# US 2014/0190663 A1 · Methods, devices and systems for extraction of thermal energy from a heat conducting metal conduit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190663 A1 - Document ID: US20140190663A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/208,325 - Filed: 2014-03-13 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-15 - Assignees: Biofilm IP, LLC - Inventors: Daniel X. Wray; Robert J. Wray - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190663A1 ## CPC - F28F 13/06: by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media {(F28F13/003 takes precedence; static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026)} - F16L 55/103: by temporarily freezing liquid sections in the pipe - F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect - F25D 3/10: using liquefied gases, e.g. liquid air {(for cooling semiconductor devices H10W40/305)} - F25D 15/00: Devices not covered by group F25D11/00 or F25D13/00, e.g. non-self-contained movable devices - F28D 7/10: the conduits being arranged one within the other, e.g. concentrically {(multiple wall tubes for leak detection F28F1/003)} - G05D 23/192: {using a modification of the thermal impedance between a source and the load} - F25B 2321/002: by using magneto-caloric effects - Y02E 10/10: Geothermal energy - Y10T 137/0391: Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Provided are methods, devices and systems for controlled removal of thermal energy from a fluid within a thermally conducting metal conduit. The system allows for the in situ formation of a reversible plug that can stop the flow of fluid through the conduit, particularly without inducing thermally induced stress fractures or breaches in the conduit. The devices and systems include a thermal transfer device that can be adapted to be in thermal communication with a thermal conducting metal conduit containing a fluid, particularly a flowing fluid. The devices and systems allows for controlled re-heating of the conduit without inducing thermally induced stress fractures or breaches in the conduit to restore fluid flow through the conduit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cryo-thermodynamic valve device, comprising: a heat exchange unit, comprising: an inlet port for introducing a refrigerant; an outlet port for venting the refrigerant; a first conduit connectable to a pipeline transporting a fluid, wherein the first conduit conveys the fluid of the pipeline when connected to the pipeline; a second conduit having a diameter larger than a diameter of the first conduit, wherein: the second conduit encircles and is attached to the first conduit forming a cavity between the first conduit and the second conduit; the cavity contains or is filled with filings, turnings, shavings, pellets or beads of a thermally conductive material; and at least a portion of the filings, turnings, shavings, pellets or beads of a thermally conductive material are in thermal communication with the first conduit and the refrigerant as the refrigerant passes through the heat exchange unit; and a cryogen injector module, comprising: an injection port through which cryogen is injected; and a valve for controlling the flow of the cryogen through the injection port; wherein: the cryogen injector module is attached to the first conduit upstream of the heat exchange device and when activated injects cryogen into the fluid conveyed in the first conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cryo-thermodynamic valve device of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary injector device positioned upstream of the cryogen injector module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cryo-thermodynamic valve device of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange unit further comprises one or more heating channels that traverse a portion of the length or the full length of the heat exchange unit, wherein: the heating channels are configured to contain a fluid; or the heating channels comprise one or more that one heating unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cryo-thermodynamic valve device of claim 3, wherein the heating unit is selected from among a Curie temperature heater, a temperature limited heater, a conductor-in-conduit heat source, a heater strip, a resistive heating strip, a Positive Thermal Coefficient ceramic heater, a thick film ceramic heater, a resistance wire and a resistance ribbon heating device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cryo-thermodynamic valve device of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive material comprises copper, brass, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, chrome nickel steel, gold, silver, iridium, iron, lead, magnesium, molybdenum, nickel, platinum, tin, zinc, carbon steel, stainless steel or any combination or alloy thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cryo-thermodynamic valve device of claim 1, further comprising thermally conducting fins attached to the exterior surface of the first conduit and extending into the cavity between the first conduit and the second conduit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cryo-thermodynamic valve device of claim 6, wherein: the fins are configured to have the same length; or the fins are configured to have two or more different lengths. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The cryo-thermodynamic valve device of claim 6, wherein: (a) the fins are disposed radially along the pipe; or (b) the fins are disposed longitudinally along the pipe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The cryo-thermodynamic valve device of claim 6, wherein the fins are notched or perforated or both. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A cryo-thermodynamic valve system for forming a plug in a thermally conducting conduit containing a fluid, the system comprising: a cryo-thermodynamic valve device of claim 1 in thermal communication with the conduit; a refrigerant supply module; a cryogen supply module; and a control system to modulate the flow of a refrigerant from the refrigerant supply module to the heat exchange unit or the flow of cryogen from the cryogen supply module to the injector or both. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising one or more components selected from among: a flow-control metering valve to modulate the flow of refrigerant through the heat exchange unit or the flow of cryogen to the cryogen injector unit or both; a thermal monitoring device; an auxiliary injector device for injecting a material other than a cryogen into the fluid in the conduit; a computer module with a computer processor in communication with one or more of the components of the system; and an exhaust circuit, comprising: a vent tube adapted to vent the cryogen from the system after it has absorbed thermal energy from the conduit; or a recirculating circuit that directs the cryogen from the system after it has absorbed thermal energy from the conduit to a refrigeration system that removes the absorbed thermal energy from the cryogen and recirculates the cryogen back to the cryogen supply module. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the refrigerant supply modules delivers a refrigerant selected from among liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, liquid helium, liquid neon, liquid methane, liquid natural gas, liquid argon, liquid nitrous oxide, liquid carbon dioxide or combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method for temporarily preventing the flow of a fluid in a pipeline, comprising activating a cryo-thermodynamic valve device of claim 1 attached to the pipeline, wherein the injection of cryogen into the fluid and the heat exchange unit of the cryo-thermodynamic valve device remove sufficient thermal energy to cause the fluid in the pipeline to form a plug that prevents fluid from flowing through the pipeline. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein: the cryo-thermodynamic valve device attached to an intact pipeline is activated as an emergency shut off mechanism of the pipeline in case of failure or breach of the pipeline; or the cryo-thermodynamic valve device attached to a breached or broken pipeline is activated as an emergency shut off mechanism. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the activating step comprises: injecting a cryogen through the injection port of the cryogen injector module into the fluid in the pipeline; and introducing a refrigerant into the heat exchange unit of the cryo-thermodynamic valve device, wherein thermal energy is extracted from the pipeline and the fluid therein by flowing the refrigerant through the heat exchange unit and removing the warmed refrigerant or cryogen from the heat exchange unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein: the cryogen is selected from among liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, liquid helium, liquid neon, liquid argon, liquid nitrous oxide, liquid carbon dioxide and combinations thereof; and the refrigerant is selected from among liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, liquid helium, liquid neon, liquid argon, liquid nitrous oxide, liquid carbon dioxide and combinations thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising injecting a composition comprising a bridging fluid or surface active agent or a combination thereof into the fluid in the pipeline prior to the fluid entering the heat exchange unit of the cryo-thermodynamic valve device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising warming the heat exchange unit, thereby melting at least a portion of the plug to restore flow of fluid in the pipeline. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the warming comprises application of thermal energy to the conduit in proximity to the frozen plug to form a channel through the plug through which liquid fluid can flow without launching the frozen plug through the pipeline.