U.S. patent application number 16/206616 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-29 for forced flow fluid circulation cooling for barges.
This patent application is currently assigned to Southern Towing Company, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Southern Towing Company, LLC. Invention is credited to Edward H. Grimm, III.
Application Number | 20190261782 16/206616 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59560132 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-29 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190261782 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grimm, III; Edward H. |
August 29, 2019 |
FORCED FLOW FLUID CIRCULATION COOLING FOR BARGES
Abstract
The disclosure relates to an open-loop cooling system installed
on a refrigerated barge for removing heat from an external heat
exchanger. The system includes an open loop with a pump drawing
water from the environment and forcing the water across the outer
surface of the heat exchanger to augment existing heat removal due
to contact with and flow of water across the heat exchanger due to
the motion of the barge. A fluid is forced across the side faces
and inner faces of the cooler to increase heat transfer from the
barge closed-loop cooling system to the water environment.
Inventors: |
Grimm, III; Edward H.;
(Houston, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Southern Towing Company, LLC |
Memphis |
TN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Southern Towing Company,
LLC
Memphis
TN
|
Family ID: |
59560132 |
Appl. No.: |
16/206616 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15183392 |
Jun 15, 2016 |
10150552 |
|
|
16206616 |
|
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62295197 |
Feb 15, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 1/02 20130101; B63B
25/08 20130101; B63J 2/14 20130101; B62B 9/22 20130101; F25D 17/02
20130101; A47D 13/02 20130101; A47D 9/04 20130101; B60N 2/2845
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47D 9/04 20060101
A47D009/04; B62B 9/22 20060101 B62B009/22; B60N 2/28 20060101
B60N002/28; A47D 13/02 20060101 A47D013/02; B63B 25/08 20060101
B63B025/08; F25D 1/02 20060101 F25D001/02; B63J 2/14 20060101
B63J002/14; F25D 17/02 20060101 F25D017/02 |
Claims
1. A refrigerated inland waterway barge, comprising: an outer hull
with a recessed section; a heat exchanger disposed in the recessed
section and outside of the outer hull of the refrigerated inland
waterway barge with a gap between the outer hull and an inner face
of the heat exchanger; and a liquid-based open-loop cooling system
in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, the open-loop
cooling system comprising: a first piping line between an inlet in
the outer hull and an outlet in the recessed section of the
refrigerated inland waterway barge, wherein the outlet is
positioned at least partially aligned with the gap; and a pump
disposed along the first piping line.
2. The open-loop cooling system of claim 1, further comprising: a
constriction segment disposed between the first piping line and the
outlet.
3. The refrigerated barge of claim 1, wherein the recessed section
includes forward, aft, port, starboard, and back walls, and wherein
the outlet is disposed in the forward wall.
4. The open-loop cooling system of claim 1, further comprising: a
second piping line bypassing the pump and disposed between the
inlet and the outlet.
5. The open-loop cooling system of claim 4, further comprising: a
valve on the first piping line; a valve on the second piping line;
and a controller configured to actuate the valves on the first and
second piping lines to switch a fluid flow in the first piping line
ON/OFF.
6. The open-loop cooling system of claim 5, wherein the controller
is configured to switch the fluid flow in the first piping line
ON/OFF based on at least one of: a speed of the refrigerated barge,
a temperature of a cargo stored on the refrigerated barge, and a
temperature difference between a temperature of a fluid in the
closed-loop cooling system and a temperature of water surrounding
the outer hull.
7. The refrigerated barge 1, wherein the heat exchanger is a grid
cooler.
8. A refrigerated inland waterway barge, comprising: an outer hull
of the refrigerated inland waterway barge; an inner hull of the
refrigerated inland waterway barge; a heat exchanger immersed in an
ambient water environment, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed
between the outer hull and the inner hull with a gap between the
inner hull and an inner face of the heat exchanger; and a
liquid-based open-loop cooling system in fluid communication with
the heat exchanger, the open-loop cooling system comprising: a
first piping line between an inlet in the outer hull and an outlet
in the outer hull positioned at least partially aligned with the
gap; and a pump disposed along the piping, wherein the outer hull
has a plurality of slits to allow the exit of water entering
through the inlet.
9. The open-loop cooling system of claim 8, further comprising: a
constriction segment disposed between the piping and the
outlet.
10. The refrigerated barge of claim 8, wherein the recessed section
includes forward, aft, port, starboard, and back walls, and wherein
the outlet is disposed in the forward wall.
11. The open-loop cooling system of claim 8, further comprising: a
second piping line bypassing the pump and disposed between the
inlet and the outlet.
12. The open-loop cooling system of claim 11, further comprising: a
valve on the first piping line; a valve on the second piping line;
and a controller configured to actuate the valves on the first and
second piping lines to switch a water flow in the first piping line
ON/OFF.
13. The open-loop cooling system of claim 12, wherein the
controller is configured to switch the fluid flow on the first
piping line ON/OFF based on at least one of: a speed of the
refrigerated barge, a temperature of a cargo stored on the
refrigerated barge, and a temperature difference between a
temperature of a fluid in the closed-loop cooling system and a
temperature of water surrounding the outer hull.
14. The refrigerated barge 8, wherein the heat exchanger is a grid
cooler.
15. A method of cooling a refrigerated inland waterway barge, the
method comprising: supplying a flow of water from an ambient water
environment to a side of a heat exchanger immersed in the ambient
water environment and facing an inner hull of a refrigerated inland
waterway barge, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed between the
inner hull and an outer hull of the refrigerated inland waterway
barge, wherein the heat exchanger is mounted with a gap between the
inner hull and the heat exchanger to allow for the passage of
water, wherein at least part of the flow of water is into the
gap.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: constricting the
flow of the water to increase a velocity of the water across the
heat exchanger.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein supplying the water comprises:
pumping the water.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein supplying the flow of water
comprises: pumping the water; or, alternatively, allowing a natural
flow of the water; and switching between pumping the water and
allowing the natural flow of water based on predetermined
criteria.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the switching comprises
opening/closing a valve dedicated to pumping the water and
closing/opening a valve dedicated to allowing the natural flow of
the water.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the heat exchanger is a grid
cooler.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
1. Field of Disclosure
[0001] The present disclosure relates to cooling barges, in
particular, enhancing closed loop cooling systems by improving the
effectiveness of heat removal through hull mounted coolers on
refrigerated barges.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] Barges are used to transport cargo on the ocean and inland
waterways. When refrigeration of the cargo is desirable or
required, controlling the temperature inside the barge requires
specialized equipment, additional costs, and energy to maintain the
appropriate low temperatures during transport or when the barge is
docked. Cargoes such as liquid natural gas (LNG), ammonia or
anhydrous ammonia, and liquid propane gas (LPG) are stored as
liquids at lower temperatures and, in some instances, high
pressures. Anhydrous ammonia stored as a liquid near normal
atmospheric pressures must be cooled below -28 degrees F. (-33
degrees C.). Typically, boats and barges include coolers mounted on
or near the outer hull (heat exchangers) below the water line and
use the surrounding water at an ambient water temperature as a heat
sink. Thus, the heat exchangers remove internal heat of the barge
to the ambient temperature water environment. The internal heat may
be due to the cargo, the refrigeration system used to maintain the
cargo at low temperatures, and additional equipment operating in
the refrigerated barge.
[0003] Removing the heat (cooling) may be performed by a
closed-loop cooling system that pumps a fluid that circulates
through pipes and into internal systems and bulkheads to draw heat
out of the interior of the barge to the outer hull, where a heat
exchanger may be disposed. Thus, the heat moves from the interior
of the barge to the heat exchanger by way of the closed-loop
cooling system. One or more suitable heat exchangers, such as box
coolers, cooling fins, or grid coolers, may be disposed on or in
the outer hull. Contact with the surrounding water provides cooling
of the heat exchanger so that heat flows out of the barge and into
the ambient environment. The heat exchanger is cooled by conduction
(when the barge is motionless or only slightly moving relative to
the water) or by convection and conduction (when the barge is
moving relative to the water) due to the surrounding water (i.e.
sea or river water) in contact with the outer surface of the
cooler. The heat exchanger removes heat at its lowest rate when the
barge is motionless, since there is no heat removal by convection.
Since coolers are usually mounted directly to the outside of the
hull, only the outer side of the cooler is in contact with the flow
of water.
[0004] One of the shortcomings closed-loop cooling systems with
outer hull mounted heat exchangers on barges is that the
effectiveness of the heat transfer from the barge to the water is
heavily depends on movement of the barge through the water. While
heat will transfer across any temperature differential, the rate of
heat transfer is relatively low when the barge is not moving
relative to the water, since only cooling by conducting heat
through the water takes place.
[0005] A shortcoming of barges with closed-loop cooling systems is
that cargo loading is limited by the rate that the cargo can be
effectively cooled to a specified temperature. When the barge is
docked for loading, the cooling system is least effective, and, the
heat load added by the loading of cargo can require the suspension
of loading activities until the barge is adequately cooled.
[0006] Another shortcoming of barges with closed-loop cooling
systems is that the heat transfer maximum is completely dependent
on the temperature differential between the closed-loop cooling
system and the ambient water temperature for a given relative
speed.
[0007] Another shortcoming of barges with closed-loop cooling
systems and hull mounted coolers is that the ambient temperature
water generally only flows across the outer side surface of the
cooler, such that heat is not being effectively removed from the
inner side of the cooler.
[0008] Refrigeration equipment and fuel to operate said
refrigeration equipment represent a substantial cost in the
operation of a refrigerated barge. Also loading delays due to cargo
refrigeration demands exceeding the cooling capacity of the barge's
refrigeration system coupled with its cooling system, present
scheduling problems and additional costs.
[0009] What is needed is an open-loop cooling system to enhance the
performance of the existing closed-loop cooling system and heat
exchanger. What is also needed is cooling of the inner side of the
heat exchanger to improve heat removal to the ambient temperature
water. What is also needed is an open-loop cooling system that
operates by convection when the barge is immobile relative to the
water.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] In aspects, the present disclosure is related to a system
for cooling a water going barge, and, in particular, increasing the
effectiveness of the heat exchange between a closed-loop cooling
system and the ambient water environment.
[0011] One embodiment according to the present disclosure includes
a refrigerated barge, comprising: an outer hull; a closed-loop
cooling system disposed within the outer hull; a heat exchanger in
fluid communication with the closed-loop cooling system, wherein
the heat exchanger is disposed in a recessed section of the outer
hull with a gap between the outer hull and an inner face of the
heat exchanger; and an open-loop cooling system in fluid
communication with heat exchanger, the open loop cooling system
comprising: a first piping line between an inlet in the outer hull
and an outlet in the recessed section; and a pump disposed along
the first piping line. The open-loop cooling system may include a
constriction segment between the first piping line and the outlet.
The recessed section may include forward, aft, port, starboard, and
back walls, and the outlet may be disposed in the forward wall. The
open-loop cooling system may include a second piping line bypassing
the pump and disposed between the inlet and the outlet that
includes valves on the first and second piping lines and a
controller for controlling the bypassing of the pump. The bypassing
of the pump may be determined by one or more of a speed of the
refrigerated barge, a temperature of a cargo stored on the
refrigerated barge, and a temperature difference between a
temperature of a fluid in the closed-loop cooling system and a
temperature of water surrounding the outer hull. The heat exchanger
may be a grid cooler.
[0012] Another embodiment according to the present invention
includes a refrigerated barge, comprising: an outer hull; an inner
hull; a closed-loop cooling system disposed within the inner hull;
a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the closed-loop
cooling system, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed between the
outer hull and the inner hull a gap between the inner hull and an
inner face of the heat exchanger; and an open-loop cooling system
in fluid communication with heat exchanger, the open loop cooling
system comprising: a first piping line between an inlet in the
outer hull and an outlet in the recessed section; and a pump
disposed along the piping, wherein the outer hull has a plurality
of slits to allow the exit of water entering through the inlet. The
open-loop cooling system may include a constriction segment
disposed between the piping and the outlet. The recessed section
includes forward, aft, port, starboard, and back walls and the
outlet may be disposed in the forward wall. The open-loop cooling
system may include a second piping line bypassing the pump and
disposed between the inlet and the outlet, wherein valves on the
first and second piping lines and a controller are used to control
the bypassing of the pump. The bypassing of the pump may be based
on one or more of: a speed of the refrigerated barge, a temperature
of a cargo stored on the refrigerated barge, and a temperature
difference between a temperature of a fluid in the closed-loop
cooling system and a temperature of water surrounding the outer
hull. The heat exchanger may be a grid cooler.
[0013] Another embodiment according to the present disclosure
includes a method of cooling a refrigerated barge, the method
comprising: supplying a flow of water from the environment to a
side of a heat exchanger facing an inner hull of a refrigerated
barge, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed between the inner
hull and an outer hull of the refrigerated barge, wherein the heat
exchanger is mounted with a gap between the inner hull and the heat
exchanger to allow for the passage of water. The method may also
include constricting the flow of the water to increase its velocity
across the heat exchanger. The supplying of the water may include
directing a natural flow of water to the inner side of the heat
exchanger or pumping the water. The method may also include
switching between pumping the water and allowing the natural flow
of water based on predetermined criteria. The switching may include
opening/closing a valve dedicated to pumping the water and
closing/opening a valve dedicated to allowing the natural flow of
the water. The heat exchanger may be a grid cooler.
[0014] Another embodiment according to the present disclosure
includes a method of cooling a refrigerated barge, the method
comprising: supplying a flow of water from the environment to an
inner side of a heat exchanger disposed in a recessed section of an
outer hull of the refrigerated barge, wherein the heat exchanger is
mounted with a gap between the recessed section and the heat
exchanger to allow for the passage of water. The method may include
constricting the flow of the water to increase its velocity across
the heat exchanger. The method may include pumping or allowing the
flow of water to the inner side of the heat exchanger. The method
may include switching between pumping the water and allowing the
natural flow of water based on predetermined criteria. The
switching may include opening/closing a valve dedicated to pumping
the water and closing/opening a valve dedicated to allowing the
natural flow of the water. The heat exchanger may be a grid
cooler.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] For a detailed understanding of the present disclosure,
reference should be made to the following detailed description of
the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which like elements have been given like numerals,
wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1A shows a diagram of a refrigerated barge with a
machinery-driven ("active") closed-loop circulating system for
cooling;
[0017] FIG. 1B shows a diagram of a refrigerated barge with an
open-loop forced flow water circulating system;
[0018] FIG. 2A shows a close up diagram of an open-loop forced flow
water circulating system for use with the refrigerated barge of
FIG. 1B integrated with the closed-loop cooling system of FIG. 1A
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 2B shows a top view of the open-loop forced flow water
circulating system for use with the refrigerated barge of FIG.
2A;
[0020] FIG. 3A shows a close-up of the water circulation path to
the cooler for use with the open-loop system of FIG. 2A;
[0021] FIG. 3B shows a close-up of the water circulation paths
around and through the cooler for use with the open-loop system of
FIG. 2A;
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a close up diagram of an open-loop forced flow
water circulating system with a parallel open-loop passive flow
water circulating system for use with the refrigerated barge of
FIG. 1A according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
and
[0023] FIG. 5 shows a close-up of an alternative placement of the
cooler and water circulation for use with the open-loop systems of
FIG. 1B and FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0024] Generally, the present disclosure relates to a water-going
vessel configured for the transport of refrigerated cargo, such as,
but not limited to, LNG, ammonia, and LPG. Specifically, the
present disclosure is related to supplementing the cooling
power/efficiency of a closed-loop cooling system with an open-loop
cooling system.
[0025] The present disclosure is susceptible to embodiments of
different forms. There are shown in the drawings, and herein will
be described in detail, specific embodiments of the present
disclosure with the understanding that the present disclosure is to
be considered an exemplification of the principles of the present
disclosure and is not intended to limit the present disclosure to
that illustrated and described herein.
[0026] FIGS. 1A and 1B show cooling systems 100, 200 (closed-loop
water cooling system 100 and open-loop water cooling system 200)
that are incorporated into a refrigerated cargo barge 105 to form a
combined barge cooling system. In one embodiment according to the
present disclosure. the cooling systems 100, 200 may be operated
separately or together. The separate FIGS. 1A and 1B are used to
clearly show the elements of each of the cooling systems 100, 200
as claimed by the applicant.
[0027] FIG. 1A shows the refrigerated cargo barge 105 with the
closed-loop water cooling system 100. The barge 105 comprises an
outer hull 110, an inner hull 115, and one or more insulated tanks
120 for storing cargo. The insulated tanks 120 are maintained at
refrigerated temperatures based on the type of cargo being
transported as would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in
the art. Refrigeration is provided by a suitable refrigeration
system (not shown) which removes heat from the cargo and transfers
the heat into the interior of the barge 105. The outer hull 110
includes one or more recessed sections 125, which allow heat
exchangers (coolers) 130 to be disposed on the outside of the outer
hull 110, and allowing the non-recessed portion of the outer hull
110 to protect the coolers 130 from physical damage while the barge
105 is in the water. The closed-loop water cooling system 100
includes the coolers 130, a main cooling loop 135 that circulates
water through the coolers 130 from an inlet pipe 140 and back to an
outlet pipe 145. Circulation is provided by a pump and associated
powered machinery 150. The entire cooling system (the main cooling
loop 135, the inlet 140, the outlet 145, and the pump 150) form a
closed-loop system that moves heat from the interior of the barge
105 to the coolers 130 and into the water environment. The main
cooling loop 135 may be divided into port and starboard sides, each
servicing the coolers 130 on the port and starboard sides of the
barge 105, respectively. The two halves of the main cooling loop
135 may be isolated by a series of isolation valves 155. Each half
of the main cooling loop 135 may have its own pump 150.
[0028] FIG. 1B shows the refrigerated cargo barge 105 with the
open-loop cooling system 200 disposed within. The system 200
includes additional features that may be added to the system 100,
thus systems 100 and 200 may share some elements in common,
including the coolers 130. The coolers 130 are, in addition to
being in communication with main cooling loop 135 (FIG. 1A), in
communication the open-loop cooling system 200 with one or more
pipes 212 branching off of an open-cooling loop 210. The
open-cooling loop 210 is in communication with one or more openings
(sea chests) 205 in the outer hull 110 that provide access to
surrounding water for supplying water to the open-cooling loop 210
and the coolers 130. The water may be forced through the
open-cooling loop 210 using a pump 220. Similar to the main cooling
loop 135, the open-cooling loop 210 may have independent port and
starboard sections that feed coolers 130 on the port and starboard
sides, respectively.
[0029] The combination of the closed-loop water cooling system 100
shown in FIG. 1A and the open-loop water cooling system 200 shown
in FIG. 1B provide versatile cooling options for the transporting
cargo in the tanks 120 on the barge 105. Heat may be more
effectively transferred out of the barge 105 through the coolers
130 when both systems 100, 200 are operating. Under conditions
where silt or other contaminants from the water environment may
enter the open-loop cooling system 200, such as in inland
waterways, the open-loop cooling system 200 may be shut down and
the lines purged to prevent damage or clogging; however, the
closed-loop cooling system 100 may continue to operate.
[0030] FIG. 2A shows a close up diagram of one embodiment of an
open-loop cooling system 200. In FIG. 2A, the open-loop cooling
system 200 is directed to increasing the removal of heat from the
cooler 130 by increasing the flow of water across surfaces of the
cooler 130. In one embodiment, the cooler 130 may be any suitable
heat exchanger, such as a GRIDCOOLER.RTM. keel cooler, manufactured
by R.W. Fernstrum & Company in Menominee, Mich. The system 200
includes the piping 210 between the opening (inlet) 205 in the
outer hull 110 of the barge 105 and an opening (outlet) 215 in the
recessed section 125. The piping 210 includes, but is not limited
to, tubulars, valving, and elbows for providing fluid communication
between the inlet 205 and the outlet 215 as would be understood by
a person of ordinary skill in the art. The pump 220 disposed along
the piping 210 moves water from the inlet 205 to the outlet 215,
augmenting natural flow velocity of the water toward the recessed
section 125. The piping 210 may branch downstream of the pump 220
into pipes 212 that supply water to different recessed sections
125. The piping 212 may include an optional constricting piping
segment 225, such as a piping reducer, to reduce the
cross-sectional area of the piping 212 and, thus, further increase
the water flow velocity at or near the outlet 215. When the barge
105 is in motion, the water flow outside the outer hull 110 is
shown by arrows 230, though it is possible for the water flow
velocity outside the outer hull 110 to be zero when the barge 105
is motionless. To clarify orientation, the direction opposing the
normal direction of the water flow 230 is upstream or forward
(toward the bow of the barge 105), and the normal direction of the
water flow 230 is downstream or aft (toward the stern of the barge
105) as would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the
art. While the inlet 205 is shown upstream/forward of the cooler
130, this is exemplary and illustrative only, as the inlet 205 may
be located downstream/aft of the cooler 130 or parallel so long as
the pump 220 imparts sufficient velocity to water 240 in the piping
210 so that the water 240 is forced through the pipe 212 and into a
volume 235 formed by the recessed section 125, which is also where
the cooler 130 is disposed. As a result, the 240 water flow exiting
the outlet 215 augments the flow of water 230 already removing heat
from the cooler 130, and an overall increased flow of water across
the cooler 130 means in increased removal of heat from the cooler
130, which increases the capacity of the cooler 130 to remove heat
from the main cooling loop 135 of the closed-loop cooling system.
FIG. 2B shows a top view of system 200.
[0031] Further, the cooler 130 may be separated from the recessed
section 125 by a gap 245 that allows the water flow 240 to pass
between the cooler 130 and recessed section 125 and through
openings in the cooler 130. The recessed section 125 is also shown
with side walls 250 that extend far enough away from the normal
plane of the outer hull 110 so that the cooler 130 is itself flush
with or recessed from the normal plane. The side walls 250, as
shown, are angled, such that the recessed section 125 has
trapezoidal prismatic characteristics, including a back wall 260;
however, this is illustrative and exemplary only, since the
recessed section 125 may have any shape (such as a rectangular box,
an ovoid section, or a hemisphere) so long as the cooler 130, when
disposed in the recessed section 125, does not extend beyond the
normal plane of the outer hull 110.
[0032] The barge 105 may have one or more coolers 130 along with an
associated recessed section 125 for placement of the cooler 130. As
would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, the
embodiments described in this disclosure can be multiples as
necessary to address the cooling needs a barge requiring a
plurality of coolers 130. Further, it is contemplated that the
equipment for providing the flow of water to the recessed sections
125 may be central or distributed to varying degrees. As shown in
FIGS. 1B and 2, a single inlet 205 and pump 220 may supply multiple
coolers 130; however, this is illustrative and exemplary only, as a
single inlet 205 may supply water to multiple pumps 220 for
multiple cooler 130 or each cooler 130 may have its own dedicated
inlet 205 and pump 220. Thus, the system 200, and other systems
described herein, may be duplicated in the hull of the barge as
necessary (distributed) and/or some components may be centralized,
based on hull design, cooling requirements, cost and engineering
goals, and other considerations as understood by persons of
ordinary skill in the art.
[0033] FIG. 3A shows a close up of the recessed section 125 and
cooler 130 disposed therein and the flows of waters for removing
heat from the cooler 130. The water flow 240 from the piping 212
(and optionally through constricting segment 225) is forced into
the volume 235 in which the cooler 130 is disposed. The cooler 130
has an inner face 310 between the cooler 130 and the recessed
section 125, an outer face 320 that is opposite the inner face 310,
a forward side face 330, and an aft side face 340 (as well as port
and starboard faces that are not shown). The typical water flow 230
moves water across the outer face 320 only. The water flow 240 from
the open-loop system 220 enters the recessed section 125 through
the outlet 215. As shown, a water flow 350 is in contact with the
forward side face 330, a water flow 360 is in contact with the
inner side face 310, and a water flow 370 is in contact with aft
side face 340. By increasing the surface area of the cooler 130
exposed to flowing water, the heat removal from the cooler 130 is
increased, making the cooler 130 more effective in removing heat
from the main cooling loop 135 of the closed-loop cooling system.
Further, since water flow 240 is forced and controlled by the pump
220, the water flows 350, 360, 370 even when the barge 105 is not
moving and the water flow 230 along the outer face 320 is near
zero, where the cooler 130, is least effective when relying on heat
transfer through the outer face 320 alone.
[0034] While the outlet 215 is shown in the one of the walls 250
forward of the cooler 130, this is illustrative and exemplary only,
as the outlet 215 may be disposed in one of the walls 250 aft of
the cooler 130, a side wall 270 to the port or starboard side of
the cooler 130, or in the back wall 260 as would be understood by a
person of ordinary skill in the art, such that the water flows
behind and around the cooler 130 as shown by arrows 320 and 330. A
person of ordinary skill in the art would also understand that the
water flow 240 may move across surfaces of the cooler 130 to the
port or starboard (not shown) as well as forward and aft. While a
single outlet 215 is shown, it is contemplated that a plurality of
outlets 215 may be present and distributed along one or more of the
walls 250, 260.
[0035] FIG. 3B shows a close up of the water flow patterns for the
cooler 130 in one embodiment according to the present disclosure.
The cooler 130 may be made up of stacked fins 375, each of which is
in fluid communication with the main cooling loop 135. Water
entering into the cooler 130 at the cooler inlet 380 passes through
fins 375 and out a cooler outlet 385. There are gaps 390 between
adjacent fins 375 so that water can move through the inner face 310
to the outer face 320. With water flow 360 moving across the inner
face 310 and water flow 395 moving from the inner face 310 to the
outer face 320 through the gaps 390, cooling efficiency is
increased since a greater surface area of the cooler 130 is in
contact with the open-loop water flow 240. While not shown with
arrows, the other sides of the cooler 130 (not numbered 330 and
340) also have water flowing across them to provide additional
cooling. While the fins 375 are shown stacked with the gaps 390
perpendicular to the inner face 310, this is illustrative and
exemplary only, as the fins 375 and gaps 390 may be disposed at a
non-perpendicular angle to the inner face 310. In some embodiments,
the angle of the fins 375 and gaps 390 may be the same angle as the
sides of one of the sides of the recessed section 125
[0036] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of an open-loop cooling
system 400 that includes a switchable passive cooling branch. The
open-loop cooling system 400 may be with the closed-loop water
cooling system 100. The flow characteristics in the recessed
section 125 for system 400 are the same as shown for system 200 in
FIG. 3. The system 400 includes the piping 210 between an inlet 205
in the outer hull 110 of the barge 105 and the outlet 215 in the
recessed section 125, as well as the pump 220 disposed along the
piping 210 to move water from the inlet 205 to the outlet 215,
augmenting natural flow velocity toward the recessed section 125. A
parallel branch 410 of piping is disposed along the piping 210 and
branches off at a piping tee 420 and rejoins the piping 210 at a
piping tee 430. The parallel branch 410 bypasses the pump 220. The
system 400 also includes a valve 440 disposed on the piping 210
between the piping tee 420 and the piping tee 430 and a valve 450
on the parallel branch 410 between the piping tee 420 and the
piping tee 430. The valves 440, 450 are disposed so that flow
between the inlet 205 and the outlet 215 can be switched between
using the pump 220 ("forced flow mode") and not using the pump 220
("passive flow mode"). Downstream of the piping tee 430, shown as
piping 212 provides a conduit for the water flow 240 to the outlet
215. The piping 212 may include the optional constricting piping
segment 225, such as a piping reducer, to reduce the
cross-sectional area of the piping 210 and, thus, further increase
the water flow velocity at or near the outlet 215. While the inlet
205 is shown upstream/forward of the cooler 130, this is exemplary
and illustrative only, as the inlet 205 may be located
downstream/aft of the cooler 130 or parallel so long as the pump
220 imparts sufficient velocity to water 240 in the piping 210 so
that the water 240 is forced into a volume 235 formed by the
recessed section 125, which is also where the cooler 130 is
disposed. As a result, the 240 water flow exiting the outlet 215
augments the flow of water 230 already removing heat from the
cooler 130, and an overall increased flow of water across the
cooler 130 means in increased removal of heat from the cooler 130,
which increases the capacity of the cooler 130 to remove heat from
the main cooling loop 135 of the closed-loop cooling system. While
not shown, is contemplated that the output of the pump 220 may
branch into multiple pipes 212 to supply multiple recessed sections
125, similar to FIGS. 1B and 2.
[0037] In operation, in forced flow mode, when the valve 440 is
open and the valve 430 is closed, the system 400 operates
substantially the same way as the system 200. In passive flow mode,
when the valve 440 is closed and the valve 430 is open, the water
flow 240 is controlled by the motion of the barge 105 through the
water. This means that passive flow mode provides little or no
additional cooling while the barge 105 is motionless; however, when
the barge 105 is moving, the water flow through the parallel branch
410 augments the cooling of the cooler 130 since the inner face
310, forward side face 330, and aft side face 340 will receive
additional water flow from the open-loop system 400 when in passive
flow mode. Passive flow mode is particularly useful for augmenting
cooling based on the outer face 320 when the pump 220 is shutdown
due to maintenance, equipment failure or simply because cooling is
adequate without the pump 220 operating. The system 400 may include
a controller (not shown) that switches the valves 440, 450 and the
pump 220 between forced flow mode and passive flow mode based on
sensor or manual inputs, including, but not limited to, as an
indicator of speed of the barge 105 through the water, a
temperature of the interior of the barge 105 relative to either the
ambient water temperature or the cooling demands of the
refrigerated cargo, and a temperature difference between a
temperature of a fluid in the closed-loop cooling system 100 and a
temperature of water surrounding the outer hull 110.
[0038] FIG. 5 shows a close up of the closed-loop system 200, 400
in a barge 105 where the cooler 130 is disposed between the inner
hull 115 and the outer hull 110. The water flow 240 from the piping
212 (and optionally through constricting segment 225) is forced
into a volume 510 formed by the inner hull 115, the outer hull 110,
and a plurality of side walls 520, wherein the cooler 130 is
disposed. Herein, the outlet 215 is in one of the side walls 520 or
in the inner hull 115. While a single outlet 215 is shown, it is
contemplated that a plurality of outlets 215 may be present and
distributed along one or more of the walls 520 and the inner hull
115. As in FIG. 2A, the volume 510 is shown as a trapezoidal prism
in shape, but may be any suitable shape as would be understood by a
person of ordinary skill in the art. The outer hull 110 includes a
plurality of openings 530, such as, but not limited to, slits,
slots, or holes, that allow water entering the volume 510 to exit
the outer hull 110 and take heat with the exiting water and away
from the cooler 130. The plurality of openings 530 also allows the
water flow 240 to contact the outer surface 320 to remove heat. The
cooler 130 may be separated from the inner hull 115 by a gap 540
that allows water from the outlet 215 to flow across the inner
surface 310 of the cooler 130.
[0039] While the disclosure has been described with reference to
exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that various changes
may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof
without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition,
many modifications will be appreciated to adapt a particular
instrument, situation or material to the teachings of the
disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended
claims.
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