Cryogenic Liquid Chiller with Multi-Fill Points Optimized for Efficiency, Capability, and Versatility

Abstract

A cryogenic liquid chiller includes a vessel; at least one heat exchanger, which heat exchangers function independently of each other and are comprised of at least one parallel flow path; a pump to circulate liquid within the vessel; a fill pump; and a drain pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cryogenic liquid chiller to cool a liquid, comprising:
 a vessel to receive the liquid to be cooled;   a first heat exchanger located near the bottom of the vessel and having a cryogenic input port with parallel cryogenic paths, wherein the first heat exchanger has a plurality of concentric heat exchange coil sections with different diameters nested inside each other with a predetermined submerged height and wherein the first heat exchanger is coupleable to one or more additional heat exchangers each having concentric coils with separate flow paths coupled in parallel to a first valve further coupled to a cryogen source;   a circulation pump to circulate the liquid in the vessel; and   a motor providing a fill pump to move the liquid into the vessel from a liquid source in one direction and in a second direction providing a drain pump to move the liquid out of the vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The chiller of  claim 1 , comprising insulation coupled to the vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The chiller of  claim 1 , comprising a cryogen or liquid nitrogen to cool the liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The chiller of  claim 1 , comprising a thermocouple. 
     
     
         5 . The chiller of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve allows cryogen flow when the temperature of said flow path is above a selected value. 
     
     
         6 . The chiller of  claim 1 , wherein the circulation pump pumps liquid from the vessel through at least one circulation inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The chiller of  claim 1 , wherein the circulation pump pumps liquid to the vessel through at least one circulation outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The chiller of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one circulation inlet is located on the floor of the vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The chiller of  claim 7 , comprising a second circulation inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The chiller of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one circulation outlet is offset from the bottom of the vessel by a selected amount. 
     
     
         11 . The chiller of  claim 1 , comprising a check valve located between the fill pump and the liquid source to stop fluid flow from the vessel into the liquid source. 
     
     
         12 . The chiller of  claim 1 , comprising a manual valve in series with the drain pump. 
     
     
         13 . The chiller of  claim 14 , comprising a manual valve in series with the drain pump. 
     
     
         14 . The chiller of  claim 16 , wherein the circulation pump is coupled to the fill pump. 
     
     
         15 . The chiller of  claim 1 , comprising an alcohol solvent. 
     
     
         16 . The chiller of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more additional heat exchangers are stackable. 
     
     
         17 . The chiller of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger comprises three concentric coils. 
     
     
         18 . A method to cool a liquid, comprising:
 receiving the liquid in a vessel having a first heat exchanger located near the bottom of the vessel and a cryogenic input port with parallel cryogenic paths, wherein the first heat exchanger is coupleable to one or more additional heat exchangers each having concentric coils with separate flow paths coupled in parallel to a cryogen source with parallel paths;   providing the first heat exchanger with a plurality of concentric coil sections with different diameters nested inside each other with a predetermined submerged height; and   circulating the liquid in the vessel and moving the liquid into the vessel from a liquid source in one direction and in a second direction to move the liquid out of the vessel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising stopping fluid flow from the vessel into the liquid source with a check valve located between the fill pump and the liquid source to. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising stacking wherein the one or more additional heat exchangers.