EP0617247A1 - Dispositif de recyclage d'un liquide cryogénique et son application à un appareil de congélation de produits - Google Patents

Dispositif de recyclage d'un liquide cryogénique et son application à un appareil de congélation de produits Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0617247A1
EP0617247A1 EP94400456A EP94400456A EP0617247A1 EP 0617247 A1 EP0617247 A1 EP 0617247A1 EP 94400456 A EP94400456 A EP 94400456A EP 94400456 A EP94400456 A EP 94400456A EP 0617247 A1 EP0617247 A1 EP 0617247A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tank
liquid
circuit
cryogenic liquid
cryogenic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94400456A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jean-Pierre Germain
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Original Assignee
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Air Liquide SA, LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude filed Critical Air Liquide SA
Publication of EP0617247A1 publication Critical patent/EP0617247A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D3/10—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using liquefied gases, e.g. liquid air

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for recycling a cryogenic liquid and, more particularly, to such a device designed to supply a circuit comprising at least one section substantially at ambient pressure, typically in the open air, such as they are found in an application of the invention to the freezing of food, pharmaceutical or veterinary products.
  • the present invention therefore aims to achieve, in a simple, flexible and efficient manner, a device for recycling a cryogenic liquid in a circuit, which is not dependent on pumps to ensure the circulation of the liquid in the circuit and which does not causes no pollution of this liquid.
  • the present invention also aims to provide such a device which is capable of supplying a circuit comprising a section substantially at atmospheric pressure such as a freezing tunnel of products or these are immersed in a stream of cryogenic liquid.
  • a recycling device of the above-mentioned type comprising a) a first cryogenic tank. to recover said liquid at the outlet of said section, this tank being provided with means for pressurizing the collected liquid, b) a second cryogenic tank constantly pressurized in operation and connected to the circuit upstream of said section to supply it with cryogenic liquid pressurized, this second tank being in selective fluid communication with the first tank, and c) means sensitive to a predetermined relationship of the filling levels of the two tanks to selectively activate the pressurization means of the first tank so as to transfer into the second reservoir of the cryogenic liquid contained in the first reservoir.
  • the latter can supply the circuit with recycled and repressurized liquid, which ensures the circulation of the liquid without pump, and therefore without pollution.
  • the present invention also relates to a simple and reliable apparatus for freezing products comprising at least one device as defined above.
  • the device of FIG. 1 is used to supply, with a cryogenic liquid such as liquid nitrogen, a circuit 1 passing through a tank 2 in which quenching bottles 31, 32, 33, etc. .. containing products to be frozen, food, pharmaceutical or veterinary for example.
  • the device essentially comprises first and second cryogenic liquid tanks 4 and 5 respectively, each comprising a conventional double-walled container 41, 42, and 51, 52, respectively.
  • Each container 4,5 is further provided with internal pressurization means comprising a coil 43, 53, respectively, conventionally installed between the bottom of the wall 41, 51 and the blocked neck of this same wall.
  • each coil 43, 53 there is in series, a pressure regulating valve 61, 62 and a solenoid valve 71, 7 respectivement, respectively.
  • the tanks 4,5 are also equipped with air release solenoid valves 81, 82, liquid level sensors 91, 92, pressure gauges 101, 102 and pressure switches 111, 112 respectively. All the solenoid valves are controlled by electronic means contained in a cabinet 12 which receives the signals supplied by the pressure switches and the level sensors 91, 92, the levels of the tanks 4.5 being able to be displayed on the cabinet in 131, 132, respectively.
  • the level sensors can be of the conventional type, with a rod, or of the type described in patent application EP-A-530,102.
  • the reservoir 4 collects, by a funnel 21 and a conduit 14 equipped with a solenoid valve 15 also controlled by the cabinet 12, the liquid nitrogen at atmospheric pressure which leaves the freezing tank 2.
  • the nitrogen thus recovered can, under conditions which will be described later, be returned to the tank 5, by a conduit 16 equipped with a solenoid valve 17 controlled by the electronic means contained in the cabinet 12.
  • the reservoir 5 is used to supply the circuit 1, through a valve 18 which can be manually controlled.
  • the reservoir is itself supplied, according to the present invention, either by an external source 20, through a solenoid valve 19, or by the reservoir 4, as explained below in the description of the operation of the device according to the invention.
  • the solenoid valves: 71, 17.82, 19, are normally closed 81, 15.72, are normally open
  • the pressure switch 111 emits a signal when the pressure in the tank 4 reaches a predetermined level authorizing a transfer of nitrogen under pressure to the tank 5.
  • the pressure switch 112 is used to continuously regulate the pressure in the tank 5, at another predetermined level. To do this, the pressure switch emits "high” and "low” signals representative of pressures framing this predetermined level.
  • the nitrogen distribution tank 5 is filled in the circuit 1.
  • the electronic control means energize the solenoid valves 19 and 82 (from normally open air) which therefore open, as does the normally open solenoid valve 72 which then closes.
  • the other reservoir 4 must at this time be inactive, and to do this, the solenoid valves 17, 15, 7 and 8 are kept de-energized.
  • the external source 20 of nitrogen under pressure is then emptied into the tank 5 through the open solenoid valve 19, until the level sensor 92 indicates to the electronic means contained in the cabinet 12 that the maximum filling level of the reservoir 5 is reached.
  • the reservoir 5 being filled, it is possible to put the device into service so that it delivers in the circuit 1 the liquid nitrogen which it contains.
  • the valve 18 is opened and the control means put or maintain the electrovalves 81, 71, 15,17 on the one hand and the electrovalves 72, 82 and 19 on the other hand.
  • the solenoid valve 72 then being open and the solenoid valve 82 for venting being closed, the liquid taken from the bottom of the tank 5 by the coil 53 vaporizes and spreads in the tank 5 above the surface free of liquid nitrogen.
  • the vapor pressure thus established in the tank 5 is limited by the pressure regulator 62, to a pressure of 1.1 bar for example.
  • the control means open the solenoid valve 82 to drop the pressure to the predetermined level.
  • liquid nitrogen contained in the tank 5 is expelled in the circuit 1, through the valve 18.
  • the nitrogen spreads in the circuit by bathing the products placed in tank 2.
  • part of the liquid vaporizes and disperses in the atmosphere.
  • the non-vaporized part flows to a funnel 21 connected by a line 14, and through the normally open solenoid valve 15, to the recovery tank 4 which then gradually fills while the tank 5 is emptied.
  • the control means control the level of the liquid in the tank 4. If that -this is higher than a predetermined low level, corresponding here too and for the same reasons, for example to a quarter of the maximum capacity of the tank 4, the control means trigger a pressurization of this tank by opening the solenoid valve 71 and by closing the 81 venting solenoid valve.
  • Liquid withdrawn by the coil 43 from the bottom of the tank 4 then vaporizes and the vapor pressure above the liquid increases to a value set by the pressure regulator 61, to a value slightly higher than the set value (1.1 bar) fixed for the pressure in the tank 5, i.e. 1.2 bar for example.
  • the pressure switch 111 signals this pressure level to the control means.
  • the pressure in the tank 5 is constantly maintained at a value higher than atmospheric pressure whereas this is not the case in the tank 4 where the solenoid valve 81 for venting is normally open to allow the filling of the tank 4 with nitrogen at atmospheric pressure recovered at the outlet of tank 2.
  • the control means of the device trigger the opening of the solenoid valve 17 and the closing of the solenoid valve 15.
  • a stream of liquid nitrogen then exits of the reservoir 4 to fill the reservoir 5 which, by assumption as we saw above, then reached its low level.
  • the level of nitrogen in the tank 5 then increases constantly to the maximum filling level of this tank or, according to the invention, until the level of nitrogen in the tank 4 reaches its low level.
  • the control means close the solenoid valve 17 to prevent the reservoir 4 from being excessively emptied. There is then reopening of the solenoid valves 14 and 81 to allow the tank 4 to fill again.
  • the reservoir 5 is not filled, there is opening of the solenoid valve 19 to complete the filling of the reservoir 5 with liquid nitrogen coming from the external source 20.
  • This liquid can then also enter directly into circuit 1, the valve 18 then being open.
  • the reservoir 20 also serves to recharge the circuit so as to compensate for the losses by evaporation of liquid nitrogen in the tank 2.
  • the process described above is repeated periodically so that the reservoir 5 is constantly filled with a sufficient quantity of pressurized liquid nitrogen, suitable for supplying the circuit 1 with a substantially constant flow rate.
  • the electronic control means selectively initiate transfers of liquid nitrogen from the reservoir to the reservoir 5, from the source 20 to this reservoir, and from the supplies to the reservoir 4 by the output of the circuit 1 so as to maintain predetermined relationships between the levels of liquid nitrogen in the two tanks, these relationships being necessary to ensure a smooth supply of circuit 1 and the recycling of the nitrogen circulating in this circuit.
  • the device according to the invention is thus particularly well suited to the freezing of pharmaceutical products, subject to particularly strict standards of cleanliness.
  • cryogenic products such as liquid argon could be used and other applications envisaged: temperature conditioning of a gas such as air, etc.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
EP94400456A 1993-03-26 1994-03-03 Dispositif de recyclage d'un liquide cryogénique et son application à un appareil de congélation de produits Withdrawn EP0617247A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9303480 1993-03-26
FR9303480A FR2703139B1 (fr) 1993-03-26 1993-03-26 Dispositif de recyclage d'un liquide cryogénique et son application à la congélation de produits.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0617247A1 true EP0617247A1 (fr) 1994-09-28

Family

ID=9445361

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94400456A Withdrawn EP0617247A1 (fr) 1993-03-26 1994-03-03 Dispositif de recyclage d'un liquide cryogénique et son application à un appareil de congélation de produits

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US5419140A (ja)
EP (1) EP0617247A1 (ja)
JP (1) JPH06300409A (ja)
BR (1) BR9401303A (ja)
FR (1) FR2703139B1 (ja)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104406039A (zh) * 2014-11-26 2015-03-11 大连福佳·大化石油化工有限公司 改进的液氮罐放空氮气的回收系统及工艺

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8418480B2 (en) * 2008-12-18 2013-04-16 Waters Technologies Corporation Cooling system using positive displacement cryogenic liquid pump
KR101204722B1 (ko) * 2012-04-12 2012-11-26 주식회사 동학식품 초저온 냉매를 이용한 급속 구형 동결식품 제조장치
KR102110437B1 (ko) * 2013-03-18 2020-05-13 한국전력공사 유체 순환장치
ES2510290B2 (es) * 2013-03-20 2015-04-30 Emilio PALOMO PINTO Sistema de refrigeración autónomo, portátil y autorefrigerante, basado en la utilización de un depósito estanco, conteniente de un gas licuado a presión, empleado como vaporizador, como consecuencia de la evaporación controlada de dicho GLP
US10481055B2 (en) * 2016-08-26 2019-11-19 Simple Origin, Inc. System and method for refilling cryogen in microscope cryogen holders
JP6857293B2 (ja) * 2017-03-16 2021-04-14 大陽日酸株式会社 凍結保存容器
WO2021242901A1 (en) * 2020-05-26 2021-12-02 VLP Law Group, LLP Cryogenic nitrogen sourced gas-driven pneumatic devices
CN115199943B (zh) * 2022-06-17 2023-10-13 华中科技大学苏州脑空间信息研究院 一种液氮液位控制系统

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3368363A (en) * 1966-05-31 1968-02-13 Du Pont Process for freezing food using liquid refrigerant
US3600901A (en) * 1969-03-17 1971-08-24 Integral Process Syst Inc Gas balance control in flash freezing systems
FR2068584A1 (ja) * 1969-11-21 1971-08-27 Du Pont
US3611737A (en) * 1969-03-12 1971-10-12 Du Pont Freezing of fragile foodstuffs with an ebullient liquid freezant
US3768272A (en) * 1970-06-17 1973-10-30 L Barrett Direct contact food freezer
DE2352147A1 (de) * 1973-10-17 1975-04-24 Linde Ag Vorrichtung zur versorgung eines kryostaten
US3882687A (en) * 1973-01-25 1975-05-13 Linde Ag Method of and apparatus for the cooling of an object
US4165618A (en) * 1978-04-24 1979-08-28 Lewis Tyree Jr Treatment with liquid cryogen
EP0505222A1 (fr) * 1991-03-21 1992-09-23 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Procédé et dispositif de congélation

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2959034A (en) * 1956-05-21 1960-11-08 Liquefreeze Company Inc Apparatus for chilling foodstuffs and the like for storage and shipment
US3007319A (en) * 1958-04-11 1961-11-07 Ralph P Ogden Method and apparatus for quick freezing foods by direct immersion
US3049887A (en) * 1960-02-15 1962-08-21 Gen Dynamics Corp Liquid control device
US3537271A (en) * 1968-08-08 1970-11-03 Atomic Energy Commission Level control for cryogenic liquids
US3605427A (en) * 1969-12-10 1971-09-20 Du Pont Method and apparatus for extracting heat from articles with an ebullient liquid freezant
US3733847A (en) * 1971-03-24 1973-05-22 Pennwalt Corp Direct contact halocarbon freezant apparatus
JPS62200099A (ja) * 1986-02-27 1987-09-03 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 極低温液体供給システム
AT394460B (de) * 1989-09-11 1992-04-10 Sitte Hellmuth Vorrichtung zum nachfuellen von fluessigstickstoff
DE4107320C2 (de) * 1991-03-07 2001-08-02 Hellmuth Sitte Vorrichtung zum kontinuierlichen Nachfüllen von Flüssigstickstoff in Kühlkammern

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3368363A (en) * 1966-05-31 1968-02-13 Du Pont Process for freezing food using liquid refrigerant
US3611737A (en) * 1969-03-12 1971-10-12 Du Pont Freezing of fragile foodstuffs with an ebullient liquid freezant
US3600901A (en) * 1969-03-17 1971-08-24 Integral Process Syst Inc Gas balance control in flash freezing systems
FR2068584A1 (ja) * 1969-11-21 1971-08-27 Du Pont
US3768272A (en) * 1970-06-17 1973-10-30 L Barrett Direct contact food freezer
US3882687A (en) * 1973-01-25 1975-05-13 Linde Ag Method of and apparatus for the cooling of an object
DE2352147A1 (de) * 1973-10-17 1975-04-24 Linde Ag Vorrichtung zur versorgung eines kryostaten
US4165618A (en) * 1978-04-24 1979-08-28 Lewis Tyree Jr Treatment with liquid cryogen
EP0505222A1 (fr) * 1991-03-21 1992-09-23 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Procédé et dispositif de congélation

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104406039A (zh) * 2014-11-26 2015-03-11 大连福佳·大化石油化工有限公司 改进的液氮罐放空氮气的回收系统及工艺
CN104406039B (zh) * 2014-11-26 2016-05-11 大连福佳·大化石油化工有限公司 改进的液氮罐放空氮气的回收系统及工艺

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2703139B1 (fr) 1995-04-28
JPH06300409A (ja) 1994-10-28
FR2703139A1 (fr) 1994-09-30
US5419140A (en) 1995-05-30
BR9401303A (pt) 1995-03-28

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