By External Cooled Liquid Or Holdover Patents (Class 62/201)
  • Patent number: 11846454
    Abstract: A heat pump system for the use of cooling or heating comprising at least one TES (3), wherein the TES comprises thermal energy storage. The TES is placed downstream of a heat exchanger (2) and generally placed upstream of a pressure changing device (4) or regenerator (40), wherein the TES exchanges heat energy with a fluid (14) of the heat pump, and wherein the heat pump system exchanges heat energy between an enclosed space (6) and an ambient heat source outside the enclosed space. The TES is generally charged with thermal energy, which may be cool or heat energy, during favorable times of a daily temperature cycle. The TES then transfers the stored thermal energy to assist in cooling or heating the enclosed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Will John Temple
  • Patent number: 11781772
    Abstract: The present disclosure refers to an air conditioning system, a server system, a network as well as a method for controlling an air conditioning system and a method for controlling a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Coakley
  • Patent number: 11781790
    Abstract: A refrigeration system is provided. The refrigeration system includes: an indoor heat exchange module configured for refrigerant to absorb heat; outdoor heat exchange modules for the refrigerant to dissipate heat. The outdoor heat exchange module includes a compression device and a condensing device; the outdoor heat exchange module is switchable between an active mode and a standby mode; in the active mode, the outdoor heat exchange module is connected to the indoor heat exchange module; in the standby mode, the outdoor heat exchange module is disconnected from the indoor heat exchange module, and the compression device of the outdoor heat exchange module is in an operation status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing Baidu Netcom Science and Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhiming Luo, Yiyi Duan, Bin Yi, Xiaozhong Li
  • Patent number: 11758910
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for distributing a food fluid in a bakery, including the circulation of food fluid from a cold room to at least one metering point, in supply piping arranged between the cold room and the metering point, the cold room being remote from the metering point. The supply piping includes two piping segments and a set of one or more valves, arranged in such a way that: for a first configuration of the set of one or more valves, the two piping segments supply food fluid, in parallel and simultaneously, to the metering point from at least one tank of food fluid located in the cold room, and for at least one other configuration of the set of one or more valves, the two piping segments form a fluid circulation loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: LESAFFRE ET COMPAGNIE
    Inventor: Florent Picavet
  • Patent number: 11732942
    Abstract: A method of operating a chiller includes applying chiller operating data associated with the chiller as an input to one or more machine learning models, generating a boundary for a controllable chiller variable based on an output of the one or more machine learning models, and affecting operation of the chiller based on the boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
    Inventors: Liming Yang, Thomas M. Seneczko, Curtis C. Crane, Justin P. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 11598549
    Abstract: A heat cycle system and a control method. The heat cycle system includes: driving devices, one or a plurality of outdoor units, and a plurality of indoor units, which are connected by pipelines; a bypass pipeline for the plurality of indoor units, a bypass valve being disposed in the bypass pipeline; a pressure sensor that senses a pressure difference ?Po across the plurality of outdoor units; and a controller that is preset with a pressure difference set value ?Pset, wherein the controller calculates a pressure offset parameter ?P=?Po??Pset and adjusts an opening degree of the bypass valve based on the pressure offset parameter ?P so that the pressure offset parameter ?P approaches zero, and wherein the controller is preset with a first pressure offset threshold P1, and the controller is configured such that closed indoor units enter a bypass mode one by one when ?P>P1, until ?P?P1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaohong Wang, Jian Ni, Liang Chang, Hui Zhai, Guangyu Shen, Qing Lu
  • Patent number: 11506206
    Abstract: A compressor includes a compression mechanism, a casing, and a temperature detector. The compression mechanism includes a rotation axis. The casing accommodates the compression mechanism. The casing includes a compression mechanism contact portion. The compression mechanism is in contact with an inner surface of the compression mechanism contact portion. The temperature detector is attached to an outer surface of the compression mechanism contact portion and is configured to sense temperature of the compression mechanism contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keita Honda, Makoto Adachi, Yuusuke Fujii
  • Patent number: 11499767
    Abstract: A method of operating a heat exchanger system in which a compressor, which is drivable by a motor, is fluidly interposed between an evaporator and a condenser following receipt of a shutdown command is provided. The method includes positioning inlet guide vanes (IGVs) of the compressor in a first position in the event of at least one of a first precondition being in effect and the first and a second precondition both not being in effect. The method further includes positioning the IGVs in a second position in an event the first precondition is not in effect but the second precondition is in effect, ramping a speed of the compressor down until a third precondition takes effect, removing power from the motor and positioning the IGVs in the first position once power is removed from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vishnu M. Sishtla, Scott A. Nieforth
  • Patent number: 11480353
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes a face-split evaporator. The face-split evaporator includes a top evaporator circuit positioned above a bottom evaporator circuit. The system includes a first compressor associated with the top evaporator circuit, a second compressor associated with the bottom evaporator circuit, and a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second compressors. The controller receives a demand request, which includes a command to reduce power consumption by the HVAC system by a predefined percentage. In response to receiving the demand request, the second compressor is turned off thereby decreasing power consumption by at least the predefined percentage. A portion of a liquid condensate formed on a surface of the top evaporator circuit is allowed to fall on a surface of the bottom evaporator circuit such that a portion of a flow of air passing across the bottom evaporator is evaporatively cooled by the portion of the liquid condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Goel, Vijaykumar Sathyamurthi
  • Patent number: 11022334
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a compressor having a discharge port and a suction port, a first sensor configured to provide feedback corresponding to a first temperature of the working fluid exiting the compressor proximate the discharge port, a second sensor configured to provide feedback corresponding to a second temperature of the working fluid entering the compressor proximate the suction port, and an automation controller storing data indicative of an operational envelope. The operational envelope defines compressor operation coordinates corresponding to a range of suction temperatures and a range of discharge temperatures inside and outside of a target region of the operational envelope, and the automation controller is configured to control a target range of compressor speeds based on a comparison of the target region to an operation coordinate defined by the feedback from the first sensor and the feedback from the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Aron M. Seiler, Nicholas P. Mislak, Chandra S. Yelamanchili, Rajiv K. Karkhanis, Nathan T. Ostrye
  • Patent number: 10940450
    Abstract: A system is for infusing liquid with a gas to form a gas-infused beverage. The system has a tank with first and second cavities. A refrigeration circuit refrigerates the tank and the contents of the first and second cavities. The liquid is supplied to the first cavity and cooled therein by the refrigeration circuit and then supplied to the second cavity and infused with gas therein to thereby form the gas-infused beverage. The gas-infused beverage is then supplied to a beverage outlet for dispensing to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Cornelius Deutschland
    Inventor: Klaus Wiemer
  • Patent number: 10746440
    Abstract: A thermal management system for regulating dissipation of multiple thermal loads during operation of an apparatus includes a two-phase pump loop (TPPL), a vapor cycle system (VCS), and a liquid thermal energy storage (TES) system integrated together to maintain the apparatus at a constant temperature. The TPPL is configured to remove heat from the apparatus; the TES system is configured to provide thermal energy storage and temperature regulation; and the VCS is configured to transfer heat to the environment. The multiple thermal loads include a primary thermal load in the form of heat from the apparatus and a secondary thermal load in the form of at least one of a housekeeping thermal load or a power electronics thermal load. The primary and secondary loads are at different temperatures with each being independently selected to be transient or steady state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric S. Donovan, Michael J. Head, Ken S. Rubel, Brian T. Spangler, Douglas J. Snyder, Aric Acius
  • Patent number: 10544542
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control method for laundry treating apparatus configured to perform a dry cycle for clothes by operating a heat pump comprising: a measuring step for measuring a temperature of a refrigerant and a temperature of air which pass through an evaporator to exchange heat; a comparing step for comparing a difference between the measured temperatures of the refrigerant and air with a preset reference temperature; and an adjusting step for adjusting an opening degree of the expansion valve according to the result of the comparing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyeonjoong Kim, Injae Han
  • Patent number: 10533556
    Abstract: Systems and methods are used to control operation of a rotary compressor of a refrigeration system to improve efficiency by varying the volume ratio and the speed of the compressor in response to current operating and load conditions. The volume of the axial and/or radial discharge ports of the compressor can be varied to provide a volume ratio corresponding to operating conditions. In addition, permanent magnet motors and/or control of rotor tip speed can be employed for further efficiency gains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Jay H. Johnson, John R. Sauls, Gordon Powell, Daniel R. Crum
  • Patent number: 10458690
    Abstract: A control system controls the output capacity of a compressor to avoid surge conditions in the compressor. The control system determines a capacity control output for the compressor and then modifies the capacity control output in view of any output limiters or overrides as determined by system operating parameters and to maintain a minimum frequency of operation for the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Curtis Christian Crane
  • Patent number: 10378816
    Abstract: A food prep table may include an upper chilling zone and a lower chilling zone, with each chilling zone containing an evaporation coil system, such as a TurboCoil™ system. The two evaporation coil systems are monitored and controlled by a dual thermostat and control unit (500) having temperature sensor probes in each chilling zone and controlling solenoid valves within each evaporation coil system. By the artful use and implementation of the dual thermostat and control unit, and by the artful use of T junctures in refrigerant supply and return lines, the disclosed embodiments enable a single condensing unit (600) to service both evaporation coil systems to achieve new efficiencies in the cost, refrigeration capacity, and thermal and mechanic attributes of the system. Moreover, an efficient dual air over air flow assembly is disclosed wherein chilled air is moved within the upper chilling zone in a manner that leverages the native configuration and cabinet surface areas of the evaporation coil systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Inventor: Hector Delgadillo
  • Patent number: 10175705
    Abstract: This invention relates to a power mapping and modeling system for integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Brown University
    Inventors: Sherief Reda, Abdullah Nowroz, Kapil Dev
  • Patent number: 10107531
    Abstract: A method for controlling a chiller system, the chiller system comprising a primary side in the form of a vapor compression system, and a secondary side, is disclosed. The secondary side comprises a variable speed pump for providing a secondary fluid flow through the evaporator of the primary side in such a manner that heat exchange takes place between refrigerant of the primary side and fluid of the secondary side in the evaporator, the secondary side further comprising a temperature sensor arranged in the secondary fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventor: Jan Prins
  • Patent number: 10090797
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus that controls a motor equipped with a cooling apparatus includes: an acquisition unit to acquire the temperature of the motor; a drive control unit to drive the motor and output a driving state and an operating condition of the motor as an operation information signal; and a cause determination unit to determine, on the basis of the temperature of the motor and the operation information signal, at least one of a plurality of causes of heat generation as a cause of heat generation by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Takahei, Toshihiro Azuma, Hiroki Uemura
  • Patent number: 9823005
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting and recovering from control instability caused by impeller stall in a chiller system are provided. In one embodiment, an impeller stall detection and recovery component of a chiller control unit calculates a control error signal frequency spectrum for an evaporator leaving water temperature, determines whether a high frequency signal content of the control error signal frequency spectrum exceeds acceptable limits, and adjusts a surge boundary control curve downward by a predetermined incremental value in order to resolve instability caused by impeller stall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Clanin, Lee L. Sibik
  • Patent number: 9810466
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes a heat source unit having a variable-capacity compressor and a heat-source-side heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator for a refrigerant, and a plurality of usage units connected to the heat source unit and having usage-side heat exchangers that function as radiators for the refrigerant. The operating capacity of the compressor is controlled to bring the discharge pressure of the compressor, or a state quantity equivalent to the discharge pressure, to a first target value. The first target value is determined based on an equivalent target value equivalent to a usage temperature required in individual usage units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Honda
  • Patent number: 9682607
    Abstract: Disclosed therein is an air conditioner for a vehicle, which includes an evaporator and a heater core mounted inside an air-conditioning case along an air flow direction in order; and a storage tank on which the evaporator is mounted, wherein the storage tank has a surface contact part carrying out heat exchange of the heat carrier, wherein the evaporator is in surface contact with the storage tank at the surface contact part. The air conditioner further includes a heat-exchanger mounted inside the storage tank exchanging heat between refrigerant circulating the evaporator and the heat carrier (cooling water) stored in the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Seong Seok Han, Seong Hyun Kim, Dong Gyun Kim, Hyung Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 9551535
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling water in a swimming pool includes a heat exchanger coupled to a withdrawal conduit and a skimmer conduit of the pool filtering system. The heat exchanger is buried in the ground at a depth at which the ground temperature is substantially constant year-round thereby providing a passive heat sink for the heat exchanger. Water from the swimming pool is passed to a three-way valve for directing pool water either directly back to the swimming pool or through the heat exchanger for cooling pool water by heat transfer to the ground heat sink before being returned to the pool. Pool water from the skimmer conduit is selectively directed through the heat exchange while flow of pool water from the withdrawal conduit is prevented. A temperature sensor may control operation of the three-way valve and selective operation of the skimmer and withdrawal conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Robert M Rodrick
  • Patent number: 9528717
    Abstract: An extended run time device for extending the time that a compressor-based heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system runs so as to increase energy efficiency of the HVAC system. The extended run time device includes a sensing circuit, a switching device and a processor. Based upon a signal from the sensing circuit, the processor causes the switching device to transmit a proxy control signal to the compressor, thereby causing power to the compressor to be maintained for a time period longer than a time period requested by the temperature control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Joseph E. Childs, Roger W. Rognli, Robert J. Cox, Brock Simonson
  • Patent number: 9493051
    Abstract: A method and system for cooling the fuel contained in the fuel storage tank of motor vehicles using internal combustion engines. The method and system uses tubing in intimate contact with the exterior of the fuel tank to cool the fuel tank. The method and system may optionally employ an insulating wrap or shell to improve thermal efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Inventors: Antwanette Bills, Anthony Bills
  • Patent number: 9267746
    Abstract: A liquid-air cooling system (1) has at least one fan device (2) including at least one variable-speed fan motor (3) driving a fan impeller (4) to create a cooling power for a fluid (5) in a fluid cycle (6). To regulate the speed of the fan motor (3) by a control and/or regulation device (24), at least one actual value (Ta) downstream of a segmented heat exchanger (19) is compared to a predefined desired value (Tb). The control and/or regulation device (24) adjusts the cooling power according to the current power values of the respective machine unit (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: HYDAC COOLING GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Welsch
  • Patent number: 9032747
    Abstract: Obtained is an air-conditioning apparatus that is capable of saving energy. A pressure in a passage of the second refrigerant flow switching device in which a refrigerant from an outdoor unit flows into is higher than a pressure in a passage of the second refrigerant flow switching device in which the refrigerant flows out to the outdoor unit regardless of switching states of a first refrigerant flow switching device, the second refrigerant flow switching devices, and a third refrigerant flow switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Takeshi Hatomura
  • Patent number: 9010136
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a refrigerating installation, according to which the cooling liquid temperature is controlled and stabilized upstream of the expansion valve, and the suction vapor temperature is controlled and stabilized upstream of the condenser in dry expansion systems, thermosyphon installations, two-stage evaporation installations, dry expansion installations having a downstream internal heat exchanger (IWT), and all other refrigerating systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: BMS-Energietechnik AG
    Inventor: Remo Meister
  • Patent number: 8991199
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes: a heat-source-side refrigerant circuit having a heat-source-side compressor, a first usage-side heat exchanger operable as a radiator of heat-source-side refrigerant, and a heat-source-side heat exchanger operable as an evaporator of heat-source-side refrigerant; and a usage-side refrigerant circuit having a usage-side compressor arranged to compress usage-side refrigerant with a pressure of the usage-side refrigerant corresponding to a saturated gas temperature of 65° C. that is 2.8 MPa or less at gauge pressure, a refrigerant-water heat exchanger operable as a radiator of usage-side refrigerant to heat an aqueous medium, and a first usage-side heat exchanger operable as an evaporator of usage-side refrigerant by the radiation of heat-source-side refrigerant. The weight of usage-side refrigerant enclosed in the usage-side refrigerant circuit is one to three times the weight of refrigeration machine oil enclosed to lubricate the usage-side compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd., Daikin Europe N.V.
    Inventor: Masahiro Honda
  • Patent number: 8984901
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes: a heat-source-side refrigerant circuit having a heat-source-side compressor, a first usage-side heat exchanger operable as a radiator of heat-source-side refrigerant, and a heat-source-side heat exchanger operable as a radiator of heat-source-side refrigerant; and a usage-side refrigerant circuit having a usage-side compressor, a refrigerant/water heat exchanger operable as a radiator of usage-side refrigerant to heat an aqueous medium, and the first usage-side heat exchanger operable as an evaporator of usage-side refrigerant by radiation of heat-source-side refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd., Daikin Europe N.V.
    Inventor: Masahiro Honda
  • Patent number: 8978741
    Abstract: A device for reducing temperature variation in a plenum includes at least one pipe and a plurality of sumps containing a fluid operable to vary between a liquid state and a gaseous state depending upon a temperature of the fluid. The plurality of sumps are positioned at various locations within the plenum and the at least one pipe is in fluid communication with the plurality of sumps. In addition, the fluid, in the gaseous state, is caused to move through the at least one pipe and condense, thereby reducing the temperature at the location of the sump where the fluid was vaporized and thereby reducing temperature variation in the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ratnesh K. Sharma, Cullen E. Bash, Chandrakant D. Patel, Abdlmonem Beitelmal
  • Patent number: 8978401
    Abstract: A data center cooling system may include heat transfer equipment to cool a liquid coolant without vapor compression refrigeration, and the liquid coolant is used on a liquid cooled information technology equipment rack housed in the data center. The system may also include a controller-apparatus to regulate the liquid coolant flow to the liquid cooled information technology equipment rack through a range of liquid coolant flow values based upon information technology equipment temperature thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, Hien P. Dang, Pritish R. Parida, Mark D. Schultz, Arun Sharma
  • Patent number: 8939196
    Abstract: A secondary pump-type heat source system includes: heat sources connected in parallel; a load system in which the heat source water flows; a primary pump supplying the heat source water to the load system; a secondary pump provided for each heat source and supplies the heat source water subjected to heat exchange in the load system to the heat source; and a heat source controller calculating flow quantity of the heat source water flowing in the heat source side and flow quantity of the heat source water flowing in the load system side by assigning a result from measurement by a water temperature sensor detecting heat source temperature to an operating characteristic of each heat source and controlling operation of the secondary pumps based on the calculation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Takeru Morita, Yuuji Matsumoto, Seiji Tsukiyama, Manabu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8833093
    Abstract: A method of controlling temperature in a compartment of a refrigerator is disclosed. During a normal operation of the refrigerator, the compartment is cooled by a temperature control circuit operated in accordance with a predetermined thermodynamic cycle. The method includes the steps of measuring a variable parameter of the compartment, and comparing the variable parameter with a threshold, and if the variable parameter is greater than the threshold, continuing to operate the temperature control circuit in accordance with the predetermined thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald Scott Tarr
  • Patent number: 8833091
    Abstract: A method and system for condensing water from ambient air. A dew extracting device with a dew extraction zone having surfaces has the surfaces chilled to below dew temperature for a first period of time. An air moving device directs a flow of air over the chilled surfaces so that liquid water condenses on the surfaces, raising the temperature of the surfaces. The chilling of the surfaces is terminated for a second period of time and liquid water is removed from the surfaces and heat of condensation is removed from the dew extraction zone. Then the process repeats to obtain additional liquid water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventor: Robert P. Biancardi
  • Patent number: 8820106
    Abstract: A heat source-side refrigerant circuit A including a compressor 11, an outdoor heat exchanger 13, a first refrigerant branch portion 21 connected to the compressor 11, a second refrigerant branch portion 22 and a third refrigerant branch portion 23 connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 13, a first refrigerant flow rate control device 24 provided between branch piping 40 and the second refrigerant branch portion 22, intermediate heat exchangers 25n connected at one side thereof to the first refrigerant branch portion 21 and the third refrigerant branch portion 23 via three-way valves 26n and connected at the other side thereof to the second refrigerant branch portion 22, and second refrigerant flow rate control devices 27n provided between the respective intermediate heat exchangers 25n and the second refrigerant branch portion 22, and user-side refrigerant circuits Bn having indoor heat exchangers 31n connected respectively to the intermediate heat exchangers 25n are provided, and at least one of water and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Wakamoto, Koji Yamashita, Takashi Okazaki, Naoki Tanaka, Keisuke Hokazono, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Takeshi Hatomura, Tomohiko Kasai, Naofumi Takenaka, Yusuke Shimazu
  • Patent number: 8820113
    Abstract: To reduce power consumption and more efficiently cool computing devices in a data center, an air supply unit supplies air from outside the data center to an air handling unit, which cools servers within the data center using the supplied air. Using air from outside the data center, rather than recirculating and cooling air from within the data center, reduces the power consumption of the data center. In an embodiment, a chiller and/or an evaporative cooling system are coupled to the air supply unit to allow further cooling of the outside air before it is circulated. Heat generated by the servers within the data center is collected, for example using thermal pathways coupled to server components, and used by the chiller in an absorption or adsorption process to further reduce power consumption of the data center and allow the air handling unit to further cool the outside air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Heydari, Marco Magarelli
  • Patent number: 8752397
    Abstract: In an air-conditioning apparatus, a heat source side heat exchanger 12, intermediate heat exchangers 15a and 15b, and use side heat exchangers 26a to 26d are separately formed and adapted to be disposed at separate locations, respectively. There are provided a defrosting operation function to melt frost attached around the heat source side heat exchanger 12, and a heating function during defrosting operation that drives a pump 21a to circulate a heat medium and supply heating energy to the use side heat exchangers 26a to 26d in need of heating to perform heating operation. The defrosting operation function can be executed by switching a four-way valve 11 to cooling side to introduce a high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant flowed out of the compressor 10 into the heat source side heat exchanger 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Takeshi Hatomura
  • Patent number: 8733115
    Abstract: A method for controlling freezing capacity of a variable-frequency freezing AC ice-water system separates the freezing capacity of each individual requirement end so as to reduce sudden or peak concentrating freezing demand and relieve variable-frequency load demand, and defines operating procedures corresponding to different requirement ends, respectively, wherein each of the operating procedures has a corresponding high-low temperature range that can be used as a temperature buffer zone so as to redistribute supply of the freezing capacity to each requirement end, thereby allowing the compressors thereof to operate smoothly and thus achieve energy saving as a result. The drawbacks of damaged pipelines are overcome that cause deficiency in freezing capacity as encountered in prior techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shyang-Yih Chen, Yu-Huan Wang, Chen-Kun Hsu, Ming-Hsien Pan, Pin-Chuan Chen, Ya-Ru Yang, Yan-Shao Lin
  • Patent number: 8667804
    Abstract: Thermal storage air conditioner including an outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger for making heat exchange, and at least one compressor for compressing refrigerant, an indoor unit having at least one indoor heat exchanger for making heat exchange, a thermal storage unit having a thermal storage tank for holding thermal storage substance therein, a thermal storage heat exchanger for receiving refrigerant from an outside of the thermal storage unit to heat exchange with the thermal storage substance in the thermal storage tank, and a securing member for securing the thermal storage heat exchanger so as to maintain the thermal storage heat exchanger submerged under the thermal storage substance in the thermal storage tank, and a functional unit for selective control of refrigerant flows among the outdoor unit, the indoor unit and the thermal storage unit according to an operation condition, thereby maintaining the thermal storage heat exchanger in the thermal storage tank securely, to prevent drop of he
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Yoon Koh, In Kyu Kim, Jin Ha Hwang
  • Patent number: 8607855
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air-conditioning system for a motor-driven vehicle, having a refrigerant circuit (20) with a plurality of heat exchangers (4, 24) through which a refrigerant can be conducted for an exchange of heat with the air which flows through them, with it being possible for the heat exchangers (4, 24) to be operated as heaters or as evaporators as a function of the operating state of the air-conditioning system, and at least one third heat exchanger (16) is provided in the refrigerant circuit (20), which third heat exchanger (16) serves for an exchange of heat with a coolant circuit (13) which is formed separately from the refrigerant circuit (20). The vehicle can be both a motor vehicle and also a fuel-cell-driven vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Behr GmbH & Co. KG, Behr America, Inc., Behr France Rouffach SAS
    Inventors: Günther Feuerecker, Karl Lochmahr, Frank Müller, Dirk Neumeister, Thomas Strauβ, Marcus Weinbrenner, Richard Obradovich, Gunnar Schlinke, Christophe Schmittheisler
  • Patent number: 8590328
    Abstract: A refrigeration system with a multi-function heat exchanger has a first heat exchanger with an internal partition defining a condenser, a subcooler and an evaporator. An expansion device is located external of the heat exchanger and receives condensed refrigerant from the subcooler and provides expanded refrigerant to the evaporator. A compressor circulates the refrigerant through the condenser, the subcooler, and the evaporator. A secondary coolant circulates through the subcooler, the evaporator and the loads. A control system receives refrigerant temperature and pressure signals, and provides a control signal to the expansion device to maintain a temperature of the refrigerant within a predetermined range. A second heat exchanger cools a condensing fluid circulating through the condenser to condense the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Bittner, Philip A. Stephenson
  • Publication number: 20130213067
    Abstract: A heat source device is provided with a differential pressure sensor that measures the differential pressure between an inlet pressure and an outlet pressure for the chilled water in an evaporator and with a control device. The control device possesses the coefficient of loss for the evaporator and is provided with a chilled-water flow-rate computing portion that calculates a chilled-water flow rate at the evaporator on the basis of the coefficient of loss and the differential pressure output from the differential pressure sensor; a control-command computing portion that generates a control command by using a specification heating-medium flow rate that is set in advance; and a control-command correcting portion that corrects the control command generated by the control-command computing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Wajima, Kenji Ueda, Masaharu Nitta
  • Patent number: 8501060
    Abstract: For controlling temperature in the molding of plastics, metal, ceramic, or die-casting, a circulator supporting a molding machine includes a fixed displacement pump driven by an electronic servo motor for volumetric metering of thermal fluid to or from the molding machine. A pre-set or dynamically controlled volume and flow rate profile matches the heating and cooling requirement of a molding machine and process. Volumetric metering may be based on parameters such as time, machine cycle status, temperature, pressure, and/or flow rate. Fluid may be circulated through the mold at positive or negative pressure at fixed, variable, or pulsed flow. The supply side in a fluid loop may be restricted so as to cause a pressure drop in or upstream of the mold, die or barrel, and seed bubbles may be injected into the fluid flow to excite vaporization and lowering of the fluid temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: MoldCool International LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8448460
    Abstract: A chiller bypass system is provided for deployment onboard a vehicle that includes a battery pack through which a first coolant is circulated. In one embodiment, the chiller bypass system comprises a chiller, a chiller bypass duct fluidly coupled to the battery pack and configured to supply the first coolant thereto, and a chiller bypass valve. The chiller bypass valve includes: (i) a valve inlet fluidly coupled to the battery pack and configured to receive the first coolant therefrom, (ii) a first valve outlet fluidly coupled to the chiller and configured to supply the first coolant thereto, and (iii) a second valve outlet fluidly coupled to the chiller bypass duct and configured to supply the first coolant thereto. The chiller bypass valve selectively directs coolant flow between the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet to adjust the volume of the first coolant cooled by the chiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Dogariu, Christopher C. Nyeholt
  • Patent number: 8439306
    Abstract: A thermal management system comprises a first heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet, a second heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet, a fluid loop, a first heat pump, and a second heat pump. The fluid loop circulates a fluid, and forms a continuous path between the first and second heat exchangers. The first heat pump is connected to the fluid loop and is disposed between the outlet of the second heat exchanger and the inlet of the first heat exchanger. The second heat pump is connected to the fluid loop and is disposed between the outlet of the first heat exchanger and the inlet of the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: George Eugene Wilmot, Jr., Diane G. Drew, Gregory M. Ott
  • Patent number: 8438865
    Abstract: A cooling system (10) for cooling an aircraft device (12) comprises an evaporator (14, 16, 18) for receiving a fluid (F) which is to be evaporated, a first adsorber (24) which contains a medium (28) for the adsorption of the fluid (F) which is evaporated in the evaporator (14, 16, 18), as well as a second adsorber (26) which contains a medium for the adsorption of the fluid (F) which is evaporated in the evaporator (14, 16, 18). A control system (22) is adapted to establish or to interrupt a fluid connection between the evaporator (14, 16, 18) and the first and/or the second adsorber(s) (24, 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Frey, Ahmet Kayihan Kiryaman, Carsten Colberg, Peter Schwebke, Markus Kerber, Michael Dreyhaupt
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8365546
    Abstract: A hot water storage type hot water supply system includes a storage battery unit, a heat pump cycle, a water storage tank, a water circulation path, first and second paths, first and second temperature sensors, and a controller. The heat pump cycle circulates a first refrigerant. The first and second paths circulate a second refrigerant. The first and second sensors sense temperatures of the storage battery unit and water stored in the tank, respectively. The controller controls the second refrigerant to flow in the first or the second path when the temperature of the storage battery unit sensed by the first sensor is higher or lower than a first or a second predetermined temperature, respectively. The controller controls to close the first and second paths when the temperature of the storage battery unit sensed by the first sensor is not lower than the second predetermined temperature and not higher than the first predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Gaku Hayashida
  • Patent number: 8322154
    Abstract: A cooling system and method are provided for facilitating two-phase heat transfer from an electronics system including a plurality of electronic devices to be cooled. The cooling system includes a plurality of evaporators coupled to the electronic devices, and a coolant loop for passing system coolant through the evaporators. The coolant loop includes a plurality of coolant branches coupled in parallel, with each coolant branch being coupled in fluid communication with a respective evaporator. The cooling system further includes a control unit for maintaining pressure of system coolant at a system coolant supply side of the coolant branches within a specific pressure range at or above saturation pressure of the system coolant for a given desired saturation temperature of system coolant into the evaporators to facilitate two-phase heat transfer in the plurality of evaporators from the electronic devices to the system coolant at the given desired saturation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons