Low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus

Abstract

A low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus capable of achieving an increased weight solidification rate of slush fluid is provided. A low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus includes a slush-fluid producing unit that includes a heat exchanger having a heat-transfer surface and disposed in a liquid-phase low-temperature fluid L stored in a container and scraping means for scraping a solid-phase low-temperature fluid formed on a surface of the heat-transfer surface; and a cryogenic-fluid generating unit for supplying into the interior of the heat-transfer surface a cryogenic fluid having a lower temperature than the liquid-phase low-temperature fluid L stored in the container. The low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus is configured so that the flow rate and temperature of the cryogenic fluid flowing into the interior of the heat-transfer surface and the rotational speed or reciprocating speed of the scraping means can be adjusted based on the particle size of the solid-phase low-temperature fluid scraped by the scraping means.

1 . A low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus comprising:
 a slush-fluid producing unit that includes a heat exchanger having a heat-transfer surface and disposed in a liquid-phase low-temperature fluid stored in a container and scraping means for scraping a solid-phase low-temperature fluid formed on a surface of the heat-transfer surface; and   a cryogenic-fluid generating unit for supplying into the interior of the heat-transfer surface a cryogenic fluid having a lower temperature than the liquid-phase low-temperature fluid stored in the container;   and being configured so that the flow rate and temperature of the cryogenic fluid flowing into the interior of the heat-transfer surface and the rotational speed or reciprocating speed of the scraping means can be adjusted based on the particle size of the solid-phase low-temperature fluid scraped by the scraping means.   
   
   
       2 . The low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the scraping means is an auger, and a central shaft of the auger is connected to a drive shaft of a drive motor for driving the auger via a universal joint. 
   
   
       3 . The low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the scraping means is an auger, the auger is configured so as to be rotatable relative to the heat-transfer surface, and both ends of a rotating shaft of the auger are borne by bearings. 
   
   
       4 . A low-temperature-slush-fluid storing facility comprising the low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus according to  claim 1 ; transferring means for transferring a low-temperature slush fluid accumulated on the bottom of the container to another place; and a low-temperature-slush-fluid storing tank for storing the low-temperature slush fluid transferred by the transferring means. 
   
   
       5 . The low-temperature-slush-fluid storing equipment according to  claim 4 , configured so that the low-temperature slush fluid stored in the low-temperature-slush-fluid storing tank has a desired weight solidification rate. 
   
   
       6 . The low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the scraping means is an auger, the auger is configured so as to be rotatable relative to the heat-transfer surface, and both ends of a rotating shaft of the auger are borne by bearings. 
   
   
       7 . A low-temperature-slush-fluid storing facility comprising the low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus according to  claim 2 ; transferring means for transferring a low-temperature slush fluid accumulated on the bottom of the container to another place; and a low-temperature-slush-fluid storing tank for storing the low-temperature slush fluid transferred by the transferring means. 
   
   
       8 . A low-temperature-slush-fluid storing facility comprising the low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus according to  claim 3 ; transferring means for transferring a low-temperature slush fluid accumulated on the bottom of the container to another place; and a low-temperature-slush-fluid storing tank for storing the low-temperature slush fluid transferred by the transferring means. 
   
   
       9 . The low-temperature-slush-fluid storing equipment according to  claim 7 , configured so that the low-temperature slush fluid stored in the low-temperature-slush-fluid storing tank has a desired weight solidification rate. 
   
   
       10 . The low-temperature-slush-fluid storing equipment according to  claim 8 , configured so that the low-temperature slush fluid stored in the low-temperature-slush-fluid storing tank has a desired weight solidification rate.