US3872682A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closed system refrigeration or heat exchange
Assignee: York International Corp
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Filing: 1974-03-18
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1994-03-18
Abstract
Abstract The disclosed process is particularly well suited for a refrigeration or other heat exchange system employing a plurality of refrigerants. The preferred refrigerants are carbon dioxide and a haloalkane boiling in the range of -40*C. to +40*C. The haloalkane, in a liquid state, should be substantially immiscible in liquid carbon dioxide. In a typical system of this invention, the compressor compresses a CO2/haloalkane charge, and the compressed mixture is cooled in a condenser, allowing the haloalkane to condense. The condensed haloalkane and cooled, noncondensed carbon dioxide pass into a heat exchanger, where the haloalkane is further cooled and the carbon dioxide is condensed. The two substantially immiscible refrigerant liquids are then mixed in a homogenizer and promptly passed through an expansion valve into an evaporator. The effluent from the expansion valve can contain particles of solid carbon dioxide which are sublimated to the gaseous state for ultimate recycling to the compressor. This system has an outstanding cooling capacity in view of its energy requirements, which are relatively low compared to typical closed cycle carbon dioxide-containing refrigeration systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh Thomas Shook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:54
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/002; F25B9/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A closed cycle heat exchange process using a mixture of refrigerants, which comprises the steps of: a. compressing a mixture of refrigerant components comprising carbon dioxide, at least two of said refrigerant components (1) being substantially immiscible when both are in a liquid state and (2) having different boiling points; b. passing said compressed mixture through a condensing stage to condense the higher boiling component of said two components; c. passing the resulting partially condensed mixture through a cooling zone to condense the lower boiling component of said two components, whereby two immiscible liquids are obtained; d. blending said two immiscible liquids in a homogenizing zone to obtain a generally uniform mixture; e. expanding and converting at least said lower boiling component to a gaseous state in a closed evaporating zone; f. evaporating said higher boiling component, thereby obtaining said mixture of refrigeration components of step (a) for recycling of said mixture of refrigeration components in accordance with said closed cycle heat exchange process.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A closed cycle heat exchange process using a mixture of refrigerants, which comprises the steps of: a. compressing a mixture of refrigerant components comprising carbon dioxide, at least two of said refrigerant components (1) being substantially immiscible when both are in a liquid state and (2) having different boiling points; b. passing said compressed mixture through a condensing stage to condense the higher boiling component of said two components; c. passing the resulting partially condensed mixture through a cooling zone to condense the lower boiling component of said two components, whereby two immiscible liquids are obtained; d. blending said two immiscible liquids in a homogenizing zone to obtain a generally uniform mixture; e. expanding and converting at least said lower boiling component to a gaseous state in a closed evaporating zone; f. evaporating said higher boiling component, thereby obtaining said mixture of refrigeration components of step (a) for recycling of said mixture of refrigeration components in accordance with said closed cycle heat exchange process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said cooling zone of said step (c) comprises a heat exchange zone and said partially condensed mixture becomes a first current in said heat exchange zone; and wherein evaporated lower boiling component and said higher boiling component passing from said evaporating zone are passed to said heat exchange zone to form a second current in said heat exchange zone; whereby, due to the resulting heat exchange, said higher boiling component in said second current is evaporated and the lower boiling component in said partially condensed mixture in said first current is cooled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the compression used in compressing step (a) is greater than 5 atmospheres but less than about 700 p.s.i.a. and wherein the suction pressure in said evaporating zone is less than 5 atmospheres.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein said compression is less than 30 atmospheres, said suction is less than 3 atmospheres, and the refrigeration temperature providEd by said evaporating zone is colder than -55*C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said mixture of refrigerants further comprises a haloalkane having a carbon chain ranging from one to two carbon atoms and at least one halogen substituent selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, and bromine, and wherein said haloalkane has a boiling point at atmospheric pressure which is above the sublimation temperature of carbon dioxide at atmospheric pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the compression used in compressing step (a) is greater than 5 atmospheres but less than 700 p.s.i.a. and the suction pressure in said evaporating zone is less than 5 atmospheres.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein said compression is less than 30 atmospheres and said suction pressure is less than 3 atmospheres.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the mixture of refrigerants in said evaporating zone comprises particles of solid carbon dioxide fluidized by liquid haloalkane, and wherein the major amount of solid particles sublime to form gaseous carbon dioxide in said evaporator zone, thereby providing a refrigeration temperature colder than -55*C. external to said evaporator zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said step (a) is a single stage compression.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a closed cycle refrigeration process using a mixture of refrigerant components of differing boiling points comprising the steps of compressing said mixture of refrigerant components in a compression stage, condensing the higher boiling and lower boiling refrigeration components in the compressed mixture in a seriatim fashion, expanding and evaporating the condensed components, and recycling the resulting gases to the compression stage, the improvement which comprises: blending compressed, condensed carbon dioxide with at least one other compressed, condensed, higher boiling refrigeration component in a homogenizing zone prior to said expanding step; expanding the resulting blended mixture of refrigerant components in an evaporator zone to obtain a mass of discrete, solid carbon dioxide particles fluidized by said higher boiling refrigeration component; and subliming said carbon dioxide particles while said particles are fluidized by said higher boiling refrigeration component.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a closed cycle refrigeration process using a mixture of refrigerant components of differing boiling points comprising the steps of compressing said mixture of refrigerant components in a compression stage, condensing the higher boiling and lower boiling refrigeration components in the compressed mixture in a seriatim fashion, expanding and evaporating the condensed components, and recycling the resulting gases to the compression stage, the improvement which comprises: blending compressed, condensed carbon dioxide with at least one other compressed, condensed, higher boiling refrigeration component in a homogenizing zone prior to said expanding step; expanding the resulting blended mixture of refrigerant components in an evaporator zone to obtain a mass of discrete, solid carbon dioxide particles fluidized by said higher boiling refrigeration component; and subliming said carbon dioxide particles while said particles are fluidized by said higher boiling refrigeration component.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
186 words
A closed cycle refrigeration process using a mixture of refrigerants, which comprises the steps of: a. compressing a mixture of refrigerant components, at least two of said refrigerant components (1) being substantially immiscible when both are in a liquid state and (2) having different boiling points, said compressing step being carried out at less than 700 p.s.i.a.; b. passing said compressed mixture through a condensing stage to condense the higher boiling component of said two components; c. passing the resulting partially condensed mixture through a cooling zone to condense the lower boiling component of said two components, whereby two immiscible liquids are obtained; d. blending said two immiscible liquids in a homogenizing zone to obtain a generally uniform mixture; e. expanding and converting at least said lower boiling component to a gaseous state in a closed evaporating zone, thereby producing a refrigeration temperature adjacent said evaporating zone which is colder than -55*C; and f. evaporating said higher boiling component, thereby obtaining said mixture of refrigeration components of step (a) for recycling of said mixture of refrigeration components in accordance with said closed cycle heat exchange process.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
186 words
A closed cycle refrigeration process using a mixture of refrigerants, which comprises the steps of: a. compressing a mixture of refrigerant components, at least two of said refrigerant components (1) being substantially immiscible when both are in a liquid state and (2) having different boiling points, said compressing step being carried out at less than 700 p.s.i.a.; b. passing said compressed mixture through a condensing stage to condense the higher boiling component of said two components; c. passing the resulting partially condensed mixture through a cooling zone to condense the lower boiling component of said two components, whereby two immiscible liquids are obtained; d. blending said two immiscible liquids in a homogenizing zone to obtain a generally uniform mixture; e. expanding and converting at least said lower boiling component to a gaseous state in a closed evaporating zone, thereby producing a refrigeration temperature adjacent said evaporating zone which is colder than -55*C; and f. evaporating said higher boiling component, thereby obtaining said mixture of refrigeration components of step (a) for recycling of said mixture of refrigeration components in accordance with said closed cycle heat exchange process.
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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) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |