Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for using foam fractionation to remove non-polar waste molecules, including, but not limited to, sewage bacteria, environmental contaminants, and/or sediment/turbidity caused by dredging activities, from open-water aquatic environments. Some foam fractionation systems disclosed herein generally include a plurality of floating foam fractionation devices, each floating foam fractionation device including a floating body, a submerged hood coupled to the body, and at least one submerged air conduits for releasing bubbles into the surrounding water. Other foam fractionation systems disclosed herein generally include a submerged bubble generation device and a floating intake unit positioned remotely from the submerged bubble generation device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for using foam fractionation to remove non-polar waste molecules, including, but not limited to, sewage bacteria, environmental contaminants, and/or sediment/turbidity caused by dredging activities, from open-water aquatic environments. Some foam fractionation systems disclosed herein generally include a plurality of partially submerged foam fractionation devices, each foam fractionation device including a foam collection reservoir positioned above a waterline and a reaction chamber positioned at least partially below the waterline. In some embodiments, the partially submerged foam fractionation device is supported by a base structure, such as a barge, boat, skiff, or the like. In other embodiments, the partially submerged foam fractionation device is a free-floating device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for using foam fractionation to remove non-polar waste molecules, including, but not limited to, sewage bacteria, environmental contaminants, and/or sediment/turbidity caused by dredging activities, from open-water aquatic environments. Some foam fractionation systems disclosed herein generally include a plurality of floating foam fractionation devices, each floating foam fractionation device including a floating body, a submerged hood coupled to the body, and at least one submerged air conduits for releasing bubbles into the surrounding water. Other foam fractionation systems disclosed herein generally include a submerged bubble generation device and a floating intake unit positioned remotely from the submerged bubble generation device.

Abstract: A system and method of accessing dynamic web content from a peripheral are presented. An embodiment of the method includes the acts of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) on the peripheral, the GUI including a plurality of elements selectable by a user; associating at least one element with a script configured to access dynamic web content when executed; detecting selection of the element; and presenting accessed dynamic web content to the user. The system and method are independent of a web browser or a personal computer.

Abstract: A method of associating an icon with a profile in a device store. The device, such as a multifunction printer, includes a configurable graphical user interface and is in communication with a host. The method includes creating a profile associated with at least one action of the device, placing an icon on the graphical user interface upon a request for the acquisition of data from the host, associating the profile with the icon, and deleting the icon and profile from the device upon the occurrence of an action. The action can include the acquisition of the requested data or the expiration of a time-to-live variable assigned to the profile.

Abstract: A method of defrosting a refrigeration system having a main compressor connected by a main hot gas discharge line to a condenser, the condenser being connected by a main liquid line to thermal expansion valves and subsequent cooling coils, each thermal expansion valve and cooling coil being in parallel connection with the other thermal expansion valves and cooling coils, and each cooling coil being connected by a suction line to the main compressor, the defrosting method includes passing hot gas from the main hot gas discharge line through a selected cooling coil to defrost same, compressing cooled hot gas which has passed through the cooling coil by means of a separate dedicated defrost compressor, and returning the compressed hot gas to the main hot gas discharge line.

Abstract: A refrigeration system has an evaporator compartment containing a refrigeration evaporator and a refrigeration heat exchanger, a liquid line for conveying liquid refrigerant from a compressor through the heat exchanger to the evaporator, and a suction line for conveying vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator through the heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with the liquid refrigerant flowing therethrough to a compressor. The refrigeration system also has a compartment to be cooled, and an air flow passage associated with the compartment for cooling thereof, the air flow passage passing through the evaporator compartment whereby the air flow passes over the liquid line and evaporator, the liquid line being thermally insulated from the air passing thereover. The refrigeration system may be used in a refrigerated merchandising display case.

Abstract: A refrigeration system has a compressor operable to supply relatively hot compressed refrigerant gas, a condenser to liquify the relatively hot compressed refrigerant gas from the compressor, a thermostatic expansion (TX) valve to vaporize liquified refrigerant from the condenser, an evaporator to cool the surrounding atmosphere by vaporized refrigerant from the TX valve, a superheat sensor to improve control of the TX valve, a compressor discharge line to convey relatively hot compressed refrigerant gas from the compressor to the condenser, a liquid line to convey liquified refrigerant from the condenser to the TX valve, and a suction line including the superheat sensor to convey vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor.

Abstract: A refrigeration system has a compressor operable to supply compressed refrigerant vapor, a condenser to liquify compressed refrigerant vapour from the compressor, a thermostatic expansion valve to vaporize liquified refrigerant from the condenser, an evaporator to cool the surrounding atmosphere by vaporized refrigerant from the thermostatic expansion valve, a superheat sensor to improve control of the thermostatic expansion valve, a compressor discharge line to convey compressed refrigerant vapour from the compressor to the condenser, a return line to convey liquified refrigerant from the condenser to the expansion valve, and a suction line including the superheat sensor to convey vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor.

Abstract: This invention provides a full flow vaporizer for use in a refrigeration system (which may be part of a heat pump) employing hot gas from the compressor to periodically defrost the cooling coil or coils. The vaporizer usually consists of three concentric circular cross-section tubes, the innermost tube receiving the fluid from the coil and being divided about midway along its length by a disc transverse barrier into first and third chambers. The cylindrical wall of the first chamber is provided with a plurality of holes directing the fluid forcefully radially outwards into a second chamber between the innermost and middle tubes and against the inner wall of the middle tube, which is heated by hot refrigerant gas passing in a fourth chamber between the middle and outermost tubes, the fluid then passing from the second chamber into the third chamber through a similar plurality of holes in the innermost tube cylindrical wall.

Abstract: A new device is provided for sensing refrigerant tempertatures in refrigerator systems, and for the control of refrigerant loading in a plurality of refrigerator evaporator circuit coils connected in parallel. Such evaporator coils are supplied with refrigerant through a termostatically controlled flow control valve, which is controlled by a sensor to ensure a predetermined amount of superheat. The usual minimum superheat is aobut 5.5.degree. C. (10.degree. F.) and to reduce this value the refrigerant is passed through the devide in which it is rendered thoroughly turbulent and mixed, the device intercepting the entire refrigerant flow just before the sensing of the superheat, thus ensuring that the temperature is accurately measured. In one aspect of the invention the device consists of a series of three chambers connected together by two similar sets of holes, the first and third chambers being similar so that it is completely reversible.

Abstract: A new method and apparatus are provided for sensing refrigerant temperatures in refrigerator systems, and for preventing underloading of the coil, or of any of the coils in a plurality of refrigerator evaporator circuit coils connected in parallel. The usual thermostatically controlled refrigerant flow control valve is controlled by a thermostatic sensor to ensure a predetermined minimum amount of superheat, usually about 5.5.degree. C. (10.degree. F.). To avoid underloading the refrigerant is rendered thoroughly turbulent and mixed, and in the multi-coil evaporator the flows from all of the coils are similarly thoroughly turbulated and mixed, by a turbulating and/or mixing device that intercepts the entire refrigerant flow just before the sensing of the superheat, thus ensuring that the temperature is accurately measured; in the multi-circuit coil system the device averages the temperatures of all the flows. Different turbulator/mixer devices are described and two or more such devices may be used in series.

Abstract: The invention provides a refrigeration system employing hot compressed gas from the compressor to defrost the cooling coil or coils. In prior systems this is accomplished by diverting part of the hot compressed gas to flow through the cooling coil, while the remainder continues to flow through the condensing coil to avoid overload of the compressor. It is found that as the ambient temperature of the condenser coil decreases the compressor output pressure also decreases, decreasing the amount of hot gas available for defrost, so that the period required for adequate defrost also varies. It is therefore necessary either to adjust the length of the defrost period with this ambient temperature, or make the period sufficiently long to ensure defrost at all times, the latter resulting in inefficient operation.

Abstract: The invention provides a full flow vaporizing accumulator for use in a refrigeration system employing hot gas from the compressor to periodically defrost the cooling coil, or coils where multiple coils are employed. The hot gas cooled in the defrosting coil produces liquid refrigerant droplets that may damage the expensive compressor. The device replaces the usual accumulator that is always provided to try to ensure that these droplets do not reach the compressor. The interior of the vaporizing accumulator is divided by a partition into two chambers, one of which the cooled gas from the defrosting coil is delivered via a perforated tube having one end blocked, so that the fluid is directed forcefully radially outward to make it turbulent. The interiors of the two chambers are connected by a plurality of fine bores in the partition, which discharge the turbulent fluid into intimate contact with a coil heated by the hot gas that is fed thereto before it is fed to the cooling coil to defrost it.

Abstract: This invention is associated with my prior invention of a full flow vaporizer for use in a refrigeration system employing hot gas from the compressor to periodically defrost the cooling coil, or coils where multiple coils are employed. The vaporizer usually consists of three concentric circular cross-section tubes. The inner tube receives the fluid from the coil and is provided in its wall with a plurality of fine bores directing the fluid forcefully radially outwards against the inner wall of the middle tube, which is heated by the hot gas. The flow capacities of the passages and the bores are chosen to be in a specific range of flow capacities relative to one another, so that when not in use the vaporizer has no appreciable effect on the remainder of the system. An orifice or restriction is provided at the outlet for the hot gas from the third annular passage and increases the back-pressure applied to the compressor, rendering the device self-balancing to prevent compressor motor overload.

Abstract: The invention provides a full flow vaporizer for use in a refrigeration system employing hot gas from the compressor to periodically defrost the cooling coil, or coils where multiple coils are employed. The vaporizer usually consists of three concentric circular cross-section tubes forming a first inner passage, a concentric second annular passage, and a concentric third annular passage. The inner tube receives the fluid from the coil and has one end blocked. It is provided in its wall with a plurality of fine bores directing the fluid forcefully radially outwards under the action of the high velocity gas component of the fluid against the inner wall of the middle tube, which is heated by the hot gas that is passed through the third annular passage before being fed to the coil to perform the defrost function. The flow capacities of the passages and the bores are chosen to be in a specific range of flow capacities relative to one another, usually in the range 0.5 to 1.5, preferably in the range 0.9 to 1.

Abstract: The invention provides a full flow vaporizer for use in a refrigeration system employing hot gas from the compressor to periodically defrost the cooling coil, or coils where multiple coils are employed. The hot gas cooled in the defrosting coil produces liquid refrigerant droplets that may damage the expensive compressor. The vaporizer usually consists of three concentric circular cross-section tubes forming a first inner passage, a concentric second annular passage, and a concentric third annular passage. The inner tube receives the fluid from the coil and has one end blocked. It is provided in its wall with a plurality of fine bores directing the fluid forcefully radially outwards under the action of the high velocity gas component of the fluid against the inner wall of the middle tube, which is heated by the hot gas that is passd through the third annular passage before being fed to the coil to perform the defrost function.