Enthalpy control for CO2 refrigeration system

• US 5,090,209 A
• Filed: 02/06/1991
• Issued: 02/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Cryogenics, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: General Cryogenics, Incorporated
• Inventors: Martin, Patrick S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US07/651,206
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 62/140, 62/155, 62/156, 62/272, 62/275, 62/276, 62/526, 62/50.1, 62/50.2, 62/50.3, 62/50.4, 62/50.7, 62/51.1, 62/52.1, 62/217, 62/81, 62/80
• US Class Current: 62/50.3
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/001 for cryogenic fluid systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/105 Movable containers

Abstract

A method and apparatus to refrigerate air in a compartment wherein liquid CO2 is delivered through a first primary heat exchanger such that sufficient heat is absorbed to evaporate the liquid carbon dioxide to form pressurized vapor. The pressurized vapor is heated in a gas fired heater to prevent solidification of the pressurized carbon dioxide when it is depressurized to provide isentropic expansion of the vapor through pneumatically driven fan motors into a secondary heat exchanger. Orifices in inlets to the fan motors and solenoid valves in flow lines to the fan motors keep the vapor pressurized while the heater supplies sufficient heat to prevent solidification when the CO2 vapor expands through the motors. CO2 vapor is routed from the second heat exchanger to chill surface in a dehumidifer to condense moisture from a stream of air before it flows to the heat exchangers.

Claims

1. A method of refrigerating air in a compartment comprising the steps of:

delivering liquid carbon dioxide through a first heat exchanger such that sufficient heat is absorbed to evaporate the liquid carbon dioxide to form pressurized vapor;

heating the vapor to a temperature to prevent solidification of the carbon dioxide when it becomes depressurized;

depressurizing the vapor to provide isentropic expansion of the vapor into a second heat exchanger;

delivering vapor from the second heat exchanger to maintain surfaces in a dehumidifier at a temperature below the dewpoint of air in the compartment; and

circulating air in the compartment in heat exchange relation with the surfaces in the dehumidifier and subsequently in heat exchange relation with carbon dioxide in the first and second heat exchangers such that moisture in the circulating air condenses on surfaces in the dehumidifier enroute to the first and second heat exchangers.

2. A method of refrigerating air in a compartment according to claim 1, the step of heating the vapor to a temperature to prevent solidification of the carbon dioxide when it becomes depressurized comprising the step of:

delivering the pressurized vapor through a fuel burning heater; and

burning fuel in heat exchange relation with the pressurized vapor.

3. A method of refrigerating air in a compartment according to claim 2, with the addition of the step of:

sensing the temperature of carbon dioxide vapor before it is depressurized to provide isentropic expansion into the second heat exchanger; and

controlling a supply of fuel to the heater in response to changes in the sensed temperature.

4. A method of refrigerating air in a compartment according to claim 1, the step of circulating air in the compartment in heat exchange relation with the surfaces in the dehumidifier, comprising the step of circulating the air along a serpentine path such that centrifugal force urges moisture in an air stream into heat exchange relation with chilled surfaces in the dehumidifier.

5. The method of refrigerating air in a compartment according to claim 1, the step of heating vapor to a temperature to prevent solidification of carbon dioxide when it becomes depressurized comprising the steps of:

sensing temperature of the pressurized carbon dioxide vapor; and

controlling heat transferred to the pressurized carbon dioxide vapor to control condensation of moisture on surfaces in the dehumidifier.

6. A method of controlling the heat transfer rate through a wall of a tube in a compartment comprising the steps of:

delivering liquid carbon dioxide into the tube;

moving fluid in the compartment in heat exchange relation with the tube such that heat is absorbed by the carbon dioxide to form pressurized carbon dioxide vapor in the tube;

heating the pressurized carbon dioxide vapor;

delivering the heated carbon dioxide vapor to drive a motor driven fan to move fluid in the compartment in heat exchange relation with the tube; and

controlling the flow of heated vapor to the motor to prevent solidification of the carbon dioxide as it depressurizes upon reaching the pneumatic motor chambers.

7. The method of claim 6, with the addition of the steps of:

sensing temperature of carbon dioxide exhausted from the tube; and

heating surfaces of the tube when the temperature of carbon dioxide flowing to the motor driven fan is less than a predetermined temperature.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of sensing temperature of carbon dioxide is accomplished by positioning a temperature sensor in heat exchange relation with carbon dioxide flowing to the motor.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of heating surfaces of the tube comprises:

heating a volume of carbon dioxide; and

delivering the heated carbon dioxide through the tube.

10. The method of claim 9 with the addition of the steps of:

sensing the temperature of the surface of the tube; and

terminating heating of the surfaces of the tube when the tube surface increases to a predetermined temperature.

11. A method of controlling temperature in a compartment comprising the steps of:

circulating liquid carbon dioxide through a primary coil such that heat is absorbed by the carbon dioxide;

changing the enthalpy of carbon dioxide exhausted from the primary coil to assure that it is in a vapor phase;

delivering the carbon dioxide vapor through a pneumatic motor arranged to drive a fan; and

circulating carbon dioxide from the pneumatic motor through a secondary coil, the primary and secondary coils being positioned such that the fan driven by the pneumatic motor moves air in heat exchange relation with the coils.

12. The method of claim 11 with the addition of the step of:

stopping flow of liquid carbon dioxide to the primary coil when a predetermined quantity of ice has formed on surfaces of the primary coil; and

directing heated carbon dioxide vapor through the primary coils, through the motor, and through the secondary coil for melting ice on surfaces thereof.

13. Temperature control apparatus comprising, a coil;

means to deliver fluid through said coil;

means to move air across the coil;

first sensor means to sense temperature of carbon dioxide exhausted from the coil;

second sensor means to sense the temperature of the surface of the coil;

means to generate a signal when the temperature of carbon dioxide exhausted from the coil is less than a predetermined temperature;

means energized by said signal to heat surfaces of the coil to melt ice thereon; and

means energized by said second sensor to terminate heating of the surfaces of the coil.

14. The combination called for in claim 13 wherein the means to move air across the coil comprises:

a fluid driven motor connected in driving relation with impeller means; and

means to direct fluid from said coil through the fluid driven motor.

15. Temperature control apparatus according to claim 14 with the addition of:

orifice means adjacent the inlet to said fluid driven motor.

16. Temperature control apparatus according to claim 15 with the addition of:

flow control valve means in said means to direct fluid through said fluid driven motor.

17. The Combination called for in claim 13, wherein the means energized by said signal to heat surfaces of the coil comprises:

heater means;

signal responsive valve means arranged to deliver carbon dioxide to the heater means; and

means to deliver heated carbon dioxide from the heater means to the coil.

18. The combination called for in claim 13 wherein the means to deliver fluid through the coil comprises:

a container;

conduit means connected between said container and the coil; and

means in said conduit means for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide therethrough.

19. Apparatus to control temperature in a cargo compartment of a trailer comprising:

a source of liquefied carbon dioxide carried by the trailer;

evaporator means positioned in heat exchange relation with air in the compartment;

first conduit means connecting said evaporator means and the source of liquid carbon dioxide;

heat exchanger means;

second conduit means connecting the heat exchanger means with said evaporator means;

a pneumatically operated motor;

fan means driven by said motor arranged to cause air in the compartment to circulate over surfaces of the evaporator means, said heat exchanger means being adapted to deliver carbon dioxide from said evaporator means to said motor in a temperature range to prevent solidification of carbon dioxide as it becomes depressurized in said motor.

20. The combination called for in claim 19 with the addition of:

temperature sensor means adapted to sense the temperature of vapor delivered to said motor; and

controller means adapted to defrost said evaporator when the temperature of vapor drops to near the freezing point of carbon dioxide.

21. The combination of claim 20, said fan means having an intake passage;

and with the addition of heat exchanger means adapted to move temperature controlled carbon dioxide vapor in heat exchange relation with air flowing through said intake passage.

22. The combination of claim 21, said heat exchanger means comprising heater means;

conduit means connecting said pneumatically operated motor to discharge carbon dioxide into said heater means;

a hollow cylindrical shroud extending around said intake passage;

a screw shaped baffle in said shroud;

means in heat exchange relation with said shroud and said baffle configured to receive vapor from said heater means; and

temperature sensor means associated with said heater means and air flowing through said intake passage for maintaining temperature of carbon dioxide in heat exchange relation with air flowing through the intake passage in a predetermined temperature range.