What To Learn About Cryogenic Gases

By Laura Williams


Cryogenic liquids refer to gasses that have been liquefied and stored in their liquid state at extremely low temperatures. There are other names that are used to refer to these substances, which include cryogenic liquefied gasses, refrigerated liquefied gases, and deeply refrigerated gases. Cryogenic gases are usually formed from cryogenic liquids that have been vaporized. These substances have very many applications in industrial and commercial settings.

In one occasion, the application of these gasses comes from their property of having low temperatures. A good example is in machinery where very low temperatures of the gasses are applied to let them form tight linkages with other gears. Transporting frozen gasses in extremely large amounts is another application made possible by cryogens gasses. For example, between 690 and 850 liters of gas can be transported easily because it only condenses into a single liter of liquid.

These gasses usually have a boiling point below -150 degree Celsius but this rule has a few exceptions. For instance, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are counted as cryogens even though they boil at higher temperatures. Carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide boil at -78.5 and -88.5 degrees Celsius respectively. Helium boils at -269 degrees with a lot more other cryogens boiling at considerably lower temperatures.

Cryogens are important and hazardous to animal and human life. This is because they have various properties that make them dangerous. For example, these gasses generate severe cold burns as soon as they come in contact with bare skin or eyes. This is due to low temperatures. The tissue will immediately get damaged when a person comes in contact with uninsulated equipment or pipes applied in storage or transportation of cryogens.

The experienced tissue damage is similar to the one caused by heat. Freezing occurs immediately in the case of the eyes or skin being sprayed by a jet of gas. It is thus very important to put on proper protective clothing when handling cryogens. Protective gear is meant to protect the body from coming in direct contact with the equipment or the substance itself since it can cause injury and damage.

Cryogens also have bad effect on carbon steels, plastics, and some types of rubber. When these materials are exposed to cryogens, they become brittle, making them susceptible to failure when exposed to the slightest amount of stress. On the contrary, some materials do not undergo brittle transition when exposed to low temperatures, allowing them to retain their ductility. Such materials include aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steels, and certain plastics.

Cryogens usually cause blockages in pipes, vessels, and equipment as a result of freezing of moisture and humidity inside. The freezing results from the cold nature of cryogens. As a result of the formation of ice, instrument lines, stop valves, pressure gauges, and safety valves among other apparatus may stop to operate correctly. If not corrected, this could cause a major safety hazard or accident.

Cryogens also cause catastrophic failure or bursting of equipment they are stored in. Vaporization of cryogenic liquid causes accumulation of pressure which leads to the rupturing. A buildup of pressure is triggered by the liquid absorbing thermal energy as it vaporizes to form huge amounts of gas.




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