Accumulating Holdover Ice In Situ Patents (Class 62/59)
  • Patent number: 11287148
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an air conditioner, a control strategy of the air conditioner and an air conditioning system. The air conditioner includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a phase-change thermal-storage heat exchanger, a throttling device and a box. The throttling device is provided between the first heat exchanger and the phase-change thermal-storage heat exchanger. One of the first heat exchanger and phase-change thermal-storage heat exchanger functions as an evaporator and the other functions as a condenser. The box includes an air supply port and an air return port. The compressor, the first heat exchanger, the phase-change thermal-storage heat exchanger and the throttling device are mounted in the box, thereby facilitating installation of the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG SANHUA INTELLIGENT CONTROLS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peilan Zhang, Longzhong Huang, Bin Yin, Lin-Jie Huang, Chunyou Zhou
  • Patent number: 10883766
    Abstract: A system of double concentric pipes having different enthalpy including a plurality of double pipes where the internal pipe is made of a material of high thermal conductivity and the external pipe is made of a material of low thermal conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: R. Neto S.A.
    Inventor: Marco Aurelio De Cunha Maluf
  • Patent number: 10846715
    Abstract: An energy operation system, apparatus, and method capable of stably supplying energy and providing adjustment control based on prediction precision and planning precision for energy supply and demand. An energy operation apparatus includes a demand predictor, planner, evaluator, and solution quality controller. The demand predictor predicts demand and/or a power generation amount of future energy in a management area. The planner prepares a future energy supply plan in the management area based on a prediction. The evaluator evaluates supply and/or demand conditions including at least one of future weather in the management area, energy demand in the management area, a demand density and/or a generation density of future energy in the management area. The solution quality controller controls the quality of at least one of a prediction solution of the demand predictor and the energy supply plan of the planner based on an evaluation result from the evaluator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Tohru Watanabe, Isao Hagiya, Masamichi Nakamura, Yu Ikemoto, Masato Utsumi, Masashi Fukaya, Jyunpei Ogawa, Hiroaki Ogawa, Ikuo Shigemori, Hiroshi Iimura
  • Patent number: 10808979
    Abstract: An ice storage amount adjusting system is disclosed. The ice storage amount adjusting system includes a chiller, an air-condition scheduler for outputting a scheduling parameter of an air-conditioner during a first time, an indoor-temperature setting module for outputting indoor-temperature setting condition during the first time, a building exterior-load collecting module for outputting exterior loading factors of a building during the first time, a weather forecasting data collecting module for outputting weather forecasting data during an upcoming second time, and an air-condition loading predictor. The air-condition loading predictor predicts an air-condition loading of the air-conditioner at the second time based on the scheduling parameter, the indoor-temperature setting condition, the exterior loading factors and the weather forecasting data. The chiller adjusts its ice storage amount to reach a target storage demand based on the predicted air-condition loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shen-Min Yang, Cheng-Yi Ho, Wen-Yen Cheng
  • Patent number: 10571202
    Abstract: The heat storage apparatus of the present disclosure includes a casing, a heat storage material that is located in the casing, a stirrer that is located in the casing, that is in contact with the heat storage material, and that rotates to stir the heat storage material, and a projection that is in contact with the heat storage material, that projects from the stirrer, and that rotates with rotation of the stirrer. The projection is continuously in contact with an inner face of the casing while the stirrer rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironobu Machida, Motohiro Suzuki, Shinsuke Takeguchi, Takashi Kubo, Kentaro Shii, Naoyuki Tani, Tatsuya Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9362749
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling aggregated thermostatically controlled appliances (TCAs) for demand response is disclosed. A targeted load profile is formulated and a forecasted load profile is generated. The TCAs within an “on” or “off” control group are prioritized based on their operating temperatures. The “on” or “off” status of the TCAs is determined. Command signals are sent to turn on or turn off the TCAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ning Lu, Yu Zhang, Pengwei Du, Yuri V. Makarov
  • Patent number: 9286582
    Abstract: A computer system for use with a building management system for a building includes a processing circuit configured to determine a building's baseline energy usage model. The processing circuit may be configured to determine one or more automatically selected variables for use in the baseline energy usage model for predicting energy use in a building. The processing circuit may be further configured to cause the display of the one or more automatically selected variables on a user interface device. The processing circuit may be configured to receive, from the user interface, a selection of one or more variables which differ from the one or more automatically selected variables. The processing circuit may be further configured to use the received selection to generate a new baseline energy usage model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer, Michael J. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 9250000
    Abstract: During off-peak operation of a power plant operating on a thermodynamic cycle wherein heat is rejected to an ambient fluid, heat is removed from a cold temperature storage medium. The cold temperature storage medium is stored until the power plant is experiencing a peak period. During the peak period, the stored cold temperature storage medium is used to absorb heat from the ambient fluid prior to heat rejection from the thermodynamic cycle to the ambient fluid, to improve performance of the thermodynamic cycle. In another aspect, the stored cold temperature storage medium is mixed with the ambient fluid prior to heat rejection from the thermodynamic cycle to the ambient fluid. Corresponding systems, apparatuses, retrofit methods, design and control techniques are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Inventor: Matthew Rosenfeld
  • Patent number: 9246333
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric power supply system which has: a common power source which stores and supplies a power via a local power grid; and a distributed power source which supplies a power to buildings and a surplus to the common power source. The electric power supply system further includes a first power meter measuring the amount of power supplied from a commercial power source, a second power meter measuring the amount of power received from and supplied to the common power source via the local power grid, and a distribution control device which distributes a power from the common power source to the area based on the amounts of power as measured by the first power meter and the second power meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Takehara, Kenji Nakakita
  • Patent number: 9182155
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for the transport of temperature sensitive products including an insulated container, an insulated lid, a fastener to secure the lid to the container, an active heat exchanger, a thermal circuit to circulate heat exchange, a temperature sensor read by a temperature regulating circuit that maintains a temperature range, a power source, and a support frame that arranges the elements of the device with the overall center of mass at a location adapted for transport and storage of the device. Disclosed is also a method of transport for temperature sensitive products including securing the temperature sensitive product within an insulated container with a lid, removing heat from the container to maintain a temperature range, strapping the device onto the user's back and adjusting to the shape of the user, freeing both hands during transport of the device, and minimizing hindrances to user mobility caused by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventors: Ethan J. Crumlin, Geoff Becker, Shauna Jin, Amy Lai Wong, Nathan Barker Ball, Gabriel Nestor Sanchez, Daniel George Walker, Christopher Paul Possinger, Olumuyiwa Oni, Emily Smith, Kabir Mukaddam, Myraida A. Vega Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9180750
    Abstract: A vehicular thermo-control device adjusts a temperature of a battery. The device has a primary system through which cooling water circulates, and a secondary system through which a refrigerant circulates. The primary system has a heat exchanger which performs heat exchange between the battery and the cooling water, and a heat exchanger which performs heat exchange between the cooling water and an ambient air. The secondary system is a refrigerating cycle. Both heat exchangers on a high temperature side and a low temperature side of the refrigerating cycle are thermally coupled with the primary system. Only one heat exchanger provides heat exchange with the ambient air. The pump of the primary system can switch circulating direction of the cooling water. A controller controls devices to perform cooling and heating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kishita, Masayuki Takeuchi, Hideaki Okawa, Seiji Inoue, Nobuharu Kakehashi, Koji Miura
  • Patent number: 9171274
    Abstract: A method (300) of managing energy consumption associated with premises includes firstly generating (302) and storing an initial energy profile (304) of the premises. The profile (304) includes information characterizing the premises, such as occupancy patterns, function of the premises, geographical location, installed appliances (108), and so forth. An expected energy usage (308) associated with the premises is computed over a predetermined time period based upon the information in the initial energy profile (304). Actual energy usage (312) associated with the premises is then recorded over the predetermined time period and the energy profile (304) is adaptively updated based upon the recorded energy usage (312). The energy profile (304) and the actual energy usage (312) are used to manage energy consumption associated with the premises. An installable system (100) and apparatus (102) for implementing the method at premises are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventors: Aniruddha Anil Desai, Jugdutt Singh
  • Patent number: 9103576
    Abstract: An ice building machine for spraying a fluid comprising water to form ice is described. The machine comprises: a chassis; a power generating source connected with the chassis; a control module electrically connected with the power generating source; and a fluid spray system coupled with the chassis and arranged to spray a fluid under control of the control module and powered by the power generating source, the fluid spray system arranged to access the fluid from below a lower surface of the ice building machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventor: Paul Kuhn
  • Patent number: 8833090
    Abstract: A drink dispenser includes a housing defining a chamber that contains a cooling fluid therein. A refrigeration unit is disposed within the housing. The refrigeration unit includes an evaporator coil extending into the cooling fluid such that a frozen cooling fluid bank forms about the evaporator coil. An agitator is disposed within the housing. The agitator extends into the cooling fluid for circulating the cooling fluid about the frozen cooling fluid bank. Dispensing valves mounted onto the housing dispense drinks from the drink dispenser. An electronic control system is disposed within the housing. The electronic control system is coupled with the agitator such that the electronic control system cycles the agitator between an agitator on period and an agitator off period. Cycling the agitator between an agitator on period and an agitator off period promotes stable growth of the frozen cooling fluid bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Lancer Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa L. Breton-Hall, Rodney L. Neiman, Frank Taylor, Jr., Jeremiah A. Hong
  • Patent number: 8783046
    Abstract: An ice display device includes a chill tube and a piston that slides within the chill tube providing a fluidtight seal against the interior. The tube is filled with water and cooled to form an ice column. A shutter may selectively close the upper end of the chill tube with a fluidtight seal while the ice column is formed. The tube is warmed and the piston is lifted to an upper end of the tube to display the ice column. A plurality of water nozzles may selectively discharge streams of high pressure water inwardly to sculpt the ice column. An armature may extend upwardly from the piston to support and cool an interior of the ice column. The tube and armature may be cooled and warmed by a thermal transfer fluid. A device may be provided to induce turbulence in the thermal transfer fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: WET Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: James Doyle, Mark Fuller, Karl Nettmann
  • Patent number: 8760091
    Abstract: A control circuit for a PMDC motor used in an ice delivery apparatus, the circuit including a double pole double throw relay that switches both sides of the circuit and peripheral circuitry connected between a power source and the double pole double throw relay to rectify the power source and power the PMDC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Merkle-Korff Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Cannon, Athanase N Tsergas, Edward V Minnich, Stoyan Staev
  • Patent number: 8720538
    Abstract: A cold energy storage system for a vehicle includes an air-conditioning unit that includes an evaporator and a heater core. The system stores cold energy during a cooling operation and supplements the cooling operation by using the stored cold energy after stoppage of the cooling operation. A cold energy storage tank (50) connects in parallel to an engine cooling circulation circuit to the heater core. The storage tank (50) has a liquid storage layer (50A) for engine coolant and a refrigerant layer (50B) in which refrigerant from the evaporator flows. A mode switcher switches between a storing cold energy mode and a cooling supplement mode. In the storing cold energy mode, engine coolant stored in the liquid storage layer (50A) is refrigerated during the cooling operation. In the cooling supplement mode, refrigerated engine coolant from the liquid storage layer (50A) is introduced to the heater core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Jinichi Hiyama
  • Patent number: 8667804
    Abstract: Thermal storage air conditioner including an outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger for making heat exchange, and at least one compressor for compressing refrigerant, an indoor unit having at least one indoor heat exchanger for making heat exchange, a thermal storage unit having a thermal storage tank for holding thermal storage substance therein, a thermal storage heat exchanger for receiving refrigerant from an outside of the thermal storage unit to heat exchange with the thermal storage substance in the thermal storage tank, and a securing member for securing the thermal storage heat exchanger so as to maintain the thermal storage heat exchanger submerged under the thermal storage substance in the thermal storage tank, and a functional unit for selective control of refrigerant flows among the outdoor unit, the indoor unit and the thermal storage unit according to an operation condition, thereby maintaining the thermal storage heat exchanger in the thermal storage tank securely, to prevent drop of he
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Yoon Koh, In Kyu Kim, Jin Ha Hwang
  • Patent number: 8650896
    Abstract: A system, configured to be disposed in a information technology equipment rack for providing ice thermal storage, includes a tank configured to hold water, a heat exchanger disposed in water in the tank and configured to convey a two-phase liquid and vapor refrigerant and to transfer heat between the water and the refrigerant, a first valve connected to a liquid and a vapor refrigerant line and configured to selectively connect the liquid refrigerant line to a first port and the vapor refrigerant line to a second port in a first mode and to connect the liquid refrigerant line to the second port and the vapor refrigerant line to the first port in a second mode, a thermostatic expansion valve connected to an inlet of the heat exchanger, and a liquid/vapor pump connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger and to the second port of the first valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric It Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8528345
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for providing power generation and distribution with on-site energy storage and power input controlled by a utility or a third party manager. The system allows a utility manager to decide and direct how energy is delivered to a customer on both sides of the power meter, while the customer directs and controls when and how much energy is needed. In the disclosed embodiments, the utility controls the supply (either transmitted or stored) and makes power decisions on a system that acts as a virtual power plant, while the end-user retains control of the on-site aggregated power consumption assets. The disclosed systems act to broker the needs of the utility and end-user by creating, managing and controlling the interface between these two entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ice Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Parsonnet, Ramachandran Narayanamurthy
  • Patent number: 8505313
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for a refrigerant-based thermal storage system wherein a condensing unit and an ice-tank heat exchanger can be isolated through a second heat exchanger. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based ice storage system with increased reliability, lower cost components, and reduced power consumption compared to non-isolated systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Ice Energy Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy
  • Patent number: 8393553
    Abstract: The invention provides a floating ice sheet based renewable thermal energy harvesting system, that can harvest energy from naturally occurring temperature differential between liquid water below a floating ice sheet that is substantially at the freezing temperature of water (0 degrees C. or slightly lower for salt water), and colder air above the floating ice sheet. For example, this is a naturally occurring phenomenon in Arctic and Antarctic region sea ice or ice shelf regions, where the air temperature above the floating ice may range from ?5 degrees C. down to winter extreme cold temperatures of around ?50 degrees C. In addition to the inventive application of thermodynamic cycle engines to harvest renewable energy from this naturally occurring temperature differential, variant embodiments also combine wind energy and/or solar energy subsystems to provide synergistic further benefits and greater quantities of renewable energy harvestable from devices of this class.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: RIC Enterprises
    Inventors: Mithra M. K. V. Sankrithi, Siva U. M. Sankrithi
  • Patent number: 8261565
    Abstract: A cooling system for transferring heat from a heat load to an environment has a volatile working fluid. The cooling system includes first and second cooling cycles that are thermally connected to the first cooling cycle. The first cooling cycle is not a vapor compression cycle and includes a pump, an air-to-fluid heat exchanger, and a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger. The second cooling cycle can include a chilled water system for transferring heat from the fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger to the environment. Alternatively, the second cooling cycle can include a vapor compression system for transferring heat from the fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A Borror, Franklin E DiPaolo, Thomas E Harvey, Steven M Madara, Reasey J Mam, Stephen C Sillato
  • Patent number: 8234876
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for providing power generation and distribution with on-site energy storage and power input controlled by a utility or a third party manager. The system allows a utility manager to decide and direct how energy is delivered to a customer on both sides of the power meter, while the customer directs and controls when and how much energy is needed. In the disclosed embodiments, the utility controls the supply (either transmitted or stored) and makes power decisions on a system that acts as a virtual power plant, while the end-user retains control of the on-site aggregated power consumption assets. The disclosed systems act to broker the needs of the utility and end-user by creating, managing and controlling the interface between these two entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ice Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Parsonnet, Ramachandran Narayanamurthy
  • Patent number: 8181474
    Abstract: A solar-powered air conditioning system including an energy-storage medium made of a mixture of 5%-20% glycerin, 2.5%-10% alcohol and water in a thermally insulated container is disclosed. While frozen, the said energy storage medium becomes slurry of thin sheets of ice dispersed in liquid, which will not damage the container and the heat-exchange pipes. The system uses a solar photovoltaic panel to directly drive a vapor-compression refrigeration unit to freeze the said energy storage medium. A ventilation system forces air through a heat-exchange coil in the said energy-storage medium, to generate chilled air to cool the space. In the absence of sunlight, the energy-storage medium can keep frozen for days. With or without sunlight, the flowing air chilled by the frozen energy-storage medium continues to cool the room or the entire building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Chengjun Julian Chen
  • Patent number: 8136368
    Abstract: A modular evaporator which can be assembled from a number of standard modules is provided. Depending on the requirements, the modular evaporator can be assembled to meet a wide range of design cooling loads. Additionally, the modular evaporator is capable of generating and holding ice for thermal storage purposes, eliminating the need for external ice storage tanks. Furthermore, the heat transfer and thermal storage fluid for the evaporator can simply be water which considerably simplifies the system, lowers the cost, and increases the efficiency of the heat transfer loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Reich, Michael Paul Burdett, Vladimir D. Reich
  • Patent number: 8049522
    Abstract: An ice thickness probe includes a longitudinally-extending probe rod, an insulator casing and a sleeve. The probe rod is fabricated from an electrically-conductive material. The insulator casing is fabricated from an electrically-insulative material and is wrapped around, is in contact with and extends along the probe rod. The sleeve is fabricated from a stiff yet resilient material and is wrapped around, is in contact with and extends along the insulator casing. The insulator casing and the sleeve are concentrically disposed about the probe rod as viewed in cross-section. An ice thickness probe assembly includes a frame structure, a reference bar and at least one ice thickness probe. An ice thickness monitoring apparatus is used in a thermal storage coil having a tank containing water and a tube disposed in the water so that, when the thermal ice storage coil is energized, ice is produced and accumulates on the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Davey Joe Vadder, Jeffrey Michael Kane, Arthur James Marshall
  • Patent number: 8011190
    Abstract: A cooling system for beverage dispense has a circuit 5 in which binary ice is circulated. A modular heat exchange unit 13 for a plurality of beverage lines 25,27,29,31,33 is connected to the circuit 5 for cooling beverage prior to dispense from a dispense tap 35 in a serving area such as a bar. The ice fraction in the binary ice provides a thermal store that can absorb heat without increasing the temperature of the binary ice and enables the system to respond quickly to changes in the cooling requirements in the circuit 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc.
    Inventor: Philip Andrew Simmons
  • Publication number: 20110079025
    Abstract: A thermal storage device for generating a thermal storage medium from a fluid and including a storage tank for containing the fluid, a refrigeration system having a heat exchanger positioned in the storage tank, a pump for pumping the fluid through the storage tank, a storage medium detection device, and a controller. The storage medium detection device generates a signal corresponding to at least one parameter of the pump. The controller controls the refrigeration system in one of a first mode and a second mode based on the signal. The at least one heat exchanger removes heat from the fluid to generate the thermal storage medium thereon when the refrigeration system operates in the first mode, and the at least one heat exchanger does not remove heat from the fluid thereby terminating generation of the thermal storage medium when the refrigeration system operates in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: William F. Mohs, Bernard Wayne Benson
  • Patent number: 7874166
    Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle comprises a compressor for compressing refrigerant, the compressor being adapted to be driven by a power source installed in the vehicle, a condenser for receiving compressed refrigerant from the compressor, an expansion device for expanding refrigerant from the condenser, and a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger for receiving refrigerant from the expansion device and exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a liquid. The liquid may comprise a coolant, and a pump may be provided for pumping the coolant through the heat exchanger to a point of use such as a cooling garment to cool personnel on board the vehicle. Alternatively, the liquid may be a drinkable liquid which is pumped through the heat exchanger to a suitable dispensing system to provide an on-board supply of cool drinking liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Allen-Vanguard Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Reddin, Glen Gallant
  • Patent number: 7854129
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus that provides refrigerant based energy storage and cooling. When connected to a condensing unit, the system has the ability to store energy capacity during one time period and provide cooling from the stored energy during a second time period. The system requires minimal energy to operate during either time period, and only a fraction of the energy required to operate the system during the first time period is required to operate the system during the second time period using an optional refrigerant pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ice Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy
  • Patent number: 7832217
    Abstract: A control system measures the pressure/temperature of the refrigerant within a Thermal Energy Module having a heat exchanger and calculates the thickness of ice within the Thermal Energy Module. A controller calculates an integral starting from the moment when ice accumulation begins: I(t)=?Tr(?)*d? where Tr is the refrigerant saturation temperature changing with time t. The thickness of the ice on one side of the heat exchanger can be calculated using the following formula: X=?(2*I*K*Ui/?i/ci) where Ui is the thermal conductance of ice ?i is the density of the ice Ci is the latent heat of the ice K is a correction coefficient associated with the type of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventors: Daniel Reich, Michael Burdett, Vladimir Reich
  • Patent number: 7827807
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device to increase the cooling load that can be provided by a refrigerant-based thermal energy storage and cooling system with an improved arrangement of heat exchangers. This load increase is accomplished by circulating cold water surrounding a block of ice, used as the thermal energy storage medium, through a secondary heat exchanger where it condenses refrigerant vapor returning from a load. The refrigerant is then circulated through a primary heat exchanger within the block of ice where it is further cooled and condensed. This system is known as an internal/external melt system because the thermal energy, stored in the form of ice, is melted internally by a primary heat exchanger and externally by circulating cold water from the periphery of the block through a secondary heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ice Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy, Robert Scott Hicks
  • Patent number: 7793515
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for a refrigerant-based thermal storage system wherein a condensing unit and an ice-tank heat exchanger can be isolated through a second heat exchanger. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based ice storage system with increased reliability, lower cost components, and reduced power consumption compared to non-isolated systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Ice Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy
  • Patent number: 7779641
    Abstract: An ice supplier includes an ice maker configured to make ice, a case configured to store ice made by the ice maker, a sensing unit configured to sense a quantity of ice stored in the case, and a controller configured to control the ice maker according to a result of sensing from the sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Hoon Lee, Wook Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 7775066
    Abstract: The invention relates to refrigeration using a thermochemical system based on the coupling of two reversible physico-chemical phenomena between a gas and a solid or liquid sorbent, one at low temperature (the LT phenomenon) and the other at a higher temperature (the HT phenomenon). The LT phenomenon is a liquid/gas phase change of the fluid G or an absorption of the fluid G by a liquid sorbent. The HT phenomenon is a reversible sorption of the fluid G by a liquid or solid sorbent. The endothermic phase of the LT phenomenon takes place in a reactor thermally isolated from the ambient environment. The exothermic phase of the LT phenomenon takes place in a condenser in communication with the reactor in which the HT phenomenon takes place, the condensed fluid G then being transferred to the reactor in which the endothermic phase of the LT phenomenon takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Driss Stitou, Olivier Bertrand, Bernard Spinner, Bruno Spinner, legal representative, Caroline Spinner Brossard, legal representative, Anne Christel Spinner Kohler, legal representative, Nathalie Mazet, legal representative, Martin Spinner, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7714525
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a gear motor assembly and control system for use with ice crushers and the other similar devices. The assembly utilizes a novel reversing circuit which allows the use of a bidirectional DC powered gear motor in existing refrigerator and freezer configurations, which heretofore used AC powered gear motors, to power ice crushing and dispensing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Merkle-Korff Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William Hittie, Bruce Nielson
  • Patent number: 7681404
    Abstract: A backup cooling storage system comprising at least one cooling and storage unit configured to cool a liquid supply using a quantity of cooled material when a main chiller of the liquid supply is not operational, and at least one chilling element configured to generate the quantity of cooled material for the at least one cooling and storage unit when the main chiller of the liquid supply is operational. Additional embodiments and methods are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7681410
    Abstract: A system, configured to be disposed in a information technology equipment rack for providing ice thermal storage, includes a tank configured to hold water, a heat exchanger disposed in water in the tank and configured to convey a two-phase liquid and vapor refrigerant and to transfer heat between the water and the refrigerant, a first valve connected to a liquid and a vapor refrigerant line and configured to selectively connect the liquid refrigerant line to a first port and the vapor refrigerant line to a second port in a first mode and to connect the liquid refrigerant line to the second port and the vapor refrigerant line to the first port in a second mode, a thermostatic expansion valve connected to an inlet of the heat exchanger, and a liquid/vapor pump connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger and to the second port of the first valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090293507
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for a refrigerant-based thermal energy storage and cooling system with an isolated evaporator coil in a secondary cooling loop. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based ice storage system with increased versatility, reliability, lower cost components, reduced power consumption and ease of installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Ice Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy, Brian Parsonnet, Donald Thomas Cook
  • Patent number: 7600392
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for merchandisers, drug cabinets and similar enclosures (10) that continues to provide temperature control during periods when external power is not necessarily available. The system typically has a compressor/condenser subsystem (11) that is powered by mains electricity (16) and a second subsystem (12) that includes an insulated eutectic tank. The compressor/condensor (11) cools the tank (12) using external electrical power, when available, while the tank cools the enclosure (10) without requiring external power. A refrigerant loop (14) between the second subsystem (12) and the enclosure (10) operates by way of convection and/or gravity and a simple controller (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: ERA (Environmental Refigeration Alternatives) Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Theodore David Williams, Peter Kenneth Courtenay
  • Patent number: 7571621
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid cooling system (1), for use in dispensing or distributing a chilled or cooled fluid, comprising a primary heat exchanger system (2), a secondary heat exchanger system (3), a first conduit (9) through which fluid to be cooled or chilled is circulated, and a heat transfer agent (8) for transferring cooling energy to the fluid to be chilled circulating in the first conduit (9), wherein the primary and secondary heat exchanger systems (2, 3) are arranged at least partially one inside of another The invention also relates to cooled fluid dispensers incorporating the fluid cooling system and a methods for sterilization thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Dieau S.A.
    Inventors: Eric Dietschi, Eric Fournier, Alexandre Pereira
  • Patent number: 7552593
    Abstract: Draft beverage is cooled in a cooling water tank in a cooling unit under a drinks bar. It is then cooled in a thermoelectric cooler, and transferred to a font in pipe which is surrounded in a water jacket of cooling water from the tank. The water jacket is connected to a further water jacket for a tube of cooling water which is also supplied to the font for cooling a glass into which the beverage will be dispensed. The waterjacket keeps the beverage in the pipe cool, but above freezing point, when it is static prior to dispense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventor: Stephen Paul Smith
  • Patent number: 7543455
    Abstract: A solar-powered refrigerator is disclosed. It uses a solar photovoltaic panel to convert solar energy to electricity to power a DC motor. The DC motor drives the compressor of a vapor-compression refrigeration system to freeze an energy-storage vessel, located in the freezer. The energy-storage vessel is filled with a mixture of glycerin, alcohol and water, with a freezing point of 10° F. to ?10° F. In the absence of sunlight, the temperature of the frozen mixture can maintain near its freezing point for more than one day. The temperature of the refrigerator is maintained to a desirable value, for example 37° F., by a pair of heat-exchange coils and a thermostat, with or without sunlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Inventor: Chengjun Julian Chen
  • Publication number: 20090093916
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for providing power generation and distribution with on-site energy storage and power input controlled by a utility or a third party manager. The system allows a utility manager to decide and direct how energy is delivered to a customer on both sides of the power meter, while the customer directs and controls when and how much energy is needed. In the disclosed embodiments, the utility controls the supply (either transmitted or stored) and makes power decisions on a system that acts as a virtual power plant, while the end-user retains control of the on-site aggregated power consumption assets. The disclosed systems act to broker the needs of the utility and end-user by creating, managing and controlling the interface between these two entities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: ICE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Parsonnet, Ramachandran Narayanamurthy
  • Patent number: 7503185
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device to increase the cooling load that can be provided by a refrigerant-based thermal energy storage and cooling system with an improved arrangement of heat exchangers. This load increase is accomplished by circulating cold water surrounding a block of ice, used as the thermal energy storage medium, through a secondary heat exchanger where it condenses refrigerant vapor returning from a load. The refrigerant is then circulated through a primary heat exchanger within the block of ice where it is further cooled and condensed. This system is known as an internal/external melt system because the thermal energy, stored in the form of ice, is melted internally by a primary heat exchanger and externally by circulating cold water from the periphery of the block through a secondary heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ice Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy, Robert Scott Hicks
  • Publication number: 20090038320
    Abstract: An ice storage constant temperature air conditioning system having divided refrigerant has a refrigerant divider to divide refrigerant flow into two ducts. The first duct is connected to an evaporator to absorb a great amount of latent heat to generate refrigeration. The refrigerant flows to an ice storage refrigerant loop of an ice storage tank to store ice. The second duct directly sends the refrigerant to the ice storage refrigerant loop to store the ice. Hence the refrigerant can be fully used or used in a divided fashion. A condensate collection tray is provided below the evaporator to recycle heat of low temperature condensate during operation of air conditioning to automatically replenish the chill water of the ice storage tank. The refrigerant at the condensate outlet is cooled during ice storing or ice melting period to become a subcooling liquid refrigerant to enhance refrigeration effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Ming-Jer Hsiao, Chin-Hsin Hsiao
  • Patent number: 7421846
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for a refrigerant-based thermal storage system wherein a condensing unit and an ice-tank heat exchanger can be isolated through a second heat exchanger. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based ice storage system with increased reliability, lower cost components, and reduced power consumption compared to a single phase system such as a glycol system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ice Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy, Robert R. Willis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7401473
    Abstract: A dual refrigerant refrigerating system provides a refrigeration cycle in which a primary refrigerant cools a secondary refrigerant in a primary evaporator into a partially frozen state, in which a fusion portion thereof is frozen. The primary refrigerant thus absorbs a secondary latent heat from secondary refrigerant, including a latent heat of fusion required for freezing the fusion portion. Secondary refrigerant is subsequently at least partially thawed, in a secondary evaporator, by re-absorption thereby of secondary latent heat from material proximal to secondary evaporator. Evaporation in secondary evaporator requires at least partial thawing of fusion portion, and thus latent heat of fusion is at least partially re-absorbed by secondary refrigerant, thus increasing secondary heat absorbed from material and facilitating refrigeration thereof. The system also provides defrost and heat reclaim capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignees: Systems LMP Inc.
    Inventors: Gaétan Lesage, Jordan Kantchev
  • Patent number: 7363772
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for a refrigerant-based thermal storage system wherein a condensing unit and an ice-tank heat exchanger can be isolated through a second heat exchanger. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based ice storage system with increased reliability, lower cost components, and reduced power consumption compared to a single phase system such as a glycol system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ice Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy