Abstract: Disclosed herein is a thermal energy storage (TES) system. The TES includes two or more energy storage blocks comprising a phase-change material, the energy storage blocks being arranged ordinally with respect to a corresponding nominal phase change temperature of the energy storage blocks, and two or more fluid lines routed through the one or more energy storage blocks. A first fluid line and a second fluid line from the two or more fluid lines are configured to circulate a corresponding fluid in opposite directions with respect to the one or more energy storage blocks. The ordinal arrangement provides increased efficiency for heat storage and/or transfer, as a fluid circulated through the first fluid line incrementally/decrementally rejects heat to the energy storage blocks.

Abstract: A vapor compression system includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator fluidly connected to form a closed fluid loop having a working fluid circulating therethrough. A thermal storage device includes a storage material and the thermal storage device is thermally coupled to the closed fluid loop downstream from the expansion device relative to a flow of the working fluid. The vapor compression system is controllable such that the thermal storage device is operable to both store heat and release heat as the working fluid circulates through the closed fluid loop in a given direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transportation refrigeration system including a transportation refrigeration unit configured to maintain a temperature in a refrigerated cargo space and comprising a refrigerant expansion device, a refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger, a refrigerant compression device, and a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger; and a refrigeration augmentation unit comprising a water tank having an outlet, and a water droplet generator in fluid communication with a water tank outlet and configured to disperse water droplets into an air stream flowing to the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger. Also disclosed are methods of using the transportation refrigeration system.

Abstract: A method of providing selective air conditioning in an air conditioning system including a plurality of zones, each zone having a respective air conditioning device associated therewith. The method incudes determining there is a need for selective air conditioning; upon determining there is the need for selective air conditioning, sending a notice to a user device; receiving, at the user device, a selection of zones to be enabled of the plurality of zones and/or a selection of zones to be disabled of the plurality of zones; sending the selection of zones to be enabled of the plurality of zones and/or the selection of zones to be disabled of the plurality of zones to a controller; and the controller sending a command to each of the air conditioning devices, the command configured to enable or to disable the air conditioning device in each respective zone.

Abstract: A system for energy management includes a utility server providing a load shape; an aggregator in communication with the utility server; a plurality of buildings; a plurality of assets associated with the plurality of buildings, at least one of the assets being an energy storage device; wherein the aggregator is configured to at least one of (i) supply energy from the energy storage device to satisfy the load shape or (ii) change a setting of an asset to satisfy the load shape.

Abstract: A power system for a vehicle having a Transportation Refrigeration Unit (TRU) is disclosed. The power system comprises an energy storage unit adapted to supply power to the TRU. Further, the power system comprises an axle generator in communication with the energy storage unit and is adapted to supply power to the energy storage unit and the TRU. The power system comprises a charging system in communication with the energy storage unit, the axle generator, and the TRU. The charging system is configured to monitor a State of Charge (SoC) of the energy storage unit, and is configured to determine at least one operational characteristic associated with the vehicle. The operational characteristic is indicative of at least a speeding condition of the vehicle. The charging system is configured to control, based on the SoC and the operational characteristics, a power supply from the axle generator to the energy storage unit.

Abstract: A railcar chassis for transporting a cargo container is disclosed. The railcar chassis includes a storage portion configured to receive the cargo container having a refrigeration unit. The railcar chassis also includes at least one power unit positioned proximate to the storage portion and configured to provide electrical power to the refrigeration unit.

Abstract: A liquid desiccant dedicated vapor compression system is disclosed. The system comprises an evaporator fluidically connected to a condenser through a compressor, an absorber fluidically connected to the evaporator to facilitate flow of air through the evaporator and the absorber, and a desorber fluidically connected to the absorber to facilitate the flow of the desiccant solution therebetween and further fluidically connected to the condenser to facilitate the flow of air through the condenser and the desorber. An inlet of a first refrigerant tube associated with the absorber, and an inlet of evaporator coils associated with the evaporator are fluidically connected to an outlet of the condenser via two different expansion valves. Further, an inlet of a second refrigerant tube associated with a desorber and an inlet of condenser coils associated with the condenser are fluidically connected to an outlet of the compressor.

Abstract: A duct system for an HVAC system of an air-sealed building and a method for conditioning the internal air of the air-sealed building are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of fluidically connecting an inlet duct comprising an inlet damper, between the central duct and an ambient, fluidically connecting an outlet duct comprising an outlet damper, between the central duct and the ambient, and configuring a baffle at a predefined location within one or more of the central duct, the inlet duct, and/or the outlet duct, moving the baffle to a first position, and the inlet damper and the outlet damper to an opened position to enable outflow of internal air from the one or more zones and/or the central duct into the ambient via the outlet duct, and further enable inflow of ambient air into the central duct and/or the one or more zones via the inlet duct.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transportation refrigeration system including a transportation refrigeration unit configured to maintain a temperature in a refrigerated cargo space and comprising a refrigerant expansion device, a refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger, a refrigerant compression device, and a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger; and a refrigeration augmentation unit comprising a water tank having an outlet, and a water droplet generator in fluid communication with a water tank outlet and configured to disperse water droplets into an air stream flowing to the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger. Also disclosed are methods of using the transportation refrigeration system.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a trailer refrigeration unit including a refrigerant circuit through which a refrigerant is circulated. The trailer refrigeration unit includes a condenser. A fuel cell is configured to generate electrical power for the trailer refrigeration unit. A coolant circuit includes a radiator configured to dissipate heat generated by the fuel cell. The condenser and the radiator are positioned such that each of the condenser and the radiator receives a flow of unconditioned ambient air.

Abstract: A method of heating a fluid utilizing a process heater having one or more first combustion zones and one or more second combustion zones. The combustion of a fuel is divided between the first and second combustion zones. The oxygen is provided for combustion within the first combustion zone by one or more oxygen transport membranes that contribute between about 50 and 99 percent of the stoichiometric amount of oxygen required for complete combustion of the fuel passing through the process heater. A supplemental or secondary oxidant is introduced into second combustion zone to complete combustion of the fuel and thereby produce a flue gas stream containing between about 1 and 3 percent oxygen to ensure complete combustion of the fuel. In this manner, the surface area of the oxygen transport membranes may be reduced below the surface area that otherwise would be required if 100 percent of the oxygen were contributed by the oxygen transport membranes.

Abstract: A method of separating oxygen from an oxygen containing stream in which compressed and heated oxygen is introduced into cathode side of an oxygen transport membrane reactor. Oxygen is permeated from the cathode side to the anode side. Motive fluid that is introduced into an ejector draws an oxygen permeate containing stream from the anode side at a subatmospheric pressure to form an oxygen containing product stream. The motive fluid, which can be steam raised by combustion used in heating the reactor, can be separated from the oxygen containing product stream to form an oxygen product stream. The use of an ejector lowers the partial pressure of the oxygen at the anode side of the membrane reactor and therefore the degree to which the oxygen containing stream need be compressed.