Apparatus and Method for Condensing Contaminants for a Cryogenic System

• US 20100281917A1
• Filed: 11/04/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IceCure Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: IceCure Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: LEVIN, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/611,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20100281917A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/640
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/106 Silica or silicates
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/108 Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/261 by adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/265 by refrigeration (condensation)
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0012 Primary atmospheric gases, e.g. air
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0015 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0017 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0225 using other external refrigeration means not provided before, e.g. heat driven absorption chillers
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0276 Laboratory or other miniature devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2205/20 using solidification of components
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2220/40 Separating high boiling, i.e. less volatile components from air, e.g. CO2, hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2270/908 by regenerative chillers, i.e. oscillating or dynamic systems, e.g. Stirling refrigerator, thermoelectric ("Peltier") or magnetic refrigeration
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2290/20 Particular dimensions; Small scale or microdevices
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04278 using external refrigeration units, e.g. closed mechanical or regenerative refrigeration units
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04981 for portable medical or home use

Abstract

A system for removing contaminants from a gas, preferably through condensation and adsorption, followed by liquefaction of the gas.

Claims

1. A system of gas liquefaction comprising:

a heat exchanging chamber for receiving the gas and heating the gas to remove water vapors for forming dried gas;

a freezing chamber for receiving said dried gas and for further cooling said dried gas to remove readily-condensing contaminants, and to liquefy said dried gas to form liquefied gas; and

a container for receiving said liquefied gas.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said heat exchanging chamber comprises a thermoelectric unit for cooling the gas.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adsorption unit for receiving said dried gas from said heat exchanging chamber and for further reducing vapors of contaminants in said dried gas.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the gas is air.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said vapors are reduced in the adsorption unit to a level which is of the same order of magnitude as the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the freezing chamber comprises a cryocooler with a freezing cylindrical member for freezing said gas, which is situated in a freezing-liquefaction chamber for receiving said dried gas for being frozen.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the freezing chamber comprises cylindrical walls with vacuum insulation.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said freezing chamber comprises a bellows section for reduction of thermo-mechanical tension.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said freezing chamber comprises a scraper on the cylindrical surface of the freezing cylindrical member.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein debris of the frozen readily-condensing contaminants removed by the scraper accumulate in the internal space of the freezing chamber, and are removed through blowing regenerating air.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the lower internal section of the freezing chamber comprises a thermo-insulation member.

12. The system of claim 1, adapted for a small-scale system.