Low temperature heat transfer methods

US6574972B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Étude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude · FR
• American Air Liquide, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Frederick Giacobbe · Naperville, US
• Michael Pizzo · Yorkville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 31, 2001
• Grant date: Jun 10, 2003
• Expiry date: Oct 31, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25D3/10
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Methods of cooling an object are presented, the methods comprising contacting a heat transfer fluid with a liquid cryogen to form a precooled, substantially pure heat transfer fluid, and contacting the object with the precooled substantially pure heat transfer fluid to form a cooled object and a recycle flow of the heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid consists essentially of a compound selected from the group consisting of substantially pure hydrogen, substantially pure helium, substantially pure argon, substantially pure nitrogen, and substantially pure carbon dioxide. Each of the contacting steps may be either direct contact, indirect contact, or combinations thereof.