Refrigeration trailer

• US 5,313,787 A
• Filed: 02/12/1993
• Issued: 05/24/1994
• 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:
  US08/017,796
• Time in Patent Office: 466 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, 62/272, 62/151, 62/156, 62/275, 62/80, 62/82, 62/222, 62/224, 62/225, 62/217 , 62/276, 62/239, 62/48.1
• US Class Current: 62/222
• 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 control system for a cryogenic refrigeration system in which liquid CO₂, delivered through an evaporator, to a fluid driven motor, absorbs heat to cool a stream of air discharged into the cargo compartment, the evaporator being configured to transfer a quantity of heat to the quantity of CO₂ flowing through the evaporator from air flowing adjacent thereto, comprising:

(a) flow control means between the evaporator and the fluid driven motor;

(b) temperature sensing means generating a signal indicating the temperature of CO₂ delivered to the fluid driven motor; and

(c) a heater between the evaporator and the fluid driven motor and associated with said flow control means and said temperature sensing means, said heater maintaining entropy of CO₂ flowing to said fluid driven motor to permit isentropic expansion of the CO₂ through the motor while preventing transformation of the CO₂ to a solid state.

2. A control system for a cryogenic refrigeration system according to claim 1, said flow control means comprising:

(a) pressure regulating means maintaining CO₂ delivered from said evaporator pressurized; and

(b) means isentropically expanding the CO₂ delivered from said evaporator to further cool air in the cargo compartment.

3. A control system for cryogenic refrigeration system according to claim 1, said flow control means comprising:

a flow control valve maintaining CO₂ in said evaporator pressurized.

4. A control system for a cryogenic refrigeration system according to claim 1, said flow control means comprising:

(a) a pressure relief valve;

(b) a flow control valve; and

(c) orifice means, said pressure relief valve, said flow control valve and said orifice means being connected to maintaining CO₂ in said evaporator pressurized.

5. A control system for a cryogenic refrigeration system according to claim 1, said flow control means comprising:

an orifice maintaining CO₂ in said evaporator pressurized.

6. A control system for a cryogenic refrigeration system according to claim 1, said flow control means comprising:

an orifice maintaining CO₂ in said evaporator pressurized and being positioned to cause CO₂ flowing therethrough to expand.

7. A control system for a cryogenic refrigeration system in which liquid CO₂, delivered through primary and secondary evaporators, absorbs heat to cool a stream of air discharged into the cargo compartment, the primary evaporator being configured to transfer a quantity of heat sufficient to vaporize the quantity of CO₂ flowing through the primary evaporator from air flowing adjacent thereto, comprising:

(a) flow control means between the primary and secondary evaporators;

(b) temperature sensing means generating a signal indicating the temperature of CO₂ delivered to the secondary evaporator; and

(c) heater means between the primary and secondary evaporators and associated with said flow control means and said temperature sensing means, said heater means maintaining the heat capacity of CO₂ flowing to said secondary evaporator to permit isentropic expansion of the CO₂ through the secondary evaporator while preventing transformation of the CO₂ to a solid state.

8. A control system for a cryogenic refrigeration system according to claim 7, said flow control means between the primary and secondary evaporators comprising:

orifice means maintaining CO₂ in said primary evaporator pressurized; and

a flow control valve, said flow control valve and said orifice means being connected to maintain CO₂ pressurized in said primary evaporator.

9. A control system for a cryogenic refrigeration system according to claim 7, said heater means comprising:

means for burning fuel in heat exchange relation with pressurized CO₂.

10. The control system for a cryogenic refrigeration system according to claim 7, said heater means comprising:

an electric heater.

11. The control system for a cryogenic refrigeration system according to claim 7, with the addition of:

a fluid driven motor between said primary and secondary evaporators, said heater means supplying sufficient heat to the CO₂ to prevent delivery of liquid CO₂ to said motor.