With Vapor Compression System Patents (Class 62/238.6)
  • Patent number: 9714769
    Abstract: An air conditioner is disclosed. The air conditioner includes an indoor unit, a first outdoor unit including a first outdoor heat exchanger and a first compressor to be driven by electricity, a second outdoor unit including a second outdoor heat exchanger and a second compressor to be driven by an engine, a cooling water line, through which cooling water to cool the engine flows, and at least one waste heat-recovering heat exchanger for exchanging heat between refrigerant to be introduced into at least one of the first outdoor heat exchanger and the second outdoor heat exchanger and the cooling water flowing through the cooling water line. By provision of the waste heat-recovering heat exchanger, which heat-exchanges hot cooling water with refrigerant flowing through the first and second outdoor heat exchangers, frost formed on the first and second outdoor units during low-temperature heating is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Song Choi, Baikyoung Chung, Hojong Jeong, Wooho Cha
  • Patent number: 9631847
    Abstract: The volume ratio of a hot-water-supply-side liquid extension pipe to a water heat exchanger is set to be equal to or more than the minimum volume ratio, which is the volume ratio of the hot-water-supply-side liquid extension pipe to the water heat exchanger when the required refrigerant amount during a cooling and hot water supply simultaneous operation in which an indoor-side heat exchanger serves as an evaporator, the water heat exchanger serves as a condenser, cooling energy is supplied from the indoor-side heat exchanger, and heating energy is supplied from the water heat exchanger is equal to the required refrigerant amount during a heating operation in which a heat-source-side heat exchanger serves as an evaporator, the indoor-side heat exchanger serves as a condenser, and heating energy is supplied from the indoor-side heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Tamaki, Makoto Saito, Ryo Oya
  • Patent number: 9581340
    Abstract: A preheat tank to which a heat exchanger is operatively coupled receives water from a distribution subsystem. A water distribution subsystem and tempered fluid distribution subsystem provide domestic water and tempered fluid, respectively, to a plurality of spaces. Air handlers transfer heat between the tempered fluid and the spaces for heating and cooling. A controller coupled to the tempered fluid subsystem, the heat exchanger and a refrigerator has: (i) a first mode, wherein the fluid is routed through the heat exchanger, to pass heat to the preheat tank; and (ii) a second mode, wherein the fluid is routed through an evaporator of the refrigerator, to pass heat to the refrigerant. A storage tank is coupled to the preheat tank to receive water therefrom and is coupled to the condenser of the refrigerator such that heat rejected by the condenser is passed to the contents of the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: BillyBob Corporation
    Inventor: Robert G. Rutherford
  • Patent number: 9562700
    Abstract: A use-side unit and an air conditioner that can feed out air at a target temperature into a target space are provided. A use-side evaporator that recovers moisture obtained by cooling and condensing the air to be fed out into the space to be air-conditioned or the like and dehumidifies it so as to obtain target relative humidity, a use-side condenser that heats the air having passed through the use-side evaporator by heat exchange, adjusts it to a target dry-bulb temperature and feeds it out into the space to be air-conditioned or the like, and a use-side controller that calculates a correction value if a difference between a dry-bulb temperature according to the detection of a temperature detector that detects a dry-bulb temperature of the air to be fed out into the target space and the target dry-bulb temperature is larger than a predetermined value and performs processing to correct a target intermediate dry-bulb temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9482446
    Abstract: A heat pump water heater includes: a compressor; a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger; a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger; refrigerant paths capable of forming a refrigerant circuit; and water channels including a flow channel, the flow channel leading hot water that has passed through the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger. The heat pump water heater is able to perform a heating operation. In the heating operation, the hot water heated in the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger is fed to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and the hot water further heated in the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger is supplied to a downstream side of the water channels. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger is able to be replaced without replacing the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: So Nomoto, Kensaku Hatanaka, Keisuke Takayama
  • Patent number: 9376303
    Abstract: A temperature-controlled beverage dispenser is disclosed, which provides a cold plate having disposed therein beverage lines and refrigerant lines. The refrigerant lines may be connected to a cooling system, such as a heat exchanger, which is configured to remove heat from the cold plate. The beverage lines may be connected to a beverage supply for dispensing a desired beverage. Valves and a pressure sensor in the refrigerant line are connected to a microprocessor. At regular intervals, the microprocessor closes the valves, waits a short time, and then takes a pressure reading, which corresponds to a temperature. If the temperature falls below a desired value, then the cooling system is shut off. This permits the microprocessor to closely control the temperature of the beverage being dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Cleland Sales Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph Chadwell, William Edwards, Michael Romanszyn, James Chaput
  • Patent number: 9291074
    Abstract: An engine-waste-heat utilization device includes a Rankine cycle with a heat exchanger that is configured to recover engine-waste-heat to refrigerant, an expander that is configured to generate power using the refrigerant coming out from the heat exchanger, a condenser that is configured to condense the refrigerant coming out from the expander and a refrigerant pump that is configured to supply the refrigerant coming out from the condenser to the heat exchanger by being driven by the expander, a power transmission mechanism (crank pulley, pump pulley, belt) that is configured to transmit surplus power to the engine when the expander has spare power even if the refrigerant pump is driven, a clutch that is configured to connect and disconnecting power transmission by the power transmission mechanism, and a case provided near a high-temperature part of the engine such that a shaft of the expander and that of the refrigerant pump are coaxially arranged, the clutch, the refrigerant pump and the expander are integr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., SANDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagai, Takayuki Ishikawa, Shinichiro Mizoguchi, Riyako Iwahashi, Shinji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9267741
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has at least one inlet and outlet to permit circulation of refrigerant therethrough. Each heat exchanger includes a plurality of thin sections of material arranged between a pair of thin flat outer plates. Each of the thin sections of material is comprised of parallel flow paths, allowing for the refrigerant to flow through the inlet, then from one section to the next, and finally out the outlet. The arrangement of the sections of parallel flow paths allows for the refrigerant to come into contact with the majority of the inside wall of the outer plates, allowing for maximum heat exchange. In use for cooling liquids, the heat exchangers are arranged within a frame and brought into contact with the liquid to be cooled. When the heat exchangers are used to cool liquid sufficiently to produce ice crystals, a rotating scraping device sweeps across the surface of the heat exchanger, removing any ice crystals that have formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: ICEGEN PATENT CORP.
    Inventor: Mikhail Mogilevsky
  • Patent number: 9188373
    Abstract: A heat activated (preferably natural gas, propane, solar or waste heat fired) absorption heat pump water heater and heat exchange system. The heat driven absorption heat pump system extracts low grade heat from the ambient air and produces high grade heat suitable for heating water for domestic, climate control or process purposes in a storage tank. Flue gases exiting the absorption heat pump system are further cooled by the heated water to enable high (condensing) combustion efficiencies. The heat activated heat pump water heating system achieves COP of 1.5 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Stone Mountain Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Garrabrant
  • Patent number: 9157654
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes a heat pump circuit, a heat load circuit, first and second heat exchangers, a flow rate regulation mechanism and a controller. A first passage connects branching and converging portions of the heat load circuit. A second passage connects the branching and converging portions without converging with the first passage. The first and second heat exchanger perform heat exchange between discharge refrigerant from the low and high stage compression mechanisms and fluid in the first and second passages, respectively. The flow rate regulation mechanism regulates a ratio between flow rates through the first and second passages. The controller controls the flow rate regulation mechanism so that the fluid is allowed to flow to the first heat exchanger when a temperature of refrigerant flowing into the first heat exchanger is lower than a heating target temperature of converged fluid flowing through the heat load circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakayama, Shuji Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9140459
    Abstract: A heat pump device heats a second heat medium to a high temperature with high efficiency by using a secondary-loop refrigeration cycle while achieving a cooling operation and a heating operation simultaneously in a state where reliability and efficiency are ensured. In a heat pump device, a heat medium relay unit and a water heating unit are each provided with two connection ports that are connectable to refrigerant pipes, a refrigerant circuit and a refrigerant circuit are connected to each other via a heat exchanger included in the water heating unit, and a second heat medium is heated in a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Morimoto, Koji Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9121631
    Abstract: An air conditioner and a method of operating an air conditioner are provided. The air conditioner may include at least one indoor device having an indoor heat exchanger that evaporates or condenses a refrigerant by heat exchange with indoor air; at least one outdoor device having a variable capacity compression device that sucks in and compresses a refrigerant of a refrigerant intake passage and discharges the refrigerant to a refrigerant discharge passage, a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that condenses or evaporates a refrigerant by heat exchange with heat source water, and an outdoor expansion device installed between the indoor heat exchanger of the at least one indoor device and the water-refrigerant heat exchanger; a heat source water flow path connected to the water-refrigerant heat exchanger; a pump installed on the heat source water flow path; and a variable flow valve installed on the heat source water flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Changhwan Cho, Hongseok Choi, Sunyoung Kang, Junhyeon Hwang
  • Publication number: 20150121930
    Abstract: The heating capacity particularly at low outside air temperatures in a vehicular air-conditioning unit that heats the vehicle interior by heat pump operation of a refrigerant circuit using a compressor is improved. During heating, a refrigerant discharged from a compressor 2 releases heat in a radiator 4 into the vehicle interior, and the refrigerant decompressed after the heat release in the radiator evaporates in at least one of an external heat exchanger 7 and a ventilation heat exchanger 24. During cooling, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor releases heat in the external heat exchanger, and the refrigerant decompressed after the heat release in the external heat exchanger evaporates in an internal heat exchanger 9 to absorb heat from the vehicle interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Junichiro Kasuya
  • Patent number: 9016074
    Abstract: A system and method for heating water are provided. The system includes a first subcooler for receiving a first water flow, a second subcooler for receiving a second water flow, a first condenser in fluid communication with the first subcooler and the second subcooler for receiving water from both subcoolers, and a second condenser in fluid communication with the first condenser. The method involves receiving a flow of water, and transferring heat to the water using the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Energy Recovery Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Douglas Marte
  • Publication number: 20150096322
    Abstract: A machine for the thermal treatment of liquid and semi-liquid food products comprises: at least two tanks (3A,3B) for containing respective products to be subjected to the thermal treatment, at least one dispenser (4) for dispensing the product contained in said tanks (3A,3B), at least one stirrer (5) mounted inside each tank (3A,3B) for mixing the product contained therein, thermal treatment means (6) operatively acting on the products contained in the containers (3A,3B); the machine (1) being characterized in that the thermal treatment means (6) comprise at least one circuit (7) for circulation of an operating fluid and at least two first heat exchangers (8A,8B) operating according to a thermodynamic cycle; each of the two first heat exchangers (8A,8B) being associated with a respective tank (3A,3B); said thermal treatment means (6) being configured in such a way as to implement at least one operating mode of removing heat from the respective tank (3A,3B) by means of one first heat exchanger (8A) and simult
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Andrea Cocchi, Roberto Lazzarini
  • Patent number: 8997510
    Abstract: A solar powered compressor and pump is disclosed having a trough-shaped parabolic reflector for heating a conduit of refrigerant as it passes through the system. The compressor/pump combination includes a lens that covers the reflector and insulates and protects the reflector from the elements while increasing the intensity of the sun's energy entering the reflector. The reflector converts the sun's energy into heat that superheats the refrigerant as it passes through the reflector, reducing or eliminating the amount of mechanical work that the system has to do to achieve the needed superheating stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Craig McKenzie
  • Publication number: 20150089967
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes air conditioning devices to adjust operations of cooling and heating a vehicle interior by circulating a refrigerant in accordance with a heating mode and a cooling mode of an electric vehicle, includes an outdoor condenser configured to condense the refrigerant, an expansion valve configured to expand the refrigerant condensed by the outdoor condenser, an evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve, a compressor configured to compress the refrigerant evaporated by the evaporator, and an indoor condenser configured to primarily condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor and connected to the outdoor condenser. The heat pump system may further include: a radiator connected to electronic equipment; a chiller configured integrally with the radiator; first connecting piping connecting the refrigerant piping and the chiller; and second connecting piping connecting the refrigerant from the chiller to the refrigerant piping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Young Jun Kim, Kilwoo Lee
  • Patent number: 8991204
    Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus including a first refrigeration cycle circuit having a first compressor, a first radiator, a supercooler, a first pressure-reducing device and an evaporator that are connected through a refrigerant pipe, a second refrigeration cycle circuit having a second compressor, a second radiator, a second pressure-reducing device and the supercooler that are connected through a refrigerant pipe, a refrigeration unit in which the first compressor and the first radiator are mounted, a showcase in which the first pressure-reducing device and the evaporator are mounted, a supercooling hot water supply device in which the second compressor, the second radiator, the second pressure-reducing device and the supercooler are mounted, and a hot-water stock device having a hot water supply tank that is connected to the second radiator of the supercooling hot water supply device through a second radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahisa Otake, Hidetaka Sasaki, Setsu Hasegawa, Ken Kawakubo, Kazuhiko Mihara
  • Publication number: 20150082820
    Abstract: An vehicle air conditioner (1A) includes a duct (3) in which a partition member (4) forming a first flow path (3A) and a second flow path (3B) is provided, and a heat pump circuit (2A). In the heat pump circuit (2A), a first indoor heat exchanger (12A) that contributes mainly to heating is located in the first flow path (3A) or faces an outlet of the first flow path (3A), and a second indoor heat exchanger (12B) that contributes mainly to cooling is located in the second flow path (3B). The ratio between an internal air and an external air within air flowing through each of the first flow path (3A) and the second flow path (3B) is adjustable. The duct (3) is provided with at least one of a heating exhaust port (35) for discharging air cooled in the second indoor heat exchanger (12B) to the outside of the vehicle interior in heating operation, and a cooling exhaust port (36) for discharging air heated in the first indoor heat exchanger (12A) to the outside of the vehicle interior in cooling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasufumi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20150068228
    Abstract: A heat pump includes an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet; a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator; and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser includes a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, wherein the evaporator inlet is connected to a return from a region to be heated, and wherein the condenser inlet is connected to a return from a region to be cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Holger SEDLAK, Oliver KNIFFLER
  • Publication number: 20150059379
    Abstract: Feedwater to be supplied to a feedwater tank via a feedwater path is passed through a waste heat recovery heat exchanger, a supercooler, and a condenser in sequence. A heat source fluid such as heat source water is passed through an evaporator and the waste heat recovery heat exchanger in sequence. The waste heat recovery heat exchanger is an indirect heat exchanger between the feedwater supplied to the feedwater tank via the feedwater path and the heat source fluid having passed through the evaporator. The supercooler is an indirect heat exchanger between the feedwater supplied to the feedwater tank via the feedwater path and a refrigerant supplied from the condenser to an expansion valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Ootani, Yasukuni Tanaka, Masanori Takemoto, Rikki Sugiura, Tomoya Oozawa
  • Publication number: 20150059371
    Abstract: A refrigeration system including a suction line heat exchanger having a first conduit including a refrigerant liquid which flows inside of the first conduit from the condenser to the evaporator. Also the refrigeration system includes a second conduit in thermal communication with the first conduit and includes a refrigerant fluid, typically a vapor, which flows inside of the second conduit in an opposite direction of flow from the first conduit from the evaporator to the compressor. Additionally, at least one heating device is in thermal communication with at least one of the first conduit and second conduit and is configured to communicate with a refrigeration control system to apply heat along a portion of both the first conduit and the second conduit adjacent to the heating device thereby regulating the flow rate of the refrigerant liquid in the first conduit and the second conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: GUOLIAN WU
  • Publication number: 20150059382
    Abstract: This vehicle air-conditioning device has a compressor; an outside heat exchanger; a water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger; a heat release unit; a circulation means; and an air passage through which air is blown into a vehicle interior and in which the heat release unit is disposed midway, a send-out port for sending out the compressed refrigerant and an introduction port for introducing the refrigerant that has not been compressed being provided in the compressor, a first fit part that is fitted in the send-out port of the compressor, and a second fit part that is fitted in the introduction port of the compressor being provided in the water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the compressor and the water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger being integrally joined by the first fit part and the second fit part being fitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshitoshi Noda, Katsuji Taniguchi, Tomohiro Terada
  • Publication number: 20150052926
    Abstract: A cascade cooling system that uses low-grade thermal and other energy input sources to provide refrigeration and air conditioning in stationary and mobile applications. A two-loop embodiment includes a heat-powered first loop incorporating a vapor-jet compressor and a second loop based on a mechanical compressor powered by an electric motor or other source of rotational torque. The system uses waste heat, solar thermal or a fuel-fired heat source to partially or fully offset mechanical/electrical energy input. The system can also operate entirely on thermal, electrical or mechanical input. The ability to use multiple energy sources in any combination maximizes energy efficiency, performance and reliability. The system is well suited to making beneficial use of waste heat in vehicle applications. In stationary applications, solar thermal and/or waste heat from industrial processes can be used to improve the efficiency of conventional cooling systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Gerald Allen Alston
  • Publication number: 20150040594
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus is provided that can prevent temperature variations of the air after the heat exchange in a radiator to reliably control the temperature of the air supplied to the vehicle interior. During the heating operation and the heating and dehumidifying operation, target degree of supercooling SCt when target air-blowing temperature TAO is a predetermined temperature or higher is set to SCt1 that is greater than SCt2 when the target air-blowing temperature TAO is lower than the predetermined temperature. When amount of air Ga supplied from indoor fan 12 is lower than a predetermined value, the target degree of supercooling SCt is corrected, which is set such that the degree of supercooling is lower than target degree of supercooling corrected when the amount of air Ga supplied from the indoor fan 12 is a predetermined value or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Atsuo Inoue, Hidenori Takei
  • Publication number: 20150040595
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus simultaneously performs a cooling operation mode in which a refrigerant from a compressor is caused to flow to an indoor heat exchanger of an indoor unit having a cooling load, and a hot water supply operation mode in which a refrigerant from the compressor is caused to flow to a water heat exchanger of a hot water supply unit having a hot water supply demand. An operation control part switches the control mode of the simultaneous cooling and heating and hot water supply operation mode between a cooling-prioritized mode and a hot-water-supply-prioritized mode according to the relationship between the cooling load and the hot water supply load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Tamaki, Makoto Saito, Ryo Oya
  • Publication number: 20150033779
    Abstract: A multi-split air or ground source heat pump system designed to provide a residential application with space heating and cooling, along with supplemental hydronic heating and potable water preheating. The supplemental hydronic heating supports applications like radiant floor heating and heating swimming pools. Commercially, the multi-split air or ground source heat pump system expands on this technology to incorporate comfort and/or process heating, cooling, and hydronic heating applications utilizing multiple types of energy sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Karl J. Seggerman
  • Publication number: 20150033771
    Abstract: The present technology provides a modular refrigeration and heat reclamation chiller system comprising an evaporator configured to vaporize a refrigerant to cool the refrigerant, a compressor coupled to the evaporator and configured to compress the refrigerant, a condenser coupled to the compressor and configured to condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, a sub-cooler coupled to the condenser and configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser so as to selectively extract heat from the refrigerant and to transfer the refrigerant to the evaporator, and an expansion valve coupled to both the sub-cooler and the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: John P. Meade, Alexander J. Meade
  • Patent number: 8931291
    Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a system that includes a gas compressor including an engine, a compressor driven by the engine, and a vapor absorption cycle (VAC) system driven by waste heat from the compressor, wherein the VAC system is configured to cool at least one medium. In other embodiments is provided a method that includes generating waste heat while compressing a gas, driving a vapor absorption cycle (VAC) system with the waste heat, and cooling at least one medium via the VAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Edward S. Czechowski
  • Publication number: 20150007600
    Abstract: A chiller for an aircraft galley that is sized to be disposed in a compartment for housing beverage carts, the chiller comprising a vapor cycle refrigeration system with a liquid cooled condenser located within the housing and a liquid cooling unit located within the housing. Further, the vapor cycle refrigeration system and the liquid cooling unit have a combined footprint that is less than a footprint of a food and beverage cart within the housing, such that the space occupied by the chiller displaces no more than one beverage cart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Qiao Lu, Tortsten Trumper
  • Publication number: 20140373562
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioning apparatus, during a cooling operation, and a cooling and dehumidifying operation, a refrigerant flows through an outdoor heat exchanger, flows through a supercooling radiator, and then flows into a radiator to absorb heat. During a heating operation, the refrigerant flows through a heat exchanger and then is sucked into a compressor without passing through the supercooling radiator. During a first heating and dehumidifying operation, the refrigerant flows through another radiator, flows through the supercooling radiator, and then flows into another heat exchanger to absorb heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: SANDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Hidenori Takei
  • Patent number: 8904815
    Abstract: A heating installation is provided with a first circuit (K1) containing a first medium, a second circuit (K2) containing a second medium, a first heat pump (2) arranged in the first circuit (K1) for heating the first medium, a third circuit (K3) containing a third medium, a heat exchanger (40) arranged in the third circuit (K3) and connected between the condenser (2d) and expansion valve (2f) of the first heat pump to transfer heat from the working medium of the first heat pump to the third medium in the third circuit (K3), and a second heat pump (3) arranged for heating the second medium in the second circuit (K2) by absorbing heat energy from the third medium in the third circuit (K3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Energy Machines S.A.
    Inventor: Hans-Göran Göransson
  • Publication number: 20140345305
    Abstract: An aircraft cooling system comprising a refrigerating device and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the refrigerating device. A ram air duct of the aircraft cooling system is adapted to supply cooling air to the heat exchanger, in order to remove waste heat generated in the operation of the refrigerating device from the heat exchanger to the aircraft surroundings. A connecting element comprises a first end connected to the ram air duct and a second end connectable to a device for providing conditioned air and is adapted to supply conditioned air to the ram air duct, at least in certain operating phases of the aircraft cooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Martin Sieme, Markus Piesker, Charles Soberano
  • Publication number: 20140345310
    Abstract: The volume ratio of a hot-water-supply-side liquid extension pipe to a water heat exchanger is set to be equal to or more than the minimum volume ratio, which is the volume ratio of the hot-water-supply-side liquid extension pipe to the water heat exchanger when the required refrigerant amount during a cooling and hot water supply simultaneous operation in which an indoor-side heat exchanger serves as an evaporator, the water heat exchanger serves as a condenser, cooling energy is supplied from the indoor-side heat exchanger, and heating energy is supplied from the water heat exchanger is equal to the required refrigerant amount during a heating operation in which a heat-source-side heat exchanger serves as an evaporator, the indoor-side heat exchanger serves as a condenser, and heating energy is supplied from the indoor-side heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Tamaki, Makoto Saito, Ryo Oya
  • Patent number: 8881523
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle (6) of a waste heat utilization device includes a circulation path (7) for circulating a working fluid therethrough, an evaporator (12) for causing heat to transfer from cooling water delivered from an internal combustion engine (2) to the working fluid to evaporate the working fluid, a superheater (10) for causing heat to transfer from the cooling water delivered from an exhaust gas heat exchanger (8) to the working fluid delivered from the evaporator to superheat the working fluid, an expander (22) for expanding the working fluid delivered from the superheater to produce driving force, a condenser (24) for condensing the working fluid delivered from the expander, and a pump (28) for feeding the working fluid delivered from the condenser to the evaporator. The evaporator, the superheater, the expander, the condenser and the pump are successively inserted in the working fluid circulation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Junichiro Kasuya, Tetsuya Nakano, Tomohiko Saito, Masaaki Tokuda, Satoshi Ogiwara
  • Publication number: 20140318165
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit, an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger, and a controller for executing a pump down operation. The outdoor unit has an accumulator of a capacity (Va), a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a large-diameter tube, which are joined by refrigerant pipes. The capacity (Vhi) of the indoor heat exchanger is greater than the capacity (Vho) of the outdoor heat exchanger. The large-diameter tube, which is larger in diameter than the refrigerant pipes, is provided so that the capacity (Vt) of the large-diameter tube satisfies the formula: capacity (Vt)>capacity (Vhi)?capacity (Vho)?capacity (Va).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Yukako Kanazawa, Junichi Shimoda, Tatsuya Mamkino, Shouhei Miyatani, Toshihiko Takayama
  • Publication number: 20140298830
    Abstract: An air conditioner of an electric vehicle according to the present invention includes a compressor for compressing refrigerant, an indoor heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between refrigerant introduced into the indoor exchanger after emerging from the compressor and air, an outdoor heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between refrigerant introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger and outdoor air, a first expansion device arranged between the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger, to expand refrigerant introduced into the first expansion device, an evaporator for evaporating refrigerant introduced into the evaporator, to dehumidify indoor air, a second expansion device arranged between the outdoor heat exchanger and the evaporator, to expand refrigerant introduced into the second expansion device, a first bypass line connected to guide refrigerant emerging from the indoor heat exchanger to flow toward the evaporator after bypassing the first expansion device and the outdoor hea
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: You Sung Won
  • Publication number: 20140290295
    Abstract: A refrigeration system defines a dosed loop that contains a working fluid, at least part or the working fluid being circulated through the dosed loop. The refrigeration system includes a first heat transfer device that transfers heat from the first heat reservoir to the working fluid, a second heat transfer device that transfers heat from the working fluid to the second heat reservoir, and an electrochemical compressor between the first and second heat transfer devices. The electrochemical compressor includes one or more electrochemical Cells electrically connected to each other through a power supply, each electrochemical cell including a gas pervious anode, a gas pervious cathode, and an electrolytic membrane disposed between and in intimate electrical contact with the cathode and the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: XERGY INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Bamdad Bahar
  • Publication number: 20140290294
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air heating unit of the air-conditioning including a compressor, a thermal compensation device and an air cooled condenser connected sequentially with one another by pipeline to define a refrigeration cycle. A high-temperature gaseous refrigerant flowing in inner and outer tubes of the thermal compensation device performs transfers heat with an intermediate-temperature liquid refrigerant flowing in mid tube, so that temperature of a liquid refrigerant flowing in a capillary gap between mid and inner tubes is increased to achieve liquid expand and flow restrained effects. The capillary gap can block bubbles of super heat from entering and suppress the liquid refrigerant from flowing through. Thus, a limited amount of liquid refrigerant can be sucked into the compressor at a low pressure without having lubricating oil to be turned cold. This air heating unit eliminates the use of evaporators other than in a conventional refrigeration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Ming-Li TSO
  • Patent number: 8844304
    Abstract: A pool heating system is disclosed. The pool heating system includes, in some embodiments, an immersed condenser coil. In some embodiments, the immersed condenser coil is immersed in a pool of water receiving hot refrigerant gas at high pressure from an outdoor unit, transferring heat to water in the pool, condensing the gas and transmitting condensed refrigerant to the outdoor unit. The system also includes an outdoor unit. In some embodiments, the outdoor unit includes a compressor, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: David Peretz
  • Publication number: 20140283540
    Abstract: A water heater module with a heat exchanger configured to be submersible inside a water storage tank, and further configured to divert refrigerant between the heat exchanger and an air handler in response to a demand for heating water or a demand for conditioning an interior space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Derek Leman
  • Publication number: 20140260391
    Abstract: A system for cooling air for use with a liquid cooling fluid loop. The system includes a first refrigerant circuit with an air-cooled condenser, a second refrigerant circuit with a liquid-cooled condenser, and a free-cooling loop. A control device is provided for controlling the operation of the system between a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode. When operating in the first mode, only the free-cooling loop cooperates directly with liquid cooling fluid in the liquid cooling fluid loop to cool the liquid cooling fluid, when operating in the second mode, the second refrigerant circuit is not engaged, and when operating in the third mode, the free-cooling loop interacts with the second refrigerant circuit to reject heat of the second refrigerant circuit through the free-cooling loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventor: William L. KOPKO
  • Publication number: 20140260392
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating water has a tank for storing water and an air conditioning system that defines a refrigerant flow path through which refrigerant flows. The refrigerant flow path passes through the heat exchanger so that refrigerant heat is contributed to the tank. A control system controls operation of the water heating apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy B. Hawkins, Jeremy L. Babb
  • Publication number: 20140260357
    Abstract: A system and method for heating water are provided. The system includes a first subcooler for receiving a first water flow, a second subcooler for receiving a second water flow, a first condenser in fluid communication with the first subcooler and the second subcooler for receiving water from both subcoolers, and a second condenser in fluid communication with the first condenser. The method involves receiving a flow of water, and transferring heat to the water using the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Sean Douglas Marte
  • Publication number: 20140260386
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes: first and second utilization side heat exchangers and a heat source side heat exchanger respectively connected in series; a compressor connected between the first utilization side heat exchanger and the heat source side heat exchanger; an expansion valve connected between the first utilization side heat exchanger and the second utilization side heat exchanger; a pressure control device connected between the second utilization side heat exchanger and the heat source side heat exchanger; and a bypass valve connected between the expansion valve and the heat source side heat exchanger. The bypass valve provides a variable amount of liquid refrigerant flowing from the expansion valve to the heat source side heat exchanger. The pressure control device and the bypass valve cooperate with each other to keep a temperature of the compressor below a maximum allowable temperature predetermined for the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC US, INC., MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kensaku HATANAKA, Kazuyoshi SHINOZAKI, Joseph Paul BUSH, Peter Christian FLYNN
  • Publication number: 20140230477
    Abstract: A hot water supply air conditioning system performs a first cold-storage operation, a second cold-storage operation, and a cold-used air-cooling operation. In the first cold-storage operation, a hot-water-supply-side heat exchanger serves as a condenser, and a thermal-storage-side heat exchanger serves as an evaporator. Moreover, a hot water supplier heats water of a hot water storage tank, and a thermal storage stores cold thermal energy in a thermal storage tank. In the second cold-storage operation, a heat-source-side heat exchanger serves as a condenser, and the thermal-storage-side heat exchanger serves as an evaporator. Moreover, the thermal storage stores cold thermal energy in the thermal storage tank. In the cold-used air-cooling operation, the hot water supply air conditioning system cools room air using cold thermal energy stored in the thermal storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Shuji Furui, Nobuki Matsui
  • Publication number: 20140208775
    Abstract: A vehicular heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is provided. The heat pump system is for use in a vehicle having a battery and a passenger compartment. The heat pump system may include a heating circuit and a cooling circuit each including a compressor having a first inlet and a second inlet and a vapour-liquid separator configured to separate intermediate pressure refrigerant supplied by a first expansion device into refrigerant in a gaseous state flowing therethrough and refrigerant in a liquid state flowing therethrough. The vapor-liquid separator may be configured to selectively inject refrigerant in a gaseous state into the compressor at the second inlet to increase the mass flow rate of the refrigerant. This allows the heat pump system to operate effectively in cold ambient temperatures. A method of operating a heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bryan M. Styles, Mark D. Nemesh, Harry E. Eustice, Mukund S. Wankhede
  • Publication number: 20140208787
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, a gas-liquid separator, a second expansion valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger which are sequentially connected together to perform a two-stage expansion refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant circuit further includes: a gas injection pipe through which intermediate-pressure gas refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator flows into an intermediate port of the compressor, and a liquid-gas heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between low-pressure gas refrigerant obtained by evaporating refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger and travelling toward the compressor and intermediate-pressure liquid refrigerant travelling from the gas-liquid separator toward the second expansion valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Furui, Kazuhiro Furusho, Hiroshi Yoh
  • Publication number: 20140208789
    Abstract: A heat pump system for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment, and a thermal storage medium is provided. A method for providing heat to a vehicle passenger compartment is also provided. The vehicle may have an electric only vehicle mode wherein the vehicle may occupy one of an active electric drive state and an inactive state. The heat pump system may include a thermal storage medium configured to store heat produced during the inactive state. The thermal storage medium may be a device which has a thermal capacity exchangeable with a fluid medium such as an Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) or a phase change material. The heat stored by the thermal storage medium during the vehicle charge event may be transmitted from the thermal storage medium to the passenger compartment via the heat pump system during the active electric drive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Brian P. Lemon, Mark D. Nemesh, Bryan M. Styles
  • Publication number: 20140209522
    Abstract: A system for processing fluids comprising a fluid reservoir configured to contain a liquid. A float valve coupled to the fluid reservoir and configured to operate a fill valve. A condensation chamber. A thermal barrier disposed between the condensation chamber and the fluid reservoir. A first heat exchanger disposed within the fluid reservoir. A condensation unit disposed in the condensation chamber. A compressor coupled to the condensation unit. A second heat exchanger disposed within the fluid reservoir and coupled to the compressor. An expansion valve coupled to the second heat exchanger and the condensation unit, the expansion valve configured to receive the compressed coolant from the second heat exchanger and to expand the compressed coolant into the condensation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph Peter Krieger