Method and apparatus for maintenance of slush mixture at desired level during melt conditions
AssigneeAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsDavid A. Butler, Robert B. Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for maintaining a liquid-frozen solid slush mixture in a vessel at a desired total slush mixture and desired solids content during conditions under which the solids in the slush mixture in the vessel are melting. The method comprises introducing fresh slush mixture to the vessel, while removing liquid from the vessel--both at rates directly proportional to the rate of solids melting in the vessel. The apparatus comprises an auxiliary vessel containing slush mixture and means for transferring slush mixture to the main vessel at one rate, means for transferring liquid from the main vessel to the auxiliary vessel at another rate, and means for controlling the transfer rates in a prescribed manner.
Claims16
A method for maintaining the solids content and total quantity of a slush mixture in a primary vessel at predetermined values during a period of time when the solids of the slush mixture in the primary vessel are melting, which method comprises filling the primary vessel with the slush mixture substantially to a predetermined volumetric capacity of the primary vessel, providing a separate auxiliary vessel containing a quantity of slush mixture, transferring slush mixture from the auxiliary vessel to the primary vessel at a rate that will infuse solid particles into the primary vessel at a rate that is comparable to the rate at which the solid melts in the primary vessel, and transferring liquid from the primary vessel to the auxiliary vessel at a rate directly proportional to the rate at which the solid melts in the primary vessel;
- whereby the weight of slush mixture in the primary vessel is maintained at the predetermined value and the volume of the slush mixture in the primary vessel is maintained at the predetermined volumetric value.
An apparatus for maintaining a slush mixture at a predetermined quantity in a primary vessel during a period of time when the solid portion of the slush mixture in the primary vessel is melting, which apparatus comprises a separate auxiliary vessel having an upper region and a lower region, means associated with the auxiliary tank and in fluid communication with the lower region thereof for transferring slush mixture from the auxiliary vessel to the primary vessel at a controlled rate, means associated with the auxiliary vessel and in fluid communication with the upper region thereof for transferring liquid from the primary vessel to the auxiliary vessel at a controlled rate.
A method for maintaining the solids content and quantity of fuel in a fuel tank of a slush hydrogen fueled vehicle at predetermined values during the period between the discontinuance of fueling from a fixed location station and fuel operation of the vehicle and during which period the solids in the fuel tank are melting, which method comprises loading the fuel tank to the predetermined quantity and solids content values, providing a separate slush hydrogen auxiliary tank, loading the auxiliary tank with slush hydrogen to a level less than the full volumetric capacity of the auxiliary tank, transferring slush hydrogen from the auxiliary tank to the fuel tank at a rate that will introduce solid hydrogen particles at a rate directly proportional comparable to the rate of solids melting in the fuel tank, transferring liquid hydrogen from the fuel tank to the auxiliary tank at a rate comparable to the rate of slush transfer from the auxiliary tank to the fuel tank plus the volumetric increase of slush in the fuel tank due to melting of solid hydrogen in the fuel tank, whereby the weight of slush hydrogen in the fuel tank is maintained at the predetermined level while maintaining the volume of the slush hydrogen at substantially the predetermined value.
An apparatus for maintaining the solids content and quantity of fuel in a fuel tank of a slush hydrogen fueled vehicle at predetermined values during the period between the discontinuance of fueling from a fixed location station and full operation of the vehicle, which apparatus comprises a separate slush hydrogen auxiliary tank having an upper region and a lower region, means associated with the auxiliary tank and in fluid communication with the lower region thereof for transferring slush hydrogen from the auxiliary tank to the fuel tank at a predetermined rate, means associated with the auxiliary tank and in fluid communication with the upper region thereof for transferring liquid hydrogen from the fuel tank to the auxiliary tank at a predetermined rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.