Abstract: A refrigerant circuit (10) is provided with two adsorption heat exchangers (31, 32) in addition to an outdoor heat exchanger (21) and an indoor heat exchanger (22). An adsorbent is carried on the surface of each of the adsorption heat exchangers (31, 32). In the adsorption heat exchanger (31, 32) serving as an evaporator, moisture in the air is adsorbed by the adsorbent. In the adsorption heat exchanger (31, 32) serving as a condenser, moisture is desorbed from the adsorbent and then applied to the air. Then, the air dehumidified or humidified by the adsorption heat exchanger (31, 32) is supplied to a room to cope with latent heat load in the room. On the other hand, in the indoor heat exchanger (22), air is cooled or heated. Then, the air cooled or heated by the indoor heat exchanger (22) is supplied to the room to cope with sensible heat load in the room.

Abstract: A self-contained air conditioner unit incorporates an energy recovery ventilator portion that brings about several changes of room air per hour with outdoor fresh air. There is an outdoor air intake plenum which furnishes the fresh air and the condenser air for the condenser coil, and a return air plenum. Air from the room return air plenum is HEPA filtered and conducted to the evaporator coil and evaporator fan, and is supplied back into the conditioned space. The energy recovery ventilator has a counterflow heat exchanger core situated between the return air plenum and the fresh air intake plenum, as well as two ventilation fans, one (or both) of which may be of variable or multiple speed. By controlling the fan speeds, it is possible to produce a neutral pressure, a positive or overpressure, or a negative or underpressure in the conditioned space. The unit can be wheeled into place and installed easily by personnel without special training.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and process for cooling and de-steaming hot calcined stucco used in the production of gypsum boards or bagged plaster. The apparatus is a fluid bed stucco cooler and comprises a cooler housing having a plenum having a stucco inlet and stucco outlet. The stucco cooler includes a rotating disk in the plenum. The rotating disk includes nozzle for spraying fluid, and is attached to a rotable shaft extending from the side of the cooler also includes a fluidization pad and agitator to help to mix the air and the stucco powder to insure fluidization, prevent channeling, and prevent the stucco powder from building up on the various components. The air also forces steam from the hot calcined stucco out through an air outlet located at the top of the stucco cooler, thereby de-steaming the stucco. The stucco flows through the plenum and passes over the cooling coils, thereby cooling the stucco as it reaches the stucco outlet.

Abstract: A vehicle interior cooling system (200) for a vehicle having a cabin (208) and an engine (207) for providing propulsion power generally includes a first cabin cooling system (202) driven by the engine of the vehicle having a first condenser (214). The vehicle interior cooling system also generally includes a second cabin cooling system (203) driven by electrical power having a cold storage device (210) and a second condenser (232), with the first condenser and the second condenser being in an airflow line (260). The second cabin cooling system selectively thermally charges the cold storage device when the engine is in an on position. The second cabin cooling system is also selectable to thermally cool the cabin when the engine is in an off position and selectable to thermally cool the cabin when the engine is in the on position.

Abstract: A heat pump has a refrigerant loop, a compressor in fluid communication with the refrigerant loop, at least one indoor heat exchanger in fluid communication with the refrigerant loop, and at least one outdoor heat exchanger in fluid communication with the refrigerant loop. The at least one outdoor heat exchanger has a phase change material in thermal communication with the refrigerant loop and in fluid communication with an outdoor environment. Other systems, devices, and methods are described.

Abstract: An indoor unit of an air conditioner is provided. The indoor unit has an improved airflow structure, for a rapid air conditioning of the room, a user's convenience, and an efficiency of the air conditioner.

Abstract: The present invention includes foundation legs of an outdoor unit that are made of a relatively thin plate material, and can reduce cost. This outdoor unit includes a compressor, an outdoor refrigerant circuit that includes pipes and a heat exchanger, a case that houses the refrigerant circuit, and a plurality of supports provided so that they protrude downward from the bottom part of the case. Furthermore, foundation legs are provided at the lower ends of the plurality of supports for fixing such, so that they extend towards the inner side of the case.

Abstract: A constant temperature liquid bath using a thermo-module in which even if an article whose temperature is to be controlled exists in the bath, the temperature of the liquid is efficiently adjusted to a constant value. The liquid bath includes an outer bath storing the liquid, an inner bath disposed in the outer bath through a gap, and including holes in its sidewall through which the liquid flows into the inner bath from the outer bath and an opening at a central portion of its bottom, and an agitator that causes the liquid to flow upward from the opening of the bottom of the inner bath between sidewalls of the inner and outer baths by a rotor blade disposed on a central portion of a bottom between the outer bath and the inner bath. The thermo-module is mounted on an outer surface of the sidewall of the outer bath.

Abstract: An ice-cube complete filling detector and a refrigerator comprising the same comprise a cam, an arm lever rotated by the cam, a detector driving gear rotated by the arm lever, a detector driven gear rotated by the detector driving gear, and an ice-cube detection lever connected to the detector driven gear, so that the detector driven gear is rotated via gear engagement by the detector driving gear and the detector driven gear, and the ice-cube detection lever can be rotated in a large range of about 180 degrees, thereby ensuring high accuracy of detection.

Abstract: Thermostatic mixing valves and systems for mixing fluids of dissimilar temperature are disclosed. A thermostatic mixing valve in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention can include an elongated valve body defining a cold fluid inlet, a hot fluid inlet, a mix fluid outlet and a mixing chamber, a fluid flow regulator for adjusting the flow of cold and hot fluid injected into the mixing chamber, and temperature selection means for adjusting the temperature of fluid contained within the mixing chamber. The valve body may have a vertical, in-line configuration wherein the hot fluid inlet, mixing chamber, and mix fluid outlet are substantially axially aligned along a vertical longitudinal axis of the valve body, allowing hot fluid to pass substantially vertically through the valve body towards the mix fluid outlet.

Abstract: A refrigerator is provided with a cabinet having a door that is openable by a user to provide access to a refrigeration compartment. A storage bin is located in the refrigeration compartment and accessible upon the opening of the cabinet door. A mounting system is arranged for the storage bin, supporting the storage bin for movement into and out of the refrigeration compartment. A latch is carried on the cabinet door to be selectively engaged by the user with a latch receiving portion of the storage bin. When the latch is engaged with the latch receiving portion, the storage bin will be pulled out of the refrigerator upon the opening of the cabinet door, and when the latch is disengaged from the latch receiving portion, the storage bin will remain in the refrigeration compartment, unless manually moved by the user.

Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of a machine part, by the use of a regulating device, is accomplished by determining one respective value of a measured temperature at each of two separate spaced-apart measured points, which two points are located along a control distance. One of these measured values is fed to each of two control circuits of the regulating device which two control circuits are connected to each other in a cascade-type manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a relatively constant temperature of a working fluid in an evaporator of a refrigeration system by providing a constant volumetric displacement compressor and a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the high pressure and low pressure portions of a refrigeration circuit to superheat, and hold substantially constant, the temperature of the refrigerant entering the compressor. In doing this, the pressure of the refrigerant in the low pressure portion of the circuit, including the evaporator, and the mass flow rate of the refrigerant remain substantially constant. As a result, the temperature of the saturated refrigerant in the evaporator remains substantially constant.

Abstract: A system for cooling the skin of a human or animal user includes thermally conductive elements (120) with fluid-wicking surfaces (124), ways to flexibly interconnect the elements, methods for storing a cooling fluid and distributing it to elements (120), and ways to maintain elements (120) in contact with a user's skin. When at least portions of the elements (120) are in contact with a user's skin and at least portions of the element surfaces are wet with fluid, the evaporation of fluid from the surfaces transports heat from the user's skin into the surrounding air, thereby cooling the user. More powerful embodiments further include an air space (165) parallel and adjacent to the user's skin into which elements (120) penetrate, and a fan for moving air through the air space (165), thereby speeding the evaporation of fluid from the surfaces of the elements (120).

Abstract: A system for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container within a refrigerator-freezer or freezer is provided. The housing has a space for receiving a container, and a rotator rotates the container about an axis. While the container is rotating, a sprayer sprays chilled cooling medium on the container in the housing. A reservoir stores the cooling medium when the system is not being used and maintains the cooling medium at a given temperature. At least one chilling surface is preferably provided over which the cooling medium flows and where ice may be stored. A recirculator such as a pump recirculates the cooling medium throughout the system.

Abstract: A thermostatic expansion valve is provided comprising an inlet, an outlet, first and second flow paths through the valve, a first valve element in the first flow path between the inlet and outlet, and a movable diaphragm having a first side acted on by a first fluid pressure and a second side acted on by at least a second fluid pressure. The diaphragm is movable to permit increased flow through the first flow path when the force against the first side is greater than that against the second side, and is movable to restrict flow through the first flow path when the force against the first side is less than that against the second side. The diaphragm moves in an upward direction to cause the first valve element to close the first flow path, and may continue to move in the upward direction to cause a second flow path to open.

Abstract: A system for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container within a refrigerator-freezer or freezer is provided. The housing has a space for receiving a container, and a rotator rotates the container about an axis. While the container is rotating, a sprayer sprays chilled cooling medium on the container in the housing. A reservoir stores the cooling medium when the system is not being used and maintains the cooling medium at a given temperature. At least one chilling surface is preferably provided over which the cooling medium flows and where ice may be stored. A recirculator such as a pump recirculates the cooling medium throughout the system.

Abstract: Process and device for generating a current of humid air having a defined relative humidity comprising the steps of generating a current of air in a tubing arrangement, generating hot water vapor, introducing the water vapor into the air current to generate flowing hot humid air, passing the hot humid air through a water separator while lowering the temperature of the humid air below the dew point temperature to generate saturated humid air having a defined temperature, heating the humid air coming from the water separator above the defined temperature to achieve a defined relative humidity, and discharging the humid air from the tubing arrangement as a current of humid air having a relative humidity of not less than 80%.

Abstract: A system, configured to be disposed in a information technology equipment rack for providing ice thermal storage, includes a tank configured to hold water, a heat exchanger disposed in water in the tank and configured to convey a two-phase liquid and vapor refrigerant and to transfer heat between the water and the refrigerant, a first valve connected to a liquid and a vapor refrigerant line and configured to selectively connect the liquid refrigerant line to a first port and the vapor refrigerant line to a second port in a first mode and to connect the liquid refrigerant line to the second port and the vapor refrigerant line to the first port in a second mode, a thermostatic expansion valve connected to an inlet of the heat exchanger, and a liquid/vapor pump connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger and to the second port of the first valve.

Abstract: A method and a device for detecting flash gas in a vapor-compression refrigeration or heat pump system comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator interconnected by conduits providing a flow path for a refrigerant, by determining a first rate of heat flow of a heat exchange fluid flow across a heat exchanger of the system and a second rate of heat flow of the refrigerant across the heat exchanger, and using the rates of heat flow for establishing an energy balance from which a parameter for monitoring the refrigerant flow is derived, to thereby provide early detection of flash gas with a minimum number of false alarms.