Method for cooling a consumer via a cooling zone extending between a first end and a second end, wherein - the method is performed in a first method mode in at least one first time period and in a second method mode in at least one second, different time period, - in the first and in the second method mode, liquid nitrogen in the form of a circulating flow is continuously and repeatedly subjected to a first cooling in the circuit; supplied to the cooling zone at the first end; transported from the first end to the second end along the cooling zone; removed from the cooling zone at the second end; subjected to a second cooling; supplied to the cooling zone at the second end; transported from the second end to the first end along the cooling zone; and removed from the cooling zone at the first end, - in the first and in the second method mode, the first cooling is performed using a first, supercooled nitrogen bath, and the second cooling is performed using a second, supercooled nitrogen bath, wherein, in the first method mode, the first nitrogen bath is supercooled at least partially by means of a closed cooling device, and, in the first and in the second method mode, the second nitrogen bath is supercooled at least partially through pressure reduction to a sub-atmospheric pressure level, - in the first and in the second method mode, an amount of nitrogen evaporating from the second nitrogen bath due to the pressure reduction to the sub-atmospheric pressure level is at least partially compensated for from a reservoir in that liquid nitrogen is removed from the reservoir, supercooled, and introduced into the circulating flow before the circulating flow is supplied to the cooling zone at the first end, and in that liquid nitrogen is discharged from the circulating flow and at least partially supplied to the second nitrogen bath after the circulating flow is removed from the cooling zone at the second end, - in the second method mode, the closed cooling device is not operated or operated only at reduced power, and further liquid nitrogen is removed from the reservoir, supercooled, and supplied to the first supercooled nitrogen bath, and - furthermore, in the second method mode, by means of a pump, gaseous nitrogen is pumped out of the first nitrogen bath under pressure reduction to a sub-atmospheric pressure level, characterized in that - that in which the liquid nitrogen, in the form of the circulating flow, is conducted, during transport from the first end to the second end, along the cooling zone through one or more first cooling passages, and, during transport from the second end to the first end, along the cooling zone through one or more second cooling passages, which is or are fluidically separated from the one or more first cooling passages. - the method is performed in a first method mode in at least one first time period and in a second method mode in at least one second, different time period, - in the first and in the second method mode, liquid nitrogen in the form of a circulating flow is continuously and repeatedly subjected to a first cooling in the circuit; supplied to the cooling zone at the first end; transported from the first end to the second end along the cooling zone; removed from the cooling zone at the second end; subjected to a second cooling; supplied to the cooling zone at the second end; transported from the second end to the first end along the cooling zone; and removed from the cooling zone at the first end, - in the first and in the second method mode, the first cooling is performed using a first, supercooled nitrogen bath, and the second cooling is performed using a second, supercooled nitrogen bath, wherein, in the first method mode, the first nitrogen bath is supercooled at least partially by means of a closed cooling device, and, in the first and in the second method mode, the second nitrogen bath is supercooled at least partially through pressure reduction to a sub-atmospheric pressure level, - in the first and in the second method mode, an amount of nitrogen evaporating from the second nitrogen bath due to the pressure reduction to the sub-atmospheric pressure level is at least partially compensated for from a reservoir in that liquid nitrogen is removed from the reservoir, supercooled, and introduced into the circulating flow before the circulating flow is supplied to the cooling zone at the first end, and in that liquid nitrogen is discharged from the circulating flow and at least partially supplied to the second nitrogen bath after the circulating flow is removed from the cooling zone at the second end, - in the second method mode, the closed cooling device is not operated or operated only at reduced power, and further liquid nitrogen is removed from the reservoir, supercooled, and supplied to the first supercooled nitrogen bath, and - furthermore, in the second method mode, by means of a pump, gaseous nitrogen is pumped out of the first nitrogen bath under pressure reduction to a sub-atmospheric pressure level, characterized in that - that in which the liquid nitrogen, in the form of the circulating flow, is conducted, during transport from the first end to the second end, along the cooling zone through one or more first cooling passages, and, during transport from the second end to the first end, along the cooling zone through one or more second cooling passages, which is or are fluidically separated from the one or more first cooling passages.