US3871186A - Apparatus and method for refrigerating articles - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for refrigerating articles Download PDF

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Publication number
US3871186A
US3871186A US390755A US39075573A US3871186A US 3871186 A US3871186 A US 3871186A US 390755 A US390755 A US 390755A US 39075573 A US39075573 A US 39075573A US 3871186 A US3871186 A US 3871186A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
chamber
articles
cryogen
liquid
gas
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US390755A
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English (en)
Inventor
Richard C Wagner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Integral Process Systems Inc
INTEGRAL PROCESS SYST Inc
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INTEGRAL PROCESS SYST Inc
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Application filed by INTEGRAL PROCESS SYST Inc filed Critical INTEGRAL PROCESS SYST Inc
Priority to US390755A priority Critical patent/US3871186A/en
Priority to CA195,746A priority patent/CA999449A/en
Priority to GB1328574A priority patent/GB1426139A/en
Priority to DE2418545A priority patent/DE2418545A1/de
Priority to AU68918/74A priority patent/AU476795B2/en
Priority to FR7428671A priority patent/FR2241753B3/fr
Priority to JP49096276A priority patent/JPS5050743A/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3871186A publication Critical patent/US3871186A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D3/10—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using liquefied gases, e.g. liquid air
    • F25D3/11—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using liquefied gases, e.g. liquid air with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT Apparatus and method for refrigerating articles including an insulating chamber, a conveyor for moving articles through the chamber, a liquid spray system for introducing the liquid cryogen such as liquid nitrogen for contact with the articles with resulting generation of cryogen gas through the chamber in a recirculation path that includes a path portion located externally of the chamber and means for collecting liquid cryogen from the chamber in the external path portion for contact with the recirculated fluid cryogen passing therethrough with resulting vaporization of the collected liquid and entrainment of the liquid in the recirculated gas.
  • liquid cryogen such as liquid nitrogen
  • a recirculation path that includes a path portion located externally of the chamber and means for collecting liquid cryogen from the chamber in the external path portion for contact with the recirculated fluid cryogen passing therethrough with resulting vaporization of the collected liquid and entrainment of the liquid in the recirculated gas.
  • One of the features of this invention is to provide an apparatus for refrigerating articles and particularly for freezing them in which a liquid cryogen is sprayed or otherwise contacted with the articles with the resulting production of cryogen gas together with means for recirculating a portion of the gas through the chamber for more efficient refrigeration including a recirculation path portion externally of the chamber together with means for collecting excess liquid cryogen from the spraying and directing it into the external path portion for contact with the recirculated cryogen gas.
  • Another feature of the invention is to provide a method of refrigerating articles including the recirculating of the gas and the collecting of excess liquid in a portion of the recirculation path externally of the chamber.
  • FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 2b.
  • FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 2b.
  • the apparatus 10 for refrigerating articles comprises an elongated freezing tunnel 11 or chamber having top 12, bottom 13 and side 14 and 15 insulated walls.
  • the top insulated walls 12 are in the form of hinged lids 16 which may be raised and lowered by means of hydraulic cylinders 17, in the customary manner, of which only two are illustrated in FIGS. la and 1b and which are illustrated in side elevation in FIGS. 5 and 6.
  • a customary conveyor 20 Positioned within the chamber or tunnel 11 between an entrance 18 and an exit 19 thereto is a customary conveyor 20 for conveying articles in the chamber in a path coinciding with the upper reach 21 of the conveyor between the entrance and exit.
  • a customary conveyor 20 for conveying articles in the chamber in a path coinciding with the upper reach 21 of the conveyor between the entrance and exit.
  • One such article is illustrated schematically at 22 in FIG. 20.
  • the fluid cryogen is a liquid of which liquid nitrogen is an excellent example that is introduced into contact with the articles traveling on the conveyor to generate a gas and with the liquid being in excess.
  • the fluid cryogen also includes the gas itself caused by the liquid vaporizing on heat extracted from the articles.
  • a liquid cryogen is introduced by means of a liquid flow means 23 which as illustrated is an assembly of nozzles 24 arranged in the assembly 23 and spaced longitudinally and transversely of the chamber.
  • FIG. 4 there are six nozzles spanning the width of the chamber 11 and eight nozzles arranged longitudinally in each row as shown in FIG. 2a.
  • the liquid cryogen is supplied to the nozzle assembly by means of a pipe 25 which communicates with the piping 26 interconnecting the nozzles 24 by means of a flexible hose 27. With this ur rangement the entire liquid flow assembly 23 may be removed for cleaning when the lids or top walls 12 are raised without requiring dismantling of the assembly 23.
  • the recirculating means comprises a horizontal baffle 28 beneath the conveyor 20 and thus beneath the articles 22 conveyed thereon with this baffle 28 having an end 29 adjacent to but short of the entrance end 18 of the tunnel 11.
  • the recirculation flow which is caused by the rotatable blower 30 is in a path illustrated by the recirculation arrows 31 as shown in FIGS. 2!), 2c, 5, 6 and 7.-
  • the recirculation path as is illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 2b and 6 includes a path portion 32 located externally of the chamber 11.
  • this recirculation portion is located beneath and to the side of the apparatus 10 and communicates with the bottom of the chamber 11 by means of a vertical fitting 33 that causes gas to flow vertically downwardly into the external portion 32 and upwardly at the side through a passage 34 into the blower 30 where the recirculated gas is introduced laterally back into the tun-.
  • baffle 36 in two overlapping sections as shown in FIG. 2a for ease in cleaning with this baffle 36 being sloped toward the recirculation path portion 32 which being beneath the chamber 11 functions as a sump to collect any excess and unevaporated liquid cryogen illustrated schematically at 37 in FIG. 6. The result is that the recirculated external cryogen gas shown at 31 in FIG. 6
  • a portion of the liquid 37 will of course be evaporated by the recirculating portion of the gas 31 but any unevaporated liquid is physically picked up in the form of droplets and carried back into the tunnel for refrigerating articles carried therethrough. Because the re circulation path portion 32 is at a lower level than the chamber 11 and because of the sloped nature of the baffle 36 the excess cryogen is collected by gravity flow and is redistributed without requiring a separate pump as has been required heretofore.
  • gas evacuation means 38 Communicating with the tunnel or chamber 11 adjacent the entrance 18 are gas evacuation means 38 for exhausting the cryogen gas after the refrigeration in the customary manner as illustrated schematically by the arrow 39.
  • the baffle 28 which is adjacent the entrance 18 to the tunnel and therefore adjacent the gas evacuation means 38 separates the chamber 11 into upper 40 and lower 41 gas recirculation sections of the internal recirculation loop 31. As illustrated in FIGS. 2b and 20 this provides countercurrent flow with respect to the direction of movement of the articles 32 gas contact with the articles.
  • a plurality of gas moving devices 42 here shown as vertical axis fans for providing axial flow illustrated by the arrows 43. These fans 42 are longitudinally spaced from each other and in the illustrated embodiment are six in number although more or less can be used depending upon the desired capacity of the apparatus.
  • the exhaust from the fans is downwardly through the conveyor and over the articles 22 carried thereon and is then directed back upwardly by impingement upon the baffle 28.
  • the fans 42 serve as turbulizers to obtain better heat transfer between the articles conveyed through the tunnel by the conveyor 20 and the gas.
  • the temperature of the exhaust gases 39 was not more than 60 less than the temperature of the incoming articles 22.
  • transverse or in this embodiment vertical exhaust from the axial flow fans 44 is in a direction transverse to the longitudinal recirculation flow 31 with the combination of gas flows at 90 to each other increasing the turbulence with corresponding increases in heat transfer so that a shorter tunnel 11 may be employed for a given refrigerating capacity.
  • the apparatus is constructed in separable sections for cleaning. Such a separable arrangement is disclosed in my prior US. Pat. No. 3,580,000.
  • Apparatus for refrigerating articles comprising: means defining an insulated chamber having an entrance and an exit for said articles; conveyor means for moving said articles in the chamber in a path from the entrance to the exit; liquid flow means for introducing a liquid cryogen into said chamber for contact with said articles at an introduction area spaced from said entrance with resulting generation of cryogen gas; means between said introduction area and entrance for recirculating cryogen gas from said chamber in a recirculation path including a path portion located externally of the chamber; and means for collecting any remaining liquid cryogen from said chamber in said external path portion for contact with the recirculated cryogen g'as passing therethrough.
  • liquid flow means comprises spray apparatus located between said chamber exit and said recirculating path portion for spraying liquid cryogen in contact with said articles and including a flexible conduit to an external source of liquid cryogen for removal of said apparatus for cleaning, servicing and the like without requiring dismantling.
  • said plurality of gas moving devices comprise axial flow fans spaced along a substantial portion of said chamber and exhausting transversely to said path of the articles.
  • the method of refrigerating articles in an insulated chamber having an entrance and an exit and liquid flow means for introducing a liquid cryogen into said chamber for contact with said articles in an excessive amount so as to provide both cryogen liquid and cryogen gas from said liquid in the chamber comprising: recirculating said cryogen gas into contact with articles within the chamber in a recirculation path including a path portion located externally of the chamber and collecting any remaining liquid cryogen from the chamber in the recirculation path portion for contact by said recirculated gas and redistribution of the liquid in conjunction with the gas back into the chamber.
  • Apparatus for refrigerating articles comprising: means defining an insulated chamber having an entrance and an exit for said articles; conveyor means for moving said articles in the chamber in a path from the entrance to the exit; and liquid flow means for introducing a liquid cryogen into said chamber for contact with said articles at an introduction area spaced from said entrance with resulting generation of cryogen gas, said liquid flow means comprising spray apparatus located between said chamber exit and said recirculating path portion for spraying liquid cryogen in contact with said articles and including a flexible conduit to an external source of liquid cryogen for removal of said apparatus for cleaning, servicing and the like without requiring dismantling.
  • Apparatus for refrigerating articles comprising: means defining an insulated chamber having an entrance and an exit for said articles; conveyor means for moving said articles in the chamber in a path from the entrance to the exit; fluid flow means for introducing hausting transversely to said path of the articles.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
US390755A 1973-08-23 1973-08-23 Apparatus and method for refrigerating articles Expired - Lifetime US3871186A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US390755A US3871186A (en) 1973-08-23 1973-08-23 Apparatus and method for refrigerating articles
CA195,746A CA999449A (en) 1973-08-23 1974-03-22 Apparatus and method for refrigerating articles
GB1328574A GB1426139A (en) 1973-08-23 1974-03-26 Apparatus and method for refrigerating articles
DE2418545A DE2418545A1 (de) 1973-08-23 1974-04-17 Verfahren und vorrichtung zum einkuehlen von waren
AU68918/74A AU476795B2 (en) 1973-08-23 1974-05-14 Apparatus and method for refrigerating articles
FR7428671A FR2241753B3 (de) 1973-08-23 1974-08-21
JP49096276A JPS5050743A (de) 1973-08-23 1974-08-23

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US390755A US3871186A (en) 1973-08-23 1973-08-23 Apparatus and method for refrigerating articles

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3871186A true US3871186A (en) 1975-03-18

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US390755A Expired - Lifetime US3871186A (en) 1973-08-23 1973-08-23 Apparatus and method for refrigerating articles

Country Status (7)

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US (1) US3871186A (de)
JP (1) JPS5050743A (de)
AU (1) AU476795B2 (de)
CA (1) CA999449A (de)
DE (1) DE2418545A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2241753B3 (de)
GB (1) GB1426139A (de)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4517814A (en) * 1983-01-12 1985-05-21 Frigoscandia Contracting Ab Apparatus for continuous direct treatment of products by means of a fluid cooling medium
US4627244A (en) * 1984-04-13 1986-12-09 Willhoft Edward Max Adolf Cryogenic cooling
US5444985A (en) * 1994-05-13 1995-08-29 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Cryogenic tunnel freezer
US5460015A (en) * 1994-04-28 1995-10-24 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Freezer with imperforate conveyor belt
US5467612A (en) * 1994-04-29 1995-11-21 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Freezing system for fragible food products
US5522238A (en) * 1994-02-15 1996-06-04 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Tunnel freezer
US5577392A (en) * 1995-01-17 1996-11-26 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Cryogenic chiller with vortical flow
EP0887604A3 (de) * 1997-06-27 1999-12-22 The Boc Group, Inc. Versprühen einer Kryoflüssigkeit

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT395933B (de) * 1986-02-17 1993-04-26 Welz Franz Transporte Verfahren zur einstellung bzw. aufrechterhaltung einer gekuehlten atmosphaere in einem kuehlbehaelter und kuehlbehaelter zur durchfuehrung des verfahrens

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3405531A (en) * 1966-11-29 1968-10-15 Harold E. Davis Jr. Method and apparatus of refrigeration using cryogenic liquid
US3553973A (en) * 1966-06-23 1971-01-12 Jack K Moran Continuous freezer

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3553973A (en) * 1966-06-23 1971-01-12 Jack K Moran Continuous freezer
US3405531A (en) * 1966-11-29 1968-10-15 Harold E. Davis Jr. Method and apparatus of refrigeration using cryogenic liquid

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4517814A (en) * 1983-01-12 1985-05-21 Frigoscandia Contracting Ab Apparatus for continuous direct treatment of products by means of a fluid cooling medium
US4627244A (en) * 1984-04-13 1986-12-09 Willhoft Edward Max Adolf Cryogenic cooling
US5522238A (en) * 1994-02-15 1996-06-04 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Tunnel freezer
US5460015A (en) * 1994-04-28 1995-10-24 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Freezer with imperforate conveyor belt
US5467612A (en) * 1994-04-29 1995-11-21 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Freezing system for fragible food products
US5444985A (en) * 1994-05-13 1995-08-29 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Cryogenic tunnel freezer
US5577392A (en) * 1995-01-17 1996-11-26 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Cryogenic chiller with vortical flow
EP0887604A3 (de) * 1997-06-27 1999-12-22 The Boc Group, Inc. Versprühen einer Kryoflüssigkeit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA999449A (en) 1976-11-09
FR2241753A1 (de) 1975-03-21
AU6891874A (en) 1975-11-20
JPS5050743A (de) 1975-05-07
DE2418545A1 (de) 1975-03-06
FR2241753B3 (de) 1977-06-10
AU476795B2 (en) 1976-10-07
GB1426139A (en) 1976-02-25

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