Abstract: An apparatus includes a heat pipe with a fluid path. A first part of the fluid path is thermally coupled to a first region of a higher temperature and a second part of the fluid path thermally is coupled to a second region of a lower temperature. A difference between the higher temperature and the lower temperature induces a flow of a magnetic fluid in the fluid path. A switchable magnetic device is magnetically coupled to the fluid path. Activation of the switchable magnetic device reduces the flow of the magnetic fluid in the fluid path, which reduces heat transfer from the first region to the second region.

Abstract: An expander-integrated compressor is provided and includes: a motor; a compressor connected to an output shaft of the motor; an expander connected to the output shaft of the motor; a non-contact bearing disposed between the compressor and the expander; a casing; and an extraction line being in communicated with a region between the compressor and the expander in the internal space of the casing and extracts, from the region, the leakage fluid from the compressor side toward the expander side in the casing and to send the leakage fluid to a fluid line connected to the intake side or the discharge side of the compressor outside the casing. The casing seals the region from outside of the casing, thus the flow of the at least a part of the leakage fluid through the extraction line is the only flow of fluid between the region and the outside of the casing.

Abstract: A system (20) is operable in a plurality of modes. The system has: a container (22) having an interior (24); an internal combustion engine (66); a refrigeration system (30) and a flywheel energy storage device (70). In at least one mode, the refrigeration system coupled to the internal combustion engine to receive power and thermally coupled to the container to cool the container interior. In at least one mode, the energy storage device coupled to the internal combustion engine to receive power from the internal combustion engine. In at least one mode, the energy storage device coupled to deliver power to the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided with an expander, a condenser, a pump, and a heater in sequential fluid communication in a thermodynamic cycle containing a working fluid. The thermodynamic cycle is provided for waste heat recovery in the vehicle. A heat pipe contains a phase change material and has a condenser region and an evaporative region. The evaporative region is in thermal contact with a recirculating fluid of a vehicle system. The heater provides thermal contact between the working fluid and the condenser region of the heat pipe.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement air conditioning systems that are operable to establish/maintain a desired temperature for a target space and simultaneously establish/maintain a temperature lower than the desired temperature for the target space for an included cold thermal energy storage unit. In one embodiment, an air conditioning system includes: a condensing unit; a liquid pressurizer and distributor ensemble; a cold thermal energy storage unit; a target space; and a suction gas/equalizer; where the listed components are operatively connected by piping such that vapor compression cycles can be simultaneously implemented that result in the cooling of the cold thermal energy storage unit and the target space; and the air conditioning system is configured such that the simultaneous implementation of vapor compression cycles results in cooling the cold thermal energy storage unit to a greater extent relative to the target space.

Abstract: A fuel storage and distribution system for a gas-fueled sea-going vessel includes a thermally insulated gas tank for storing liquefied gas fuel. A local heat transfer circuit is configured to extract heat from an external heat source circuit. As a part of said local heat transfer circuit a heating arrangement is configured to heat gas fuel for increasing pressure inside the gas tank. As a part of said local heat transfer circuit is a main gas evaporator for evaporating liquefied gas fuel drawn from the gas tank for delivery to an engine of the sea-going vessel.

Abstract: A product is chilled or at least partially frozen by descending against a counter-current flow of liquid nitrogen in a vertical freezer containing an immersion bath of liquid nitrogen and the chilled or at least partially frozen product is extracted from the bath. The product may optionally be a liquid, semi-solid, suspension or slurry.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to methods and apparatuses for generating ice. In one embodiment, a material is introduced to water, and the temperature of the combination of the water and the material is lowered until ice forms, the formed ice having a higher albedo than it would have had if the step of lowering the temperature had been carried out on the water without first carrying out the step of introducing the material. In one embodiment, the material is selected such that an aqueous solution of the material is alkaline. In another embodiment, a material is introduced to water, and the temperature of the combination of the water and the material is lowered until ice forms, the ice forming at a faster rate than the rate at which it would have formed if the material had not been introduced to the water.

Abstract: A cryopump includes a top cryopanel that partitions a shield cavity into a shield cavity upper portion and a shield cavity lower portion. A radiation shield includes a shield main slit that communicates a shield outside gap into the shield cavity lower portion. The radiation shield may include a shield auxiliary slit that is formed at a different position from that of the shield main slit in an axial direction of the cryopump and that communicates the shield outside gap into the shield cavity lower portion. The shield auxiliary slit may be formed between the top cryopanel and the shield main slit in the axial direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for controlling the working fluid with low freezing point circulating in a closed circuit (10) operating according to a Rankine cycle, said circuit including a compression pump (12) for the fluid in liquid form, a heat exchanger (22) swept by a hot source (28) for evaporation of said fluid, an expander (30) for expanding the fluid in vapor form and a cooling exchanger (40) swept by a cold source (F) for condensation of the working fluid. According to the invention, the device includes a fluid collection tank for draining said circuit.

Abstract: A falling film evaporator for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes an evaporator housing and a plurality of evaporator tubes located in the evaporator housing and arranged into one or more tube bundles. A volume of thermal energy transfer medium is flowed through the plurality of evaporator tubes. One or more support sheets located along a length of the plurality of evaporator tubes to position and support the plurality of evaporator tubes in the housing, the one or more support sheets including one or more vapor flow passages to allow flow of vapor refrigerant along a length of the evaporator.

Abstract: An appliance door includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner that defines an ice making receptacle. An ice maker is disposed proximate a top portion of the ice making receptacle. A sliding assembly is defined within an inward-facing surface of the ice making receptacle. An ice bin is operable between an engaged state, wherein the ice bin is fully inserted into the ice making receptacle, a disengaged state, wherein the ice bin is removed from the ice making receptacle, and a lateral sliding state, wherein the ice bin is operated laterally and free of rotation between the engaged and disengaged states. The ice bin and the ice making receptacle cooperatively define an ice delivery mechanism that selectively delivers ice pieces from an inner volume of the ice bin to an ice delivery zone proximate the outer wrapper.

Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of electrocaloric energy conversion. More specifically, the present invention relates to improvements in systems and methods which employ electrocaloric materials as a source of temperature variation in electrocaloric refrigeration processes. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to the application of electrocaloric materials in combination with a working fluid communicating with a heat source and a heat sink in counter flow.

Abstract: A variable speed electric drive for use in refrigerant systems includes an electric motor for driving an associated component at a variable speed that is a function of an operating frequency of the motor; and a control for supplying alternating discrete drive frequencies to the electric motor to provide a continuously variable speed drive of the associated component. The control cycles the drive frequency to the electric motor among the at least two discrete frequencies so that the variable average resultant speed at which the associated component is driven is a function of a combination of the selected at least two discrete frequencies.

Abstract: An air conditioning service system includes an inlet port configured to connect to an air conditioning system to receive refrigerant, a discharge circuit, a pressure transducer, and a controller. The discharge circuit includes a plurality of discharge lines arranged in parallel with one another, each of the plurality of discharge lines fluidly connecting the inlet port to the atmosphere through an associated orifice to vent the refrigerant to atmosphere, and a plurality of discharge valves, each of which is configured to open and close an associated one of the plurality of discharge lines. The controller is configured to obtain the pressure at the inlet port and determine a theoretical mass flow rate through each of the plurality of discharge lines based upon the pressure and the cross-sectional area of the associated orifice, and to operate selected ones of the discharge valves based upon the determined theoretical mass flow rates.

Abstract: A robust, durable, easy to use, reusable shipping container is disclosed that is capable of protecting contents from surrounding high temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of at least three and a half hours. The container includes an inner chamber surrounded by an outer chamber. A phase change liquid (PCL) is sequestered in a porous support matrix contained in the inner chamber, while the outer chamber is filled with high temperature insulation, forming an outer barrier layer that is designed to reduce heat flux into the inner chamber.

Abstract: A system for cooling air for use with a liquid cooling fluid loop. The system includes a first refrigerant circuit with an air-cooled condenser, a second refrigerant circuit with a liquid-cooled condenser, and a free-cooling loop. A control device is provided for controlling the operation of the system between a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode. When operating in the first mode, only the free-cooling loop cooperates directly with liquid cooling fluid in the liquid cooling fluid loop to cool the liquid cooling fluid, when operating in the second mode, the second refrigerant circuit is not engaged, and when operating in the third mode, the free-cooling loop interacts with the second refrigerant circuit to reject heat of the second refrigerant circuit through the free-cooling loop.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unitary heat pump air conditioner (HPAC) system having a refrigerant diversion loop configured to supply sufficient heat to defrost an external heat exchanger while not materially affecting the supply of heat to the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The HPAC system includes a refrigerant loop configured to pump heat from a cold coolant loop that scavenges heat from the external heat exchanger to a hot coolant loop that supplies heat to the passenger compartment. The refrigerant loop includes a condenser in thermal communication with the hot coolant loop, evaporator in thermal communication with the cold coolant loop, and a compressor to cycle the refrigerant through the refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop further includes means to selectively divert at least a portion of the hot compressed refrigerant exiting the compressor directly to the evaporator to heat the cold coolant loop sufficient to defrost the external heat exchanger.

Abstract: A system for cooling air for use with a liquid cooling fluid loop. The system includes a first refrigerant circuit with an air-cooled condenser, a second refrigerant circuit with a liquid-cooled condenser, and a free-cooling loop. A control device is provided for controlling the operation of the system between a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode. When operating in the first mode, only the free-cooling loop cooperates directly with liquid cooling fluid in the liquid cooling fluid loop to cool the liquid cooling fluid, when operating in the second mode, the second refrigerant circuit is not engaged, and when operating in the third mode, the free-cooling loop interacts with the second refrigerant circuit to reject heat of the second refrigerant circuit through the free-cooling loop.

Abstract: The present application provides an evaporator. The evaporator may include a housing, a coil assembly mounted within the housing, and a fan housing positioned within the housing. The fan housing may include a fan and a replaceable venturi ring sized to accommodate the fan.