Hydrogen Precooling with Propane Refrigeration and ORC Heat Recovery

Hydrogen is cooled from near-ambient temperature to 225 K using a propane refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration system employs multiple pressure levels, phase separation and recycle to provide cooling over the required temperature range. Heat rejected from the propane cycle is partly recovered in an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) for power generation. The flowsheet illustrates integrated refrigeration, heat recovery and recycle operation relevant to hydrogen precooling and other low-temperature process applications.