With Adding Of Moisture Patents (Class 62/91)
  • Patent number: 11408681
    Abstract: An evaporative cooling system includes an evaporative cooler liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE), a first liquid-to-air heat exchanger (LAHE), and a cooling fluid circuit. The evaporative cooler LAMEE is disposed within a scavenger air plenum that is configured to channel a scavenger air stream. The first LAHE is disposed within a process air plenum that is configured to channel a process air stream. The cooling fluid circuit is configured to circulate an evaporative cooling fluid between the evaporative cooler LAMEE and the first LAHE. The evaporative cooler LAMEE is configured to utilize the scavenger air stream to evaporatively cool the cooling fluid. The first LAHE is configured to receive the cooling fluid from the evaporative cooler LAMEE and to allow the cooling fluid to absorb heat from the process air stream to cool the process air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solations Canada, Iac.
    Inventor: Philip Paul LePoudre
  • Patent number: 11217801
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided having a vehicle front end in which a fuel cell system which has a fuel cell stack is arranged, which full cell system is, at a cathode side, connected at least directly to an exhaust-gas line through which a fluid emerging from the fuel cell stack can be discharged from the vehicle front end. The exhaust-gas system comprises a sorption system for the adsorption of a liquid of the fluid emerging from the fuel cell stack. The invention furthermore relates to a method for treating a fluid of a fuel cell system, which has a fuel cell stack, in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Thomas Lichius, Herbert Böll, Johannes Weis, Thomas Weustenfeld
  • Patent number: 11143430
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling conditions in an enclosed space, such as a data center, or for providing cooling to a device, can include using a Liquid-to-Air Membrane Energy Exchanger (LAMEE) as an evaporative cooler. The LAMEE or exchanger can cool water to the outdoor air wet bulb temperature in a cooling system disposed outside of the enclosed space or device. The reduced-temperature water can be delivered to the enclosed space or device or can cool a coolant that is delivered to the enclosed space or device. The air in the enclosed space, or one or more components in the enclosed space, can be cooled by delivering the reduced-temperature water or coolant to the enclosed space, rather than moving the supply air from the enclosed space to the cooling system. In an example, the cooling system can include one or more cooling coils, upstream or downstream of the LAMEE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Davood Ghadiri Moghaddam, Philip Paul LePoudre, Manfred Gerber
  • Patent number: 11130581
    Abstract: A RAM inlet header (RIH) is provided and includes a body through which RAM air flows from an inlet toward a heat exchanger and a nozzle body arranged along a wall of the body to direct a curtain of cooled air into flows of the RAM air and toward the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donald E. Army, Thomas M. Zywiak
  • Patent number: 11092349
    Abstract: Conditioning systems and methods for providing cooling to a heat load can include an evaporative cooler arranged in a scavenger plenum with a pre-cooler upstream and a recovery coil downstream of the evaporative cooler. Outdoor or scavenger air can be conditioned in the evaporative cooler such that the conditioned scavenger air can provide cooling to a cooling fluid circulating through the recovery coil. The reduced-temperature cooling fluid can provide liquid cooling or air cooling for an enclosed space (for example, a data center) or for one or more devices that are enclosed or open to the atmosphere. Given the design and arrangement of the pre-cooler, evaporative cooler and recovery coil in the plenum, the system can operate in multiple modes. The pre-cooler can be configured to circulate a cooling fluid to condition the scavenger air. The pre-cooler fluid circuit can be coupled or decoupled from a process cooling fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Paul LePoudre, Manfred Gerber, Davood Ghadiri Moghaddam
  • Patent number: 10969163
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a refrigerator and a humidity control method for the same. The refrigerator comprises a humidity controller to controllably maintain moisture and/or perform humidification. The humidity controller is configured to: set a target humidity value, measure an actual relative humidity value of a target space, and calculate a target water replenishing mass W based on a difference between the two values and a current temperature of the target space; measure and calculate a water replenishing time T, and adjust the humidity controller so as to maintain its maximum humidifying rate Vmax within the time T to achieve the humidification purpose; and adjust the humidity controller so as to maintain a humidifying rate consistent with a water vapor loss rate in the target space to achieve the moisture maintaining purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER JOINT STOCK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Riyong Lu, Bin Fei, Xueli Cheng, Xiaodong Zhou, Xiaobing Zhu
  • Patent number: 10820451
    Abstract: A cooling system, large-scale information handling system (LIHS), and method avoid vapor condensation in information technology (IT) modules by operating all air handling units (AHU) in the same mode of operation. An AHU supervisory controller of the cooling system determines whether a trigger condition exists that indicates a risk of vapor condensation in the at least one IT module within LIHS that is cooled by more than one AHU. Each AHU directs the intake of cooling air in a selected mode of operation from among: (i) an outside air mode; and (ii) a mechanically cooled air mode. In response to determining that the trigger condition exists, the AHU supervisory controller triggers all AHUs to operate in a mode of operation selected to avoid condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Tyler B. Duncan, Trey S. Wiederhold, Michael M. Toulouse, Ty R. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 10785926
    Abstract: In a solution cultivation method for a low potassium vegetable, an entire cultivation period from seeding to harvesting is divided into a first cultivation period and a second cultivation period depending on the vegetable to be cultivated. In the first cultivation period, the vegetable is cultivated in a first culture solution containing a first fertilizer for solution cultivation which contains potassium. In the second cultivation period, the vegetable is cultivated in a second culture solution containing a second fertilizer for solution cultivation which does not substantially contain potassium. During the second cultivation period, an air flow is applied at a controlled speed to the growing point of the vegetable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita Motoyama, Yuko Fukui
  • Patent number: 10712029
    Abstract: An evaporative air cooler for cooling ambient air includes a housing, a tank, a misting structure, a filter structure, and a fan. The housing includes a top panel, a bottom panel, and side panels defining an interior of the evaporative air cooler. The tank is positioned adjacent to the top panel and at least one of the side panels. The tank receives, stores, and releases liquid. The misting structure comprises a mister and a misting structure coupling and creates a mist within the evaporative air cooler. The filter structure has a plurality of filters for absorbing the mist. The fan draws the ambient air into the evaporative air cooler and directs the ambient air through the filter structure and out of the evaporative air cooler. The evaporative air cooler cools the ambient air by at least one of the mist and the filter structure before exiting the evaporative air cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: ONTEL PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Scott Barlettano
  • Patent number: 10617997
    Abstract: An apparatus for exhaust gas abatement under reduced pressure includes a reaction tube having, in an interior thereof, an exhaust gas treatment space in which an exhaust gas supplied from an exhaust gas source via a vacuum pump is heated by an electric heater or excited by a plasma for decomposition and/or reaction treatment. The apparatus also includes a downstream vacuum pump connected to an exhaust gas outlet located downstream of the reaction tube to reduce a pressure in a region located downstream of an outlet of the vacuum pump and including the interior of the reaction tube. The downstream vacuum pump is a water-sealed pump. The apparatus further includes a water-washing unit for washing a downstream end of an exhaust gas flow path in the reaction tube with washing water. The washing water supplied by the water-washing unit is reused as seal water for the downstream vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: KANKEN TECHNO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Maeda, Akihisa Yoshida, Michihiko Yanagisawa, Tsutomu Tsukada, Hiroshi Imamura
  • Patent number: 10316461
    Abstract: A drying machine includes a clothes holding unit for holding clothes therein, a drying passage including a heater to supply heated air to the clothes holding unit, a dehumidification passage for removing moisture from the air exhausted from the clothes holding unit to supply dehumidified air to the drying passage, a circulation fan provided in the drying passage or the dehumidification passage to circulate air, a moisture absorption unit for absorbing moisture from the air exhausted from the clothes holding unit, a renewable passage for supplying the heat absorbed by the dehumidified passage to the moisture absorption unit to renew the moisture absorption unit, and a controller for controlling the circulation fan to circulate the air exhausted from the clothes holding unit for a preset time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jinwoo Bae, Sanghun Bae
  • Patent number: 9848513
    Abstract: According to one example of the present invention, a cooling system is provided. The cooling system comprises a water-cooled air conditioning module for cooling air from a chamber. The chamber is arranged for receiving air to be cooled and hot humid air. The cooling system also comprises a control system for controlling the flow of hot humid air to the chamber such that the air input to the air conditioning module has a predetermined relative humidity level within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Ratnesh Kumar Sharma, Thomas W. Christian, Chandrakant Patel
  • Patent number: 9642316
    Abstract: A shading device for a greenhouse includes a shading element and at least one lighting element, wherein the shading element comprises an outer side and an inner side. The shading element is formed from interwoven electrically conductive first thread elements and electrically insulating second thread elements. The first and/or second thread elements each may be adapted for reflecting an ambient light. The lighting element(s) may be arranged at the inner side of the shading element and connected with the first thread elements, and the lighting element(s) may be driven by an electrical current, conducted by the first thread elements, resulting in the emission of an artificial light, which may illuminate a plant growing in the greenhouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Joseph Hendrik Anna Maria Jacobs
  • Patent number: 9476649
    Abstract: This discloses apparatuses for cooling individual server racks or electrical enclosures. These devices maintain target enclosure temperatures within plus or minus 1 or 2 degrees F. The devices employ industrial cooling using staged cooling towers to evaporatively reach temperatures below the wet bulb temperature of the ambient air. Methods for using such apparatuses are disclosed as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventors: Mikhail Pavlovich Reytblat, Darrell Richardson
  • Patent number: 9445530
    Abstract: This discloses apparatuses for cooling individual server racks or electrical enclosures. These devices maintain target enclosure temperatures within plus or minus 1 or 2 degrees F. The devices employ industrial cooling using staged cooling towers to evaporatively reach temperatures below the wet bulb temperature of the ambient air. Methods for using such apparatuses are disclosed as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: R4 VENTURES LLC
    Inventors: Mikhail Pavlovich Reytblat, Darrell Richardson
  • Patent number: 9327249
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for humidifying a gas stream. Methods for providing a humidified gas stream comprise providing a dry gas, directing the dry gas to a humidification device, humidifying the dry gas to provide a humidified gas stream having an amount of moisture in excess of a predetermined amount, directing the humidified gas stream to a cooling device, cooling the humidified gas to a predetermined temperature, and directing the cooled humidified gas to a point of usage. Systems for providing a humidified gas stream comprise a dry gas stream, a humidification device configured to receive and humidify the dry gas stream to form a humidified gas stream having an amount of moisture in excess of a predetermined amount, and a cooling device configured to receive and cool the humidified gas stream to a predetermined temperature to form a cooled humidified gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Scott Albro, Anna K. Wehr-Aukland, John Lewis Green, Donald James Bowe
  • Patent number: 9169024
    Abstract: An environmental control system (ECS) for providing conditioned air to a cabin of an aircraft at a desired rate may include a bleed-air driven primary air treatment unit configured to produce pack supply air and to recirculate a portion of the pack supply air into a compressor of the primary air treatment unit. The ECS may also include a bleed-air driven secondary air treatment unit configured to compress ram air at a rate that corresponds to the rate of recirculation. The ECS may be configured to selectively deliver conditioned air from both the primary and the secondary air treatment units to the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Soren Voinov
  • Patent number: 9121618
    Abstract: A direct evaporative air handler for providing supply air to humidify and cool an enclosed space such as a data center. The air handler includes an evaporative cooler and a return air port that is positioned upstream of the evaporative cooler to allow recirculated air from the enclosed space to pass through the evaporative cooler. The air handler includes an additional return air port that is positioned downstream of the evaporative cooler to allow recirculated air from the enclosed space to bypass the evaporative cooler. The air handler includes an outdoor air port that is positioned upstream of the evaporative cooler to allow outdoor air to pass through the evaporative cooler and further includes an outdoor air bypass port that allows outdoor air to enter the air handler without passing through the evaporative cooler. The temperature and humidity of the supply air can be controlled under various ambient conditions by controlling the amount of air that enters the air handler through each port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: MUNTERS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Thomas Fisher, Bryan Keith Dunnavant, Michael S. Boucher
  • Patent number: 9032742
    Abstract: Methods are provided for cooling data centers based on a cooperative system including a plurality of Indirect Air-Side Economizers, also referred to as Recirculation Air Cooling Units, that are advantageously operated in conjunction with one or more Side Stream Filtration Units or filters inclusive to a portion of the IASE/RACUs, and one or more Make-Up Air Dehumidification/Humidification Units for the introduction of ventilation air and control of humidity within the enclosed space. An objective of the systems and methods according to this disclosure is to provide the necessary rejection of heat, removal of particulate from the air, and control of the absolute moisture content of the air within a data center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: MUNTERS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bryan Keith Dunnavant
  • Patent number: 9004369
    Abstract: A method and system is provided which receives a desired humidity level from a user for the refrigeration compartment of a refrigerator, determines the current humidity level, and then activates an atomizer in the refrigeration compartment to increase the humidity level if needed. The humidity in the refrigeration compartment may be determined based at least in part on the temperature of the refrigeration compartment, the defrost timer, the door opening times, and the compressor timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Anderson Bortoletto, Rameet Singh Grewal, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 8991207
    Abstract: To provide a refrigerating cycle apparatus capable of improving cooling ability by water spray to perform an efficient operation while suppressing decrease in collected power by an expander. The refrigerating cycle apparatus includes: a first compressor that compresses the refrigerant; an expander that decompresses and expands the refrigerant to collect power for expansion; a second compressor that is driven by the power collected by the expander to further compresses the refrigerant compressed by the first compressor to transmit it to a main radiator; a heat exchanger having an intercooler that cools the refrigerant compressed by the first compressor and a main radiator that cools the refrigerant compressed by the second heat exchanger to transmit it to the expander; indoor heat exchangers that heat the refrigerant decompressed by the expander; and a water spray apparatus that sprays water onto the outer surface of the intercooler and the main radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Takayama, Yusuke Shimazu
  • Patent number: 8973383
    Abstract: A humidity control apparatus has a humidity control apparatus having a humidifying part for humidifying air and a dehumidifying part for dehumidifying to control humidity of a humidity control space. The dehumidifying part has: a main body part that is configured to encapsulate a working fluid therein and to cause a heat-pipe phenomenon. A heat-insulating part fits externally to the main body part and a heat absorption part absorbs heat from a base side part located on one side of the main body part in relation to the heat-insulating part and thereby condenses the working fluid that evaporated into gas in a front side part located on the other side of the main body part in relation to the heat-insulating part. The dehumidifying part dehumidifies the air by means of the front side part of the main body part where the working fluid in liquid form evaporates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Espec Corp.
    Inventor: Shinichirou Sakami
  • Patent number: 8943844
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a dehumidifier, a regenerator, and a refrigeration system. The dehumidifier removes water from a first airflow using a liquid desiccant. The regenerator transfers water from the dilute desiccant into a second airflow. The refrigeration system can be selectively used to provide heat to the desiccant in the regenerator to more effectively remove the water from the dilute desiccant. An external heat source can also be used to heat the desiccant in the regenerator to more effectively remove the water from the dilute desiccant. The refrigeration system and the external heat source can each be used separately to heat the desiccant, or the desiccant can be heated by both heat sources simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: DuCool Ltd.
    Inventor: Dan Forkosh
  • Publication number: 20140305148
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an evaporative cooling clothing system for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing system. The clothing system may include a clothing article for covering the wearer and a liquid reservoir for storing liquid. The clothing system may also include a hollow transport defining a cavity. The hollow transport is connected to the clothing article and connected to the liquid reservoir to allow the liquid to pass through the cavity from the liquid reservoir to the clothing article. The clothing article exposes the liquid to an environment surrounding the clothing article for evaporation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Leslie Owen Paull
  • Publication number: 20140260369
    Abstract: An evaporative cooling system includes an evaporative cooler liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE), a first liquid-to-air heat exchanger (LAHE), and a cooling fluid circuit. The evaporative cooler LAMEE is disposed within a scavenger air plenum that is configured to channel a scavenger air stream. The first LAHE is disposed within a process air plenum that is configured to channel a process air stream. The cooling fluid circuit is configured to circulate an evaporative cooling fluid between the evaporative cooler LAMEE and the first LAHE. The evaporative cooler LAMEE is configured to utilize the scavenger air stream to evaporatively cool the cooling fluid. The first LAHE is configured to receive the cooling fluid from the evaporative cooler LAMEE and to allow the cooling fluid to absorb heat from the process air stream to cool the process air stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: VENMAR CES, INC
    Inventor: Philip Paul LePoudre
  • Publication number: 20140260370
    Abstract: The automatic reset of an evaporative cooling water dissolved solids set point based on detection of water softener performance is provided. A controller has a sensor, or is given an input signal, which confirms that the softener is operating properly. Positive confirmation of water softener performance allows the controller to maintain a user specified high total dissolved solids set point in the evaporative cooling water. Should a failure of the softener be detected, the controller then maintains a user specified lower total dissolved solids set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Patrick Henry Carew
  • Publication number: 20140205524
    Abstract: A process for extracting a target gas component from a gas mixture in an apparatus having a pair of capture and release sections is provided. The pair of capture and release sections includes a sorbent capture section and a sorbent release section, each of the sorbent capture section and sorbent release section having a high surface area medium and a sorbent contained therein. A gas mixture is directed through a flow path, the flow path directing the gas mixture through the sorbent release section followed by the sorbent capture section, wherein the sorbent within the pair of capture and release sections extracts the target gas component and reduces the target gas component in the gas mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventor: David Sevier
  • Publication number: 20140202449
    Abstract: A multiplatform heating ventilation and air conditioning control system configured to maximize energy efficiency in maintaining desired conditions within an area through beneficial use of natural energy sources. In some embodiments, the multiplatform heating ventilation and air conditioning control system can include sensors and a control system. In some embodiments, the sensors can detect conditions inside and outside of the controlled area to determine the most efficient method of maintaining desired conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBAL SOLAR WATER AND POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: GLOBAL SOLAR WATER AND POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
  • Publication number: 20140196487
    Abstract: Cooling system and method suitable for cooling a blast furnace with a cooling fluid during its operation. The cooling system includes a source of a gaseous fluid that feeds the gaseous fluid to multiple flow paths. A liquid is atomized into each of the multiple flow paths, within which the atomized liquid is mixed with the gaseous fluid to form a mist. The system further includes means for selectively closing each of the multiple flow paths while at least one other of the multiple flow paths remains open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: CIM-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy C. Tolkamp, Brian P. Greubel
  • Publication number: 20140190191
    Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, relating to an air module and control thereof. An air module can include a controller, an air intake module configured to receive first air from a first air source and to receive second air from a second air source, an evaporative cooling module in fluid communication with the air intake module, and a mechanical cooling module in fluid communication with the evaporative cooling module. The controller can be configured to cause the intake module to mix the first air and the second air to form intake air, and selectively cool the intake air to form supply air by at least one of causing the evaporative cooling module to selectively cool the intake air, and causing the mechanical cooling module to selectively cool the intake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: William Slessman, Steve Durand, Rose Gilbert, Andreas Zoll
  • Patent number: 8661837
    Abstract: To maintain an appropriate humidity in a refrigerator using a spray device to spray mist, without depending on a moisture sensor. A refrigerator (100) for forcibly circulating cold air which is gas cooled in a cooling compartment (110), the refrigerator including: a first storage compartment (107) disposed on the way of an air passage; a spray device (131) which sprays mist into the first storage compartment (107); a damper (145) disposed upstream of the first storage compartment (107); a delay unit (156) which generates, based on an open signal issued when the damper (145) is opened, a first signal for stopping the operation of the spray device (131) after an elapse of a first time period, and to generate, based on a close signal issued when the damper (145) is closed, a second signal for starting the operation of the spray device (131) after an elapse of a second time period; and a control unit (146) which controls the spray device (131).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Kakita, Toshiaki Mamemoto, Satomi Ueda
  • Patent number: 8640472
    Abstract: Recuperation systems and methods are applied to vapor compression cycles in dehumidification, such as in air conditioning. In some embodiments, a method for dehumidification includes introducing a refrigerant from a heating unit to a cooling unit along a first path; introducing the refrigerant from the cooling unit to the heating unit along a second path different from the first path; introducing the refrigerant from the heating unit to the cooling unit along a third path different from the first path; and contacting the cooling unit and the heating unit with a first gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: TIAX LLC
    Inventors: John T. Dieckmann, Detlef Westphalen
  • Publication number: 20130305752
    Abstract: A heat dissipation system apparatus and method of operation using hygroscopic working fluid for use in a wide variety of environments for absorbed water in the hygroscopic working fluid to be released to minimize water consumption in the heat dissipation system apparatus for effective cooling in environments having little available water for use in cooling systems. The system comprises a low-volatility, hygroscopic working fluid to reject thermal energy directly to ambient air. The low-volatility and hygroscopic nature of the working fluid prevents complete evaporation of the fluid and a net consumption of water for cooling, and direct-contact heat exchange allows for the creation of large interfacial surface areas for effective heat transfer. Specific methods of operation prevent the crystallization of the desiccant from the hygrosopic working fluid under various environmental conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Energy & Environmental Research Center
    Inventor: Christopher L. Martin
  • Patent number: 8584481
    Abstract: An integrated air conditioner that controls the operation of a water feed device according to the mode of use. The air conditioner includes a control section that determines whether or not exhaust heat from a condenser 3 is being released outdoors through an exhaust duct 7 according to whether or not an air intake duct 26 or an exhaust duct 7 is fitted, operates a water feed device 8 for leading drain wafer collected in the drain pan to the condenser 3 during both of a cooling operation and a dehumidifying operation if it determines that the heat to be released from the condenser 3 is being released outdoors, and operates the water feed device 8 during the cooling operation and stops the operation of the water feed device 8 during the dehumidifying operation if it determines that the exhaust heat from the condenser 3 is not being released outdoors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tohru Ariga
  • Patent number: 8584479
    Abstract: An air conditioner having a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a radiator, a pressure-reducing device and an evaporator, a total heat exchanger for performing heat-exchange between outdoor air and air under cooling operation using the evaporator for a room to be air-conditioned, and for ventilating the room to be air-conditioned, and a desiccant rotor having a moisture adsorbing area for adsorbing moisture in the outdoor air when the outdoor air is introduced, and regenerating the moisture adsorbing area by heat of the radiator, the outdoor air successively flowing through the total heat exchanger, the evaporator and the moisture adsorbing area in this order and then entering the room to be air-conditioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., University of Maryland
    Inventors: Osamu Kuwabara, Reinhard Radermacher, Yunho Hwang, Jiazhen Ling
  • Publication number: 20130199220
    Abstract: An air temperature and humidity control device using a liquid-desiccant humidity controller thermally coupled to a heat pump is disclosed. The humidity controller may include a contactor having at least one contact module with a porous sidewall that is permeable to water vapor and impermeable to the liquid desiccant. The disclosed device provides air temperature control through heat transfer between the liquid desiccant and heat pump and provides humidity controls through water transfer between the desiccant and surrounding air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Zidu Ma, Yirong Jiang, Dong Luo
  • Publication number: 20130171920
    Abstract: A conditioning system that conditions exterior air for use in a spray booth. The exterior air is conditioned and subsequently used to carry away coating mist, dust, and contaminants from a spray area. The conditioning system heats, cools, humidifies, and dehumidifies the exterior air to a variable set point. The variable set point, while bounded by dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity constraints, is selected based upon cost and/or energy minimization. Additionally, the set point selection may be based upon future predicted weather conditions that are determined with a mathematical profile of previous weather conditions and weather trends in a localized domain, where the localized domain is a geographic area surrounding a manufacturing plant that includes a spray booth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shubho Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 8453469
    Abstract: A method of providing utilities to a computer data center is discussed. The method includes initially connecting one or more non-evaporative cooling units to a data center as primary cooling plants, obtaining a government-issued water permit, and after obtaining the government-issued water permit, transitioning primary cooling for the data center to one or more evaporative cooling towers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Exaflop LLC
    Inventors: Andrew B. Carlson, Jimmy Clidaras
  • Publication number: 20130098079
    Abstract: A mist cooling assembly (20) comprising a housing (21), a plurality of water misting outlets (55) generally aligned in a row along said housing (21), the misting outlets (55) being spaced along a misting width, and at least one air flow source (50) disposed within said housing (21) for supplying an air flow (59), wherein the housing (21) comprises at least one air flow outlet (36) adapted to direct the air flow (59) in use adjacent said misting outlets (55) and substantially spanning the misting width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Graham Robert Apolony, Phillip Michael Lourey, Fidel Dela Paz
  • Publication number: 20130019619
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to portable cooling devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to compact, portable bladeless fans featuring water misting capabilities for improved cooling functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: ATICO INTERNATIONAL USA, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Forbes, Joseph D. Moskal, Kenneth Roach
  • Publication number: 20130008195
    Abstract: An evaporative cooler 10 comprises a housing 12 defining an inlet 14 for air. An air cooling arrangement 16 located in the housing between the inlet and an inlet to a duct 18 extending to an air outlet 20. A bath 24 for water is located towards a bottom region of the housing. Ducting 22 extends from the bath to a liquid outlet 26 in a top region of the housing, for releasing liquid onto the air cooling arrangement. The bath is configured to capture the released liquid. A fan 30 cooperates with the duct 18 to draw air through the air inlet, the air cooling arrangement and into the duct towards the outlet. The same electrical motor 32 is used to drive both the fan and the rotor or impeller of a water pump 34 for moving the liquid from the bath to the liquid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventor: JOZUA TALJAARD
  • Publication number: 20130000329
    Abstract: An evaporative cooler, and associated method, that includes an evaporative pad including a liquid coolant-receiving surface at which a liquid coolant distributed to the evaporative pad is received and thereafter passes into the evaporative pad. The evaporative cooler also includes a liquid coolant distribution container that includes an upper portion configured to hold liquid coolant and a lower portion contiguous with the upper portion. The lower portion includes an opening and a permeable bed in place over the opening through which the liquid coolant held in the upper portion of the liquid coolant distribution container passes and is distributed to the liquid coolant-receiving surface of the evaporative pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter John Duncan Smith, Abhijeet Madhukar Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 8302421
    Abstract: A personal air conditioning device cools and moistens environmentally hot and dry blower-forced air using water vaporization occurring on external surface of a hollow fiber micro-porous membrane while water or other liquid coolant is taken from a container by means of internal capillaries of hollow fiber tubes. The device is able to deliver the pre-cooled air flow over any desired body fragment, particularly under a protective vest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: EnerFuel, Inc.
    Inventor: Konstantin Korytnikov
  • Patent number: 8220277
    Abstract: Recuperation systems and methods are applied to vapor compression cycles in dehumidification, such as in air conditioning. In some embodiments, a method for dehumidification includes introducing a refrigerant from a heating unit to a cooling unit along a first path; introducing the refrigerant from the cooling unit to the heating unit along a second path different from the first path; introducing the refrigerant from the heating unit to the cooling unit along a third path different from the first path; and contacting the cooling unit and the heating unit with a first gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tiax LLC
    Inventors: John T. Dieckmann, Detlef Westphalen
  • Patent number: 8209990
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing unit for use in a temperature regulating appliance to add a function of generating a mist of charged minute water particles for deodorization and/or sterilization of a temperature-regulated space. The appliance has a cold space of which air is cooled by cooling means and is fed to cool the temperature-regulated space divided from the cold space by a partition. The atomizing unit has an emitter electrode which is configured to condense water from within a surrounding air. A high voltage source applies a high voltage to the emitter electrode to atomize the condensed water into the charged minute water particles which are discharged from the emitter electrode into the temperature-regulated space. The emitter electrode is provided with a cooling coupler which establishes a heat transfer relation through the partition to the cold space to cool the emitter electrode by making the use of the cooling means inherent to the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Nakada, Hiroshi Suda, Masaharu Machi, Tomohiro Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20120151945
    Abstract: Method for cooling granular solid materials from a continuous curing facility having at least one area for burning a fuel to cure granular materials, wherein the curing of the granular materials, then the cooling of the cured granular materials is carried out in two consecutive steps, a first cooling step in a first cooler and a second cooling step in a second cooler, the method including: providing a cold air source for cooling the granular materials, the cold air source directly supplying air to the second cooler by blowing, and the air heated by the cured granular materials being used during the cooling as combustion gas for the burning area. All gases generated by the first and second coolers are routed to the burning area for use as a combustion gas, and the amount of cold air blown to the second cooler is adjusted to cover the air combustion needs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: FIVES FCB
    Inventors: Alain Cordonnier, Sebastien Devroe, Yan Huerre
  • Publication number: 20120144851
    Abstract: A air channeling sub-system may include a mechanical cooling section and a direct evaporative cooling section. The direct evaporative cooling section may be downstream from the mechanical cooling section. Cooling air is channeled through the air channeling sub-system and into the room. If a first set of control conditions is met, the air channeling sub-systems is operated in an adiabatic mode. The adiabatic mode includes channeling cooling air through the direct evaporative cooling section to evaporate water into the cooling air. If a second set of control conditions is met, the air channeling sub-system is operated in a hybrid mode. The hybrid mode includes channeling cooling air through the mechanical cooling section to remove heat from the cooling air and channeling the cooling air through the direct evaporative cooling section to evaporate water into the cooling air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Jonathan David Hay
  • Publication number: 20120144850
    Abstract: A air channeling sub-system may include a mechanical cooling section and a direct evaporative cooling section. The direct evaporative cooling section may be downstream from the mechanical cooling section. Cooling air is channeled through the air channeling sub-system and into the room. If a first set of control conditions is met, the air channeling sub-systems is operated in an adiabatic mode. The adiabatic mode includes channeling cooling air through the direct evaporative cooling section to evaporate water into the cooling air. If a second set of control conditions is met, the air channeling sub-system is operated in a hybrid mode. The hybrid mode includes channeling cooling air through the mechanical cooling section to remove heat from the cooling air and channeling the cooling air through the direct evaporative cooling section to evaporate water into the cooling air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Jonathan David Hay
  • Publication number: 20120137711
    Abstract: To maintain an appropriate humidity in a refrigerator using a spray device to spray mist, without depending on a moisture sensor. A refrigerator (100) for forcibly circulating cold air which is gas cooled in a cooling compartment (110), the refrigerator including: a first storage compartment (107) disposed on the way of an air passage; a spray device (131) which sprays mist into the first storage compartment (107); a damper (145) disposed upstream of the first storage compartment (107); a delay unit (156) which generates, based on an open signal issued when the damper (145) is opened, a first signal for stopping the operation of the spray device (131) after an elapse of a first time period, and to generate, based on a close signal issued when the damper (145) is closed, a second signal for starting the operation of the spray device (131) after an elapse of a second time period; and a control unit (146) which controls the spray device (131).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Kakita, Toshiaki Mamemoto, Yoshihiro Ueda
  • Publication number: 20120090338
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating an exhaust gas stream 12 from a processing chamber 10. The method comprises the steps of: conveying the exhaust gas from the processing chamber using a vacuum pumping arrangement 11, 22 or atmospheric line; abating the exhaust gas in an abatement region 18 of an abatement device 14; and injecting a cooling agent, such as a liquid 26, downstream of the abatement region to cool the abated gases in a cooling region 24 by phase change of the cooling agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: EDWARDS LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Roger Czerniak, Gareth David Stanton