Apparatus and method for thermoelectric cooling of an extraction fluid pump
First Claim
1. A pumping system for fluid extraction comprising:
- a pumphead block having pumphead block walls;
inlet means including tubing walls through which extraction fluid flows;
said inlet means communicating with said pumphead block wherein extraction fluid flows through said inlet means into the pumphead block;
means for connecting the inlet means to a source of extraction fluid;
outlet means for providing the extraction fluid from said pumphead block to a pressure vessel;
an air-cooled thermoelectric-cooled heat exchanger means for cooling both the inlet means and the pumphead block;
said air-cooled thermoelectric-cooled heat exchanger means including first heat exchanger means and second heat exchanger means;
said first heat exchanger means being positioned in juxtaposition with said inlet means wherein extraction fluid is cooled before the extraction fluid reaches said second heat exchanger means;
said second heat exchanger means being positioned in juxtaposition with said pumphead block wherein said second heat exchanger removes heat from said extraction fluid after said first heat exchanger means has removed heat from said extraction fluid;
said first heat exchanger having a first thermoelectric element with a first side and a second side;
the first side of said first thermoelectric element being in heat-conducting contact with said extraction fluid through said tubing walls and said second side of said first thermoelectric element being in heat conducting contact with air through solid heat conducting first heat exchanger walls;
said solid heat-conducting first heat exchanger walls being free of liquid cooling passageways and having an air cooled surface;
said second heat exchanger having a second thermoelectric element with a first side and second side;
said first side of said second thermoelectric element being in heat-conducting contact with said extraction fluid through said pumphead block walls and said second side of said second thermoelectric element being in heat conducting contact with air through solid heat conducting second heat exchanger walls;
said solid heat-conducting second heat exchanger walls being free of liquid cooling passageways and having an air cooled surface wherein said pumping system does not use a cooling liquid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a piston pump for pumping liquid carbon dioxide at a temperature below 30 degrees Fahrenheit and pressures at least as high as 7500 psi at an outlet flow rate in excess of 10 milliliters per minute, the inlet to the pump and the pumphead are each cooled by thermoelectric heat exchangers that are air cooled. The pump is a cam-driven, single-plunger pump with a cam profile that enables the pumping system to avoid distructive reverse torque on the cam, gear train and drive motor after the cam passes top dead center. The volume leaving the pump is determined by measuring only pressure or other parameter related to flow and movement of the plunger. The piston of the pump is supported on both sides of the seal and the support for the piston within the pumphead are machined consentrically and colinearly to the seal gland.
100 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A pumping system for fluid extraction comprising:
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a pumphead block having pumphead block walls; inlet means including tubing walls through which extraction fluid flows; said inlet means communicating with said pumphead block wherein extraction fluid flows through said inlet means into the pumphead block; means for connecting the inlet means to a source of extraction fluid; outlet means for providing the extraction fluid from said pumphead block to a pressure vessel; an air-cooled thermoelectric-cooled heat exchanger means for cooling both the inlet means and the pumphead block; said air-cooled thermoelectric-cooled heat exchanger means including first heat exchanger means and second heat exchanger means; said first heat exchanger means being positioned in juxtaposition with said inlet means wherein extraction fluid is cooled before the extraction fluid reaches said second heat exchanger means; said second heat exchanger means being positioned in juxtaposition with said pumphead block wherein said second heat exchanger removes heat from said extraction fluid after said first heat exchanger means has removed heat from said extraction fluid; said first heat exchanger having a first thermoelectric element with a first side and a second side;
the first side of said first thermoelectric element being in heat-conducting contact with said extraction fluid through said tubing walls and said second side of said first thermoelectric element being in heat conducting contact with air through solid heat conducting first heat exchanger walls;said solid heat-conducting first heat exchanger walls being free of liquid cooling passageways and having an air cooled surface; said second heat exchanger having a second thermoelectric element with a first side and second side;
said first side of said second thermoelectric element being in heat-conducting contact with said extraction fluid through said pumphead block walls and said second side of said second thermoelectric element being in heat conducting contact with air through solid heat conducting second heat exchanger walls;said solid heat-conducting second heat exchanger walls being free of liquid cooling passageways and having an air cooled surface wherein said pumping system does not use a cooling liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of pumping comprising the steps of:
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pumping an extraction fluid through an inlet means of a pumphead block, said inlet means being connected to a source of said extraction fluid; pumping said extraction fluid from an outlet means of the pumphead block, wherein the outlet means is adapted to provide the extraction fluid to a pressure vessel; and cooling said inlet means and pumphead block using only an air-cooled thermoelectric-cooled heat exchanger without a cooling liquid. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification