Patent US4169361A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4169361A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for the generation of cold
Assignee: Linde GmbH
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Filing: 1978-03-15
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Granted: 1979-10-02
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Expires: 1998-03-15
Abstract
Abstract Cold is generated, according to the invention, by compressing a refrigerant and expanding the refrigerant isentropically in a nozzle. Advantageously at least a part of the expanded refrigerant is passed in indirect heat exchanging relationship with the portion of the refrigerant prior to expansion. An expansion machine can be used to work-expand a portion of the compressed refrigerant with the expanded gas returned to the compressor. The balance of the compressed stream is expanded in the nozzle.
Inventors
- 👤 Wolfgang Baldus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:43
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B1/00; F25B41/00; F25B41/30; F25B9/00; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; F25J; F25J1/00; F25J1/0002; F25J1/0005; F25J1/0007; F25J1/0012; F25J1/0015; F25J1/0017; F25J1/003; F25J1/0032; F25J1/004; F25J1/02; F25J1/0201; F25J1/0202; F25J1/0243; F25J1/0257; F25J2240/00; F25J2240/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/888; Y10S505/894; Y10S505/895; Y10S505/899
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for the generation of cold on a very low temperature level, comprising: a compressor for compressing a low-boiling gaseous coolant; a cooler downstream of said compressor for abstracting compression heat from the compressed gaseous coolant; a counterflow heat exchanger downstream and in addition to said cooler for exchanging heat between said compressed gaseous coolant and a cold gaseous low-pressure coolant; an expansion nozzle downstream of said heat exchanger for expanding and partially liquefying the compressed gaseous coolant substantially isentropically to produce a cold partially liquefied fluid; a cold consumer downstream of said expansion nozzle for transferring heat to said cold partially liquefied fluid; means for returning the part of said fluid leaving the cold consumer in the gaseous state to the counterflow heat exchanger as said cold gaseous low-pressure coolant; and an expansion turbine connected ahead of said nozzle for work-expanding a portion of the compressed gaseous coolant, the balance of the compressed gaseous coolant being substantially isentropically expanded in said nozzle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for the generation of cold on a very low temperature level, comprising: a compressor for compressing a low-boiling gaseous coolant; a cooler downstream of said compressor for abstracting compression heat from the compressed gaseous coolant; a counterflow heat exchanger downstream and in addition to said cooler for exchanging heat between said compressed gaseous coolant and a cold gaseous low-pressure coolant; an expansion nozzle downstream of said heat exchanger for expanding and partially liquefying the compressed gaseous coolant substantially isentropically to produce a cold partially liquefied fluid; a cold consumer downstream of said expansion nozzle for transferring heat to said cold partially liquefied fluid; means for returning the part of said fluid leaving the cold consumer in the gaseous state to the counterflow heat exchanger as said cold gaseous low-pressure coolant; and an expansion turbine connected ahead of said nozzle for work-expanding a portion of the compressed gaseous coolant, the balance of the compressed gaseous coolant being substantially isentropically expanded in said nozzle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a liquid-gas separator downstream from said expansion nozzle for separating said fluid into a liquid phase and a gas phase, the gas phase being returned as said cold gaseous low-pressure coolant to said counterflow heat exchanger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a method for the generation of cold at a very low temperature level in which a low-boiling coolant is liquefied, the method comprising the steps of: compressing the low-boiling gaseous coolant quasi-isothermically; removing the heat of compression of the compressed gaseous coolant by cooling same; cooling further the compressed gaseous coolant by passing it in countercurrent heat exchange with a cold gaseous low-pressure coolant; expanding and thereby partially liquefying the compressed coolant cooled by countercurrent heat exchange; and using the part of the coolant remaining in the gaseous state or the part of the liquiefied coolant re-evaporating during heat exchange with a heat consumer as the cold gaseous low-pressure coolant in the countercurrent heat exchange, the improvement which comprises: expanding and partially liquefying said cold compressed coolant in an expansion nozzle substantially isentropically during the expansion and partial liquefaction step, a portion of the compressed coolant being work-expanded in an expansion machine while the balance of the compressed coolant is expanded in said nozzle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a method for the generation of cold at a very low temperature level in which a low-boiling coolant is liquefied, the method comprising the steps of: compressing the low-boiling gaseous coolant quasi-isothermically; removing the heat of compression of the compressed gaseous coolant by cooling same; cooling further the compressed gaseous coolant by passing it in countercurrent heat exchange with a cold gaseous low-pressure coolant; expanding and thereby partially liquefying the compressed coolant cooled by countercurrent heat exchange; and using the part of the coolant remaining in the gaseous state or the part of the liquiefied coolant re-evaporating during heat exchange with a heat consumer as the cold gaseous low-pressure coolant in the countercurrent heat exchange, the improvement which comprises: expanding and partially liquefying said cold compressed coolant in an expansion nozzle substantially isentropically during the expansion and partial liquefaction step, a portion of the compressed coolant being work-expanded in an expansion machine while the balance of the compressed coolant is expanded in said nozzle.
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) | 1982-10-01 | 1983-04-02 | 1983-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-10-01 | 1987-04-02 | 1987-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-10-01 | 1991-04-02 | 1991-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |