Abstract: The problem of controlling the temperature of the different units in a process tool system which have to be cooled or heated using thermal transfer fluid at selected setpoints and flow rates is resolved by a system having multiple modular units each with some operative and form factor commonality but at least dual functional capability. The modular units each have separate recirculation loops for thermal transfer fluid but cool the fluid using refrigeration cycles or facilities water supplies or heat the fluid using compressed hot gases or electrical energy. By employing operative units which can be internally varied to provide different thermal capacities within form factor constraints, the system enables concurrent temperature control needs of a number of different units to be met with an energy efficient, low footprint, highly adaptable system.

Abstract: An apparatus suitable for low temperature processing and high temperature sterilization comprising a halogenated heat-transfer fluid. The apparatus comprises an expansion device which may optionally comprise a membrane. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method therefor.

Abstract: An etching apparatus of the present invention has a processing device having a reaction chamber in which an electrode provided with a built-in refrigerant-circulating path is installed, a refrigerator for cooling the refrigerant at a predetermined temperature and circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant-circulating path at a predetermined flow rate, a controlling device for controlling the temperature or flow rate of the refrigerant, a status monitor for monitoring an operational status, and a temperature control device for controlling the temperature of the electrode by controlling the temperature or flow rate of the refrigerant on the basis of information about the operational status.

Abstract: In an oil conditioner comprising: a coolant oil circulation circuit (8) through which a coolant oil of a machine tool (1) is circulated by an oil pump (12); a refrigeration circuit (20) formed by interconnecting, in the order given, a compressor (15), a condenser (16), a pressure reducing mechanism (17), and an evaporator (18) for cooling the coolant oil in the coolant oil circulation circuit (8) by heat exchange with refrigerant; and an inverter (28) for controlling the operating frequency of a motor (14) of the compressor (15), the output from the inverter (28) is switched to a motor (11) of the oil pump (12) during the time the compressor (15) is out of operation so that the amount of coolant oil that the oil pump (12) circulates is made variable, and the amount of coolant oil that the oil pump (12) circulates is reduced when the amount of heat produced in the operation of the machine tool (1) decreases because, for example, the machine tool (1) is stopped, for reducing wasteful consumption of energy by th

Abstract: An equalizing tank is disclosed comprising a housing, a pressure dissipation orifice, and a return flow line configured to provide fluid communication within the housing without fluid entering the pressure dissipation orifice. Also disclosed is a method of making the equalizing tank and an automotive air-conditioning system including the equalizing tank.

Abstract: A method of temperature control in a cryogenic temperature control apparatus comprises providing a heat exchanger in thermal communication with an air-conditioned space. The heat exchanger includes an air inlet and an evaporator coil having an outlet. The method further comprises providing a first temperature sensor being operatively coupled to a controller, measuring the temperature in the outlet and sending the temperature in the outlet to the controller, providing a second temperature sensor being operatively coupled to the controller, measuring the temperature in the air inlet, and sending the temperature in the air inlet to the controller, and providing a plurality of temperature control values. The flow of cryogen from a storage tank to the evaporator coil is altered each time the temperature in the outlet passes one of a first plurality of temperature control values and each time the temperature in the air inlet passes one of a second plurality of temperature control values.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage unit is provided in connection with an air conditioning or refrigeration condenser. Working fluid waste heat is stored in the thermal energy storage unit during at least a relatively hot part of the day. Heat stored in the thermal energy storage unit is then rejected to the air during a cooler period, such as night. By rejecting the stored heat directly to the atmosphere, there is no need to provide an energy-consumptive refrigeration cycle for cooling the thermal storage medium material. In this way, a refrigeration system compressor has a reduced load and/or reduced duty cycle during hot parts of the day and relatively less energy can be used during high-demand times when energy may be more expensive.

Abstract: Provision of a chilling system accomplishing a reduction in the amount of energy expended and in energy loss. The chilling system includes a load (H); a chilling circuit (A) for chilling or cooling the load with a refrigerant; a heat-dissipating mechanism (5) for dissipating heat of the refrigerant in the chilling circuit (A) to the outside; a refrigerant tank (8) connected to the chilling circuit (A) via a confluent valve (13); a chiller for maintaining the refrigerant stored in the refrigerant tank (8) at a predetermined temperature; a controller (12) for controlling the degree of valve opening of the confluent valve (13); and a temperature sensor (14) for detecting a temperature of the refrigerant in the chilling circuit (A).

Abstract: There is provided a multiform gas heat pump type of air conditioning system having: a plurality of indoor units that are each provided with an indoor heat exchanger and that perform a heat exchange between air inside a room and refrigerant; an outdoor unit provided with a compressor driven by a gas engine and an outdoor heat exchanger for performing a heat exchange between outside air and the refrigerant; and a split flow control unit for controlling a flow direction of the refrigerant in each of the indoor units and for performing a selection switching between cooling and heating operations. The outdoor heat exchanger that switches selection between cooling and heating operations is divided into a plurality of units that are connected in parallel and there is also provided a refrigerant supply switching means that controls the refrigerant flow in each of the divided portions of the outdoor heat exchanger.

Abstract: A refrigeration system regulates the temperature of an electrostatic wafer chuck disposed in a process chamber. The refrigeration system includes a heat exchanger disposed in a heat exchange relationship with the electrostatic chuck, a refrigerator, a temperature sensor, and a temperature controller for controlling the refrigerator to cool the coolant withdrawn from the heat exchanger to a desired temperature in response to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The heat exchanger forms a coolant passageway inside the electrostatic chuck, and the refrigerator is disposed outside the process chamber The temperature sensor is disposed within the body of the electrostatic chuck. The temperature of the electrostatic chuck can be regulated so as to be maintained nearly constant because the temperature used to control the cooling of the coolant is measured directly from the body of the electrostatic chuck.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus which has a simple structure and which can efficiently cool a plurality of electric devices is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cooling circuit including serially-connected cooling systems for cooling electric devices by circulating a refrigerant; a circulating pump for circulating the refrigerant through the cooling circuit; and a radiator which is serially connected to the cooling systems in the cooling circuit and has a refrigerant outlet from which a refrigerant is supplied. The serially-connected cooling systems are arranged in a manner such that heat resisting allowable temperatures, assigned to the electric devices which respectively correspond to the cooling systems, increase from the cooling system closest to the refrigerant outlet to the cooling system farthest from the refrigerant outlet in the cooling circuit, wherein each heat resisting allowable temperature is the maximum temperature at which the relevant electric device can operate.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a dynamic type ice cold storage method and system capable of efficiently suppressing, by an appropriate replenishment of water, an increase in concentration of an aqueous solution with the progress of freezing of the aqueous solution, thereby preventing a lowering in the coefficient of performance of a refrigerator, and hence diminishing power required for the formation of ice crystals. The temperature of an aqueous solution contained in a freezer which includes a heat exchanger for cooling is measured with a thermometer, and as the liquid temperature drops with the progress of freezing, melted water is replenished into the freezer from a melted water tank by means of a pump to keep almost constant the temperature of freezing performed by the heat exchanger for cooling.

Abstract: A heat generating part (1) of semiconductor manufacturing equipment is cooled by cooling water. An inner fluid passage (21) having an inlet port (31) of the cooling water on a vertically lower portion thereof is formed so as to surround a periphery of the heat generating part (1). An outer fluid passage (22) having an outlet port (32) of the cooling water on a vertically upper portion thereof is formed so as to surround a periphery of the inner fluid passage (21) and be capable of exchanging heat with the cooling water in the inner fluid passage. A communication passage (24) is provided to connect a vertically upper portion of said inner fluid passage and a vertically lower portion of said outer fluid passage. The cooling water flowing out of the outlet port (32) of the outer fluid passage (22) is supplied to the inlet port (31) of the inner fluid passage (21).

Abstract: A battery cooling system 10 for use with a vehicle 14 including several batteries or battery modules 16-38 which provide power to the vehicle 12. The system 10 includes a refrigerant gas channeling or conduit system which is effective to store, compress, expand and circulate refrigerant gas through the battery pack 12 and the system 10. A first “high pressure” conduit system, having several tubes or conduits that are disposed throughout the vehicle 14, is used to selectively carry and transport pressurized or compressed refrigerant gas to the battery pack 12 and includes a pump 42, a heat exchanger 44, expansion valves 46-52, and conduits 54, 56, 58, 60 and 62. A second “low pressure” conduit system is used to circulate the “expanded” or decompressed refrigerant gas throughout the battery pack 12 and to return the refrigerant gas to pump 42 for recompression.

Abstract: A closed loop cooling system for cooling machines, comprising a first heat exchanger having a refrigerant on a first side and a coolant on a second side and a coolant loop that circulates the coolant through the system; the coolant loop has a coolant supply header for circulating coolant flowing from the heat exchanger; a plurality of individual machine cooling loops connected to the coolant supply header, each machine cooling loop passing through at least one heat exchanger for cooling two or more fluids employed in an individual machine, and where each machine cooling loop has a flow meter and a regulating valve for adjustment of the coolant flow through the loop; and a coolant return header connected to the machine coolant loops for returning the coolant from the individual machine cooling loops to the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: Provision of a chilling system accomplishing a reduction in the amount of energy expended and in energy loss. The chilling system includes a load (H); a chilling circuit (A) for chilling or cooling the load with a refrigerant; a heat-dissipating mechanism (5) for dissipating heat of the refrigerant in the chilling circuit (A) to the outside; a refrigerant tank (8) connected to the chilling circuit (A) via a confluent valve (13); a chiller for maintaining the refrigerant stored in the refrigerant tank (8) at a predetermined temperature; a controller (12) for controlling the degree of valve opening of the confluent valve (13); and a temperature sensor (14) for detecting a temperature of the refrigerant in the chilling circuit (A).

Abstract: A thermostatic coolant circulating device includes a supply circuit for circulating a coolant to a load and a cooling circuit for cooling the coolant from a temperature to which the coolant was raised by cooling the load. The supply circuit includes a tank for storing the coolant, a pump for circulating the coolant in the tank to the load through an external pipe, a coolant adjustment chamber, and a gas supplying and discharging unit. The coolant adjustment chamber is a closed structure except for a communication aperture at a lower end of the chamber. The communication aperture is in fluid communication with the inside of the tank. The gas supplying and discharging unit is connected to the adjustment chamber for supplying a gas into the adjustment chamber so as to allow the coolant in the adjustment chamber to flow out through the communication aperture into the tank.

Abstract: An equalizing tank is disclosed comprising a housing, a pressure dissipation orifice, and a return flow line configured to provide fluid communication within the housing without fluid entering the pressure dissipation orifice. Also disclosed is a method of making the equalizing tank and an automotive air-conditioning system including the equalizing tank.

Abstract: A heat source apparatus of the ice storage type for performing a cold storage operation and an air-conditioning operation utilizing the stored cold, includes a heat source unit, a cold storage tank connected to the heat source unit, a water level sensor for measuring the stored cold amount by detecting the water level in the cold storage tank, and an operation panel having a menu screen for setting the starting and ending time of the cold storage operation and the air-conditioning operation, wherein the setting of the starting and ending time of the air-conditioning operation can be canceled and a predetermined stored cold amount can be set on the operation panel.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a temperature control system in a simple constitution as well as be capable of strictly controlling the temperature on the side of the process device of the fluid supplied via the pathway from the chiller device.

Abstract: A coolant circuit 21 for circulating a coolant to a load 20 includes a temperature sensor 35 that measures the temperature of the coolant sent out from a heat exchanger 25. A refrigerating circuit 22 in which the aforesaid coolant has its temperature raised by cooling the load 20 in the heat exchanger 25 by allowing heat exchange with a refrigerant includes an electronic expansion valve 52 capable of adjusting the flow rate of the refrigerant supplied to the aforesaid heat exchanger 25. A control section 23 has a circuit section for adjusting the opening degree of the aforesaid electronic expansion valve 52 so that the temperature of the coolant measured by the aforesaid temperature sensor 35 will be a set temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus providing effective control of fluid temperature to achieve temperature control precision of ±0.1° F. at flow rates exceeding 5 gallons/minute includes a hot and a cold reservoir of process fluid maintained at their desired temperatures by a high-accuracy industrial chiller and an industrial heater, respectively. A three-way control valve mixes fluid from the reservoirs to produce a precisely controlled stream of process fluid delivered to the point of usage. Another flow control valve maintains system flow at a precise value.

Abstract: A cooling installation for a machine tool or the like, having a circulation system in which coolant circulates, wherein the coolant is conducted to a tempering device of the machine tool, wherein a metering unit is assigned to the circulation system, by which an external coolant can be metered to the coolant circulating in the circulation system, and wherein the metering unit can be controlled by a control device. In order to set the best possible constant temperature level at the tempering device, the circulation system has a buffer tank through which the coolant is conducted, and the metering unit meters the external coolant into the return flow coming from the tempering device and into the circulation system upstream of the buffer tank.

Abstract: An uninterrupted sub-loop water cooling system for supplying cooling water to a process machine during a short-term power interruption and a method for utilizing such system are disclosed. In the system, a buffer tank is provided for storing a quantity of cooling water maintained at a temperature of about 15° C. The buffer tank is provided with conduits for fluid communication with a process machine and at least one pump means operable by an uninterrupted power system such as a battery back-up system for pumping cooling water from the buffer tank to the process machine and then return to the buffer tank forming a sub-loop when a power shortage has occurred. The present invention system is effective in bridging a time gap between the occurrence of a power outage and the start of an emergency power generating system which amounts to between about 30 seconds and about 2 minutes such that cooling water supply to a process machine is not interrupted.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) control system and method for controlling a device, a subsystem, and/or a process using a flash mini-card. Preferably, the present invention is directed to an HVAC control system and method for controlling a chiller and the devices and subsystems associated with the chiller using a flash mini-card. More preferably, the present invention obviates the need for the HVAC control system and method to use at least one of the following: a hard disk, a disk controller, a card reader, or a card controller.

Abstract: An apparatus for low temperature processing and high temperature sterilization comprising a hydrofluoroether heat-transfer fluid. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method therefor.

Abstract: A cooling device for cooling an object to be processed to a target temperature comprises a plurality of contact members mounted on a placing table, for supporting the object such that the object opposes a top surface of the placing table with an interval, temperature sensors for outputting temperature information of the object supported by the contact members, a first cooling unit for cooling the placing table to a temperature lower than the target temperature to cool the object, a second cooling unit for heating the object cooled by the first cooling unit to a temperature almost equal to the target temperature, and a contrast circuit for performing a switching operation between cooling by the first cooling unit and heating by the second cooling unit on the basis of the temperature information from the temperature sensors.

Abstract: A system and method of control of refrigerant air conditioning including a humidity input sensor, and a coolant velocity sensor, using a control system set with a set point whereby to maintain a maximum evaporator temperature set point varying to suit each heat and moisture load condition over a range of conditions compatible with high engineering standards of performance.

Abstract: A solar powered vapor compression refrigeration system is made practicable with thermal storage and novel control techniques. In one embodiment, the refrigeration system includes a photovoltaic panel, a variable speed compressor, an insulated enclosure, and a thermal reservoir. The photo voltaic (PV) panel converts sunlight into DC (direct current) electrical power. The DC electrical power drives a compressor that circulates refrigerant through a vapor compression refrigeration loop to extract heat from the insulated enclosure. The thermal reservoir is situated inside the insulated enclosure and includes a phase change material. As heat is extracted from the insulated enclosure, the phase change material is frozen, and thereafter is able to act as a heat sink to maintain the temperature of the insulated enclosure in the absence of sunlight.

Abstract: An isothermal coolant circulating apparatus being energy-saving and capable of reducing the cost of operation and equipment is provided. A refrigerating circuit section 52 comprises a hot gas circuit 58 for mixing high-temperature refrigerant discharged from a compressor 7 with low-temperature refrigerant being supplied to an evaporator 10 via an electronic expansion valve 56, and an electronic expansion valve 59 in the hot gas circuit 58. Coolant returned from a load 2 to a coolant circuit section 53 is cooled in a heat exchanger 25 incorporated by the evaporator 10 thereinto and then mixed with coolant returned from the load 2 in an electric-motor-operated three-way valve 65 to be a predetermined temperature. The electronic expansion valves 56 and 59 are controlled by an expansion valve controller 69 in a controlling section 54, while the electric-motor-operated three-way valve 65 is controlled by a temperature controller 68 therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for cooling polymerization reactors in the preparation of polyolefins, the polymerization being carried out in a first reactor and in at least one further reactor, the further reactor or reactors being connected downstream of the first reactor and each being cooled by an internal cooling circuit in which a cooling medium circulates. The invention comprises feeding cooling medium from the cooling circuit (9) of the first reactor (1) into the cooling circuit (10) of at least one further reactor (2) and taking off the same amount of cooling medium from the cooling circuit (10) of this reactor (2), cooling it and recirculating it into the cooling circuit (9) of the first reactor (1).

Abstract: A heat management system for a building having at least one cooling device is provided. The heat management system includes a refrigeration system in heat exchange contact with a cooling system for providing cooling energy to the cooling system and to the cooling device. The cooling system includes at least two independent flow paths in heat exchange contact with the cooling device for cooling the cooling device. In addition, the heat management system includes a defrost system in heat exchange contact with the cooling device through the independent flow paths wherein the defrost system can be operated to independently defrost each flow path of the cooling system. The system is efficient to operate in conjunction with a geothermal system and provides effective building atmosphere de-humidification.

Abstract: A cooling device for cooling an object to be processed to a target temperature comprises a plurality of contact members mounted on a placing table, for supporting the object such that the object opposes a top surface of the placing table with an interval, temperature sensors for outputting temperature information of the object supported by the contact members, a first cooling unit for cooling the placing table to a temperature lower than the target temperature to cool the object, a second cooling unit for heating the object cooled by the first cooling unit to a temperature almost equal to the target temperature, and a contrast circuit for performing a switching operation between cooling by the first cooling unit and heating by the second cooling unit on the basis of the temperature information from the temperature sensors.

Abstract: A cooling system has an ethylene glycol coolant transport loop which is cooled by the existing plant ammonia based refrigeration system. The coolant loop employs ethylene glycol to transport heat between an ammonia evaporator and the hydraulic systems of individual machines. The ethylene glycol coolant is supplied from a supply header which is connected to a return side header by individual cooling loops which pass through the heat exchangers mounted on individual machines for cooling the machine hydraulic fluid. The supply header is also connected to the return header by a regulating valve set to maintain a constant pressure drop between the supply header and the return header. Each machine coolant fluid flow can be adjusted by a regulating valve which is adjusted by reference to a flow meter on a particular coolant loop.

Abstract: A modular air handling supply system and method for producing a supply of cooled air for cooling purposes is disclosed. The modular air handling supply system includes a module container and ducting for transporting the air within said module container and a blower in operational connection with the ducting, wherein the cooled air is propelled to at least one resource or facility, each of which are located external to the module container. The system has the capability of supplying a remote resource or facility with a variable volume and temperature of cooled air.

Abstract: A used fluid passes through an exchange path, located in a fluid flow transfer, before returning to use at a required temperature. In the transfer path the exchange path is set between the evaporator and the condenser of a refrigerating circuit. The refrigerating circuit is actuated only when the temperature of the transfer fluid, consisting for example of ambient air, is unsuitable for properly modifying the used fluid temperature by means of the exchange path. The used fluid can be heated by simply reversing the direction of the flow in the transfer path. The invention is useful for rearranging exchange paths into a single transfer path, for example in a single bundle of tubes arranged in several tube layers of suitably connected tubes.

Abstract: An environmental control system for maintaining a predetermined air temperature and relative humidity level of the interior of an enclosure, such as a wine cellar. A liquid chiller is provided which is adapted to cool liquid being circulated therethrough. An air handler has a cabinet with a heat exchanging unit and a blower disposed therein. The heat exchanging unit is operatively connected to the liquid chiller to receive cooled liquid being discharged therefrom. The blower is adapted to direct air from the enclosure over the heat exchanging unit such that the enclosure air is cooled. A liquid cascade unit has at least one surface with an upper and lower portion and a liquid collection pan attached to that lower portion. The upper portion is operatively connected to the heat exchanging unit such that liquid flows down from the upper portion toward the lower portion and into the liquid collection pan.

Abstract: A warm liquid defrost refrigeration system (10) comprising a primary refrigeration loop (12) including a compressor (16), a condenser (18), an expansion device (22), and a first side of a chiller (24), and a secondary refrigeration loop (14) including a pump (26), a refrigerated space heat exchanger (28), and a second side of the chiller. The refrigeration system further includes a defrost heat exchanger (40) having a hot side and a cold side. The hot side of the defrost heat exchanger is connected to the primary refrigeration loop between the condenser and the expansion device such that liquid refrigerant can flow from the condenser through the hot side of the defrost heat exchanger. The cold side of the defrost heat exchanger is connected to the secondary refrigeration loop at a point downstream of the pump such that coolant can be selectively transported from the pump through the cold side of the defrost heat exchanger.

Abstract: A chiller apparatus capable of increasing accuracy of temperature control without large-sizing a chiller, to thereby rapidly accommodate to a large variation in temperature of a load and being decreased in size thereof to increase a degree of freedom in selection of conditions under which the apparatus is installed. The chiller apparatus includes a primary circuit including a chiller and a pump for circulating a refrigerant through the primary circuit, a secondary circuit including a pump for circulating, through the secondary circuit, a refrigerant heat-exchanged with the refrigerant of the primary circuit, a buffer tank arranged at the secondary circuit, a load circuit including a pump for circulating a refrigerant through the load circuit to chill a load, and communication flow passages for connecting the secondary circuit and load circuit to each other therethrough. One of the communication flow passages is provided with a valve for controlling a refrigerant flowing through the communication flow passage.

Abstract: A hot heat source heat exchanger (1) receives heat from a primary refrigerant circuit (A) to evaporate liquid refrigerant. The hot heat source heat exchanger (1) is connected to a cold heat source heat exchanger (2) through a gas flow pipe (4) and a liquid flow pipe (5). An indoor heat exchanger (3) is connected to the gas flow pipe (4) through a gas pipe (6) and connected to the liquid flow pipe (5) through a liquid pipe (7). Gas refrigerant evaporated in the hot heat source heat exchanger (1) flows into at least the cold heat source heat exchanger (2). In the cold heat source heat exchanger (2), the gas refrigerant is condensed and refrigerant flow with respect to the indoor heat exchanger (3) is changed in accordance with a cooling or a heating operation requested by the indoor heat exchanger. In the indoor heat exchanger (3), refrigerant is condensed or evaporated.

Abstract: A crossover warm liquid defrost refrigeration system (10) having a medium temperature side (12) for cooling refrigerated goods and a low temperature side (14) for cooling frozen goods. The medium temperature side has a primary refrigeration loop (16) and a secondary refrigeration loop (18). The low temperature side also has a primary refrigeration loop (46) and a secondary refrigeration loop (48). Further included in the refrigeration system is a low temperature defrost heat exchanger (28) that is connected to the primary refrigeration loop of the medium temperature side and the secondary refrigeration loop of the low temperature side such that coolant from the low temperature side secondary refrigeration loop can be heated by the refrigerant of the medium temperature side, and then transported to the low temperature side refrigerated space heat exchanger (64) to melt any frost formed thereon.

Abstract: A main evaporator cools a driver's compartment of a vehicle while a cooling storage evaporator cools cooling storage packs that are used in cooling a sleeping compartment. Refrigerant is supplied to the main evaporator at the actuation of a first solenoid valve while refrigerant is supplied to the cooling storage evaporator at the actuation of a second solenoid valve. If a first switch is being actuated after the completion of the cooling storage operation of the cooling storage evaporator on the cooling storage packs and the temperature of the cooling storage packs is no more than a preset temperature, for example, -5.degree. C., FIR control is performed for alternately actuating the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve based on a predetermined time ratio (for example, 10 minutes 15 seconds).

Abstract: A method and system for delivering aqueous ice slurry is disclosed. In one embodiment, the ice slurry delivery system includes a storage tank having an inlet to receive an aqueous ice slurry from an ice generating unit. A circulation loop is connected to the storage tank. Ice slurry held in the storage tank flows through the circulation loop generally continuously at a first rate. Valved discharge points are located along the circulation loop at spaced locations and are operable to re-direct some of the ice slurry flowing though the circulation loop to deliver ice slurry for end use upon demand. The rate of flow of ice slurry through the discharge points is less than the first rate even when all of the discharge points are re-directing ice slurry for end use.

Abstract: In an air conditioning system for circulating a fluid which can change a phase between a gas phase and a liquid phase by a difference of a specific gravity between the gas phase and the liquid phase between an heat source side machine and a plurality of user side machines more than half of which are disposed below the heat source side machine, so that each of the user side machines performs a cooling operation, each of the user side machines is provided with a heat exchanger, a flow control valve for controlling a volume of said fluid supplied to the heat exchanger, a blow means for supplying an air-conditioned air to a room through the heat exchanger, a physical value detecting means for detecting a physical value relating to an air conditioning load such as a temperature and a signal controlling means for the operating and detecting portions, and wherein the heat source side machine is provided with a control means for communicating with said signal controlling means and outputting a control signal to said

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling different media which separately control the temperature of a plurality of chambers. A common refrigerant is used for cooling the different media.

Abstract: An air conditioning system comprises a heat source side unit adapted to condense and supply a fluid which can change a phase between a gas phase and a liquid phase and a plurality of user side units entirely or mostly disposed below the heat source side unit in terms of number and connected to said heat source side unit by piping so as to establish a circulation of the fluid supplied from said heat source side unit passing through said heat source side unit and said user side units by utilizing the difference in specific gravity between the liquid phase and the gas phase of said liquid so that it can provide a cooling/heating effect regardless of the floors where the user side units are installed and the power consumption rate of the system can be minimized.

Abstract: The present invention improves efficiency, and thereby save energy, in compressed fluid types of cooling systems, avoids instability in chiller controls, and thus provides for stable operation of a chiller in a cooling system, and provides a novel, improved single-circuit, chilled fluid cooling system that incorporates a variable flow chilled water distribution system without encountering control instability while obviating the need for constant high flow rates through a chiller by providing methods and apparatus for stable operation at reduced and variable flows.

Abstract: A cooling device for cooling an object to be processed to a target temperature comprises a plurality of contact members mounted on a placing table, for supporting the object such that the object opposes a top surface of the placing table with an interval, temperature sensors for outputting temperature information of the object supported by the contact members, a first cooling unit for cooling the placing table to a temperature lower than the target temperature to cool the object, a second cooling unit for heating the object cooled by the first cooling unit to a temperature almost equal to the target temperature, and a contrast circuit for performing a switching operation between cooling by the first cooling unit and heating by the second cooling unit on the basis of the temperature information from the temperature sensors.

Abstract: A modular refrigerated food container system for use in buffet bars in restaurants and the like includes a plurality of food storage receptacles for receiving food and a plurality of receptacle temperature maintaining modules where each temperature maintaining module is configured to receive the food storage receptacle and is configured to thermally communicate with the food storage receptacle to maintain a predetermined temperature of the food storage receptacle. Each temperature maintaining module is fluidly connected to adjacent temperature maintaining modules and a refrigeration device operatively coupled to the plurality of temperature maintaining modules provides thermal exchange fluid to each temperature maintaining module. Each temperature maintaining module further includes a thermally conducting inside wall, a substantially insulating outside wall, and a heat exchange device disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved latent heat extraction combines a run-around coil system with a condenser heat recovery system to enhance the moisture removing capability of a conventional vapor compression air conditioning unit. The run-around coil system exchanges energy between the return and supply air flows of the air conditioning unit. Energy recovered in the condenser heat recovery system is selectively combined with the run-around system energy extracted from the return air flow to reheat the supply air stream for downstream humidity control. A control system regulates the relative proportions of the extracted return air flow energy and recovered heat energy delivered to the reheat coil for efficient control over moisture in the supply air flow. Auxiliary energy in the form of electric heat energy is further added to the recovered heat energy for additional reheat use.