Patents by Inventor Hiroshige Kikuchi

Hiroshige Kikuchi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10808947
    Abstract: A heat source system managing device includes: a predicted heat demand upper limit calculating unit configured to calculate a predicted heat demand upper limit by adding a prediction error to a predicted heat demand value for a heat source system; an operation plan preparing unit configured to prepare an operation plan of the heat source system to supply heat of the predicted heat demand upper limit to a consuming facility; a surplus stored heat quantity calculating unit configured to repeatedly perform a process of calculating a surplus stored heat quantity by subtracting a heat quantity consumed by the consuming facility from the predicted heat demand upper limit; and an operation plan changing unit configured to sequentially change the operation plan by decreasing a future operation rate of a refrigerator to cancel the surplus stored heat quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kawamura, Kaoru Kawabata, Ryousuke Nakamura, Hiroshige Kikuchi, Susumu Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20170363315
    Abstract: An operation management apparatus includes: a refrigerant return temperature prediction unit that predicts a temperature Tr of a refrigerant returning from an air conditioner to a heat source system; a heat storage capacity estimation unit that estimates a heat storage capacity of the heat source system, based on the predicted refrigerant return temperature Tr; and an operation plan unit that creates a plan based on the estimated heat storage capacity. The heat source system includes: a storage tank that supplies the refrigerant to the air conditioner; a refrigerant generation unit that cools the refrigerant returning from the air conditioner via the storage tank, and supplies it to the storage tank; a refrigerant feed temperature detection unit that measures a temperature of the refrigerant from the refrigerant generation unit; and a refrigerant return temperature detection unit that measures a temperature of the refrigerant returning from the storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Kaoru KAWABATA, Tsutomu KAWAMURA, Ryousuke NAKAMURA, Hiroshige KIKUCHI, Susumu IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20170314789
    Abstract: A heat source system managing device includes: a predicted heat demand upper limit calculating unit configured to calculate a predicted heat demand upper limit by adding a prediction error to a predicted heat demand value for a heat source system; an operation plan preparing unit configured to prepare an operation plan of the heat source system to supply heat of the predicted heat demand upper limit to a consuming facility; a surplus stored heat quantity calculating unit configured to repeatedly perform a process of calculating a surplus stored heat quantity by subtracting a heat quantity consumed by the consuming facility from the predicted heat demand upper limit; and an operation plan changing unit configured to sequentially change the operation plan by decreasing a future operation rate of a refrigerator to cancel the surplus stored heat quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu KAWAMURA, Kaoru KAWABATA, Ryousuke NAKAMURA, Hiroshige KIKUCHI, Susumu IKEDA
  • Patent number: 8839638
    Abstract: In a cooling system for an electronic device of the present invention, server rooms in which a plurality of servers are placed, an evaporator which is provided close to each of the servers, and cools exhaust air from the server by vaporizing a refrigerant with heat generating from the server, a cooling tower which is provided at a place higher than the evaporator, cools the refrigerant by outside air and water sprinkling, and condenses the vaporized refrigerant, and a circulation line in which the refrigerant naturally circulates between the evaporator and the cooling tower. According to the cooling system, an electronic device which is required to perform a precise operation with a heat generation amount from itself being large, such as a computer and a server, can be efficiently cooled at low running cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kashirajima, Hiroshige Kikuchi, Takumi Sugiura, Koji Watanabe, Kenichi Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20120218711
    Abstract: In a cooling system for an electronic device of the present invention, server rooms in which a plurality of servers are placed, an evaporator which is provided close to each of the servers, and cools exhaust air from the server by vaporizing a refrigerant with heat generating from the server, a cooling tower which is provided at a place higher than the evaporator, cools the refrigerant by outside air and water sprinkling, and condenses the vaporized refrigerant, and a circulation line in which the refrigerant naturally circulates between the evaporator and the cooling tower. According to the cooling system, an electronic device which is required to perform a precise operation with a heat generation amount from itself being large, such as a computer and a server, can be efficiently cooled at low running cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro KASHIRAJIMA, Hiroshige KIKUCHI, Takumi SUGIURA, Koji WATANABE, Kenichi NAKASHIMA
  • Patent number: 8199504
    Abstract: In a cooling system for an electronic device of the present invention, server rooms in which a plurality of servers are placed, an evaporator which is provided close to each of the servers, and cools exhaust air from the server by vaporizing a refrigerant with heat generating from the server, a cooling tower which is provided at a place higher than the evaporator, cools the refrigerant by outside air and water sprinkling, and condenses the vaporized refrigerant, and a circulation line in which the refrigerant naturally circulates between the evaporator and the cooling tower. According to the cooling system, an electronic device which is required to perform a precise operation with a heat generation amount from itself being large, such as a computer and a server, can be efficiently cooled at low running cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kashirajima, Hiroshige Kikuchi, Takumi Sugiura, Koji Watanabe, Kenichi Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20110056223
    Abstract: In a cooling system for an electronic device of the present invention, server rooms in which a plurality of servers are placed, an evaporator which is provided close to each of the servers, and cools exhaust air from the server by vaporizing a refrigerant with heat generating from the server, a cooling tower which is provided at a place higher than the evaporator, cools the refrigerant by outside air and water sprinkling, and condenses the vaporized refrigerant, and a circulation line in which the refrigerant naturally circulates between the evaporator and the cooling tower. According to the cooling system, an electronic device which is required to perform a precise operation with a heat generation amount from itself being large, such as a computer and a server, can be efficiently cooled at low running cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro KASHIRAJIMA, Hiroshige KIKUCHI, Takumi SUGIURA, Koji WATANABE, Kenichi NAKASHIMA
  • Patent number: 7855890
    Abstract: In a cooling system for an electronic device of the present invention, server rooms in which a plurality of servers are placed, an evaporator which is provided close to each of the servers, and cools exhaust air from the server by vaporizing a refrigerant with heat generating from the server, a cooling tower which is provided at a place higher than the evaporator, cools the refrigerant by outside air and water sprinkling, and condenses the vaporized refrigerant, and a circulation line in which the refrigerant naturally circulates between the evaporator and the cooling tower. According to the cooling system, an electronic device which is required to perform a precise operation with a heat generation amount from itself being large, such as a computer and a server, can be efficiently cooled at low running cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kashirajima, Hiroshige Kikuchi, Takumi Sugiura, Koji Watanabe, Kenichi Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20100077776
    Abstract: An air-conditioning method comprises the steps of performing a refrigerator operation using a refrigerator to which cooling water cooled in a plurality of cooling towers is supplied as a cold heat source, and performing a free cooling operation using at least some of the plurality of cooling towers as a cold heat source, wherein at a time of the free cooling operation, the number of the cooling towers which are operated is controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Toshihito TAKENAMI, Hiroki Okawa, Hideo Hanaoka, Takumi Sugiura, Hiroshige Kikuchi, Yuji Miyajima
  • Publication number: 20090201645
    Abstract: In a cooling system for an electronic device of the present invention, server rooms in which a plurality of servers are placed, an evaporator which is provided close to each of the servers, and cools exhaust air from the server by vaporizing a refrigerant with heat generating from the server, a cooling tower which is provided at a place higher than the evaporator, cools the refrigerant by outside air and water sprinkling, and condenses the vaporized refrigerant, and a circulation line in which the refrigerant naturally circulates between the evaporator and the cooling tower. According to the cooling system, an electronic device which is required to perform a precise operation with a heat generation amount from itself being large, such as a computer and a server, can be efficiently cooled at low running cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI PLANT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro KASHIRAJIMA, Hiroshige KIKUCHI, Takumi SUGIURA, Koji WATANABE, Kenichi NAKASHIMA
  • Patent number: 7225171
    Abstract: A control server includes a device information database storing device characteristic data constituting the air conditioning equipment, a fuel/power rate database storing price and rate data regarding gas, oil, power and the like, a device characteristic and price database, an air conditioning equipment simulator for calculating running costs by using the data stored in the fuel/power rate database, and communication portion for performing communications through a network. The control server, and an air conditioning management controller for managing and controlling the air conditioning equipment provided with the communication portion for performing communications through the network, are connected to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshige Kikuchi, Tadakatsu Nakajima, Keiji Sasao
  • Patent number: 6732540
    Abstract: Provided are an air conditioning plant control method by which an air conditioning plant can be operated in a most desirable state, and an air conditioning plant so controlled. An air conditioning plant is controlled, which has at least one air conditioner, a refrigerating machine supplying cold water to the air conditioner and a cooling tower supplying cooling water to the refrigerating machine. Within an extent satisfying set conditions of air conditioning, setpoints of the draft temperature of the at least one air conditioner, the cold water temperature of the refrigerating machine and the temperature of cooling water from the cooling tower are altered and optimized so as to minimize energy consumption, operating cost or carbon dioxide emission of the air conditioning plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshibumi Sugihara, Yuuji Miyajima, Takumi Sugiura, Hiroo Sakai, Noboru Oshima, Tadakatsu Nakajima, Hiroshige Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20040011066
    Abstract: Provided are an air conditioning plant control method by which an air conditioning plant can be operated in a most desirable state, and an air conditioning plant so controlled. An air conditioning plant is controlled, which has at least one air conditioner, a refrigerating machine supplying cold water to the air conditioner and a cooling tower supplying cooling water to the refrigerating machine. Within an extent satisfying set conditions of air conditioning, setpoints of the draft temperature of the at least one air conditioner, the cold water temperature of the refrigerating machine and the temperature of cooling water from the cooling tower are altered and optimized so as to minimize energy consumption, operating cost or carbon dioxide emission of the air conditioning plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi Plant Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshibumi Sugihara, Yuuji Miyajima, Takumi Sugiura, Hiroo Sakai, Noboru Oshima, Tadakatsu Nakajima, Hiroshige Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20030192328
    Abstract: A control server includes a device information database storing device characteristic data constituting the air conditioning equipment, a fuel/power rate database storing price and rate data regarding gas, oil, power and the like, a device characteristic and price database, an air conditioning equipment simulator for calculating running costs by using the data stored in the fuel/power rate database, and communication portion for performing communications through a network. The control server, and an air conditioning management controller for managing and controlling the air conditioning equipment provided with the communication portion for performing communications through the network, are connected to the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshige Kikuchi, Tadakatsu Nakajima, Keiji Sasao
  • Patent number: 6591620
    Abstract: A control server includes a device information database storing device characteristic data constituting the air conditioning equipment, a fuel/power rate database storing price and rate data regarding gas, oil, power and the like, a device characteristic and price database, an air conditioning equipment simulator for calculating running costs by using the data stored in the fuel/power rate database, and communication portion for performing communications through a network. The control server, and an air conditioning management controller for managing and controlling the air conditioning equipment provided with the communication portion for performing communications through the network, are connected to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshige Kikuchi, Tadakatsu Nakajima, Keiji Sasao
  • Publication number: 20030070438
    Abstract: A control server includes a device information database storing device characteristic data constituting the air conditioning equipment, a fuel/power rate database storing price and rate data regarding gas, oil, power and the like, a device characteristic and price database, an air conditioning equipment simulator for calculating running costs by using the data stored in the fuel/power rate database, and communication portion for performing communications through a network. The control server, and an air conditioning management controller for managing and controlling the air conditioning equipment provided with the communication portion for performing communications through the network, are connected to the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshige Kikuchi, Tadakatsu Nakajima, Keiji Sasao
  • Publication number: 20020128853
    Abstract: In an electric appliance renting system, a use contractor leases an e-information terminal together with an e-air conditioner, an e-refrigerator and an e-television from a service providing company. The work information of these electric appliances is sent from the e-information terminal to a rent managing server, which the service providing company possesses, through the Internet. The rent managing server sends the data relating to the rent inclusive of the electric power rate of the rented electric appliances to the e-information terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroshige Kikuchi, Tadakatsu Nakajima, Keiji Sasao, Chihiro Fukui
  • Patent number: 6206658
    Abstract: Fluid containing organic substances, which has not processed yet, is fed to a plurality of cylinders, using a slurry pump. A free piston is included in each cylinder, the fluid which has not yet been processed is introduced into one of two chambers in the cylinder partitioned by the piston, and processed high-pressure fluid which has been processed is introduced into the other one of the two chamber in the cylinder. The piston pressurizes the fluid with which the cylinder has been filled up. A pressure holding valve is provided in a processed high-pressure fluid system to pressurize an organic substance processing system, and this pressure holding valve suppresses changes in the pressure in the processed high-pressure fluid system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Plant Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Nishioka, Hiroshi Kusumoto, Keiji Sasao, Hiroshige Kikuchi, Takao Sato, Ryuichi Kaji, Shinji Aso, Hitoshi Kawajiri, Satoshi Miyabayashi