Transferring Heat Between Diverse Function Portions Of Refrigeration Cycle Patents (Class 62/113)
-
Patent number: 7818978Abstract: A vapour compression device including an internal heat exchanger, a low-pressure compressor and an associated gas cooler, a fluid distributor separating the fluid into a main circuit of the cycle and into an auxiliary cooling circuit of the cycle, an auxiliary expansion system placed on the auxiliary cooling circuit, and a main expansion system placed on the main circuit of the cycle. The device also includes a high-pressure compressor and an associated gas cooler placed on the main circuit of the cycle. A method for performing a transcritical fluid cycle including a substantially isentropic compression step of the fluid, on the main circuit of the cycle, to reach a maximum high pressure greater than a critical pressure of the fluid, and an isobaric cooling step of the fluid to substantially reach a cold source temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Commissariat à l'Energie AtomiqueInventors: Maxime Ducoulombier, Stéphane Colasson
-
Publication number: 20100236263Abstract: An air conditioner for communication equipment is provided. The air conditioner includes an indoor module disposed at an indoor space of a base station having communication equipment and including an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor ventilator, an outdoor module disposed at an outside of the base station and including an outdoor ventilator, a brine cooling cycle including first and second outdoor brine heat exchangers, and first and second brine coolers, the indoor heat exchanger, and a brine pump, which are connected through a brine pipe, a first refrigerant cooling cycle including an expansion valve, the first brine cooler, a compressor, and a first outdoor refrigerant heat exchanger, which are connected through a first refrigerant pipe, and a second refrigerant cooling cycle including an expansion valve, the second brine cooler, a compressor, and a second outdoor refrigerant heat exchanger, which are connected through a second refrigerant pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2006Publication date: September 23, 2010Applicant: CHANG JO 21 CO., LTD.Inventor: Hee Tae Park
-
Publication number: 20100162741Abstract: A heating/cooling system includes a closed circuit refrigeration system including an evaporator. Water circulating through a closed water circuit exchanges heat with refrigerant in the evaporator, cooling the water for a cooling application. The water can also be heated by a boiler, and the heated water is used to heat a space. A water pump flows the water through the water circuit. When a current sensing relay detects a power failure, a boiler control algorithm is initiated to “trick” a motor of the compressor into believing the heating/cooling system is operating in a heating mode. Therefore, a compressor failure alarm is not generated. The water pump is powered by a battery pack during the power failure. Water continues to flow through the water circuit, preventing the water from freezing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2006Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Arthur F. Friday, JR., Thomas C. Pietrowicz
-
Patent number: 7726151Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2005Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Tecumseh Products CompanyInventor: Dan M Manole
-
Patent number: 7716934Abstract: An object is to improve performance and efficiency of an air conditioning device constituted of a waste heat utilization circuit in which waste heat of a heat source is utilized in heating a room to be conditioned in a heat exchanger for heating; a refrigerant circuit in which carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant and which has a supercritical pressure on a high pressure side; and a cascade heat exchanger which performs heat exchange between a fluid flowing from the heat source to the heat exchanger for heating in the waste heat utilization circuit and the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant discharged from a compressor is passed through the cascade heat exchanger, the refrigerant discharged from the cascade heat exchanger is divided by a flow divider, one divided refrigerant is passed from an auxiliary pressure reduction unit to an internal heat exchanger to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and the refrigerant discharged from the cascade heat exchanger and then sucked intoType: GrantFiled: January 31, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Toshiyuki Ebara
-
Patent number: 7715194Abstract: A cooling system is used to cool heat generating devices within a personal computer. The cooling system has a first fluid loop and an expandable array of one or more second fluid loops. For each of the second fluid loops, heat generating devices transfer heat to fluid flowing through corresponding heat exchanging devices in the loop. Heat is transferred from the fluid in each second fluid loop to a thermal bus of the first fluid loop via a thermal interface. The second fluid loop can be a pumped fluid loop or can include a heat pipe. Within the first fluid loop, a fluid is continuously pumped from the thermal bus to a fluid-to-air heat exchanging system and back to the thermal bus. Heat transferred to the thermal bus from the first fluid loop is transferred to the fluid in the second fluid loop passing through the thermal bus. The heated fluid is pumped through the fluid-to-air heat exchanging system where the heat is transferred from the fluid to the ambient.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Cooligy Inc.Inventors: Richard Grant Brewer, Norman Chow, James Hom
-
Publication number: 20100094434Abstract: A method is provided for operating a refrigerant vapor compression system, for example an air-cooled chiller or air-cooled condensing unit, at optimal energy efficiency rating. The method includes the steps of: determining the instantaneous values of a plurality of selected operating parameters of the system's refrigeration unit, calculating a desired control parameter set point indicative of an optimal energy efficiency rating for the refrigeration unit as a function of the selected operating parameters, sensing the instantaneous value of the control parameter, comparing the sensed instantaneous value of the control parameter to the calculated control parameter set point, and adjusting the operating speed of the condenser fans associated with the air-cooled condenser of the refrigeration unit in response to that comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2007Publication date: April 15, 2010Applicant: Carrier CorporationInventors: Joseph Ballet, Michel Karol Grabon
-
Publication number: 20100043464Abstract: A heat pump comprising an evaporator, a compressor and a heat exchanger is provided. The evaporator transfers heat from taken in air to a first fluid and expels the taken in air at a temperature cooler than ambient temperature. The compressor compresses and pumps the first fluid. The heat exchanger comprises a first passage for the heated compressed first fluid driven by the compressor and a second passage for a second fluid driven by thermal convection. A heat pump comprising a second heat exchanger that receives heated compressed first fluid from the compressor which heats compressed first fluid from the heat exchanger is also provided. Additionally, methods and systems for heating a fluid are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2006Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: Solacoil Pty LtdInventors: Murray McNeil, Scott Michael Rawlinson, Steven Jeffrey Fitch
-
Publication number: 20100043465Abstract: Provided are a heat pump system and a method of controlling the same. In a heating operation, a refrigerant circulating in an air-conditioning device is heat-exchanged with a working fluid heated by a heating device so as to be heated, and the heating device is controlled according to a temperature of the working fluid. Thus, various types of heating members are conveniently used as the heating device for heating the refrigerant.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2009Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Seong Min Jang, Yun Ho Ryu, Jae Won Lee
-
Publication number: 20100043463Abstract: A refrigerator or a freezer comprises a primary refrigeration system (11) which is augmented with a passive secondary refrigeration loop (15) having a condenser (30) in thermal contact with a primary fluid line (12) at the location between a primary compressor (16) and a primary condenser (18) and preferably placed outside a building so that the passive secondary refrigeration loop (15) provides cooling to the primary refrigeration system (11) when the outside temperature is sufficiently low The condenser (30) of the passive secondary refrigeration loop (15) is positioned above the points where the primary fluid line (12) connects with mlet (32) and outlet (34) lines of the secondary loop condenser (30)Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2006Publication date: February 25, 2010Inventors: Mark A. Fleming, Alfred P. Brunger
-
Publication number: 20100031677Abstract: A refrigerant system incorporates a variable capacity expander. A bypass line selectively bypasses at least a portion of the refrigerant approaching the expander to the intermediate expansion point within the expander. In this manner, the refrigerant expansion process is controlled more efficiently than in the prior art.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2007Publication date: February 11, 2010Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
-
Publication number: 20100024449Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a hot water circulation system associated with a heat pump. The present invention gives a freezing burst prevention operation function to a water-refrigerant heat-exchanger which performs heat exchange between a refrigerant and water, making it possible to remove a phenomenon that the water-refrigerant heat-exchanger installed out of the space where a user lives is frozen to be damaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2008Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Jin Ha Hwang, Jung II Park
-
Publication number: 20090320506Abstract: A refrigerant system is provided with an expansion device that may be a thermostatic expansion device or an electronic expansion device. A bypass line selectively allows a portion of refrigerant to bypass the expansion device and to flow through a fixed restriction expansion device such as an orifice positioned in parallel configuration with the main expansion device. A valve selectively enables or blocks refrigerant flow through this bypass line depending on the volume of refrigerant required to circulate through the refrigerant system as defined by environmental conditions and a mode of operation. The valve can be a simple shutoff valve or a three-way valve selectively allowing or blocking refrigerant flow through a particular refrigerant line or lines. In one embodiment, the expansion device is the main expansion device for the refrigerant system. In the other embodiment, the expansion device is a vapor injection expansion device for expanding refrigerant for performing an economizer function.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2006Publication date: December 31, 2009Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
-
Publication number: 20090294097Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention pertain to a method and apparatus for heating or cooling. Embodiments relate to a method and apparatus utilizing a vapor compression cycle to accomplish active heating or cooling. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention relates to a lightweight, compact, reliable, and efficient heating or cooling system for underwater applications. The subject system can provide heating or cooling stress relief to individuals operating under, for example, hazardous conditions, or in low temperature underwater environments where passive protective clothing provides insufficient mitigation of cooling stress. Further embodiments can be utilized to provide heat stress relief to users who are working in thermally encapsulated ensembles that hinder the body's natural ability to expel heat. The subject system can be utilized in other applications that can benefit from this type of heating or cooling system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: Rini Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daniel P. Rini, Benjamin A. Saarloos, Jose Mauricio Recio, James R. Hughes
-
Patent number: 7621150Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2007Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Prasad Shripad Kadle, Xiaoxia Mu
-
Patent number: 7614243Abstract: A method of operating a superconducting cable using a conductor cooled by a refrigerant to transmit electric power causes a change in the refrigerant temperature to change the transmission capacity of a superconducting cable(110, 120, 130). Since superconducting materials are capable of increasing the value of their critical current as the temperature decreases, the refrigerant temperature may be changed to change the transmission capacity of the superconducting cable (110, 120, 130) without overdesigning of cabling or an additional cable.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2004Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Takato Masuda, Hiroyasu Yumura
-
Publication number: 20090266100Abstract: A temperature-controlled vehicle including a cascade refrigeration system having a booster cooling line configured to supplement the cooling capacity of the cascade refrigeration system by expanding and venting a portion of a cryogenic refrigerant to the atmosphere during peak demands while the cascade refrigeration system continues to operate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventor: Herman H. Viegas
-
Publication number: 20090211277Abstract: According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a cooling system for a heat generating structure comprises a first cooling segment and a second cooling segment. The first cooling segment and the second cooling segment each respectively comprise a cooling segment conduit and at least one cooling segment tube. The cooling segment conduits are operable to receive a fluid coolant and dispense of the fluid coolant after the fluid coolant has received thermal energy. The at least one cooling segment tubes are in thermal communication with both the cooling segment conduits and the heat generating structure. The at least one cooling segment tubes have a cooling fluid operable to transfer thermal energy from the heat generating structure to the cooling segment conduits. The cooling segment conduits transfer thermal energy from the cooling fluid to the fluid coolant. A heat transfer rate associated with the first cooling segment is substantially similar to a heat transfer rate associated with the second cooling segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2008Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Kerrin A. Rummel, Kevin W. Chen
-
Publication number: 20090205345Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for a refrigerant-based thermal energy storage and cooling system with multiple condensing units utilizing a common evaporator coil. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based ice storage system with increased reliability, lower cost components, and reduced power consumption and ease of installation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: Ice Energy, Inc.Inventors: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy, Brian Parsonnet, Donald Thomas Cook
-
Publication number: 20090205344Abstract: Climatic test chamber (10) for carrying out a sequence of specified test cycles and cooled by means of at least a refrigerating circuit (100, 200, 410) including a variable-speed compressor (120, 210, 410). During the steps of the test cycles in which said chamber (10) is held at a minimum set temperature, the compressor (120, 210, 410) operates at the minimum rotating speed thereof and the refrigeration capacity is used to cool a cold storage medium. The cold stored by the cold storage medium is then recovered to subcool the refrigerant medium during the cooling-down steps in which the compressor (120, 210, 410) operates at the maximum rotating speed thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2004Publication date: August 20, 2009Inventor: Maurizio Ascani
-
Publication number: 20090188264Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for a modular in-frame pumped refrigerant distribution system. Specifically, a micro-channel heat exchanger is positioned in an equipment cabinet close to equipment that generates heat. More specifically, the micro-channel heat exchanger may be positioned on a) a shelf above the equipment, b) the back side of the equipment, or c) a shelf below the equipment. The micro-channel heat exchanger is operable to receive a refrigerant supplied by an external heat exchanger along a primary flow path, transfer heat from air above and/or near the equipment to a coil of the micro-channel heat exchanger, circulate the refrigerant to extract the heat, and return the refrigerant with an extracted portion of generated heat to the external heat exchanger along a secondary flow path. The external heat exchanger may remove extracted heat from a building via a building chilled water system or an outdoor condenser unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: Philip Chappelle Fair, Marc Scott Hodes, Wei Ling, Alan Michael Lyons, Salvatore Joseph Messana, Paul Mark Rominski, Majid Safavi, William Harold Scofield
-
Publication number: 20090173086Abstract: A method for operating a refrigerator includes supplying an evaporator of a second compartment with coolant and flushing the coolant out of the evaporator of the second compartment so that it can be used for an evaporator of a first compartment, closing a coolant circuit to the evaporator of the second compartment, and supplying only the evaporator of the first compartment with coolant.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2007Publication date: July 9, 2009Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbHInventors: Thomas Guffler, Wolfgang Nuiding
-
Patent number: 7503183Abstract: A method for removing humidity from air comprising the steps of providing an air conditioning system comprising a continuous circuit through which a refrigerant flows from a compressor, through a condenser, through a heat exchanger, through an evaporator, and returning to the compressor, providing a bypass valve through which a portion of the refrigerant flows around the heat exchanger, providing a bypass circuit through which a portion of the refrigerant flows from a point upstream of the condenser to mix with the refrigerant at a point downstream of the condenser, providing a discharge gas valve for controlling the portion of the refrigerant flowing through the bypass circuit, measuring an outdoor temperature and a relative humidity, determining a cooling stage and operating the bypass valve and the discharge gas valve to remove a portion of the humidity from the air based upon the outdoor temperature, the relative humidity, and the cooling stage.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventor: Ruddy C. Bussjager
-
Publication number: 20090025404Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a first circuit configured to circulate a first refrigerant. The first circuit includes an evaporator. The refrigeration system also includes a second circuit configured to circulate a second refrigerant. The second circuit includes a receiver associated with the evaporator such that the second refrigerant within the receiver is in a heat exchange relationship with the first refrigerant within the evaporator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2007Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: HUSSMANN CORPORATIONInventor: Robert Brian Allen
-
Patent number: 7475565Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed refrigerant. The refrigeration system includes a flow splitter positioned to split the flow of compressed refrigerant into a first flow that flows along a first flow path and a second flow that flows along a second flow path. An expansion device is positioned in the second flow path and is operable to reduce the temperature of the second flow. A heat exchanger has a first side that receives the first flow and a second side that receives the second flow such that the second flow cools the first flow.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2005Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Zero Zone, Inc.Inventor: Steve Esslinger
-
Publication number: 20090000310Abstract: A thermoelectric system and method provides distributed localized heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling. The thermoelectric system includes a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies. Each thermoelectric assembly comprises a plurality of thermoelectric elements, and each thermoelectric assembly is in thermal communication with a first working fluid and in thermal communication with a region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly. Each thermoelectric assembly is selectively operable either to heat the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the first working fluid to the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly or to cool the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly to the first working fluid. Each thermoelectric assembly is operable independently from operation of other thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventors: Lon E. Bell, John LaGrandeur
-
Publication number: 20080276638Abstract: A heat pump system is disclosed that utilizes a variable speed hydronics pump to selectively divert heat energy from a forced air heating system to a hydronics radiant heating system. By actively controlling the speed of the withdrawal of heat, the temperature of the forced air output may be maintained while maximizing the amount of heat delivered by the efficient hydronics system. The heat pump system also actively controls the blower of the forced air system. To reduce the frequency of the compressors cycling on and off, a tank may be used to store and dispense heat if the hydronics system is not of sufficient size.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2007Publication date: November 13, 2008Inventor: William J. Seefeldt
-
Publication number: 20080148745Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-temperature control refrigerator, in which an ice machine is installed and the cooling mode of the refrigerator is a mixed air-cooling and direct cooling mode. Particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerator having ice-making function, in which the refrigeration cycle is a dual cycle and two different evaporators are included. Due to that the ice making room of the of the refrigerator of the present invention adopts a mixed air-cooling and direct cooling mode, and that impulse solenoid valves and dual temperature control device are introduced to the dual cycle system, the energy is optimally distributed and utilized, the fluctuation of temperature is small and the ice making efficiency of the ice making room and the quality of the ice cubes are much improved. And the whole refrigerator makes less noise, consumes fewer refrigerants and makes ice of good quality rapidly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2005Publication date: June 26, 2008Inventors: ZhiChun Zhang, Dongning Wang, LingYun Li, Guangming Dang
-
Patent number: 7207187Abstract: A bus-bar integrated plate and outer frame section, arranged into a double-deck structure and having numerous bus bars molded with a resin molding plate portion, is provided as a wiring for connecting power switching elements and a smoothing capacitor, fixed on an outer surface of a cylindrical wall of a motor housing, to a printed circuit board serving as a control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2003Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Kenji Funahashi, Ken Hamada, Hiroyuki Kawata, Yasuyuki Ohkouchi
-
Patent number: 7171818Abstract: There is provided a system and method for controlling a temperature of a refrigerant in an air conditioner, in which a supercooling degree and/or a superheating degree can be secured by controlling a difference in refrigerant temperatures of a pipe connecting one or more indoor units to one or more outdoor units, and a flow of a specific refrigerant. The system includes: one or more indoor units; one or more outdoor units; a high-pressure pipe and a low-pressure pipe for connecting the indoor units and the outdoor units; and a refrigerant temperature control unit coupled to the high-pressure pipe and the low-pressure pipe, for performing a heat exchange with respect to flowing refrigerants by coupling an inner pipe to an outer pipe, the inner pipe passing through the another pipe.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2004Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Il Kwon Oh, Jin Seob Song, Nam Soo Lee, Se Dong Chang, Baik Young Chung
-
Patent number: 7114349Abstract: A refrigerant system is provided where the functions of an economizer heat exchanger and liquid-suction heat exchanger are combined. The two configurations are disclosed with a single common heat exchanger construction. In a first configuration, a series of valves selectively routes only one of two possible refrigerant flows through a common heat exchanger such that a control can selectively activate either an economizer heat exchanger circuit or a liquid-suction heat exchanger function. In a second configuration, both refrigerant flows are passed to the common heat exchanger through separate fluid lines and are selectively activated by the control. Variations of the second configuration are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras, Howard H. Fraser, Jr., Russell G. Lewis, Andre Stumpf
-
Patent number: 7104080Abstract: A phase-change cooling system for a vehicle includes an electronic control device for receiving power from a power source and having a first temperature. The phase-change cooling system also includes a condenser of an air conditioning system of the vehicle thermally communicating with the electronic control device and having a second temperature less than the first temperature to remove heat from the electronic control device due to a phase-change of coolant in the condenser.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2003Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: William C. Albertson
-
Patent number: 7055590Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a valve for selectively introducing the coolant discharged from a compressor to either a flow path for a water-coolant heat exchanger or another flow path to avoid the heat exchanger, a thermostat for detecting the temperature of a cooling water flowing into an engine and a controller for controlling the valve. When the temperature of the cooling water is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature, the controller controls the valve so that the coolant discharged from the compressor is introduced to the water-coolant heat exchanger. When the temperature of the cooling water is more than the predetermined temperature, the controller controls the valve so that the coolant discharged from the compressor avoids the water-coolant heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2004Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Calsonic Kansei CorporationInventor: Junichiro Hara
-
Patent number: 7043930Abstract: A method for removing humidity from air comprising the steps of providing an air conditioning system comprising a continuous circuit through which a refrigerant flows from a compressor, through a condenser, through a heat exchanger, through an evaporator, and returning to the compressor, providing a bypass valve through which a portion of the refrigerant flows around the heat exchanger, providing a bypass circuit through which a portion of the refrigerant flows from a point upstream of the condenser to mix with the refrigerant at a point downstream of the condenser, providing a discharge gas valve for controlling the portion of the refrigerant flowing through the bypass circuit, measuring an outdoor temperature and a relative humidity, determining a cooling stage and operating the bypass valve and the discharge gas valve to remove a portion of the humidity from the air based upon the outdoor temperature, the relative humidity, and the cooling stage.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2004Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventor: Ruddy C. Bussjager
-
Patent number: 7000423Abstract: A refrigerant system is operable in either a heating mode or cooling mode. The system is also provided with an economizer cycle that will function in either heating mode or cooling mode. A pair of economizer heat exchangers are positioned adjacent to an air conditioning economizer expansion device, and a heat pump economizer expansion device, respectively. A control for the system will control the opening either the air conditioning economizer expansion device or the heat pump economizer expansion device, dependent on whether economized operation is desired, and whether the system is in cooling or heating mode. Thus, a pair of heat exchangers are utilized, with one being selected for economizer operation dependent on whether the system is in cooling or heating mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras, Thomas J. Dobmeier
-
Patent number: 6913067Abstract: Vehicle air-conditioning system, in particular CO2 air conditioner, the refrigerant cycle of which comprises the following components: a compressor, a refrigerant cooler, an internal heat exchanger between the refrigerant-cooler side and the evaporator side, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. To switch the air-conditioning system from cooling-mode operation to heating-mode operation, between the compressor and the refrigerant cooler there is integrated an auxiliary heat exchanger corresponding to a cooling circulation on the engine side, such that downstream of the auxiliary heat exchanger there is disposed an expansion valve by means of which during heating-mode operation the refrigerant can be throttled to a lower pressure.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2003Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: Zexel Valeo Compressor Europe GmbHInventor: Ullrich Hesse
-
Patent number: 6901763Abstract: The efficiency of refrigeration systems operating on the vapor compression cycle and employing suction line heat exchangers is increased by introducing refrigerant into the lower pressure side of the suction line heat exchanger at a quality less than 1 and introducing refrigerant that has passed through the low pressure side of the suction line heat exchanger into the compressor inlet at a quality that is equal to 1.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Modine Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Stephen B. Memory, Jianmin Yin, Samuel J. Collier
-
Patent number: 6866090Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus for a vehicle wherein noise in the passenger's compartment is reduced by suppressing transmission of vibration to the evaporator, and the prevention of coolant leakage is enhanced, and at the same time, the man-hours for inspection are reduced by reducing the number of pipe joints. The cooling capacity is also enhanced by replacing the sub-cooling process in the condenser and the super-heating process in the evaporator, and further space in the narrow engine compartment is effectively used.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2001Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Calsonic Kansei CorporationInventors: Yoshikazu Takamatsu, Hiromi Takasaki, Nobuo Ichimura
-
Patent number: 6755039Abstract: A screw refrigerating apparatus comprising a refrigerant circulating passage including a screw compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator is constituted such that a bypass flow passage branching at a part of the refrigerant circulating passage between the condenser and the expansion valve, routing through throttle means, and communicating with a rotor room within the screw compressor is provided. The screw refrigerating apparatus is capable of simplifying the structure, decreasing the size, decreasing labor of the maintenance, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2003Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)Inventor: Noboru Tsuboi
-
Patent number: 6708521Abstract: An electrically driven refrigeration system (10), in particular for a vehicle air conditioner, comprises a compressor (12), an electric motor (14) for driving the compressor (12), an electronic controller (16) for controlling the motor (14), a condenser (18), an expansion device (20) and an evaporator (20). These elements are interconnected in such a way as to form a refrigeration circuit for circulating a refrigerant from the compressor (12) through the condenser (18), the expansion device (20) and the evaporator (22) back to the compressor (12). The electronic controller (16) is arranged in such a way as to be in thermal exchange relationship with the refrigerant at a point of the refrigeration circuit situated between the compressor outlet (26) and the condenser outlet (28).Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2003Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Lukas M. Wurth
-
Publication number: 20040035122Abstract: The refrigeration system of the present invention includes multiple economizer circuits. After flowing through the condenser, a first path of refrigerant is split from the main path. The refrigerant in the first path is expanded to a lower pressure and cools the refrigerant in the main path in the high pressure economizer heat exchanger. The refrigerant in the first path then returns to the compressor in a high pressure economizer port. A second path of refrigerant is then split from the main path. The refrigerant in the second flow path is expanded to a lower pressure and cools the refrigerant in the main path in the low pressure economizer heat exchanger. The refrigerant in the second path then return to the compressor in a low pressure economizer port. The refrigerant in the main path is then evaporated. The dual stage economizer refrigeration system can be employed with a screw compressor or a scroll compressor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2002Publication date: February 26, 2004Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Yan Tang
-
Patent number: 6694750Abstract: The refrigeration system of the present invention includes multiple economizer circuits. After flowing through the condenser, a first path of refrigerant is split from the main path. The refrigerant in the first path is expanded to a lower pressure and cools the refrigerant in the main path in the high pressure economizer heat exchanger. The refrigerant in the first path then returns to the compressor in a high pressure economizer port. A second path of refrigerant is then split from the main path. The refrigerant in the second flow path is expanded to a lower pressure and cools the refrigerant in the main path in the low pressure economizer heat exchanger. The refrigerant in the second path then return to the compressor in a low pressure economizer port. The refrigerant in the main path is then evaporated. The dual stage economizer refrigeration system can be employed with a screw compressor or a scroll compressor.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Alexander Lifson, Yan Tang
-
Patent number: 6679320Abstract: Refrigerant fluid such as CO2, compressed to the supercritical pressure by a compressor, is delivered selectively through a three-way valve, either into a branch of the circuit containing a cooler, an expansion device and an evaporator for cooling the cabin of a vehicle, or into a branch containing another expansion device and a heat exchanger for the purpose of heating the cabin.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1999Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Valeo ClimatisationInventor: Karl Stefan
-
Patent number: 6606867Abstract: A suction line heat exchanger storage tank for use in a vapor compression system to increase the efficiency and capacity of the system. Carbon dioxide is preferably used as the refrigerant. The high pressure of the system (gas cooler pressure) is regulated by adding charge to or removing charge from the system and storing it in a storage tank. The suction line heat exchanger exchanges heat internally between the high pressure hot refrigerant fluid discharged from the gas cooler and the low pressure cool refrigerant vapor discharged from the evaporator. The high pressure is regulated by adjusting valves. A first valve allows excess charge from the system to enter the storage tank if the pressure in the gas cooler is too high. If the pressure in the gas cooler is too low, a second valve is opened to allow excess charge from the storage tank to reenter the system. By regulating the high pressure of the system, the evaporator inlet enthalpy can be controlled to achieve optimal efficiency and/or capacity.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventor: Tobias H. Sienel
-
Patent number: 6584784Abstract: A compressor-pump unit for use in a vapor-compression refrigeration system is provided. The compressor-pump unit comprises a driving device including a rotatable shaft. A compressor is coupled with a first portion of the shaft for compressing gaseous refrigerant within the vapor-compression refrigeration system. A liquid pump is coupled with a second portion of the shaft for receiving liquid refrigerant having a first pressure and for discharging the received liquid refrigerant at a second pressure with the second pressure being higher than the first pressure by a predetermined amount such that the discharged liquid refrigerant is subcooled. A pre-cooling circuit is connected to the liquid pump with the pre-cooling circuit being exposed to the gaseous refrigerant whereby the gaseous refrigerant absorbs heat from the liquid refrigerant, prior to the liquid refrigerant entering the liquid pump.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Midwest Research InstituteInventor: Christopher J. Gaul
-
Publication number: 20030024262Abstract: The invention relates to a cascade refrigeration system with screw compressors (3) connected with each other thermally via a heat exchanger (20) wherein the refrigerant of the low-temperature circuit is condensed in said heat exchanger (20), and the refrigerant of the high-temperature circuit is expanded in said heat exchanger (20), and in addition to said heat exchanger (20) a desuperheater (8) is arranged in flow direction ahead of said heat exchanger (20) in which the working medium of the low-temperature side is cooled down, while the working medium of the high-temperature circuit is expanded.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2002Publication date: February 6, 2003Inventors: Dieter Mosemann, Andreas Thiel
-
Patent number: 6467279Abstract: A secondary loop refrigeration system includes plural refrigeration zones serially connected in a secondary cooling loop using a R-134a as a liquid refrigerant in increasing order of operating temperatures, the secondary cooling loop being in heat exchange relationship with a primary cooling loop using direct expansion refrigerants. The primary cooling loop may be selectively isolated allowing the latent heat of the units in the zones to increase the circulating temperature of the secondary refrigerant sufficient to defrost the cooling coils.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2000Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Inventors: Thomas J. Backman, James F. Roomsburg
-
Patent number: 6463757Abstract: An accumulator for an air-conditioning (refrigeration or heat pump) system is designed to reduce flooding due to greater effective internal volume while at the same time incorporating an internal heat exchanger for better system performance, and providing better evaporation and controlled thermal properties. The accumulator embodies an outer housing that co-axially surrounds an inner liner. The inlet directs the refrigerant into the inner volume formed by the liner, wherein the liquid refrigerant and compressor oil are contained and insulated from the wall of the outer housing. A heat exchanger is arranged in the annular space between the outer housing and the inner liner and circulates a flow of condensate therethrough before delivering it to the expansion device. In this way the condensate is cooled for higher performance and at the same time refrigerant passing out of the accumulator is vaporized more completely.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2001Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Halla Climate Controls Canada, Inc.Inventors: Timothy R. Dickson, Wayne Whittle, Michelle M. Stobbart
-
Patent number: 6442967Abstract: A refrigeration piping process comprising the steps of installing a smaller liquid tube for supplying liquid to a remotely located evaporator, inside of a larger suction tube to be used for supplying the suction vapor from a remotely located evaporator, connecting the smaller liquid tube for supplying liquid to an evaporator to the liquid supply source at the liquid source, connecting the smaller liquid tube for supplying liquid to an evaporator to the liquid tube which supplies the evaporator and connecting the one end of the larger suction tube to a compressor and the other end of the larger suction tube to the outlet of the remotely located evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2001Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Altech Controls CorporationInventor: Richard H. Alsenz
-
Patent number: 6434972Abstract: The invention relates to an air conditioner with a refrigerant loop containing a compressor, an evaporator, an accumulator positioned on the low-pressure side between the evaporator and the compressor, and an internal heat exchanger with a high-pressure side heat transfer channel and a low-pressure side heat transfer channel. According to the invention, the internal heat exchanger has a multichannel tube wound into a radial spiral or a meander shape. In addition or alternatively, the internal heat exchanger contains a multichannel tube which is positioned in the air current path of a cool air current of a high-pressure side condenser/gas cooler. Utilization, for example as a CO2 air conditioner in motor vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.Inventors: Wolfgang Geiger, Hans-Joachim Krauss, Michael Sickelmann, Karl-Heinz Staffa, Christoph Walter, Hagen Mittelstrass