# US 9,873,214 B2 · Device and method for extrusion of a solid body

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- Number: US 9,873,214 B2
- Document ID: US9873214B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/934,917
- Filed: 2013-07-03
- Published: 2014-01-09
- Granted: 2018-01-23
- Earliest claimed: 2012-07-04
- Assignees: Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives
- Applicants: Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives
- Inventors: Denis Chatain; Jean-Paul Perin; Marc Chichoux
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9873214B2

## CPC

- B29C 48/08: flexible, e.g. films
- B29C 35/007: {Tempering units for temperature control of moulds or cores, e.g. comprising heat exchangers, controlled valves, temperature-controlled circuits for fluids (B29C35/0294 takes precedence)}
- B29C 48/022: {characterised by the choice of material}
- B29C 48/14: characterised by the particular extruding conditions, e.g. in a modified atmosphere or by using vibration
- B29C 48/2552: {provided in the feeding, melting, plasticising or pumping zone, e.g. screw, barrel, gear-pump or ram}
- B29C 48/29: in liquid form
- B29C 48/295: in gaseous form
- B29C 48/82: Cooling (B29C48/84 takes precedence)
- B29C 48/87: Cooling
- B29C 48/872: {characterised by differential heating or cooling}
- F25J 1/0005: {Light or noble gases (F25J1/0012 takes precedence)}
- F25J 1/001: {Hydrogen}
- F25J 1/0015: {Nitrogen}
- F25J 1/0017: {Oxygen}
- F25J 1/002: {Argon}
- F25J 1/0022: {Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas}
- F25J 1/0251: {Intermittent or alternating process, so-called batch process, e.g. "peak-shaving"}
- F25J 1/0276: {Laboratory or other miniature devices}
- G21B 1/19: Targets for producing thermonuclear fusion reactions, e.g. pellets for irradiation by laser or charged particle beams
- B29C 48/141: {extruding in a clean room}
- B29C 48/305: having a wide opening, e.g. for forming sheets
- B29C 48/92: Measuring, controlling or regulating
- B29C 2948/92704: Temperature
- B29C 2948/92857: Extrusion unit
- B29C 2948/92876: Feeding, melting, plasticising or pumping zones, e.g. the melt itself
- B29C 2948/92904: Die; Nozzle zone
- F25D 19/00: Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices {or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors}
- F25J 2205/20: using solidification of components
- F25J 2215/32: Neon
- F25J 2235/04: using a pressure accumulator
- F25J 2270/90: External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration
- F25J 2280/40: Control of freezing of components
- F25J 2290/12: Particular process parameters like pressure, temperature, ratios
- Y02E 30/10: Nuclear fusion reactors
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- F25J: LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS {OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS} MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT {OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE (cryogenic pumps F04B37/08; gas storage vessels, gas holders F17; filing vessels with, or discharging from vessels, compressed, liquefied or solidified gases F17C; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B)}
- G21B: FUSION REACTORS (uncontrolled reactors G21J)
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The extrusion device of a solid film comprises a cell provided with an input opening of a material designed to form the solid film, and an output opening of the solid film from the cell. The device comprises a first heat exchanger for applying a first temperature to the output opening and a second heat exchanger for applying a second temperature in a first zone of the cell distinct from the output opening and a control circuit imposing first and second sets of first and second temperatures. The first set enables a volume of the material in solid phase to be formed. The second set enables a temperature gradient to be generated in the volume so as to generate a pressure forcing extrusion of the solid film via the output opening.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An extrusion device of a solid film comprising:
a cell provided with an input opening to the cell for input of a material designed to form the solid film, and an output opening of the solid film from the cell, the cell comprising a stopper at a level of the input opening configured to close the input opening;
a first heat exchanger configured to apply a first temperature to the output opening of the cell;
a second heat exchanger configured to apply a second temperature in a first zone of the cell distinct from the output opening;
a control circuit configured for controlling the first and second heat exchangers so as to impose:
a first set of first and second temperatures to form a volume of the material in solid phase inside the cell, said volume sealing off the output opening;
a second set of first and second temperatures to generate a temperature gradient between the output opening and the first zone so as to generate a pressure in the cell forcing extrusion of the solid film via the output opening, in which the input opening is closed prior to the second set of first and second temperatures being imposed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The extrusion device according to claim 1, wherein the output opening is situated below the input opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The extrusion device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit imposes a third set of first and second temperatures so as to completely fill the inner volume of the cell with said material in solid phase.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The extrusion device according to claim 1, comprising a sealed chamber inside which the cell is located and comprising a pump configured to create a vacuum in the sealed chamber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The extrusion device according to claim 1, comprising an injection source of hydrogen or deuterium in gas or liquid phase so as to respectively extrude a solid film of hydrogen or deuterium.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The extrusion device according to claim 1, wherein the stopper comprises a valve configured to regulate the pressure in the cell.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The extrusion device according to claim 6, wherein the stopper comprises a cooler.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method for extrusion of a solid film using a device according to claim 1, comprising the following successive steps:
sealing off the output opening by solidifying the material in the output opening;
forming a volume of the material in solid phase, said volume covering the output opening;
closing the input opening;
generating a temperature gradient in said volume so as to generate a pressure in the cell to force extrusion of the solid film via the output opening.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method for extrusion according to claim 8, wherein the material is a cryogenic fluid and sealing of the output opening comprises the following steps:
maintaining the output opening at a first temperature lower than the temperature of the triple point of the cryogenic fluid, and the first zone at a second temperature higher than the temperature of the triple point of the cryogenic fluid;
input of the cryogenic fluid to the cell with a pressure in the cell enabling solidification of the cryogenic fluid at the output opening.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method for extrusion according to claim 8, wherein the material is a cryogenic fluid and sealing of the output opening comprises the following steps:
maintaining the output opening at a first temperature lower than the temperature of the triple point of the cryogenic fluid, and the first zone at a second temperature higher than the temperature of the triple point of the cryogenic fluid;
input of the cryogenic fluid to the cell with a pressure in the cell enabling solidification of the cryogenic fluid at the output opening;
after sealing of the output opening, the second temperature in the first zone is maintained at a substantially equal temperature to the first temperature at the output opening so as to form the volume based of solidified cryogenic fluid, the first zone being in contact with the volume.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method for extrusion according to claim 8, wherein before generation of the temperature gradient to force extrusion of the solid film, the first temperature at the output opening is maintained at a substantially equal temperature to the temperature of the triple point of the material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method for extrusion according to claim 8, wherein the solid film is extruded with a rate regulated by adjustment of the second temperature in the first zone of the cell.

### Claim 13

An extrusion device of a solid film comprising:
a cell provided with an input opening to the cell for input of a material designed to form the solid film, and an output opening of the solid film from the cell;
a first heat exchanger configured to apply a first temperature to the output opening of the cell;
a second heat exchanger configured to apply a second temperature in a first zone of the cell distinct from the output opening;
a control circuit configured for controlling the first and second heat exchangers so as to impose:
a first set of first and second temperatures to form a volume of the material in a solid phase inside the cell, said volume sealing off the output opening;
a second set of first and second temperatures to generate a temperature gradient between the output opening and the first zone so as to generate a pressure in the cell forcing extrusion of the solid film via the output opening, in which the input opening is closed prior to the second set of first and second temperatures being imposed,
wherein the input opening comprises a cooler configured to solidify the material in the input opening to close the input opening.