Heat exchange – Heating and cooling – Heating and cooling of the same material
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-01
2001-06-12
Tapolcai, William E. (Department: 3744)
Heat exchange
Heating and cooling
Heating and cooling of the same material
C062S264000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244329
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for producing controlled cooling of a liquid and to liquids cooled thereby.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The desirability of cooling liquids while preventing uncontrolled freezing thereof is well known in numerous applications, including preservation of animal and plant tissue without causing rupture of membranes therein.
It is known to cause selective lowering of the freezing temperatures of certain liquids by adding thereto certain solvents. This, however, involves contamination of the liquids which is unacceptable in many applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide methods and apparatus for controlled cooling of a liquid.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method of producing controlled freezing of a liquid including the steps of:
removing heat from the liquid so as to cause formation of solid portions therein; and
generally simultaneously with removing heat from the liquid, supplying energy to the solid portions at a frequency which is absorbed by the solid portions to a significantly greater extent than by the liquid.
Reference herein to “solid portions” is intended to refer not only to portions which are in fact solid prior to absorption thereof of energy, but also to portions which would be solid but for the absorption thereof of energy.
There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method of producing controlled freezing of first and second liquids, having different freezing characteristics, which are separated by a membrane, such that the membrane is not damaged as the result of freezing of at least one of the first and second liquids including:
providing first and second liquids, having different freezing characteristics, which are separated by a membrane;
removing heat from at least one of the first and second liquids so as to cause formation of solid portions in at least one of the first and second liquids; and
generally simultaneously with removing heat from at least one of the first and second liquids, supplying energy to the solid portions at a frequency which is absorbed by the solid portions to a significantly greater extent than by the at least one of the first and second liquids.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of producing controlled freezing of a liquid including the steps of:
removing heat from the liquid so as to cause formation of solid portions therein; and
generally simultaneously with removing heat from the liquid, supplying energy to the solid portions at a frequency which is absorbed by the solid portions to a significantly greater extent than by the liquid.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of producing controlled cooling of a liquid including the steps of:
removing heat from the liquid so as to cause formation of solid portions therein; and
generally simultaneously with removing heat from the liquid, supplying energy to the solid portions at a frequency which is absorbed by the solid portions to a significantly greater extent than by the liquid.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of producing controlled cooling of a liquid including the steps of:
removing heat from the liquid so as to cause formation of portions therein having energy absorption characteristics different from those of the liquid; and
generally simultaneously with removing heat from the liquid, supplying energy to the portions at a frequency which is absorbed by the portions to a significantly greater extent than by the liquid.
There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method of producing controlled cooling of a liquid including the steps of:
removing heat from the liquid; and
generally simultaneously with removing heat from the liquid, supplying energy thereto at a frequency which is absorbed by portions thereof to a significantly greater extent than by other portions thereof, thereby reducing the freezing temperature of the liquid.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method of producing controlled cooling of first and second liquids, having different freezing characteristics, which are separated by a membrane, such that the membrane is not damaged as the result of freezing of at least one of the first and second liquids including:
providing first and second liquids, having different freezing characteristics, which are separated by a membrane;
removing heat from at least one of the first and second liquids so as to cause formation of solid portions in at least one of the first and second liquids; and
generally simultaneously with removing heat from at least one of the first and second liquids, supplying energy to the solid portions at a frequency which is absorbed by the solid portions to a significantly greater extent than by the at least one of the first and second liquids.
There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method of producing controlled freezing of a liquid containing organic molecules including the steps of:
removing heat from the liquid so as to cause formation of solid portions therein; and
generally simultaneously with removing heat from the liquid, supplying energy to the solid portions at a frequency which is absorbed by the solid portions to a significantly greater extent than by the liquid, whereby damage to the organic molecules is limited.
One possible example of a liquid containing organic molecules is foodstuffs, such meat or coffee, which include organic molecules within cells.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing controlled freezing of living cells including at least first and second liquid portions, having different freezing characteristics, which are separated by at least one membrane, such that the membrane is not damaged as the result of freezing of at least one of the at least first and second liquids, the method including:
providing at least first and second liquid portions, having different freezing characteristics, which are separated by at least one membrane;
removing heat from at least one of the at least first and second liquid portions so as to cause formation of solid portions in at least one of the at least first and second liquid portions; and
generally simultaneously with removing heat from at least one of the at least first and second liquid portions, supplying energy to the solid portions at a frequency which is absorbed by the solid portions to a significantly greater extent than by the at least one of the at least first and second liquid portions.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of producing controlled freezing of living tissue including a multiplicity of cells each including at least one liquid containing organic molecules including the steps of:
removing heat from the at least one liquid so as to cause formation of solid portions therein; and
generally simultaneously with removing heat from the at least one liquid, supplying energy to the solid portions at a frequency which is absorbed by the solid portions to a significantly greater extent than by the at least one liquid, whereby damage to the organic molecules is limited.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method of producing controlled cooling of living tissue including a multiplicity of cells each including at least one liquid containing organic molecules including the steps of:
removing heat from the at least one liquid so as to cause formation of solid portions therein; and
generally simultaneously with removing heat from the at least one liquid, supplying e
Tapolcai William E.
Welsh & Katz Ltd.
LandOfFree
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