Transferring Heat Between Diverse Function Portions Of Refrigeration Cycle Patents (Class 62/113)
  • Publication number: 20140298824
    Abstract: An aircraft cooling system including a cooler having a cold transfer circuit, in which a cold transfer medium circulates. The cooler supplies cooling energy to an aircraft device to be cooled. The aircraft cooling system further includes a heat transfer arrangement having a heat transfer circuit, in which a heat transfer medium circulates and which is thermally coupled to the cold transfer circuit of the cooler via a heat exchanger, in order to absorb waste heat generated by the cooler and transfer it to a cabin air extraction system. The heat transfer arrangement further includes at least one heat pump which brings about an increase of the heat energy transfer from the cold transfer medium circulating in the cold transfer circuit of the cooler to the heat transfer medium circulating in the heat transfer circuit, at least in certain operating phases of the aircraft cooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Truemper, Matthias Reiss
  • Publication number: 20140260248
    Abstract: A cooling system and process in an OTEC system are described where the sub-cooled working liquid from the working fluid pump outlet is used to cool the working fluid pump motor, either directly or indirectly via heat exchange with a secondary fluid. The heat from the motor that is being rejected into the working fluid just prior to the working fluid flowing to the evaporator helps to alleviate heat duty in the evaporator meaning more potential for the evaporator to create energy. Also, because two-phase evaporators, such as those in an OTEC system, are less efficient than single-phase heat exchangers at single-phase heating, this pre-heating of the working fluid will help the evaporator performance substantially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LOCHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eugene C. JANSEN, Benjamin S. BALBIR
  • Patent number: 8833096
    Abstract: A heat exchange assembly and apparatus and method employing the heat exchange assembly are provided. The heat exchange assembly includes a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and a heater. The heat exchanger includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet for passing a coolant through the heat exchanger, and a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet for separately passing a refrigerant through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger cools coolant passing through the heat exchanger by dissipating heat from coolant passing through the heat exchanger to refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger. The heater is integrated with the heat exchanger and applies an auxiliary heat load to refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger to facilitate ensuring that refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger absorbs at least a specified minimum heat load, for example, to ensure that refrigerant egressing from the refrigerant outlet of the heat exchanger is superheated vapor refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8720216
    Abstract: The hybrid aqua-ammonia and lithium bromide-water absorption chiller is an aqua-ammonia absorption refrigeration system integrated with a lithium bromide-water absorption refrigeration system. By integrating a solar-powered lithium bromide-water absorption refrigeration system into the aqua-ammonia absorption refrigeration system, evaporator temperatures below the freezing point of water may be generated at lower operating pressures and lower generator temperatures than in conventional aqua-ammonia absorption refrigeration systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Syed A. M. Said, Maged A. I. El-Shaarawi, Muhammad Umar Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 8713950
    Abstract: In a method of the application, cooling energy is produced by a refrigerating device. The cooling energy produced by the refrigerating device is supplied to at least one cooling station by a cooling circuit, circulating in which is a refrigerant, which upon release of its cooling energy to the at least one cooling station is converted from the liquid to the gaseous state and is then converted back to the liquid state by corresponding pressure- and temperature control in the cooling circuit. Upon transfer of the cooling system to its state of rest, a control value disposed in the cooling circuit is controlled in such a way that a desired operating pressure (??) arises in the cooling circuit downstream of the control valve. Refrigerant cooled by the refrigerating device is received in a reservoir disposed upstream of the control valve in the cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Roering
  • Publication number: 20130312441
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of tubes, each having an inlet end and an outlet end. An inlet header is configured to receive a cooling fluid and to distribute the cooling fluid to the inlet ends of the plurality of tubes. An outlet header includes an outer shell and defines an outlet chamber. The outlet chamber is configured to receive cooling fluid discharged from the outlet ends of the plurality of tube. A supply conduit supplies the cooling fluid to the inlet header. The supply conduit includes a conduit portion extending through the outlet header.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventor: Steve L. Fritz
  • Patent number: 8590327
    Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus for keeping an inside of a storage at a predetermined low-temperature state includes first and second refrigerant circuits including compressors, condensers, decompressors, and evaporators, connected circularly with pipings to form refrigerating cycles, the circuit having a first or second refrigerant sealed therein as a working refrigerant, a first sensor which detects a temperature of a cascade condenser constituted by integrating the evaporator of the first refrigerant circuit and the condenser of the second refrigerant circuit in a heat exchangeable manner, first and second controllers which control operation performances of the first and second compressors in a variable manner based on first and second sensor detected temperatures in order that the first and second sensor detected temperatures are first and second temperatures, respectively, and a second sensor which detects a temperature inside the storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuzo Tobe, Tetsuo Sakurai, Ryuichi Tsuruma
  • Patent number: 8584484
    Abstract: An aircraft cooling system evaporator arrangement has at least two mutually independent coolant circuits, at least two evaporation devices arranged to be hydraulically parallel for enabling an exchange of heat between the coolant and a refrigerant, at least two supply lines for supplying refrigerant to the evaporation devices, and at least two discharge lines for discharging refrigerant from the evaporation devices. A different one of the evaporation devices, a different one of the supply lines and a different one of the discharge lines are assigned to each of the coolant circuits, and the supply lines are hydraulically separate from each other as are the discharge lines. At least one refrigerant sensor monitors a refrigerant state of each of the discharge lines and an expansion valve is driven in accordance with the refrigerant sensors to control streams of refrigerant through the supply lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ebigt, Wilson Willy Casas Noriega
  • Patent number: 8584485
    Abstract: An aircraft cooling system evaporator arrangement has an evaporation device including four evaporators that are hydraulically separate from each other with respect to coolant flow. Refrigerant flows from a feed line into first and second evaporators, from the first evaporator into and through a third evaporator, and from the second evaporator into and through a fourth evaporator. The first and third evaporators define a first pair of evaporators arranged parallel to a second pair of evaporators defined by the second and fourth evaporators. First and second coolant supply lines of a first coolant circuit supply coolant to one of the evaporators in each of the first and second pair of evaporators respectively, and first and second coolant supply lines of a second, independent coolant circuit supply coolant to the other of the evaporators in each of the first and second pair of evaporators respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ebigt, Wilson Willy Casas Noriega
  • Patent number: 8555642
    Abstract: A method of utilizing waste heat to create a pressurized working fluid is disclosed. The method includes providing a vessel containing a sorbent system, introducing a feed of waste heat to a heat exchanger external to the vessel to heat a feed of working fluid, introducing the heated working fluid from the heat exchanger to the vessel to obtain pressurized working fluid, and directing the pressurized working fluid from the vessel to a work component. The method is particularly suited to make use of waste heat an industrial process, (e.g., a chemical processing or petrochemical refining operation) in which low grade heat source(s) are used to drive the sorption system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Bhupender S. Minhas, Sufang Zhao, Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Tahmid I. Mizan
  • Patent number: 8549868
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus (50) includes: a main refrigerant circuit (21) having a compressor (1), a radiator (2), a first expansion mechanism (5), a second expansion mechanism (6), and an evaporator (4); an injection passage (22) for supplying an intermediate-pressure refrigerant to an injection port 1c of the compressor 1; and a water circuit (30) through which water to be heated in the radiator (2) flows. The refrigeration cycle apparatus (50) includes a sub heat exchanger (3) for cooling the water in the water circuit (30) by exchanging heat between the refrigerant in the injection passage (22) and the water to be heated in the radiator (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kou Komori, Yuichi Yakumaru, Tomoichiro Tamura, Masaya Honma, Hiroki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8528359
    Abstract: A refrigerant vapor compression system includes a compression device, a heat rejecting heat exchanger, an economizer heat exchanger, an expander and an evaporator disposed in a refrigerant circuit. An evaporator bypass line is provided for passing a portion of the refrigerant flow from the main refrigerant circuit after having traversed a first pass of the economizer heat exchanger through the expander to partially expand it to an intermediate pressure and thence through a second pass of the economizer heat exchanger and into an intermediate pressure stage of the compression device. An economizer bypass line is also provided for passing a portion of the refrigerant from the main refrigerant circuit after having traversed the heat rejecting heat exchanger through a restrictor type expansion device and thence into the evaporator bypass line as liquid refrigerant or a mix of liquid and vapor refrigerant for injection into an intermediate pressure stage of the compression device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
  • Patent number: 8528348
    Abstract: An aircraft cooling system for cooling heat loads on board an aircraft includes a cold producing device, a first cold carrier fluid circuit thermally coupled to the cold producing device and connected to a first heat load in order to carry off heat from the first heat load, a second cold carrier fluid circuit connected to a second heat load in order to carry off heat from the second heat load, a heat exchanger disposed in the second cold carrier fluid circuit and configured to thermally couple the second cold carrier fluid circuit to an ambient temperature surrounding the aircraft, and a coupling system configured to selectively thermally couple the first cold carrier fluid circuit to the second cold carrier fluid circuit or thermally uncouple it from the second cold carrier fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ebigt, Wilson Willy Casas Noriega, Andreas Frey, Dirk Kastell
  • Patent number: 8522564
    Abstract: A temperature control system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a receiver, and an accumulator. A valve is positioned between the evaporator and the receiver. An evacuation line has a first end in fluid communication with heat transfer fluid between the valve and the receiver, and a second end in fluid communication with the accumulator. The evacuation line provides for flow of the heat transfer fluid from both of the first heat exchanger and the receiver to the accumulator during an evacuation mode of operation of the temperature control system. The valve can take the form of a check valve or an expansion valve without a bleed port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Srinivasa Rao Koppineedi, Vladimir Sulc, William L. Waldschmidt, Joe A. Wermager
  • Patent number: 8516838
    Abstract: An improved refrigeration system may include a first refrigeration loop or one to multiple units of split chillers providing cooling for HVAC, dehumidification, medium temperature load cases and further condensing the refrigerant utilizing a heat exchanger for the cascadable low temperature units. The system may be scalable and the distributive design utilizes chillers to replace the traditional rack system. The first refrigeration loop may incorporate an integral or remote pump(s) which provides coolant through conduits to the medium temperature cases, HVAC and low temperature heat exchangers. The system may further include a combined direct expansion condenser and free cooler system incorporating a partial, pre-chiller through the combination direct expansion, water, fluid (secondary) coolant condenser. This may allow for the water or fluids systems to be cooled by the ambient temperature and fans reducing the compressor run time or even allowing the compressors to turn off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Anthony Papagna
  • Patent number: 8468830
    Abstract: A heating and cooling system for inlet air of a turbine compressor. The heating and cooling system may include a fluid coil positioned about the turbine compressor and a thermal energy storage tank. The fluid coil and the thermal energy storage tank are in fluid communication such that fluid is both provided to the fluid coil from the thermal energy storage tank for exchanging heat with the inlet air and returned to the thermal energy storage tank without further heat exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abbas Motakef, Peter Feher
  • Patent number: 8459049
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for refrigerant flow control are disclosed. One exemplary method relates to a method of controlling a flow of a refrigerant in an appliance comprising a refrigerant flow controller and a refrigerant flow valve, wherein the refrigerant flow controller is configured to direct the refrigerant flow valve to one of a substantially fully opened position and a substantially fully closed position. The method comprises directing the refrigerant flow valve, via the refrigerant flow controller, to at least one transition position between the substantially fully opened position and the substantially fully closed position, and operating the appliance with the refrigerant flow valve at the at least one transition position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jianwu Li
  • Patent number: 8365551
    Abstract: A vacuum insulator for portions of the refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator appliance is provided. The vacuum insulator can be applied to the suction line leading to the refrigerant compressor, the capillary tube leading to the evaporator inlet, and/or the capillary tube—suction line heat exchanger. An outer insulating layer is used to create a vacuum that serves to insulate the intended portion of the refrigeration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Joseph Hanley, Martin Christopher Severance, Karthick Srinivasan, John Alexander Gardner
  • Publication number: 20120312036
    Abstract: A temperature control system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a receiver, and an accumulator. A valve is positioned between the evaporator and the receiver. An evacuation line has a first end in fluid communication with heat transfer fluid between the valve and the receiver, and a second end in fluid communication with the accumulator. The evacuation line provides for flow of the heat transfer fluid from both of the first heat exchanger and the receiver to the accumulator during an evacuation mode of operation of the temperature control system. The valve can take the form of a check valve or an expansion valve without a bleed port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Srinivasa Rao Koppineedi, Vladimir Sulc, William L. Waldschmidt, Joe A. Wermager
  • Patent number: 8316657
    Abstract: A refrigerant system is configured to alternatingly run in an economized mode and a standard mode. A control system shifts the refrigerant system between the economized mode and standard mode responsive to a determined efficiency reflecting a combination of at least two of: compressor isentropic efficiency; condenser efficiency; evaporator efficiency; efficiency of hardware mechanically powering the compressor; and a mode-associated cycling efficiency. In a bypass mode, a bypass refrigerant flow from an intermediate port may return to the suction port. Shifting into the bypass mode may be similarly controlled based upon the determined efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Alexander Lifson
  • Publication number: 20120291468
    Abstract: It is intended to realize an air conditioning system of high operational efficiency without reducing the user's comfort. In an air conditioning system 1, a set temperature determining device 31 determines a target temperature of water to be supplied to an indoor heat exchanger 12, based on [“target outflow temperature”=“current outflow temperature”+((“inlet and outlet temperature difference”/“indoor and outdoor temperature difference”)דset temperature difference”)]. The indoor and outdoor temperature difference is a difference between an indoor temperature and an outdoor temperature, the inlet and outlet temperature difference is a difference between temperatures of water at the inlet side and the outlet side of an intermediate heat exchanger 9, and the set temperature difference is a difference between an indoor temperature and a set temperature. A control device 32 controls an outdoor unit 2 in response to the target temperature determined by the set temperature determining device 31.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei Kato, Takashi Okazaki, So Momoto, Koji Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 8261565
    Abstract: A cooling system for transferring heat from a heat load to an environment has a volatile working fluid. The cooling system includes first and second cooling cycles that are thermally connected to the first cooling cycle. The first cooling cycle is not a vapor compression cycle and includes a pump, an air-to-fluid heat exchanger, and a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger. The second cooling cycle can include a chilled water system for transferring heat from the fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger to the environment. Alternatively, the second cooling cycle can include a vapor compression system for transferring heat from the fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A Borror, Franklin E DiPaolo, Thomas E Harvey, Steven M Madara, Reasey J Mam, Stephen C Sillato
  • Publication number: 20120125023
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a chiller with an integrated free cooling system and refrigeration system. In certain embodiments, the chiller may be a single package unit with all equipment housed within the same support frame. The chiller may generally include three modes of operation: a first mode that employs free cooling, a second mode that employs free cooling and implements a refrigeration cycle, and a third mode that uses the free cooling system provide additional cooling capacity for the refrigeration system. The free cooling system includes an independent loop configured to transfer heat from a cooling fluid circulating within the free cooling system to the ambient air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: William L. Kopko, Mustafa K. Yanik
  • Publication number: 20120125022
    Abstract: A cooling system for a heat source includes a heat source loop, a refrigerant loop, and a controller. The heat source loop provides a closed fluid path for a process fluid and fluidly connects a valve, a bypass leg and/or a heat exchange leg having a heat exchanger, and a pump. The process fluid is disposed within a portion of the loop and is subject to heat transfer from the heat source. The valve is disposed downstream of the heat source portion of the loop, wherein the valve is selectively operable to direct process fluid to the bypass leg and/or the heat exchanger leg. The refrigerant loop provides a closed fluid path for a fluid refrigerant and fluidly connects the heat exchanger, a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant condenser, and a refrigerant regulator. The controller is in communication with the valve and is adapted to control the valve to regulate an amount of process fluid entering the bypass leg and the heat exchanger leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel M. Maybury, Alan S. Drucker, XuQiang Liao, Belin G. Czechowicz, Gavin R. Blight, Andreas Hille, Timothy R. Campbell
  • Patent number: 8181470
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for a refrigerant-based thermal energy storage and cooling system with multiple condensing units utilizing a common evaporator coil. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based ice storage system with increased reliability, lower cost components, and reduced power consumption and ease of installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Ice Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy, Brian Parsonnet, Donald Thomas Cook
  • Publication number: 20120111035
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for cooling an electronic component. The apparatus includes a coolant-cooled structure in thermal communication with the component(s) to be cooled, and a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger coupled in fluid communication with the coolant-cooled structure via a coolant loop to receive coolant from and supply coolant to the coolant-cooled structure. The apparatus further includes a refrigerant loop coupled in fluid communication with the coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger cools coolant passing therethrough by dissipating heat from the coolant in the coolant loop to refrigerant in the refrigerant loop. A controllable coolant heater is associated with the coolant loop for providing an adjustable heat load on the coolant in the coolant loop to ensure at least a minimum heat load is dissipated from the coolant to the refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. CAMPBELL, Richard C. CHU, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Robert E. SIMONS
  • Publication number: 20120111034
    Abstract: A heat exchange assembly and apparatus and method employing the heat exchange assembly are provided. The heat exchange assembly includes a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and a heater. The heat exchanger includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet for passing a coolant through the heat exchanger, and a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet for separately passing a refrigerant through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger cools coolant passing through the heat exchanger by dissipating heat from coolant passing through the heat exchanger to refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger. The heater is integrated with the heat exchanger and applies an auxiliary heat load to refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger to facilitate ensuring that refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger absorbs at least a specified minimum heat load, for example, to ensure that refrigerant egressing from the refrigerant outlet of the heat exchanger is superheated vapor refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. CAMPBELL, Richard C. CHU, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Robert E. SIMONS
  • Patent number: 8173897
    Abstract: A superconducting cable line includes a heat insulation pipe for a fluid for transporting liquid hydrogen, a superconducting cable housed in the heat insulation pipe for a fluid, and heat exchange means for performing a heat exchange between liquid hydrogen and a refrigerant of the cable. The superconducting cable includes a cable core inside a heat insulation pipe for a cable and is housed in the heat insulation pipe for a fluid to form a low temperature environment around the cable and a double heat insulation structure including the heat insulation pipe. Therefore, since heat intrusion into the superconducting cable is reduced and the refrigerant is cooled with liquid hydrogen, the line can reduce energy for cooling the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirose, Yuichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120102989
    Abstract: A refrigeration system may be provided with a space-saving suction-line heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be incorporated into a receiver. As heated liquid refrigerant enters and flows through the receiver, it may transfer heat into the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be connected to a suction line of the system so that refrigerant vapor and an oil-refrigerant mixture may be heated as it passes from an evaporator and into an inlet of a compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: RICKY GOV, RANJIT DARKE, PETER ZHENG
  • Publication number: 20120096879
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel tank ventilation system, comprising a refrigerative dehumidifying device having a refrigerating element in contact with air flowing between a vent open to the atmosphere and a fuel tank. Also, a method of dehumidifying air introduced into an aircraft fuel tank via the ventilation system, the method comprising directing atmospheric air from the vent into contact with the refrigerating element, and cooling the refrigerating element so as to remove water vapour from the air flowing from the vent towards the fuel tank by condensation. An aircraft fuel tank ventilation system, comprising a refrigerative dehumidifying device having a refrigerating element in contact with air flowing between a vent open to the atmosphere and a fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Joseph K-W Lam, Franklin Tichborne, Simon Masters, David Parmenter
  • Patent number: 8146375
    Abstract: A hydrocooler system for cooling produce. The hydrocooler system comprises a hydrocooler tank configured to contain a fluid used to saturate and cool the produce, and a thermal storage device positioned in the hydrocooler tank and configured to receive a refrigerant. The thermal storage device is configured to generate a thermal storage medium from the fluid on the thermal storage device in response to the flow of refrigerant through the thermal storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Mohs, B. Wayne Benson, Vidhey V. Trivedi
  • Patent number: 8141381
    Abstract: The vapor compression refrigerating apparatus of the invention comprises a compressor 2, a condenser 4, a regeneration heat exchanger 6, an expansion means 8, and an evaporator 10 connected in series. The vapor compression refrigerating cycle is based on a cycle corresponding to a reversed Ericsson cycle in which isothermal heat dissipation process and isothermal heat absorption process occur overstriding a saturated vapor line and saturated liquid line respectively and heat exchange is carried out between isobaric heat dissipation process in a liquid zone and isobaric heat absorption process in a superheated vapor zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobumi Ino, Takayuki Kishi
  • Publication number: 20120047924
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for refrigerant flow control are disclosed. One exemplary method relates to a method of controlling a flow of a refrigerant in an appliance comprising a refrigerant flow controller and a refrigerant flow valve, wherein the refrigerant flow controller is configured to direct the refrigerant flow valve to one of a substantially fully opened position and a substantially fully closed position. The method comprises directing the refrigerant flow valve, via the refrigerant flow controller, to at least one transition position between the substantially fully opened position and the substantially fully closed position, and operating the appliance with the refrigerant flow valve at the at least one transition position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Jianwu Li
  • 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: 20110308261
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a pressure-reducing element or splitting volume flows in a sorption machine, wherein a single volume flow from a recooling device is split into at least two volume flows. A first volume flow flows through at least one tube of a first tube section into a condenser and a second volume flow through at least one tube of a second tube section into an absorber, at least one of the two tube sections leading away from the recooling device or at least one of the two tube sections leading back to the recooling device comprising at least one pressure-reducing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: INVENSOR GMBH
    Inventors: Niels Braunschweig, Soeren Paulussen
  • Patent number: 8079229
    Abstract: An economized refrigerant vapor compression system (10) for water heating includes a refrigerant compression device (20), a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger (30), an economizer heat exchanger (60), an evaporator (40) and a refrigerant circuit (70) providing a first flow path (OA, 70B, 70C, 70D) connecting the compression device (20), the refrigerant-to-liquid heat exchanger (30), the economizer heat exchanger (60) and the evaporator (40) in refrigerant circulation flow communication and a second flow path (70E) connecting the first flow path (62) through the economizer heat exchanger (60) to the compression device (20). The economizer heat exchanger (60) has a first pass (62) for receiving a first portion of the refrigerant having traversed the refrigerant-to-liquid heat exchanger and a second pass (64) for receiving a second portion of the refrigerant having traversed the refrigerant-to-liquid heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
  • Publication number: 20110265502
    Abstract: As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a high-efficiency heat pump that includes a frame, as well as a first circuit, a first compressor, a condenser heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve, an evaporator heat exchanger, and a controller. The first circuit, the first compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the first electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger can be supported by the frame. The first compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the first electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger can be connected to the first circuit. The controller can be in electronic communication with the first electronic expansion valve, and the controller can be configured to control operation of the first electronic expansion valve and/or the second electronic expansion valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: TRAK INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey H. Maxwell
  • Publication number: 20110265501
    Abstract: A system of energy recovery from low temperature sources of heat, comprising components of Organic Renkine Cycle (ORC) including a turbine from which an ORC vapor is withdrawn, a condenser in which the ORC vapor withdrawn from the turbine condenses into an ORC condensate, a pump which circulates the ORC working medium, a heat exchanger which is supplied with a heat carrier from a lower temperature heat source and in which the ORC working liquid, and an ARC Condenser in which the ORC working liquid is heated or evaporates to produce ORC working vapor which is supplied to the turbine; components of an absorption refrigeration cycle (ARC) including an absorption refrigeration machine which receives heat and vaporizes a liquid refrigerant of the ARC to produce an ARC refrigerant vapor which is supplied to the ARC condenser to heat the ORC working liquid; and an additional component increasing a temperature difference between the ORC condensate and the heat carrier from the low temperature heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Ari Nir
  • Patent number: 8020389
    Abstract: Climatic test chamber (10) for carrying out a sequence of specified test cycles and cooled by means of at least a refrigerating circuit (100, 200, 410) including a variable-speed compressor (120, 210, 410). During the steps of the test cycles in which said chamber (10) is held at a minimum set temperature, the compressor (120, 210, 410) operates at the minimum rotating speed thereof and the refrigeration capacity is used to cool a cold storage medium. The cold stored by the cold storage medium is then recovered to subcool the refrigerant medium during the cooling-down steps in which the compressor (120, 210, 410) operates at the maximum rotating speed thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Angelantoni Industrie SpA
    Inventor: Maurizio Ascani
  • Publication number: 20110219770
    Abstract: A method of utilizing waste heat to create a pressurized working fluid is disclosed. The method includes providing a vessel containing a sorbent system, introducing a feed of waste heat to a heat exchanger external to the vessel to heat a feed of working fluid, introducing the heated working fluid from the heat exchanger to the vessel to obtain pressurized working fluid, and directing the pressurized working fluid from the vessel to a work component. The method is particularly suited to make use of waste heat an industrial process, (e.g., a chemical processing or petrochemical refining operation) in which low grade heat source(s) are used to drive the sorption system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Bhupender S. MINHAS, Sufang ZHAO, Mohsen S. YEGANEH, Tahmid I. MIZAN
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7997091
    Abstract: A refrigerant cycle is provided with an economizer circuit. The amount of refrigerant passing through the economizer circuit can be gradually modulated by an expansion device whose position can be easily adjusted from fully open to fully closed or disengaged. In the past, economizer circuits have either been fully engaged or fully disengaged. Modulation of economizer flow allows for variable capacity operation. This improves unit operating efficiency, minimizes unit cycling and prevents compressor overloading at extreme of operating conditions. It also allows for head pressure and discharge temperature control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras, Thomas J. Dobmeier
  • Publication number: 20110146308
    Abstract: Techniques are generally described for devices for cooling using electrocaloric material as refrigerant and methods for cooling using electrocaloric material. An example cooling system may comprise a refrigerant unit having an electrocaloric membrane disposed between a heat sink and a cooling load. The electrocaloric membrane may alternate between thermal contact with the heat sink and cooling load. The electrocaloric membrane may also be subjected to alternating electric fields for polarizing and depolarizing the electrocaloric membrane in a manner that promotes heat transfer from the cooling load to the heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventor: Vincenzo Casasanta
  • Publication number: 20110138824
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for carrying out a heat transfer between alternately working adsorbers (Ad1, Ad2) in an adsorption refrigeration installation comprising an external cooling circuit (Kw) and an external heating circuit (Hw). The method is characterized by a closed heat transfer circuit, connected between the first and the second adsorber, comprising a heat transfer medium (Wm) circulating therein, a heat transfer with the external cooling circuit (Kw) being carried out in the heat transfer circuit via a first heat contact and a heat transfer with the external heating circuit (Hw) being carried out via a second heat contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: SORTECH AG
    Inventor: Walter Mittelbach
  • Publication number: 20110120158
    Abstract: A refrigerating system including an air conditioning system and a cooler system is provided. An air conditioner-side refrigerant passage may be connected to a cooler-side refrigerant passage to allow refrigerant to flow between the air conditioning system and the cooler system. Thus, if a cooler-side compressor experiences abnormal operation, cooler-side refrigerant may be compressed by an air conditioner-side compressor so as to maintain cooling performance of the refrigerating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Jae Heuk CHOI, Yoon Ho Yoo, Do Yong Ha, Baik Young Chung
  • Publication number: 20110088419
    Abstract: A supersonic cooling system operates by pumping liquid. Because the supersonic cooling system pumps liquid, the compression system does not require the use of a condenser. The compression system utilizes a compression wave. An evaporator of the compression system operates in the critical flow regime where the pressure in an evaporator tube will remain almost constant and then ‘jump’ or ‘shock up’ to the ambient pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Jayden Harman, Thomas Gielda
  • Publication number: 20110079031
    Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle comprises a compressor for compressing refrigerant, the compressor being adapted to be driven by a power source installed in the vehicle, a condenser for receiving compressed refrigerant from the compressor, an expansion device for expanding refrigerant from the condenser, and a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger for receiving refrigerant from the expansion device and exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a liquid. The liquid may comprise a coolant, and a pump may be provided for pumping the coolant through the heat exchanger to a point of use such as a cooling garment to cool personnel on board the vehicle. Alternatively, the liquid may be a drinkable liquid which is pumped through the heat exchanger to a suitable dispensing system to provide an on-board supply of cool drinking liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: Allen-Vanguard Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Reddin, Glen Gallant
  • Publication number: 20110079030
    Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle comprises a compressor for compressing refrigerant, the compressor being adapted to be driven by a power source installed in the vehicle, a condenser for receiving compressed refrigerant from the compressor, an expansion device for expanding refrigerant from the condenser, and a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger for receiving refrigerant from the expansion device and exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a liquid. The liquid may comprise a coolant, and a pump may be provided for pumping the coolant through the heat exchanger to a point of use such as a cooling garment to cool personnel on board the vehicle. Alternatively, the liquid may be a drinkable liquid which is pumped through the heat exchanger to a suitable dispensing system to provide an on-board supply of cool drinking liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: ALLEN-VANGUARD TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Reddin, Glen Gallant
  • Publication number: 20110079025
    Abstract: A thermal storage device for generating a thermal storage medium from a fluid and including a storage tank for containing the fluid, a refrigeration system having a heat exchanger positioned in the storage tank, a pump for pumping the fluid through the storage tank, a storage medium detection device, and a controller. The storage medium detection device generates a signal corresponding to at least one parameter of the pump. The controller controls the refrigeration system in one of a first mode and a second mode based on the signal. The at least one heat exchanger removes heat from the fluid to generate the thermal storage medium thereon when the refrigeration system operates in the first mode, and the at least one heat exchanger does not remove heat from the fluid thereby terminating generation of the thermal storage medium when the refrigeration system operates in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: William F. Mohs, Bernard Wayne Benson
  • Publication number: 20110079032
    Abstract: A heat pump refrigerant system has a compressor for delivering a compressed refrigerant to a reversing refrigerant flow control device. The reversing refrigerant flow control device selectively delivers refrigerant to an outdoor heat exchanger in a cooling mode of operation, and to an indoor heat exchanger in a heating mode of operation. Refrigerant from an outdoor heat exchanger passes through an expansion device to an indoor heat exchanger in a cooling mode, and from the indoor heat exchanger through an expansion device and to the outdoor heat exchanger in a heating mode. A reheat circuit includes a reheat heat exchanger positioned to be in the path of air delivered over the indoor heat exchanger and into an environment to be conditioned. The reheat heat exchanger and outdoor heat exchanger both are provided by microchannel heat exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Alexander Lifson