Flow Line Connected Transfer Fluid Supply And Heat Exchanger Patents (Class 62/434)
  • Patent number: 8966922
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus and method are provided for cooling an electronic subsystem of an electronics rack. The cooling apparatus includes a local cooling station, which has a liquid-to-air heat exchanger and ducting for directing a cooling airflow across the heat exchanger. A cooling subsystem is associated with the electronic subsystem of the rack, and includes either a housing facilitating immersion cooling of electronic components of the electronic subsystem, or one or more liquid-cooled structures providing conductive cooling to the electronic components of the electronic subsystem. A coolant loop couples the cooling subsystem to the liquid-to-air heat exchanger of the local cooling station. In operation, heat is transferred via circulating coolant from the electronic subsystem and rejected in the liquid-to-air heat exchanger of the local cooling station to the cooling airflow passing across the liquid-to-air heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the cooling airflow is outdoor air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8959941
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus and method are provided for cooling an electronics rack. The cooling apparatus includes an air-cooled cooling station, which has a liquid-to-air heat exchanger and ducting for directing a cooling airflow across the heat exchanger. A cooling subsystem is associated with the electronics rack, and includes a liquid-cooled condenser facilitating immersion-cooling of electronic components of the electronics rack, a liquid-cooled structure providing conductive cooling to electronic components of the electronics rack, or an air-to-liquid heat exchanger associated with the rack and cooling airflow passing through the electronics rack. A coolant loop couples the cooling subsystem to the liquid-to-air heat exchanger. In operation, heat is transferred via circulating coolant from the electronics rack, and rejected in the liquid-to-air heat exchanger of the cooling station to the cooling airflow passing across the liquid-to-air heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the cooling airflow is outdoor air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8955347
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus and method are provided for cooling an electronic subsystem of an electronics rack. The cooling apparatus includes a local cooling station, which has a liquid-to-air heat exchanger and ducting for directing a cooling airflow across the heat exchanger. A cooling subsystem is associated with the electronic subsystem of the rack, and includes either a housing facilitating immersion cooling of electronic components of the electronic subsystem, or one or more liquid-cooled structures providing conductive cooling to the electronic components of the electronic subsystem. A coolant loop couples the cooling subsystem to the liquid-to-air heat exchanger of the local cooling station. In operation, heat is transferred via circulating coolant from the electronic subsystem and rejected in the liquid-to-air heat exchanger of the local cooling station to the cooling airflow passing across the liquid-to-air heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the cooling airflow is outdoor air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Publication number: 20150000327
    Abstract: A heat exchanging portion and tank portions are formed by bonding plate members. The tank portion is provided with a refrigerant inlet allowing a refrigerant to flow into a refrigerant tank space, a refrigerant outlet allowing the refrigerant to flow from the refrigerant tank space, a heat medium inlet allowing a heat medium to flow into a heat medium tank space, and a heat medium outlet allowing the heat medium to flow from the heat medium tank space. At least one of the refrigerant inlet, the refrigerant outlet, the heat medium inlet, and the heat medium outlet is disposed between both ends of the tank portions in a tube stacking direction of refrigerant tubes and heat medium tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Nobuharu Kakehashi, Yoshiki Katoh
  • Patent number: 8919141
    Abstract: Refrigeration equipment with a sleeve-type collection pipe for an artificial skating rink comprising at least a refrigerating system (3), a refrigeration liquid supplying collection-pipe (1) and a return-gas collection-pipe (2). The return-gas collection-pipe (2) sheathes the refrigeration liquid supplying collection-pipe (1) along length-wise direction. The refrigeration system (3) is provided with a liquid supplying main pipe (41) and a return-gas main pipe (42) sheathed on the liquid supplying main pipe (41). Both ends of the liquid supplying main pipe (41) are respectively connected with the refrigeration liquid supplying collection-pipe (1) and the output end of the refrigeration system (3), and both ends of the return-gas main pipe (42) are respectively connected with the return-gas collection-pipe (2) and the input end of the refrigeration system (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Inventor: Guangjing Li
  • Patent number: 8899067
    Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus including a control unit which starts the operation of the refrigerant compressor in response to an operation signal and which regulates the pressure reducing device so that the temperature of a refrigerant in the water heat exchanger becomes +80 ° C. or more and the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator becomes 0 ° C. or less. The control unit detects a state where a cold storage amount in the cold storage unit reaches a predetermined amount or more and another state where the control unit judges whether the hot water storage tank is full of the hot water, after the elapse of a predetermined time from the start of the operation of the refrigerant compressor, and it stops the operation of the refrigerant compressor when one of the states is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahisa Otake, Setsu Hasegawa, Ken Kawakubo, Hidetaka Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8857207
    Abstract: A refrigerant dryer, in particular a compressed air refrigerant dryer, is provided for drying a gaseous fluid while cooling the gaseous fluid using a refrigerant. The dryer includes a pressure fluid-refrigerant agent-heat exchanger (30) in which a cooling of the gaseous fluid takes place directly or indirectly by a refrigerant conveyed in a primary loop (16), one or more refrigerant compressor/compressors (24) for operating the primary loop, and a cold accumulator (13) with an accumulator-side heat exchanger (20) which couples an accumulator discharge fluid to a cold accumulator medium (14). The pressure fluid-refrigerant agent-heat exchanger (30) and the cold accumulator (13) are fluidically connected or can be brought into fluidic connection via a discharge loop (15) for an accumulator discharge fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Kaeser Kompressoren SE
    Inventors: Kristian Dering, Michael Feisthauer, Andreas Fredenhagen, Andreas Foerster, Klaus-Ulrich Kobelt
  • Patent number: 8839638
    Abstract: In a cooling system for an electronic device of the present invention, server rooms in which a plurality of servers are placed, an evaporator which is provided close to each of the servers, and cools exhaust air from the server by vaporizing a refrigerant with heat generating from the server, a cooling tower which is provided at a place higher than the evaporator, cools the refrigerant by outside air and water sprinkling, and condenses the vaporized refrigerant, and a circulation line in which the refrigerant naturally circulates between the evaporator and the cooling tower. According to the cooling system, an electronic device which is required to perform a precise operation with a heat generation amount from itself being large, such as a computer and a server, can be efficiently cooled at low running cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kashirajima, Hiroshige Kikuchi, Takumi Sugiura, Koji Watanabe, Kenichi Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20140260403
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system is provided. The vehicle air conditioning system includes a first vapor compression refrigeration loop. The first vapor compression refrigeration loop includes a first refrigerant compressor and a first evaporator. The vehicle air conditioning system further includes a tank for holding a compressed fluid, an outlet configured to carry expanded fluid from the tank, and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the first vapor compression refrigeration loop and to the outlet. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from refrigerant carried by the first vapor compression refrigeration loop to fluid carried by the outlet, where the temperature of the fluid carried by the outlet has been reduced as a result of expansion of the fluid upon exiting the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Bergstrom, Inc.
    Inventor: Brett Sean Connell
  • Patent number: 8813513
    Abstract: The liquid galley refrigeration system for cooling food carts for aircraft employs an intermediate working fluid to transfer heat from one or more food carts to one or more remote chillers, allowing the carts and chillers to be advantageously distributed in the aircraft. While the chiller working fluid undergoes a phase change in order to transfer heat from the intermediate working fluid to the cooling air, the intermediate working fluid remains in its liquid phase throughout its circulation. A recirculation pump circulates the intermediate working fluid through a distribution system that may link a plurality of chillers to a plurality of food carts, and the temperature of the food carts is regulated by a combination of controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: George Simadiris, Ian Douglas Oswald
  • Publication number: 20140230471
    Abstract: In an integrated two-phase accumulator controlled loop cooling system, the pumped refrigerant is employed to cool the supply of refrigerant in the accumulator vessel. No external cooling of the accumulator vessel is required, and a standard heater in the accumulator is sufficient to regulate the boiling pressure. This allows to provide a cooling system in which sub-cooling in the pump is guaranteed by the laws of nature, and which is hence more reliable, structurally simpler, better to control and cheaper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicants: Nikhef, CERN-European Organization for Nuclear Research
    Inventor: Verlaat Bart
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8806886
    Abstract: A temperature controlled surface in a refrigerator that includes a heat exchanger configured to have the cooling medium flow therethrough to be cooled in thermal communication with a freezer compartment of the refrigerator. A second heat exchanger disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger and configured to have the cooling medium flow therethrough to cool the temperature controlled surface. A pump configured to flow the cooling medium through the first and second heat exchangers. A first heat exchanger is disposed downstream of the storage tank and is configured to have the cooling medium flow therethrough to be cooled. A second heat exchanger is disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger and is configured to have the cooling medium flow therethrough to cool the air and any contents within the temperature controlled compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alexander Pinkus Rafalovich, Martin Mitchell Zentner, Timothy Allen Hamel, Toby Whitaker
  • Patent number: 8794026
    Abstract: The present invention provides a secondary cooling apparatus and method of providing cooling to one or more features in a refrigerator. In one exemplary aspect of the present invention, the refrigerator includes a cabinet having a door, a first cooling loop in the cabinet, and a second cooling loop cooled by the first cooling loop. The secondary cooling loop is adapted to cool the one or more features in the cabinet or on the door of the refrigerator. In another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method for providing cooling in a refrigerator to one or more features in a compartment or on a door of the refrigerator includes providing a first cooling loop within a refrigerator, cooling a secondary cooling loop directly or indirectly with the first cooling loop, and transferring cooling from the secondary cooling loop to the one or more features in the compartment or on the door of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven John Kuehl, Douglas D. Leclear, Anderson Bortoletto
  • Patent number: 8783052
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for cooling an electronic component(s). The apparatus includes a coolant-cooled structure in thermal communication with the component(s) to be cooled, and a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger in fluid communication with the coolant-cooled structure via a coolant loop. A thermal buffer unit is coupled in fluid communication with the coolant loop, and a refrigerant loop is coupled in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger dissipates heat from coolant in the coolant loop to refrigerant in the refrigerant loop. A compressor is coupled in fluid communication with the refrigerant loop and is maintained ON responsive to heat load of the component(s) exceeding a heat load threshold, and is cycled ON and OFF responsive to heat load of the component(s) being below the threshold. The thermal storage unit dampens swings in coolant temperature within the coolant loop during cycling ON and OFF of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8763409
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a housing disposed in a first atmosphere and having an upstream end, a downstream end and a chamber within the housing; a metallic block disposed in the chamber and having a passageway therethrough and through which a cryogen can flow; and a heat pipe assembly in contact with the metallic block and extending to a second atmosphere which is separate from the first atmosphere for providing heat transfer at the second atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael D. Newman, Stephen A. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20140090407
    Abstract: A refrigerant container, which is in particular suitable for use in a cooling system designed for operation with a two-phase refrigerant, includes a receiving space for receiving a refrigerant that is disposed in an interior of the refrigerant container. Disposed in the receiving space of the refrigerant container is a heat exchanger allowing passage of a further refrigerant therethrough and being configured to remove heat from refrigerant in the liquid and/or gaseous state of aggregation that is received in the receiving space in order to supercool the refrigerant and/or convert the refrigerant to the liquid state of aggregation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Markus Piesker
  • Publication number: 20140083130
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a single screw gas compressor having a housing including a cylindrical bore, a primary and secondary gate rotors mounted for rotation in the housing, each gate rotor having a plurality of gear teeth, a main rotor rotatably mounted in the bore and having a plurality of grooves and a plurality of threads, wherein each groove meshingly engages at least one of the gear teeth from each gate rotor, a primary economizer port in communication with the cylindrical bore, and a secondary economizer port in communication with the cylindrical bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Vilter Manufacturing LLC
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Picouet
  • Publication number: 20140069136
    Abstract: Provided is a cold-storage heat exchanger. The cold-storage heat exchanger includes a pair of header tanks, and tubes which are arranged in three rows with respect to the direction of the flow of air and connected at opposite sides thereof to the header tanks. A cold-storage medium is stored in the tubes that are disposed in a middle row, and refrigerant circulates through the tubes that are disposed in front and rear rows. Therefore, the cold-storage medium can effectively store cold-energy transferred from the refrigerant. When the engine of a vehicle is stopping, the cold-storage heat exchanger can discharge the cold-energy that has been stored into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, thus preventing the temperature in the passenger compartment from rapidly increasing, thereby creating pleasant air-conditioned conditions for a user, and minimizing the energy and time required to re-cool the passenger compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: HALLA VISTEON CLIMATE CONTROL CORP.
    Inventors: Hong-Young Lim, Kwang Hun Oh, Yong Jun Jee, Young-Ha Jeon, Jin Hyuck Kim, Duck-Ho Lee, Jun Young Song
  • Patent number: 8667810
    Abstract: An air conditioner for communication equipment is provided. The air conditioner includes an indoor module disposed at an indoor space of a base station having communication equipment and including an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor ventilator disposed closely to the indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor module disposed at an outside of the base station and including an outdoor ventilator, a brine cooling cycle including the indoor heat exchanger on a brine pipe, a brine pump, first and second outdoor brine heat exchanger, and first and second brine coolers, which are connected in a brine circulating direction, and a refrigerant cooling cycle including first and second expansion valves on a refrigerant pipe, the first and second brine coolers on the brine pipe, first and second compressors, first and second outdoor refrigerant heat exchangers, which are connected in a refrigerant circulating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Chang Jo 21 Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee Tae Park
  • Patent number: 8667804
    Abstract: Thermal storage air conditioner including an outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger for making heat exchange, and at least one compressor for compressing refrigerant, an indoor unit having at least one indoor heat exchanger for making heat exchange, a thermal storage unit having a thermal storage tank for holding thermal storage substance therein, a thermal storage heat exchanger for receiving refrigerant from an outside of the thermal storage unit to heat exchange with the thermal storage substance in the thermal storage tank, and a securing member for securing the thermal storage heat exchanger so as to maintain the thermal storage heat exchanger submerged under the thermal storage substance in the thermal storage tank, and a functional unit for selective control of refrigerant flows among the outdoor unit, the indoor unit and the thermal storage unit according to an operation condition, thereby maintaining the thermal storage heat exchanger in the thermal storage tank securely, to prevent drop of he
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Yoon Koh, In Kyu Kim, Jin Ha Hwang
  • Patent number: 8650896
    Abstract: A system, configured to be disposed in a information technology equipment rack for providing ice thermal storage, includes a tank configured to hold water, a heat exchanger disposed in water in the tank and configured to convey a two-phase liquid and vapor refrigerant and to transfer heat between the water and the refrigerant, a first valve connected to a liquid and a vapor refrigerant line and configured to selectively connect the liquid refrigerant line to a first port and the vapor refrigerant line to a second port in a first mode and to connect the liquid refrigerant line to the second port and the vapor refrigerant line to the first port in a second mode, a thermostatic expansion valve connected to an inlet of the heat exchanger, and a liquid/vapor pump connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger and to the second port of the first valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric It Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8607855
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air-conditioning system for a motor-driven vehicle, having a refrigerant circuit (20) with a plurality of heat exchangers (4, 24) through which a refrigerant can be conducted for an exchange of heat with the air which flows through them, with it being possible for the heat exchangers (4, 24) to be operated as heaters or as evaporators as a function of the operating state of the air-conditioning system, and at least one third heat exchanger (16) is provided in the refrigerant circuit (20), which third heat exchanger (16) serves for an exchange of heat with a coolant circuit (13) which is formed separately from the refrigerant circuit (20). The vehicle can be both a motor vehicle and also a fuel-cell-driven vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Behr GmbH & Co. KG, Behr America, Inc., Behr France Rouffach SAS
    Inventors: Günther Feuerecker, Karl Lochmahr, Frank Müller, Dirk Neumeister, Thomas Strauβ, Marcus Weinbrenner, Richard Obradovich, Gunnar Schlinke, Christophe Schmittheisler
  • Publication number: 20130319035
    Abstract: An appliance system that includes an appliance and a turbo-chilling chamber is provided. In one embodiment, the turbo-chilling chamber for chilling a beverage within a beverage container or a foodstuff is operably engaged to an interior surface of the appliance and typically includes a rigid outer wall; a flexible inner wall defining a coolant chamber; and at least one coolant spaced between the rigid outer wall and flexible inner wall in the coolant chamber. The flexible inner wall defines a receiving space, accommodates various sized beverage containers or foodstuffs, and moves between a first position and a second position. The coolant within the coolant chamber is typically at higher than atmospheric pressure when the flexible inner wall is in the second position and a lesser pressure when the flexible inner wall is in the first position. The method of turbo-chilling a beverage container/beverage/foodstuff within the turbo-chilling chamber is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: TUSHAR V. KULKARNI, GUOLIAN WU
  • Publication number: 20130319036
    Abstract: A water-cooled heat rejection heat exchanger is provided and includes a housing having first and second opposing end plates and sidewalls extending between the end plates to form an enclosure, at least the first end plate including first and second inlet/outlet pairs for first and second fluids, respectively, a plurality of plates disposed within the enclosure between the first and second end plates to define a first fluid pathway disposed in fluid communication with the first inlet/outlet pair and a second fluid pathway disposed in fluid communication with the second inlet/outlet pair and a plurality of brazed formations disposed between adjacent ones of the first end plate, the plurality of plates and the second end plate to isolate the first fluid pathway from the second fluid pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Mark J. Perkovich, Mel Woldesemayat
  • Publication number: 20130305772
    Abstract: A thermal storage container is coupled to a pump for circulating cooled liquid from the thermal storage container in at least one of two circuits. One circuit includes a heat exchanger coupled to the fresh food evaporator for assisting in cooling the fresh food section of the refrigerator or for chilling the liquid. Another circuit includes a sub-cooler between the compressor and condenser for cooling the hot gas output from the compressor before entering the condenser, thereby increasing the efficiency of the system. A three-way valve is coupled from the output pump to couple the stored coolant selectively to one or the other or both of the coolant circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: STEVEN JOHN KUEHL, GUOLIAN WU
  • Patent number: 8561425
    Abstract: A refrigerant vapor compression system includes a flash tank economizer and a refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger economizer disposed in series refrigerant flow relationship in the refrigerant circuit intermediate a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger and a refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger. A primary expansion valve disposed in the refrigerant circuit in operative association with and upstream of the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger and an economizer expansion valve disposed in the refrigerant circuit in operative association and upstream of the flash tank economizer provide a two-step expansion process for expanding refrigerant passing through the refrigerant circuit from the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger to the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Biswajit Mitra, Yu H. Chen
  • Patent number: 8544292
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air conditioner for a vehicle that includes a closed refrigeration loop. The closed refrigeration loop includes a compressor, a refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger, a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and a refrigerant dryer in series fluid connection with one another. An engine coolant outlet connector is connected to the coolant-to-refrigerant exchanger. A compartment inlet connector connected to the coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger. A compartment outlet connector connected to the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger. An engine coolant inlet connector connected to the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: OmniTherm, Inc.
    Inventors: W. James Masters, Douglas W. Fugate, Edwin E. Wilson, John T. Johnson, W. Jason Masters
  • Publication number: 20130227969
    Abstract: An accumulator arrangement for use in a cooling system suitable for operation with two-phase refrigerant includes a condenser having a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet. The accumulator arrangement further includes an accumulator for receiving the two-phase refrigerant therein, the accumulator having a refrigerant inlet connected to the refrigerant outlet of the condenser and a refrigerant outlet. Finally, the accumulator arrangement includes a subcooler having a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, the refrigerant inlet of the subcooler being connected to the refrigerant outlet of the accumulators, and the subcooler being arranged at least partially within the interior of the accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: MARKUS PIESKER, MARTIN SIEME, JOHANNES CHODURA, AHMET KAYIHAN KIRYAMAN
  • Patent number: 8511109
    Abstract: A thermal storage container is coupled to a pump for circulating cooled liquid from the thermal storage container in at least one of two circuits. One circuit includes a heat exchanger coupled to the fresh food evaporator for assisting in cooling the fresh food section of the refrigerator or for chilling the liquid. Another circuit includes a sub-cooler between the compressor and condenser for cooling the hot gas output from the compressor before entering the condenser, thereby increasing the efficiency of the system. A three-way valve is coupled from the output pump to couple the stored coolant selectively to one or the other or both of the coolant circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Kuehl, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 8505313
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for a refrigerant-based thermal storage system wherein a condensing unit and an ice-tank heat exchanger can be isolated through a second heat exchanger. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based ice storage system with increased reliability, lower cost components, and reduced power consumption compared to non-isolated systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Ice Energy Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy
  • Patent number: 8505324
    Abstract: A free cooling system may include first and second conduits configured to carry first and second fluids, a cooling load configured to transfer heat to the first fluid, thereby causing the first fluid to have a post-loading temperature, a free cooling device configured to transfer heat from the second fluid to atmospheric air, thereby causing the second fluid to have a post-cooling temperature, a heat exchanger configured to facilitate a heat exchange between the first and second fluids of the first and second conduits, thereby causing the first fluid to have a pre-loading temperature and the second fluid to have a pre-cooling temperature, and a fluid flow control device configured to control a first flow rate of the first fluid and a second flow rate of the second fluid, such that the post-cooling temperature is less than the pre-loading temperature by at least a predefined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Goodfellow
  • Patent number: 8495887
    Abstract: The liquid galley refrigeration system for cooling food carts for aircraft employs an intermediate working fluid to transfer heat from one or more food carts to one or more remote chillers, allowing the carts and chillers to be advantageously distributed in the aircraft. While the chiller working fluid undergoes a phase change in order to transfer heat from the intermediate working fluid to the cooling air, the intermediate working fluid remains in its liquid phase throughout its circulation. A recirculation pump circulates the intermediate working fluid through a distribution system that may link a plurality of chillers to a plurality of food carts, and the temperature of the food carts is regulated by a combination of controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: BE Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: George Simadiris, Ian Douglas Oswald
  • Patent number: 8484988
    Abstract: A heating/cooling system includes a closed circuit refrigeration system including an evaporator. Water circulating through a closed water circuit exchanges heat with refrigerant in the evaporator, cooling the water for a cooling application. The water can also be heated by a boiler, and the heated water is used to heat a space. A water pump flows the water through the water circuit. When a current sensing relay detects a power failure, a boiler control algorithm is initiated to “trick” a motor of the compressor into believing the heating/cooling system is operating in a heating mode. Therefore, a compressor failure alarm is not generated. The water pump is powered by a battery pack during the power failure. Water continues to flow through the water circuit, preventing the water from freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur F. Friday, Jr., Thomas C. Pietrowicz
  • Patent number: 8482166
    Abstract: An electric machine system including an alternating current (AC) electric machine. The AC electric machine includes a machine housing having a machine portion and a switch portion. A stator is fixedly mounted in the machine portion of the machine housing, and a rotor rotatably mounted relative to the stator. A switch assembly is arranged within the switch portion of the machine housing and electrically connected to the stator. The switch assembly includes a switch module having a switch member. The switch module is configured and disposed to be detachably mounted in the switch portion of the machine housing. A cooling system that includes an expandable coolant manifold is arranged in the switch portion of the machine housing. The expandable coolant manifold is fluidly connected to the switch module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Remy Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Chamberlin, Alex Creviston
  • Patent number: 8443868
    Abstract: An air/refrigerant heat exchanger includes a plurality of coiled tubes. A first tube of the plurality of coiled tubes has a phase change material therein. A second tube of the plurality of coiled tubes has a flow of cooled refrigerant flowing therethrough and the first tube is in thermal contact with the second tube. A third tube of the plurality of coiled tubes has a flow of air flowing therethrough and the third tube is in thermal contact with the first tube and the second tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Barnwell
  • Publication number: 20130118193
    Abstract: A heat pump air-conditioning system includes a four-way valve provided with a first opening, a second opening, a third opening and a fourth opening communicated with each other. The first opening, a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first expansion device and the second opening are sequentially connected in series. The third opening, a second heat exchanger, a second expansion device, a third heat exchanger and the fourth opening are sequentially connected in series. A first bypass valve is connected in parallel with the first expansion device and is connected between the first heat exchanger and the second opening. A second bypass valve is connected in parallel with the second expansion device and the third heat exchanger and is connected between the third heat exchanger and the fourth opening. A liquid supply system is connected to the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
  • Patent number: 8439306
    Abstract: A thermal management system comprises a first heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet, a second heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet, a fluid loop, a first heat pump, and a second heat pump. The fluid loop circulates a fluid, and forms a continuous path between the first and second heat exchangers. The first heat pump is connected to the fluid loop and is disposed between the outlet of the second heat exchanger and the inlet of the first heat exchanger. The second heat pump is connected to the fluid loop and is disposed between the outlet of the first heat exchanger and the inlet of the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: George Eugene Wilmot, Jr., Diane G. Drew, Gregory M. Ott
  • Patent number: 8429925
    Abstract: A device 1 for cooling hot liquid food items to drinking temperature comprising a cooling system 2 containing a coolant 19 with a cooling line 13 and an inflow for the hot liquid and an outflow for the cooled liquid. The device includes at least one filling vessel 3 connectable with its opening 5 to the end side of the cooling system containing the inflow to the cooling system. For connecting the filling vessel to the cooling system, each of the two parts includes complementarily cooperating connection elements 9, such that for the process of cooling a virtual unit can be formed, and as a function of the defined quantity of liquid flowing from the filling vessel into the inflow of the cooling system, and the temperature and of the quantity of the coolant, the liquid flows from the outflow of the cooling system at a temperature specified within narrow limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Dieter Marx
  • Patent number: 8424336
    Abstract: A backup cooling storage system comprising at least one cooling and storage unit configured to cool a liquid supply using a quantity of cooled material when a main chiller of the liquid supply is not operational, and at least one chilling element configured to generate the quantity of cooled material for the at least one cooling and storage unit when the main chiller of the liquid supply is operational. Additional embodiments and methods are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130074531
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for a refrigerant-based thermal energy storage and cooling system with integrated multi-mode refrigerant loops. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based thermal storage system with increased versatility, reliability, lower cost components, reduced power consumption and ease of installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Ice Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Parsonnet, Robert R. Willis, JR., Dean L. Wiersma
  • Patent number: 8397799
    Abstract: A system for simultaneously heating and cooling a first portion and a second portion of a space utilizes a plurality of boilers, chillers, heat exchangers, condenser pumps and closed loop pumps by using a plurality of sensors indicating the temperatures inside and outside the space and a controlling module controlling the operation of the system. The present disclosure can be easily achieved by making minor configurational modifications to existing systems, thereby increasing system versatility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Joseph G. Blecker
  • Patent number: 8359874
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a secondary cooling path for circulating liquid coolant through the refrigerator wherein the liquid coolant is cooled by the freezer compartment and wherein the liquid coolant cools the ice maker and the ice bin as the liquid coolant circulates through the secondary cooling path. A pump is positioned along the secondary cooling path for pumping the liquid coolant through the secondary cooling path. A tube having a first end proximate the pump and an opposite end exposed to atmosphere may control suction pressure associated with the pump. The refrigerator reduces frost build up through configuration of the secondary cooling path or performing ice harvesting operations which melt frost. The secondary cooling path may be used to provide for circulating hot liquid. The secondary cooling path may be used to provide for circulating liquid coolant during a power outage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Guolian Wu, Nihat O. Cur
  • Patent number: 8353171
    Abstract: A refrigerating appliance is provided that includes an inner compartment for storing refrigerated or frozen goods, a cold generator, a refrigerating appliance control system for operating the cold generator, a mains connection for supplying the cold generator and the refrigerating appliance control system with an electrical voltage, and an ice-making machine arranged in the inner compartment. The ice-making machine includes its own control system for its own operation, which controls all functions of the ice-making machine independently of the refrigerating appliance control system. A connection is also provided from the ice-making machine and the ice-making machine control system to the mains connection of the refrigerating appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Adolf Feinauer, Klaus Flinner
  • Publication number: 20130000334
    Abstract: There is provided a cold water tank including: a first tank having an inlet pipe through which water to be cooled is introduced; and a second tank provided in the interior of the first tank such that water of the first tank can be introduced thereinto, having an evaporator included in a refrigerating cycle to cool the introduced water, and having an outlet pipe through which cooled water flows. Although water is introduced at high pressure, the introduced water can remain in the cold water tank for a period of time required for being cooled, and although water is introduced at high pressure, the introduced water can be in a stable state in the cold water tank. Thus, water can be cooled with its inflow pressure maintained, and the degree of freedom of a faucet or cock for allowing cold water to flow therethrough can be improved in its height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Hyun-Young Kim, Woong Jung, Hyun-Hee Lee, Hwan-Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 8336319
    Abstract: A dual mode, thermal management system for use in a vehicle is provided. At a minimum, the system includes a first coolant loop in thermal communication with a battery system, a second coolant loop in thermal communication with at least one drive train component (e.g., electric motor, power electronics, inverter), and a dual mode valve system that provides means for selecting between a first mode where the two coolant loops operate in parallel, and a second mode where the two coolant loops operate in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent George Johnston, Andrew David Baglino, Scott Ira Kohn, Vineet Haresh Mehta, Christopher David Gadda, Curt Raymond O'Donnell, Wulfer Adrijn de Bruijn
  • Patent number: 8297069
    Abstract: An equipment cooling system and method employing modular scalable coolant distribution units that interface with each other to provide liquid cooling for computer data centers. The coolant distribution unit (CDU) permits the use of elevated water temperatures without increasing the load on the computer room air conditioning. A control unit processes environment data to control pump and valve components supporting redundancy and multiple primary and secondary coolant loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Vette Corporation
    Inventors: Shlomo D. Novotny, John P. Menoche, David W. Roden
  • Publication number: 20120240605
    Abstract: A system, such as a thermal energy management system, is provided. The system can include an absorption module and an evaporation module. The absorption module can include at least two absorption chambers, each absorption chamber being configured to receive liquid absorbent. The evaporation module can be in independent selective fluid communication with each of the absorption chambers, and can be configured to receive and cause therein evaporation of a refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ching-Jen Tang, William Dwight Gerstler
  • Patent number: 8272432
    Abstract: A system and method for providing cool air to a passenger compartment of a hybrid vehicle in an engine off mode is disclosed. This may include operating a HVAC system to provide cold refrigerant flowing through an evaporator while an engine is operating, and forcing air through the evaporator to cool the air. A first portion of the cooled air from the evaporator is directed through a heater core and a second portion around the heater core, and an electric water pump is activated to pump coolant from a thermal storage tank, through the heater core and back to the thermal storage tank to cool the coolant. When the engine operation is ceased, the air flow is directed through the heater core, and the coolant is pumped from the thermal storage tank, through the heater core and back to the thermal storage tank to cool the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gregory A. Major, Mark D. Nemesh
  • Patent number: RE45111
    Abstract: A system for cooling gas heated by passing the gas over heat-producing equipment to cool the equipment comprises a heat exchanger including a first heat transfer mechanism configured to transfer heat from the heated gas to a first coolant, and a first condensing module connected for fluid communication with the heat exchanger and including second and third heat transfer mechanisms, the first condensing module being configured to transfer heat through the second and third heat transfer mechanisms from the first coolant to second and third coolants in the second and third heat transfer mechanisms, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr.