US3754407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for cooling material using carbon dioxide snow
Assignee: Liquid Carbonic Corp
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Filing: 1972-05-08
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Granted: 1973-08-28
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Expires: 1992-05-08
Abstract
Abstract High pressure liquid CO2 from a storage vessel is subcooled by flashing a portion of a liquid stream therefrom to liquid plus vapor and passing the remaining portion of the liquid stream in heat-exchange therewith. The lower pressure vapor, which is compressed and returned to the storage vessel, is used to transfer the subcooled liquid CO2 to a holding tank which may be located at a substantial distance from and above the storage vessel. High pressure vapor from the storage vessel is employed to intermittently supply subcooled high pressure CO2 to one or more snow-making devices, located closer to the holding tank, which apply CO2 snow to the material being cooled. High pressure vapor is also employed to prevent snow formation in the system upstream of the snow-making devices.
Inventors
- 👤 L Tyree
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:28
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/12; C; C01; C01B; C01B32/00; C01B32/50; C01B32/55; F17; F17C; F17C7/00; F17C7/02; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0128; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0323; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/013; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/01; F17C2227/0128; F17C2227/0135; F17C2227/0157
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein high pressure is applied to the holding tank by interconnection with the vapor portion of the storage vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein liquid CO2 is supplied from the holding tank to a plurality of snow-making means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein subsequent to said intermittent snow-making, the snow-making means is flushed with CO2 vapor from the storage vessel to prevent the formation of solid CO2 upstream of orifice means in the snow-making means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein CO2 vapor is also supplied to said snow-making means just prior to said intermittent flow of liquid CO2 to said snow-making means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
356 words
A system for cooling material using CO2 snow, which system comprises a storage vessel for holding liquid CO2 and CO2 vapor at high pressure, a device for making CO2 snow and applying said CO2 snow to material to be cooled which device is spaced a substantial distance from said storage vessel, a holding tank located relatively near said snow-making device, heat-exchange means, first means for supplying high pressure liquid CO2 from said storage vessel to said heat-exchange means, means connected to said supply means for expanding the high pressure liquid CO2 to produce lower pressure lower temperature liquid CO2 plus vapor at one side of said heat-exchange means, second means for supplying high pressure liquid CO2 from said storage vessel to the other side of said heat-exchange means to thereby pass high pressure liquid CO2 through said heat-exchange means to subcool said high pressure liquid CO2, a compressor, first conduit means interconnecting the compressor inlet and the vapor section of said one side of said heat-exchange means and the upper portion of said holding tank, first valve means in said first conduit means for isolating said holding tank therefrom, a line connecting the discharge of said compressor to said storage vessel, second conduit means connecting a subcooled liquid CO2 outlet from said heat-exchange means to said holding tank, third conduit means connecting said holding tank to said snow-making device, third valve means in said third conduit means, fourth conduit means interconnecting said holding tank and the vapor section of said storage vessel, fourth valve means in said fourth conduit means and control means interconnected with said first, third and fourth valve means, said control means being operable to close said third and fourth valve means and to open said first valve means to cause subcooled high pressure liquid CO2 to flow into said holding tank and said control means also being operable to close said first valve means and to open said third and fourth valve means to cause high pressure subcooled liquid CO2 to be supplied from said holding tank to said snow-making device to create CO2 snow for application to material to be cooled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein a plurality of snow-making devices are provided and connected to said holding tank by said third conduit means and wherein separate third valve means is provided for each of said snow-making devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first conduit means includes a vapor accumulator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein means is provided in said first conduit means for maintaining the CO2 vapor pressure supplied to said holding tank at a value less than the pressure of said subcooled liquid CO2 in said second conduit means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein means is provided for operating said compressor whenever the vapor pressure on said one side of said heat-exchange means reaches a preselected value and wherein said first conduit means includes additional valve means set to open at a pressure a predetermined amount above said preselected value and thereby maintain the vapor pressure in said first conduit means well below the pressure of the subcooled liquid CO2 in said second conduit means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
51 words
A system in accordance with clam 6 wherein means is provided for supplying CO2 vapor at at least about 80 p.s.i.a. to said third conduit means at a location between said third valve means and said snow-making device for flushing liquid CO2 therefrom at the closing of said third valve means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said flushing CO2 vapor supply means includes an interconnection with said fourth conduit means, a vapor accummulator and check valve means located between said accumulator and said third conduit means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said control means is connected to said flushing CO2 vapor supply means and is operable to supply CO2 vapor to said third conduit means just prior to the opening of said third valve means and at a pressure less than that of said high pressure subcooled liquid CO2.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-27 | 1977-02-26 | 1977-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-27 | 1981-02-26 | 1981-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-27 | 1985-02-26 | 1985-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |