US3581513A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for freezing rock and soil
Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
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Filing: 1969-04-23
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1989-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for freezing water in the rock and/or soil formation surrounding a chamber, at least partially below ground level, used for storing liquid gas at cryogenic temperatures. Gas boiled from the liquid gas in the chamber is vented and is distributed to a plurality of series connected heat exchangers positioned in the surrounding formation. The cold gas freezes the water in the formation surrounding the heat exchangers to thereby improve the insulating properties of the insulation surrounding the chamber and to ultimately stop any seepage of water around the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 John L Cranmer Jr
- 👤 Bertram E Eakin
- 👤 Eugene P Mccann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:10
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C3/00; F17C3/005; F25; F25B; F25B23/00; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0147; F17C2201/0157; F17C2201/03; F17C2201/032; F17C2201/05; F17C2201/054; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/03; F17C2203/0304; F17C2203/0308; F17C2203/032; F17C2203/0329; F17C2203/0333; F17C2203/0358; F17C2203/0362; F17C2203/037; F17C2203/06; F17C2203/0634; F17C2203/0636; F17C2203/0639; F17C2203/0678; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2223/03; F17C2223/033; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/03; F17C2227/0337; F17C2227/0339; F17C2227/0367; F17C2227/0369; F17C2227/0376; F17C2227/0383; F17C2265/00; F17C2265/03; F17C2265/032; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/01; F17C2270/0142; F17C2270/0144; F17C2270/0147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A system for freezing water, said system comprising a chamber storing liquid gas at cryogenic temperatures, a formation surrounding and exteriorly spaced of said chamber and containing water, water-barrier means intermediate at least the upper and side portions of said chamber and said formation, at least a portion of said liquid gas being boiled off to the gaseous state, means in the upper portion of said chamber for venting said boiled-off gas, heat exchanger means positioned in at least the sidewalls of said formation, and means directly interconnecting said heat exchanger means and said venting means for passinG said boiled-off gas to said heat exchanger means for progressively freezing the water in the formation surrounding said heat exchanger means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A system for freezing water, said system comprising a chamber storing liquid gas at cryogenic temperatures, a formation surrounding and exteriorly spaced of said chamber and containing water, water-barrier means intermediate at least the upper and side portions of said chamber and said formation, at least a portion of said liquid gas being boiled off to the gaseous state, means in the upper portion of said chamber for venting said boiled-off gas, heat exchanger means positioned in at least the sidewalls of said formation, and means directly interconnecting said heat exchanger means and said venting means for passinG said boiled-off gas to said heat exchanger means for progressively freezing the water in the formation surrounding said heat exchanger means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said chamber includes a top and sides, said heat exchanger means comprises a plurality of heat exchangers in said formation adjacent said top and sides, and said interconnecting means comprises conduit means connecting said heat exchanger means in series.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said vent means is interconnected to said interconnecting means at the central portion of said upper portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said chamber includes a bottom portion, water-permeable means surrounding said chamber, and pump means are in communication with said water-permeable means for pumping water, which is not frozen at the heat exchanger means, upwardly from the bottom portion of said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 4 wherein means are provided for distributing said pumped water at the central portion of the upper portion of said chamber for passage thereof over said water-barrier means for avoiding ice formation thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger means comprises series connected cylindrical members in said formation having an inner pipe passing cold boiled-off gas upwardly and an outer annual portion for passing the gas downwardly to an outlet portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said formation is earth and said chamber is at least partially below ground level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said chamber has at least its sides below the ground, said heat exchanger means comprises a plurality of heat exchangers in the earth formation surrounding the sides below the ground and said interconnecting means comprises conduit means connecting said heat exchanger means in series.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said chamber includes a bottom portion, water-permeable means surround said chamber, and pump means are in communication with said water-permeable means for pumping water, which is not frozen at the heat exchanger means, upwardly from the said bottom portion of said chamber.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for freezing water, said method comprising the steps of providing a chamber having a formation containing water spaced there around and being used for storing liquid gas at cryogenic temperatures, providing water-barrier means intermediate at least the upper and side portions of said chamber and said formation, at least a portion of said gas being boiled off to the gaseous state, venting said boiled gas from the liquid gas in said chamber, distributing said boiled-off gas in a closed system to a plurality of heat exchanger means positioned in at least the sidewalls of said formation, and freezing the water surrounding said heat exchanger means in said formation with said boiled-off gas.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for freezing water, said method comprising the steps of providing a chamber having a formation containing water spaced there around and being used for storing liquid gas at cryogenic temperatures, providing water-barrier means intermediate at least the upper and side portions of said chamber and said formation, at least a portion of said gas being boiled off to the gaseous state, venting said boiled gas from the liquid gas in said chamber, distributing said boiled-off gas in a closed system to a plurality of heat exchanger means positioned in at least the sidewalls of said formation, and freezing the water surrounding said heat exchanger means in said formation with said boiled-off gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10 including the steps of first freezing the upper portion of said formation and then freezing the water at the sidewall heat exchanger means of said formation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 10 including the steps of collecting water from around said chamber, and pumping said collected water and distributing at least a portion of said water over said water-barrier means to avoid ice formation thereon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said formation is provided as an earth formation and said chamber is provided at least partially below ground level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 13 including the steps of providing water-barrier means around said chamber, collecting water from around said chamber, pumping said collected water and distributing at least a portion of said water over said water-barrier means to avoid ice formation thereon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the heat exchanger means at the upper portion of said formation are frozen before the water at the heat exchanger means surrounding the lower portion of said formation are frozen.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |