Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for starting-up a vehicle air-conditioning system. In one aspect, a method is performed at a vehicle air-conditioning system including a blower fan, a condenser fan, and a compressor electrically coupled to a battery system. The method includes: (1) starting the blower fan; (2) after starting the blower fan, measuring a first current drawn from the battery system, the first current indicative of current drawn by the blower fan; (3) in accordance with a determination that the first current meets predefined criteria, starting the condenser fan; (4) after starting the condenser fan, measuring a second current drawn from the battery system, where the difference between the second current and the first current is indicative of current drawn by the condenser fan; and (5) in accordance with a determination that the second current meets predefined second criteria, starting the compressor.

Abstract: An oil-gas balancing apparatus includes: a body, a gas balancing opening and at least one oil balancing hole. The body has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, and the first end can be fixedly connected to a shell of a compressor and in communication with an oil sump of the compressor and a chamber of the oil sump. The gas balancing opening is disposed on a first portion of an end surface of the second end. The at least one oil balancing hole is disposed on a second portion of the end surface of the second end. The second portion and the first portion are oppositely disposed. A compressor system can include the oil-gas balancing apparatus.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a regenerator, a low-temperature end heat exchanger, a pulse tube, a high-temperature end heat exchanger, and a phase adjustment mechanism, connected in that order. A draft tube is provided inside the regenerator, paralleling the regenerator's axis, and the draft tube can extend into the low-temperature end heat exchanger.

Abstract: A conduit seal assembly includes an outer conduit having a first end with a first opening and a second end, opposite the first end, with a second opening. A first seal is positioned in the first opening for resisting a first temperature, and a second seal is positioned in the second opening for resisting a second temperature less than the first temperature. The first and second seals define a cavity and provide an air-tight seal of the cavity, and the assembly includes a monitoring assembly configured to sense a characteristic in the cavity.

Abstract: A liquefied natural gas production facility and a method of designing and constructing a liquefied natural gas production facility are described. The facility includes space-apart modules for installation at a production location to form a production train including a major axis and a minor axis, each module including a module base for mounting a plurality of plant equipment associated with a selected function assigned to the module, the module base including a major axis and a minor axis. Heat exchangers are arranged to run parallel to the major axis of the production train to form a heat exchanger bank including a major axis and a minor axis, where the major axis of the bank is parallel to the major axis of the train. A subset of the plurality of heat exchangers is arranged on a first level vertically offset from the base of at least one module.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cryogenic separation of a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and nitrogen, including a stripping column and a denitrogenation column, a pipe for sending the mixture in liquid form to the head of the stripping column, a pipe for removing a liquid depleted of hydrogen connected to the stripping column, a pipe for removing a gas enriched with hydrogen from the stripping column, means for sending the liquid depleted of hydrogen or a fluid derived from said liquid to the denitrogenation column, a pipe for drawing a liquid enriched with carbon monoxide from the denitrogenation column, a pipe for drawing a gas enriched with nitrogen from the head of the denitrogenation column and means for sending at least one portion of the gas enriched with hydrogen to the denitrogenation column.

Abstract: A heat pipe has an evaporator portion, a condenser portion, and at least one flexible portion that is sealingly coupled between the evaporator portion and the condenser portion. The flexible portion has a flexible tube and a flexible separator plate held in place within the flexible tube so as to divide the flexible tube into a gas-phase passage and a liquid-phase artery. The separator plate and flexible tube are configured such that the flexible portion is flexible in a plane that is perpendicular to the separator plate.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a carbon dioxide compression and delivery device that uses a plurality of reversible thermoelectric devices and to a method to operate such carbon dioxide compression and delivery device.

Abstract: A dehumidifier for a vehicle includes a heat exchanger provided in a flow path of air and configured to have a heat transfer material flowing therein so as to cool or heat the air. A first thermoelectric element is provided at an air inlet side of the heat exchanger and is configured to cool introduced air. A first thermal conductor is configured to connect a heat-generating surface of the first thermoelectric element to the heat exchanger and radiate heat generated from the first thermoelectric element through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: When refrigerant gas leaks in an indoor unit, the leaked refrigerant gas locally accumulates in an area of the indoor space. This air conditioner includes an indoor unit having one or more outlets, and an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit, wherein a flammable refrigerant or a mildly flammable refrigerant is used. The air conditioner includes a refrigerant gas sensor disposed in the indoor unit. When refrigerant gas is detected by the refrigerant gas sensor, a control is performed such that air is blown from the one or more outlets at a minimum air speed or higher, said minimum air speed being preset in accordance with the rated cooling capacity of the air conditioner.

Abstract: A heat exchanger element includes at least two honeycomb structures arranged serially and each including a cell structural portion having cells separated and formed by partition walls containing SiC and functioning as passages which extend from one end face to the other end face and which a first fluid passes through, and an outer peripheral wall disposed on the outer periphery of the cell structural portion. The first fluid passes through the cells of the honeycomb structures without leaking out of the cells or mixing. The cell structural portions of at least a pair of the honeycomb structures adjacent to each other among the honeycomb structures arranged serially are disposed with a gap, and the first fluid passing through the cells mixes together between end faces forming the gap.

Abstract: A process for separating a mixed or raw gas feed to produce a dry gas product and a hydrocarbon liquid product is provided. The process comprises scrubbing heavier hydrocarbon components from the gas feed to produce a lighter ends gas stream and a heavier ends liquid stream; cooling the lighter ends gas stream and separating the cooled lighter ends gas stream into a cold liquid stream and the dry gas product; and using the cold liquid stream to assist in scrubbing the heavier hydrocarbon components from the gas feed.

Abstract: A system and method for removing nitrogen and producing a high pressure methane product stream and an NGL product stream from natural gas feed streams where at least 90%, and preferably at least 95%, of the ethane in the feed stream is recovered in the NGL product stream. The system and method of the invention are particularly suitable for use with feed streams in excess of 5 MMSCFD and up to 300 MMSCFD and containing around 5% to 80% nitrogen. The system and method preferably combine use of strategic heat exchange between various process streams with a high pressure rectifier tower and the ability to divert all or a portion of a nitrogen rejection unit feed stream to optionally bypass a nitrogen fractionation column to reduce capital costs and operating expenses.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for controlling the direction of cooling air flow across components of an electronic devices. An air-cooled electronic device includes: an air flow generator that is able to generate air flow in either first or second direction across the device; a sensor that measures first and second temperatures of air in the device when the air flows in the first and second directions, respectively; and a controller coupled to the mechanism and the sensor. The controller compares the first temperature to the second temperature and controls the air flow generator to generate the air flow in one of the first and second directions based on comparison of the first temperature to the second temperature.

Abstract: A thermally managed electrical supply unit is provided. The unit contains an energy unit comprising a battery or a battery pack; a casing of a porous thermally conductive framework comprising a phase change material on at least one surface of the energy unit; at least one heat flux rectifier unit on the thermally conductive framework casing; wherein a surface of the heat flux rectifier opposite to the PF/PCM casing is subject to cooling. Also provided is a method for thermal management of an energy unit comprising absorption of heat from the energy unit within a phase change material, transfer of the heat energy from the phase change material through a heat flux rectifier and removal of the heat transferred across the heat flux rectifier. The flow of heat across the heat flux rectifier is irreversible and the heat flux rectifier acts as an on/off switch to control the heat flow.

Abstract: Provided is a heat storage including a container including a first container made of ceramics and a second container made of ceramics, the first container and the second container being combined, and a heat storage material housed inside the container. The first container and the second container are bonded via a bonding member. A volume occupied by pores in the first container, in a first contact region including a surface section in contact with the bonding member, is greater than a volume occupied by pores in regions other than the first contact region. A volume occupied by pores in the second container, in a second contact region including a surface section in contact with the bonding member, is greater than a volume occupied by pores in regions other than the second contact region.

Abstract: A vapor chamber having improved heat transfer capacity by efficiently returning the working fluid to the evaporating portion is provided. A hollow flat container 2 is formed by a base member 4 and a lid 3 closing an opening of the base member. Phase-changeable working fluid is held in the container, and fins 9 are arranged in the container to transmit heat of a heat generating object between the bottom plate of the base member and the lid. The fins are densely juxtaposed on an evaporating portion in comparison with the other fins juxtaposed on the outside of the evaporating portion.

Abstract: A cooling system includes a cooling fan that blows cooled air to a main battery and a temperature sensor. When the temperature of the main battery is equal to or higher than a first predetermined temperature after start up of an electric drive vehicle, the cooling fan is driven with a constant command value for a predetermined time period and detection process of abnormal condition is performed for detecting presence or absence of abnormal condition of the cooling fan based on an actual rotation speed of the cooling fan. When the start up of the electric drive vehicle is based on an external charging operation of the secondary battery, driving of the cooling fan with the constant command value is inhibited. This structure ensures sufficient opportunities for detecting presence or absence of abnormal condition of the cooling fan.

Abstract: An exemplary method protects a delicate device from potential damage from shock or vibration. A material in a liquid state is placed in contact with the delicate device. The liquid material is cooled causing it to transition to a solid state which stabilizes the delicate device in contact with the solid material against shock and vibration. The solid state material is heated causing it to sublimate into a gas thus releasing the delicate device for operation.

Abstract: An outdoor unit of an air conditioner includes: a housing including a bottom surface, a side surface, and an upper surface; an outdoor heat exchanger arranged along the side surface of the housing; a blowing fan arranged on the upper surface of the housing; a bell mouth arranged around the blowing fan; a fan guard provided to cover an upper portion of the blowing fan; and a height changing member provided between the fan guard and the bell mouth and configured to change a height of the fan guard with respect to the blowing fan.