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

US scientists discover two new subatomic particles

A team of US scientists led by Petar Maksimovic, Assistant Professor of Physics at Johns Hopkins University, has discovered two new subatomic particles.

Air Products’ mobile hydrogen fueling technology in use in California

Air Products' mobile hydrogen fueling technology helped fuel vehicles in Southern California from October 4 to 8, as part of the California Fuel Cell Partnership's Road Rally 2006.

Praxair introduces remote system for monitoring cryogenic containers

Praxair, Inc. recently introduced a new, patented remote monitoring system for world-wide monitoring of cryogenic containers.

Oy AGA Ab acquires Messer Suomi Oy

Oy AGA Ab, a subsidiary of Linde, has acquired Messer Suomi Oy, the Finnish industrial gases company in the Messer Group.

John R. Hull joins Boeing’s Phantom Works division

CSA member John R. Hull has joined Boeing's Superconductivity, Electromagnetics Flywheel Energy Storage Phantom Works in Seattle. He was previously with Argonne National Laboratory.

John M. Ulliman joins AMSC

John M. Ulliman has joined American Superconductor Corporation as vice president of Business Development and Government Relations. Ulliman was previously employed with Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Latest in Defining Cryogenics

Two of the most common terms used in cryogenics are “refrigerator” and “liquefier.” These terms describe similar and, as will be seen, in some cases identical components. A refrigerator provides cooling (that is, absorbs heat) at cryogenic temperatures. Refrigerators typically put a working fluid (such as helium) through one of...

Air Separation

Air separation is one of the largest, as well as earliest, industrial applications of cryogenics. In this process, cryogenic temperatures are used to separate air into its constituent gases: nitrogen (78.08%), oxygen (20.95%), argon (0.93%) and carbon dioxide (0.3%). Trace gases such as krypton, neon, xenon and helium total far...

Coefficient of Performance and Figure of Merit

The coefficient of performance (COP) is used to describe the effectiveness of refrigerators, including those operating at cryogenic temperatures. The COP is defined as the amount of heat removed at the cryogenic operating temperature of the refrigerator divided by the amount of work that must be applied to remove the...

Latest in Cryo Central

Air Separation and Liquefaction

by Nils Tellier, PE, President, EPSIM Corporation (CSA CSM) nils@epsim.us All illustrations courtesy EPSIM Corporation Background History of Air Separation and Liquefaction This section builds on a rich history of methods to develop deep refrigeration and cryogenic liquefaction during the 19th Century. You are encouraged to read Cryo Central’s History...

Bose-Einstein Condensate

A Bose-Einstein condensate, first proposed in 1925 by Albert Einstein based on work done by Satyendra Nath Bose (the same Bose from whom the term boson is derived), is a super-cold state of matter in which almost all of the individual atoms have “condensed” down to the lowest possible quantum...

Cold Technology for Pest Control

While it does not reach temperatures cold enough to be called cryogenic, carbon dioxide snow is at the heart of a new way of dealing with unwanted pests. It utilizes a quick freezing process that takes advantage of the properties of carbon dioxide snow and has a number of benefits...

Cryogenic Finishing

The following 3 articles discuss the uses and procedures of various type of cryogenic finishing. 1) By Robin A. Rhodes, Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. rrhodes@nitrofreeze.com Cryogenic Deflashing is employed to remove undesired residual mold flash that remains on molded parts after they are removed or ejected from the...

Latest in Ask the Experts

What is the temperature range of cryogenics?

Could you please tell me what is the temperature range of cryogenics? In other words, is -100°F considered cryogenic, or does it start lower? Could I expect to see some extended life in D2 stamping dies? What would the recipe be to achieve the desired results using cryogenics?