Abstract: A refrigerant evaporator 5 constructed by a refrigerant-refrigerant heat exchanger section 32 having an inflow passageway 38 and an outflow passageway 39, and a refrigerant-air heat exchanger section 34 having a bottom tank 48, a top tank 49 and evaporating passageways 100 connecting the tanks 48 and 49 with each other. An orifice 33 is arranged between the inflow passageway 38 of the refrigerant-air heat exchanger section 34 and the inlet tank 48 of the refrigerant-air heat exchanger section 34. The refrigerant in the bottom tank 48 is introduced into all of the evaporating passageways 100, so as to obtain a single, upward direction of flow of the refrigerant in the evaporating passageways 100.

Abstract: A vapor compression air conditioning (cooling and heating) system adapted for operation to reduce the consumption of electric power during peak periods of demand for power is characterized by four refrigerant circuits. A first circuit includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. A second circuit comprises the compressor, the first heat exchanger and a third heat exchanger. A third circuit comprises the third heat exchanger, a refrigerant pump and a thermal energy storage unit characterized by a tank having a thermal energy storage medium disposed therein. A fourth circuit includes the thermal energy storage unit, the refrigerant pump and a fourth heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is an outdoor heat exchanger. The second and fourth heat exchangers are indoor heat exchangers in heat transfer relationship with the fluid (e.g., indoor supply air) to be cooled or heated.

Abstract: A temperature control device of a heating apparatus comprising: an input unit for receiving input of a set temperature; a heating/cooling unit for raising/dropping temperature of a medium, from which a person receives heat; a set temperature reaching unit for controlling the heating/cooling unit so that temperature of the medium is raised to the set temperature and maintained afterwards; a time judgement unit for judging whether a given time has passed after the temperature of the medium is raised to the set temperature; and an imperceptible temperature change unit for controlling the heating/cooling unit, if the time judgement unit judges that the given time has passed, so that the temperature of the medium drops/rises by an amount within a given range by which human beings cannot perceive changes in temperature at a temperature change rate by which human beings cannot perceive changes in temperature.

Abstract: A controller for a climate control system has a relative humidity sensor as well as a dry-bulb temperature sensor within the enclosure. The humidity value is used in conjunction with the dry-bulb temperature to generate an enthalpy error signal which is a function of both the dry-bulb temperature and the relative humidity values. This permits robust control of both enclosure temperature and enclosure humidity without abnormal cycling of the climate control system. Instead of using a sensor which directly measures the enthalpy, the enthalpy can be synthesized from the relative humidity and dry-bulb temperature within the enclosure. Alternately, the sensed and set point enthalpy values can be synthesized from any two thermodynamic properties of the moist air within the enclosure.

Abstract: A refrigeration system with heat reclaim and a method of operation to reclaim and put to use substantially all of the heat extracted from the compressor discharge gas. A valve connects the discharge of the compressors to either a remote air-cooled condenser which is located outside a building or to at least one heat reclaim coil located inside the building so that the heat in the hot gas is recovered and used to assist in the heating of a building. The heat reclaim coil could be incorporated in a heat exchanger to heat liquid such as to provide hot water. A pressure control device monitors the pressure in the refrigerant at an outlet of the heat reclaim coil and controls the pressure by directing the refrigerant from the outlet of the reclaim coil through valves whereby to reintroduce the liquid in the system to feed the evaporators or to bypass the refrigerant into the remote air-cooled condenser to drop the pressure thereof prior to reintroducing it into the system.

Abstract: A device for monitoring and modulating the admission of fresh air into a building. The device comprises a housing; a sensor associated with the housing and operable to measure airflow through the housing; and a damper including at least two damper blades. Each damper blade includes a shaft rotatably attached to the housing at least at a first shaft end. The shaft is located on the surface of the damper blade so as to divide the surface into first and second substantially equal areas.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards a programmable thermostat which includes a programming device for generating programs and a temperature comparison device to operate a temperature-modifying device, such as a furnace or air-conditioning system. This programming device may include a microprocessor which is capable of generating at least one weekday program and weekend program. The programming device of the present invention is also capable of generating a signal indicative of at least the current time of day, which signal can be used by the programming device in establishing its programs. The present invention also includes a rotatable, settable controller which controls the operation of the programming device. The rotatable controller includes a position for setting at least one weekday program, setting at least one weekend program, setting the current time, and controlling the temperature-modifying device.

Abstract: A compression refrigeration machine is provided having ammonia as a refriant and including a condenser, a throttle device, an evaporator device, and a motor-compressor unit. The motor compressor unit includes an electric motor that drives a compressor and may be arranged in a semi-hermetic or hermetic encapsulation. In an hermetic encapsulation, the electric motor is located outside a suction gas stream flowing into the compressor and outside a discharge gas stream exiting from the compressor so that the electric motor is only exposed to an essentially static ammonia atmosphere. The motor-compressor unit and the semi-hermetic encapsulation are composed of materials stable or resistant to ammonia.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring and controlling the level of ice in an ice storage container includes an emitter mounted within the ice storage container and a detector mounted directly opposite from the emitter. A pulse circuit drives the emitter such that it outputs a pulse train that triggers the detector. A receiver circuit outputs a signal responsive to the detection of the pulse train by the detector. A controller activates an ice maker responsive to the output of the receiver circuit.

Abstract: The humidity of the atmosphere contacting a sample and the water vapor partial pressure are program controlled and measured in a device having: a sample chamber which is provided with an inlet and an outlet for water vapor and which is capable of controlling a feedback temperature along with the sample stored therein; a warm water chamber for generating saturated water vapor pressure which has a gas inlet and an outlet connected to a pipe and which is capable of controlling the feedback temperature; a humidity program function generator for outputting a target humidity value for the sample chamber for each input time interval; a memory for storing a temperature-saturated water vapor pressure curve; and a calculator for calculating a control target temperature for the warm water chamber for generating the saturated water vapor pressure on the basis of the sample chamber target temperature output from a temperature program function generator, sample chamber target humidity of the sample chamber output from the

Abstract: To capacity control a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator all connected in a closed refrigeration circuit, the compressor having a plurality of adjustable inlet guide vanes and driven by an internal combustion engine, signals indicating the condenser pressure; the evaporator pressure; the inlet guide vanes position; the engine speed; the chilled water discharge temperature; and the engine intake manifold pressure are processed by a microprocessor to continuously calculate a surface speed and to equalize engine speed and calculated surface speed utilizing a fuzzy logic algorithm.

Abstract: A reheater is used in air-conditioning system which includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, interconnected by conduits in a closed loop. A first conduit coupling a flow of liquid refrigerant through the expansion valve into the evaporator. A second conduit coupling an outlet of the evaporator to an inlet of the compressor. A third conduit coupling an outlet of the compressor to an inlet of the condenser. A centrifugal pump is coupled to an outlet of the condenser for boosting a pressure of the condensed liquid refrigerant by an incremental pressure sufficient to pressure subcool the refrigerant.

Abstract: An electronic refrigerant compressing apparatus comprises two or more compressing portions coupled in parallel to one another, which repeats the heating and cooling of the refrigerant circulating the refrigerant cycle at an interval of a predetermined time. Each of the compressing portions is provided with the cylindrical body having the refrigerant charged therein, the refrigerant pipe coiled around its body, the refrigerant heating load mounted in close to the refrigerant pipe for increasing the pressure of the refrigerant, the solenoid valve mounted at the inlet and outlet if the refrigerant, which is opened/closed according to the control of the microcomputer and means for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant, in which one side of the body and the refrigerant pipe is connected through the solenoid valve and the refrigerant outlet to the condenser as part of the refrigerant cycle, and the other side is connected through the check valve to the evaporator.

Abstract: A water heater control modifies a temperature differential setting in a hot water heater according to elapsed time between calls for heat. This allows the temperature setting of the hot water heater to remain low, which reduces the risk of scalding, yet allows the hot water heater to deliver hot water consistently. For example, a hot water heater temperature setting is 120.degree. F. and the temperature differential is normally set to 20.degree. F. After six hours without a call for heat, during which time period the water in the tank has destratified, the water heater control could set the differential to 15.degree. F., which would cause a call for heat when the water temperature drops to 105.degree. F. Once a call for heat is generated, the temperature differential can be set back to 20.degree. F.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating the accumulation of moisture condensation on air conditioning supply grills of concentric diffusers which involves the positioning of heat transfer tape around the perimeter of an air conditioning supply grill, a humidistat positioned within the return air duct of the air conditioning system, and a relay located in the electrical component compartment of the air conditioning system which is connected to the humidistat so that when the humidistat senses high levels of moisture in the return air, the relay will allow current to flow through the heat transfer tape for warming of the air conditioning supply grill and prevention of moisture condensation accumulation thereon. Applications may include, but are not limited to, use in commercial air conditioning systems having concentric diffusers.

Abstract: An air conditioner for exchanging heat from a refrigerant to the outside and adjusting at least one of room temperature and humidity to desired temperature and humidity and having a 1/f fluctuation function for controlling an air supplying means for supplying conditioned air to the room so as to vary the air supplying amount in multiple levels corresponding to a designated reference air amount and irregularly. A reference air amount of the air supplying means can be designated and there is an air amount control for controlling the air supplying means corresponding to the designated reference air amount, and a fluctuation width designates a fluctuation width (volume of the air amount) corresponding to the air amount designated. When the 1/f fluctuation function is employed, the fundamental functions (coolness, warmness, and so forth) of the air conditioner are improved. In addition, the noise of the air conditioner is reduced and the comfort of the user is improved.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a phase separator disposed in flow communication with a pulse width modulated solenoid valve. A thermistor is disposed in the phase separator and is submerged in either refrigerant liquid or refrigerant vapor during operation, with the electrical resistance thereof correspondingly changing. In an exemplary embodiment, a second thermistor is used in conjunction with the first thermistor and is disposed in the vapor inside the phase separator to provide a reference. By comparing voltage developed across the two thermistors during operation it may be determined whether one or both of the thermistors are submersed in the vapor. The duty cycle of the valve may therefore be increased when one of the thermistors is submerged in the liquid, and decreased when both thermistors are submersed in the vapor.

Abstract: A vapor compression system includes a compressor, a heat rejecting heat exchanger, an expansion device and an evaporator connected in series to form a closed circuit operating at supercritical pressure in a high pressure side of the circuit. A large part of the internal volume of the circuit is incorporated at or close to a refrigerant outlet from the heat exchanger. The actual refrigerant charge corresponds to an optimum overall density ensuring self-adaptation of the supercritical high-side pressure to maintain maximum energy efficiency at varying heat rejection temperatures of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A refrigeration compressor of the hermetically sealed type. The rotor of the motor is enclosed within the envelope providing the seal, whereas the stationary winding is external to this envelope. The refrigerant circuit cools the compressor and rotor in the normal fashion, and the stationary winding is cooled by ambient air. This reduces the total cooling burden imposed upon the compressor and its motor, thus reducing electrical consumption, In some applications, the rotor includes a magnetic drive which rotates a fan external to the envelope, which fan moves ambient air over the winding, thereby cooling the same. Thus, a second benefit is provided in that one of two motors conventionally furnished in an air conditioning condensing unit is eliminated. This increases electrical energy savings since one large motor is normally more efficient than two smaller ones, when total outputs are equal.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus for the cabin of a vehicle wherein an increased amount and/or temperature of an air flow from an upper outlet is obtained when sun radiation is introduced into the cabin. A provisional air flow correction amount DVA1 is calculated based on a detected sun radiation amount. A final air flow correction amount DVA is calculated as the provisional air flow correction amount DVA1 multiplied by a sun radiation correction factor GUN, the value of which is varied from 1.0 to 0 as the increase in a value of a required discharged air temperature TAOB in a range of the temperature TAOB higher than 50.degree. C. The amount of sun radiation, which makes an upper level discharged air temperature to be equal to 20.degree. C., is increased in accordance with the increase in the required discharged air temperature TAOB at the region of the temperature TAOB higher than 50.degree. C.