Patent ID: 6415628
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: F25B,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for providing direct contact refrigeration comprising:(A) compressing a multicomponent refrigerant fluid comprising at least two components from the group consisting of hydrocarbons having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, fluorocarbons having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and inert gases; (B) cooling the compressed multicomponent refrigerant fluid, expanding the cooled compressed multicomponent refrigerant fluid to generate refrigeration, and warming the refrigeration bearing multicomponent refrigerant fluid by indirect heat exchange with said cooling compressed multicomponent refrigerant fluid and also by indirect heat exchange with clean direct contact refrigerant to produce cold direct contact refrigerant; (C) contacting the cold direct contact refrigerant with a heat source to cool the heat source producing warmed direct contact refrigerant which contains contaminants from the heat source; and (D) treating the direct contact refrigerant to remove contaminants and to produce clean direct contact refrigerant for indirect heat exchange with the refrigeration bearing multicomponent refrigerant fluid.