US4540501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas hydrate cool storage system
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1984-09-12
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Granted: 1985-09-10
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Expires: 2004-09-12
Abstract
Abstract This invention is a process for formation of a gas hydrate to be used as a cool storage medium using a refrigerant in water. Mixing of the immiscible refrigerant and water is effected by addition of a surfactant and agitation. The difficult problem of subcooling during the process is overcome by using the surfactant and agitation and performance of the process significantly improves and approaches ideal.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark P. Ternes
- 👤 Robert J. Kedl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:29
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K5/00; C09K5/02; C09K5/04; F; F25; F25D; F25D16/00; F25D3/00; F25B; F25B2315/00; F25B2315/003; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A process for formation of a gas hydrate to be used as a cool storage medium comprising: partially filling a container with water, a refrigerant capable of forming a gas hydrate and a surfactant; agitating said water, refrigerant and surfactant at a rate sufficient to effect mixing thereof; lowering the pressure within said container by vapor removal until the temperature and pressure for formation of gas hydrate is reached.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A process for formation of a gas hydrate to be used as a cool storage medium comprising: partially filling a container with water, a refrigerant capable of forming a gas hydrate and a surfactant; agitating said water, refrigerant and surfactant at a rate sufficient to effect mixing thereof; lowering the pressure within said container by vapor removal until the temperature and pressure for formation of gas hydrate is reached.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The process of claim 1 wherein constant gas hydrate formation is maintained by releasing said refrigerant in the gas phase out of said container, introducing a two-phase liquid/gas mixture of said refrigerant into said container and regulating the flow rate of said refrigerant into and out of said container at a rate sufficient to maintain constant gas hydrate formation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant is selected from the group of brominated, chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons CCl 3 F, CCl 2 F 2 , CBrF 3 , CHCl 2 F, CHClF 2 , CH 2 ClF, and CH 3 CClF 2 and said surfactant is a nonionic fluorinated surfactant having the chemical formula F(CF 2 CF 2 ) 3-8 CH 2 CH 2 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 9-11 H.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said refrigerant and water are present initially in the ratio of approximately one refrigerant molecule to 14-19 water molecules and about 1 ml of surfactant is present for 4,000 ml of total fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said refrigerant is selected from the group of brominated, chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons including CCl 3 F, CCl 2 F 2 , CBrF 3 , CHCl 2 F, CHClF 2 , CH 2 ClF, CH 3 CClF 2 and said surfactant is a nonionic fluorinated surfactant having the chemical formula F(CF 2 CF 2 ) 3-8 CH 2 CH 2 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 9-11 H.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said refrigerant and water are initially present in the ratio of approximately one refrigerant molecule to 14-19 water molecules and about 1 ml of surfactant is present for about 4,000 ml of total fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
A vapor-compression heat pump system comprising a compressor, a condensor and an expansion device in combination with a crystallizer; said crystallizer comprising: a tank; a cool storage medium disposed within said tank consisting of refrigerant, water and surfactant; means for agitating said cool storage medium; means for adjusting the temperature and pressure of said cool storage medium; an outlet valve at the top of said tank to release vapor from said tank to said compressor; an inlet valve at the base of said crystallizer to admit liquid and vapor from said expansion device; and means for transferring heat to and from said cool storage medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
A vapor-compression heat pump system comprising a compressor, a condensor and an expansion device in combination with a crystallizer; said crystallizer comprising: a tank; a cool storage medium disposed within said tank consisting of refrigerant, water and surfactant; means for agitating said cool storage medium; means for adjusting the temperature and pressure of said cool storage medium; an outlet valve at the top of said tank to release vapor from said tank to said compressor; an inlet valve at the base of said crystallizer to admit liquid and vapor from said expansion device; and means for transferring heat to and from said cool storage medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
The heat pump system of claim 7 wherein said refrigerant is selected from the group of brominated, chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons CCl 3 F, CCl 2 F 2 , CBrF 3 , CHCl 2 F, CH 2 ClF and CH 3 CClF 2 and said surfactant is a nonionic fluorosurfactant having the chemical formula F(CF 2 CF 2 ) 3-8 CH 2 CH 2 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 9-11 H.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The heat pump system of claim 8 wherein said refrigerant and water are present initially in the ratio of approximately one refrigerant molecule to 14-19 water molecules and about 1 ml of surfactant is present for 4,000 ml of total fluid.
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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) | 1988-09-09 | 1989-03-11 | 1989-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-09 | 1993-03-11 | 1993-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-09 | 1997-03-11 | 1997-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |