Patents by Inventor Shitong Zha
Shitong Zha 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: 20200132351Abstract: An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a subcooler heat exchanger, a flash tank, a load, and a compressor. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The subcooler heat exchanger receives the refrigerant. The flash tank stores the refrigerant. During a first mode of operation, the load uses the refrigerant to cool a space proximate the load and the compressor compresses the refrigerant. During a second mode of operation, the subcooler heat exchanger receives the refrigerant from the flash tank, transfers heat from the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the refrigerant from the flash tank and directs the refrigerant from the flash tank to the compressor. During the second mode of operation, the compressor compresses the refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger and directs the compressed refrigerant to the load to defrost the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2018Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Shitong Zha, Michael Hollister
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Publication number: 20200132345Abstract: An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a flash tank, a first load, a first oil separator, and a first compressor. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The flash tank stores the refrigerant. The first load uses the refrigerant to cool a first space proximate the first load. During a first mode of operation, the first oil separator separates an oil from the refrigerant from the first load and directs the refrigerant to an ejector. The ejector directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger and the refrigerant form the first oil separator to the flash tank. The flash tank directs the refrigerant from the first oil separator to the first compressor. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from the flash tank. During a second mode of operation, the first oil separator directs the oil separated from the refrigerant to the first compressor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2018Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Xi Sun, Shitong Zha
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Patent number: 10605494Abstract: A method for a refrigeration system includes applying, by a gas cooler of the refrigeration system, a first cooling stage to refrigerant circulating through the refrigeration system load. The method further comprises applying, by a heat exchanger located downstream from the gas cooler, a second cooling stage to the refrigerant, wherein the second cooling stage removes heat from the refrigerant, and applying, by the heat exchanger located downstream from the gas cooler, the heat removed during the second cooling stage to a water heating system operable to heat water.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Product LLCInventor: Shitong Zha
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Patent number: 10578348Abstract: A method includes receiving moisturized air from a refrigerated room and absorbing, in a portion of a desiccant wheel, moisture from the moisturized air, wherein absorbing moisture from the moisturized air produces dehumidified air. The method further includes discharging the dehumidified air to the refrigerated room.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2017Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLCInventor: Shitong Zha
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Patent number: 10551135Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system includes a high side heat exchanger, a load, a compressor, and a horizontal oil separator. The high side heat exchanger is configured to remove heat from a refrigerant. The horizontal oil separator comprises a centrifugal chamber, an oil, a cut line, a filter, a collector, and an outlet. The centrifugal chamber is configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor and rotate the refrigerant, wherein rotating the refrigerant separates an oil from the refrigerant. The cut line is configured to prevent the oil separated in the centrifugal chamber from combining with the refrigerant. The filter is configured to separate additional oil from the refrigerant. The collector is configured to collect the oil separated in the centrifugal chamber and the additional oil. The outlet is configured to discharge the refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products, LLCInventors: Xi Sun, Shitong Zha
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Publication number: 20200003468Abstract: A system includes a flash tank, a first load, a second load, a first compressor, a second compressor, a first valve, and a second valve. The flash tank stores a refrigerant. The first and second loads use the refrigerant to cool first and second spaces. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from the first load during a first mode of operation and a flash gas from the flash tank during a second mode of operation. The second compressor compresses a mixture of the refrigerant from the first and second loads during the first mode of operation. The first valve directs the flash gas from the flash tank to the first compressor during the second mode of operation. The second valve directs the compressed flash gas from the first compressor to the first load during the second mode of operation to defrost the first load.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2018Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: Mike Hollister, Shitong Zha
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Publication number: 20190376732Abstract: An apparatus includes a flash tank, a medium temperature load, a low temperature load, a first compressor, a second compressor, and an ejector. The flash tank stores a refrigerant. The medium temperature load uses the refrigerant from the flash tank to cool a space proximate the medium temperature load to a first temperature. The low temperature load uses the refrigerant from the flash tank to cool a space proximate the low temperature load to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from the low temperature load. The second compressor compresses the refrigerant from the medium temperature load. The ejector directs a mixture of the refrigerant from the first compressor and the refrigerant from the second compressor to the low temperature load during a defrost cycle. The mixture defrosts the low temperature load. The flash tank receives the mixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2018Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventor: Shitong Zha
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Publication number: 20190368784Abstract: An apparatus includes a flash tank, a load, a first compressor, a coil, a first pipe, and a second compressor. The flash tank stores a refrigerant. The load uses the refrigerant from the flash tank to cool a space proximate the load. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load. The coil within the flash tank receives the refrigerant from the first compressor such that the received refrigerant is within the coil. The refrigerant stored within the flash tank cools the refrigerant within the coil. The first pipe is within the flash tank. The first pipe directs the refrigerant from within the coil out of the flash tank. The second compressor compresses the refrigerant directed out of the flash tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2018Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventor: Shitong Zha
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Publication number: 20190368791Abstract: An apparatus includes a flash tank, a first load, a second load, a first compressor, a second compressor, and an expansion valve. The flash tank stores a refrigerant. The first load uses the refrigerant from the flash tank to cool a space proximate the first load. The second load uses the refrigerant from the flash tank to cool a space proximate the second load. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from the second load. The second compressor compresses a mixture of the refrigerant from the first load and the refrigerant from the first compressor. The expansion valve controls a flow of the refrigerant from the flash tank to the first load such that the flow of refrigerant to the first load is increased when a temperature of the mixture exceeds a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2018Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventor: Shitong Zha
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Patent number: 10496108Abstract: A flood prevention system includes a first load, a second load, a third load, a fourth load, a first compressor, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a controller. The first, second, third, and fourth loads are configured to use a refrigerant to remove heat from a first, second, third, and fourth space, respectively, proximate to the first, second, third, and fourth load, respectively. The first compressor is configured to compress the refrigerant from the fourth load. The first temperature sensor is configured to detect a first temperature of the refrigerant from the first load, the second load, and the third load. The second temperature sensor is configured to detect a second temperature of the refrigerant from the first load, the second load, the third load, and the compressor. The controller is configured to trigger an alarm in response to certain conditions.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLCInventors: Shitong Zha, Douglas Cole
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Publication number: 20190301772Abstract: An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a flash tank, a first load, a first compressor, an auxiliary cooling system, and a first check valve. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The flash tank stores the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger. The first load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the first load. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from the first load. The auxiliary cooling system removes heat from the refrigerant stored in the flash tank during a power outage. The first check valve directs the refrigerant between the first load and the first compressor back to the flash tank when the pressure of the refrigerant between the first load and the first compressor exceeds a threshold during the power outage.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2018Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventor: Shitong Zha
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Patent number: 10365023Abstract: A system includes a heat exchanger coupled to an air conditioning system, and a flash tank is coupled to refrigeration cases, and houses a first refrigerant. The system includes solenoid valves coupled to the flash tank, where the solenoid valves reduce a pressure of the first refrigerant flowing from the flash tank to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be coupled to the solenoid valves, and the heat exchanger may be configured to receive an amount of the first refrigerant from the solenoid valves, receive a second refrigerant from the air conditioning system, where the second refrigerant is associated with an air conditioning load, and provide cooling to the second refrigerant, using the first refrigerant. Finally, the system includes a check valve coupled to the flash tank, where the check valve reduces a pressure of the first refrigerant flowing from the flash tank away from the solenoid valves.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLCInventors: Shitong Zha, Augusto Zimmermann
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Patent number: 10352604Abstract: An improved system, method, and controller for a refrigeration system is provided. The improved system, method, and controller operates the refrigeration system in a manner that extends the operation of a parallel compressor relative to the operation of a parallel compressor in a conventional refrigeration system. The improved method includes determining whether a parallel compressor of the refrigeration system is operational, and if operational, directing refrigerant discharged from a first compressor of the refrigeration system to the parallel compressor. The first compressor of the refrigeration system is operable to compress refrigerant discharged from a first refrigeration case, the second compressor is operable to compress refrigerant discharged from a second refrigeration case, and the parallel compressor, when operational, is operable to provide parallel compression for the second compressor.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLCInventor: Shitong Zha
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Publication number: 20190154317Abstract: An apparatus includes a flash tank, a load, a first compressor, a heat exchanger, and a second compressor. The flash tank stores a refrigerant and releases the refrigerant as a flash gas. The load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load and directs the refrigerant to the flash tank. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the refrigerant from a high side heat exchanger to the refrigerant released from the flash tank as the flash gas. The second compressor compresses the refrigerant released from the flash tank as the flash gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2017Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventor: Shitong Zha
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Publication number: 20190072299Abstract: A system includes a flash tank coupled to refrigeration cases, and the flash tank houses a first refrigerant. The system further includes a gas cooler to cool the first refrigerant, a heat exchanger coupled to an air conditioning system, and a first high pressure expansion valve coupled to the gas cooler. The first high pressure expansion valve reduces a pressure of the first refrigerant flowing from the gas cooler to the heat exchanger. The system includes a second high pressure expansion valve coupled to the gas cooler, which reduces a pressure of the first refrigerant flowing from the gas cooler to the flash tank. The heat exchanger is coupled to the first high pressure expansion valve, and the heat exchanger receives the first refrigerant from the high pressure expansion valve, receives a second refrigerant from an air conditioning system, and provides cooling to the second refrigerant using the first refrigerant.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2017Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventors: Fardis Najafifard, Shitong Zha
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Publication number: 20190072305Abstract: A system includes a heat exchanger coupled to an air conditioning system, and a flash tank is coupled to refrigeration cases, and houses a first refrigerant. The system includes solenoid valves coupled to the flash tank, where the solenoid valves reduce a pressure of the first refrigerant flowing from the flash tank to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be coupled to the solenoid valves, and the heat exchanger may be configured to receive an amount of the first refrigerant from the solenoid valves, receive a second refrigerant from the air conditioning system, where the second refrigerant is associated with an air conditioning load, and provide cooling to the second refrigerant, using the first refrigerant. Finally, the system includes a check valve coupled to the flash tank, where the check valve reduces a pressure of the first refrigerant flowing from the flash tank away from the solenoid valves.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2017Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventors: Shitong Zha, Augusto Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20190041102Abstract: A system includes a high side heat exchanger, a flash tank, a first load, a second load, and a thermal storage tank. The high side heat exchanger is configured to remove heat from a refrigerant. The flash tank is configured to store the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger and discharge a flash gas. The first load is configured to use the refrigerant from the flash tank to remove heat from a first space proximate to the first load. The second load is configured to use the refrigerant from the flash tank to remove heat from a second space proximate to the second load. The thermal storage tank is configured, when a power outage is determined to be occurring, to receive the flash gas from the flash tank, and remove heat from the flash gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2017Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Shitong Zha, Fardis Najafifard, Xi Sun
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Publication number: 20190024994Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system includes a high side heat exchanger, a load, a compressor, and a horizontal oil separator. The high side heat exchanger is configured to remove heat from a refrigerant. The horizontal oil separator comprises a centrifugal chamber, an oil, a cut line, a filter, a collector, and an outlet. The centrifugal chamber is configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor and rotate the refrigerant, wherein rotating the refrigerant separates an oil from the refrigerant. The cut line is configured to prevent the oil separated in the centrifugal chamber from combining with the refrigerant. The filter is configured to separate additional oil from the refrigerant. The collector is configured to collect the oil separated in the centrifugal chamber and the additional oil. The outlet is configured to discharge the refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2017Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Xi Sun, Shitong Zha
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Publication number: 20190025859Abstract: A flood prevention system includes a first load, a second load, a third load, a fourth load, a first compressor, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a controller. The first, second, third, and fourth loads are configured to use a refrigerant to remove heat from a first, second, third, and fourth space, respectively, proximate to the first, second, third, and fourth load, respectively. The first compressor is configured to compress the refrigerant from the fourth load. The first temperature sensor is configured to detect a first temperature of the refrigerant from the first load, the second load, and the third load. The second temperature sensor is configured to detect a second temperature of the refrigerant from the first load, the second load, the third load, and the compressor. The controller is configured to trigger an alarm in response to certain conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2017Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Shitong Zha, Douglas Cole
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Publication number: 20180259274Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system includes a high side heat exchanger, a load, a compressor, and a horizontal oil separator. The high side heat exchanger is configured to remove heat from a refrigerant. The horizontal oil separator comprises a centrifugal chamber, an oil, a cut line, a filter, a collector, and an outlet. The centrifugal chamber is configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor and rotate the refrigerant, wherein rotating the refrigerant separates an oil from the refrigerant. The cut line is configured to prevent the oil separated in the centrifugal chamber from combining with the refrigerant. The filter is configured to separate additional oil from the refrigerant. The collector is configured to collect the oil separated in the centrifugal chamber and the additional oil. The outlet is configured to discharge the refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Xi Sun, Shitong Zha