Refrigeration trailer

• US 5,199,275 A
• Filed: 02/25/1992
• Issued: 04/06/1993
• 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:
  US07/841,590
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 62/50.1, 62/50.2, 62/50.3, 62/50.4, 62/50.7, 62/51.1, 62/52.1, 62/140, 62/156, 62/272, 62/275, 62/276, 62/526, 62/80, 62/81, 62/239
• US Class Current: 62/275
• 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 surfaces in a dehumidifier to condense moisture from a stream of air before it flows to the heat exchangers.

Claims

1. A kit for installation in a cryogenic refrigeration system wherein liquid CO₂ in an evapoarator absorbs a quantity of heat exceeding the latent heat of vaporization of the CO₂ to cool air adjacent the evaporator, the kit comprising:

(a) heat exchanger means;

(b) means to connect said heat exchanger means to receive CO₂ from the evaporator; and

(c) means to connect said heat exchanger means to a secondary evaporator such that CO₂ vapor flowing from said heat exchanger means expands to provide cold CO₂ vapor for circulation through the secondary evaporator, said heat exchanger means delivering a quantity of heat to CO₂ received from the evaporator to prevent solidification of the CO₂ when depressurized to permit it to expand for circulation through the secondary vaporizer.

2. Apparatus to control temperature in a compartment comprising:

(a) a source of liquefied carbon dioxide;

(b) a primary evaporator and a secondary evaporator;

(c) first conduit means connecting the primary evaporator and the source of liquid carbon dioxide;

(d) enthalpy control means;

(e) second conduit means connecting the enthalpy control means with said primary evaporator;

(f) a fan driven by a motor connected to said enthalpy control means, said fan being arranged to cause air in the compartment to circulate in heat exchange relation with surfaces of said primary and said secondary evaporators, said enthalpy control means being adapted to permit isentropic expansion of CO₂ through said motor while preventing solidification of carbon dioxide as it depressurizes in said motor; and

(g) means delivering CO₂ from said motor through said secondary evaporator to utilize the cooling capacity of the expanding CO₂ to extract heat from air adjacent said secondary evaporator.

3. A refrigerated cargo vehicle comprising:

a pair of side walls;

a front wall extending between said side walls;

a floor;

a top wall, said floor and top wall joining said side walls and said front wall to form a cargo compartment;

wheels outside of said cargo compartment below said floor;

a source of liquefied carbon dioxide;

means securing said source of carbon dioxide below said floor;

evaporator means in said cargo compartment in heat exchange relation with air in said compartment, said evaporator means having an inlet and an outlet;

means connecting said inlet of said evaporator means and said source of liquid carbon dioxide;

heat exchanger means;

means connecting said heat exchanger means with said outlet of said evaporator means;

a pneumatically operated motor having inlet and exhaust ports;

fan means in said compartment driven by said motor, said fan means being arranged to cause air in said compartment to circulate over surfaces of said evaporator means, said heat exchanger means delivering carbon dioxide vapor from said evaporator means to said inlet port of said motor in a temperature range to prevent solidification of carbon dioxide depressurized in said motor enroute to said exhaust port.

4. A refrigerated cargo compartment according to claim 3, said evaporator means comprising:

a coil;

first sensor means to sense temperature of carbon dioxide exhausted from said 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.

5. The combination called for in claim 4 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.

6. Temperature control apparatus according to claim 5 with the addition of:

orifice means adjacent the inlet to said fluid driven motor.

7. Temperature control apparatus according to claim 6 with the addition of:

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

8. The combination called for in claim 4, 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.

9. The combination called for in claim 4 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.

10. The combination called for in claim 3 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.

11. The combination of claim 10, 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.

12. The combination of claim 11, 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.