Ambient – the immediate surrounding area, as in air temperature. When describing a cryogenic vaporizer; meaning using the heat of the ambient air for heat source
Cryogenics – the science which involves very low temperatures, usually regarded as below -150F (-100C). Liquid Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Helium and Hydrogen are all cryogenic. CO2 is not
Cryo-Treating – the treatment of metals and other materials at very low (-300F) temperatures, resulting in certain property changes
Dew Point – the temperature at which liquid first condenses when a vapor is cooled
Inert – exhibiting no chemical activity
Liquefied Gases – the liquid form of a gas which under normal (atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature) conditions of pressure and temperature are found only as a gas. Liquid Nitrogen and Liquid Oxygen are good examples.
LNG – liquefied natural gas, a fuel. Liquefied by cooling below the normal boiling point, approximately -260F (-160C)
Nitrogen – a naturally occurring atmospheric gas, 78% of air by volume, inert, boiling point is -320F (-196C)
Normal Boiling Point – the temperature at which a liquid boils when under a total pressure of one atmosphere
Superconductivity – the phenomena by which some substances lose all electrical resistance when their temperature is reduced. This occurs at extremely low temperatures.
Vaporizer – a heat exchanger which causes a liquid to boil. “Ambient” vaporizers use the heat of the atmosphere, “Direct-Fired” vaporizers burn a fuel to heat air or water. A “Water-Bath” vaporizer uses heated water.