Abstract:
A system for recycling energy from ice remnants. The system includes a container. The container includes a receptacle configured to receive ice remnants. An ice capturing and melting device below the receptacle is configured to capture and melt ice in the ice remnants while allowing fluid in the ice remnants to pass therethrough thereby forming a cooled recycled liquid at a bottom of the container. A discharge port located proximate the bottom of the container is configured to direct the cooled recycled liquid to at least one heat source of a facility and cool the heat source.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a system and method for recovering energy from ice remnants. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Potentially recoverable costs may be lost when ice and/or cold fluids are discarded in situations such as: the unconsumed portion of a beverage from a food service facility (FSF), ice and slushy water at a skating facility, or cold fluids and/or ice from any type of facility containing materials which are at a temperature below the local ambient. 
         [0003]    For example, in discarded beverage remnants from a FSF, there may be value associated with: the potable water, the food energy value of sugar and other ingredients, the energy consumed to bring the beverage and associated ice to serving temperature, and the energy associated with concentrating carbon dioxide and carbonating the beverage. For discarded ice remnants from a skating facility or similar type facility that uses ice and/or a mixture of ice and fluid, there is value associated with the water and energy consumed to form the ice. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention features a system for recycling energy from ice remnants. The system comprises a container including a receptacle configured to receive discarded ice remnants from a facility, an ice capturing and melting device below the receptacle configured to capture and melt ice in the ice remnants while allowing fluid in the ice remnants to pass therethrough thereby forming a cooled recycled ice liquid at a bottom of the container, and a discharge port located proximate the bottom of the container configured to direct the cooled recycled liquid to at least one heat source of the facility and cool the heat source. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the ice remnants may include discarded beverage remnants, discarded ice, and/or a mixture of discarded ice and a fluid. The facility may include a food service facility and/or a skating facility. The ice capturing and melting device may include a plurality of screens. The plurality of screens may include screens with different mesh sizes each configured to trap ice in the ice remnants having different sizes. The screens may be configured to be progressively layered with screens having different sizes. A gas collection device coupled downstream from the at least one heat source may be configured to remove and collect gas from the cooled recycled liquid. The system may include an output port downstream from the gas collection device configured to output a final output fluid. The final output fluid may be at a predetermined temperature. The final output fluid may be configured as an energy product including dissolved ingredients of nutritional value in the ice remnants. The system may include a line configured to deliver the energy product to a garden at the facility. The energy product may be configured to attract desired birds and/or desired insects to the garden to draw customers to the facility. The energy product may be configured to be used for manufacturing a feed product for animals. The container may include at least one gas intake port configured to receive hot/humid gas and direct the gas through the ice capturing and melting device to assist in the melting of the ice to form the cooled recycled liquid. The container may include at least one gas intake port configured to receive a hot/humid gas and direct the gas through the ice capturing and melting device to form a cooled de-humidified gas in the container. The container may include at least one gas output port configured to direct the cooled de-humidified gas to the facility and/or a different facility. The at least one gas output port may be configured to direct the cooled de-humidified gas to a HVAC system of the facility and/or a different facility. The container may include a plurality of receptacles. The system may include a plurality of containers. The system may include a plurality of receptacles located at different locations of the facility coupled to each other and configured to deliver the ice remnants to the container. The system may include a plurality of receptacles located at different locations of the facility coupled to each other and configured to deliver the ice remnants to a plurality of containers. The cooled recycled liquid may be directed to a different facility to cool at least one heat source at the different facility. 
         [0006]    This invention also features a system for recycling energy from ice remnants, the system comprises a container including a receptacle configured to receive ice remnants, an ice capturing and melting device below the receptacle configured to capture and melt ice in the ice remnants while allowing fluid in the ice remnants to pass therethrough thereby forming a cooled recycled liquid at a bottom of the container, at least one gas intake port configured to receive a hot/humid gas and direct the hot/humid gas towards the ice capturing and melting device to assist in the melting of the ice to form the cooled recycled liquid and configured to create a de-humidified gas in the container, a discharge port located proximate the bottom of the container configured to direct the cooled recycled liquid to at least one heat source of a facility and cool the heat source, and at least one gas output configured to direct the cooled de-humidified gas to the facility. 
         [0007]    This invention also features a method for recycling energy from ice remnants, the method including: receiving ice remnants from a facility, providing an ice capturing and melting device configured capture and melt ice in the ice remnants while allowing fluid in the ice remnants to pass therethrough thereby forming a cooled recycled liquid, and directing the cooled recycled liquid to at least one heat source of the facility and cool the heat source. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the method may include the step of collecting gas from the cooled recycled liquid. The method may include the step of receiving hot/humid gas and directing the hot/humid gas through the ice capturing and melting device to assist in the melting of the ice to form the cooled recycled liquid. The method may include the step of directing hot/humid gas through the ice capturing and melting device to form a cooled de-humidified gas. The method may include the step of directing the de-humidified gas to the facility and/or a different facility. The method may include the step of directing the cooled de-humidified gas to an HVAC system of the facility and/or a different facility. The method may include the step of gradually warming the cooled recycled liquid such that any dissolved carbon dioxide therein gases out to form a liquid energy product. The method may include the step of capturing the carbon dioxide. The method may include the step of directing the carbon dioxide to a greenhouse to facilitate photosynthesis simulation. The method may include the step of directing the liquid energy product to a predetermined location at the facility. The method may include the step of directing the energy product to a garden to attract desired birds and/or desired insects to the garden and to draw customers to the facility. The method may include the step of using the energy product to manufacture feed products for animals. The energy product may include one or more of dissolved sugars, flavorings, and ingredients originally present in the ice remnants. 
         [0009]    This invention also features a method for recovering an energy product from beverage remnants, the method including: receiving beverage remnants from a facility, providing an ice capturing and melting device configured to capture and melt ice in the beverage remnants while allowing fluid in the beverage remnants to pass therethrough thereby forming a cooled recycled liquid, and gradually warming the cooled recycled liquid such that any dissolved carbon dioxide therein gases out and forms a liquid energy product. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the method may include the step of directing the energy product to a predetermined location. The method may include the step of directing the energy product to a garden. The method may include the step of capturing the carbon dioxide. The method may include the step of directing the carbon dioxide to a greenhouse to facilitate photosynthesis stimulation. The method may include the step of using the energy product to manufacture a food product for animals. The method may include the step of using the energy product to attract desired birds and/or insects to draw customers to the facility. 
         [0011]    This invention also features a method for recycling energy from ice remnants, the method including: receiving ice remnants from a facility, providing an ice capturing and melting device configured capture and melt ice in the ice remnants while allowing fluid in the ice remnants to pass therethrough thereby forming a cooled recycled liquid, receiving hot/humid gas and directing the hot/humid gas through the ice capturing and melting device to assist in the melting of the ice and to form a cooled de-humidified gas, directing the cooled recycled liquid to at least one heat source of a facility and cool the heat source, and directing the cooled de-humidified gas to the facility. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of the system and method for recovering energy from ice remnants of this invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the system and method for recovering energy from ice remnants in accordance with this invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic block diagram showing another embodiment of the system and method for recovering energy from ice remnants in accordance with this invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic block diagram showing yet another embodiment of the system for recovering energy from ice remnants in accordance with this invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  depicts schematic diagrams showing examples of mesh sizes of the ice capturing and melting device shown in  FIGS. 1-3B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. If only one embodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are not to be limited to that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof are not to be read restrictively unless there is clear and convincing evidence manifesting a certain exclusion, restriction, or disclaimer. 
         [0019]    There is shown in  FIG. 1  one embodiment of system  10  and the method thereof for recovering energy from ice remnants  12 . Ice remnants  12  may be unconsumed cooled beverage remnants having some form of ice therein discarded from a facility, such as a FSF facility or any similar type facility which serves cooled beverages. In this example, ice remnants  12  may include one or more of: water, carbonated water, ice, flavorings, sugar, alcohol, or any similar type ingredient of a cooled beverage served at a facility, known to those skilled in the art. Ice remnants  12  may also include discarded ice and/or a mixture of discarded ice and a fluid discarded from a facility associated with ice remnants, e.g., a skating facility or similar type facility. System  10  recovers a majority, or at times, all of the costs associated with ice remnants  12  discussed in the Background section above. 
         [0020]    System  10  includes container  14  for holding recycled liquid  64  from ice remnants  12 . Container  14  may be made of plastic, metal, or similar type material. Container  14  includes receptacle  16  configured to receive ice remnants  12  as they are discarded from a facility receptacle. Receptacle  16  then directs ice remnants  12  through opening  17  and into ice capturing and melting device  29 , as shown by arrows  18 . Receptacle  16  is may be shaped as a funnel as shown, or may have any shape known to those skilled in the art that acts to direct ice remnants  12  discarded by a facility through opening  17  and into ice capturing and melting device  29 . 
         [0021]    Although as shown in  FIG. 1  there is a single receptacle  14  with opening  17 , in another example, system  10 ′,  FIG. 2 , includes container  14 ′ which includes a plurality of receptacles  16  each configured to direct ice remnants  12  to ice capturing and melting device  29 . In another design, system  10 ″,  FIG. 3A , may include a plurality of receptacles  16  configured to receive ice remnants  12  and direct the ice remnants  12  to receptacle  16  of container  14  by line  19 . In yet another design, system  10 ′,  FIG. 3B , may include a plurality of receptacles  16  connected via line  21  which directs the ice remnants  12  to a plurality of containers  14 . 
         [0022]    Container  14 ,  FIGS. 1-3B , preferably includes ice capturing and melting device  29 . In one example, ice capturing and melting device  29  includes at least one screen  30  which traps the ice, e.g., ice cubes/flakes, in ice remnants  12  in mesh openings  31  in screen  30 . The melted liquid from the ice is collected as recycled liquid  64 . The melted ice from screen  30  brings the temperature of cooled recycled liquid  64  at bottom  66  of container  14  to about 32° F. 
         [0023]    In another design, ice capturing and melting device  29  may include a plurality of screens, e.g., plurality of screens  32 . In this example of progressively smaller mesh openings, e.g., exemplary screen(s)  34 ,  36 , and  38 ,  FIG. 4 . The upper most screen, e.g., screen(s)  34 ,  FIGS. 1 and 4 , preferably have mesh openings  40 ,  FIG. 4 , just smaller than the ice cubes/flakes in ice remnants  12 . Screen(s)  36 ,  FIGS. 1 and 4 , just below screen(s)  34 , preferably have mesh openings  42 ,  FIG. 4 , that are slightly smaller than the mesh opening of the upper most screen(s). The lower most screen(s), e.g., screen(s)  38 ,  FIGS. 1  and  4 , preferably have mesh openings  44 ,  FIG. 4 , that are slightly smaller than mesh openings of screen(s)  36 . The pattern of progressively smaller mesh openings for the screens of ice melting and capturing device  29  continues until screen(s)  38 ,  FIGS. 1 and 4 , with the smallest mesh openings, e.g., mesh openings  44 ,  FIG. 4 , allow only the tiniest ice crystals to pass therethrough. 
         [0024]    One exemplary operation of system  10  is now discussed with reference to  FIG. 1 . In this example, system  10  is preferably includes a plurality of screens  32 . As discussed above, this is not a necessary limitation of this invention, as system  10  need only include at least one screen  30 . To begin, ice remnants  12  discarded at a facility are directed through opening  17  by receptacle  16  to ice capturing and melting device  29 . The liquid portion of ice remnants  12  flows through screens  32  and is collected as recycled liquid  64  at bottom  66  of container  14 . The ice cubes/flakes in ice remnants  12  are trapped by the mesh openings of the various layers of screens  32 . The larger ice cubes/flakes are trapped by screens  34  with larger mesh openings  40 ,  FIG. 4 , where they melt. The melted liquid from the ice is collected as recycled liquid  64 , as shown by arrow  50 . Smaller ice cubes/ice flakes are trapped by mesh openings  42  of screens  36  where they melt. The melted liquid from the ice is collected as recycled liquid  64 . Still smaller ice cubes/ice flakes are trapped by mesh openings  44  of screens  38  where they melt. The melted liquid from the ice is collected as recycled liquid  64 . As the ice cubes/ice flakes trapped in screens  34  melt, they drop to screens  36  and melt again. As the ice cubes/ice flakes trapped in screens  36  melt, they drop to screens  38  and melt again The melted ice cubes/flakes from screens  34 - 36  bring the temperature of cooled recycled liquid  64  at bottom  66  of container  14  to about 32° F. 
         [0025]    As cooled recycled liquid  64  collects at bottom  66  of container  14 , it is preferably drained via drainage pipe  68  with any suitable flow valve  70  connected to line  72 . Cooled recycled liquid  64  may then be pumped to a network of lines and radiators (not shown) to spaces surrounding various heat sources  74  of the facility, e.g., ovens, dishwashers, griddles, and the like of a FSF, or any heat source of any type of facility that needs to be cooled. Cooled recycled liquid  64  may also be pumped from the facility where it is generated to another facility to cool at least one heat source of the other facility. The result is the radiated infra-red heat from heat sources  74  is captured and blocked from warming the room. The chilled water in line  72  may also be used to pre-cool food stuffs and equipment in the kitchen of the FSF, or similar type equipment of any type of facility that needs cooling. Line  72  may proceed in stages, with the initial section containing the coldest recycled liquid  64  to be used to cool heat sources  74 , e.g., for ovens, deep fat fryolators, and the like, of a FSF or any of the various heat sources for any type of facility. After absorbing the infra-red energy from these devices, the now warmer liquid, e.g., in line  76 , may be used to cool other devices  78 , e.g., wine cabinets, and the like, of a FSF, or the heat sources of any type of facility that needs to be cooled. 
         [0026]    A gradual warming of the liquid passing from line  72  to line  80  downstream from device  78  causes any dissolved carbon dioxide in recycled liquid  64 , e.g., from beverage remnants  12  associated with a FSF (beverage remnants), to gas out. The gas in line  80  is preferably captured and collected by gas collection device  82  by line  83 . Gas collection device  82  preferably outputs the captured gas  84  via line  86 . Captured gas  84  may then be used for greenhouse photosynthesis rate stimulation or for any type of process which needs carbon dioxide gas. The ultimate discharge from system  10  by line  80  is output fluid  88 . In this example, output fluid  88  is preferably a close-to room temperature fluid that may include dissolved sugars, flavors, and other similar ingredients that may have been originally in ice remnants  12 . In other examples, output fluid  88  need not include dissolved sugars, flavors, and other similar ingredients that may have been originally in ice remnants  12 . Output fluid  88  may be used on on-site or transported to another facility. The commercial value of output fluid  84  includes, inter alia, a food for pollenizing bees, a food stuff for a butterfly garden, a hummingbird habitat, and the like. Using fluid  88  in this manner may draw customers to the FSF or similar type facility. The sugar water ingredient in output fluid  88  may also be used as an ingredient for feed pellets/mashes for animals, and the like. System  10 ′,  10 ″, and  10 ′″,  FIGS. 2-3C , may include similar features and may operate in a similar manner, as discussed above with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0027]    Container  14 ,  FIG. 1 , also includes duct  52  configured to receive hot/humid air  54  from the facility and direct the hot/humid air  54  to ice capturing and melting device  29  to assist in the melting the ice cubes/ice flakes trapped therein. Hot/humid air  54  is preferably pumped into duct  52  by an arrangement of fans, ducting, and the like (not shown) at various locations in the facility where the air is the warmest and most humid, e.g., ceilings, above sinks and cooking appliances, restrooms and the like of a facility, as shown by arrow  55 . As hot/humid air  54  flows over screens  30  of ice capturing and melting device  29 , the air becomes cooled and de-humidified and preferably may flow out ducts  56  as cooled/de-humidified air  58 , as shown by arrows  60  and may be used to cool the facility. The cooled/de-humidified air  58  may be mixed with conventional HVAC systems  62  to cool tables, work spaces, and other various heat sources of the facility. Screen(s)  32  and/or screen(s)  34  and/or screen(s)  36  also preferably ensure that the large de-humidification power of the 32° F. ice is completely harvested by the flow of hot/humid air  54  and the resulting condensation drip only occurs within container  14 . This is different than a typical vapor compression chiller which cannot continuously operate at 32° F. or below because of frost buildup on the heat exchange surfaces. System  10 ′,  10 ″, and  10 ′″,  FIGS. 2-3B  may operate in a similar manner. 
         [0028]    Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments. 
         [0029]    In addition, any amendment presented during the prosecution of the patent application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claim element presented in the application as filed: those skilled in the art cannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literally encompass all possible equivalents, many equivalents will be unforeseeable at the time of the amendment and are beyond a fair interpretation of what is to be surrendered (if anything), the rationale underlying the amendment may bear no more than a tangential relation to many equivalents, and/or there are many other reasons the applicant cannot be expected to describe certain insubstantial substitutes for any claim element amended. 
         [0030]    Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.