Abstract: An apparatus includes a dryer having a dryer drum configured to receive laundry items to be dried during a drying cycle. The apparatus also includes a desiccant reservoir having a desiccant configured to remove moisture in air from the dryer drum during the drying cycle. The apparatus further includes a heat pump configured to regenerate the desiccant in the desiccant reservoir for use during a subsequent drying cycle. The heat pump includes a condenser configured to condense a refrigerant, an evaporator configured to evaporate the condensed refrigerant, and a compressor configured to compress the evaporated refrigerant and provide the compressed refrigerant to the condenser.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling air quality within an indoor space are disclosed. An example system includes an air circulation unit that moves air through ductwork of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and an air sanitization unit within the ductwork of the HVAC system that sanitizes air passing through the ductwork of the HVAC system. The system further includes an indoor air quality controller that controls a rate at which the air circulation unit moves the air through the ductwork of the HVAC system responsive to inputs received at the indoor air quality controller and controls an operational status of the air sanitization unit responsive to the inputs received at the indoor air quality controller.

Abstract: The present application is direction to a system and method for preparing filter media from macro and nanofibers by ventilating a nanofiber media, combining the nanofiber media with macro fibers to form a hybrid media, inserting the hybrid media between a stitching plate and a stripper plate and alternatively inserting and withdrawing needles to combine the macro fibers with the nanofiber media and create a fiber web along at least one surface of the nanofiber media.

Abstract: A washer/dryer system includes a washer ventilation line, a dryer ventilation line, a washer, a dryer, and a ventilation reservoir. The washer ventilation line includes a washer air input line and a washer air output line. The dryer ventilation line includes a dryer air input line and a dryer air output line. The washer includes a washer drum connected to the washer ventilation line. The dryer includes a dryer drum connected to the dryer ventilation line. Each of the washer air input line, the washer air output line, the dryer air input line, and the dryer air output line are connected to the desiccant reservoir.

Abstract: A method includes supplying, using a water supply coupled to a tub of a dishwasher, water into the tub, wherein the tub includes a sump and a sprayer; circulating, using a circulation circuit coupled to the sump and the sprayer, the water from a sump to the sprayer; storing, using a water tank coupled to the circulation circuit, the circulated water from the circulation circuit on completion of a first phase; drawing heat, using a supply side of a thermoelectric module system coupled to the circulation circuit and the water tank, from the stored water in the water tank from the first phase; and outputting, using an output side of the thermoelectric module system, heat to the circulated water in the circulation circuit for a second phase.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes panels having sheet metal outer side walls and polymer inner side walls. The polymer inner side walls are heat-sealed to a layer of polymer material laminated to a flat sheet metal blank to form vacuum cavities. The blank is then bent along fold lines to form a cabinet structure.

Abstract: A whole building air quality control system includes an indoor air quality (IAQ) component having at least one control state, a plurality of sensors configured to measure a plurality of building conditions of a building space, and a controller communicably coupled to the IAQ component and the plurality of sensors. The controller includes memory storing a desired air quality index (AQI). The AQI includes a categorical variable. The controller is configured to iteratively modify a control state of the IAQ component using a machine learning algorithm until the plurality of building conditions of the building space satisfy the desired AQI.

Abstract: A method includes supplying, using a water supply coupled to a tub of a dishwasher, water into the tub, wherein the tub includes a sump and a sprayer; circulating, using a circulation circuit coupled to the sump and the sprayer, the water from a sump to the sprayer; storing, using a water tank coupled to the circulation circuit, the circulated water from the circulation circuit on completion of a first phase; drawing heat, using a supply side of a thermoelectric module system coupled to the circulation circuit and the water tank, from the stored water in the water tank from the first phase; and outputting, using an output side of the thermoelectric module system, heat to the circulated water in the circulation circuit for a second phase.

Abstract: A method for creating a vacuum insulated panel including preforming a continuous insulation member having male and female engaging surfaces and providing a barrier film envelope having an opening. The insulation member is disposed within the barrier film envelope and a tooling fixture is pressed against the barrier film envelope to press the barrier film envelope against the male and female engaging surfaces to remove gas from between the barrier film envelope and the male and female engaging surfaces. Substantially all gas is removed from within the barrier film envelope so that the barrier film envelope substantially conforms to an exterior surface of the insulation member. The opening of the barrier film envelope is then hermetically sealed, wherein the barrier film envelope forms a continuous layer over the core insulation member to form a vacuum insulated panel.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes panels having sheet metal outer side walls and polymer inner side walls. The polymer inner side walls are heat-sealed to a layer of polymer material laminated to a flat sheet metal blank to form vacuum cavities. The blank is then bent along fold lines to form a cabinet structure.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes panels having sheet metal outer side walls and polymer inner side walls. The polymer inner side walls are heat-sealed to a layer of polymer material laminated to a flat sheet metal blank to form vacuum cavities. The blank is then bent along fold lines to form a cabinet structure.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated door structure includes a first wall having a first edge and a barrier layer, a second wall having a second barrier layer and a second edge coupled to the first wall member proximate the first perimetrical edge. The second wall includes at least four inner side walls and a back wall that defines a second wall offset. At least one tubular member extends between the first wall member and the second wall offset, wherein an inner conduit surface of the tubular member provides fluid communication between the first wall outer facing surface and the second wall outer facing surface. A cavity insulation material is disposed within a cavity volume defined between the first and second walls, wherein the cavity volume is hermetically sealed, and wherein the cavity volume includes an at least partial vacuum.

Abstract: A method and system is provided which receives a desired humidity level from a user for the refrigeration compartment of a refrigerator, determines the current humidity level, and then activates an atomizer in the refrigeration compartment to increase the humidity level if needed. The humidity in the refrigeration compartment may be determined based at least in part on the temperature of the refrigeration compartment, the defrost timer, the door opening times, and the compressor timer.

Abstract: An ice making apparatus for an appliance includes a housing that has an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended across the interior volume that is configured to retain water. The ice making apparatus also includes a heat pump thermally coupled to a bottom surface of the ice tray. The heat pump is configured to freeze water in the ice tray and expel heat. A heat transfer device is configured to move heat expelled by the heat pump to an upper portion of the interior volume.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a vacuum insulated cabinet structure having side walls that are formed from a tube that has been folded/deformed into a structure having an “O” shape with vertically enlarged front and rear openings. The interior of the tube may be filled with silica powder or other filler, and a vacuum is formed within the tube. An insulated rear panel may be utilized to close off the rear opening of the vacuum insulated cabinet structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adaptive heat pump clothes dryer is provided. The clothes dryer includes an air flow path, a plurality of sensors, a bypass and a hardware controller. The air flow path is configured to circulate air through the clothes dryer. The sensors are located at multiple points on the air flow path and are configured to detect a plurality of measurements. The bypass is located on the air flow path between an outlet of a drum and an inlet of a heat pump and is configured to divert an amount of the water vapor from the air flow path. The hardware controller is configured to control the amount of water vapor expelled from the air flow path by adjusting the bypass using a partial condensation fraction based on the plurality of measurements.

Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated refrigerator cabinet, the method comprising providing first and second sheets of material. The first sheet of material is thermoformed over a first forming tool forming a first intermediate structure. The first intermediate structure is then thermoformed over a second forming mold to create a second intermediate structure. The second sheet of material is then sealing connected with the second intermediate structure forming an annular space. A vacuum is created in the annular space creating a vacuum insulated cabinet.

Abstract: An ice making apparatus for an appliance includes a housing that has an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended across the interior volume that is configured to retain water. The ice making apparatus also includes a heat pump thermally coupled to a bottom surface of the ice tray. The heat pump is configured to freeze water in the ice tray and expel heat. A heat transfer device is configured to move heat expelled by the heat pump to an upper portion of the interior volume.

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: An ice making apparatus for an appliance includes a housing that has an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended across the interior volume that is configured to retain water. The ice making apparatus also includes a heat pump thermally coupled to a bottom surface of the ice tray. The heat pump is configured to freeze water in the ice tray and expel heat. A heat transfer device is configured to move heat expelled by the heat pump to an upper portion of the interior volume.