Abstract: A drain extension assembly for an appliance that provides fluid communication between an internal storage compartment and an exterior environment via an appliance drain that collects and transfers liquid condensate from an evaporator. The drain extension assembly includes a main body with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is configured to be secured to the appliance drain and the outlet is configured to be secured to an extension tube discharges the liquid condensate into a drain pan. A vacuum relief system provides selective fluid communication between the main body and the exterior environment. The vacuum relief system includes a pressure relief valve provided at a wall of the main body.

Abstract: This specification relates to operating industrial facilities, for example, crude oil refining facilities or other industrial facilities that include operating plants that process natural gas or recover natural gas liquids.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled cradle and method of cooling same are provided. The temperature-controlled cradle may include a base having an outer housing and a cooling unit disposed within the outer housing, and a bassinet coupled to the base. The cooling unit may include a cooling plate having a first side configured to chill an interior portion of the bassinet, at least one thermoelectric cooling module coupled to a second side of the cooling plate, and a heat dissipation device configured to dissipate heat from the at least one thermoelectric cooling module.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic immersion ice-coating machine, including a frame, an ice-coating working pool, a feed port, a conveying device, a control system and a driving system. A first side of the ice-coating working pool communicates with a buffer tank. A bottom of the ice-coating working pool is stepped or inclined, and a drain valve is provided at a bottom of the ice-coating working pool. The conveying device includes a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt. The first conveyor belt is located under the feed port, and a lower portion of the first conveyor belt is lower than the liquid level, and the second conveyor belt communicates with the discharge port. The first and second conveyor belts are made of stainless steel mesh belts, and surfaces of the stainless steel mesh belts are provided with separators in a spaced manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed relating to food preparation in commercial kitchens. The disclosed extreme vacuum cooling (EVC) technology and apparatus can work in ultra low pressure conditions with adaptive pressure control to avoid potential liquid splash inside the vacuum chamber caused by un-controlled low pressure conditions. Clean air or inert gas is added into the vacuum chamber so that the chamber pressure can track a setpoint trajectory that may have ramp up periods in order to avoid liquid splash events. The apparatus allows the user to automatically cool various kinds of foods based on a recipe with minimal human interaction and meet food safety regulations.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a transport refrigeration system with an energy storage device include producing a first output and a second output at an energy storage device (ESD), and converting the first output and the second output to a converted first output and a converted second output. The techniques also include supplying the converted first output and the converted second output to components of the transport refrigeration system, and operating the components of the transport refrigeration system using the converted first output and the converted second output.

Abstract: A method for freezing a liquid located in a container, in particular a liquid drug, includes exposing the container to a cooling element such as cold gas in order to freeze the liquid. The cold gas preferably flows around the container, and/or the liquid is cooled in another way in order to freeze the liquid. The container is insulated at a surface of at least one first volume portion of the container, and the container is cooled nearly immediately at a surface of a second volume portion of the container by the cold gas such that the liquid freezes through later in the at least one first volume portion than in the second volume portion.

Abstract: A separator for removing contamination from a fluid of a heat pump includes a housing having a hollow interior, a header plate arranged within the hollow interior and having at least one mounting hole, and a separation module mounted within the hollow interior. The separation module includes a connector for forming an interface with the at least one mounting hole. A sealant is located at the interface between the connector and the mounting hole.

Abstract: An apparatus for dehumidifying ambient atmospheric air includes a first air path and a second air path. A heat exchanger system transfers at least a portion of radiated thermal energy to air drawn along the first air path to heat the air in the first air path and transfers at least a portion of the thermal energy from exhaust gas to air drawn along the first air path to heat the air in the first air path. The first air path connects the ambient atmosphere to a reactivation air outlet through the heat exchanger system and a desiccant in a second moisturized state, and the second air path connects the ambient atmosphere to a dried air outlet through the desiccant in a first dried state.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heat pump system comprising an outdoor unit disposed in an outdoor space, a plurality of thermal load units supplied with cool air and hot air, and an intermediate unit disposed between the outdoor unit and the plurality of thermal load units, wherein the intermediate unit is connected to the outdoor unit through refrigerant pipes and connected to the plurality of thermal load units through thermal medium pipes.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the efficiency of natural gas liquefaction processes by using a hybrid cooling system and method. More specifically, a system and method for converting a transcritical precooling refrigeration process to a subcritical process. In one embodiment, the refrigerant is cooled to sub-critical temperature using an economizer. In another embodiment, the refrigerant is cooled to a sub-critical temperature using an auxiliary heat exchanger. Optionally, the economizer or auxiliary heat exchanger can be bypassed when ambient temperatures are sufficiently low to cool the refrigerant to a sub-critical temperature. In another embodiment, the refrigerant is isentropically expanded.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, an ice making room, a cool air supply duct connecting the evaporation chamber to the ice making room, an ice maker, a cool air guide duct that guides cool air from the ice making room toward the ice maker, and an ice bin below the ice maker to store ice. The ice maker includes an ice tray including cool air guide ribs, and an ice separating guide covering a front surface of the ice tray and a portion of a top surface thereof in which the cool air guide ribs extend from one side of the ice tray toward the other side and are spaced apart from a front surface of a tray body toward a rear surface, and bottom parts of the cool air guide ribs are spaced apart from a bottom part of the cool air guide duct.

Abstract: A container assembly comprises a V-shaped container having a V-shaped cross-section and being formed from freezer-safe material, and a support base having a V-shaped groove sized to received and cooperate with the container thereby to support the container during filling with freezable liquid. Also disclosed is a freezer container support structure comprising two or more plates and at least two spaced support members. The support members are adapted to engage the plates in spaced locations along the support members, to maintain one or more freezer containers between the plates during freezing of a freezable liquid contained in each said freezer container.

Abstract: A method and system for mass and heat exchange, where water is preferentially absorbed by a non-toxic, non-corrosive liquid desiccant after passing through a hydrophilic, non-porous membrane. Optionally, mixing stages are provided to reduce the surface concentration of water at the desiccant-membrane interface.

Abstract: A device for removing foreign matter in an ice maker is configured to prevent foreign matter from accumulating on the bottom of a float by changing the structure of the bottom of the float. The device includes a level sensor sensing a water level using a float moving up and down, depending on a height of water supplied in a water tank and a connection pipe forming a channel for water flow between the water pump and the level sensor by being connected to the level sensor, and having an inclined surface inclined downward toward an entrance of the channel under the float.

Abstract: A system may include a beverage compartment with a beverage positioned therein, a wetted material disposed about the beverage, at least one sorption cartridge, and a vacuum pump. The sorption cartridge may be in communication with the beverage compartment, and the vacuum pump may be in communication with the sorption cartridge to create a vacuum in the sorption cartridge and the beverage compartment, causing water to evaporate from the wetted material and be captured by the sorption cartridge, thereby lowering the temperature of the wetted material and in turn cooling the beverage. In some instances, the sorption cartridge may be detached from the vacuum pump and the beverage compartment to discharge the captured water therein by way of solar energy. In other instances, the sorption cartridge may be in communication with a heater assembly to blow heated air through the sorption cartridge to discharge the captured water therein.

Abstract: In one instance, a multistage microchannel condenser is provided for use as an aspect of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The multistage microchannel condenser includes at least two pluralities of flat tubes having microchannels, each associated with a different refrigeration circuit, that are interspersed so that when only one refrigeration circuit is operational, the multistage microchannel condenser still does not have any substantial thermal dead spots. Manifolds are used on each end of the multistage microchannel condenser to fluidly couple members of the at least two pluralities of flat tubes such that the refrigerant in each refrigeration circuit remains separated while still using a majority of the area of the face of the multistage microchannel condenser. Other aspects are presented.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for conditioning air for an enclosure, a first ambient airstream is cooled by a cooling coil of a refrigerant cooling system to reduce temperature and humidity, passed through a segment of a rotating desiccant wheel to reduce moisture content and increase temperature, and then supplied to the enclosure. The desiccant wheel is regenerated by a second ambient airstream heated with a condenser coil of the refrigerant system and then passed through a regeneration segment of the desiccant wheel. A bypass plenum allows a third ambient airstream to be selectively heated and cooled independent of the evaporator coil and desiccant wheel in the first plenum. Heated air bypassed from the second ambient airstream or an independent heater can perform the selective heating in the bypass plenum. The airstream in the bypass plenum is then supplied with the air treated in the first plenum to the enclosure.

Abstract: An ice maker for freezing water into ice pieces, the ice maker including an elongated cage having a central revolving axis about which the elongated cage revolves. The elongated cage having a first end, a second end and at least one elongated slot extending between the first end and the second end. An ice tray is configured to be received in the at least one elongated slot. The ice tray includes a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A motor is coupled to the elongated cage for revolving the elongated cage about the central revolving axis. A controller is connected to the motor for controlling the revolving of the elongated cage about the central revolving axis.

Abstract: Proposed is a method of controlling a gas heat-pump system, the system including an air conditioning module having a compressor and indoor and outdoor heat exchangers, and an engine module having an engine combusting mixed gas and thus generating drive power for operating the compressor, the method including: measuring factors that are temperature and humidity of outside air, an rpm of the engine, intake pressure, and an air-fuel ratio, the factors having effects on driving of the engine in an operating environment where the engine is driven; measuring a necessary ignition voltage for an ignition coil in a manner that corresponds to at least one of a plurality of the measured factors; and calculating a dwell time at which the necessary ignition voltage is output by the ignition coil.