Apparatus for generating, at a target ice/liquid ratio with a corresponding target temperature, a slush comprising frozen and non-frozen liquid comprises a flow path for recirculation of liquid therethrough, the flow path comprising a heat exchanger having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, the h
Apparatus for generating, at a target ice/liquid ratio with a corresponding target temperature, a slush comprising frozen and non-frozen liquid comprises a flow path for recirculation of liquid therethrough, the flow path comprising a heat exchanger having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, the heat exchanger being configured for flow therethrough of coolant at a temperature below the target temperature, the apparatus being configured to vary the rate of coolant flow through the heat exchanger between a first rate and a second rate that is lower than the first rate.
대표청구항▼
1. An apparatus for generating, at a target ice/liquid ratio with a corresponding target temperature, a slush comprising a frozen and non-frozen liquid, the apparatus comprising: a flow path that recirculates the frozen and non-frozen liquid therethrough; anda heat exchanger, forming part of the flo
1. An apparatus for generating, at a target ice/liquid ratio with a corresponding target temperature, a slush comprising a frozen and non-frozen liquid, the apparatus comprising: a flow path that recirculates the frozen and non-frozen liquid therethrough; anda heat exchanger, forming part of the flow path, comprising a coolant conduit extending longitudinally through the heat exchanger and a freeze conduit extending longitudinally through the heat exchanger, wherein the coolant conduit and the freeze conduit share a contiguous boundary along their longitudinal length through the heat exchanger such that thermal energy is transferred between the freeze conduit and the coolant conduit to partially freeze the non-frozen liquid in the conduit loop to generate the slush at the target ice/liquid ratio;wherein the freeze conduit is devoid of an ice scraper and the coolant conduit is configured for flow therethrough of coolant at a temperature below the target temperature, the apparatus being configured to vary the rate of coolant flow through the coolant conduit between a first rate and a second rate that is lower than the first rate. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured such that the first rate of coolant flow produces a net increase in a fraction of frozen liquid in the generated slush contained in the freeze conduit. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured such that the second rate of coolant flow produces a net decrease or substantially no change in a fraction of frozen liquid in the generated slush contained in the freeze conduit. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured such that a flow rate of liquid comprising the slush through the freeze conduit is maintained at least 1 liter per minute until ice has nucleated. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coolant comprises a liquid. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coolant comprises a vapor compression refrigerant. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the freeze conduit has an maximum internal dimension transverse to the direction of liquid flow that is less than or equal to about 10 mm. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the freeze conduit has a length in a range of from 5 m to 30 m. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one sensor for sensing a fraction of frozen liquid in the generated slush, the apparatus being configured to vary the rate of coolant flow in dependence on an output signal from the at least one sensor. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one flow restrictor or diverter for restricting or diverting coolant flow through the heat exchanger. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a further flow path configured to re-circulate coolant through the coolant conduit. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the freeze conduit consists of tubing having a medium density polyethylene (MDPE) or nylon bore. 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the a coolant conduit is releasably attached to the freeze conduit. 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coolant conduit is arranged substantially concentrically with at least a portion of the freeze conduit. 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the freeze conduit is located within at least a portion of the coolant conduit. 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coolant conduit accommodates a maximum coolant volume of 5 liters. 17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the freeze conduit has flexible walls. 18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is pressurized to above ambient pressure. 19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target temperature of the slush lies in a range of from less than or equal to about −1° C. to greater than or equal to about −5° C. 20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coolant temperature is at least about 2° C. lower than the target temperature of the slush. 21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coolant temperature is less than or equal to about −7° C. 22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coolant conduit and the freeze conduit are arranged in parallel through the heat exchanger. 23. A method of generating, at a target ice/liquid ratio with a corresponding target temperature, a slush comprising a frozen and non-frozen liquid, the method comprising the steps of: providing a flow path that recirculates the frozen and non-frozen liquid therethrough, and a heat exchanger, forming part of the flow path, comprising a coolant conduit extending longitudinally through the heat exchanger and a freeze conduit extending longitudinally through the heat exchanger, wherein the coolant conduit and the freeze conduit share a contiguous boundary along their longitudinal length through the heat exchanger such that thermal energy is transferred between the freeze conduit and the coolant conduit to partially freeze the non-frozen liquid in the freeze conduit to generate the slush at the target ice/liquid ratio, the freeze conduit being devoid of an ice scraper;recirculating the frozen and non-frozen liquid through the flow path;feeding coolant through the coolant conduit of the heat exchanger at a temperature below the target temperature; andvarying the rate of coolant flow through the coolant conduit of the heat exchanger between a first rate and a second rate that is lower than the first rate to partially freeze the non-frozen liquid in the freeze conduit to generate the slush at the target ice/liquid ratio.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
Galockin Longin ; Montgomery B. Douglass,CAX, Container cooling jacket and pre-chill dispensing system therefor.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.