Importance

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Abstract

A highly efficient refrigeration system and process for precooling/liquefaction of a hydrogen feed stream and method of turndown of such system is disclosed. The disclosed refrigeration system and associated methods employ a reverse Brayton refrigeration cycle using a nitrogen based refrigerant and a fully integrated three pinion bridge (BriM) machine operatively coupling at least two turbine/expanders and at least four nitrogen refrigerant compression stages. Turndown of the hydrogen precooling and liquefaction process requires removal of nitrogen refrigerant from the refrigeration recycle loop by retaining liquid nitrogen in the phase separator, which is sized to accommodate the bulk of the nitrogen refrigerant used in the refrigeration circuit.

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First Claim