Process Design for Cryogenics

This book addresses the design of cryogenic processes such as air separation, liquefaction of natural gas, and liquefaction of hydrogen and helium. It begins with an overview of the fundamentals of cryogenics, followed by process design for modern industrial plants. The book helps to visualize the theories of thermodynamics associated with cryogenics in practice. A central concept is the connection between the theoretical world of process design and the real constraints imposed by available hardware components and systems.

The book starts with a chapter on cryogenic gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, neon, hydrogen, helium, and methane, followed by a chapter on thermodynamics. The subsequent chapters cover typical cryogenic cooling processes, including the classical Joule-Thomson process, the modern mixed-gas Joule-Thomson process, and expander-based processes such as Brayton and Claude cycles. It also addresses the liquefaction of helium and hydrogen as well as air separation.

This book is a must-read for engineers and scientists working on cryogenic processes in academia and industry.