Heat Exchange Between Diverse Function Elements Patents (Class 62/513)
  • Patent number: 11946674
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a main circuit having a multi-stage compressor, a condenser, a throttling element and an evaporator connected by pipelines; and a cooling branch, the inlet of which is connected to the main circuit between the condenser and the throttling element, and the outlet of which is connected to at least one of the first-stage suction port and the intermediate-stage suction port of the multi-stage compressor, wherein refrigerant from the cooling branch flows through the drive motor of the multi-stage compressor, and a regulating valve for controlling the opening of the cooling branch is provided on the cooling branch; and a control module that controls the opening of the regulating valve on the cooling branch based on the temperature of the outlet downstream of the drive motor on the cooling branch and the intermediate suction pressure of the intermediate-stage suction port of the multi-stage compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xi Feng, Shuguang Zhang, Jun Cao, Hao Zhao
  • Patent number: 11904654
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerant circuit of a cooling system of a vehicle in cooling system mode, having a chiller branch which includes a chiller and a first expansion element connected upstream from it and being thermally coupled to a coolant circuit, at least one interior evaporator branch connected in parallel with the chiller branch, comprising an interior evaporator, a second expansion element connected upstream from it, and a segmentation element connected downstream from the interior evaporator, being adapted to prevent a backflow of refrigerant into the interior evaporator, a refrigerant compressor, and a condenser or gas cooler, wherein the cooling system mode is carried out in single chiller mode by closing the second expansion element and aspirating the refrigerant from the interior evaporator by the starting or already started refrigerant compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Helmut Rottenkolber
  • Patent number: 11850915
    Abstract: Thermal conditioning of a combustion engine of a vehicle is achieved by means of a fluid circuit or a sub-circuit of the fluid circuit and/or the air flowing into a passenger compartment of the vehicle by means of a heat pump circuit. In at least one operational state of the vehicle, heat is transferred from the fluid circuit or the sub-circuit of the fluid circuit to the heat pump circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Satzger, Felix Schedel
  • Patent number: 11828504
    Abstract: An appliance includes a refrigeration compartment that is defined by a plurality of interior walls. A freezer compartment is positioned proximate to the refrigeration compartment. A compressor is positioned proximate to at least one of the refrigeration compartment and the freezer compartment. A first evaporator is operably coupled to the compressor. A suction line is operably coupled to the first evaporator and is configured to convey refrigerant from the first evaporator toward the compressor. The suction line includes a suction line looping portion that generally defines an inner suction line loop and an outer suction line loop. A capillary tube is operably coupled to the first evaporator and is configured to convey refrigerant to the first evaporator. The capillary tube is configured to contact the suction line looping portion, such that heat from the capillary tube is transferred to the suction line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Rahul Subhash Chhajed, Deepak Gajanan Mankar
  • Patent number: 11761697
    Abstract: A multi-air conditioner for heating/cooling operations, including at least one indoor unit for heating/cooling operations including an indoor heat exchanger; and an outdoor unit for heating/cooling operations including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a switching unit configured to be disposed in a discharge side of the compressor to switch a flow of refrigerant. The outdoor unit includes a receiver that selectively stores refrigerant or oil according to a cooling or heating operation mode and provides the stored refrigerant or oil to the compressor. Accordingly, in the accumulator of the multi-air conditioner using the receiver, the receiver which is not used in the heating mode may be converted and used for oil storage, thereby preventing oil burnout without adding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyungjoon Kim, Junseong Park, Daehyoung Kim, Yongcheol Sa
  • Patent number: 11728529
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a temperature control system for an energy store of a motor vehicle, e.g., an electric and/or hybrid vehicle. The temperature control system includes at least one temperature control plate including at least one contact plate and at least one base plate. The at least one contact plate has at least one surface portion for contacting the at least one energy storage cell. The at least one temperature control plate defining at least one sealing portion for sealing a at least one flow space relative to an interior space of the energy store. The at least one sealing portion comprises at least one intermediate sealing portion and at least one collection passage. The at least one sealing portion includes at least one safety seal, structured and arranged to seal the at least one collection passage relative to the interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Dieter Reisinger, Daniel Stehlik
  • Patent number: 11397015
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a heat exchange device that connects an outdoor unit to an indoor unit and that includes a heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between refrigerant and water, thereby reducing an amount of refrigerant used to perform a cooling operation or a heating operation. The apparatus further includes a switching mechanism that connects the outdoor unit to the heat exchange device and that is configured to be connected to both a simultaneous outdoor unit and a switchable outdoor unit to thereby allow the heat exchange device to be installed regardless of the type of the outdoor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chiwoo Song, Yongcheol Sa, Ilyoong Shin, Jisung Lee
  • Patent number: 11371757
    Abstract: Provided is a highly efficient heating and cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: E.T.L CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Sugiyama, Mitsuto Hisashige, Fumiharu Kurita, Tomoko Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11359842
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes: an outdoor unit configured to circulated refrigerant; a first pipe and a second pipe that are connected to the outdoor unit; an indoor unit configured to circulate water; and a heat exchange device that connects the outdoor unit to the indoor unit. The heat exchange device includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger that are each configured to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and the water, a plurality of connection pipes, a bypass pipe configured to guide the refrigerant passing through the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger, and a bypass valve installed at the bypass pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Donghwi Kim, Yongcheol Sa, Jaehwa Jung, Daehyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 11204192
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an adjustable fluid flow system for a temperature control system having a heat exchanger including a plurality of channels configured to transmit working fluid and direct the working fluid through a selection of two or more channel sections. The adjustable fluid flow system includes a first chamber defining a first flow path that is aligned with a first channel section of the two or more channel sections, wherein the first chamber includes a first outlet in fluid communication with the first flow path, and a second chamber defining a second flow path that is aligned with a second channel section of the two or more channel sections, wherein the second chamber includes a second outlet in fluid communication with the second flow path. The adjustable fluid flow system further includes a damper configured to adjust a flow of air along the first flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kevin R. Stockton, Nicholas P. Mislak
  • Patent number: 11112140
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes: a supercooling heat exchanger configured to supercool refrigerant flowing in a first flow path between an outdoor heat exchanger and an expansion valve; a flow path switching valve configured to switch a flow path between an indoor heat exchanger and a compressor to one of a second flow path that does not extend through the supercooling heat exchanger and a third flow path that extends through the supercooling heat exchanger; a bypass circuit that is branched from the first flow path and extends through the supercooling heat exchanger; and a bypass regulating valve provided in the bypass circuit; and a controller. In a cooling operation, when a load is not low, the controller selects the second flow path and opens the bypass regulating valve, whereas when the load is low, the controller selects the third flow path and closes the bypass regulating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yusuke Shimazu
  • Patent number: 11029066
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a capillary tube, and an expansion device. The compressor is configured to circulate a refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser. The capillary tube is configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser. The expansion device is configured to receive the refrigerant from the capillary tube and provide the refrigerant to the evaporator. The expansion device is adjustable to control a flow of the refrigerant through the capillary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Swofford, Roy Bates
  • Patent number: 10921068
    Abstract: Provided is an integrated heat exchanger including a header tank in which a gasket is interposed between the header and the tank to seal a portion that the header and the tank are coupled to each other, wherein an inner space of the header tank is partitioned such that a first space portion formed between regions in which the heat exchange medium flows is formed to be in communication with an external region of the header tank through a heat exchange medium discharging means formed at a portion that the header and the tank are coupled to each other, thereby preventing the heat exchange mediums from being leaked between two heat exchange portions and to detect a leakage of the heat exchange medium even when the leakage of the heat exchange medium occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Ji Hun Han, Gwang Ok Ko, Byoung Sun Cho, Jung bum Choi
  • Patent number: 10907911
    Abstract: A first heat exchanger, a desiccant block, and a second heat exchanger are arranged in series. Further, in a dehumidifying operation, a first operation mode and a second operation mode are alternately repeated. In the first operation mode, the first heat exchanger is operated as a condensor or a radiator and the second heat exchanger is operated as an evaporator. In the second operation mode, the first heat exchanger is operated as the evaporator and the second heat exchanger is operated as the condensor or the radiator. Further, an interval between fin surfaces of a plurality of fins in each of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger is set to 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm so that drainage performance for dew condensation on the fin surfaces is enhanced to reduce an amount of the dew condensation stagnating on the fin surfaces and increase a dehumidifying amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Ito, Fumitake Unezaki, Mamoru Hamada
  • Patent number: 10782048
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a deep freezer. A deep freezer according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of heat exchangers installed to an inlet pipe and performing a heat exchange of a mixed refrigerant suctioned into a compressor. The mixed refrigerant comprises: a high temperature refrigerant which is one selected from among butane (N-butane), 1-butene, and isobutane; and a low temperature refrigerant consisting of ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjoo Park, Kangsoo Byun, Hyunsoo Song, Sanggyun Lee
  • Patent number: 10627176
    Abstract: A cooling tower is provided having a heat exchange section. A water collection basin located above the heat exchange section. The water collection basin has a plurality of openings that allow water to be distributed downwardly onto the heat exchange section. The water collection basin openings each have a diameter of from 0.2 inch to 0.6 inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Shin, David Andrew Aaron
  • Patent number: 10619082
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerant composition having a reduced amount of comprehensive environmental load, in which the refrigerant composition has low GWP (direct impact on global warming is low), and has good energy efficiency (indirect impact on global warming is low) when used in a device. The present invention provides a refrigerant composition comprising 30 to 50 mass % of difluoromethane (HFC32) and 70 to 50 mass % of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO1234yf).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Shibanuma, Yasufu Yamada
  • Patent number: 10288334
    Abstract: Surged vapor compression heat transfer systems, devices, and methods are disclosed having refrigerant phase separators that generate at least one surge of vapor phase refrigerant into the inlet of an evaporator after the initial cool-down of an on cycle of the compressor. This surge of vapor phase refrigerant, having a higher temperature than the liquid phase refrigerant, increases the temperature of the evaporator inlet, thus reducing frost build up in relation to conventional refrigeration systems lacking a surged input of vapor phase refrigerant to the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: XDX Global, LLC
    Inventor: David A. Wightman
  • Patent number: 10247440
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes an internal heat exchanger in which refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant pipe between an outdoor heat exchanger and an expansion device and refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant pipe between the expansion device and an indoor heat exchanger exchange heat, a pressure sensor, a first temperature sensor that detects temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the expansion device in the cooling operation, and a control unit configured to control the opening degree of the expansion device based on results of detection by the pressure sensor and the first temperature sensor in the cooling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kosuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10215452
    Abstract: A heat-medium flow-path switching device and a heat-medium flow-rate adjusting device are integrated into an integrated heat-medium flow-rate adjusting device. The integrated heat-medium flow-rate adjusting device is configured to perform the heat-medium flow-path switching function and the meat-medium flow-rate adjusting function by driving and controlling a single drive unit. Moreover, the integrated heat-medium flow-path switching device is configured to perform a function of closing flow paths from/to a use-side heat exchanger added to the heat-medium flow-rate adjusting function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mizuki Ogawa, Ryohei Takamatsu, Koji Saito, Masaru Imaizumi, Yuji Motomura
  • Patent number: 10215465
    Abstract: The present application provides a low load operating system for a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The low load operating system may include a hot gas bypass line extending from a discharge side of the compressor to a suction side of the compressor and a desuperheat line extending from upstream of the expansion valve to the suction side of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC
    Inventors: Zhi Zhang, Yang Xie, Hongxiang Chen
  • Patent number: 10101060
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a main closed-loop refrigerant circuit having a compressor and a condenser. The cooling system also includes a subcooler closed-loop refrigerant circuit having a compressor and a condenser. A portion of the condenser of the subcooler circuit is in parallel with the condenser of the main circuit with respect to air flow. A single exhaust fan can be in fluid communication with both the condenser of the main circuit and the condenser of the subcooler circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Yinshan Feng, Parmesh Verma, Ahmad M. Mahmoud
  • Patent number: 9927158
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a core comprising a stack of core plates. The core defines a condenser, an evaporator and a refrigerant reservoir. The condenser has a plurality of refrigerant flow passages and a plurality of first coolant flow passages in alternating arrangement. The evaporator has a plurality of refrigerant flow passages and a plurality of second coolant flow passages in alternating arrangement. The condenser has a refrigerant outlet in flow communication with the refrigerant inlet of the refrigerant reservoir, where the refrigerant side of at least one of said core plates includes a refrigerant communication passage providing flow communication between the refrigerant outlet of the condenser section and the refrigerant inlet of the reservoir section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Martin
  • Patent number: 9647249
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cooling system for a vehicle battery, having: a cooling plate; an inlet manifold configured to supply fluid from a heat exchanger to the cooling plate; an outlet manifold configured to return fluid to the heat exchanger; and a plurality of micro-conduits formed in the cooling plate, configured to deliver fluid between the inlet manifold and outlet manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bhaskara Boddakayala
  • Patent number: 9441862
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus in which a primary-side refrigerant in a two-phase gas-liquid state that has flowed into each of intermediate heat exchangers absorbs heat from a secondary-side refrigerant flowing in counterflow to the primary-side refrigerant, and evaporates and turns into a low-temperature, low-pressure gas state. The air-conditioning apparatus ensures high heat exchange efficiency even when a direction of a heat source-side refrigerant (secondary-side refrigerant) flowing through an intermediate heat exchanger changes, and enables an appropriate operation in any operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Asako Tamura, Naofumi Takenaka, Shinichi Wakamoto, Susumu Yoshimura, Koji Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9423184
    Abstract: A corrugated-fin heat exchanger is constructed by arranging a plurality of flat heat exchange tubes parallel to each other in a horizontal direction between a pair of opposing header pipes, joining, at a position between the plurality of flat heat exchange tubes, corrugated fins formed by alternately repeating peak folding and valley folding portions, and forming water flow passages from lug pieces that are obtained by obliquely cutting and raising flange portions extending along end portions of each of the plurality of flat heat exchange tubes (3) in a width direction thereof. A pitch (P) of each of the corrugated fins between a peak and a valley thereof, a width (L) of each of the lug pieces in a vertical direction thereof, and a thickness (T) of the each of the plurality of flat heat exchange tubes have a relationship of P×2?L?T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yoshida, Kazuhiko Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9353979
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus in which entry of a refrigerant into a living space is suppressed and measures against refrigerant leakage are taken is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Morimoto, Kouji Yamashita, Takeshi Hatomura, Shinichi Wakamoto, Naofumi Takenaka, Yusuke Shimazu
  • Patent number: 9163634
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a single screw gas compressor having a housing including a cylindrical bore, a primary and secondary gate rotors mounted for rotation in the housing, each gate rotor having a plurality of gear teeth, a main rotor rotatably mounted in the bore and having a plurality of grooves and a plurality of threads, wherein each groove meshingly engages at least one of the gear teeth from each gate rotor, a primary economizer port in communication with the cylindrical bore, and a secondary economizer port in communication with the cylindrical bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Vilter Manufacturing LLC
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Picouet
  • Patent number: 9032756
    Abstract: Provided is an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, an evaporator, and a supercooling device configured to supercool a refrigerant passing through the condenser. The supercooling device includes a supercooling main body in which the refrigerant passing through the condenser and a refrigerant to be injected into the compressor are introduced, a first passage disposed within the supercooling main body so that the refrigerant passing through the condenser flows in one direction, a second passage disposed on a side of the first passage so that the refrigerant passing through the condenser flows in the other direction, and a third passage in which the refrigerant to be injected into the compressor flows, the third passage being heat-exchanged with at least one of the first and second passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Beomchan Kim, Byoungjin Ryu, Yonghee Jang, Younghwan Ko, Byeongsu Kim
  • Publication number: 20150128638
    Abstract: A thermally driven condenser unit and an adsorption heat plant constructed therewith, which can be used as an adsorption heat pump, adsorption refrigeration plant, heat store and/or refrigeration storage mechanism. The thermally driven condenser unit integrates a thermal compressor and a condenser in a modular component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Roland BURK
  • Patent number: 9016074
    Abstract: A system and method for heating water are provided. The system includes a first subcooler for receiving a first water flow, a second subcooler for receiving a second water flow, a first condenser in fluid communication with the first subcooler and the second subcooler for receiving water from both subcoolers, and a second condenser in fluid communication with the first condenser. The method involves receiving a flow of water, and transferring heat to the water using the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Energy Recovery Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Douglas Marte
  • Patent number: 9010136
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a refrigerating installation, according to which the cooling liquid temperature is controlled and stabilized upstream of the expansion valve, and the suction vapor temperature is controlled and stabilized upstream of the condenser in dry expansion systems, thermosyphon installations, two-stage evaporation installations, dry expansion installations having a downstream internal heat exchanger (IWT), and all other refrigerating systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: BMS-Energietechnik AG
    Inventor: Remo Meister
  • Patent number: 8997518
    Abstract: The scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll including a first wrap, an orbiting scroll disposed to have a phase difference with respect to the fixed scroll, the orbiting scroll including a second wrap defining a compression chamber together with the first wrap, a suction part to receive a refrigerant into the compressor chamber, a driving shaft to transmit a rotation force to the orbiting scroll, a first injection part disposed in one position of the fixed scroll to introduce a refrigerant into the compression chamber, and a second injection part disposed in another position of the fixed scroll to introduce a refrigerant into the compression chamber, where the second wrap is disposed on the orbiting scroll such that the first injection part is opened to introduce the second refrigerant before the receipt of the first refrigerant through the suction part is completed during the orbiting of the orbiting scroll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yonghee Jang, Byoungjin Ryu, Baikyoung Chung, Beomchan Kim, Younghwan Ko, Byeongsu Kim
  • Patent number: 8997508
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to keep an appropriate high pressure side pressure in a refrigerant circuit while reducing noises of an operation of a blower in a refrigerating apparatus which obtains a critical pressure on a high pressure side. The refrigerating apparatus in which the refrigerant circuit is constituted of a compressor, a gas cooler, a reducing element and an evaporator to obtain a supercritical pressure on the high pressure side includes a blower which air-cools the gas cooler and a control device which controls this blower. This control device controls a revolution speed of the blower based on an outdoor temperature and an evaporation temperature of a refrigerant in the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Mihara, Hidetaka Sasaki, Setsu Hasegawa, Ken Kawakubo, Masahisa Otake, Takashi Sato, Akira Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8978410
    Abstract: A refrigerating system is provided in which a heat exchanging unit performs heat exchange between first and second evaporators, so that the first and second evaporators have similar temperatures, and so that an additional “pump-down” operation may be avoided, thereby reducing compressor losses due to discharge occurrences. Since the additional pump-down operation may be avoided, power consumption may be reduced, and reliability and efficiency of the system may be enhanced. Additionally, a backflow preventing unit for preventing backflow of refrigerant in an evaporator may not be required, thus further reducing fabrication cost and complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Min-Kyu Oh, Gye-Young Song, Nam-Gyo Lee
  • Patent number: 8973384
    Abstract: To provide a heat pump apparatus, such as a heat pump water heating apparatus, capable of efficiently supplying high-temperature water by increasing a condensation capacity to a maximum if the outside air temperature is low. The heat pump water heating apparatus is configured to include a first refrigeration cycle and a second refrigeration cycle. The first refrigeration cycle is configured to connect in series a main compressor, a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, an internal heat exchanger, a first pressure reducing device, and an air heat exchanger. The second refrigeration cycle diverges from the first refrigeration cycle between the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and the first pressure reducing device, and joins the first refrigeration cycle between the main compressor and the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Saito
  • Patent number: 8966934
    Abstract: A refrigeration system using CO2 as a refrigerant includes a receiver having a liquid outlet connected to expansion valves, which are connected to evaporators, which are connected to the suction side of the compressor. The receiver includes a second gas outlet connected to a second pressure reduction device, to reduce the energy consumption in CO2 cooling systems and to protect the compressors against liquid CO2 by heating the suction gas. The second pressure reduction device is connected by tubing to a first heat exchanging device, which is integrated in the receiver, so that gas that is evaporated in the top of a receiver can be used for cooling the liquid part of the same receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventor: Kim G. Christensen
  • Patent number: 8959950
    Abstract: A high efficiency, low maintenance single stage or multi-stage centrifugal compressor assembly for large cooling installations. A cooling system provides direct, two-phase cooling of the rotor by combining gas refrigerant from the evaporator section with liquid refrigerant from the condenser section to affect a liquid/vapor refrigerant mixture. Cooling of the stator with liquid refrigerant may be provided by a similar technique. A noise suppression system is provided by injecting liquid refrigerant spray at points between the impeller and the condenser section. The liquid refrigerant may be sourced from high pressure liquid refrigerant from the condenser section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Daikin Applied Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Doty, Earl A. Champaigne, Thomas E. Watson, Paul K. Butler, Quentin E. Cline, Samuel J. Showalter
  • Patent number: 8959951
    Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus, where refrigerant reaches a supercritical state in at least part of a refrigeration cycle, includes at least one expansion mechanism, an evaporator connected to the expansion mechanism, first and second sequential compression elements, a radiator connected to the discharge side of the second compression element, a first refrigerant pipe interconnecting the radiator and the expansion mechanism, a heat exchanger arranged to cause heat exchange between the first refrigerant pipe and another refrigerant pipe. Preferably, a heat exchanger switching mechanism is switchable so that refrigerant flows in the first refrigerant pipe through the first heat exchanger or in a heat exchange bypass pipe connected to the first refrigerant pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Fujimoto, Atsushi Yoshimi, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Toru Inazuka, Kazuhiro Furusho, Mitsuharu Uchida, Hidehiko Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8955323
    Abstract: To improve the exhaust heat recovery efficiency, a compressor includes a heat exchanger for cooling a gas, coolant, water, or oil heated by the compressor during compressor operation by heat exchange with a working fluid, for circulating the working fluid of a Rankine cycle. The Rankine cycle is implemented by the heat exchanger, an expander, a condenser, and a circulating pump to circulate the working fluid through the cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Kamiya
  • Patent number: 8950206
    Abstract: A system, compressor, and method that cools an electronics module with a low-pressure refrigerant. The system, compressor, and method utilize a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the low pressure refrigerant and communicates with the electronics module. Based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, the electronics module controls a liquid dry out point of the refrigerant that is used to cool the electronics module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Luc M. Caillat
  • Publication number: 20150013353
    Abstract: The invention relates to a compressor-heat exchanger unit for a heating-cooling module for a motor vehicle, in which at least one fluid serving as a coolant flows, comprising a compressor device for compressing the first fluid, at least one heat exchanger device that has at least one first circuit for the first fluid to flow through and a second circuit for a second fluid to flow through, this heat exchanger unit being arranged in the fluid stream after the compressor device, characterised in that the first fluid is guided at least partially in flow channels of the first circuit that at least partially enclose the compressor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Uwe Becker, Jens Dittmar, Tilo Schaefer, Gholam Reza Zakeri
  • 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: 8931305
    Abstract: An evaporator unit comprising an evaporator, an internal heat exchanger defining a high pressure flow passage and a low pressure flow passage, an expansion device connected downstream of the high pressure flow passage of the internal heat exchanger and upstream of the evaporator. The internal heat exchanger is attached to the evaporator. With the above structure, the internal heat exchanger can utilize the remaining cooling capability of the refrigerant exiting from the evaporator for its greatest benefit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Styles, Kwangtaek Hong, Bradley Brodie
  • Patent number: 8925336
    Abstract: A refrigerant system operates in an environment defined by three distinct temperature levels, such as, for instance, the outdoor ambient temperature level, the indoor temperature level and the refrigeration temperature level. The refrigerant system is provided with an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger located within the general indoor environment and connected to receive the flow of refrigerant from a heat rejection heat exchanger. The air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger gives off heat to the indoor air and in the process further cools the refrigerant flowing to an expansion device to thereby increase the cooling effect provided by an evaporator to the refrigeration area. Provisions are also made to partially or entirely bypass the air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and/or the heat rejection heat exchanger, on a selective basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
  • 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: 20140366572
    Abstract: [Problem] When a size of a cooling device using a boiling cooling system is reduced, a cooling performance decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Arihiro Matsunaga, Minoru Yoshikawa, Hitoshi Sakamoto, Akira Shoujiguchi, Masaki Chiba, Kenichi Inaba
  • Patent number: 8899058
    Abstract: Heating equipment, including a first heat exchanger, a compressor, a second heat exchanger, and a first expansion valve that decompresses a refrigerant flowing from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger, are connected so as to circulate the refrigerant. A third heat exchanger provides heat of the refrigerant flowing from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger to the refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger toward the compressor. An injection circuit merges part of the refrigerant flowing from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger with the refrigerant that is sucked by the compressor. An injection expansion valve is installed in the injection circuit and decompresses the refrigerant flowing in the injection circuit. A fourth heat exchanger is installed in the injection circuit to supply heat of the refrigerant flowing from the second heat exchanger toward the first heat exchanger to the refrigerant flowing in the injection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Fumitake Unezaki, Makoto Saitou, Tetsuji Saikusa, Masanori Aoki, Masato Yosomiya
  • Patent number: 8899062
    Abstract: A plate-type heat exchanger having a first heat exchanger portion configured to receive a refrigerant flow and a hot side coolant flow having a lower temperature than the refrigerant flow, a second heat exchanger portion configured to receive the refrigerant flow exiting from the first heat exchanger portion and a cold side coolant flow having a higher temperature than the refrigerant flow exiting from the first heat exchanger portion, and an internal heat exchanger portion sandwiched between the first heat exchanger portion and the second heat exchanger portion. The refrigerant flow through the plate type heat exchanger is in non-contact thermal communication with the hot side coolant flow and the cold side coolant flow. The cold side coolant flow transfers heat energy to the refrigerant, which in turn transfer that heat energy to the hot side coolant flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Prasad Shripad Kadle, Gary Scott Vreeland, Frederick Vincent Oddi
  • Publication number: 20140338391
    Abstract: An evaporative heat rejection cycle for cooling a heat load is presented, including an environmental pre-cooling primary evaporator, an environmental pre-cooling secondary evaporator, a pre-cooled evaporative heat rejection cycle section in thermal communication with a heat load, and a primary pre-cooling evaporative heat exchanger in thermal communication with air that is drawn into thermal communication with a primary evaporator cycle, to enable heat transfer and moisture elimination from the air to a first fluid, where a portion of the first fluid evaporates and absorbs heat and condenses moisture from the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Earl Keisling