Condensed Liquid Receiver, E.g., Surge Tank Patents (Class 62/509)
  • Patent number: 8959948
    Abstract: A receiver dryer for a motor vehicle air conditioning system includes an elongate housing, the housing having opposite ends and an external wall that extends between the ends, an inlet positioned in a first section of the housing for receiving condensed refrigerant from the condenser unit, an outlet positioned in a second section of the housing for providing dried condensed refrigerant to the condenser unit with a partition dividing the first section from the second section such that the second section is above the first section, a first chamber in the first section containing a desiccant for drying the refrigerant received from the inlet, a second chamber in the second section containing a filter for filtering the dried condensed refrigerant provided to the outlet, and a conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Halla Visteon Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Armsden, Dominic Bennett, Leo Somhorst
  • Publication number: 20150040610
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving refrigeration and air conditioning efficiency for use with a heat exchange system having a compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion device, and circulating refrigerant. The apparatus includes is a liquid refrigerant containing vessel having a refrigerant entrance and a refrigerant exit with the vessel positioned in the heat exchange system between the condenser and the evaporator, and means for creating a turbulent flow of liquefied refrigerant. The apparatus further preferably includes a refrigerant bypass path to sub-cool a portion of the refrigerant within the vessel; a disk positioned at the liquid refrigerant entrance to develop a low pressure area on the back side and create a turbulent flow of refrigerant entering the vessel; and a refrigerant valve incorporated into the refrigerant path downstream of the expansion valve and before the coil which develops a vortex that continues through the refrigerant coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Gary E. Phillippe, Cass Khoo
  • Patent number: 8950213
    Abstract: A receiver includes a cylindrical main tank; a cylindrical internal thread component having an internal thread; a cap having a male thread threaded with the internal thread; a sealing attached to the cap; and a filter portion arranged in the cap. The internal thread component is coaxially arranged to an inner circumference face of the tank. The filter portion includes an internal passage extending inside of the cap, and a net that collects a foreign matter contained in refrigerant flowing through the internal passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Mitsuhashi, Ken Muto, Akira Itoh, Kazuhisa Naito, Wei Chen, Hiroyasu Shimanuki
  • Publication number: 20150033790
    Abstract: An ejector includes a body member having a depressurizing space that depressurizes a refrigerant which flows out of a swirling space that swirls the refrigerant, a suction passage that draws the refrigerant from an external, and a pressurizing space that mixes a refrigerant jetted from the depressurizing space with a refrigerant drawn from the suction passage and pressurizes the mixed refrigerant, and a conical passage formation member arranged in the depressurizing space and in the pressurizing space. A nozzle passage is formed of a refrigerant passage between an inner peripheral surface of the depressurizing space and an outer peripheral surface of the passage formation member, and a diffuser passage is formed of a refrigerant passage between an inner peripheral surface of a portion that defines the pressurizing space and an outer peripheral surface of the passage formation member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Etsuhisa Yamada, Haruyuki Nishijima, Tatsuhiro Suzuki, Yoshiaki Takano, Hideya Matsui, Yoshiyuki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8935937
    Abstract: A turbulence creating energy saving device which is installed on top of the air conditioner or refrigeration condenser or cooling tower. The device directs the hot air leaving the condenser or cooling tower straight up forcing the hot airflow through a series of fixed blades, causing the air to spiral creating a turbulence, thereby increasing the amount of air flowing through the cylindrical tube, in turn moving a larger amount of air through the condenser. The top of the device has a cowling with a reduced output diameter to reduce the output noise level. By adding the device to the top of the condenser or cooling tower the airflow is greatly improved, reducing the time to cool the unit, therefore a reduction in the use of hydroelectricity and extending the life expectancy and provides ability to save money.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Vairtex Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Alfred Godbout, Debra Anne Claire Godbout
  • Publication number: 20150013363
    Abstract: A cooling device utilizes a vapor compression refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, a receiver, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and an accumulator to cool a heat source with a coolant. The receiver separates the coolant having been subjected to heat exchange by the condenser into gas and liquid. The accumulator separates the coolant having been subjected to heat exchange by the evaporator into gas and liquid. The cooling device opens a switch valve capable of bringing the receiver and the accumulator into communication with each other to move the coolant liquid in the accumulator to the receiver. The cooling device restores the pressure difference between the receiver and the accumulator after the movement of the coolant liquid to the pressure difference before the movement of the coolant liquid by a pressure regulating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiko Arai, Yoshiaki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8919139
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, an operation controlling device and a liquid refrigerant accumulation determining device. The refrigerant circuit has an accumulator. The operation controlling device performs normal operation control where each device of the heat source unit and the utilization unit are controlled in accordance with operating load of the utilization unit, and refrigerant quantity determination operation control where properness of quantity of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is determined while performing the cooling operation. The liquid refrigerant accumulation determining device determines whether or not liquid refrigerant is accumulating in the accumulator. When it has been determined that liquid refrigerant is accumulating in the accumulator, liquid refrigerant accumulation control is performed to eliminate liquid refrigerant accumulation in the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takurou Yamada, Masato Kotake, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Tadafumi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8919147
    Abstract: A collection container for a heat exchanger, in particular for a refrigerant condenser of a motor vehicle, the collection container having at least one inlet opening for a fluid, in particular refrigerant, and the collection container having at least one outlet opening for the fluid, in which in addition the outer jacket of the collection container limits a cross-sectional surface of the internal chamber in each of a number of cross-sections regarded perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the collection container, and in which the surface content of these cross-sectional surfaces of the internal chamber limited by the outer jacket has different sizes in at least two cross-sections situated at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the collection container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerrit Wolk, Markus Pflieger, Siegfried Tews
  • Publication number: 20140360223
    Abstract: In an air-conditioning apparatus, refrigerant flows sequentially through a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, expansion mechanisms, and an indoor heat exchanger during a cooling operation, and refrigerant flows sequentially through the compressor, the indoor heat exchanger, the expansion mechanisms, and the outdoor heat exchanger during a heating operation. Capacity of the outdoor heat exchanger is 30% to 90% of the indoor heat exchanger. The expansion mechanisms include an upstream-side and downstream-side expansion mechanisms depressurizing refrigerant from high to intermediate pressure, and from intermediate to low pressure in the refrigerant cycle, respectively. The refrigerant is R32. A refrigerant storage tank that stores the intermediate pressure refrigerant is provided between the upstream-side and downstream side expansion mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Takayuki Setoguchi, Keisuke Tanimoto, Noriyuki Okuda, Takamune Okui, Junichi Shimoda, Tsuyoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8899073
    Abstract: A refrigerant storage device that arranges two end plates to form a cavity and includes a turbulator plate within the cavity. The turbulator plate is arranged within the cavity to reinforce the cavity by providing a plurality of reinforcement portions between the end plates. The cavity is sized and the turbulator plate is configured so a liquid portion of refrigerant flowing through the cavity collects onto the turbulator plate. The device has a rectangular shape that simplifies vehicle packaging and allows the device to be readily integrated into a plate-type refrigerant-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger. The device is formed by a stacking arrangement of parts that provides for a readily scalable design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Scott Vreeland, Frederick Vincent Oddi
  • Patent number: 8863545
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a multi-stage compression mechanism, heat source-side and usage side heat exchangers each operable as a radiator/evaporator, a switching mechanism switchable between cooling and heating operation states, a second-stage injection tube, an intermediate heat exchanger and an intermediate heat exchanger bypass tube. The intermediate heat exchanger bypass tube ensures that refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element and drawn into the second-stage compression element is not cooled by the intermediate heat exchanger during a heating operation. Injection rate optimization controls a flow rate of refrigerant returned to the second-stage compression element through the second-stage injection tube so that an injection ratio is greater during the heating operation than during a cooling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Fujimoto, Atsushi Yoshimi
  • Publication number: 20140216086
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a second heat exchanger, piping that connects these components and circulates a refrigerant through these components, a cooling unit that is provided in the piping between the first heat exchanger and the expansion valve and that cools a heat-generating source with the refrigerant; and a connection passage communicating a first passage with a second passage, the first passage being the piping between the compressor and the first heat exchanger, the second passage being the piping between the cooling unit and the expansion valve. The first heat exchanger is positioned higher than the cooling unit, and the piping is arranged so that the refrigerant that is condensed by the first heat exchanger is caused to flow into the cooling unit by gravitational force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Ohno, Kazuhide Uchida, Yuki Jojima, Yoshiaki Kawakami, Eizo Takahashi, Kousuke Sato
  • Publication number: 20140216085
    Abstract: A cooling system (1) that cools an HV apparatus (31) includes a compressor (12) that circulates a refrigerant, a heat exchanger (14) that carries out heat exchange between the refrigerant and outside air, an expansion valve (16) that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, a heat exchanger (18) that carries out heat exchange between the refrigerant and air-conditioning air, a cooling portion (30) that cools, the HV apparatus (31) using the refrigerant that flows between the heat exchanger (14) and the expansion valve (16), a gas-liquid separator (40) that separates the refrigerant that flows between the heat exchanger (14) and the cooling portion (30) into a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant, and a liquid accumulator (70) that is provided between the gas-liquid separator (40) and the cooling portion (30), and that retains the liquid-phase refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator (40).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kawakami, Yuki Jojima, Eizo Takahashi, Kousuke Sato, Yuichi Ohno, Kazuhide Uchida
  • Publication number: 20140202178
    Abstract: The present application provides a cooling system having a refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger having first and second flow passages extending therethrough and a cold plate having first and second flow passages extending therethrough, the first flow passage of the cold plate configured to communicate with the first flow passage of the heat exchanger and the second flow passage of the cold plate configured to communicate with the second flow passage of the heat exchanger. During low ambient air temperatures, a vehicle battery is cooled to its operational temperatures by the cold plate without having to operate a vapor compression loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventor: Michael W. Trumbower
  • Publication number: 20140157821
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a cooling circuit having an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, an expansion device, a liquid pump, and a receiver/surge tank coupled between the condenser and the liquid pump. The cooling system has a direct expansion mode and a pumped refrigerant economizer mode. When the cooling system switches from the direct expansion mode to the pumped refrigerant economizer mode, refrigerant is flushed from the refrigerant/surge tank so that the cooling circuit is overcharged when it begins operating in the pumped refrigerant economizer mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy J. SCHRADER, Greg HAGGY, Stephen SILLATO
  • Patent number: 8733120
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus that that is capable of saving energy is provided. An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant indoor unit that air-conditions a conditioned space by using a heat source side refrigerant supplied from an outdoor unit, and a heat medium indoor unit that air-conditions a conditioned space by using a heat medium different from the heat source side refrigerant. The air-conditioning apparatus includes a first heat medium relay unit that is supplied with the heat source side refrigerant from the outdoor unit, a third heat medium relay unit interposed between the first heat medium relay unit and the refrigerant indoor unit, and a third heat medium relay unit interposed between the first heat medium relay unit and the heat medium indoor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Morimoto, Koji Yamashita, Yuji Motomura
  • Publication number: 20140137582
    Abstract: Provided is a cooling system wherein a first two-phase refrigerant can be circulated by a pump through an evaporator, to a first condenser, to a refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and back to the pump. By providing the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger in series with the condenser, a first environment can be cooled without having to operate a vapor compression circuit when an ambient temperature outside the first environment is a predetermined amount below an ambient temperature in the first environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy Louvar, Brandon Wegmann, Abhijit Sathe
  • Patent number: 8713962
    Abstract: To obtain a refrigerating cycle apparatus that reduces a pressure loss at the time of a normal operation in which an ejector is bypassed to improve refrigeration cycle performance. A second throttle apparatus is installed on piping path between the outlet of a condenser, which is a radiator, and the outlet of a first throttle device. A check valve is installed on piping path between a gas refrigerant suction section of the ejector and the outlet of the ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 8708037
    Abstract: A condenser has, at one end, a first header tank to which first heat exchange tubes of third and fourth heat exchange paths are connected and a second header tank to which second heat exchange tubes of first and second heat exchange paths are connected. The upper end of the first header tank is located above the lower end of the second header tank. The first header tank has a branching control section promoting a flow of liquid-phase refrigerant from the first header tank into the first heat exchange tubes of the fourth heat exchange path. The branching control section includes a space forming member which forms a closed refrigerant inflow space communicating with the first heat exchange tubes, and a liquid accumulation space. The space forming member has a communication portion for communication between a lower portion of the refrigerant inflow space and the liquid accumulation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Kazumi Tokizaki, Takayuki Fujii, Yoshihiko Seno, Shingo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8701434
    Abstract: A cooling device includes a cooling unit (10) penetrated by a fluid to be cooled, in particular hydraulic oil, and a filter unit (12) for filtering the fluid. The filter unit (12) extends along a longitudinal side of the cooling unit (10). A fluid collecting space (16) is arranged between the filter unit (12) and the cooling unit (10). The fluid collecting space (16) has a uniform flow cross-section and is at least partially closed against the filter unit (12) by a concavely curved limitating wall (36). The optimized fluid guidance obtained results in a uniformization of speed, while at the same time avoiding cavities and turbulences to ensure a trouble-free and energetically favorable operation of the cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hydac Fluidtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Giuseppe Zeolla
  • Publication number: 20140096561
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sealed compressor is configured to suction a working fluid to a rotary compression mechanism section through a suction pipe extending into an accumulator. The sealed compressor has a relation of Aac/Acy?4, Vac/Vcy?20, and As/Acy?0.12 when an inner diameter cross-sectional area of the accumulator is denoted by Aac (mm2), an inner diameter cross-sectional area of a cylinder chamber is denoted by Acy (mm2), an liquid retaining capacity to an upper end of the suction pipe inside the accumulator is denoted by Vac (cc), a total displacement volume of the rotary compression mechanism section is denoted by Vcy (cc), and a total inner diameter cross-sectional area of an extension portion inside the accumulator of the suction pipe is denoted by As (mm2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: TOSHIBA CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya HIRAYAMA, Akira MORISHIMA, Hisataka KATO, Takeshi TOMINAGA, Taishi NAGAHATA
  • Patent number: 8671704
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a compressor; a condenser connected to a first inlet of a separator which has: a vapor outlet connected to the compressor and a liquid outlet connected to an evaporator; a selecting valve having: a first vapor inlet connected to the evaporator; a second vapor inlet connected to the separator; and a vapor outlet connected to the compressor, the selecting valve being operated to selectively and alternatively communicate its first and second vapor inlets with its vapor outlet, so as to allow the compressor to draw vapor from the separator and from the evaporator; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the selecting valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignees: Whirlpool S.A., Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Autarquia Federal de Regime Especial
    Inventors: Augusto Jose Pereira Zimmermann, Gustavo Portella Montagner, Joaquim Manoel Goncalves
  • Patent number: 8671703
    Abstract: A refrigerant vapor compression system includes a flash tank 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 is interdisposed in the refrigerant circuit upstream of the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger and a secondary expansion valve is interdisposed in the refrigerant circuit upstream of the flash tank. A refrigerant vapor line is provided to direct refrigerant vapor from the flash tank to an intermediate pressure stage of the compression process. A refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger operates to transfer heat from refrigerant flowing through the primary refrigerant circuit to refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant vapor line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Biswajit Mitra, Yu H. Chen
  • Patent number: 8650898
    Abstract: An air conditioner is disclosed. The compressor has an entrance coupled to an exit of the evaporator via the first ON/OFF valve; and an exit coupled to an entrance of the condenser via the first flow-direction valve. The liquid pump has an entrance coupled to an exit of the liquid accumulator via the second ON/OFF valve; and an exit coupled to an entrance of the throttling device via the second flow-direction valve. An exit of the condenser is coupled to an entrance of the liquid accumulator; an exit of the throttling device is coupled to an entrance of the evaporator. The compressor's bypass pipe has an entrance coupled to an exit of the evaporator; and an exit coupled to an entrance of the condenser. The liquid pump's bypass pipe has an entrance coupled to an exit of the liquid accumulator; an exit coupled to an entrance of the throttling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Emerson Network Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yansong Ma, Yizhou Fan, Haifang Ge, Na Yan, Liangyin Ding
  • Publication number: 20140007613
    Abstract: A cooling system that cools HV equipment includes a compressor that circulates refrigerant, a condenser that condenses the refrigerant, a gas-liquid separator that stores the refrigerant in liquid form that is condensed by the condenser, an expansion valve that reduces a pressure of the refrigerant, an evaporator that vaporizes the refrigerant that is reduced in pressure by the expansion valve, a first passage and a second passage through which the refrigerant flows from the gas-liquid separator toward the expansion valve, and that are provided in parallel, and a cooling portion that is provided along the second passage and cools the heat source using the refrigerant. The refrigerant in liquid form flows from the gas-liquid separator through the second passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicants: NIPPON SOKEN, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhide Uchida, Yuichi Ohno, Yoshiaki Kawakami, Yuki Jojima, Eizo Takahashi, Kousuke Sato
  • Patent number: 8578722
    Abstract: A method for operating a closed circuit vapour compression refrigeration system is disclosed. The system may operate with supercritical pressure on a high pressure side, and includes at least one compressor, at least one heat rejector, at least two in parallel connected heat absorbers, at least one variable expansion means up flow of each heat absorber and at least one control unit for controlling the variable expansion means, connected to a set of sensors. The flow rate of the refrigerant through each of the variable expansion means, is controlled by the control unit, coordinating the flow of refrigerant through each of the variable expansion means to maintain a control parameter within a set range. Any surplus charge resulting from the control is buffered on a low pressure side of the system. Furthermore a refrigeration system based on a closed vapour compression circuit is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sinvent AS
    Inventors: Arne Jakobsen, Petter Neksa, Sergio Girotto, Havard Rekstad, Geir Skaugen
  • Publication number: 20130283838
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a unitary heat pump air conditioner (Unitary HPAC) that includes a refrigerant loop having a condenser, a refrigerant expansion device, and an evaporator hydraulically connected in series. An electrically driven compressor is provided to circulate a two-phase refrigerant through the refrigerant loop to transfer heat from the evaporator to the condenser. The unitary HPAC also includes a cold side chiller configured to hydraulically connect to a cold side coolant loop and is in thermal communication with the evaporator. The unitary HPAC further includes a hot side chiller configured to hydraulically connect to a hot side coolant loop and is in thermal communication with the condenser. The refrigerant loop transfer heat from the cold side chiller to the hot side chiller, thereby cooling the cold side coolant loop and heating the hot side coolant loop. The components of the unitary HPAC are mounted on a common platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Prasad S. Kadle, Frederick V. Oddi, Gary S. Vreeland, Edward Wolfe, IV, Lindsey L. Leitzel, Scott B. Lipa
  • Publication number: 20130219953
    Abstract: In a coolant condenser assembly for a motor vehicle air conditioning system, comprising cooling pipes for conducting a coolant through, two collecting pipes for fluidically connecting the cooling pipes, a collecting container with an upper cover wall and a lower bottom wall and a side wall as well as with an inlet opening for conducting the coolant into the collecting container and an outlet opening for conducting the coolant out of the collecting container, with the result that through the inlet and outlet openings the collecting container is fluidically connected to the collecting pipe and/or the cooling pipes, the collecting container comprises an outlet chamber and a riser pipe, and the outlet opening opens into the outlet chamber, and the outlet chamber is connected to the riser pipe and a storage chamber for the coolant is formed within the collecting container and outside the outlet chamber and outside the riser pipe, the collecting container preferably has an inlet chamber and a downpipe, and the inle
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: BEHR GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Hofmann Herbert, Uwe Förster, Walter Christoph, Guillaume David, Kaspar Martin
  • Patent number: 8516837
    Abstract: A method and system for liquid purification and defrosting a freezing unit harvests energy released as heat from a condenser. Liquid received from a source into a first liquid storage container is heated using heat collected from the condenser using at least one heat conducting rod. A second liquid storage container connected to the first liquid storage container is maintained at a lower temperature than the first liquid storage container. As a first portion of heated liquid is transferred from the first liquid storage container to the second liquid storage container, bacteria in the first portion of heated liquid is denatured as a result of the temperature change, and the liquid is purified. Filters may also be used to improve purification. A second portion of heated liquid is transferred between the first liquid storage container and a freezing unit via at least one heat conducting pipe causing defrosting of the freezing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Manipal University
    Inventors: Mayank Swarup, Tanvi Gupta
  • Patent number: 8505331
    Abstract: A flash tank is provided and may include a shell having an inner volume. A first port may be in fluid communication with the inner volume and may be positioned relative to a surface of the inner volume such that fluid flows therebetween in a direction that is substantially tangent to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung M. Pham, Jean-Luc M. Caillat, Ronald L. Van Hoose, Roy J. Doepker
  • Publication number: 20130180268
    Abstract: An ice making machine using hydrocarbon (HC), and particularly propane, as the refrigerant is disclosed. The ice making machine has components which have been modified in size, type and operation to accommodate the use of HCs, and particularly propane, in the ice making machine refrigerant system. Also disclosed is a low volume condenser especially designed for HCs, and in particular propane, to minimize the volume of flammable/explosive HC in the ice making machine refrigerant system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, LLC
    Inventor: Charles E. Schlosser
  • Patent number: 8484984
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided that comprises: a refrigerant loop having a pump; an evaporator heat exchanger thermally coupled to a heat source, the evaporator plumbed in the loop; a condensing heat exchanger and a receiver plumbed in the loop; and an equalizing conduit plumbed between an inlet to the condenser and the receiver and comprising a flow regulating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventor: Ian Spearing
  • Patent number: 8474276
    Abstract: A direct expansion ammonia refrigeration system and a method of direct expansion ammonia refrigeration is described and which includes a source of liquid ammonia refrigerant which is delivered in fluid flowing relation to a plurality of evaporator tubes which incorporate wicking structures, and which through capillary action facilitated by the wicking structures are effective for drawing liquid ammonia refrigerant along the inside facing surface of the evaporator tubes so as to substantially reduce any stratified and/or wavy flow patterns of the liquid ammonia refrigerant within the evaporator tubes. The invention further includes a novel accumulator vessel and heat exchanger vessel which are coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the direct expansion ammonia refrigeration system and which facilitate the removal of water from the ammonia refrigerant in order to enhance the operation of the direct expansion ammonia refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Colmac Coil Mfg., Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce I. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20130111935
    Abstract: A system (200; 250; 270) has a compressor (22), a heat rejection heat exchanger (30), first (38) and second (202) ejectors, first (64) and second (220) heat absorption heat exchangers, and a separator. The ejectors each have a primary inlet (40, 204) coupled to the heat rejection exchanger to receive refrigerant. A second heat absorption heat exchanger (220) is coupled to the outlet of the second ejector to receive refrigerant. The separator (48) has an inlet (50) coupled to the outlet of the first ejector to receive refrigerant from the first ejector. The separator has a gas outlet (54) coupled to the secondary inlet (206) of the second ejector to deliver refrigerant to the second ejector. The separator has a liquid outlet (52) coupled to the secondary inlet (42) of the first ejector via the first heat absorption heat exchanger to deliver refrigerant to the first ejector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jiang Zou, Hongsheng Liu, Parmesh Verma Verma, Thomas D. Radcliff, Jinliang Wang
  • Patent number: 8424326
    Abstract: A refrigerant vapor compression system includes a flash tank economizer defining a separation chamber is disposed in the refrigerant circuit intermediate a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger and a refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger. A primary expansion valve is interdisposed in the refrigerant circuit in operative association with and upstream of the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger and a secondary expansion valve is interdisposed in the refrigerant circuit in operative association and upstream of the flash tank economizer. A refrigerant vapor injection line establishes refrigerant flow communication between an upper portion of the separation chamber and an intermediate pressure stage of the system's compression device and a suction pressure portion of the refrigerant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Biswajit Mitra, Yu H. Chen, Jason Scarcella, Suresh Duraisamy, Lucy Yi Liu
  • Patent number: 8387407
    Abstract: The invention relates to a condenser for an air conditioning system, especially an air conditioning system of a vehicle, said condenser comprising a gill block and laterally arranged headers, the gill block comprising horizontal pipes, a condensing section and a supercooling section arranged above the condensing section. Said condenser also comprises a collector (5) arranged parallel to one of the headers and receiving a drier (16), a filter (18), a downpipe (15) and a rising pipe. The collector (5) is connected to the condensing section by means of a first overflow opening (8) and to the supercooling section by means of a second overflow opening (9) in such a way that a coolant can circulate. The downpipe (15) communicates with the first overflow opening (8), on the inlet side, by means of an inflow chamber (10) arranged in the collector (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kaspar, Kurt Molt
  • Patent number: 8375740
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a plurality of compressors, a plurality of oil separators, a plurality of oil collection pipes, a common inlet pipe, and a plurality of branch inlet pipes. The oil separators are connected to outlets of the compressors for separating a refrigerant and/or oil discharged from the compressors. The oil collection pipes are respectively connected to the oil separators for collecting oil separated by the oil separators. The common inlet pipe receives the collected oil and allows the oil to flow to the compressors. The branch inlet pipes branch off from the common inlet pipe and are respectively connected to the compressors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Pil Hyun Yoon, Sai Kee Oh, Sung Oh Choi
  • Publication number: 20120318014
    Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus, transport refrigeration units, and methods for operating the same can control cooling capacity for a refrigerant vapor compression system. Embodiments can provide use discharge pressure control for modulating cooling capacity for a refrigerant vapor compression system. In one embodiment, discharge pressure control can reduce the cooling capacity without increasing the compressor pressure ratio or discharge temperature. In one embodiment, discharge pressure control can reduce the cooling capacity independently of system superheat. In one embodiment, discharge pressure control can control a compressor discharge temperature; for example, to remain below a threshold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Huff, Lucy Yi Liu, Suresh Duraisamy, Gilbert B. Hofsdal, Michal Patriak
  • Publication number: 20120312038
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes: a compressor arrangement for compressing gaseous refrigerant from a first pressure to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure comprises a condensing pressure; a plurality of condenser evaporator systems, wherein each condenser evaporator system comprises: (1) a condenser for receiving gaseous refrigerant at a condensing pressure and condensing the refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant; (2) a controlled pressure receiver for holding the liquid refrigerant from the condenser; and (3) an evaporator for evaporating liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver to form gaseous refrigerant; a first gaseous refrigerant feed line for feeding the gaseous refrigerant at the second pressure from the compressor arrangement to the plurality of condenser evaporator systems; and a second gaseous refrigerant feed line for feeding gaseous refrigerant from the plurality of condenser evaporator systems to the compressor arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Fred Lingelbach, John Lingelbach
  • Publication number: 20120297820
    Abstract: A combined heat exchanger system includes a first heat exchanger for cooling a first cooling medium, a second heat exchanger for cooling a second cooling medium, and a compressor for compressing the first cooling medium to be supplied to the first heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is separated from the second heat exchanger, being integrally assembled with the compressor in such a way that the first compressor can be directly and fluidically connected with the compressor. The first heat exchanger liquid-cools the first cooling medium, which is outputted from the compressor, by using the second cooling medium that is cooled by the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Akira MASUDA, Hiroyuki Inaba, Satoshi Haneda, Tatsunari Kawaguchi, Toshiharu Watanabe, Masahiro Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20120285185
    Abstract: A refrigerant vapor compression system (10) includes a plurality of components, including a flash tank (70), connected in a refrigerant flow circuit by a plurality of refrigerant lines (2, 4, 6, 8). The system internal volume equals to the sum of the internal volumes of the plurality of components and the internal volume of the plurality of refrigerant lines. The internal volume of the flash tank ranges from at least 10% to about 30% of the total system internal volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Huff
  • Publication number: 20120247148
    Abstract: A CO2 refrigeration system for an ice-playing surface comprises a transfer circuit, a CO2 refrigerant circuit and an independent condensation circuit. A transfer refrigerant circulates between a condensation heat exchanger and an evaporation heat exchanger. The CO2 circuit is in relation with the condensation heat exchanger to release heat from the CO2 refrigerant. The CO2 circuit comprises a CO2 condensation reservoir and an evaporation stage to receive the CO2 refrigerant from the condensation reservoir. The independent circuit is in relation with the refrigerant of the transfer circuit at the evaporation heat exchanger. The independent circuit comprises a magnetically operated compressor to compress a secondary refrigerant, a condensation stage and an evaporation stage in which the secondary refrigerant absorbs heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: Serge Dubé
  • Publication number: 20120227429
    Abstract: A cooling system having a pumped loop cooling system and an embedded vapor compression loop system for cooling air inside an enclosed space such as a container both when the required air temperature inside container is warmer or cooler than the outside ambient air temperature. The pumped loop cooling system is positioned within the container except for a condenser positioned outside the container. The vapor compression loop system is positioned outside the container and includes a liquid to liquid heat exchanger which cools the fluid in the pumped loop system when the condenser is selectively bypassed when the temperature inside the container is higher than the temperature outside the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: TIMOTHY LOUVAR, MICHAEL TRUMBOWER
  • Patent number: 8250874
    Abstract: A subcool condenser having a condensation heat exchange portion, a receive portion and a supercool heat exchange portion is used as an outdoor heat exchanger that functions as a radiator in a cooling operation mode so that COP in the cooling operation mode is increased. In contrast, in a heating operation mode, a refrigerant bypass device that causes the refrigerant to flow so as to bypass the supercool heat exchange portion is provided so that pressure loss generated in the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger is decreased. Thereby, driving force of a compressor can be decreased and COP in the heating operation mode can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Ikegami, Hiroshi Oshitani, Yoshiaki Takano
  • Publication number: 20120180987
    Abstract: Condenser (1) having a sub cooling unit, comprising a gas inlet collector (2); a sub cooler collector (4) connected to the gas inlet collector (2) by at least one condensing conduit (12) having a condensing surface, said condensing surface condensing the gaseous refrigerant (10a) to liquid refrigerant (10b), said sub cooler collector (4) collecting the liquid refrigerant (10b); and a liquid refrigerant collector (6) connected to the sub cooler collector (4) by at least one cooling conduit (14) having a cooling surface, said cooling surface cooling down the liquid refrigerant (10b); the at least one condensing conduit (12) discharging into the top of the sub cooler collector (4) and the at least one cooling conduit (14) joining at the bottom of the sub cooler collector (4) so that the sub cooler collector (4) allows for compensation of the gaseous refrigerant (10a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Klaus Koch
  • Publication number: 20120137725
    Abstract: A condenser for a vehicle includes an integrally formed receiver-drier and a plurality of stacked plates. The condenser may be used in an air conditioning having an expansion valve expanding liquid refrigerant, an evaporator evaporating the refrigerant expanded at the expansion valve through heat-exchange with air, and a compressor receiving from the evaporator and compressing gaseous refrigerant, may be provided between the compressor and the expansion valve, and may circulate coolant supplied from a radiator so as to condense the refrigerant supplied from the compressor through heat-exchange with the coolant and the refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicants: Doowon Climate Control Co., Ltd., Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Yeon KIM, Wan Je Cho, Man Hee Park, Seok Jin Park
  • Patent number: 8191376
    Abstract: A reversible HVAC heating/cooling refrigerant system includes a novel valve system that allows an outdoor heat exchanger to function as a subcooler during a cooling or defrost mode and function as a receiver tank for storing excess liquid refrigerant during a heating mode. In the heating mode, a cooling expansion valve is kept slightly open to flood the subcooler with liquid refrigerant while a heating expansion valve is regulated to maintain a desired level of superheat at the suction side of the refrigerant system's compressor. The novel valve system also serves as a pressure relief valve to protect the subcooler from excess pressure caused by thermal expansion of liquid refrigerant trapped within the subcooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Fox, George M. Singh, Scott A. Munns
  • Patent number: 8186175
    Abstract: An electric energy saving equipment comprising a coolant compressor, a heat pump, a four way valve, a heating/cooling heat exchanger, an expansion valve, four check valves, an indoor unit of split type air conditioner and piping system for assembling the aforesaid parts and components, which structural improvement for electric energy saving is employed the four check valves to control the coolant to flow or to stop flow in different pipes and then to form an electric energy saving equipment possessing the function of waste heat recovery, house cooling, house heating, indoor air conditioning, indoor heating and dehumidification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Te-Shou Lee
  • Patent number: 8186180
    Abstract: An ejector-type refrigerant cycle device includes: a first evaporator 15 that evaporates refrigerant flowing out of an ejector 14; a branch passage 17 that branches a flow of refrigerant between a radiator 13 and the ejector 14 and guides this flow of refrigerant to a vapor-phase refrigerant suction port 14c of the ejector 14; a throttling mechanism 18 disposed in the branch passage 17; and a second evaporator 19 disposed downstream of the throttling mechanism 18 with respect to the flow of refrigerant. The throttling mechanism 18 is constructed to be provided with a fully opening function, and to fully open the branch passage 17 when the second evaporator 19 is defrosted. Therefore, in an ejector-type refrigerant cycle device including multiple evaporators, the function of defrosting the evaporators can be carried out with a simple construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Oshitani, Hirotsugu Takeuchi, Etsuhisa Yamada, Haruyuki Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20120125041
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration cycle suitable for an air conditioning system for vehicles, wherein a flow rate of refrigerant which is used to estimate a torque of a compressor can be precisely estimated by accurately detecting a difference between pressures at upstream and downstream sides of an orifice having a high correlation with the refrigerant flow rate, and ultimately, the torque of the compressor can be precisely estimated, and the estimation can be achieved while achieving space saving and cost down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ishizeki, Atsuo Inoue, Masato Tsuboi, Kenichi Suzuki