Refrigerating System Conversion Patents (Class 165/62)
  • Patent number: 11209174
    Abstract: Heat pump system (100) comprising at least one heat medium circuit (210,220,230,240,250,310,320,410,420,430,440,450,460) in turn comprising a compressor (211), an expansion valve (232,242), at least two different primary heat sources or sinks selected from outdoor air, a water body, the ground or exhaust air, at least one of two different secondary heat sources or sinks selected from indoors air, pool water and tap water, a respective temperature sensor (412,432) at each of said primary heat sources or sinks, a valve means (421,431,451) for selectively directing the primary-side heat medium to at least one of said primary heat exchanging means, and a control means (500). The invention is characterised in that, in a secondary-side heating operating mode, the temperature of said primary heat sources or sinksis measured, and in that the primary-side heat medium is directed only to the primary heat exchanging means associated with the heat sources or sinks with the highest temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SENS GEOENERGY STORAGE AB
    Inventors: David Callemo, Jan Thorburn
  • Patent number: 11199354
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigeration unit having an accumulator, a refrigeration system and a method for controlling a refrigeration unit having an accumulator, wherein the refrigeration unit has a refrigeration chamber for receiving and storing goods to be refrigerated, an accumulator having an accumulator holder in which a storage medium is accommodated, a heat exchanger, a controller and a coolant line arrangement which can be connected to a coolant supply network via connections. The coolant line arrangement is guided through the accumulator holder, and the heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the storage medium accommodated in the accumulator holder. A coolant control device is arranged in the flow pipe of the coolant arrangement, wherein the storage medium accommodated in the accumulator holder is cooled via a coolant in the coolant line arrangement, and the heat exchanger is cooled via the storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventors: Benedikt Geitz, Gerd Odendahl, Manfred Vaupel
  • Patent number: 11192428
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning device is provided which is capable of eliminating or suppressing vibration and noise generated due to the application of a counterpressure to an opening/closing valve. The vehicle air-conditioning device includes a refrigerant circuit R having a compressor 2, a radiator 4 to perform heat exchange between a refrigerant and air, an outdoor heat exchanger 7, a heat absorber 9, and a solenoid valve 40. The compressor 2 and the solenoid valve 40 are controlled to air-condition a vehicle interior. A decompression speed at a refrigerant inflow side of the solenoid valve when the compressor 2 is stopped and the solenoid valve 40 is closed is faster than that at a refrigerant outflow side thereof. When operation is stopped from a state in which the compressor 2 is operating with the solenoid valve 40 being in an opened state, the opened state of the solenoid valve 40 is maintained even after the compressor 2 is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Sanden Automotive Climate Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Megumi Shigeta, Osamu Takazawa, Kohei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10921042
    Abstract: A heat transfer system for high transient heat loads includes a fluid, a heat exchanger; a compressor downstream of the heat exchanger outlet; a condenser downstream of the compressor outlet, and a thermal energy storage (TES) section downstream of the condenser outlet and upstream of the heat exchanger. The TES section may include a first pressure regulating valve downstream of a TES unit; and a second pressure regulating valve upstream of the first pressure regulating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Eric Donovan, Michael Head, Tim Unton, Eugene Jansen
  • Patent number: 10859550
    Abstract: A novel gas and fluid measurement system is provided that can assess undesired gas or fluid leakage in surface casing vents at wellbores or facilities under thermal production enhancement. The system can remove water vapour (steam and/or liquid water) from the gas flow, measure flow rates and volumes of fluids and gases, contain representative fluid and gas samples for collection, and monitor and measure, in real-time, the sulphur gas content, physical water parameters and combustible gas content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventor: Bryan Szatkowski
  • Patent number: 10662822
    Abstract: A heat cycle system includes a cooling circuit and a Rankine cycle circuit in which an organic medium circulates. The Rankine cycle circuit includes an evaporator, an expander, and a condenser. Before warm-up of an engine, a control device executes a warm-up mode in which the organic medium is circulated through the condenser, the expander and the evaporator in sequence; after the warm-up of the engine, the control device executes a waste heat recovery mode in which the organic medium is circulated through the evaporator, the expander and the condenser in sequence. In the warm-up mode, by supplying energy to the expander, the control device compresses the organic medium passing through the condenser and supplies the compressed organic medium to the evaporator; in the waste heat recovery mode, by depressurizing the organic medium passing through the evaporator by the expander, the control device recovers the energy generated by the expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Iwama, Makoto Otani, Shinichi Tosa
  • Patent number: 10406886
    Abstract: A battery temperature control device for a vehicle, which heats the interior of the vehicle and a battery, and an air conditioner for a vehicle having same, the battery temperature control device including: a refrigerant circulation line (R) having a compressor (110), an indoor heat exchanger (130), expansion means (140, 150) and an outdoor heat exchanger (120); a coolant circulation line (W) which circulates a heater core (240) mounted to heat the interior of the vehicle; and a coolant heat exchanger (220) mounted to exchange heat between refrigerant circulating the refrigerant circulation line (R) and coolant circulating the coolant circulation line (W). Battery (210) is arranged on the coolant circulation line (W). The coolant circulation line which can heat the interior of the vehicle and the battery at the same allowing the battery temperature control device and the air conditioner heat the vehicle's interior and the battery effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Doo Hoon Kim, Young Hum Han, Chul Hee Kim, Hyeon Gyu Kim, Joong Man Han, Kyung Ju An, Jung Won Cho
  • Patent number: 10197306
    Abstract: A heat pump system, a controlling method thereof, and a heat pump unit using the heat pump system. The heat pump system includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a heat-recovery-type heat exchanger, a multi-way valve, a throttling element, and a mode-switching flow path, which has both air conditioning and water heating functions. By switching the multi-way valve and powering on/off electromagnetic valves in the heat pump system, the controlling method controls the heat pump system to implement multiple functional modes. Furthermore, the heat pump unit using the heat pump system provides multiple functions simply by laying a small amount of parts and elements and pipelines outdoors, thereby greatly reducing the engineering cost and cost of parts, and ensuring a much higher water heating efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haijun Li, Weijuan Wang, Guangyu Shen
  • Patent number: 10161378
    Abstract: Disclosed is an energy recovering system having a first pump for pumping a fluid from a first lower level at a first lower potential energy to a second higher level corresponding to a second higher potential energy, and a turbine being located at a third level corresponding to a third potential energy being smaller than said second higher potential energy, wherein the turbine is fluidly connected to the first pump by a connecting pipe such that the fluid can be fed by the first pump via the connecting pipe from the first lower level and via the second higher level to the turbine located at the third level, where the turbine is connected to the first pump in such a way that a recovery-energy recovered from the fluid by passing through the turbine (T) is used for a drive of the concurrently operating first pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Sulzer Management AG
    Inventor: Miguel Angel Rivas
  • Patent number: 10054318
    Abstract: The heat medium transport paths are arranged between the first building and the second building and transport heat media that transport heat energy. A temperature distribution acquisition means acquires the temperature distribution of the heat media that have temperatures being different from each other in the heat medium transport paths and that are sequentially transported in a state of having a predetermined length in the transport direction in the heat medium transport paths. A control means receives a load request of an air conditioner of the first building, and when a heat medium having the heat energy that satisfies the load request received reaches the first building, based on the temperature distribution acquired by the temperature distribution acquisition means, the control means causes the air conditioner of the first building to take out the heat energy from the heat medium reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: OSAKA CITY UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Masaki Nakao, Masatoshi Nishioka, Craig Farnham, Tsuyoshi Nagahiro, Youichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9920973
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes an air conditioning portion configured to condition a volume of air flowing there-through and an exhaust portion configured to exchange heat with the air conditioning portion through a working fluid. A portion of the volume of air exiting the air conditioning portion is mechanically diverted into the exhaust portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dong Luo
  • Patent number: 9689592
    Abstract: An in-vehicle absorption heat pump device comprises a regenerator; an in-vehicle heat source heating absorbent in the regenerator; a gas-liquid separator; a condenser condensing gas phase separated from the absorbent; an evaporator evaporating a condensate to form vapor; an absorber for bringing the relatively concentrated absorbent in liquid phase in contact with the gas phase to cause the absorbent to absorb the gas phase and be relatively diluted; an absorbent circulation source circulating the absorbent; a bypass passage connecting a liquid-phase storing portion of the gas-liquid separator and the regenerator while bypassing the absorber; and a bypass transfer source in the bypass passage returning the absorbent in the gas-liquid separator to the regenerator. To dilute absorbent in the absorber, a diluent passage allows the condenser and the absorber to communicate and the condensate in the condenser to be supplied to the absorber through the diluent passage by a dilution element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akifumi Tomita, Osamu Tsubouchi, Haruyuki Tsujihara
  • Patent number: 9644877
    Abstract: Frequency of a compressor is controlled so that an evaporating temperature reaches a target evaporating temperature during cooling operation, and, when refrigerant stagnation in a condenser of an outdoor unit is detected during cooling operation, a stagnation-resolving operation is implemented. The stagnation-resolving operation includes stagnation suppression control in which the target evaporating temperature is reduced within a range in which an evaporator does not freeze so as to increase a refrigerant circulation volume in the condenser, and stagnation-avoidance priority control which is implemented when implementation of the stagnation suppression control is not able to resolve stagnation, and in which an opening degree of an expansion valve is controlled to be opened and the target evaporating temperature is further reduced so as to further increase the refrigerant circulation volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Aoyama
  • Patent number: 9389000
    Abstract: Water heater apparatus includes a tank for storing water; a heat exchanger associated with the tank and being operative to receive refrigerant and transfer heat therefrom to the tank, the heat exchanger representatively being a heat conductive tube externally wrapped around the tank in heat conductive contact therewith; air conditioning apparatus operative to utilize refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant circuit portion of the air conditioning apparatus, the refrigerant circuit portion being in fluid communication with the heat exchanger; and a control system operative to selectively cause a portion of the flowing refrigerant to pass through the heat exchanger, or cause essentially the entire flow of the refrigerant to bypass the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Klint E. Leete, Timothy B. Hawkins, Jeremy L. Babb
  • Patent number: 9322577
    Abstract: Water heater appliances and methods for operating water heater appliances are provided. A water heater appliance includes a tank defining an interior volume, and a sealed system for heating water within the interior volume. The sealed system includes a compressor operable to compress refrigerant, and a first condenser downstream of and in fluid communication with the compressor. The first condenser is operable to heat water within the interior volume using energy from the refrigerant. The sealed system further includes a second condenser downstream of and in fluid communication with the first condenser. The second condenser is operable to heat water within the interior volume using energy from the refrigerant. The sealed system further includes an evaporator between and in fluid communication with the second condenser and the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gunaranjan Chaudhry, Brent Alden Junge, Michael John Kempiak
  • Patent number: 9289760
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing coolant fluid to a device, the apparatus includes a heat exchanger having a hot side and a cold side. The cold side is in fluid communication with a chilled fluid supply and adapted to receive a first fluid from the chilled fluid supply in a first inlet and return the first fluid from the cold side to the chilled fluid supply. The cold side and the chilled fluid supply form a first fluid circuit. The apparatus further includes a second fluid circuit in fluid communication with the hot side, means for introducing a second fluid within the second fluid circuit and integral thereto, a pump integral to the second fluid circuit and adapted to transmit a second fluid within the second fluid circuit and means for controlling a rate of flow of the second fluid within the second fluid circuit. The device is within the second fluid circuit and the means for controlling the rate of flow operates in the absence of internal recirculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: Cannon Design, Inc., University of Kansas
    Inventors: Gerald G. Williams, Andrew D. Hager, George S. Wilson, William Scott Jeffress, Frank J. Schoenen
  • Patent number: 9179574
    Abstract: A cooling unit and cooling method are provided for a container-type data center. The cooling unit includes a heat rejection unit, for rejecting heat from coolant passing through a coolant loop to air passing across the heat rejection unit, and a refrigeration unit controllable to selectively provide auxiliary cooling to at least a portion of the coolant passing through the coolant loop. The heat rejection unit includes a heat exchange assembly, having a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, and one or more air-moving devices providing airflow across the first and second heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger couples in fluid communication with the coolant loop, and the second heat exchanger is coupled in fluid communication with a refrigeration loop of the refrigeration unit for rejecting heat from refrigerant passing through the refrigeration loop to the airflow passing across the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian A. Canney, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Vinod Kamath, Roger R. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9022068
    Abstract: Compressor arrangement for generating compressed air using a motor-operator compressor unit, downstream of which at least one cooler unit is connected for cooling the generated compressed air, which enters the cooler unit via at least one inlet, flows there through a cooling structure, from a plurality of cooling passages connected in parallel and leaves the cooler unit via at least one outlet, wherein a permanently open bypass pipe is provided between the region of the inlet and the region of the outlet, the inner cross section of which bypass pipe is matched to the delivery capacity of the compressor unit and to the pressure difference between inlet and outlet such that the bypass pipe, at normal ambient temperatures, causes a higher flow resistance than the cooling structure, whereas, as freezing of the cooling structure progresses, the compressed air flows increasingly via the bypass pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fur Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Achatz, Klaus-Michael Schneider, Gerhard Pröll
  • Publication number: 20140374060
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air conditioning device comprising a refrigerant circuit and a coolant circuit. The refrigerant circuit comprises at least a compressor, an internal heat exchanger, an external heat exchanger and an evaporator The coolant circuit comprises at least a first heat exchanger associated with a first component, a second heat exchanger associated with a second component and a radiator. A fluid/fluid heat exchanger is installed in the refrigerant circuit and in the coolant circuit, with the coolant circuit comprising a first loop and a second loop which are interconnected by an interconnection device. The first loop comprises the fluid/fluid heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger associated with the first component and a means for heating the coolant with the means interposed between the interconnection device and the fluid/fluid heat exchanger, the second loop comprising the second heat exchanger associated with the second component and the radiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Laurent Labaste Mauhe, Regine Haller, Abdelmajid Taklanti
  • Patent number: 8901468
    Abstract: A heating system for hot water and conditioned air uses electromagnetic energy created by one or more magnetrons operated by high voltage transformers. The heating system includes oil cooled transformers and magnetrons. Using radiators in the form of heat exchangers, heat recovered from the transformers and magnetrons is dissipated directly into the path of the return air and the air handler blower. The magnetron heating system includes a coiled conduit sized to allow complete heating of the fluid flowing therethrough. The conduit has a conical shape to allow upper magnetrons to heat the outside of the conduit and lower magnetrons to heat the inside of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Vincent A. Bravo
  • Publication number: 20140102130
    Abstract: A mechanical leverage system comprising an expansive side and a compressive side, wherein the compressive side comprises a compressor which is in controlled fluid communication with a first evaporator and a first condenser, wherein the expansive side comprises an expander which is in controlled fluid communication with a second evaporator and a second condenser, wherein the second evaporator absorbs heat from a space such as an attic and drives the expander, and thus, the compressor to which the expander is connected, and wherein there is a difference between the properties of the refrigerant used in the expansive side and the compressive side, such that the difference in refrigerant properties influences the mechanical advantage ratio of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventor: Arthur F. Hurtado
  • Publication number: 20140090802
    Abstract: An aircraft thermal control system includes a thermal control unit including an internal circuit, an evaporator and a condenser, the evaporator and the condenser being disposed in the internal circuit. The aircraft thermal control system further includes a cooling circuit which is thermally coupled to the evaporator of the thermal control unit, and a heating circuit which is thermally coupled to the condenser of the thermal control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GMBH
    Inventor: Airbus Operations GMBH
  • Publication number: 20130128915
    Abstract: A temperature control element for a measuring device for controlling the temperature of a measurement sample, comprising first and second heating elements delivering thermal energy to the measurement sample, and control means for controlling the heating of the measurement sample, wherein the first and second heating elements heat the measurement sample until a limit temperature has been reached, and wherein thermal resistivity between the first and second heating elements is increased starting at the limit temperature, and the control means disconnects the contact between the first and second heating elements when the limit temperature is reached. A cooling element withdraws thermal energy, and the control means controls cooling of the measurement sample, wherein thermal energy is withdrawn from measurement sample by bringing the cooling element closer to the shut-off of the first heating element, and interrupting the contact between the cooling element and the shut-off of the first heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Roland Aschauer, Ernst Hamann, Philipp Jordan, Andreas Schwarzmann
  • Publication number: 20130105110
    Abstract: An integrated power and refrigeration system is disclosed. The integrated system includes a solution comprising an absorber fluid and a working fluid that can be selectively dissolved into the absorber fluid. The integrated system also includes a first subsystem configured to extract heat from an external cooling load by pumping the solution through a vapor absorption cycle and a second subsystem configured to provide power by accepting a first portion of the solution from the first subsystem, extracting at least a portion of the working fluid from the accepted solution, heating the extracted working fluid, using the heated extracted working fluid to drive a turbine that is coupled to a power generator, and then returning the extracted working fluid and the remaining accepted solution to the first subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Mills
  • Patent number: 8405009
    Abstract: Provided is a defrost heater using a surface heat emission element of a metal thin film having a fast temperature response performance and a low thermal density, to thereby use an environment-friendly refrigerant, and that performs quick temperature rising and cooling during performing a defrost cycle, to thereby quickly restart a refrigeration cycle and thus greatly reduce time required for the defrost cycle, and a fabricating method thereof, and a defrost apparatus using the same. The defrost heater includes: a strip type surface heat emission element made of a strip type metal thin plate; an insulation layer that coats the outer circumference of the strip type surface heat emission element; and a heat transfer board on one side surface of which the surface heat emission element on the outer circumferential surface of which the insulation layer has been coated is installed, and that contacts evaporator fins so that heat generated from the surface heat emission element is transferred to an evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Amogreentech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Chul Lim, Jae Suk Yang, Soung Ho Jang, Joong Ki Min, Sang Dong Jeong, Jae Yeong Lee, Yong Wook Shin
  • Publication number: 20130059190
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include thermoelectric-based thermal management systems and methods configured to heat and/or cool an electrical device. Thermal management systems can include at least one electrical conductor in electrical and thermal communication with a temperature-sensitive region of the electrical device and at least one thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the at least one electrical conductor. Electric power can be directed to the thermoelectric device by the same electrical conductor or an external power supply, causing the thermoelectric device to provide controlled heating and/or cooling to the electrical device via the at least one electrical conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: AMERIGON, INC.
    Inventors: Dmitri Kossakovski, Todd Robert Barnhart, Alfred Piggott
  • Publication number: 20120279681
    Abstract: A district energy sharing system (DESS) comprises a thermal energy circuit which circulates and stores thermal energy in water, at least one client building thermally coupled to the circuit and which removes some thermal energy from the circuit (“thermal sink”) and/or deposits some thermal energy into the circuit (“thermal source”), and at least one thermal server plant that can be thermally coupled to external thermal sources and/or sinks (e.g. a geothermal ground source) and whose function is to maintain thermal balance within the DESS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: DEC Design Mechanical Consultants Ltd.
    Inventors: William Thomas Vaughan, Erik Dean Lindquist
  • Publication number: 20120279682
    Abstract: Heat transfer device including: a first reservoir (R1) for storing a diphasic fluid (LC), equipped with first heating means (MC1) and connected to a cold source (SF) via a first thermal resistance (RTH1); a second reservoir (R2) for storing said diphasic fluid, equipped with second heating means (MC2) and connected to said cold source or to another cold source via a second thermal resistance (RTH2); and a fluidic pipe (CF) through which said diphasic fluid may pass, connecting said first and second reservoirs, said pipe including at least: an evaporator (EV) that may be thermally connected to a hot source (PC, O) at a temperature higher than that of said cold source; a first condenser (C1) and a second (C2) condenser situated on either side of said evaporator and adapted to be thermally connected to said cold source. Heat transfer system including at least one such device. Method for cooling or precooling an object by means of such a device or system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGVIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Fabien Bonnet, Philippe Gully
  • Publication number: 20120198874
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes indoor units including a plurality of use side heat exchangers that exchange heat between air and a heat medium, and a heat medium relay unit having a plurality of heat exchangers related to heat medium. A plurality of pumps deliver the heat medium involved in heating or cooling performed by the plurality of heat exchangers related to heat medium to each passage and circulate the heat medium. A plurality of heat medium flow switching devices perform switching so that the heat medium from a selected passage flows into and flows out of each use side heat exchanger. An expansion tank is connected to a passage alleviates a pressure change caused by a volumetric change of the heat medium, and a pressure equalizing pipe connects each inlet passage or each outlet passage of the heat medium sending devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura
  • Patent number: 8188323
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and processes of using perfluoropolyether to maintain or improve the oil return, lubrication, cooling capacity or energy efficiency of the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat transfer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Leck, Thomas Frank Saturno, Gregory A. Bell
  • Patent number: 8117855
    Abstract: Modernized refrigeration cycle includes two consecutive expansions with two expansion devices and two condensers, wherein the first condenser liquefies refrigerant after compressor and the second condenser liquefies refrigerant after the first expansion device. The cooling medium for the second condenser is either air to be conditioned in the refrigeration system or another available medium. Invention presents sealed systems of air conditioners, dehumidifiers and heat pumps operating per aforementioned refrigeration cycle that allows enhanced dehumidification with efficiency improvement in cooling mode and heating capacity and efficiency increase in heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventor: Alexander P Rafalovich
  • Publication number: 20120017464
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement in turn including an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected. A drum is provided to receive clothes to be dried. An auxiliary heater is included, as is a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over the condenser and the heater, and through the drum. A sensor is located to sense high side temperature and/or high side pressure of the mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement. A controller is coupled to the sensor and the auxiliary heater, and is operative to: activate the auxiliary heater during a startup transient of the mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement; monitor the high side temperature and/or high side pressure, during the startup transient; and de-activate the auxiliary heater in response to the high side temperature and/or high side pressure reaching a first predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: David G. BEERS, Brent Alden JUNGE, Nicholas OKRUCH, JR., Amelia Lear HENSLEY
  • Publication number: 20120022702
    Abstract: An air conditioner and a method of controlling the same are disclosed herein. The method of controlling the air conditioner includes receiving an electric power rate information, and distributing an internal air from a first indoor room to a second indoor room to reduce a temperature difference between a plurality of indoor rooms. During periods of peak power rates, costs associated with operating the air conditioner may be reduced by limiting operation of the indoor and outdoor units, while adjusting the temperatures of the indoor rooms by distributing air among the plurality of the indoor rooms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Youngjo JANG
  • Publication number: 20110203300
    Abstract: Modernized refrigeration cycle includes two consecutive expansions with two expansion devices and two condensers, wherein the first condenser liquefies refrigerant after compressor and the second condenser liquefies refrigerant after the first expansion device. The cooling medium for the second condenser is either air to be conditioned in the refrigeration system or another available medium. Invention presents sealed systems of air conditioners, dehumidifiers and heat pumps operating per aforementioned refrigeration cycle that allows enhanced dehumidification with efficiency improvement in cooling mode and heating capacity and efficiency increase in heating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventor: Alexander P. Rafalovich
  • Publication number: 20110126563
    Abstract: A device, such as an absorption chiller sub-system, is provided. The absorption chiller sub-system can include an evaporator and an absorber. The evaporator can be configured to receive a liquid first working fluid and to produce first working fluid vapor. The absorber can be configured to receive and combine first working fluid vapor and a second working fluid, for example, so as to release thermal energy. A divider having opposing first and second sides in respective fluid communication with the evaporator and the absorber can also be included. The divider can be configured to allow first working fluid vapor to pass therethrough between the first and second sides and to inhibit movement of liquid first working fluid therethrough between the first and second sides. Associated systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ching-Jen Tang, William Dwight Gerstler, AliciA Jillian Jackson Hardy, Helge Klockow, Sherif Hatem Abdulla Mohamed, Andrew Philip Shapiro, Yogen Vishwas Utturkar, Todd Garrett Wetzel, Paul Brian Wickersham
  • Publication number: 20110100588
    Abstract: A DX heating/cooling system includes an automatic hot gas by-pass valve (1) for preventing frosting of an interior heat exchanger/air handler (6) when the system is switched from the heating mode to the cooling mode, and a specially sized TXV (7) by-pass refrigerant flow means (12), where the automatic hot gas by-pass valve (1) is positioned to provide hot gas at two optional locations, with one location before the cool liquid enters the air handler (6), and with the other location after the warmed vapor refrigerant exits the air handler (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Earth to Air Systems, LLC
    Inventor: B. Ryland Wiggs
  • Publication number: 20110036113
    Abstract: A heating and cooling system includes an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser. A heat exchanger, which may be an outdoor heat exchanger, is configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser, to selectively extract heat from or to add heat to the refrigerant, and to transfer the refrigerant to the evaporator. First control valving, disposed between the condenser and the heat exchanger, is configured to regulate flow of the refrigerant from the condenser to the heat exchanger in a first mode of operation. Second control valving, disposed between the condenser and the heat exchanger, is configured to regulate flow of the refrigerant from the heat exchanger to the evaporator in a second mode of operation. The system may be operated in a variety of modes by appropriate control of the valving and other system components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: William L. Kopko, Ian Michael Casper, Douglas Alan Kester, Satheesh Kulankara
  • Publication number: 20100319369
    Abstract: A reversible HVAC heating/cooling refrigerant system includes a novel valve system that allows an outdoor heat exchanger to function as a subcooler during a cooling or defrost mode and function as a receiver tank for storing excess liquid refrigerant during a heating mode. In the heating mode, a cooling expansion valve is kept slightly open to flood the subcooler with liquid refrigerant while a heating expansion valve is regulated to maintain a desired level of superheat at the suction side of the refrigerant system's compressor. The novel valve system also serves as a pressure relief valve to protect the subcooler from excess pressure caused by thermal expansion of liquid refrigerant trapped within the subcooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Willaim B. Fox, George M. Singh, Scott A. Munns
  • Publication number: 20100287960
    Abstract: A modular climate control system, particularly for generating cold and/or heat, includes one or more modules, a working medium or coolant being condensed, liquefied, relieved and re-evaporated in a circuit in the modules, and the heat and/or cold generated in the process is delivered to corresponding secondary circuits via heat exchangers. High flexibility in the use of the system, and tremendous simplification in the set-up and modification are achieved because a common collector including collector tubes is provided for several modules. The modules are detachably connected to the collector, and the collector connects the modules to the respective secondary circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: Remo Meister
  • Patent number: 7832466
    Abstract: A water supply system includes a main water tank and a sub-tank of smaller dimensions than the main tank for supplying hot and cold water for household use. The sub-tank is surrounded by a tubular coil of refrigerant in contact with the sub-tank, a layer of insulation and an outer wall for maintaining the insulation in place and protecting the tubular coil and sub-tank from being damaged. A water heater is disposed in or below a lower part of the tank and a three-way switch is provided for selecting heating or refrigeration during different seasons of the year.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Abdullah Ahmad Al-Hashash
  • Publication number: 20100270005
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing heating and/or refrigeration effect and a method thereof is disclosed which provides simultaneous heating and refrigeration, only heating or only refrigeration, using a double-effect vapor absorption cycle or a single-effect vapor absorption cycle. The present invention comprises providing a heat input to an absorbent in a generator to obtain a concentrated absorbent which is fed to a set of absorbers which are located in co-operation with a set of evaporators provided with a condensed refrigerant, to obtain heating and/or refrigeration effect. The heat/energy used during the process is recovered by a plurality of heat exchangers such that the wastage of energy and utilities is minimized. The present invention substantially reduces the CO2 emissions, thus is eco-friendly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: THERMAX LIMITED
    Inventors: Balu RADHAKRISHNAN, Babu PANNEERSELVAM, Swapna KULKARNI
  • Publication number: 20100242517
    Abstract: A closed fluid loop HVAC system includes an air conditioner or heat pump, an evaporative cooling tower, and fluid input and output lines coupled between the cooling tower and the air conditioner/heat pump. The cooling tower has a solar-powered fluid pump and a solar-powered fan for moving an air stream to cool the fluid in the tower. The closed fluid loop can include a geothermal reservoir with a solar-powered fluid pump for pumping the fluid from the geothermal reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Bryce Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100242509
    Abstract: In an enclosed space which requires refrigeration or cooling at the same time when the heating of air is required, provision is made to divert at least a portion of the flow of heated air from the air conditioning/refrigeration heat rejection heat exchanger to the climate-controlled zone which requires heating. An airflow control device, such as one or more dampers, is provided for controlling the amount of heated air delivered to the climate-controlled-zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
  • Publication number: 20100243202
    Abstract: A hot water circulation system associated with a heat pump. The system includes a water-refrigerant exchanger for heating the refrigerant and a pump for forcedly circulating the heated water, and a heating tank for storing the heated water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Wang Kuk HAN, Ju Hyeong Lee
  • Patent number: 7784297
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling heating device in which a suitable operation can be performed in harmony with fluctuations of cooling and heating loads to reduce energy consumption, and the cooling heating device includes an outdoor heat exchanger having one end connected to a refrigerant outlet-side pipe of a condenser via an expansion valve and having the other end connected to a suction-side pipe and a discharge-side pipe of a compressor and configured to perform heat exchange between a refrigerant and outside air; a changeover valve which executes control so as to pass the refrigerant discharged from the compressor through the condenser or the outdoor heat exchanger and supply the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger to the compressor or supply the refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor; and a control unit which controls the compressor, the expansion valve and the changeover valve based on a cooling operation signal in response to a cooling load of the cool tar
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahisa Otake, Koji Sato
  • Publication number: 20100205984
    Abstract: A medium and low-temperature integrated refrigeration/freezing system (100) has the function of discharge gas defrosting. It comprises medium and low-temperature compressors sets (120, 122) and medium and low-temperature evaporators, as well as control valves (141, 142, 143, 144), adjusting valves (145, 146), one-way valves (147, 148) and expansion valves (150, 152, 154), and the switching between a refrigerating cycle and the discharge gas defrosting cycle is performed by the combination of actions between multiple control valves. When a first control valve is opened, a second valve is closed and a fourth valve is closed to the refrigerant pipeline to said reservoir, the refrigerating cycle operation is performed; and when the first control valve is closed, the second valve is opened and the fourth valve is closed to the refrigerant pipeline of an intercooler (128), the discharge gas defrosting operation is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhong Gu, Zhiwei He, Chuanxue Duan
  • Publication number: 20100199695
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a plurality of heat source apparatuses having heat source apparatus side heat exchangers and compressors, one or a plurality of indoor units having flow rate control devices and indoor unit side heat exchangers, at least two main pipes for performing connection-piping between a plurality of heat source apparatuses and one or a plurality of indoor units, a tubular distributor for branching the refrigerant from the main pipe flowing from the inlet to a plurality of outlets to distribute into a plurality of heat source apparatuses, and connection piping for connecting the plurality of heat source apparatuses and distributor respectively. Among a plurality of heat source apparatuses, the distributor is fixedly disposed at a specified position and in a specified direction against one heat source apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Shinozaki, Tomoki Inagaki, Tatsuo Ono
  • Publication number: 20100193155
    Abstract: A liquid circulation heating system includes a heat pump for producing a heated liquid and a heating radiator. The heat pump has a heat pump circuit for circulating a refrigerant to heat a liquid. The refrigerant contains tetrafluoropropene and difluoromethane as main components. According to the liquid circulation heating system having such a configuration, a negative impact on global warming can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo NAKATANI, Yasuhiko ISAYAMA
  • Patent number: 7759532
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and processes of using perfluoropolyether to maintain or improve the oil return, lubrication, cooling capacity, or energy efficiency of a refrigeration, air conditioning or heat transfer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Leck, Thomas Frank Saturno, Gregory A. Bell
  • Publication number: 20100170655
    Abstract: The object of the invention is an air supply unit (1) for recovering heat energy from an air stream (e.g., exhaust air) and transferring the heat energy to another air stream (e.g., supply air). The air supply unit (1) comprises a casing (25), in the casing (25) an exhaust air channel (4) for leading exhaust air (2) through the casing (25) of the air supply unit (1), in the casing (25) a supply air channel (7) for leading supply air (7) through the casing (25) of the air supply unit (1), and in the casing (25) a heat exchanger (10) for transferring heat energy between the exhaust air (2) flowing in the exhaust air channel (4) that leads through the casing (25) and the supply air (3) flowing in the supply air channel (7). In the casing (25), the air supply unit (1) comprises a heat pump (11) having a first heat interchanger (12) having a first interior for refrigerant, and a second heat interchanger (13) having a second interior for refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: ENERVENT OY AB
    Inventors: Petter Kronvall, Tom Palmgren, Jan Soderholm