Abstract: Various mist-type fire protection systems for the protection of light and ordinary hazard occupancies of reduced water demand as compared to known mist type systems or sprinkler systems configured to protect the same occupancies. Three system configurations are defined by varying design criteria for the installation of: mist devices having an enlarged coverage area alone or in combination with known nozzles or sprinklers. The preferred mist devices provide for the protection of at least one of a light hazard occupancy only and a light and ordinary hazard occupancy having a ceiling with a maximum ceiling height of at least 8 ft. The preferred device include a body having a passageway defining a K-factor of less than 1 gpm/psi1/2. The preferred device includes means for diffusing the fluid at a flux density of less than 0.1 gpm/sq. ft. for a fluid pressure at the inlet of less than 500 psi. to define a coverage area of the device of over than 132 sq. ft., preferably to a maximum of 256 sq. ft.

Abstract: A device for changing a flow direction through a heat exchanger, comprising a valve housing and a rotatable valve member arranged inside the valve housing. The valve housing comprises first and second ends and a center axis (B) extending between them. The device comprises a first port, a second port, a third port and a fourth port. The first end is provided with the first port, and the second end is provided with the third and fourth ports, wherein the valve member is rotatable between a first position and a second position and, in the first position, defines a conduit between the first port and the third port and, in the second position, defines a conduit between the first port and the fourth port. The valve member is rotatable around an axis of rotation offset from the center axis (B) and extending through the center of the first port, and the first port is angularly displaced 90° around the center axis (B) in relation to the third and fourth ports.

Abstract: Method for controlling heat transfer between two objects. In one embodiment, the method includes flowing a current through an electromagnet disposed about a container holding magnetorheological fluid to bias a first conductive element against a first end of the container and a second conductive element against a second end of the container to align particles in the magnetorheological fluid such that first conductive element is conductively coupled to the second conductive element; and reducing the current through an electromagnet such that the first conductive element is biased away from the first end of the container and the second conductive element is biased away from the second end of the container to break the alignment of the particles in the magnetorheological fluid such that the first conductive element is not conductively coupled to the second conductive element.

Abstract: A vortex-producing fan controller uses a variable-speed vortex-producing fan positioned above a server rack to create a helical airflow within the server rack that couples with cooled air entering a data center through a floor opening situated near a bottom of the server rack. A speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan and a flow rate of the cooled air coupled within the helical airflow up through the server rack are adjusted responsive to changes in input air temperature of air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan detected using a fan input air temperature sensor positioned above the server rack.

Abstract: A method and system for the spray application of epoxy materials is provided. The system includes a dual walled tank structure as a reservoir for containing and preheating the epoxy materials in preparation for mixing and spray application. Each component of the epoxy material is preheated before the components are mixed. After preheating, the components are then mixed together and spray applied. The method and system of the present invention provides a high quality spray applied epoxy coating while reducing equipment down time and cleaning.

Abstract: A heat pipe having a wick structure for efficiently returning working fluid to an evaporating portion is provided. The heat pipe comprises a container 2 sealed at its both ends, a working fluid encapsulated in the container, and a wick structure 10 covering an inner face of the container. The wick structure 10 includes a porous wick 11 of a sintered metal powder, and a fiber wick 12 buried in the porous wick. A capillary pressure of the fiber wick 12 is weaker than that of the porous wick 11, and a pressure loss of the fiber wick 12 is smaller than that of the porous wick 11.

Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a valve that is disposed at a predetermined position in a cooling channel to discharge bubbles produced in a coolant out of the cooling channel. Additionally, a controller is configured to detect whether bubbles have been produced in the coolant using a rate of pressure change based on a temperature increase in the cooling channel and open the valve in response to detecting that bubbles have been produced.

Abstract: The heat exchanger comprises at least one gas flow channel, at least one water flow channel, and a metal wall delimiting the gas flow channel from the water flow channel. The at least one water flow channel comprises a number of consecutive parallel straight segments. Two consecutive parallel straight segments are separated by a wall and by a U-turn comprising an upstream section and a downstream section. The upstream and the downstream sections are defined as the sections of the U-turn delimited on the one hand by the plane of the wall separating the two consecutive parallel straight segments; and on the other hand by the plane through the end section of the wall separating the two consecutive parallel straight segments, the plane which is parallel with the width direction of the water flow channel and which is perpendicular to the plane of the wall separating the two consecutive parallel straight segments.

Abstract: A spacer portion (3) of this heat exchanger (100) includes an outer peripheral portion (3a) circumferentially provided along outer peripheral edges of bonded surfaces (1a) of cores (1) and a gap portion (3b and 3c) provided in a partial region of the circumferential outer peripheral portion, and the gap portion is provided at a position where a temperature gradient on the bonded surfaces of the cores is relatively shallow.

Abstract: A charge air cooler includes a plurality of plate assemblies. Each of the plate assemblies includes a unitary first plate and a unitary second plate. The first plate and the second plate each have a channel forming surface. The channel forming surface of the first plate cooperating with the channel forming surface of the second plate to form a first flow channel for receiving a first coolant and a second flow channel for receiving a second coolant. A plurality of fins is interposed between the plate assemblies.

Abstract: A wickless heat pipe including a first tube and a second tube. The first tube may form a first shape extending longitudinally in a first direction. The second tube may form a second shape extending longitudinally in a second direction different from the first direction. The first tube and the second tube intersect at at least one location. The two tubes may intersect at a right angle or an oblique angle. The first and second tube may intersect at a plurality of locations. The tubes may be formed from a metal plate used as a thermal ground plane.

Abstract: The present application relates to apparatus and methods of reducing the cost of microchannel array production and operation. In a representative embodiment, a microchannel array can comprise a first lamina having one or more flanges and a plurality of elongated bosses. The one or more flanges can extend along a perimeter of the first lamina, the plurality of elongated bosses can at least partially define a plurality of first flow paths, and the first lamina can define at least one opening. The microchannel array can also comprise a second lamina having a plurality of second flow paths, and can define at least one opening. The second lamina can be disposed above the first lamina such that the second lamina encloses the first flow paths of the first lamina and the at least one opening of the first lamina is coaxial with the at least one opening of the second lamina.

Abstract: An object is to enable the dealer or user of an air conditioning apparatus to recognize that the heat dissipation amount of a heat exchange device is less than the heat dissipation amount expected of the air conditioning apparatus. A control device detects a hot water outflow temperature being a temperature of a fluid heated by a heat pump device, and a return temperature being a temperature of the fluid before being heated by the heat pump device, and checks whether or not a temperature difference between the detected hot water outflow temperature and the detected return temperature is smaller than a predetermined first value. If the control device judges that the temperature difference is smaller than the first value, it displays insufficiency of the heat dissipation amount of a heat exchange device, on a display of a remote controller.

Abstract: A fin for a heat exchanger is joined to an outer surface of a tube, and facilitates a heat exchange between the tube and an air flowing around the tube. A sectional surface of the fin perpendicular to a flowing direction of an air has a corrugated shape that includes multiple flat portions substantially parallel to a flowing direction of the air, and a ridge portion connecting the adjacent flat portions. Multiple louvers cut in and raised from each of the flat portions at a predetermined cut-and-raised angle are disposed on the flat portion along a flowing direction of the air. A thickness of each flat portion is defined as t, a louver pitch of the louvers is defined as PL, and the thickness of each flat portion and the louver pitch satisfy a relationship of 0.035?t/PL?0.29.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice-making chamber, an ice bucket that can be slidably drawn into and out of the ice-making chamber, and a locking device that can lock the ice bucket, and the locking device may be provided in an upper wall of an inner case. Only a latch protrusion that protrudes upwardly is formed in the ice bucket so as to be coupled to the locking device, and therefore a structure of the ice bucket may be simplified, and an unnecessary opening may not be formed in the ice bucket, thereby preventing cool air of an inside of the ice bucket from leaking.

Abstract: A vapor compression system includes a heat exchanger having an inlet header pipe connected to a set of paths for passing refrigerant to condition a controlled zone. The inlet header pipe splits the refrigerant into different paths. An amount of the refrigerant entering the inlet header pipe is controlled by a valve. The vapor compression system also includes a set of sensors for measuring temperatures of the refrigerant in each path of the set of paths and a controller including a processor for determining a position of the valve based on the measurements of at least one sensor from the set of sensors and a thermal capacity requested for the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat storage member includes a honeycomb structure having a plurality of cells, each of which is filled with capsules and a heat conductive filler. Each capsule contains a heat storage material. The heat storage member is prepared by bringing a starting material that is a mixture of the capsules into contact with the honeycomb structure to cover at least one surface of the opening of the cells of the honeycomb structure, subjecting the same to uniaxial pressure molding under the pressure of 4 MPa to 10 MPa, and filling each cell with the starting material.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning device has an air-conditioning unit including a temperature regulation unit having an evaporator and a blower unit including a blower. The blower unit is offset to a side of the temperature regulation unit. A deflection guide to deflect a flow of air is provided upstream of the evaporator in a flow of air flowing into an inflow plane of the evaporator from the blower. The deflection guide has a plate-like defection portion inclined with respect to the inflow plane, and a support portion supporting the deflection portion by extending from the blower unit. A gap is provided between the support portion and the evaporator. Air that has collided with the deflection portion is changed in flow direction to head for the blower side of the inflow plane.

Abstract: Systems and methods for air conditioning a building using an energy recovery wheel are provided. An exemplary system includes a rotatable energy recovery wheel configured to rotate successively through a recirculated air stream and a second air stream separate from the recirculated air stream, and a refrigeration circuit configured to circulate a refrigerant through a cooling coil arranged in the recirculated air stream and a condenser arranged in the second air stream. The refrigeration circuit includes a pressure sensor configured to measure a condensing head pressure. The system further includes one or more temperature sensors configured to measure a temperature of the recirculated air stream upstream of the energy recovery wheel and downstream of the energy recovery wheel, and a controller configured to operate the energy recovery wheel and the refrigeration circuit based on the condensing head pressure and the temperatures of the recirculated air stream.

Abstract: An intelligent ball sensor assembly for use with a heat exchanger system, includes a mechanically compliant ball having a recess formed therein. At least one sensor positioned on the ball is configured to gather selected information regarding a heat exchanger system. Signal conditioning control/transmission circuitry is operatively connected to the at least one sensor. A power source is operatively connected to the at least one sensor and the signal conditioning control/transmission circuitry. The sensor and the signal conditioning control/transmission circuitry cooperate to gather information about the status, health and efficiency of the heat exchanger system.