CARBON DIOXIDE CHARGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT
Apparatus and process to adsorb carbon dioxide onto compacted activated carbon in a HEU while removing the heat generated by the adsorption. A cooling tunnel is provided and maintained at approximately five degrees Celsius by continuously flowing a refrigerant therethrough. A plurality of completed cans with HEU are arranged internally and gassing heads are attached to each HEU and maintained at approximately 10-15 Bar for a period of twenty to thirty minutes after which the gassing heads would be removed and a new batch of cans inserted.
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The present invention relates generally to a heat exchange unit for use in containers for self-chilling foods or beverages and more particularly to the adsorption of carbon dioxide on compacted activated carbon for use in a heat exchange unit of the type in which temperature reduction is caused by the desorption of the carbon dioxide from the compacted activated carbon disposed within the heat exchange unit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ARTMany foods or beverages available in portable containers are preferably consumed when they are chilled. For example, carbonated soft drinks, fruit drinks, beer, puddings, cottage cheese and the like are preferably consumed at temperatures varying between 33° Fahrenheit (0.555° Celsius) and 50° Fahrenheit (10° Celsius). When the convenience of refrigerators or ice is not available such as when fishing, camping or the like, the task of cooling these foods or beverages prior to consumption is made more difficult and in such circumstances it is highly desirable to have a method for rapidly cooling the content of the containers prior to consumption. Thus a self-cooling container, that is, one not requiring external low temperature conditions is desirable.
The art is replete with container designs which incorporate a coolant capable of cooling the contents without exposure to the external low temperature conditions. The vast majority of these containers incorporate or otherwise utilize refrigerant gases which upon release or activation absorb heat in order to cool the contents of the container. Other techniques have recognized the use of endothermic chemical reactions as a mechanism to absorb heat and thereby cool the contents of the container. Examples of such endothermic chemical reaction devices are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,897,723, 2,746,265, 2,882,691 and 4,802,343.
Typical of devices which utilize gaseous refrigerants are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,460,765, 3,373,581, 3,636,726, 3,726,106, 4,584,848, 4,656,838, 4,784,678, 5,214,933, 5,285,812, 5,325,680, 5,331,817, 5,606,866, 5,692,381 and 5,692,391. In many instances the refrigerant gas utilized in a structure such as those shown in the foregoing U.S. Patents do not function to lower the temperature properly or if they do, they contain a refrigerant gaseous material which may contribute to the greenhouse effect and thus is not friendly to the environment.
To solve problems such as those set forth in the prior art, applicant is utilizing as a part of the present invention an adsorbent-desorbent system which comprises activated carbon which functions as an adsorbent for carbon dioxide. A system of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,381 which is incorporated herein by reference.
In these devices the adsorbent material is disposed within a vessel, the outer surface of which is in contact thermally with the food or beverage to be cooled. Typically, the vessel is connected to an outer container which receives the food or beverage to be cooled in such a manner that it is in thermal contact with the outer surface of the vessel containing the adsorbent material. This vessel or heat exchange unit is affixed to the outer container, typically to the bottom thereof, and contains a valve or similar mechanism which functions to release a quantity of gas, such as carbon dioxide which has been adsorbed by the adsorbent material contained within the inner vessel. When the valve is opened the gas, such as carbon dioxide, is desorbed and the endothermic process of desorption of the gas from the activated carbon adsorbent causes a reduction in the temperature of the food or beverage which is in thermal contact with the outer surface of the inner vessel thereby lowering the temperature of the food or beverage contained therein.
To accomplish this cooling it is imperative that as much carbon dioxide as possible be adsorbed onto the carbon particles contained within the inner vessel and further that the thermal energy contained within the food or beverage be transferred therefrom through the wall of the inner vessel and through the adsorbent material to be carried out of the heat exchange unit along with the desorbed carbon dioxide gas. Preferably, the adsorbent material is activated carbon and the gas to be adsorbed is carbon dioxide. In the context of this disclosure, “activated carbon” relates to a family of carbonaceous materials specifically activated to develop strong adsorptive properties whereby even trace quantities of liquids or gases may be adsorbed onto the carbon. Such activated carbon may be produced from a wide range of sources, for example coal, wood, nuts (such as coconut) and bones and may be derived from synthetic sources, such as polyacrylonitrile. Various methods of activation exist, such as selective oxidation with steam, carbon dioxide or other gases at elevated temperatures or chemical activation using, for example, zinc chloride or phosphoric acid. The adsorbent also includes a graphite material in an amount 0.01 to 80% by weight of the total composition, and a binder material.
Any available form of graphite, natural or synthetic, may be incorporated into the activated carbon, for example powdered or flakes of graphite may be used. Preferably, graphite is included in an amount ranging from 10% to 50% by weight, more preferably 20% to 45% by weight, especially 40% by weight.
A binder material is included such as polytetrafluoroethylene, to achieve green strength of the formulation for further handling. A composition of activated carbon with graphite and a binder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,511 which is incorporated herein by reference.
When the carbon dioxide under pressure is inserted into the heat exchange unit to be adsorbed onto the compacted adsorbent material, a physical exothermic reaction occurs thereby releasing heat . As a result of this exothermic reaction the compacted adsorbent material also heats up and in so doing limits the amount of carbon dioxide which can be adsorbed onto the adsorbent material. To mitigate this problem, it has in the past been necessary to charge the HEU with the pressurized carbon dioxide in stages, that is, the carbon dioxide under pressure is inserted into the HEU until the compacted adsorbent material is no longer capable of adsorbing the carbon dioxide. At this point the source of carbon dioxide under pressure is removed and the HEU is allowed to cool or alternatively is placed in a cooling tunnel which is maintained at a very low temperature to dissipate the heat which has been generated. Obviously this creates a situation where mass production of the HEU is interfered with thus increasing the cost of production. There is thus a need for an apparatus and a method to charge the assembled HEU with the carbon dioxide under pressure in such a manner that the heat generated by the exothermic reaction is removed during the time that the carbon dioxide is being adsorbed onto the compacted adsorbent material in the HEU.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONProviding a source of containers adapted to receive a food or beverage, providing a source of heat exchange unit cans, filling the HEU cans with an adsorbent material, assembling the HEU can with the adsorbent material to the container, inserting a plurality of the containers with the HEU can assembled into a cooling tunnel, attaching a source of carbon dioxide under pressure to each of the plurality of the HEU's to insert carbon dioxide into the HEU for adsorption on the compacted adsorbent material, maintaining the cooling tunnel at a predetermined low temperature for a predetermined period of time to remove the heat generated, removing the source of carbon dioxide from each of the HEU assemblies.
An apparatus for charging a heat exchange unit with carbon dioxide comprising a conveyor bed for receiving a plurality of containers having a heat exchange unit assembled therein, a plurality of gassing head cylinders, each connected to a source of carbon dioxide under pressure, means for attaching the gassing head cylinders to the HEU assemblies, a source of low temperature gas, means for circulating said low temperature gas to contact the conveyor assemblies.
Referring now more particularly to
In any event, after the HEU can has been appropriately filled with the adsorbent material, it is then transported by the conveyor 36 to the can/HEU assembly station 38. Also transported to the assembly station 38 will be an appropriate valve and a gasket which is utilized in the assembly process. The valve and gasket are provided from a source 40 thereof. The valve and gasket are transported by an appropriate conveyor or the like 42 to the can/HEU assembly station 38. In assembly of the HEU and affixing it to the beverage can an appropriate gasket formed of elastomeric material is placed over the open end of the HEU which contains the adsorbent material therein. An inspection is performed to guarantee that the gasket is in fact seated properly upon the open end of the HEU. Subsequent thereto, the HEU open end having the gasket thereon is mated with the flange which surrounds the opening punched into the closed end of the can at the punching and flanging station 28. The valve and valve cup is then inserted into the opening provided in the bottom of the can and simultaneously into the opening in the HEU can and by way of a crimping process the valve HEU and beverage can are permanently secured together in a fashion so that an appropriate seal is formed between the HEU, the valve cup and the can to prevent any leakage of the beverage which is later to be placed into the beverage can. (The assembled can and HEU are illustrated in
Subsequent to the assembly of the beverage can and the HEU, this assembly is transported by way of the conveyor belt or the like 44 to a cooling tunnel 46 plus gassing station 50. As carbon dioxide is forced under pressure into the interior of the HEU can for adsorption an exothermic reaction occurs generating a substantial amount of heat which will radiate from the HEU. As the heat is generated from the carbon dioxide adsorption process, the carbon naturally will heat up and as it heats up the amount of carbon dioxide which it can adsorb decreases. At the gassing station 50, which is an integral part of the cooling tunnel, the valve is depressed and carbon dioxide is inserted into the HEU until a predetermined pressure of approximately 25 bars is reached. The cooling tunnel/gassing station will be filled with a cryogenic gas such as liquid nitrogen or the like to maintain the cooling tunnel/gassing station at a relatively low temperature, for example, on the order of 5° C. The source of carbon dioxide under pressure will remain affixed to the HEU while the cooling tunnel/gassing station is held at the low temperature for a period of time to allow the twenty-five bar pressure in the HEU to be reached and maintained. The predetermined amount of time to allow the desired amount of carbon dioxide to be adsorbed by the compacted adsorbent will be approximately 20 to 30 minutes of time. Once the desired amount of carbon dioxide has been adsorbed onto the compacted adsorbent, then the charged assembly 62 is transported by conveyor or other apparatus 60 to a desired position for filling with the desired food or beverage.
By reference to
Referring now more particularly to
Referring now more particularly to
The apparatus as shown in
The apparatus as shown in
As an alternative arrangement, the apparatus as shown in
Although the cooling tunnel plus gassing station has been illustrated in
There has thus been disclosed a method and apparatus for achieving the assembly of an HEU containing an adsorbent with a can and the charging of the HEU with carbon dioxide gas while mitigating the exothermic reaction created as a result thereof.
Claims
1. Apparatus for charging a heat exchange unit secured within a can for receiving a food or beverage to be cooled, said heat exchange unit having compacted adsorbent material therein, with a gas under pressure comprising:
- a cooling tunnel;
- a source of refrigerant connected to said cooling tunnel to maintain the temperature inside said cooling tunnel at approximately five degrees Celsius;
- a conveyor bed for receiving a plurality of cans having said heat exchange unit therein movably positioned within said cooling tunnel;
- a plurality of gassing head cylinders positioned to simultaneously engage at least a portion of said heat exchange units to inject a gas under pressure into said at least a portion of said heat exchange units to be adsorbed by said compacted adsorbent material;
- a source of gas under pressure connected to said plurality of gassing head cylinders; and
- said gassing head cylinders being connected to said at least a portion of said heat exchange units and injecting gas under pressure therein for a predetermined period of time sufficient to fully charge said at least a portion of said heat exchange units with adsorbed gas under pressure.
2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said source of refrigerant is liquid carbon dioxide.
3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said gas under pressure is carbon dioxide.
4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein there is a gassing head cylinder for each can having a heat exchange unit therein positioned on said conveyor bed and said conveyor bed with said gassing head cylinders connected to said heat exchange units is maintained stationary within said cooling tunnel for said predetermined time.
5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said conveyor bed is moved through said cooling tunnel and said gassing head cylinders are connected only to said at least a portion of said heat exchange units and injecting said carbon dioxide gas while being moved for said predetermined period of time.
6. A method of charging adsorbent material contained within a heat exchange unit comprising:
- providing a plurality of containers for received a food or beverage to be cooled;
- providing a plurality of heat exchange unit (HEU) cans containing a compacted adsorbent material therein;
- assembling an HEU can with each container;
- inserting the plurality of assembled containers into an enclosed area;
- attaching a source of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas under pressure to each HEU and continuously injecting CO2 gas into said HEU for a predetermined period of time for adsorption thereof by the adsorbent material;
- continuously flowing a refrigerant through said enclosed area to remove heat generated by the exothermic reaction of adsorption of the CO2 gas for a predetermined period of time to permit complete adsorption of the CO2 gas by said adsorbent material; and
- removing said source of CO2 gas from each HEU.
7. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the pressure of said CO2 gas is approximately 15 bars.
8. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein said predetermined time is between 20 and 30 minutes.
9. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the refrigerant is liquid CO2 and said enclosed area is maintained at approximately five degrees Celsius.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 28, 2014
Publication Date: Dec 24, 2015
Applicant: JOSEPH COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC. (Irvine, CA)
Inventor: MARK SILLINCE (Rustington West Sussex)
Application Number: 14/763,803