Back to results
US 9,677,714 B2Granted
Cryogenic injection compositions, systems and methods for cryogenically modulating flow in a conduit
AssigneeBiofilm IP, LLC
InventorDaniel X. Wray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided are cryogenic injection compositions, methods and systems to introduce a cryogenic injection composition into a fluid within a conduit such that at least a portion of the temperature of the fluid is reduced to a temperature below which at least a portion of the fluid becomes a solid thereby reversibly plugging the conduit. Also provided are methods and systems for cooling or freezing a conduit and a fluid therein using a pressurized fluid cryogen as a thermal transfer fluid for controlled removal of thermal energy from a thermal conducting metal conduit and a fluid contained therein.
Claims35
A cryogenic injection composition, comprising:
- a fluid cryogen selected from among liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, liquid helium, liquid neon, liquid methane, liquid natural gas, liquid argon, liquid nitrous oxide, liquid carbon dioxide, liquid chlorofluorocarbons and combinations thereof;
- a material selected from among carbon fibers, carbon nanostructures, graphite, fused silica, ground granite, aluminum silicon carbide, aluminum graphite, aluminum nitride, silicon nitride ceramic, and polyacetylene fibers and combinations thereof having a size of 100 μm or less in an amount of at or about 0.05% to at or about 90% based on the weight of the injection composition;
- a plurality of particles having a diameter of 1 μm or greater in an amount of at or about 0.05% to at or about 90% based on the weight of the injection composition, wherein the particles comprise a material having a specific heat capacity (cp) from about 0.25 J·g−1K−1 to about 2.5 J·g−1K−1;
- and
- frozen particles of solvent in an amount from at or about 0.05% to at or about 85% based on the weight of the injection composition.
2 more elements
A cryogenic injection composition, comprising:
- a fluid cryogen selected from among liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, liquid helium, liquid neon, liquid methane, liquid natural gas, liquid argon, liquid nitrous oxide, liquid carbon dioxide, liquid chlorofluorocarbons and combinations thereof;
- a material selected from among carbon fibers, carbon nanostructures, graphite, fused silica, ground granite, aluminum silicon carbide, aluminum graphite, aluminum nitride, silicon nitride ceramic, and polyacetylene fibers and combinations thereof having a size of 100 μm or less in an amount of at or about 0.05% to at or about 90% based on the weight of the injection composition;
- and
- a plurality of particles having a diameter of 100 μm or less in an amount of at or about 0.05% to at or about 90% based on the weight of the injection composition, wherein the particles comprise a material selected from among a metal, a glass, a metal-coated glass, an oxide, a plastic, a metal-coated plastic, a ceramic, corian, diatomaceous earth, fiberglass, foam glass, gypsum, magnesite, magnesia fibers, mineral fibers, nylon, perlite, foamed plastic, expanded polystyrene, polyurethane, porcelain, PTFE, PVC, pyrex glass, silica, amorphous silica, vermiculite, crushed stone, sand, paraffin wax, frozen water, solid polyethylene and combinations thereof, wherein the particles comprise or are coated with frozen water;
- and
- (a) a material that has a heat of fusion greater than 20 cal/g;
- or
- (b) a material that has a heat of sublimation greater than 500 J·g−1;
- or
- (c) both (a) and (b).
7 more elements
A cryogenic injection composition, comprising:
- a fluid cryogen selected from among liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, liquid helium, liquid neon, liquid methane, liquid natural gas, liquid argon, liquid nitrous oxide, liquid carbon dioxide, liquid chlorofluorocarbons and combinations thereof;
- a plurality of frozen beads comprising a frozen solvent and particles having a diameter of 10 μm or less, the particles comprising a material having a specific heat capacity (cp) from about 0.1 J·g−1K−1 to about 2.5 J·g−1K−1, wherein:
- the particles are contained within the frozen beads;
- or
- the particles are contained on the surface of the frozen beads;
- or
- the particles are on the surface of and contained within the frozen beads.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.