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Cold Gas Compressors

Cold Gas Compressor Barber-Nichols, Inc. (BNI) is the world leader in the design and manufacture of centrifugal, hermetic cold gas compressors. BNI builds compressors that process hydrogen, nitrogen, natural gas, and helium at temperatures approaching 5 K (-450° F). Hermetic designs are extremely desirable for cryogenic applications because they eliminate the need for mechanical shaft seals and as a result, completely eliminate cryogen leakage. Additionally, hermetic compressors eliminate air infiltration and are inherently explosion proof.

  • High speed designs and the use of variable frequency drives result in efficient operation across a wide variety of head/flow conditions.
  • Single shaft, direct drive designs are highly reliable due to their simplicity and are extremely stable throughout their entire operating range.
  • Low vapor pressure rolling element grease packed and proprietary dry lubricated bearings provide long term, reliable service without contaminating the process fluid
  • Friction free magnetic bearings eliminate wear items and allow machines to operate at extremely high speeds for many years without maintenance
  • User friendly designs allow the compressor to be serviced without breaking the cold box vacuum.

BNI Designs & Manufactures Cold Gas Compressors for the:

  • RHICCirculation of Hot & Cold Nitrogen Gas in Climatic (Satellite) Test Chambers
  • Circulation of Cryogenic Helium for the Cooling of Superconducting Magnets
  • Compression of Boil-Off-Gas at Maritime LNG Receiving Terminals

Hydrogen Circulation for Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Case Study)

Hydrogen Compressor BNI designed and manufactured a supercritical hydrogen compressor for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) Spallation Neutron Source (SNS). The SNS produces a high intensity, cold neutron beam that is used to investigate how materials are assembled at the subatomic level.


The SNS utilizes a hydrogen loop system to cool the neutrons; it begins operation at room temperature and then cools down to 17 K (-429° F). A Variable Frequency Drive was used because the circulator's speed adjusts inversely proportional to the fluid density. It begins operation at 60,000 rpm and gradually slows down to 15,000 rpm when the SNS reaches its operating temperature. When the compressor begins operation at room temperature, it processes 6 m3 /hr (13.4 ft3 /min), and maintains system pressure at 0.27 bar (3.92 psi). When the system reaches it's 17K operating temperature the hydrogen is supercritical and the compressor is processing 1.02 lpm (0.27 gpm), and is maintaining system pressure at 1.00 bar (14.50 psi). Because high reliability and a long life were paramount on ORNL's list of requirements, BNI decided to utilize friction free magnetic bearings rather than grease packed ball bearings.

Propellant Densification for NASA (Case Study)

Propellant DensificationMany of today's large rocket engines utilize Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Hydrogen (LH2 ) as engine propellants. Engineers at Rockwell Space Systems discovered three revolutionary benefits that can be realized when propellants are subcooled, thereby increasing their densities.


First, when propellant densities are increased, their volumes decrease by 7-15%. As a result, substantially smaller propellant tanks can be used. Second, propellant tank walls can be thinner and lighter because subcooled propellants have an extremely low pressure. Finally, subcooled propellants allow launch vehicle designers to utilize smaller, lighter turbopumps. Subcooled propellants have a higher available Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH); therefore, turbopumps can operate at a higher speed without cavitating. Because it costs about $10,000 USD per pound to place a launch vehicle into low earth orbit, propellant densification results in substantial cost savings and the ability to launch greater payloads. BNI designed and built the intricate series of pumps and cold gas compressors required for a prototype system. System tests at NASA's Lewis Plumbrook Field Station yielded positive results. BNI then designed and built full size systems for both LOX and LH2 . The full size systems are currently being tested at NASA's Glenn Research Center.

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