Abstract: A water heater includes a tank containing water to be heated and a thermal displacement conduit communicating between a portion of the tank and a receptacle. Water is displaced out of the portion of the tank, through the conduit, and to the receptacle during thermal expansion of the water during heating.

Abstract: A method of recovering waste heat includes pressurizing a flow of working fluid and transferring heat from a hot gas stream to the flow of working fluid in at least two successively arranged heat transfer sections. At least some of the working fluid is converted to a superheated vapor by the transfer of heat, and passes through an expander to recover useful work. A portion of the flow of working fluid is directed along a branch after having passed through at least one of the heat transfer sections, and bypasses the expander and at least one of the heat transfer sections before being recombined with the working fluid that has passed through the expander. The total flow rate of working fluid can be adjusted to regulate the temperature of the hot gas stream downstream of the heat transfer sections, and the amount of fluid that bypasses along the branch can be adjusted to regulate the temperature of the superheated vapor.

Abstract: An internal double wall condenser for a tank-type heat pump water heater. The condenser includes inlet and outlet sections designed for low heat transfer and a coil section designed for high heat transfer. The condenser includes first and second inner tubes that conduct refrigerant, and an outer tube surrounding the inner tubes. The outer tube has a circular cross-section in the inlet and outlet sections and a barbell cross-section in the coil section. The barbell cross-section includes first and second conduits that contain and are in heat transfer contact with the respective first and second inner tubes, and a connecting portion that interconnects the first and second conduits and increases the heat transfer surface. The barbell cross-section is made by deforming the outer condenser tube such that opposite walls are brought together between the two inner tubes.

Abstract: A waste heat recovery system includes a hot gas stream flow path, a pump, an expander, a first working fluid flow path fluidly connecting a pump outlet and an expander inlet, a second working fluid flow path fluidly connecting an expander outlet and a pump inlet, a first heat exchange section that transfers heat from the hot gas stream to working fluid traveling along the first working fluid flow path, a second heat exchange that transfers heat from the hot gas stream to working fluid traveling along the first working fluid flow path between the pump and the first heat exchange section, and a third working fluid flow path fluidly connecting a first point of the first working fluid path to a second point of the second working fluid path to permit at least a portion of the working fluid to bypass the first heat exchange section and the expander.

Abstract: A water heater having primary and secondary heat exchanger and a pump to move water between the primary and secondary heat exchangers. The pump may also be used for the purpose of recirculating water within a building. The water heater may be manufactured with a method in which certain steps and components are added to a water heater of a first efficiency to arrive at a water heater having a second efficiency greater than the first efficiency. The additional steps and components may include attaching a condensing recuperator to a traditional power vent water heater.

Abstract: A waste heat recovery system includes a hot gas stream flow path, a pump, an expander, a first working fluid flow path fluidly connecting a pump outlet and an expander inlet, a second working fluid flow path fluidly connecting an expander outlet and a pump inlet, a first heat exchange section that transfers heat from the hot gas stream to working fluid traveling along the first working fluid flow path, a second heat exchange that transfers heat from the hot gas stream to working fluid traveling along the first working fluid flow path between the pump and the first heat exchange section, and a third working fluid flow path fluidly connecting a first point of the first working fluid path to a second point of the second working fluid path to permit at least a portion of the working fluid to bypass the first heat exchange section and the expander.

Abstract: A heat exchanger module configured for use in a vapor compression based climate control system including a suction line heat exchanger having a plurality of stacked plates configured to accommodate two separate fluid flow paths for heat exchange therebetween. The heat exchanger also includes a first inlet for flow of a high pressure subcooled fluid from a condenser to the module along a first fluid flow path, a first outlet for flow of a low pressure superheated fluid from the module to a compressor along a second fluid flow path, a second outlet for flow of the subcooled fluid from the module to an evaporator along a third fluid flow path, and a second inlet for flow of the low pressure superheated fluid from the evaporator to the module along a fourth fluid flow path. The module also includes a port block with a first conduit for the third fluid flow path and a second conduit for the fourth fluid flow path.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat exchange system for a vehicle. The heat exchange system can include a first heat exchange circuit supported by the vehicle and fluidly connecting a condenser, a compressor, an evaporator, and an expansion device, a module removably secured to the vehicle, the module housing a pump, and a second heat exchange circuit fluidly connecting a liquid-to-air heat exchanger, the pump, and the evaporator. The first exchange circuit can be operable to condition a first passenger space, and the second heat exchange circuit can be operable to condition a second passenger space spaced apart from the first passenger space.

Abstract: A brazed plate heat exchanger (30) is provided for transferring heat between a first fluid (32) and a second fluid (34), with the first fluid (32) being pressurized to a relatively high pressure. The heat exchanger includes plate pairs (41), with each pair (41) defining a plurality of flow channels (56) for the first fluid (32). Each of the flow channels (56) has a hydraulic diameter less than 1 mm. Reinforcements (62) are provided between each of the plate pairs (41) and are aligned with inlet and outlet openings (46,48) to define inlet and outlet manifolds (50,52) for the first fluid (32).

Abstract: An automatic recharge system (22) is provided for a transcritical cooling system (10). The recharge system (22) includes a refrigerant container (30) capable of storing a refrigerant charge at a higher pressure that can be accommodated on the low pressure side of the cooling system (10), and a control valve (34) connected between an outlet (36) of the container (30) and the low pressure side of the cooling system (10) to automatically control the release of refrigerant form the refrigerant container (30) for circulation in the cooling system (10).

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a suction line for gaseous or two phase refrigerant output from an evaporator and a capillary tube carrying cooled refrigerant to the evaporator. The suction line includes first and second substantially parallel straight cylindrical portions connected in series, with first and second portions of the capillary tube in series and helically wound around the suction line second and first portions, respectively. A valve for bypassing the capillary tube is responsive to a selected pressure differential between the capillary tube inlet and outlet. A U-shaped portion or accumulator connect the suction line first and second portions. An accumulator alternately is between the evaporator and the suction line portion wound by the capillary tube, with a phase separation chamber connected to an accumulator by a vertical pipe. The accumulator includes a discharge opening to return the oil to the system.

Abstract: A vapor compression cooling system and method (10) is provided for cooling one or more microprocessors (12,14) via one or more cold plates (22,24) mated with the microprocessor(s). Each cold plate (22,24) includes an evaporator (32,34), and the cooling system (10) is designed to operate such that the quality of the refrigerant exiting the evaporator(s) (32,34) is less than 100% so as to maximize the cooling ability of the cold plate(s) (22,24), i.e., to avoid dry-out of the evaporator(s) (32,34). A suction line heat exchanger (26) is provided to protect the compressor (16) of the system (10) by increasing the quality of the refrigerant from the evaporator to at least 100% so as to provide vapor phase refrigerant to the compressor (16).

Abstract: A heat exchanger specifically intended to act as a water heater by heating water utilizing heat rejected from a gaseous refrigerant in a refrigeration system includes first and second, generally parallel, spaced tubular water headers (10,12) with a plurality of water tubes (14) extending in spaced relation between the water headers (10,12) and in fluid communication therewith. An inlet (16) is provided to one of the headers (10) and water outlets (20,28,30) are provided from at least one of the water headers (10,12). A plurality of gas tubes (32), at least one for each water tube (14), are helically wound about a corresponding one of the water tubes (14) and have opposed ends (34,36) connected to respective ones of first and second, generally parallel, spaced gas headers (40,42).

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a multiple stage compressor 10 having at least two stages 12,14 for sequentially compressing the refrigerant together with a gas cooler 21 connected to the compressor 10 for receiving compressed refrigerant from the last stage 14 of the compressor to cool the same. An evaporator 18 is connected to the gas cooler 21 via an expansion device to receive cool refrigerant therefrom and cool the fluid stream passing through the evaporator 18. A return passage connects the evaporator 18 to the first stage 12 of the compressor and an intercooler 26 is connected between the first stage 12 and the last stage 14 of the compressor to cool refrigerant compressed by the first stage 12 and direct the refrigerant cooled thereby to the last stage 14 for further compression. The intercooler 26 and the gas cooler 21 are integrated into a single unit 22 and receive a single cooling heat exchange fluid and the gas cooler 21 has a larger heat transfer surface area than the intercooler 26.

Abstract: A brazed plate heat exchanger (30) is provided for transferring heat between a first fluid (32) and a second fluid (34), with the first fluid (32) being pressurized to a relatively high pressure. The heat exchanger includes plate pairs (41), with each pair (41) defining a plurality of flow channels (56) for the first fluid (32). Each of the flow channels (56) has a hydraulic diameter less than 1 mm. Reinforcements (62) are provided between each of the plate pairs (41) and are aligned with inlet and outlet openings (46,48) to define inlet and outlet manifolds (50,52) for the first fluid (32).

Abstract: The efficiency of refrigeration systems operating on the vapor compression cycle and employing suction line heat exchangers is increased by introducing refrigerant into the lower pressure side of the suction line heat exchanger at a quality less than 1 and introducing refrigerant that has passed through the low pressure side of the suction line heat exchanger into the compressor inlet at a quality that is equal to 1.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a suction line for gaseous or two phase refrigerant output from an evaporator and a capillary tube carrying cooled refrigerant to the evaporator. The suction line includes first and second substantially parallel straight cylindrical portions connected in series, with first and second portions of the capillary tube in series and helically wound around the suction line second and first portions, respectively. A valve for bypassing the capillary tube is responsive to a selected pressure differential between the capillary tube inlet and outlet. A U-shaped portion or accumulator connect the suction line first and second portions. An accumulator alternately is between the evaporator and the suction line portion wound by the capillary tube, with a phase separation chamber connected to an accumulator by a vertical pipe. The accumulator includes a discharge opening to return the oil to the system.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including inlet and outlet header portions for a refrigerant (such as CO2), serpentine multiport tubes each with a plurality of aligned tube runs, and at least three plate assembly fluid paths. Each plate assembly fluid path includes a pair of spaced plates secured together at their edges to define an enclosed space with a fluid inlet and fluid outlet on opposite sides of the space. One plate of one fluid path is positioned against first aligned tube runs, one plate of a second of the fluid paths is positioned against second aligned tube runs, and a third fluid path is positioned between the first and second aligned tube runs. The plates may be substantially identical to one another.

Abstract: A cooling system including an evaporator, a suction line, a two stage compressor, a gas cooler and a capillary tube. The suction line receives gaseous or two phase refrigerant from the evaporator, the compressor receives the gaseous or two phase refrigerant from the suction line, and the gas cooler cools compressed refrigerant discharged from the compressor. The capillary tube carries refrigerant from the gas cooler to the evaporator, and the suction line may include two straight portions with two portions of the capillary tube helically wound therearound, with a bypass valve around the capillary tube, and an accumulator between the suction line portions. An inter-cooler is between stages of the compressor, and a pan collects water condensate from the air side of the evaporator, and the refrigerant tube carries cooled refrigerant from the gas cooler through the pan. A controller selectively turns the compressor on and off based on temperature or pressure sensed by a sensor.

Abstract: The efficiency of refrigeration systems operating on the vapor compression cycle and employing suction line heat exchangers is increased by introducing refrigerant into the lower pressure side of the suction line heat exchanger at a quality less than 1 and introducing refrigerant that has passed through the low pressure side of the suction line heat exchanger into the compressor inlet at a quality that is equal to 1.