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US 8,474,273 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for providing a temperature-controlled gas
AssigneeAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
InventorDaniel James Gibson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coolant delivery system and method for maintaining a temperature within a predetermined range of a set-point temperature in a vessel into which a coolant gas is discharged or a temperature of a material onto which the coolant gas is discharged. The coolant gas results from the mixing of a supply gas with a cryogen. Temperature regulation is provided by regulating the flow rate of a cryogen using a proportional valve, while providing an essentially constant flow rate of a supply gas.
Claims18
A method comprising:
- supplying a gas to a mixing zone;
- supplying a cryogen to the mixing zone;
- discharging a coolant gas from the mixing zone into a vessel, the coolant gas comprising the gas and the cryogen;
- measuring a first temperature using a sensor;
- and
- maintaining the first temperature within a first predetermined range of above and below a set-point temperature by adjusting a proportional valve, which regulates a flow rate at which the cryogen is supplied to the mixing zone.
3 more elements
An apparatus for cooling a vessel, the apparatus comprising:
- a gas supply line that is in fluid communication with a source of a supply gas and is adapted to deliver the supply gas to a mixing zone;
- a cryogen supply line that is in fluid communication with a source of a cryogen and is adapted to supply the cryogen to the mixing zone, the cryogen supply line including a proportional valve;
- a coolant delivery assembly comprising a coolant delivery line that supplies a coolant gas from the mixing zone to a coolant delivery device, the coolant gas comprising the supply gas and the cryogen, the coolant delivery line being located downstream from the mixing zone and being in fluid communication with the mixing zone, the coolant delivery device comprising at least one opening located within the vessel;
- a sensor adapted to measure a first temperature;
- and
- a controller adapted to receive signals from the sensor;
- wherein the controller is programmed to maintain the first temperature within a first predetermined range above and below a set-point temperature by adjusting the proportional valve, which regulates a flow rate at which the cryogen gas is supplied to the mixing zone.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.