Patent ID: 7111467

Claim:
A process of using an ultra-low temperature closed-loop recirculating gas chilling system for reducing the temperature of an object or fluid from a temperature in the range of from about +50° C. to about +350° C. to a temperature in the range of from about −30° C. to about −150° C., the process comprising: providing an object or fluid at a temperature in the range of from about +50° C. to about +350° C. in a sealed external heat exchanger in fluid connection with a closed loop chilling system itself comprising a primary refrigeration system and a secondary gas coolant system; a. wherein the primary refrigeration system comprises, in series fluid connection, a compressor, a condenser, at least one heat exchanger, and at least one flow metering device; b. wherein the secondary gas coolant system comprises, in fluid connection, a compressor, an aftercooler, and a means to protect the compressor from excessively low or high temperatures; c. wherein the primary refrigeration system and secondary gas coolant system are indirectly connected by an outlet line from the secondary gas coolant system to a secondary inlet of the at least one heat exchanger of the primary refrigeration system; d. wherein the secondary outlet line from the at least one heat exchanger of the primary refrigeration system is in fluid connection with the sealed external heat exchanger containing the object or fluid to be chilled; and e. wherein the sealed external heat exchanger is in fluid connection with the means to protect the compressor from excessively low or high temperatures in the secondary gas coolant system; and actuating at least one of the primary refrigeration system and the secondary refrigeration system to reduce the temperature of the object or fluid being cooled to a temperature in the range of from about −30° C. to about −150° C.