Abstract: A heat exchanger has header tanks each including a header forming plate, a tube connecting plate, and an intermediate plate interposed between the two plates, the plates being arranged in superposed layers and brazed to one another. Each of the plates is made from a metal plate by press work. The header forming plate has an outward bulging portion. The tube connecting plate has tube insertion holes. The intermediate plate has communication holes causing tube insertion holes to communicate with the interior of each outward bulging portion therethrough. Heat exchange tubes have opposite ends placed into the respective insertion holes and brazed to the respective tube connecting plates. The heat exchanger including such header tanks is reduced in the number of components, can be fabricated with a high work efficiency, and exhibits improved heat exchange performance.

Abstract: An integrated unit for a refrigerant cycle device includes an ejector having a nozzle part for decompressing refrigerant, and an evaporator located to evaporate the refrigerant to be drawn into a refrigerant suction port of the ejector or the refrigerant discharged from an outlet of the ejector. The evaporator includes a plurality of tubes defining refrigerant passages through which refrigerant flows, a tank that is disposed at one end side of the tubes for distributing refrigerant into the tubes and for collecting the refrigerant from the tubes. The tank extends in a tank longitudinal direction that is parallel to an arrangement direction of the tubes, and is provided with an end portion in the tank longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the end portion has a hole portion for inserting the ejector, and the ejector is inserted into an inner space of the tank from the hole portion.

Abstract: A method is provided for cooling a powder in a tunnel with a vibrating support with at least two independently controllable cryogenic liquid inflows into the tunnel. It includes the following steps. A thermal mass of powder entering the tunnel is determined. The arrival of the powder at the tunnel inlet is detected. The thermal mass measurement previously obtained is synchronized with the detection of the arrival of the powder at the tunnel inlet, according to a known or predefined response time of the means for controlling the said cryogenic liquid inflows into the tunnel. The synchronization data is transmitted to a data acquisition and processing unit, which is able to retroact, if necessary, on the basis of this data, on all or part of the parameters governing the operation of the tunnel. The method is especially applicable to the cooling or deep-freezing treatments of food products or chemicals.

Abstract: A complex fluid machine has an expansion-compressor device, a pump, and a motor generator. The expansion-compressor device, the pump, and the motor generator are operatively connected and arranged in series. A portion of an outlet side passage formed in the fluid machine, through which the working fluid flows from the expansion device, is arranged adjacent to a portion of a pump outlet-side passage formed in the fluid machine, through which the working fluid flows from the pump, so that heat of the working fluid in the outlet side passage is transferred to the working fluid in the pump outlet-side passage.

Abstract: An ejector cycle device includes a compressor, a refrigerant radiator, an ejector having a nozzle part and a refrigerant suction port, and a branch passage for introducing refrigerant branched on an upstream side of the nozzle part of the ejector in a refrigerant flow into the refrigerant suction port. Furthermore, a first evaporator is arranged on a downstream side of the ejector in the refrigerant flow, and a second evaporator is arranged in the branch passage. In addition, in the ejector cycle device, a refrigerant flow rate ratio (?) of a flow rate of refrigerant flowing in the second evaporator to a flow rate of refrigerant discharged from the compressor is set within a range from 0.07 or more to 0.93 or less.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for extracting propane vapors from a propane storage tank, and condensing the extracted vapors to form a useable liquid propane product.

Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and beverage dispenser on both the front and the back of the refrigerator improves efficiency and utilization of the refrigerator. Home floor plans include passageways through interior walls whereby a user can access a second dispenser of the kitchen refrigerator from an adjacent room, thus increasing access to the refrigerator.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioner that can operate in a general cooling mode in which indoor air is cooled by heat exchange with a first refrigerant in a main evaporator, or alternatively in a fast cooling mode in which the indoor air is primarily cooled by heat exchange in a midway heat exchanger which includes the main evaporator for the first refrigerant and a fast cooling condenser for a second refrigerant, and then re-cooled in a fast cooling evaporator for the second refrigerant. Accordingly, fast and agreeable air cooling can be achieved.

Abstract: An ejector refrigerant cycle device includes a radiator for radiating heat of high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from a compressor, a branch portion for branching a flow of refrigerant on a downstream side of the radiator into a first stream and a second stream, an ejector that includes a nozzle portion for decompressing and expending refrigerant of the first stream from the branch portion, a decompression portion for decompressing and expanding refrigerant of the second stream from the branch portion, and an evaporator for evaporating refrigerant on a downstream side of the decompression portion. The evaporator has a refrigerant outlet coupled to the refrigerant suction port of the ejector. Furthermore, a refrigerant radiating portion is provided for radiating heat of refrigerant while the decompression portion decompresses and expands refrigerant. For example, the refrigerant radiating portion is provided in an inner heat exchanger.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a hands-free vacuum preservation system mounted on a door of the refrigerator comprising a main body portion having a slot therein for receiving an open end of a plastic bag. Sensors within the slot detect the presence of the bag and a retaining device is actuated to punch holes in the bag and retain the bag in position for a vacuum sealing event. An intake port within the system communicates with a vacuum source to remove air from the bag, and a heat sealer seals the bag closed. In a preferred embodiment, once sensors located on the main body portion detect the presence of a consumer's hand, the retaining device releases the bag. The resultant vacuum sealed bag can be stored in a conventional manner, or by hanging the bag from hooks extending through the holes formed therein by the retaining device.

Abstract: A multi-compressor heat pump system configured to provide heating and cooling over a range of ambient temperatures. The compressors can be operated independently and alone or together in series for maximum output. Heat exchangers are selectively fluidically connected to the compressors to enable refrigerant flow between the compressors and at least two heat exchangers in a manner that enables the heat pump system to be selectively operable in various modes. Preferred aspects include selectively operating the compressors based on the ratio of the evaporating and condensing pressures of the refrigerant within the heat pump system, a mixing chamber between the compressors, and a lubricant management system to prevent the accumulation of a lubricant in one of the compressors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the auxiliary stage control of multistage thermostats are disclosed. An illustrative multistage thermostat for a multistaged HVAC system installed within a building or structure can include a processor having a control algorithm adapted to operate the thermostat in either a normal mode for achieving rapid temperature changes within the building or structure or an economy mode for conserving energy usage. In the economy mode of operation, the thermostat can be configured to determine a target time for achieving a temperature setpoint by either delaying or suppressing activation of the system's auxiliary stage. The target time can be adjusted in part based on the past usage characteristics of the auxiliary stage, the behavior of the user, and/or the progress of the primary stage in achieving the setpoint change without operating the auxiliary stage.

Abstract: A gas cooler and heat exchanger assembly comprises a gas cooler, including a cylindrical inlet header and a cylindrical outlet header, and a heat exchanger, including a first tank and a second tank, with at least a portion of each of the tanks being cylindrical and being an extension of and integral with each of the associated and aligned headers. In the first embodiment, the entirety of each of the tanks is cylindrical in shape and extends from the associated header. Each of the tanks is bisected thus defining a semi-cylindrical hot chamber and a semi-cylindrical cool chamber. In the second embodiment, only the cylindrical hot chamber of each of the tanks is cylindrical in shape and extends from the associated header. An additional box-shaped structure defines a box-shaped cool chamber disposed along and inwardly of each of the cylindrical hot chambers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for cooling a sealed portion of a container, the apparatus having a transferring arrangement for transferring one or more containers; and a plurality of cooling arrangements with one or more gripping mechanisms for gripping the containers and one or more cooling mechanisms for cooling one or more sealed portions of the containers. Preferably, the cooling arrangements are constructed and arranged to cool the sealed portions of the containers while the containers are being transferred.

Abstract: An ultra low temperature freezer is optimized with a combination of vacuum and fiberglass insulation for long-term biological storage with accurate process cooling with critical temperature performance. A programmable cooling and cryogenic freezing system uses sealed liquid nitrogen for cooling and freezing. A hybrid completely non-mechanical system exhibits temperature uniformity and reliability, saves space, requires extremely low operating energy and minimizes need for air conditioning in the operating environment. Top-located components control the flow of liquid nitrogen even under flooding conditions. Sectioned inner doors mitigate thermal transfer to other samples and maintain ULT while accessing the freezer.

Abstract: An in-ground geothermal heating and cooling system for a building is provided. The system can include a buried ground source heat pump, a heat exchanger, and a ground loop circuit buried to a depth below the regional frost line. The system can also include a buried ground source heat pump buried inside a building to be heated. The system can also include an in-building heat exchanger disposed in a building, and an evaporative loop running from the ground source heat pump to the in-building heat exchanger. A method for installing such an in-ground geothermal heating and cooling system is also provided.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance is provided with a freezer compartment accessible through an openable door, the freezer compartment extending between two side walls. An ice bin is slidably mounted in the freezer compartment occupying a width of the freezer compartment, less than a full width between the two side walls. A food storage compartment is slidably mounted in the freezer compartment with at least a portion horizontally adjacent to the ice bin, and slidable independently of the ice bin. A non-contact ice level sensing apparatus having an emitter component and a receiver component is provided, with one of the components mounted between the ice bin and the food storage compartment and the other of the components mounted on an opposite side of the ice bin from the food storage compartment.