초록 ▼

This invention is a process for formation of a gas hydrate to be used as a cool storage medium using a refrigerant in water. Mixing of the immiscible refrigerant and water is effected by addition of a surfactant and agitation. The difficult problem of subcooling during the process is overcome by usi

This invention is a process for formation of a gas hydrate to be used as a cool storage medium using a refrigerant in water. Mixing of the immiscible refrigerant and water is effected by addition of a surfactant and agitation. The difficult problem of subcooling during the process is overcome by using the surfactant and agitation and performance of the process significantly improves and approaches ideal.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A process for formation of a gas hydrate to be used as a cool storage medium comprising: partially filling a container with water, a refrigerant capable of forming a gas hydrate and a surfactant; agitating said water, refrigerant and surfactant at a rate sufficient to effect mixing thereof;

1. A process for formation of a gas hydrate to be used as a cool storage medium comprising: partially filling a container with water, a refrigerant capable of forming a gas hydrate and a surfactant; agitating said water, refrigerant and surfactant at a rate sufficient to effect mixing thereof; lowering the pressure within said container by vapor removal until the temperature and pressure for formation of gas hydrate is reached. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein constant gas hydrate formation is maintained by releasing said refrigerant in the gas phase out of said container, introducing a two-phase liquid/gas mixture of said refrigerant into said container and regulating the flow rate of said refrigerant into and out of said container at a rate sufficient to maintain constant gas hydrate formation. 3. The process of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant is selected from the group of brominated, chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons CCl 3 F, CCl 2 F 2, CBrF 3, CHCl 2 F, CHClF 2, CH 2 ClF, and CH 3 CClF 2 and said surfactant is a nonionic fluorinated surfactant having the chemical formula F(CF 2 CF 2 ) 3-8 CH 2 CH 2 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 9-11 H. 4. The process of claim 3 wherein said refrigerant and water are present initially in the ratio of approximately one refrigerant molecule to 14-19 water molecules and about 1 ml of surfactant is present for 4,000 ml of total fluid. 5. The process of claim 2 wherein said refrigerant is selected from the group of brominated, chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons including CCl 3 F, CCl 2 F 2, CBrF 3, CHCl 2 F, CHClF 2, CH 2 ClF, CH 3 CClF 2 and said surfactant is a nonionic fluorinated surfactant having the chemical formula F(CF 2 CF 2 ) 3-8 CH 2 CH 2 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 9-11 H. 6. The process of claim 5 wherein said refrigerant and water are initially present in the ratio of approximately one refrigerant molecule to 14-19 water molecules and about 1 ml of surfactant is present for about 4,000 ml of total fluid. 7. A vapor-compression heat pump system comprising a compressor, a condensor and an expansion device in combination with a crystallizer; said crystallizer comprising: a tank; a cool storage medium disposed within said tank consisting of refrigerant, water and surfactant; means for agitating said cool storage medium; means for adjusting the temperature and pressure of said cool storage medium; an outlet valve at the top of said tank to release vapor from said tank to said compressor; an inlet valve at the base of said crystallizer to admit liquid and vapor from said expansion device; and means for transferring heat to and from said cool storage medium. 8. The heat pump system of claim 7 wherein said refrigerant is selected from the group of brominated, chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons CCl 3 F, CCl 2 F 2, CBrF 3, CHCl 2 F, CH 2 ClF and CH 3 CClF 2 and said surfactant is a nonionic fluorosurfactant having the chemical formula F(CF 2 CF 2 ) 3-8 CH 2 CH 2 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 9-11 H. 9. The heat pump system of claim 8 wherein said refrigerant and water are present initially in the ratio of approximately one refrigerant molecule to 14-19 water molecules and about 1 ml of surfactant is present for 4,000 ml of total fluid.