Chiller tank system and method for chilling liquids

A chiller tank system for containment of chilled liquids, the chiller tank system comprising:

• a first tank;
• a second tank position within the first tank, the first tank spaced apart from the second tank, insulation material positioned between the first tank and the second tank, the second tank defining a chamber for receiving liquid to be chilled;
• the second tank comprising a top and a bottom for sealing the chamber;
• at least one vent line extending outwardly from the top;
• a refrigeration unit for supplying inert refrigerant to the tank, the temperature within the chamber adapted to maintain any liquid within the tank below the approximate temperature of vaporization;
• the chiller tank system maintained at ambient pressure;
• a flexible, dual hose for circulating refrigerant between the refrigeration unit and the second tank, the dual hose comprising an inner hose within an outer hose, the outer hose concentric to and spaced apart from the inner hose, the inner hose defining a channel and the outer hose having an inside wall and an outside wall, the inner wall defining a conduit;
• a straight-lined, chiller barrel positioned vertically within the chamber and extending out of the top, the barrel defining a bore, the barrel having a first end portion extending outwardly through the top and a second end portion adjacent the bottom of the second tank, the chiller barrel comprising a suction tube,
• the second end portion comprising a closed end, the first end portion defining an opening into the bore, the suction tube sealably connected to the outer hose, the inner hose extending into the suction tube and deflected out into the bore so that the dual hose transports the chilled refrigerant into the barrel through the inner hose, the refrigerant is circulated throughout bore of the chiller barrel and transported back to the refrigeration unit through the outer hose.

A chiller tank system for containment of chilled liquids, the chiller tank comprising:

• a double walled tank comprising an inner wall and an outer wall spaced apart from the inner wall, the inner wall defining a chamber adapted to receive liquid to be chilled;
• a top adjacent the inner wall above the chamber for sealing the chamber and a bottom;
• a refrigeration unit for supplying inert refrigerant;
• a dual hose for circulating refrigerant between the refrigeration unit and the tank, the dual hose comprising an inner hose and an outer hose concentric to the inner hose;
• a straight-lined, chiller barrel positioned vertically within the chamber, the barrel defining a bore, the barrel comprising a suction tube;
• the barrel having a first end portion extending through the top and a second end portion adjacent the bottom of the tank, the second end portion comprising a closed end, the first end portion defining an opening into the bore, the chiller barrel sealably connected to the outer hose, the inner hose extending into the bore so that the refrigerant is circulated throughout the chiller barrel.

A chiller tank system for containment of chilled liquids, the chiller tank comprising:

• a double walled tank comprising an inner wall and an outer wall spaced apart from the inner wall, insulation material positioned between the outer wall and the inner wall, the inner wall defining a chamber for receiving liquid to be chilled;
• a top adjacent the inner wall above the chamber for sealing the chamber and a bottom, the top comprising at least one vent line extending outwardly from the top;
• a refrigeration unit for supplying inert refrigerant to the tank to maintain the temperature approximately below the vaporization temperature of the liquid;
• the chamber maintained at ambient pressure;
• a flexible, dual hose for circulating refrigerant between the refrigeration unit and the tank, the flexible, dual hose comprising an inner hose and an outer hose concentric to the inner hose, the outer hose having an inside wall and an outside wall, the inside wall defining a conduit and the inner hose positioned within the conduit;
• a straight-lined, chiller barrel positioned vertically within the chamber, the chiller barrel defining a bore, the chiller barrel comprising a tube within its bore, the chiller barrel further comprising a first end portion and a second end portion;
• the tube extending through the top, the second end portion of the chilled barrel adjacent the bottom of the tank, the second end portion comprising a closed end, the tube sealably connected to the outer hose, the inner hose extending into through the tube and deflected into the bore, so that the refrigerant enters the barrel through one hose of the dual hose, travels through the chiller barrel and returns to the refrigeration unit through the other hose.

A chiller tank system for containment of chilled aqueous ammonia, the chiller tank system comprising:

• a first tank;
• a second tank position within the first tank, the first tank spaced apart from the second tank, insulation material positioned between the first tank and the second tank, the second tank defining a chamber for receiving liquid to be chilled;
• the second tank comprising a top for sealing the chamber and a bottom;
• at least one vent line extending outwardly from the top;
• a refrigeration unit for supplying inert refrigerant to the tank, the temperature within the chamber maintained below approximately 65° F.;
• the chiller tank system maintained at ambient pressure;
• a dual hose for circulating refrigerant between the refrigeration unit and the second tank, the dual hose comprising an inner hose within an outer hose, the outer hose concentric to and spaced apart from the inner hose;
• a straight-lined, chiller barrel positioned vertically within the chamber, the chiller barrel defining a bore, the chiller barrel having a first end portion extending outwardly through the top and a second end portion comprising a closed end, the chiller barrel further comprising a tube positioned within the bore, the tube sealably connected to the outer hose, the inner hose extending into the tube and deflected into the bore so that the refrigerant enters the barrel through the one hose, circulates through the barrel and is transported back to the refrigeration unit by the other hose;
• the second end of the chiller barrel positioned adjacent the bottom of the second tank and the tube extending within the chiller barrel until it is adjacent the second end portion of the chiller barrel for substantially uniform temperature throughout liquid within the chiller tank.

A method for chilling a liquid with a chiller tank system, the method comprising:

• pre-charging a refrigeration unit and flexible duel hose with a refrigerant;
• attaching the flexible, pre-charged duel hose to a chiller barrel so that the refrigerant can circulate through the chiller barrel
• inserting the chiller barrel with the duel hose into a tank containing liquid to be chilled;
• positioning the chiller barrel so that it is vertical within the tank so that the chiller barrel is extended through the depth of the tank;
• circulating the refrigerant from the refrigeration unit through the flexible hoses and through the chiller barrel so that the liquid within the tank is chilled substantially uniformly throughout the depth of the tank;
• maintaining the tank at a temperature within a range that is approximately below the vaporization temperature of the liquid;
• maintaining the pressure at ambient pressure;
• venting the tank to the atmosphere by one vent release line at the top of the tank and a second vent release line between the tank and the metering pump.

A chiller tank system for containment of chilled liquids, the chiller tank system comprising:

• a first tank;
• a second tank position within the first tank, the first tank spaced apart from the second tank, insulation material positioned between the first tank and the second tank, the second tank defining a chamber for receiving liquid to be chilled;
• the second tank comprising a top and a bottom for sealing the chamber;
• a refrigeration unit for supplying inert refrigerant to the tank;
• a dual hose for circulating refrigerant between the refrigeration unit and the second tank, the dual hose comprising an inner hose within an outer hose, the outer hose concentric to and spaced apart from the inner hose;
• a straight-lined, chiller barrel positioned vertically within the chamber, the chiller barrel defining a bore;
• the straight-lined chiller barrel having a first end portion and a second end portion adjacent the bottom of the second tank, the second end portion comprising a closed end, the first end portion connected to the outer hose, the inner hose extending into the bore so that the refrigerant is circulated from the refrigeration unit, through the inner hose and into the bore of the chiller, and back to the refrigeration unit through the outer hose.