Frozen World: An Introduction to Cryogenics

By Ashish Singh Dhanjal|Updated : August 26th, 2020

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Introduction:

  • Cryogenics is the science associated with the generation of low temperatures below 123 Kelvin/-150 degree Celsius. Upto 123 Kelvin, it is regarded as Refrigeration Engineering.
  • You all must have heard of Liquid Nitrogen or you can see it in several movies like "Terminator 2: The Judgement Day".

 

  • The study of Cryogenics is essential as the properties of all materials change when they reach very low temperature (123 Kelvin) for example when normal rubber pad is dipped into liquid nitrogen, then it loses its flexibility and becomes very hard in nature.
  • Also, when potato is dipped in liquid nitrogen then it can be converted into powder for unlike before.
  • The most important points to be remembered is that the work should be minimum in achieving  these low temperatures. A proper and efficient cryogenic cycle has to be taken for particular gases.
  • The main gases which contribute to cryogenic application and research are Oxygen, Nitrogen, Helium and Hydrogen.

Liquid Nitrogen

  • Just like the ICC is there for cricket, ICC is here also i.e International Cryocooler Conference which is held every year only to bring out the research work all over the world at one place.
  • Cryocooler is just like a refrigerator which gives out very low temperature in a closed cycle manner.

Measurement of Cryogenic Temperature

The normal sensors and devices are designed in a way that they are sensitive to extreme temperatures. Therefore, in this case we use Silicon Diode which can be calibrated to meaure the temperature upto 1 Kelvin. Also, Platinum-100  can be calibrated to measure the cryogenic temperature upto 30 Kelvin.  

Silicon Diode

Applications:

  • Rocket Propulsion: A Cryogenic Rocket Engine use cryogenic fuel and oxidiser i.e. both fuel and oxidiser are gases liquefied and stored at very low temperature. Such engines were first flown on the US Atlas Centaur were one of the main factors of NASA success in reaching the Moon by the Saturn V rocket.

Cryogenic Rocket Engine

  • Liquid Hydrogen is used as a fuel to propel the rocket.
  • Liquid Oxygen is used as an oxidizer.
  • Cooling of Infrared detectors, telescopes, cold probes, are major applications of cryogenics.
  • Space simulation chambers are realistic environment for spacecrafts. The cold space is simulated at cryogenic temperature by the use of liquid nitrogen.
  • Development of miniature Cryocoolers thus we can carry these small Cryocoolers at any desired places.

Cryocooler

  • Also, Cryosurgery is an essential application i.e it uses extreme low temperatures to destroy tumors in human body. Argon, Nitrogen and Carbon dioxide are involved in Cryosurgery. Cryosurgery has many benefits like shorter hospital stays, less blood loss and less recovery time.
  • Cryogenic Recycling: It turns the scrap into raw materials by subjecting it to cryogenic temperature. This is mostly used for PVC, rubbers etc.

Cryogenic Recycling

Also, the miniature Cryocoolers can be used by the Army in such a way that it can be installed in their jackets so that it will provide them cooling if they are working in areas such as deserts.

  • Superconductivity: This area has emerged due to cryogenics only. The Maglev Train runs one the principle of Magnetic Levitation. The train gets levitated from the guide which results in no contact motion and no friction. Therefore, these trains are easy to maintain due to no or very low wear and tear.

Maglev Train

Therefore, Cryogenics has a variety of applications which are very helpful in today's world. 

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