Patents by Inventor Mitsuharu Numata

Mitsuharu Numata 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: 11747061
    Abstract: A shell and plate heat exchanger includes a shell forming an internal space, and a plate stack housed in the internal space. The plate stack includes a plurality of heat transfer plates stacked and joined together. The shell and plate heat exchanger allows a refrigerant that has flowed into the internal space to be condensed. A refrigerant channel communicates with the internal space and allows the refrigerant to flow through. A heating medium channel is blocked from the internal space and allows a heating medium to flow through. The refrigerant channel and the heating medium channel are alternately arranged between adjacent heat transfer plates. A meandering portion is provided in at least a lower portion of the plate stack. The meandering portion is configured to meander the refrigerant condensed on a surface of each of the heat transfer plates. The meandering portion is provided by processing the heat transfer plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Yutaka Shibata, Kou Terai
  • Patent number: 11698228
    Abstract: A shell-and-plate heat exchanger includes: a shell forming an internal space; and a plate stack, disposed in the internal space, including heat transfer plates that are stacked and joined together. The shell-and-plate heat exchanger is configured to allow a refrigerant that has flowed into the internal space to evaporate. The plate stack forms: refrigerant channels that communicate with the internal space and through which a refrigerant flows; and heating medium channels that are blocked from the internal space and through which a heating medium flows. Each of the refrigerant channels is adjacent to an associated one of the heating medium channels with one of the heat transfer plates interposed therebetween. The shell-and-plate heat exchanger further includes one or more supply structures that supply the refrigerant to the refrigerant channels such that the refrigerant flows downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Kou Terai, Yutaka Shibata, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Patent number: 11619427
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: first layers each including first flow channels that are microchannels; and second layers each including second flow channels that are microchannels. The first layers and the second layers constitute a lamination. Heat is exchanged by performing either of: liquid evaporation in the first flow channels and gas condensation in the second flow channels, or liquid evaporation in the second flow channels and gas condensation in the first flow channels. The lamination includes: a first liquid transport pore that is in fluid communication with the first flow channels; and a second liquid transport pore that is in fluid communication with the second flow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shibata, Mitsuharu Numata, Tomoki Hirokawa, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20220381487
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: first layers each including first flow channels that are microchannels; and second layers each including second flow channels that are microchannels. The first layers and the second layers constitute a lamination. Heat is exchanged by performing either of: liquid evaporation in the first flow channels and gas condensation in the second flow channels, or liquid evaporation in the second flow channels and gas condensation in the first flow channels. The lamination includes: a first liquid transport pore that is in fluid communication with the first flow channels; and a second liquid transport pore that is in fluid communication with the second flow channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shibata, Mitsuharu Numata, Tomoki Hirokawa, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20220341637
    Abstract: A shell and plate heat exchanger includes a shell forming an internal space, and a plate stack housed in the internal space. The plate stack includes a plurality of heat transfer plates stacked and joined together. The shell and plate heat exchanger allows a refrigerant that has flowed into the internal space to be condensed. A refrigerant channel communicates with the internal space and allows the refrigerant to flow through. A heating medium channel is blocked from the internal space and allows a heating medium to flow through. The refrigerant channel and the heating medium channel are alternately arranged between adjacent heat transfer plates. A meandering portion is provided in at least a lower portion of the plate stack. The meandering portion is configured to meander the refrigerant condensed on a surface of each of the heat transfer plates. The meandering portion is provided by processing the heat transfer plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Mitsuharu NUMATA, Yutaka SHIBATA, Kou TERAI
  • Publication number: 20220341674
    Abstract: A shell-and-plate heat exchanger includes: a shell that forms an internal space and includes a refrigerant outlet at a top of the shell; and a plate stack disposed in the internal space and that includes heat transfer plates that are stacked and joined together. The shell-and-plate heat exchanger is configured to allow a refrigerant that has flowed into the internal space to evaporate. The refrigerant outlet emits a gas refrigerant out of the internal space through the refrigerant outlet. The plate stack forms: refrigerant channels that communicate with the internal space and through which a refrigerant flows; and heating medium channels that are blocked from the internal space and through which a heating medium flows. Each of the refrigerant channels is adjacent to an associated one of the heating medium channels with one of the heat transfer plates interposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Yutaka Shibata, Kou Terai, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20220341675
    Abstract: A shell-and-plate heat exchanger includes: a shell forming an internal space; and a plate stack, disposed in the internal space, including heat transfer plates that are stacked and joined together. The shell-and-plate heat exchanger is configured to allow a refrigerant that has flowed into the internal space to evaporate. The plate stack forms: refrigerant channels that communicate with the internal space and through which a refrigerant flows; and heating medium channels that are blocked from the internal space and through which a heating medium flows. Each of the refrigerant channels is adjacent to an associated one of the heating medium channels with one of the heat transfer plates interposed therebetween. The shell-and-plate heat exchanger further includes one or more supply structures that supply the refrigerant to the refrigerant channels such that the refrigerant flows downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Kou Terai, Yutaka Shibata, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20220333872
    Abstract: A shell and plate heat exchanger includes a shell forming an internal space, and a plate stack housed in the internal space. A plurality of refrigerant channels communicate with the internal space, and a plurality of heating medium channels are blocked from the internal space. Each of the refrigerant channels is adjacent to an associated one of the heating medium channels with heat transfer plate interposed between. Each of the heat transfer plates includes a first communication hole that communicates with the heating medium channels to introduce the heating medium, a second communication hole formed below the first communication hole that communicates with the heating medium channels to emit the heating medium, and a guide crossing between the first and second communication holes to guide the heating medium that has flowed into the heating medium channels from the first communication hole toward side portions of the heat transfer plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Mitsuharu NUMATA, Kou TERAI, Yutaka SHIBATA, Hirokazu FUJINO
  • Publication number: 20220178595
    Abstract: A liquid refrigerant distributor is used for a falling liquid film evaporator. The liquid refrigerant distributor includes a gas-liquid two-phase pipe through which a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows, and a first refrigerant tub including a liquid reservoir section into which the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows from the gas-liquid two-phase pipe. The first refrigerant tub further includes a droplet collector configured to collect droplets contained in a gas refrigerant separated by the liquid reservoir section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kou TERAI, Mitsuharu NUMATA, Yutaka SHIBATA, Hirokazu FUJINO
  • Patent number: 10746441
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a shell, a refrigerant distributor, and a heat transferring unit. The shell has a refrigerant inlet through which at least refrigerant with liquid refrigerant flows and a shell refrigerant vapor outlet. A longitudinal center axis of the shell extends generally parallel to a horizontal plane. The refrigerant distributor is connected to the refrigerant inlet and disposed within the shell. The refrigerant distributor has at least one liquid refrigerant distribution opening that distributes liquid refrigerant and a refrigerant vapor distribution outlet opening longitudinally spaced from the shell refrigerant vapor outlet. The heat transferring unit is disposed inside of the shell below the refrigerant distributor so that the liquid refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant distributor is supplied to the heat transferring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN APPLIED AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Michael Wilson, Jeffrey Majkowski
  • Patent number: 10612859
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is adapted to be used in a vapor compression system. The tube bundle includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes in a falling film region and in an accumulating region. The heat transfer tubes in the falling film region are arranged in a plurality of columns extending parallel to each other. The heat transfer tubes in the accumulating region are arranged in a plurality of rows extending parallel to each other. A trough part includes a plurality of trough sections disposed respectively below the rows of the heat transfer tubes in the accumulating region to accumulate the refrigerant therein. A ratio between a number of rows of the heat transfer tubes in the accumulating region and a number of the heat transfer tubes in each of the columns in the falling film region is about 1:9 to about 2:8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN APPLIED AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Kazushige Kasai
  • Publication number: 20180112924
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is adapted to be used in a vapor compression system. The tube bundle includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes in a falling film region and in an accumulating region. The heat transfer tubes in the falling film region are arranged in a plurality of columns extending parallel to each other. The heat transfer tubes in the accumulating region are arranged in a plurality of rows extending parallel to each other. A trough part includes a plurality of trough sections disposed respectively below the rows of the heat transfer tubes in the accumulating region to accumulate the refrigerant therein. A ratio between a number of rows of the heat transfer tubes in the accumulating region and a number of the heat transfer tubes in each of the columns in the falling film region is about 1:9 to about 2:8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Mitsuharu NUMATA, Kazushige KASAI
  • Patent number: 9759461
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for a vapor compression system includes a shell, a distributing part disposed inside of the shell to distribute a refrigerant, a tube bundle and a trough part. The tube bundle includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed inside of the shell below the distributing part. The tube bundle includes a falling film region disposed below the distributing part, an accumulating region disposed below the falling film region, and a flooded region disposed below the accumulating region at a bottom portion of the shell. The trough part extends under at least one of the heat transfer tubes in the accumulating region to accumulate the refrigerant therein. The trough part at least partially overlaps with the at least one of the heat transfer tubes in the accumulating region when viewed along a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: DAIKIN APPLIED AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Kazushige Kasai
  • Publication number: 20170254573
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a shell, a refrigerant distributor, and a heat transferring unit. The shell has a refrigerant inlet through which at least refrigerant with liquid refrigerant flows and a shell refrigerant vapor outlet. A longitudinal center axis of the shell extends generally parallel to a horizontal plane. The refrigerant distributor is connected to the refrigerant inlet and disposed within the shell. The refrigerant distributor has at least one liquid refrigerant distribution opening that distributes liquid refrigerant and a refrigerant vapor distribution outlet opening longitudinally spaced from the shell refrigerant vapor outlet. The heat transferring unit is disposed inside of the shell below the refrigerant distributor so that the liquid refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant distributor is supplied to the heat transferring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Michael Wilson, Jeffrey Majkowski
  • Patent number: 9677818
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for a vapor compression system includes a shell with a longitudinal center axis extending generally parallel to a horizontal plane, a distributing part, a tube bundle, a trough part and a guide part. The distributing part distributes a refrigerant. The tube bundle includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed below the distributing part so that the refrigerant discharged from the distributing part is supplied onto the tube bundle. The heat transfer tubes extend generally parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the shell. The trough part extends generally parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the shell under at least one of the heat transfer tubes to accumulate the refrigerant in the trough part. The guide part includes at least one lateral side portion extending upwardly and laterally outwardly from the tube bundle at a vertical position at an upper end of the trough part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: DAIKIN APPLIED AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Kazushige Kasai
  • Patent number: 9658003
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a shell, a refrigerant distribution assembly, a heat transferring unit and a canopy member. The refrigerant distribution assembly receives a refrigerant that enters the shell and discharges the refrigerant. The refrigerant distribution assembly has at least one outermost lateral end. The heat transferring unit is disposed below the refrigerant distribution assembly so that the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant distribution assembly is supplied to the heat transferring unit. The heat transferring unit includes a plurality heat transfer tubes. The canopy member includes at least one lateral side portion extending laterally outwardly and downwardly from a position above the refrigerant distribution assembly. The lateral side portion has a free end disposed laterally further from a vertical plane than the refrigerant distribution assembly, and lower than an upper edge of the outermost lateral end of the refrigerant distribution assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: DAIKIN APPLIED AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Kazushige Kasai
  • Patent number: 9541314
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is adapted to be used in a vapor compression system, and includes a shell, a distributing part and a tube bundle. The tube bundle includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes arranged in a plurality of columns extending parallel to each other when viewed along the longitudinal center axis of the shell. The heat transfer tubes has at least one of: an arrangement in which a vertical pitch between adjacent ones of the heat transfer tubes in at least one of the columns is larger in an upper region of the tube bundle than in a lower region of the tube bundle; and an arrangement in which a horizontal pitch between adjacent ones of the columns is larger in an outer region of the tube bundle than in an inner region of the tube bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: DAIKIN APPLIED AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Kazushige Kasai
  • Patent number: 9513039
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a shell, a refrigerant distribution assembly and a heat transferring unit. The refrigerant distribution assembly includes a first tray part and second tray parts. The first tray part continuously extends generally parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the shell to receive a refrigerant that enters the shell. The second tray parts are disposed below the first tray part to receive the refrigerant discharged from first discharge apertures such that the refrigerant accumulated in the second tray parts does not communicate between the second tray parts. The second tray parts are aligned along a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the shell. The heat transferring unit is disposed below the second tray parts so that the refrigerant discharged from second discharge apertures of the second tray parts is supplied to the heat transferring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: DAIKIN APPLIED AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Kazushige Kasai
  • Publication number: 20150053378
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for a vapor compression system includes a shell, a distributing part disposed inside of the shell to distribute a refrigerant, a tube bundle and a trough part. The tube bundle includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed inside of the shell below the distributing part. The tube bundle includes a falling film region disposed below the distributing part, an accumulating region disposed below the falling film region, and a flooded region disposed below the accumulating region at a bottom portion of the shell. The trough part extends under at least one of the heat transfer tubes in the accumulating region to accumulate the refrigerant therein. The trough part at least partially overlaps with the at least one of the heat transfer tubes in the accumulating region when viewed along a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: AAF-MCQUAY INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu NUMATA, Kazushige KASAI
  • Publication number: 20150013950
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a shell, a refrigerant distribution assembly, a heat transferring unit and a canopy member. The refrigerant distribution assembly receives a refrigerant that enters the shell and discharges the refrigerant. The refrigerant distribution assembly has at least one outermost lateral end. The heat transferring unit is disposed below the refrigerant distribution assembly so that the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant distribution assembly is supplied to the heat transferring unit. The heat transferring unit includes a plurality heat transfer tubes. The canopy member includes at least one lateral side portion extending laterally outwardly and downwardly from a position above the refrigerant distribution assembly. The lateral side portion has a free end disposed laterally further from a vertical plane than the refrigerant distribution assembly, and lower than an upper edge of the outermost lateral end of the refrigerant distribution assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Mitsuharu NUMATA, Kazushige KASAI