Abstract: On each refrigerant piping to an indoor heat exchanger of each indoor unit, there is provided a flow control valve of which target opening (.theta.t) is selected separately according to an air-conditioning load of each indoor unit. Provided, the flow control valve which will have a maximum target opening (.theta.t.sub.max) selected, is fully opened, with the remaining flow control valves having such an opening greater than each of respective target openings (.theta.t) by a given value (.DELTA..theta.). Meanwhile, a target frequency (Ft) of output power from an inverter is selected, following the total of air-conditioning loads of respective indoor units; provided, an actual frequency (F) of output power of the inverter is selected in such a value lower than the target frequency (Ft) by a given value (.DELTA.F).

Abstract: A compact, air cycle air conditioning system including compressor, turbine, heat exchanger and high speed electric motor is thermostatically controlled to supply either hot or cold conditioned air to a load air space. In a second arrangement, compact, exhaust gas driven air cycle air conditioning system including a compressor, turbine, two heat exchangers and an exhaust turbine is controlled by means of an exhaust gas bypass arrangement and supplies either hot or cold conditioned air to a load air space. In a third arrangement compact, exhasut gas driven air cycle air conditioning system includes an expansion turbine, two compressors, two heat exchangers and an exhaust turbine which is preferably controlled by means of an exhaust gas bypass arrangement and supplies either hot or cold conditioning air to a load air space.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery apparatus will connect to an air conditioning system for recovering refrigerant when the air conditioning system requires maintenance. The recovery apparatus has a filter dryer for removing moisture and impurities, a compressor for compressing refrigerant recovered, and a condenser for condensing the compressed refrigerant into a liquid. A storage container stores the liquid refrigerant. A liquid pump will connect to the storage container for pumping liquid refrigerant from the storage container. The liquid pump in a flush mode, will pump the liquid refrigerant back through the air conditioning system to flush the air conditioning system of impurities. A return line returns the refrigerant back to the storage container, and filters the refrigerant from impurities. In a cleaning mode, the liquid pump will recirculate the liquid refrigerant from the storage container through the filter dryer and back to the storage container.

Abstract: A selectively cooled or heated seat has an outer layer (40) of corduroy appearance with perforations (46) between wales through which conditioned air can flow. Alternatively, layers (47,52) are constructed of molded plastic or rubber. The seat construction is made by molding a cushion (64) of foam over the seat outer layer. The conditioning apparatus has a unitary fin structure (74) or, alternatively, a heat pipe (82) for removing or adding heat to the thermoelectric auxiliary heat exchanger (20). In a further modification, heat exchanging coils (34) located within the seat (24) have a fluid circulating through them and the conditioning apparatus auxiliary heat exchanger with ambient air being blown across the coils.

Abstract: An automobile air-conditioner capable of controlling the displacement of a compressor in view of the traveling condition and air-conditioning condition of an automobile so as to maintain a pleasant feeling of the air-conditioning and an accelerating ability of the automobile in harmony with each other. The air-conditioner includes an air-conditioning preference judgment device by means of which a normal control of the air-conditioning operation is maintained when the judgment of this judgment means indicates the existence of an air-conditioning preference condition. The air-conditioning is performed in preference to acceleration of the automobile depending on the degree of acceleration of the automobile even when the automobile is accelerated.

Abstract: A refrigeration system particularly suitable for an automobile air conditioning system is disclosed. The refrigeration system uses a hydrocarbon as the working fluid. The system includes an ejector in the refrigeration cycle and a boiler which utilizes waste heat from the automobile engine. A refrigerant storage subsystem may be included in the system to provide an adequate transient response to changes in the waste heat output from the automobile engine and during the engine warm up period.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating an air conditioner which is basically composed of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit and whose operation is controlled on the basis of values measured by a plurality of temperature sensors. When any one of the plural sensors is disabled due to wire disconnection, short-circuit or like trouble, and when a specific sensor which has a complementary relation with the disabled sensor with respect to the heat cycle or which has an object of measurement substantially the same as that of the disabled sensor is normally functioning without any wire disconnection, short-circuit or like trouble, the value measured by the specific sensor is based to presume the value that will be measured by the disabled sensor if the disabled sensor functions normally, and the operation of the air conditioner is continued on the basis of the presumed value.

Abstract: Runners extend along the junctions of the interior side panels and the headliner of the van and define plenums for conditioned air supplied by the auxiliary heat exchanger of a climate control system, the heat exchanger being mounted beneath the floor of the van. Air distribution outlets are mounted in the runners and discharge conditioned air downwardly into the interior of the van. Conditioned air is supplied to one of the plenums by a first hose extending upwardly from the heat exhanger, along the outboard side of one of the interior side panels and into one of the runners. A second hose extends upwardly generally alongside the first hose but crosses over the van between the roof and the headliner and leads into the other runner to supply conditioned air to the other plenum.

Abstract: A refrigeration system including a compressor, condenser and evaporator utilizes an evaporative subcooler downstream of the condenser for subcooling the refrigerant for increased system efficiency. The strategic placement of the subcooler for cooling in the liquid zone allows the operating pressure and temperature of the refrigeration system to be reduced and the refrigerant in the system to provide the greatest cooling effect in the evaporator. As an additional feature, a counterflow heat exchanger is provided in the liquid zone adjacent the subcooler in order to provide additional subcooling and also provide for warming of the cooling water used for evaporative cooling. The subcooler can be readily used as a retrofit in an existing system and is particularly adapted for increasing efficiency in high capacity use situations, such as in the food industry. Preferably, condensate water is used for cooling in the evaporative subcooler, but tap water is used for makeup cooling water.

Abstract: A method and system of energy storage in which energy is stored in the compression of a metastable degenerate Fermi electron gas contained in a compressed metallic material such as hydrogen and/or metallic lithium in a diamond anvil high pressure cell which is subjected to a magnetic field by further compressing the metastable degenerate Fermi electron gas. In operation, heat energy is introduced to increase the energy of the compressed metastable degenerate Fermi electron gas which causes the magnetic field associated therewith to increase to further compress the metastable degenerate Fermi electron gas, which causes the heat to be absorbed and results in a decrease in the temperature thereof. Energy can be withdrawn from the system by allowing the metastable degenerate Fermi electron gas to expand against the compressing magnetic field.

Abstract: A relatively lightweight cooling device utilizing adsorption of perspirated water vapor to permit evaporative cooling of a person wearing a sealed suit for defined time periods. The device can be constructed in the form of a rectangular pad or the like having an open cell foam adjacent the person's skin to permit static transport of perspirated water vapor to an adsorbent layer. The open cell foam or a separate material acts as a thermal insulator to prevent heat flow back toward the skin resulting from the exothermic heat of adsorption produced by the adsorbent layer. In lieu of static movement of the water vapor, a small fan can be operatively associated with the fan for actively moving the water vapor to a single point to enhance the evaporative cooling, particularly where a smaller amount of adsorbent material is used. The vest itself can be the evaporator and filled with working fluid which is vaporized as the evaporator section of the vest absorbs heat from the body.

Abstract: A compact efficient air flotation dryer with a built-in afterburner for combustion of solvent-laden air within a dryer-enclosed combustion chamber. An internal exhaust fan propels internal solvent-laden air across a burner where it combusts, causing a heat rise. Heated, combusted air is routed to a recirculating supply air fan which provides for pressurized heated air for air bars for drying a web. Heated air in excess of that required to dry the web is vented externally and helps to maintain desired solvent concentration levels. Variable parameters such as fan speed, burner temperatures, air box pressures, exhaust air rate, solvent concentration, supply air flow, supply air temperature and damper vane position are monitored, and the components are actuated to effect a high level of clean up efficiency.

Abstract: An absorption refrigeration system having an absorption refrigeration cycle which is formed by connecting a plurality of absorbers, a regenerator, a condenser and an evaporator with one another by means of pipes; the absorption refrigeration system comprising ejectors for bleeding a noncondensing gas accumulated in each of the absorbers and a noncondensing gas tank for storing the noncondensing gas which is bled therein, both of which are provided for each absorber.

Abstract: A relatively lightweight cooling device and method utilizing adsorption of perspirated water vapor to permit evaporative cooling of a person wearing a sealed suit for defined time periods. The device can be constructed in the form of a rectangular pad or the like having an open cell foam adjacent the person's skin to permit static transport of perspirated water vapor to an adsorbent layer. The open cell foam or a separate material acts as a thermal insulator to prevent heat flow back toward the skin resulting from the exothermic heat of adsorption produced by the adsorbent layer. In lieu of static movement of the water vapor, a small fan can be operatively associated with the fan for actively moving the water vapor to a single point to enhance the evaporative cooling, particularly where a smaller amount of adsorbent material is used.

Abstract: An absorbent solution for an absorption refrigeration apparatus is composed of water as a refrigerant and an absorbent. The absorbent is a mixture of at least three lithium compounds selected from the group consisting of lithium bromide, lithium iodide, lithium chloride, and lithium nitrate. The mixture ratio of, for example, lithium bromide to lithium iodide to lithium chloride in the absorbent is 1:0.1-1.0:0.05-0.50. Therefore, since absorption temperature sufficiently higher than crystallization temperature can be achieved, neither lithium halide nor lithium nitrate is precipitated in the absorbent solution during the operation cycle of the refrigeration apparatus.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system including host and remote refrigeration systems having local and remote evaporators, respectively, for respectively controlling the temperatures of first and second compartments via cooling and hot gas heating cycles. The host and remote refrigeration systems each have a plurality of controllable valves, including a controllable valve in their respective suction lines, and they each have a suction line to liquid line refrigerant by-pass lines, enabling either the host or remote evaporator to function as a condenser for the other, while by passing the normal condenser function, and further enabling either evaporator to control to a lower temperature than the other, as desired.

Abstract: In a refrigeration system in the form of a refrigerant circulation circuit, a first valve is disposed within a bypass circuit of the circulation circuit for being opened to supply therethrough the hot gas outflowing from a compressor directly into an evaporator. A second valve is interposed between a condenser and the evaporator for being closed to prohibit flow of refrigerant from the condenser into the evaporator therethrough. A first relay is energized to open the second valve when a first detecting element detects finish in cooling of medium caused by thermal exchange with the evaporator. A second relay is energized to close the first valve when a second detecting element detects finish in vaporization of liquefied refrigerant accumulated within the evaporator during cooling of the medium.

Abstract: A harvester apparatus is provided for drying and baling forage crops in the field. The harvester apparatus includes an inlet for conveying forage crops to a dryer arrangement of the harvester where the forage crops are substantially evenly dried as they are conveyed through the dryer arrangement. The harvester apparatus includes compacting structure for compacting the forage crops before the drying process in completed. The harvester apparatus produces a layer of dried and compacted forage crops which are exited from the harvester apparatus at an exit which is adjacent a baling mechanism for securing the forage crops into bales. The layer of forage crops is converted by the baling mechanism into a column of stacked blocks secured together to form a bale.

Abstract: A thermal transport device having a hollow within which a plasma storage freezer is deployed. The freezer acts as a cold "battery" by having a eutectic fluid contained therewithin. The freezer is placed in a commercial, powered refrigeration unit for chilling ("charging") the eutectic fluid of the plasma storage freezer to approximately -30.degree. C. The freezer is then deployed within the thermal transport device and sent to a remote locale for collecting blood plasma. Blood plasma is disposed between a central heat sink and lateral heat sinks of the freezer freezing the blood plasma quickly and maintaininig its initial high quality because of negligible time loss for freezing. Ultimately, the device is returned to a commercial powered refrigeration unit for ("recharging") rechilling the eutectic fluid for subsequent reuse.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air conditioning apparatus for automobiles equipped with a heat exchanger and a control method for the apparatus, by which the heat transfer area of the heat exchanger can be properly controlled to permit a stable cycle operation, even when the capacity of a condenser is relatively overly enhanced under a condition of the low atmospheric temperature. The apparatus and the control method are achieved with such an arrangement that either one or both of headers of a heat exchanger is provided with at least one refrigerant flow rate control valve capable of opening and closing refrigerant passages in each header, the heat exchanger has a refrigerant inlet provided in one header and a refrigerant outlet provided in the other header, and the control valve is opened and closed to change the number of the passages allowing the refrigerant to pass therethrough, for thereby changing the effective heat transfer area for heat exchange dependent on the atmospheric temperature.