US711419A

US711419A - Apparatus for reducing the temperature of gases or vapors.

Info

Publication number: US711419A
Application number: US54726A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank L Dyer
Original assignee: CHARLES S BRADLEY
Current assignee: CHARLES S BRADLEY
Priority date: 1899-03-03
Filing date: 1901-04-06
Publication date: 1902-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1919-10-14

Description

No; 7||,4|9. Patented Oct. I4, 1902.

r. L. DYER.

APPARATUS FOR REDUCING THE TEMPERATURE OF GASES 0R VAPORS. (Application filed Apr. 8, 1901.) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES FRANK L. DYER, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES s.

BRADLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming. part of Letters Patent No. 711,419, dated October 14, 1902.

Original application filed March 3, 1899. Serial No. 707,599. Divided and this application filed April 6, 1901. Serial To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK L. DYER, aciti: zen of the United States, residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and-State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Reducing the Temperature of Gases or Vapors, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to an apparatus for re carryingout a method of reducing the temperature of gases set forth in my application Serial No. 707,599, of which this application is a division.

The apparatus which I have in vented for the carrying out of this method comprises, essentially, first, a compressor for compressing the desired gas or vaporsimple, complex, or compound-whereby the temperature thereof will be increased; second, a cooler or condenser to permit the compressed gas or vapor to be cooled and which may be either influenced by the'atmospheric air or circulating water or by a separate refrigerating system; third, a primary cooling device wherein the bulk of the compressed gas or vapor will be subjected to a cooling efiect produced by the expansion of a portion thereof either inthe primary or secondarylcooling device, and, fourth, a secondary cooling 3o. device wherein the bulk of the compressed gas or vapor cooled in the first cooling device will be subjected to a second cooling eifect produced by the expansion of a portion of the gas or vapor cooled in the first cooling device.

The apparatus may comprise any further additional, cooling devices for securing further and additional cooling effects.

Preferably the apparatus also comprises a receiver for supplyingthe gas or vapor. to the 40 compressor and whi'ch is connected with the cooling devices, whereby the expanded gas or vapor from the cooling devices will be returned to the receiver to be again compressed. Manifestly the gas or vapor thus returned from the cooling devices will be ofa relatively low temperature, thereby representing energy which is conserved by thus returning it to the compressor. Since the expanded portion of the gas or vapor which is expandedin the secondary cooling device is of a lower (No model.)

temperature than the expanded portion of the gas or vapor which is expanded in the on primary cooling device, the apparatus pref- .erably consists in providing conduits for re turning the expanded gas or vapor from the secondary cooling device through the primary cooling device and thence to the receiver. 'In this way efficiencyis increased, since the reduced temperature of the expanded gas or ivapor from the secondary cooling device is futilized in reducing'the temperature of the compressed gas or vapor in the primary cooling device. When the apparatus is provided with additional cooling devices, the return- A conduits for the expanded gas or vapor there from extend, preferably, through the pieced-- ing cooling devices. 1

' In order that the invention may be better 'understood,'attention is directed to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which is illustrated a diagrammatic view of the preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention and wherein three cooling devices are shown.

.1 is a receiving-tank which is supplied with the gas or vapor to be cooled. When it is desired to employ the invention forfthe. coolingof air, the entrance-pipe 2 communicates directly with the atmosphere. Preferably a check-valve 3 is provided in the entrance-pipe, which opens downwardly by suc-' tion to permit the gas or vapor to enter the;-

receiver 1. Y a

4 is a compressor of any suitable type, thesuction-pipe 5 of which connects with the receiver 1. -.,I illustrate a simple compressor; but obviously it may be provided with two or any greater number of compressing-cylinders. A discharge-pipe 6 from the compressor connects with a suitable cooler or condenser 0 'for reducing the temperature of the com- 'pressedgas or vapor. For this purpose the discharge-pipe may be formed into a coil 7, which may be exposed to the air or be immersed in a tank of water 8, having a constant circulation through the circulating- ,pipes- 9 9. Obviously the cooling medium may be a separate refrigerating system,or the tank 8 may be supplied with cooled brine.

10 represents the primary cooling device,

which in its preferred form comprises a receptacle 11, having a coil 12 therein, which constitutes a continuation of the pipes (S and 7. An expansion-pipe 13 leads into the receptacle 11 and is provided with an expansion-valve 14 of any suitable type to permit the proper reduction in pressure of the gas or vapor. Apipe 15 connects the receptacle 11 with the receiver 1 to convey back t0.the receiver the expanded gas or vapor from the receptacle. The coil 12 may be provided with a suitable trap 16, having a valve 17 for receiving any water which may be condensed out of the gas or vapor, which water may be drawn ofi from time to time.

18 represents a secondary cooling device, which also preferably comprises a receptacle 19 and'a coil 20 therein, which coil forms a continuation of the coil 12. The coil 20 may be of a smaller capacity than the coil 12. An expansion-pipe 21 leads into the receptacle 19 and is provided with an expansion-valve 22 therein. The pipe 23 from the secondary cooling device leads, preferably, to the primary cooling device, whereby the expanded gas or vapor from the secondary cooling device will be conveyed to the primary cooling device, and thence to the receiver 1. Obviously, however, the pipe 23 may connect directly with the receiver 1, although I consider the former arrangement preferable.

24- represents a tertiary cooling device, which may or may not be used, as desired. This preferably comprises a receptacle 25, having a coil 26 therein, the latter constituting a continuation of the coil 20.

27 is an expansion-pipe leading into the receptacle and having an expansion-valve 28 therein. The pipe 29 from the tertiary cooling device preferably leads to the secondary cooling device, whereby the expanded gas or vapor from the tertiary cooling device will pass successively through the secondary and primary cooling devices and thence to the receiver 1.

Any additional number of cooling devices may be employed, if desired.

The outlet 30 from the final cooling device-in this case, the tertiary cooling deviceis provided with a valve 31, by which the cooled gas or vapor may be drawn off. When the cooling is effected to the point of liquefaction, the liquefied gas or vapor will be drawn off through this pipe. All of the pipes, receptacles, 850., are preferably heavily insulated with an insulating-covering 32, of any suitable character.

The operation will be as follows: Upon starting the compressor the gas or vapor will be drawn into the receiver 1 through the pipe 2 and past the check-valve 3. This gas or vapor will be compressed by the compressor. If the gas or vapor which is being compressed is not atmospheric air, the Valve 31 will be opened to permit air from the system to be expelled. The compression of the gas or vapor results in the conversion of the latent heat into sensible heat, whereby a rise in temperature is effected. The compressed gas or vapor will now be cooled in the cooling device until in itscompressed condition its temperature has been reduced to the proper point. A small portion of the compressed and cooled gas or vapor is now allowed to expand past the expansion-valve 14 and through the expansion-pipe 13 into the receptacle 11. In thus expanding its temperature will be reduced to an extent proportional to the degree of expansion and the cooling to which it is subjected in the cooler. The compressed gas or vapor in the coil 12 will thus be reduced in temperature, whereby the gas or vaporin the coil 12 will be of the same pressure as the gas or vapor in the coil 7, but will be of a lower temperature than the latter. The expanded gas or vapor from the receptacle 11, being obviously cooler than. the gas orvapor entering the receiver 1 through the pipe 2, is returned to the receiver by the pipe 15, whereby the energy will be conserved. A portion of the cooled compressed gas or vapor which has been cooled in the primary cooler 10 is now allowed to expand through the expansion-valve 22 and expansion-pipe 21 into the receptacle 19. A furtherreduction in temperature is thus secured, which results in the lowering of the temperature of the compressed gas or vapor in the coil 20. The expanded gas or Vapor from the secondary cooler is conveyed through the pipe 23 to the primary cooler, where it assists in the cooling of the compressed gas or vapor in the coil 12. It is thence carried through the pipe 15 to the receiver. If a tertiary or other additional coolers are used, the operations described are repeated, each cooling device resulting in a lowering of the temperature of the gas or vapor in its coolingcoil, but without correspondingly affecting the pressure.

It is obvious that when the apparatus is properly operating the only additional gas or vapor which is supplied to the system will be that entering through the pipe 2 and which will be only of suflicient quantity to compensate for the diminution in volume of the gas or vapor in the system due to the lowering of its temperature or to its actual liquefaction.

It will be obvious that after the apparatus has started and expanded gas or vapor from the secondary cooler begins to flow through the primary cooler and from the tertiary cooler through the secondary cooler the quantity of gas or vapor passing through the expansion-valves 14 and 22 may be reduced to secure the same cooling eifect. Because of this fact I have determined that the method can be carried out by closing the valves 14 and 22 at all times or by dispensing with them, whereby only a single expanding operation will take place. Assuming the expansion pipes and valves 13 14 and 21 22 to be dispensed with, the operation of the ap paratus illustrated in the carrying out of the method will be as follows: The compressed gasoitvapor after havinghad its temperature reduced ,in the cooler or condenser fills thecoils 12, 20, and 26 under the pressure of the compressor and at the temperature obtained in the cooler or condenser. By now allowing for an expansion of the gas or vapor through the expansion-valve 28 and pipe 27 a reduction of temperature in the tertiary cooler is effected,which will result in the lowering of the temperature of the compressed gas or vapor in the coil 26. lhe expanded gas or vapor from the tertiary cooler and which obviously is of a'lower temperature than the compressed gas or vapor in the coil 20 will be conducted by the pipe 29 into the secondary cooler, where it results in the lowering of the temperature of the gas or vapor in the coil 20. From the secondary cooler the expanded gas or vapor passes into the primary cooler, where a lowering of the tern-- perature of the gas or vapor in' the coil 12 is effected. It will be seen that under the effect of the expanded gas or vapor from the tertiary cooler the temperature of the gas or vaporin the coil 26 will be less than that in the coil 12. The reduction of the temperature of the gas or vapor in the coil 20 results in a gradual diminution in the temperature of the gas or vapor which passes through the expansion valve 28 and pipe 27, which results in a gradual diminution in the temperature of the gas or vapor in the coil 26 and in the coil 20 of the secondary cooler and in the coil 12 of the primary cooler. In this way a gradual and continued reduction in temperature of the gas or vapor throughout the apparatus will be effected until the ultimate temperature is reached.

In describing the operation of my apparatus as it will take place when only a single expansion is effected I have referred to the tertiary cooler. It will be obvious that this operation may be effectively carried out when only a primary and secondary cooler are employed. The expansion of the gas or vapor in the secondary cooler results in the lowering of the temperature of the compressed gas or vapor therein, and the passage of the expanded gas or vapor from the secondary cooler results in a lowering of the tempera ture of the compressed gas or vapor in the primary cooler, which in turn results in a lowering of the temperature of the expanded gas or vapor in the secondary cooler, and so on.

The cooling devices of my'apparatus consist, preferably, of a coil, in which the gas or vapor is maintained under pressure, located in a receptacle in which the circulation of the expanded gas or vapor is efiected. It will be understood, however,that these elements may be reversed and that the gas or vapor under pressure maybe maintained in the receptacle, while the expanded gas or vapor may be circulated through the coils.

Having now described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

f]. An apparatus for refrigerating and liquefying air or other gas, comprising a com'-.

pressor with means for absorbing the heat generated by compression,arefrigerating-conduit connected to the compressor, a series of expansion devices having supply connections to successive points along the conduit of successively lower temperature, and exhaust connectionsfrom such expansion devices arranged in conducting proximity to portions of the refrigerating-conduit of successively lower temperature.

2. In an apparatus for reducing the temperature of agas or vapor, the combination with a compressor for compressing the gas or vapor, of a cooler for reducing the temperature due to compression, a primary cooler having a closed conduit for containing the or vapor, of a cooler for reducing the tem-' perature due to compression, a primary cooler having a closed conduit for containing the compressed gas or vapor, a secondary cooler having a closed conduit for containing the compressed gas or vapor, an expansion device between the'secondaryand primary coolers to permit the expansion of the compressed gas or vapor from the closed conduit of the primary cooler into proximity with the closed conduit of the secondary cooler, and a returnpipe for directing the expanded gas or vapor from the secondary cooler into proximity with the closed conduit of the primary cooler, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for reducing the temperature of a gas or vapor, the combination with a compressor means-for reducing the temperature due to compression, of a primary cooling device, a secondary cooling device, closed conduits in the cooling devices for containing the compressed gas or vapor, an expansion device between the two cooling devices for permitting an expansion of the gas or vapor from the closed conduit of the first cooling device into proximity with the closed conduit of the second cooling device, a receiver connected to the compressor, and conduits for conducting the expanded gas or vaporfrom the second cooling device to the receiver, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus for reducing the temperature of a gas or vapor, the combination IIO with a compressor for compressing the gas or vapor, of a cooler for reducing the temperature due to compression, a primary cooling device, a secondary cooling device, closed conduits in the cooling devices for containing the compressed gas or vapor, an expansion device between the two cooling devices for permitting an expansion of the gas or vapor from the closed conduit of the first cooling device into proximity with the closed conduit of the secondary cooling device, a receiver connected to the compressor, and conduits [O for conducting the expanded gas or vapor from the secondary cooling device through the primary cooling device and thence to the receiver, substantially as set forth.

FRANK L. DYER. Witnesses:

JNo. R. TAYLOR, AROHIBALD G. REESE.