APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING COOLANT FLUID

• US 20100216382A1
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cannon Design Incorporated (Cannon Corporation), University of Kansas
• Original Assignee: Cannon Design Incorporated (Cannon Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Gerald G., Hager, Andrew D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,289,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/57
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 1/50 for storing hazardous materials in the laboratory, e.g. cupboards, waste containers sample containers B01L3/50
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/185 using a liquid as fluid

Abstract

An apparatus for providing coolant fluid to a device, the apparatus includes a heat exchanger having a hot side and a cold side. The cold side is in fluid communication with a chilled fluid supply and adapted to receive a first fluid from the chilled fluid supply in a first inlet and return the first fluid from the cold side to the chilled fluid supply. The cold side and the chilled fluid supply form a first fluid circuit. The apparatus further includes a second fluid circuit in fluid communication with the hot side, means for introducing a second fluid within the second fluid circuit and integral thereto, a pump integral to the second fluid circuit and adapted to transmit a second fluid within the second fluid circuit and means for controlling a rate of flow of the second fluid within the second fluid circuit. The device is within the second fluid circuit and the means for controlling the rate of flow operates in the absence of internal recirculation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing coolant fluid to a device, said apparatus comprising:

a heat exchanger having a hot side and a cold side, said cold side in fluid communication with a chilled fluid supply and adapted to receive a first fluid from said chilled fluid supply in a first inlet and return said first fluid from a first outlet of said cold side to said chilled fluid supply, said cold side and said chilled fluid supply forming a first fluid circuit;

a second fluid circuit in fluid communication with said hot side;

means for introducing a second fluid within said second fluid circuit and integral thereto;

a pump integral to said second fluid circuit and adapted to transmit a second fluid within said second fluid circuit; and

,

means for controlling a rate of flow of said second fluid within said second fluid circuit, wherein said device is within said second fluid circuit and said mean for controlling said rate of flow operates in the absence of internal recirculation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for removing air from said fluid circuit and said means for removing air from said second fluid circuit is an automatic air vent or a manual air vent.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the rate of flow of said second fluid comprises a valve selected from the group consisting of:

a gate valve, a plug valve, a globe valve, a butterfly valve, a diaphragm valve, a ball valve, a cone valve and a needle valve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pump is a constant speed pump or a variable speed pump.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger or a shell and tube heat exchanger.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for removing said second fluid from said second fluid circuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for controlling said rate of flow of said second fluid is a balance valve and said balance valve is adapted to maintain a rate of flow of said second fluid within said second fluid circuit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second fluid circuit is a sealed system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a mounting plate having a surface area, wherein said heat exchanger, said means for introducing said second fluid, said pump and said means for controlling the rate of flow of said second fluid are all arranged within said surface area, and said mounting plate is adapted to Is be releasably secured to an interior wall of a fume hood.

10. A laboratory fume hood comprising the apparatus of claim 1 arranged within the fume hood.

11. A laboratory fume hood comprising:

a vented enclosure having a chilled fluid inlet and a chilled fluid outlet arranged therein;

a heat exchanger having a hot side and a cold side, said cold side in fluid communication with a chilled fluid supply via said chilled fluid inlet and outlet and adapted to receive a first fluid from said chilled fluid outlet in a first inlet and return said first fluid from said cold side to said chilled fluid inlet via a first outlet, said cold side and said chilled fluid supply forming a first fluid circuit;

a second fluid circuit in fluid communication with said hot side;

means for introducing a second fluid within said second fluid circuit and integral thereto; and

,

a pump integral to said second fluid circuit and adapted to transmit a second fluid within said second fluid circuit.

12. The laboratory fume hood of claim 11 wherein said vented enclosure further comprises at least one interior wall and said heat exchanger is mounted on said at least one interior wall.

13. The laboratory fume hood of claim 11 further comprising:

a device in fluid communication and within said second fluid circuit, wherein at least a portion of said device is cooled by said second fluid.

14. The laboratory fume hood of claim 13 wherein said device is selected from the group consisting of:

a rotary evaporator, a laser, a distillation column, a condenser column and combinations thereof.

15. A method of providing coolant fluid to at least one device comprising the steps of:

mounting a heat exchanger on an interior wall of a fume hood;

circulating a first fluid from a chilled fluid supply within a cold side of said heat exchanger;

introducing a second fluid within a fluid circuit, said first fluid circuit integral with a hot side of said heat exchanger;

circulating said second fluid within said fluid circuit via a first pump; and

,

cooling said at least one device via said second fluid.

16. The method of providing coolant water recited in claim 15 wherein said at least one device comprises a plurality of devices and each of said plurality of devices are located within said fume hood.

17. The method of providing coolant water recited in claim 15 wherein said at least one device comprises a plurality of devices and at least one of said plurality of devices is located within said vented enclosure and at least one of said plurality of devices is located outside of said fume hood.