium as a cooling agent since the velocity of the sound is small which makes it possible to realize the cycle with isentropic expansion of the gas without the shortcomings inherent in other expansion apparatus, for example an expansion apparatus.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of apparatus according to the invention and a flow chart of a cycle of the method according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic vertical section view of apparatus for neon liquefaction provided with the invention
  • FIG. 2A is a diagrammatic enlarged vertical view of a part of the apparatus in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section view of a turboexpander of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale.
  • FIG. 1 The method and cycle of the apparatus for carrying out the invention and the principles thereof are illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • neon gas is stored in a storage tank or container 1 from which a compressor 2 takes a suction and compresses the neon to a high pressure, in the order of 30 atmospheres.
  • the gas is then discharged through a line 3 to a heat exchanger 4 where it is cooled by reverse flow neon under low pressure to about 78 degrees K.
  • the high pressure neon is illustrated by solid lines, a continuation of line 3, and reverse flow cooling neon, obtained as later explained is illustrated by a broken line 5.
  • the main flow of neon is subjected to cooling in a heat exchanger 6 immersed in a nitrogen bath 7, vented by a vapor vent 9, and continues to be cooled in a heat exchanger 11 cooled by the reverseflow neon.
  • the main stream or fiow of compressed neon is divided and a portion thereof is taken through a flow path 13 to a throttle valve 14 where it is throttled or expanded to some intermediate pressure between that pressure at which it is received at the throttle and a pressure when it leaves a turboexpander 16 where the throttled neon is expanded to about one atmosphere.
  • the expansion of the neon at the throttle valve 14 and the turboexpander 16 is an expansion Without change of entropy.
  • the expansion of the neon is without exchange of heat and results in a temperature drop.
  • the cooled, expanded neon is applied downstream of a heat exchanger 17 so that it reverse fiows back to the source 1 through the various heat exchangers mentioned heretofore cooling the main flow of compressed neon.
  • a heat exchanger 20 receives that main flow of unexpanded, high-pressure neon and a back flow of neon vapors as later explained cools it.
  • the neon vapors cooling the heat exchanger 20 join the expanded, cooled reverse-flow neon intermediate the heat exchangers 17 and 20. Cooling of the high pres- 6 sure neon is now at an optimum level for the extent of throttling that is to take place for liquefaction of the neon.
  • the main fiow of compressed neon is throttled by a main throttle 22 where a part of it is liquefied.
  • the liquid obtained, mixed with saturated vapors, is applied to cooling the coils 23 of a large solenoid immersed in a neon bath 24 in a container or receptacle 25.
  • the turboexpander 16 has connected thereto a turbocompressor 32 which takes a suction on a neon gas storage or neon source 33 through a flow path or line 34 and compresses the neon and discharges it through a discharge path 36 to a heat exchanger 37 immersed in a nitrogen bath 39 where the neon is cooled and it is then returned to the source 33.
  • a turbocompressor 32 which takes a suction on a neon gas storage or neon source 33 through a flow path or line 34 and compresses the neon and discharges it through a discharge path 36 to a heat exchanger 37 immersed in a nitrogen bath 39 where the neon is cooled and it is then returned to the source 33.
  • the energy delivered by the expansion of the neon is dissipated or taken out in the form of heat in the nitrogen bath 39.
  • the drawing illustrates in FIG. 2 diagrammatically apparatus for carrying out liquefaction as heretofore described with respect to the diagram and flow chart in FIG. 1.
  • the apparatus comprises a liquefier comprising a vessel 45 covered with a cover 46 from which is suspended, for example by welding, coaxially with the vessel an inner conduit support 47, made for example of stainless steel, defining a space between it and the vessel 45.
  • a Hempson heat exchanger 49 comprising a leader distributor or collector 51 to which is delivered compressed neon through an inlet pipe 53 receiving neon under pressure, for example about 30 atmospheres, from a compressor, not shown, as described with respect to the compressor 2 in the diagrammatic illustration of the invention.
  • the vessel 45 is an insulated vessel and has a highly efficient heat insulation jacket consisting of a jacket 52 evacuated and under a high vacuum, so that any heat exchange is substantially impossible between apparatus within the vessel and the exterior thereof. The vacuum is taken by means not shown.
  • the compressed neon gas flows through the pipes of heat exchanger 49 and is cooled by the counter flow of low pressure neon in the intertube space.
  • the high pressure neon is discharged to a ring header 55 in communication with a similar ring header or collector 55 disposed circumferentially of the central support 47.
  • the collector 56 is immersed in a main nitrogen bath 58.
  • the nitrogen extends downwardly as a nitrogen screen 50 in communication with the main bath 58.
  • the main bath is supplied with liquefied nitrogen through a line 54 and i contained in a conical space of the liquefier below the heat exchanger 49 and boils at a pressure approximate to atmospheric pressure and cools to 7778 K.
  • the header 56 discharges into a coil 60 in communication with another header 62 which supplied a Hempson heat exchanger 63 in communication with a collector or outlet header 65 in communication with an inlet ring or header 68 delivering high pressure neon to a Hempson heat exchanger 70 terminating in a collector or header 71 which delivers the high pressure neon to a heat exchanger 7 3 at the lower part of the vessel.
  • All of the heat exchangers are cooled by neon in a back or reverse flow through intertube spaces thereof.
  • the coil 50 like the coil 6, is immersed in the nitrogen bath 58.
  • The-topmost heat exchanger 49 is mounted above this bath and like the other heat exchangers is cooled by the 'low pressure neon which passes through the intertube spaces of the various heat exchangers and is discharged through a return conduit 76 for return to the supply source 1 as heretofore described.
  • the heat exchanger 45 is insulated by the low pressure neon vapors and wound around the central line 47 and is cooled by nitrogen vapors, from the nitrogen bath 58 which are discharged to the atmosphere through a vent 75.
  • the turboexpander is supplied with high pressure neon by means of a connection 89 which divides the main neon flow by a deviation of a line between collectors 65 and 68.
  • This high pressure neon is throttled through a throttle valve 87 which corresponds to the throttle valve 14, to about ten (10) to fifteen (15) atmospheres gauge and it supplies the turboexpander 90 after which the neon, eX- panded to about two (2) atmospheres, is passed through a copper line 93 connected to the bottom of the heat exchanger 79 and incorporates the neon vapors to the general low pressure neon flow of the liquefier.
  • a valve 88 performs the function of controlling the neon gas fed to the gas containers of the turboexpander.
  • the high pressure neon which leaves thegroup of heat exchangers is delivered through a line 95 into a line 99 which goes on into a coil mounted on the bottom of a neon container 193 wherein the cooling of the high pressure neon is completed and then the neon is throttled through the main throttle valve 98 corresponding to the throttle valve 22 of FIG. 1.
  • the throttled and expanded neon is delivered in a liquid state mixed with saturated vapors through a line 163 for cooling of the coil of a powerful solenoid 102 immersed in a neon bath 193 contained in a container 104 which is screened by a nitrogen screen 105 and which is connected expressly for the purpose to a nitrogen bath M6 contained in a container 197 wherein liquid nitrogen is fed through a line 109.
  • the low pressure neon vapors taken from the top part above the level of the liquid neon in the neon container 153 through a line 116 are passed into the lower end or the central structure of the liquefier and as they pass and cool in sequence heat exchangers 73, 76, 63 they pass through lines 165 into the bottom part of heat exchanger 49 and after they have cooled it they pass through line 76 into the receiver (1). From there they are again taken as a suction by the compressor 2. The possibility is provided to draw out liquid neon through the line which is immersed in the neon bath 193 in case this is necessary.
  • the turboexpander 90 is shown in detail in FIG. 3 and comprises a nozzle 12% receiving neon gas under high pressure from the main stream as explained heretofore delivered into a chamber 122, in communication with the supply inlet line 89, defined jointly by a housing 123 and a nozzle throat piece 124.
  • the neon is then at about a pressure of from ten to fifteen atmospheres.
  • the neon under pressure delivered by the nozzle drives a rotor 126 having a diffuser 127 for carrying out the expansion of the neon without exchange of heat thereby effecting a temperature drop therein as heretofore described.
  • the diffuser 127 discharges to the discharge line 93 With which the throat piece 124 is in communication.
  • a shaft 129 is driven by the rotor 126 driving an impeller 133 in a turbine casing 134 of a turbocompressor 135 taking a suction from a neon storage or source 136, FIG. 2, compressing the neon and discharging it into a heat exchanger 138 immersed in a nitrogen bath 140 supplied with nitrogen by a line 142.
  • the energy delivered by the expanding neon in the turboexpander 90 is removed as heat by the nitrogen bath 140.
  • the rotor shaft 129 is mounted in a vertical position to preclude any sag since it operates at high speeds, for example over 100,000 revolutions per minute.
  • the weight of the rotor assembly and the axial reaction forces applied thereto by the expanding neon stream are taken up by a thrust bearing 138.
  • Cooled neon under pressure from the main stream is delivered into a space in the bearing housing through a control passageway 140 connected to a neeon manifold 148.
  • the neon is throttled or expanded in the clearances between the bearing and its housing and discharged through an outlet 145 connected to a discharge manifold 144 in communication with the expanded low-pressure neon of the system.
  • the rotor is mounted on aerostatic bearings 150, 151, receiving high pressure neon through respective control inlets 153, 154.
  • the neon is supplied to respective annular chambers 156, 157 and escapes along the clearance space between the shaft and the housing and is discharged through an outlet 160 in communication with the outlet manifold heretofore described.
  • the turboexpander assembly is effectively sealed with labyrinth seals 161 at the end of the rotor and a labyrinth 162 about the rotating diffuser 127.
  • the invention provides a highly simplified and compact apparatus and a highly effective and inexpensive method and cycle and mode of operation of the apparatus for inexpensive production of large volumes of industrial liquid neon.
  • a method of liquefying large volumes of neon comprising, providing neon in a gaseous state to be liquefied, compressing the neon to be liquefied, expanding a portion of the cooled, compressed neon to cool it, cooling the remainder of the compressed neon with said expanded and cooled neon, and expanding and cooling the remainder of the cooled compressed neon to liquefy at least a part of said remainder of neon and expanding a portion of said cooled, compressed neon comprising throttling said portion of neon and thereafter work expanding the neon immediately before cooling the remainder of the compressed neon with said expanded and cooled neon.
  • Apparatus for liquefying large volumes of neon gas comprising, a source of compressed neon under high pressure, means to cool the compressed neon under high pressure, means to remove a-portion of the cooled compressed neon including first means to expand it in a throttle process expansion and a work expansion serially without exchange of heat in at least one of the expansions thereby further cooling the expanded neon, other cooling means additionally cooling said neon under high pressure, means to apply the cooled, expanded neon to said other cooling means to cool said neon under high pressure, and second means to expand the additionally cooled, unexpanded neon under high pressure thereby to liquefy it.
  • Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said first means to expand the high pressure neon comprises a first throttle effecting an expansion to a lower pressure and a turboexpander in series with said first throttle.
  • said first means to expand the high pressure neon comprises turboexpansion means expanding the neon substantially with out exchange of heat thereby cooling the neon expanded.
  • Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said first means to expand the high pressure neon comprises a throttle and a turboexpander in series, and said second means to expand high pressure neon comprises a main throttle.

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  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
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  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
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US627995A 1966-04-01 1967-04-03 Method and apparatus for liquefaction of neon Expired - Lifetime US3473342A (en)

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JP (1) JPS4820099B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH527398A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1551614A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1513967A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1186432A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL6704364A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE331106B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (8)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3854914A (en) * 1971-02-25 1974-12-17 Physicheski Institute Recovery of neon and helium from air by adsorption and closed cycle neon refrigeration
US3864926A (en) * 1970-10-19 1975-02-11 Cryogenic Technology Inc Apparatus for liquefying a cryogen by isentropic expansion
US4055961A (en) * 1973-08-21 1977-11-01 U.S. Philips Corporation Device for liquefying gases
US4765813A (en) * 1987-01-07 1988-08-23 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Hydrogen liquefaction using a dense fluid expander and neon as a precoolant refrigerant
US5647218A (en) * 1995-05-16 1997-07-15 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Cooling system having plural cooling stages in which refrigerate-filled chamber type refrigerators are used
US20100140510A1 (en) * 2007-04-12 2010-06-10 Markus Buescher Method and device for cooling a gas
CN112361711A (zh) * 2020-10-30 2021-02-12 北京航天试验技术研究所 一种设置有三个串联的透平膨胀机机组的氢气液化设备
CN113701448A (zh) * 2021-07-05 2021-11-26 中国科学院理化技术研究所 基于多级超音速两相膨胀机的氢液化系统及氢液化装置

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6591632B1 (en) * 2002-11-19 2003-07-15 Praxair Technology, Inc. Cryogenic liquefier/chiller
DE102012104416A1 (de) * 2012-03-01 2013-09-05 Institut Für Luft- Und Kältetechnik Gemeinnützige Gmbh Verfahren und Anordnung zur Speicherung von Energie

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US2909903A (en) * 1956-11-07 1959-10-27 Little Inc A Liquefaction of low-boiling gases
US3098732A (en) * 1959-10-19 1963-07-23 Air Reduction Liquefaction and purification of low temperature gases
US3144316A (en) * 1960-05-31 1964-08-11 Union Carbide Corp Process and apparatus for liquefying low-boiling gases
US3180709A (en) * 1961-06-29 1965-04-27 Union Carbide Corp Process for liquefaction of lowboiling gases
US3194025A (en) * 1963-01-14 1965-07-13 Phillips Petroleum Co Gas liquefactions by multiple expansion refrigeration
US3250079A (en) * 1965-03-15 1966-05-10 Little Inc A Cryogenic liquefying-refrigerating method and apparatus
US3358460A (en) * 1965-10-08 1967-12-19 Air Reduction Nitrogen liquefaction with plural work expansion of feed as refrigerant
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US2909903A (en) * 1956-11-07 1959-10-27 Little Inc A Liquefaction of low-boiling gases
US3098732A (en) * 1959-10-19 1963-07-23 Air Reduction Liquefaction and purification of low temperature gases
US3144316A (en) * 1960-05-31 1964-08-11 Union Carbide Corp Process and apparatus for liquefying low-boiling gases
US3180709A (en) * 1961-06-29 1965-04-27 Union Carbide Corp Process for liquefaction of lowboiling gases
US3194025A (en) * 1963-01-14 1965-07-13 Phillips Petroleum Co Gas liquefactions by multiple expansion refrigeration
US3250079A (en) * 1965-03-15 1966-05-10 Little Inc A Cryogenic liquefying-refrigerating method and apparatus
US3358460A (en) * 1965-10-08 1967-12-19 Air Reduction Nitrogen liquefaction with plural work expansion of feed as refrigerant
US3377811A (en) * 1965-12-28 1968-04-16 Air Prod & Chem Liquefaction process employing expanded feed as refrigerant

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3864926A (en) * 1970-10-19 1975-02-11 Cryogenic Technology Inc Apparatus for liquefying a cryogen by isentropic expansion
US3854914A (en) * 1971-02-25 1974-12-17 Physicheski Institute Recovery of neon and helium from air by adsorption and closed cycle neon refrigeration
US4055961A (en) * 1973-08-21 1977-11-01 U.S. Philips Corporation Device for liquefying gases
US4765813A (en) * 1987-01-07 1988-08-23 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Hydrogen liquefaction using a dense fluid expander and neon as a precoolant refrigerant
US5647218A (en) * 1995-05-16 1997-07-15 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Cooling system having plural cooling stages in which refrigerate-filled chamber type refrigerators are used
US20100140510A1 (en) * 2007-04-12 2010-06-10 Markus Buescher Method and device for cooling a gas
CN102066860A (zh) * 2007-04-12 2011-05-18 于利奇研究中心有限公司 冷却气体的方法和设备
WO2008125078A3 (de) * 2007-04-12 2012-01-26 Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Verfahren und vorrichtung zur kühlung eines gases
CN112361711A (zh) * 2020-10-30 2021-02-12 北京航天试验技术研究所 一种设置有三个串联的透平膨胀机机组的氢气液化设备
CN113701448A (zh) * 2021-07-05 2021-11-26 中国科学院理化技术研究所 基于多级超音速两相膨胀机的氢液化系统及氢液化装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4820099B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-06-19
CH527398A (fr) 1972-08-31
NL6704364A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1967-10-02
GB1186432A (en) 1970-04-02
SE331106B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-12-14
DE1551614A1 (de) 1970-03-05
FR1513967A (fr) 1968-02-16

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