NZ529830A - Temperature control apparatus for storage tanks - Google Patents

Abstract

An industrial temperature control apparatus comprising a storage vessel; a heat transfer medium delivery means; and a heat transfer medium collection means; wherein the heat transfer medium delivery means encompasses at least part of the vessel and lies in contact with, or is adjacent to, the exterior surface of the vessel and the heat transfer medium delivery means is adapted to deliver a heat transfer medium onto the exterior surface in such a manner that the greater part of the heat transfer medium clings to, and establishes a cascading flow over the exterior surface prior to leaving the vessel and entering the heat transfer medium collection means.

Description

Patents Form # 5 529830 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL # : 529830 DATED : 28 November 2003 TITLE : Temperature Control Apparatus We, ROBT. STONE & CO. LIMITED Address: Mechanical Engineers & Contractors, 31 Maurice Road, Penrose, Auckland, New Zealand Nationality: A New Zealand company do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 130692NZ_Cap_20041I29_I330_JON FEECODE 1050 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 9 NOV 2004 RECEIVED Temperature control apparatus FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a temperature control apparatus, and in particular, but not exclusively to a temperature control apparatus for a use in changing the temperature of a 5 fluid and/or maintaining the fluid within a desired temperature range.

BACKGROUND In many industrial processes fluids need to be held or stored within a desired temperature range, for example in the dairy, brewery, winery, confectionary or pharmaceutical industries. A prime example is the milk vat as used on many dairy farms. Milk is taken 10 from the cows at a warm temperature, but it is necessary to hold the milk at 4 to 7 degrees Celcius to minimise the growth of bacteria in the milk, prior to the milk being carried to a dairy factory.

It is typical for milk to be pre-cooled to approximately 18 degrees Celcius prior to entering the milk vat, and then the temperature is brought down to 4 to 7 degrees Celcius, 15 and held at this temperature, while in the vat. Typical milk vats in New Zealand are chilled on their lower surfaces using a direct expansion cooling system. A refrigerant is compressed in a refrigeration unit and is passed into an evaporator or "cooling pad" situated on the lower surface of the vat. These cooling pads are often referred to as "dimple pads" since the pad often comprises an upper and a lower skin, the lower skin 20 being dimpled and spot welded or laser welded to the upper skin.

The use of such cooling pads has a number of limitations or disadvantages. They typically only cover the bottom surface of the vat and can produce a situation where the milk at the bottom of the vat can become very cold, but warmer milk remains above, since the warmer milk has a lower density than the chilled milk. Stirrers are used to try to 25 alleviate this problem, however care must be taken to avoid over agitation of the milk since over agitation can produce undesirable changes in the milk.

Cooling rates are important, since some bacterial populations can double within 20 minutes at certain temperatures. Present standards within New Zealand require milk to be 130692NZ-CompSpec U04.doc brought down to 7 degrees Celcius within 3 hours, but clearly the faster it is done the better. When using cooling pads to chill the milk, and where attempts are made to increase the cooling rate, it is not uncommon to find that ice forms in the milk adjacent to the cooling pad, while milk in o,ther parts of the vat remain above the desired temperature.

It has been found that dimple pads do not work particularly well on the side walls of a vat due to the gravitational effects on the refrigerant in the pad. This is because the refrigerant is undergoing a phase change from a liquid to a gas.

Cooling pads are also a problem if they need to be repaired. The dimple pads are typically made of stainless steel, and the stresses induced at manufacture both in forming 10 the shapes and in spot welding, and the frequent temperature changes in use, make the pads prone to cracking, which can lead to leaks. These leaks have a significant effect on the operation of direct expansion refrigeration systems and can be expensive to repair. In addition, any refrigerant leakage, depending on the refrigerant type, can cause environmental damage to the earth's ozone layer.

An alternative to the direct expansion cooling systems is the use of chilled water or "ice water". These systems spray chilled water onto the exterior surface of a milk vat to chill the contents. A network of spray nozzles is typically housed within an outer housing which also houses at least part of the milk vat.

While these systems are capable of cooling the milk within the vat at a higher rate, and 20 without the possibility of forming ice in the milk, they do have a number of disadvantages. Firstly the milk vats can be rather complex, requiring complex plumbing systems and arrays of spray nozzles. In addition, due to the fine passage ways within a typical spray nozzle it is often important to clean the nozzles frequently to keep the system working efficiently. Also, if the chilled water is sprayed at a high velocity, the 25 chilled water can bounce off the exterior of the milk vat and may simply end up chilling the outer housing and wasting refrigeration energy.

The New Zealand milk industry identified at the 1995 milk quality conference that a major failure of the New Zealand milk industry was the poor standard of on-farm cooling. 130692NZ-CompSpec U04.doc In addition, milk vats have typically been cylindrical or elliptical in shape. These shapes can be relatively expensive to manufacture and to support. Also, cylindrical shapes have large internal corner areas which can be difficult to clean.

OBJECT It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a temperature control apparatus which will at least go some way towards overcoming the above mentioned problems, or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in an industrial 10 temperature control apparatus comprising; a vessel, a heat transfer medium delivery means, and a heat transfer medium collection means, wherein the heat transfer medium delivery means encompasses at least part of the vessel 15 and lies in contact with or in close proximity to the exterior surface of the vessel and the heat transfer medium delivery means is adapted to deliver a heat transfer medium onto the exterior surface in such a manner that the greater part of the heat transfer medium clings to, and establishes a cascading flow over, the exterior surface prior to leaving the vessel and entering the heat transfer medium collection means.

Such an apparatus provides a number of significant advantages over equipment that has been used in the past. Firstly, there is less heat transfer into or out of the heat transfer medium before it reaches the vessel when compared to systems that spray a heat transfer medium onto a vessel. This is because the heat transfer medium is not broken into tiny droplets and propelled over a significant distance before reaching the vessel.

Secondly, a much improved heat transfer rate from the heat transfer medium into or out of the vessel can be achieved due to the cascading flow of up to 100% of the heat transfer 130692NZ-CompSpec 1104.doc medium over a good portion of the vessel. In comparable systems which spray a heat transfer medium, much of the heat transfer medium bounces off the vessel before it has had time to allow heat to transfer into or out of the vessel.

And thirdly, since the apparatus does not require any complex spray nozzles and/or 5 associated plumbing the initial cost of the apparatus and the on-going maintenance costs can be less.

Due to the improved efficiencies of the apparatus over prior art devices, it can be suitable for a number of chilling or heating purposes. The apparatus can be used to chill and to store milk at a desired temperature, or the apparatus could equally be suitable to heat a 10 product or to maintain a product at a particular elevated temperature for a period of time.

Preferably the heat transfer medium supply means is a conduit having a number of outlet passageways. Such a device can be simple to manufacture and to maintain since it can simply comprise a suitably shaped tube having a number of holes cut in it of suitable diameter and location, and at a suitable spacing, to provide the required heat transfer 15 medium delivery rates and angles.

Preferably the apparatus includes a support structure for the vessel.

Preferably the conduit is also adapted to be a structural member of the apparatus. For example, the conduit can be a square section tube that is formed into a ring and is welded to the vessel to form a suitable strengthened location for attaching the vessel to a 20 supporting structure.

Preferably the storage vessel is spherical in shape. A spherical shape has the advantage that a cascading flow of heat transfer medium on the lower half of its exterior will not tend to separate into individual rivulets, but rather the cascading flow tends to cover the entire lower surface of the sphere under a range of flow rates. In contrast, a cascading 25 flow of water down the side of a cylindrical vessel can tend to break up into separate rivulets at certain flow rates, with an associated loss in heat transfer efficiency. Also, a spherical shape does not have any sharp corners which can be difficult to clean or to scrape. 130692NZ-CompSpec 1104.doc Preferably the heat transfer medium supply means is situated approximately half way up the spherical vessel, when the spherical vessel is in its normal attitude of operation.

Preferably the support structure includes a skirt. A structure in the form of a skirt has the advantage that the structure can not only support the vessel but it can also form an 5 enclosure to help minimise heat transfer between the surrounding atmosphere and the cascading heat transfer medium and the collected heat transfer medium.

Preferably the lower portion of the skirt is closed to form the heat transfer medium collection means.

In a second aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a temperature 10 controlled system incorporating at least one temperature control apparatus as specified herein and means to transfer heat into or out of a heat transfer medium for use in the temperature control apparatus.

Preferably the means to transfer heat into or out of a heat transfer medium includes a refrigeration machine.

DESCRIPTION The invention may also broadly be said to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of the parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents, such 20 equivalents are incorporated herein as if they were individually set forth.

A preferred form of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, FIGURE 1 is a partially cutaway side elevation of a temperature control apparatus, FIGURE 2 is an exploded cross sectional view of the heat transfer medium delivery 25 means of the temperature control apparatus, FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of an anti-swirl device, 130692NZ-CompSpec 1104.doc FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the anti-swirl device, FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram showing an alternative heat transfer medium delivery means location, and FIGURES 6 to 6c are a series of views showing alternative vessel shapes.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a temperature control apparatus (10) is shown comprising a spherical vessel (11) having a heat transfer medium delivery means in the form of a tubular ring (13) attached about its periphery. The vessel (11) is a welded fabrication and is made from stainless steel sheet and is formed into a spherical shaped using a hydro-forming process. The tubular ring (13) is made from a 50 millimetre (mm) 10 by 50 mm square stainless steel tube having a 3 mm wall thickness which is rolled into a circular shape. The ring (13) is welded to the vessel (11) and is attached half way up the vessel (11) and is aligned with the horizontal plane, when the apparatus (10) is in its normal attitude of use. The apparatus (10) also includes a supporting structure for the spherical vessel (13) which in this example is in the form of a 3 mm thick sheet stainless 15 steel skirt (15) which is in turn supported on a number of legs (17) which are situated about the base of the skirt (15). The bottom of the skirt (15) is closed by a stainless steel sheet floor (19). The side of the skirt (15) is provided with an access panel (21).

The tubular ring (13) serves a number of purposes. Firstly it provides structural support to the spherical vessel (11) in the area where the vessel (11) is connected to the skirt (15). 20 Secondly, it provides a suitable location for the attachment of lifting lugs (not shown). And thirdly, the tubular ring (13) provides a conduit for use as a heat transfer medium delivery means through which a heat exchange medium or liquid can be passed and distributed to the entire perimeter of the spherical vessel (11) adjacent to the tubular ring (13).

In addition, the apparatus (10) includes a product inlet pipe (23), a product outlet valve (25) and a product outlet pipe (27). The product inlet pipe is connected to a cover (24) situated on top of the vessel (11). The apparatus (10) also includes a heat exchange medium inlet pipe (29) connected to the tubular ring (13), a heat exchange medium collector in the form of a sump (31) and a heat exchange medium outlet pipe (33). 130692NZ-CompSpec 1104.doc The apparatus (10) illustrated is configured for use as a milk storage vat, and the heat exchange medium used is typically chilled water. The milk vat is capable of chilling the milk to, and of holding it at, a temperature of between 4 and 7 degrees Celcius. Such a milk vat can be located on a farm within or beside a milking shed. Milk from the cows is 5 generally pre-cooled to about 18 degrees Celcius before entering the milk vat through the product inlet pipe (23).

The milk enters the vessel (11) through the cover (24) and is sprayed onto the interior surface of the vessel (11). Chilled water is directed onto the exterior surface of the vessel (11) from the tubular ring (13) via a series of holes (35) cut in the lower surface of the 10 tubular ring (13). Each hole (35) is situated a distance (39) of approximately 18 millimetres from the internal diameter of the tubular ring (13) and is approximately 1.5 to 2.0 millimetres in diameter. The centreline of each hole is at an angle (37) of approximately 30 degrees from the vertical and in such a manner that a stream of chilled water flowing through each hole will be directed onto the exterior surface of the vessel 15 (11). The series of holes (35) extends in a circumferential direction about the entire tubular ring (13), the holes (35) being spaced approximately 25 millimetres apart.

The holes (35) are sized, shaped and arranged in such a manner that they cause the chilled water to flow onto the exterior of the vessel (11) and to cascade down the exterior of the vessel until the water nears the very bottom of the vessel (11). The velocity and angle of 20 the flowing chilled water as it leaves the holes (35) is important to ensure that the chilled water clings to and spreads out over the surface of the vessel (11) and does not bounce off the vessel (11). It has been found that a delivery pressure for the chilled water into the tubular ring (13) of about 10 to 50 Kilopascals (KPa) is ideal for this purpose. When such a delivery pressure is used, and the holes are configured as described above it is possible 25 to create a cascading flow of water which covers almost the entire lower half of the vessel (11). In this example the vessel (11) is a stainless steel sphere approximately 3.8 metres in diameter, with a 2 mm wall thickness It has also been found that a cascading flow rate of between 12 to 28 litres per minute per square metre, in the area adjacent to the tubular ring (13) is ideal. 130692NZ-CompSpec 1104.doc The use of cascading chilled water has a number of advantages over the previous method of spraying chilled water onto the vessel. Firstly, since the chilled water is not sprayed in fine droplets, or propelled over a substantial distance prior to contacting the surface of the vessel, the absorption of heat into the water from the surrounding air is minimised.

Sprayed water is in the form of minute water droplets having relatively large surface areas in comparison to their volumes, allowing substantial heat absorption to occur while they travel through the air. For this reason, the heat transfer medium delivery system of the present invention, which does not break the chilled water into tiny droplets, can lead to lower energy costs used in the refrigeration process.

Secondly, since the chilled water is not sprayed onto the vessel at a high velocity, and at angles close to perpendicular to the surface of the vessel it is possible to get a far higher percentage of the water to adhere to the vessel and to cascade down the surface of the vessel, rather than having the water bouncing off the vessel. It is this cascading flow of water that is very effective at absorbing heat from the surface of the vessel. And since the 15 flow is established over such a large area of the vessel in the present invention, the cooling effect is substantial.

And thirdly, the present invention does not require complex and relatively costly spray nozzles and associated plumbing, or the higher delivery pressures required for the spray nozzles to work effectively. Along with the complex spray nozzles can be higher 20 maintenance costs. The present invention can therefore be cheaper to manufacture and to run.

In addition, the use of chilled water applied using a cascading flow method has a number of advantages over previous methods of chilling vats of milk using direct expansion cooling pads. The cooling rates can be faster, there is a reduced possibility of forming ice 25 in the milk, and maintenance costs can be reduced since there is no need for a complex and expensive dimple pad which can also be prone to deterioration and be expensive to repair. 130692NZ-CompSpec 1104.doc The apparatus (10) also includes a stirrer (not shown) which is driven by a motor (41). This can be used to promote movement of the milk within the vessel (11) to ensure that the entire volume of milk is cooled more evenly.

A quantity of chilled water can be prepared prior to milking the cows, meaning that when 5 the flow of milk begins it can be quickly brought down to the desired temperature without having to have a very powerful refrigeration unit. Additionally, chilled water can be produced during off-peak times when electricity can be less expensive, allowing further operational cost savings.

The lower portion of the skirt (15) and the floor (19) form the sump (31) which is used to 10 collect the chilled water as it falls from the vessel (11). The floor (19) is formed having a shallow raised part conical shape for improved strength. Preferably the exterior surface of the floor (19) is covered in a thermal insulating material (not shown) to minimise heat transfer into the chilled water while it sits within the sump (31).

The skirt (15) is used as a structural support for the vessel (11), and also to form the side 15 walls of the sump (31). The skirt (31) also has an additional use in that it can help to contain a cold atmosphere about the lower portion of the vessel (11) helping to minimise heat absorption from the surrounding environment, both into the vessel (11), and into the chilled water as it cascades over the vessel (11).

It has been found that a milk vat comprising a spherical vessel (11) which is manufactured 20 using the hydro-forming technique can be up to 30% cheaper to manufacture than a conventional cylindrical or elliptical vat.

Between the vessel (11) and the product outlet pipe (27) is an anti-swirl device (51) which has been designed to minimise swirling of the product within the vessel (11) when the product is drained out. This is explained in further detail with reference to figures 3 and 4 25 below.

With reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4 the anti-swirl device (51) in the form of a quarter spherical shaped chamber which can be fitted at or adjacent to the lowest point on the vessel and from which the product outlet pipe (27) can extend. This anti-swirl device (51) 130692NZ-CompSpec 1104.doc can be used to reduce the swirling that occurs within the vessel when the contents are drained out. The swirling action can significantly reduce the rate at which a product can be extracted from the vessel (11).

The anti-swirl device (51) comprises a quarter spherical surface (57) and a flat surface 5 (59) to which the product outlet pipe (27) is attached. In use the flat surface (59) is aligned at or close to the vertical. The corner (61) between the part spherical surface (57) and the flat surface (59) is radiused. The anti-swirl device (51) can be welded to the vessel (11), the vessel (11) being opened in the area covered by the anti-swirl device (51).

Since the anti-swirl device (51) is non circular in a horizontal cross section, and contains 10 at least one significant flat and vertical surface (59) adjacent to the product outlet pipe (27), the device (51) tends to discourage the formation of a swirling action when the contents of the vessel (11) are drained out.

In addition, the product outlet pipe (27) has an oversized diameter where it connects to the chamber in comparison to the diameter of the product outlet pipe (27) at its opposite end 15 where it is adapted to be connected to a supply line for a milk tanker. It is considered advantageous to have a product outlet pipe (27) with as large a diameter as is practical where the pipe (27) connects to the anti-swirl device (51) because this helps to minimise the flow velocity and thus further reduce the tendency of the contents of the vessel (11) to swirl as they are drained.

While a number of chamber shapes could be used for this purpose, it is considered advantageous to use a quarter spherical shape as this shape will have a minimum of sharp corners, and will therefore be easier to keep clean. It should also be noted that the corners (61) where the curved spherical part (57) of the chamber meets the vertical flat face (59) are radiused to minimise any cleaning difficulties.

VARIATIONS In the example described with reference to figures 1 and 2, the heat exchange medium is water. However, depending on the temperatures involved in the apparatus (10), the heat 130692NZ-CompSpec 1104.doc exchange medium can be water with additives to extend its temperature range, or it can be any other suitable fluid which suits the particular requirements.

With reference to Figure 5, an alternative apparatus configuration (10') is shown. In this example the tubular ring (13') is fitted about the upper portion of the spherical vessel 5 (11') allowing a heat exchange medium to be cascaded over the upper part of the vessel (11'). Such a configuration can also be used in conjunction with the configuration shown in figure 1.

With reference to Figures 6 to 6c, a number of alternative vessel shapes are shown which could be used in the temperature control apparatus (10). While the example described 10 above uses a spherical shaped vessel, the vessel could take a number of shapes, for example a part cylindrical shape having a hemispherical, a semi-ellipsoidal, or a conical lower portion as shown in figures 6, 6a and 6b respectively.

Figure 6c shows a further example in which the apparatus comprises a cylindrical vessel having its principal axis aligned horizontally. In such a case the heat transfer medium 15 delivery means can take the form of a tube running along each side of the cylinder.

While the apparatus (10) described in the example above is adapted to cool a product, the apparatus can also be used to heat a product. Further examples of uses for the apparatus could be for cooking jams or chemical processing, etc.

Since the heat exchanging efficiency of the apparatus (10) is relatively good in 20 comparison to previous equipment, the apparatus can be used in a wider range of applications, for example, an application where it is necessary to take a product to a particular temperature for a period of time, and then to cool the product or to take it to a new temperature. In such a case, more than one source of heat exchange medium can be used, and by simply switching sources, a relatively rapid change in product temperature 25 can be achieved.

In some applications, particularly where a product is heated, it can be useful to both stir the product and to scrape it from the interior surfaces of the vessel (11). A spherical shaped vessel is particularly advantageous in such a situation since a spherical shape can 130692NZ-CompSpec 1104.doc be easily wiped using a curved scraper which is adapted to rotate about a centrally positioned shaft. The spherical shape does not have corner areas which tend to be more difficult to scrape.

DEFINITIONS Throughout this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. 130692NZ-CompSpec 1104.doc

Claims (15)

- 14- C L AI MS 10 1. An industrial temperature control apparatus comprising; a vessel/a heat transfer medium delivery means, and a heat transfer medium collection fneans, wherein tl heat transfer medium delivery means encompasses at least,part of the vessel/and lies in contact with, or is adjacent to, the exterior surfacepi the vessel and tnc heat transfer medium delivery means is adapted to deliver/heat transfer medium onto the exterior surface in such a manner that the greater part of the/heat transfer medium clings to, and establishes a cascading flow over, the extepfor surface prior to leaving the vessel and entering the heat tracfsfer medium collection means. 2. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer medium supply meaps is a conduit paving a number of outlet passageways. 3. An industrial temperature control apparatus a/claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a support structure for theVessel. 15 4. An industrial temper/ture control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conduit is also adapted to be a structural member of the apparatus. 5. An industrial/temperature control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, / / wherein the storage vessel is/substantially spherical in shape. 6. An inmistrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the 20 hmt transfer medium supply means includes a supply means that is situated approximately half way up the substantially spherical vessel, when the spherical vessel is in its .normal attitude of operation. 7. An indusmal temperature control apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the heat transfer medium supply means includes a supply means that is situated at, or adjacent to, the upper regions of the substantially spherical vessel, len the spherical vessel is in its normal attitude of operation. 130692NZ~CompSpec.0206.doc INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 1 FEB e tue i% liS AMENDED Received at IPONZ on 1 July 2008 CLAIMS ■

1. An industrial temperature control apparatus comprising; a vessel, a heat transfer medium delivery means, and a heat transfer medium collection means, wherein the heat transfer medium delivery means encompasses at least part of the vessel and lies in contact with, or is adjacent to, an exterior surface of the vessel and the heat transfer medium, delivery means is adapted to deliver a heat transfer medium onto the exterior surface of the vessel in such a manner that the greater part of the heat transfer medium clings to, and establishes a cascading flow over the exterior surface of the vessel, including the underside portion of the exterior surface of the vessel, prior to leaving the vessel and entering the heat transfer medium collection means. .

2. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer medium supply means is a conduit having a number of outlet passageways.

3. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a support structure for the vessel.

4. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conduit is also adapted to be a structural member of the apparatus.

5. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the storage vessel is substantially spherical in shape.

6. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the heat transfer, medium supply means includes a supply means that is situated approximately half way up the substantially spherical vessel, when the spherical vessel is in its normal attitude of operation.

7. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the heat transfer medium supply means includes a supply means that is situated at, or adjacent to, the upper regions of the substantially spherical vessel, when the spherical vessel is in its normal attitude of operation. G:\130692NZ Amended Claims t July08.doc - 15- 8. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in my preceding cl^ wherein the support structure includes a skirt. 9. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wfierein the lower portion of the skirt is closed to form the he^t transfer medyrai collection 5 means. 10. An industrial temperature control apparatus /as claimed in preceding claim, wherein the vessel is a vat. 11. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vessel is a milk storage /at. 10 12. An industrial temperature control apparatus as/claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus uses water as a heat transfer medium. 13. An industrial tempera toe controlled apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to any erne of the accompanying drawings. 14. An industrial temperature controljm system incorporating at least one temperature 15 control apparatus substantially/^ claimed in any preceding claim and means to transfer hear into or out of/a heat transfer medium for use in the temperature control apparatus. 15. An industrial temperature controlled system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means to transfer/heat into or out of the heat transfer medium includes a 20 Refrigeration maehine. PIPERS Attorneys for: 25 ROBT. STONE & CO. LIMITED 130692NZ-CompSpec.0206.doc INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 1 FEB 200B RECEIVED Received at iPONZ on 1 July 2008 -15-

8. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the support structure includes a skirt.

9. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lower portion of the skirt is closed to form the heat transfer medium collection means.

10. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vessel is a vat.

11. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vessel is a milk storage vat

12. An industrial temperature control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus uses water as a heat transfer medium.

13. An industrial temperature control apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

14. An industrial temperature controlled system incorporating at least one temperature control apparatus substantially as claimed in any preceding claim and means to transfer heat into or out of a heat transfer medium for use in the temperature control apparatus. ■

15. An industrial temperature controlled system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means to transfer heat into or out of the heat transfer medium includes a refrigeration machine. ■ Attorneys for ROBT. STONE & CO. LIMITED G:\130692NZAmendedClaims Uuly08.doc -16- ABSTRACT An industrial temperature control apparatus comprising a storage vessel, a means to deliver a temperature controlled liquid onto the exterior of the vessel, and means to collect the liquid. The liquid can be delivered to the entire periphery of the vessel from a tube 5 surrounding the vessel. The liquid is applied in such a manner that it clings to the exterior of the vessel and cascades down the vessel until it drops off near the bottom of the vessel. The liquid is them collected for recycling through a heating or cooling system as appropriate. The cascading flow of the liquid over the surface of the vessel is very effective at transferring heat into or out of the vessel. A housing surrounds the cascading 10 liquid and the collection means to minimise heat transfer between the liquid and the surrounding atmosphere. 130692NZ-CompSpec U04.doc