Refrigeration – Intermediate fluid container transferring heat to heat...
Patent
1998-12-28
2000-07-11
Bennett, Henry
Refrigeration
Intermediate fluid container transferring heat to heat...
62434, F25D 1100
Patent
active
06085541&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a cooling water supply apparatus for obtaining cooling water by performing heat exchange between water and a coolant circulating inside a heat exchanger.
BACKGROUND ART
Various types of cooling apparatuses that employ a coolant in the prior art include cooling water supply apparatuses for supplying cooling water to factories, stores and the like. In such a cooling water supply apparatus, water and the coolant are caused to circulate inside a heat exchanger so that by performing heat exchange between the coolant and the water, cooling water can be obtained.
A heat exchanger employed in such a cooling water supply apparatus normally adopts a structure in which piping is provided inside a drum. Since a chiller unit for cooling the coolant is connected to the drum, the coolant can circulate inside the drum. In addition, the piping is provided in such a manner that water can flow inside and the discharge side of the piping is connected to a path through which cooling water is supplied to a utilizing facility, such as a factory, a store or the like.
Cooling water is created at the cooling water supply apparatus described above in the manner described below. Namely, coolant from the chiller unit is supplied into the drum of the heat exchanger and at the same time, water is supplied into the piping. This places the coolant and the water in contact with each other via the piping, and, as a result, the heat in the water in the piping is drawn out by the coolant around the piping so that the water becomes cold. This cold water is delivered into the supply path and is eventually utilized as cooling water at the utilizing facility.
However, the cooling water supply apparatus described above still poses the problem described below that is yet to be addressed. Namely, since the circulation of water inside the heat exchanger is stopped during, for instance, night time when it is not necessary to supply cooling water to the utilizing facility, which leaves residual water inside the piping, the coolant and the still water remain in contact over a long period of time via the piping. Consequently, the water inside the piping may become frozen, disabling circulation of water when the operation restarts or damaging the piping.
An object of the present invention which has been proposed to eliminate the problem of the prior art discussed above, is to provide a cooling water supply apparatus with which water can be prevented from becoming frozen inside the heat exchanger after water circulation is stopped.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In the cooling water supply apparatus according to the present invention which is provided with a heat exchanger in which a coolant and water can circulate and a cooling water tank for storing cooling water obtained by performing heat exchange between the coolant and the circulating water inside the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger is positioned above the cooling water tank so that when the water circulation inside the heat exchanger is stopped, the water inside the heat exchanger drains into the cooling water tank.
According to the present invention, since the water inside the heat exchanger drains into the cooling water tank when cooling water supply is not required and the water circulation is stopped, the coolant and the water are no longer in contact, thereby preventing the water from freezing. In particular, by forming a water discharge portion and a water intake portion at the heat exchanger in a downward direction, water discharge is effected by gravity, thereby eliminating the necessity for providing a special motive force for water discharge.
In addition, the inside of the cooling water tank may be divided into a first tank and a second tank with a partition, with the partition formed at a height which allows cooling water to overflow from the first tank to the second tank. Furthermore, the discharge portion through which the cooling water is discharged from the heat exchanger may be provided above the first tank with the second tank conn
REFERENCES:
patent: 2292692 (1942-08-01), Huber
patent: 4370864 (1983-02-01), Wessa
patent: 4757690 (1988-07-01), Holowczenko et al.
patent: 5535600 (1996-07-01), Mills
patent: 5553463 (1996-09-01), Pointer
patent: 5944089 (1999-08-01), Roland
Bennett Henry
Jones Melvin
K E Corporation Co., Ltd.
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