Pumping Fluid In Closed Circuit Patents (Class 62/118)
  • Patent number: 11821667
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a heat receiver that evaporates a low pressure heat transfer medium. The apparatus includes a compressor that compresses the evaporated heat transfer medium in a gas phase state, and a condenser that condenses the compressed heat transfer medium. The apparatus includes a receiver tank that receives and stores at least one of the heat transfer medium from any place in a flow path of the medium in the gas phase state that returns the medium to the heat receiver and the condensed medium in a liquid phase state. The apparatus includes an air storage tank that air separated from the heat transfer medium. The apparatus includes a liquid level controller that controls a liquid level in the receiver tank such that the heat transfer medium is stored in the receiver tank at a predetermined liquid level height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Miyamoto, Minoru Yoshikawa, Masaki Chiba
  • Patent number: 11685233
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for temperature regulation of a charging system. An indication is received that the battery system will need to be heated or cooled at a future point in time. A fluid that has been heated or cooled during operation of the vehicle is stored in a storage tank to enable the heating or cooling, respectively the battery system. The flow of the fluid from the storage tank to the battery system is controlled at the future point in time to heat or cool the battery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Charlie Yang
  • Patent number: 11640190
    Abstract: An information handling system includes two or more heat-generating devices and a liquid-assisted air cooling (LAAC) assembly to cool at least some of the devices. The LAAC assembly includes a radiator, first and second pumps connected in series with the radiator. The LAAC assembly further includes first and second cold plates enclosing first and second CPUs or another suitable heat generating device. The first and second cold plates are connected in parallel between an inlet of the first pump and an outlet of the second pump. In this configuration, the serial connected pumps in combination with the parallel connected cold plates provide 1+1 pump redundancy while delivering cold coolant from the radiator outlet to both heat generating devices such that neither heat cold plate receives pre-heated coolant from the other cold plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Weidong Zuo, Gemma Hui Chen, Xiaoliang Zhou, Mingming Zhang, Jie Yang
  • Patent number: 11581243
    Abstract: There is described a spray chamber for cooling a computer processor on a circuit board. The spray chamber comprises: a wall assembly for sealable mounting on an exposed cooling surface of the computer processor defining an enclosure having a top opening and a bottom opening which opens on the top surface of the computer processor; and a lid for covering the top opening of the wall assembly in a sealable manner, the lid having a nozzle which sprays coolant that impinges on the exposed cooling surface of the computer processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: HYPERTECHNOLOGIE CIARA INC.
    Inventors: Michael Hinton, Laurent Mydlarski
  • Patent number: 11541777
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle thermal management apparatus, may include a component state unit of collecting a state of a vehicle component, a disturbance collection unit of collecting a state of a disturbance affecting thermal management of the vehicle component, a determination unit of calculating an amount of heat exchange between the vehicle component and a thermal management apparatus, which is required in the future, based on a past state value of the vehicle component collected through the component state unit and a past state value of the disturbance collected through the disturbance collection unit, and an operation unit of controlling operation of the thermal management apparatus based on the amount of heat exchange determined by the calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Woong Kim, So La Chung, Man Ju Oh, Sang Shin Lee
  • Patent number: 11482741
    Abstract: An energy-storage arrangement for, e.g., an electric or hybrid vehicle includes an energy-storage device including energy-storage cells arranged in a housing. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet for a temperature-control fluid, that may provide for direct temperature control of the energy-storage cells in the housing. The energy-storage arrangement further includes a temperature-control-fluid circuit, in which the housing, a pump for conveying the temperature-control fluid, and a heat-transfer device are arranged. A water-separator for separating or discharging water from the temperature-control fluid may be provided in the temperature-control-fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Jauss, Daniel Rothmaier
  • Patent number: 11035584
    Abstract: An efficient air conditioning system absorbs heat via a fluid, such as a refrigerant, from one place in the cycle and rejects the heat from the fluid in another place in the cycle. A receiver or storage tank is arranged between the condenser and the first heat exchanger to ensure a constant and steady flow of fluid to the heat exchanger. A dual heat exchanger system and additional expansion valve provide sub-cooling of the liquid refrigerant exiting the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas A. Peronne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10801750
    Abstract: Despite otherwise uncomfortable conditions in a surrounding environment, a customizable microenvironment can be created around a user to maintain a comfortable temperature and/or humidity level using a comfort unit. For example, the environment may be an office building where conditions are out of the comfortable range to save on energy or for other reasons, a factory/shop environment that is poorly conditioned, or an outdoor location with little to no conditioning. A sensing unit can monitor biometric and environmental data and can determine a comfort level of the user. The comfort unit can then dynamically respond to the determined comfort level and adjust the microenvironment to improve the user's comfort level. The comfort unit can follow the user as the user moves within the macro-environment, or can otherwise move within the macro-environment to achieve certain functions, such as recharging or spatial shifting of thermal load within the overall macro-environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: University of Maryland, College Park
    Inventors: K. Reinhard Radermacher, Vikrant C. Aute, Yunho Hwang, Jiazhen Ling, Jelena Srebric, Jan Muehlbauer, Rohit Dhumane, Yilin Du, Daniel Alejandro Dalgo Reyes, Nicholas W. Mattise
  • Patent number: 10677500
    Abstract: A heat pump system for vehicle includes a cooling device including a radiator and a first water pump by a cooling line and circulating a coolant along the cooling line to cool an electric component; a battery module provided on a battery cooling line selectively connected to the cooling line through a first valve; a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) module including an internal heater connected to the cooling line through a first connection line, a cooler connected to the battery cooling line through a second connection line, and an opening or closing door provided between the internal heater and the cooler and controlling external air passing through the cooler to be selectively introduced into the internal heater depending on cooling, heating, and heating and dehumidifying modes of the vehicle; and a centralized energy (CE) module connected to each of the battery cooling line and the cooling line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jae Yeon Kim
  • Patent number: 10591200
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes a low energy refrigerator heat source. The refrigerator includes a heat source positioned at a source of latent heat. The heat source harvested heat from the source of latent heat and stores said heat in a fluid within that heat reservoir or heat exchanger. The warmed fluid is then supplied via a fluid pathway to an application requiring a heat output. Thus, the heat reservoir provides heat to the application without use of an energy-consuming device, which reduces the energy consumption of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick J. Boarman
  • Patent number: 10508840
    Abstract: A heat pump includes a closed circuit to contain a refrigerant fluid and a lubricant that is miscible with the refrigerant fluid. The closed circuit includes a fluid compressor and a fluid return circuit for returning fluid to the compressor. The compressor extends in the closed circuit between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The return circuit extends in the closed circuit, complementarily to the compressor, between the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet. The return circuit includes a condenser, an expander and an evaporator. The return circuit also includes a first line extending between the fluid outlet and the condenser, a second line extending between the condenser and the expander, a third line extending between the expander and the evaporator, and a fourth line extending between the evaporator and the fluid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: DYNAES
    Inventors: Frédéric Barban, Gilles Castelain, Bruno Deboux, Pascal Kalinowski, Joëlle Rizk, Jimmy Moro-Perez
  • Patent number: 10274234
    Abstract: Heat pump including a closed circuit containing a refrigerant fluid and a lubricant, the closed circuit including a fluid compressor and a return circuit for returning fluid to the compressor, the compressor extending in the closed circuit between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the return circuit extending in the closed circuit between the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet. The return circuit includes a first line extending between the fluid outlet and the condenser, a second line extending between the condenser and the expander, a third line extending between the expander and the evaporator, and a fourth line extending between the evaporator and the fluid inlet. The closed circuit includes a first widening of a line of the return circuit. The fluid includes a mixture of a first Freon, a second Freon and a third Freon, and the lubricant includes a synthetic polyolester oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: DYNAES
    Inventors: Frédéric Barban, Gilles Castelain, Bruno Deboux, Pascal Kalinowski, Joëlle Rizk, Jimmy Moro-Perez
  • Patent number: 9506684
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes an evaporation pan and a drain conduit for directing liquid to the evaporation pan. A reservoir is coupled to the drain conduit. The reservoir includes a tank positioned above the evaporation pan, a plug assembly and a float mounted to the plug assembly. A position of the float varies depending upon a height of water within the tank, and the plug assembly seals the reservoir when the position of the float is at a particular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Marcelo Torrentes
  • Publication number: 20150135747
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger including a plate package, which includes a number of first and second heat exchanger plates which are joined to each other and arranged side by side in such a way that first and second plate interspaces are formed. At least two injectors are provided, each injector being arranged to supply a first fluid to at least one of the first plate interspaces in the at least one plate package and at least one valve is arranged to control the supply of the first fluid to the at least two injectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Klas Bertilsson, Anders Nyander, Alvaro Zorzin
  • Publication number: 20150052919
    Abstract: Method for improving efficiency of a chilled water system having a chiller unit, circulation pumps, a heat absorption unit and a heat rejection unit, including adjusting a temperature of at least one of a chilled water supply to the heat absorption unit and a condenser water supply from the heat rejection unit; measuring efficiency of the chiller unit and at least one of the circulation pumps, the heat absorption unit and the heat rejection unit; further adjusting temperature of at least one of the chilled water supply to the heat absorption unit and the condenser water supply from the heat rejection unit if the measuring the efficiency indicates an improved efficiency; and further adjusting the temperature of the at least one of the chilled water supply to the heat absorption unit and the condenser water supply from the heat rejection unit if measuring the efficiency indicates worsened efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher Shane McGowan, Steven Treece Tom
  • Patent number: 8959937
    Abstract: In a method for operating a cooling system for cooling food on board an aircraft, a partial amount of refrigerant, which, in the rest state, is stored in a receiving space of a refrigerant container in the gaseous state of aggregation, is discharged from the receiving space of the refrigerant container into a cooling circuit of the cooling system. The partial amount of the refrigerant is directed into a liquefier arranged in the cooling circuit and converted to the liquid state of aggregation. The partial amount of the refrigerant liquefied by the liquefier is directed through a heat exchanger arranged in the receiving space of the refrigerant container. The remaining refrigerant, stored in the receiving space of the refrigerant container in the gaseous state of aggregation, is converted to the liquid state of aggregation by heat energy transfer to the partial amount of the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Piesker
  • Publication number: 20150040591
    Abstract: Provided are a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant tube guiding a flow of the refrigerant condensed in the condenser, a plurality of expansion devices, a plurality of evaporators including first and second evaporators to evaporate the refrigerant decompressed in the plurality of expansion devices, a plurality of first evaporation passages in which a portion of the plurality of expansion devices is disposed, the plurality of first evaporation passages guiding introduction of the refrigerant into the first evaporator of the plurality of evaporators, a second evaporation passage in which the other portion of the plurality of expansion devices is disposed, the second evaporation passage guiding introduction of the refrigerant into the second evaporator and a flow adjusting unit to branch the refrigerant into the plurality of first evaporation passages and the second evaporation passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Hyoungkeun LIM, Sangbong LEE, Jangseok LEE, Myungjin CHUNG
  • Publication number: 20150013361
    Abstract: A unit, such as a transport refrigeration unit 12, may include a plurality of components arranged in multiple stages. At least a portion of the components 18,20 may be arranged in a serial or parallel manner. A position associated with the plurality of components may be selected to control a load on a power source, such as an engine 30. For example, a position for each of the components may be selected so as to maximize a delivery of available power from the power source to the unit. In some embodiments, one or more controllers 32,34 may measure a parameter associated with the power source and select a position for one or more of the components. In some embodiments, an economized refrigeration cycle may be used. Capacity may be staged from a single stage compression cycle or mode to a multistage compression cycle or mode, with a corresponding increase in capacity via subcooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Raymond L. Senf, JR., Michael Stockbridge, John R. Reason
  • Patent number: 8851154
    Abstract: A cooling module includes a casing with a thermal-transmittance wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a coolant inlet, a vapor outlet, and a converting component with a plurality of orifices and dividing an interior of the casing into a coolant chamber and a vaporization chamber. A liquid coolant is ejected through the plurality of orifices to form plumes toward the interior surface of the thermal-transmittance wall and exchange heat with the thermal-transmittance wall resulting in coolant vapor. In a cooling system, a vapor conduit then carries the vapor to a condenser, and a coolant conduit returns the condensed coolant to the cooling module. The cooling system is used to cool a lamp device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: MicroBase Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kai-An Cheng, Chia-Chen Liao, Chun-Hsien Wu, Hsien-Chun Meng, Hsien Meng
  • Publication number: 20140230471
    Abstract: In an integrated two-phase accumulator controlled loop cooling system, the pumped refrigerant is employed to cool the supply of refrigerant in the accumulator vessel. No external cooling of the accumulator vessel is required, and a standard heater in the accumulator is sufficient to regulate the boiling pressure. This allows to provide a cooling system in which sub-cooling in the pump is guaranteed by the laws of nature, and which is hence more reliable, structurally simpler, better to control and cheaper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicants: Nikhef, CERN-European Organization for Nuclear Research
    Inventor: Verlaat Bart
  • Publication number: 20140230470
    Abstract: A system for reducing idle time in service vehicles such as police patrol cars. A bank of auxiliary batteries is provided. An electrically-powered auxiliary air conditioning compressor is also provided. The auxiliary air compressor is connected to the discharge and suction lines of an existing an conditioning system so that it can propel refrigerant through an existing refrigerant circulation loop. When the vehicle's internal combustion engine is switched off, the auxiliary batteries are selectively used to power the auxiliary air-conditioning compressor in order to provide cooling for the vehicle's cabin. The auxiliary batteries are also used to provide electricity to the vehicle's other electrical loads—such as emergency lights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Jonathan W. Cook
  • Publication number: 20140223937
    Abstract: A refrigeration circuit (1) is circulating a refrigerant and comprises in the direction of flow of the refrigerant at least one compressor (4a, 4b, 4c); at least one heat rejecting heat exchanger (6); at least one expansion device (8); and at least one evaporator (10). The refrigeration circuit (1) further comprises at least one heat recovery heat exchanger (12) having a refrigeration circuit side (12a) and heat recovery system side (12b) and being configured for transferring heat between the refrigeration circuit side (12a) and the heat recovery system side (12b), wherein the refrigeration circuit side (12a) is fluidly connected in parallel to the at least one heat rejecting heat exchanger (6) for flowing circulating refrigerant through the refrigeration circuit side (12a); and at least one regulation valve (16), which is configured for regulating the flow of refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration circuit side (12a) of the at least one heat recovery heat exchanger (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Alexander Tambovtsev, Christian Scheumann
  • Patent number: 8795444
    Abstract: A method of thermomagnetically processing a material includes disposing a workpiece within a bore of a magnet; exposing the workpiece to a magnetic field of at least about 1 Tesla generated by the magnet; and, while exposing the workpiece to the magnetic field, applying heat energy to the workpiece at a plurality of frequencies to achieve spatially-controlled heating of the workpiece. An apparatus for thermomagnetically processing a material comprises: a high field strength magnet having a bore extending therethrough for insertion of a workpiece therein; and an energy source disposed adjacent to an entrance to the bore. The energy source is an emitter of variable frequency heat energy, and the bore comprises a waveguide for propagation of the variable frequency heat energy from the energy source to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Roger A. Kisner, Orlando Rios, John B. Wilgen, Gerard M. Ludtka, Gail M. Ludtka
  • Publication number: 20140109605
    Abstract: In various implementations, air conditioners may include a high pressure portion and a low pressure portion. A bypass line may divert a portion of the refrigerant from the high pressure portion to the low pressure portion to reduce the pressure of at least a part of the high pressure portion. The bypass line may be opened automatically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Yi Qu, Der-Kai Hung
  • Patent number: 8522562
    Abstract: An apparatus for magnetically processing a specimen that couples high field strength magnetic fields with the magnetocaloric effect includes a high field strength magnet capable of generating a magnetic field of at least 1 Tesla and a magnetocaloric insert disposed within a bore of the high field strength magnet. A method for magnetically processing a specimen includes positioning a specimen adjacent to a magnetocaloric insert within a bore of a magnet and applying a high field strength magnetic field of at least 1 Tesla to the specimen and to the magnetocaloric insert. The temperature of the specimen changes during the application of the high field strength magnetic field due to the magnetocaloric effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Gerard M. Ludtka, Gail M. Ludtka, John B. Wilgen, Roger A. Kisner, Roger A. Jaramillo
  • Publication number: 20130180275
    Abstract: Method for controlling a heat-transfer fluid compression device (3) of a cryogenic machine, the compression device comprising a plurality of members including a compressor (4) and a first controlled valve (CV956) mounted in parallel, wherein the method comprises the real-time generation of a control of the compressor and the real-time generation of a control of the first controlled valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Commissariat a L'energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Commissariat a L'energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
  • Patent number: 8453471
    Abstract: A high-velocity low-pressure cooling system (100), especially suited for data center applications, includes an air coolant loop (102), a non-air coolant loop (104) and a cooler unit (126) for heat transfer between the loops (102 and 104). The air loop (102) is used to chill ambient air that is blown across heat transfer surfaces of equipment mounted in data center racks (110). In this manner, effective cooling is provided using a coolant that is benign in data center environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Chapel, William Pachoud
  • Patent number: 8418487
    Abstract: A process-fluid chiller system for chilling a process fluid to be transported to a process load to remove thermal energy from the process load. The process-fluid chiller system includes a storage tank in which the process fluid can be stored, and a refrigeration system that can be selectively activated to chill the process fluid. The refrigeration system includes an evaporation device for evaporating a refrigerant from a liquid state to a gaseous state and a compressor for elevating a pressure of the refrigerant in the gaseous state. A temperature sensor is included for sensing a temperature of an exchange medium to which thermal energy from the process fluid can be transferred when the temperature of the exchange medium falls below a predetermined low temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Martin P. King
  • Publication number: 20130047643
    Abstract: Demand Flow operates chilled water plants at substantially improved efficiency, regardless of plant load conditions. In general, Demand Flow utilizes an operating strategy which controls chilled and condenser water pumping according to a constant Delta T line, which is typically near or at design Delta T. This reduces or eliminates Low Delta T Syndrome and reduces energy usage by chilled and condenser water pumps for given load conditions. Operation of chilled water pumps in this manner creates a synergy which generally balances flow rates throughout the plant, reducing undesirable bypass mixing and energy usage at air handler fans and other components of the chilled water plant. At plant chillers, application of Demand Flow increases the refrigeration effect through refrigerant sub-cooling and superheating, while preventing stacking. Demand Flow includes a critical zone reset feature which allows the constant Delta T line to be reset to adjust to changing load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Higgins
  • Patent number: 8312730
    Abstract: A magnetic refrigeration device, which can be reduced in size and improve magnetic refrigeration efficiency, and a magnetic refrigeration system can be provided. The magnetic refrigeration device has a heat exchanger vessel of a helical structure filled with magnetic particles having a magnetocaloric effect, a magnetic circuit, a driving unit configured to relatively move the heat exchanger vessel and the magnetic circuit so that a magnetic field can be applied to and removed from the magnetic particles, a low temperature side heat exchanging unit, a high temperature side heat exchanging unit, a refrigerant flow device, and a refrigerant circuit formed by connecting the heat exchanger vessel, the low temperature side heat exchanging unit, the high temperature side heat exchanging unit, and the refrigerant flow device by a pipe for circulating a refrigerant. The magnetic refrigeration system is arranged to use the magnetic refrigeration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadahiko Kobayashi, Akiko Saito, Shiori Kaji
  • Patent number: 8280557
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes first and second outdoor units having first and second outdoor heat exchangers and first and second heat source-side degree of subcooling adjustment devices configured to adjust first and second degrees of subcooling in outlet sides of the first and second outdoor heat exchangers, respectively. First and second outdoor-side determination units are configured to determine first and second degrees of subcooling, respectively. A controller is configured to control the first and second heat source-side degree of subcooling adjustment devices, respectively, such that a difference between the first degree of subcooling and the second degree of subcooling is reduced when refrigerant is charged into a refrigerant circuit having the first outdoor heat exchanger and the second outdoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawano, Masahiro Oka, Kazuhiko Tani, Atsushi Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20120234027
    Abstract: A supersonic cooling system, as disclosed herein, operates by pumping liquid. Because the supersonic cooling system pumps liquid, the cooling system does not require the use of a condenser. The cooling system utilizes a compression wave to facilitate a phase change utilized in the cooling effect generated by the system. An evaporator operates in the critical flow regime in which the pressure in one or more evaporator nozzles will remain almost constant and then ‘shock up’ to the ambient pressure. The evaporator may be provided with airfoils to improve characteristics of the fluid flow, thereby increasing efficiency of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: David Halt
  • Patent number: 8266918
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle system has a condenser, a refrigerant circulating pump connected to the condenser, a heat collecting device connected to the refrigerant circulating pump, and an expansion turbine connected to the heat collecting device and the condenser. The refrigerant circulating pump includes an expansion tank or pressure vessel, a refrigerant supply conduit connected to the lower part of the expansion tank and to the condenser, and a refrigerant discharge conduit connected to the upper part of the expansion tank. An open/close valve is installed in the refrigerant supply conduit. A pressure regulating valve installed in the refrigerant discharge pipe opens when a pressure reaches a specified value or higher. A temperature regulating device can heat the refrigerant in the expansion tank to produce a refrigerant vapor of saturated temperature or higher, which vapor can be introduced into the heat collecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignees: Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd., The Doshisha, Showa Denko K.K., Showa Denko Gas Products Co., Ltd., Yoshimura Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Katsumi Fujima, Masatoshi Enomoto, Noboru Sawada
  • Patent number: 8266915
    Abstract: A thermodynamic energy conversion device (14) based on the effect of differential evaporation generated by a convex liquid surface and by a temperature gradient is constructed for the use either as a heat or hydraulic pump. In one arrangement the device (14) comprises two heat conductive containers (1) and (2); a working liquid (5) disposed in said containers with open surfaces (6) and (6?); a vapor (7) of the working liquid; a porous device (8) for creating at least one convex meniscus (9) on the open surface (6), of the working liquid (5) in one of the containers said convex meniscus having higher mean curvature than that of the open surface (6?); means (10) for connecting containers (1) and (2) to an external hydraulic circuit (11). An efficient external combustion engine using such a device (14) is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Thermodynamic Nanotechnologies Limited
    Inventor: Aliaksandr Saroka
  • Publication number: 20120116594
    Abstract: A pumping system, method and computer readable medium for temperature management. The system comprises generator means for connection to an energy source, preferably waste heat or solar energy; condenser means; evaporator means; and pressure means comprising at least one supersonic ejector to receive and provide flow paths for input primary and secondary flows, the input primary flow being a gaseous or a liquid flow. The method comprises providing and operatively connecting energy source means, condenser means, evaporator means, generator means and a pressure means comprising at least one supersonic ejector to receive input primary and secondary flows from a flow path; selecting and delivering a supply of temperature management fluid to the flow path; and selectively adjusting the configuration and operational parameters of the ejectors in response to monitored temperature values and operating conditions. The system economically provides improved efficiency for heating, cooling or refrigeration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Zine Aidoun, Mohamed Ouzzane
  • Publication number: 20120017617
    Abstract: An example compressor arrangement includes a first compressor portion configured to compress a fluid and a second compressor portion configured to compress the fluid more than the first compressor portion. The compressor arrangement also includes a motor disposed between the first compressor portion and the second compressor portion. The first compressor portion is configured to communicate the fluid to the second compressor portion along a primary flow path. The second compressor portion is configured to divert at least some of the fluid from the primary flow path, communicating the diverted fluid back to the first compressor portion along a secondary flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Craig M. Beers, Christopher McAuliffe
  • Patent number: 8091380
    Abstract: A motor-operated selector valve relating to refrigerating technology is provided. In the present invention, a slider is controlled by a stepper motor so as to be rotatablely displaced among four positions on a flat bottom surface of a valve seat. Three outlets on the flat bottom surface are communicated with a normal open inlet in the valve seat via flow-guiding orifices in the slider respectively. In the first working position, the first outlet and the third outlet are in communication with the normal open inlet at the same time; in the second working position, the second outlet is in communication with the normal open inlet; in the third working position, the third outlet is in communication with the normal open inlet; in the fourth working position, the first outlet is in communication with the normal open inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Zhejiang Sanhua Climate and Appliance Controls Group Co, Ltd
    Inventor: Bin Chen
  • Publication number: 20110232307
    Abstract: A liquid refrigeration system for a thermally-insulated storage container includes a tank configured to store liquid air therein, a conduit system having a first end portion coupled to the tank and a second end portion configured to be positioned within an interior of the thermally-insulated storage container, a spray head coupled to the second end portion of the conduit system, a control system electrically coupled to the tank and the spray head to control the flow of liquid air from the tank to the spray head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventor: David Pickup
  • Patent number: 8020407
    Abstract: A temperature-controlled vehicle including a cascade refrigeration system having a booster cooling line configured to supplement the cooling capacity of the cascade refrigeration system by expanding and venting a portion of a cryogenic refrigerant to the atmosphere during peak demands while the cascade refrigeration system continues to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventor: Herman H. Viegas
  • Publication number: 20110192178
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for controlling the working fluid with low freezing point circulating in a closed circuit (10) operating according to a Rankine cycle, said circuit comprising a compression pump (12) for the fluid in liquid form, a heat exchanger (22) swept by a hot source (28) for evaporation of said fluid, expansion means (30) for expanding the fluid in vapour form and a cooling exchanger (40) swept by a cold source (F) for condensation of the working fluid. According to the invention, the device comprises a fluid collection tank (52) for draining said circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Cyprien TERNEL, Pierre Leduc, Alexandre Duparchy
  • Patent number: 7934386
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a cooling system for a heat generating structure comprises a first cooling segment and a second cooling segment. The first cooling segment and the second cooling segment each respectively comprise a cooling segment conduit and at least one cooling segment tube. The cooling segment conduits are operable to receive a fluid coolant and dispense of the fluid coolant after the fluid coolant has received thermal energy. The at least one cooling segment tubes are in thermal communication with both the cooling segment conduits and the heat generating structure. The at least one cooling segment tubes have a cooling fluid operable to transfer thermal energy from the heat generating structure to the cooling segment conduits. The cooling segment conduits transfer thermal energy from the cooling fluid to the fluid coolant. A heat transfer rate associated with the first cooling segment is substantially similar to a heat transfer rate associated with the second cooling segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kerrin A. Rummel, Kevin W. Chen
  • Publication number: 20110056221
    Abstract: A closed loop refrigerant expansion system with a tube and shell condenser is provided with a control which, upon shutdown, causes the flow of refrigerant to reverse from the evaporator to the condenser to thereby both reduce the amount of refrigerant vapor passing to the condenser and increase the amount of liquid refrigerant in the condenser to thereby reduce the maximum temperature load in the condenser. Reverse flow can be made to occur either by reversing the direction of the refrigerant pump or opening a bypass valve around the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lance D. Woolley, Peter S. Matteson
  • Patent number: 7903404
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a data center comprises a first data center section comprising one or more equipment element elements. Each computer element has one or more heat generating sources. A second data center section comprises a heat exchanger, the second data center section being substantially segregated from the first section. A heat transfer element is thermally coupled to at least some of the heat generating sources and is further thermally coupled to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Tozer, Cullen Bash, Chandrakant Patel
  • Publication number: 20110030400
    Abstract: An evaporator for a cooling circuit is provided, for cooling at least one heat emitting device by evaporation of a cooling fluid. The evaporator includes a top collector, a bottom collector, and an evaporator body. The evaporator body includes at least one thermoconducting wall that is thermally connectable to the at least one heat emitting device, a plurality of evaporation channels, and a plurality of return channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD.
    Inventors: Francesco AGOSTINI, Berk YESIN, Bruno AGOSTINI
  • Publication number: 20110023505
    Abstract: Refrigeration systems for machines for making blended iced beverages make ice for use in the beverages and maintain beverage ingredients cold not only as the ingredients are stored in supply containers in the machine but also as they are delivered from the supply containers to a remote point of delivery at a beverage ingredient dispense station. Arrangements are disclosed in which a single refrigeration system makes ice and chills the beverage ingredients; in which a pair of refrigeration systems make ice and chill the beverage ingredients; in which a single refrigeration system makes ice and the ice is used to chill the beverage ingredients; and in which a single refrigeration system makes ice and melt water from the ice is used in chilling the beverage ingredients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Nikolay Popov, Santhosh Kumar, Douglas Anderson
  • Publication number: 20100326093
    Abstract: A method of controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes the steps of activating at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump during an icemaking cycle to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a first rate, and increasing operation of at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate. A related refrigerator is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Eric K. Watson, Matthew William Davis, Omar Haidar, Ronald Scott Tarr, Joseph Waugh
  • Patent number: 7854132
    Abstract: The present invention provides a circulation cooling system of a cryogenic cable in which a reserver unit can be made smaller and a conventional adjustment mechanism or adjustment task of the amount of a refrigerant within a reserver unit is not necessary. The circulation cooling system of a cryogenic cable according to the present invention has a reserver unit storing a refrigerant and a cable cooling portion cooling down a cable by the refrigerant sent from the reserver unit and the refrigerant sent from the cable cooling portion is returned to the reserver unit again for circulation. The system is characterized in that it has a refrigerant temperature adjustment mechanism to keep constant the amount of the refrigerant within the reserver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chizuru Suzawa, Takato Masuda
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7823396
    Abstract: A process for introducing a solution into an evaporative cooling apparatus (14), said process comprising a) positioning a selectively permeable membrane (16) between a first solution (18) and a second solution (20) having a higher solute concentration than the first solution (18), such that the solvent from the first solution (18) flows across the selectively permeable membrane (16) to dilute the second solution (20), b) introducing the second solution into an evaporative cooling apparatus (14) in which solvent is removed from the second solution (20) by evaporation, and c) recycling the second solution (20) from step b) to step a) to draw solvent from the first solution (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Surrey Aquatechnology Limited
    Inventors: Abdulsalam Al-Mayahi, Adel Sharif
  • Publication number: 20100212338
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for limiting the adverse effects of temperature on the electrical energy storage system (ESS) of an electric vehicle after the vehicle has been turned off are provided. In general, whether or not coolant is circulated through a coolant loop coupled to the ESS depends on the difference between the ambient temperature and a preset temperature, the preset temperature typically corresponding to the temperature of the ESS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Scott Ira Kohn, Kurt Russell Kelty, Vineet Haresh Mehta, Jeffrey Brian Straubel