Compression of a cryogenic medium

Abstract

A method for compressing a cryogenic medium, in particular hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen or argon is described. The cryogenic medium is compressed in two compressor stages from an initial pressure to a final pressure by way of an intermediate pressure, such that the first compressor stage is designed as a cryogenic compressor stage. The cryogenic medium is advantageously compressed to a pressure between 30 and 70 bar in the first compressor stage and in the second compressor stage is compressed to the desired final pressure by means of a hot gas compression.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A method for compressing a cryogenic medium, characterized in that the cryogenic medium is compressed in two compressor stages from an initial pressure to a final pressure by way of an intermediate pressure, and a first compressor stage is designed as a cryogenic compressor stage. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the cryogenic medium is compressed to a pressure between 30 and 70 bar in the first compressor stage. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the two compressor stages are implemented in piston compressors and are driven by means of a shared drive. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein a single-piston compressor is used per compressor stage, characterized in that the two single-piston compressors are operated as a reciprocating compressor. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the cryogenic medium is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and argon.