Abstract: A chemical heat pump includes a reactor part (1) that contains an active substance and an evaporator/condenser part (3) that contains that portion of volatile liquid that exists in a condensed state and can be absorbed by the active substance. A channel (4) interconnects the reactor part and the evaporator/condenser part. To heat the reactor part, a portion of this wall is arranged as a solar energy collector, which can result in a very compact structure. In at least the reactor part a matrix (13) is provided for the active substance so that the active substance both in its solid state and its liquid state or its solution phase is held or carried by or bonded to the matrix. The matrix is advantageously an inert material such as aluminium oxide and has pores, which are permeable for the volatile liquid and in which the active substance is located. In particular, a material can be used that has a surface or surfaces, at which the active substance can be bonded in its liquid state thereof.

Abstract: The heat exchange assembly (1) for exchanging heat between a first and a second fluid comprises: a plurality of heat exchange modules (12) for exchanging heat between the first and second fluids, these being distributed about a central axis (X) and having opposing respective lateral faces (47); feed manifolds (14, 16) for feeding the modules (12) with primary and secondary fluid and collection manifolds (18, 20) for removing these fluids. At least some of the said manifolds (14, 16) or parts of the said manifolds (18) run between the modules (12), the said manifolds (14, 16) or parts of manifolds (18) flanking one and the same module (12) being positioned substantially symmetrically with respect to the mid-plane situated between the two lateral faces (47) of the said module (12) in such a way that the said manifolds (14, 16) or parts of manifolds (18) create substantially identical thermal stresses in the lateral faces (47) of the module (12).

Abstract: A plurality of humidity control chambers are provided in a casing. An open/close damper is provided for each of a plurality of air flow ports communicating with the humidity control chambers. Adjacent dampers of the plurality of dampers are separably coupled together by a coupling member.

Abstract: A heat sink which is mounted in a movable body and which is to be exposed to a traveling air stream generated while the movable body moves includes a base and a heat dissipating portion having a plurality of fins. At least in a front end portion of the heat dissipating portion, the heat dissipating portion includes a rectifying portion provided so as to extend across a predetermined area in a longitudinal direction in front portions of slit-shaped flow paths at an upstanding end (i.e., an end apart from the base).

Abstract: An expansion valve for reducing the quantity of material required for the valve body by contriving the arrangement of bolt fitting grooves. In the expansion valve (20), displacement of a valve member driver (36) provided in the valve body (21) is transmitted to a valve member by a valve member drive rod (36f) and the valve opening is altered to control the flow rate of the refrigerant. The valve body (21) consists of a body upper portion (40) and a body lower portion (41) narrower than the body upper portion (40), and bolt fitting grooves (43, 43) opening in the flank of the valve body (21), preferably opening obliquely downward, are formed at the boundary (42) of the body upper portion (40) and the body lower portion (41). With such a layout, the material required at the boundary (42) can be reduced furthermore and the quantity of material required for the valve body (21) can be reduced furthermore, as a result.

Abstract: A refrigeration system for a transport refrigeration unit and a method of operating the refrigeration system for cooling a temperature controlled cargo space are disclosed. The refrigeration system includes a primary refrigerant circuit including a refrigerant compression device, a motor for driving the compression device; a variable speed drive for varying the speed of operation of the compression device; and a controller operatively associated with the variable speed drive and the compression device. The controller controls the cooling capacity of the refrigeration system by selectively controlling the speed of said compression device in a first continuous run mode of operation and by selectively powering on and powering off said compression device in a first cycling mode of operation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a thermal block unit for thermal treatment of samples comprising temperature regulating units, temperature sensors for measuring temperature at different locations of the thermal block unit, a converter for converting signals from the temperature sensors into digital signals and a thermal block interface for communicating with an instrument.

Abstract: An auxiliary hardware box is described that can be installed at or near the HVAC system. The auxiliary box includes a large number of wiring terminals, for example 16 or more, for connecting to a relatively large number of HVAC control wires. The auxiliary box can include a “train map” type graphic display that is visible to the installer and provides a graphical indication as to which relays or switches are currently open and which are currently closed. A small sleek visually pleasing thermostat is also described that can be connected either directly to an HVAC system or to the auxiliary box, and can automatically detect an purpose the connected wires according to which it is connected to.

Abstract: A chemical heat pump includes a reactor part (1) that contains an active substance and an evaporator/condenser part (3) that contains that portion of volatile liquid that exists in a condensed state and can be absorbed by the active substance. A channel (4) interconnects the reactor part and the evaporator/condenser part, In at least the reactor part a matrix (13) is provided for the active substance so that the active substance both in its solid state and its liquid state or its solution phase is held or carried by or bonded to the matrix. The matrix is advantageously an inert material such as aluminum oxide and has pores, which are permeable for the volatile liquid and in which the active substance is located. In particular, a material can be used that has a surface or surfaces, at which the active substance can be bonded in the liquid state thereof. For example, the matrix can be a material comprising separate particles such as a powder or a compressed fiber material.

Abstract: A method of determining a amount of ice collected in a storage container of a refrigerator, the ice being discharged into the storage container by an ice maker having an ice detecting sensor with a heater, the method comprises determining whether or not the ice storage container is full or nearly full of ice by turning on the detecting sensor for a prescribed period of time. In one embodiment, the heater is turned on while the determining step is preformed. In an alternative embodiment, the heater is continuously maintained in an “ON” state.

Abstract: Embodiments of a heat transfer apparatus, and related methods, involve at least one boundary wall defining a first flow path through a neck portion, a first heat source external to and in thermal communication with the boundary wall, and a working fluid (e.g., a first fluid component with a second fluid component entrained therein). The neck portion may be shaped such that at least a portion of the second fluid component impinges upon at least a portion of the boundary wall as the working fluid flows therethrough, whereby heat is transferred from the first heat source to the working fluid through the boundary wall.

Abstract: A refrigeration machine for a domestic refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, which are connected to form a refrigerant circuit, wherein a stop valve is arranged in a refrigerant path from the condenser to the evaporator.

Abstract: A composite heat exchanger system includes an air cooled condenser, a sub-radiator and a main radiator, and it is formed in a state where a tank of the sub-radiator is communicated with a tank of the main radiator. A water cooled condenser is contained in a tank of the sub-radiator. A part of a flowing medium that is cooled down by the main radiator is introduced in the sub-radiator to cool the flowing medium of the water cooled condenser. The flowing medium that is cooled down by the water cooled condenser is introduced in the air cooled condenser to be cooled.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes a first compressor 101, a second compressor 102 provided in parallel with the first compressor 101, a radiator 103 for cooling a refrigerant compressed by the compressors 101 and 102, an expander 104 for recovering power while expanding the refrigerant cooled by the radiator 103, an evaporator 105 for evaporating the refrigerant expanded by the expander 104, a rotation shaft 123 connecting the first compressor 101 to the expander 104 so that the first compressor 101 uses the power recovered by the expander 104, a controller 112 for executing a control including a step of increasing a flow rate of the refrigerant gradually during a defrosting operation in which frost formed on the evaporator 105 is melted by allowing the refrigerant having a high temperature to flow through the evaporator 105.

Abstract: An adiabatic cooling unit (20) comprising a fluid conduit (26), a cooling cell (28), and a building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) is provided. A cooling fluid (24) flows from the building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) to the cooling cell (28) and returns to the building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) through the fluid conduit (26). The cooling cell (28) transfers latent heat from the cooling fluid (24) to the air (22) flowing through the adiabatic cooler unit (20). The building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) is a heat exchanger permitting the transfer of heat from a fluid (34) flowing through a building (36) and the cooling fluid (24). Additional heat exchangers (46) may be used between the cooling cell (28) and the building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) to further cool the cooling fluid (24) prior to the cooling fluid (24) reducing the temperature of the fluid (34) flowing through the building (36).

Abstract: Ethane is separated from a carbon dioxide-containing feed gas in a demethanizer that receives a rich subcooled reflux stream at very low temperature. Freezing of carbon dioxide is prevented by feeding a temperature-controlled vapor portion of the feed gas to the column, wherein the temperature of the vapor portion is adjusted by routing a portion of the expander discharge through a heat exchanger in response to the tray temperature in the demethanizer. Thus, high separation efficiency is achieved at reduced, or even eliminated carbon dioxide freezing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating a mixture containing carbon monoxide, nitrogen and hydrogen by cryogenic distillation in a separation system which includes a denitrification column and at least another column. The method can include separating the mixture in order to obtain a fluid enriched with carbon monoxide and containing nitrogen, separating the fluid in the denitrification column, pressurizing the carbon monoxide flow from the column in a compressor up to a high pressure, collecting a fraction of carbon monoxide flow to be used as a product, expanding an amount of the high-pressure carbon monoxide flow in a valve prior to supplying it to the denitrification column, and varying the flow expanded in the valve according to re-boiling needs of the denitrification column.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus (50) includes: a main refrigerant circuit (21) having a compressor (1), a radiator (2), a first expansion mechanism (5), a second expansion mechanism (6), and an evaporator (4); an injection passage (22) for supplying an intermediate-pressure refrigerant to an injection port 1c of the compressor 1; and a water circuit (30) through which water to be heated in the radiator (2) flows. The refrigeration cycle apparatus (50) includes a sub heat exchanger (3) for cooling the water in the water circuit (30) by exchanging heat between the refrigerant in the injection passage (22) and the water to be heated in the radiator (2).

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner (1) employing an air-mix method, airflow which passed through a bypass channel (14) and airflow which passed through a heated air channel (13) are mixed in an air-mix area (15) located downstream of an air-mix damper (6) and the airflow is guided to a foot outlet (19) through a foot channel (18) provided on the back side of a partition wall (2A) constituting the heated air channel (13). The vehicle air conditioner includes a mixing enhancement portion (50) that makes airflow flowing along the partition wall (2A) flow toward the air-mix area (15) and an introduction portion (60) that is continuous with the mixing enhancement portion (50) and smoothly guides the airflow after air mixing to the foot channel (18) are provided at an end (30) of the partition wall (2A) constituting an outlet of the heated air channel (13).

Abstract: An ventilating and air conditioning apparatus includes a circulating fan for sucking air from a sucking port open to a first indoor space and blowing the air through a blowout port into the first indoor space, a ventilating fan for sucking air from an exhausting port open to a second indoor space and evacuating the air to the outdoors for ventilation, and a refrigerant circuit formed of a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a first heat exchanger for exchanging heat of air blown into the first indoor space by the circulating fan with the refrigerant, an expanding mechanism for expanding the refrigerant, and a second heat exchanger for exchanging heat of air blown into the second indoor space by the ventilating fan with the refrigerant. The compressor, first heat exchanger, expanding mechanism, and second heat exchanger are coupled together with pipes for the refrigerant to circulate therethrough in this order.