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US3869870A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Refrigeration system utilizing ice slurries

Assignee: Borg Warner Corp
•
Filing: 1973-07-02
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-07-02
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Abstract

Abstract A slurry of ice crystals in a water immiscible carrier fluid, for example, toluene, is produced and circulated to a heat exchanger for absorbing heat from a load, principally by means of the melting ice. The two liquids are then forwarded to a receiver where they separate into two phases. The liquid water from the melted ice is returned separately to the ice forming unit and at least a part of the carrier fluid is re-chilled prior to recirculating the slurry through the system.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard Kuehner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 05:49
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C1/00; F25C1/12; F25C1/14; F25C1/145; F25D; F25D16/00; F25D17/00; F25D17/02; F25C2301/00; F25C2301/002

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 137 words
A system comprising a first substance capable of existing in both liquid and solid phases and having a freezing point below about 60*F.; a second substance capable of existing in both liquid and solid phases and having a freezing point substantially below the freezing point of said first substance and being immiscible with said first substance when both are in the liquid phase; means for chilling said first substance to a temperature below its freezing point to effect a change of state from liquid to solid; means for mixing the resulting solid first substance with said second substance in liquid phase; means for circulating the resulting mixture to a refrigeration load to abstract heat therefrom by the change of state from solid to liquid of said first substance; and means for separating said first and second substances.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 137 words
A system comprising a first substance capable of existing in both liquid and solid phases and having a freezing point below about 60*F.; a second substance capable of existing in both liquid and solid phases and having a freezing point substantially below the freezing point of said first substance and being immiscible with said first substance when both are in the liquid phase; means for chilling said first substance to a temperature below its freezing point to effect a change of state from liquid to solid; means for mixing the resulting solid first substance with said second substance in liquid phase; means for circulating the resulting mixture to a refrigeration load to abstract heat therefrom by the change of state from solid to liquid of said first substance; and means for separating said first and second substances.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 137 words
A system comprising a first substance capable of existing in both liquid and solid phases and having a freezing point below about 60*F.; a second substance capable of existing in both liquid and solid phases and having a freezing point substantially below the freezing point of said first substance and being immiscible with said first substance when both are in the liquid phase; means for chilling said first substance to a temperature below its freezing point to effect a change of state from liquid to solid; means for mixing the resulting solid first substance with said second substance in liquid phase; means for circulating the resulting mixture to a refrigeration load to abstract heat therefrom by the change of state from solid to liquid of said first substance; and means for separating said first and second substances.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 137 words
A system comprising a first substance capable of existing in both liquid and solid phases and having a freezing point below about 60*F.; a second substance capable of existing in both liquid and solid phases and having a freezing point substantially below the freezing point of said first substance and being immiscible with said first substance when both are in the liquid phase; means for chilling said first substance to a temperature below its freezing point to effect a change of state from liquid to solid; means for mixing the resulting solid first substance with said second substance in liquid phase; means for circulating the resulting mixture to a refrigeration load to abstract heat therefrom by the change of state from solid to liquid of said first substance; and means for separating said first and second substances.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 49 words
A system as defined in claim 1 including a primary refrigeration system for chilling said second substance to a temperature below the freezing point of said first substance, but above its own freezing point; and means for introducing said first substance, in liquid phase, into said chilled second substance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
A system as defined in claim 1 including a direct contact refrigeration system; and means for introducing a refrigerant from said direct contact refrigeration system into intimate contact with a non-homogeneous mixture of said first and second substances.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 49 words
A system as defined in claim 1 including a refrigeration system for chilling said first substance per se below its freezing point to effect a change of state from liquid to solid; and means for mixing the resulting solid first substance with said second substance in the liquid state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first substance is water.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 95 words
A method of refrigerating a thermal load comprising the steps of forming a slurry consisting essentially of ice in a water immiscible carrier fluid; circulating the slurry to said load and bringing said slurry into heat exchange relation therewith whereby heat is abstracted by the melting of the ice in the slurry; returning the two phase stream to a separator for separating the two phases consisting essentially of water and the water Immiscible carrier fluid; separating the water and said carrier fluid; re-freezing the water; and re-forming the slurry for recirculation to said thermal load.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 95 words
A method of refrigerating a thermal load comprising the steps of forming a slurry consisting essentially of ice in a water immiscible carrier fluid; circulating the slurry to said load and bringing said slurry into heat exchange relation therewith whereby heat is abstracted by the melting of the ice in the slurry; returning the two phase stream to a separator for separating the two phases consisting essentially of water and the water Immiscible carrier fluid; separating the water and said carrier fluid; re-freezing the water; and re-forming the slurry for recirculation to said thermal load.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said liquid water and water immiscible carrier fluid are mixed together and then brought into direct contact with a refrigerant to freeze the ice into a slurry.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein liquid water per se is frozen and then mixed with said water immiscible carrier fluid.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3247678A Cited
US3564727A Cited
US3603379A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-03-10 1978-09-09 1979-03-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-03-10 1982-09-09 1983-03-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-03-10 1986-09-09 1987-03-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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