Environmentally friendly method and apparatus for cooling a temperature controlled space
AssigneeThermo King Corporation
InventorsHerman H. Viegas, Jayaram Seshadri
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and a method for conditioning air in a plurality of spaced apart and thermally separated conditioned spaces with a cryogenic temperature control apparatus. The apparatus includes a storage tank housing a cryogen, an evaporator coil being selectively moveable into and out of thermal communication with the plurality of conditioned spaces for alternately conditioning air in the plurality of conditioned spaces, and a flow path fluidly connecting the storage tank and the evaporator coil.
Claims32
A cryogenic temperature control apparatus for conditioning air in a plurality of conditioned spaces, the plurality of conditioned spaces being spaced apart and being thermally separated, the cryogenic temperature control apparatus comprising:
- a storage tank housing a cryogen;
- an evaporator coil being selectively moveable into and out of the plurality of conditioned spaces for alternately conditioning air in the plurality of conditioned spaces;
- and
- a flow path fluidly connecting the storage tank and the evaporator coil.
A cryogenic temperature control apparatus for conditioning the temperature of air in a plurality of thermally separated conditioned spaces, the plurality of conditioned spaces being located in a plurality of locations, the cryogenic temperature control apparatus comprising:
- a storage tank housing a cryogen;
- and
- a mobile heat exchanger moveable between the plurality of locations, the mobile heat exchanger being alternately insertable into the plurality of conditioned spaces to alternately condition air in the plurality of conditioned spaces, the mobile heat exchanger including an evaporator coil extending through the heat exchanger, and a flow path fluidly connecting the storage tank and the evaporator coil.
A method of controlling the temperature of a plurality of conditioned spaces with a cryogenic temperature control apparatus, the cryogenic temperature control apparatus including a storage tank housing a cryogen, an evaporator coil, and a flow path fluidly connecting the storage tank and the evaporator coil, the plurality of conditioned spaces being located in a plurality of locations, the method comprising:
- removably inserting the evaporator coil into at least one conditioned space;
- transferring cryogen through the flow path from the storage tank to the evaporator coil;
- transferring heat from the at least one conditioned space to the cryogen;
- and
- moving the evaporator coil out of the at least one conditioned space.
A method of controlling the temperature of a plurality of conditioned spaces with a cryogenic temperature control apparatus, the cryogenic temperature control apparatus including a storage tank housing a cryogen, an evaporator coil, and a flow path fluidly connecting the storage tank and the evaporator coil, the plurality of conditioned spaces being located in a plurality of locations, the method comprising:
- removably thermally connecting the evaporator coil and at least one conditioned space;
- transferring cryogen through the flow path from the storage tank to the evaporator coil;
- transferring heat from the at least one conditioned space to the cryogen;
- and
- moving the evaporator coil out of thermal communication with the at least one conditioned space;
- wherein the storage tank has a first pressure, the cryogenic temperature control apparatus includes a second tank, and further comprising transferring cryogen from the storage tank to the second tank and changing the pressure of the cryogen from the first pressure to a second pressure.
A method of pulling down the temperature of air in a plurality of thermally separated conditioned spaces with a moveable cryogenic temperature control apparatus, the moveable cryogenic temperature control apparatus including a storage tank housing a cryogen, an evaporator coil, and a flow path fluidly connecting the storage tank and the evaporator coil, the method comprising:
- moving the evaporator coil into at least one of the plurality of conditioned spaces;
- moving air from the at least one conditioned space across the evaporator coil;
- moving cryogen through the evaporator coil;
- transferring heat from the at least one conditioned space to the cryogen;
- and
- moving the evaporator coil out of the at least one of the plurality of conditioned spaces.
A method of providing supplemental cooling to a moveable conditioned space, the moveable conditioned space including a mechanical refrigeration unit having a quantity of a refrigerant and an evaporator coil, the method including:
- fluidly connecting the evaporator coil to a supply of cryogen;
- moving air from the conditioned space across the evaporator coil;
- moving cryogen through the evaporator coil;
- transferring heat from the conditioned space to the cryogen;
- and
- fluidly disconnecting the evaporator coil and the supply of cryogen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.