Brine generation system with freeze protection
AssigneeThe Cope Company Salt
InventorsBrandon Hinkle, Marc Hertzler, John Connell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A brine generation system having a tank for containing crystalline salt, a level control system regulating a water supply to the tank which maintains a desired fluid level within the tank, and a freeze protection system with a duct peripherally disposed on an interior tank sidewall, the duct defining an interior space into which is placed a thermostatically controlled heating element. A portion of the duct extends to the outside of the tank enabling access to the interior space such that the heating element may be replaced without disturbing any external tank insulation or emptying the tank contents.
Claims15
A freeze-resistant tank comprising:
- a tank containing crystalline salt;
- a level control system configured to regulate a water supply to the tank to maintain a desired water level within the tank;
- and
- a freeze protection system comprising a duct partially disposed within the tank and a heating element disposed within an interior space of the duct, the duct including a connection port extending outside of the tank and enabling access to the interior space,
- wherein the portion of the duct within the tank is generally horizontally arranged and extends peripherally around an interior side wall of the tank.
A method for providing freeze protection for a tank comprising the steps of:
- providing a duct internal to the tank, the duct being sealed to prevent contact with contents of the tank, the duct enclosing an interior space accessible only through a connection port extending though an opening in a tank sidewall;
- providing a heating element;
- positioning the heating element within the interior space through the connection port;
- operably connecting the heating element to a thermostatically controlled power supply;
- and
- operating the heating element within a specified temperature range to prevent liquid contained in the tank from freezing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.