The cooling potential of cryogens. Part 1: the early development of refrigeration and cryogenic technology

Refrigeration and cryogenic cooling technology share a common history. The underlying science is fundamentally the same yet they tend to be treated as separate subjects. In certain niche applications cryogens may offer a viable alternative to more conventional refrigeration methods. This paper aims to provide an overview of the historical development of cooling technology, in particular the synergy between ambient cooling (refrigeration) and much lower temperature cryogenic cooling technology, and explain the similarity of the underlying thermodynamics. An introduction to the properties of cryogens is provided and examples of their use in ‘high’ temperature cooling applications given