Refrigeration system and process utilizing a heat pipe heat exchanger

Abstract

A refrigeration system includes a cryogenic freezer and a mechanical refrigerator, wherein the mechanical refrigerator includes an enclosure containing an atmosphere, the cryogenic freezer includes a cryogen exhaust conduit, and a heat pipe heat exchanger including a warm end and a cold end, wherein the heat pipe heat exchanger is in heat transfer relationship with the mechanical refrigerator and the cryogenic freezer such that the warm end of the heat pipe heat exchanger contacts the atmosphere within the mechanical refrigerator enclosure, and the cold end of the heat pipe heat exchanger is disposed within the cryogen exhaust conduit of the cryogenic freezer. A refrigeration process includes cooling an atmosphere within a mechanical refrigerator by exposing the atmosphere to a warm end of a heat pipe heat exchanger, wherein a cold end of the heat pipe heat exchanger is disposed within an exhaust duct of a cryogenic freezer.

1 . A refrigeration system, comprising a cryogenic freezer and a mechanical refrigerator, wherein the mechanical refrigerator comprises an enclosure containing an atmosphere, the cryogenic freezer comprises a cryogen exhaust conduit, and a heat pipe heat exchanger comprising a warm end and a cold end, wherein the heat pipe heat exchanger is in heat transfer relationship with the mechanical refrigerator and the cryogenic freezer such that the warm end of the heat pipe heat exchanger contacts the atmosphere within the mechanical refrigerator enclosure, and the cold end of the heat pipe heat exchanger is disposed within the cryogen exhaust conduit of the cryogenic freezer. 
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one fan is disposed within the mechanical refrigerator for moving the atmosphere over the warm end of the heat pipe heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe heat exchanger comprises a plurality of heat exchange pipes. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of fins associated with the plurality of heat exchange pipes at the warm end of the heat pipe heat exchanger within the mechanical refrigerator. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein a working fluid within the heat pipe heat exchanger comprises at least one of water, methanol, ethanol, ammonia, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane or perfluoropolyether. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein a temperature within the mechanical refrigerator is from about −40° F. (−40° C.) to about 10° F. (−12.2° C.). 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , where a temperature within the cryogen exhaust conduit of the cryogenic freezer is from about −120° F. (−84.4° C.) to about −80° F. (−62.2° C.). 
     
     
         8 . A refrigeration process, comprising cooling an atmosphere within a mechanical refrigerator by exposing the atmosphere to a warm end of a heat pipe heat exchanger, wherein a cold end of the heat pipe heat exchanger is disposed within an exhaust duct of a cryogenic freezer. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration process of  claim 8 , further comprising circulating the atmosphere within the mechanical refrigerator over the warm end of the heat pipe heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration process of  claim 8 , wherein the heat pipe heat exchanger comprises a plurality of heat exchange pipes. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration process of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of fins coacting with the plurality of heat pipes on the warm end of the heat pipe heat exchanger within the mechanical refrigerator. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration process of  claim 8 , wherein a working fluid within the heat pipe heat exchanger comprises at least one of water, methanol, ethanol, ammonia, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane or perfluoropolyether. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration process of  claim 8 , wherein a temperature within the mechanical refrigerator is from about −40° F. (−40° C.) to about 10° F. (−12.2° C.). 
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration process of  claim 8 , where a temperature within the cryogen exhaust conduit of the cryogenic freezer is from about −120° F. (−84.4° C.) to about −80° F. (−62.2° C.).