Combination freezing head for nitrogen-brine freezing

Abstract

An apparatus for freezing ground comprises a freezing head extending along a longitudinal axis, and a first conduit for introducing a first cooling medium or a second cooling medium different therefrom into an interior of the freezing head. The first conduit opens into the interior a second conduit introduces the second cooling medium into the interior of the freezing head or draws the first and/or the second cooling medium off from the interior of the freezing head. The second conduit opens into the interior of the freezing head, the apparatus has at least three separate connections, namely a first connection, via which the first cooling medium can be introduced into the interior of the freezing head, a second connection, via which the second cooling medium can be introduced into the interior of the freezing head, and a third connection, via which the first or the second cooling means can be drawn off from the interior of the freezing head.

Claims

1. A ground freezing apparatus (1) comprising: a freezing head (100) extending along a longitudinal axis (L), a first conduit (10) for introducing cooling medium into an interior (102) of the freezing head (100), wherein the first conduit (10) opens into the interior (102), and a second conduit (20) for introducing cooling medium into the interior (102) of the freezing head (100) or for withdrawing cooling medium (F, S) from the interior (102) of the freezing head (100), wherein the second conduit (20) opens into the interior (102) of the freezing head (100), wherein the apparatus (1) has at least three separate connections (A1, A2, A3), a first connection (A1) for introducing a first cooling medium (F) into the interior (102) of the freezing head (100) via the first conduit (10), a second connection (A2) for introducing a second cooling medium (S) into the interior (102) of the freezing head (100) wherein said second connection (A2) is in fluid communication with either the first conduit (10) or the second conduit (20), and a third connection (A3) for withdrawing the first cooling medium or the second cooling medium (F, S) from the interior (102) of the freezing head (100).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first connection (A1) is formed on the first conduit (10) such that the first cooling medium (F) can be introduced into the first conduit (10), as well as into the interior (102) of the freezing head (100), in the axial direction of the first conduit (10).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second connection (A2) is formed on the first conduit (10) outside the freezing head (100), wherein the second cooling medium (S) can be introduced into the first conduit (10) via the second connection (A2) and from the first conduit into the interior (102) of the freezing head (100).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a fourth connection (A4), wherein the second cooling medium (S) can be withdrawn from the interior (102) of the freezing head (100) via the fourth connection (A4), and wherein the first cooling medium (F) can be withdrawn from the interior (102) of the freezing head (100) via the third connection (A3).

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the fourth connection (A4) is formed on the face of the second conduit (20) such that the second cooling medium (S) can be withdrawn from the second conduit (20) in the axial direction thereof, wherein the third connection (A3) is formed laterally on the second conduit (20) such that the first cooling medium (F) can be withdrawn from the second conduit (20) in the radial direction of the second conduit (20), and wherein the second connection (A2) is formed laterally on the first conduit (10) such that the second cooling medium (S) can be introduced into the first conduit (10), as well as into the interior (102) of the freezing head (100), in the radial direction of the first conduit (10).

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the third connection and the fourth connection (A3, A4) are respectively provided on a shell (101) of the freezing head (100).

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the third connection and the fourth connection (A3, A4) are formed on a common connecting piece (34) that originates from the shell (101) of the freezing head (100).

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the third connection and the fourth connection (A3, A4) are respectively provided separately on a shell (101) of the freezing head (100), wherein the third connection and the fourth connection (A3, A4) are respectively formed on an associated connecting piece (30, 40), and wherein said connecting pieces (30, 40) originate from the shell (101).

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus has a fifth connection (A5), wherein the interior (102) of the freezing head (100) can be ventilated via the fifth connection.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the fifth connection (A5) is formed laterally on a connecting piece (40), on which the fourth connection (A4) is also formed.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the fifth connection is provided separately on a shell (101) of the freezing head (100), wherein the fifth connection (A5) is formed on a connecting piece (50) that originates from the shell (101).

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus (1) has a sixth connection (A6), wherein a gaseous medium (G) can be introduced into the interior (102) of the freezing head (100) via the sixth connection.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the sixth connection (A6) is provided separately on the shell (101) of the freezing head (100), wherein the sixth connection (A6) is formed on an associated connecting piece (60) that originates from the shell (101).

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the sixth connection (A6) is formed laterally on a connecting piece (30) which originates from a shell (101) of the freezing head (100), and the third connection (A3) is also formed on the connecting piece (30).

15. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus has a fifth connection (A5), wherein the second cooling medium (S) can be pressed out of the interior (102) of the freezing head (100) via the fifth connection.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conduit, the second conduit, or both the first conduit and the second conduit (10, 20) enter the freezing head (100) in the axial direction.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conduit, the second conduit, or both the first conduit and the second conduit (10, 20) are arranged in the interior (102) of the freezing head (100) so as to be axially displaceable along the longitudinal axis (L) by means of a gland packing (80).

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third connection (A3) is formed on the second conduit (20) outside the freezing head (100), wherein the first cooling medium (F) or the second cooling medium (S) can be withdrawn from the second conduit (20), as well as from the interior (102) of the freezing head (100), via the third connection (A3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Other characteristic features and embodiments of the present invention are described in greater detail below with reference to the figures. In these figures,

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an inventive apparatus with four connections;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of another inventive apparatus with four connections;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of another inventive apparatus with four connections;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of an inventive apparatus with five connections;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of another inventive apparatus with five connections;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of an inventive apparatus with six connections;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of another inventive apparatus with six connections;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a top view of an inventive apparatus in the axial direction (e.g. corresponding to FIG. 3);

(10) FIG. 9 shows a top view of a modification of the apparatus according to FIG. 8 in the axial direction;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a top view of an inventive apparatus in the axial direction (e.g. corresponding to FIG. 2); and

(12) FIG. 11 shows a top view of a modification of the apparatus according to FIG. 10 in the axial direction.

(13) An inventive ground freezing apparatus 1 of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1-11 basically comprises a freezing head 100, which extends along a longitudinal axis L and is configured for being arranged in a recess in the ground such that the cooling energy of the respective coolant can be transferred into the surrounding ground via the freezing head 100.

(14) In this case, the freezing head 100 has a shell 101 that particularly is realized cylindrically and extends along said longitudinal axis or cylinder axis L, wherein said shell encloses an interior 102 of the freezing head 100, which serves for accommodating the respective coolants F and S. The freezing head 100 or the interior 102 may furthermore be closed toward the bottom by a base 103 connected to the shell 101 and toward the top by a cover 104 connected to the shell 101.

(15) The inventive apparatus 1 according to FIGS. 1-11 furthermore comprises a first conduit 10 that serves for introducing a first cooling medium F (particularly liquid nitrogen) or a second, different cooling medium S (e.g. brine) into an interior 102 of the freezing head 100, wherein the first conduit 100 opens into the interior 102, as well as a second conduit 20 that serves for introducing the second cooling medium S into the interior 102 of the freezing head 100 or for withdrawing the first and/or the second cooling medium F, S from the interior 102 of the freezing head 100, wherein the second conduit 20 likewise opens into the interior 102 of the freezing head 100. The first and/or the second conduit 10, 20 particularly extend into the interior 102 of the freezing head 100 through said cover 104.

(16) In FIGS. 1-11, the two conduits 10, 20 preferably are realized in the form of standpipes extending along the longitudinal axis L of the apparatus 1 or the freezing head 100, wherein the longitudinal axis extends, e.g., along the vertical line when the freezing head 100 is in its intended or operational position. As initially mentioned, the freezing head 100 may also be operated in different spatial positions. The axial direction of the freezing head 100 or the conduits 10, 20 therefore refers to the direction along the longitudinal axis whereas the radial direction of the conduits 10, 20 or the freezing head 100 refers to a direction extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L or the axial direction, respectively.

(17) As shown in FIG. 1, the first and/or the second conduits can be arranged in the interior 102 of the freezing head 100 so as to be axially displaceable along the longitudinal axis L by means of a gland packing 80.

(18) Furthermore, the inventive apparatus 1 generally has at least three separate connections A1, A2, A3, namely a first connection A1, via which the first cooling medium F can be introduced into the interior 102 of the freezing head 100, a second connection A2, via which the second cooling medium S can be introduced into the interior 102 of the freezing head 100, and a third connection A3, via which the first or the second coolant F, S can be withdrawn from the interior 102 of the freezing head 100 (in this respect, one of the connections A3 or A4 can be eliminated, e.g. in FIGS. 1 and 2, such that only one connection is respectively available for withdrawing (returning) the coolants F, S and a corresponding conduit leading to the connection has to be changed over when the coolant is switched).

(19) Four connections A1, A2, A3, A4 preferably are provided in the embodiment according to FIG. 1, wherein the first connection A1 is formed on the face of the first conduit 10 such that the first cooling medium F can be introduced into the first conduit 10 via the first connection A1 in the axial direction L and from the first conduit into the interior 102 of the freezing head 100.

(20) Furthermore, the second connection A2 is formed laterally on the first conduit 10 outside the freezing head 100, wherein the second coolant S can be introduced into the first conduit 10 via the second connection A2 in the radial direction and from the first conduit into the interior 102 of the freezing head 100. In this case, the second connection A2 may be provided on the face of a connecting piece 11, which respectively extends from the first conduit 10 in the radial direction or perpendicular to the first conduit 10 outside the freezing head 100.

(21) The third connection A3 is formed laterally on the second conduit 20, namely also outside the freezing head 100, wherein the first coolant F can be respectively withdrawn from the second conduit 20 and the interior 102 of the freezing head 100 (particularly in the form of a gaseous phase) via the third connection A3. In this case, the third connection A3 may be provided on the face of a connecting piece 21, which respectively extends from the second conduit 20 radially or perpendicularly outside the freezing head 100.

(22) Furthermore, the fourth connection A4 is provided on the face of the second conduit 20 such that the second coolant S can be withdrawn from the interior 102 of the freezing head 20 via the fourth connection A4 in the axial direction.

(23) In contrast, the third and the fourth connection A3, A4 are in the embodiment according to FIG. 2 respectively provided on the shell 101 of the freezing head 100, wherein the third and the fourth connection A3, A4 particularly are formed on or can be fluidically connected to a common connecting piece 34, which extends from the shell 101 of the freezing head 100 in the radial direction, and wherein both coolants F, S can be withdrawn from the interior 102 of the freezing head 100 via said connecting piece 34 in the radial direction of the freezing head 100. In this case, the third connection A3 and the fourth connection A4 may be respectively formed on a connecting piece 34a and 34b, which respectively extend perpendicular to and originate from the common connecting piece 34. In this case, the two connecting pieces 34a, 34b may be aligned with one another and furthermore be oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the shell 101.

(24) Furthermore, the first connection A1 is provided on the face of the first conduit 10 and serves for introducing the first coolant F into the interior 102 of the freezing head 100 in the axial direction L. In this case, the second connection A2 is provided on the face of the second conduit such that the second coolant S can be respectively introduced into the second conduit 20 and the interior 102 of the freezing head 101 via the second connection A2 in the axial direction L.

(25) FIG. 3 shows a modification of the embodiment of an inventive apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein the first and the second connection A1, A2 are in this case configured as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2.

(26) In contrast to FIG. 2, the third and the fourth connection A3, A4 are now respectively provided separately on the shell 101 of the freezing head 100, wherein the third and the fourth connection A3, A4 are respectively formed on the face of an associated connecting piece 30, 40, and wherein said connecting pieces 30, 40 respectively extend from the shell 101 in a radial direction, preferably in opposite directions. In this case, the third and the fourth connection and the respectively associated connecting piece 30, 40 are provided on opposite sides of the shell 101. The respective coolant F, S can therefore be respectively withdrawn from the interior 102 of the freezing head 100 via the respective connecting piece 30, 40 in the radial direction of the freezing head 100.

(27) FIG. 4 furthermore shows an embodiment of the inventive apparatus 1 that represents a modification of the apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 and—in contrast to FIG. 3—has five connections A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 (the connections A1, A2, A3, A4 are configured as in FIG. 3), wherein the interior 102 of the freezing head 100 can be ventilated via the fifth connection A5, e.g. prior to a switch from the first coolant (e.g. liquid gas) to the second coolant (e.g. brine), and/or the second coolant S can be pressed out of the interior 102 of the freezing head 100 via said fifth connection, e.g. when switching from the second coolant S (e.g. brine) to the first coolant F (e.g. liquid gas).

(28) According to FIG. 4, it is proposed that the fifth connection A5 is formed laterally on said connecting piece 40, on the face of which the fourth connection A4 is formed as in FIG. 3. In this case, the fifth connection A5 preferably is arranged on the face of a connecting piece 40a, which particularly originates from the connecting piece 40 perpendicularly and extends parallel to the axial direction L.

(29) FIG. 5 furthermore shows a modification of the apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein the fifth connection A5 is in contrast to FIG. 4 provided separately on the shell 101 of the freezing head 100, and wherein the fifth connection A5 is formed on the face of a connecting piece that originates from the shell 101 and preferably extends in the radial direction of the shell 101.

(30) FIG. 6 furthermore shows an embodiment of an inventive apparatus 1 that represents a modification of the apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 5. In this case, the apparatus 1 has an additional sixth connection A6, via which a gaseous medium G can be introduced into the interior 102 of the freezing head 100 such that the second coolant S particularly can be pressed out of the interior 102 of the freezing head 100 by means of the gaseous medium G, e.g. when switching from the second coolant S (e.g. brine) to the first coolant F (e.g. liquid nitrogen).

(31) In the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6, the connections A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 are configured as described above with reference to FIG. 5. According to FIG. 6, said sixth connection A6 is now provided separately on the shell 101 of the freezing head 100, wherein the sixth connection A6 preferably is formed on the face of an associated separate connecting piece 60 that extends from the shell 101 in the radial direction.

(32) According to FIG. 7, which shows a modification of the apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 4, the sixth connection A6 may alternatively also be formed laterally on said connecting piece 30, on the face of which the third connection A3 is also formed. The sixth connection A6 according to FIG. 7 may be provided on the face of a connecting piece 30a that perpendicularly opens into said connecting piece 30. The connecting piece 30a may extend parallel to the axial direction L in this case.

(33) FIGS. 8-11 show top views of the freezing head 100, particularly of the cover 104, in the axial direction L in order to elucidate potential orientations of the above-described connecting pieces.

(34) FIG. 8 shows a top view of an inventive apparatus 1 in the axial direction L as in FIG. 3, wherein the two connecting pieces 30, 40 and the connections A3, A4 provided on the faces thereof, which respectively serve for withdrawing the first coolant F (e.g. nitrogen waste gas) and the heated second coolant S (e.g. brine), respectively extend from the shell 101 in opposite directions. In this case, the two connecting pieces 30, 40 may be arranged in different planes, wherein said planes extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis or the axial direction L, respectively.

(35) FIG. 9 shows an alternative orientation of the two connecting pieces 30, 40 relative to one another, wherein the two connecting pieces 30, 40 respectively extend from the shell radially, but in contrast to FIG. 8 at an angle of 90° to one another.

(36) FIG. 10 furthermore shows a top view of an inventive apparatus 1 corresponding to FIG. 2 in the axial direction L, wherein the connecting piece 34 in this case extends from the shell 101 in the radial direction and the two connecting pieces 34a and 34b, which originate from the connecting piece 34 and on the faces of which the third connection A3 and the fourth connection A4 are respectively formed, once again are aligned with one another, extend in the axial direction L and originate from the common connecting piece 34 in opposite directions.

(37) FIG. 11 shows a corresponding modification, in which the two connecting pieces 34a and 34b extend in contrast to FIG. 10 perpendicular to the axial direction L.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(38) TABLE-US-00001  1 Apparatus  10 First conduit  20 Second conduit 11, 21, 30, 30a, 34a, 34b, 40, 40a, 50, 60 Connecting piece 100 Freezing head 101 Shell 102 Interior 103 Base 104 Cover A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 Connection F First coolant S Second coolant G Gaseous medium L Longitudinal axis