Condensed Liquid Receiver, E.g., Surge Tank Patents (Class 62/509)
  • Publication number: 20120102989
    Abstract: A refrigeration system may be provided with a space-saving suction-line heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be incorporated into a receiver. As heated liquid refrigerant enters and flows through the receiver, it may transfer heat into the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be connected to a suction line of the system so that refrigerant vapor and an oil-refrigerant mixture may be heated as it passes from an evaporator and into an inlet of a compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: RICKY GOV, RANJIT DARKE, PETER ZHENG
  • Patent number: 8141383
    Abstract: A heat exchanger unit is disclosed, the heat exchanger unit including a first tube element unit, a second tube element unit, and an engine machine apparatus having an expansion step unit and a compression step unit. Each of the tube element units is adapted to condition a fluid flowing therethrough. Desirably, the fluid is compressed in the compression step unit and expanded in the expansion step unit in such a manner that technical operation is transferred from the expansion step unit to the compression step unit so that an inner recovery of energy is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Heyl, Peter Kuhn, Frank Obrist
  • Publication number: 20120055182
    Abstract: A CO2 refrigeration system comprises a refrigeration circuit in which circulates CO2 refrigerant between a compression stage in which the CO2 refrigerant is compressed. A condensation stage is provided in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat and is accumulated in a condensation reservoir. An evaporation stage is provided in which the CO2 refrigerant is expanded to a gaseous state to absorb heat from a fluid for refrigeration, with at least a portion of CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage being directed to a supra-compression circuit comprising a supra-compression stage in which the portion of CO2 refrigerant is compressed. A heat exchanger is provided by which the compressed CO2 refrigerant is in a heat-exchange relation with a secondary-refrigerant circuit, such that the compressed CO2 refrigerant releases heat to a secondary refrigerant used for heating purposes. Pressure-regulating means control a pressure of the compressed CO2 refrigerant being returned to the condensation stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventor: Serge Dubé
  • Publication number: 20120047936
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance, such as a refrigerator, includes a compression stage, a condenser stage, and an evaporation stage. The condenser stage includes a first condenser and a water-cooled final condenser operatively configured between the first condenser and the evaporation stage. A water source is in communication with the final condenser, which operates to reduce refrigerant temperature entering the evaporation stage to ambient temperature or lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 8109105
    Abstract: In a refrigerating air conditioning system using refrigerant such as CO2 used in a supercritical area, a highly efficient refrigerating air conditioning system is provided by adjusting the amount of refrigerant in a radiator which contributes to the efficiency of the system stably and quickly. During heat utilizing operation, the superheat at the exit of an evaporator is controlled to a predetermined value by controlling the opening of an expansion valve provided on the upstream side of the evaporator, and an expansion valve is controlled so that the state of refrigerant in a connection pipe on the high-pressure side becomes a supercritical state. In this state, a flow rate control valve is controlled to change the density of the refrigerant stored in a refrigerant storage container and the amount of refrigerant existing in the radiator is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Fumitake Unezaki, Tetsuji Saikusa, Takashi Okazaki, Makoto Saitou, Hirokuni Shiba, Sou Nomoto
  • Publication number: 20110314846
    Abstract: The invention relates to a refrigeration circuit having a mono- or multi-component refrigerant circulating therein, said refrigeration circuit comprising, in the direction of flow, a condenser, a collecting container, a relief device connected upstream of an evaporator, an evaporator and a compressor unit with single-stage compression. According to the invention, there is an intermediate relief device (a) arranged between the condenser (1) and the collecting container (3). Furthermore, there is disclosed a method of operating a refrigeration device in which pressure relief of the refrigerant to an (intermediate) pressure of 5 to 40 bar is effected in the intermediate relief device (a) arranged between the condenser (1) and the collecting container (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: LINDE KALTETECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Heinbokel, Andreas Gernemann, Uwe Schierhorn
  • Publication number: 20110314843
    Abstract: A refrigeration device containing CO2 a refrigerant to be circulated, including a compressor, a heat-rejecting heat exchanger, an expansion, and an evaporator which are connected to one another. The refrigeration device includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having a higher temperature relative to the first portion when the refrigeration device is in operation. A heat-reclaim heat exchanger is provided at a given location in the second portion, provided to transfer heat to a fluid for further use as a source of heated fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Bernd Heinbokel, Siegfried Haaf, Neelkanth S. Gupte, Ulf J. Jonsson, Tobias H. Sienel
  • Patent number: 8020402
    Abstract: A heat pump system of the type which re-circulates refrigerant through a fluid circuit between a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger includes a compressor coupled to the fluid circuit and a vapor injection system including a vessel fluidly coupled to the first and second heat exchangers and to a vapor injection port of the compressor. The vessel is operable as a receiver in a cooling mode of the heat pump system and is operable as a flash tank in a heating mode of the heat pump system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung M. Pham, Jean-Luc M. Caillat, Ronald L. Van Hoose
  • Publication number: 20110219794
    Abstract: An apparatus using refrigerant is provided. The apparatus includes, a refrigerant circuit including, a refrigerant circuit component part of an outdoor unit including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompressor, and a liquid reservoir, in which an incombustible refrigerant is sealed before factory shipment, and a load-side apparatus which is connected to the refrigerant circuit component part of the outdoor unit by way of extension pipes, and a refrigerant sealing connecting port which is provided in the refrigerant circuit and which seals a combustible refrigerant or a slightly combustible refrigerant, wherein, when setting the outdoor unit and the load-side apparatus at a place of use, the combustible refrigerant or the slightly combustible refrigerant is additionally sealed in the refrigerant circuit from the refrigerant sealing connecting port while the incombustible refrigerant is sealed in the refrigerant circuit component part of the outdoor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirokuni SHIBA
  • Patent number: 8006504
    Abstract: It is possible to prevent that a liquid refrigerant is included in a refrigerant injected into a compressor. Accordingly, the risk of liquid compression of the compressor is greatly reduced, thereby decreasing the possibility of damage to the compressor and improving reliability and performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Hwan Ko, Bum Suk Kim, Man Ho Chun, Sang Kyoung Park
  • Patent number: 7958738
    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: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Colmac Coil Mfg., Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Ian Nelson
  • Patent number: 7942019
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a cooling or heating system including at least a compressor (10), a coolant tank/accumulator (4), a condenser (11), an inspection glass device with ejector pump (1, 2) for circulation and control of coolant, coolant and a vaporizer (13). The invention is characterized essentially in that the system comprises: a connection (8) to the ejector pump (1, 2), for intake of condensate from the condenser (11), an exit connection (9) from the ejector pump (1, 2), for connection to the vaporizer (13) and means (3) for visually controlling the ejector pump (1, 2). The invention also concerns a device (12) for controlling the coolant of a cooling or heating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventor: Svenning Ericsson
  • Patent number: 7938173
    Abstract: Fixed to the peripheral wall of a header 2 of a unit-type heat exchanger 1 is a receiver connecting block 6 having channels 31, 32 for causing the interior of the header 2 to communicate with the interior of a liquid receiver 7 therethrough. The block 6 and the liquid receiver 7 have respective fixing portions 32, 36 and respective contact faces 22a, 36a each provided on the fixing portion. The outer peripheral surfaces of the fixing portions 22, 36 have respective contours of the same shape and the same size. The liquid receiver 7 is fixed to the block 6 with the contact faces 22a, 36a of the fixing portions 22, 36 in intimate contact with each other. A tubular seal member 42 having rubber elasticity is liquid-tightly fitted around the fixing portions 22, 36. The seal member 42 has an inner shape smaller than the contours of the outer peripheral surfaces of the fixing portions 22, 36 and is fitted as elastically deformed around the fixing portions 22, 36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Seno, Osamu Kamoshida, Takayuki Yasutake
  • Publication number: 20110094247
    Abstract: An apparatus and methodology are provided for advantageously increasing heat transfer between the evaporator/oil separator (“accumulator”) and condenser of a refrigerant recovery/recycling system, to increase the efficiency of the system and to simplify the system. Embodiments include a refrigerant recovery/recycling device comprising a compressor having a suction inlet and a discharge outlet; an accumulator fluidly connected to a refrigerant source and to the compressor suction inlet; a recovery tank fluidly connected to the compressor discharge outlet; and a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the recovery tank to the accumulator, for raising the temperature of the accumulator and lowering the temperature of the recovery tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Anwar Suharno, Dean P. Pfefferle, Craig Govekar
  • Patent number: 7913507
    Abstract: An electronic equipment cooling system of the invention comprises: a heat receiver; a closed refrigerant circulation path (including: the heat receiver; a refrigerant condenser; a refrigerant pump; and a refrigerant tank); and a closed gas circulation path (including: the heat receiver; the refrigerant condenser; and a blower). The heat receiver includes: a heat receiver base contacting a heat generating component; a box; a gas flow space surrounded by the heat receiver base and box; a refrigerant inlet through which a liquid refrigerant dribbles down along an internal surface of the heat receiver base; a liquid refrigerant spreader used for spreading the liquid refrigerant thereacross and having a mesh portion with an opening for passing a vapor of the refrigerant into the gas flow space; a gas inlet through which a gas is fed from the blower; and a gas outlet for venting the gas containing the vapor of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kondo, Tatsuya Saito, Takeshi Kato, Kenji Ogiro
  • Publication number: 20110048065
    Abstract: A liquid coolant flow straightener is provided for use with a cooling system to at least partially straighten flow of liquid coolant, promoting de-aeration of the liquid coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Cody L. Petersen, Richard C. Broessel
  • Patent number: 7895852
    Abstract: A control algorithm for controlling an economizer circuit in a chiller system is provided. The control algorithm opens and closes a port valve in the economizer circuit in response to predetermined criteria to engage and disengage the economizer circuit. The predetermined criteria can include an operating parameter of a compressor and a level of liquid refrigerant in a flash tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis Christian Crane, Frank Highland Hill, IV, Glenn Eugene Nickey
  • Publication number: 20110041527
    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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: SINVENT AS
    Inventors: Arne Jakobsen, Petter Neksa, Sergio Girotto, Havard Rekstad, Geir Skaugen
  • Patent number: 7891211
    Abstract: A cold storage tank unit for a refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a cold storage heat exchanger having plural tubes and a pair of first and second tanks connected to longitudinal ends of the tubes, a cold storage material tank which accommodates at least the tubes of the cold storage heat exchanger, and a cold storage material filled in the cold storage material tank. The cold storage material is cold-stored by the refrigerant or is cold-released to cool gas refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator. Furthermore, the second tank has a lower end portion that is positioned lower than a lower end portion of the first tank, and the second tank has a tank capacity capable of storing a predetermined liquid refrigerant condensed by cold storage heat of the cold storage material. The cold storage tank unit can be located between an evaporator and a compressor in the refrigeration cycle apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yasukazu Aikawa
  • Publication number: 20110036116
    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: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventor: Te-Shou Lee
  • Publication number: 20110035062
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a condensing unit, a flow distributor, and an evaporator connected to the condensing unit via the flow distributor. A pressure detector is configured to detect condensation pressure of the refrigerant. A calculation unit is configured to calculate a target condensation pressure of refrigerant necessary for the refrigerant to be an evaporation temperature in the evaporator. A controller is configured to control the condensing unit so that the condensation pressure of the refrigerant becomes equal to or more than the target condensation pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Nakayama Engineering Company Limited
    Inventor: Junya NAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20110023515
    Abstract: A refrigeration system is provided, such as for use with chillers. The system uses a tube-side condenser, such as a microchannel condenser, along with a shell-side evaporator such as a falling film evaporator. A flash tank economizer is disposed between the condenser and the evaporator, and an inlet valve to the flash tank is controlled based upon subcooling of condensate from the condenser. The vapor exiting the flash tank may be fed via an economizer line to a system compressor. Liquid phase refrigerant combined with some gas phase refrigerant exits the flash tank and is directed through an orifice before entering the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: William L. Kopko, Israel Federman, Satheesh Kulankara, Andrew John Graybill
  • Publication number: 20110011104
    Abstract: A cascade refrigeration system using a first refrigerant or a high stage and a second, R-744, refrigerant for low stage refrigeration has a defrost system including a defrost compressor, a defrost inlet heat exchanger and defrost outlet heat exchanger. The defrost inlet heat exchanger receives a defrost portion of second refrigerant and adds an additional defrost heat load thereto from first refrigerant, thus evaporating defrost portion. Defrost portion is then compressed into high pressure defrost vapor potion in the defrost compressor. The defrost vapor portion is then circulated through a selected evaporator, where a defrost heat, augmented by additional defrost heat load, defrosts selected evaporator, defrost vapor being at least partially condensed into defrost condensed portion which is liquefied in defrost outlet heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Gaétan Lesage, Jordan Kantchev
  • Patent number: 7870758
    Abstract: In an ejector cycle with an ejector including a nozzle for decompressing refrigerant, a control unit controls an air blowing amount of an evaporator fan so that a flow speed of refrigerant flowing in an evaporator becomes in a predetermined flow speed range. Therefore, it can prevent a large amount of lubrication oil from staying in the evaporator, and thereby the lubrication oil can sufficiently returns to a compressor. For example, the control unit includes a determining means for determining the predetermined flow speed range based on at least one of an atmosphere temperature of a condenser, a temperature of air supplied to the evaporator and a flow amount of refrigerant discharged from the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nishijima, Hisatsugu Matsunaga, Tooru Ikemoto, Hirotsugu Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20100329946
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for cooling a vent stream from a receiver. Generally, the process may include providing a refrigerant including at least one compound contained in the receiver so the refrigerant leaking into the receiver can be compatible with the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Robert L. Mehlberg
  • Patent number: 7854132
    Abstract: The present invention provides a circulation cooling system of a cryogenic cable in which a reserver unit can be made smaller and a conventional adjustment mechanism or adjustment task of the amount of a refrigerant within a reserver unit is not necessary. The circulation cooling system of a cryogenic cable according to the present invention has a reserver unit storing a refrigerant and a cable cooling portion cooling down a cable by the refrigerant sent from the reserver unit and the refrigerant sent from the cable cooling portion is returned to the reserver unit again for circulation. The system is characterized in that it has a refrigerant temperature adjustment mechanism to keep constant the amount of the refrigerant within the reserver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chizuru Suzawa, Takato Masuda
  • Patent number: 7845190
    Abstract: A transcritical vapour compression refrigeration apparatus including: a compressor, a gas cooler, an economiser, an evaporator and a refrigerant; the refrigerant being compressed in the compressor, heat being rejected from the compressed refrigerant at supercritical pressure in the gas cooler, the cooled compressed refrigerant being then expanded in a first stage to first temperature and pressure conditions in the economiser and then expanded in a second stage to second temperature and pressure conditions; a stream of refrigerant from the economiser at said first temperature and pressure conditions then being compressed in a first stream in the compressor, refrigerant at said second temperature and pressure conditions absorbing heat in the evaporator and then being compressed in a separate second stream in the compressor; said first and second compressed streams then being combined before passing to the gas cooler or passing through separate gas coolers before being combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Star Refrigeration Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Forbes Pearson
  • Publication number: 20100300129
    Abstract: A method of detecting loss of refrigerant within a cooling system of the type having a condenser, a refrigerant receiver in fluid communication with the condenser, a sensor configured to detect a level of refrigerant within the receiver, an evaporator in fluid communication with the receiver, and a pump or compressor in fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser, includes establishing a baseline measurement of refrigerant mass contained in the receiver with the sensor during certain power loads applied to the cooling system, monitoring a mass of refrigerant in the receiver with the sensor at a certain power load applied to the cooling system, and identifying whether the monitored mass of refrigerant is less than the baseline measurement of refrigerant mass over a predetermined period of time. Systems for detecting loss of refrigerant are further disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: John H. Bean, JR., James Richard Roesch
  • Patent number: 7836725
    Abstract: In a condenser for an air conditioning system, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising a condensing section (1b) and a supercooling section (1c) which is arranged above the condensing section, comprising an approximately tubular modulator (2) which is divided by a separating wall (2b) into a lower section (2c), which is connected to the condensing section (1b), and an upper section (2d), which is connected to the supercooling section (1c), comprising an ascending pipe (4) between the lower and upper sections of the modulator, and comprising a container (7) for desiccant in the lower section (2c) of the modulator, the modulator (2) is provided at the upper side with a plug (6), it being possible for the separating wall (2b) with the desiccant container to be removed upwards out of the modulator once the plug has been detached from the interchangeable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk Lautner, Stefan Herwig, Hiroyasu Shimanuki
  • Patent number: 7832230
    Abstract: The invention relates to a condenser for an air-conditioning system, particularly for a motor vehicle, with vertically arranged tubes, through which a coolant can flow and which are connected to an upper and a lower horizontally arranged manifold whereby permitting the flow of coolant. The inventive condenser also comprises a collector parallelly arranged underneath the lower manifold and, via an inflow opening and an outflow opening, between which a separating device is placed, is connected to the manifold in a manner that permits the flow of coolant. The collector accommodates a filtering and/or drying device. The separating device has a suction device for, in essence, liquid coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co, KG
    Inventors: Georg Feldhaus, Uwe Förster, Martin Kaspar, Kurt Molt
  • Patent number: 7832231
    Abstract: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems and heat exchangers are provided which include tube and manifold configurations designed to promote separation of vapor phase and liquid phase fluid. The manifolds contain multichannel tubes of various end geometries designed to dispose flow channels at different heights within the manifold. Individual tubes also may be disposed at different heights within the manifold. The various flow channel and tube heights permit direction of vapor phase and liquid phase refrigerant to certain flow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: John T. Knight, Jeffrey Lee Tucker, Mahesh Valiya-Naduvath
  • Publication number: 20100281914
    Abstract: An improved chilled water skid for natural gas processing is provided. The skid includes an apparatus for out a refrigeration cycle. The apparatus includes an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant reservoir and a control valve positioned downstream of the compressor and upstream of the refrigerant reservoir. The control valve is configured to regulate a pressure on a downstream side of the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: DEW POINT CONTROL, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen WANDERMAN, Myron GOFORTH, Joel SCHWEERS, Michael TOLBERT
  • Patent number: 7823413
    Abstract: A system includes an evaporator unit, a first condensing unit and a second condensing unit. The first condensing unit includes a first heat exchanger coil, a first compressor, and a first oil separator, which removes oil from a refrigerant prior to the refrigerant reaching the first heat exchanger coil. The second condensing unit includes a second heat exchanger coil, a second compressor, and a second oil separator, which removes oil from a refrigerant prior to the refrigerant reaching the second heat exchanger coil. The first oil separator is isolated from the second oil separator to prevent communication of oil therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Beving, Norbert Kaemmer
  • Patent number: 7814761
    Abstract: An air conditioner according to the present invention prevents freezing of an outdoor heat exchanger in heating operation. A refrigeration cycle is formed by sequentially connecting a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an indoor heat exchanger 3, a pressure reducing device 4, and an outdoor heat exchanger 5. In the refrigeration cycle, a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 flows through a receiver tank 6 before supplied for indoor heating. The receiver tank 6 is placed in the outdoor heat exchanger 5, and thus heat from the receiver tank 6 through which the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant flows can be used to prevent freezing of a fin or a tube 10 in the outdoor heat exchanger 5, thereby ensuring heating performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keisuke Uchida
  • Patent number: 7788945
    Abstract: An air conditioner is configured by appropriating existing refrigerant pipes of an existing air conditioner to update indoor units and an outdoor unit of a refrigerant circuit of the existing air conditioner. The air conditioner is disposed with an updated refrigerant circuit and a mixer disposed in the updated refrigerant circuit. The updated refrigerant circuit is filled with working refrigerant and refrigerating machine oil that include an acid trapping agent that detoxifies acid components remaining in the refrigerant pipes. The mixer mixes the acid components with the acid trapping agent during refrigeration cycle operation of the updated refrigerant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhide Mizutani, Akiharu Kojima, Shinya Matsuoka, Tetsuro Takamizo, Satoru Okura
  • Publication number: 20100212350
    Abstract: A medium- and low-temperature integrated refrigerating/freezing system (40) comprises an integrated unit (41), a medium-temperature refrigerating cabinet (43), a low-temperature freezing cabinet (42) and corresponding connecting pipes (44). The integrated unit (41) further comprises a common condenser (54) for condensing the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant in the medium-temperature refrigerating system and the low-temperature freezing system, a common reservoir (55) for the storage of the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant in the medium-temperature refrigerating system and the low-temperature freezing system, a subcooling adjusting mechanism (56, 57) for adjusting the subcooling degree in the low-temperature freezing system and a suction temperature adjusting mechanism (431, 432, 58) for adjusting the suction temperature of the low-temperature freezing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhong Gu, Zhiwei He, Chuanxue Duan
  • Publication number: 20100205984
    Abstract: A medium and low-temperature integrated refrigeration/freezing system (100) has the function of discharge gas defrosting. It comprises medium and low-temperature compressors sets (120, 122) and medium and low-temperature evaporators, as well as control valves (141, 142, 143, 144), adjusting valves (145, 146), one-way valves (147, 148) and expansion valves (150, 152, 154), and the switching between a refrigerating cycle and the discharge gas defrosting cycle is performed by the combination of actions between multiple control valves. When a first control valve is opened, a second valve is closed and a fourth valve is closed to the refrigerant pipeline to said reservoir, the refrigerating cycle operation is performed; and when the first control valve is closed, the second valve is opened and the fourth valve is closed to the refrigerant pipeline of an intercooler (128), the discharge gas defrosting operation is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhong Gu, Zhiwei He, Chuanxue Duan
  • Publication number: 20100206002
    Abstract: A refrigeration circuit having a system charge and a system charge storage area. The system charge area has a condenser having a set of micro-channel heat exchanger coils. The condenser is appropriately sized to receive a first volume of the system charge. There is a compressor for compressing the system charge from an expanded state to a compressed state. There is a sealed refrigerant charge holding area fluidly connected to the condenser and the compressor. The sealed refrigerant charge holding area is appropriately sized for storing a second volume of the system charge during a system pumpdown. A receiver is fluidly connected to the sealed refrigerant charge holding area. The receiver is appropriately sized to receive a third volume of the system charge during a system pumpdown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Scarcella, William J. Heffron
  • Patent number: 7757514
    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: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Oshitani, Hirotsugu Takeuchi, Etsuhisa Yamada, Haruyuki Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20100147019
    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: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: BEHR GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kaspar, Kurt Molt
  • Publication number: 20100115975
    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: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Biswajit Mitra, Yu H. Chen, Jason Scarcella, Suresh Duraisamy, Lucy Yi Liu
  • Patent number: 7712330
    Abstract: A receiver dryer for storing and drying a refrigerant for an air conditioner is integrally fixed to a condenser to form an assembly. A condenser has refrigerant flow passages, and also has an opening portion for assembling a receiver dryer. In a body of the receiver dryer, a desiccant and members such as a filter are inserted. The refrigerant flows into the receiver dryer from the flow passage through a hole, and flows out to the outflow passage side through a strainer. A ring-shaped protruding portion is formed on the body by bulging, and the body is fixed to the condenser by a C ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Hosokawa, Takuji Furuta
  • Patent number: 7694528
    Abstract: In a heat exchanging apparatus for a vapor compression refrigerant cycle, an internal heat exchanger is attached to an end of a radiator. The internal heat exchanger is arranged such that high-pressure refrigerant passages are closer to the radiator than low-pressure refrigerant passages. The heat exchanging apparatus can be mounted on a vehicle such that the radiator receives cooling air more than the internal heat exchanger. Because the internal heat exchanger performs heat exchange between high-pressure refrigerant and low-pressure refrigerant, performance of the internal heat exchanger is not degraded even if it is located at a part receiving less cooling air. Thus, the heat exchanging apparatus is easily mounted on a vehicle by integrating the internal heat exchanger with the radiator, without reducing a cooling capacity of the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Nishida, Masaaki Kawakubo, Yoshitaka Tomatsu
  • Publication number: 20100083691
    Abstract: A thermal cycling system includes a structure defining a load space, a heating assembly positioned to heat to the load space, and a cooling assembly positioned to cool the load space. The cooling assembly includes a refrigeration circuit and a banking circuit. The refrigeration circuit has a compressor, a refrigeration condenser, a first refrigeration evaporator in direct thermal communication with the load space, a second refrigeration evaporator in parallel with the first evaporator, and primary refrigerant circulating throughout the refrigeration circuit. The banking circuit is gravity fed and includes a banking condenser, a banking evaporator positioned to cool the load space, and a banking refrigerant circulating throughout the banking circuit. The banking condenser includes a collection reservoir to store liquid banking refrigerant and is in thermal communication with the second refrigeration evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: VENTUREDYNE, LTD.
    Inventors: Darin E. Immink, Clinton A. Peterson, Andrew R. Veldt
  • Publication number: 20100071390
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for cooling. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention relates to a lightweight, compact, reliable, and efficient cooling system. The subject system can provide heat stress relief to individuals operating under, for example, hazardous conditions, or in elevated temperatures, while wearing protective clothing. The subject invention also relates to a condenser for transferring heat from a refrigerant to an external fluid in thermal contact with the condenser. The subject condenser can have a heat transfer surface and can be designed for an external fluid, such as air, to flow across the heat transfer surface and allow the transfer of heat from heat transfer surface to the external fluid. In a specific embodiment, the flow of the external fluid is parallel to the heat transfer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Rini Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Rini, Louis Chow, H. Randolph Anderson, Jayanta Sankar Kapat, Bradley Carman, Brian Gulliver, Jose Mauricio Recio
  • Publication number: 20100071394
    Abstract: The invention described herein represents a significant improvement in the efficiency of heating and cooling processes for applications such as buildings. The working fluid condensation process is time separated from the working fluid vaporization process. Work on the working fluid through a phase transformation is performed at a first time and the heating or cooling of a building through a reverse phase transformation is done at a second time. A storage medium is provided to store the capacity to heat or the capacity to cool in the form of the phase transformed working fluid stored at a positive or a negative pressure. Controlling logic calculates what the heating and cooling load will be in the future and when least expensive and most efficient operating times are forecasted to be. The compression or vacuum energy input phase of operation is be performed during the most optimal window as seldom as once per week while the application heating or cooling process is performed continuously as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Ray M. Alden
  • Publication number: 20100050674
    Abstract: A refrigeration device includes a compression mechanism, a radiator, a first expansion mechanism, a liquid receiver, a second expansion mechanism, an evaporator and a control unit. The control unit minimizes the degree of pressure reduction by the first expansion mechanism when the refrigerant that flows from the refrigerant discharge side of the compression mechanism to the refrigerant inflow side of the first expansion mechanism has reached a subcritical state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kasahara, Toshiyuki Kurihara
  • Publication number: 20100050682
    Abstract: An integrated air conditioner of high convenience capable of reducing the frequency of discharge of water collected in a drain pan by suitably controlling the operation of a water feed device according to the mode of use of the air conditioner. The air conditioner of the present invention has an air intake port 25 and an exhaust port 24 for drawing in and expelling of air for cooling a condenser 3. The air intake port 25 and the exhaust port 24 are formed in a cabinet 1. An air intake duct 26 and an exhaust duct 7 can be fitted to the air intake port 25 and the exhaust port 24, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Tohru ARIGA
  • Publication number: 20100050672
    Abstract: A refrigeration device includes a control unit, and a refrigerant circuit in which a compression mechanism, a radiator, a refrigerant cooling unit, a first expansion mechanism, a liquid receiver, a second expansion mechanism, and an evaporator are connected in sequence. The control unit performs refrigerant cooling control whereby the refrigerant is cooled by the refrigerant cooling unit so that the state of the refrigerant that has flowed out from the first expansion mechanism is near the saturation line and not near the critical point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kurihara, Shinichi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 7669437
    Abstract: A heat exchanger module includes a condenser for condensing a refrigerant, a modulator, a sub-cooler for cooling liquid refrigerant supplied from the modulator, and a heat exchanger for cooling a fluid different from the refrigerant. The condenser, the sub-cooler and the heat exchanger are arranged in an arrangement direction substantially perpendicular to an air flow direction. Further, the modulator is disposed to extend in the arrangement direction. In the heat exchanger module, the modulator has a dimension that is larger than the sum of a dimension of the condenser and a dimension of the sub-cooler, and is not larger than the sum of the dimension of the condenser, the dimension of the sub-cooler and a dimension of the heat exchanger, in the arrangement direction. Accordingly, a capacity of the modulator can be effectively increased without increasing a largest outer side of the heat exchanger module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Ryouichi Sanada