Abstract: Collapsible indoor and outdoor containers having a collapsible wall section with shape-retaining characteristics are disclosed. In particular, collapsible coolers, fish bins, and wheeled vertical bins are provided. The collapsible wall section may include foldable tiers of a flexible material, each tier having at least one stable, relatively expanded position and at least one stable, relatively collapsed position; and an intervening, non-folding tier composed of a different, relatively stiff or rigid material. The coolers, fish bins, and wheeled vertical bins are each advantageously provided with a collapsible insert container that nests within and collapses together with a shell of the respective container, the respective wall folds of the shell and insert meshing together to result in a combined collapsed vertical dimension as small or nearly as small as that of the collapsed shell alone.

Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice making tray having an array of individual ice cube compartments. The ice making tray having a transverse axis and at least one pivot axle aligned with the transverse axis. The tray defines a median wall extending parallel with the transverse axis and having a uniform height along the length of the wall. A mechanical oscillating mechanism is coupled to the ice making tray. The oscillating mechanism rotates the tray from a horizontal plane along the longitudinal axis at an angle ? of about 20° to about 40° such that water in the tray cascades over the median wall.

Abstract: A cooling system includes a refrigerant compressor and a first operating medium, which provides a mixture of refrigerant and lubrication oil. An oil separator reduces the percentage of the refrigerant in the operating medium to a value between 15% by weight and 50% by weight.

Abstract: A duct cover for a cold air duct of a refrigerator and a method of providing cold air. The duct cover has openings located on the side panels which allow cold air to flow to the storage room from the cold air duct in a lateral direction relative to the main panel of the duct cover. A three-dimensional pattern is formed on the surface of the duct cover to reduce surface adhesive between the condensed water drops and the duct cover surface.

Abstract: In a process for vaporizing a liquid stream rich in carbon dioxide wherein a liquid first stream rich in carbon dioxide is withdrawn from a chamber containing liquid rich in carbon dioxide and gas rich in carbon dioxide, the gas being at a pressure P1, the liquid first stream is sent to a heat exchanger where it is vaporized, all the liquid from the first stream is vaporized in the heat exchanger at a pressure or several pressures greater than P1, the vaporized first stream is extracted from the heat exchanger, expanded in a first expansion valve and sent to the heat exchanger where it is heated.

Abstract: A cooling system includes a refrigerant compressor and a first operating medium, which provides a mixture of refrigerant and lubrication oil. An oil separator reduces the percentage of the refrigerant in the operating medium to a value between 15% by weight and 60% by weight.

Abstract: A cooling system includes a refrigerant compressor and a first operating medium, which provides a mixture of refrigerant and lubrication oil. An oil separator reduces the percentage of the refrigerant in the operating medium to a value between 25% by weight and 80% by weight.

Abstract: A cooling system includes a refrigerant compressor and a first operating medium, which includes a mixture of refrigerant and lubrication oil. An oil separator reduces the percentage of the refrigerant in the operating medium so that a second lubrication oil enriched operating medium is provided by the oil separator, the provided second operating medium having at least in a second operating state a viscosity ratio of ?>1.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of warming a heat exchanger array of a very low temperature refrigeration system, the method comprising diverting at least a portion of refrigerant flow in the refrigeration system away from a refrigerant flow circuit used during very low temperature cooling operation of the refrigeration system, to effect warming of at least a portion of the heat exchanger array; and while diverting the at least a portion of refrigerant flow, preventing excessive refrigerant mass flow through a compressor of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: An ice maker of a refrigerator includes a cooling unit for generating cold air; a case mounted in a food storage space, and defining a cooling space for receiving the cold air; an ice making assembly for making ice; and a bucket arranged at one side of the ice making assembly for receiving the ice. The ice making assembly includes an ice tray arranged in the cooling space, the ice tray having an ice making recess formed in an upper surface thereof for making ice; and a cold air guiding unit arranged at a lower side of the ice tray for guiding the cold air to the lower side of the ice tray, and a heater provided at the lower side of the ice tray such that the heater is spatially separated from the cold air guiding unit, and is configured for emitting heat to separate ice from the ice making recess.

Abstract: A refrigeration system including a suction line heat exchanger having a first conduit including a refrigerant liquid which flows inside of the first conduit from the condenser to the evaporator. Also the refrigeration system includes a second conduit in thermal communication with the first conduit and includes a refrigerant fluid, typically a vapor, which flows inside of the second conduit in an opposite direction of flow from the first conduit from the evaporator to the compressor. Additionally, at least one heating device is in thermal communication with at least one of the first conduit and second conduit and is configured to communicate with a refrigeration control system to apply heat along a portion of both the first conduit and the second conduit adjacent to the heating device thereby regulating the flow rate of the refrigerant liquid in the first conduit and the second conduit.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a thermoelectric system includes a thermoelectric device having a first surface and a second surface and a power source configured to deliver a voltage across the thermoelectric device to selectively activate or deactivate the thermoelectric device, wherein the first surface is configured to heat and the second surface is configured to cool when the thermoelectric device is activated. The system further includes a processor configured to determine a potential between the first surface and the second surface when the thermoelectric device is deactivated, correlate the potential to a temperature of the first surface and adjust the correlated temperature of the first surface based on an ambient temperature.

Abstract: An evaporative fluid cooling apparatus includes a cooling housing, at least two fluid coils, an air movement apparatus, and one or more spray apparatuses. The cooling housing defines a cooling chamber with an air housing input and an air housing output. The fluid coils are positioned in and extend across at least a portion of the cooling chamber in a spaced apart stacked arrangement. One of the fluid coils is positioned closer to the air housing output and has a first fluid input configured to be coupled to a fluid return from one or more air handler devices and a first fluid output coupled to a second fluid input to the other fluid coil. The other fluid coil is positioned closer to the air housing input and has a second fluid output configured to be coupled to a fluid supply to the air handler devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes ice tray devices and methods. In one embodiment, ice tray is included in an ice-making device of a refrigerator. The ice tray can be configured to uniformly distribute water to a plurality of ice-making spaces included in the ice tray. The ice tray can include water supply grooves that provide paths through which water is allowed to flow in the tray body. The dimensions of the water supply grooves can vary enabling control of water and ice formation depth of the water supply grooves can become gradually larger from one end portion of the tray body toward the other end portion of the tray body.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a multiple condenser air conditioning system that provides for efficient regulation of air temperature. The refrigeration system includes one or more valves whose operation is preferably controlled by programmable control logic to regulate flow through the refrigerant condenser(s) and sequentially control compressor discharge pressure and temperature in response to demands for heating or reheating of a supply air flow.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a centrifugal compressor. In a first example, the compressor includes a first impeller provided in a main refrigerant flow path, a second impeller provided in the main refrigerant flow path downstream of the first impeller, and a recirculation flow path. In the first example, the recirculation flow path is provided between a first location and a second location along the main refrigerant flow path. The first location is downstream of the second location, and the second location is downstream of the first impeller. In a second example, the compressor includes an impeller provided in a main refrigerant flow path, and a recirculation flow path provided between a first location and a second location along the main refrigerant flow path. In the second example, the recirculation flow path includes a recirculation volute. Further disclosed is a method for operating a centrifugal compressor.

Abstract: A heat exchanger may include a heat radiating part, in which a plurality of plates is stacked and a plurality of first flow paths and a plurality of second flow paths disposed while crossing each other are formed inside the plurality of plates, the heat exchanging part being configured to mutually heat-exchange working fluids passing through the first and second flow paths, respectively, and a sub-expansion part integrally formed with an inner side of the heat radiating part, connected with the second flow path, and configured to bypass a part of one working fluid among the working fluids flowing into the heat radiating part and heat-exchange the bypassed working fluid with the working fluid passing through the first flow path.

Abstract: Methods, processes, apparatus, devices, kits and systems for crystallizing liquid to form slush inside of supercooled to below 32 F closed beverage bottles or cans, beverages in fountain dispensers, desserts, and food items by transmitting ultrasonic signals in short time spans, while allowing for optional illuminating the effects when the supercooled liquid is crystallized into slush.

Abstract: A heat pump system for a vehicle includes: a battery cooling line connected with a battery module, and water flowing through the battery cooling line; a chiller provided at the battery cooling line, connected with a coolant line of an air conditioner through a connection line, and configured to control the cooling water selectively introduced into the chiller by heat-exchanging the cooling water with coolant; a cooling part comprising a radiator and a first water pump connected with each other by a cooling line, configured to circulate the water through the cooling line to cool an electrical device, and connected with the battery cooling line through a first valve; and a bypass line configured to selectively connect the connection line with the coolant line through a second valve provided at the coolant line.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage compartment and a door movably coupled to the cabinet for providing selective access to at least a portion of the storage compartment. The refrigerator includes an evaporator unit and an air duct providing fluid communication between the evaporator unit and the storage compartment. The refrigerator includes a partition member coupled to the cabinet that divides the storage compartment into a first compartment having a first volume and a second compartment having a second volume. The partition member is movable between a first position and a second position to adjust the first and second volumes. The partition member can include an air channel extending through the partition member that is in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second compartments. The partition member can include a baffle member that is adjustable to adjustably direct air passing through the air channel.