Heat Pump And Supplemental Heat Source Patents (Class 165/240)
  • Patent number: 11619433
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, a heat transfer component, and a refrigerant loop arranged to allow a flow of a refrigerant fluid. The compressor, the condenser, and the heat transfer component are connected in the refrigerant loop. The system further includes a bypass path extending between an output side of the compressor in the refrigerant loop and an input side of the heat transfer component in the refrigerant loop. A bypass valve is connected in the bypass path. A control circuit is in communication with the bypass valve. The control circuit is configured to open the bypass valve to allow the refrigerant fluid to pass to the heat transfer component thereby increasing the refrigerant fluid provided to the heat transfer component and artificially increasing a load on the refrigeration system. Other examples refrigeration system and examples methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Madhavi Pamaraju
  • Patent number: 11221165
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, a heat transfer component, and a refrigerant loop arranged to allow a flow of a refrigerant fluid. The compressor, the condenser, and the heat transfer component are connected in the refrigerant loop. The system further includes a bypass path extending between an output side of the compressor in the refrigerant loop and an input side of the heat transfer component in the refrigerant loop. A bypass valve is connected in the bypass path. A control circuit is in communication with the bypass valve. The control circuit is configured to open the bypass valve to allow the refrigerant fluid to pass to the heat transfer component thereby increasing the refrigerant fluid provided to the heat transfer component and artificially increasing a load on the refrigeration system. Other examples refrigeration system and examples methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: LAIRD THERMAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Madhavi Pamaraju
  • Patent number: 11209177
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an outdoor air conditioner formed outside of a structure, the method including: drawing outdoor air into the outdoor air conditioner; cooling the outdoor air to a dehumidification temperature to provide dehumidified air in the outdoor air conditioner; determining whether an air conditioning load exists in an air conditioning space inside the structure; heating the dehumidified air to generate supply air if it is determined that no air conditioning load exists in the air conditioning space; passing the dehumidified air at the dehumidification temperature as the supply air if it is determined that an air conditioning load exists in the air conditioning space; and providing the supply air to the air conditioning space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Ito, So Nomoto, Daisuke Sakai
  • Patent number: 11117444
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat pump system for a vehicle which can enhance heating performance of a plug-in hybrid vehicle by heating engine coolant necessary for heating using a refrigerant cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Seong Hun Kim, Hae Jun Lee, Sung Je Lee
  • Patent number: 11059352
    Abstract: A method for powering a vehicle powered transport climate control system is provided. The method includes determining an amount of power requested by a load of the vehicle powered transport climate control system. The method also includes determining a vehicle power amount available from a vehicle power network. Also, the method includes calculating an auxiliary power amount from an auxiliary power network to augment the vehicle power amount from the vehicle power network. Further, the method includes converting power from the vehicle power network and power from the auxiliary power network into a load power and supplying the load power to the load of the vehicle powered transport climate control system. Also, a maximum amount of vehicle power available from the vehicle power network is less than a maximum amount of power required by the load of the vehicle powered transport climate control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. Leasure
  • Patent number: 11029055
    Abstract: Fan coil thermostats can provide energy savings by, for example, operating a fan coil system more efficiently. Fan coil systems employing such a fan coil thermostat may be more energy efficient. A fan coil system may include a fan coil that is configured for fluid communication with a source of heated fluid and/or a source of cooled fluid, a valve that controls fluid flow through the fan coil and a fan that blows air across the fan coil. The fan coil thermostat may include a controller that implements a control algorithm that calculates an error percentage value relating to a temperature difference between the current temperature and the temperature set point. The error percentage value may include a proportional term related to the temperature difference and an integral term related to the temperature difference. The controller may regulate the fan speed in accordance with the calculated error percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Sullivan, Levi H. Geadelmann, Paul Wacker
  • Patent number: 10967703
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a vehicle cabin heating system, based on particulate filter (PF) regeneration prediction. In one example, a method includes predicting an amount of exhaust heat that may be recovered via an exhaust heat exchanger during an upcoming PF regeneration event, and prior to the PF regeneration event, adjusting an amount of electric power supplied to an electric heater of the cabin heating system. The amount of adjustment may be based on the predicted amount of exhaust heat that may be recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Errick, Manfred Koberstein
  • Patent number: 10871307
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating water has a tank for storing water and an air conditioning system that defines a refrigerant flow path through which refrigerant flows. The refrigerant flow path passes through the heat exchanger so that refrigerant heat is contributed to the tank. A control system controls operation of the water heating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Timothy B. Hawkins, Jeremy L. Babb
  • Patent number: 10675940
    Abstract: This disclosure discloses a heat pump air-conditioning system and an electric vehicle. The system includes a HVAC assembly, a compressor, and an outdoor heat exchanger. The HVAC assembly includes an indoor condenser, an indoor evaporator, and a damper mechanism. The damper mechanism selectively opens ventilation channels of the indoor condenser and/or the indoor evaporator. An outlet of the compressor communicates to an inlet of the indoor condenser. An outlet of the indoor condenser communicates to an inlet of the outdoor heat exchanger selectively through a first throttle branch or a first through-flow branch. An outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger communicates to an inlet of the indoor evaporator selectively through a second throttle branch or a second through-flow branch. Both an outlet of the indoor evaporator, the outlet of the indoor condenser, and the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger communicate to an inlet of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Shaoheng Peng, Meijiao Ye, Xuefeng Chen
  • Patent number: 10562377
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for a vehicle includes a compressor in fluid communication with a condenser and an evaporator. The compressor includes a variable speed motor and employs capacity modulation using refrigerant injection. The condenser and the evaporator include variable speed fans. The refrigeration system includes a battery to supply power to the refrigeration system. The battery is charged by one or more sources of power including the vehicle. The refrigeration system includes a control module configured to monitor one or more characteristics of the battery and to control one or more operating parameters of one or more of the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator based on the one or more characteristics of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn W. Vehr, Joseph James Rozsnaki, Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz
  • Patent number: 10551074
    Abstract: The system includes: a heat pump unit; a hot water supply heat exchanger; heating heat exchangers; a pump; heat medium pipes that connect a discharge side of the pump, the heat pump unit, the hot water supply heat exchanger, the heating heat exchangers, and a suction side of the pump in order; a first bypass pipe that bypasses the hot water supply heat exchanger from the heat medium pipe; a second bypass pipe that bypasses the heating heat exchangers from the heat medium pipe; a four-way valve that regulates flow distribution of the heat medium between the hot water supply heat exchanger and the first bypass pipe 22, and between the heating heat exchangers and the second bypass pipe; and a control unit for controlling the four-way valve in accordance with a hot water supply request and a heating request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Minamisako
  • Patent number: 10539333
    Abstract: An air treatment device (1) and a method for heating of aft, in a heating mode, at an air handling unit (2), which comprises a heat recovery device (3). The device further comprises a heat pump (6), comprising an evaporator (7), arranged in a first air stream (4), in the flow direction, after the heat recovery device (3), and a condenser (8) arranged in a second air stream (5), in the flow direction, after the heat recovery device (3). The device further comprises an auxiliary heater (9) for supplying, in addition to the recovered energy, external heat energy. The auxiliary heater (9) is positioned in the first air stream (4), in the flow direction, after the heat recovery device (3) and before the evaporator (7) for heating and thereby the heat pump (6) operation is maintained and a better total efficiency for the plant is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: FLÄKTGROUP SWEDEN AB
    Inventor: Johan Andersson
  • Patent number: 10527356
    Abstract: A heat exchange unit includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger being disposed inside a casing so that an inclined installation thereof is possible in both the first attitude and the second attitude. The first heat exchanger has a plurality of first flattened tubes and a plurality of first fins. First fin communicating parts of the plurality of first fins are formed on both sides in a cross-sectional longitudinal direction of the first flattened tubes. The second heat exchanger has a plurality of second flattened tubes and a plurality of second fins. Second fin communicating parts of the plurality of second fins are formed on both sides in a cross-sectional longitudinal direction of the second flattened tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Sakamaki, Yoshio Oritani, Shun Yoshioka, Tomoya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10451297
    Abstract: An air conditioning system and a method of operating the same to dehumidify air from an indoor space without overly cooling that air is provided. The air conditioning system includes an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, and a reheat heat exchanger. Indoor air passes through the indoor heat exchanger where it is dehumidified before passing through the reheat heat exchanger where it is reheated using thermal energy from a refrigerant. An outdoor fan urges a flow of ambient air through the outdoor heat exchanger to extract thermal energy from the refrigerant before it passes to the reheat heat exchanger. The speed of the outdoor fan is adjusted to control an amount of thermal energy extracted from a refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat exchanger and thus the thermal energy supplied to the reheat heat exchanger for reheating the dehumidified air to a target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Dustin Henderson
  • Patent number: 10365022
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing discharge pressure includes a compensator reservoir and a compensator line. The compensator line connects the compensator reservoir and a liquid line. The liquid line connects an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger of a reversible HVAC system. The compensator line includes a connection to the compensator reservoir and a connection to the liquid line. A first expansion device is disposed in the liquid line and configured to only act on refrigerant flowing towards the outdoor heat exchanger. A second expansion device disposed in the liquid line and configured to only act on refrigerant flowing towards the indoor heat exchanger. The compensator is operable to receive refrigerant, driven by pressure, from the HVAC system, and further operable to allow refrigerant to flow back into the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Goel, Eric Berg, Mark Olsen, Ian Burmania
  • Patent number: 10281184
    Abstract: Dehumidification cannot be performed when a load decreases. In an air conditioner of the present invention, an indoor heat exchanger includes an auxiliary heat exchanger 20 and a main heat exchanger 21 disposed leeward from the auxiliary heat exchanger 20. In an operation in a predetermined dehumidification operation mode, a liquid refrigerant supplied to the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 all evaporates midway in the auxiliary heat exchanger 20. Therefore, only an upstream partial area in the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 is an evaporation region, while an area downstream of the evaporation region in the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 is a superheat region. In the predetermined dehumidification operation mode, a compressor and an expansion valve are controlled so that the extent of the evaporation region of the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 varies depending on the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Haikawa, Tomoatsu Minamida
  • Patent number: 10281170
    Abstract: A sealed refrigeration system and appliance are provided. The sealed refrigeration system may include a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a check valve assembly. The compressor may be operable to compress refrigerant, while the condenser may be disposed in downstream fluid communication with the compressor to condense refrigerant received from the compressor. The evaporator may be disposed in fluid communication between the condenser and the compressor. The check valve assembly may be disposed in fluid communication between at least two components of the sealed refrigeration system. The check valve assembly may include a valve body defining a circuit inlet, a circuit outlet, and a charge port. The circuit outlet may be downstream from the circuit inlet to direct refrigerant therefrom. The charge port may be between the circuit inlet and the circuit outlet to receive refrigerant therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Mogan Sukumaran, Saravanan Rajamanickam, Gregory Leon Hutchison, Alan G. Constance
  • Patent number: 10239382
    Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle air conditioner of a heat pump system in which there is prevented or inhibited frosting to an outdoor heat exchanger when heating in a vehicle interior is beforehand performed during plug-in, thereby realizing comfortable heating in the vehicle interior during running and also extending a running distance. The vehicle air conditioner includes a heating medium circulating circuit 23 to heat air to be supplied from an air flow passage 3 to a vehicle interior, a controller has frosting estimation means for estimating frosting to an outdoor heat exchanger 7, and when a heating mode is executed in a state where a power is supplied from an external power source to a compressor 2 or a battery which supplies the power to drive the compressor 2, the controller executes the heating by a heating medium circulating circuit 23, in a case where the frosting to the outdoor heat exchanger 7 is predicted on the basis of the estimation of the frosting estimation means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10240838
    Abstract: A drive controller for a motor of a compressor includes a drive circuit that applies voltages to windings of the motor. The drive controller includes a speed control module that controls the drive circuit to rotate the motor at a requested speed. The drive controller includes a speed determination module that generates the requested speed. The drive controller includes a defrost module that enables a defrost mode in response to a defrost command. While the defrost mode is enabled, the defrost module causes the speed determination module to (i) ramp the requested speed down from a speed demand to a defrost speed and (ii) maintain the requested speed at the defrost speed for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne M. Penn, II, Jacob A. Groshek, Simon David Hart
  • Patent number: 10234167
    Abstract: An air conditioner including a suction channel module having a suction module housing with a first and a second suction channel provided therein, and a suction connection channel to guide air between the first and second suction channels; a discharge channel module having a discharge module housing with a first and a second discharge channel provided therein, and a discharge connection channel to guide air between the first and second discharge channels; a first heat exchanger disposed between the first suction channel and the first discharge channel to exchange heat with air that passed through the first suction channel and operate as one of a condenser and an evaporator; and a second heat exchanger disposed between the second suction channel and the second discharge channel to exchange heat with air that passed through the second suction channel and operate as the other of the condenser and the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sangil Park, Doyong Ha, Yoonho Yoo, Taehee Kwak
  • Patent number: 10197300
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a fan with a variable fan capacity; a coil with a variable discharge air temperature; and a controller configured to control the variable fan capacity of the fan and the variable discharge air temperature of the coil. The controller is configured to vary the variable capacity of the fan to maintain a space temperature at a space temperature setpoint while maintaining the variable discharge air temperature of the coil at a low discharge air temperature limit. The controller is configured to vary the variable discharge air temperature between a high discharge air temperature limit and the low discharge air temperature limit to maintain the space temperature at the space temperature setpoint while maintaining the variable capacity of the fan at a low fan capacity setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: John Zhou, Thomas J. Clanin
  • Patent number: 10183552
    Abstract: A vehicle temperature and air quality monitoring system is provided, the system including at least a system interface portion and a user interface portion. The system interface portion includes at least an electronic means for interfacing a vehicle temperature and air quality monitor and a computerized vehicle control system using a plug-in type interfacing means. In further embodiments the electronic means includes a dongle-type plug-in interfacing means such as a sixteen-pin OBD2 dongle port plug. The user interface portion further includes one or more of a cell phone port for remote adaptive programming; an external thermometer reader; a CO2 intake monitor reader; and an adaptor port for facilitating connection of additional monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventors: Terry L. Zulkowski, John F. Font
  • Patent number: 10113763
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus Including a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate refrigerant to a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger, the compressor being connected to the indoor heat exchanger by a gas extension pipe, the expansion valve being connected to the outdoor heat exchanger by a liquid extension pipe; pressure sensors and temperature sensors to detect an operating state amount of the refrigerant circuit; and a controller to execute refrigerant-leakage detection operation of detecting refrigerant leakage by calculating a refrigerant amount in the refrigerant circuit based on the operating state amount detected by the pressure sensors and the temperature sensors, and comparing the calculated refrigerant amount with a reference refrigerant amount. The controller controls a quality of the refrigerant at an outlet of the liquid extension pipe to be in a range from 0.1 to 0.7 in the refrigerant-leakage detection operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasutaka Ochiai, Fumitake Unezaki, Makoto Saito, Kazuhiro Komatsu, Junji Hori
  • Patent number: 10101091
    Abstract: A heat exchanger including a first heat exchanger disposed on upstream side of a heat exchange fluid and a second heat exchanger disposed on downstream side of the heat exchange fluid, which are connected in series in a flow path of a heat medium, wherein the heat medium flows from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger so as to be parallel to the flow of the heat exchange fluid when the heat exchanger serves as an evaporator, the heat medium flows from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger so as to be opposed to the flow of the heat exchange fluid when the heat exchanger serves as a condenser, and a sum of flow path volume of first heat-transfer tubes of the first heat exchanger is smaller than a sum of flow path volume of second heat-transfer tubes of the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Higashiiue, Akira Ishibashi, Takashi Okazaki, Daisuke Ito, Shigeyoshi Matsui, Yuki Ugajin
  • Patent number: 10069300
    Abstract: Demand of a facility load for electrical energy is monitored and compared to a demand cap for a demand period. A demand cap may be set for peak periods, another demand cap may be set for part-peak periods, and yet another demand cap may be set for off-peak periods. Dispatch of electrical energy from the energy storage system is based on the demand of the facility load relative to the demand cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventor: Carl J. S. Lenox
  • Patent number: 10036573
    Abstract: A hot water supply system provided on a water pipeline, which includes a water inflow side and a water outlet side. The hot water supply system includes a plurality of water heaters; each includes a conduit, a heating device, a calculating unit, and a control unit. The conduit includes an inlet section, an outlet section, and a heating section in sequence, wherein the inlet section and the outlet section are connected with the water inflow side and the water outflow side respectively; the heating device heats the heating section; the calculating unit estimates a heating workload needed. If the heating workload of any water heater exceeds a predetermined upper limit workload thereof, the control unit of one water heater controls the other idle heating device to heat water, which ensures that water temperature of water provided to the water outflow side would reach a demanded water temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: GRAND MATE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Chin Huang, Chin-Ying Huang, Hsin-Ming Huang, Hsing-Hsiung Huang, Yen-Jen Yeh, Kuan-Chou Lin
  • Patent number: 10024589
    Abstract: CPU of an air conditioner reads out a heat exchanger outlet temperature stored in time series into a memory part to check whether the current heat exchanger outlet temperature is a second threshold temperature or lower or not, whether the drop rate of the heat exchanger outlet temperature calculated using the latest heat exchanger outlet temperature and the second-to-the-latest heat exchanger outlet temperature is a specific drop rate or higher or not, and whether the number of indoor units in operation of indoor units has increased or not during calculation of the drop rate of the heat exchanger outlet temperature. And, when the second frost forming condition is satisfied, CPU switches a four-way valve to set a refrigerant circuit into a cooling cycle to thereby execute a defrosting operation preparation processing and, on completing the defrosting operation preparation processing, resumes a compressor to start a defrosting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Eiji Taki
  • Patent number: 9976785
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing discharge pressure includes a compensator reservoir and a compensator line. The compensator line connects the compensator reservoir and a liquid line. The liquid line connects an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger of a reversible HVAC system. The compensator line includes a connection to the compensator reservoir and a connection to the liquid line. A first expansion device is disposed in the liquid line and configured to only act on refrigerant flowing towards the outdoor heat exchanger. A second expansion device disposed in the liquid line and configured to only act on refrigerant flowing towards the indoor heat exchanger. The compensator is operable to receive refrigerant, driven by pressure, from the HVAC system, and further operable to allow refrigerant to flow back into the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Goel, Eric Berg, Mark Olsen, Ian Burmania
  • Patent number: 9939109
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing subcooled CO2 liquid includes a vacuum insulated bulk tank containing a supply of the liquid CO2. A pressure builder having an inlet in communication with a bottom portion of the bulk tank and an outlet in communication with a top portion of the bulk tank vaporizes liquid from the bulk tank and delivers the resulting gas to the top portion of the tank so as to pressurize it. A baffle is positioned within the bulk tank. Below the baffle, a refrigeration system is connected to the heat exchanger coil so that a refrigerant fluid is supplied to and received from the heat exchanger coil so that the liquid below the baffle is subcooled and the liquid above the baffle is stratified. A liquid fill line is in communication with the interior of the bulk tank via a fill line opening that is positioned above the baffle. A liquid feed line is in communication with a bottom portion of the interior of the bulk tank so that subcooled liquid may be dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Chart Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Drube, Timothy Neeser, Thomas Carey
  • Patent number: 9869429
    Abstract: A system for dispensing cryogenic liquid to a use point includes a bulk tank containing a supply of carbon dioxide or other cryogenic liquid and a pressure builder that is in communication with the tank via a pressure building valve. The pressure builder uses heat exchangers to vaporize a portion of the cryogenic liquid as needed to pressurize the bulk tank. The pressurized cryogenic liquid is dispensed through a dispensing line running from the bottom of the tank. A vent valve also vents vapor from the tank to control pressure. Operation of the vent and pressure building valves is automated by a controller that receives data from sensors. The controller determines the required saturation pressure for the tank and varies the tank pressure to match and provide a generally constant outlet pressure depending on conditions of the cryogenic liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Chart Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Drube, Timothy Neeser, Tyler Stousland
  • Patent number: 9857123
    Abstract: An improved refrigeration cycle defrosting system and method is disclosed. The device uses operation of a compressor to supply heat for the defrosting process without relying on deviation of a hot refrigerant gas from the compressor outlet or any other heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: John D. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 9851110
    Abstract: A method of controlling a heating system includes: obtaining, from a power supply source, information specifying an output modulation period during which power consumption by a heat pump unit is to be reduced; and controlling, based on the information obtained in the obtaining, an amount of heat generated by the heat pump unit. In the controlling, the heat pump unit is caused to generate a first amount of heat per unit time in a period other than the output modulation period, and generate a second amount of heat per unit time during the output modulation period, the second amount of heat being less than the first amount of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gaku Hayashida, Shinichi Takasaki
  • Patent number: 9847148
    Abstract: An auxiliary system for cooling a spent nuclear fuel pool through a submersible heat exchanger to be located within the pool. In each train or installation, a single loop or series of loops of cooling fluid (e.g., sea water or service water) is circulated. The system is modular, readily and easily installed during an emergency and can be self operating with its own power source. Multiple trains may be used in parallel in order to accomplish the required degree of spent fuel pool cooling required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Timothy M. Lloyd, David Rasmussen, Joel Kulesza
  • Patent number: 9835345
    Abstract: A cooling method for multi-axis controller includes a first step of enabling a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor to respectively detect the temperature of a first heat source and the temperature of a second heat source and to send the respective detected data to a control unit, and a second step of enabling the control unit to drive a first bi-direction fan to exhaust air if the temperature of the first heat source surpasses a predetermined upper temperature limit or to drive a second bi-directional fan to exhaust air if the temperature of the second heat source surpasses the predetermined upper temperature limit, thereby achieving enhanced cooling efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: I-Hsiang Tseng, Chin-Yen Su
  • Patent number: 9835368
    Abstract: A refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus performs, even during a heating operation under air conditions leading to formation of frost, a defrosting operation while simultaneously continuing the heating operation and improves comfort through heating by securing an appropriate amount of ventilation. A plurality of refrigeration cycles independently performs a heating operation and a defrosting operation. By controlling a ventilation damper of an indoor unit that is to perform a defrosting operation to increase the amount of ventilation, a prior ventilation operation for securing the time-averaged required amount of ventilation including the period in which the defrosting operation is being performed is performed before the defrosting operation, and after the prior ventilation is terminated, the defrosting operation is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: So Nomoto, Tomotaka Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9819297
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a printed circuit board, whose mounting surface is opposite to an annular surface formed by an annular stator that constitutes a motor, arranged to be separated from the annular surface with a predetermined distance, and mounted with a Hall element that detects a rotation position of a rotor of the motor on a mounting surface on a side of the stator; an inverter IC that is mounted on the mounting surface on the side of the stator of the printed circuit board to supply a high-frequency current to the stator; and an overheat detection unit that is mounted on the mounting surface on the side of the stator of the printed circuit board and detects an overheated state of the inverter IC. When the overheat detection unit detects an overheated state, the inverter IC restricts or stops a current to be supplied to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Michio Yamada, Mineo Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Ishii, Tomoyuki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9797648
    Abstract: A refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus performs, even during a heating operation under air conditions leading to formation of frost, a defrosting operation while simultaneously continuing a heating operation and that improves comfort through heating by ensuring an appropriate amount of ventilation. A plurality of refrigeration cycles that are capable of independently performing a heating operation and a defrosting operation, are provided. A ventilation damper of an indoor unit in which a refrigeration cycle that performs a defrosting operation is installed is closed during a defrosting operation, and a ventilation damper of an indoor unit in which a refrigeration cycle that performs a heating operation is installed is controlled to achieve a required amount of ventilation corresponding to the indoor ventilation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomotaka Ishikawa, So Nomoto
  • Patent number: 9726409
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a controller which calculates a composition ratio of a refrigerant mixture using a high-pressure-side pressure of a refrigerant discharged from a compressor, a low-pressure-side pressure of a refrigerant to be sucked into the compressor, a high-pressure-side temperature of a refrigerant at an inlet side of a second expansion device in a high/low pressure bypass pipe, and a low-pressure-side temperature of a refrigerant at an outlet side of the second expansion device in the high/low pressure bypass pipe and which determines whether to open or close a bypass-channel opening/closing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Toshihide Koda, Hiroyuki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 9639099
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for regulating the room temperature in a room or in a plurality of rooms, the room temperature can be regulated by regulating the mass flow of a heat-carrying fluid flowing through a heat exchanger according to a determined current room temperature. In accordance with some embodiments, a temperature sensor in the room can be dispensed that can determine the current room temperature, in each case the mass flow of the heat carrying fluid through the heat exchanger and the flow temperature prevailing at the input to the heat exchanger and the return temperature prevailing at the output of the heat exchanger are measured, and that a temperature assigned to the determined values of the mass flow, the flow temperature and the return temperature is output as the current room temperature and used for regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Peter Schmidlin, Norbert Lederle
  • Patent number: 9631826
    Abstract: The controller controls a bypass solenoid valve and hot-water supply expansion unit in a defrosting operation based on a refrigerant temperature detected by a first temperature sensor and a heat medium temperature detected by a second temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Mistubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takanao Kimura, Hirofumi Kouge, Hironori Yabuuchi
  • Patent number: 9557067
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a heat pump section performing indoor air-warming by using a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle, a separate heat source section performing indoor air-warming by using a heat source separate from the heat pump section, and a control unit configured to control actions of the heat pump section and the separate heat source section. When an operation is switched from a separate heat source air-warming operation to a heat pump air-warming operation, the control unit starts the heat pump air-warming operation while the separate heat source air-warming operation is continued, and after an overlapping air-warming ending condition is met, the control unit ends the separate heat source air-warming operation. The overlapping air-warming ending condition is that a temperature difference resulting from subtracting a target indoor temperature from an indoor temperature is equal to or greater than an overlapping air-warming ending air temperature difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akiharu Kojima
  • Patent number: 9459032
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus and a refrigerant quantity determination method are provided, whereby a refrigerant quantity can be determined in a simple and accurate manner without compromising the reliability of a compressor. A refrigerant circuit (10) has a compressor (21), an outdoor heat exchanger (23) that functions as a condenser, an indoor expansion valve (41, 51), an indoor heat exchanger (42, 52) that functions as an evaporator, an indoor unit interconnection pipe (4b, 5b), a liquid refrigerant connection pipe (6), a gas refrigerant connection pipe (7), and an outdoor unit interconnection pipe (8). A controller (9) performs liquefaction control for liquefying refrigerant and placing the refrigerant in a portion extending from the indoor expansion valve (41, 51) to the outdoor heat exchanger (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadafumi Nishimura, Takahiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9291379
    Abstract: In a compressor shell built in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, a compressor shell thermistor that detects a temperature of the shell is installed. Also, an outside air temperature thermistor that detects an outside air temperature is installed in an outdoor unit. The outside air temperature is compared with the compressor shell temperature, and if the shell temperature is higher than the outside air temperature, a compressor heating device is invalidated. If the shell temperature is lower than the outside air temperature, it is determined as a refrigerant collection condition, and the compressor heating device is operated. Also, if the shell temperature is higher than the outside air temperature by a certain temperature or more, the operation of the compressor heating device is stopped so that wasteful standby power is reduced, and energy of the apparatus is saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsunori Sakai, Masanori Aoki, Hirokuni Shiba
  • Patent number: 9254799
    Abstract: A battery, a regenerative generator, a capacitor capable of storing power generated by the regenerative generator, and a DC/DC convertor capable of allowing an output current to flow up to a specified permissible limit value are provided. The capacitor is connected to a first circuit portion connecting the regenerative generator and the DC/DC convertor. The battery is connected to a second circuit portion connecting the DC/DC convertor and electric loads. Thereby, power from the capacitor is supplied to electric loads by way of the DC/DC convertor until the output current of the DC/DC convertor reaches the specified permissible limit value, whereas power from the battery is supplied to the electric loads after the output current of the DC/DC convertor has reached the specified permissible limit value. A specified electric load is turned OFF when the power from the battery is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumasa Yoshida, Shosuke Morimoto, Kazuya Kotani, Tomoyuki Imamura
  • Patent number: 9163621
    Abstract: A compressor control apparatus, and a refrigerator including the same are provided. Operation of two compressors may be controlled using one inverter, thereby reducing a number of components, increasing compressor capacity, and enhancing operation efficiency of the system. Commonly used switching elements may be switched at an operating frequency, allowing the simultaneous operation of two compressors, reducing switching losses, and improving the efficiency and stability of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaeyoo Yoo, Taewoong Nah, Sungho Park
  • Patent number: 8991482
    Abstract: A temperature equalization system, including an installation, a heat equalizer disposed in a natural heat carrier and being made of a material of heat conduction to exchange heat with the natural heat carrier, a fluid transmission duct disposed between the heat equalizer and the installation and having a fluid contained therein for heat transmission, a pump connected in series with the fluid transmission duct for pumping the fluid, and a control means controlling an operation of temperature equalization system. The control means controls the pump to pump the fluid through the fluid transmission duct and an interior of the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8985199
    Abstract: A temperature equalization system, including an installation, a heat equalizer disposed in a natural heat carrier and being made of a material of heat conduction to exchange heat with the natural heat carrier, a fluid transmission duct disposed between the heat equalizer and the installation and having a fluid contained therein for heat transmission, a pump connected in series with the fluid transmission duct for pumping the fluid, and a control means controlling an operation of temperature equalization system. The control means controls the pump to pump the fluid through the fluid transmission duct and an interior of the installation with a periodical change of flowing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8939197
    Abstract: A temperature equalization system, including an installation, a heat equalizer disposed in a natural heat carrier and being made of a material of heat conduction, a relay heat equalizer, a first fluid transmission duct disposed between the relay heat equalizer and the installation and having a first fluid contained therein for heat transmission, a second fluid transmission duct disposed between the heat equalizer and the relay heat equalizer and having a second fluid contained therein for heat transmission, a pump and a relay pump respectively connected in series with the first and second fluid transmission ducts for pumping the first and second fluid, and a control means controlling the pump to pump the first fluid through the relay heat equalizer, the fluid transmission duct and an interior of the installation, and to pump the second fluid through the relay heat equalizer, the second fluid transmission duct and the heat equalizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8931547
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system includes an electric powered refrigerant compressing device, an evaporator, an electric heater, an air temperature determining component, a cabin interior temperature controlling component, an upper limit electric power setting component, and an electric power distribution controller. The evaporator receives refrigerant from the compressing device. The heater is downstream of the evaporator in an air passageway. The determining component determines a first air temperature upstream of the evaporator and a second air temperature between the evaporator and the heater. The controlling component sets a vehicle interior discharge air temperature at a position downstream of the heater to a target temperature. The power setting component sets an upper limit for power supplied to the compressing device and the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Hsiang Yen, Takayoshi Matsuoka, Takafumi Uehara
  • Patent number: 8904815
    Abstract: A heating installation is provided with a first circuit (K1) containing a first medium, a second circuit (K2) containing a second medium, a first heat pump (2) arranged in the first circuit (K1) for heating the first medium, a third circuit (K3) containing a third medium, a heat exchanger (40) arranged in the third circuit (K3) and connected between the condenser (2d) and expansion valve (2f) of the first heat pump to transfer heat from the working medium of the first heat pump to the third medium in the third circuit (K3), and a second heat pump (3) arranged for heating the second medium in the second circuit (K2) by absorbing heat energy from the third medium in the third circuit (K3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Energy Machines S.A.
    Inventor: Hans-Göran Göransson