US2538023A - Carbon dioxide storage - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16, 1951 s, c, MARSH 2,538,023

CARBON DIOXIDE STORAGE Filed Sept. 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l N V15 N TOR Patented Jan. 1951 CARBON DIOXIDE STORAGE Sidney Clarke Marsh, Hohoku s, N. 1., assignor to Specialties Development Corporation, Bloomfield, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 26, 1944, Serial No. 555,876

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the storage of normal- 1y gaseous phase changeable material, and particularly to a method and apparatus for liqueiying such material in solid phase, storing the liquefied material and controlling the temperature thereof by a reversible cycle refrigerating system.

In storing a normally gaseous phase changeable material, such as carbon dioxide and the like in large quantities, in one container, it is desirable to refrigerate the stored material to maintain it at a low temperature and at a corresponding low pressure, whereby the wall thickness of the container may be reduced, with consequent advantages, such as saving in weight, material and cost.

In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to charge a relatively large storage container with material such as solid carbon dioxide, and to liquefy the charge for storing the same in the container at a low temperature and its corresponding vapor pressure. It has been found that a reversible cycle refrigerating system or unit may be utilized for this purpose, wherein, during operation in one direction, hot refrigerant serves to effect liquefaction of the solid carbon dioxide and, during operation in the opposite direction, cold refrigerant serves to maintain the liquid carbon dioxide at its predetermined low temperature.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for liquefying and/or storing normally gaseous phase changeable material in a more effective way than heretofore practiced.

Another object is to more effectively liquefy and store a large quantity of such material in a single container.

Another object is to provide a system or apparatus wherein the refrigerant employed in the course of supplying heat to liquefy solid material thereafter maintains the liquefied material at a predetermined temperature.

Another object is to provide a storage chamber or tank especially adapted to receive solid material without damage to the tank.

Another object is to provide a tank or storage chamber having heat exchange means therein adapted to more effectively operate both as an evaporator and a condenser in removing heat from and supplying heat to the stored material.

A further object is to provide a system or apparatus of the above indicated character which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and eflective its operation.

invention in practice.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating an embodiment of a system or apparatus, in accordance with the invention, for practicing the method thereof.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a novel storage tank employed in the system, parts being shown in full and others being broken away.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modification of the invention as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 of the invention in further modified form.

The system in general Referring to Figure 1, a reversible cycle refrigerating system, for practicing the method of the invention, comprises a conduit circuit including valves l to I5 inclusive, in which circuit are disposed, heat exchange means such as a 0011 I1 positioned in a storage chamber, structure or tank It, heat exchange units" and I 9, an expansion valve 20, a liquid receiver 22, a dehydrator 23, an expansion valve 24, heat exchange means 26 having a fanfl, a refrigerant compressor 28, and pressure gauges 29 and 30.

The valves I to [5, inclusive, as shown, are of the hand operated type and areadap ted to be manipulated to condition the circuit for its cycles of operation. If desired, the valves may be operated automatically by suitable control means such as a fluid pressure medium or electrical circuit to effect reversal of the cycles of operation.

The expansion valves 20 and 24, of Figure l, are of the automatic, or fixed orifice, type.

The system in detail In the system, the coil I1 is connected from its lower end by a conduit 32 to the valve I,

to the expansion valve 24 and the valve 4, through a conduit 42 to the valve 5, through a conduit 44 to the valve 6, and through a conduit 46 and the heat exchange units I8 and I9, to the upper end of the coil I1.

The valve II is connected by a conduit 48, at one side, to the conduit 46, and at the other side, by a conduit 58 to the valve I8. The valve I8 is connected by a conduit 52 to the valve 9, which is connected by a conduit 54 to the conduit 36.

The valve 1 is connected by a conduit 56 to the conduit 32, and to the expansion valve 28 by a conduit 58, the valve 28 being connected by a conduit 68, to the valve 8 which is connected by a conduit 62 to the conduit 38.

The compressor 28 is connected, at one side by a conduit 64, to the conduit 58, and atthe other side by a conduit 66 to the conduit 44. The pressure gauges 29 and 38 are connected in the con duits 64 and 66 at opposite sides of the compressor, respectively.

The heat exchange means 26 is connected by conduits 68 and 18 between the conduits 42 and The heat exchange unit I8 is connected, at one side, by a conduit 16, to the valve I2 which is connected by a conduit 18 to the conduit 32, and, at the other side. by a conduit 88, to the valve I3, which is connected by a conduit 82 to the conduit 34. The heat exchange unit I9 is connected at one side by a conduit 86 to the valve I5, which is connected by the conduit 88 through the valve I3 and the conduit 82 to the conduit 34. The other side of the unit I9 is connected by a conduit 88 to the valve I4 which is connected by a conduit 98 to the conduit 34.

The above described conduits are for illustrative purposes only, it being obvious that they may be otherwise arranged to accomplish the same function.

The tank Referring to Figure 2, the tank I6 comprises a base structure 92 including legs 94, feet 96 and cross brace means 98, the legs being fitted at the upper ends, as by curved portions I88, to a bottom element I82 of an upright outer shell I83 having a cylindrical side wall I84, into the top of which depends a cup-shaped closure element I86, the parts of the tank, as thus far described, preferably being formed of metal and secured together as by welding.

An inner shell H8 is disposed Within the outer shell, and constitutes the storage chamber for the material. The shell II8 comprises a top member H2, cylindrical side wall section I I4, and a bottom member II6, the top member Hz and the bottom member II6 being welded to the side wall section H4 at H8 and I28, respectively.

The inner shell I I8 is of sufilciently smaller diameter than the outer shell I83 to provide an eiiective insulating space I22, shown, in this instance, as a vacuum space for certain applications, or which may contain suitable insulating medium or the like.

The top member I I2 of the inner shell I I8, and the top closure element I86 of the outer shell I83, have adjacent registering apertures of substantially oval or elliptical shape, on the minor axis of which the section of Figure 2 is taken. An oval sleeve I24 is positioned in these apertures and is welded to the member I I2 and the element I86 in sealed relation thereto. The sleeve I24 provides an oval opening through which solid material may be placed into the inner shell, and

forms a downwardly facing shoulder I26 for a cover I28 conforming to the contours of the oval parts set forth, and havin a seat I38 for a sealing gasket I32 adapted to engage the shoulder I26.

The cover I28, in cross section, is bowed upwardly to conform to the arch at the top of the inner shell H8, and has an internally screw threaded aperture portion I34 for the reception of a relief valve I36.

A clamp member I38, of which there may be one or more, spans a portion of the oval aperture of the sleeve I 24. The member I38 engages the sleeve I24 and is connected to the cover I28, as

by a bolt or bolts I48, each having a nut I42 thereon for clamping the cover I28 in closed position.

A metal ring I46, of angle section, is secured as by welding, in position in the top closure element I86 to form a seat I48 for a sealing gasket lI58 on which is disposed a top insulating cover The cover I52 is of hollow wall character, containing an insulating filler I54, and comprises upwardly arched top and bottom wall elements I56 and I58, respectively, both of thin sheet metal, and the top element I56, which is of simple inverted substantially cup-shape, is welded at its bottom edge, to the top side of the bottom element I58. The bottom element I58 has an outer peripheral flat horizontal margin I68 forming a shoulder for cooperation with the gasket I58. The cover I52 rests by gravity in closed position, as illustrated, and is provided with handle means I59, as indicated in Figure 1.

At the bottom of the shell 8, a metal hood I62, made up of a disc top portion I64, and 9. cylindrical side wall portion I65 welded to the portion I64 and having openings I66, is provided for the top end of a discharge pipe I 68 extending through the bottom member H6 and the bottom element I82 and welded thereto. A brace I18 is provided between the discharge pipe I68 and the bottom member H6, and a similar brace I12 between the discharge pipe and the bottom element I82, and a cap, closure valve or other element I14 is provided at the lower end of the discharge pipe I68.

The coil means The coil I1, as shown in Figure 2, comprises an upper nipple I 16 bridging the insulating space I22 and extends through apertures in the inner cylindrical section H4 and the side wall I84 of the outer shell, in which apertures it is welded and sealed. The outer end of the nipple I16 is internally screw threaded for attachment to the conduit 46, and the inner end of the nipple I16 is adapted for the reception of a substantially single turn coil section I18 of metal tubing having its coil diameter nearly equal to the internal diameter of the inner cylindrical section H4. The lower end I19 of the coil section I18 is attached, as by coupling means I 80, to an upright pipe section I82, of substantial length, but only fragments of the top and bottom end sections of which are shown.

' The lower end of the upright pipe section I82 is similarly connected, as by coupling means I84, to the upper end I86 of a lower coil section I88 having, in this instance, about twelve turns. The lower end I98 of the coil section I88 is connected to a nipple I92, similar to the nipple I16 in its relation to the inner cylindrical section N4, the insulating space I22 and the outer side wall cylinder I84, and also having an outer end, similar to the outer end of the nipple I16, for attachment to the conduit 32.

A metal sleeve-like shield I84, having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the coil section I88, is disposed inside the coil section to protect the latter from damage by impact with, or the weight of, the charge of solid carbon dioxide to be disposed therein.

The upper single turn coil section I18 and the lower multiple turn coil section I88 are thus arranged in accordance with the condition of the refrigerant, as it comes in warm condition from the high side of the compressor 28.

The coil'section I18 at the upper portion of the tank provides for some heat transfer at or near the liquid level in the tank, while the coil section I88 at the lower portion of the tank provides for the bulk of the heat transfer to take place at the lower portion of the tank where the solid carbon dioxide is disposed during the latter period of the heating cycle and-where the liquid is located during storage. This arrangement gives the best-heat transfer to meet allconditiom of use of the apparatus and is particularly advantageous during the heating cycle.

Operation HEATING CYCLE For the heating cycle, valves I, 2, 3, 4, 6 and I8 will be open, and the valves 5,1, 8, 8, II, I2, I3, I4, and I will be closed.

In operation, to convert the solid material in the tank I6 to liquid state, and starting at the high pressure side of the compressor 28, with valve 5 closed and valve 6 open, compressed hot refrigerant vapor passes from the compressor 28, through the conduits 66 and 44, the valve 6 and the conduit 46 to the nipple I16.

From the latter, the hot refrigerant passes through the single turn coil section I18, the upright pipe section I82 and the lower coil section I88, where heat is given up, as aforesaid, and the refrigerant i condensed to a liquid by the low temperature of the solid material (about -118 F. when storing carbon dioxide). This heat exchange means in the foregoing instance acts as a condenser.

With the valves 1, 8, 8, I2, I3, I4 and I5 closed, and valves I, 2, 3 and 4 open, the cold liquid refrigerant travels through the lower nipple I82, the conduit 32, the valve I, the conduit 34, the valve 2, and the conduit 36, to the liquid receiver 22. From the liquid receiver 22, the liquid refrigerant passes through the conduit 31 to the dehydrator 23, and, with the valve 8 closed and the valve 3 open, the liquid is expanded through the expansion valve 24 into the heat exchange means 26 which acts as an evaporator in the material heating cycle.

The expanded refrigerant is heated in the heat exchange means 26 by air blown thereon by the fan 21 and, with valves 8 and II closed, and the valve I8 open, the refrigerant passes to the low pressure side of the compressor 28 to complete the heating cycle.

During the heating cycle, by opening the valves I2, I4 and I5, and closing-the valves I and I3, the cold condensed refrigerant will be heated by heat from the hot refrigerant vapor in the conduit 46 passing through both of the heat exchange units I8 and I 8 to thereby control the temperature of the cold refrigerant and to maintain it above a predetermined minimum to prevent damage to the compressor 28 and frosting of the heat exchange means 28. If less heat is required, the valves I4 and I5 may be closed and the valve I3 opened to cut the unit I8 out of the circuit and retain the heat of the unit I8 in the circuit, thu illustrating the selectivity and flexibility of the system in this regard. It will be understood that instead of the heat exchange units I8 and I8, means may be provided for supplying heat externally of the circuit to the cold refrigerant before entering the compressor.

COOLING CYCLE For the cooling cycle, the valves 5, 1, 8, II will be open and the valves I, 2, 3, 4, 6, I3, I4 and I5 will be closed.

To maintain the material. as liquefied by the above-described operations, at a low temperature and corresponding pressure, starting at the high pressure side of the compressor 28, and with the valves 2, 4, 6 and I8 closed, and the valves 5 and 8 open, the refrigerant passes from the compressor through the conduit 66, the conduit 44, the valve 5, the conduit 42,.the heat exchange means 26 now acting as a condenser, the conduit 18, the conduit 52, the valve 8 and the conduit 36, into the liquid receiver wherein the cooled condensed refrigerant is collected.

The cooled refrigerant passes from the receiver 22 through the conduit 31, through the dehydrator 23 and with the valve 3 closed, and the valve 8 open, the liquid passes through the conduit 62 and the valve 8 to the expansion valve 28, whereupon, with valve 1 open, and valves I and I2 closed, the liquid passes through the nipple I82 to the coil means I1 in the tank I6 where the expanded refrigerant removes heat from the liquid material. With the valve II open, and the valve 6 closed, the expanded refrigerant leaving the coil means I1, passes through the nipple I16, the conduit 46, and valve II, the conduit 58 and the conduit 64 to the suction side of the compressor 28, to complete the refrigerating cycle.

After the above-described cooling cycle has been set up as stated, the liquid material is automatically maintained at a predetermined temperature by means, such as a switch, controlled by a pressure responsive device connected to the tank I6 near its discharge end, for opening and closing the motor circuits of the fan 21 and the compressor 28.

8 and I8, I2,

The system shown in Figure 3 Referring to Figure 3, in which corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference characters the system is substantially the same as in Figure 1, except that the refrigerant always flows in the same direction through the coil I1. This result is obtained with only slight changes from the arrangement of Figure 1., such as the omission of the conduit 48, and the rearrangement of the conduit 58, the valve II, the conduit 62, the valve 8, the expansion valve 28 and the valve 1, as will fully appear in the following description of the heating and cooling cycles.

For the heating cycle, valves I, 2, 3, 4, 6 and I8 will be open, and the valves 5, 1, 8, 8,, II, I2, I3, I4 and I5 will be closed.

In operation, starting at the high pressure side of the compressor 28, compressed hot refrigerant vapor passes from the compressor, through the valve 6 and the conduit 48 to the upper end of the coil I1. From the bottom end of the coil I1, the condensed cooled refrigerant travels through the valve I and the valve 2 to the liquid receiver 22. From the latter, the liq- For the cooling cycle, the valves I, 5, 1, 8, 9

and II will, be open, and the valves 2, 3, 4, 6, III,

I2, I3, I4 and I5 will be closed.

Starting at the high pressure side of the compressor 28, the refrigerant passes from the compressor, through the valve 5, the heat exchange means 26, the conduit 52, and the valve 9 into the liquid receiver 22. The cooled refrigerant passes from the receiver 22, through the dehydrator 23, the conduit 62, the valve 8, the expansion valve 20 and the valve I to the upper end of the coil l1. From the lower end of the coil II, the heated refrigerant passes through the valve I, the valve II and the conduit 50 to the suction side of the compressor 28, to complete the refrigeration cycle.

After the above-described cooling cycle has been set up, the liquid material is automatically maintained at a predetermined temperature, as

'by the switch and pressure responsive device mentioned in connection with Figure 1.

The system shown in Figure 4 Referring to Figure 4, in which corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference characters, the system is similar to those of Figure 1 and Figure 3, with one exception residing in the substitution of thermostatic expansion valves N6 and E98 for the automatic-or fixed orifice expansion valves 20 and 24, respectively, and a consequent exception in the omission of the heat exchange units 98 and t9, the valves i2, I3, I4 and I5, and accompanying conduits.

A thermostatic bulb 200, associated with the conduit 34, is connected by a conduit 202, to the expansion valve I96, and a thermostatic bulb 204, associated with the conduit 52, is connected, by a conduit 285, to the expansion valve I98.

For the heating cycle, the valves 2, 3, 4, 6 and III will be open, and the valves 5, I, 8, 9 and II will be closed.

Starting at the high pressure side of the compressor 28, the hot refrigerant passes through the valve 6, and the conduit 46 to the upper end of the coil IT. From the bottom of the coil, the cool refrigerant travels through the valve 2 to the liquid receiver 22, and from the latter through the dehydrator 23 and the valve 3 to the expansion valve I98. Expanded in the latter, the refrigerant flow continues through the valve 4, the heat exchange means 26 and the valve III to the suction side of the compressor 28, to thus complete the heating cycle.

For the cooling cycle, the valves 5, I, 8, and 9 and II' will be open, and the valves 2, 3, 4, 6 and I8 will be closed.

Starting at the high side of the compressor, the refrigerant passes through the valve 5, the conduit 42, the heat exchange means 26, the conduit 52, and the valve 9 to the liquid receiver 22. From the latter, the refrigerant passes throughthe dehydrator 23, the valve 8, the conduit 62, the expansion valve I96 and the valve I to the upper end of the coil II. From the lower end of the coil II, the refrigerant flows through the conduit 34. the valve II and the conduit 50 to the suction side of the compressor 29, to complete the cooling cycle, which may thereafter be automatically effected as above pointed out.

It will be seen, from the foregoing description, that the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus, whereby a large quantity of a normally gaseous phase changeable material may be stored, in the liquid state, in a single container or tank, the material being introduced to the tank as a solid. The latter feature has many advantages of handling the material both before and during the operation o'f charging the container. A simplified reversible cycle refrigerating system is advantageously utilized, both for liquefying the solid material, or changing the temperature of liquid material at the time of charging, and thereafter maintaining the liquid at a predetermined tem-- perature and vapor pressure best adapted for such storage. Further advantages are thereby obtained, such as a reduction in weight, number of parts and cost of the assembly as a 'whole. The apparatus is easy to manufacture, assemble and operate, is a-compact self-contained unit, and is durable and reliable in service.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of it advantages, it-is to be understood that all -matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim:

1. In a system for liquefying solid normally gaseous phase changeable material and storing and maintaining the material in liquid phase at a predetermined temperature, the combination of chamber means adapted to receive a charge of solid blocks of said material and store the material in liquid phase, reversible cycle refrigerating means including heat exchange means in said chamber means for effecting heat exchange between hot refrigerant and solid material to effect liquefaction of the solid material and cooling of the refrigerant and for effecting heat exchange between cold refrigerant and liquefied material to effect cooling of the liquefied material to maintain it at a predetermined temperature, and means for transferring heat from the hot refrigerant entering said chamber means to the cooled refrigerant leaving said chamber means while the'cycle is operating in a direction to effect liquefaction of the solid material.

2. In a system for liquefying solid normally gaseous phase changeable material and storing and maintaining the liquid material at a predetermined temperature, the combination of chamber means adapted to receive a charge of solid blocks of said material and store liquid material, reversible cycle refrigerating means including heat exchange means in said chamber means for effecting heat exchange between hot refrigerant and said solid material to effect liquefaction of the solid material and cooling of the refrigerant and for effecting heat exchange between cold refrigerant and liquid material to effect cooling of the liquid material, means for supplying heat to the cooled refrigerant while the cycle is operating in a direction 9 to effect liquefaction of the solid material, and mean for controlling the amount of heat supplied by said last mentioned means.

3. In a system -for liquefying solid phase changeable normally gaseous material and storil'ig and-maintaining the liquefied material at a predetermined temperature, the combination of means providing a chamber for storing said material; and reversible cycle refrigerating means including heat exchange means in vertical position in said chamber and means whereby refrigerant fiows through said heat exchange means from an upper to a lower portion thereof during each of said cycles.

5. In a system for liquefying solid normally gaseous phase changeable material and storing the liquefied material, the combination of an upright tank adapted to receive the solid material and to store the liquefied material therein, reversible cycle refrigerating mean including a cylindrical heat exchange coil in said tank adjacent the inner side wall thereof, said coil having a greater number of convolutions at the bottom than at the top of said tank, and a cylindrical shield within the lower portion of said coil for protecting the same against damage by impact from solid material when charging said tank therewith. f

6. The method of handling normally gaseous phase changeable materials, which comprises establishing a supply of said material in solid phase, condensing a fluid heat exchange medium while in thermal contact with said supply to liquefy the material, and thereafter evaporating said heat exchange medium while in thermal contact'with said supply to withdraw heat leaking into the supply of material from its surroundings and thereby maintain the liquefied material at a predetermined temperature.

7. A method of handling normally gaseous phase changeable materials comprising establishing a storage supply of solidified material in a confined zone, circulating a refrigerant in heat exchange relation with the supply of material while said refrigerant is vaporized andconditioned to add heat to the material to thereby cause the material to be liquefied and the refrigerant to be condensed. and thereafter circulating the condensed refrigerant in heat exchange relation with the supply of liquefied material in the confined zone while said condensed refrigerant is conditioned to be evaporated and withdraw the heat leakin into the stored liquefied material from its surroundings and thereby maintain the liquefied material in the confined zone at a substantially constant temperature and pressure.

8. A method of handling carbon dioxide comprising establishing a storage supply of solid carbon dioxide in a confined zone, circulating a refrigerant in heat exchange relation with the solid carbon dioxide while said refrigerant is vaporized and conditioned to add heat to the carbon dioxide to thereby cause the material to be liquefied and the refrigerant to be condensed, and thereafter circulating the condensed refrigerant in heat exchange relation with the supply of liquefied carbon dioxide in the confined zone while said condensed refrigerant is conditioned to be evaporated and thereby withdraw the heat leaking into the liquefied carbon dioxide from its surroundings and thereby maintain the liquefied carbon dioxide in the confined zone at a sub-' stantially constant temperature and pressure.

9. The method of llquefying solid normally gaseous phase changeable material and storing and maintaining the liquefied material at a predetermined temperature, which comprises confining a charge of solid material in an enclosure, effecting heat exchange between hot refrigerant and the confined solid material to effect cooling of the refrigerant and liquefaction of the material to produce a confined charge of liquefied material in the enclosure, and thereafter effecting heat exchange between cold refrigerant and the liquefied material while confined in the enclosure to maintain a confined charge of liquefied. material in the enclosure at a substantially constant temperature and pressure.

SIDNEY CLARKE MARSH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain NOV. 21, 1934

Claims (1)

1. 9. THE METHOD OF LIQUEFYING SOLID NORMALLY GASEOUS PHASE CHANGEABLE MATERIAL AT A PREAND MAINTAINING THE LIQUEFIED MATERIAL AT A PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE, WHICH COMPRISES CONFINING A CHARGE OF SOLID MATERIAL IN AN ENCLOSURE, EFFECTING HEAT EXCHANGE BETWEEN HOT REFRIGERANT AND THE CONFINED SOLID MATERIAL TO EFFECT COOLING OF THE REFRIGERANT AND LIQUEFRACTION OF THE MATERIAL TO PRODUCE A CONFINED CHARGE OF LIQUEFIED MATERIAL IN THE ENCLOSURE, AND THEREAFTER EFFECTING HEAT EXCHANGE BETWEEN COLD REFRIGERANT AND THE LIQUEFIED MATERIAL WHILE CONFINED IN THE ENCLOSURE TO MAINTAIN A CONFINED CHARGE OF LUQUEFIED MATERIAL IN THE ENCLOSURE AT A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE.

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