Patent ID: 6442968
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: C01B,F17C

Abstract:
An apparatus for producing solid carbon dioxide pellets comprising a housing having a partial cylindrical inner surface, a cylindrical rotor journalled adjacent said housing for rotation about an axis eccentric to the center axis of said partial cylindrical inner surface of the housing, a liquid CO2 supply and expansion assembly communicated with said housing and rotor and receiving liquid carbon dioxide from a pressurized source, permitting the liquid CO2 to convert to a gaseous and snow phase and discharging snow onto the rotor and venting said gaseous carbon dioxide, said rotor including a plurality of radially movable blades extending between the rotor and the partial cylindrical inner surface of the housing to form a plurality of pockets receiving snow from the supply and expansion assembly whereby rotation of the rotor about its eccentric axis will move said pockets and snow circumferentially and reduce the volume of the pockets to compress the snow into pellets, said housing including a discharge area associated with the pockets when they are at minimum volume for discharge of solid compacted pellets from the housing.