US4509344A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method of cooling using stored ice slurry
Assignee: Chicago Bridge and Iron Co
•
Filing: 1983-12-08
•
Granted: 1985-04-09
•
Expires: 2003-12-08
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus comprising a freeze exchanger having an aqueous liquid feed stream inlet and an aqueous liquid stream outlet; a closed loop refrigeration system for supplying a refrigerant to the freeze exchanger for indirectly cooling aqueous liquid fed thereto; an ice storage tank; a conduit for withdrawing aqueous liquid, or a mixture of ice and aqueous liquid, from the freeze exchanger outlet and delivering it to the ice storage tank; a conduit for removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it to a heat exchanger to cool fluid used for cooling purposes; and a conduit for removing warm aqueous liquid from the heat exchanger and feeding it to the ice storage tank, or to the freeze exchanger, or partially to both. A method of cooling making use of the apparatus is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 John S. Ludwigsen
- 👤 Jill L. Ludwigsen
- 👤 Terry A. Gallagher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:07
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C1/00; F25D; F25D17/00; F25D17/02; F25C2301/00; F25C2301/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method comprising: removing aqueous liquid from an ice storage tank and feeding the aqueous liquid through a freeze exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant to convert at least part of the aqueous liquid to ice; feeding an aqueous liquid-ice mixture from the freeze exchanger to the ice storage tank to provide an ice slurry and aqueous liquid therein; and removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a fluid to be cooled and used for cooling purposes, and then returning the now warm aqueous liquid exiting from the heat exchanger to the ice storage tank to be cooled by contact with the ice therein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method comprising: removing aqueous liquid from an ice storage tank and feeding the aqueous liquid through a freeze exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant to convert at least part of the aqueous liquid to ice; feeding an aqueous liquid-ice mixture from the freeze exchanger to the ice storage tank to provide an ice slurry and aqueous liquid therein; and removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a fluid to be cooled and used for cooling purposes, and then returning the now warm aqueous liquid exiting from the heat exchanger to the ice storage tank to be cooled by contact with the ice therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 in which aqueous liquid is removed from the ice storage tank and recycled to the freeze exchanger to produce more ice.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2 in which the freeze exchanger is a shell and tube freeze exchanger with vertical tubes and the aqueous liquid is cooled and ice produced by downward flow of the aqueous liquid in the tubes, and the ice is produced as small crystals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2 in which the freeze exchanger is a falling film shell and tube freeze exchanger and the aqueous liquid is cooled and ice produced by downward flow of a film of the aqueous liquid in the tubes, and the ice is produced as small crystals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the aqueous liquid supplied to the freeze exchanger, the ice storage tank and the heat exchanger is in direct contact or in communication with itself as a common body of aqueous liquid.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
142 words
A method comprising: removing aqueous liquid from an ice storage tank and feeding the aqueous liquid through a freeze exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant to convert at least part of the aqueous liquid to ice; feeding an aqueous liquid-ice mixture from the freeze exchanger to a receiving tank; recycling aqueous liquid from the receiving tank to the freeze exchanger to produce more ice; removing an aqueous liquid-ice slurry from the receiving tank and feeding it to the ice storage tank; and removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a fluid to be cooled and used for cooling purposes, and then returning the now warm aqueous liquid exiting from the heat exchanger to the ice storage tank to be cooled by contact with the ice therein.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
142 words
A method comprising: removing aqueous liquid from an ice storage tank and feeding the aqueous liquid through a freeze exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant to convert at least part of the aqueous liquid to ice; feeding an aqueous liquid-ice mixture from the freeze exchanger to a receiving tank; recycling aqueous liquid from the receiving tank to the freeze exchanger to produce more ice; removing an aqueous liquid-ice slurry from the receiving tank and feeding it to the ice storage tank; and removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a fluid to be cooled and used for cooling purposes, and then returning the now warm aqueous liquid exiting from the heat exchanger to the ice storage tank to be cooled by contact with the ice therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 6 in which aqueous liquid is removed from the ice storage tank and recycled to the freeze exchanger to produce more ice.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 6 or 7 in which the freeze exchanger is a shell and tube freeze exchanger with vertical tubes and the aqueous liquid is cooled and ice produced by downward flow of the aqueous liquid in the tubes, and the ice is produced as small crystals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 6 or 7 in which the freeze exchanger is a falling film shell and tube freeze exchanger and the aqueous liquid is cooled and ice produced by downward flow of a film of the aqueous liquid in the tubes, and the ice is produced as small crystals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 6 in which the aqueous liquid supplied to the freeze exchanger, the ice storage tank and the heat exchanger is in direct contact or in communication with itself as a common body of aqueous liquid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
A method according to claim 1 or 6 in which the aqueous liquid is removed from the ice storage tank and fed through the freeze exchanger to convert at least part of the aqueous liquid to ice primarily when the refrigerant liquid is cooled by a refrigeration means having an electric powered compressor operating during off-peak electric usage; and during peak load cooling periods diverting part of the warm aqueous liquid, exiting from the heat exchanger, to the freeze exchanger to produce cold aqueous liquid and then feeding the cold aqueous liquid to the ice storage tank directly or to the heat exchanger.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
127 words
A method comprising: removing aqueous liquid from an ice storage tank and feeding the aqueous liquid through a freeze exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant to convert at least part of the aqueous liquid to ice; feeding an aqueous liquid-ice mixture from the freeze exchanger to the ice storage tank where it separates into an ice slurry and aqueous liquid; recycling aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank to the freeze exchanger to produce more ice; and removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a fluid to be cooled and used for cooling purposes, and then returning the now warm aqueous liquid exiting from the heat exchanger to the freeze exchanger.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
127 words
A method comprising: removing aqueous liquid from an ice storage tank and feeding the aqueous liquid through a freeze exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant to convert at least part of the aqueous liquid to ice; feeding an aqueous liquid-ice mixture from the freeze exchanger to the ice storage tank where it separates into an ice slurry and aqueous liquid; recycling aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank to the freeze exchanger to produce more ice; and removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a fluid to be cooled and used for cooling purposes, and then returning the now warm aqueous liquid exiting from the heat exchanger to the freeze exchanger.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 12 in which aqueous liquid is removed from the ice storage tank and recycled to the freeze exchanger to produce more ice.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 12 or 13 in which the freeze exchanger is a shell and tube freeze exchanger with vertical tubes and the aqueous liquid is cooled and ice produced by downward flow of the aqueous liquid in the tubes, and the ice is produced as small crystals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 12 or 13 in which the freeze exchanger is a falling film shell and tube freeze exchanger and the aqueous liquid is cooled and ice produced by downward flow of a film of the aqueous liquid in the tubes, and the ice is produced as small crystals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the aqueous liquid supplied to the freeze exchanger, the ice storage tank and the heat exchanger is in direct contact or communication with itself as a common body of aqueous liquid.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
129 words
A method comprising: removing aqueous liquid from an ice storage tank and feeding the aqueous liquid through a freeze exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant to convert at least part of the aqueous liquid to ice; feeding the aqueous liquid-ice mixture to a receiving tank; recycling the aqueous liquid-ice mixture from the receiving tank to the freeze exchanger to produce more ice; removing the ice slurry from the receiving tank and feeding it to the ice storage tank; and removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a fluid to be cooled and used for cooling purposes, and then returning the now warm aqueous liquid exiting from the heat exchanger to the freeze exchanger.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
129 words
A method comprising: removing aqueous liquid from an ice storage tank and feeding the aqueous liquid through a freeze exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant to convert at least part of the aqueous liquid to ice; feeding the aqueous liquid-ice mixture to a receiving tank; recycling the aqueous liquid-ice mixture from the receiving tank to the freeze exchanger to produce more ice; removing the ice slurry from the receiving tank and feeding it to the ice storage tank; and removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a fluid to be cooled and used for cooling purposes, and then returning the now warm aqueous liquid exiting from the heat exchanger to the freeze exchanger.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 17 in which aqueous liquid is removed from the ice storage tank and recycled to the freeze exchanger to produce ice or cold aqueous liquid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 17 or 18 in which the freeze exchanger is a shell and tube freeze exchanger with vertical tubes and the aqueous liquid is cooled and ice produced by downward flow of the aqueous liquid in the tubes, and the ice is produced as small crystals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 17 or 18 in which the freeze exchanger is a falling film shell and tube freeze exchanger and the aqueous liquid is cooled and ice produced by downward flow of a film of the aqueous liquid in the tubes, and the ice is produced as small crystals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 17 in which the aqueous liquid supplied to the freeze exchanger, the ice storage tank and the heat exchanger is in direct contact with itself as a common body of aqueous liquid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 1, 6, 12 or 17 in which the aqueous liquid is removed from the ice storage tank and fed through the freeze exchanger to convert at least part of the aqueous liquid to ice primarily when the refrigerant liquid is cooled by a refrigeration means using an electric powered compressor during off-peak electric usage.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of air conditioning with cooling, comprising: removing aqueous liquid from the bottom of an ice storage tank and feeding the aqueous liquid through a freeze exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant which is cooled by a refrigeration means having an electric powered compressor operating during off-peak electric usage, to convert at least part of the aqueous liquid to ice; feeding the aqueous liquid-ice mixture to a receiving tank; recycling the aqueous liquid to the freeze exchanger to produce more ice; removing the ice slurry from the receiving tank and feeding it to an ice storage tank in which the ice floats on a lower layer of cold aqueous liquid; during air conditioning periods, removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a fluid used to cool and air condition a building interior space, and then returning the now warm aqueous liquid exiting from the heat exchanger to the top of the ice storage tank to be cooled by flowing downwardly through the ice therein; and during peak load air conditioning periods diverting part of the warm aqueous liquid, exiting from the heat exchanger, to the freeze exchanger to produce cold aqueous liquid and then feeding the cold aqueous liquid to the ice storage tank directly or to the heat exchanger.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of air conditioning with cooling, comprising: removing aqueous liquid from the bottom of an ice storage tank and feeding the aqueous liquid through a freeze exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant which is cooled by a refrigeration means having an electric powered compressor operating during off-peak electric usage, to convert at least part of the aqueous liquid to ice; feeding the aqueous liquid-ice mixture to a receiving tank; recycling the aqueous liquid to the freeze exchanger to produce more ice; removing the ice slurry from the receiving tank and feeding it to an ice storage tank in which the ice floats on a lower layer of cold aqueous liquid; during air conditioning periods, removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with a fluid used to cool and air condition a building interior space, and then returning the now warm aqueous liquid exiting from the heat exchanger to the top of the ice storage tank to be cooled by flowing downwardly through the ice therein; and during peak load air conditioning periods diverting part of the warm aqueous liquid, exiting from the heat exchanger, to the freeze exchanger to produce cold aqueous liquid and then feeding the cold aqueous liquid to the ice storage tank directly or to the heat exchanger.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 23 in which aqueous liquid is removed from the ice storage tank and recycled to the freeze exchanger to produce more ice.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 23 or 24 in which the freeze exchanger is a shell and tube freeze exchanger with vertical tubes and the aqueous liquid is cooled and ice produced by downward flow of the aqueous liquid in the tubes, and the ice is produced as small crystals.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 23 or 24 in which the freeze exchanger is a falling film shell and tube freeze exchanger and the aqueous liquid is cooled and ice produced by downward flow of a film of the aqueous liquid in the tubes, and the ice is produced as small crystals.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 23 in which the aqueous liquid supplied to the freeze exchanger, the ice storage tank and the heat exchanger is in direct contact with itself as a common body of aqueous liquid.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus comprising: a freeze exchanger having an aqueous liquid feed stream inlet and an aqueous liquid stream outlet; a closed loop refrigeration means for supplying a refrigerant to the freeze exchanger for indirectly cooling aqueous liquid fed thereto; an ice storage tank; means for withdrawing aqueous liquid, or a mixture of ice and aqueous liquid, from the freeze exchanger outlet and delivering it to the ice storage tank; means for removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it to a heat exchanger to cool fluid used for cooling purposes; and means for removing warm aqueous liquid from the heat exchanger and feeding it to the ice storage tank, or to the freeze exchanger, or partially to both.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus comprising: a freeze exchanger having an aqueous liquid feed stream inlet and an aqueous liquid stream outlet; a closed loop refrigeration means for supplying a refrigerant to the freeze exchanger for indirectly cooling aqueous liquid fed thereto; an ice storage tank; means for withdrawing aqueous liquid, or a mixture of ice and aqueous liquid, from the freeze exchanger outlet and delivering it to the ice storage tank; means for removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it to a heat exchanger to cool fluid used for cooling purposes; and means for removing warm aqueous liquid from the heat exchanger and feeding it to the ice storage tank, or to the freeze exchanger, or partially to both.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 28 in which the freeze exchanger is a shell and tube freeze exchanger with vertical tubes cooled by the refrigerant on the shell side.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 28 in which the ice is produced as small crystals and the ice in the storage tank is a slush or slurry.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus comprising: a freeze exchanger of the shell and tube type having an aqueous liquid feed stream inlet and an aqueous liquid stream outlet; a closed loop refrigeration means for supplying a refrigerant to the freeze exchanger for indirectly cooling aqueous liquid fed thereto; a receiving tank for receiving aqueous liquid or a mixture of ice and aqueous liquid from the freeze exchanger outlet; means for removing aqueous liquid from the receiving tank and feeding it to the freeze exchanger inlet; an ice storage tank; means for removing an ice slurry from the receiving tank and feeding it to the ice storage tank; means for removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it to a heat exchanger to cool fluid used for cooling purposes; and means for removing warm aqueous liquid from the heat exchanger and feeding it to the ice storage tank, or to the freeze exchanger inlet, or partially to both.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus comprising: a freeze exchanger of the shell and tube type having an aqueous liquid feed stream inlet and an aqueous liquid stream outlet; a closed loop refrigeration means for supplying a refrigerant to the freeze exchanger for indirectly cooling aqueous liquid fed thereto; a receiving tank for receiving aqueous liquid or a mixture of ice and aqueous liquid from the freeze exchanger outlet; means for removing aqueous liquid from the receiving tank and feeding it to the freeze exchanger inlet; an ice storage tank; means for removing an ice slurry from the receiving tank and feeding it to the ice storage tank; means for removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it to a heat exchanger to cool fluid used for cooling purposes; and means for removing warm aqueous liquid from the heat exchanger and feeding it to the ice storage tank, or to the freeze exchanger inlet, or partially to both.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 28 including means for removing aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it to the freeze exchanger.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 31 in which the freeze exchanger is a shell and tube freeze exchanger with vertical tubes cooled by the refrigerant on the shell side.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 31 in which the ice is produced as small crystals and the ice in the ice storage tank is a slush or slurry.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus comprising: a freeze exchanger of the shell and tube type having an aqueous liquid feed stream inlet and an aqueous liquid stream outlet; a closed loop refrigeration means for supplying a refrigerant to the shell side of the freeze exchanger; a receiving tank for receiving a mixture of ice and aqueous liquid from the freeze exchanger outlet; means for removing aqueous liquid from the receiving tank and feeding it to the freeze exchanger inlet; an ice storage tank adapted to have a layer of ice floating on a layer of cold aqueous liquid in the bottom of the tank; means for removing an ice slurry from the receiving tank and feeding it to the ice storage tank; means for removing aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it to the freeze exchanger inlet; means for removing cold aqueous liquid from the bottom of the ice storage tank and feeding it to a heat exchanger to cool fluid used for air conditioning a building; means for removing warm aqueous liquid from the heat exchanger and feeding it to the ice storage tank, or the freeze exchanger inlet, or partially to both.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus comprising: a freeze exchanger of the shell and tube type having an aqueous liquid feed stream inlet and an aqueous liquid stream outlet; a closed loop refrigeration means for supplying a refrigerant to the shell side of the freeze exchanger; a receiving tank for receiving a mixture of ice and aqueous liquid from the freeze exchanger outlet; means for removing aqueous liquid from the receiving tank and feeding it to the freeze exchanger inlet; an ice storage tank adapted to have a layer of ice floating on a layer of cold aqueous liquid in the bottom of the tank; means for removing an ice slurry from the receiving tank and feeding it to the ice storage tank; means for removing aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it to the freeze exchanger inlet; means for removing cold aqueous liquid from the bottom of the ice storage tank and feeding it to a heat exchanger to cool fluid used for air conditioning a building; means for removing warm aqueous liquid from the heat exchanger and feeding it to the ice storage tank, or the freeze exchanger inlet, or partially to both.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 35 in which the freeze exchanger is of the shell and tube type and the tubes are vertical.
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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) | 1988-04-08 | 1988-10-08 | 1989-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-08 | 1992-10-08 | 1993-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-08 | 1996-10-08 | 1997-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |