DRY ICE-BASED COOLING METHOD AND APPARATUS

Abstract

The present invention, which falls within the field of refrigeration methods, is configured in a controlled system that uses the liquid fraction of dry ice as a heat exchanger. The method uses dry ice and pressures above 5.1atm so that the three phases coexist: solid, liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide. Through a connection in the container (1) the liquid fraction can be directed to another container (3) where the heat exchange occurs with the substance to be refrigerated, which causes the liquid CO2 to return to the gaseous state, which in turn can be directed to the container (5) for gas reuse. The system can have pressure switches, thermocouples, relays, pumps, valves and solenoids to control the conditions in each container and guarantee the integrity of the system.

Claims

1. COOLING METHOD AND APPARATUS characterized by a controlled cooling system, where the container (1) is under pressure and the three phases of carbon dioxide coexist: solid, liquid and gaseous, the liquid fraction present in (1) can be directed to another container (3) to perform the heat exchange with another substance, after the exchange occurs evaporation and the gaseous CO2 formed can be stored in (5) and reused for various purposes.

2. COOLING METHOD AND APPARATUS, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED for containing an evaporator (3) they can have different shapes, such as tubular, plates, containers, direct contact exchangers, not limited to them, as well as, also varied uses such as in beer coolers, air conditioning, industrial refrigeration, freezers, refrigerators, breweries, heat exchangers and conservators, not limited to them.

3. COOLING METHOD AND APPARATUS, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED for containing, if necessary, pressure switches, pumps, thermocouples, relays, valves and solenoids to control the temperature and pressure conditions in each container ensuring system integrity.

4. COOLING METHOD AND APPARATUS, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED for containing pressure relief valves for removing excess gas from the system, reusing it, if necessary, for opening and closing the solenoid with pneumatic activation, in cases of removal of carbonated drinks, CO.sub.2 recycling plant, not limited to them.

5. COOLING METHOD AND APPARATUS, CHARACTERIZED by a method that uses substances with high energy absorption rates, especially dry ice, pressures above 5.1 atm for controlled cooling of other substances.

Description

[0007] Aiming at the need to create an efficient cooling method that makes the most of the properties of CO.sub.2, consumes little energy and can reuse the products created in each stage, the proposed system was elaborated according to:

[0008] FIG. 1: General representation of the dry ice cooling method and apparatus, consisting of: [0009] (1) Container dry ice that withstands pressures above 5.1 atm where the liquid phase of CO.sub.2 can be removed by a fisherman or by the bottom of the container. With the container closed, the dry ice begins to sublimate and exert pressure, which is controlled by a safety valve, until the solid/liquid/vapor phases coexist, the liquid is then extracted at temperatures below −56° C. The pressure required to reach the triple point of carbon dioxide can also be achieved with the use of external CO2 sources or heat source, in order to accelerate the process. [0010] (2) Valves, solenoids and thermostats to control the temperature and pressure of the container (3), by measuring the flow rate of the liquid coming from the container (1). [0011] (3) Evaporator, which can have different shapes, such as tubular, plates, containers, direct contact exchangers, not limited to them. As well as, varied uses such as beer coolers, air conditioning, industrial refrigeration, freezers, refrigerators, breweries, heat exchangers and conservators, not limited to them. [0012] (4) CO.sub.2 flow controlled by solenoids, pressure switch and valves. In this stage, there is a differential adjustment pressure switch to maintain the integrity of the system and a flow regulator to adjust the evaporation speed and not remove all CO2 from the system. [0013] (5) CO.sub.2 storage container, where excess gas can be released into the atmosphere or reused for various purposes such as: storing the pressure for the system's initial activation itself, if the product needs CO2, the system's own CO2 can be used for flow, carbonation, mixer, some pneumatic action as well as being intended for a CO2 reuse system, again, not limited to them. [0014] The CO2 Container (5) can be connected by the CO2 flow controlled by solenoids, pressure switch and valves (4) or by the Dry Ice Container (1).

[0015] The system also has the following advantages: quick and controllable cooling, the use of little electrical energy and low loss of solid CO2 to the external environment, being ideal for cooling machines in which there is no need to use compressors.

[0016] With all the stages of the system controlled by actuating the valves, the cooling apparatus does not present any risks during its operation and can be used from small residences to large events or industries.