Patent US3878683A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3878683A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of cooling substance or generating power by use of liquefied gas
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-08-04
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1992-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A method of cooling a substance or convert heat energy into mechanical energy by circulating a liquefied gas in a closed cycle and subjecting the gas to heat exchange during the circulation with heat energy of another substance. No power supply from outside in the cooling operation and fuels, like petroleum and coal for obtaining power are necessary.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenji Imai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:07
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J1/00; F25J1/02; F25J1/0243; F25J1/0257; F25J1/0275; F25J1/0276; F01; F01K; F01K25/00; F01K25/08; F01K25/10; F17; F17C; F17C9/00; F17C9/02; F17C9/04; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0104; F17C2201/0109; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0323; F17C2205/0352; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/06; F17C2250/0605; F17C2250/0626; F25J2270/00; F25J2270/90; F25J2270/912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for cooling a fluid medium comprising a. disposing a liquefied gas in a closed container at a temperature and pressure less than the critical temperature and pressure of said gas; b. heating said liquefied gas to the critical temperature and above the critical pressure; c. regulating the pressure of said gas to a specified value higher than the critical pressure but less than that detrimental to the equipment involved; d. subjecting said gas to heat exchange with another heated medium in a heat exchanger thereby heating said gas and cooling said heated medium; e. adiabatically expanding said gas in a means for transforming said expansion into mechanical energy to reduce the temperature of said gas below the critical temperature; f. using at least a portion of the power generated by said means to effect the flow of all fluids in the process; g. liquefying said gas and h. returning the liquefied gas to said closed container.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for cooling a fluid medium comprising a. disposing a liquefied gas in a closed container at a temperature and pressure less than the critical temperature and pressure of said gas; b. heating said liquefied gas to the critical temperature and above the critical pressure; c. regulating the pressure of said gas to a specified value higher than the critical pressure but less than that detrimental to the equipment involved; d. subjecting said gas to heat exchange with another heated medium in a heat exchanger thereby heating said gas and cooling said heated medium; e. adiabatically expanding said gas in a means for transforming said expansion into mechanical energy to reduce the temperature of said gas below the critical temperature; f. using at least a portion of the power generated by said means to effect the flow of all fluids in the process; g. liquefying said gas and h. returning the liquefied gas to said closed container.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for cooling a fluid medium comprising a. disposing a liquefied gas in a closed container at a temperature and pressure less than the critical temperature and pressure of said gas; b. heating said liquefied gas to the critical temperature and above the critical pressure; c. regulating the pressure of said gas to a specified value higher than the critical pressure but less than that detrimental to the equipment involved; d. subjecting said gas to heat exchange with another heated medium in a heat exchanger thereby heating said gas and cooling said heated medium; e. adiabatically expanding said gas in a means for transforming said expansion into mechanical energy to reduce the temperature of said gas below the critical temperature; f. using at least a portion of the power generated by said means to effect the flow of all fluids in the process; g. liquefying said gas and h. returning the liquefied gas to said closed container.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for cooling a fluid medium comprising a. disposing a liquefied gas in a closed container at a temperature and pressure less than the critical temperature and pressure of said gas; b. heating said liquefied gas to the critical temperature and above the critical pressure; c. regulating the pressure of said gas to a specified value higher than the critical pressure but less than that detrimental to the equipment involved; d. subjecting said gas to heat exchange with another heated medium in a heat exchanger thereby heating said gas and cooling said heated medium; e. adiabatically expanding said gas in a means for transforming said expansion into mechanical energy to reduce the temperature of said gas below the critical temperature; f. using at least a portion of the power generated by said means to effect the flow of all fluids in the process; g. liquefying said gas and h. returning the liquefied gas to said closed container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said liquefied gas has a critical temperature below 40*C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquefying step occurs solely due to the temperature drop of the adiabatically expanded gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said gas is liquefied by being compressed to its critical pressure and thereafter cooled by heat exchange with the gas immediately after adiabatic expansion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said heated medium is said cooled fluid medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said heated medium is heated in a second heat exchanger by said fluid medium.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for power generation comprising a. disposing a liquefied gas in a closed container at a temperature and pressure less than the critical temperature and pressure of said gas; b. heating said liquefied gas to the critical temperature and above the critical pressure; c. regulating the pressure of said gas to a specified value higher than the critical pressure but less than that detrimental to the equipment involved; d. subjecting said gas to heat exchange in a heat exchanger with another medium containing heat energy from a natural medium or a man-made medium of low utility, thereby heating said gas and cooling said medium; e. adiabatically expanding said gas in a means for transforming said expansion into mechanical energy to reduce the temperature of said gas below the critical temperature; f. using at least a portion of the power generated by said means to effect the flow of all fluids in the process; g. liquefying said gas and h. returning the liquefied gas to said closed container.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for power generation comprising a. disposing a liquefied gas in a closed container at a temperature and pressure less than the critical temperature and pressure of said gas; b. heating said liquefied gas to the critical temperature and above the critical pressure; c. regulating the pressure of said gas to a specified value higher than the critical pressure but less than that detrimental to the equipment involved; d. subjecting said gas to heat exchange in a heat exchanger with another medium containing heat energy from a natural medium or a man-made medium of low utility, thereby heating said gas and cooling said medium; e. adiabatically expanding said gas in a means for transforming said expansion into mechanical energy to reduce the temperature of said gas below the critical temperature; f. using at least a portion of the power generated by said means to effect the flow of all fluids in the process; g. liquefying said gas and h. returning the liquefied gas to said closed container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said liquefied gas has a critical temperature below 200*C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the liquefying step occurs solely due to the temperature drop of the adiabatically expanded gas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said gas is liquefied by being compressed to its critical pressure and thereafter cooled by heat exchange with the gas immediately after adiabatic expansion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said medium is a preselected fluid medium to be cooled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said medium is heated in a second heat exchanger by a preselected fluid medium to be cooled.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said means for transmitting said expansion into mechanical energy in a turbine or piston engine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said medium is or contains heat energy from the atmosphere or sea water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said medium is or contains heat energy from the gaseous or liquid effluent of a factory, power plant, ship or a cooling system.
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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) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |