Refrigeration – Air compressor – cooler and expander type – Motor-type expander
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-26
2001-11-27
Doerrler, William (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Air compressor, cooler and expander type
Motor-type expander
C062S172000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321560
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for cooling bodies or chambers using the phenomenon of cooling by decompression and expansion of compressed gas.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Methods for cooling bodies, such as objects, in gases is known. For example, objects are cooled in commonly-used refrigerators and freezers by contact with cooled air. The air is cooled by passing relatively warm air over a heat exchanger in which there is a cooler fluid. The fluid is cooled by evaporative cooling of a low boiling liquid, e.g. a CFC or HCFC fluorocarbon, in a closed cycle system.
Methods for cooling gases and liquids are also known, apart from evaporative cooling. One method involves bubbling gas though a cool liquid. For example, M. A. Krongold, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,489, which issued Aug. 26, 1986, discloses cooling gas by bubbling the gas through a cryogenic liquid. B. Adolfsson, in PCT Publication WO95/09124, published Apr. 6, 1995, discloses introducing carbon dioxide below the surface of a liquid, wherein the expansion of the carbon dioxide cools the liquid.
The phenomenon of cooling gases by their expansion is known. The present invention utilizes this phenomenon to cool a target such as bodies or chambers, preferably without the necessity of closed cycle systems or environmentally or physiologically problematic materials such as CFCs or HCFCs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the invention provides an apparatus for cooling a target in a region having a first pressure. The apparatus includes a compressor for compressing a gas to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, means for cooling the compressed gas to a selected temperature downstream of the compressor, means for discharging the compressed gas towards the target at a selected rate downstream of the cooling means, and a pressure tank downstream of the compressor for receiving compressed gas from the compressor and supplying the gas to the discharging means. The second pressure, selected temperature, and selected rate are chosen so as to cool the target upon expansion of the gas in the region.
In a first embodiment, the apparatus may be for cooling a chamber. The chamber may be a vehicle interior, such as a cabin of an automobile, a room in a building, or an interior of a movable structure, such as a trailer. The gas may be air and the discharging means may be adapted to discharge air into the chamber.
In a second embodiment, the apparatus may be for cooling a part of an animal and the discharging means may be in the form of a hand-manipulable tube with an expansion nozzle at one end of the tube.
In a third embodiment, the apparatus may be for cooling a liquid. The discharging means may be positioned in the liquid for discharging compressed gas into the liquid to thereby cool the liquid.
There may be two or more of the aforesaid pressure tanks arranged in parallel for alternately receiving compressed air from the compressor and alternately supplying the air to the discharging means.
The cooling means may be associated with the pressure tank to cool compressed gas in the pressure tank to the selected temperature.
Furthermore, the compressor may be a primary compressor and the pressure tank may be a primary pressure tank. The apparatus may further include an ancillary compressor upstream of the primary compressor for pre-compressing air to be further compressed by the primary compressor, and an ancillary pressure tank, downstream of the ancillary compressor, for receiving compressed air from the ancillary compressor and supplying compressed air to the primary compressor.
The apparatus may further include a turbine downstream of the primary pressure tank and coupled to the ancillary compressor, the turbine being adapted to receive compressed air from the primary pressure tank and convert energy in the compressed air into energy for powering the ancillary compressor.
The apparatus may also include means associated with the primary compressor for selectively taking air from the ancillary pressure tank or the is atmosphere and directing the air to the primary compressor.
The primary compressor may be adapted to compress air to between 290 psi and 3000 psi.
The selected temperature may be about ambient temperature and the cooling means may be a heat exchanger. Furthermore, there may be a fan associated with the heat exchanger for cooling the heat exchanger.
In accordance with another aspect, the invention provides a method for cooling a target in a region having a first pressure including the steps of:
(a) providing a compressor for compressing a gas to a second pressure greater than the first pressure;
(b) providing means for cooling the compressed gas to a selected temperature downstream of the compressor;
(c) providing means for discharging the gas towards the target in the region at a selected rate; and
(d) providing a pressure tank, downstream of the compressor and upstream of the discharging means, for receiving compressed gas from the compressor and supplying the gas to the discharging means;
wherein the second pressure, selected temperature, and selected rate are chosen so as to cool the target upon expansion of the gas in the region.
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patent: 4058384 (1977-11-01), Keefe
patent: 5438845 (1995-08-01), Kirschner et al.
patent: 5718116 (1998-02-01), Grassi et al.
patent: 5823008 (1998-10-01), Nikai et al.
Doerrler William
Ridout & Maybee LLP
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