Method and apparatus for cooling concrete during curing

Abstract

A system and method for cooling a concrete slab to improve curing in hot weather includes a portable liquid cooler. A conduit is connected to the liquid cooler and arranged in proximity to the concrete slab. A pump is operative to circulate liquid from the liquid cooler through the conduit such that liquid moves from a supply port of the liquid cooler into an input end of the conduit at a supply temperature, moves through the conduit, and moves from an output end of the conduit to a return port of the liquid cooler at a return temperature greater than the supply temperature. Heat is absorbed from the concrete slab and the temperature of the slab is thus reduced compared to a slab in ambient hot weather conditions.

1 . A system for cooling a concrete slab to improve curing in hot weather, the system comprising: 
 a portable liquid cooler;    a conduit connected to the liquid cooler and adapted to be arranged in proximity to the concrete slab;    a pump operative to circulate liquid from the liquid cooler through the conduit such that liquid moves from a supply port of the liquid cooler into an input end of the conduit at a supply temperature, moves through the conduit, and moves from an output end of the conduit to a return port of the liquid cooler at a return temperature greater than the supply temperature.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the conduit is flexible and adapted to be arranged in loops on a surface of the concrete slab.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the conduit is adapted to be arranged in loops and embedded in the concrete slab.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first manifold operatively connected to the supply port of the liquid cooler;    a second manifold operatively connected to the return port of the liquid cooler;    a plurality of conduits each having an input end operatively connected to the first manifold and an output end operatively connected to the second manifold.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the portable liquid cooler comprises an absorption chiller.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  comprising an insulation layer configured to substantially cover the concrete slab.  
   
   
       7 . A method of cooling a concrete slab to improve curing in hot weather, the method comprising: 
 providing a portable liquid cooler adjacent to the concrete slab;    connecting a conduit the liquid cooler and arranging the conduit in proximity to the concrete slab;    with a pump, circulating liquid from the liquid cooler through the conduit such that liquid moves from a supply port of the liquid cooler into an input end of the conduit at a supply temperature, moves through the conduit, and moves from an output end of the conduit to a return port of the liquid cooler at a return temperature greater than the supply temperature.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the conduit is flexible and arranged in loops on a surface of the concrete slab.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the conduit is arranged in loops and embedded in the concrete slab.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 providing a first manifold operatively connected to the supply port of the liquid cooler;    providing a second manifold operatively connected to the return port of the liquid cooler;    providing a plurality of conduits each having an input end operatively connected to the first manifold and an output end operatively connected to the second manifold, and circulating liquid from the supply port of the liquid cooler into the first manifold to the input end of each conduit, through each conduit, and from the output end of the conduit to the return port of the liquid cooler.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the portable liquid cooler comprises an absorption chiller.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7  comprising covering the concrete slab with an insulation layer.