Discontinuous cryogenic mixed gas refrigeration system and method

A cryogenic mixed gas refrigeration system comprising:

• a cryo-coil;
• a compressor;
• a discharge path for conveying fluid from said compressor to said cryo-coil;
• a return path for conveying fluid from said cryo-coil to said compressor;
• and
• at least one heat exchanger/coalescent phase separation array in said discharge path including:
• a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between fluid in said discharge and said return paths;
• a coalescent separation housing containing a coalescent medium in said discharge path receiving fluid from said heat exchanger for separating liquid and gas phases from each other in said discharge path;
• a gas outlet from said coalescent separation housing to said discharge path;
• a liquid reservoir and outlet from said coalescent separation housing to said return path;
• a refrigerant shut off valve in said discharge path upstream of said cryo-coil toward said compressor and;
• a start valve located in a line connected between said discharge path upstream of said shut off valve and said return path whereby with said shut off valve closed said start valve can be opened on or immediately prior to start up of the refrigeration system with operation of said compressor.

A cryogenic mixed gas refrigeration system comprising:

• a cryo-coil;
• a compressor;
• a discharge path for conveying fluid from said compressor to said cryo-coil;
• a return path for conveying fluid from said cryo-coil to said compressor;
• and
• a plurality of heat exchanger/coalescent phase separation arrays located sequentially along said discharge path each including:
• a plate heat exchanger with passages for said discharge and said return paths for exchanging heat between fluid in said discharge and said return paths;
• a coalescent separation housing containing a coalescent medium in said discharge path receiving fluid from said heat exchanger for separating liquid and gas phases from each other in said discharge path;
• a gas outlet from said coalescent separation housing to said discharge path;
• and
• a liquid reservoir and outlet from said coalescent separation housing to said return path.

A cryogenic mixed gas refrigeration system comprising:

• a cryo-coil;
• a compressor;
• a discharge path for conveying fluid from said compressor to said cryo-coil;
• a return path for conveying fluid from said cryo-coil to said compressor;
• and
• a plurality of heat exchanger/coalescent phase separation arrays located sequentially along said discharge path each including:
• a plate heat exchanger with passages for said discharge and said return paths for exchanging heat between fluid in said discharge and said return paths;
• a coalescent separation housing containing a coalescent medium in said discharge path receiving fluid from said heat exchanger for separating liquid and gas phases from each other in said discharge path;
• a gas outlet from said coalescent separation housing to said discharge path;
• a liquid reservoir and outlet from said coalescent separation housing to said return path;
• a refrigerant shut off valve in said discharge path upstream of said cryo-coil toward said compressor and
• a start valve located in a line connected between said discharge path upstream of said shut off valve and said return path whereby with said shut off valve closed said start valve can be opened on or immediately prior to start up of the refrigeration system with operation of said compressor.

A cryogenic mixed gas refrigeration system comprising:

• a cryo-coil;
• a compressor;
• a discharge path for conveying fluid from said compressor to said cryo-coil;
• a return path for conveying fluid from said cryo-coil to said compressor;
• and
• a plurality of heat exchanger/coalescent phase separation arrays located sequentially along said discharge path each including:
• a plate heat exchanger with passages for said discharge and said return paths for exchanging heat between fluid in said discharge and said return paths;
• a coalescent separation housing containing a coalescent medium in said discharge path receiving fluid from said heat exchanger for separating liquid and gas phases from each other in said discharge path;
• a gas outlet from said coalescent separation housing to said discharge path connected to the inlet of a sequential heat exchanger located along said discharge path;
• a liquid reservoir and outlet from said coalescent separation housing to said return path connected to the return path inlet of a sequential heat exchanger along said discharge path;
• a refrigerant shut off valve in said discharge path upstream of said cryo-coil toward said compressor;
• and
• a start valve located in a line connected between said discharge path upstream of said shut off valve and said return path whereby with said shut off valve closed said start valve can be opened on or immediately prior to start up of the refrigeration system with operation of said compressor.

A cryogenic mixed gas refrigeration system comprising:

• a cryo-coil;
• a compressor;
• a discharge path for conveying fluid from said compressor to said cryo-coil;
• a return path for conveying fluid from said cryo-coil to said compressor;
• and
• a plurality of heat exchanger phase separation arrays located sequentially along said discharge path each including:
• a plate heat exchanger with passages for said discharge and said return paths for exchanging heat between fluid in said discharge and said return paths;
• a fluid separation housing for separating liquid and gas phases from each other in said discharge path;
• a gas outlet from said separation housing to said discharge path connected to the inlet of a sequential heat exchanger located along said discharge path;
• a liquid reservoir and outlet from said separation housing to said return path;
• a refrigerant shut off valve in said discharge path upstream of said cryo-coil toward said compressor;
• and
• a start valve located in a line connected between said discharge path upstream of said shut off valve and said return path whereby with said shut off valve closed said start valve can be opened on or immediately prior to start up of the refrigeration system with operation of said compressor.

A cryogenic mixed gas refrigeration system comprising:

• a cryo-coil;
• a compressor;
• a discharge path for conveying fluid from said compressor to said cryo-coil;
• a return path for conveying fluid from said cryo-coil to said compressor;
• a refrigerant shut off valve in said discharge path upstream of said cryo-coil toward said compressor and;
• a start valve located in a line connected between said discharge path upstream of said shut off valve and said return path whereby with said shut off valve closed said start valve can be opened on or immediately prior to start up of the refrigeration system with operation of said compressor.

A method of operating a cryogenic mixed gas refrigeration system having a cryo-coil, a compressor, a discharge path for conveying fluid from said compressor to said cryo-coil and a return path for conveying fluid from said cryo-coil to said compressor comprising the steps of:

• compressing gaseous refrigerant
• cooling the compressed refrigerant into a cooled fluid refrigerant
• conducting the cooled refrigerant through a coalescent medium to provide a separated cooled gas and a separated cooled liquid
• passing the separated cooled gas along the discharge path toward the cryo-coil and passing the separated cooled liquid along the return path toward to cool compressed refrigerant.