Single Refrigeration Producer Controlled By Plural Sensors Patents (Class 62/208)
  • Patent number: 11897309
    Abstract: A vehicle heat management system includes a refrigerant circuit, a battery temperature regulation circuit, and an electric part cooling circuit. The refrigerant circuit circulates a refrigerant to regulate a temperature inside a passenger compartment through the refrigerant circuit. The battery temperature regulation circuit regulates a temperature of a battery by introducing a liquid that exchanges heat with the refrigerant to the battery. The electric part cooling circuit circulates a liquid cooled by a radiator circulates through the electric part cooling circuit, and is capable of cooling a first and second pieces for driving a vehicle. In a first mode, the liquid cooled by the radiator cools the first piece of equipment, the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit cools the second piece of equipment, and the liquid which has exchanged heat with the refrigerant is introduced in parallel to the battery and the second piece of equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Takagi, Yoshiyuki Jin
  • Patent number: 11885547
    Abstract: A control method for a refrigerator includes sensing a temperature of a storage room; operating a cool air supply at a cooling power when the sensed temperature of the storage room is equal to or above a first reference temperature; operating the cool air supply at a delay power, which is less than the cooling power, when the sensed temperature of the storage room is equal to or below a second reference temperature, which is less than the first reference temperature while the cool air supply is operating at the cooling power; and adjusting the cooling power or the delay power of the cool air supply according to the temperature of the storage room while the cool air supply is operating at the delay power, and operating the cool air supply at the determined adjusted cooling power or delay power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Myungjin Chung, Kyeongyun Kim, Kyungseok Kim, Soyoon Kim, Seunguk Ahn, Kyunghun Cha
  • Patent number: 11707964
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning device is provided which is capable of accurately judging the need for temperature regulation of an object of temperature regulation mounted in a vehicle and efficiently performing temperature regulation. A compressor 2 to compress a refrigerant, an indoor heat exchanger (radiator 4 and heat absorber 9) for exchanging heat between air supplied to a vehicle interior and the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger 7 disposed outside the vehicle interior, and a control device 11 are provided to perform air conditioning of the vehicle interior. An equipment temperature adjusting device 61 for adjusting the temperature of the object of temperature regulation mounted in the vehicle is provided. The control device controls the equipment temperature adjusting device 61 on the basis of a gradient (?Tw) of a change in an index indicating the temperature of the object of temperature regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SANDEN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryo Miyakoshi
  • Patent number: 11578911
    Abstract: A freezer case includes a refrigeration system and a controller. The controller is configured to store a plurality of setpoint instruction sets associated with a plurality of possible operating modes, select a current operating mode from the plurality of possible operating modes, assign a value for the superheat setpoint by executing the setpoint instruction set associated with the current operating mode, control the refrigeration system in accordance with the superheat setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventor: Nate Kaemingk
  • Patent number: 11519793
    Abstract: To provide a skin simulation device, an electronic apparatus evaluation method, and an electronic apparatus evaluation system that make it possible to reproduce the characteristics of a skin temperature of a human body. The skin simulation device according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a sheet-shaped simulated skin member that includes an outer surface and an inner surface, and a subcutaneous unit that includes a subcutaneous temperature detector and a subcutaneous temperature adjusting mechanism. The subcutaneous temperature detector is capable of detecting a temperature of the inner surface. The subcutaneous temperature adjusting mechanism is capable of adjusting the temperature of the inner surface. This makes it possible to adjust the temperature of the inner surface of the simulated skin member (a subcutaneous temperature), and to reproduce the characteristics of a skin temperature of a human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Kuwahara, Yoshio Muraoka
  • Patent number: 11512876
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a heat source-side unit and a utilization-side unit that are connected to each other, and performs a refrigeration cycle in which a high pressure of a refrigerant reaches or exceeds a critical pressure. The refrigeration apparatus also includes a control unit configured to perform a first action of returning the refrigerant to the heat source-side unit when a stop condition of the utilization-side unit is satisfied, and a second action of prohibiting the first action when a pressure at the heat source-side unit is equal to or more than the critical pressure of the refrigerant. This configuration suppresses damage to a refrigerant storage reservoir and the like in returning the refrigerant to the heat source-side unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Takegami, Shuichi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11358434
    Abstract: A method of climate control in a vehicle includes cooling a battery and cabin of a vehicle at a target chiller-pump speed of a chiller. The target speed corresponds to a difference between a temperature of a battery and a target temperature of the battery. The target pump speed does not exceed a limit defined by a look-up table that identifies a capacity of the chiller by mapping the load and the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Angel Fernando Porras, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Kenneth J. Jackson
  • Patent number: 11275393
    Abstract: In some examples, a pressure regulating valve comprising a pressure chamber, a compressor configured to establish fluid communication with the pressure chamber, a vent valve configured to establish fluid communication with the pressure chamber, a pressure sensor, and a controller. The controller may determine a pressure based on the signal generated by the pressure sensor, and compare a pressure setpoint and the pressure. The controller may be configured to alter the pressure in the pressure chamber based on the comparison between the pressure setpoint and the pressure. For example, the controller may control the compressor to increase the pressure in the pressure chamber and/or control the vent vale to decrease the pressure in the pressure chamber. The altered pressure of the pressure chamber may generate movement of a restricting element within the pressure regulating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Pittway Sarl
    Inventor: Ralf Hilbers
  • Patent number: 10808977
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus for refrigerating a fluid is disclosed. The apparatus includes a refrigerant, a compressor (301), a condenser (302), an expansion device (304), and an evaporator (305), fluidly connected to form a refrigeration cycle, a controllable valve (303) configured to control a flow of the refrigerant from the condenser (302) to the evaporator (305), at least one sensor (330) configured to measure a property of the refrigerant, and a controller (300) configured to determine an amount of the refrigerant stored in a portion of the refrigeration cycle including the condenser (302), and to control the controllable valve (303) based on the determined amount of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Franke Technology and Trademark Ltd
    Inventor: Wilhelmus Franciscus Schoonen
  • Patent number: 10801510
    Abstract: A rotary compressor system includes a compressor housing that includes a compressor motor that draws in fluid from a suction side. The fluid is compressed within a compression chamber and discharged through a discharge side. The compression chamber is disposed between the suction side and the discharge side. An overload-protection switch is electrically coupled in series with the compressor motor and is adapted to cut power to the compressor motor responsive to an overload event. A solenoid valve is fluidly coupled between the compression chamber and a location upstream of the suction side and is electrically coupled in series with the overload-protection switch. An interruption of electrical current to the compressor motor also interrupts electrical current to the solenoid valve, which opens the solenoid valve to equalize pressure between the suction side and the discharge side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Ullrich, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 10704817
    Abstract: A control system for controlling an output for at least one compressor includes a control unit that receives an indoor set point and an outdoor ambient temperature. The control unit determines a load request based on the indoor set point and the outdoor ambient temperature without considering an indoor room temperature. The at least one compressor receives control commands from the control unit based on the load request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kamalakkannan Muthusubramanian
  • Patent number: 10527332
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for determining refrigerant charge level. In one aspect, a refrigeration system includes: (1) a compressor to compress a refrigerant; (2) a condenser disposed downstream of the compressor to condense the refrigerant; (3) an evaporator disposed downstream of the condenser to vaporize the refrigerant; (4) refrigerant lines fluidly connecting the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator in series to form a refrigerant circuit for circulating the refrigerant; (5) at least one sensor configured to measure temperature and pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit; and (6) a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to: (a) determine a sub-cooling level or super-heating level based on the temperature and/or pressure measured by the at least one sensor; and (b) facilitate operation of the refrigeration system based on the sub-cooling level or the super-heating level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Bergstrom, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett S. Connell, Aaron D. Sullivan, Brett J. Herrmann, Terry Zeigler
  • Patent number: 10508850
    Abstract: A vapour compression system (1) includes an ejector (6) and a liquid separating device (10) arranged in a suction line. At least one evaporator (9) is allowed to be operated in a flooded state. A flow rate of refrigerant from the liquid separating device (10) to the secondary inlet (15) of the ejector (6) is detected, and it is determined whether or not the flow rate is sufficient to remove liquid refrigerant produced by the evaporator(s) (9) from the liquid separating device (10). In the case that it is determined that the flow rate of refrigerant from the liquid separating device (10) to the secondary inlet (15) of the ejector (6) is insufficient to remove liquid refrigerant produced by the evaporator(s) (9), the flow rate of refrigerant from the liquid separating device (10) to the secondary inlet (15) of the ejector (6) is increased, and/or a flow rate of liquid refrigerant from the evaporator(s) (9) to the liquid separating device (10) is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Jan Prins, Frede Schmidt, Kenneth Bank Madsen, Kristian Fredslund
  • Patent number: 10401059
    Abstract: An air conditioner including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a switching valve for guiding refrigerant discharged from the compressor to the outdoor heat exchanger during a cooling operation and to the indoor heat exchanger during a heating operation, and an injection module for injecting a portion of the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger to the compressor, performing heat exchange between a portion of the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger and the refrigerant that moves from the outdoor heat exchanger to the indoor heat exchanger during the cooling operation, and injecting the refrigerant into the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghwi Kim, Junseong Park, Ilyoong Shin
  • Patent number: 10330369
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area supporting product and an evaporator disposed in an air passageway in fluid communication with the product display area via an outlet to direct a refrigerated airflow into the product display area. The merchandiser also includes a control system in communication with and programmed to control the refrigeration system so that the product display area is maintained within a predetermined temperature range. The control system also varies the temperature of the refrigerated airflow through the outlet above an airflow temperature threshold between about 35 degrees Fahrenheit and 41 degrees Fahrenheit at least once during a predetermined time period to avoid formation of frost on the evaporator while maintaining the product display area within the predetermined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Rees, Simon A. Johnston, Derek R. Lea
  • Patent number: 10093207
    Abstract: Embodiments of radiant barriers for vehicles are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a vehicle includes an interior cabin at least partially enclosed by a roof panel, a floor panel, and an engine compartment firewall, and a radiant barrier positioned within the interior cabin. The radiant barrier includes a first thermally reflective surface and a second thermally reflective surface opposite the first thermally reflective surface and separated from the first thermally reflective surface by a thickness t. The thickness t is constant along a length and a width of the radiant barrier. The radiant barrier at least partially thermally isolates the interior cabin from an external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Day
  • Patent number: 9664426
    Abstract: The present invention is designed to reduce running costs in refrigerant based air-conditioning, refrigeration and heating systems by using a combination of thermodynamic and hydraulic control to manage the on and off states of the compressor, which is the main energy consuming component. Thermodynamic or temperature control is used to manage comfort levels within the room or space being cooled. Hydraulic control is used to determine when the compressor has completed its useful work in delivering a supply of high-pressure liquid refrigerant. Once temperature and hydraulic conditions are satisfied the compressor can be turned off; thereby delivering a significant reduction in running costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Agile8 Consulting Limited
    Inventor: Kevin Daniel Martin Moore
  • Patent number: 9593870
    Abstract: An apparatus that has a housing with an icemaker disposed within the housing is disclosed. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided having a warm side and an opposite cold side. The cold side is thermally coupled to the icemaker. A flow pathway is configured in communication with the warm side of the thermoelectric device. A heat carrier is communicated through the flow pathway. The heat carrier transfers heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to support operations of the apparatus. The apparatus may be configured as a refrigerator wherein the refrigerator is configured to transfer the heat carrier from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to a compartment of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley, Gregory G. Hortin, Mark E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9379420
    Abstract: A battery system having a cooling plate with a conduit therein is provided. The system further includes a battery module having first and second battery cells. The system further includes a compressor, and a condenser coupled between the compressor and the conduit of the cooling plate. The system further includes a microprocessor that determines a maximum temperature level of the first and second battery cells, and determines a target temperature level for the cooling plate based on the maximum temperature level. The microprocessor determines a temperature error value based on a difference between a temperature level and the target temperature level of the cooling plate, and determines a desired RPM value for the compressor based on the temperature error value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satish Ketkar, Paul Laurain, Richard McCormick
  • Patent number: 9090144
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for a passenger compartment of an electric vehicle has a battery unit that is chargeable by supply of electric power from an external power source. The system includes a charge-level detection section to detect a charge level of the battery unit and an HEV controller has an integrated control of the whole of an electric vehicle including an air conditioner. Before a preparatory air-conditioning operation for air conditioning in the passenger compartment during charge, the HEV controller grants permission to enter air conditioning in the passenger compartment if the battery charge level is greater than a predetermined level. The HEV controller adjusts an amount of electric power usable for air conditioning in the passenger compartment based on a change in the charge level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kensuke Momose, Hideki Hashigaya
  • Patent number: 9021819
    Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring operation of a refrigerant-cycle system is disclosed. A plurality of sensors measure operating characteristics of the refrigerant-cycle system. The refrigerant-cycle system includes a condenser unit and an evaporator unit. The condenser unit includes a condenser and a compressor. The evaporator unit includes an evaporator and a fan. A processing system receives the measurements from the plurality of sensors and outputs data regarding operation of the refrigerant-cycle system to a remote monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Kates
  • Publication number: 20150114010
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling a temperature-dependent power device includes an active cooling device and a controller to generate and transmit a drive signal thereto to selectively activate the device. The controller receives an input from sensors regarding the cooling device power consumption and measured operational parameters of the power equipment—including the power device output power if the device is a power producing device or the power device input power if the device is a power consuming device. The controller generates and transmits a drive signal to the cooling device based on the cooling device power consumption and the measured power device input or output power in order to cause the active cooling device to selectively cool the heat producing power device. A net system power output or total system power input can be maximized/minimized by controlling an amount of convection cooling provided by the cooling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Sean Myers, Andrew Maxwell Peter, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Patrick Hammel Hart
  • Publication number: 20150033780
    Abstract: In a case of a heating operation in which the use side heat exchanger functions as a condenser when an outside temperature is a predetermined low temperature, a low-outside-temperature heating operation start-up mode in which, while a refrigerant discharged from the compressor is caused to flow into the use side heat exchanger, a refrigerant is supplied to the injection port of the compressor via the injection pipe and part of the refrigerant that has transferred heat in the heat source side heat exchanger is supplied to the compressor, is followed by a low-outside-temperature heating operation mode in which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is supplied to the injection port of the compressor via the injection pipe while the refrigerant being caused to flow into the use side heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Hatomura, Koji Yamashita, Naofumi Takenaka
  • Patent number: 8919139
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, an operation controlling device and a liquid refrigerant accumulation determining device. The refrigerant circuit has an accumulator. The operation controlling device performs normal operation control where each device of the heat source unit and the utilization unit are controlled in accordance with operating load of the utilization unit, and refrigerant quantity determination operation control where properness of quantity of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is determined while performing the cooling operation. The liquid refrigerant accumulation determining device determines whether or not liquid refrigerant is accumulating in the accumulator. When it has been determined that liquid refrigerant is accumulating in the accumulator, liquid refrigerant accumulation control is performed to eliminate liquid refrigerant accumulation in the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takurou Yamada, Masato Kotake, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Tadafumi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8899067
    Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus including a control unit which starts the operation of the refrigerant compressor in response to an operation signal and which regulates the pressure reducing device so that the temperature of a refrigerant in the water heat exchanger becomes +80 ° C. or more and the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator becomes 0 ° C. or less. The control unit detects a state where a cold storage amount in the cold storage unit reaches a predetermined amount or more and another state where the control unit judges whether the hot water storage tank is full of the hot water, after the elapse of a predetermined time from the start of the operation of the refrigerant compressor, and it stops the operation of the refrigerant compressor when one of the states is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahisa Otake, Setsu Hasegawa, Ken Kawakubo, Hidetaka Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8899058
    Abstract: Heating equipment, including a first heat exchanger, a compressor, a second heat exchanger, and a first expansion valve that decompresses a refrigerant flowing from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger, are connected so as to circulate the refrigerant. A third heat exchanger provides heat of the refrigerant flowing from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger to the refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger toward the compressor. An injection circuit merges part of the refrigerant flowing from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger with the refrigerant that is sucked by the compressor. An injection expansion valve is installed in the injection circuit and decompresses the refrigerant flowing in the injection circuit. A fourth heat exchanger is installed in the injection circuit to supply heat of the refrigerant flowing from the second heat exchanger toward the first heat exchanger to the refrigerant flowing in the injection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Fumitake Unezaki, Makoto Saitou, Tetsuji Saikusa, Masanori Aoki, Masato Yosomiya
  • Patent number: 8900041
    Abstract: A fan includes a hub, several fan blades, and a motor that is operable to drive the hub. A motor controller is in communication with the motor, and is configured to select the rate of rotation at which the motor drives the hub. The fan is installed in a place having a floor and a ceiling. An upper temperature sensor is positioned near the ceiling. A lower temperature sensor is positioned near the floor. The temperature sensors communicate with the motor controller, which includes a processor configured to compare substantially contemporaneous temperature readings from the upper and lower temperature sensors. The motor controller is thus configured to automatically control the fan motor to minimize the differences between substantially contemporaneous temperature readings from the upper and lower temperature sensors. The fan system may thus substantially destratify air in an environment, to provide a substantially uniform temperature distribution within the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Delta T Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Toy
  • Patent number: 8863545
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a multi-stage compression mechanism, heat source-side and usage side heat exchangers each operable as a radiator/evaporator, a switching mechanism switchable between cooling and heating operation states, a second-stage injection tube, an intermediate heat exchanger and an intermediate heat exchanger bypass tube. The intermediate heat exchanger bypass tube ensures that refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element and drawn into the second-stage compression element is not cooled by the intermediate heat exchanger during a heating operation. Injection rate optimization controls a flow rate of refrigerant returned to the second-stage compression element through the second-stage injection tube so that an injection ratio is greater during the heating operation than during a cooling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Fujimoto, Atsushi Yoshimi
  • Publication number: 20140260388
    Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus includes a centrifugal compressor, suction and discharge capacity control mechanisms that control capacity of the compressor by changing opening degrees of the suction and discharge capacity control mechanisms, and a controller that compares a compressor-specific surge curve with an isentropic head to perform rotational speed control of the compressor, rotational speed adjustment control of the compressor in order to avoid surge, and emergency shutdown control of the compressor upon detection of surge. The compressor-specific surge curve is stored in the controller in advance, and is defined by an actual rotational speed of the compressor and opening degrees of the suction and discharge capacity control mechanisms. The isentropic head is calculated based on a suction pressure, a discharge pressure, and a suction temperature during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., Daikin Applied Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro UMEDA, Takatoshi TAKIGAWA, Fumiaki ONODERA, Nobutoshi KOZONO, Yasutaka TAKADA, Tsubasa NISHIO
  • Publication number: 20140260341
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first heat exchanger, an evaporator coupled to a thermal load of an aircraft. first and second cooling circuits coupled to the heat exchanger, the first and second cooling circuits selectable via a set of cooling circuit valves that are arranged to direct a refrigerant through the first circuit, the second circuit, or both the first and second circuits based on air passing through the first heat exchanger at ambient conditions of the aircraft, and a receiver configured to accumulate reserve refrigerant to provide flexibility in system operation as the cooling system operates in sub-critical, trans-critical, and super-critical modes of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Vaisman, Patrick C. Sweeney
  • Patent number: 8826679
    Abstract: Apparatus and methodologies are provided to improve the refrigeration system by precisely controlling refrigerator compartment and heat exchanger temperatures through continuous modulation of device speeds or positions to match capacity with instantaneous load. A controller in a refrigerator is configured to provide a plurality of control loops to control various operational aspects of selected components in the refrigerator. A first loop controls the operating speed of a compressor based on temperature of the evaporator or based on the desired speed of an evaporator fan. A second control loop controls speed of an evaporator fan to maintain a prescribed freezer compartment temperature. A third control loop maintains a prescribed temperature in a fresh food compartment. In certain embodiments selected of the control loops may be thermodynamically coupled by way of thermal interaction between the various cooled compartments rather than being electrically coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Andrew May, Brian Michael Schork, Bryan James Beckley
  • Patent number: 8800307
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor and an evaporator fan associated with an evaporator. The method also includes determining the temperature of supply air and the temperature of return air. The method further includes determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The method additionally includes activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The method also includes activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Thermo King Corporation, Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ole Thogersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen
  • Patent number: 8776540
    Abstract: A supercooling apparatus of the present invention is capable of regulating a supercooled state for an item at temperatures below a phase transition temperature and adjusting temperature of the item in the supercooled state, wherein the supercooling apparatus comprises a storage space for receiving liquid or a stored item containing liquid; a cooling means for cooling the liquid, the stored item, or the storage space to a temperature below zero; and a temperature regulating means for applying a controlled amount of energy to the liquid, to surface of the stored item, or to gas above the surface, thereby regulating a temperature of the liquid or the stored item below a maximum ice crystal formation temperature zone of the liquid or the stored item. Therefore, the supercooling apparatus can control a supercooling temperature that has the biggest influence on ecological preservation of liquid or a stored item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Su-Cheong Kim, Ju-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8781634
    Abstract: In an air conditioning system and a communication method thereof a wireless network may be established between indoor units and a controller or between outdoor units so as to allow communications therebetween, thereby facilitating device addition or device deletion. Also, one or more outdoor units and a plurality of indoor units may be controlled without a dedicated communication line or with using a less mount of the dedicated communication line, and the outdoor units or indoor units may perform communications using one or more communication technologies, such as wireless communication and pipe communication technologies and wireless communication and dedicated line communication technologies, while performing communications with the controller using the wireless communication technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Juntae Kim, Sangchul Youn
  • Patent number: 8733117
    Abstract: An incubator includes: an enclosure including a culture chamber; a heater configured to heat the culture chamber; a refrigerator including an evaporator and a condenser, and configured to cool the culture chamber; a temperature sensor configured to measure the culture chamber temperature; a refrigerator control unit configured to cause the refrigerator to operate, when a measured temperature measured by the temperature sensor reaches a refrigerator-operation temperature, higher than the set temperature by a first temperature, and cause the refrigerator to stop operating, when the measured temperature reaches a refrigerator-operation stopping temperature, lower than the set temperature by a second temperature; a heater control unit configured to control the heater in such a manner that the measured temperature reaches the refrigerator-operation temperature, when operation of the refrigerator is stopped; and a drain mechanism configured to discharge dew condensation water generated through heat absorption by th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Tsuruma
  • Patent number: 8713951
    Abstract: There are provided a plurality of use-side heat exchangers, inter-heat-medium heat exchangers, heat medium flow path switching devices, which switch flow paths, and pumps, which feed heat media to these paths; the inter-heat-medium heat exchangers heat or cool a heat medium by exchanging heat between the heat medium and a heat source fluid fed from a heat source apparatus. About half of the plurality of use-side heat exchangers are preheated or precooled, and the remaining use-side heat exchangers which are not preheated or precooled exchange heat media with use-side heat exchangers that have been preheated or precooled and that are not yet started to operate, suppressing energy consumed for preheating or precooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Takayama, Yusuke Shimazu
  • Patent number: 8707718
    Abstract: An engine configured to drive a compressor of a vehicle air conditioning system is controlled based on a threshold condition. In at least one embodiment, a comfort-level selection is received, a threshold condition is determined based on the comfort-level, and a vehicle interior condition is detected. The engine is requested to run if the interior condition exceeds the threshold condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Elaine Y. Chen, William Treharne, Wayne Buescher, Thomas Fox
  • Publication number: 20140069120
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a parallel-type chiller provided with multiple shell-and-tube-type heat exchangers and multiple compressors, the control apparatus having an estimation section which estimates a terminal temperature difference in an upstream-side space on the basis of a terminal temperature difference between a saturation temperature of a second fluid and a measured exit temperature value, the saturation temperature being estimated on the basis of a pressure value of the second fluid in a downstream-side space, the measured exit temperature value being a temperature of the first fluid measured at an exit of the heat exchanger, and estimates a temperature of the first fluid in the vicinity of an exit of the upstream-side space on the basis of the terminal temperature difference in the upstream-side space and the saturation temperature of the second fluid in the upstream-side space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Takemoto, Kazuki Wajima, Yasushi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8667807
    Abstract: A refrigerated point-of-use food holding cabinet keeps food products cold in compartments having cross sections that are substantially U-shaped. Food products are kept refrigerated using heat-absorbing, heat-exchangers thermally coupled to the U-shaped compartment. Refrigeration is provided by either a conventional reversed-Brayton cycle, one or more Peltier devices or a chilled, re-circulating liquid that does not change phase as it circulates but which is chilled by another refrigeration system, such as a conventional refrigeration system. An optional cover helps prevent food flavor transfers between compartments. Semiconductor temperature sensors and a computer effectuate temperature control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Prince Castle LLC
    Inventor: Loren Veltrop
  • Patent number: 8607582
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in series. The system further includes a heater and sensors configured to sense the temperature of the supply air and the temperature of the return air. A controller is programmed to determine one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The controller is programmed to activate the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and to increase the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The controller is also programmed to activate the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and to increase the power supplied to the compressor and maintain the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Thermo King Corporation, Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ole Thøgersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen
  • Publication number: 20130305750
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and an arrangement for expanding a gas stream comprising carbon dioxide, CO2. The method includes: removing CO2 from a process gas to produce a CO2 lean gas stream comprising residual CO2; monitoring a temperature of the gas stream downstream of an expander; controlling a pressure of the gas stream downstream of the expander by means of a pressure controller; and overriding the pressure controller when the temperature downstream of the expander is below a predefined minimum temperature; whereby deposition of solid CO2 from the residual CO2 in the gas stream is avoided. The disclosure also relates to a gas cleaning system and a power plant, such as an oxy-combustion power plant, associated with the arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventor: Olaf STALLMANN
  • Patent number: 8572990
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for supercooling which can stably maintain a liquid in a supercooled state at below a phase transition temperature. The apparatus for supercooling, which can maintain a supercooled state of a liquid or contents even below a phase transition temperature, comprises: a storage space for storing a container accommodating a liquid or contents containing the liquid; a cooling means for cooling the liquid or contents or the storage space below the phase transition temperature of the liquid or the contents; and a temperature maintaining unit for applying energy to the surface of the liquid or contents or to a gas near the surface, wherein the liquid or the contents are maintained in a supercooled state by preventing freezing nuclei from being formed on the surface of the liquid or contents or in the gas near the surface by application of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won-Young Chung, Jong-Min Shin, Deok-Hyun Youn, Jae-Hyun Soh, Cheol-Hwan Kim, Hoon-Bong Lee, Su-Cheong Kim
  • Publication number: 20130276469
    Abstract: A primary beverage cooling circuit for refrigerating a fluid used in a secondary beverage cooling circuit that cools beverage in a beverage conduit by pumping the fluid through a heat exchange conduit adjacent the beverage conduit to transfer heat therebetween, the primary beverage cooling circuit comprising a refrigerant circuit containing a refrigerant circulating through: a heat exchanger in heat transfer communication with the fluid to cool the fluid; a variable displacement compressor for circulating the refrigerant through the refrigerant circuit; a cooling device for cooling the refrigerant; and a valve for controlling the volume of fluid into the heat exchanger; the primary beverage cooling circuit further comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the compressor and/or the cooling device and/or the valve based on one or more measurements from temperature and/or pressure sensors in the refrigerant circuit to thereby operate the system on an efficient basis
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: CUB PTY LTD
    Inventor: Nathan DRYZUN
  • Publication number: 20130213067
    Abstract: A heat source device is provided with a differential pressure sensor that measures the differential pressure between an inlet pressure and an outlet pressure for the chilled water in an evaporator and with a control device. The control device possesses the coefficient of loss for the evaporator and is provided with a chilled-water flow-rate computing portion that calculates a chilled-water flow rate at the evaporator on the basis of the coefficient of loss and the differential pressure output from the differential pressure sensor; a control-command computing portion that generates a control command by using a specification heating-medium flow rate that is set in advance; and a control-command correcting portion that corrects the control command generated by the control-command computing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Wajima, Kenji Ueda, Masaharu Nitta
  • Publication number: 20130213064
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance (and associated method) that includes a condenser, evaporator and a multi-capacity compressor. The appliance also includes a pressure reducing device arranged within an evaporator-condenser refrigerant circuit, and a valve system for directing or restricting refrigerant flow through the device. The appliance further includes a controller for operating the compressor upon the initiation of a compressor ON-cycle at a priming capacity above a nominal capacity for a predetermined or calculated duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alberto Regio Gomes, Andrew D. Litch, Guolian Wu
  • Publication number: 20130153196
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for cooling an enclosure includes an air conditioner and a control system for triggering an economizer cycle of the air conditioner. The control system determines an electrical load of equipment in the enclosure, calculates a maximum acceptable outdoor temperature at which the economizer cycle may be operated based at least partially on the electrical load, receives data representative of an actual outdoor temperature, and initiates the economizer cycle if the actual outdoor temperature is equal to or below the maximum acceptable outdoor temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: AIRXCEL, INC.
    Inventor: AIRXCEL, INC.
  • Patent number: 8459053
    Abstract: A system and method for a compressor may include an inverter drive connected to the compressor that receives electric power and modulates a speed of the compressor by modulating a frequency of the electric power. A control module connected to the inverter drive monitors compressor power data and compressor speed data from the inverter drive, and calculates a saturated condenser temperature of a refrigeration system associated with the compressor based on the compressor power data and the compressor speed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung M. Pham, Stephen M. Seibel
  • Patent number: 8459568
    Abstract: A temperature moderation system with temperature difference considerations between indoors and outdoors for facilitating an air conditioner in operation control, includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit connected with each other. The outdoor unit has an outdoor temperature detection element. The indoor unit has a processor for generating and sending a target temperature to the air conditioner for operation control. The target temperature is one selected from the indoor setting temperature and a pre-set temperature; according to which temperature is closest to the outdoor temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Institute For Information Industry
    Inventors: Bing-Hui Lu, Yu-Fan Lin, Chang-Yi Kao
  • Patent number: 8393169
    Abstract: A system is provided and may include a compressor having a motor and a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator and a condenser fluidly coupled to the compressor. The system may further include a first sensor producing a signal indicative of one of current and power drawn by the motor, a second sensor producing a signal indicative of a saturated condensing temperature, and a third sensor producing a signal indicative of a liquid-line temperature. Processing circuitry may processes the current or power signal to determine a derived condenser temperature and may compare the derived condenser temperature to the saturated condensing temperature received from the second sensor to determine a subcooling associated with a refrigerant charge level of the refrigeration circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hung M. Pham
  • Patent number: 8322155
    Abstract: A method of calculating net sensible cooling capacity of a cooling unit includes measuring a discharge pressure from of fluid from a compressor and a suction pressure from an evaporator, calculating a condensing temperature of fluid flowing from the compressor and an evaporating temperature of fluid flowing from the evaporator, calculating a mass flow rate of fluid flowing from the compressor, calculating enthalpy of fluid flowing from the compressor, of fluid flowing from the thermal expansion valve, and of fluid flowing from the evaporator, calculating a mass flow rate of fluid flowing through the hot gas bypass valve, and calculating net sensible cooling capacity. Embodiments of cooling units and other methods are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Ozan Tutunoglu, John H. Bean, Jr.