Heat Conserving Patents (Class 34/513)
  • Patent number: 11820045
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an injection molding method for fabricating a transparent device, and belongs to the technical field of material processing. The method comprises: preparing a nano-microsphere structural polymer material from a long-chain polymer material; obtaining a glass transition temperature and a viscous flow transition temperature of the nano-microsphere structural polymer material; obtaining a processing temperature of the nano-microsphere structural polymer material according to the glass transition temperature and the viscous flow transition temperature; drying the nano-microsphere structural polymer material; plasticizing the dried nano-microsphere structural polymer material according to the processing temperature; filling the plasticized nano-microsphere structural polymer material; cooling the filled nano-microsphere structural polymer material; and demolding the cooled nano-microsphere structural polymer material to form a transparent device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yunming Wang, Huamin Zhou, Yun Zhang, Zhigao Huang, Dequn Li, Dan Chen, Yue Fu
  • Patent number: 8881425
    Abstract: Systems and methods are used for drying wood products in one or more kilns with recovered flue gases. In some embodiments, methods for drying wood products include firing a fuel in the one or more combustion devices, thereby producing a heated fluid and a flue gas. The heated fluid is circulated to provide a primary heat source to the one or more indirect fired kilns. An amount of flue gas is recovered and transferred to provide a secondary heat source to the one or more indirect fired kilns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company
    Inventor: Philip Latos
  • Publication number: 20140259733
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a unidirectional multi-path kiln with two or more chambers and generally parallel flow paths extending through the kiln, on opposite sides, from charge entry portals at a first end of the kiln to charge exit portals at a second end of the kiln. Moist heated air flowing from the second heated chamber is received in the first chamber and circulated around the lumber charges with one or more fans. The lumber charges proceed in the same direction on the flow paths through the heated second chamber, which may be an existing kiln. Charge exit portals at the distal end of the kiln and/or intermediate charge portals between the second chamber and a third chamber may be provided with insulating members configured to reduce airflow from the second chamber through the charge exit portals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: U.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher W. Blomquist
  • Publication number: 20140165420
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vented laundry dryer, comprising an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, a heat recovery system for transferring heat from the air outlet duct to the air inlet duct, and an additional heater, wherein the heat recovery system is a heat pump comprising an evaporator, a liquefier, a condenser, and a relaxation unit, wherein the liquefier is thermally coupled to the air inlet duct, and the evaporator is thermally coupled to the air outlet duct, and a relaxation property of the relaxation unit can be adjusted depending on at least one parameter that is connected to an activity of the additional heater. A method is used to operate a vented heat dryer comprising an additional heater and a heat pump having a relaxation unit, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (a) monitoring at least one parameter that is connected to an activity of the additional heater; and (b) changing a relaxation property of the relaxation unit depending on the at least one parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Höfler, Uwe-Jens Krausch, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20140047732
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) and method for drying polymer powders is described. The apparatus has an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) for the polymer powder, heat registers (5) installed in the interior space (4) and lines (7) for a heated gas (6a) for drying the polymer powder. The lines open into the interior space (4) and are connected to heat exchangers (9) for heating gas (6). The heat exchangers (9) are connected to a plant for the preparation of 1,2-dichloroethane (15) and/or for the preparation of vinyl chloride from 1,2-dichloroethane so that thermal energy from the plant can be utilized for heating the gas (6). The method comprises treatment of a polymer powder with a heated gas (6a) in the drying apparatus (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicants: VINNOLIT GMBH & CO. KG, THYSSENKRUPP UHDE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Benje, Peter Kammerhofer
  • Patent number: 8438751
    Abstract: A dryer is provided having a drying chamber for items to be dried and a process air duct in which are located a heater for heating the process air, a blower for driving the process air from the heater through the drying chamber, and a heat exchanger arrangement. Via the heat exchanger arrangement, heat can be withdrawn from the process air flowing away from the drying chamber, and the process air flowing toward the heater can be fed to the heat exchanger. The process air duct is divided into a main duct and a secondary duct, the secondary duct having an evaporator in which condensate that was separated from the process air in the heat exchanger arrangement can be evaporated into the process air flowing therethrough and is connected to the exhaust opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20120313996
    Abstract: An image forming system, a media drying device usable therewith and a method are disclosed. The image forming system, media drying device and method include application of heat in a form of heated air to liquid ink disposed on media to remove water from the liquid ink in a form of vapor. The image forming system, media drying device and method also include recovery of at least a portion of the heat from the media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventor: Alex Veis
  • Patent number: 8276292
    Abstract: The use of at least one central heat exchanger to extract and dry the heat energy released by laundry machines, in particular their gland steam. The energy thus recovered can be fed back to the laundry machines as hot air or hot water. This represents a significant reduction in the energy requirements of laundry machines as laundry machines discharge a great amount of unused energy into the environment, which, particularly in light of rising energy prices, represents an unnecessary operational cost for a laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Bringewatt, E{umlaut over (n)}gelbert Heinz
  • Publication number: 20120233876
    Abstract: An improvement in a laundry dryer system using recovered waste heat from the hot air exhaust of the dryer to transfer that heat to the incoming ambient fresh air. A home laundry dryer in which both the fresh air entering a laundry drum and the air exhausted from the drum pass through thermal recovery ducting. The dryer heat recovery system has concentric ducting including a high temperature passage through which the exhaust air flows and a separate low temperature passage through which the entering air flows. Heat from the exhausted air is transferred from the high temperature passage to the entering air in the low temperature passage. This heat transfer lowers the energy required to raise the entering air to a desired drying temperature. The dryer ducting is designed to have an outer diameter equivalent to standard size ducting on home dryers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin Weldon, Thomas Weldon
  • Publication number: 20120210597
    Abstract: A heat pump system of a laundry dryer comprises a closed refrigerant circuit (10) and a drying air circuit (12). The refrigerant circuit (10) includes a compressor (14), a condenser (16), an expansion device (18) and a main evaporator (20). The air stream circuit includes the main evaporator (20), the condenser (16), a laundry drum and at least one fan (26). The refrigerant circuit (10) and the air stream circuit are thermally coupled by the condenser (16) and the main evaporator (20). The condenser (18) is a heat exchanger provided for heating up the air stream and cooling down the refrigerant. The main evaporator (20) is a heat exchanger provided for cooling down the air stream and heating up the refrigerant. At least one additional evaporator (22) is arranged in parallel to the main evaporator (20), and is switchably connected to the refrigerant circuit (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventors: Alberto BISON, Francesco CAVARRETTA
  • Patent number: 8151483
    Abstract: A method for progressively dewatering a pipe or pipeline includes the use of a loose-fitting spherical- or quasi-spherical shaped pig body which rolls forward through the interior space of the pipe and temporarily captures and redistributes a portion of the volume of liquids available for capture and redistribution as the pig body rolls on past. Preferably, the portion captured is less than the volume available for capture. A part of the captured liquid may be redistributed to an upper quadrant of the pipe. Capture and redistribution are accomplished by way of a first bypass pathway and a second bypass pathway. One of the pathways may be a through-body pathway. The pig body may be a hollow pig body with a plurality of spaced-apart ports, a solid pig body with a plurality of paddle-like structures, or a cube-sphere type pig body with recessed external wall surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Culver Gidden Cooper, Mark Russell Henault, Robert F. Strong, Eric N. Freeman
  • Patent number: 7941937
    Abstract: A laundry drier control method reads a temperature variation rate per unit time, to enable drying according to the amount and type of an object being dried. The method includes steps of initiating a drying procedure; measuring a temperature variation rate per unit time over the drying procedure; calculating an overall drying time based on the measured temperature variation rate per unit time; and performing the drying procedure for the calculated overall drying time. The drying time determining step is repeated if a substantial increase in the temperature variation rate is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Gi Hyeong Do
  • Patent number: 7874082
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for drying bulk material, especially bark, sawdust, pretreated sludge or a mixture of these. Also provided are a method and apparatus for cooling waste water produced in a pulp or paper production process. Certain embodiments include a pulp mill, paper mill and a novel way of using a wire. Other embodiments provide for cooling in one and the same heat exchanger the waste water produced in a pulp or paper production process while simultaneously heating the gas that cools the waste water. Heated gas extracted from the heat exchanger is conducted through one or several drying conveyers and through the material to be dried that is conveyed on the drying conveyer so as to dry the material with the heated gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: UPM-Kymmene Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Saarela, Juhani Kinnunen
  • Publication number: 20100313442
    Abstract: A method for improving the overall thermal efficiency of a coal power generation plant by transferring heat from a raw synthesis gas stream to solid fuel used as the primary feed to the gasifier, comprising the steps of initially cooling the syngas exhaust by transferring heat to a makeup conveyance gas feed to the dry feed preparation system, feeding a solid fuel component and a portion of the makeup gas stream into a grinding mechanism for the solid feedstock, forming a two-phase solids/gas stream comprising ground feedstock particulates and makeup gas, heating and drying the ground solid feedstock particulates to remove water, separating and removing water vapor formed in the heating and drying step, and feeding the heated and dried solids/gas stream to the gasifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, Judeth Brannon Corry, Geroge Frederick Frey, Sunil Ramabhilakh Mishra, Omprakash Mall
  • Publication number: 20100115786
    Abstract: A method and system for drying a water containing substance, such as manure, into a single dry product, wherein an airflow is conditioned, in order for the airflow to be able to take up moisture, and wherein a substance/airflow interface is provided, in order to allow the air to take up moisture from the substance at the interface to thereby dry the substance, wherein the method comprises the steps of heating the airflow, separating the substance in a relatively solid fraction and a liquid, using the relatively solid fraction to create a first, static substance/airflow interface, using the liquid fraction to create a second, dynamic substance/airflow interface, guiding the airflow to the first substance/airflow interface to dry the relatively solid fraction of the water containing substance, and thereafter guiding the airflow to the second substance/airflow interface to pre-dry the liquid fraction of the water containing substance, mixing the pre-dried liquid fraction with water containing substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: Gÿsbert Docters Van Leeuwen
  • Publication number: 20100050466
    Abstract: A retort apparatus includes a primary rotating pipe within a second rotating pipe within a fixed pipe (27). The interior area of the primary rotating pipe is bounded by a heated pipe. A first annulus is formed between the primary and second rotating pipes. A second annulus is formed between the second rotating pipe and the heated pipe. A third annulus is formed between the primary rotating pipe and the fixed pipe. A heater is positioned within the interior area of said primary rotating pipe. In one embodiment, an inlet gate is provided for introducing a liquid and solid mixture into the first annulus proximate the second end thereof. A first conveyor is provided to move the mixture toward the hot end of the primary rotating pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: James Titmas
  • Publication number: 20090205220
    Abstract: An adapter to a dryer, or a new configuration to a dryer, allows articles, such as clothes, towels, sheets and the like to dry with reduced energy consumption. The adapted configuration draws air from outside the room or structure housing the dryer. The outside air is then used to dry the articles. The outside air can be heated within the dryer using the existing heater prior to entering the drum holding the articles. After the heated air removes moisture from the articles, the moist, hot air is expelled outside the room or structure through an outlet air duct. Thus, air within the room or structure is not used for the drying process and conditions such as temperature and pressure are not changed when the dryer is on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Charles Robert Dewald, III, Thomas L. Cristello
  • Publication number: 20090119943
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vented dryer having a drying chamber for items to be dried, a supply air duct for supply air, in which is situated a heater for heating the supply air and the heated supply air (process air) can be directed by means of a first fan over the items to be dried, an exhaust air duct, a motor for driving the drying chamber, a first heat exchanger in the exhaust air duct and a condensate pan arranged beneath the first heat exchanger, whereby the vented dryer has first means for the discharge of warm air from a housing interior surrounding the motor toward the condensate pan and away across the latter. The invention also relates to a method for the operation of this vented dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Guenter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20080276486
    Abstract: The invention proposes a domestic appliance having a cooling unit which provides an extended range of ways of utilizing the heat provided for the cooling unit as process heat during working operation of the domestic appliance. According to the invention, this is achieved by using a liquid sorbent and/or a liquid sorbent/refrigerant mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Heinz-Dieter Eichholz, Georg Pfitzer, Bernd Geser
  • Publication number: 20080110041
    Abstract: A method for drying moist goods is provided. The method uses a dryer positioned within a building connected to a dual flow duct that includes a fresh air passage and an exhaust air passage. The method includes the steps of supplying drying air to the dryer through the fresh air passage, passing air through the moist goods, and exhausting the air from the building through the exhaust air passage of the dual flow duct. The method may include the steps of transferring heat energy from the exhausted air to the drying air. Also, the flow of supplied air and exhaust air may flow concentrically relative one another or in side-by-side relation. Furthermore, the method may include sensing characteristics of the air and controlling the dryer according to the sensed characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: ROBERTSHAW CONTROLS COMPANY
    Inventor: Gregory Allen Ehlers
  • Patent number: 7197838
    Abstract: A condenser of a condensing-type dryer is provided. In the condensing-type dryer, a hydrophilic film is formed on a heat emission plate by a plasma discharge. In the heat emission plate, an indoor air can be heat exchanged with a circulation air cycling in a drum. A contact angle of a condensed waterdrop formed on the heat emission plate is decreased through the hydrophilic film, thereby making it possible to decrease a flow resistance due to the condensed waterdrop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seong Jin Jo
  • Patent number: 6953516
    Abstract: The energy efficiency of a throughdrying papermaking process is improved by recycling exhaust gas from one or more throughdryers prior to throughdrying to profile the consistency of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Frank Stephen Hada
  • Patent number: 6944969
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and an installation or system for drying fibrous material. The method comprises the step of ventilating very moist air through the fibrous material located in a drying zone. The moisture content of the moist air is less than that inside the drying zone, its pressure is close to atmospheric pressure and its temperature is higher than that of the material to be dried. The method additionally comprises the step of recovering the heat of condensation of the water vapor extracted from the fibrous material to heat the moist air, providing leaks between the outside ambient air and the ventilation circuit upstream and downstream of the drying zone, making possible a mass and heat exchange. It is possible to ensure heat and mass balance without expelling large amounts of moist air into the ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Armines
    Inventors: Denis Clodic, Lionel Palandre
  • Patent number: 6742283
    Abstract: Method for drying wood in a short period of time by maintaining the concentration of a combustion gas contained in a drying room atmosphere for use in drying the wood to a high value and by maintaining the pressure of the drying room atmosphere to a high value. Wood fuels such as waste wood are put into a combustion chamber ins lower area of a combustion gas generating furnace and then the wood fuels are burned, followed by introducing the high-temperature combustion gas generated by the burning of the wood fuels into an upper area of a drying room housing the green wood to thereby dry the wood. Thermal drying of the wood is carried out by maintaining the concentration of the combustion gas present in the drying room atmosphere at a the high value and by maintaining the pressure of the drying room atmosphere at a high value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Technical System Keep Limited Company
    Inventor: Sachio Ishii
  • Patent number: 6551461
    Abstract: The energy efficiency of a throughdrying papermaking process is improved by recycling exhaust air from one or more throughdryers to further heat the web at various places in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Charlcie Christie Kay Leitner, Frank Stephen Hada, Ronald Frederick Gropp, Marek Parszewski
  • Publication number: 20030019601
    Abstract: The energy efficiency of a throughdrying papermaking process is improved by recycling exhaust air from one or more throughdryers to further heat the web at various places in the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Charlcie Christie Kay Leitner, Frank Stephen Hada, Ronald Frederick Gropp, Marek Parszewski
  • Patent number: 6029370
    Abstract: A system and method using landfill gas to dry wet sludge to inexpensively produce fertilizer or dry waste for disposal, while acting to conserve natural gas resources. The system and method are expected to provide dry sludge as an end product at approximately one-fifth of the cost of conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: Steve Cromeens
  • Patent number: 5666739
    Abstract: The electric clothes dryer is a valuable convenience appliance in our life style. For half of a century its usefulness has been enjoyed through the availability of inexpensive electric energy. But, it is a wasteful energy device. Not much has been done to correct this shortcoming. I feel there is a great need to approach energy conservation with an open mind to alternatives which may be easily available to us. I have invented a unique and novel approach to using heated air which is conveniently available in a large percentage of our homes. The source, for this application, has never been tapped. In the U.S. and Canada as needed by climate conditions, we use a range of central air heating and cooling systems. My invention makes possible a transfer of heat from these systems to operate electric clothes dryers with a majority situation of no heat energy cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Waldemar Krueger
  • Patent number: 5555645
    Abstract: A domestic clothes dryer is operated in both a forward and a reverse direction. The dryer blower has a reduced air flow rate in the reverse direction. The reduced air flow in the reverse direction and the reverse tumbling increases the heat transferred to the articles being dried, thereby improving dryer performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan F. Joslin
  • Patent number: 5519948
    Abstract: A process for the production of pourable, free-flowing granules which are suitable for use as wetting agents, detergents or cleaning products from aqueous solutions or suspensions of such materials in a fluidized-bed spray granulation apparatus employing a hot fluidizing gas. The aqueous selections or suspensions are dried with superheated steam as the fluidizing and drying gas wherein the drying step is carried out in a closed-loop system comprising a steam circuit from which the water evaporated from the aqueous solutions or suspensions of starting materials is removed as a partial stream and the thermal energy released is returned to the steam circuit. The granules are discharged from the granulation apparatus before they can be damaged by heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Henkel Corporation
    Inventors: Wilfried Raehse, Johann Fues, Wilhelm Beck, Otto Koch