This Is What Cryogenic Gases Are Used For

By Nancy Edwards


Cryogenics is a term that is used to refer to the process of producing of materials at extremely low temperatures. It may also refer to any process or material that relates to low temperatures. On the other hand, the term cryogenic liquid refers to a liquefied gas that is stored in a liquid state.Cryogenic gases usually have extremely low boiling point.

Often, these gases will register boiling points that are as low as 150 degrees below zero. As a result of this, they exist as gases at room temperature and pressure. In spite of the differences, there are two common properties among cryogens. First of all, they all have extremely low temperatures. Secondly, large gas amounts are formed when small amounts of the liquid evaporate.

There are three major groups in which most cryogenic liquids and the resultant gasses can be categorized. The three categories are inert gasses, flammable gasses, and oxygen. Inert gasses undergo minimum chemical reaction. Similarly, they do not support combustion and neither do they burn. Major examples of materials classified as inert include krypton, neon, helium, argon, and nitrogen.

Gasses that can undergo combustion in air and are created from cryogenic liquids are called flammable gasses. Hydrogen, methane, and liquefied natural gasses are examples of flammable gasses. Finally, substances taken as non-combustible can burn in presence of liquid oxygen. With liquefied oxygen, explosive reaction can occur to other materials like organic materials.

Cryogenics are applied in several applications. Some of these uses lie in the medical and industrial industries. As temperature decreases, the electrical resistance of most metals decreases. That means that cryogens play a big role in reducing the electrical resistance of metals. Another major application of cryogens lies in the freezing and food preservation industries. There are foods that need to be preserved fast to prevent them from going bad.

In the field of medicine, cryogens are is put into application through the process of cryosurgery. Here, a specific body part is subjected to extremely low temperatures intended to kill any undesirable or malfunctioning tissues in the body. In a case where the body cells and tissues are cancerous, the process can be used as a cancer treatment option. The rate at which this method is gaining popularity and being put into application has risen tremendously.

Another major use of cryogens is in blood banking. Low temperatures are necessary in the storage of certain rare blood groups. The temperatures may have to be as low as -165 degrees Celsius. Liquid nitrogen has been used in certain cryogenics technology incorporated in night club effect systems. These systems produce a chilling effect and white fog, which is then illuminated using colored lights.

In working machines, cryogenic cooling can be used to cool off components at the end of the machine. Such cooling is essential in prolonging the lifetime of the tools in use. Cryogens are also used as propellants in rockets with the cryogens in most use being liquid oxygen, hydrogen, and methane.




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