With Vapor Compression System Patents (Class 62/238.6)
  • Publication number: 20110289953
    Abstract: A cascade cooling system that uses low-grade thermal and other energy input sources to provide refrigeration and air conditioning in stationary and mobile applications. A two-loop embodiment includes a heat-powered first loop incorporating a vapor-jet compressor and a second loop based on a mechanical compressor powered by an electric motor or other source of rotational torque. The system uses waste heat, solar thermal or a fuel-fired heat source to partially or fully offset mechanical/electrical energy input. The system can also operate entirely on thermal, electrical or mechanical input. The ability to use multiple energy sources in any combination maximizes energy efficiency, performance and reliability. The system is well suited to making beneficial use of waste heat in vehicle applications. In stationary applications, solar thermal and/or waste heat from industrial processes can be used to improve the efficiency of conventional cooling systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Gerald Allen Alston
  • Publication number: 20110289952
    Abstract: A hot water supply apparatus associated with a heat pump is provided. The hot water supply apparatus may employ a cascade heat pump including a two-stage cycle to perform a hot water supply operation. Refrigerants flowing through a heat side heat exchanger and a usage side heat exchanger may be heat-exchanged with water. Thus, the hot water supply operation may be continuously performed, without a defrosting operation, and hot water supply performance and heating performance may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Byungsoon KIM, Jahyung Koo, Kyongmin Kwon
  • Publication number: 20110283725
    Abstract: A hot water supply apparatus associated with a heat pump is provided. The hot water supply apparatus performs a hot water supply operation using a high temperature refrigerant that has been discharged from a compressor, and simultaneously performs an indoor heating operation using a two-stage refrigerant cycle. This allows the apparatus to supply hot water while simultaneously providing heating/cooling to an indoor space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Jieseop SIM
  • Publication number: 20110277488
    Abstract: A pool heating system is disclosed. The pool heating system includes, in some embodiments, an immersed condenser coil. In some embodiments, the immersed condenser coil is immersed in pool of water receiving hot refrigerant gas at high pressure from an outdoor unit, transferring heat to water in the pool, condensing the gas and transmitting condensed refrigerant to the outdoor unit. The system also includes an outdoor unit. In some embodiments, the outdoor unit includes a compressor, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: David Peretz
  • Publication number: 20110259027
    Abstract: A heat pump-type hot water supply apparatus may be provided that includes: a refrigeration cycle circuit (including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, expansion devices, and an indoor heat exchanger); a hot water supply heat exchanger connected to the refrigeration cycle circuit to use the first refrigerant discharged from the compressor for a hot water supply; a cascade heat exchanger connected to the refrigeration cycle circuit to allow the first refrigerant passing through the hot water supply heat exchanger to evaporate a second refrigerant and thereafter, to be condensed, expanded, and evaporated in the refrigeration cycle circuit; a heat storage compressor compressing the second refrigerant evaporated in the cascade heat exchanger, a heat storage tank to heat water using the second refrigerant compressed by the heat storage compressor, and a heat storage expansion device to expand the second refrigerant condensed in the heat storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Hwanjong CHOI, Noma Park, Heewoong Park
  • Publication number: 20110259024
    Abstract: A heat pump type speed heating apparatus, comprising: a cooling cycle circuit to circulate a first refrigerant to operate air conditioning, the cooling cycle circuit including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion apparatus, and an indoor heat exchanger, a hot water supply compressor to compress a second refrigerant, a hot water supply heat exchanger to condense the compressed second refrigerant and to heat water, a hot water supply expansion apparatus to expand the second refrigerant from the hot water supply heat exchanger, and a cascade heat exchanger, connected to the cooling cycle circuit, to evaporate the second refrigerant expanded at the hot water supply expansion apparatus, and the first refrigerant to undergo condensation, expansion, and evaporation in the cooling cycle circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Noma PARK, Heewoong Park, Hwanjong Choi
  • Patent number: 8037931
    Abstract: A hybrid heating apparatus heats potable water with waste heat from heat recovery units and insolation from solar collectors. A single circulation pump circulates fluid between at least one heat exchanger and each of the heat recovery units and preferably the solar collector. A single controller receives sensor readings from the heat recovery units and the solar collector units and receives a demand to heat the potable water. To satisfy the demand, the controller determines the extent to which the demand may be satisfied from heat available from the heat recovery units and the solar collector units and sends command signals both to the circulating pump to circulate the fluid and to appropriate ones of valves at connections to those heat recovery units and solar collector units to allow fluid to circulate to be heated to flow to the heat exchanger for effecting heat exchange to heat the potable water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventors: Krassimire Mihaylov Penev, Gordon Patrick Whelan
  • Publication number: 20110247351
    Abstract: An HVAC system that uses a mechanical compressor powered by vaporized refrigerant and/or electric power, to increase efficiency in a jet ejector cooling cycle. The device is further able to convert thermal energy to electric power which may be used to meet internal or external requirements, for example, to activate control a system or charge a battery. Compatible input power includes only thermal energy, only electric energy or a combination of the two. Motive thermal energy may be input at a wide range of temperature and include both waste and non-waste heat sources such as that from an internal combustion engine and fuel-fired heater. Solar thermal and solar photovoltaic may also be used when collected from either concentrated or non-concentrated sources. Embodiments of the device are equally well suited to both mobile and stationary applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Gerald Allen Alston
  • Publication number: 20110219803
    Abstract: An air conditioning device is provided that includes an outdoor unit and a distribution unit. In the air conditioning device, a length of pipes that connect a plurality of indoor units to the outdoor unit is minimized to improve aesthetic appeal and efficiency, and pipes are arranged in the distribution unit for interconnecting the indoor units and the outdoor unit efficiently so as to minimize the volume of the distribution unit. The distribution unit may have a modular structure such that single or multiple distribution units may be added or removed as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Hee PARK, In Kwon Hwang, Eun Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20110219794
    Abstract: An apparatus using refrigerant is provided. The apparatus includes, a refrigerant circuit including, a refrigerant circuit component part of an outdoor unit including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompressor, and a liquid reservoir, in which an incombustible refrigerant is sealed before factory shipment, and a load-side apparatus which is connected to the refrigerant circuit component part of the outdoor unit by way of extension pipes, and a refrigerant sealing connecting port which is provided in the refrigerant circuit and which seals a combustible refrigerant or a slightly combustible refrigerant, wherein, when setting the outdoor unit and the load-side apparatus at a place of use, the combustible refrigerant or the slightly combustible refrigerant is additionally sealed in the refrigerant circuit from the refrigerant sealing connecting port while the incombustible refrigerant is sealed in the refrigerant circuit component part of the outdoor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirokuni SHIBA
  • Publication number: 20110209484
    Abstract: A condenser dryer includes a drying chamber for items to be dried; a process-air circuit including a fan; and a heat pump in which a refrigerant circulates. The heat pump has an evaporator and a condenser, with the evaporator or the condenser or both being a heat exchanger having level surfaces and including at least one endlessly folded, flattened tube to form a plurality of rows of meander stacks in laterally offset relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe-Jens Krausch, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20110198215
    Abstract: A heat transfer system includes a working fluid and an electrochemical compressor. The working fluid is made up of a polar solvent that primarily acts as a condensable refrigerant and hydrogen that primarily acts as an electrochemically-active component. The electrochemical compressor includes an inlet fluidly coupled to an evaporator to receive the working fluid; an outlet fluidly coupled to a condenser; and one or more electrochemical cells electrically connected to each other through a power supply. Each electrochemical cell includes a gas pervious anode, a gas pervious cathode, and an electrolytic membrane disposed between and in intimate electrical contact with the cathode and the anode to pass the working fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Xergy Incorporated
    Inventor: Bamdad Bahar
  • Patent number: 7992400
    Abstract: A complex fluid machine has an expansion-compressor device, a pump, and a motor generator, wherein the expansion-compressor device, the pump, and the motor generator are operatively connected and arranged in series, and a power transmitting device for disconnecting the pump from the motor generator, when the expansion-compressor device is driven by the motor generator so as to be operated as a compressor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Keiichi Uno, Hironori Asa, Yasuhiro Takeuchi, Hideji Yoshida, Akihiro Imura, Atsushi Inaba, Koichi Ban, Takashi Yamanaka, Shigeki Iwanami, Hiroshi Kishita, Hiroshi Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20110167849
    Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioning system has a heat pump circulation passage for circulating a coolant with a compressor. To the heat pump circulation passage, there are connected a condenser for performing a heat exchange between a coolant and ambient air, an expansion valve, a first evaporator, a heater, and a second evaporator. The heat pump circulation passage includes a coolant retrieval passage extending from a divider between the condenser and the gas-liquid separator and connected to the compressor. A second backflow check valve for preventing the coolant from flowing from the compressor to the divider and a solenoid-operated valve are connected to the coolant retrieval passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi KOBAYASHI, Hidenori ESAKI, Daisuke YAMAOKA
  • Publication number: 20110167848
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, a usage-side heat exchanger, a blower, housings and a bypass circuit. The blower feeds an air flow to the heat source-side heat exchanger. The housings is configured to accommodate the heat source-side heat exchanger and the blower in a space above the bottom plate. The bypass circuit is disposed so as to pass below the blower and the heat source-side heat exchanger. The bypass circuit is configured to bypass a third refrigerant tube on a discharge side of the compression mechanism, and at least one of a first refrigerant tube and a second refrigerant tube. The first refrigerant tube extends from the usage-side heat exchanger to the expansion mechanism. The second refrigerant tube extends from the expansion mechanism to the heat source-side heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Wakashima, Satoshi Asada
  • Publication number: 20110162410
    Abstract: A heat transfer composition comprising trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze(E)), carbon dioxide (R-744) and a third component selected from difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), fluoroethane (R-161), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), propylene, propane and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Mexichem Amanco Holding S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: ROBERT E. LOW
  • Publication number: 20110154838
    Abstract: A modular heat exchange system having a refrigerant system for cycling a refrigerant through a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, a heat source circulation system which circulates a heat exchange fluid between a heat source and the evaporator, a heat sink circulation system which circulates a heat absorption fluid between a heat sink and the condenser, a heat exchanger for exchanging thermal energy between one of the heat exchange fluid or the heat absorption fluid; and a neutral tank, wherein the one of the heat exchange fluid or the heat absorption fluid is deposited in the neutral tank upon returning from the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: TRIEA SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: James O'Brien, Matthew Ginalick, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110154676
    Abstract: A home laundry drier (1) is provided with a heat-pump assembly (11) having a refrigerant compressing device (15) which is connected to a supporting wall (2b) of the casing (2) via one or more vibration dampers (17) structured for floatingly supporting the refrigerant compressing device (15). At least one of the vibration dampers (17) includes an elastically-deformable hollow body (18), and a central retaining rod (20) which extends through the elastically-deformable hollow body (18). The central retaining rod (20) is axially displaceable between a locking position in which a head portion (20b) of the rod (20) compresses the elastically-deformable hollow body (18) so as to rigidly connect the compressor (15) to the supporting wall (2b) of the casing (2) and a unlocking position in which the elastically-deformable hollow body (18) floatingly supports the refrigerant compressing device (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventors: Massimo CASTIGLIONE, Paolo ROS
  • Patent number: 7966840
    Abstract: A compact heat pump system and a heat pump operation method, which can avoid the occurrence of surging in a compressor at startup of a heat pump and can directly supply vapor of a working medium produced by the compressor to an external heat-utilizing facility. The heat pump system includes an evaporator for recovering heat of an external heat source to a working medium supplied as liquid water from the exterior via a water feed channel, thereby evaporating the working medium, a compressor for compressing the working medium evaporated in the evaporator and increasing temperature of the evaporated working medium, and a driving unit for giving motive power to drive the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Shibata, Shigeo Hatamiya, Toshihiko Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20110146316
    Abstract: An evaporator or a condenser includes a surface on which the operating liquid is arranged. Further, turbulence generators are provided to generate turbulences in the operating liquid located on the operating surface. In the condenser, alternatively or additionally, a laminarizer is present to make the vapor stream laminar provided by the compressor. On the evaporator side, the evaporation efficiency is increased and, on the condenser side, the condenser efficiency is increased, which may be used for a substantial reduction in size without loss of power of these components, in particular for a heat pump for heating a building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Holger Sedlak, Oliver Kniffler
  • Publication number: 20110120164
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided that comprises: a refrigerant loop having a pump; an evaporator heat exchanger thermally coupled to a heat source, the evaporator plumbed in the loop; a condensing heat exchanger and a receiver plumbed in the loop; and an equalizing conduit plumbed between an inlet to the condenser and the receiver and comprising a flow regulating valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: LIEBERT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ian Spearing
  • Publication number: 20110113802
    Abstract: A multi-chamber air conditioner including a heat-source side refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a first heat exchanger, a refrigerant flow-rate controller, and a second heat exchanger are connected in series, a first use-side refrigerant circuit in which the first heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger are connected in series, and a second use-side refrigerant circuit in which the second heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger are connected in series, and a heat-source side refrigerant circulating in the heat-source side refrigerant circuit and a use-side refrigerant circulating in the use-side refrigerant circuit are heat-exchanged in the first heat exchanger. The heat-source side refrigerant circulating in the heat-source side refrigerant circuit and the use-side refrigerant circulating in the use-side refrigerant circuit are heat-exchanged in the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Wakamoto, Koji Yamashita, Takashi Okazaki, Naoki Tanaka, Keisuke Hokazono, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Takeshi Hatomura, Tomohiko Kasai
  • Publication number: 20110067418
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid heater comprising a vapour compression cycle system. The vapour compression cycle system includes an evaporator, at least one condenser and a working fluid. The fluid heater also includes a fluid conduit through which a fluid can pass in thermal contact with the condenser to allow, via heat exchange between the fluid and the working fluid, the heating of the fluid. A sensor providing an output from which the temperature of the working fluid at the condensing phase of the vapour compression cycle system can be determined is also included in the fluid heater. The fluid heater system has a flow rate controller to control the flow rate of fluid through the conduit. The fluid heater is controlled using a controller operatively connected with the flow rate controller to vary the flow rate of fluid through the conduit reliant on the output from the sensor to achieve a desired target temperature of the fluid leaving the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: David Charles Senn, Daniel Rupert Gadd
  • Publication number: 20110041535
    Abstract: A modular heat exchange system having a refrigerant system for cycling a refrigerant through a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, a heat source circulation system which circulates a heat exchange fluid, and a heat sink circulation system which circulates a heat absorption fluid, wherein the refrigerant cycles through the evaporator in a direction parallel relative to a direction of circulation of the heat exchange fluid flowing concurrently through the evaporator, and wherein the refrigerant flows through the condenser in a direction opposite relative to the circulation direction of the heat absorption fluid flowing concurrently through the condenser. In another aspect, the heat source circulation system includes a heat source and a fluid flow conduit connecting the heat source to the evaporator. In another aspect, the heat sink circulation system includes a heat sink and a hot fluid flow conduit connecting the heat sink to the condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventor: James O'BRIEN
  • Publication number: 20110041536
    Abstract: A modular heat exchange system having a refrigerant system for cycling a refrigerant through a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, a heat source circulation system which circulates a heat exchange fluid between a heat source and the evaporator, a heat sink circulation system which circulates a heat absorption fluid between a heat sink and the condenser, a fluid management system having temperature gauges for respectively reading core temperatures of the heat source and the heat sink, and a thermal energy source from which thermal energy is transferred to the heat exchange fluid when the core temperature of the heat source falls below a threshold temperature while the core temperature of the heat sink is maintained at a constant temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: TRIEA Systems, LLC
    Inventors: James O'Brien, Matthew Ginalick, JR.
  • Patent number: 7883024
    Abstract: A hot water storage tank (3) and a circulating path (12) coupled to the hot water storage tank (3) are provided. An operation is possible wherein low-temperature water, let out from a lower part of the hot water storage tank (3) and entering the circulating path (12), is heated and boiled up by a heat pump heating source for forwarding to an upper part of the hot water storage tank (3). A refrigerant circulating circuit of the heat pump heating source is provided with a defrost circuit (38) for supplying hot gas from a compressor (25) to an air heat exchanger (28). It is possible to perform a defrost operation for providing a supply of hot gas to the air heat exchanger (28), with a water circulation pump (13) of the circulating path (12) held in abeyance. The water circulation pump (13) is made active if the defrost operation has been continued for not less than a predetermined time period since the start thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakayama, Shinichi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20110023512
    Abstract: To obtain an air conditioner which ensures safe operation and protection of the device and can carry out an operation with favorable energy efficiency by efficiently compressing the refrigerant. The air conditioner 100 is capable of performing a cooling/heating mixed operation, constituting a refrigerant circuit by piping connection of a heat-source side unit 10 having a heat-source side heat exchanger 15 and a compressor 11, a plurality of load-side units 50 having a load-side throttle device 51 and a load-side heat exchanger 52, and a cooling/heating branch unit 30 having a gas/liquid separator 31.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kawagoe, Kazuyoshi Shinozaki, Hirofumi Koge
  • Publication number: 20110005245
    Abstract: A method for operating a heat pump (100) in low ambient air temperatures comprises periodically or temporarily halting flow of refrigerant through an evaporator (170) of the heat pump (100) and providing forced airflow across the evaporator (170) while the refrigerant flow is halted. The method enables operation of the heat pump (100) at low ambient temperatures and provides a means for de-icing the evaporator (170) when operating at low ambient temperatures. The method is particularly applicable to heat pumps having an evaporator located outdoors, such as domestic and industrial water heating systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: DUX MANUFACTURING LIMITED
    Inventor: Patrick Pussell
  • Publication number: 20110005254
    Abstract: This invention provides a new type of environmental protection and energy saving heater, which including heater bracket, hot roast cell, and refrigeration cell that connected with hot roast cell. The hot roast cell including compressor and condenser, a heat exchanger is set up between compressor and condenser. And regarding the refrigeration cell, which including expansion valve, evaporator, and the four-way valve; the condenser connected with one end of expansion valve, the other end of it connected with one end of evaporator through the four-way valve, and the other end of evaporator connected with compressor. The hot roast cell and refrigeration cell located in bracket. Compared with habitually using, this can recycle the heat of water chiller, and transfer the low-quality heat into high-quality heat energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventor: Guang Shun LIN
  • Patent number: 7861548
    Abstract: A compact heat pump system and a heat pump operation method, which can avoid the occurrence of surging in a compressor at startup of a heat pump and can directly supply vapor of a working medium produced by the compressor to an external heat-utilizing facility. The heat pump system includes an evaporator for recovering heat of an external heat source to a working medium supplied as liquid water from the exterior via a water feed channel, thereby evaporating the working medium, a compressor for compressing the working medium evaporated in the evaporator and increasing temperature of the evaporated working medium, and a driving unit for giving motive power to drive the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Shibata, Shigeo Hatamiya, Toshihiko Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20100319376
    Abstract: A heat source circuit (12) includes: a first gas port (31) constantly communicating with a discharge side of a compressor (14); a second gas port (32) constantly communicating with a suction side of the compressor (14); a third gas port (33) selectively communicating with one of a first gas line (25) and a second gas line (26); a liquid port (34) constantly communicating with a liquid inlet/outlet end of a heat-source heat exchanger (15); a first switching mechanism (17) which switches a state of communication of a gas inlet/outlet end of the heat-source heat exchanger (15); and a second switching mechanism (18) which switches a state of communication of a third gas line (27).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawano, Shinya Matsuoka, Osamu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20100319377
    Abstract: In a refrigeration apparatus (20), refrigerant mixture in which the C3HmFn refrigerant represented by Molecular Formula 1: C3HmFn (note that “m” and “n” are integers equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or less than 5, and a relationship represented by an expression m+n=6 is satisfied) and having a single double bond in a molecular structure is equal to or greater than 70% by mass and equal to or less than 94% by mass, and the proportion of HFC refrigerant is equal to or greater than 6% by mass and equal to or less than 30% by mass; refrigerant mixture containing the C3HmFn refrigerant and particular refrigerant such as hydrocarbons; or refrigerant mixture containing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene and carbon dioxide is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Michio Moriwaki, Hideki Hara, Shuji Furui
  • Patent number: 7854134
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided with a refrigerant circuit and an operation controller. The refrigerant circuit includes a heat source unit, a refrigerant communication pipe, an expansion mechanism, and a utilization unit. The heat source unit has a compression mechanism and a heat source side heat exchanger. The heat source unit is connected to the refrigerant communication pipe. The utilization unit has a utilization side heat exchanger and is connected to the refrigerant gas communication pipe. The operation controller performs an oil-return operation in advance for returning oil pooled in the refrigerant circuit when a refrigerant quantity judging operation is carried out for judging the refrigerant quantity inside the refrigerant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadafumi Nishimura, Shinichi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 7849700
    Abstract: A heat pump system is disclosed that utilizes a variable speed hydronics pump to selectively divert heat energy from a forced air heating system to a hydronics radiant heating system. By actively controlling the speed of the withdrawal of heat, the temperature of the forced air output may be maintained while maximizing the amount of heat delivered by the efficient hydronics system. The heat pump system also actively controls the blower of the forced air system. To reduce the frequency of the compressors cycling on and off, a tank may be used to store and dispense heat if the hydronics system is not of sufficient size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Electro Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Seefeldt
  • Patent number: 7823799
    Abstract: A heat source unit includes a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an outdoor blower, and a controller for electric devices. A hydrothermal exchange unit accommodates water heat exchangers, water pipes, pumps and a controller, and is connected to the heat source unit via refrigerating pipes and electric wiring. A tank unit has tanks for storing hot water obtained as a result of heat exchange by the water heat exchangers. The hydrothermal exchange unit has a housing. The front, rear, upper, left and right sides of the housing are covered with panels. A bottom plate for the housing is disposed a predetermined distance above the lower end of the housing. The housing accommodates the hydrothermal exchange unit, and a space below the bottom plate of the housing accommodates connectors for the water pipes and refrigerant pipes. This completely prevents freezing of the water pipes, makes use-side units compact, and improves operation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Kunio Sakai, Akira Konagai, Masahiko Sasaki, Seiji Ookoshi
  • Patent number: 7823626
    Abstract: A refrigerated oven having a cooking chamber in which is provided a heating elements and a refrigeration unit chamber in which is provided a refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit is fluidly connected to the cooking chamber. Both the heating element and the refrigeration unit are selectively operable to either cool or heat the cooking chamber to thereby cool or heat a food item located therein. The refrigeration unit as preferably modular refrigeration unit that the slid into and out of the refrigeration unit chamber. Preferably, the refrigeration unit includes an evaporator that is thermally isolate is from a condenser. The condenser as preferably conductively coupled to a base supporting the elements of the modular refrigeration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dianne D. Mueller, Ralph Tate, Jr., Brent A. Junge, Joseph L. Coleman, Jan M. Watson, Steven R. Cawley
  • Patent number: 7818973
    Abstract: There is provided an energy recovery apparatus capable of recovering a hydraulic energy in a regenerative air-conditioning system including a pressure sustaining valve and capable of coping with a discharge change caused by variation in air-conditioning load, the air-conditioning system being capable of carrying out normal operation even in a case where the energy recovery apparatus fails. The energy recovery apparatus is configured so as to feed water from a water tank to air-conditioning loads such as a heat source or a fan coil at a higher place through a feed pipe line by a pump and to lead the water passed through the air-conditioning loads into the water tank via a return pipe line including the pressure sustaining valve, a branch pipe line is disposed so as to branch into the water tank from the return pipe line in upstream of the pressure sustaining valve, and the energy recovery apparatus is connected in to the branch pipe line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Yukihiro Fujita, Eiji Koyama, Kouich Satou
  • Patent number: 7793651
    Abstract: A heat storage apparatus includes heat storage panels having primary fluid passages formed therein; passage plates having secondary fluid passages formed therein; and heat reservoirs. The heat storage panels and the passage plates are layered alternately, and the heat reservoirs are interposed between the heat storage panels and the passage plates in such a manner that the heat reservoirs, the heat storage panels and the passage plates are adhered to one another. Protrusions are formed on surfaces of the heat storage panels in such a manner that the heat reservoirs are supported by the protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sawada, Hirotaka Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20100192605
    Abstract: A humidity control system for an enclosure includes a housing having a process air duct and a regeneration air duct, with return air from the enclosure and/or atmospheric air being supplied to the process air duct and atmospheric air being supplied to the regeneration duct. A desiccant wheel is rotatably mounted in the housing for rotation through the ducts for absorbing moisture in the process air duct and releasing moisture in the regeneration duct. A refrigeration system including a condenser coil in the regeneration duct upstream of the desiccant wheel is connected to a heat pump which includes a heat exchanger and a recirculating fluid loop connected between the condenser coil and the heat exchanger for transferring heat from the recirculating fluid loop to said reactivation airstream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Wei Fang, Arto Doramajian, John Gowing, Paul Dinnage, Richard Taft
  • Publication number: 20100198415
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes first and second outdoor units having first and second outdoor heat exchangers and first and second heat source-side degree of subcooling adjustment devices configured to adjust first and second degrees of subcooling in outlet sides of the first and second outdoor heat exchangers, respectively. First and second outdoor-side determination units are configured to determine first and second degrees of subcooling, respectively. A controller is configured to control the first and second heat source-side degree of subcooling adjustment devices, respectively, such that a difference between the first degree of subcooling and the second degree of subcooling is reduced when refrigerant is charged into a refrigerant circuit having the first outdoor heat exchanger and the second outdoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawano, Masahiro Oka, Kazuhiko Tani, Atsushi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7765823
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid vapor compression-absorption cooling or heating system and apparatus containing a refrigerant pair comprising at least one refrigerant and at least one ionic liquid. The present invention also provides for the performance of a hybrid vapor compression-absorption cycle that utilizes refrigerants and absorbents such as fluorocarbon gases in fluorinated ionic liquids. The present invention also provides a method of cooling by the execution of a hybrid vapor compression-absorption cycle using a refrigerant pair comprising at least one refrigerant and at least one ionic liquid. The present invention also provides a method of heating by the execution of a hybrid vapor compression-absorption cycle using a refrigerant pair comprising at least one refrigerant and at least one ionic liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Mark Brandon Shiflett, Akimichi Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 7757508
    Abstract: A heat pump has a refrigerant loop, a compressor in fluid communication with the refrigerant loop, at least one indoor heat exchanger in fluid communication with the refrigerant loop, and at least one outdoor heat exchanger in fluid communication with the refrigerant loop. The at least one outdoor heat exchanger has a phase change material in thermal communication with the refrigerant loop and in fluid communication with an outdoor environment. Other systems, devices, and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Moonis Raza Ally, John Jager Tomlinson, Clifford Keith Rice
  • Patent number: 7752852
    Abstract: A system and method includes a thermoelectric device in heat-transfer relation with a working fluid flowing through a vapor compression circuit. Heat is transferred from the working fluid to a first fluid medium and then from the first fluid medium to a second fluid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masao Akei, Kirill M Ignatiev, Nagaraj Jayanth, Hung M Pham, Jean-Luc M Caillat
  • Publication number: 20100170274
    Abstract: There is provided a turbo chiller that can be operated at high efficiency within an adequate chilling capacity range even when the cooling water temperature changes during the operation. The adequate chilling capacity range is obtained by using a flow coefficient and a pressure coefficient at a specific operating point of a turbo compressor as well as a predetermined coefficient to determine an arithmetic expression representing the relationship between a head and a chilling capacity, using a chilling capacity that can lead to a substantially highest coefficient of performance at a single head to obtain the predetermined coefficient as an optimum coefficient, computing an adequate operation coefficient range having a predetermined range and including the optimum coefficient, and substituting the adequate operation coefficient range and a head at the time of operation into the arithmetic expression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventor: Kenji Ueda
  • Patent number: 7748227
    Abstract: To provide a compact and well serviceable heat pump water boiler. The heat pump water boiler is constituted to have a body unit (1) by integrating: a refrigerant cycle, in which a compressor (2), a radiator (3), a radiator (4), pressure reducing means (5) and an evaporator (6) are connected; a blower fan (8) for blowing wind to the evaporator (6); a hot-water supplying water-refrigerant heat exchanger (9) acting integrally with the radiator (3) for converting water into hot water; a hot-water supplying circulation water pump (15) for feeding water to the hot-water supplying water-refrigerant heat exchanger (9); a bath warming/heating water-refrigerant heat exchanger (17) acting integrally with the radiator (4) for further raising the temperature of the hot water of the bath tab; a bath water circulating pump (18) for circulating the hot water of the bath; and hot-water reserving tank (10) for reserving the hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikatsu Fukunaga, Kazuhito Nakatani
  • Publication number: 20100162742
    Abstract: An air conditioner (10) composed of a refrigerating apparatus includes a controller (90). A heating control section (91) of the controller (90) feeds electric current in an open phase state to an electric motor (62) of a compressor (30) to heat the compressor (30) in operation stop of the air conditioner (10). The heating control section (91) monitors the detection value of an outdoor air temperature sensor (72) during the operation stop of the air conditioner (10) and keeps on stopping feeding the electric current to the electric motor (62) during the time when the detection value decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Junichi Shimoda, Hidehiko Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20100146999
    Abstract: Refrigerant sent from a heat source side circuit (14) to utilization side circuits (11, 12, 13) is made to be single-phase liquid by using cooling means (36, 45) or a vapor-liquid separator (35). Variable-opening utilization side expansion valves (51, 52, 53) are provided in the utilization side circuits (11, 12, 13) so that an expansion process in a refrigeration cycle is performed also in the circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: Masakazu Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20100132386
    Abstract: A refrigeration system defines a closed loop that contains a working fluid, at least part of the working fluid being circulated through the closed loop. The refrigeration system includes a first heat transfer device that transfers heat from the first heat reservoir to the working fluid, a second heat transfer device that transfers heat from the working fluid to the second heat reservoir, and an electrochemical compressor between the first and second heat transfer devices. The electrochemical compressor includes one or more electrochemical cells electrically connected to each other through a power supply, each electrochemical cell including a gas pervious anode, a gas pervious cathode, and an electrolytic membrane disposed between and in intimate electrical contact with the cathode and the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Xergy Incorporated
    Inventor: Bamdad Bahar
  • Patent number: 7716934
    Abstract: An object is to improve performance and efficiency of an air conditioning device constituted of a waste heat utilization circuit in which waste heat of a heat source is utilized in heating a room to be conditioned in a heat exchanger for heating; a refrigerant circuit in which carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant and which has a supercritical pressure on a high pressure side; and a cascade heat exchanger which performs heat exchange between a fluid flowing from the heat source to the heat exchanger for heating in the waste heat utilization circuit and the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant discharged from a compressor is passed through the cascade heat exchanger, the refrigerant discharged from the cascade heat exchanger is divided by a flow divider, one divided refrigerant is passed from an auxiliary pressure reduction unit to an internal heat exchanger to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and the refrigerant discharged from the cascade heat exchanger and then sucked into
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Ebara
  • Publication number: 20100089085
    Abstract: An outdoor unit (20) including a compressor (21) and an outdoor heat exchanger (22) and an indoor unit (30) including an indoor heat exchanger (31) are provided. The outdoor unit (20) and the indoor unit (30) constitute a main circuit (43) of a refrigerant circuit (40). A sub-circuit (70) whose one end is connected to a liquid line (4a) of the main circuit (43) and another end is connected to a low-pressure gas line (4b) of the main circuit (43), and which stores refrigerant in the main circuit (43) is also provided. The sub-circuit (70) is located on a sub-passageway (71), and includes: a refrigerant regulator (72) for storing refrigerant in the main circuit (43); and a switch mechanism (73) for establishing and blocking communication between the refrigerant regulator (72) and each of the liquid line (4a) and the low-pressure gas line (4b). When the amount of refrigerant in the main circuit (43) is excessive, redundant refrigerant in the main circuit (43) is stored in the refrigerant regulator (72).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawano, Shinya Matsuoka, Masahiro Oka, Kazuhide Mizutani