Cryogenic gel having a methane component and process for making same
US4305256A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 1980 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC10L7/02
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Disclosed is a cryogenic gel, and a process for making such a gel from a liquid cryogen having at least a methane component, which normally comprises a majority of the cryogenic liquid, by flash vaporizing the cryogen so that a relatively small portion of the weight of the cryogen becomes vaporized while a remainder forms a mist of small cryogen droplets suspended in the vapor. After flash vaporization, a gelling agent is injected into the cryogen vapor-mist mixture. The gelling agent is present so that it forms between about 0.1% to about 25% (by weight) of the resulting gel and is selected so that it is a solid at the temperature of the liquid cryogen and a liquid or a gas at ambient temperature. Water and methyl alcohol are preferred gelling agents. After the injection of the gelling agent the mixture is segregated into a gaseous phase and a condensed phase or gel comprising the liquid cryogen droplets and the injected gelling agent.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.