The Boc Group, Inc.

Michael K Sahm

David G Wardle

Ron C Lee

Mark J Kirschner

Rustam H Sethna

Atul M Athalye

Brian Goodwin

Hamdi Kozlu

Systems and methods are disclosed for determining heat transfer in an environment. In one system, heat transfer is determined with a probe including at least one element, a power supply, an amplifier, a temperature monitor, a timing structure, and a system controller. In another system, heat transfer is determined with a temperature sampler. In yet another system, the heat transfer rate is controlled in at least a partially closed environment. The disclosed methods include a method for calculating heat transfer from a first predetermined temperature, a second predetermined temperature, measured time and temperature of the environment. In another method, heat transfer is calculated from a first determined temperature, a second measured temperature, a predetermined period of time, and temperature of the environment.

System and method for determining heat transfer in an environment

An sensor for sensing buoyancy force within a liquid mixture stored within a storage tank and an interlock employing the sensor to prevent a respirable cryogenic mixture from being dispensed from the storage tank with an unsafe oxygen content. The sensor has a float adapted to be submerged in the liquid mixture, thereby to exert a buoyancy force referable to the density. The buoyancy force is sensed by a load cell connected to an elongated base element cantilevered from the outlet by a bracket. The mounting of such sensor ensures that the buoyancy force and therefore, the density of the liquid as dispensed will be measured as opposed to liquid density at some other location of the tank. Such sensor can serve in an interlock in which a controller responsive to the load cell and a temperature sensor, also located within the outlet, controls a valve to close the outlet when the mixture has an unsafe oxygen level.

Interlock for a storage tank used in containing a respirable liquid

A sensor for sensing buoyancy force within a liquid mixture stored within a storage tank and an interlock employing the sensor to prevent a respirable cryogenic mixture from being dispensed from the storage tank with an unsafe oxygen content. The sensor has a float adapted to be submerged in the liquid mixture, thereby to exert a buoyancy force referable to the density. The buoyancy force is sensed by a load cell connected to an elongated base element cantilevered from the outlet by a bracket. The mounting of such sensor ensures that the buoyancy force and therefore, the density of the liquid as dispensed will be measured as opposed to liquid density at some other location of the tank. Such sensor can serve in an interlock in which a controller responsive to the load cell and a temperature sensor, also located within the outlet, controls a valve to close the outlet when the mixture has an unsafe oxygen level.

Buoyancy force sensor for a hydrometer and interlock for a storage tank

A method of tempering an article is disclosed in which an article is heated so that the material making up the article is in an essentially stress-free state and the article thereafter is quenched and cooled. At the conclusion of the quenching, a stress pattern in initiated through the thickness of the article in which the midplane layer is in tension and the surface layers are in compression. This stress pattern is further developed during the cooling stage. The article is quenched by spraying the surfaces with a coolant, preferably comprising either liquid nitrogen or liquid air in the form of a two phase flow of liquid and vapor. The liquid is sprayed so that the surface tensile stress of the surface layers are not exceeded and the liquid does not accumulate on the surface layers as a film.

Tempering method using a two phase flow of cryogen

An impingement freezer having a zoned freezing chamber in which the temperature of each zone is independently controllable so that the temperature profile within the impingement freezer is coldest at a zone adjacent the outlet and warmest at a zone adjacent the inlet for maximum thermodynamic usage of the refrigerant. Additionally, the velocity of each of the impingement jets is independently adjustable from zone to zone so that in the zone adjacent the entrance of the freezing chamber, the impingement jets can be adjusted to have maximum velocity to produce maximum heat transfer coefficients and thereby an acceptable rate of cooling within the impingement jet freezer. Impingement jets are formed within nozzles that are tapered in two orthogonal directions to prevent frost build-up. Circulation within the impingement jet freezer is produced by venturi-like devices driven by vaporization of incoming refrigerant.

Impingement jet freezer and method

A method and apparatus of refrigerating a heat load in which heat is indirectly exchanged between the heat load and a cryogenic refrigerant so that the heat load cools. Further heat is then indirectly exchanged between the heat load and the mechanical refrigerant. The mechanical refrigerant is subjected to refrigeration cycle in which the mechanical refrigerant is compressed, cooled, condensed, expanded and evaporated. Other heat is indirectly exchanged between the cryogenic refrigerant and the mechanical refrigerant. The cryogenic refrigerant is subjected to its heat exchange with the mechanical refrigerant after having exchanged heat with the heat load. The mechanical refrigerant is subjected to the indirect heat exchange with the cryogenic refrigerant between condensation and expansion of the mechanical refrigerant within the refrigeration cycle.

Refrigeration method and apparatus

A gas injection apparatus for injecting a gas into a liquid comprising a baffle plate, a re-circulation chamber, and a discharge nozzle. The discharge nozzle is oriented normally to the baffle plate so that a liquid stream composed of the liquid is directed against the baffle plate and produces an oppositely directed flow towards the outer peripheral edge of the baffle plate. The oppositely directed flow has a sheet-like turbulent flow regime located adjacent to the plate and a circulating flow regime located above the turbulent flow regime and bounded by a re-circulation chamber. The gas is mixed into the liquid so that smaller bubbles are entrained in the turbulent flow regime and are discharged with the liquid flowing in the turbulent flow regime from the outer peripheral edge of the baffle plate. Larger bubbles flow into the circulating flow regime to break up into smaller bubbles which are entrained in the turbulent flow regime swept out of the apparatus. The apparatus is particularly useful in a gold leaching process in which the gold slurry is thickened to produce clarified water. Oxygen is injected into the clarified water and thereafter, the clarified water is injected into a leaching tank.

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Annendale, NJ, United States of America

Michael K Sahm