US 7,062,924 B2 · Method and apparatus for the manipulation and management of a cryogen for production of frozen small volumes of a substance

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the manipulation and management process of cryogen such that it controls both the fluid body movement as well as internal currents within the cryogen. Small volumes of a desired substance introduced into this managed cryogen for the production of frozen or solidified pellets or granules are better managed as to shape, size, deformation, frozen satellites, fines and agglomeration and overall desired quality. These benefits result from the dispersion of the gas produced, as well as the heat transferred, resulting from the introduction of the relatively hot substance to the cryogen. The fluid body movement assists in maintaining a distance between the individual solidifying pellets or granules thereby minimizing deformation as a result of physical contact. The output characteristics and desired quality of the pellets can be more effectively controlled and managed, as desired.

Claims44

Dependent claims

A method of manipulation and management of the motion and currents of a liquid cryogen utilized in the freezing or solidifying of individually small volumes of a liquid or units, characterized by

transporting liquid cryogen from a reservoir in a first direction upwardly from the reservoir to a single raceway, said cryogen having a transition point where the direction of flow of the cryogen changes to a second direction;
managing the speed of travel and volume of the cryogen at it travels in said raceway from the transition point to reduce gasification of the cryogen and any back eddies created in the flow of said cryogen caused by said change of direction;
introducing a liquid to be frozen by said cryogen while said cryogen is traveling in said second direction, said liquid being introduced via one or more orifices into said raceway at a distance remote from the cryogen, such that the small volumes of said liquid form into frozen units, adjusting the flow of the cryogen by a control means located in said raceway after the introduction of said liquid to said cryogen.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for the manipulation and management of a cryogen for production of frozen small volumes of a substance

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for the manipulation and management of a cryogen for production of frozen small volumes of a substance

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44