Liquid Nitrogen Pipe Freezing Device for Ocean Temperature Control

The patent applies liquid nitrogen to the pipes in advance to pre-cool them to just below freezing temperature before warm water is introduced. This preliminary cooling action ensures that when warm water flows through the pipes, the heat transfer is maximized and the output water temperature is significantly reduced, achieving effective ocean cooling without requiring continuously complex active cooling systems throughout the operation.

The patent utilizes the phase transition of liquid nitrogen (from liquid to gas) as it is applied to the pipes. This phase transition absorbs substantial heat from the pipe walls, rapidly cooling them to the required sub-freezing temperature. The phase change mechanism provides an efficient and relatively simple method to achieve the desired pipe temperature compared to continuous mechanical cooling systems.

The patent applies liquid nitrogen to cool the pipes to just below freezing temperature, which is the minimum required temperature to achieve effective heat transfer from warm input water. By cooling the pipes to this threshold temperature rather than to much lower temperatures, the system achieves sufficient ocean cooling effect while minimizing the quantity of liquid nitrogen consumed. This partial action approach avoids excessive cooling that would waste liquid nitrogen.

The patent establishes a continuous flow of warm water through the pre-cooled pipes, maintaining continuous heat transfer from the warm water to the cold pipe walls and subsequently to the surrounding ocean environment. This continuous operation ensures that the cooling effect is sustained over time without requiring repeated applications of liquid nitrogen, thereby reducing the total quantity of liquid nitrogen needed while maintaining effective ocean temperature reduction.