EP0255526B1 - Method for accumulating and restoring cold and device for implementing such method - Google Patents

Method for accumulating and restoring cold and device for implementing such method Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0255526B1
EP0255526B1 EP87900634A EP87900634A EP0255526B1 EP 0255526 B1 EP0255526 B1 EP 0255526B1 EP 87900634 A EP87900634 A EP 87900634A EP 87900634 A EP87900634 A EP 87900634A EP 0255526 B1 EP0255526 B1 EP 0255526B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
cold
accumulating
piston
crystals
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP87900634A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0255526A1 (en
Inventor
Laszlo Simon
Jean Pfau
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Coldeco SA
Original Assignee
Coldeco SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Coldeco SA filed Critical Coldeco SA
Priority to AT87900634T priority Critical patent/ATE52136T1/en
Publication of EP0255526A1 publication Critical patent/EP0255526A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0255526B1 publication Critical patent/EP0255526B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D16/00—Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery with a cooling mode not associated with refrigerating machinery
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cold accumulation and restitution process in which n accumulates, during the cold accumulation phases, in a storage enclosure containing a mass of liquid cold accumulator and coolant, a cluster of aggregates of crystals of this frozen liquid, these crystals being generated by the vaporization of a refrigerant placed in direct contact with cold accumulating and heat-transfer liquid taken from this enclosure, and in which, during the cold restitution phases, the cold accumulated in the storage enclosure at a use circuit by melting said crystals by circulating in a formed circuit a current of said liquid, successively through said mass and said use circuit.
  • the present invention also relates to a device for implementing this method comprising a storage enclosure containing a cold accumulating and heat-transfer liquid, at least partially in the form of a mass of rigid aggregates of crystals of this frozen liquid, these crystals being obtained by freezing this liquid by the vaporization of a refrigerant placed in direct contact with cold accumulating and coolant liquid, and means for injecting the refrigerant, at least partially in the liquid state, into this liquid.
  • a cold storage liquid generally consisting, as in the SIMON process, with water or with an aqueous solution, for example a eutectic solution or not of mineral salts such as sodium chloride or calcium chloride, is frozen on the external surface of an evaporator of refrigerant or a heat exchanger through which glycated water is cooled to a temperature below 0 ° C.
  • thermodynamic efficiency which constitutes an important quality factor, is higher than that of these traditional systems because, with this new process, the vaporization temperature of the refrigerant, which has a large surface of direct contact with the storage accumulator liquid. cold and coolant to be frozen, is very close to the freezing temperature of this liquid, whereas with other known systems, this vaporization temperature is several degrees centigrade lower than said freezing temperature because the heat exchanges between the fluid refrigerant and the coolant and coolant liquid are carried out through the entire thickness of the solid ice deposit, of low thermal conductivity, which covers the above-mentioned evaporator or heat exchanger.
  • cold storage systems are characterized by two other economically significant quality factors: their capacity C for cold storage per unit volume of space used by the installations (KJ / m 3 ) d on the one hand, and their cooling efficiency of the heat transfer liquid during the cold restitution phases on the other hand.
  • This ratio R (D), between 0 and 1, is independent of the temperature 01, but varies with the flow rate D.
  • the product C - p - D - R (D) - ( ⁇ 1- ⁇ o) is equal to the power cold extraction Pe (KW / h) of a heat transfer liquid with specific heat C and specific mass p.
  • Water (C p) 4, 18 MJ / m3.
  • the mass of ice formed in the enclosure has a porous microscopic structure but a heterogeneous and irregular macroscopic structure and a non-uniform thickness and height.
  • the mass of the ice mass frequently presents cavities and an irregular network of communicating free spaces, of varying shapes and sizes, up to several centimeters. These cavities and these free spaces are generally filled with gaseous refrigerant in the part of the heap which emerges from the mass of cold accumulating and coolant liquid contained in the enclosure, and this accumulating liquid and / or this gaseous fluid in the submerged part of said mass.
  • Structural rearrangements accompanied by cracks can also occur in the mass of the cluster during the phases of formation (accumulation of cold) and resorption of this mass (restitution of cold) under the effect of mechanical stresses caused by gas pockets or irregularities in the thickness and height of this mass, and / or be caused by the development of retaining forces of said mass by the walls of the accumulation enclosure, or by elements integral with this enclosure during the formation or absorption of this mass.
  • the main object of the present invention is to increase the capacity C for cold storage and the efficiency R (D) of cooling the cold storage and heat transfer fluid in systems operating according to the new known process for cold storage. It also aims to ensure a perfectly stable and reproducible operation of these systems.
  • the object of the invention is also to enable the restitution of cold with a higher flow rate D of cold accumulator and coolant than with known systems of the same design, therefore to restore the cold load accumulated in the storage enclosure in a shorter time, at high power, while maintaining a high efficiency R (D), that is to say by delivering the liquid at a temperature 02 close to 0 ° C.
  • D high efficiency
  • the method according to the invention is characterized in that, during the cold accumulation phases, a rigid piston is formed, constituted by a compact porous mass of said aggregates of crystals, of uniform thickness and height and of homogeneous structure, free of cavities, free spaces and other macroscopic defects of homogeneity of its structure, impregnated with cold accumulating and coolant liquid, up to a free level of said mass of accumulating liquid and coolant, by depositing said aggregates of crystals directly in said enclosure, on the upper surface of said cluster, by uniformly resorbing this piston from above, during the phases of restitution of cold, by uniformly sprinkling its upper surface with accumulating liquid of cold and coolant taken from the bottom of the storage enclosure and heated above its freezing temperature after passing through the user circuit ion, and in that the integrity of the structure of this piston is maintained by letting this piston slide freely, as a block, during the phases of cold accumulation and restitution, along the vertical walls of this enclosure , down during the cold accumulation phases and up
  • crystals of accumulating and coolant liquid are formed in a crystallization enclosure and a mixture of fluid consistency of crystals and liquid is uniformly poured over the entire upper surface of said piston.
  • said crystals of accumulator and coolant liquid are formed at the top of the storage enclosure in such a way that they are deposited uniformly over the entire upper surface of said piston.
  • the said mixture of crystals and liquid is poured out by spraying it and dispersing it uniformly over the surface of the piston, in the form of rain or mist, through a space containing refrigerant in gaseous state.
  • said crystals are formed by dispersing uniformly above the surface of the piston, through a space surmounting this piston and containing said refrigerant in the gaseous state, rain, wet snow and / or a mist of coolant and coolant liquid particles which are partially frozen in said space by vaporizing in this space refrigerant in the liquid state, injected and expanded in this space.
  • said crystals are formed by creating, in said space containing refrigerant in the gaseous state, a rain and / or a mist of wet snow, this snow being obtained by partial freezing and spraying into said space of cold accumulator and coolant liquid brought into direct contact in at least one spray nozzle, with refrigerant at least partially in the expanded liquid state in said space.
  • said crystals are formed by creating, in said space containing refrigerant in the gaseous state, a rain and / or a mist of wet snow, this snow being obtained by relaxing a mixture of cold storage and coolant liquid and liquid refrigerant injected under pressure into said space, said mixture is formed by an emulsion of refrigerant liquid dispersed in the cold storage coolant liquid.
  • said crystals are formed by creating, in a space containing refrigerant in the gaseous state, a rain comprising particles of liquid refrigerant and particles of cold accumulating liquid and coolant and crystals of this liquid, this rain being obtained by spraying and relaxing refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state in this space and by spraying cold accumulating and coolant liquid in this same space, uniformly throughout the section of the enclosure.
  • the three variants of the third embodiment have, over the second embodiment, the significant advantage of a significantly lower cost due to their great simplicity due in particular to the absence of a crystallization enclosure.
  • the concentration of frozen cold storage coolant liquid crystals in the particles deposited on the surface of the piston can be much higher than in the first embodiment where this concentration is limited by the need to give a fluid consistency to the mixture of crystals and coolant and coolant liquid which must be transported by pumping between the crystallization chamber and the storage chamber. This results in lower pump energy consumption during the cold accumulation phases and a reduced installation cost.
  • the cold accumulator and heated coolant liquid coming from the operating circuit is mixed with cooled cold accumulator and coolant liquid drawn off at the bottom of the storage enclosure. , and the mixture of these liquids is distributed uniformly over the upper surface of said piston.
  • the cold accumulator and heated coolant liquid from the operating circuit is precooled by injecting refrigerant therein at least partially in the liquid state and causing at least partial vaporization of this fluid in the cold accumulating and coolant liquid, without causing its freezing, before distributing this liquid uniformly over the upper surface of the piston.
  • a mixture of cold accumulator and cooled coolant drawn off at the bottom of the storage enclosure is uniformly distributed over the upper surface of the piston. cold and coolant from the user circuit, precooled by injection and vaporization of refrigerant in this liquid.
  • the device for implementing the method defined above is characterized in that it comprises means for depositing said aggregates of crystals directly in said enclosure, above the free level of the liquid which it contains, so to create, during the cold accumulation phase, a piston constituted by a homogeneous, porous and compact cluster of said crystal aggregates, means for at least partially absorbing during the cold restitution phase, said piston from its upper part, these means comprising sprinkling and spraying members to distribute uniformly over the during this phase and on the upper surface of said piston, coolant and coolant liquid from the heating circuit heated during its passage through this circuit, and means to prevent the formation of cracks, free spaces and other macroscopic defects of homogeneity of the structure of said piston, during the phases of accumulation and / or melting of said crystals, these means allowing the free vertical displacement of the piston in said enclosure during these two phases .
  • the device comprises a crystallization enclosure and a separate storage enclosure, and sprinkling means for uniformly depositing from the top of the enclosure said crystals over its entire section of the piston, these means comprising at at least one dispensing member mounted at the top of the storage enclosure and supplied with coolant and coolant liquid containing, in the form of a suspension of fluid consistency, crystals of this frozen liquid, by a conduit opening above the free level of the coolant and heat transfer fluid contained in the storage enclosure.
  • the device may include conduits arranged to bring the cold accumulator and heated coolant liquid, taken at the outlet of the circuit of use Ec, to means for injecting refrigerant where this liquid is cooled. by the vaporization of refrigerant with which it is brought into contact, before being dispersed on the surface of the piston by the means for watering and / or spraying the liquid.
  • the means for uniformly dispersing from the top of said enclosure said crystals of frozen cold storage and coolant liquid may comprise at least one injector disposed in the space surmounting the upper surface of the piston, this injector comprising means for generating a central jet of refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state surrounded by a coaxial jet of cold accumulating and coolant liquid, these means being arranged to generate snow wet with crystals of this frozen liquid.
  • the means for uniformly dispersing from the top of the enclosure said crystals of frozen cold storage and coolant liquid comprise a mixer arranged to mix refrigerant with this liquid under pressure of the refrigerant under pressure and at least one expansion ramp for injecting this mixture into said space containing refrigerant in the gaseous state.
  • the means for uniformly depositing said crystals of liquid cold accumulator and frozen coolant from the top may include means for generating rain comprising particles of liquid refrigerant and particles of cold accumulating and coolant liquid and crystals of this liquid, these means being arranged in said space surmounting the upper surface of the piston and comprising at least one member for spraying uniformly in this space, cold accumulating and coolant liquid to form a rain and / or a mist of fine droplets of this liquid, and at least one injector member for injecting refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state into this atmosphere.
  • the internal side walls of the storage enclosure are preferably coated with a layer of a material which is anti-adherent to the cold-accumulating and heat-transfer liquid crystals.
  • the distribution member connected to the supply line of cold accumulating and coolant liquid cooled in the crystallization enclosure or of a mixture of this cooled liquid with liquid heated in the circuit d use is also connected, by a bypass conduit to the return line, to allow to selectively bring to said distribution member, either cold storage and heat transfer fluid heated in the circuit of use, or liquid cooled in the crystallization chamber, either a mixture of this cooled liquid with liquid heated in the circuit of use Ec, or a suspension or a gel of fluid consistency consisting of a mixture of cooled liquid and crystals of this liquid at l frozen state generated in the crystallization enclosure.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the cold generation, accumulation and storage device which essentially comprises a storage enclosure 10, surrounded by a thermal insulation sheath 11 and containing a freezable liquid 12 cold accumulator , for example water, which also serves as a heat-transfer liquid in a circuit of use Ec (shown partially) comprising at least one heat exchanger, and comprising an outlet pipe 13 for coolant and coolant liquid and a pipe back 14 of this heated liquid.
  • This device also comprises a crystallization enclosure 15, also surrounded by a thermal insulation sheath 16, and containing the same freezable liquid 12 cold storage and heat transfer fluid.
  • the crystallization chamber is intended to produce a suspension or a gel of liquid consistency, of crystals of the freezable liquid 12 by direct injection, into this liquid, of a refrigerant injected at least partially in the liquid state, by an injector 17 connected to a pressure reducer 18 via a conduit 19, and disposed substantially at the base of the crystallization enclosure 15.
  • the refrigerant is vaporized at a height h1 above the injector 17 and at a distance h2 below the free surface of the column of cold accumulating and coolant liquid contained in the tubular element 1.
  • the vaporization of the refrigerant creates, by siphon effect, a rapid current of coolant and coolant 12 in closed circuit in the enclosure 15, and generates in the mass of this li quid microscopic crystals of this frozen liquid which, thanks to this fast current, form with this liquid a gel or a suspension of fluid consistency which is propelled as the arrow A through the mouth 20 of a conduit 21, by a pump 22 and a non-return valve 22 ', the outlet of which is connected to a distribution conduit 23 leading to the top of the storage enclosure 10.
  • a conduit 24 is connected to the top of the storage chambers 10 and of crystallization 15, and balances the pressures of the refrigerant in the gaseous state in these chambers.
  • the gaseous refrigerant recovered at the top of the enclosures 10 and 15 is sucked in the direction of the arrow B by a compressor Cr then liquefied in a condenser Cd.
  • the storage enclosure 10 is in the form of a vertical cylinder, of circular section or not, closed at both ends and the inner side walls of which are advantageously equipped with a layer of a material which is non-sticking to the crystals, for example a synthetic material lacquer with a smooth surface, intended to facilitate the displacement of a piston 27 formed by the deposition and by the aggregation of microscopic crystals in suspension in the cold accumulating and heat-carrying liquid 12, generated in the crystallization enclosure 15.
  • a material which is non-sticking to the crystals for example a synthetic material lacquer with a smooth surface
  • This piston consists of an upper layer 28 of aggregates of dry crystals or weakly impregnated with liquid 12, disposed above the free level 29 of this liquid in the storage enclosure, and of a porous mass 30 , compact of crystal aggregates impregnated with liquid 12, disposed below said free level 29.
  • This piston is the result of the uniform deposit, extending over the entire horizontal section of the enclosure, of the microscopic crystals contained in the homogeneous mixture of fluid consistency of these crystals with the cold accumulating and coolant liquid and in suspension in this liquid , by means of distributors 31, for example sprinkler and / or spray heads. Since the piston 27 is a porous mass, the crystals contained in this suspension are retained and form rigid aggregates directly at the upper surface 32 of the mass 28, and the liquid is drained through this mass 28, up to the level free 29.
  • the crystallization chamber produces the gel or the suspension of fluid consistency, the crystal concentration of which is advantageously between 0.1 and 2% and less than 25%, which is injected at through the distributors 31 in the space 33, surmounting the upper surface of the piston 27 in the form of a rain or a mist.
  • the crystals scattered by the distributors 31 accumulate on the upper surface 32 of the mass 28, the whole of the piston 27 tends to sink gradually into the liquid 12 contained in the storage enclosure 10.
  • the piston 27 can move freely as a unit towards the bottom of the enclosure in the direction of the arrow M, during the cold accumulation phase , this displacement in block making it possible to maintain the integrity of the structure of the piston, in particular preventing the formation of cracks or other free spaces in the mass of the piston.
  • the piston 27 which is gradually absorbed, will tend to move vertically upward in the direction of the arrow N.
  • the piston is moved in block to avoid the formation of cracks, breaks, etc., thanks to the cylindrical shape of the walls of the enclosure and, if necessary, thanks to the non-stick coating of the inner surface of these walls .
  • the melting of the crystals can create inhomogeneities in the upper zone of the piston.
  • the lower mass constitutes a real filter retaining the crystals possibly detached during this fusion, so that the piston remains constituted as a whole and moves in block.
  • the return conduit 14 of the use circuit comprises a first conduit 14a opening at the top of the storage enclosure 10 and provided with a series of distributors 34, for example in the form of heads of sprinkling and / or spraying, designed to uniformly distribute the heated liquid coming from the heat exchanger Ec, on the upper surface 32 of the piston 27, and a second pipe 14b opening at the bottom of the crystallization enclosure 15.
  • the line 14a is provided with a valve 14'a and line 14b is equipped with a valve 14'b, which makes it possible to independently divert all of the liquid heated on one or other of these lines, or to separate the return flow selectively between these two conduits.
  • These valves known per se, are either manual, or electrically or pneumatically operated.
  • a bypass duct 14 "a can be connected to the duct 23 carrying the dispensing member 31.
  • this dispensing member 31 is selectively supplied either by the mixture of fluid consistency of crystals and liquid, or by the liquid reheated from the Ec usage circuit.
  • the outlet pipe 13 to the use circuit, formed at the bottom of the storage enclosure 10 is connected to the inlet of a pump 35, the outlet of which is divided, into two pipes 13a and 13b.
  • the pipe 13a equipped with a valve 13'a defines the actual input of the use circuit.
  • Line 13b is divided into two branches 13c and 13d, the first of which 13c, fitted with a valve 13'c, opens at the bottom of the crystallization enclosure 15, with a view to injecting therein, if necessary, liquid to be frozen.
  • the second of which 13d, equipped with a valve 13'd and a non-return valve 13 "d is connected to the distribution duct 23 defined above.
  • the storage enclosure 10 advantageously comprises a grid 36 formed below the piston 27.
  • the refrigerant circuit comprises the conduit 24 mentioned above connected to the compressor Cr, itself connected to the condenser Cd whose outlet defined by the arrow C is connected to a distribution conduit 37 which supplies the injector (s) 17 through the valve adjustable expansion valve 18 as well as a sprayer boom 38 through an adjustable valve 39 which makes it possible, if necessary, to regulate the flow of refrigerant, to inject or to cut off this supply.
  • This sprayer boom makes it possible to spray or sprinkle liquid refrigerant on the upper surface of the piston 27, with a view to additional solidification of the mass of crystals in the upper zone of this piston.
  • a tubular element 1 is mounted inside the crystallization enclosure 15 and this element is surmounted by a deflector 2.
  • This tubular element forms a central chimney which makes it possible to channel the updraft, represented by the arrow D, of cooled liquid, charged with microscopic crystals in suspension of this frozen liquid, as well as the downward current, represented by the arrows E.
  • the upward current D is generated by siphon effect by the vaporization of the refrigerant in the upper zone of height h2 where form vapor bubbles of this fluid.
  • a small part A of this current is sucked by the pump 22 and the largest part, represented by the arrows F, is recycled inside the tubular element 1.
  • the deflector 2 on the one hand, and the fact of placing the mouth 20 in the middle or lower zone of the crystallization enclosure 15 makes it possible to ensure maximum degassing of the liquid, that is to say an effective separation of the refrigerant in the vapor state of the liquid.
  • the device described above can operate in several distinct modes:
  • the pumps 35 and 22 are switched on as well as the compressor Cr.
  • valves 13'a and 13'd are closed as well as the valves 14'a and 14'b.
  • the 13'c valve is open.
  • the liquid taken from the bottom of the enclosure 10 circulates through the crystallization enclosure 15.
  • a variant consists in closing the valve 14'a and in opening the valve 14'b.
  • the hot liquid injected into the crystallization chamber 15 reduces the quantity of crystals generated in the latter and deposited on the piston.
  • Pump 35 is started, pump 22 and compressor C r are started.
  • valves 13'c, 13'd and 14'b are closed.
  • valves 13'a and 14'a are open.
  • the hot liquid coming from the heat exchanger is spilled by the distributors 34.
  • the pumps 35 and 22 are switched on as well as the compressor Cr.
  • valves 13'c, 13'd and 14'a are closed.
  • the valves 13'a and 14'b are open.
  • the enclosure 15 is used to cool the liquid heated in the heat exchanger without producing crystals.
  • This operating mode is advantageous because on the one hand, the production of cold during the restitution phase is done with a higher thermodynamic efficiency than during the accumulation phase because the vaporization takes place at a higher temperature, and on the other hand, it makes it possible to reduce the dimensioning of the accumulation enclosure 10 for a maximum total amount of cold absorbed by the circuit of use during a restitution phase. This reduction is notable when the cold restitution power Pr is of the order of twice the cold production power Pp in the crystallization enclosure 15.
  • the temperature of the fluid supplied by the distributors 31 is lowered which, during the cold restitution phases , improves the cooling efficiency R (D) of the liquid by lowering the temperature 02 of this liquid conveyed to the heat exchanger of the cold use circuit.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a means other than a crystallization enclosure making it possible to generate crystals of frozen cold storage and coolant liquid and to distribute them uniformly on the surface of the piston formed inside the storage enclosure 86 to directly form rigid aggregates.
  • These means comprise at least one, but preferably several nozzles 84 each constituted by a body 70 provided with an opening 71 oriented towards said piston and comprising a chamber 72 in communication with said opening.
  • This chamber contains an injector 73 connected by a conduit 74 to a distribution conduit 75 for pressurized refrigerant.
  • the chamber 72 is moreover connected by the intermediary of a conduit 76 to a distribution conduit 77 of cold accumulator and coolant liquid under pressure, this conduit being thermally insulated by a sheath 78.
  • the injector 73 generates a jet 79 , relatively fine, of refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state.
  • This jet is oriented towards the opening 71 and is surrounded by a coaxial jet 80 of coolant and coolant liquid.
  • This liquid feeds the chamber 72 at a temperature sufficient to prevent icing of the injector 73.
  • the refrigerant evaporates and causes the freezing of the cold-storage and heat-transfer liquid in the form of '' a wet snow which spreads evenly on the upper surface of the piston.
  • the atmosphere surmounting the piston is made of refrigerant in the gaseous state, and is collected by a suitable evacuation duct, mounted at the upper end of the storage enclosure and connected for example to the suction of a Cr compressor.
  • the liquid is heated in the operating circuit and sprayed by the nozzles 84 in the form of a rain of liquid distributed uniformly over the upper surface of the piston 85.
  • the flow of hot liquid from the operating circuit is then high enough to prevent its partial freezing by the liquid refrigerant which it vaporizes in the nozzles 84, while cooling, before watering the upper surface of the piston 85 by a fine rain.
  • the valve 81 is closed and the valves 82 and 83 are open.
  • the compressor Cr is triggered, and the pump Pc is started.
  • Cold liquid transmitted by the valve 82 is mixed with the hot liquid coming from the use circuit Ec, which pre-cools the latter before its spraying and its passage through the piston 85 and lowers, as explained previously with reference to FIG. 1, the temperature 02 of the liquid sent to the heat exchanger.
  • a refrigerant injector 90 generates by the vaporization of this fluid at the top of the storage enclosure 91, above the piston of liquid crystal cold accumulator and frozen coolant (not shown), a cold gaseous atmosphere in which is injected with cold accumulator and coolant liquid supplied by a conduit 92 thermally insulated by an insulation sheath 93 and sprayed through a series of sprayers 94.
  • These means make it possible to generate fine snow, composed of a mixture of crystals of this frozen liquid and fine droplets of this liquid and of liquid refrigerant, which is deposited on the upper surface of the piston on which these crystals directly form said rigid aggregates.
  • FIG. 5 Another means of generating wet snow is illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • a conduit 102 makes it possible to inject refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state coming from a pressure reducer 103, in the conduit 100 to allow the spraying of a mixture of cold accumulator and coolant liquid and refrigerant in the state liquid through the sprayer-distributor 101.
  • the conduits 100 and 102 can advantageously be arranged so that said mixture is produced in the form of an emulsion of microscopic particles of refrigerant liquid dispersed in the cold accumulating and heat-transfer liquid.
  • the formation of this emulsion can be facilitated by the addition, at a very low concentration, of an emulsifying agent in this liquid.
  • the purpose of this emulsion is to intensify and facilitate the vaporization of the refrigerant in the space filled with gaseous refrigerant and thereby to increase the thermodynamic efficiency of the installation.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the accumulation chambers illustrated in all the variants described above. They consist of at least one enclosure 110 of masonry or the like, for example of reinforced concrete, of parallelepiped shape.
  • This enclosure 110 is preferably arranged in the basement or buried and thermally insulated on its outer walls by panels 111. The necessary sealing of the enclosure is achieved by the inner coating of the walls by means of a synthetic material.
  • the distribution members 112 carried by a bell 113 which also allows access to the interior of the enclosure, ensure uniform spraying and / or watering of the upper surface of the piston 115, as indicated above with reference to the figures 1 to 5, by heated liquid coming from a circuit of use and / or mixtures of consistency of this liquid and crystals of this liquid generated by vaporization of the refrigerant.
  • These members 112 comprise tubulars for evacuating the gaseous refrigerant released in the accumulation enclosure 110.
  • the cooled heat transfer liquid is taken from the base of the enclosure and directed by conduits 114 to the use circuit.
  • This system has the advantage of avoiding costly transportation and on-site fabrication of sealed metal enclosures. Thanks to the parallelepiped shape of the piston, we obtain a maximum capacity of accumulation per unit of space used.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/CH87/00007 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 18, 1987 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 18, 1987 PCT Filed Jan. 16, 1987 PCT Pub. No. WO87/04509 PCT Pub. Date Jul. 30, 1987.Method and apparatus for accumulating and restituting cold, the apparatus comprising a storage vessel containing a heat-exchanging and cold-accumulating liquid mixed with a mass of rigid aggregates of crystals of frozen liquid, the crystals being obtained by freezing the liquid by atomization of a refrigerating fluid contacted directly by the liquid, means to create during the cold accumulation phase a piston composed of a homogeneous, porous and compact mass of rigid aggregates of crystals of the liquid, means to deposit the crystals evenly on top of the piston, and means to resorb the piston from the top.

Description

La présente invention concerne un procédé d'accumulation et de restitution de froid dans lequel n accumule, lors des phases d'accumulation de froid, dans une enceinte de stockage contenant une masse de liquid accumulateur de froid et caloporteur, un amas d'agrégats de cristaux de ce liquide congelé, ces cristaux étant générés par la vaporisation d'un fluide frigorigène mis en contact direct avec du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur prélevé dans cette enceinte, et dans lequel, lors des phases de restitution du froid, on restitue le froid accumulé dans l'enceinte de stockage à un circuit d'utilisation par fusion desdits cristaux en faisant circuler en circuit formé un courant dudit liquide, successivement à travers ledit amas et ledit circuit d'utilisation.The present invention relates to a cold accumulation and restitution process in which n accumulates, during the cold accumulation phases, in a storage enclosure containing a mass of liquid cold accumulator and coolant, a cluster of aggregates of crystals of this frozen liquid, these crystals being generated by the vaporization of a refrigerant placed in direct contact with cold accumulating and heat-transfer liquid taken from this enclosure, and in which, during the cold restitution phases, the cold accumulated in the storage enclosure at a use circuit by melting said crystals by circulating in a formed circuit a current of said liquid, successively through said mass and said use circuit.

La présente invention concerne également un dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procédé comportant une enceinte de stockage contenant un liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur, au moins partiellement sous la forme d'un amas d'agrégats rigides de cristaux de ce liquide congelé, ces cristaux étant obtenus par congélation de ce liquide par la vaporisation d'un fluide frigorigène mis en contact direct avec du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur, et des moyens pour injecter le fluide frigorigène, au moins partiellement à l'état liquide, dans ce liquide.The present invention also relates to a device for implementing this method comprising a storage enclosure containing a cold accumulating and heat-transfer liquid, at least partially in the form of a mass of rigid aggregates of crystals of this frozen liquid, these crystals being obtained by freezing this liquid by the vaporization of a refrigerant placed in direct contact with cold accumulating and coolant liquid, and means for injecting the refrigerant, at least partially in the liquid state, into this liquid.

Les systèmes fonctionnant selon ce procédé connu, inventé par M. L. Simon et décrit par exemple dans le brevet suisse No. 628.417, présentent de multiples avantages sur les autres systèmes connus d'accumulation de froid dans lesquels un liquide accumulateur de froid, en général constitué, comme dans le procédé SIMON, par de l'eau ou par une solution aqueuse, par exemple une solution eutectique ou non de sels minéraux tels que le chlorure de sodium ou le chlorure de calcium, est congelé sur la surface externe d'un évaporateur de frigorigène ou d'un échangeur de chaleur parcouru par de l'eau gly- colée refroidie à une température inférieure à 0°C.The systems operating according to this known process, invented by ML Simon and described for example in Swiss patent No. 628.417, have multiple advantages over the other known cold storage systems in which a cold storage liquid, generally consisting, as in the SIMON process, with water or with an aqueous solution, for example a eutectic solution or not of mineral salts such as sodium chloride or calcium chloride, is frozen on the external surface of an evaporator of refrigerant or a heat exchanger through which glycated water is cooled to a temperature below 0 ° C.

En particulier, ces nouveaux systèmes sont notablement plus compacts, plus simples et plus économiques que les autres systèmes connus.In particular, these new systems are significantly more compact, simpler and more economical than the other known systems.

En outre leur rendement thermodynamique, qui constitue un facteur de qualité important, est supérieur à celui de ces systèmes traditionnels car, avec ce nouveau procédé, la température de vaporisation du fluide frigorigène, qui présente une grande surface de contact direct avec le liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur à congeler, est très proche de la température de congélation de ce liquide, alors qu'avec les autres systèmes connus, cette température de vaporisation est inférieure de plusieurs degrés centigrades à ladite température de congélation car les échanges de chaleur entre le fluide frigorigène et le liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur s'effectuent à travers toute l'épaisseur du dépôt de glace solide, de faible conductibilité thermique, qui recouvre l'évaporateur ou l'échangeur de chaleur susmentionnés. Cet inconvénient est diminué, mais non éliminé dans d'autres systèmes connus dans lesquels des agrégats solides de cristaux de glace macroscopiques sont produits par refroidissement indirect du liquide accumulateur sur la paroi d'un évaporateur de fluide frigorigène et sont râclés mécaniquement ou entraînés par un film mince s'écoulant par gravité sur la surface d'une paroi froide pour constituer avec du liquide caloporteur un mélange hétérogène de consistance pâteuse qui est véhiculé et déversé ensuite dans une enceinte de stockage de froid, comme décrit dans le brevet US No. 4,480,445 ou dans le brevet US No. 4,509,344.In addition, their thermodynamic efficiency, which constitutes an important quality factor, is higher than that of these traditional systems because, with this new process, the vaporization temperature of the refrigerant, which has a large surface of direct contact with the storage accumulator liquid. cold and coolant to be frozen, is very close to the freezing temperature of this liquid, whereas with other known systems, this vaporization temperature is several degrees centigrade lower than said freezing temperature because the heat exchanges between the fluid refrigerant and the coolant and coolant liquid are carried out through the entire thickness of the solid ice deposit, of low thermal conductivity, which covers the above-mentioned evaporator or heat exchanger. This drawback is reduced, but not eliminated in other known systems in which solid aggregates of macroscopic ice crystals are produced by indirect cooling of the accumulating liquid on the wall of a refrigerant evaporator and are scraped mechanically or driven by a thin film flowing by gravity on the surface of a cold wall to form with heat transfer liquid a heterogeneous mixture of pasty consistency which is conveyed and then poured into a cold storage enclosure, as described in US Patent No. 4,480,445 or in U.S. Patent No. 4,509,344.

D'une manière générale, les systèmes d'accumulation de froid sont caractérisés par deux autres facteurs de qualité économiquement significatifs: leur capacité C d'accumulation de froid par unité de volume d'espace utilisé par les installations (KJ/m3) d'une part, et leur efficacité de refroidissement du liquide caloporteur lors des phases de restitution de froid d'autre part. Cette efficacité de refroidissement peut être définie, pour un débit D donné de liquide caloporteur (m3/ h), comme le rapport: R(D)=(θ1-θ2)/(θ1-θ0) où 81 est la température du liquide caloporteur échauffé parès son passage dans le circuit d'utilisation, à son arrivée dans l'accumulateur, où 62 est la température de ce liquide après son refroidissement dans l'accumulateur, à la sortie de ce dernier, et où θo est la température de congélation du liquide caloporteur. Ce rapport R(D), compris entre 0 et 1, est indépendant de la température 01, mais varie avec le débit D. Le produit C - p - D - R(D) - (θ1-θo) est égal à la puissance d'extraction de froid Pe(KW/h) d'un liquide caloporteur de chaleur spécifique C et de masse spécifique p. Pour l'eau (C. p)=4,18 MJ/m3. K (1'000 kFrig/m3°C).In general, cold storage systems are characterized by two other economically significant quality factors: their capacity C for cold storage per unit volume of space used by the installations (KJ / m 3 ) d on the one hand, and their cooling efficiency of the heat transfer liquid during the cold restitution phases on the other hand. This cooling efficiency can be defined, for a given flow rate D of heat transfer liquid (m 3 / h), as the ratio: R (D) = (θ1-θ2) / (θ1-θ0) where 81 is the temperature of the liquid coolant heated by its passage in the circuit of use, on its arrival in the accumulator, where 62 is the temperature of this liquid after its cooling in the accumulator, at the exit of this last, and where θo is the temperature of freezing of the heat transfer liquid. This ratio R (D), between 0 and 1, is independent of the temperature 01, but varies with the flow rate D. The product C - p - D - R (D) - (θ1-θo) is equal to the power cold extraction Pe (KW / h) of a heat transfer liquid with specific heat C and specific mass p. Water (C p) = 4, 18 MJ / m3. K (1,000 kFrig / m 3 ° C).

Ces deux facteurs de qualité C et R(D) peuvent être supérieurs avec les systèmes fonctionnant selon le procédé décrit dans le brevet suisse susmentionné à ceux des autres systèmes d'accumulation de froid connus, pour un coût moindre. C'est l'analyse des mécanismes responsables de la limitation de ces deux facteurs de qualité qui a conduit à la présente invention.These two quality factors C and R (D) can be higher with the systems operating according to the method described in the aforementioned Swiss patent than those of the other known cold storage systems, for a lower cost. It is the analysis of the mechanisms responsible for the limitation of these two quality factors which led to the present invention.

Selon le procédé décrit dans le brevet suisse susmentionné, il est d'usage de produire lesdits cristaux, comme indiqué précédemment, par la vaporisation d'un fluide frigorigène dans la masse de ce liquide, cette vaporisation étant effectuée dans une enceinte de cristallisation ou directement au bas de l'enceinte de stockage. Cette vaporisation génère des cristaux microscopiques qui tendent à s'agréger les uns aux autres et, si l'on ne prend pas de précautions spéciales, à se concentrer vers le haut de l'enceinte de cristallisation ou de l'enceinte de stockage par décantation, pour y former une bouillie de cristaux de glace et de liquide accumulateur ayant déjà une certaine consistance solide ou pâteus (communément appelé "slurry") avant que cette bouillie soit accumulée dans l'enceinte de stockage pour former ledit amas de glace rigide communément appelé "ice pack". Dans les autres procédés connus susmentionnés à congélation indirecte, par exemple celui décrit dans le brevet US No. 4,480,445 ou dans le brevet US No. 4,509,344, cette bouillie, formée de cristaux solides de plus grande dimension, a une consistance encore moins fluide.According to the method described in the aforementioned Swiss patent, it is customary to produce said crystals, as indicated above, by the vaporization of a refrigerant in the mass of this liquid, this vaporization being carried out in a crystallization enclosure or directly at the bottom of the storage enclosure. This vaporization generates microscopic crystals which tend to aggregate with each other and, if no special precautions are taken, to concentrate towards the top of the crystallization enclosure or the storage enclosure by decantation. , to form a slurry of ice crystals and accumulating liquid already having a certain solid or pasty consistency (commonly called "slurry") before this slurry is accumulated in the enclosure storage to form said pile of rigid ice commonly known as an "ice pack". In the other aforementioned known indirect freezing methods, for example that described in US Patent No. 4,480,445 or in US Patent No. 4,509,344, this slurry, formed of larger solid crystals, has an even less fluid consistency.

On observe qu'en accumulant dans l'enceinte cette bouillie contenant de gros cristaux et ayant une consistance au moins partiellement solide, en l'y déversant ou en l'y faisant décanter, l'amas de glace formé dans l'enceinte a une structure microscopique poreuse mais une structure macroscopique héterogène et irrégulière et une épaisseur et une hauteur non uniformes. La masse de l'amas de glace présente fréquemment des cavités et une réseau irrégulieur d'espaces libres communicants, de formes et de dimensions variables, pouvant atteindre plusieurs centimètres. Ces cavités et ces espaces libres sont généralement remplis de fluide frigorigène gazeux dans la partie de l'amas qui émerge de la masse de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur contenu dan l'enceinte, et de ce liquide accumulateur et/ou de ce fluide gazeux dans la partie immergée de ladite masse.It is observed that by accumulating in the enclosure this slurry containing large crystals and having an at least partially solid consistency, by pouring it in or causing it to settle there, the mass of ice formed in the enclosure has a porous microscopic structure but a heterogeneous and irregular macroscopic structure and a non-uniform thickness and height. The mass of the ice mass frequently presents cavities and an irregular network of communicating free spaces, of varying shapes and sizes, up to several centimeters. These cavities and these free spaces are generally filled with gaseous refrigerant in the part of the heap which emerges from the mass of cold accumulating and coolant liquid contained in the enclosure, and this accumulating liquid and / or this gaseous fluid in the submerged part of said mass.

Des réarrangements de structure accompagnés de fissures peuvent aussi se produire dans la masse de l'amas au cours des phases de formation (accumulation de froid) et de résorption de cette masse (restitution de froid) sous l'effet de tensions mécaniques provoquées par des poches de gas ou des défauts d'uniformité de l'épaisseur et de la hauteur de cette masse, et/ou être provoquées par le développement de forces de retenue de ladite masse par les parois de l'enceinte d'accumulation, ou par des éléments solidaires de cette enceinte au cours de la formation ou de la résorption de cette masse.Structural rearrangements accompanied by cracks can also occur in the mass of the cluster during the phases of formation (accumulation of cold) and resorption of this mass (restitution of cold) under the effect of mechanical stresses caused by gas pockets or irregularities in the thickness and height of this mass, and / or be caused by the development of retaining forces of said mass by the walls of the accumulation enclosure, or by elements integral with this enclosure during the formation or absorption of this mass.

La structure hétérogène de la masse dudit amas de glace et de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur, et son épaisseur non uniforme, limitent la quantité de glace stockable dans une enceinte donnée et, par voie de conséquence, la capacité C d'accumulation de froid de cette enceinte.The heterogeneous structure of the mass of said mass of ice and coolant and coolant, and its non-uniform thickness, limit the amount of ice that can be stored in a given enclosure and, consequently, the capacity C for cold accumulation of this enclosure.

En outre, l'existence de quelques espaces libres de grande taille dans ledit amas conduit à la formation de passages hydrauliques privilégiés à travers cette masse. Lors des phases de fusion de cette masse par le liquide réchauffé, ces passages ont tendance à s'élargir spontanément par fusion des cristaux situés à leur surface, ce qui provoque rapidement des court-circuits hydrauliques à travers ladite masse qui, en dérivant une partie appréciable du flux de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur hors des agrégats poreux de l'amas, abaissent considérablement la surface effective de l'interface de contact entre le liquide et les cristaux de glace où s'effectuent les échanges thermiques; il en résulte une sérieuse limitation de l'efficacité de refroidissement R(D) du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur traversant cette masse. De plus, en raison du caractère aléatoire de la formation desdits passages privilégiés, on observe parfois des fluctuations de la température 82 de sortie du liquide caloporteur, dont de l'efficacité de refroidissement R(D), au cours d'une même phase de restitution de froid, ou d'une telle phase à une autre, ainsi que des variations de la quantité maximum de froid accumulable dans l'enceinte de stockage.In addition, the existence of a few large free spaces in said mass leads to the formation of privileged hydraulic passages through this mass. During the phases of fusion of this mass by the heated liquid, these passages tend to widen spontaneously by fusion of the crystals located on their surface, which quickly causes hydraulic short-circuits through said mass which, by deriving a part appreciable flow of cold accumulating and coolant liquid out of the porous aggregates of the mass, considerably lower the effective surface of the contact interface between the liquid and the ice crystals where the heat exchanges take place; this results in a serious limitation of the cooling efficiency R (D) of the cold accumulating and coolant liquid passing through this mass. In addition, due to the random nature of the formation of said privileged passages, fluctuations in the temperature 82 at the outlet of the heat-transfer liquid, including cooling efficiency R (D), are sometimes observed during the same phase of restitution of cold, or from one such phase to another, as well as variations in the maximum amount of cold accumulating in the storage enclosure.

La présente invention a pour principal objet d'accroître la capacité C d'accumulation de froid et l'efficacité R(D) de refroidissement du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur des systèmes fonctionnant selon le nouveau procédé connu d'accumulation de froid. Elle a également pour objet d'assurer un fonctionnement parfaitement stable et reproductible de ces systèmes.The main object of the present invention is to increase the capacity C for cold storage and the efficiency R (D) of cooling the cold storage and heat transfer fluid in systems operating according to the new known process for cold storage. It also aims to ensure a perfectly stable and reproducible operation of these systems.

L'invention a aussi pour objet de permettre d'effectuer la restitution de froid avec un débit D de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur plus élevé qu'avec les systèmes connus de même dimensionnement, donc de restituer la charge de froid accumulée dans l'enceinte de stockage en un temps plus court, à grande puissance, tout en maintenant une efficacité R(D) élevée, c'est-à-dire en délivrant le liquide à une température 02 voisine de 0°C.The object of the invention is also to enable the restitution of cold with a higher flow rate D of cold accumulator and coolant than with known systems of the same design, therefore to restore the cold load accumulated in the storage enclosure in a shorter time, at high power, while maintaining a high efficiency R (D), that is to say by delivering the liquid at a temperature 02 close to 0 ° C.

Dan ce but, le procédé selon l'invention est caractérisé en ce que l'on élabore, lors des phases d'accumulation de froid, un piston rigide constitué par un amas poreux compact desdits agrégats de cristaux, d'épaisseur et de hauteur uniformes et de structure homogène, exempt de cavités, d'espaces libres et d'autres défauts d'homogénéité macroscopiques de sa structure, imprégné de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur, jusqu'à hauteur d'un niveau libre de ladite masse de liquide accumulateur et caloporteur, en déposant lesdits agrégats de cristaux directement dans ladite enceinte, sur la surface supérieure dudit amas, en résorbant uniformément ce piston depuis le haut, au cours des phases de restitution de froid, en arrosant uniformément sa surface supérieure avec du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur prélevé au bas de l'enceinte de stockage et réchauffé au-dessus de sa température de congélation après son passage dans le circuit d'utilisation, et en ce que l'on maintient l'intégrité de la structure de ce piston en laissant ce piston coulisser librement, en bloc, au cours des phases d'accumulation et de restitution de froid, le long des parois verticales de cette enceinte, vers la bas lors des phases d'accumulation de froid et vers le haut lors des phases de restitution de froid.For this purpose, the method according to the invention is characterized in that, during the cold accumulation phases, a rigid piston is formed, constituted by a compact porous mass of said aggregates of crystals, of uniform thickness and height and of homogeneous structure, free of cavities, free spaces and other macroscopic defects of homogeneity of its structure, impregnated with cold accumulating and coolant liquid, up to a free level of said mass of accumulating liquid and coolant, by depositing said aggregates of crystals directly in said enclosure, on the upper surface of said cluster, by uniformly resorbing this piston from above, during the phases of restitution of cold, by uniformly sprinkling its upper surface with accumulating liquid of cold and coolant taken from the bottom of the storage enclosure and heated above its freezing temperature after passing through the user circuit ion, and in that the integrity of the structure of this piston is maintained by letting this piston slide freely, as a block, during the phases of cold accumulation and restitution, along the vertical walls of this enclosure , down during the cold accumulation phases and up during the cold recovery phases.

Selon un premier mode de réalisation, l'on forme des cristaux de liquide accumulateur et caloporteur dans une enceinte de cristallisation et l'on déverse de façon uniforme un mélange de consistance fluide de cristaux et de liquide sur toute la surface supérieure dudit piston.According to a first embodiment, crystals of accumulating and coolant liquid are formed in a crystallization enclosure and a mixture of fluid consistency of crystals and liquid is uniformly poured over the entire upper surface of said piston.

De préférence, l'on forme lesdits cristaux de liquide accumulateur et caloporteur au haut de l'enceinte de stockage de telle manière qu'ils se déposent de façon uniforme sur toute la surface supérieure dudit piston.Preferably, said crystals of accumulator and coolant liquid are formed at the top of the storage enclosure in such a way that they are deposited uniformly over the entire upper surface of said piston.

Selon un deuxième mode de réalisation, l'on déverse ledit mélange de cristaux et de liquide en le pulvérisant et en le dispersant uniformément au-dessus de la surface du piston, sous la forme d'une pluie ou d'un brouillard, à travers un espace contenant de fluide frigorigène à l'état gazeux.According to a second embodiment, the said mixture of crystals and liquid is poured out by spraying it and dispersing it uniformly over the surface of the piston, in the form of rain or mist, through a space containing refrigerant in gaseous state.

Selon un troisième mode de réalisation, l'on forme lesdits cristaux en dispersant uniformément au-dessus de la surface du piston, à travers un espace surmontant ce piston et contenant ledit fluide frigorigène à l'état gazeux, une pluie, une neige mouillée et/ou un brouillard de particules de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur dont on effectue la congélation partielle dans ledit espace en vaporisant dans cet espace du fluide frigorigène à l'état liquide, injecté et détendu dans cet espace.According to a third embodiment, said crystals are formed by dispersing uniformly above the surface of the piston, through a space surmounting this piston and containing said refrigerant in the gaseous state, rain, wet snow and / or a mist of coolant and coolant liquid particles which are partially frozen in said space by vaporizing in this space refrigerant in the liquid state, injected and expanded in this space.

Selon une première variante de ce troisième mode de réalisation, l'on forme lesdits cristaux en créant, dans ledit espace contenant du fluide frigorigène à l'état gazeux, une pluie et/ou un brouillard de neige mouillée, cette neige étant obtenue par la congélation partielle et la projection dans ledit espace de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur mis en contact direct dans au moins une buse de projection, avec du fluid frigorigène au moins partiellement à l'état liquide détendu dans ledit espace.According to a first variant of this third embodiment, said crystals are formed by creating, in said space containing refrigerant in the gaseous state, a rain and / or a mist of wet snow, this snow being obtained by partial freezing and spraying into said space of cold accumulator and coolant liquid brought into direct contact in at least one spray nozzle, with refrigerant at least partially in the expanded liquid state in said space.

Selon une deuxième variant du troisième mode de réalisation, l'on forme lesdits cristaux en créant, dans ledit espace contenant du fluide frigorigène à l'état gazeux, une pluie et/ou un brouillard de neige mouillée, cette neige étant obtenue en détendant un mélange de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur et de fluide frigorigène liquide injecté sous pression dans ledit espace, ledit mélange est formé par une émulsion de liquide frigorigène dispersé dans le liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur.According to a second variant of the third embodiment, said crystals are formed by creating, in said space containing refrigerant in the gaseous state, a rain and / or a mist of wet snow, this snow being obtained by relaxing a mixture of cold storage and coolant liquid and liquid refrigerant injected under pressure into said space, said mixture is formed by an emulsion of refrigerant liquid dispersed in the cold storage coolant liquid.

Selon une troisième variante du troisième mode de réalisation, l'on forme lesdits cristaux en créant, dans un espace contenant du fluide frigorigène à l'état gazeux, une pluie comportant des particules de fluide frigorigène liquide et des particules de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur et des cristaux de ce liquide, cette pluie étant obtenue en pulvérisant et en détendant du fluide frigorigène au moins partiellement à l'état liquide dans cet espace et en pulvérisant du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur dans ce même espace, uniformément à travers toute la section de l'enceinte.According to a third variant of the third embodiment, said crystals are formed by creating, in a space containing refrigerant in the gaseous state, a rain comprising particles of liquid refrigerant and particles of cold accumulating liquid and coolant and crystals of this liquid, this rain being obtained by spraying and relaxing refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state in this space and by spraying cold accumulating and coolant liquid in this same space, uniformly throughout the section of the enclosure.

Les trois variantes du troisième mode de réalisation présentent, sur le deuxième mode de réalisation, l'avantage important d'un coût sensiblement moindre en raison de leur grande simplicité due notamment à l'absence d'une enceinte de cristallisation. En outre, la concentration des cristaux de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur congelé dans les particules déposées sur la surface du piston peut être beaucoup plus élevée que dans le premier mode de réalisation où cette concentration est limitée par la nécessité de donner une consistance fluide au mélange de cristaux et de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur qui doit être transporté par pompage entre l'enceinte de cristallisation et l'enceinte de stockage. Il en résulte une consommation d'énergie de pompage moindre lors des phases d'accumulation de froid et un coût d'installation réduit.The three variants of the third embodiment have, over the second embodiment, the significant advantage of a significantly lower cost due to their great simplicity due in particular to the absence of a crystallization enclosure. In addition, the concentration of frozen cold storage coolant liquid crystals in the particles deposited on the surface of the piston can be much higher than in the first embodiment where this concentration is limited by the need to give a fluid consistency to the mixture of crystals and coolant and coolant liquid which must be transported by pumping between the crystallization chamber and the storage chamber. This results in lower pump energy consumption during the cold accumulation phases and a reduced installation cost.

Au cours des phases de restitution de froid, dans un mode de réalisation avantageux, on mélange au liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur réchauffé provenant du circuit d'utilisation, du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur refroidi soutiré au bas de l'enceinte de stockage, et l'on répartit le mélange de ces liquides de façon uniforme sur la surface supérieure dudit piston.During the cold restitution phases, in an advantageous embodiment, the cold accumulator and heated coolant liquid coming from the operating circuit is mixed with cooled cold accumulator and coolant liquid drawn off at the bottom of the storage enclosure. , and the mixture of these liquids is distributed uniformly over the upper surface of said piston.

Au cours des phases de restitution de froid, dans un autre mode de réalisation avantageux, on prérefroidit le liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur réchauffé provenant du circuit d'utilisation en y injectant du fluide frigorigène au moins partiellement à l'état liquide et en provoquant une vaporisation au moins partielle de ce fluide dans le liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur, sans entraîner sa congélation, avant de répartir ce liquide uniformément sur la surface supérieure du piston.During the cold restitution phases, in another advantageous embodiment, the cold accumulator and heated coolant liquid from the operating circuit is precooled by injecting refrigerant therein at least partially in the liquid state and causing at least partial vaporization of this fluid in the cold accumulating and coolant liquid, without causing its freezing, before distributing this liquid uniformly over the upper surface of the piston.

Au cours des phases de restitution de froid, dans un autre mode de réalisation avantageux, on répartit uniformément sur la surface supérieure du piston un mélange de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur refroidi soutiré au bas de l'enceinte de stockage avec du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur provenant du circuit d'utilisation, prérefroidi par injection et vaporisation de fluide frigorigène dans ce liquide.During the cold restitution phases, in another advantageous embodiment, a mixture of cold accumulator and cooled coolant drawn off at the bottom of the storage enclosure is uniformly distributed over the upper surface of the piston. cold and coolant from the user circuit, precooled by injection and vaporization of refrigerant in this liquid.

On peut également restituer une partie du froid accumulé dans l'enceinte de stockage audit circuit d'utilisation au cours d'une phase d'accumulation de froid dans cette enceinte, en faisant circuler du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur prélevé au bas de l'enceinte à travers ce circuit d'utilisation et à travers le piston, tout en dispersant uniformément lesdits cristaux sur la surface supérieure du piston.It is also possible to restore part of the cold accumulated in the storage enclosure to said circuit of use during a phase of cold accumulation in this enclosure, by circulating cold accumulating and heat-transfer liquid taken from the bottom of the enclosure through this circuit of use and through the piston, while uniformly dispersing said crystals on the upper surface of the piston.

Pour renforcer la structure du piston et accroître sa concentration en cristaux, on peut avantageusement procéder à une solidification complémentaire de la masse du piston en répartissant unifor- mèment sur la surface supérieure du piston du fluide frigorigène liquide, par pulvérisation ou arrosage, depuis le haut de l'enceinte de stockage contenant du fluide frigorigène gazeux, de telle manière que ce fluide liquide pénètre dans les couches supérieures de la masse poreuse du piston et y congèle, en se vaporisant, le liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur retenu par les agrégats de cristaux constituant cette masse et situés au-dessus dudit niveau libre de ce liquide contenu dans l'enceinte de stockage.To strengthen the structure of the piston and increase its concentration of crystals, it is advantageous to proceed with an additional solidification of the mass of the piston by distributing uniformly over the upper surface of the piston the liquid refrigerant, by spraying or spraying, from the top. of the storage enclosure containing gaseous refrigerant, in such a way that this liquid fluid penetrates into the upper layers of the porous mass of the piston and freezes there, by vaporizing, the cold accumulating and coolant liquid retained by the aggregates of crystals constituting this mass and located above said free level of this liquid contained in the storage enclosure.

Le dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé défini ci-dessus, est caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des moyens pour déposer lesdits agrégats de cristaux directement dans ladite enceinte, au-dessus du niveau libre du liquide qu'elle contient, de manière à créer, au cours de la phase d'accumulation de froid, un piston constituté par un amas homogène, poreux et compact desdits agrégats de cristaux, des moyens pour résorber au moins partiellement au cours de la phase de restitution du froid, ledit piston depuis sa partie supérieure, ces moyens comprenant des organes d'arrosage et de pulvérisation pour répartir uniformément au cours de cette phase et sur la surface supérieure dudit piston, du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur en provenant du circuit d'utilisation réchauffé lors de son passage à travers ce circuit, et des moyens pour prévenir la formation de fissures, d'espaces libres et d'autres défauts d'homogénéité macroscopiques de la structure dudit piston, au cours des phases d'accumulation et/ou de fusion desdits cristaux, ces moyens permettant le libre déplacement vertical en bloc du piston dans ladite enceinte au cours de ces deux phases.The device for implementing the method defined above, is characterized in that it comprises means for depositing said aggregates of crystals directly in said enclosure, above the free level of the liquid which it contains, so to create, during the cold accumulation phase, a piston constituted by a homogeneous, porous and compact cluster of said crystal aggregates, means for at least partially absorbing during the cold restitution phase, said piston from its upper part, these means comprising sprinkling and spraying members to distribute uniformly over the during this phase and on the upper surface of said piston, coolant and coolant liquid from the heating circuit heated during its passage through this circuit, and means to prevent the formation of cracks, free spaces and other macroscopic defects of homogeneity of the structure of said piston, during the phases of accumulation and / or melting of said crystals, these means allowing the free vertical displacement of the piston in said enclosure during these two phases .

Selon un mode de réalisation particulier, le dispositif comporte une enceinte de cristallisation et une enceinte de stockage séparées, et des moyens d'arrosage pour déposer uniformément depuis le haut de l'enceinte lesdits cristaux sur toute sa section du piston, ces moyens comportant au moins un organe distributeur monté en haut de l'enceinte de stockage et alimenté en liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur contenant, sous forme de suspension de consistance fluide, des cristaux de ce liquide congelé, par un conduit débouchant au-dessus du niveau libre du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur contenu dans l'enceinte de stockage.According to a particular embodiment, the device comprises a crystallization enclosure and a separate storage enclosure, and sprinkling means for uniformly depositing from the top of the enclosure said crystals over its entire section of the piston, these means comprising at at least one dispensing member mounted at the top of the storage enclosure and supplied with coolant and coolant liquid containing, in the form of a suspension of fluid consistency, crystals of this frozen liquid, by a conduit opening above the free level of the coolant and heat transfer fluid contained in the storage enclosure.

Selon une autre forme de réalisation, le dispositif peut comporter des conduits agencés pour amener du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur réchauffé, prélevé à la sortie du circuit d'utilisation Ec, vers des moyens d'injection de fluide frigorigène où ce liquide est refroidi par la vaporisation de fluide frigorigène avec lequel il est mis en contact, avant d'être dispersé sur la surface du piston par les moyens d'arrosage et/ou de pulvérisation du liquide.According to another embodiment, the device may include conduits arranged to bring the cold accumulator and heated coolant liquid, taken at the outlet of the circuit of use Ec, to means for injecting refrigerant where this liquid is cooled. by the vaporization of refrigerant with which it is brought into contact, before being dispersed on the surface of the piston by the means for watering and / or spraying the liquid.

Selon une autre variante de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention, les moyens pour disperser uniformément depuis le haut de ladite enceinte lesdits cristaux de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur congelé, peuvent comporter au moins un injecteur disposé dans l'espace surmontant la surface supérieure du piston, cet injecteur comportant des moyens pour engendrer un jet central de fluide frigorigène au moins partiellement à l'état liquide entouré d'un jet coaxial de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur, ces moyens étant agencés pour engendrer une neige mouillée de cristaux de ce liquide congelé.According to another alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention, the means for uniformly dispersing from the top of said enclosure said crystals of frozen cold storage and coolant liquid, may comprise at least one injector disposed in the space surmounting the upper surface of the piston, this injector comprising means for generating a central jet of refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state surrounded by a coaxial jet of cold accumulating and coolant liquid, these means being arranged to generate snow wet with crystals of this frozen liquid.

Selon une forme de réalisation avantageuse du dispositif selon l'invention, les moyens pour disperser uniformément depuis le haut de l'enceinte lesdits cristaux de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur congelé, comportent un mélangeur agencé pour mélanger à ce liquide sous pression du fluide frigorigène sous pression et au moins une rampe de détente pour injecter ce mélange dans ledit espace contenant du fluide frigorigène à l'état gazeux.According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the means for uniformly dispersing from the top of the enclosure said crystals of frozen cold storage and coolant liquid, comprise a mixer arranged to mix refrigerant with this liquid under pressure of the refrigerant under pressure and at least one expansion ramp for injecting this mixture into said space containing refrigerant in the gaseous state.

Selon une variante particulière de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention, les moyens pour déposer uniformément depuis le haut lesdits cristaux de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur congelé peuvent comporter des moyens pour engendrer une pluie comportant des particules de fluide frigorigène liquide et des particules de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur et de cristaux de ce liquide, ces moyens étant disposés dans ledit espace surmontant la surface supérieure du piston et comprenant au moins un organe pour pulvériser uniformément dans cet espace, du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur pour former une pluie et/ou un brouillard de gouttelettes fines de ce liquide, et au moins un organe injecteur pour injecter du fluide frigorigène au moins partiellement à l'état liquide dans cette atmosphère.According to a particular variant embodiment of the device according to the invention, the means for uniformly depositing said crystals of liquid cold accumulator and frozen coolant from the top may include means for generating rain comprising particles of liquid refrigerant and particles of cold accumulating and coolant liquid and crystals of this liquid, these means being arranged in said space surmounting the upper surface of the piston and comprising at least one member for spraying uniformly in this space, cold accumulating and coolant liquid to form a rain and / or a mist of fine droplets of this liquid, and at least one injector member for injecting refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state into this atmosphere.

Les parois latérales intérieures de l'enceinte de stockage sont de préférence revêtues d'une couche d'un matériau antiadhérent aux cristaux de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur .congelé.The internal side walls of the storage enclosure are preferably coated with a layer of a material which is anti-adherent to the cold-accumulating and heat-transfer liquid crystals.

Selon une autre forme de réalisation avantageuse, l'organe de distribution connecté au conduit d'amenée de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur refroidi dans l'enceinte de cristallisation ou d'un mélange de ce liquide refroidi avec du liquide réchauffé dans le circuit d'utilisation, est également connecté, par un conduit de dérivation à la conduite de retour, pour permettre d'amener sélectivement audit organe de distribution, soit du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur réchauffé dans le circuit d'utilisation, soit du liquide refroidi dans l'enceinte de cristallisation, soit un mélange de ce liquide refroidi avec du liquide réchauffé dans le circuit d'utilisation Ec, soit une suspension ou un gel de consistance fluide constitué d'un mélange de liquide refroidi et de cristaux de ce liquide à l'état congelé générés dans l'enceinte de cristallisation.According to another advantageous embodiment, the distribution member connected to the supply line of cold accumulating and coolant liquid cooled in the crystallization enclosure or of a mixture of this cooled liquid with liquid heated in the circuit d use is also connected, by a bypass conduit to the return line, to allow to selectively bring to said distribution member, either cold storage and heat transfer fluid heated in the circuit of use, or liquid cooled in the crystallization chamber, either a mixture of this cooled liquid with liquid heated in the circuit of use Ec, or a suspension or a gel of fluid consistency consisting of a mixture of cooled liquid and crystals of this liquid at l frozen state generated in the crystallization enclosure.

La présente invention sera mieux comprise en référence à la description d'exemples de réalisation et du dessin annexé, dans lequel:

  • La figure 1 représente une vue schématique d'une première forme de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention,
  • La figure 2 représente un vue schématique d'une deuxième forme de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention,
  • La figure 3 représente des moyens permettant notamment de générer une neige mouillée faite de cristaux de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur congelé,
  • La figure 4 représente des moyens pour générer une neige fine de cristaux de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur congelé,
  • La figure 5 représente d'autres moyens pour générer une neige mouillée de cristaux liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur congelé, et
  • La figure 6 représente une forme de réalisation particulière des enceintes du dispositif selon l'invention.
The present invention will be better understood with reference to the description of exemplary embodiments and the attached drawing, in which:
  • FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention,
  • FIG. 2 represents a schematic view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention,
  • FIG. 3 represents means making it possible in particular to generate wet snow made of crystals of liquid cold accumulator and frozen coolant,
  • FIG. 4 represents means for generating a fine snow of frozen cold coolant and coolant liquid crystals,
  • FIG. 5 represents other means for generating a snow wet with liquid crystal cold accumulator and frozen coolant, and
  • FIG. 6 represents a particular embodiment of the enclosures of the device according to the invention.

La figure 1 illustre une première forme de réalisation du dispositif de génération, d'accumulation et de stockage du froid qui comporte essentiellement une enceinte de stockage 10, entourée d'une gaine d'isolation thermique 11 et contenant un liquide congelable 12 accumulateur de froid, par exemple de l'eau, qui sert également de liquide caloporteur dans un circuit d'utilisation Ec (représenté partiellement) comprenant au moins un échangeur de chaleur, et comportant un conduit de sortie 13 de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur et un conduit de retour 14 de ce liquide réchauffé. Ce dispositif comporte par ailleurs une enceinte de cristallisation 15, également entourée d'une gaine d'isolation thermique 16, et contenant le même liquide congelable 12 accumulateur de froid et caloporteur. L'enceinte de cristallisation est destinée à produire une suspension ou un gel de consistance liquide, de cristaux du liquide congelable 12 par injection directe, dans ce liquide, d'un fluide frigorigène injecté au moins partiellement à l'état liquide, par un injecteur 17 relié à un détendeur 18 par l'intermédiaire d'un conduit 19, et disposé sensiblement à la base de l'enceinte de cristallisation 15. D'une manière connue en soi, décrite dans les trois demandes de brevet de la demanderesse déposées simultanément avec la présente demande, le fluid frigorigène est vaporisé à une hauteur h1 en dessus de l'injecteur 17 et à une distance h2 en dessous de la surface libre de la colonne de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur contenu dans l'élément tubulaire 1. La vaporisation du fluide frigorigène crée par effet siphon un courant rapide de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur 12 en circuit fermé dans l'enceinte 15, et génère dans la masse de ce liquide des cristaux microscopique de ce liquide congelé qui, grâce à ce courant rapide, forment avec ce liquide un gel ou une suspension de consistance fluide qui est propulsée comme le montre la flèche A à travers l'embouchure 20 d'un conduit 21, par une pompe 22 et une vanne antiretour 22' dont la sortie est connectée à un conduit de distribution 23 aboutissant au haut de l'enceinte de stockage 10.FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the cold generation, accumulation and storage device which essentially comprises a storage enclosure 10, surrounded by a thermal insulation sheath 11 and containing a freezable liquid 12 cold accumulator , for example water, which also serves as a heat-transfer liquid in a circuit of use Ec (shown partially) comprising at least one heat exchanger, and comprising an outlet pipe 13 for coolant and coolant liquid and a pipe back 14 of this heated liquid. This device also comprises a crystallization enclosure 15, also surrounded by a thermal insulation sheath 16, and containing the same freezable liquid 12 cold storage and heat transfer fluid. The crystallization chamber is intended to produce a suspension or a gel of liquid consistency, of crystals of the freezable liquid 12 by direct injection, into this liquid, of a refrigerant injected at least partially in the liquid state, by an injector 17 connected to a pressure reducer 18 via a conduit 19, and disposed substantially at the base of the crystallization enclosure 15. In a manner known per se, described in the three patent applications of the applicant filed simultaneously with the present application, the refrigerant is vaporized at a height h1 above the injector 17 and at a distance h2 below the free surface of the column of cold accumulating and coolant liquid contained in the tubular element 1. The vaporization of the refrigerant creates, by siphon effect, a rapid current of coolant and coolant 12 in closed circuit in the enclosure 15, and generates in the mass of this li quid microscopic crystals of this frozen liquid which, thanks to this fast current, form with this liquid a gel or a suspension of fluid consistency which is propelled as the arrow A through the mouth 20 of a conduit 21, by a pump 22 and a non-return valve 22 ', the outlet of which is connected to a distribution conduit 23 leading to the top of the storage enclosure 10.

Un conduit 24 est raccordé au haut des enceintes de stockage 10 et de cristallisation 15, et équilibre les pressions du fluide frigorigène à l'état gazeux dans ces enceintes. Le frigorigène gazeux récupéré au haut des enceintes 10 et 15 est aspiré dans le sens de la flèche B par un compresseur Cr puis liquéfié dans un condenseur Cd.A conduit 24 is connected to the top of the storage chambers 10 and of crystallization 15, and balances the pressures of the refrigerant in the gaseous state in these chambers. The gaseous refrigerant recovered at the top of the enclosures 10 and 15 is sucked in the direction of the arrow B by a compressor Cr then liquefied in a condenser Cd.

L'enceinte de stockage 10 se présente sous la forme d'un cylindre vertical, de section circulaire ou non, fermé aux deux extrémités et dont les parois latérales intérieures sont avantageusement équipées d'une couche d'un matériau antiadhérent aux cristaux, par exemple une laque en matière synthétique à surface lisse, destinée à faciliter le déplacement d'un piston 27 formé par le dépôt et par l'agrégation des cristaux microscopiques en suspension dans le liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur 12, engendrés dans l'enceinte de cristallisation 15. Ce piston se compose d'une couche supérieure 28 d'agrégats de cristaux secs ou faiblement imprégnés de liquide 12, disposée au-dessus du niveau libre 29 de ce liquide dans l'enceinte de stockage, et d'un amas 30 poreux, compact d'agrégats de cristaux imprégnés de liquide 12, disposé au-dessous dudit niveau libre 29.The storage enclosure 10 is in the form of a vertical cylinder, of circular section or not, closed at both ends and the inner side walls of which are advantageously equipped with a layer of a material which is non-sticking to the crystals, for example a synthetic material lacquer with a smooth surface, intended to facilitate the displacement of a piston 27 formed by the deposition and by the aggregation of microscopic crystals in suspension in the cold accumulating and heat-carrying liquid 12, generated in the crystallization enclosure 15. This piston consists of an upper layer 28 of aggregates of dry crystals or weakly impregnated with liquid 12, disposed above the free level 29 of this liquid in the storage enclosure, and of a porous mass 30 , compact of crystal aggregates impregnated with liquid 12, disposed below said free level 29.

Ce piston est le resultat du dépôt uniforme, s'étendant sur toute la section horizontale de l'enceinte, des cristaux microscopiques contenus dans le mélange homogène de consistance fluide de ces cristaux avec le liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur et en suspension dans ce liquide, au moyen de distributeurs 31, par exemple des têtes d'arrosage et/ou de pulvérisation. Etant donné que le piston 27 est une masse poreuse, les cristaux contenus dans cette suspension sont retenus et forment des agrégats rigides directement à la surface supérieure 32 de la masse 28, et le liquide est drainé à travers cette masse 28, jusqu'au niveau libre 29. Pendant la phase d'accumulation, l'enceinte de cristallisation produit le gel ou la suspension de consistance fluide, dont la concentration en cristaux est avantageusement comprise entre 0,1 et 2% et inférieure à 25%, qui est injectée à travers les distributeurs 31 dans l'espace 33, surmontant la surface supérieure du piston 27 sous forme d'une pluie ou d'un brouillard. Comme les cristaux répandus par les distributeurs 31 s'accumulent à la surface supérieure 32 de la masse 28, l'ensemble du piston 27 a tendance à s'enfoncer progressivement en bloc dans le liquide 12 contenu dans l'enceinte de stockage 10. Grâce au revêtement intérieur lisse et aux parois sensiblement veri- cales de l'enceinte de stockage, le piston 27 peut se déplacer librement en bloc vers le bas de l'enceinte dans le sens de la flèche M, pendant la phase d'accumulation de froid, ce déplacement en bloc permettant de maintenir l'intégrité de la structure du piston en évitant notamment la formation de fissures ou d'autres espaces libres dans la masse du piston.This piston is the result of the uniform deposit, extending over the entire horizontal section of the enclosure, of the microscopic crystals contained in the homogeneous mixture of fluid consistency of these crystals with the cold accumulating and coolant liquid and in suspension in this liquid , by means of distributors 31, for example sprinkler and / or spray heads. Since the piston 27 is a porous mass, the crystals contained in this suspension are retained and form rigid aggregates directly at the upper surface 32 of the mass 28, and the liquid is drained through this mass 28, up to the level free 29. During the accumulation phase, the crystallization chamber produces the gel or the suspension of fluid consistency, the crystal concentration of which is advantageously between 0.1 and 2% and less than 25%, which is injected at through the distributors 31 in the space 33, surmounting the upper surface of the piston 27 in the form of a rain or a mist. As the crystals scattered by the distributors 31 accumulate on the upper surface 32 of the mass 28, the whole of the piston 27 tends to sink gradually into the liquid 12 contained in the storage enclosure 10. Thanks with the smooth internal coating and the substantially vertical walls of the storage enclosure, the piston 27 can move freely as a unit towards the bottom of the enclosure in the direction of the arrow M, during the cold accumulation phase , this displacement in block making it possible to maintain the integrity of the structure of the piston, in particular preventing the formation of cracks or other free spaces in the mass of the piston.

Dans la phase de restitution du froid accumulé dans l'enceinte de stockage, le piston 27 qui se résorbe peu à peu, aura tendance à se déplacer verticalement vers le haut dans le sens de la flèche N. Comme lors de la phase d'accumulation, le déplacement du piston s'effectue en bloc pour éviter la formation de fissures, de cassures etc., grâce à la forme cylindrique des parois de l'enceinte et, le cas échéant, grâce au revêtement antiadhérent de la surface intérieure de ces parois.In the phase of restitution of the cold accumulated in the storage enclosure, the piston 27 which is gradually absorbed, will tend to move vertically upward in the direction of the arrow N. As during the phase of accumulation , the piston is moved in block to avoid the formation of cracks, breaks, etc., thanks to the cylindrical shape of the walls of the enclosure and, if necessary, thanks to the non-stick coating of the inner surface of these walls .

Pendant cette phase, la fusion des cristaux peut créer des inhomogénéités dans la zone supérieure du piston. La masse inférieure constitue un véritable filtre retenant les cristaux éventuellement détachés au cours de cette fusion, de sorte que le piston reste constitué dans son ensemble et se déplace en bloc.During this phase, the melting of the crystals can create inhomogeneities in the upper zone of the piston. The lower mass constitutes a real filter retaining the crystals possibly detached during this fusion, so that the piston remains constituted as a whole and moves in block.

Lors de la formation du piston, il est impératif de répartir le gel ou la suspension chargée de cristaux de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur congelé, de manière uniforme pour éviter toute formation de creux, de cavernes susceptibles par la suite de favoriser la formation de passages privilégiés à travers le piston et pour assurer une épaisseur et une hauteur uniformes du piston. Au cours de la phase de restitution, il est également avantageux de répartir uniformément, par exemple sous la forme d'une pluie fine, le liquide réchauffé sur toute la surface supérieure du piston 27 de telle manière que la fusion s'effectue par le haut du piston, de sorte que le liquide réchauffé soit contraint de traverser la masse poreuse du piston 27 avant d'être à nouveau réinjecté dans le circuit d'utilisation Ec.During the formation of the piston, it is imperative to distribute the gel or the suspension charged with crystals of liquid cold accumulator and frozen coolant, in a uniform way to avoid any formation of hollows, caverns likely thereafter to favor the formation of privileged passages through the piston and to ensure a uniform thickness and height of the piston. During the restitution phase, it is also advantageous to distribute uniformly, for example in the form of a fine rain, the liquid heated over the entire upper surface of the piston 27 so that the fusion takes place from above. of the piston, so that the heated liquid is forced to pass through the porous mass of the piston 27 before being reinjected again into the circuit of use Ec.

Selon un mode de réalisation avantageux, le conduit de retour 14 du circuit d'utilisation comprend une première conduit 14a débouchant au haut de l'enceinte de stockage 10 et pourvue d'une série de distributeurs 34, par exemple en forme de têtes d'arrosage et/ou de pulvérisation, conçus pour répartir uniformément le liquide réchauffé en provenant de l'échangeur de chaleur Ec, sur la surface supérieure 32 du piston 27, et une seconde conduite 14b débouchant au bas de l'enceinte de cristallisation 15. La conduite 14a est pourvue d'une vanne 14'a et la conduite 14b est équipée d'une vanne 14'b, qui permettant de dévier indépendamment la totalité du liquide réchauffé sur l'une ou l'autre de ces conduites, ou de séparer le flux de retour sélectivement entre ces deux conduits. Ces vannes, connues en soi, sont soit manuelles, soit à commande électrique ou pneumatique.According to an advantageous embodiment, the return conduit 14 of the use circuit comprises a first conduit 14a opening at the top of the storage enclosure 10 and provided with a series of distributors 34, for example in the form of heads of sprinkling and / or spraying, designed to uniformly distribute the heated liquid coming from the heat exchanger Ec, on the upper surface 32 of the piston 27, and a second pipe 14b opening at the bottom of the crystallization enclosure 15. The line 14a is provided with a valve 14'a and line 14b is equipped with a valve 14'b, which makes it possible to independently divert all of the liquid heated on one or other of these lines, or to separate the return flow selectively between these two conduits. These valves, known per se, are either manual, or electrically or pneumatically operated.

Un conduit de dérivation 14"a peut être raccordé au conduit 23 portant l'organe de distribution 31. De ce fait, cet organe de distribution 31 est alimenté sélectivement soit par le mélange de consistance fluide de cristaux et de liquide, soit par le liquide réchauffé en provenant du circuit d'utilisation Ec.A bypass duct 14 "a can be connected to the duct 23 carrying the dispensing member 31. As a result, this dispensing member 31 is selectively supplied either by the mixture of fluid consistency of crystals and liquid, or by the liquid reheated from the Ec usage circuit.

Le conduit de sortie 13 vers le circuit d'utilisation, ménagé au bas de l'enceinte de stockage 10 est connecté à l'entrée d'une pompe 35, dont la sortie se divise, en deux conduites 13a et 13b. La conduite 13a équipée d'une vanne 13'a définit l'entrée proprement dite du circuit d'utilisation. La conduite 13b se divise en deux branches 13c et 13d dont la première 13c, équipée d'une vanne 13'c, débouche au bas de l'enceinte de cristallisation 15, en vue d'y injecter, si nécessaire, du liquide à congeler, et dont la seconde 13d, équipée d'une vanne 13'd et d'une vanne antiretour 13"d, est raccordée au conduit de distribution 23 défini précédemment. Ces différentes conduites permettant de dériver sélecti- vent le liquide refroidi prélevé à la base de l'enceinte de stockage 10 vers le circuit d'utilisation, la zone inférieure de l'enceinte de cristallisation 15 et/ou la zone supérieure de l'enceinte de stockage 10.The outlet pipe 13 to the use circuit, formed at the bottom of the storage enclosure 10 is connected to the inlet of a pump 35, the outlet of which is divided, into two pipes 13a and 13b. The pipe 13a equipped with a valve 13'a defines the actual input of the use circuit. Line 13b is divided into two branches 13c and 13d, the first of which 13c, fitted with a valve 13'c, opens at the bottom of the crystallization enclosure 15, with a view to injecting therein, if necessary, liquid to be frozen. , and the second of which 13d, equipped with a valve 13'd and a non-return valve 13 "d, is connected to the distribution duct 23 defined above. These various pipes making it possible to divert the cooled liquid withdrawn at the base of the storage enclosure 10 towards the utilization circuit, the lower area of the crystallization enclosure 15 and / or the upper area of the storage enclosure 10.

Pour éviter l'obturation accidentelle du conduit 13 en fin d'accumulation de froid, l'enceinte de stockage 10 comporte avantageusement une grille 36 ménagée en dessous du piston 27.To avoid accidental blockage of the conduit 13 at the end of cold accumulation, the storage enclosure 10 advantageously comprises a grid 36 formed below the piston 27.

Le circuit du fluide frigorigène comprend le conduit 24 mentionné précédemment raccordé au compresseur Cr, lui-même relié au condenseur Cd dont la sortie définie par la flèche C est connectée à un conduit de distribution 37 qui alimente le ou les injecteurs 17 à travers la vanne de détente réglable 18 ainsi qu'une rampe de pulvérisateurs 38 à travers une vanne réglable 39 qui permet, le cas échéant, de régler le débit de frigorigène, d'injecter ou de couper cette alimentation. Cette rampe de pulvérisateurs permet de pulvériser ou d'arroser du fluide frigorigène liquide sur la surface supérieure du piston 27, en vue d'une solidification complémentaire de la masse de cristaux dans la zone supérieure de ce piston.The refrigerant circuit comprises the conduit 24 mentioned above connected to the compressor Cr, itself connected to the condenser Cd whose outlet defined by the arrow C is connected to a distribution conduit 37 which supplies the injector (s) 17 through the valve adjustable expansion valve 18 as well as a sprayer boom 38 through an adjustable valve 39 which makes it possible, if necessary, to regulate the flow of refrigerant, to inject or to cut off this supply. This sprayer boom makes it possible to spray or sprinkle liquid refrigerant on the upper surface of the piston 27, with a view to additional solidification of the mass of crystals in the upper zone of this piston.

Un élément tubulaire 1 est monté à l'intérieur de l'enceinte de cristallisation 15 et cet élément est surmonté d'un déflecteur 2. Cet élément tubulaire forme une cheminée centrale qui permet de canaliser le courant ascendant, représenté par la flèche D, de liquide refroidi, chargé de cristaux microscopiques en suspension de ce liquide congelé, ainsi que le courant descendant, représenté par les flèches E. Le courant ascendant D est engendré par effet syphon par la vaporisation du fluide frigorigène dans la zone supérieure de hauteur h2 où se forment des bulles de vapeur de ce fluide. Une faible partie A de ce courant est aspirée par la pompe 22 et la plus grande partie, représentée par les flèches F, est recyclée à l'intérieur de l'élément tubulaire 1. Le déflecteur 2 d'une part, et le fait de disposer l'embouchure 20 dans la zone médiane ou inférieure de l'enceinte de cristallisation 15 permettent d'assurer un degazage maximal du liquide, c'est-à-dire une séparation efficace du fluide frigorigène à l'état vapeur du liquide.A tubular element 1 is mounted inside the crystallization enclosure 15 and this element is surmounted by a deflector 2. This tubular element forms a central chimney which makes it possible to channel the updraft, represented by the arrow D, of cooled liquid, charged with microscopic crystals in suspension of this frozen liquid, as well as the downward current, represented by the arrows E. The upward current D is generated by siphon effect by the vaporization of the refrigerant in the upper zone of height h2 where form vapor bubbles of this fluid. A small part A of this current is sucked by the pump 22 and the largest part, represented by the arrows F, is recycled inside the tubular element 1. The deflector 2 on the one hand, and the fact of placing the mouth 20 in the middle or lower zone of the crystallization enclosure 15 makes it possible to ensure maximum degassing of the liquid, that is to say an effective separation of the refrigerant in the vapor state of the liquid.

Le fait de mélanger au gel ou à la suspension fluide sortant de la pompe 22 du liquide provenant de la conduite 13d permet, lors des phases d'accumulation, de doser la concentration en cristaux de la suspension injectée par les distributeurs 31 dans la phase d'accumulation.Mixing the liquid coming from the line 13d with the gel or the fluid suspension leaving the pump 22 makes it possible, during the accumulation phases, to measure the crystal concentration of the suspension injected by the distributors 31 in phase d 'accumulation.

Le dispositif décrit ci-dessus peut fonctionner selon plusieurs modes distincts:The device described above can operate in several distinct modes:

1. Accumulation de froid sans restitution:1. Cold accumulation without restitution:

Les pompes 35 et 22 sont enclenchées de même que le compresseur Cr.The pumps 35 and 22 are switched on as well as the compressor Cr.

Les vannes 13'a et 13'd sont fermées ainsi que les vannes 14'a et 14'b. La vanne 13'c est ouverte.The valves 13'a and 13'd are closed as well as the valves 14'a and 14'b. The 13'c valve is open.

Le liquide prélevé au bas de l'enceinte 10 circule à travers l'enceinte de cristallisation 15.The liquid taken from the bottom of the enclosure 10 circulates through the crystallization enclosure 15.

2. Accumulation de froid avec restitution de froid à puissance réduite:2. Accumulation of cold with return of cold at reduced power:

Tous les composants ci-dessus se trouvent dans le même état sauf les vannes 13'a qui est partiellement ouverte et 14'a qui est totalement ouverte.All of the above components are in the same condition except the valves 13'a which is partially open and 14'a which is fully open.

On continue à déposer des cristaux dont une partie est fondue en vue de la restitution de froid à puissance réduite grâce à l'ouverture partielle de la vanne 13'a.We continue to deposit crystals, part of which is melted in order to restore cold at reduced power thanks to the partial opening of the valve 13'a.

Une variante consiste à fermer la vanne 14'a et à ouvrir la vanne 14'b. Dans ce cas, le liquide chaud injecté dans l'enceinte de cristallisation 15 réduit la quantité de cristaux engendrés dans cette dernière et déposés sur le piston.A variant consists in closing the valve 14'a and in opening the valve 14'b. In this case, the hot liquid injected into the crystallization chamber 15 reduces the quantity of crystals generated in the latter and deposited on the piston.

3. Restitution de froid sans accumulation de froid:3. Return of cold without accumulation of cold:

La pompe 35 est enclenchée, la pompe 22 et le compresseur Cr sont déclenchés.Pump 35 is started, pump 22 and compressor C r are started.

Les vannes 13'c, 13'd et 14'b sont fermées.The valves 13'c, 13'd and 14'b are closed.

Les vannes 13'a et 14'a sont ouvertes.The valves 13'a and 14'a are open.

Le liquide chaud provenant de l'échangeur de chaleur est répandu par les distributeurs 34.The hot liquid coming from the heat exchanger is spilled by the distributors 34.

4. Restitution de froid sans accumulation, mais avec production complémentaire du froid:4. Return of cold without accumulation, but with additional production of cold:

Les pompes 35 et 22 sont enclenchées de même que le compresseur Cr.The pumps 35 and 22 are switched on as well as the compressor Cr.

Les vannes 13'c, 13'd et 14'a sont fermées. Les vannes 13'a et 14'b sot ouvertes.The valves 13'c, 13'd and 14'a are closed. The valves 13'a and 14'b are open.

Dans ce cas, l'enceinte 15 sert à refroidir le liquide réchauffé dans l'échangeur de chaleur sans produire des cristaux.In this case, the enclosure 15 is used to cool the liquid heated in the heat exchanger without producing crystals.

Ce mode de fonctionnement est avantageux car d'une part, la production du froid pendant la phase de restitution se fait avec un rendement thermodynamique plus élevé que durant la phase d'accumulation parce que la vaporisation s'effectue à une température plus élevée, et d'autre part, il permet de réduire le dimensionnement de l'enceinte d'accumulation 10 pour une quantité maximum totale de froid absorbée par le circuit d'utilisation lors d'une phase de restitution. Cette réduction est notable lorsque la puissance de restitution de froid Pr est de l'ordre du double de la puissance de production de froid Pp dans l'enceinte de cristallisation 15.This operating mode is advantageous because on the one hand, the production of cold during the restitution phase is done with a higher thermodynamic efficiency than during the accumulation phase because the vaporization takes place at a higher temperature, and on the other hand, it makes it possible to reduce the dimensioning of the accumulation enclosure 10 for a maximum total amount of cold absorbed by the circuit of use during a restitution phase. This reduction is notable when the cold restitution power Pr is of the order of twice the cold production power Pp in the crystallization enclosure 15.

5. Restitution de froid avec production complémentaire de froid et prérefroidissement du liquide:5. Restitution of cold with additional production of cold and precooling of the liquid:

Tout les composants se trouvent dans le même état que dans le cas 4 sauf la vanne 13'd qui est ouverte.All the components are in the same state as in case 4 except the valve 13'd which is open.

De ce fait, par mélange du liquide en provenance de la pompe 22 avec le liquide froid prélevé à la base de l'enceinte 10, la température du fluide distibué par les distributeurs 31 se trouve abaissé ce qui, lors des phases de restitution de froid, améliore l'efficacité de refroidissement R(D) du liquide en abaissant la température 02 de ce liquide véhiculé vers l'échangeur de chaleur du circuit d'utilisation de froid.Therefore, by mixing the liquid from the pump 22 with the cold liquid taken from the base of the enclosure 10, the temperature of the fluid supplied by the distributors 31 is lowered which, during the cold restitution phases , improves the cooling efficiency R (D) of the liquid by lowering the temperature 02 of this liquid conveyed to the heat exchanger of the cold use circuit.

Les figures 2 et 3 illustrent un moyen autre qu'une enceinte de cristallisation permettant d'engendrer des cristaux de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur congelé et de les repartir uniformément à la surface du piston formé à l'intérieur de l'enceinte de stockage 86 pour y former directement des agrégats rigides. Ces moyens comportent au moins une, mais de préférence plusieurs buses 84 constituées chacune par un corps 70 muni d'une ouverture 71 orientée vers ledit piston et comprenant une chambre 72 en communication avec ladite ouverture. Cette chambre contient un injecteur 73 raccordée par un conduit 74 à un conduit de distribution 75 de fluide frigorigène sous pression. La chambre 72 est par ailleurs raccordée par l'intermédiaire d'un conduit 76 à un conduit de distribution 77 de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur sous pression, ce conduit étant isolé thermiquement par une gaine 78. L'injecteur 73 engendre un jet 79, relativement fin, de fluide frigorigène au moins partiellement à l'état liquide. Ce jet est orienté vers l'ouverture 71 et est entouré d'un jet coaxial 80 de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur. Ce liquide alimente la chambre 72 a une température suffisante pour éviter le givrage de l'injecteur 73. A la sortie de l'ouverture 71, le fluide frigorigène s'évapore et provoque la congélation du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur sous la forme d'une neige mouillée qui s'étale uniformément à la surface supérieure du piston. L'atmosphère surmontant le piston est faite de fluide frigorigène à l'état gazeux, et est recueillie par un conduit d'évacuation approprié, monté à l'extrémité supérieure de l'enceinte de stockage et raccordé par exemple à l'aspiration d'un compresseur Cr.FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a means other than a crystallization enclosure making it possible to generate crystals of frozen cold storage and coolant liquid and to distribute them uniformly on the surface of the piston formed inside the storage enclosure 86 to directly form rigid aggregates. These means comprise at least one, but preferably several nozzles 84 each constituted by a body 70 provided with an opening 71 oriented towards said piston and comprising a chamber 72 in communication with said opening. This chamber contains an injector 73 connected by a conduit 74 to a distribution conduit 75 for pressurized refrigerant. The chamber 72 is moreover connected by the intermediary of a conduit 76 to a distribution conduit 77 of cold accumulator and coolant liquid under pressure, this conduit being thermally insulated by a sheath 78. The injector 73 generates a jet 79 , relatively fine, of refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state. This jet is oriented towards the opening 71 and is surrounded by a coaxial jet 80 of coolant and coolant liquid. This liquid feeds the chamber 72 at a temperature sufficient to prevent icing of the injector 73. At the outlet of the opening 71, the refrigerant evaporates and causes the freezing of the cold-storage and heat-transfer liquid in the form of '' a wet snow which spreads evenly on the upper surface of the piston. The atmosphere surmounting the piston is made of refrigerant in the gaseous state, and is collected by a suitable evacuation duct, mounted at the upper end of the storage enclosure and connected for example to the suction of a Cr compressor.

En référence à la figure 2, en réglant l'ouverture et la fermeture des vannes 81, 82 et 83 respectivement montées sur le circuit du fluide frigorigène et celui du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur, on peut obtenir les modes de fonctionnements suivants:

  • 1. Accumulation de froid par génération de neige sans restitution de froid lorsque la vanne 83 est fermée et les vannes 81 et 82 sont pleinement ouvertes et lorsque le compresseur Cr et la pompe Pc sont enclenchés.
  • 2. Accumulation de froid avec restitution de froid au circuit d'utilisation à puisance réduite lorsque les vannes 81 et 82 sont ouvertes comme précédemment, et la vanne 83 montée sur le conduit 87 partiellement ouverte et lorsque le compresseur Cr et la pompe Pc sont enclenchés.
  • 3. Restitution de froid sans accumulation, sans prérefroidissement du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur et sans production auxiliaire de froid, lorsque les vannes 81 et 82 sont fermées, et lorsque le compresseur Cr est déclenché et la pompe Pc est enclenchée.
With reference to FIG. 2, by adjusting the opening and closing of the valves 81, 82 and 83 respectively mounted on the refrigerant circuit and that of the cold accumulator and coolant liquid, the following operating modes can be obtained:
  • 1. Accumulation of cold by generation of snow without return of cold when the valve 83 is closed and the valves 81 and 82 are fully open and when the compressor Cr and the pump Pc are switched on.
  • 2. Accumulation of cold with return of cold to the reduced-power use circuit when the valves 81 and 82 are open as before, and the valve 83 mounted on the duct 87 partially open and when the compressor Cr and the pump Pc are switched on .
  • 3. Restitution of cold without accumulation, without precooling of the coolant and coolant liquid and without auxiliary production of cold, when the valves 81 and 82 are closed, and when the compressor Cr is triggered and the pump Pc is started.

Le liquide est chauffé dans le circuit d'utilisation et pulvérié par les buses 84 sous forme d'une pluie de liquide réparti uniformément sur la surface supérieure du piston 85.The liquid is heated in the operating circuit and sprayed by the nozzles 84 in the form of a rain of liquid distributed uniformly over the upper surface of the piston 85.

4. Restitution sans accumulation avec production auxiliaire de froid lorsque la vanne 81 est ouverte, la vanne 82 fermée et la vanne 83 pleinement ouverte, le compresseur Cr et la pompe Pc enclenchés.4. Restitution without accumulation with auxiliary production of cold when the valve 81 is open, the valve 82 closed and the valve 83 fully open, the compressor Cr and the pump Pc engaged.

Le débit de liquide chaud provenant du circuit d'utilisation est alors suffisamment élevé pour prévenir sa congélation partielle par le fluide frigorigène liquide qu'il vaporise dans les buses 84, tout en se refroidissant, avant d'arroser la surface supérieure du piston 85 par une pluie fine.The flow of hot liquid from the operating circuit is then high enough to prevent its partial freezing by the liquid refrigerant which it vaporizes in the nozzles 84, while cooling, before watering the upper surface of the piston 85 by a fine rain.

5. Accumulation de froid sans restitution avec solidification complémentaire du piston, lorsque la vanne 83 est fermée, la vanne 82 est partiellement ouverte et la vanne 81 est ouverte, le compresseur Cr et la pompe Pc étant enclenchés.5. Accumulation of cold without restitution with additional solidification of the piston, when the valve 83 is closed, the valve 82 is partially open and the valve 81 is open, the compressor Cr and the pump Pc being engaged.

Les debits respectifs du fluide frigorigène et du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur sont alors tels qu'un excès de frigorigène liquide sous forme de particules accompagne la neige mouillée produite par les buses 84 et arrose la surface supérieure du piston 85 en même temps que la pluie de neige qui l'arrose.The respective flow rates of the refrigerant and of the coolant and coolant liquid are then such that an excess of liquid refrigerant in the form of particles accompanies the wet snow produced by the nozzles 84 and waters the upper surface of the piston 85 at the same time as the rain of snow showering it.

Ainsi on engendre une solidication supplémentaire des couches supérieures du piston 85 comme indiqué en référence à la description de la figure 1.Thus, an additional solidification of the upper layers of the piston 85 is produced as indicated with reference to the description of FIG. 1.

6. Restitution de froid sans production complémentaire de froid avec prérefroidissement du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur.6. Restitution of cold without additional production of cold with pre-cooling of the cold storage and heat transfer fluid.

La vanne 81 est fermée et les vannes 82 et 83 sont ouvertes. Le compresseur Cr est déclenché, et la pompe Pc est enclenchée. Du liquid froid transmis par la vanne 82 est mélangé au liquide chaud provenant du circuit d'utilisation Ec, ce qui prérefroidit ce dernier avant sa pulvérisation et son passage à travers le piston 85 et abaisse, comme expliqué précédemment en référence à la fig. 1, la température 02 du liquide envoyé vers l'échangeur de chaleur.The valve 81 is closed and the valves 82 and 83 are open. The compressor Cr is triggered, and the pump Pc is started. Cold liquid transmitted by the valve 82 is mixed with the hot liquid coming from the use circuit Ec, which pre-cools the latter before its spraying and its passage through the piston 85 and lowers, as explained previously with reference to FIG. 1, the temperature 02 of the liquid sent to the heat exchanger.

Une variante decette réalisation est représentée par la fig. 4. Un injecteur de fluide frigorigène 90 engendre par la vaporisation de ce fluide au sommet de l'enceinte de stockage 91, au-dessus du piston de cristaux de liquid accumulateur de froid et caloporteur congelé (non représenté), une atmosphère gazeuse froide dans laquelle on injecte du liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur amené par un conduit 92 thermiquement isolé par une gaine d'isolation 93 et pulvérisé à travers une série de pulvérisateurs 94. Ces moyens permettent d'engendrer une neige fine, composée d'un mélange de cristaux de ce liquide congelé et de fines gouttelettes de ce liquide et de fluide frigorigène liquide, qui se dépose sur la surface supérieure du piston sur laquelle ces cristaux forment directement lesdits agrégats rigides.A variant of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. A refrigerant injector 90 generates by the vaporization of this fluid at the top of the storage enclosure 91, above the piston of liquid crystal cold accumulator and frozen coolant (not shown), a cold gaseous atmosphere in which is injected with cold accumulator and coolant liquid supplied by a conduit 92 thermally insulated by an insulation sheath 93 and sprayed through a series of sprayers 94. These means make it possible to generate fine snow, composed of a mixture of crystals of this frozen liquid and fine droplets of this liquid and of liquid refrigerant, which is deposited on the upper surface of the piston on which these crystals directly form said rigid aggregates.

Un autre moyen de génération de neige mouillée est illustrée par la figure 5. Un conduit d'alimentation 100 en liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur réchauffé prélevé à la sortie du circuit d'utilisation, est connecté à un distributeur pulvérisateur 101 représenté schématiquement et disposé au haut d'une enceinte d'accumulation (non représentée). Un conduit 102 permet d'injecter du fluide frigorigène au moins partiellement à l'état liquide provenant d'un détendeur 103, dans le conduit 100 pour permettre la pulvérisation d'un mélange liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur et fluid frigorigène à l'état liquide par le distributeur-pulvérisateur 101.Another means of generating wet snow is illustrated in FIG. 5. A supply duct 100 for cold accumulator and heated coolant liquid taken at the outlet of the operating circuit, is connected to a sprayer distributor 101 shown diagrammatically and arranged at the top of an accumulation enclosure (not shown). A conduit 102 makes it possible to inject refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state coming from a pressure reducer 103, in the conduit 100 to allow the spraying of a mixture of cold accumulator and coolant liquid and refrigerant in the state liquid through the sprayer-distributor 101.

Les conduits 100 et 102 peuvent être avantageusement agencés pour que ledit mélange soit produit sous forme d'une émulsion de particules microscopiques de liquide frigorigène dispser- sées dans le liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur. La formation de cette émulsion peut être facilitée par l'addition à très faible concentration d'un agent émulsionnant dans ce liquide. Cette émulsion a pour object d'intensifier et de faciliter la vaporisation du fluide frigorigène dans l'espace rempli de frigorigène gazeux et par là d'élever le rendement thermodynamique de l'installation. Pour éviter les risques de givrage des orifices du distributeur-pulvérisateur 101, il peut être avantageux d'injecter un manteau de liquide accumulateur de froid et caloporteur pur entourant coaxialement chacun des jets du mélange injecté et détendu dans l'espace susmentionné, pour les isoler thermiquement des parois des orifices, comme c'est aussi le cas avec les buses 70 décrites en référence à la fig. 4.The conduits 100 and 102 can advantageously be arranged so that said mixture is produced in the form of an emulsion of microscopic particles of refrigerant liquid dispersed in the cold accumulating and heat-transfer liquid. The formation of this emulsion can be facilitated by the addition, at a very low concentration, of an emulsifying agent in this liquid. The purpose of this emulsion is to intensify and facilitate the vaporization of the refrigerant in the space filled with gaseous refrigerant and thereby to increase the thermodynamic efficiency of the installation. To avoid the risks of icing of the orifices of the distributor-sprayer 101, it may be advantageous to inject a coat of pure cold storage and coolant liquid coaxially surrounding each of the jets of the mixture injected and expanded in the above-mentioned space, to isolate them thermally from the walls of the orifices, as is also the case with the nozzles 70 described with reference to FIG. 4.

Les modes de fonctionnement de ces trois variantes sont les mêmes que ceux de l'installation illustrée par la figure 3.The operating modes of these three variants are the same as those of the installation illustrated in FIG. 3.

La figure 6 illustre un mode de réalisation des enceintes d'accumulation illustrées dans toutes les variantes décrites précédemment. Elles sont constituées par au moins une enceinte 110 en maçonnerie ou similaire, par exemple en béton armé, de forme parallélépipédique. Cette enceinte 110 est disposée de préférence en sous-sol ou enterrée et isolée thermiquement sur ses parois extérieures par des panneaux 111. L'étanchéité nécessaire de l'enceinte est réalisée par le revêtement intérieur des parois au moyen d'un matériau synthétique. Les organes de distribution 112, portés par une cloche 113 qui permet également un accès à l'intérieur de l'enceinte, assurent la pulvérisation et/ou l'arrosage uniforme de la surface supérieure du piston 115, comme indiqué précédemment en référence aux figures 1 à 5, par du liquide réchauffé provenant d'un circuit d'utilisation et/ou des mélanges de consistance de ce liquide et de cristaux de ce liquide générés par vaporisation du fluide frigorigène. Ces organes 112 comprennent des tubulaires d'évacuation du fluide frigorigène gazeux dégagé dans l'enceinte d'accumulation 110. Le liquide caloporteur refroidi est prélevé à la base de l'enceinte et dirigé par des conduits 114 vers le circuit d'utilisation. Ce système présente l'avantage d'éviter le transport coûteux et la fabrication sur place d'enceintes métalliques étanches. Grâce à la forme parallélépipédique du piston, on obtient une capacité maximale d'accumulation par unité d'espace utilisé.FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the accumulation chambers illustrated in all the variants described above. They consist of at least one enclosure 110 of masonry or the like, for example of reinforced concrete, of parallelepiped shape. This enclosure 110 is preferably arranged in the basement or buried and thermally insulated on its outer walls by panels 111. The necessary sealing of the enclosure is achieved by the inner coating of the walls by means of a synthetic material. The distribution members 112, carried by a bell 113 which also allows access to the interior of the enclosure, ensure uniform spraying and / or watering of the upper surface of the piston 115, as indicated above with reference to the figures 1 to 5, by heated liquid coming from a circuit of use and / or mixtures of consistency of this liquid and crystals of this liquid generated by vaporization of the refrigerant. These members 112 comprise tubulars for evacuating the gaseous refrigerant released in the accumulation enclosure 110. The cooled heat transfer liquid is taken from the base of the enclosure and directed by conduits 114 to the use circuit. This system has the advantage of avoiding costly transportation and on-site fabrication of sealed metal enclosures. Thanks to the parallelepiped shape of the piston, we obtain a maximum capacity of accumulation per unit of space used.

Claims (22)

1. Method of accumulating and restituting cold, wherein, during cold-accumulation phases, in a storage vessel containing a mass of cold-accumulating and cooling liquid, a cluster of aggregates of crystals of this frozen liquid is accumulated, these crystals being generating by spraying a refrigerant which is directly brought into contact with a cold-accumulating and cooling liquid withdrawn in this vessel, and wherein, during cold-restitution phases, the cold accumulated in the storage vessel is restituted to a utilization circuit by fusion of said crystals in the vessel, by making a stream of said liquid circulate in closed circuit, successively through said cluster and said utilization circuit, characterized in that, during the cold-accumulation phases, a rigid piston formed of a porous compact cluster of said crystal aggregates, of uniform thickness and height and of homogeneous structure, free from cavities, free spaces and other defects of macroscopic homogeneity of its structure, impregnated with cold-accumulating and cooling liquid, up to the height of a free level of said mass of cold-accumulating and cooling liquid, is created by depositing said crystal aggregates directly in said vessel on the upper surface of said cluster, by uniformly resorbing this piston from the top, in the course of the cold-restitution phases, by uniformly spraying its upper surface with cold-accumulating and cooling liquid, withdrawn at the bottom of the storage vessel and reheated above its freezing temperature after its passage in the utilization circuit, and in that the integrity of the structure of said piston is maintained by letting said piston slide freely, as a whole, during the cold-accumulation and cold-restitution phases, along the vertical wall surfaces of this vessel, downwards during the cold-accumulation phases and upwards during the cold-restitution phases.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the crystals of cold-accumulating and cooling liquid are formed in a crystallization vessel and in that a mixture of crystals and liquid of fluid consistency of is uniformly shed on the entire upper face of said piston.
3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the crystals of cold-accumulating and cooling liquid are formed at the top of the storage vessel in such a manner that these crystals be uniformly deposited on the entire upper face of said piston.
4. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said mixture of crystals and liquid is uniformly shed by spraying and uniformly dispersing on top of the surface of said piston, in the form of a rain or mist, across a space containing gaseous refrigerant.
5. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that said piston is formed by uniformly dispersing on top of the surface of the piston across a space overlying this piston and containing said refrigerant in the gaseous state, a rain, a wet snow and/or a mist of particles of cold-accumulating and cooling liquid whose partial freezing is effected in said space by vaporizing in this space refrigerant in the liquid state injected and expanded in this space.
6. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the crystals are formed by creating in said space containing gaseous refrigerant, a rain and/ or a mist of wet snow, this snow being obtained by partial freezing and projection into said space of cold-accumulating and cooling liquid bright into direct contact in at least one nozzle for projecting refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state, expanded in said space.
7. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that said crystals are formed by creating in said space containing gaseous refrigerant, a rain and/or a mist of wet snow, this snow being obtained by expanding a mixture of cold-accumulating and cooling liquid and liquid refrigerant injected under pressure into said space.
8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that said mixture is formed of an emulsion of liquid refrigerant dispersed in the cold-accumulating and cooling liquid.
9. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said crystals are formed by creating in a space containing gaseous refrigerant, a rain including particles of liquid refrigerant and particles of cold-accumulating and cooling liquid and of crystals of this liquid, this rain being obtained by spraying and expanding a refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state in this space and by spraying cold-accumulating and cooling liquid in this same space, uniformly across the entire section of the vessel.
10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, during the restitution phases, cooled liquid withdrawn from the bottom of the storage vessel is mixed with the reheated cold-accumulating and cooling liquid coming from the utilization circuit, and in that the mixture of these liquids is uniformly distributed on the upper face of said piston.
11. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, during the cold-restitution phases, the reheated cold-accumulating and cooling liquid coming from the utilization circuit is precooled by injection therein at least partially liquid refrigerant and by inducing an at least partial vaporization of this fluid in the liquid, without involving freezing thereof, before uniformly distributing this liquid on the upper surface of the piston.
12. Method according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that, during the cold-restitution phases, a mixture of cooled cold-accumulating and cooling liquid withdrawn at the bottom of the storage vessel with liquid coming from the utilization circuit, precooled by injecting and vaporizing refrigerant in this liquid, is uniformly distributed on the upper surface of the piston.
13. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it consists in restituting a part of the cold accumulated in the storage vessel to said utilization circuit during a cold-accumulation phase in this vessel, by making cold-accumulating and cooling liquid withdrawn at the bottom of the vessel circulate through this utilization circuit and through this piston, while at the same time uniformly dispersing said crystals on the upper surface of the piston.
14. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a complementary solidification of the mass of the piston is effected by uniformly distributing liquid refrigerant on the upper surface of the piston, by spraying or sprinkling, from the top of the storage vessel containing gaseous refrigerant, in such a manner that this liquid refrigerant penetrates into the upper layers of the porous mass of the piston and by being vaporized, freezes therein the cold-accumulating and cooling liquid retained by the crystal aggregates constituting this mass situated said free level of the liquid contained in the storage vessel.
15. Device for implementing the method according to claim 1, comprising a storage vessel (10, 86, 110) containing a cold-accumulating and cooling liquid, at least partially in the form of a cluster of aggregates of crystals of said frozen liquid these crystal being obtained by freezing this liquid by vaporising a refrigerant brought into direct contact with this liquid, and injecting means (17, 84, 102) for injecting refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state into the cold-accumulating and cooling liquid, characterized in that it includes means for depositing said aggregates of crystals directly into said vessel above the free level of the liquid contained into said vessel, in such a manner to create during the cold-accumulation phase, a piston (27, 85, 115) formed of a homogeneous, porous and compact cluster of said crystal aggregates, means for at least partially resorbing said piston from its upper part, during the cold-restitution phase, these means comprising spraying and sprinkling organs (34, 84, 94, 101, 112) for uniformly distributing, during said phase and on the upper surface of said piston, liquid coming from the utilization circuit, reheated during its passage through this circuit, and means for preventing the formation of fissures, free spaces and other defects of macroscopic homogeneity of the structure of said piston, during the phases of accumulation and/or fusion of said crystals, said means enabling free vertical displacement of the piston, as a whole, in said vessel, in the course of these two phases.
16. Device according to claim 15, including separate crystallization and storage vessels, characterized in that it comprises sprinkling means for uniformly depositing said crystals from the top of the vessel over the entire section of the piston, these means comprising at least one distribution element (31) mounted at the top of the storage vessel (10) and supplied with cold-accumulating and cooling liquid in the form of a suspension of fluid consistency of crystals of this frozen liquid, by a conduit (23) opening above the free level (32) of the liquid contained in the storage vessel (10).
17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises conduits (14) provided to supply reheated cold-accumulating and cooling liquid, withdrawn at the outlet of the utilization circuit (Ec), to means for injecting refrigerant (17), where said liquid is cooled by the vaporization of the refrigerant with which it is brought into contact, before being dispersed on the surface of the piston by the means for sprinkling and/or spraying the liquid (31).
18. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the means for uniformly dispersing said crystals of frozen cold-accumulating and cooling liquid from the top of said vessel comprise at least one injector (73) disposed in the space overlying the upper surface of the piston, said injector including means for generating a central jet (79) of refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state surrounded by a coaxial jet (80) of cold-accumulating and cooling liquid, said means being adapted to generate a wet snow of crystal of this frozen liquid.
19. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the means for uniformly dispersing said crystals of frozen cold-accumulating and cooling liquid from the top of the vessel include a mixture (101) adapted to mix refrigerant under pressure with this liquid under pressure and at least one expansion pipe (103) for injecting this mixture into said space containing refrigerant in the gaseous state.
20. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the means for uniformly depositing said crystals of frozen cold-accumulating and cooling liquid from the top, include means for generating a rain including particles of liquid refrigerant and particles of said liquid and of crystals of this liquid, said means being disposed in said sapce overlying the upper surface of the piston and comprising at least one element (94) for uniformly spraying cold-accumulating and cooling liquid in said space, to form a rain and/or a mist of fine droplets of said liquid, and at least one injector element (90) for injecting refrigerant at least partially in the liquid state into this atmosphere.
21. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the inner lateral wall surfaces of the storage vessel (10, 80) are coated with a layer of a material which is antiadherent to the crystals of frozen cold-accumulating and cooling liquid.
22. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the distributing element (31) connected to a feed conduit (23) for supplying cold-accumulating and cooling liquid cooled in the crystallization vessel (15) or a mixture of this cooled liquid reheated in the utilization circuit Ec is also connected by a by-pass conduit (14"a) to the return conduit (14a) to enable selectively supplying to said distributing element (31) either cold-accumulating and cooling liquid cooled in the crystallization vessel (15), or a mixture of this cooled liquid with liquid reheated in the utilization circuit Ec, or with a suspension or a gel of fluid consistency formed of a mixture of this cooled cold-accumulating and cooling liquid and of crystals of this liquid in the frozen state generated in the crystallization vessel (15).
EP87900634A 1986-01-18 1987-01-16 Method for accumulating and restoring cold and device for implementing such method Expired - Lifetime EP0255526B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT87900634T ATE52136T1 (en) 1986-01-18 1987-01-16 PROCEDURE FOR STORING AND RETURNING REFRIGERATION AND SCHEDULE FOR CARRYING OUT SUCH PROCEDURE.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH18086 1986-01-18
CH180/86 1986-01-18

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0255526A1 EP0255526A1 (en) 1988-02-10
EP0255526B1 true EP0255526B1 (en) 1990-04-18

Family

ID=4181096

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87900634A Expired - Lifetime EP0255526B1 (en) 1986-01-18 1987-01-16 Method for accumulating and restoring cold and device for implementing such method

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US4894077A (en)
EP (1) EP0255526B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS63503239A (en)
AT (1) ATE52136T1 (en)
DE (1) DE3762372D1 (en)
WO (1) WO1987004509A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2619202B1 (en) * 1987-08-07 1989-12-22 Cemagref REFRIGERATION SYSTEM WITH LATENT HEAT COLD STORAGE DEVICE
JPH083392B2 (en) * 1988-08-04 1996-01-17 株式会社日立製作所 Concentration difference cold storage heat generator
JPH07104083B2 (en) * 1990-12-28 1995-11-13 鹿島建設株式会社 Refrigerant jet type heat storage method and device using ice
WO1992019924A1 (en) * 1991-05-04 1992-11-12 Hydrodynamique S.A. Holding Method and device providing isothermal compression of a compressible fluid
GB9212444D0 (en) * 1992-06-11 1992-07-22 Electricity Ass Tech Cold storage apparatus
US7452371B2 (en) * 1999-06-02 2008-11-18 Cook Incorporated Implantable vascular device
WO2000029792A2 (en) * 1998-11-18 2000-05-25 James G Boyko Direct-contact ice-generation device
FR2795810B1 (en) * 1999-06-30 2001-08-31 Mc Internat METHOD OF HEAT EXCHANGING WITH A SOLID LIQUID DIPHASIC REFRIGERATOR FLUID
US7891211B2 (en) * 2005-06-24 2011-02-22 Denso Corporation Cold storage tank unit and refrigeration cycle apparatus using the same
US20070227710A1 (en) * 2006-04-03 2007-10-04 Belady Christian L Cooling system for electrical devices
CH699431B1 (en) * 2006-04-20 2010-03-15 Heig Vd Haute Ecole D Ingenier The process of accumulation and cold restitution and apparatus for implementing the method.
CN100538221C (en) * 2007-10-12 2009-09-09 邹杰 A kind of dynamic ice cold-storage method and equipment
US9671171B2 (en) 2009-09-17 2017-06-06 Bluelagoon Technologies Ltd. Systems and methods of thermal transfer and/or storage
CN102822614B (en) * 2009-09-17 2017-02-08 蓝瑚科技有限公司 Systems and methods of thermal transfer and/or storage
CN102042649A (en) * 2010-12-29 2011-05-04 广东迪奥技术工程有限公司 Dynamic ice storage ice-melting system capable of watering at constant low temperature
CN104684344A (en) * 2013-11-29 2015-06-03 国际商业机器公司 PCM (phase change material) cooling equipment, cooling system as well as method and unit for cooling system
US20150192314A1 (en) * 2014-01-05 2015-07-09 Norman Davis Machine to Make, Store and Use Ice
CN108332468B (en) * 2017-09-06 2020-05-12 广州黄岩机电科技有限公司 Ice making device
US10234186B1 (en) * 2017-11-09 2019-03-19 James Chun Koh Apparatus for manufacturing powdered ice with salinity

Family Cites Families (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2020719A (en) * 1934-06-12 1935-11-12 Girdler Corp Process and apparatus for solidifying material in finely subdivided form
FR2279052A1 (en) * 1974-03-01 1976-02-13 Commissariat Energie Atomique THERMAL ACCUMULATION PROCESS AND THERMAL ACCUMULATOR WITH LATENT HEAT OF FUSION AND DIRECT CONTACT
US4099557A (en) * 1975-02-21 1978-07-11 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Method of heat accumulation and a thermal accumulator for the application of said method
CH628417A5 (en) * 1978-01-06 1982-02-26 Laszlo Simon PLANT FOR STORING CONTINUOUSLY PRODUCED REFRIGERATION AND DELIVERING AT LEAST A PART OF THE STORED REFRIGERATION.
FR2462683A1 (en) * 1979-08-02 1981-02-13 Commissariat Energie Atomique THERMAL ACCUMULATION METHOD AND THERMAL BATTERY WITH LATENT HEAT OF FUSION AND WITH DIRECT CONTACT
US4294083A (en) * 1980-04-07 1981-10-13 Barton King Air conditioning system
US4302944A (en) * 1980-07-15 1981-12-01 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Thermal storage method and apparatus
CH659314A5 (en) * 1982-10-27 1987-01-15 Sulzer Ag TRAINED ENERGY STORAGE AS A DIRECTLY OPERATING EVAPORATOR.
US4554797A (en) * 1983-01-21 1985-11-26 Vladimir Goldstein Thermal storage heat exchanger systems of heat pumps
US4480445A (en) * 1983-01-21 1984-11-06 Vladimir Goldstein Thermal storage heat exchanger systems of heat pumps
JPS60126530A (en) * 1983-12-08 1985-07-06 Hitachi Zosen C B I Kk Method and apparatus for producing, storing and using ice for performing cooling and refrigeration
US4509344A (en) * 1983-12-08 1985-04-09 Chicago Bridge & Iron Company Apparatus and method of cooling using stored ice slurry
US4712387A (en) * 1987-04-03 1987-12-15 James Timothy W Cold plate refrigeration method and apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE52136T1 (en) 1990-05-15
JPS63503239A (en) 1988-11-24
WO1987004509A1 (en) 1987-07-30
DE3762372D1 (en) 1990-05-23
EP0255526A1 (en) 1988-02-10
US4894077A (en) 1990-01-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0255526B1 (en) Method for accumulating and restoring cold and device for implementing such method
JP4346037B2 (en) Method and apparatus for producing slush nitrogen, cooling method using slush nitrogen, and apparatus therefor
FR2461209A1 (en) ACCUMULATOR FOR THE STORAGE OF HEAT OR COLD
WO1987004510A1 (en) Method for generating and using cold, and device for implementing such method
WO1998057106A1 (en) Method and installation for cooling the contents of a chamber
EP0412111A1 (en) Device for producing ice balls and application to the projection of such ice balls for surface treatments.
US6405541B1 (en) Method and device for the production of slush from liquefied gas
RU2079317C1 (en) Generator for gas-type fire-fighting plant
CA1272038A (en) Cooling method and plant using a cooling fluid from a powder
FR3082924A1 (en) PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL (MCP) THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEM (SST) COMPRISING A GAS INJECTION CRYSTALLIZATION CONTROL DEVICE
EP0629826B1 (en) Method and device for storing a cold carrier fluid at melting point
EP0993252B1 (en) Method and installation for dip moulding various pieces
JPH0730984B2 (en) Snowmaking method at indoor ski resort
FR2476132A1 (en) APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GLASS DAIRY
WO2015107282A1 (en) Thermal protection system for a cryogenic vessel of a space vehicle
EP0171304B1 (en) Apparatus for making frozen moulds or mould cores
BE1001214A5 (en) Cooling system for road or rail tunnel atmosphere - comprises wheeled vehicle carrying cooling plant which operates as it travels through tunnel
EP1114287B1 (en) Snowmaker
CA1209780A (en) Method and installation for the manufacture of metal parts cast in sand molds and the like
FR2584174A1 (en) Method for generating, storing and releasing cold and device for implementing this method
EP1688071A1 (en) System for cooking and cooling down of food-products by immersion in a liquid heat transfer medium
FR2589220A1 (en) Ramp improvements for fluid screens
CH530601A (en) Mobile liquefied gas refrigeration system for perish - able products
EP1711244A1 (en) Continuous method for partially crystallising a solution and a device for carrying out said method
CN107367100B (en) System and method for making snow artificially by using liquid nitrogen

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19870917

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19880824

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19900418

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19900418

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19900418

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 52136

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19900515

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3762372

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19900523

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: DOTT. FRANCO CICOGNA

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)
NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19910131

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PFA

Free format text: COLDECO S.A.

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19970106

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19970107

Year of fee payment: 11

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19980116

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19980131

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19980728

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19980730

Year of fee payment: 12

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: S.A. COLDECO

Effective date: 19980131

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19980116

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PFA

Free format text: COLDECO S.A.,C/O PIRETTI SA 15, RUE DES VOISINS,1205 GENEVE (CH) TRANSFER- COLDECO SA C/O FIDUCIAIRE SFAELLOS,36, RUE DE CAROUGE,1205 GENEVE (CH)

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19990316

Year of fee payment: 13

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990930

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19991103

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000131

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000131

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050116