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Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing a cold gas at a desired temperature, by bubbling the gas to be cooled through a bath of cryogenic liquid. The gas to be cooled need not be the same substance as that in the bath. The gas is preferably introduced at or near the bottom of the bath, and the bubbles give up heat to the bath as they rise. The gas is introduced into the bath through a flow distributor, producing a large quantity of very small bubbles, in order to maximize the rate of heat exchange. Cold gas is extracted from the region above the liquid bath. The higher the level of the bath, the greater the time available for heat exchange between the gas and the bath. Controlling the depth of the bath therefore controls the temperature of the cold gas leaving the apparatus. The depth of the bath is primarily controlled by adjusting the rate of flow of cryogenic liquid into the bath.

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First Claim