Abstract: A rewards system operator receives one or more files from a payment card processor containing payment card transaction information for qualifying payment card transactions made with linked payment cards at one or more merchants participating in a rewards program. The rewards system operator directly debits the merchants for any fees owed under the rewards program. The rewards system operator gives users of the linked payment cards a reward for making qualifying purchases under the rewards program.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices provided in accordance with various embodiments are generally related to the field of thermal management systems for buildings (or volumes in general), such as cold storage, food processing, or other buildings that have areas that are kept below freezing. Embodiments generally pertain to the management of temperature and humidity within these spaces. Some embodiments include system for the management of moisture and temperature inside cold spaces. Some embodiments include a heat and mass transfer exchanger, such as a direct constant gas liquid heat and mass transfer exchanger. Examples of such heat and mass transfer exchangers generally include wet scrubbers. Embodiments also generally include a series of ducts, pipes, heat exchangers, dampers, and/or valves that may allow the system to provide useful temperature and relative humidity levels to one or more spaces or volumes.

Abstract: Thermo-chemical recuperation systems, devices, and methods are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Embodiments may generally relate to the field of refrigeration and/or heat pumping. Within that field, some embodiments apply to the recuperation or recapturing of both thermal and chemical potential in a freeze point suppression cycle. Some embodiments include a method and/or system of thermo-chemical recuperation that includes creating a flow of ice and flowing a brine against the flow of the ice. Some embodiments manage the thermal and chemical potentials by mixing a dilute brine stream exiting an ice mixing vessel with an ice stream before it enters the ice mixing vessel. By controlling this mixing in a counter-flow or step-wise cross flow manner with sufficient steps, both the thermal and chemical potential of the dilute bine stream may be recuperated.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices provided in accordance with various embodiments are generally related to the field of thermal management systems for buildings (or volumes in general), such as cold storage, food processing, or other buildings that have areas that are kept below freezing. Embodiments generally pertain to the management of temperature and humidity within these spaces. Some embodiments include system for the management of moisture and temperature inside cold spaces. Some embodiments include a heat and mass transfer exchanger, such as a direct constant gas liquid heat and mass transfer exchanger. Examples of such heat and mass transfer exchangers generally include wet scrubbers. Embodiments also generally include a series of ducts, pipes, heat exchangers, dampers, and/or valves that may allow the system to provide useful temperature and relative humidity levels to one or more spaces or volumes.

Abstract: Ice making methods, systems, and devices are provided in accordance with various embodiments. For example, methods, systems, and devices for producing harvestable ice on cold plates are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Methods, systems, and devices for harvesting ice on cold surfaces are also provided in accordance with various embodiments. Methods, systems, and devices for cold oleophilic surfaces that produce harvestable ice are also provided in accordance with various embodiments. Methods, systems, and devices for ice maker fault detection and recovery are also provided in accordance with various embodiments. Methods, systems, and devices for ice maker startup are also provided in accordance with various embodiments.

Abstract: Solid production systems, devices, and methods utilizing oleophilic surfaces are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Some embodiments include a water tank used to store fresh water. Some embodiments include an emulsion tank that may include a set of auxiliary components that may be utilized to create and/or to pump an emulsion. This auxiliary equipment may include suction headers, ejectors, pumps, mechanical mixers, and/or hydrodynamic mixers, for example. Some embodiments include a heat exchanger that may produce a cold surface for ice formation. This surface may include an oleophilic surface that may produce an affinity for oils and/or other non-polar materials. Some embodiments include piping that may allow for the connection of the other components such that ice may be formed from a flow of water from the emulsion and the overflow may be returned to the emulsion tank. Ice making methods are also provided.

Abstract: Thermo-chemical recuperation systems, devices, and methods are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Embodiments may generally relate to the field of refrigeration and/or heat pumping. Within that field, some embodiments apply to the recuperation or recapturing of both thermal and chemical potential in a freeze point suppression cycle. Some embodiments include a method and/or system of thermo-chemical recuperation that includes creating a flow of ice and flowing a brine against the flow of the ice. Some embodiments manage the thermal and chemical potentials by mixing a dilute brine stream exiting an ice mixing vessel with an ice stream before it enters the ice mixing vessel. By controlling this mixing in a counter-flow or step-wise cross flow manner with sufficient steps, both the thermal and chemical potential of the dilute bine stream may be recuperated.

Abstract: Solid production systems, devices, and methods utilizing oleophilic surfaces are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Some embodiments include a water tank used to store fresh water. Some embodiments include an emulsion tank that may include a set of auxiliary components that may be utilized to create and/or to pump an emulsion. This auxiliary equipment may include suction headers, ejectors, pumps, mechanical mixers, and/or hydrodynamic mixers, for example. Some embodiments include a heat exchanger that may produce a cold surface for ice formation. This surface may include an oleophilic surface that may produce an affinity for oils and/or other non-polar materials. Some embodiments include piping that may allow for the connection of the other components such that ice may be formed from a flow of water from the emulsion and the overflow may be returned to the emulsion tank. Ice making methods are also provided.

Abstract: Thermo-chemical recuperation systems, devices, and methods are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Embodiments may generally relate to the field of refrigeration and/or heat pumping. Within that field, some embodiments apply to the recuperation or recapturing of both thermal and chemical potential in a freeze point suppression cycle. Some embodiments include a method and/or system of thermo-chemical recuperation that includes creating a flow of ice and flowing a brine against the flow of the ice. Some embodiments manage the thermal and chemical potentials by mixing a dilute brine stream exiting an ice mixing vessel with an ice stream before it enters the ice mixing vessel. By controlling this mixing in a counter-flow or step-wise cross flow manner with sufficient steps, both the thermal and chemical potential of the dilute bine stream may be recuperated.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices provided in accordance with various embodiments are generally related to the field of thermal management systems for buildings (or volumes in general), such as cold storage, food processing, or other buildings that have areas that are kept below freezing. Embodiments generally pertain to the management of temperature and humidity within these spaces. Some embodiments include system for the management of moisture and temperature inside cold spaces. Some embodiments include a heat and mass transfer exchanger, such as a direct constant gas liquid heat and mass transfer exchanger. Examples of such heat and mass transfer exchangers generally include wet scrubbers. Embodiments also generally include a series of ducts, pipes, heat exchangers, dampers, and/or valves that may allow the system to provide useful temperature and relative humidity levels to one or more spaces or volumes.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and device for cycle enhancement are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Various embodiments generally pertain to refrigeration and heat pumping. Different embodiments may be applied to a variety of heat pump architectures. Some embodiments may integrate with vapor compression heat pumps in industrial, commercial, and/or residential applications. Some embodiments include a method that may include at least: removing a first heat from a vapor compression cycle; utilizing the first removed heat from the vapor compression cycle to drive a thermally driven heat pump; or removing a second heat from the vapor compression cycle utilizing the thermally driven heat pump to reduce a temperature of a refrigerant of the vapor compression cycle below an ambient temperature.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for freeze point suppression cycle control are provided in accordance with various embodiments. For example, some embodiments include a method of freeze point suppression cycle control. The method may include flowing a liquid to a first sensor; the liquid may include a mixture of a melted solid and a freeze point suppressant. The method may include determining an indicator value of a freeze point suppressant property of the liquid utilizing the first sensor. The method may include controlling a flow of the liquid to a separator utilizing a flow controller based on at least the determined indicator value of the freeze point suppressant property of the liquid; the separator may form a concentrated freeze point suppressant from the liquid. Freeze point suppression cycle control systems are also provided.

Abstract: Solid production systems, devices, and methods utilizing oleophilic surfaces are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Some embodiments include a water tank used to store fresh water. Some embodiments include an emulsion tank that may include a set of auxiliary components that may be utilized to create and/or to pump an emulsion. This auxiliary equipment may include suction headers, ejectors, pumps, mechanical mixers, and/or hydrodynamic mixers, for example. Some embodiments include a heat exchanger that may produce a cold surface for ice formation. This surface may include an oleophilic surface that may produce an affinity for oils and/or other non-polar materials. Some embodiments include piping that may allow for the connection of the other components such that ice may be formed from a flow of water from the emulsion and the overflow may be returned to the emulsion tank. Ice making methods are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and device for solidification and/or solid production, such as ice production, are provided. For example, a method of solid production includes contacting a first fluid with a second fluid to facilitate solidifying the second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid are immiscible with respect to each other. The method includes solidifying the second fluid. A solid production system includes a first fluid and a second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid are immiscible with respect to each other. The system includes one or more surfaces configured to contact the first fluid and the second fluid with each other and to form one or more solids from the second fluid.

Abstract: Thermo-chemical recuperation systems, devices, and methods are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Embodiments may generally relate to the field of refrigeration and/or heat pumping. Within that field, some embodiments apply to the recuperation or recapturing of both thermal and chemical potential in a freeze point suppression cycle. Some embodiments include a method and/or system of thermo-chemical recuperation that includes creating a flow of ice and flowing a brine against the flow of the ice. Some embodiments manage the thermal and chemical potentials by mixing a dilute brine stream exiting an ice mixing vessel with an ice stream before it enters the ice mixing vessel. By controlling this mixing in a counter-flow or step-wise cross flow manner with sufficient steps, both the thermal and chemical potential of the dilute bine stream may be recuperated.

Abstract: Solid production systems, devices, and methods utilizing oleophilic surfaces are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Some embodiments include a water tank used to store fresh water. Some embodiments include an emulsion tank that may include a set of auxiliary components that may be utilized to create and/or to pump an emulsion. This auxiliary equipment may include suction headers, ejectors, pumps, mechanical mixers, and/or hydrodynamic mixers, for example. Some embodiments include a heat exchanger that may produce a cold surface for ice formation. This surface may include an oleophilic surface that may produce an affinity for oils and/or other non-polar materials. Some embodiments include piping that may allow for the connection of the other components such that ice may be formed from a flow of water from the emulsion and the overflow may be returned to the emulsion tank. Ice making methods are also provided.

Abstract: Thermal recuperation methods, systems, and devices are provided. The methods, systems, and/or devices may provide for: introducing a first fluid into at least a portion of a tank containing a solid; exchanging heat between the solid contained within the tank and the first fluid as the first fluid passes at least around or through the solid; extracting the heated first fluid from at least the portion of the tank containing the solid; and/or passing the heated first fluid with respect to a heat exchanger thermally coupled with a second fluid. The heated first fluid may be cooled as it passes with respect to the heat exchanger and heat may be thermally recuperated between the solid and the second fluid.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for freeze point suppression cycle control are provided in accordance with various embodiments. For example, some embodiments include a method of freeze point suppression cycle control. The method may include flowing a liquid to a first sensor; the liquid may include a mixture of a melted solid and a freeze point suppressant. The method may include determining an indicator value of a freeze point suppressant property of the liquid utilizing the first sensor. The method may include controlling a flow of the liquid to a separator utilizing a flow controller based on at least the determined indicator value of the freeze point suppressant property of the liquid; the separator may form a concentrated freeze point suppressant from the liquid. Freeze point suppression cycle control systems are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and device for cycle enhancement are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Various embodiments generally pertain to refrigeration and heat pumping. Different embodiments may be applied to a variety of heat pump architectures. Some embodiments may integrate with vapor compression heat pumps in industrial, commercial, and/or residential applications. Some embodiments include a method that may include at least: removing a first heat from a vapor compression cycle; utilizing the first removed heat from the vapor compression cycle to drive a thermally driven heat pump; or removing a second heat from the vapor compression cycle utilizing the thermally driven heat pump to reduce a temperature of a refrigerant of the vapor compression cycle below an ambient temperature.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and device for solidification and/or solid production, such as ice production, are provided in accordance with various embodiments. For example, some embodiments include a method of solid production that may include contacting a first fluid with a second fluid to facilitate solidifying the second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid may be immiscible with respect to each other. The method may include solidifying the second fluid. Some embodiments include a solid production system that may include a first fluid and a second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid may be immiscible with respect to each other. The system may include one or more surfaces configured to contact the first fluid and the second fluid with each other and to form one or more solids from the second fluid.