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NATIONAL LEVEL TECHNICAL PAPER PRESENTAION ON

Modern applications in cryogenics

ABSTRACT
Cryogenic Engineering involves design and development of system and components, which produce, maintain and utilize low temperatures. Cryogenics finds its advanced applications in the fields like space, medical, manufacturing etc. To consider the field of cryogenics as that involving temperatures below -1500C (123K). Cryogenic engineering utilizes properties of gases like nitrogen, oxygen, argon, neon, fluorine, methane, and helium .In various applications like cryo-treatment of automobile parts to improve there life and efficiency, deep cryogenic tempering of metals and alloys, cryo treatments of gun barrel, for cutting tools, domestic food processing tools, for sporting tools, copper conductors, aerospace comp ,landing gears, supports, medical/dental applications ,surgical tools equipments, musical instruments, cryo treated materials like steels, titanium ,plastics, copper, nylon, aluminum brass, glass. This paper explains about advance applications & new technology of cryogenics which are used in new technical world.

Modern applications in cryogenics

INDEX

SR.NO.
1). 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION PROPERTIES OF CRYOGENICS FLUED APPLICATION OF CRYOGENICS WORKING PRINCIPAL HOW SAFE THE SYSTEM CASE STUDY FUTUR SCOPE OF CRYOGENICS CONCLUSION REFERENCESS

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Modern applications in cryogenics

INTRODUCTION
The word cryogenics is derived from two Latin words. Cryo - means cold Genics - means science.

What is cryogenics?

Cryogenics is the science of cold. It suggests that how to get low temperatures and how materials behave at the low temperatures. It includes unusual and unexpected material property variations appearing at low temperatures.Cryogenics may be considered as the recent advancement in the field of refrigeration. The temperature below 150c (123k) are considered as cryogenic temperature. The cryogenic temp are those boiling point are below 150 c (123K).The four gases which mainly contribute for cryogenic application and research are O2 (B.P.90K), N2 (B.P.77K), Helium (B.P.4.2k) & H2 (B.P.20K). Cryogenic is a stage where gases of air turns liquid, steel becomes brittle as glass and properties of materials changes, also some significant effects appears such as vanishing of specific heats, superconductivity and ductile brittle transitions in C-steel. Cryogenics originally referred to technology and art of producing low temperatures. Cryogenics can be defined as the study of ex-tremble low-temperature branch of physics that studies the causes, effect and utilization of extremely low temperatures. At cryogenics temperatures many material behave in unfamiliar manner than when at ambient temperatures some materials retain the changes at cryo, temperatures to ambient temperatures. Mercury solidifies while glass, rubber & some metallic materials becomes brittle. The specific heat decreases at low temperatures the electric resistance of many metals and alloys becomes very low abruptly. Cryogenics studies evolve around behavior and properties of materials at below 00c which may be as low as -20000c. It is a broad area of science covering a large spectrum from testing at, metal treatment, and thermal imaging industrial gases and liquid for cryotreatment, applied cryo processes to equipments and measuring instruments used for cryo temperatures generation and monitoring.

Modern applications in cryogenics

PROPERTIES OF CRYOGENIC FLUIDS

Nitrogen: Liquid nitrogen is a clear colorless fluid that resembles water in appearance. At standard atmospheric pressure liquid nitrogen boils at 77.36K and freezes at 63.2K saturated liquid at 1 atm has a density of 307Kg/m3.At the normal boiling point, liquid nitrogen has heat of vaporization of 199.3KJ/Kg. It is produced commercially by distillation of air. Argon: Liquid argon is clear, colorless fluid with properties similar to liquid nitrogen. It is inert and non toxic. At 1 atm pressure liquid argon boils at 87.3K and freezes at 83.8K saturated liquid argon has density 1394Kg/m3. It is obtained by adding a small auxiliary argon recovery column in air separation plant. Neon: Liquid neon is a clear, colorless liquid that boils at 1 atm at 27.09K and freezes at 24.54K. Neon is inert, has a large heat of vaporization per unit volume and has a higher density which makes it an attractive refrigerant when compare to hydrogen. Hydrogen: Liquid hydrogen has a normal boiling point of 20.3K and a density at a normal boiling point of only 70.79Kg/m3. Liquid hydrogen is an odorless, colorless liquid that alone will not support combustion. In combination with oxygen or air, however hydrogen is quite flammable. Liquid CO2: It has a boiling point of -78.40C with a practical cooling limit of -550C to -650C due to low efficiency and dry ice accumulation near the lower limit. LCO2 has the advantage over L-N2 in that it is typically slightly less expensive per pound and has a slightly better cooling capacity per pound at typical temp. Main problem of CO2 is dry ice formation and accumulation will be apparent at -450C, copious at -550C & may be problematic at lower temperatures.

Modern applications in cryogenics

APPLICATIONS OF CRYOGENICS.
1. In Space Research: In rocket & missile launching system cryogenic fluids such

as L-O2 & L-H2 use as propellants. To provide & handle this cryogenic fluid cryogenic cooling is used. 2. In Electronics: Sensitive microwave amplifiers, called masers, are cooled to LN2 or L-He temperatures so that thermal vibrations of the atoms of the amplifier element do not seriously interfere with absorption & emission of microwave energy. Cryogenically cooled masers have been used in missile detectors, in radio astronomy & in space communication system. 3. In Biological & Medical applications: L-N2 cooled containers are used to preserve whole blood, tissue, bone marrow & animal semen for long periods of time. Cryogenic surgery has been used for the treatment of Parkinsons disease, eye surgery. 4. In Food Processing: Today frozen foods are prepared by placing cartons on a conveyor belt & moving the belt through a L-N2 bath. The cryogenic process requires about 7 min. compared with 30 to 48 min. required by conventional methods. 5. In Manufacturing Process: Cryogenic cooling is used to cool the tool tip at the time of machining. It increases the tool life. Oxygen is used to perform several important functions in the steel manufacturing process. 6. Recycling of Materials: By freezing the automobile or truck tire in L-N2 , the rubber is made brittle & can be crushed into small particles. These particles can be used again for other items. 7. In Metallurgy: To convert the retained austenite into marten site.

Modern applications in cryogenics

WORKING PRINCIPAL

1. RECYCLING OF MATERIALS
One of the more difficult items to recycle is the automobile or truck tire. For solving this problem the CRYOGRINDING machines are used. The basic principle used in cryogrinding is that, the scrap rubber is cooled below its embitterment temperature and pulverizes it in hammer mill. Rubber is cooled by using liquid nitrogen. With this process we get about 90-95% recovery of rubber.

Cryogrindings offers the following advantages: Reduces the waste disposal problems Reduces the requirements of fresh rubber We can grind the smaller rubber particles down to 200 microns Improved surface morphology

2. Polar Snow, a state-of-the-art technology for the production of 'real snow'

Identical to natural snow but produced using liquid nitrogen, Polar Snow can be mass produced at any required quality, from perfect powder for skiing or snowboarding, to icy slush for tyre testing. Polar Snow has been used on the indoor and out-of-season ski slopes all year round and for events such as the ISF World Pro Snowboarding Tour. We have even developed a facility for testing tyres in snow for the automotive industry. Polar Snow technology allows real snow to be made anywhere and anytime, from the heat of the Sahara Desert to the dampness of London Parks. Give your event the individual touch, and control the climate with Polar snow.

Modern applications in cryogenics

3. For aerospace and launch vehicle application.

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has led the nations effort in the development of production and handling technology of densified cryogenic propellant systems for aerospace and launch vehicle application. The technology of subcooling cryogenic propellants below their normal boiling point and thereby making the fluid denser is one of the key process technologies necessary to meet the challenge of singlestage-to-orbit (SSTO) and reusable launch vehicles (RLV). Densified propellants are critical to lowering payload to orbit costs cause they enable more cryogenic propellant to be packed into a given unit volume, thereby improving the performance of a launch vehicle by reducing its overall size and weight. Density improvements of 8% for LH2 and 10% for LO2 are expected to reduce the gross lift-off weight of a launch vehicle system by Up to 20 percent.

Modern applications in cryogenics 4. IN EMISSION CONTROLE SYSTEM

Effective emission control is essential for the pharmaceutical processing industry, which relies on the use of its products. Ever since the introduction of the introduction of the EU solvent emissions Directive, adopted in the UK in 2002, such processors have been seeking ways to reduce their solvent consumption and enhance on-site emission control, while maintaining efficiency. The use of cryogenic technology in emissions is nothing new. Ever since the late 1980s, cryogenic condensation systems have been used by chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers to freeze and recover solvent emissions. Such systems work by cooling the exhaust gas stream-containing the solvent to below the solvents own freezing point. Liquid nitrogen, which has a temperature of -1960C, provides the cooling power to literally freeze out the solvent, which can be recovered separately. The clean gas stream can be released safely into the atmosphere. High performance cryogenic condensation systems are capable of recovering solvents in a pure form, which is suitable for re-use on site. The recovered solvent could potentially be sold back to suppliers or to other manufacturers so driving efficiency and contributing to an overall reduction in the plants solvent use. In some circumstances, further sustainability benefits are possible by recovering the liquid nitrogen used in the freezing process it can be re-used elsewhere on site to ensure an inert processes environment & reduce running costs. To date these sustainability benefits have not been fully realized & they present an opportunity for forward looking processing plants in the future.

Modern applications in cryogenics

How safe is this system?

Common cryogenic coolants do not harm the Ozone layer, are not flammable, and

are not poisonous. The common coolants, Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen, are normal components of our breathable air. In fact, about 78% of our atmosphere is Nitrogen, so its safety is pretty well demonstrated. Carbon Dioxide is the fizzy part of soft drinks, so it better safe.

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Modern applications in cryogenics 5.CRYOGENIC BLAST CLEANING WITH CO2 PELLETS:Conventional blast cleaning technologies with sand, glass beads, other solids or even water under high pressure leave behind abrasive residues and dirt. This results in high cost for the disposal or processing of the contaminated abrasive materials. Cryogenics blast cleaning with co2 pellets was therefore, developed as a new process for industrial cleaning. The use of dry ice granulates is environmentally compatible, economical and preserves the material being cleaned. The process can be affected directly at the production site, reduces down time and does not leave behind abrasive residues. The life of the cleaned objects, e.g. core boxes or dies, is considerably extended. The use of these type of technology permits on site cleaning and even cleaning during operation, thereby avoiding downtimes, as well as time consuming assembly work which means an increase in productivity. Since the process operates without water the often considerable drying cost associated with conventional blast cleaning methods are avoided

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Modern applications in cryogenics

CASE STUDY

The space cryogenics Chinese efforts in space technology started in late 1950s. Development continued steadily since the launching of the first satellite in 1971. Commercial launching of foreign communication satellites began in 1990 with H2/O2-engined rocket. Manned spacecraft programmer is beginning. National communication satellites have been placed in orbit since 1984. Meteorological satellites and resource surveying satellites with infrared imaging are also in service. Cryogenic technology specific for the rockets and the spacecrafts has been largely developed under.

FUTURE OF CRYOGENICS
Though a lot of work and research has been done in the field of cryogenics a lot, more is needed to be done. The inherent disadvantage of cryogenic process is the heavy cost which needs to be incurred in the equipment and the costs of the process itself. Future use of superconductivity system is proposed for high speed rail transport. If research in this field is successful it will be revolutionize the land transport systems. Another field where cryogenics can play a vital role is that of automobile field. With the increasing cost of hydrocarbons and the possibility that their reserves may soon be exhausted hydrogen presence an excellent alternative from all consideration including the fact that it does not produce any pollution on combustion. If hydrogen becomes the fuel of the future it will have to be store in the liquid state thus giving cryogenics an undreamed future. Also the application in medicine and biology will have far reaching effects on the society. The use of artificial insemination in cattle is made possible by cryogenics which is beyond doubt a boon to the villagers in our country helping them become stronger socially and economically. A similar technology to

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Modern applications in cryogenics

freeze the human sperms and able to thaw it successfully after maintaining it in the frozen condition for many years is possible with cryogenics.

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Modern applications in cryogenics

CONCLUSION
The current developments in missiles and propulsion systems are the direct consequences of mans foray into cryogenics. Thus going application wise the field cryogenics is giving more promises for the future than any other fields. And also the use of liquid hydrogen has put back the importance of fuels such as petrol and diesel. Thus it can be concluded that, the widely spread application of cryogenics in the field such as; Manufacturing technology, space technology, biomedical and chemical applications Mechanical design have pushed the man on the innovative track. Hence finally it can be concluded that cryogenic form the main thrust of most vital sophisticated systems in use, by countries whose hunger for technological superiority is a never-ending desire.

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Modern applications in cryogenics

REFERENCES
1. IIM METAL NEWS VOL.5 FEB. O2 2. IIM METAL NEWS VOL. 2 JUNE. 99 3. IIM METAL NEWS VOL.6 APR. 03 4. Randall Barron Cryogenics Systems McGraw-Hill Book Company 1965. 5. Dr. V. D. Kodgire, Material Science and Metallurgy for Engineers, 1994, pp.436-441. http://www.cryogenicsindia.com/ http://www.metal-wear.com http://www.polarsnow.com/

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