Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Lee S Gaumer, Jr

Robert B Moore

Glenn E Kinard

Charles L Newton

Arthur R Winters, Jr

This invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of slush hydrogen. The process comprises substantially continuously injecting liquid hydrogen at a temperature slightly above its triple point temperature into a slush hydrogen generator; forming solid hydrogen by removing hydrogen vapor from the slush hydrogen generator; fracturing and dispersing surface solid as it is formed into the slush; concentrating the crystalline solid particles in the slush to a level of at least 30%, and preferably from 45 to 60%, by weight; and substantially continuously removing the slush hydrogen from said slush hydrogen generator at a rate such that a substantially constant level of slush is maintained in said slush hydrogen generator.

Continuous process for producing slush hydrogen

This invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of slush hydrogen by the freeze-thaw technique. The process comprises substantially continuously injecting liquid hydrogen at or near its triple point temperature into a slush hydrogen generator; forming solid hydrogen by removing hydrogen vapor from the slush hydrogen generator; alternately adjusting the pressure in the slush hydrogen generator to a pressure below the triple point of hydrogen and then to a pressure slightly above the pressure at the triple point thereby effecting formation and dispersion of solids in said slush; concentrating the crystalline solid particles in the slush to a level of at least 30%, and preferably from 45 to 60%, by weight; and substantially continuously removing the slush hydrogen from said slush hydrogen generator at a rate such that a substantially constant level of slush is maintained in said slush hydrogen generator.

The present invention is a process for the liquefaction of hydrogen which utilizes a dense fluid expander and neon as a precoolant refrigerant. In the process, a two phase mixture containing about 85-90% liquid of greater than 95% para-hydrogen is produced in a dense fluid expander. Most of the refrigeration for liquefaction is supplied by a neon refrigeration system, consisting of a centrifugal compressor, heat exchangers and one or more stages of neon expansion. As an option, further refrigeration may be supplied utilizing liquid nitrogen as another precoolant.

Hydrogen liquefaction using a dense fluid expander and neon as a

The present invention is directed to an air separation system for the recovery of pressurized, substantially pure oxygen gas. The system uses a single pressure distillation column and burns a nitrogen-oxygen waste stream to provide power for the air compressor, the oxygen product compressor and electric generation. The distillation column has a split feed to develop reflux and reboil and to provide initial separation of the liquid and vapor components of the column.

Air separation process with single distillation column for combined gas

A process for producing liquefied natural gas from a high pressure hydrocarbon feedstock is shown. In this process, the feedstock is isentropically expanded and distilled at a pressure lower than the critical pressure to form an overhead rich in methane and a bottom fraction. The methane rich overhead is compressed utilizing the energy obtained from the expansion and then the compressed overhead is liquefied in a refrigeration cycle.

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Allentown, PA, United States of America

Lee S Gaumer, Jr