GB2155169A

GB2155169A - Apparatus for cooling liquids

Info

Publication number: GB2155169A
Application number: GB08504572A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Callum Grant
Original assignee: Koolflo Ltd
Current assignee: Koolflo Ltd
Priority date: 1984-02-29
Filing date: 1985-02-22
Publication date: 1985-09-18
Also published as: GB8405278D0; GB8504572D0; GB2155169B

Abstract

Apparatus for cooling liquids which are transported along pipelines comprises a housing (12) confining a volatile fluid forming a vapour phase (13) and a liquid phase (14). A refrigerant coil (9) is immersed within vapour phase (13) and is connected to a refrigeration system (15). Immersed within the liquid phase (14) is a first product coil (7) and a second product coil (8). A secondary product coil (6) is also provided which may be within housing (12) or separately housed and acted upon by the refrigerant in the system (15) (Figure 2) and a conduit link (10) interconnects coil (6) with one of coils (7) and (8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for cooling liquids This invention relates to apparatus for cooling liquids which are transported along a pipeline.

Apparatus for cooling liquids which are transported along a pipeline is already known from U.K.

Patent Specification No. 2099979 which discloses cooling apparatus for potable liquids such as beer, lager, etc. However the known apparatus is capable of providing only a single dispense temperature common to a plurality of pipelines so that it is not possible, for example, simultaneously to dispense beer at 540F and lager at 460F using the known apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of apparatus for cooling liquids which are transported along at least two pipelines such that the dispense temperature of the liquids emaneting from respective pipelines is different.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for cooling liquids which are transported along pipelines, said apparatus comprising means confining a volatile fluid having liquid and vapour phases co-existing during operation of the apparatus and respectively forming a liquid body and a vapour body, a refrigeration system incorporating a refrigerant coil which is immersed in said vapour body, first and second product coils each immersed in said liquid body and connectable at each end to respective first and second pipelines along which liquids to be cooled are transported, a secondary product coil immersed in a refrigerant liquid which is thermally controlled by said refrigeration system, and a conduit link for selectively connecting said secondary product coil in series with one of said first and second product coils.

Conveniently said secondary product coil is located within said confining means and said refrigerant liquid is formed by said liquid body.

Alternatively said secondary product coil may be located within a tube heat exchanger, said refrigerant liquid being coupled into said refrigeration system to flow through said refrigerant coil.

Conveniently said volatile fluid and said refrigerant liquid is the conventional refrigerant medium R12.

It will be evident that by virtue of the present invention a first potable liquid such as lager can be transported through the secondary product coil and say the first product coil to achieve a cooling effect reducing the lager temperature from ambient of 64"F to a dispense temperature of 46"F whilst a second potable liquid such as beer can be simultaneously transported through the second product coil to achieve a temperature reduction from ambient of 64"F to a dispense temperature of 54"F.

It will be understood that control of the duty cycle of the refrigeration system is by means of a thermostat, preferably an accurate electric thermostat, arranged to sense the temperature of product flowing in one of the first and second product coils at its outlet.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates a first embodiment; and Figure 2 schematically illustrates a second embodiment.

As shown in the drawing in the first embodiment a housing 12 confines a volatile fluid which forms a vapour phase 13 and a liquid phase 14. Immersed within vapour phase 13 is a refrigerant coil 9 which is connected to a refrigeration system 15 comprising compressor 1 air-cooled condenser 2, air-blowing fan 3, drier 4, and capillary restrictor 5.

Immersed within the liquid phase 14 is a first product coil 7, a second product coil 8, having the same dimensions as coil 7, and a secondary product coil 6 which is in the form of a U-shaped tube. A conduit link 10 interconnects coils 6 and 7 so that they are in series with each other.

In the second embodiment secondary product coil 6 is located externally of housing 12 in a tube heat exchanger 18 incorporating a refrigerant liquid being the same liquid as circulates in system 15 and passes through refrigerant coil 9. This is achieved by the provision of capillary restrictors 16, 17 at either end of restrictor 5 and arranged to provide that the pressure in exchanger 18 is greater than in coil 9.

In both embodiments an electronic thermostat is used to control operation of system 15 by measurement of the product temperature at the outlet of one of coils 7,8. Additionally however since the temperature of the incoming product to be cooled dictates the general amount of cooling required an additional thermostat sensor may be provided at the inlet to one of coils 7,8.

1. Apparatus for cooling liquids which are transported along pipelines, said apparatus comprising means confining a volatile fluid having liquid and vapour phases co-existing during operation of the apparatus and respectively forming a liquid body and a vapour body, a refrigeration system incorporating a refrigerant coil which is immersed in said vapour body, first and second product coils each immersed in said liquid body and connectable at each end to respective first and second pipelines along which liquids to be cooled are transported, a secondary product coil immersed in a refrigerant liquid which is thermally controlled by said refrigeration system, and a conduit link for selectively connecting said secondary product coil in series with one of said first and second product coils.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said secondary coil is located within said confining means and said refrigerant liquid is formed by said liquid body.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said secondary product coil is located within a tube heat exchanger, said refrigerant liquid being coupled into said refrigeration system to flow through

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Apparatus for cooling liquids This invention relates to apparatus for cooling liquids which are transported along a pipeline. Apparatus for cooling liquids which are transported along a pipeline is already known from U.K. Patent Specification No. 2099979 which discloses cooling apparatus for potable liquids such as beer, lager, etc. However the known apparatus is capable of providing only a single dispense temperature common to a plurality of pipelines so that it is not possible, for example, simultaneously to dispense beer at 540F and lager at 460F using the known apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of apparatus for cooling liquids which are transported along at least two pipelines such that the dispense temperature of the liquids emaneting from respective pipelines is different. According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for cooling liquids which are transported along pipelines, said apparatus comprising means confining a volatile fluid having liquid and vapour phases co-existing during operation of the apparatus and respectively forming a liquid body and a vapour body, a refrigeration system incorporating a refrigerant coil which is immersed in said vapour body, first and second product coils each immersed in said liquid body and connectable at each end to respective first and second pipelines along which liquids to be cooled are transported, a secondary product coil immersed in a refrigerant liquid which is thermally controlled by said refrigeration system, and a conduit link for selectively connecting said secondary product coil in series with one of said first and second product coils. Conveniently said secondary product coil is located within said confining means and said refrigerant liquid is formed by said liquid body. Alternatively said secondary product coil may be located within a tube heat exchanger, said refrigerant liquid being coupled into said refrigeration system to flow through said refrigerant coil. Conveniently said volatile fluid and said refrigerant liquid is the conventional refrigerant medium R12. It will be evident that by virtue of the present invention a first potable liquid such as lager can be transported through the secondary product coil and say the first product coil to achieve a cooling effect reducing the lager temperature from ambient of 64"F to a dispense temperature of 46"F whilst a second potable liquid such as beer can be simultaneously transported through the second product coil to achieve a temperature reduction from ambient of 64"F to a dispense temperature of 54"F. It will be understood that control of the duty cycle of the refrigeration system is by means of a thermostat, preferably an accurate electric thermostat, arranged to sense the temperature of product flowing in one of the first and second product coils at its outlet. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates a first embodiment; and Figure 2 schematically illustrates a second embodiment. As shown in the drawing in the first embodiment a housing 12 confines a volatile fluid which forms a vapour phase 13 and a liquid phase 14. Immersed within vapour phase 13 is a refrigerant coil 9 which is connected to a refrigeration system 15 comprising compressor 1 air-cooled condenser 2, air-blowing fan 3, drier 4, and capillary restrictor 5. Immersed within the liquid phase 14 is a first product coil 7, a second product coil 8, having the same dimensions as coil 7, and a secondary product coil 6 which is in the form of a U-shaped tube. A conduit link 10 interconnects coils 6 and 7 so that they are in series with each other. In the second embodiment secondary product coil 6 is located externally of housing 12 in a tube heat exchanger 18 incorporating a refrigerant liquid being the same liquid as circulates in system 15 and passes through refrigerant coil 9. This is achieved by the provision of capillary restrictors 16, 17 at either end of restrictor 5 and arranged to provide that the pressure in exchanger 18 is greater than in coil 9. In both embodiments an electronic thermostat is used to control operation of system 15 by measurement of the product temperature at the outlet of one of coils 7,8. Additionally however since the temperature of the incoming product to be cooled dictates the general amount of cooling required an additional thermostat sensor may be provided at the inlet to one of coils 7,8. CLAIMS

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said secondary product coil is located within a tube heat exchanger, said refrigerant liquid being coupled into said refrigeration system to flow through said refrigerant coil.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said volatile fluid and said refrigerant liquid is the conventional refrigerant medium R12.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein control of the duty cycle of the refrigeration system is by means of a thermostat arranged to sense the temperature of product flowing in one of the first and second product coils at its outlet.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to either of the embodiments referred to in the accompanying drawings.