Abstract: A high pressure pump and delivery system mating to LNG storage and suited for natural gas powered trucks and buses, but also suitable for other cryogenic liquid fuels. The reciprocating pump is comprised of a liquid pumping portion and a vapor compressing portion, operating in concert so that it is possible to locate the pump above a source of saturated LNG and to reliably supply high pressure LNG. The delivery system provides a method of utilizing both the pumped LNG and the compressed NG in a Diesel type fuel injection system, and also to scavenge NG vapor from the LNG storage container so as to extend it's storage life. While especially useful for trucks and buses, the present invention is not limited thereto, as it is also useful for locomotives, automobiles and other vehicles designed to operate through combustion of natural gas, as well as stationary applications.

Abstract: A refrigeration system to be located at carbon dioxide using locations for providing cooled or sub-cooled liquid carbon dioxide at temperatures as low as minus 65° F. to various liquid carbon dioxide dispensing/using devices. The system is capable of being added to virtually every type of carbon dioxide storage vessel used at customer sites, and is especially useful where relatively short carbon dioxide use periods are involved, as the hybrid refrigeration cycle utilizes the liquid carbon dioxide in the storage vessel as a rechargeable refrigeration sink.

Abstract: A combination liquid or slush carbon dioxide system, which receives warm carbon dioxide and then cools it to −69° F. before use, making carbon dioxide slush. The percentage of solid carbon dioxide in the slush is controlled. Slush is useful when subsequent carbon dioxide snow is being sought for refrigeration purposes. The system is versatile enough to be used successively to deliver slush and then cold liquid, or vice versa.

Abstract: A reciprocating cryogenic pump, suitable for medium and high pressures having very low net positive suction head (NPSH) requirements. The pump comprises a cylinder having both liquid inlets and vapor outlets, and two interacting pistons, each piston reciprocably movable within the cylinder, and each piston having flow conduits there through generally co-axial with the piston and with the cylinder. The conduit of one piston preferentially connects to the liquid inlets and the conduit of the other piston preferentially connects to the vapor outlets, which are at a higher elevation than the liquid inlets.

Abstract: A liquid CO.sub.2 storage vessel system for user sites, which receives warm CO.sub.2 and then cools the liquid CO.sub.2 to temperatures below -25.degree. F. before further use. The cooled liquid CO.sub.2 can be at temperatures and pressures of near equilibrium conditions or at sub-cooled conditions. Cooling of the liquid CO.sub.2 is conducted by CO.sub.2 vapor removal from liquid CO.sub.2 ; and is independent from the CO.sub.2 use, so cooling can be conducted during both normal and off hours. The storage vessel can be safely filled from most existing delivery vehicles, and the previously cooled liquid CO.sub.2 in the bottom of the storage vessel can be prevented from mixing with the warmer being-delivered liquid CO.sub.2, so the temperature of the liquid CO.sub.2 immediately going to use is little effected by the delivery being conducted.

Abstract: The cargo area of a refrigerated box car is cooled by convectors positioned along the upper side and end walls of the cargo compartment of the car. The convectors are cooled by a supply of carbon dioxide snow in a bunker above the cargo compartment.

Abstract: Filling units for supplying small tanks or the like with gasoline, kerosene, or other flowable materials which attach to an inlet to such a tank. When the filling unit is in a fill position, a displacer section occupies a substantial volume within the tank and allows the person filling the tank to supply the liquid until the tank will accept no more and the liquid reaches a predetermined level in a funnel portion of the filler. Thereafter, manipulation of the displacer section, as for example by withdrawing a section of the overall unit upward opening a valve or movement within the tank itself, causes all the liquid remaining in the funnel up to such predetermined level to be accommodated within the tank by occupying the volume previously occupied by the displacer section and thereby completing the filling of the tank to a full condition without any spillage.

Abstract: Filling units for supplying small tanks or the like with gasoline, kerosene, or other flowable materials which attach to an inlet to such a tank. When the filling unit is in a fill position, a displacer section occupies a substantial volume within the tank. It allows the person filling the tank to supply the liquid until the tank will accept no more and the liquid reaches a predetermined level in a funnel portion of the filler. Thereafter, manipulation of the displacer section vertically within the tank, as for example by sliding a section of the overall unit upward, accommodates all the liquid remaining in the funnel up to such predetermined level within the tank by occupying the volume previously occupied by the displacer section and thereby completing the filling of the tank to a full condition without any spillage.

Abstract: Filling units for filling small tanks or the like with gasoline, kerosene, or other flowable materials which attach an inlet to such a tank. When the filling unit is in a fill position, a displacer section occupies a substantial volume within the tank. It allows the person filling the tank to supply the liquid until the tank will accept no more and the liquid reaches a predetermined level in a funnel portion of the filler. Thereafter, removal of the displacer section from the tank, as by sliding a section of the overall unit upward, allows the liquid in the funnel to enter the tank and fill the volume evacuated by the displacer section to complete the filling without any spillage. The overall unit may be removed from the tank each filling operation, or it may be designed to include a protective cap that fits over the upward-protruding portion of the unit, allowing the unit to remain mounted on the tank.

Abstract: LNG is pumped to high pressure, vaporized, further heated and then expanded to create rotary power that is used to generate electrical power. A reservoir of carbon dioxide at about its triple point is created in an insulated vessel to store energy in the form of refrigeration recovered from the evaporated LNG. During peak electrical power periods, liquid carbon dioxide is withdrawn therefrom, pumped to a high pressure, vaporized, further heated, and expanded to create rotary power which generates additional electrical power. The exhaust from a fuel-fired combustion turbine, connected to an electrical power generator, heats the high pressure carbon dioxide vapor. The discharge stream from the CO.sub.2 expander is cooled and at least partially returned to the vessel where vapor condenses by melting stored solid carbon dioxide. During off-peak periods, CO.sub.

Abstract: A method and system for delivering high pressure, subcooled liquid carbon dioxide. An insulated tank having a height greater than its internal diameter holds liquid CO.sub.2 to a depth of at least about 6 feet, and high pressure, subcooled liquid CO.sub.2 is delivered from a lower outlet of the tank. CO.sub.2 vapor is condensed in the upper region to maintain a desired high pressure, e.g., about 290-310 psi., at the top of the tank. By withdrawing liquid CO.sub.2 from an upper region in the tank, subcooling it by heat exchange and returning subcooled liquid CO.sub.2 to a lower region, a thermocline region is created at least 2 feet below the surface, and above which equilibrium high pressure liquid CO.sub.2 exists. Heat exchange is efficiently carried out during off hours using liquid carbon dioxide to chill the condensed refrigerant from an existing auxiliary mechanical refrigeration unit.

Abstract: A chiller has an insulated enclosure for maintaining the low ambient temperatures therewithin. A conveyor belt carries food products throughout the enclosure, passing through an entrance and an exit in the enclosure. The conveyor belt includes a straight-line path section and a helical path section, and is driven by a suitable drive, such as an internal rotating drum or an endless drive belt contacting a bottom tier of the conveyor helical path section. The belt includes inner and outer links interconnected by transverse rods. Upon entering a helical path section from a straight-line path section, the conveyor belt undergoes expansion only, with the inner ends of the rods undergoing only slight relative angular movement, while the outer ends of the rods are permitted an amount of relative longitudinal movement so as to allow the conveyor belt to assume a curved configuration having the desired radius of curvature for the helical path.

Abstract: A cryogenic freezer having a thermally insulated tunnel-like enclosure with an entrance and an exit and means for conveying products being frozen therethrough. Products are contacted with liquid cryogen at a region generally near the entrance and a blower located closer to the entrance than to the exit controls flow of cryogen vapor. Upstream and downstream baffles and dampers associated with blower are linked together for complementary movement to selectively regulate the upstream and downstream flow of vapor discharged from the blower. Additional blowers circulate the cold cryogenic vapor transverse to the direction of the conveying means. The temperature of vapor leaving the region of the entrance is monitored the orientation of the baffle and damper arrangement is adjusted in accordance with the temperature monitored. The food products can be contacted by liquid nitrogen in a reservoir facilitates cleaning and retards inefficient vaporization.

Abstract: A system for storing electrical energy in the form of triple-point CO.sub.2 and then using such stored energy plus heat to generate electrical power. A reservoir of carbon dioxide liquid at about the triple point is created in an insulated vessel. Liquid carbon dioxide is withdrawn and pumped to a high pressure, which high pressure carbon dioxide is heated and expanded to create rotary power which generates electrical power. The discharge stream from the expander is cooled and returned to the vessel where carbon dioxide vapor is condensed by melting solid carbon dioxide. A fuel-fired gas turbine connected to an electrical power generator can be used to heat the high pressure carbon dioxide, and an ambient air stream flowing toward the gas turbine can be cooled by giving up heat to the high pressure carbon dioxide stream.

Abstract: A cabinet freezer efficiently utilizes a liquid cryogen refrigerant in conjunction with a spiral conveyor which conveys a product load through a temperature gradient within the freezer. The freezer has a lower inlet and an upper outlet for the conveyor and food load thereon. The escape of cryogen vapors created in the freezer from the liquid cryogen is controlled such that at least about 80% of the vapors exit through the upper outlet which is at the warmest zone established as a part of the temperature gradient in the freezer.

Abstract: Large quantities of CO.sub.2 snow are provided by a system and method which utilizes two reservoirs which maintain at least about 4500 pounds of CO.sub.2 at about its triple point, a substantial portion of which contains solid CO.sub.2. A first such reservoir subcools high pressure liquid CO.sub.2 flowing therethrough and permits efficient production of CO.sub.2 snow. A second such reservoir assists in cooling and condensing CO.sub.2 vapor recirculating through the system, as well as in efficiently obtaining CO.sub.2 being delivered to the system from an outside source.

Abstract: A plurality of work stations may be cooled and temperature-controlled with subcooled liquid CO.sub.2 without a plurality of mechanical units for cooling CO.sub.2 and high capital costs resulting therefrom. The system includes a plurality of spaced-apart enclosures to be cooled, each enclosure having an associated tank containing subcooled liquid CO.sub.2 to be directed into the enclosure for cooling it and then to exhaust. The associated tanks are connected to a source of high pressure CO.sub.2 such as a large storage vessel which supplies CO.sub.2 for the associated tanks and for cooling the associated tanks as by expanding liquid CO.sub.2 in the vicinity of the associated tank. After expansion, CO.sub.2 vapor is directed to a reservoir or directly back to the storage vessel via a compressor. The reservoir contains CO.sub.2 slush and collects vapor CO.sub.2 used in the cooling process of a multiplicity of duplicate associated tanks, thus serving as a sink for the collection of CO.sub.

Abstract: A refrigerated transport having an insulated enclosure and including a cryogen reservoir, e.g., high-pressure liquid cryogen or solid CO.sub.2. A plurality of thermosyphons associated with the walls and floor of the enclosure adjacent the interior skin intercept heat attempting to enter the enclosure. An intermediate heat sink draws the intercepted heat from the upper portions of the thermosyphons. The temperature of the heat sink is thermostatically controlled in a manner that the rate at which heat from the heat sink is absorbed by the cryogen is regulated to maintain the heat sink within a desired temperature range such that the thermosyphons will in turn maintain the enclosure and its product load at the desired subambient storage temperature.

Abstract: Useful heat from an ice-maker is efficiently recovered and employed to heat water without any significant increase in the energy normally expanded in making ice. During ice-making, liquid refrigerant from a high-pressure receiver is expanded and supplied to an evaporator where ice-making occurs. Expanded refrigerant is returned to a compressor through an accumulator, and high-pressure vapor is condensed by heat-exchange with a circulating stream of water withdrawn from a storage tank. Condensed refrigerant is returned to the receiver through a restrictor. During the harvesting cycle, relatively warm, high pressure vapor from the receiver is fed to the evaporator, and any of it condensed to liquid therein is trapped in the accumulator. The compressor runs continuously throughout harvesting and ice-making, and any refrigerant trapped in the accumulator is used to subcool the high-pressure liquid prior to its expansion in the subsequent ice-making cycle.

Abstract: A cabinet cooler or freezer which efficiently utilizes cryogenic refrigeration either with or without mechanical refrigeration. The freezer intermittently freezes relatively large batches of food by efficiently utilizing the natural expansion effect of a liquid cryogen, in combination with mechanical circulation by blowers, to create an overall circulation that efficiently removes heat from the food. A secondary circulation effect is induced, in a manner similar to the operation of a jet pump, which amplifies the circulation and allows CO.sub.2 to be employed as the cryogen with modulating valve control to achieve uniformly low temperature throughout the cabinet without snow build-up on the cabinet bottom. Some cabinet versions create a cyclonic circulation pattern about a vertical axis that is particularly effective.