METHOD OF DEEP FREEZING BOTTOM SOIL AND DEVICE THEREFOR Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC G01N1/04 

FIELD: geophysics.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to freezing and sampling of bottom sediments during prospecting and exploration works on solid minerals at ocean depths to 6000 m or more, and lifting of considerable mass of both bottom soil and metals, for example sunken ships. Freezing of bottom soil is carried out with formation of temperature gradient between ambient medium and inner volume of closed on ground flexible heat insulating coating. Freezing of volume of shell and ground under action of negative temperatures is performed first along perimeter of shell by peripheral evaporator. Then cooled volume at opening of valve on gas bottle is reduced. Freezing is continued along whole surface of shell by central evaporator until freezing shell and soil when specified depth of frost penetration is achieved. Device comprises a flexible heat-insulating shell, which is shaped to truncated cone. On inner side to shell there are peripheral and central evaporators with bellows shape. On outer side of shell at its periphery, there are ballast weights. At centre of shell there is a sealed container with cooling unit and gas cylinder. Cylinder through valve is connected to volume formed between shell and soil.

EFFECT: higher efficiency and reliability.

3 cl, 3 dwg