Patents by Inventor Michael William Groen
Michael William Groen 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).
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Publication number: 20250085035Abstract: Generally, management of refrigerant in an evaporator of an HVAC chiller is described. Methods, systems, and apparatuses to manage refrigerant in an evaporator can include one or combination of the following approaches: (1) by use of a refrigerant displacement array to physically prevent refrigerant from residing where the array is positioned; (2) by control of the interstitial velocity of refrigerant flow within the volume of the shell of an evaporator; (3) by a phase biased distribution of the refrigerant mixture, so that a gaseous portion is uniformly distributed into the evaporator shell, while liquid refrigerant and oil is distributed into the evaporator shell at a designated area; and (4) by preventing or reducing the occurrence of foaming inside the evaporator through anti-foaming surfaces, such as by the use of refrigerant phobic and lubricant phobic material(s). Refrigerant management can in turn improve the thermal performance and overall efficiency of the evaporator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2024Publication date: March 13, 2025Inventors: Jon Phillip Hartfield, Harry Kenneth Ring, Michael William Groen, Stephen Anthony Kujak, Ronald Maurice Cosby, II
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Patent number: 12092378Abstract: Generally, management of refrigerant in an evaporator of an HVAC chiller is described. Methods, systems, and apparatuses to manage refrigerant in an evaporator can include one or combination of the following approaches: (1) by use of a refrigerant displacement array to physically prevent refrigerant from residing where the array is positioned (2) by control of the interstitial velocity of refrigerant flow within the volume of the shell of an evaporator; (3) by a phase biased distribution of the refrigerant mixture, so that a gaseous portion is uniformly distributed into the evaporator shell, while liquid refrigerant and oil is distributed into the evaporator shell at a designated area; and (4) by preventing or reducing the occurrence of foaming inside the evaporator through anti-foaming surfaces, such as by the use of refrigerant phobic and lubricant phobic material(s). Refrigerant management can in turn improve the thermal performance and overall efficiency of the evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2020Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Jon Phillip Hartfield, Harry Kenneth Ring, Michael William Groen, Stephen Anthony Kujak, Ronald Maurice Cosby, II
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Publication number: 20210088262Abstract: Generally, management of refrigerant in an evaporator of an HVAC chiller is described. Methods, systems, and apparatuses to manage refrigerant in an evaporator can include one or combination of the following approaches: (1) by use of a refrigerant displacement array to physically prevent refrigerant from residing where the array is positioned (2) by control of the interstitial velocity of refrigerant flow within the volume of the shell of an evaporator; (3) by a phase biased distribution of the refrigerant mixture, so that a gaseous portion is uniformly distributed into the evaporator shell, while liquid refrigerant and oil is distributed into the evaporator shell at a designated area; and (4) by preventing or reducing the occurrence of foaming inside the evaporator through anti-foaming surfaces, such as by the use of refrigerant phobic and lubricant phobic material(s). Refrigerant management can in turn improve the thermal performance and overall efficiency of the evaporator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Jon Phillip Hartfield, Harry Kenneth Ring, Michael William Groen, Stephen Anthony Kujak, Ronald Maurice Cosby, II
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Publication number: 20210048221Abstract: A combination refrigeration displacement and drain device is disclosed that can be mounted within a heat exchanger, such as a shell and tube heat exchanger, which may be used for example as a heat exchanger in a chiller unit, which may be used in an HVAC or refrigeration system. One example of such components can include heat exchangers, such as for example a condenser employing a gravity drain. Advantageously, the combination refrigeration displacement and drain device herein can provide a refrigerant charge reduction for example that is used in the chiller unit, while facilitating drainage out of the heat exchanger. The combination refrigeration displacement and drain device can alleviate the liquid refrigerant accumulation that may normally be necessary to induce flow in a gravity drain design.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: Michael William GROEN, Steven Erwin MELOLING, Justin PIGGUSH
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Patent number: 10859297Abstract: Generally, management of refrigerant in an evaporator of an HVAC chiller is described. Methods, systems, and apparatuses to manage refrigerant in an evaporator can include one or combination of the following approaches: (1) by use a refrigerant displacement array to physically prevent refrigerant from residing where the array is positioned; (2) by control of the interstitial velocity of refrigerant flow within the volume of the shell of an evaporator; (3) by a phase biased distribution of the refrigerant mixture, so that a gaseous portion is uniformly distributed into the evaporator shell, while liquid refrigerant and oil is distributed into the evaporator shell at a designated area; and (4) by preventing or reducing the occurrence of foaming inside the evaporator through anti-foaming surfaces, such as by the use of refrigerant phobic and lubricant phobic material(s). Refrigerant management can in turn improve the thermal performance and overall efficiency of the evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Jon Phillip Hartfield, Harry Kenneth Ring, Michael William Groen
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Publication number: 20170336096Abstract: A combination refrigeration displacement and drain device is disclosed that can be mounted within a heat exchanger, such as a shell and tube heat exchanger, which may be used for example as a heat exchanger in a chiller unit, which may be used in an HVAC or refrigeration system. One example of such components can include heat exchangers, such as for example a condenser employing a gravity drain. Advantageously, the combination refrigeration displacement and drain device herein can provide a refrigerant charge reduction for example that is used in the chiller unit, while facilitating drainage out of the heat exchanger. The combination refrigeration displacement and drain device can alleviate the liquid refrigerant accumulation that may normally be necessary to induce flow in a gravity drain design.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2015Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Michael William GROEN, Steven Erwin MELOLING, Justin PIGGUSH
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Publication number: 20160138842Abstract: Generally, management of refrigerant in an evaporator of an HVAC chiller is described. Methods, systems, and apparatuses to manage refrigerant in an evaporator can include one or combination of the following approaches: (1) by use a refrigerant displacement array to physically prevent refrigerant from residing where the array is positioned; (2) by control of the interstitial velocity of refrigerant flow within the volume of the shell of an evaporator; (3) by a phase biased distribution of the refrigerant mixture, so that a gaseous portion is uniformly distributed into the evaporator shell, while liquid refrigerant and oil is distributed into the evaporator shell at a designated area; and (4) by preventing or reducing the occurrence of foaming inside the evaporator through anti-foaming surfaces, such as by the use of refrigerant phobic and lubricant phobic material(s). Refrigerant management can in turn improve the thermal performance and overall efficiency of the evaporator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2016Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Jon Phillip Hartfield, Harry Kenneth Ring, Michael William Groen, Stephen Anthony Kujak, Ronald Maurice Cosby, II
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Publication number: 20140223936Abstract: Generally, management of refrigerant in an evaporator of an HVAC chiller is described. Methods, systems, and apparatuses to manage refrigerant in an evaporator can include one or combination of the following approaches: (1) by use of a refrigerant displacement array to physically prevent refrigerant from residing where the array is positioned; (2) by control of the interstitial velocity of refrigerant flow within the volume of the shell of an evaporator; (3) by a phase biased distribution of the refrigerant mixture, so that a gaseous portion is uniformly distributed into the evaporator shell, while liquid refrigerant and oil is distributed into the evaporator shell at a designated area; and (4) by preventing or reducing the occurrence of foaming inside the evaporator through anti-foaming surfaces, such as by the use of refrigerant phobic and lubricant phobic material(s). Refrigerant management can in turn improve the thermal performance and overall efficiency of the evaporator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2012Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Jonathan Phillip Hartfield, Harry Kenneth Ring, Michael William Groen, Stephen Anthony Kujak, Ronald Maurice Cosby II
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Publication number: 20140202203Abstract: A refrigerant evaporator includes a shell having a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, and a plurality of tubes disposed within the shell and carrying a process fluid. One embodiment includes at least a first plurality of the tubes are immersed in liquid refrigerant within the shell, and at least a second plurality of the tubes are partially immersed in liquid refrigerant and partially surrounded by gaseous refrigerant. The refrigerant evaporator also includes a baffle positioned adjacent the first plurality of tubes and immersed in the liquid refrigerant to displace the liquid refrigerant.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Inventors: Jon Phillip Hartfield, Harry Kenneth Ring, Michael William Groen