US3427817A - Device for producing cold and/or liquefying gases - Google Patents

Device for producing cold and/or liquefying gases Download PDF

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Publication number
US3427817A
US3427817A US511044A US51104465A US3427817A US 3427817 A US3427817 A US 3427817A US 511044 A US511044 A US 511044A US 51104465 A US51104465 A US 51104465A US 3427817 A US3427817 A US 3427817A
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pressure
medium
container
ejector
communicates
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Johan Adriaan Rietdijk
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Philips North America LLC
US Philips Corp
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US Philips Corp
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    • 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
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0257—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J1/0275—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines adapted for special use of the liquefaction unit, e.g. portable or transportable devices
    • F25J1/0276—Laboratory or other miniature devices
    • 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
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B9/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
    • F25B9/14—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
    • 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
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0052—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
    • 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
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/006—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the refrigerant fluid used
    • F25J1/0062—Light or noble gases, mixtures thereof
    • F25J1/0065—Helium
    • 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
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2341/00—Details of ejectors not being used as compression device; Details of flow restrictors or expansion valves
    • F25B2341/001—Ejectors not being used as compression device
    • F25B2341/0011—Ejectors with the cooled primary flow at reduced or low pressure
    • 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
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2341/00—Details of ejectors not being used as compression device; Details of flow restrictors or expansion valves
    • F25B2341/001—Ejectors not being used as compression device
    • F25B2341/0012—Ejectors with the cooled primary flow at high pressure
    • 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
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2341/00—Details of ejectors not being used as compression device; Details of flow restrictors or expansion valves
    • F25B2341/001—Ejectors not being used as compression device
    • F25B2341/0013—Ejector control arrangements
    • 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
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2341/00—Details of ejectors not being used as compression device; Details of flow restrictors or expansion valves
    • F25B2341/001—Ejectors not being used as compression device
    • F25B2341/0015—Ejectors not being used as compression device using two or more ejectors
    • 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
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/60—Expansion by ejector or injector, e.g. "Gasstrahlpumpe", "venturi mixing", "jet pumps"
    • 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
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/90—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration
    • F25J2270/912—Liquefaction cycle of a low-boiling (feed) gas in a cryocooler, i.e. in a closed-loop refrigerator

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for producing cold and/or for liquefying gases.
  • This device comprises at least one high-pressure medium supply, which communicates with one or with a plurality of series-connected heat exchangers in which the high-pressure medium is cooled as far as below the inversion temperature associated with the pressure concerned.
  • the device comprises furthermore at least one member in which the high-pressure medium cooled in the heat exchanger is subjected to reduction in pressure, while there are furthermore provided one or more containers in which the medium of reduced pressure can be brought into thermal contact with a place to be cooled or can be withdrawn from the device in the liquid state.
  • the device comprises furthermore a duct system for conducting away the medium of reduced pressure, if desired through one or more of said heat exchangers.
  • Joule-Kelvin cocks are employed for attaining the desired reduction of pressure.
  • the high-pressure medium is choked therein to a considerably lower pressure.
  • the medium of reduced pressure can then be brought into thermal contact with an object to be cooled or a medium to be cooled.
  • a phase transition part of the liquid obtained may, if desired, be conducted away from the device.
  • the low-pressure vapour produced is then conducted away to the surroundings or back to a compressor which supplies the high-pressure medium.
  • a further disadvantage of the known devices consists in that in the Joule-Kelvin cocks, the energy of the high-pressure medium is uselessly dissipated, which means losses.
  • the invention has for its object to obviate said disadvantages and is characterized in that in operation at least one of said containers has a pressure which is lower than the reduced pressure in another container which the medium is conducted away from the device, while the member in which the pressure is reduced comprises at least one ejector to which at least part of the cooledhigh-pressure medium can be supplied, the suction side of said ejector being in connection with outlet of said container of lower pressure, whereas the outlet of the reduced pressure container communicates with the duct system through which the medium of reduced pressure can be conducted away from the device.
  • An ejector is herein understood to mean a member in which the potential energy of a high-pressure (primary) medium is converted wholly or partly into kinetic energy, which is utilized at least partly for raising the pressure of a further (secondary) medium.
  • the energy of the high-pressure medium supplied to the ejector is utilized at least partly for applying a partial vacuum to the vapour from the lower-pressure container and for bringing it to the pressure prevailing in the duct system through which the medium of reduced pressure is conducted away from the device.
  • the cold can then be delivered at a pressure which is lower than the outlet pressure of the reduced pressure container.
  • this involves the advantage that blowing-off is performed automatically, while the cold is supplied at a pressure lower than the blowing-01f pressure.
  • the pressure ratio of the compressor may be considerably lower than in known devices of the kind set forth.
  • the difference between the known devices and the device according to the invention resides in that the pressure energy of the medium supplied to the ejector is not uselessly dissipated and is employed for pumping up the vapour from the lower-pressure container to the suction pressure of the compressor or to the pressure at which the medium leaves the device.
  • the resultant device has a higher efliciency and a much more favourable pressure ratio in the heat exchanger and the compressor.
  • the device thus obtained is cheaper and has considerably smaller dimensions.
  • a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that there are provided one or more parallel-connected ejectors, the inlet side(s) of which com-municates with the high-pressure part of the heat exchanger(s) and the outlet side(s) of which communicates with a collecting receptacle.
  • the vapour space of each receptacle communicates with the outlet duct system for the reduced-pressure medium, and the device comprises a further container which communicates through a duct including a choke with the collecting receptacle, preferably with the liquid part of said container, the vapour space of said further container communicating with the suction side of said ejector(s).
  • the further container may have a lower pressure than the collecting receptacle, so that the cold is delivered at a lower temperature.
  • the vapour is drawn out of the further container by the ejector and raised to the presence prevailing in the collecting receptacle.
  • a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises two or more ejectors, the inlet side of each of which communicates with the high-pressure portion of the heat exchanger, and the outlet side of each ejector communicates with a reservoir.
  • Said reservoirs have, in operation, progressively lower pressures and are connected in series with each other through ducts including chokes, the higher-pressure sides of said ducts preferably opening out in the liquid spaces of the relevant containers.
  • the container of the lowest pressure communicates through a duct including a choke with a further container in which a still lower pressure prevails, while the vapour space of each container, with the exception of the vapour space of the container of the highest pressure, communicates with the suction side of an ejector, and the outlet side of each communicates with a container of higher pressure, while the vapour space of the container of the highest pressure joins the outlet duct system for the medium of reduced pressure.
  • This embodiment consequently comprises a plurality of containers of different pressures so that it is possible to derive cold from this device at different temperatures.
  • a number of series-connected ejectors The inlet side of the first ejector joins the last heat exchanger, whereas the last ejector joins by its outlet side the collecting receptacle.
  • the vapour space of the receptacle communicates with the outlet duct system for the reducedpressure medium.
  • one or more additional containers communicating with each other through appropriate ducts including chokes, the first additional container communicating with the collecting receptacle, whereas the vapour space of each of the additional containers communicates with the suction side of one or more of the ejectors.
  • a number of containers have gradually lower pressures and hence also a gradually lower temperature. It is thus possible to derive cold from this device at different temperatures. It is furthermore possible to establish a thermal contact between, for example, a medium in order of succession with the medium in the various containers, so that said medium is cooled at different temperature levels.
  • one or more chokes are connected in parallel with the ejectors, so that part of the medium emanating from the high-pressure portion of the heat exchanger(s) passes through said chokes and then into the collecting receptacle and/or one of the further containers.
  • a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises only one container, which communicates through a choke with the high-pressure portion of the heatexchanger(s), the device comprising furthermore an ejector, the inlet side of which also joins the high-pressure portion of the heat-exchanger(s), whereas the outlet side of the ejector communicates with the outlet duct system for the reduced-pressure medium, the suction side of the ejector communicating with the vapour space of the container.
  • a lower pressure prevails in the container than the pressure at which the medium is conducted away.
  • each of the communicating ducts (between the suction side of each of the ejectors, and a vapour space of an additional container) includes one or more heat-exchangers in which the medium flowing to the suction side of the ejectors exchanges heat with the higher-pressure medium. The efiiciency of the device is thus improved.
  • a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention includes a control-member which governs one or more of the chokes in the ducts between the liquid spaces of the respective containers in dependence upon the liquid level in said containers.
  • the control-member may be formed by a float which determines the position of the choke concerned.
  • one or more of the ejectors is controllable, so that the flow of high-pressure medium passing through said ejector(s) can be controlled.
  • the device can thus be adapted to varying conditions.
  • a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention which is particularly suitable for producing cold at very low temperatures, is characterized in that it comprises a machine for producing cold at low temperatures, which comprises one or more compression spaces filled with a working medium and one or more expansion spaces of variable volume, said spaces communicating with each other and having, in operation, relatively different average temperatures, the communication between each of said spaces including one or more regenerators, while the high-pressure medium flowing towards the ejector(s) or the choke(s) is in thermal contact with the working medium in the expansion space(s).
  • the machine for producing cold at low temperatures serves at the same time as a compressor for the medium flowing to the ejector(s) or choke(s), said machine being provided with an outlet valve and an inlet valve, said valves communicating with the heat exchanger(s) through which the medium flows 'to the ejector(s) or the choke(s) and the duct system joining the collecting recipient.
  • FIGS. 1a and 1b show two known devices for producing cold in diagrammatic views.
  • FIGS. 2 to 7 show diagrammatically a number of embodiments of devices for producing cold, each comprising one or more ejectors.
  • FIG. 8 shows diagrammatically a device for producing cold, which comprises apart from an ejector a cold-gas refrigerator for cooling the compressed working medium.
  • FIG. 9 shows diagrammatically a device for producing cold, which comprises an ejector and a cold-gas refrigerator serving as a compressor and as a cooling aggregate for the medium to be expanded.
  • FIG. 1a shows a known device for producing cold, comprising a compressor 1.
  • the outlet 2 of the compressor communicates with the high-pressure portion 3 of a heat exchanger.
  • the medium cooled in the heat-exchanger is choked in a choking cock 4, which joins a collecting receptacle 5.
  • a quantity of heat can be supplied, for example by passing the medium to be cooled through a helix 6.
  • an object to be cooled may be brought into thermal contact with the container 5 and the liquid contained therein.
  • the vapour in the container 5 is passed through the low-pressure portion 7, of the heat exchanger to the inlet 8 of the compressor 1.
  • the temperature at which the cold is supplied depends upon the pressure in said container. The lower the pressure, the lower is the temperature. If, for example, helium is the Working medium, a pressure of about 1 atmosphere in the container 5 will correspond to a temperature of 4.2" K. It is often desirable to attain lower temperatures. This may be achieved by choosing a lower pressure in the container 5. At a pressure of 0.5 atmosphere a temperature of 3.6 K. prevails, and so on. At these low pressures in the container 5 the gas flowing through the portion 7 of the heat-exchanger will have a particularly large volume, so that the heat-exchangers must have a large passage in order to ensure low flow resistance. Since a closed system is concerned here, the compressor must be very large owing to the high pressure ratio.
  • FIG. lb An improved known construction of the aforesaid device is shown in FIG. lb.
  • the device comprises a compressor 1, the outlet 2 of which communicates with the high-pressure portion 3 of a heat-exchanger.
  • the medium is chocked in the choking member 4.
  • the choke medium is collected in a receptacle 9, in which an average pressure prevails.
  • the vapour space of the receptacle 9 communicates through a portion 10 of the heatexchanger with the inlet 8 of the compressor 1.
  • the receptacle 9 communicates through a duct 11 including a choking member 12 with a container 5 having lower pressure. In this container there is arranged a helix 6 to be cooled.
  • the vapour space of container 5 communicates through the portion 7 of the heat exchanger with the surroundings.
  • choking is performed stepwise, which is conducive to the efficiency. Since the duct 7 opens out in the atmosphere, the pressure in the container 5 cannot be lower than the atmospheric pressure. The vapour formed in the container 5 is blown off and must be raised in pressure in some way or other. Particularly, if it is desired to produce cold at gradually lower temperatures, this involves a very complicated heat exchanger and a bulky compressor.
  • FIG. 2 shows a device which comprises a compressor 1.
  • the outlet 2 of this compressor communicates with the high-pressure portion 3 of a heat exchanger.
  • the portion 3 joins the supply side of an ejector 21.
  • the outlet 22 of the ejector 21 is connected with a collecting receptacle 23.
  • the vapour space of the receptacle 23 communicates through the portion 7 of the heat exchanger with the inlet 8 of the compressor.
  • the collecting receptacle 23 communicates through a duct 24 including a choke 25 with an additional container 26.
  • the vapour space of the container 26 communicates through a duct 27 including heat exchangers 110 and 111 with the suction side 28 of the ejector 21.
  • the container 26 accommodates a helix 29, through which the medium to be cooled can be conducted.
  • the ejector may be provided with a control-member 120. By varying the position of the member 120, the high-pressure medium flow passing through the ejectors can be adjusted.
  • This device operates as follows.
  • the compressor 1 compresses a medium, for example, helium to a pressure 12
  • This high-pressure medium is cooled in the heat exchanger 3 and then supplied to the ejector, in which it is subjected to a reduction of pressure, while the potential energy is partly converted into kinetic energy, which is partly employed for obtaining the pressure of the high-pressure medium.
  • the medium leaving the ejector with a pressure p is collected in a receptacle 23.
  • the vapour at a pressure p can then flow through a portion 7 of the heat-exchanger back to the compressor.
  • the liquid obtained is choked in the choking member ,25 to a pressure 12 which is associated with the temperature at which cold has to be delivered.
  • the vapour in the receptacle 26, having a pressure 12 is drawn by the ejector 21 and brought to the pressure p of the collecting receptacle 23.
  • the vapour of the container 26 exchanges in heat exchangers and 111 heat with a medium of higher pressure.
  • the energy of the high-pressure medium (17 is partly used for applying a partial vacuum to the container 26 and pumping up the vapour therein to a pressure p
  • the pressure p prevailing in the vessel 26, and corresponding to the desired low temperature may be considerably lower than the pressure p in the receptacle 23.
  • the compressor is operative between the pressures p and 17 so that it may be structurally much more simple than in the known devices, in which the compressors operate between the pressures p and 17
  • FIG. 3 shows a modification of the device of FIG. 2.
  • This device comprises three series-connected ejectors 31, 32 and 33.
  • the supply side 34 of the ejector 31 communicates with the portion 3 of the heat exchanger.
  • the outlets 35, 37, and 39 of the ejectors 31, 32 and 33 respectively communicate with the inlet sides 36, 38 of the ejectors 32 and 33 respectively and with the collecting receptacle 40.
  • the device comprises three additional containers 41, 42 and 43, which communicate with each other through ducts including choking members 44, 45 and 46 respectively.
  • the vapour spaces of the additional containers 41, 42 and 43 communicate through ducts 49, 48, 47 respectively including heat exchangers 112, 113, 114 and 115, 116, 117 respectively with the suction sides 50, 51 and 52 of the ejectors 33, 32 and 31 respectively.
  • the container 43 includes a helix 29, through which a medium to be cooled can be passed. If desired, the containers 40, 41 and 42 may be provided with such helices, so that the device is capable of supplying cold at different temperatures. If desired, a medium to be cooled may be brought into thermal contact with the medium in the containers 40, 41, 42 and 43.
  • the high-pressure medium from the compressor 1 is subjected in the ejectors 31, 32 and 33 stepwise to a reduction in pressure.
  • the medium is collected in the container 40.
  • the vapour can flow out of this container back to the compressor.
  • the liquid from the container 40 is also subjected stepwise to a reduction in pressure, so that a progressively lower pressure prevails in the container 41, 42 and 43.
  • the low-pressure vapour from the containers 41, 42 and 43 is drawn by the ejectors 33, 32 and 31 respectively and brought to the pressure prevailing in the container 40. In this way an extremely simple structure is obtained for a device which is capable of supplying cold at diflerent temperatures.
  • the drawing shows only three ejectors and three additional containers, it will be obvious that this number may be enlarged or diminished at will.
  • a number of series-connected ejectors may be connected by their suction sides with one additional container.
  • FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically a device for producing cold, which comprises three ejectors 121, 122 and 123. These ejectors communicate by their inlet sides 124, 125 and 126 respectively, with the high-pressure portion 3 of the heat-exchanger.
  • the ejector 121 communicates by its outlet 127 with a container 128, in which a pressure p prevails.
  • the ejector 122 communicates by its outlet 129 with the container 130 having a pressure 11
  • the ejector 123 communicates by its outlet 131 with a container 132, in which a pressure p, prevails.
  • the containers 128, 130 and 132 communicate through ducts including choking cocks 133 and 134 with each other and the container 132 communicates through a duct including a choking cock 135 with an additional container 136, in which a pressure 1 prevails.
  • the vapour spaces of the containers 136, 132 and 130 communicate with the suction sides 137, 138 and 139 respectively of the ejectors 123, 122 and 121 respectively.
  • the device comprises furthermore a number of heat-exchangers 140, 141, 142 and 143, in which the various flows of medium exchange heat.
  • the vapour space of the container 128 communicates with the low-pressure portion 7 of the heat-exchanger.
  • FIG. 5 shows a device for producing cold, in which the compressed and cooled medium emanating from the high-pressure portion 3 of the heat-exchanger is split up in two portions.
  • a suitably chosen portion is supplied to an ejector 60 and the other portion to a choking member 61.
  • the outlets of the ejector and the choking member both open out in the container 62.
  • the vapour space of this container 62 communicates with the inlet 8 of the compressor 1, while the container communicates furthermore through a choking member 63 with an additional container 64.
  • the container 64 accommodates a heat-exchange helix 29.
  • the vapour space of container 64 communicates with the suction side 65 of the ejector 60.
  • This ejector draws the low-pressure vapour out of the container 64 and raises it to the pressure prevailing in the container 62.
  • a control-member provides constant liquid levels in the containers 62 and 64. In this case the pressure ratio between inlet and outlet of the ejector 60 and the choking member 61 is the same. However, the outlet of the choking cock may be connected with the container 64 of lower pressure. This alternative is illustrated in the drawing by broken lines.
  • FIG. 6 shows a device for producing cold in a diagrammatic view, in which only one container 70 is provided, in which the desired low pressure corresponding to the temperature of the cold supply prevails.
  • the high-pressure portion 3 of the heat-exchanger communicates with a choking member 71, in which part of the compressed medium is choked.
  • the device comprises furthermore an ejector 72, the inlet side 73 of which communicates with the high-pressure portion of the heat-exchanger.
  • the suction side 74 of the ejector communicates with the vapour space of the container 70-.
  • the outlet 75 of the ejector communicates with the portion 7 of the heat-exchanger. From the foregoing the operation method of this device will be obvious.
  • FIG. 7 shows a device corresponding with that of FIG. 6.
  • the ejector 72 is arranged here in the heat-exchanger 3, 7, which means that the vapour of the container 70 exchanges heat in the portion 7' with the medium flowing towards the choking cock 71, after which it is supplied to the suction side 74 of the ejector 72.
  • the outlet 75 of the ejector 72 communicates with a second portion 7 of the heat-exchanger.
  • the ejector 72 receives the primary medium from a place 76 of the portion 3 of the heat-exchanger.
  • FIG. 8 shows a device for producing cold at low temperatures, which comprises a cold-gas refrigerator 80 of the multi-space type.
  • This refrigerator comprises a compression piston 81, which is adapted to move in a cylinder 82.
  • the cold-gas refrigerator comprises furthermore a displacer piston, which consists of two portions 83 and 84 of different diameters.
  • the compression piston 81 and the displacer piston are movable with phase difference and they vary the volume of a compression space 85 and of the expansion spaces 86 and 87.
  • the compression space 85 and the expansion space 86 communicate with each other through a cooler 88, a regenerator 89 and a first freezer 90.
  • the expansion spaces 86 and 87 communicate with each other through a regenerator 91 and a second freezer 92.
  • the first freezer has a temperature of about 80 K.
  • the second freezer has a temperature of about 15 K.
  • a compressor 1 compresses a medium, for example, helium.
  • the compressed medium first passes through a portion 3 of a heat-exchanger. Then the medium exchanges heat in a heat-exchanger 95 with the first freezer 90. It then flows through a portion 3" of a heat-exchanger and exchanges heat in the heat-exchanger 96 with the second freezer 92 and finally it passes through a further portion 3" of a heat-exchanger, after which the cooled medium is supplied to an ejector 21, the outlet of which communicates with a collecting receptacle 23.
  • the receptacle communicates through a duct 24 including a choking member 25, controlled by a float 97, with a container 26.
  • the vapour space of the container 26 communicates through the duct 27, including heat-exchangers, with the suction side of the ejector 21.
  • the vapour space of the container 23 communicates through the heat-exchangers 7", 7" and 7 with the inlet 8 of the compressor 1. In this way an extremely efficient device for producing cold at low temperatures is obtained.
  • FIG. 9 shows a device for producing cold at low temperatures, in which the compressor 1 is replaced by a cold-gas refrigerator 100, having an outlet valve 101 and an inlet valve 102.
  • the outlet valve 101 is constructed so that it opens when the pressure in the refrigerator attains a given value exceeding the minimum pressure.
  • the refrigerator thus operates as a compressor and it is proportioned so that it supplies, in addition, a quantity of cold so that the medium emanating from the refrigerator is at a lower temperature than the incoming medium.
  • the device cools a medium or an object, it is possible to withdraw a given quantity of liquid from one of the containers.
  • the liquid withdrawn from the device must of course be replenished in the form of a gas to the compressor.
  • the drawing shows the compressor diagrammatically as a one-stage member. It will be obvious that under certain conditions use will be made of a multi-stage compressor. It is furthermore possible to obtain the highpressure medium from a different source and to blow off the medium of reduced pressure.
  • the invention provides a surprisingly effective construction of a device for producing cold and/or for liquefying gases, in which a lower pressure ratio prevails in the compression member than in the known devices.
  • the energy of the compressed medium is not dissipated uselessly, but it is used for raising the pressure of the vapour of a container, in which a lower pressure prevails and in which the medium is brought into thermal contact with a place to be cooled or is withdrawn in the liquid state from the device.
  • the device according to the invention is capable of producing cold at any desired temperature.
  • a gas refrigerator for use with a medium dischargeable at a first high pressure from a source, comprising:
  • a first ejector having ('1) a first inlet for receiving from the heat exchanger at least some of the cooled medium in a gaseous state, which medium is expandable in the ejector to a second intermediate tempera- 9 ture and pressure below that in said heat exchanger, (2.) an outlet through which expanded medium is dischargeable, and (3) a suction inlet for pumping medium therein;
  • a second container having an inlet for receiving the further expanded medium, and an outlet through which medium in vapor state is pumped to the suction inlet of the ejector, medium in the second con tainer providing cold for cooling a substance brought into thermal contact therewith, and the second outlet of the first container being a dischange means for gaseous medium therein.
  • a gas refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means in said ejector for adjustably controlling the fiow of high pressure medium passing through said ejector.
  • Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: (a) at least one additional container connected in series between said choke and second container for medium to flow progressively between them;
  • each additional ejector connected in parallel with the first ejector, each additional ejector having (1) its first inlet in communication with high pressure supply medium, (2) its outlet in communication with one of said containers, and (3) its suction inlet in communication with the outlet of a container discharging at a lower pressure than the outlet of said ejector.
  • Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising:
  • Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one additional ejector connected in series between said first ejector and said first container, and each ejector having its suction inlet in communication with the outlet of the second container.
  • Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a choke means connected in parallel with the ejector and discharging into the first container.
  • Apparatus as defined in claim 7 further comprising a control member responsive to the liquid levels in said containers for governing the choke between said containers.
  • Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising an additional heat exchanger comprising first and second freezers of a Stirling cycle cold gas refrigerator through which the high pressure medium is flowed and progressively cooled before entering said first heat exchanger.
  • Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in combination with a cold gas refrigerator which is said source of cooled high pressure medium.
  • Apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising a second heat exchanger wherein cold from the medium discharged from the second container is transferred to medium flowing to said choke.
  • a gas refrigerator for use with a high pressure medium dischargeable from a source which also includes an inlet comprising:
  • an ejector having its inlet in communication with high pressure medium from the heat exchanger, its suction inlet in communication with and for pumping medium from an outlet of the container, and its outlet in communication with the heat exchanger which is then communicated to an inlet of the medium source.
  • Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein the medium dischargeable from the ejector provides-cold for said heat exchanger and the medium flowable from the container to the ejectors suction inlet also provides cold for the heat exchanger.
  • a refrigerating method using a fluid medium having initial high pressure and temperature comprising the steps:
  • a refrigerating method using a fluid medium having initial high pressure and temperature comprising the steps:

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Jet Pumps And Other Pumps (AREA)
  • Applications Or Details Of Rotary Compressors (AREA)
US511044A 1964-12-19 1965-12-02 Device for producing cold and/or liquefying gases Expired - Lifetime US3427817A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL646414856A NL147249B (nl) 1964-12-19 1964-12-19 Inrichting voor het verwekken van koude en/of voor het vloeibaar maken van gassen.

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US3427817A true US3427817A (en) 1969-02-18

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US (1) US3427817A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT271403B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE674004A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH444893A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1501101C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DK (1) DK123889B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES (1) ES320900A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1462600A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1131418A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL147249B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE313065B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3713305A (en) * 1968-06-05 1973-01-30 Philips Corp DEVICE FOR PRODUCING COLD AT TEMPERATURE LOWER THAN THAT OF lambda -POINT OF HELIUM
US3978682A (en) * 1974-03-01 1976-09-07 U.S. Philips Corporation Refrigeration method and apparatus by converting 4 He to A superfluid
US4037426A (en) * 1975-06-09 1977-07-26 Institut Francais Du Petrole Cold producing process
US4242885A (en) * 1977-12-23 1981-01-06 Sulzer Brothers Limited Apparatus for a refrigeration circuit
US5240384A (en) * 1990-10-30 1993-08-31 Gas Research Institute Pulsating ejector refrigeration system
US20030131611A1 (en) * 2002-01-15 2003-07-17 Hiroshi Oshitani Air conditioner with ejector cycle system
US20050061006A1 (en) * 2003-09-23 2005-03-24 Bonaquist Dante Patrick Biological refrigeration system
US20070000258A1 (en) * 2005-07-01 2007-01-04 Bonaquist Dante P Biological refrigeration sytem
US20150020534A1 (en) * 2012-02-28 2015-01-22 Yuren ZHANG Method for recycling energy from compressor outlet, and air conditioner
CN104481725A (zh) * 2014-11-13 2015-04-01 西安航空动力股份有限公司 一种工质为氢气或氦气的自增压方法及装置

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3271522D1 (en) * 1982-03-23 1986-07-10 Ibm Method and dilution refrigerator for cooling at temperatures below 1k
US6438969B1 (en) * 2001-07-12 2002-08-27 General Electric Company Cryogenic cooling refrigeration system for rotor having a high temperature super-conducting field winding and method
CN107990630B (zh) * 2017-11-17 2020-01-03 国鸿液化气机械工程（大连）有限公司 天然气液化系统、降低压缩机功率消耗的方法及于再液化中的应用

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2014701A (en) * 1928-08-18 1935-09-17 Seligmann Arthur Refrigerating plant
US2146797A (en) * 1937-05-20 1939-02-14 Gen Motors Corp Refrigerating apparatus
US2513361A (en) * 1944-11-01 1950-07-04 Specialties Dev Corp Method and system for producing low-temperature refrigeration
US2931190A (en) * 1957-05-29 1960-04-05 Coleman Co Jet refrigeration system
US3277660A (en) * 1965-12-13 1966-10-11 Kaye & Co Inc Joseph Multiple-phase ejector refrigeration system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2014701A (en) * 1928-08-18 1935-09-17 Seligmann Arthur Refrigerating plant
US2146797A (en) * 1937-05-20 1939-02-14 Gen Motors Corp Refrigerating apparatus
US2513361A (en) * 1944-11-01 1950-07-04 Specialties Dev Corp Method and system for producing low-temperature refrigeration
US2931190A (en) * 1957-05-29 1960-04-05 Coleman Co Jet refrigeration system
US3277660A (en) * 1965-12-13 1966-10-11 Kaye & Co Inc Joseph Multiple-phase ejector refrigeration system

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3713305A (en) * 1968-06-05 1973-01-30 Philips Corp DEVICE FOR PRODUCING COLD AT TEMPERATURE LOWER THAN THAT OF lambda -POINT OF HELIUM
US3978682A (en) * 1974-03-01 1976-09-07 U.S. Philips Corporation Refrigeration method and apparatus by converting 4 He to A superfluid
US4037426A (en) * 1975-06-09 1977-07-26 Institut Francais Du Petrole Cold producing process
US4242885A (en) * 1977-12-23 1981-01-06 Sulzer Brothers Limited Apparatus for a refrigeration circuit
US5240384A (en) * 1990-10-30 1993-08-31 Gas Research Institute Pulsating ejector refrigeration system
US20030131611A1 (en) * 2002-01-15 2003-07-17 Hiroshi Oshitani Air conditioner with ejector cycle system
US6729157B2 (en) * 2002-01-15 2004-05-04 Denso Corporation Air conditioner with ejector cycle system
US20050061006A1 (en) * 2003-09-23 2005-03-24 Bonaquist Dante Patrick Biological refrigeration system
US7059138B2 (en) * 2003-09-23 2006-06-13 Praxair Technology, Inc. Biological refrigeration system
US20070000258A1 (en) * 2005-07-01 2007-01-04 Bonaquist Dante P Biological refrigeration sytem
US20150020534A1 (en) * 2012-02-28 2015-01-22 Yuren ZHANG Method for recycling energy from compressor outlet, and air conditioner
CN104481725A (zh) * 2014-11-13 2015-04-01 西安航空动力股份有限公司 一种工质为氢气或氦气的自增压方法及装置
CN104481725B (zh) * 2014-11-13 2016-01-13 西安航空动力股份有限公司 一种工质为氢气或氦气的自增压方法及装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE674004A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1966-06-17
GB1131418A (en) 1968-10-23
AT271403B (de) 1969-06-10
CH444893A (de) 1967-10-15
FR1462600A (fr) 1966-12-16
NL147249B (nl) 1975-09-15
DE1501101B2 (de) 1974-05-02
ES320900A1 (es) 1966-06-16
DE1501101A1 (de) 1969-10-23
DK123889B (da) 1972-08-14
NL6414856A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1966-06-20
SE313065B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-08-04
DE1501101C3 (de) 1974-12-05

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