The term “cascade” refers to one of the earliest types of gas liquefaction devices. This method gradually cooled the gas to its liquefied state by using multiple successive cooling agents, such as a mixture of ice and sodium chloride, diethyl ether with solid carbon dioxide, liquid ethylene, or other refrigerants.

The presented apparatus was designed by Karol Olszewski. The core components of the gas liquefaction system, particularly for oxygen with the ability to collect a portion of cryogenic liquid, are mounted within a wooden framework. In this device, Olszewski implemented a gradual gas cooling technique similar to that of his earlier model, which is also part of the collection at the Jagiellonian University Museum.

The liquefier’s design was modernized by replacing the glass tubing with a steel tank. The apparatus included a Dewar vessel, which facilitated the collection of liquefied gas. This device could liquefy approximately 200 cm³ (0.2 liters) of gas per operation. By swapping the tank of compressed gas with a filled one, it was possible to obtain additional liquid portions quickly, marking a significant step forward in cryogenic technology.

Aparelhos em cascata para liquefação de gases por Museus Virtuais de Małopolska estão licenciados sob Creative Commons Attribution