US2450713A - Refrigerating system using dry ice and including a secondary heat exchange circuit - Google Patents

Refrigerating system using dry ice and including a secondary heat exchange circuit Download PDF

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US2450713A
US2450713A US683511A US68351146A US2450713A US 2450713 A US2450713 A US 2450713A US 683511 A US683511 A US 683511A US 68351146 A US68351146 A US 68351146A US 2450713 A US2450713 A US 2450713A
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refrigerant
gas
pressure
dry ice
container
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Rex L Brunsing
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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D3/00Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D3/12Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using solidified gases, e.g. carbon-dioxide snow

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  • This invention relates to a refrigerating system, and more particularly to an improved apparatus and method for utilizing solid carbon dioxide (CO2), commonly called dry ice, or lvery cold materials of that general character having the property of changing from a solid state directly into a gaseous state.3 and absorbing heat during the change.
  • CO2 solid carbon dioxide
  • One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a system that is more ecient than heretofore and which system employs a fluid orliquid refrigerant that is chilled or cooled by being brought into heat transfer relationship with the dry ice and that is then conducted to the'space or region to be refrigerated for cooling Suchregion, and that is then returned to the dry ice for re-cooling and for repeating the cycle.
  • Another object of the invention is a refrigerating system that employs dry ice for cooling the refrigerant to be circulated in the region to be cooled, and which system uses a more emcient and reliable means for effecting such circulation than heretofore.
  • prior systems of the general type to which this invention relates have included a liquid refrigerant or fluid of very low freezing point, which fluid has been chilled by dry ice and then carried to cooling coilsor units in the region to be refrigerated after which the fluid has been returned for re-cooling or chilling and for re' circulation.
  • This circulation has been effected by the use of gas pressure developed in the container for the dry ice used for cooling the fluid, or else the circulation has been effected mechanically, and thermostatic controls have been used to regulate the flow of the uid.
  • dry ice under gas pressure has less cooling efficiency than where it is under atmospheric pressure. Dry ice in sublirning under atmospheric pressure produces a temperature of -108.8 F. while under even a five pound pressure it will produce a temperature of only about -90 F. or about 18 degrees higher than were the same at atmospheric pressure.
  • a still further disadvantage in using the gas pressure from the prime cooling agent (solid CO2) is the fact that the large tanks used must be made to withstand far greater pressures than are (Cl. .6ft-91.5)
  • Fig; 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a system embodying thepresent invention as applied to a refrigerator car, the outline of the Awalls of the latter, including the wall between the ice bunker and the mainbody of the car being indicated in dot-dash lines. f
  • Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the upper part of the control chamber taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 5.
  • Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view clearly showing the system and manner of operation.
  • Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic viewacross a car.
  • Fig. 9 is an enlargedsectional view along line 9-9ofFig.1.
  • the system in its broad aspect, comprises a support i for holding a quantity of dryl ice that functions solely for chilling or cooling the fluid refrigerant.
  • the v latter may be alcohol, brine, or any other suitable fluid.
  • the dry ice-on said support is under atmospheric pressure, and
  • the amount of dry ice so supported may be about 6000 lbs.
  • Adjacent the support I but not necessarily a part-of the'same, is aclosed tank or container 2 for holding a relatively-small amount of dry ice. Where 6000 lbs might be held on support I, only about 500 lbs. would be in container 2, assuming the system were used in a standard refrigerator car. In any event, a relatively small amount of dry ice is in container! and the container is relatively small as best indicated generally in Fig. 1. n
  • This chamber 3 is connected with a cooling unit oo or units 4 for receiving a uid refrigerant from Fig. 2 is anv enlarged plan view of the supportl said unit or units.
  • Chamber 3 is in communication with the gas in container 2, which gas results from sublimation oi the dry ice in container and is under pressure. The gas. undervpressure, is utilized to force the fluid refrigerant from the control chamber past the main body of CO2 through support I, and to the cooling coils or units 4 and back to control chamber 3.
  • Cooling units 4 are in the space to be refrigerated, and thers'nostatic means l. which includes a valve, functions for opening orclosing the'i'luid line to ow of uid to the ⁇ control chamber.r
  • the support I, container12.- and control cham-- ⁇ ber 3, may all be positioned in a conventional ice bunker at one end oi a refrigerator car.
  • VThe dry ice on-support I will sublime at atmospheric boss that is closed at its upper end by a cap 2
  • the block 23 and wall 22 are coaxially apertured for passing a vertical rod that extends to about the lower end of cylinder I9 and coaxially with the latter.
  • the ice in tank 2 isnotused-for cooling the liquid refrigerant, although it tends to pre- Vcool said refrigerant as will later be explained.
  • the support I preferably is formed to provide a corrugated upper surface of adjoining tooth-like ridges of vinverted V-shape and formed by corrugating a pieceof sheet metal of the desired size.
  • This sheet is secured on a nat sheet whereby a plurality of elongated parallel passageways B of tri- A the upper corrugated side of support VI has a considerablearea in heat exchange relationship with the two upper sides of said passageway.
  • Substantially two thirds of the walls of each pas sageway are inyheat exchange relationship with the dry ice and this can be ⁇ increased by increasing the area of the upper sides Vof the support by making the apices of thecorrugations sharper.
  • 'I'he closed container ⁇ 2 may be of any desired shape, such as cylindrical or square, but it is preferably oblong and extends vertically for convenience in tting in the end portion of a car and to give as much capacity-as is possible for its size.
  • This container may be in one end of the conventional ice bunker II (Fig. 1') in a refrigerator car adjacent one end of support I and it may be spaced from the support I by a wall I2 (Fig. 2) if desired to protect the same from possible injury in loading dry ice onto support I, and a central baille or separator plate I3 in the tank 2 and terminating short of the bottom of the latter may be provided 'to prevent objectionable shifting of the dry ice in the'container during movement of the car.
  • AA removable gas tight clo sure I3' on container 2 is provided to enable loading the container with dry ice.
  • control chamber is preferably alongside the container 2 and secured to the latter.
  • one of the side walls I4 ofcontainer 2 is also a side wall of controlchamber 3 (Figs. 4, 6).
  • Control chamber 3 is separated internally into an upper compartment I5 and a, lower compartment I5 by a horizontalv partition I1 (Figs. 4, 5, 7).
  • a removable, gas tight closure plate I9 closes on opening in the top of the upper compartment, which plate carries a depending cylinder I9 that is open at its lower end, and which lower end is spaced above partition I1 (Figs. 5, 6).
  • the head or closure Il is formed with anl upstanding cylindrical
  • the opening in wall 22 is relatively large an has beveled edges for seating a poppet type valve 25' secured on the upper end of rod 25 when said rod is moved downwardly, and which valve will move away from the opening upon moving the rod 25 upwardly.
  • the aperture 21 through the block 23 may be providedwith a bushing for making a sliding t with rod 25, but the said aperture is counterbored at its lower end to form an enlarged recess 28 that opens downwardly, the edges of said recess are beveled to form a seat for a ksecond poppet type valve 29, also secured on rod 25, and which valve closes the recess upon upward movement, but opens it when rod 25 moves downwardly.
  • a passageway 30 communicates at one of its ends with recess 29 and at its opposite end with the atmosphere.
  • having a central passageway 32 through which rod 25 freely passes, and the periphery of said iioat is relatively close to the inner sides of said cylinder whereby'the latter will function as a guide for the float as lthe latter moves vertically up or down, as will later be explained.
  • a collar 35 is secured on rod 25 at a point adjacent to, but preferably spaced below the valve 29, while a second collar 35 is secured on rod 25 adjacent the lower end of the latter.
  • the iioat 3l ⁇ moves between these collars as the liquid level in the uppercompartment I5 rises or falls.
  • the float will engage the collar 35 and move the valve 29 to closed position closing off the passageway 30, and opening valve 26, and when the liquid level falls suiiiciently, the oat moves down until it strikes the collar 35, causing the valve 29 to open and valve 26 to close.
  • the cooling units 4 are preferably several in number, according to the space to be refrigerated, and in the case of a refrigerator car, they are disposed along the two opposite sides of the car adjacent the roof (Figs. l, 8, 9).
  • Each of the units 4 comprises a pair of oblong fiat plates 4Iv (Fig. 9) that'are elongated in direction of the length of the car (Fig. l), and which plates are spaced apart by parallel strips 42 (Fig. 9) extending longitudinally of said plates thereby providing a passageway 43 between each adjacent pair of strips. Headers 44, 45 are at opposite ends of each cooling unit and at diagonally opposite corners.
  • Deilectors 6 0 may be positioned across'the upper open lends of passageways 59 at spaced points to deect some of the air into the space through the car, generally in the samemanner as the cooling units and drip pans are suspended in United States Letters Patent to Brown, No.
  • the space between top 53 of the car and the cooling units, and the spaces between the cooling units and the baille plates 66 provide air passageways for generally downward movement of air from inside lthe car to the upper open ends of the 'Ihe air thenmoves fro'm the lower ends of said passageways 59 to below the flow racks and then through said racks to the top of the car for re-circulation path, as seen by the arrows in Figs.
  • i closure I8 and boss 20 are preferably drilled to provide a passageway 65 for gas, which passageway opens at one end into the space between the wall 22 in boss 20 and the cap 2 I, the latter being threadedly secured on the boss.
  • the opposite end of said passageway connects with a pipe 66 that opens into the container 2.
  • a pipe 6'I opens at one end into container 2 and at its opposite end into the upper end of the lower compartment I6 of the control chamber (Figs.
  • a pipe 68 connects at one end with the control units 4 that are nearest the bunker I I ⁇ (Figs. 1, 7) and a pipe or passageway 69 connects header 8 with the lower end of the lower compartment I 6.
  • a drain tube I extends from the partition I1 to the lower end of lower compartment I6 and is provided with a check valve 'II at its lower end.
  • a check valve 'I2 is also preferably in the line 69 (Fig. 7).
  • the lower compartment I6 contains a supply 80 (Fig. 7) of a liquid refrigerant and the cooling units and pipes 48, 49 also contain the refrigerant.
  • control chamber j will function to eiTect intermittent circulation of the refrigerant through the cooling coils.
  • the position of the parts in the control chamber as seen in Fig. 'I is one in which acirculation of the refrigerant through the cooling units is ready to occur, assuming valve 5 is open.
  • the gas pressure in container 2Y is on the liquid 88 in lower compartment I6 and will force the liquid refrigerant through pipe 59, support I (where it will be cooled), 'and pipe 49 to the cooling units.
  • the liquid in said units will be caused to ilow into the u pper compartment' I5 causing float 3
  • the valve 26 will open admitting gas under pressure into the upper compartment, and valve 29 will close vent 38, whereby the pressures in the upper and lower compartments will be equalized thereby permitting the liquid in the upper compartment to ow by gravity into the lower compartment.
  • the iloat'3l will then move downwardly as the liquid drains from the upper compartment, until it strikes the lower collar 36 overcoming the back pressure exerted on valve 29, which pressure has held valve V29 on rod 25 in place thereby closing 'valve 26 and opening valve 29. This will vent the gas in the upper compartment through the vent 30 and the cycle above described will be repeated until valve 5 is closed.
  • the provision of the cylindrical guide I9 in the control chamber insures operation of the oat under .all conditions.
  • the said guide is perforated at 8
  • the sublimation of the dry ice in the container 2 will produce a temperature as low as --90 F., when the said ice is under 5 lbs. pres- A sure, which is about the desired maximum pressure forv forcing the refrigerant through the circuit.
  • the dry ice in support I will produce a. temperature of practically -109 ⁇ F., since it is under atmospheric pressure. A much greater. cooling is thereby obtained than. were the dry ice that is used for cooling also used yto produce the gas pressure.
  • the smallness of the container 2 makes it relatively cheap and light in weight even if made to withstand a relatively high pressure, which is made imperative by many public carriers even though a much lighter tank or container would be safe.
  • the rate of sublimation of the dry ice in the container 2 isadequate to main tain a working pressure of gas in the control tive thereof.
  • a support for holding a body of solid CO in communication with the atmosphere for maintaining said body at substantially atmospheric pressure during sublimation thereof, avclosed container for holding a substantially smaller amount of solid CO2 than said body and under the pressure of the C: gas resulting from sublimation of saidv smaller amount, a'liquid refrigerant, a continuous conduit, including a cooling unit, enclosing said refrigerant for movement thereof in one direction in a closed path of travel, one of the walls of said conduit being in direct heat transfer relationship with said body at a point in the length of said conduit for coolingsaid refrigerant at said point, means comprising a body of said refrigerant in said conduit disposed in direct pressure contact with the CO: gas from said container for effecting said movement of said refrigerant in said path under the influence of the pressure of said gas.
  • a support for holding a body of solid CO in communication with the atmosphere for maintaining said body at substantially atmospheric pressure during sublimation thereof, a closed container for holding a substantially smaller amount of solid CO2 than said body under the pressure of the CO: gas resulting from sublimation of said smaller amount, a liquid refrigerant, a continuous conduit, including a cooling unit, enclosing said refrigerant for movement thereof in one direction in a closed path of travel, one of the walls of said conduit being in direct heat transfer relationship with said body at a point in the length of said conduit for cooling 'said refrigerant ⁇ at said point, means comprising a body of said refrigerant in said conduit disposed in direct pressure contact with the ⁇ CO: gas from said container for effectingl said movement of said refrigerant in said path under the influence of the pressure of said gas, arefrigeratcr car having a compartment at one end thereof, said container, support and means being in said compartment and said cooling unit being in the remaining portion of
  • heat responsive controlv means disposed in the region of said cooling unit including a valve in said conduit for opening and closing said conduit to flow of said refrigerant upon predetermined changes of the temperature in said region.
  • a support for holding a body of solid CO2 thereon in a communication with the atmospherefor maintaining said body' at substantially atmospheric pressure during sublimation thereof, a closed container for holding a substantially smaller amount of solid CO2 than said body under pressure of the CO2 gas resulting from sublimation of said smaller amount, a liquid refrigerant, a.
  • continuous conduit including a cooling unit, enclosing said refrigerant for movement thereof in one direction in a closed path of travel, said support comprising a portion ofA one of the walls of said conduit whereby said refrigerant will be cooled upon passing said support, another portion of said conduit being enlarged and alongside said container, means comprising a body of said refrigerant in said enlarged portion disposed in direct pressure contact with the CO2 gas in said container for effecting said movement Aof said refrigerant in said path under the influence of the pressure of said gas, a passageway for conducting said gas from said container into said enlarged portion, heat responsive control means disposed in the region of said cooling unit including a valve in said conduit for opening and closing said conduit to flow of said refrigerant upon predetermined changes of the temperature in said region, one of the walls of said enlarged portion being one of the walls of said tank.
  • a refrigeration system in which there is a closed tank for solid CO2, a cooling unit, a control chamber, a support for holding a relatively large body of solid CO2 in communication with the atmosphere, and a passageway through said support one of the Walls of which is in direct heat transfer relation to said body, said cooling unit, control chamber, and passageway being connected in series to form an endless conduit for a liquid refrigerant, a CO2 gas pressure line communicating between said tank and said chamber for providing gas pressure in said chamber and on the liquid refrigerant therein for causing movement of the liquid refrigerant through said conduit under the influence of said gas pressure, control means for said gas including a float in said chamber and a guide element around said oat for guiding the latter during vertical movement thereof, said float being supported on the liquid refrigerant in said chamber for ⁇ vertical movement upon rising and falling of the level of the liquid in said chamber, and means actuated by said movement of said float for controlling the iiow of gas into and out of said chamber.
  • a vertically disposed chamber having vertical side walls, a top, and a bottom, a horizontal partition dividing said chamber into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, an inlet in said upper compartment ⁇ for admitting a liquid refrigerant into the same, a discharge outlet in said lower compartment for discharge of a liquid refrigerant therefrom, a valved passageway communicating between said upper compartment and said lower compartment for passing liquid from the upper one to the lower one, a cylindrical wall depending from said top, a cylindrical float vertically reciprocable within said wall upon rising and falling of the float as the liquid level rises and falls, said wall having drain holes formed therein spaced from the upper end thereof and being imperforate above said holes for providing a gas trap between the uppermost of such drain holes and said top, a gas pressure line communicating with said lower compartment and a vent for establishing communication between said upper compartment and its lower one, valve means actuatable by said oat upon rising and upon falling to predetermined limits for opening and closing
  • a vertically disposed chamber having vertical side walls, a top, and a bottom, a horizontal partition dividing said chamber into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, an inlet in said upper compartment for admitting a liquid refrigerant into the same, a discharge outlet in said lower compartment for discharge of a liquid refrigerant therefrom, a'
  • valve means actuatable by said iioat upon rising and upon falling to predetermined limits for opening and closing said vent, said wall being provided with openings below its upper end for free passage of a liquid refrigerant therethrough.
  • the method of ⁇ cooling and circulating a liquidrefrigerant in an endless enclosed path that includes the steps of effecting a heat exchange between said refrigerant and a -body of solid CO2 that is under atmospheric pressure at a point in said path and utilizing the CO2 gas from a confined body of solid CO2 for forcing said refrigerant around said path, and precooling said refrigerant by causing the latter to flow alongside said confined body of CO2 before reaching said point.
  • the method of cooling and circulating a liquid refrigerant in an endless enclosed path thai-I includes the steps of effecting a heat exchangev between said refrigerant and a body of solid CO2 that is under atmospheric pressure at a point in said path and utilizing the CO2 gas from a confined body of solid CO2 for forcing said refrigerant around sai-d path, and accelerating sublimation of the said confined body of solid CO2 by causing the liquid refrigerant to flow closely alongside thereof immediately prior to said refrigerant reaching said point and after said refrigerant has passed through the region to be refrigerated.
  • the method of refrigerating a storage space that 'comprises simultaneously subliming a. relatively large amount of dry ice at atmospheric pressure and a relatively smal1 amount of dry ice in a confined space under pressure of the gas so sublimed from said small amount, circulating a liquid refrigerant in an enclosed path that extends into said storage space and past said large body of dry ice in direct heat exchange relationship to the latter by means of the gas under pressure from said confined space, and maintaining said gas at a substantially uniform relatively low pressure.

Description

Oct. 5, 1948. R. BRuNslNG REFRIGERATING SYSTEM USING DRY ICE AND INCLUDIN .A SECONDARY HEAT EXCHANGE CIRCUIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 13, 1946 INVENTOR. Rli l.. Bmmnngs Oct. 5, 1948. R. BRUNSING 2,450,713
REFRIGERTING SYSTEM USING DRY ICE AND, INCLUDING A SECONDARY HEAT EXCHANGE CIRCUIT FiledJuly 1:5, 194s z slmtpsrmt 2 INVEN TOR. Ru L. Bnvuome Patented Oct. 5, 1948 REFRIGERATING SYSTEM USING DRY 4ICE AND INCLUDING A SECONDARY HEAT EX- CHANGE CIRCUIT Rex L. Brunsing, San Francisco, Calif. n Application July 13, 1946, Serial No. 683,511
12 Claims.
This invention relates to a refrigerating system, and more particularly to an improved apparatus and method for utilizing solid carbon dioxide (CO2), commonly called dry ice, or lvery cold materials of that general character having the property of changing from a solid state directly into a gaseous state.3 and absorbing heat during the change.
One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a system that is more ecient than heretofore and which system employs a fluid orliquid refrigerant that is chilled or cooled by being brought into heat transfer relationship with the dry ice and that is then conducted to the'space or region to be refrigerated for cooling Suchregion, and that is then returned to the dry ice for re-cooling and for repeating the cycle.
Another object of the invention is a refrigerating system that employs dry ice for cooling the refrigerant to be circulated in the region to be cooled, and which system uses a more emcient and reliable means for effecting such circulation than heretofore.
For the most part, prior systems of the general type to which this invention relates, have included a liquid refrigerant or fluid of very low freezing point, which fluid has been chilled by dry ice and then carried to cooling coilsor units in the region to be refrigerated after which the fluid has been returned for re-cooling or chilling and for re' circulation. This circulation has been effected by the use of gas pressure developed in the container for the dry ice used for cooling the fluid, or else the circulation has been effected mechanically, and thermostatic controls have been used to regulate the flow of the uid.
Among the disadvantages of the system that employs the gas pressure for circulating the Vfluid has been the fact that the procedure of replenishing the supply of dry ice in the large containers 4 resulted in loss of the gas pressure, and also at any time the large tank might'be vented to the atmosphere (which has beenthe common practice in using the gas for moving the fluid), the gas pressure is lost or radically reduced, and must be built up again before the system is operative.
Another objection is the fact that dry ice under gas pressure has less cooling efficiency than where it is under atmospheric pressure. Dry ice in sublirning under atmospheric pressure produces a temperature of -108.8 F. while under even a five pound pressure it will produce a temperature of only about -90 F. or about 18 degrees higher than were the same at atmospheric pressure.
A still further disadvantage in using the gas pressure from the prime cooling agent (solid CO2) is the fact that the large tanks used must be made to withstand far greater pressures than are (Cl. .6ft-91.5)
, 2 normally used, with the result that they are very heavy and expensive.
There areother disadvantagea'but the above are perhaps among the principal ones. 5 With the present invention 'the above objections are entirely overcome. lThe full cooling eillciency of the dry ice at atmospheric pressure is obtained. No large, expensive, and heavy pressure tanks are required, and there is no wasteful venting of gas pressure nor is therel an objectionably'long delay between reductions in the gas pressurev and the re-building of such pressure to the working point.
Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the drawings.
In the drawings, Fig; 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a system embodying thepresent invention as applied to a refrigerator car, the outline of the Awalls of the latter, including the wall between the ice bunker and the mainbody of the car being indicated in dot-dash lines. f
at right angles to the point of view of Fig. 4."
Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the upper part of the control chamber taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view clearly showing the system and manner of operation. e
Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic viewacross a car.
Fig. 9 is an enlargedsectional view along line 9-9ofFig.1.
0 In detail, the system, in its broad aspect, comprises a support i for holding a quantity of dryl ice that functions solely for chilling or cooling the fluid refrigerant. The v latter may be alcohol, brine, or any other suitable fluid. The dry ice-on said support is under atmospheric pressure, and
in a standard refrigerator car the amount of dry ice so supported may be about 6000 lbs.
` Adjacent the support I, but not necessarily a part-of the'same, is aclosed tank or container 2 for holding a relatively-small amount of dry ice. Where 6000 lbs might be held on support I, only about 500 lbs. would be in container 2, assuming the system were used in a standard refrigerator car. In any event, a relatively small amount of dry ice is in container! and the container is relatively small as best indicated generally in Fig. 1. n
Alongside container 2 is a control chamber :3. This chamber 3 is connected with a cooling unit oo or units 4 for receiving a uid refrigerant from Fig. 2 is anv enlarged plan view of the supportl said unit or units. Chamber 3 is in communication with the gas in container 2, which gas results from sublimation oi the dry ice in container and is under pressure. The gas. undervpressure, is utilized to force the fluid refrigerant from the control chamber past the main body of CO2 through support I, and to the cooling coils or units 4 and back to control chamber 3. ,Cooling units 4 are in the space to be refrigerated, and thers'nostatic means l. which includes a valve, functions for opening orclosing the'i'luid line to ow of uid to the `control chamber.r
The support I, container12.- and control cham--` ber 3, may all be positioned in a conventional ice bunker at one end oi a refrigerator car. VThe dry ice on-support I will sublime at atmospheric boss that is closed at its upper end by a cap 2|, and 'that is formed with a horizontal wall 22 spaced slightly below said cap. Spaced slightly belowthe wall 22 is a relatively thick block 23 secured to said boss and having one or moreof its sides grooved to provide a passageway 24 communicating between the spaces above and below said block respectively.
The block 23 and wall 22 are coaxially apertured for passing a vertical rod that extends to about the lower end of cylinder I9 and coaxially with the latter.
pressure producinga temperature as low as -108.0 F., while there is preferably about a 5 lb. pressure in tank 2. Therefore. when such pressure exists, a temperature o! only about 90 F.
will be produced by the dry ice in the tank 2.
However, the ice in tank 2 isnotused-for cooling the liquid refrigerant, although it tends to pre- Vcool said refrigerant as will later be explained.
Taking up the elements more in detail, the support I; preferably is formed to provide a corrugated upper surface of adjoining tooth-like ridges of vinverted V-shape and formed by corrugating a pieceof sheet metal of the desired size. This sheet is secured on a nat sheet whereby a plurality of elongated parallel passageways B of tri- A the upper corrugated side of support VI has a considerablearea in heat exchange relationship with the two upper sides of said passageway. Substantially two thirds of the walls of each pas sageway are inyheat exchange relationship with the dry ice and this can be `increased by increasing the area of the upper sides Vof the support by making the apices of thecorrugations sharper.
'I'he closed container `2 may be of any desired shape, such as cylindrical or square, but it is preferably oblong and extends vertically for convenience in tting in the end portion of a car and to give as much capacity-as is possible for its size. This container may be in one end of the conventional ice bunker II (Fig. 1') in a refrigerator car adjacent one end of support I and it may be spaced from the support I by a wall I2 (Fig. 2) if desired to protect the same from possible injury in loading dry ice onto support I, and a central baille or separator plate I3 in the tank 2 and terminating short of the bottom of the latter may be provided 'to prevent objectionable shifting of the dry ice in the'container during movement of the car. AA removable gas tight clo sure I3' on container 2 is provided to enable loading the container with dry ice.
The control chamber is preferably alongside the container 2 and secured to the latter. In fact, one of the side walls I4 ofcontainer 2 is also a side wall of controlchamber 3 (Figs. 4, 6). Control chamber 3 is separated internally into an upper compartment I5 and a, lower compartment I5 by a horizontalv partition I1 (Figs. 4, 5, 7).
A removable, gas tight closure plate I9 closes on opening in the top of the upper compartment, which plate carries a depending cylinder I9 that is open at its lower end, and which lower end is spaced above partition I1 (Figs. 5, 6).
Concentric with cylinder I9, the head or closure Il is formed with anl upstanding cylindrical The opening in wall 22 is relatively large an has beveled edges for seating a poppet type valve 25' secured on the upper end of rod 25 when said rod is moved downwardly, and which valve will move away from the opening upon moving the rod 25 upwardly. l
The aperture 21 through the block 23 may be providedwith a bushing for making a sliding t with rod 25, but the said aperture is counterbored at its lower end to form an enlarged recess 28 that opens downwardly, the edges of said recess are beveled to form a seat for a ksecond poppet type valve 29, also secured on rod 25, and which valve closes the recess upon upward movement, but opens it when rod 25 moves downwardly.
A passageway 30 communicates at one of its ends with recess 29 and at its opposite end with the atmosphere. Within the cylinder I9 is a drum-like float 3| having a central passageway 32 through which rod 25 freely passes, and the periphery of said iioat is relatively close to the inner sides of said cylinder whereby'the latter will function as a guide for the float as lthe latter moves vertically up or down, as will later be explained.
A collar 35 is secured on rod 25 at a point adjacent to, but preferably spaced below the valve 29, while a second collar 35 is secured on rod 25 adjacent the lower end of the latter. The iioat 3l` moves between these collars as the liquid level in the uppercompartment I5 rises or falls.
VWhen the level of such liquid rises suiliciently,
the float will engage the collar 35 and move the valve 29 to closed position closing off the passageway 30, and opening valve 26, and when the liquid level falls suiiiciently, the oat moves down until it strikes the collar 35, causing the valve 29 to open and valve 26 to close.
The cooling units 4 are preferably several in number, according to the space to be refrigerated, and in the case of a refrigerator car, they are disposed along the two opposite sides of the car adjacent the roof (Figs. l, 8, 9).
Each of the units 4 comprises a pair of oblong fiat plates 4Iv (Fig. 9) that'are elongated in direction of the length of the car (Fig. l), and which plates are spaced apart by parallel strips 42 (Fig. 9) extending longitudinally of said plates thereby providing a passageway 43 between each adjacent pair of strips. Headers 44, 45 are at opposite ends of each cooling unit and at diagonally opposite corners.
Where, as in Fig. 1, there are two cooling units along each of the two longitudinally extending sides of the car, the said units are in end to end spaced relationship along each side and the adjacent headers 44, 45 of each pair are joined by a pipe 41 while the corresponding headers 45 at the end of the car opposite the bunker Il are connected by a pipe 48 in which the thermostatic device' including the valve is interposed for controlling the flow of a liquid refrigerant through passageways 59 at the sides of the car.
in the same -8, 9
said units. and to a pipe 48 that connects with the header 8 'of the support I. j
'I'he outline of the inside of the car, in plan view, is indicated at 56 (Figure 1) in dot-dash line, and the partition dividing the bunker from the main space to be refrigerated is indicated at 5I. The sides of the car are indicated at 52 in Fig. 9 while the roof or top is designated 53 and the. floor 54. Floor racks 55 are spaced above iloor 54 by strlngers 56 that are cross bored at 5'I for ventilation. A false side wall 58 may be spaced from each. side wall 52 to provide air passageways 59 that extend to points slightly below the cooling units. Deilectors 6 0 may be positioned across'the upper open lends of passageways 59 at spaced points to deect some of the air into the space through the car, generally in the samemanner as the cooling units and drip pans are suspended in United States Letters Patent to Brown, No.
2,287,492 of June 2'3, 1942.
The space between top 53 of the car and the cooling units, and the spaces between the cooling units and the baille plates 66 provide air passageways for generally downward movement of air from inside lthe car to the upper open ends of the 'Ihe air thenmoves fro'm the lower ends of said passageways 59 to below the flow racks and then through said racks to the top of the car for re-circulation path, as seen by the arrows in Figs.
Referring back to thecontrol chamber, the
i closure I8 and boss 20 are preferably drilled to provide a passageway 65 for gas, which passageway opens at one end into the space between the wall 22 in boss 20 and the cap 2 I, the latter being threadedly secured on the boss. The opposite end of said passageway connects with a pipe 66 that opens into the container 2.
A pipe 6'I opens at one end into container 2 and at its opposite end into the upper end of the lower compartment I6 of the control chamber (Figs.
A pipe 68 connects at one end with the control units 4 that are nearest the bunker I I` (Figs. 1, 7) and a pipe or passageway 69 connects header 8 with the lower end of the lower compartment I 6.
A drain tube I extends from the partition I1 to the lower end of lower compartment I6 and is provided with a check valve 'II at its lower end. A check valve 'I2 is also preferably in the line 69 (Fig. 7). A
In operation, the lower compartment I6 contains a supply 80 (Fig. 7) of a liquid refrigerant and the cooling units and pipes 48, 49 also contain the refrigerant. Y
As long as the valve is open (which would indicate a sufticiently high temperature in the storage' space that is to be refrigerated to require circulation of the refrigerant) the control chamber j will function to eiTect intermittent circulation of the refrigerant through the cooling coils. The position of the parts in the control chamber as seen in Fig. 'I is one in which acirculation of the refrigerant through the cooling units is ready to occur, assuming valve 5 is open.
Asseen in Fig. 7, the gas pressure in container 2Yis on the liquid 88 in lower compartment I6 and will force the liquid refrigerant through pipe 59, support I (where it will be cooled), 'and pipe 49 to the cooling units. The liquid in said units will be caused to ilow into the u pper compartment' I5 causing float 3| to rise until the iioat strikes collar`35 and lifts the valve rod 25 with valves 25, 29. The valve 26 will open admitting gas under pressure into the upper compartment, and valve 29 will close vent 38, whereby the pressures in the upper and lower compartments will be equalized thereby permitting the liquid in the upper compartment to ow by gravity into the lower compartment. The iloat'3l will then move downwardly as the liquid drains from the upper compartment, until it strikes the lower collar 36 overcoming the back pressure exerted on valve 29, which pressure has held valve V29 on rod 25 in place thereby closing 'valve 26 and opening valve 29. This will vent the gas in the upper compartment through the vent 30 and the cycle above described will be repeated until valve 5 is closed. The provision of the cylindrical guide I9 in the control chamber insures operation of the oat under .all conditions. The said guide is perforated at 8| to permit free drainage of the liquid refrigerant, but the walls of the guide member are imperforate for a substantial distance above the uppermost perforations with the result that a substantial quantity of gas is trapped in the space 82 (Fig. 6) in the upper endk of the upper compartment after the float 3| has lifted the valve rod, hence the opening of the valve 29 does not effect'a venting of all the gas in the control chamber. 'I'here is an appreciable saving of gas by this structure, which is quite important.
The sublimation of the dry ice in the container 2 will produce a temperature as low as --90 F., when the said ice is under 5 lbs. pres- A sure, which is about the desired maximum pressure forv forcing the refrigerant through the circuit. However, the dry ice in support I will produce a. temperature of practically -109`F., since it is under atmospheric pressure. A much greater. cooling is thereby obtained than. were the dry ice that is used for cooling also used yto produce the gas pressure.
The use of dry ice to produce the gas pressure is important for several reasons. It is easily controlled Land its temperature is such as to not raise the temperature of the liquid refrigerant that passes through the control chamber.
It is also apparent from the description that the main supply of dry ice may be replenished at any time without causingthe slightest delay in the functioning of the circulating system.
Furthermore, the smallness of the container 2 makes it relatively cheap and light in weight even if made to withstand a relatively high pressure, which is made imperative by many public carriers even though a much lighter tank or container would be safe. A conventional safety vvalve 'I5`that is adjustable for maximum pressure insures against any possible danger from I facture, said container 2 may be separate from v the control chamber and spaced any desired distance from it. The rate of sublimation of the dry ice in the container 2 isadequate to main tain a working pressure of gas in the control tive thereof.
Il claim:
1. In a refrigeration system, a support for holding a body of solid CO: in communication with the atmosphere for maintaining said body at substantially atmospheric pressure during sublimation thereof, avclosed container for holding a substantially smaller amount of solid CO2 than said body and under the pressure of the C: gas resulting from sublimation of saidv smaller amount, a'liquid refrigerant, a continuous conduit, including a cooling unit, enclosing said refrigerant for movement thereof in one direction in a closed path of travel, one of the walls of said conduit being in direct heat transfer relationship with said body at a point in the length of said conduit for coolingsaid refrigerant at said point, means comprising a body of said refrigerant in said conduit disposed in direct pressure contact with the CO: gas from said container for effecting said movement of said refrigerant in said path under the influence of the pressure of said gas. 2. In a refrigeration system, a support for holding a body of solid CO: in communication with the atmosphere for maintaining said body at substantially atmospheric pressure during sublimation thereof, a closed container for holding a substantially smaller amount of solid CO: than i said body under the pressure of the C0'.` gas resulting from sublimation of said smaller amount, a liquid refrigerant, a continuous conduit, including a cooling unit, enclosing said refrigerant for movement thereof in one direction in a closed path of travel, one of the walls of said conduit being in direct heat transfer rela--v tionship with said body at a point in the length of said conduit for cooling said refrigerant at said point, means comprising a body of said refrigerant in said conduit disposed in direct pressure contact with the CO2 igas from said container for effecting said movement of said refrigerant in said path under the influence of the pressure of said gas, said container, support and means being adjacent each other. f
i 3. In a refrigeration system, a support for holding a body of solid CO: in communication with the atmosphere for maintaining said body at substantially atmospheric pressure during sublimation thereof, a closed container for holding a substantially smaller amount of solid CO2 than said body under the pressure of the CO: gas resulting from sublimation of said smaller amount, a liquid refrigerant, a continuous conduit, including a cooling unit, enclosing said refrigerant for movement thereof in one direction in a closed path of travel, one of the walls of said conduit being in direct heat transfer relationship with said body at a point in the length of said conduit for cooling 'said refrigerant `at said point, means comprising a body of said refrigerant in said conduit disposed in direct pressure contact with the `CO: gas from said container for effectingl said movement of said refrigerant in said path under the influence of the pressure of said gas, arefrigeratcr car having a compartment at one end thereof, said container, support and means being in said compartment and said cooling unit being in the remaining portion of said car adjacent the junctures between the sidewalls and roof of such car and extending the length of the latter. v
4; In a refrigeration system, a support for holding a body of solid CO: thereon in communication with the atmosphere for maintaining said body at substantially atmospheric pressure during sublimation thereof, a closed container for hold-` ing a substantially smaller amount of solid CO: than said body under pressure of the CO: gas resulting from sublimation of said smaller amount, a liquid refrigerant, a continuous conduit, including a cooling unit, enclosingsaid'refrigerant for movement thereof in one direction in' a closed path of travel, said support comprising a portion of one of the walls of said conduit whereby said refrigerant will be cooled upon passing said support, another portion of said conduit being enlarged and alongside said container, means comprising a body of said refrigerant in said enlarged portion disposed in direct pressure contact with the CO2 gas in said container for effecting said. movement of said refrigerant in said path under the influence of the pressure of said gas, a passageway for conducting said gas from said container into said enlarged portion, heat responsive controlv means disposed in the region of said cooling unit including a valve in said conduit for opening and closing said conduit to flow of said refrigerant upon predetermined changes of the temperature in said region. Y
5. In a refrigeration system, a support for holding a body of solid CO2 thereon in a communication with the atmospherefor maintaining said body' at substantially atmospheric pressure during sublimation thereof, a closed container for holding a substantially smaller amount of solid CO2 than said body under pressure of the CO2 gas resulting from sublimation of said smaller amount, a liquid refrigerant, a. continuous conduit, including a cooling unit, enclosing said refrigerant for movement thereof in one direction in a closed path of travel, said support comprising a portion ofA one of the walls of said conduit whereby said refrigerant will be cooled upon passing said support, another portion of said conduit being enlarged and alongside said container, means comprising a body of said refrigerant in said enlarged portion disposed in direct pressure contact with the CO2 gas in said container for effecting said movement Aof said refrigerant in said path under the influence of the pressure of said gas, a passageway for conducting said gas from said container into said enlarged portion, heat responsive control means disposed in the region of said cooling unit including a valve in said conduit for opening and closing said conduit to flow of said refrigerant upon predetermined changes of the temperature in said region, one of the walls of said enlarged portion being one of the walls of said tank.
6. In a refrigeration system, a support for holding a body of solid C02 thereon in communication with the atmosphere forV maintaining said body under atmospheric pressure during sublimation-thereof, a closed container for holding a smaller amount of solid CO2 than said body 1inder pressure of the C0: gas resulting from sublimation of said smaller amount, an endless conduit, including a cooling unit, enclosing said refrigerant for movement thereof in one direction in a closed path of travel, the upper side of said support on which said body is held being corrugated with passageways in the ridges of such corrugations extending longitudinally thereof and headers at opposite ends of said passageways, said passageways and said headers being part of said conduit, a portion of said conduit adjacent said support and adjacent said container being enlarged, means comprising a body of said refrigerant in said enlarged portion disposed in direct pressure contact with said CO2 gas for ef- 'fecting said movement of said refrigerant in said path under the influence of the pressure of said gas.
7. In a refrigeration system in which there is a closed tank for solid CO2, a cooling unit, a control chamber, a support for holding a relatively large body of solid CO2 in communication with the atmosphere, and a passageway through said support one of the Walls of which is in direct heat transfer relation to said body, said cooling unit, control chamber, and passageway being connected in series to form an endless conduit for a liquid refrigerant, a CO2 gas pressure line communicating between said tank and said chamber for providing gas pressure in said chamber and on the liquid refrigerant therein for causing movement of the liquid refrigerant through said conduit under the influence of said gas pressure, control means for said gas including a float in said chamber and a guide element around said oat for guiding the latter during vertical movement thereof, said float being supported on the liquid refrigerant in said chamber for` vertical movement upon rising and falling of the level of the liquid in said chamber, and means actuated by said movement of said float for controlling the iiow of gas into and out of said chamber.
8. In a refrigerating system of the character described, a vertically disposed chamber having vertical side walls, a top, and a bottom, a horizontal partition dividing said chamber into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, an inlet in said upper compartment `for admitting a liquid refrigerant into the same, a discharge outlet in said lower compartment for discharge of a liquid refrigerant therefrom, a valved passageway communicating between said upper compartment and said lower compartment for passing liquid from the upper one to the lower one, a cylindrical wall depending from said top, a cylindrical float vertically reciprocable within said wall upon rising and falling of the float as the liquid level rises and falls, said wall having drain holes formed therein spaced from the upper end thereof and being imperforate above said holes for providing a gas trap between the uppermost of such drain holes and said top, a gas pressure line communicating with said lower compartment and a vent for establishing communication between said upper compartment and its lower one, valve means actuatable by said oat upon rising and upon falling to predetermined limits for opening and closing said vent.
9. In a refrigerating system of the character described, a vertically disposed chamber having vertical side walls, a top, and a bottom, a horizontal partition dividing said chamber into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, an inlet in said upper compartment for admitting a liquid refrigerant into the same, a discharge outlet in said lower compartment for discharge of a liquid refrigerant therefrom, a'
providing a gas trap between the uppermost of such drainholes and said top, a gas pressure line communicating with said lower compartment and a vent for establishing communication -between said upper compartment and the lower one, valve means actuatable by said iioat upon rising and upon falling to predetermined limits for opening and closing said vent, said wall being provided with openings below its upper end for free passage of a liquid refrigerant therethrough.
10.i The method of` cooling and circulating a liquidrefrigerant in an endless enclosed path that includes the steps of effecting a heat exchange between said refrigerant and a -body of solid CO2 that is under atmospheric pressure at a point in said path and utilizing the CO2 gas from a confined body of solid CO2 for forcing said refrigerant around said path, and precooling said refrigerant by causing the latter to flow alongside said confined body of CO2 before reaching said point.
11. The method of cooling and circulating a liquid refrigerant in an endless enclosed path thai-I includes the steps of effecting a heat exchangev between said refrigerant and a body of solid CO2 that is under atmospheric pressure at a point in said path and utilizing the CO2 gas from a confined body of solid CO2 for forcing said refrigerant around sai-d path, and accelerating sublimation of the said confined body of solid CO2 by causing the liquid refrigerant to flow closely alongside thereof immediately prior to said refrigerant reaching said point and after said refrigerant has passed through the region to be refrigerated.
12. The method of refrigerating a storage space that 'comprises simultaneously subliming a. relatively large amount of dry ice at atmospheric pressure and a relatively smal1 amount of dry ice in a confined space under pressure of the gas so sublimed from said small amount, circulating a liquid refrigerant in an enclosed path that extends into said storage space and past said large body of dry ice in direct heat exchange relationship to the latter by means of the gas under pressure from said confined space, and maintaining said gas at a substantially uniform relatively low pressure.
REX L. BRUNSING.
REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Brown June 23, 1942 Number
US683511A 1946-07-13 1946-07-13 Refrigerating system using dry ice and including a secondary heat exchange circuit Expired - Lifetime US2450713A (en)

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2541169A (en) * 1947-01-20 1951-02-13 Broquinda Corp Stand-by refrigeration system
US2593736A (en) * 1948-05-21 1952-04-22 Perishables Shipping Equipment Method and means of refrigeration
US2608832A (en) * 1949-10-08 1952-09-02 Standard Thomson Corp Refrigerating apparatus
US2636357A (en) * 1949-10-08 1953-04-28 Standard Thomson Corp Refrigerating apparatus
US2760345A (en) * 1952-11-26 1956-08-28 Standard Thomson Corp Space cooling system
US2901892A (en) * 1956-03-07 1959-09-01 Standard Thomson Corp Secondary refrigerant and apparatus for circulating the same
US3172271A (en) * 1963-06-10 1965-03-09 Controlled Heat Transfer Corp Dry ice refrigeration apparatus
US3475918A (en) * 1967-11-13 1969-11-04 Technology Uk Cooling apparatus employing carbon dioxide

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2287492A (en) * 1940-05-27 1942-06-23 Harry A B Brown Refrigerating system

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2287492A (en) * 1940-05-27 1942-06-23 Harry A B Brown Refrigerating system

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2541169A (en) * 1947-01-20 1951-02-13 Broquinda Corp Stand-by refrigeration system
US2593736A (en) * 1948-05-21 1952-04-22 Perishables Shipping Equipment Method and means of refrigeration
US2608832A (en) * 1949-10-08 1952-09-02 Standard Thomson Corp Refrigerating apparatus
US2636357A (en) * 1949-10-08 1953-04-28 Standard Thomson Corp Refrigerating apparatus
US2760345A (en) * 1952-11-26 1956-08-28 Standard Thomson Corp Space cooling system
US2901892A (en) * 1956-03-07 1959-09-01 Standard Thomson Corp Secondary refrigerant and apparatus for circulating the same
US3172271A (en) * 1963-06-10 1965-03-09 Controlled Heat Transfer Corp Dry ice refrigeration apparatus
US3475918A (en) * 1967-11-13 1969-11-04 Technology Uk Cooling apparatus employing carbon dioxide

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