IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph James Coleman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd November 1878.
65
JOSEPH JAMES COLEMAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDS."
This Invention has for its object the cooling of liquids in a manner and by
apparatus which whilst simple and economical can be conveniently adapted to
various applications and easily regulated to suit various temperatures of the liquids
dealt with, and various ranges of cooling action. An important application of the
Invention can be made in breweries without disturbing existing arrangements for
cooling the beverages in the course of manufacture by means of cold water acting
in refrigerating or heat exchanging apparatus, the water to be used in such
apparatus being cooled in the apparatus of the present Invention.
In carrying out the Invention the cooling action is produced by compressing air,
removing the heat developed by compression, and then reexpanding the air, a
process the main features or principles of which are well understood. The air is
drawn into and compressed in one or more compressing cylinders, the pistons of
which are partly actuated by steam cylinders or other convenient motive power.
Whilst the air is being compressed water is injected into it by means of pumps to
remove heat immediately on its being developed by the compression, and the
injection or mixing of water with the air is, if necessary, continued in a receiver,
vessel, or passage into which the air is discharged from the compressing cylinders.
After being thus cooled the compressed air enters the reexpansion cylinder or
cylinders, and in expanding therein does work which diminishes the amount of
external power required to work the compressing cylinders, and is finally delivered
at or near the normal atmospheric pressure in a continuous stream from the exhaust
ports of the said reexpansion cylinder or cylinders.
An important feature of the present Invention consists in the water or other
liquid to be cooled being brought into contact with the air whilst the latter is
expanding. The liquid is first made to descend in spray, or in showers, or in films,
down one or more towers or vessels, up through which the reexpanded air passes
after its cooling power has been partly exhausted. The liquid is next pumped or
•

page_text: otherwise introduced into the cylinder or cylinders in which the compressed air is
being reexpanded, and it is therein by the motion of the piston or other mechanical
devices caused to mingle with the air. These arrangements cause the cooling action
to be rapid and economical and allow of the compressing and reexpansion apparatus
being comparatively small and working at a high speed, avoiding the use of
lubricants, and greatly increasing the efficiency of an air refrigerating machine by
lessening the absorption of heat from the metal work of the machiney and the pro-
duction of snow particles.
The water used to cool the compressed air need not be from the same source as
that which is cooled by the apparatus, but if it is such as is in the least degree
likely to contaminate the air the compressed air is passed through charcoal or other
suitable filtering or disinfecting medium before entering the reexpansion cylinder
or cylinders into which the liquid for cooling is being injected.