Cold Facts Digital – The go-to place for Cryogenics and Superconductivity

How much heat energy does LN2 contain per lb.?

I would like to know how much heat energy liquid nitrogen contains per lb. In other words, per lb. of liquid, how many BTUs of heat would N2 absorb in the process of coming up to about 60F? I want to capture the cold energy of nitrogen as it vaporizes...

Software for thermophysical properties of helium down to 1K

What are the options when it comes to software for thermophysical properties of helium at temperatures down to 1K? I know Hepak – is it still the most commonly used package?

Refilling process of a helium cryogenic plant

I’m trying to collect some information about the refilling process of a helium cryogenic plant. Due to the physiologic losses I expect to have to foreseen a periodic refilling of helium. Our plant will be characterized by a refrigerator/liquefactor. A control cryostat with 4.5 K LHe coming from the liquefactor...

What's the best gas to use for pulse GMAW?

I have a 78″ ID vessel, 3/8″ thick shells, ½” heads, from SA-240-304L, which will have an ASME U-Stamp and I am planning on sub-arcing the seams and using pulse GMAW (ER308L for both) for the nozzles. I am comfortable with the SAW, but I am wondering about the best...

Manufacturer of liquid pump for use at 170 K

We’re in need of a liquid pump for use at 170 K in our refrigerator to pump Paratherm cryogenic heat transfer fluid. Can anyone suggest a manufacturer? Our flow rate is 16 liters/minute, and a head of 10 m. The specific gravity of the fluid is 0.85 and the viscosity...

Question about configuration of an 80 K helium circuit

I have a question about a possible configuration of an 80 K helium circuit from our cryogenic plant. A helium flow at 80 K and 18 bar is needed at the customer’s inlet. In order to decouple the refrigerator from the customer, I thought to propose the following solution: –...

Latest in Defining Cryogenics

Dewar

A dewar is a type of cryostat named after Sir James Dewar, the researcher who first developed the concept of a vacuum insulated container with silvered walls to reflect thermal radiation. Dewar was the first to liquefy hydrogen, and he created the device to store his discovery. The thermos bottle...

Stirling and Gifford-McMahon Cryocoolers

Stirling and Gifford-McMahon (GM) cryocoolers are two of the most commonly used cryocoolers in cryogenics. Both devices have a significant industrial base and operate at a wide range of temperatures and capacities. The thermodynamic cycles for both of these cryocoolers are quite similar. The Stirling cycle consists of a compressor,...

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

A significant commercial application of cryogenics is the liquefaction, transport and storage of natural gas. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is generally 95 percent methane with a few percent ethane and much lower concentrations of propane and butane. LNG liquefies at 111.6 K. Unlike many applications of cryogenics, the motivation for...

Latest in Cryo Central

Cryogenic Electronics

Randall Kirschman, consulting physicist, Mountain View, California ExtElect@gmail.com Cryogenic electronics—the operation of electronic devices, circuits, and systems at cryogenic temperatures—has been a valuable technology for decades. Cryogenic electronics (also referred to as low-temperature electronics, or cold electronics) can be based on semiconductive devices, on superconductive devices, or on a combination...

Particle Physics: High Energy Physics

Cryogenics and High-Energy Physics 1. From symmetry magazine: http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/cms/?pid=1000627: Cryogenics is the study of how materials behave at temperatures near absolute zero. In high-energy particle accelerators, such frigid temperatures reduce the electrical resistance of wires in superconducting magnets, increasing the magnet strength and allowing faster particle acceleration. The same holds...

HTS Degaussing Systems

From the Spring 2009 issue of Cold Facts (Volume 25, Number 2): Thanks to a joint project by the US Navy and a number of industry partners, high temperature superconducting (HTS) technology is now at the heart of an advanced degaussing system aboard the USS Higgins at the naval station...

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

From http://www.superconductors.org: An area where superconductors can perform a life-saving function is in the field of biomagnetism. Doctors need a non-invasive means of determining what’s going on inside the human body. By impinging a strong superconductor-derived magnetic field into the body, hydrogen atoms that exist in the body’s water and...

Latest in Ask the Experts