Abstract: An ice support and storage tray includes one or more cavities having upwardly facing spherical surface portions that support spherical pieces of ice. The tray is preferably made of a material having a low thermal conductivity to reduce melting of the spherical pieces of ice. The spherical support surfaces minimize melting points that could otherwise cause the spherical pieces of ice to melt and develop irregular surface shapes. The ice tray may be used in a freezer having an ice maker that transports spheres of ice to the ice support cavities. The ice storage tray may be configured to permit removal of spheres of ice without tipping the tray upside down and/or twisting/deforming the tray.

Abstract: A desiccant air conditioning system for cooling an air stream entering a building space includes a conditioner and a regenerator. The conditioner includes structures arranged in a substantially vertical orientation that are spaced apart from each other with an air stream gap between each pair of adjacent structures. Each structure has a surface facing an air stream gap across which a liquid desiccant can flow. The air stream flows through the air stream gaps between the structures such that the liquid desiccant dehumidifies the air stream. Each structure further includes a separate desiccant collector at a lower end of the surface for collecting liquid desiccant that has flowed across the surface of the structure. The desiccant collectors are spaced apart from each other to permit airflow therebetween. A photovoltaic-thermal module heats a heat transfer fluid used to heat the liquid desiccant in the regenerator.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, a usage-side heat exchanger, an intercooler, an intercooler bypass tube and an intake return tube. The compression mechanism has a plurality of compression elements configured so that refrigerant discharged from a first-stage compression element is sequentially compressed by a second-stage compression element. The intercooler is connected to an intermediate refrigerant tube configured to draw refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element into the second-stage compression element to cool the refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element and drawn into the second-stage compression element. The intercooler bypass tube is connected to the intermediate refrigerant tube so as to bypass the intercooler.

Abstract: A chiller system including an oil separator and ejector connection through which an oil is separated from a refrigerant discharged from a compressor at the oil separator, a portion of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor and an oil discharged from an evaporator are rejected by the ejector, and the separated oil and the ejected refrigerant and oil are heat exchanged, and return into the compressor.

Abstract: An outdoor unit for an air conditioning device includes an outdoor unit main body, a heat exchanger, a fan provided in an upper part of the outdoor unit main body, the fan blowing out the air taken in from a side surface of the outdoor unit main body upward, a ventilating member surrounding an outer circumference of the fan and forming a blow-out port, and an electric component unit accommodated in the outdoor unit main body and arranged in an opening portion between one side end portion and the other side end portion of the heat exchanger, wherein the electric component unit is provided so as to cross over a lower end of the ventilating member in the up and down direction, and on the upper side than the lower end of the ventilating member, the electric component unit is arranged on the horizontally outer side than the ventilating member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a humidity controlling ventilator which takes in air through the use of an air blowing fan, and controls the humidity of the taken air via an adsorption heat exchanger prior to supplying it to the room. In the invention, the air blowing fan is controlled so as to make an air volume flow rate approach a predetermined target volume flow rate. To do this, the invention calculates the fan's air volume flow rate based on a specific volume of air downstream of the adsorption heat exchanger and an air mass flow rate of the fan. The calculated value is fed to an air blow controller that is configured to control the fan such that the calculated air volume flow rate approaches the predetermined target air volume flow rate.

Abstract: A refrigerant cycle (16) for cooling as a prototype is provided with: an internal condenser (8) connected to a discharge circuit of an electric compressor (9) and disposed on a downstream of an internal evaporator (7) of an HVAC unit (2); a first heating circuit (18) connected to a receiver (11) through a switching unit (17) arranged on an inlet side of the external condenser (8); and a second heating circuit (23) connected between an outlet side of the receiver (11) and a suction side of the electric compressor (9) and provided with a second expansion valve (20) and an external evaporator (21). A heat pump cycle (24) for heating is formed by a second heating circuit (23) including the electric compressor (9), the internal condenser (8), the switching unit (17), the first heating circuit (18), the receiver (11), the second expansion valve (20), and the external evaporator (21).

Abstract: A heat pump has an evaporator for evaporating water as a working liquid so as to produce a working vapor, the evaporation taking place at an evaporation pressure of less than 20 hPa. The working vapor is compressed to a working pressure of at least 25 hPa by a dynamic-type compressor so as to then be liquefied within a liquefier by direct contact with liquefier water. The heat pump is preferably an open system, wherein water present in the environment in the form of ground water, sea water, river water, lake water or brine is evaporated, and wherein water which has been liquefied again is fed to the evaporator, to the soil or to a water treatment plant.

Abstract: A system (200; 300; 400; 500; 600) has a compressor (22; 200, 221). A heat rejection heat exchanger (30) is coupled to the compressor to receive refrigerant compressed by the compressor. An ejector (38) has a primary inlet (40) coupled to the heat rejection heat exchanger to receive refrigerant, a secondary inlet (42), and an outlet (44). A separator (48) has an inlet (50) coupled to the outlet of the ejector to receive refrigerant from the ejector, a gas outlet (54), and a liquid outlet (52). One or more valves (244, 246, 248, 250) are positioned to allow switching of the system between first and second modes.

Abstract: A method of controlling a cooling device capable of stably cooling a heat source is provided. A cooling device includes a first passage through which a coolant discharged from a compressor flows into a cooling unit for cooling EV equipment; a second passage through which the coolant is circulated between a heat exchanger and the cooling unit; a switching valve switching communication of the first passage and communication of the second passage; and a liquid storage container storing a liquid coolant condensed in the heat exchanger. The control method includes the steps of: increasing an amount of the liquid coolant stored in the liquid storage container; and switching the switching valve so as to block the first passage and allow communication of the second passage.

Abstract: A refrigerator may include a drain hose assembly. The refrigerator includes an upper hose, a lower hose connected to the upper hose while being arranged in a machinery chamber, the lower hose being provided with an air inlet hole to introduce outside air, and an opening and closing unit provided at the lower hose to be upwardly pivoted by negative pressure in a storage chamber and to be downwardly pivoted by gravity, in order to open and close the air inlet hole, respectively. As a result, it may be possible to achieve an enhancement in energy efficiency and to reduce the force required to open door according to an improvement of sealing-tightness.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a vapor-compression refrigeration system, which includes an expansion component, an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser coupled in fluid communication. The evaporator is coupled to and cools the electronic component. The apparatus further includes a contaminant separator coupled in fluid communication with the refrigerant flow path. The separator includes a refrigerant cold filter and a thermoelectric array. At least a portion of refrigerant passing through the refrigerant flow path passes through the cold filter, and the thermoelectric array provides cooling to the cold filter to cool refrigerant passing through the filter. By cooling refrigerant passing through the filter, contaminants solidify from the refrigerant, and are deposited in the cold filter.

Abstract: An ice maker has a mold with a first piece and a second piece. A cavity within the mold includes a first reservoir in the first piece and a second reservoir in the second piece that align to substantially enclose the cavity. A fluid intake aperture in the first piece extends to the cavity for injecting water therein. A thermoelectric device has a cold side thermally coupled to the exterior surface of the second piece. The thermoelectric device transfers heat from the cold side to a hot side to provide a first temperature to the mold. A removable cooling source is thermally coupled to the hot side of the thermoelectric device. The cooling source is configured to reduce the temperature of the hot side to allow the cold side to provide a second temperature that is cooler than the first temperature to freeze the water in the cavity.

Abstract: A heat activated (preferably natural gas, propane, solar or waste heat fired) absorption heat pump water heater and heat exchange system. The heat driven absorption heat pump system extracts low grade heat from the ambient air and produces high grade heat suitable for heating water for domestic, climate control or process purposes in a storage tank. Flue gases exiting the absorption heat pump system are further cooled by the heated water to enable high (condensing) combustion efficiencies. The heat activated heat pump water heating system achieves COP of 1.5 or greater.

Abstract: A heat pump system including a water-cooled type heat exchanger, which is a heat supply means, mounted on a first bypass line bypassing a second indoor heat exchanger to collect waste heat of vehicle electric devices to thereby enhance a heating efficiency of the heat pump system.

Abstract: A portable air conditioning system has a wheeled base and an insulated housing in a shape of a cube. A louver is located on a housing front panel. A louver and a pair of handles are located on a housing back panel. An insulated dividing panel divides an upper housing compartment and a lower housing compartment. A compressor coupled to a motor, a condenser, and a receiver are located in the lower housing compartment. An evaporator is located in the upper housing compartment. A suction line connects the accumulator to the compressor. An expansion tank is connected to the accumulator. A condensation pan is located above the dividing panel. An evaporator fan is located in the upper housing compartment and a condenser fan is located in the lower housing compartment. A thermostatic expansion valve is located on an inlet to the evaporator.

Abstract: Systems and methods to create and store a liquid phase mix of natural gas absorbed in light-hydrocarbon solvents under temperatures and pressures that facilitate improved volumetric ratios of the stored natural gas as compared to CNG and PLNG at the same temperatures and pressures of less than ?80° to about ?120° F. and about 300 psig to about 900 psig. Preferred solvents include ethane, propane and butane, and natural gas liquid (NGL) and liquid pressurized gas (LPG) solvents. Systems and methods for receiving raw production or semi-conditioned natural gas, conditioning the gas, producing a liquid phase mix of natural gas absorbed in a light-hydrocarbon solvent, and transporting the mix to a market where pipeline quality gas or fractionated products are delivered in a manner utilizing less energy than CNG, PLNG or LNG systems with better cargo-mass to containment-mass ratio for the natural gas component than CNG systems.

Abstract: A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a body having a storage chamber; a door selectively opening or closing the storage chamber; a cooling device including: a case of which a front surface is open and mounted at a side in the storage chamber; an agitating assembly that is swingably disposed in the case; a cover that is rotatably mounted on the case to open or close the front surface of the case; and a driving assembly that is mounted on the case and an underside of the agitating assembly to generates a driving force for swinging the agitating assembly; a refrigeration cycle for producing cold air to be supplied to the storage chamber and the cooling device; and an anti-interference mechanism disposed at the agitating assembly and the case, wherein the anti-interference mechanism is configured to prevent the agitating assembly from hitting against an inner surface of the case while the agitating assembly swings.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body defining a compartment, the compartment having an access opening and a first wall, a door supported by the main body for selectively closing at least part of the access opening, a sub-compartment on the door, the sub-compartment comprising a second wall having an opening, a heat exchanger supported by the first wall and positioned so that when the door is closed the heat exchanger is exposed to an interior of the sub-compartment through the opening, and a refrigeration system having a working medium for cooling the heat exchanger, where the heat exchanger further includes one or more segments of the refrigeration system attached to a heat exchanging plate.

Abstract: An outdoor unit for an air conditioning device includes an outdoor unit main body, a heat exchanger, a fan provided in an upper part of the outdoor unit main body, the fan blowing out the air taken in from a side surface of the outdoor unit main body upward, a ventilating member surrounding an outer circumference of the fan and forming a blow-out port, and an electric component unit accommodated in the outdoor unit main body and arranged in an opening portion between one side end portion and the other side end portion of the heat exchanger, wherein the electric component unit is provided so as to cross over a lower end of the ventilating member in the up and down direction, and on the upper side than the lower end of the ventilating member, the electric component unit is arranged on the horizontally outer side than the ventilating member.