Method of refrigeration and a refrigeration system

US4364242A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Engineering Management Services Limited · ZA

Inventor

• Michael V. Smith · Media, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 21, 1981
• Grant date: Dec 21, 1982
• Expiry date: Jan 21, 2001

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25B2400/161
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

Liquid is cooled in a batch mode. A batch of liquid is circulated in a cooling loop (12) until it is cooled to a desired temperature at which time it is removed from the cooling loop (12) and a new batch is introduced therein. Preferably, the cooled batch is discharged from the cooling loop by the new batch with as little mixing as practicable. The cooling loop has a desired volume determined by a receiver (36) of suitable capacity. A supply accumulator (14) is used to accumulate liquid to be cooled and from which liquid to be cooled is supplied into the cooling loop. Cooled liquid is discharged from the cooling loop into a product accumulator (16). The liquid may be cooled to a temperature close to its freezing point by freezing a minor portion of the liquid in the cooling loop which is then melted by the liquid of the next batch when it is introduced into the cooling loop. The cooling loop is such as to promote plug flow and to reduce backmixing. In a preferred form, the cooling loop has an evaporative cooler (32 ) which utilizes a suitable refrigerant. The refrigerant is evaporated in each cooling cycle, at a progressively reducing pressure and temperature achieved by withdrawin…