US-12624903-B2 - Subcooler for carbon dioxide distribution systems

US12624903B2US 12624903 B2US12624903 B2US 12624903B2US-12624903-B2

Abstract

A carbon dioxide distribution system and carbon dioxide subcooler useable within such a system are disclosed. The carbon dioxide subcooler includes an insulated enclosure forming an interior volume, the insulated enclosure having a supply inlet, a supply outlet, and a cooling inlet in fluidic communication with the interior volume. The carbon dioxide subcooler further includes a coil supply tube positioned within the interior volume, the coil supply tube being fluidically connected between the supply inlet and the supply outlet.

Inventors

Hugh Smith
John Romanos

Assignees

TOMCO2 SYSTEMS COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20211101

Claims (14)

1 . A carbon dioxide distribution system comprising: a supply tank; end equipment; a carbon dioxide supply line fluidically connected between the supply tank and the end equipment; a subcooler located along the carbon dioxide supply line, the subcooler comprising: an insulated enclosure forming an interior volume, the insulated enclosure having a supply inlet fluidically connected to the supply tank via the carbon dioxide supply line, a supply outlet fluidically connected to the end equipment via the carbon dioxide supply line, and a cooling inlet in fluidic communication with both the carbon dioxide supply line and the interior volume; and a coil supply tube positioned within the interior volume, the coil supply tube being fluidically connected between the supply inlet and the supply outlet; a plurality of temperature sensors including at least an inlet temperature sensor, an interior temperature sensor, and a supply temperature sensor; a plurality of valves fluidically connected along the carbon dioxide supply line; and a controller operatively connected to each of the plurality of temperature sensors and the plurality of valves, the controller being operable to control the plurality of valves to direct flow of carbon dioxide between the supply tank and the end equipment and selectively through the subcooler based, at least in part on a temperature sensed by at least one of the plurality of temperature sensors, wherein the controller is configured to: actuate a first valve of the plurality of valves to introduce carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide supply line into the interior volume of the subcooler when a temperature within the interior volume of the subcooler is outside an acceptable operating range; and actuate a second valve of the plurality of valves to direct the carbon dioxide to flow through the coil supply tube positioned within the interior volume of the subcooler and route the carbon dioxide between the supply tank and the end equipment when the temperature within the interior volume of the subcooler is within the acceptable operating range.
2 . The carbon dioxide distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the subcooler is located proximate to the end equipment.
3 . The carbon dioxide distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the end equipment comprises a snow hood.
4 . The carbon dioxide distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the supply line includes a first portion extending between the supply tank and the subcooler and a second portion extending between the subcooler and the end equipment.
5 . The carbon dioxide distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the subcooler is fluidically connected in parallel with the carbon dioxide supply line.
6 . The carbon dioxide distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising a glycol bath within the interior volume.
7 . The carbon dioxide distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising a second subcooler located along the carbon dioxide supply line between the supply tank and the end equipment.
8 . The carbon dioxide distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, based on a determination that the temperature within the interior volume of the subcooler is within an acceptable range, actuate the first valve to halt introduction of carbon dioxide into the interior volume.
9 . The carbon dioxide distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the subcooler includes a glycol solution within the interior volume at a glycol fill level, and wherein the method includes actuating the first valve to introduce carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide supply line into the interior volume includes introducing the carbon dioxide at a location within the interior volume positioned above the glycol fill level.
10 . The carbon dioxide distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the acceptable operating range comprises a range between −50 to −20 degrees Fahrenheit.
11 . The carbon dioxide distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, based on a determination that the temperature is outside of the acceptable operating range, actuate a third valve to supply carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide supply line to the end equipment, bypassing the subcooler.
12 . A carbon dioxide subcooler comprising: an insulated enclosure forming an interior volume, the insulated enclosure having a supply inlet, a supply outlet, and a cooling inlet in fluidic communication with the interior volume; a coil supply tube positioned within the interior volume, the coil supply tube being fluidically connected between the supply inlet and the supply outlet; a control valve controlling supply of carbon dioxide into the interior volume via the cooling inlet; a supply valve actuatable to allow carbon dioxide to flow from a supply tube into the supply inlet; a plurality of temperature sensors including at least an inlet temperature sensor, an interior temperature sensor, and a supply temperature sensor; and a controller configured to control: actuation of the control valve to direct flow of the carbon dioxide from the cooling inlet into the interior volume when a temperature within the interior volume is outside an acceptable operating range; and actuation of the supply valve to direct the carbon dioxide to flow through the coil supply tube positioned within the interior volume when the temperature within the interior volume is within the acceptable operating range.
13 . The carbon dioxide subcooler of claim 12 , wherein the insulated enclosure comprises a vacuum-insulated enclosure.
14 . The carbon dioxide subcooler of claim 12 , further comprising a glycol bath within the interior volume.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/107,503, filed Oct. 30, 2020 and entitled “Subcooler for Carbon Dioxide Distribution Systems,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Carbon dioxide is often stored in liquid form at elevated temperatures due to pressure in bulk storage tanks, for later distribution in a number of industrial processes, such as refrigeration, use as food service, shield gas, providing a pH balance in water treatment plants, in fire suppression systems, or oil/gas recovery systems. Carbon dioxide tanks are typically maintained with a temperature in the range of −10 to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, and at pressures of about 245 pounds per square inch (PSIG) to 305 pounds per square inch (PSIG), such that the carbon dioxide contained therein is maintained in liquid form. When required to be used in many industrial and food applications, such stored carbon dioxide can be routed to a piece of end equipment via an insulated conduit (tube). In addition to the elevated storage tank temperature, the piece of end equipment may be at a location distant from the storage tank; as such, the liquid carbon dioxide within the supply tube between the supply tank and the end equipment may warm as it approaches the end equipment, since, as the carbon dioxide travels through the supply tube, it will gradually warm due to surrounding (ambient) heat. This along with the elevated carbon dioxide coming from the storage tank may have a detrimental effect on the end equipment, which may be expecting to receive carbon dioxide in liquid form at a much colder temperature. For example, frosting or other clogging events may occur due to receipt of the supply carbon dioxide at an unexpectedly-high (warm) temperature. In some cases insulation may be applied to the supply tube, or a vacuum jacketed option is offered to mitigate additional warming effects in the supply line only but may be difficult to avoid adverse performance effects when the distance between the supply tank and end equipment is long. Accordingly, it is desirable to identify convenient ways in which a temperature of supply carbon dioxide can be maintained as it is transported to end equipment for use. SUMMARY In general, the present disclosure relates to a subcooler that can be used in carbon dioxide distribution systems. The subcooler uses a portion of the supply of carbon dioxide to form dry ice within an interior volume, which in turn is useable to cool a primary supply line. Such a subcooler may be used to ensure a supply of carbon dioxide is at an appropriate temperature when it reaches end equipment. In a first aspect, a carbon dioxide distribution system includes a supply tank, end equipment, and a carbon dioxide supply line fluidically connected between the supply tank and the end equipment. The system further includes a subcooler located along the carbon dioxide supply line. The subcooler includes an insulated enclosure forming an interior volume, the insulated enclosure having a supply inlet fluidically connected to the supply tank via the carbon dioxide supply line, a supply outlet fluidically connected to the end equipment via the carbon dioxide supply line, and a cooling inlet in fluidic communication with both the carbon dioxide supply line and the interior volume. The subcooler further includes a coil supply tube positioned within the interior volume, the coil supply tube being fluidically connected between the supply inlet and the supply outlet. In a second aspect, a carbon dioxide subcooler is disclosed. The carbon dioxide subcooler includes an insulated enclosure forming an interior volume, the insulated enclosure having a supply inlet, a supply outlet, and a cooling inlet in fluidic communication with the interior volume. The carbon dioxide subcooler further includes a coil supply tube positioned within the interior volume, the coil supply tube being fluidically connected between the supply inlet and the supply outlet. In a third aspect, a method of operating a subcooler within a carbon dioxide distribution system is disclosed. The method includes determining whether a first temperature within an interior volume of a subcooler is within an acceptable operating range at a first time, the subcooler being connected to a supply line between a supply tank and end equipment. The method further includes, based on a determination that the temperature is outside of the acceptable operating range, actuating a first valve to introduce carbon dioxide from the supply line into an interior volume of the subcooler. The method also includes determining whether a second temperature within the interior volume of the subcooler is within the acceptable operating range at a second time. The method includes, based on a second determination that the second temperature is within the acceptable operating range, actuating a second valve to r