Device and System for Condensing Gas

Abstract

Various embodiments include an apparatus for liquefying gas comprising: an inlet for a pressurized gas; a countercurrent heat exchanger with a first channel for the pressurized gas to flow in a first direction; an expansion nozzle, such that the pressurized gas flows from the first channel into the nozzle, and flows out to form an aerosol comprising a gaseous phase and liquid droplets; an aerosol breaker separating at least some of the droplets out of the gaseous phase; a collecting region for gathering and collecting droplets dripping off the aerosol breaker; and a second channel of the countercurrent heat exchanger surrounding the first channel. The flow of the gaseous phase out of the expansion nozzle is colder compared to the gas flowing through the second channel in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second channel surrounds the first channel. The apparatus comprises a monolithic structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for liquefying gas, the apparatus comprising:
 an inlet for a pressurized gas to be introduced into the apparatus;   a countercurrent heat exchanger with a first channel supplied with the pressurized gas via the inlet and wherein the pressurized gas flows in a first direction;   an expansion nozzle into which the first channel opens, such that the pressurized gas flows from the first channel into the expansion nozzle, and flows out of the expansion nozzle to form an aerosol comprising a gaseous phase and liquid droplets;   an aerosol breaker separating at least some of the droplets out of the gaseous phase;   a collecting region for gathering and collecting droplets dripping off the aerosol breaker; and   a second channel of the countercurrent heat exchanger surrounding the first channel;   wherein flow of the gaseous phase out of the expansion nozzle is colder compared to the gas flowing through the second channel in a second direction opposite to the first direction;   the second channel surrounds the first channel; and   the apparatus comprises a monolithic structure.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an evacuated insulation jacket surrounding the countercurrent heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a monolithic structure fabricated using an additive manufacturing method. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first channel runs in a spiral. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first channel includes:
 a first channel section; and   a second channel section disposed on an inside of the first channel section facing the collecting region.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first channel has a length of at least 10 meters. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the aerosol breaker comprises a multitude of funnel-shaped layers arranged one on top of another; and   each funnel-shaped layer has associated breaker plates spaced apart from one another in circumferential direction of the aerosol breaker.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the expansion nozzle opens into a region bounded by the aerosol breaker. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the expansion nozzle includes a nozzle channel bounded by an inner circumferential face of a first nozzle body of the expansion nozzle; and   a second nozzle body is disposed within the inner circumferential face and is retained and spaced apart from the inner circumferential face by lands on the inner circumferential face;   wherein the inner circumferential face and the second nozzle body bound a nozzle cross section narrowing in the flow direction of the gas flowing through the nozzle channel.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a metal. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled)