With Atmospheric Condensate Removal Or Prevention Patents (Class 62/324.5)
  • Patent number: 11959667
    Abstract: A suction injection pipe and a subcooling heat exchanger are provided at a main refrigerant circuit in which a main refrigerant circulates. Further, a sub-refrigerant circuit that differs from the main refrigerant circuit and in which a sub-refrigerant circulates is provided. A controller performs control for switching between a cooling action of the subcooling heat-exchanger that cools the main refrigerant that is sent to a main use-side heat exchanger by using the suction injection pipe and the subcooling heat exchanger, and a cooling action of the sub-refrigerant-circuit that cools the main refrigerant that is sent to the main use-side heat exchanger by using the sub-refrigerant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuhiro Iwata, Eiji Kumakura, Kazuhiro Furusho, Ryusuke Fujiyoshi, Hiromune Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11592213
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes at least one refrigeration circuit 2. The refrigeration circuit 2 includes a compressor 10, a first heat rejecting heat exchanger 6, a second heat rejecting heat exchanger 8, an expansion valve 12 and a heat absorbing heat exchanger 4. The refrigeration circuit 2 further includes a heat recovery control valve 14 for controlling flow of the compressed refrigerant fluid between the first heat rejecting heat exchanger and the second heat rejecting heat exchanger. The first heat rejecting heat exchanger 6 is for receiving compressed refrigerant fluid from the compressor 10 and exchanging heat between the compressed refrigerant fluid and a second fluid to increase the temperature of the second fluid. The second heat rejecting heat exchanger 8 is for receiving the compressed refrigerant fluid and exchanging heat with ambient air to cool the compressed refrigerant fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Geoffrey Lutz
  • Patent number: 10830503
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a refrigeration system that includes an evaporator disposed along an evaporator line, a compressor system disposed along a compressor line, a condenser disposed along a condenser line and configured to condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor system to heat a second fluid stream, and an outdoor coil disposed along a coil line and configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser or from a discharge line, to selectively transfer heat to or from the refrigerant, and to selectively transfer the refrigerant to the evaporator or to a suction line. The refrigeration system includes two valves and three expansion valves disposed along the different refrigerant flow lines, and a controller configured to determine a simultaneous heating/cooling operating mode of the refrigeration system and to control the valves and expansion valves to operate the refrigeration system in the desired mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: William L. Kopko
  • Patent number: 10639962
    Abstract: A heat pump and a heater core are provided at a heating coolant water circuit connected to an engine. As heating thermal amount control, the control of decreasing the output of the heat pump and increasing the output of the engine with an increase in an engine outlet water temperature detected by an engine outlet water temperature sensor, thereby ensuring a target heating thermal amount. Thus, in response to a decrease in a heat generation efficiency of the heat pump with an increase in the engine outlet water temperature, the output of the heat pump is decreased so that fuel economy can be improved while the output of the engine is increased so that the target heating thermal amount can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Okamoto, Takayuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10006655
    Abstract: An outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes a casing including a bottom panel having an opening, an outdoor fan provided in the casing, a heater provided on the bottom panel, a heater guard provided to face the heater, and a shield portion thermally connected to the heater guard. The shield portion is positioned on a downstream side with respect to the opening in a direction of airflow and on an upstream side with respect to an end in the upstream side of the heater guard in the direction of airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takefumi Moriyama
  • Patent number: 9903621
    Abstract: A cooling system includes an evaporator unit, a condensing unit, and a thermal battery fluidly coupled to the evaporator unit and the condensing unit. The cooling system also includes a control system configured to selectively direct a fluid refrigerant between any two of the condensing unit, the evaporator unit, and the thermal battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Inficold Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Goel, Himanshu Pokharna, Sagar Khiyani
  • Patent number: 9903067
    Abstract: A laundry machine (100) is disclosed. The laundry machine (100) includes a tub (120), an air supply unit (160) configured to circulate air in the tub (120), a heat pump including a compressor (165), an evaporator (220), an expansion valve, and a condenser (240), the heat pump being configured to dehumidify and heat the air from the air supply unit (160), and a cooling unit (300, 400, 500) installed at the compressor (165) to cool the compressor (165) using a supplied fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byeongjo Ryoo, Hyojun Kim
  • Publication number: 20150121934
    Abstract: An outdoor unit includes a housing having a front and side panel in which an opening is formed, a fan disposed in an air-sending device chamber formed inside the housing, an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in the air-sending device chamber, a bell mouth which is disposed in the air-sending device chamber and extends backwards from the periphery of the opening, and a heater which is disposed in the air-sending device chamber in which the bell mouth is disposed, and extends in the up and down direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Koji YAMAGUCHI, Tetsuo YAMASHITA, Masatomo HATTA, Minoru ISHII, Reiji MORIOKA, Tetsuya TAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20150114023
    Abstract: In a heat pump system according to the present invention, at least part of a plurality of outdoor heat-exchanging flow paths that pass through an outdoor heat exchanger is alternately selected as a flow path for defrosting and is used, and the other flow path is used as a flow path for evaporation so that defrosting and a heating operation can be simultaneously performed. In addition, the refrigerant in which a defrosting action is performed, while passing through the outdoor heat exchanger, is throttled and then is used for an evaporation action so that the structure of the heat pump system is simple and both heating and defrosting can be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Gil Bong Lee, Young Soo Lee, Min Sung Kim, Ki Chang Chang, Jun Hyun Cho, Ho Sang Ra
  • Publication number: 20150075203
    Abstract: An outdoor unit includes a casing having a bottom plate and is configured such that at least a part thereof is made of metal, a compressor provided within the casing to compress a flammable refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger provided within the casing to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outside air, and an electric heater provided on an upper surface of the bottom plate. The power consumption of the electric heater is 250 W or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Tatsuya MOCHIZUKI, Yoshihiro TANABE
  • Publication number: 20140318170
    Abstract: A heat pump cycle includes a refrigerant circuit and a coolant circuit. A first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger are disposed between the refrigerant circuit and the coolant circuit. The first heat exchanger includes an exterior heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator in a heating operation, and a radiator for radiating heat of a coolant. The second heat exchanger transmits a heat of high-pressure refrigerant to the coolant in the heating operation. A temperature of refrigerant within the second heat exchanger is higher than a temperature of refrigerant within the first heat exchanger. The heat obtained from the second heat exchanger is supplied to the first heat exchanger through the coolant. Further, the heat obtained from the second heat exchanger is stored in the coolant. In defrosting operation, the coolant that has stored the heat therein is supplied to the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Yoshiki Katoh, Kota Sakamoto, Yuuichi Kami
  • Patent number: 8539789
    Abstract: A heating and cooling system includes an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser. A heat exchanger, which may be an outdoor heat exchanger, is configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser, to selectively extract heat from or to add heat to the refrigerant, and to transfer the refrigerant to the evaporator. First control valving, disposed between the condenser and the heat exchanger, is configured to regulate flow of the refrigerant from the condenser to the heat exchanger in a first mode of operation. Second control valving, disposed between the condenser and the heat exchanger, is configured to regulate flow of the refrigerant from the heat exchanger to the evaporator in a second mode of operation. The system may be operated in a variety of modes by appropriate control of the valving and other system components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: William L. Kopko, Ian Michael Casper, Douglas Alan Kester, Satheesh Kulankara
  • Publication number: 20130205823
    Abstract: An air conditioner performs heating operation by driving a compressor (21), the heating operation being performed while an indoor heat exchanger (13) serves as the high-temperature portion of refrigeration cycle and an outdoor heat exchanger (23) serves as the low-temperature portion of the refrigeration cycle. The air conditioner also performs defrosting operation for defrosting the outdoor heat exchanger (23) by flowing refrigerant in opposite direction of flow of the refrigerant in the heating operation. In the outdoor heat exchanger (23), a large number of fins (30) are affixed to refrigerant pipes (2) so as to close to each other. Air flow passes through between the fins (30) to perform heat exchange. A water introduction section (31, 32) for closing each of the gaps between the fins (30) at one end thereof in the air flow passage direction is provided at the lower end of the outdoor heat exchanger (23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: Takayuki Yagyu
  • Publication number: 20130118200
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning loop (8) inside of which flows a coolant, and including a compressor (9), an outer heat exchanger (15), a restitution heat exchanger (12, 32) and a first expansion member (17) provided downstream from the restitution heat exchanger (12, 32) in the flow direction (11) of the coolant in the heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning loop (8). The heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning loop (8) includes means (20) for bypassing the inner heat exchanger (12) and the first expansion member (17). The present invention also relates to a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning equipment (1) including such a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning loop (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Bernard Aoun, Regis Beauvis, Muriel Porto, Maurizio Alessio
  • Patent number: 8418484
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between gasses such as air and a liquid or gaseous coolant has narrow spacing between exchanger surfaces for high efficiency. To avoid undue obstruction of gas flow due to ice buildup on the exchanger surfaces, the heat exchanger is equipped with sensors to monitor the gas flow and an actuator that widens the spacing between exchanger surfaces such that gas flow remains unimpeded. Embodiments provide for defrosting of the exchanger surfaces when an limit on spacing of exchanger surfaces is reached, and for relaxing the spacing to the original narrow spacing when defrosting is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Victor Petrenko, Charles R. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20130067943
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for returning oil in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by determining when an ambient zone temperature is equal to or less than a temperature limit and reversing a direction of refrigerant flow of the HVAC system based on the length of time. Also, a system and a method are provided for monitoring the length of operation in a first and a second heating mode and for reversing a direction of refrigerant flow based on the length of time operation occurs in the first and second heating modes. A system and a method having a first compressor, a first heating mode, a second heating mode, a defrost mode, and a controller is disclosed. The controller selectively controls initiation of the defrost mode in response to an HVAC system operating in a heating mode of operation for a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Trane International Inc.
  • Patent number: 8356490
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus uses a refrigerant that operates in a supercritical range. The refrigeration apparatus includes a compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, a usage-side heat exchanger, a switching mechanism, an intercooler which functions as a cooler of refrigerant discharged from a first-stage compression element of the compression mechanism and drawn into a second-stage compression element of the compression mechanism, and an intercooler bypass tube. The switching mechanism is configured to switch between cooling and heating operation states in which refrigerant is circulated differently. When a defrosting operation for defrosting the heat source-side heat exchanger is performed, refrigerant flows to the heat source-side heat exchanger and the intercooler. After defrosting of the intercooler is detected as being complete, the intercooler bypass tube is used to ensure that the refrigerant does not flow to the intercooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yoshimi, Shuji Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 8261565
    Abstract: A cooling system for transferring heat from a heat load to an environment has a volatile working fluid. The cooling system includes first and second cooling cycles that are thermally connected to the first cooling cycle. The first cooling cycle is not a vapor compression cycle and includes a pump, an air-to-fluid heat exchanger, and a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger. The second cooling cycle can include a chilled water system for transferring heat from the fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger to the environment. Alternatively, the second cooling cycle can include a vapor compression system for transferring heat from the fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A Borror, Franklin E DiPaolo, Thomas E Harvey, Steven M Madara, Reasey J Mam, Stephen C Sillato
  • Publication number: 20120186277
    Abstract: A pre-charged heating/cooling system is shown for installation by unlicensed personnel. An outside unit includes an outside coil, outside fan, compressor and a reversing valve. An inside unit has an inside coil, inside fan for drawing air through the inside coil and discharging the conditioned air into the enclosed space, and a power cord connection. Electrical connections between the inside unit and the outside unit are secured in position by an electrical disconnect cover. A covering box covers both the electrical and refrigerant connections to the outside unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Friedrich Air Conditioning Co., a division of U.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Lingrey, Charles Anthony Wheeler, JR., Kevin L. Eicher
  • Publication number: 20120067068
    Abstract: A heat pump includes a valve system that connects a receiver tank in fluid communication with an indoor heat exchanger, wherein the valve system, operating under a novel control scheme, works in conjunction with the receiver to control the heat pump's effective refrigerant charge. To avoid suction or discharge pressure faults and to help prevent slugs of liquid refrigerant from entering the heat pump's compressor as the heat pump switches between heating and cooling modes or switches between heating and defrost modes, the control scheme provides momentary periods of transition between those modes of operation. In some embodiments, the valve system comprises a check valve connected in parallel flow relationship with a two-position receiver valve, wherein the check valve has an appreciably higher flow coefficient than that of the receiver valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Scott A. Munns, Ladislas T. Gbetoho, Jean-Michel M. Genay, William B. Fox, George M. Singh
  • Patent number: 8104303
    Abstract: A branching unit has a refrigerant pipe that is branched into a plurality of branching refrigerant pipes, and includes an insulation material resin casing and an expanded insulation material casing. The insulation material resin casing encloses branching portion while assuring an insulation space between the insulation material resin casing and the branching portion. The expanded insulation material casing is disposed on the external periphery of the insulation material resin casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Murata, Takeshi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 8047014
    Abstract: A humidity control system (10) is disclosed which includes a refrigerant circuit (60). The refrigerant circuit (60) includes first and second absorbent-supported heat exchangers (61, 62) and performs a refrigeration cycle by the circulation of refrigerant. In addition, in the refrigerant circuit (60), the circulation direction of refrigerant is reversible. The first and second heat exchangers (61, 62) are disposed in a casing (11). In the humidity control system (10), the distribution route of air is changed such that a first air stream is passed through either one of the first and second heat exchangers (61, 61) that is functioning as an evaporator while a second air stream is passed through the other heat exchanger that is functioning as a condenser. A compressor (63), an expansion mechanism (65), and a four-way valve (64) in the refrigerant circuit (60) are disposed together with the heat exchangers (61, 62) in the casing (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Shuji Ikegami, Yoshinori Narikawa
  • Publication number: 20110247265
    Abstract: A green building is disclosed. The green building includes at least one plant growing area with plants, at least one lighting device and a heat pump. The lighting device radiates light onto the plant growing area. The heat pump receives environmental heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: GE INVESTMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Kuei TSAI
  • Publication number: 20110203299
    Abstract: A heat pump system operable in a cooling mode, a heating mode and a defrost mode includes a refrigerant compressor (20), a reversing valve (30), a first heat exchanger (40) and a second heat exchanger (50) disposed in a refrigerant circuit, and a primary expansion valve (45) disposed in the refrigerant circuit between said first heat exchanger (40) and said second heat exchanger (50); said reversing valve (30) is positionable in a first position for operation of said heat pump system in the cooling mode or defrost mode and is positionable in a second position for operation of said heat pump system in the heating mode; a refrigerant bypass circuit establishes a refrigerant flow path from the refrigerant circuit at a first location upstream of said primary expansion valve (45) and downstream of said first heat exchanger (40) with respect to refrigerant flow in the defrost mode to a liquid reservoir (70) disposed in the refrigerant circuit at a second location downstream of said primary expansion valve (45) with
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Li Jing, Shufu Ding, Haijun Li
  • Publication number: 20110138839
    Abstract: A water circulation apparatus performs a variety of heat exchange operations for various refrigerants. The apparatus may be applied for a first refrigerant system having a first compressor and first heat-exchanger and a second refrigerant system having a second compressor. An intermediate heat-exchanger performs heat-exchange operations between first and second refrigerants flowing in respective ones of the systems. A water circulator is then used to circulate water which is heat-exchanged with the second refrigerant while the water is circulated. The apparatus performs these functions for operating modes which include a heating mode and a cooling mode. Defrosting operations are also performed for one or more of the heat exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Sung Su LEE, Seung Hyun Jung
  • Publication number: 20110041541
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes: an outdoor heat exchange unit in which a plurality of refrigerant tubes are disposed to be separated in a plurality of columns in a vertical direction to exchange heat of outdoor air and a refrigerant; a first refrigerant distribution device having branch pipes connected to a plurality of refrigerant tubes, respectively, of an upper part among the plurality of refrigerant tubes; a second refrigerant distribution device having branch pipes connected to a plurality of refrigerant tubes, respectively, of a lower part among the plurality of refrigerant tubes; and a communication pipe for communicating one of the branch pipes of the first refrigerant distribution device and one of the branch pipes of the second refrigerant distribution device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Pil Hyun Yoon, Hyun Ju Kwag, Seok Hoon Jang
  • Publication number: 20110036113
    Abstract: A heating and cooling system includes an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser. A heat exchanger, which may be an outdoor heat exchanger, is configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser, to selectively extract heat from or to add heat to the refrigerant, and to transfer the refrigerant to the evaporator. First control valving, disposed between the condenser and the heat exchanger, is configured to regulate flow of the refrigerant from the condenser to the heat exchanger in a first mode of operation. Second control valving, disposed between the condenser and the heat exchanger, is configured to regulate flow of the refrigerant from the heat exchanger to the evaporator in a second mode of operation. The system may be operated in a variety of modes by appropriate control of the valving and other system components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: William L. Kopko, Ian Michael Casper, Douglas Alan Kester, Satheesh Kulankara
  • Patent number: 7886556
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a plurality of latent heat utilization side refrigerant circuits which are connected in parallel with one another, and a plurality of sensible heat utilization side refrigerant circuits which are connected in parallel with one another. The latent heat utilization side refrigerant circuits include adsorbent heat exchangers provided with an adsorbent on the surface of each. The sensible heat utilization side refrigerant circuits respectively include air heat exchangers and are capable of exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Fujiyoshi, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20110030407
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus uses supercritical range refrigerant, and includes a multi-stage compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, a usage-side heat exchanger, a switching mechanism switchable between cooling and heating operation states, and a second-stage injection tube. The second-stage injection tube branches off refrigerant, which has radiated heat in the heat source-side heat exchanger or the usage-side heat exchanger, and returns the refrigerant to the second-stage compression element. Refrigerant is prevented from returning to the second-stage compression element through the second-stage injection tube at least during a beginning of a reverse cycle defrosting operation, which is performed to defrost the heat source-side heat exchanger by switching the switching mechanism to the cooling operation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yoshimi, Shuji Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20100275629
    Abstract: A thermally activated air conditioning system is disclosed that both dries and chills the air being conditioned. Drying is by a liquid desiccant subsystem, and chilling is by an absorption chilling subsystem. A very high COP (1.25) is obtainable owing to the use of reject heat from the absorption subsystem to power the desiccant subsystem. The overall system (or cycle) is powered by relatively low temperature input heat (e.g. 245° F.). That heat can be obtained from flat plate or evacuated tube solar collectors, or other sources. The low driving temperature is made possible by the disclosed integration between the two subcycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Donald Charles Erickson
  • Publication number: 20100275621
    Abstract: A dehumidification or dehydration Unit is comprised by a coil or heat exchanger of evaporation (1), a coil or heat exchanger of condensation (2), an expansion valve (3), a rejected heat air stream (4) by the condensation coil (2), a compressor (5) or another equipment for increasing pressure, a ventilator (6) is provided for rejection of heat to environment from the parts of the condensation coil (2) and a circuit or substance (7) that is to be dehydrated or demisted. A ventilator unit (8) for recirculation of air and a gutter (9) for collection of condensate in the coil, which is collected by the condensate drain (10), are also provided. An air duct (12) is provided for rejection of heat. The condensation coil (2) is divided by a border or wall (16), to use part of the heat for the reheating of the cold and dry air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Jose Vilani Oliveira, JR.
  • Patent number: 7810342
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit (10) is provided with two adsorption heat exchangers (31, 32) in addition to an outdoor heat exchanger (21) and an indoor heat exchanger (22). An adsorbent is carried on the surface of each of the adsorption heat exchangers (31, 32). In the adsorption heat exchanger (31, 32) serving as an evaporator, moisture in the air is adsorbed by the adsorbent. In the adsorption heat exchanger (31, 32) serving as a condenser, moisture is desorbed from the adsorbent and then applied to the air. Then, the air dehumidified or humidified by the adsorption heat exchanger (31, 32) is supplied to a room to cope with latent heat load in the room. On the other hand, in the indoor heat exchanger (22), air is cooled or heated. Then, the air cooled or heated by the indoor heat exchanger (22) is supplied to the room to cope with sensible heat load in the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuki Matsui, Shuji Ikegami, Tomohiro Yabu, Satoshi Ishida, Junichi Teraki
  • Publication number: 20100251741
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus uses a refrigerant that operates in a supercritical range. The refrigeration apparatus includes a compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, a usage-side heat exchanger, a switching mechanism, an intercooler which functions as a cooler of refrigerant discharged from a first-stage compression element of the compression mechanism and drawn into a second-stage compression element of the compression mechanism, and an intercooler bypass tube. The switching mechanism is configured to switch between cooling and heating operation states in which refrigerant is circulated differently. When a defrosting operation for defrosting the heat source-side heat exchanger is performed, refrigerant flows to the heat source-side heat exchanger and the intercooler. After defrosting of the intercooler is detected as being complete, the intercooler bypass tube is used to ensure that the refrigerant does not flow to the intercooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yoshimi, Shuji Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20100242297
    Abstract: A household appliance includes a housing, a controller within the housing, a drying chamber within the housing, a closed-loop process air channel within the housing and including, a first blower operable by the controller, a heat pump operable by the controller, a condensate collector that collects condensate from the heat pump, and means for cooling a component of the heat pump including an open-loop cooling channel with a second blower operable by the controller. The appliance further includes a temperature sensor within the housing operable by the controller to generate a signal dependent upon a temperature within the housing, and wherein the controller operates the second blower in response to the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Pilar Balerdi Azpilicueta, Inigo Berazaluce Minondo, Roberto San Martin Sancho
  • Publication number: 20100229575
    Abstract: A system and method for defrosting an air source heat pump are presented. A defrost conduit extends from the discharge from a system compressor to the outdoor coil. The defrost conduit includes a normally closed defrost valve. When the need for defrost exists, the defrost valve is opened, and warm refrigerant is delivered from the compressor discharge to the outdoor coil to effect defrost of the outdoor coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicants: SHAW ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES, LLC, HALLOWELL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventor: David N. Shaw
  • Publication number: 20100229585
    Abstract: A modular air conditioner is provided that operates on the basic principal of a split system yet allows user serviceability and modular components such that the system is flexible. The system generally includes an outdoor unit, at least one indoor unit and a user serviceable hose that extends between the outdoor and indoor units. The outdoor unit contains a compressor, an air-cooled condenser, a coolant to fluid heat exchanger, a fan and various other components such as controls. While the indoor unit contains a fan, a fluid pump, a cold fluid storage tank and a fluid to air heat exchanger. Finally, the hose is a detachable hose that includes three lumens therein that act as a cold fluid supply, a fluid return and wiring for power and control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: KIPPWORKS
    Inventors: Kipp Bradford, Kas DeCarvalho, Thomas Brendler
  • Publication number: 20100192397
    Abstract: A heat pump module and a drying apparatus having the same are provided. The heat pump module may include a housing, an evaporator provided in the housing that condenses humid air introduced into the housing via evaporation of a refrigerant, a condenser provided in the housing that heats the air having passed through the evaporator via condensation of the refrigerant, and at least one condensed water guide or remover provided in the housing that removes condensed water generated on a surface of the evaporator therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Na Eun KIM, Cheol Soo Ko, Young Min Kim
  • Publication number: 20100192599
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes a heat exchanger which exchanges heat with air by passing a coolant therethrough; an anti-freeze apparatus which prevents the freeze of water on the surface of the heat exchanger by supplying energy to the heat exchanger; and a control unit which controls the anti-freeze apparatus according to operating conditions of the air conditioner. Therefore, the air conditioner can effectively prevent the freeze of water, if any, on the surface of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Won Seok Kim, Jie Seop Sim
  • Publication number: 20100170282
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes a heat exchanger which exchanges heat with air by passing a coolant therethrough; an anti-freeze apparatus which prevents the freeze of water on the surface of the heat exchanger by supplying energy to the heat exchanger; and a heat generation unit which heats the heat exchanger. The air conditioner can minimize the need for a defrost operation and can thus continuously and effectively perform an air conditioning function even when water on the surface of the heat exchanger is frozen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won Seok Kim, Jie Seop Sim
  • Publication number: 20100077787
    Abstract: An heat pump drying machine has a normal dry mode (e.g., compression ratio is equal to or greater than 3) for operating a compressor at a predetermined dry operation frequency and an energy saving dry mode (e.g., compression ratio is equal to or greater than 2.3 and is less than 3) for operating the compressor at an energy saving operation frequency that is lower than the dry operation frequency. A control device is provided to control an operation frequency of the compressor 5 so that the two dry operation modes are switched to each other. The control device can execute the control for increasing the operation frequency of the compressor to the dry operation frequency during the operation of the energy saving dry mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Masuda, Hiroyuki Kuribara, Satoshi Imai, Toshikazu Ishihara, Keiji Sato, Haruhisa Yamasaki, Eiji Fukuda, Yoshiaki Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20090205354
    Abstract: A dehumidifier apparatus comprises a housing having an air inlet for receiving incoming air, an air outlet spaced therefrom for allowing the air to exit from the housing, the housing being configured to provide an interior air passageway connecting the air inlet to the air outlet; an air mover mounted within the air passageway for moving the air through the air passageway from the air inlet to the air outlet; a compressor mounted in the housing for compressing a refrigerant; an evaporator located within the air passageway for evaporating the refrigerant during a dehumidifying cycle, and thereby cooling air flowing through the evaporator and causing water in the air to condense on a surface of the evaporator; a condenser for condensing the refrigerant during the dehumidifier cycle, the condenser being located in the air passageway downstream of the evaporator in series with the evaporator; refrigerant flow lines configured to allow for a flow of the refrigerant between the compressor, the condenser, and the ev
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Applied Comfort Products Inc.
    Inventor: Michael N. Brown
  • Publication number: 20090165484
    Abstract: A humidity controller includes a differential pressure detection means (93, 97) for detecting a difference between high voltage and low voltage in a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerant circuit (50) and a control means (30) for controlling the capacity of the compressor (53). The control means (30) reduces the capacity of the compressor (53) when a detected value of the differential pressure detection means (93, 97) exceeds a reduction threshold. Further, the control means (30) stops the compressor (53) when the detected value of the differential pressure detection means (93, 97) exceeds a stop threshold higher than the reduction threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Nobuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 7527777
    Abstract: Subjects for the invention are to provide a zeolite reduced in performance deterioration in repetitions of use or during long-term use and a process for producing the same and to provide an adsorbent comprising the zeolite and a heat utilization system or the like employing the adsorbent. The invention relates to a zeolite which has a framework density of from 10 T/nm3 to 16 T/nm3 and a carbon content of from 1% by weight to 6% by weight and satisfies the following (1) or (2): (1) the zeolite is an aluminophosphate which has a nitrogen content of from 0.5% by weight to 12% by weight and in which the aluminum may be partly replaced by Me; (2) the zeolite is a silicoaluminophosphate in which the aluminum may be partly replaced by Me and which, when burned to a carbon content lower than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromu Watanabe, Takahiko Takewaki, Masanori Yamazaki, Hiroyuki Kakiuchi, Kouji Inagaki, Atsushi Kosaka, Norikazu Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20080190131
    Abstract: A method for removing ice from an outdoor housing for an environmental conditioning unit that includes the housing surrounding a coil and a fan for moving air past the coil includes the steps of: (a) operating the fan at a first speed in a first direction to move air in a first flow past the coil while the conditioning unit is in a heating mode; (b) disengaging the fan when the conditioning unit is in a defrost mode; (c) operating the fan at a second speed in a second direction to move air in a second flow past the coil when an operational parameter attains a first value; and (d) operating the fan in the first direction at the first speed to move air in the first flow when the operational parameter attains a second value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Lennox Manufacturing., Inc. a Corporation of Delaware
    Inventors: Richard Giallombardo, Kevin Keoppel, Eric Berg, Paul Buckley, Peter Denboer
  • Patent number: 7380411
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heat source unit capable of being used in either an air conditioner for switchable cooling and heating operation or an air conditioner for simultaneous cooling and heating operation. An air conditioner principally includes one heat source unit, a plurality of utilization units, and a connecting unit provided for each utilization unit. The heat source unit uses water as the heat source, and principally includes a compressing means, a main heat exchanger, a first switching means, a main refrigerant switching means, an auxiliary heat exchanger connected in parallel with the main heat exchanger, a second switching means, an auxiliary refrigerant switching means, and a liquid receiver. The auxiliary heat exchanger is capable of switching between functioning as an evaporator and a condenser, by the second switching means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Matsuoka, Shinri Sada, Hiroyuki Inoue, Hiroshi Fuchikami, Atsushi Umeda
  • Publication number: 20080078198
    Abstract: A microchannel heat exchanger is provided that is configured to drain condensate out of the microchannel heat exchanger. The microchannel heat exchanger has tube sections that are positioned at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane when the microchannel heat exchanger has a vertical orientation. The fins between the tube sections can be positioned perpendicular to the angled tube sections or can be positioned perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Peter James Breiding, Cosimo Caronna
  • Patent number: 7222496
    Abstract: A heat pump type air conditioner having an improved defrosting structure and a defrosting method for the same. When frost is not excessively accumulated on piping of an outdoor heat exchanger, a solenoid valve is controlled such that warm refrigerant from a compressor intermittently passes through a second pipe line, a heat discharging pipe line, and a third pipe line. When the air conditioner is operated in heating mode, the amount of frost accumulated on the outdoor heat exchanger is deduced from the temperature of the piping of the outdoor heat exchanger, and then a defrosting operation is performed based on the temperature of the piping of the outdoor heat exchanger. Consequently, the frost accumulated on the outdoor heat exchanger is quickly removed based on the amount of frost accumulated on the outdoor heat exchanger, and the period of time for which the air conditioner is not operated is reduced, whereby more comfortable and pleasant heating function is provided to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Winiamando Inc.
    Inventors: Yeun Geun Choi, Sung Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 7213407
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air-condition heat pump capable of defrosting and air-conditioning at same time. The present invention utilizes at least two evaporators, which harvest the energy from one working evaporator to provide energy for defrost operation of another evaporator, thus the air-condition heat pump can defrost without additional energy. Under low temperature working condition, the present invention utilizes a suction pressure boost to increase efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Inventor: Lung Tan Hu
  • Patent number: 7185502
    Abstract: Air conditioner, and method for controlling an operation of the same, the air conditioner including a sheath heater in the accumulator for heating the refrigerant in room heating for delaying deposition of frost on the outdoor heat exchanger. The sheath heater includes a coil formed heat generating part, and two electrodes connected to the heat generating part for supplying power. The method including the step of varying the heat generating rate of the sheath heater with an exterior temperature or a capacity of the indoor unit, thereby delaying deposition of frost on the outdoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc
    Inventors: Jong Han Park, Young Min Park, Chang Seon Lee, Sung Oh Choi, Sung Chun Kim, Seung Yong Chang, Seok Ho Yoon, Baik Young Chung
  • Patent number: RE43312
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to reduce the constraint that the density ratio is constant as small as possible, and to obtain high power recovering effect in a wide operation range. A refrigeration cycle apparatus uses carbon dioxide as refrigerant and has a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger evaporator, an expander and an indoor heat exchanger a radiator. An injection circuit for introducing high pressure refrigerant is provided in a halfway of an expansion process of said expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Nakatani, Yoshikazu Kawabe, Yuji Inoue, Noriho Okaza, Akira Hiwata