Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D16/00—Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery with a cooling mode not associated with refrigerating machinery
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
  • F25C1/00—Producing ice
  • F25C1/08—Producing ice by immersing freezing chambers, cylindrical bodies or plates into water

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the storage and regeneration of a cooling fluid.
• ice slurry a coolant comprising two phases of the same body in equilibrium of fusion or crystallization, for example water with an antifreeze agent, such as salt, alcohol, monoethylene glycol or monopropylene glycol.
• This body in fusion balance can also be a eutectic.
• the solid phase in divided form, for example microcrystals of ice is distributed homogeneously in the liquid phase, to the point of obtaining a consistency of the coolant fluid, pasty or viscous, for example sufficiently fluid to be able to pump said fluid.
• the refrigerating fluids considered according to the invention are therefore obtained, stored, transported, and used in mixed and homogeneous two-phase form, in particular in a consistency close to an ice cream or sorbet.
• the coolants include a liquid phase and a solid phase in a homogeneous mixture. They themselves are generally water-alcohol, water-ethylene-glycol, water-propylene-glycol, water-glycerol, water-ammonia, water-potassium carbonate, water-calcium chloride, water-magnesium chloride mixtures. , water-potassium acetate, etc .; other types of mixtures, not comprising water, may also be suitable. Such coolants are very efficient, they absorb heat by melting their solid phase, compared to conventional liquid coolants, which absorb heat, only by heating (sensible heat).
• a coolant of the ice slurry type which should be understood as a fluid as defined above.
• coolant fluid in the liquid phase is meant, by difference, a fluid essentially in the liquid phase, that is to say with a low concentration, or even zero, of micro-crystals.
• Document US-A-2 902 839 discloses a device for storing and regenerating a coolant fluid, in two-phase form, but not in the form of an ice slurry, intended to circulate only in liquid form in a heat transfer circuit.
• the latter comprises one or more heat exchangers between the cold and liquid coolant and the exterior.
• Said device comprises:
• a circulation means for circulating the coolant fluid, taken in the liquid state in the cold state in said compartment, in the heat transfer circuit, and reinjecting it into said compartment; a two-phase recycling and cooling circuit for the coolant fluid within said compartment, comprising a withdrawal point in the lower part of said compartment, said recycling circuit incorporating the means of indirect heat exchange, and comprising a means of suction / delivery of coolant.
• the indirect heat exchange means is a scraped surface exchanger, generating a solidification of the coolant fluid on a scraping surface. The separation of the coolant fluid in solid form from the scraping surface requires significant efforts, thus going against a reduction in consumption of operating energy for the device.
• a cold transfer device comprising a vertical compartment intended to store and supply a heat transfer circuit with a coolant of the ice slurry type.
• the device comprises a means of indirect heat exchange between a refrigerant and the coolant, placed outside the storage enclosure. The latter is drawn in the liquid phase at a lower level of the storage compartment, to be reinjected at a higher level, once enriched with micro-crystals of solid phase.
• An extraction means is also provided for supplying the heat transfer circuit with coolant of the ice slurry type.
• This extraction means comprises a cone opening onto a conduit in the storage compartment. The opening of the cone is located at a higher level and where the coolant fluid is rich in solid phase (ice micro-crystals).
• a stirring means is arranged in the cone, so as to create turbulence in the extracted coolant, regenerating the ice slurry.
• Such a device does not make it possible to precisely control the concentration of micro-crystals in the coolant fluid of the ice slurry type, extracted to supply the heat transfer circuit.
• the supply of the indirect heat exchange means takes place under the hydraulic pressure of the refrigerant fluid contained in the storage compartment.
• a method for storing and regenerating a coolant fluid, in two-phase form, intended to supply in liquid form, one or more heat exchangers belonging to a heat transfer circuit, consisting of:
• the purpose of the present invention is to store and regenerate, permanently, a coolant fluid, type ice slurry, so that it is operational permanently, even after long periods of use.
• Another object of the present invention is to optimize the consistency of a refrigerant fluid of the ice slurry type, that is to say optimize the concentration of micro-crystals in the refrigerant fluid and in particular to control this concentration, to obtain maximum storage.
• Another object of the present invention is to control and modify, if necessary, this concentration of micro-crystals, with a view to improving or adapting the refrigerating properties of the coolant fluid of the ice slurry type, to the 'use.
• An additional object of the present invention aims to simplify the installations using such a coolant fluid on the one hand, and to facilitate maintenance operations on the other hand.
• the device comprises:
• the process in accordance with the invention differs from the process previously identified with reference to steps called (a) to (e), by the fact that: (f) a part of the coolant fluid rich in is separated and stored solid phase in another conditioning compartment in the form of an ice slurry; (g) a portion of poor solid phase coolant is injected into said other compartment, taken from the storage and regeneration compartment; (h) mixing the solid and liquid phases of the coolant in said other compartment; (i) the refrigerant fluid obtained under (h) is used to carry out step (a), by removing the refrigerant fluid conditioned in the form of an ice slurry in said other compartment, and by reinjecting it, downstream of the heat exchanger (s) of the heat transfer circuit in the storage and regeneration compartment, and / or for example at the inlet of the indirect heat exchange means.
• the indirect heat exchange means comprises: a crystallization enclosure provided, on the one hand with at least one orifice for sampling the refrigerant carrier depleted in solid phase , communicating with the storage and regeneration compartment in the lower part, and on the other hand, an opening for expelling the coolant fluid (4) enriched in solid phase;
• At least one hollow disc mounted fixed in the crystallization enclosure in contact with the flow of circulation of the coolant fluid from the withdrawal orifice at the expulsion opening, said disc being internally traversed by a refrigerant in progress evaporation or a refrigerator at a lower temperature;
• a set of sweeping arms mounted on an axis, which is rotated by a gear motor, and arranged relative to the disc (s) so as to sweep its surface in contact with the coolant, and expel the enriched refrigerant fluid in solid phase towards the expulsion opening.
• the indirect heat exchange means comprises a set of hollow discs, arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart, and in that at least part of the arms sweep, mounted fixed on the axis of the gear motor, are angularly offset with respect to each other, and passing from one disc to the adjacent disc, or passing from one side of a disc to its adjacent face, to force the circulation of the coolant fluid inside the crystallization chamber, the assembly of the scanning arms thus constituting the suction / discharge means for recycling the coolant fluid within of the storage and regeneration compartment.
• the device according to the invention comprises a plurality of indirect heat exchange means, associated with one and the same storage and regeneration compartment, and distributed around said compartment, which extends concentrically around the only other packaging compartment.
• the device according to the invention has the advantage of keeping the refrigerant fluid in motion, throughout its circulation in the two compartments, respectively for storage and regeneration, and for conditioning, in particular in the exchange medium. indirect heat, thus avoiding solidification which could block circulation by the frozen fluid.
• FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a storage, regeneration and packaging device according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a schematic and partial view of the top device of Figure 1;
• FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views of the indirect heat exchange means, incorporated in the device according to the invention, respectively in section perpendicular to the axis, and along the axis of said means;
• - Figures 5 to 9 are details of Figures 3 and 4;
• FIG. 10 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a device according to the invention.
• FIG. 11 is a view along line A-A of Figure 10;
• FIG. 13 shows an exploded section along line XIII-XIII of Figure 12.
• FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a storage, regeneration and packaging device according to the invention.
• the latter includes a storage and regeneration compartment 2 containing a coolant fluid 4 in the two-phase state in melting or crystallization equilibrium.
• the device according to the invention also comprises an indirect heat exchange means 6 between a refrigerant and the coolant 4 essentially in the liquid phase.
• the indirect heat exchange means 6 is associated with the storage and regeneration compartment 2.
• a circulation means 8 of the pump type shown for example in FIG. 2 is provided for circulating the coolant fluid 4 withdrawn from the storage and regeneration 2, in a heat transfer circuit 10 comprising one or more heat exchangers 12.
• the heat transfer circuit 10 opens downstream of the heat exchange means 12 in the storage and regeneration compartment 12.
• the heat transfer circuit 10 thus opens for example into the storage and regeneration compartment 2, via an opening 2a.
• the volume into which the heat transfer circuit 10 opens is preferably partially separated or delimited with respect to the remainder of the storage and regeneration compartment 2, and may comprise, in its lower part, grids 14 capable of confining the fluid of a fridge-carrier 4 in solid phase in said storage and regeneration compartment 2.
• the grids 14, thus constituting a filter can be omitted when the storage and regeneration compartment 2 is large enough to obtain good decantation of the fridge-carrier fluid 4 in liquid phase, down.
• the storage and regeneration compartment 2 delimits a central decantation zone 2b, the lower part of which is arranged on the one hand between the grids 14 and on the other hand between two partition walls 16 and 18.
• the first partition wall 16 makes it possible to obtaining a partial separation between the storage and regeneration zone 2b and the zone comprising the indirect heat exchange means 6.
• the second partition wall 18 makes it possible to obtain a partial separation between the storage and regeneration zone 2b and another conditioning compartment 20 in the form of an ice slurry, of said cooling fluid 4.
• This second compartment 20 is connected to the heat transfer circuit 10 via an opening 22 associated with the circulation means 8.
• the other conditioning compartment 20 is also supplied with coolant fluid 4 of the ice slurry type.
• the device according to the invention also includes a two-phase recycling and cooling circuit for the coolant 4 within the storage and regeneration compartment 2.
• This two-phase recycling and cooling circuit has at least one withdrawal point 24 in lower part of said storage and regeneration compartment 2.
• the grids 14 are spaced from the corresponding 2nd side walls to form circulation corridors opening onto the withdrawal point or points 24, supplying the indirect heat exchange means 6.
• the circuit of recycling and cooling also integrates the indirect heat exchange means 6 and further comprises a means for suction and delivery of the coolant 4. The coolant 4 is thus sucked into the indirect exchange means heat 6, as shown for example in Figure 4 by the arrows "A".
• the other conditioning compartment 20 and the indirect exchange means 6 are for example arranged on either side of the central storage and regeneration zone 2b, mainly constituting the storage and regeneration compartment 2 of the coolant 4.
• the other conditioning compartment 20 is supplied at a higher level by at least a portion of the coolant fluid 4 enriched in solid phase outside of the indirect heat exchange means itself, and this using means introduction 72.
• a complementary withdrawal point on the storage and regeneration compartment 2, and this in the lower part, associated with means 26 for injecting coolant 4 in liquid phase into said other packaging compartment 20 is also planned.
• the coolant 4 in the liquid phase is thus brought into the other packaging compartment 20 for example using a distribution tube 28 disposed substantially in its central part.
• a mixing member 30 is also provided for cooperating with the other packaging compartment 20, so as to mix the liquid and solid phases of the coolant 4 contained in said other compartment 20.
• the device according to the invention also comprises a level detector 32 for determining the filling level of the other conditioning compartment 20 by the refrigerating fluid 4 in the form of an ice slurry.
• the device also comprises a measuring member 34 for determining the concentration in solid phase of the refrigerating fluid 4 in the form of ice slurry in the other packaging compartment 20.
• the measuring member 34 is for example made with a temperature sensor, or electrical or capacitive conductivity, or opacity measurement means, associated with suitable analysis means, of the electronic or microprocessor type.
• the circulation means 8 makes it possible to re-inject downstream of the heat exchanger (s) 12 of the heat transfer circuit 10, the coolant 4, for example in the storage and regeneration compartment 2, using a orifice 2a formed in the latter at a lower level.
• the circulation means 8 and the heat transfer circuit 10 are also or only connected to the indirect heat exchange means 6, in order to directly reinject the fluid therein. refrigerator 4 downstream of the heat exchanger (s) 12.
• the indirect heat exchange means 6 is shown more precisely in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.
• the indirect heat exchange means 6 comprises an enclosure 6a for crystallization provided, on the one hand with at least one sampling orifice 6b of the refrigerant fluid 4 depleted in solid phase, communicating via the sampling orifices 24 with the storage and regeneration compartment 2 in the lower part, and on the other hand an expulsion opening 6c of the coolant fluid 4 enriched in solid phase.
• the indirect heat exchange means 6 also comprises at least one hollow disc 40 fixedly mounted in the enclosure 6a, in contact with the flow of circulation of the coolant 4 from the withdrawal orifice 6b at the opening of expulsion 6c.
• the hollow disc 40 is internally traversed by a refrigerant in the course of evaporation, for example NH3.
• the hollow discs 40 are supplied with this refrigerant by means of a refrigeration unit 50 arranged for example next to the heat exchange means 6.
• the refrigerant can be replaced by another coolant fluid, distinct from that circulating in the heat transfer circuit 10, but colder.
• the indirect heat exchange means 6 also comprises a set of scanning arms 60 mounted on an axis 62, which is rotated by a motor-reducer 64.
• the scanning arms 60 are arranged relative to the disc (s) (S) hollow 40, so as to sweep their surface in contact with the coolant 4 and expel the enriched coolant 4, during super-cooling to the expulsion opening 6c of the enclosure 6a .
• the crystallization of the coolant 4 thus takes place directly in the pumped and expelled flow.
• the expulsion of the coolant 4 and more precisely the discharge of this coolant 4 is shown schematically by arrows "R" as shown in Figures 4 and 3.
• the return of the coolant 4 or grout ice is made downstream of the heat exchangers 12.
• the or each hollow disc 40 has a central passage 41 crossed by the axis 62. The coolant 4 is thus sucked through the sampling openings 6b, then circulate from the passage or passages 41 towards the periphery of each hollow disc 40, and this by centrifugation.
• FIGS. 12 and 13 An exemplary embodiment of a hollow disc 40 is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.
• the hollow disc 40 comprises for example two side plates 42, and an intermediate plate 43, each provided with a central passage 41.
• the intermediate plate 43, cut into coils 43a is taken and clamped in an intimate and sealed manner between the side plates 42.
• the coils 43a thus produce the circulation path for a refrigerant, the circulation of which is shown diagrammatically for example by the arrows Fe and Fs in FIGS. 3 and 12.
• the arrows Fe and Fs correspond respectively to the directions of entry and exit of the refrigerant circulating in the hollow disc 40.
• the indirect heat exchange means 6 comprises for example a set of hollow discs 40 arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart. At least a portion of the scanning arms 60 mounted fixed on the axis 62 of the gear motor 64 are angularly offset with respect to each other, passing from a disc to the adjacent disc, or passing from a face of a disc on its adjacent face, to force the circulation of the coolant 4 inside the crystallization enclosure 6a.
• the assembly of the scanning arms 60 thus constitutes the suction and delivery means for recycling the coolant 4 within the storage compartment. and regeneration 2.
• the rotation of the scanning arms 60 is shown diagrammatically by the arrow "V" in FIGS. 3 and 4.
• the expulsion opening 6c is shaped, positioned and oriented so as to expel the coolant fluid 4 enriched in solid phase towards the other conditioning compartment 20, thus constituting means of introduction into the latter.
• the scanning arms 60 can have different shapes shown by way of example in FIGS. 5 to 9.
• the scanning arms 60 can thus be curved as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, or bent as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.
• the number of scanning arms 60 for scanning a surface of a hollow disc may also vary. In fact, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is possible to scan a surface of a hollow disc 40 using two scanning arms 60, or for example using four scanning arms 60 , as shown in Figures 7 and 8. This list is by no means limiting.
• scanning must be understood in the broad sense, that is to say also encompassing arms 60 promoting a disturbance of the super-cooled boundary layer in the vicinity of the hollow disc 40.
• super-cooled boundary layer is meant the film which cools down in contact with the hollow disc 40.
• scanning does not necessarily mean that there is mechanical contact between the arms and the surface of the hollow disc 40, for example by means of brushes 41
• super-cooling should be understood as cooling to a temperature lower than the usual freezing temperature.
• FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment where the adjacent scanning arms 60 are offset angularly with respect to each other.
• the expulsion opening 6c is positioned and oriented so as to expel the coolant fluid 4 enriched in solid phase in the storage and regeneration compartment 2, and more precisely in the central area 2b at a higher level.
• the introduction means 72 then extend to a higher level in said storage and regeneration compartment 2.
• They include movable blades 70 arranged to push the coolant 4 towards and into the packaging compartment 20.
• the blades movable 70 are advantageously mounted on a chain or a band driven by a gear motor 74.
• the movable blades 170 are mounted on the horizontal arms 172, themselves fixed on a vertical axis 174 driven by a geared motor 176.
• the movable blades 170 are for example orientable relative to their horizontal mounting arms 172 as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 11 by the arrows "W".
• the device according to the invention comprises a plurality of indirect heat exchange means 6 (of which only one is shown in FIG. 11), associated with one and the same storage and regeneration compartment 2.
• the indirect heat exchange means 6 are distributed around the storage and regeneration compartment, which itself extends concentrically around the single other conditioning compartment 20.
• the wall 20a delimiting the other packaging compartment 20 has a preferential height that does not substantially alter the supply of coolant fluid 4 in solid phase from the blades 170.
• a mixing member 30 plunging into the other packaging compartment 20 is for example mounted on the axis 174 and rotates with the latter.
• the functioning of the device represented in FIGS. 10 and 11 is for the rest identical to that of the device represented in FIG. 1.
• the refrigerating source 50 can be placed next to, below, or entirely independent of the indirect exchange means 6.
• the admission of the coolant 4 in the liquid phase into the indirect heat exchange means 6 or more precisely into the enclosure 6a is done by means of pipes 6d opening into the storage and regeneration compartment 2.
• the device according to the invention makes it possible to implement a method of storing and regenerating a coolant fluid in two-phase form and intended to supply one or more heat exchangers 12.
• This method makes it possible to illustrate the operation of 'Such a device according to the invention.
• a refrigerating fluid 4 comprising a solid phase in equilibrium of fusion or crystallization with a liquid phase, and circulate said coolant 4 in the circuit comprising the heat exchangers 12 as well as in a storage and regeneration compartment 2 associated with an indirect heat exchange means 6.
• the coolant 4 is continuously stored in the storage and regeneration compartment, thus allowing decantation between the liquid phase and the solid phase of said fluid.
• a portion of the coolant 4 rich in micro-crystals or solid phase is separated and stored in the other conditioning compartment 20, in the form of an ice slurry. Then injected into said other conditioning compartment 20, a portion of coolant 4 in liquid phase, or poor in solid phase, taken from the storage and regeneration compartment 2 in order to mix the solid and liquid phases of the refrigerating fluid 4 in said other conditioning compartment 20.
• the ice slurry mixed in the other conditioning compartment 20 is thus ready to be sucked or pumped in the heat transfer circuit 10.
• the return of the refrigerating fluid 4 or the ice slurry downstream of the heat exchangers 12 is done either directly in the crystallization enclosure 6a, or in the storage and regeneration compartment 2 at a lower level.
• the method also consists in modulating the quantity of refrigerant fluid 4 depleted in solid phase which is injected into the other conditioning compartment 20.
• the method according to the invention also consists in determining in the compartment packaging 20, the concentration in solid phase and to modify, if necessary, this concentration by acting on the quantity of refrigerant fluid 4 depleted in solid phase injected into the other packaging compartment 20.
• the process according to the invention it is also possible to determine the level of filling of the other conditioning compartment 20 with the coolant fluid of the ice-slurry type, and to use the result of this determination to act on the angular incidence of blades 170 or on the speed of movement of the blades, 70, 170. It is also possible to speed up, slow down or interrupt if necessary, the various operations of said process and in particular the operations under (f), (g ) and (h). It is thus possible to act on the orientation of the blades 170 in order to modulate the quantity of coolant fluid 4 in solid phase reinjected into the other packaging compartment 20.
• the amount of coolant 4 in liquid phase reinjected into the other packaging compartment 20 is managed by the measuring member 34 determining the concentration of micro-crystals. According to this method, and thanks to the device implementing this method, it is thus possible to produce refrigeration sources making it possible to supply large units or large units, or even urban districts, for air conditioning purposes.
• the movement of the coolant 4 enriched in micro-crystals, and if necessary favored by the introduction means, of the blades type 70, 170, generates a movement in the opposite direction of the coolant 4 in liquid phase in the bottom of the storage and regeneration compartment 2.
• This movement is advantageously towards the crystallization enclosure 6a.
• This promotes the movement of the coolant 4 in the liquid phase to the crystallization chamber 6a, simultaneously with the movement of the coolant rich in micro-crystals to the other packaging compartment 20.
• the blades 70 and 170 maintain permanently the upper part rich in crystals or solid phase, in the pasty state, and prevent solidification of the crystals. This device is necessary in large capacity assemblies, for example used discontinuously.

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• 2001
  • 2001-07-03 FR FR0108821A patent/FR2827037B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-07-01 CA CA002451082A patent/CA2451082A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-07-01 EP EP02758526A patent/EP1402221B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-07-01 AT AT02758526T patent/ATE418052T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2002-07-01 US US10/481,959 patent/US20040187518A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-07-01 DE DE60230412T patent/DE60230412D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-07-01 WO PCT/FR2002/002282 patent/WO2003004949A1/fr not_active Ceased

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