Utilizing Solar Energy Patents (Class 62/235.1)
  • Patent number: 12092360
    Abstract: A solar photovoltaic powered phase change material thermal energy storage system includes a refrigerator unit having a phase change material (PCM) tank and a photovoltaic (PV) panel to provide electrical energy to the PCM tank to melt a PCM stored therein. The PCM tank includes a refrigeration coil immersed in the PCM and configured to circulate refrigerant to between the PCM tank and a condenser. Energy released and absorbed during solidification and melting of the PCM is used to support an air-conditioning (AC) unit and substitute power used by a compressor of the AC unit, to handle demand during peak hours, thereby reducing overall power requirement of a facility. The melting of the PCM is also controlled, so that the AC unit may operate with the aid of the PCM for longer duration during the day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventor: Kashif Irshad
  • Patent number: 12075860
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for cooling and/or thermoregulation are disclosed, including thermoregulatory apparel. Such thermoregulatory apparel includes a cooling vest for human users to reduce their body temperature and/or to keep their body temperature below a certain value. The cooling vest may include a plurality of tubing arranged within the four-way stretch fabric used for the vest. Coolant flows through this tubing, which is arranged so that it contacts a user's skin while the user is wearing the vest. The composition and arrangement of the tubing can be matched with the type of fabric so that both the tubing and the fabric stretch in similar ways, ensuring that the tubing stays in contact with the user's skin. Also disclosed is a cartridge with a phase change material that is configured to refresh or recharge the cooling ability of the coolant when the coolant is passed through the phase change material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Raviraj Pare
  • Patent number: 12071938
    Abstract: A concentrating solar power plant includes a solar light capturing part configured to capture solar light; and a heat exchange part configured to transform solar energy, from the captured solar light, into heat, which is stored in a solid medium, wherein the solid medium is stored underground. The solar light capturing part has a heliostat farm, a beam down solar concentrator, and a compound concentrator, each configured to reflect the solar light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Qian Chen, Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, Muhammad Burhan, Doskhan Ybyraiymkul, Faheem Hassan Akhtar, M. Kumja, Kim Choon Ng
  • Patent number: 12066212
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a hot water sub-system including a first heat exchanger and a condenser, a cold water sub-system including a second heat exchanger and an evaporator, and a refrigerant sub-system for transferring heat from the cold water sub-system to the hot water sub-system. The first and second heat exchangers transfer moisture and heat between a liquid desiccant and air. The refrigerant sub-system includes a compressor, the condenser, an expansion valve, the evaporator, and a refrigerant-air heat exchanger. The condenser transfers heat from compressed refrigerant to the hot water sub-system. The evaporator transfers heat from the cold water sub-system to uncompressed refrigerant. The refrigerant-air heat exchanger transfers heat from a portion of the compressed refrigerant to air in a first operating mode, and transfers heat from the air to a portion of the uncompressed refrigerant in a second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Copeland LP
    Inventor: William J. Dean
  • Patent number: 12061039
    Abstract: An indoor/outdoor cooling cabinet includes an internal cavity that may be maintained at a desired temperature by a cooling system that is powered by a DC power system having at least one onboard battery for facilitating use of the cabinet outdoors where an external power supply is not readily available. The cooling cabinet also includes an AC power system that is connectable to an external AC power source for replenishing the power stored in the at least one battery of the DC power system, which facilitates the use of the cabinet indoors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Crescent Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Fisher, Scott Petty, Brian Styers
  • Patent number: 12061056
    Abstract: Various aspects as described herein are directed to a radiative cooling apparatuses and methods for cooling an object. As consistent with one or more embodiments, a radiative cooling apparatus includes an arrangement of a plurality of different material located at different depths along a depth dimension relative to the object. The plurality of different material includes a solar spectrum reflecting portion configured and arranged to suppress light modes, thereby inhibiting coupling of the incoming electromagnetic radiation, of at least some wavelengths in the solar spectrum, to the object at a range of angles of incidence relative to the depth dimension. Further, the plurality of material includes a thermally-emissive arrangement configured and arranged to facilitate, simultaneously with the inhibiting coupling of the incoming electromagnetic radiation, the thermally-generated electromagnetic emissions from the object at the range of angles of incidence and in mid-IR wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Aaswath Pattabhi Raman, Shanhui Fan, Eden Rephaeli, Linxiao Zhu, Marc A. Anoma, Eli Goldstein
  • Patent number: 12030368
    Abstract: A compressor system for a vehicle comprising a vehicle internal combustion engine and a vehicle heating and cooling system. The compressor system comprising a compressor/motor generator defining a compressor motor/generator shaft, a compressor mechanically connected to the compressor motor/generator shaft; and a engine clutch mechanically connected to the compressor motor/generator shaft and to the vehicle internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Tiger Tool International Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael Andrews
  • Patent number: 11988582
    Abstract: A cryogenic liquid sampling system including a chamber having affixed therein a sample pump to pull a cryogenic liquid sample from an external source and an enclosure. The enclosure includes a supply port to receive an input stream of a gas, an input port connected to the chamber via a vacuum line, a sample pump port connected to the chamber via a pump line and configured to feed therethrough gas received at the supply port to the sample pump, a vacuum device connected to the input port and configured to generate a vacuum within the chamber by pulling air from the vacuum line, and processing circuitry to control the vacuum device and the sample pump to perform transfer of a cryogenic liquid sample from the external source to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Mustang Sampling, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth O. Thompson, Kevin Warner, Timothy L Querrey
  • Patent number: 11987098
    Abstract: A heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop includes a first heat exchanger, a first region of a second heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger, a fourth heat exchanger, a compressor, a vapor generator, an accumulator, a first expansion valve, and a first three-way valve. The compressor includes a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet. The vapor generator is positioned downstream of the outlet of the compressor and upstream of both the low-pressure inlet and the mid-pressure inlet. The accumulator is positioned immediately upstream of the compressor. The accumulator includes an inlet and an outlet. The first expansion valve is positioned upstream of the accumulator. The first expansion valve includes an inlet and an outlet. The first three-way valve is positioned immediately downstream of the first expansion valve and immediately upstream of the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rachael Shey, Jeffrey Paul Brown
  • Patent number: 11927399
    Abstract: A filling system that has at least one heat pipe used for heat transfer, at least one ammonia tube that pure ammonia is able to be stored at room temperature as saturated vapour, at least one delivery line that enables to deliver ammonia from the ammonia tube to the heat pipe and the heat pipe is removably engaged, at least one valve is located on the delivery line and allows ammonia flow to be controlled, at least one detector located on the delivery line and providing seal control, and at least one heater to heat the heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: TUSAS-TURK HAVACILIK VE UZAY SANAYII ANONIM SIRKETI, GAZI UNIVERSITESI
    Inventors: Cem Omur, Ahmet Bilge Uygur, Hasan Gurguc Isik, Ilhami Horuz
  • Patent number: 11913728
    Abstract: A thermal retention apparatus includes a tank and a phase change thermal energy storage unit contained within the tank that, in turn, includes a phase change material and a heat exchanger assembly. The heat exchanger assembly includes a phase change material (PCM) charging circuit for charging the phase change material, and a PCM discharging circuit for discharging the phase change material. The heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of heat exchanger modules immersed within the phase change material, and the PCM charging circuit includes a fluid flow arrangement of the heat exchanger modules that is in parallel. The PCM discharging circuit includes a fluid flow arrangement of the heat exchanger modules that is in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: PHASESTOR LLC
    Inventors: Alfred Scott Queen, Byron C. Owens
  • Patent number: 11864644
    Abstract: A panel attachable to a backpack body. The panel having at least one through-hole formed therein to allow air to flow into a gap defined between the panel and the backpack body. An air-moving device is mountable to the panel, with an outer portion of the air-moving device extending forwardly from the panel and an inner portion of the air-moving device positioned in the gap. The air-moving device causes air to flow into the gap through the at least one through-hole and into one or more inlets of the inner portion. The air-moving device causes air to flow out one or more outlets of the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Gizmospring.com Dongguan Limited
    Inventors: Kenny Chih-Yao Tai, Yueh-Ting Lee, Jin Biao Zhang, Hung Yang, Gustavo Ricarte Teixeira
  • Patent number: 11858313
    Abstract: A device for temperature control for a motor vehicle, includes a diffractive optical element disposed on a surface of the motor vehicle, and a radiator. The diffractive optical element couples in incident radiation and conducts the coupled-in incident radiation away from an area of the motor vehicle to be cooled. The radiator includes an absorber to absorb the coupled-in incident radiation which is conducted to the absorber from the diffractive optical element. The radiator releases energy based on the coupled-in incident radiation absorbed by the absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Mark Bennemann, Tobias Moll
  • Patent number: 11835255
    Abstract: A cooling system includes one or more cooling panels for affecting a cooling load in an environment. The cooling system also includes a heat exchanger coupled to the one or more cooling panels. Each cooling panel includes a film, a panel body, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid path. The film's radiative properties allow it to achieve a temperature less than an environment temperature. The heat exchanger includes ports that are coupled to the fluid paths of the one or more cooling panels. A control system is used to control flow rates, flow paths, fluid temperatures, component temperatures, cooling rates, component operation, or other aspects of a cooling system. For example, the control system controls or monitors pumps, compressors, fans, valves, sensors, actuators, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SkyCool Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Urnes Johnson, Aaswath Raman, Eli A. Goldstein
  • Patent number: 11774154
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a heat exchanger configured to place a cooling fluid in a heat exchange relationship with a working fluid, a free-cooling circuit having a pump configured to circulate the working fluid through the heat exchanger and a condenser, a flow control valve configured to control a flow rate of the working fluid to the condenser, a condenser bypass valve configured to control a flow rate of the working fluid that bypasses the condenser, and a controller configured to adjust a position of the flow control valve, a position of the condenser bypass valve, a speed of a fan of the condenser, a speed of the pump, and a temperature of a heater based on an ambient temperature, a temperature of the working fluid leaving the condenser, the position of the flow control valve, the position of the condenser bypass valve, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
    Inventors: William L. Kopko, Stephen M. Zardus, Israel Federman, Curtis C. Crane, Todd Kwao-vovo
  • Patent number: 11774185
    Abstract: A device for energy transfer and for energy storage in a liquid reservoir has a water heat exchanger arranged on a bottom and has an air heat exchanger arranged above the water heat exchanger, wherein the water heat exchanger is arranged in a liquid reservoir that is surrounded by an inner shell which delimits the device with respect to an outer shell covering the inner shell from the bottom, wherein the outer shell is at least partially inserted into an earth layer, and the device is closed upwardly by a lid in such a way as to make it possible to generate a flow of air from an air inlet to an air outlet of the air heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ENVOLA GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Schechner, Guenther Schwenk
  • Patent number: 11739025
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a milk-of-lime preparation apparatus and preparation method having waste heat recovery line, that may recover waste heat generated during preparation of liquid milk-of-lime and deliver the recovered waste heat to water, so as to supply the water at an optimal temperature necessary for a hydration reaction, thereby increasing the reaction efficiency and reducing the preparation time of the milk-of-lime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventor: Ji Heon Lee
  • Patent number: 11703262
    Abstract: A cold generator incorporates a heat exchanger unit integrating a heat-emitting heat exchanger and a heat-absorbing heat exchanger. The heat exchanger unit has a flow path layer stack built up in a stacked construction. In order to form the heat-emitting heat exchanger in the flow path layer stack, at least one heat-emitting refrigerant flow path and at least one heat-absorbing second heat transport flow path are provided. A second heat transport medium guided in a second heat transport circuit is arranged to flow through the second heat transport flow path. At least one heat-absorbing refrigerant flow path and at least one heat-emitting first heat transport flow path are provided in order to form the heat-absorbing heat exchanger in the flow path layer stack with a first heat transport medium guided in a first heat transport circuit that is arranged to flow through the first heat transport flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: BITZER KUEHLMASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventor: Frank Vetter
  • Patent number: 11686508
    Abstract: An adsorptive cooling system includes two highly adsorptive structures positioned to receive thermal energy from a thermal energy source, each highly adsorptive structure includes a substrate and a metal-organic framework (MOF) coupled to the respective substrate and adapted for adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions. The adsorptive cooling system includes a cooling unit and a circulation system adapted for circulating the refrigerant from one of the highly adsorptive structures to the cooling unit to provide cooling from the thermal energy source and to return the refrigerant from the cooling unit to the same or other highly adsorptive structure. Each substrate may include a plurality of microchannels, providing ingress and egress paths for a refrigerant, defined by grooves in a surface of the substrate nearest the MOF and/or surfaces of a plurality of microcapillaries of the substrate. The microchannels provide ingress and egress paths for a refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore F. Baumann, Joe H. Satcher, Jr., Joseph C. Farmer
  • Patent number: 11667174
    Abstract: A smart electric temperature-controlled system connected to a vehicle, such as a vehicle-transported refrigeration system, includes a power management system and an energy storage module. The power management system and energy storage module can manage power delivered to the temperature-controlled system components by monitoring temperatures and voltages (and possibly other factors) and by delivering power as a function of the things monitored. In a typical implementation the power management system and an energy storage module can supply power to a vehicle-transported refrigeration system when the vehicle is stopped and/or power from the vehicle electrical system is electrically isolated or otherwise unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventors: Saeed Zaeri, Peter Timothy Johnston
  • Patent number: 11644040
    Abstract: Provided area second-order sliding mode observation-based fan power control method and system. The method includes: calculating, by second-order sliding mode observation, an observed rotational speed value of a fan, and calculating a maximum power reference current corresponding to maximum power of the fan according to a relational expression between the rotational speed and maximum power point; and performing, by controlling a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) switch to be toggled, system Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) according to the maximum power reference current, so as to control the fan to operate stably at the maximum power point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: INSPUR SUZHOU INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhiyu Chen
  • Patent number: 11624517
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for air conditioning, capturing combustion contaminants, desalination, and other processes using liquid desiccants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Vandermeulen, Jack I. Hanoka
  • Patent number: 11578693
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage system comprising a working fluid to store and transfer thermal energy between a heat source and a thermal load and a vessel to store the working fluid. The vessel has an interior region and a floating separator piston in the interior region to separate a hot portion from a cold portion of the working fluid. There is a first manifold thermally coupled to an output of the heat source and to an input of the thermal load and fluidly coupled to the interior region of the vessel and a second manifold thermally coupled to an input of the heat source and an output of the thermal load and fluidly coupled to the interior region of the vessel. There is a controller configured to maintain the working fluid in a liquid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Norwich Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy McBride, Jonathan Lynch, Joel Stettenheim, Oliver James Brambles, Leif Kilkenny Johnson, Per Erik Kristoffer Edstrom
  • Patent number: 11530831
    Abstract: A system for providing air conditioning to a living space and heating potable water. The system comprising a heat pump circuit comprising a compressor for circulating a refrigerant around the heat pump circuit, a first condenser, a second condenser and an evaporator. The evaporator being adapted to receive a first flow of air from an air inlet to transfer heat from the first flow of air to the refrigerant. The first condenser being adapted to receive a flow of water to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the water. The second condenser being adapted to receive a second flow of air to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the second flow of air. The first flow being provided from the evaporator to a living space by an air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: ZINNIATEK LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Daniel Fernandez Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11515253
    Abstract: An electronic module includes a power supply wiring line disposed on a substrate along a first side and connected to a power supply terminal, a ground wiring line disposed on the substrate along a second side and connected to a ground terminal, and first to third half bridges each having a high-side switch and a low-side switch connected in series between the power supply wiring line and the ground wiring line. Connection points of the high-side switches and the low-side switches are connected to first to third motor terminals and also connected in parallel to one another. The first motor terminal, the second motor terminal, and the third motor terminal are disposed between the power supply terminal and the ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 11506131
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes a first heat source assembly including a first heat source exchanger, a first thermal fluid inlet line extending to the first heat source exchanger, and a first thermal fluid outlet line extending from the first heat source exchanger; a second heat source assembly including a second heat source exchanger, a second thermal fluid inlet line extending to the second heat source exchanger, and second a thermal fluid outlet line extending from the second heat source exchanger; a shared assembly including a thermal fluid line and a heat sink exchanger, the shared assembly defining an upstream junction in fluid communication with the first thermal fluid outlet line and second thermal fluid outlet line and a downstream junction in fluid communication with the first thermal fluid inlet line and second thermal fluid inlet line; and a controller configured to selectively fluidly connect the first heat source assembly or the second heat source assembly to the shared assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Justin Paul Smith, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Patent number: 11493227
    Abstract: A switching flow source system includes a switching flow apparatus and a source loop and a production loop that are in fluid communication with the switching flow apparatus. In a cooling mode a first heat exchanger, acting as a condenser, is fluidly connected to the source loop and a second heat exchanger, acting as an evaporator, is fluidly connected to the production loop. The switching flow source system can be switched to a heating mode by operating valves within the switching flow apparatus. In the heating mode the first heat exchanger is switched to being fluidly connected to the production loop while the second heat exchanger is switched to being fluidly connected to the source loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Robert W. Jacobi
  • Patent number: 11479085
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a temperature control system for a temperature controlled goods vehicle, wherein the temperature control system comprises: a solar panel and a temperature control unit comprising: one or more temperature control components; a battery coupled to the solar cell (200) for receiving a first charging current i1 from the solar cell; an engine operative to supply a second charging current i2 to the battery; and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Oscar Sanz De Acedo Pollan, Tom McNamara
  • Patent number: 11473785
    Abstract: A system for heating a first fluid flow from a first temperature to a second temperature, the system including a hot water supply line for receiving the first fluid flow at a first end and exhausting the first fluid flow at a second end; and a heating system including a heat engine, a thermal battery and a heat exchanger, wherein the thermal battery is configured to be replenished at a point of heat transfer by the heat engine and the hot water supply line is configured to receive heat from the thermal battery via the heat exchanger to elevate the temperature of the first fluid flow from the first temperature to the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Intellihot, Inc.
    Inventors: Sridhar Deivasigamani, Sivaprasad Akasam
  • Patent number: 11400454
    Abstract: A mobile field-deployable laboratory to more conveniently enable the detecting, sequencing and analyzing of biological agents at the point-of-need. This device enables field operators to go from sample to actionable information in the field without the need for an internet connection or grid-based power. The present mobile laboratory is configured in a footlocker configuration including a plurality of different compartments specifically configured for holding all of the necessary equipment for use in a wide variety of different applications including successfully extracting, amplifying, sequencing and characterizing specific viruses, pathogens and other bacteria directly in the field including an integrated power supply for providing power to the relevant components for up to 72 hours of continuous use without the need for any external power source. The present mobile laboratory includes a deployable workbench area which provides a stable workstation when the footlocker configuration is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MRIGlobal
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Jacobs, Joseph A. Russell, Jacob R. Aspinwall
  • Patent number: 11320183
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward systems and method for cooling a refrigerant flow of a refrigerant circuit with a cold cooling fluid flow from a thermal storage unit to generate a warm cooling fluid flow, thermally isolating the cold cooling fluid flow and the warm cooling fluid flow in the thermal storage unit, and cooling the warm cooling fluid flow from the thermal storage unit in a chiller system to at least partially produce the cold cooling fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventor: William L. Kopko
  • Patent number: 11239687
    Abstract: A charge control device capable of charging a battery with electric power generated by a photovoltaic power generator, includes: a setting unit configured to set a control value relating to a magnitude of electric power to be supplied to the battery; and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to an actual supplied electric power supplied to the battery. The setting unit sets a predetermined initial value as the control value and then increases and decreases the control value based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11221161
    Abstract: A heat-driven refrigeration/heat-pump system includes at least one vapor expansion stage and at least one vapor compression stage, a condenser, and an evaporator, while the power consumption of the compression stages is fully supplied by the power output of the expansion stages. In the system, a vapor absorber/generator unit is adopted, such that at least one expansion stage is fed by the vapor from the generator, and at least one power stage; compression or expansion, delivers its output stream to the absorber instead of to the condenser. In the new arrangement the expansion stages produce surplus power, facilitating a supplementary refrigeration loop between the evaporator and the condenser to which there is no direct expense of heat from the generator, thereby improving the overall performance of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Kalindha Rashmi LLC
    Inventor: Kamal Prithiviraj Fernando
  • Patent number: 11207949
    Abstract: A multi-compressor refrigerant system for a vehicle including a main compressor, an auxiliary compressor fluidly coupled with the main compressor, and a chiller fluidly coupled to the main compressor and the auxiliary compressor for exchanging heat with an electronic device. At least one of the main compressor and the auxiliary compressor is operated based on a thermal load of the chiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jing He, Loren John Lohmeyer, Manfred Koberstein, Ranganathan Madhavan, Craig Martin Spinneweber
  • Patent number: 11165363
    Abstract: An electronic module includes a shunt resistor having one end that is connected to one end of a first ground wiring line and another end that is connected to another end of a second ground wiring line. Signal terminals are disposed to be close to the shunt resistor, the signal terminals including a first current detection terminal electrically connected to the one end of the shunt resistor, and a second current detection terminal disposed to be close to the shunt resistor and electrically connected to the other end of the shunt resistor. The shunt resistor is disposed to be close to a first side of a substrate along which the signal terminals are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 11149971
    Abstract: A climate-control system includes a working fluid circuit and a storage tank. The working fluid circuit has a first compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a flash tank, and a third heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger receives working fluid discharged from the first compressor. The flash tank is disposed downstream the first heat exchanger and includes an inlet and first and second outlets. The first outlet provides working fluid to the third heat exchanger disposed between the flash tank and the first compressor. The second outlet provides working fluid to the first compressor. The storage tank contains phase-change material that is thermally coupled with the second heat exchanger of the working fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirill M. Ignatiev, Wayne R. Warner
  • Patent number: 11143437
    Abstract: A thermal cell panel system for heating and cooling using a refrigerant includes a plurality of solar thermal cell chambers, and a piping network for a flow of the refrigerant through the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers. In addition, the system includes a compressor having a motor coupled to a variable frequency drive (“VFD”), where the compressor is coupled to the piping network upstream of the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers and the VFD is configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to the pressure of the refrigerant within the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers. The piping network includes an inlet manifold coupled to the inlet of each solar thermal cell chamber, and an outlet manifold coupled to the outlet of each solar thermal cell chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Commercial Energy Saving Plus, LLC
    Inventor: Stewart Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11029062
    Abstract: A geothermal heat mining system can operate within a single primary borehole in a geothermal reservoir. A primary fluid loop can include a cold working fluid line leading into the primary borehole and a hot working fluid line coming out of the primary borehole. A secondary fluid loop can be located down the primary borehole, where the secondary fluid loop is in thermal contact with the geothermal reservoir. A downhole heat mining device can control a rate of heat transfer from the secondary fluid loop to the primary fluid loop by selectively controlling fluid flow through the primary fluid loop, the secondary fluid loop, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Strabo Engineering, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Holtzman
  • Patent number: 10985511
    Abstract: A power cord for transferring power to an electrically powered accessory configured to be used with at least one of a vehicle, a trailer, and a transport container is provided. The power cord includes a DC wire portion, an AC wire portion, and a single plug at one end of the power cord. The DC wire portion provides DC power to the electrically powered accessory. The AC wire portion provides AC power to the electrically powered accessory. The DC wire portion and the AC wire portion each have a first end and a second end. The single plug is connected to the first end of the DC wire portion and connected to the first end of the AC wire portion and includes an AC contact arrangement, a DC contact arrangement, and a communication contact arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Gorski, Eckardt Augenstein, Wallace Stephen Hubbard, Matthew Srnec, Philip Lewis Lavrich, Ryan Wayne Schumacher
  • Patent number: 10935290
    Abstract: A pressure spike prevention assembly for use in a heat pump system includes a thermostatic expansion valve that includes a first port and a second port. The first port is designed to be fluidly coupled to an indoor coil, and the second port is designed to be coupled to an outdoor coil. The pressure spike prevention assembly further includes a multi-way valve that includes an inlet port, an output port, and a liquid line port. The inlet port is fluidly coupled to the first port. The output port is fluidly in communication with the second port. The liquid line port is configured to be fluidly coupled to a charge compensator of the heat pump system via a liquid line of the heat pump system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Mark O. Creason
  • Patent number: 10888024
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a pump and a driver mechanically coupled to the pump. The driver is configured to receive gaseous refrigerant at a first pressure, discharge gaseous refrigerant at a second pressure, and produce a mechanical force from a pressure differential between the first pressure and the second pressure. The pump is configured to receive liquid refrigerant at a third pressure, discharge liquid refrigerant at a fourth pressure, and pump liquid refrigerant from the third pressure to the fourth pressure in response to the mechanical force from the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: EQUINIX, INC.
    Inventors: Tikhon Suresh Pichai, Douglas James Asay, Bhavin Raju Shah
  • Patent number: 10845102
    Abstract: The integrated solar absorption heat pump system includes an absorption heat pump assembly (AHPA) having a generator, a condenser in fluid communication with the generator, an evaporator/absorber in fluid communication with the condenser and the generator, and a heat exchanger in communicating relation with the evaporator/absorber; a solar collector in fluid communication with the generator of the AHPA; a photovoltaic thermal collector in communicating relation with the evaporator/absorber of the AHPA; a plurality of pumps configured for pumping a fluid throughout the system to provide the desired heating or cooling; a power storage source, e.g., a solar battery, in communicating relation with the photovoltaic thermal collector; and a coil unit in communicating relation to the evaporator/absorber for receiving an air-stream. The absorption heat pump assembly can include an absorber and a solution heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Nasiru I. Ibrahim, Fahad A. Al-Sulaiman, Palanichamy Gandhidasan
  • Patent number: 10845101
    Abstract: The integrated solar absorption heat pump system includes an absorption heat pump assembly (AHPA) having a generator, a condenser in fluid communication with the generator, an evaporator/absorber in fluid communication with the condenser and the generator, and a heat exchanger in communicating relation with the evaporator/absorber; a solar collector in fluid communication with the generator of the AHPA; a photovoltaic thermal collector in communicating relation with the evaporator/absorber of the AHPA; a plurality of pumps configured for pumping a fluid throughout the system to provide the desired heating or cooling; a power storage source, e.g., a solar battery, in communicating relation with the photovoltaic thermal collector; and a coil unit in communicating relation to the evaporator/absorber for receiving an air-stream. The absorption heat pump assembly can include an absorber and a solution heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Nasiru I. Ibrahim, Fahad A. Al-Sulaiman, Palanichamy Gandhidasan
  • Patent number: 10816250
    Abstract: An air conditioner and a control method thereof are provided. The air conditioner includes: a compressor including a coil; an oil pool connected to the compressor through an oil piping; a main control board configured to receive a power-on signal of the air conditioner, obtain an actual temperature of the oil pool after receiving the power-on signal, generate a required heating amount in response to the actual temperature of the oil pool being lower than a preset startup temperature, and generate timing control signals according to the required heating amount; a power device, wherein two sides of the power device are respectively connected to the main control board and the coil, and the power device is configured to drive the coil to heat the oil pool according to the timing control signals generated by the main control board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: QINGDAO HISENSE HITACHI AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang Liu, Chengjun He, Junxi Zhang
  • Patent number: 10794369
    Abstract: A solar powered closed loop system and method for powering a cooling unit. The system and method provide a fully closed system that harnesses the power of the sun with a solar energy collecting device to generate vapor. The vapor has characteristics of high energy, expansion, and compressibility that enable travel through a plurality of conduits in the closed loop. The system generates vapor, carries the vapor and resultant gas, expands energy, and produces condensate through use of: a vapor expander, a compressor, a gas-liquid heat exchanger, an accumulator, an air-to-air heat exchanger, and a vapor condenser. Thus, through expansion, compression, and conversion different states of the vapor are controllably generated and disbursed for work. The work generated from the expansion and energy release from the vapors and gases produces work for powering the air-to-air heat exchanger, such as a cooling unit, and driving a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventor: Walter B. Freeman
  • Patent number: 10753624
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for air conditioning, capturing combustion contaminants, desalination, and other processes using liquid desiccants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: 7AC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Vandermeulen, Jack I. Hanoka
  • Patent number: 10753622
    Abstract: A heating installation comprising: a first circuit (C1); a second circuit (C2); a first heat pump (4) for heating the medium in the first circuit; a heat exchanger (10) which is arranged in the second circuit and connected between a condenser (4b) and an expansion valve (4d) of the first heat pump; a second heat pump (11) arranged for heating a medium by absorbing heat energy from the medium in the second circuit; and a first and a second accumulator tank (A1, A2) arranged in series in the second circuit for accumulating the medium in the second circuit. The accumulator tanks are alternately connectable to the second heat pump in order to allow medium to circulate between the first accumulator tank and the evaporator of the second heat pump in a first operating situation and allow medium to circulate between the second accumulator tank and the evaporator of the second heat pump in a second operating situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Energy Machines ApS
    Inventor: Hans-Göran Göransson
  • Patent number: 10703645
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an atmospheric water generation system. The atmospheric water generation system may include a solar collector including a heat absorbing roof and an interior enclosure adjacent the heat absorbing roof. The heat absorbing roof may include a perforated dark panel that may be configured to allow ambient air into the interior enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventors: Behrooz Shahriari, Ehsan Seyfali
  • Patent number: 10648712
    Abstract: A microwave-assisted hybrid solar vapor absorption system that converts anergy into exergy and works sustainably without the intermittence associated with the single absorption vapor absorption systems. The heat required for the generator in a vapor absorption system is provided by preheating the water through solar collectors and by using the vehicle's waste heat in conjunction with solar heat, collecting the waste heat and the solar heat into circulating water or other thermal fluids like mineral oil through the vehicle's radiator, the vehicle's exhaust pipe, and a solar collector. By combining the waste heat and the solar heat, the system achieves the required generator temperature. By introducing dielectric heating and by differentially heating only the refrigerant fluid, and not the absorbent fluid, the required pressure for refrigeration is achieved, while allowing the absorbent fluid to remain significantly cooler than the refrigerant. This increases the Coefficient of Performance to 0.95.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Florida A&M University
    Inventors: Satyanarayan Dev, Charles Magee
  • Patent number: 10612796
    Abstract: A heating installation comprising: a first circuit (C1); a second circuit (C2); a first heat pump (4) for heating the medium in the first circuit; a heat exchanger (10) which is arranged in the second circuit and connected between a condenser (4b) and an expansion valve (4d) of the first heat pump; second and third heat pumps (11, 13) arranged for heating a medium by absorbing heat energy from the medium in the second circuit; and an accumulator tank (12) arranged in the second circuit downstream of the second heat pump (11). The accumulator tank is connected to an evaporator (13a) of the third heat pump (13) in order to allow medium to circulate between the accumulator tank and this evaporator so that heat exchange between the medium in the second circuit and a working medium of the third heat pump is possible via the evaporator of the third heat pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Energy Machines ApS
    Inventor: Hans-Göran Göransson