System and method for cryogenic cooling using liquefied natural gas
OwnerRobert A. Shatten, John Carrier +1inventors
InventorsRobert A. Shatten, John Carrier, Johnny Dean Jackson
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Abstract
A system and method for cooling a material with liquefied natural gas where liquefied natural gas and the material to be cryogenically cooled are brought into direct or indirect contact and cooled material and a combination of liquefied natural gas and natural gas are removed. Cooling may also employ an intermediate cooling medium such as a refrigerant or nitrogen. In the case of converting rubber in tires to rubber crumb, cooling of the products of a hammer mill and a fine grind mill by nitrogen subsequent to the cooling of nitrogen by a refrigerant and the refrigerant by liquefied natural gas converts shredded tires into recyclable rubber crumb.
Claims12
A method of converting a material into crumb and for vaporizing liquefied natural gas, the method comprising:
- a. shredding the material;
- b. transferring heat from the shredded material to the liquefied natural gas so as to cool the shredded material and to vaporize the natural gas;
- c. crushing the cooled, shredded material;
- d. separating the crushed, shredded material into components including crumb;
- and
- e. collecting the vaporized natural gas for distribution to customers.
A system for grinding an elastomeric material with liquefied natural gas, the system comprising:
- a. a supply of liquefied natural gas;
- b. a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the material to the liquefied natural gas for creating cryogenically glassified material;
- c. a mill for grinding the cryogenically glassified material into ground material;
- d. a transporter for removing ground material;
- and
- e. a distribution network for providing vaporized natural gas to customers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.