Methods for automatic filling, charging and dispensing carbon dioxide snow block

A method of automatically filling carbon dioxide (CO2) snow block into a container within an automatic dispensing station and vending said CO2 snow block from the selected container, comprising:

• inputting into a controller a set point to be used for determining completion of fill of CO2 snow block into the container, said set point based on i) fill duration;
• (ii) a pre-defined weight of the CO2 snow block, (iii) a pressure in the selected container, (iv) a capacitance of the CO2 snow block, (v) a temperature in the container or (vi) a deformation of a plate, said plate permanently affixed or removably affixed to the container;
• the controller receiving a volume of the CO2 snow block to be generated;
• the controller selecting the container having an interior volume that is capable of receiving the volume of the CO2 snow block to be generated, said container located within the automatic dispensing station comprising two or more containers of different interior volumes;
• flowing a sufficient amount of gaseous CO2 prior to flowing liquid CO2 into and along a fill conduit to pressurize the fill conduit to a pressure at which the liquid CO2 that is subsequently introduced into the container does not undergo a phase change into solid and/or gas within the fill conduit;
• the controller determining the pressure in the fill conduit is at or above the pressure to prevent the phase change of the liquid CO2;
• and in response thereto,
• the controller transmitting a first signal to a liquid CO2 control valve to cause the liquid CO2 to flow along the fill conduit and into the container and therein undergo a phase change to transform into CO2 snow block and offgas CO2;
• withdrawing said offgas CO2 from the selected container through the plate, said plate permeable to the offgas CO2 and at least partially impermeable to a solid phase CO2, and further wherein said fill conduit is operably connected to the container;
• measuring a real-time variable corresponding to the set point and generating a second signal corresponding to the real-time variable;
• transmitting the second signal to the controller;
• the controller (i) allowing said liquid CO2 to continue to flow into the container, in the absence of an override, when determining the real-time variable has not reached the set point;
• and
• the controller (ii) preventing said liquid CO2 to flow in the container when the real-time variable has reached the set point, and in response thereto, the controller transmitting a third signal to configure the container into a dispensing orientation, said container in the dispensing orientation containing the volume of the CO2 snow block.

A method of automatically charging carbon dioxide (CO2) snow block into a container, comprising:

• inputting into a controller a set point to be used for determining completion of fill of the CO2 snow block into the container, said set point based on i) fill duration;
• (ii) a pre-defined weight of the CO2 snow block, (iii) a pressure in the container, (iii) a capacitance of the CO2 snow block, (v) a temperature in the container or (vi) a deformation of a plate, said plate permanently affixed or removably affixed to the container;
• the controller performing integrity checks and determining said integrity checks to meet applicable criteria;
• and in response thereto,
• flowing a sufficient amount of gaseous CO2 prior to flowing liquid CO2 from a supply manifold into the fill conduit to pressurize the fill conduit to a pressure at which the liquid CO2 that is subsequently introduced into the container does not undergo a phase change into solid and/or gas within the fill conduit;
• the controller receiving a first signal corresponding to the pressure in the supply manifold and the fill conduit;
• the controller transmitting a second signal to a liquid CO2 control valve situated along the supply manifold to configure the liquid CO2 valve into the open position when the controller determines the first signal corresponding to the pressure in the supply manifold and the fill conduit is at or above a pressure sufficient to prevent a phase change of liquid CO2;
• withdrawing the liquid CO2 from a CO2 source into the supply manifold at a pressure higher than that of the gaseous CO2, thereby stopping flow of the gaseous CO2 through the fill conduit, said CO2 source operably connected upstream of the supply manifold;
• introducing the liquid CO2 into the container through the fill conduit;
• the CO2 liquid undergoing a phase change to transform into said CO2 snow block and offgas CO2 within the container;
• withdrawing said offgas CO2 from the container;
• measuring a real-time variable corresponding to the set point and generating a third signal corresponding to the real-time variable;
• transmitting the third signal corresponding to the real-time variable to the controller;
• wherein said liquid CO2 continues to enter the container, in the absence of an override, until the controller determines the real-time variable to reach the set point.