LIQUEFACTION OF GASES

Gases such as nitrogen, oxygen and methane require the use of very low temperatures to liquefy and store them at relatively low pressures. To achieve this, a whole range of cryogenic technologies has been developed to ensure the economical liquefaction of gases. The reason why such technology has become important is that storage of these gases is more economic and versatile in their liquid form. There are several ways in which refrigeration can be supplied to a process to cool and/or condense a gas or mixture of gases. These can be grouped into the three fundamental principles used in commercial applications: 1. The Joule-Thomson effect 2. Compression/condensation and expansion of a pure component 3. Expansion turbines or engines. Most processes in cryogenic technology use one or more of the above principles. Alternatively, they may use a mixed refrigerant as working fluid. The refrigeration requirements for each cryogenic process are made up of the following elements: heat ingress from the atmosphere irreversible thermodynamic losses through heat exchange the requirement to produce liquid from what is normally a gas. Heat ingress is usually kept to a minimum by good insulation practices and is a small proportion of the refrigeration requirement in industrial liquefaction processes. Heat exchanger warm-end losses and other irreversible losses are minimized through the use of compact, high-efficiency heat exchangers. Such exchangers are plate-fin aluminum or stainless steel units, as well as wound coil or etched exchangers made in stainless steel or sometimes aluminum. They have economical temperature difference approaches of 23C in contrast with normal shell and tube exchangers, which are economical at much higher temperature differences. The importance of good heat transfer in cryogenic processes cannot be overemphasized because of the significant cost of liquefaction of fluids, such as N2, O2 and CH4. The references attached to this section give a more detailed analysis of the benefits of compact heat exchange. The three basic methods of Refrigeration, used singly or in combination with each other. Figure 25 schematically diagrams the mechanical components and flow of gas through the Linde - Hampson air liquefier. As the air is compressed it rejects heat to its surroundings. Additional cooling of the pressurized air occurs in the counter-flow heat exchanger from the colder return-gas. Exiting the heat exchanger, the pressurized air is expanded. Figure 25. Linde-Hampson air liquefier: (a) compressor; (b) counterflow heat exchanger; (c) expansion valve; (d) liquid air outlet; and (e) make-up air inlet. Through a valve resulting in a drop in pressure and temperature, to the extent that some of the air exits the valve in liquid form. The remaining cold gas returns up through the counterflow heat exchanger. Being warmed by the incoming pressurized air, it returns to the suction side of the compressor near room temperature. Adding the same mass in gaseous form at the inlet of the compressor then compensates for the amount of liquid that is extracted from the machine.

Advantages of Liquefaction 1. Liquefaction of gases produces cryogenic temperatures required for fundamental research. 2. Liquefaction helps in storing large volume of gases in small storages. Applications of Cryogenics a. Industrial applications: Shrink fitting of metals Liquid oxygen is used in welding, in the manufacture of steel Liquid oxygen in artificial breathing in hospitals & aircrafts. For the preservation of blood, dead bodies and medicines. For freezing the food for preservation - By spray of liquid nitrogen. Quick healing of wounds. Cooling the body parts by anesthesia. b. Agriculture: Preservation of bull insemination for better creed. For the manufacture of cryogenic magnets Super conductive transformers and Super conduction motors Used in separation of gases i.e. air, Coke oven gas, Helium 3 from Helium 4 Economic transport of ice cream. Superconductivity makes computers compact Liquid hydrogen is used as a fuel in rockets.