Abstract: A heat exchanger door system includes a heat exchanger and a first rotatable member, proximate to the heat exchanger, that rotates about an axis of rotation. The system includes a first door member rolled around the rotatable member and movable from a rolled position to an unrolled position in which the first door member covers more of the heat exchanger than when the door member is in the rolled position.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has at least one inlet and outlet to permit circulation of refrigerant therethrough. Each heat exchanger includes a plurality of thin sections of material arranged between a pair of thin flat outer plates. Each of the thin sections of material is comprised of parallel flow paths, allowing for the refrigerant to flow through the inlet, then from one section to the next, and finally out the outlet. The arrangement of the sections of parallel flow paths allows for the refrigerant to come into contact with the majority of the inside wall of the outer plates, allowing for maximum heat exchange. In use for cooling liquids, the heat exchangers are arranged within a frame and brought into contact with the liquid to be cooled. When the heat exchangers are used to cool liquid sufficiently to produce ice crystals, a rotating scraping device sweeps across the surface of the heat exchanger, removing any ice crystals that have formed.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for detecting ice crystal formation on a heat exchange surface in an ice-making machine comprises at least one microphone monitoring the sound made by a rotating blade assembly within the ice-making machine during ice slurry formation. A filter filters the output of the microphone to remove background noise. A comparator receives the output of the filter and compares the filtered microphone output with a threshold to determine if the filtered microphone output signifies ice crystal formation on the heat exchange surface. The operation of the ice-making machine can then be adjusted in a manner to allow the formed ice crystals to be removed from the heat exchange surface.

Abstract: A system for producing potable water from atmosphere includes an enclosure with at least one intake port and exhaust port. The system includes a plurality of panels arranged within the enclosure substantially parallel to each other along a central axis. Each of the panels is made of a material on which water condensate from the atmosphere forms in response to a temperature differential between the material and the atmosphere passed through the enclosure. The system includes a plurality of conduits arranged to pass through the panels. A cooling fluid is passed through the conduits to cool the panels. The amount of water condensate formed on surfaces of the panels in response to cooling is detected. The panels are rotated about the central axis within the enclosure to remove the water condensate from the surfaces of the panels when the detected amount of water condensate exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for detecting ice crystal formation on a heat exchange surface in an ice-making machine comprises at least one microphone monitoring the sound made by a rotating blade assembly within the ice-making machine during ice slurry formation. A filter filters the output of the microphone to remove background noise. A comparator receives the output of the filter and compares the filtered microphone output with a threshold to determine if the filtered microphone output signifies ice crystal formation on the heat exchange surface. The operation of the ice-making machine can then be adjusted in a manner to allow the formed ice crystals to be removed from the heat exchange surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanical means for defrosting plates used in cold storage. Frost reduces the transfer of heat to the plates and partially or totally obstructs the passage of air. Several methods are used to remove frost from plates: hot water, sprayed steam, hot gas, heating elements. In the present invention, scrapers sweep the surface of the plates to remove the frost. This method allows to remove the frost while the plates are being discharged, which improves the performance of the plates and does not affect the residual charge of the plates. The proposed defrosting system is made up of vertical scrapers located on either side of the plates. The upper and lower extremities of the scrapers are fastened to scraper supports. These supports move along tubular guide bars which are parallel to and located beneath and above the plates.

Abstract: A drain tube that can be used, for example, in an air cooling system, includes an inlet end for attachment to the drain pan of the air handler, and an outlet end for transporting liquid out of the drain pan. A liquid sensor probe is located at least partially in the drain tube, and includes a probe end that extends from the drain tube inlet end into the drain pan when attached to the drain pan. The liquid sensor probe detects the undesired accumulation of liquid in the drain pan caused by a blockage in the drain pan, in the drain tube, or in any other portion of the drainage tubing. A control circuit generates an output signal when excess liquid is present at the probe end of the liquid sensor so as to sound an alarm and/or turn off the air cooling device. The outlet end of the drain tube can be attached to a first leg of a cross-shaped fitting. The cross-shaped fitting includes a second leg opposite to the first leg through which a cleaning device can access the first leg, the drain tube, and the drain pan.

Abstract: Corrugated fins are provided at opposing sides of a corrugated thermoelectric device constituting a thermoelectric circuit. This air conditioner is obtained by superposing a plurality of the thermoelectric devices. When a current is fed to the thermoelectric devices, heat is absorbed from one of two fluids running through the corrugated fins and discharged to the other fluid, so as to define a heat pump cycle is defined. The thermoelectric devices are superposed so that the confronting surfaces of the neighboring thermoelectric devices constitute a heat radiation surface respectively and a cooling surface. The corrugated fins intersect with each other, so that the two fluids are prevented from mingling and are allowed to flow in and out of different surfaces.

Abstract: A cleanable condensate trap usable with an air cooling system is disclosed. The condensate trap includes a U-shaped tube having first and second ends and a first T-shaped tube having first, second and third legs with the first leg being attached to the first end of the U-shaped tube. The second leg of the first T-shaped tube is connected to, for example, a drain tube which removes condensate from an air-handling portion of air cooling system. The third leg of the first T-shaped tube includes an opening whereby a cleaning device, such as brush, can be inserted into the U-shaped tube to remove material clogging the U-shaped tube. In order to detect a clogged condition of the U-shaped tube, the U-shaped tube can be made clear or transparent. Additionally, a switching device can be included in the third leg of the first T-shaped tube which can be operatively attached to a circuit which provides power to the air cooling system.

Abstract: A high throughput continuous cryopump is provided. The cryopump (10) incorporates an improved method for regenerating the cryopumping surface (22) while the pump is in continuous operation. The regeneration of the cryopumping surface (22) does not thermally cycle the pump, and to this end a small chamber (91) connected to a secondary pumping source (60) serves to contain and exhaust frost removed from the cryopumping surface (22) during such regeneration. The frost is exhausted at a rate substantially independent of the speed of the cryopump which enhances the capability of the pump to achieve a high compression ratio and allow the pump to operate continuously while the cryopumping surface is being regenerated.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for frost control for the ambient air heat exchanger of a space conditioning apparatus. The ambient air heat exchanger is immersed in a fluidized bed enhancing the heat transfer and physically reducing frost formation. In a preferred embodiment, the fluidized bed is supported by a support bed of non-fluidized solid particles. In one of the embodiments the particulate beds may be desiccant materials. The space conditioning apparatus and method of frost control of this invention permits smaller ambient air heat exchangers and accommodates greater transient conditions due to the enhanced heat transfer and physical prevention of ice formation resulting from the fluidized bed.

Abstract: An aircraft cabin air conditioning system with an air mixing/water separation manifold providing accelerated mixing and attendant removal of water droplets, ice and snow so as to save fuel and to reduce maintenance requirements through lowering the temperature and reducing the supply rate of fresh input ventilation/pressurization air with make-ups of ventilation air requirements met by recirculation of cabin air through the manifold where such mixing and water removal occurs.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for frost control for the ambient air heat exchanger of a space conditioning apparatus. The ambient air heat exchanger is immersed in a fluidized bed enhancing the heat transfer and physically reducing frost formation. In a preferred embodiment, the fluidized bed is supported by a support bed of non-fluidized solid particles. In one of the embodiments the particulate beds may be desiccant materials. The space conditioning apparatus and method of frost control of this invention permits smaller ambient air heat exchangers and accommodates greater transient conditions due to the enhanced heat transfer and physical prevention of ice formation resulting from the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A device for cooling a gas to below its dew point by heat exchange with a low-boiling gas includes a double-walled cooling pipe with an annular space between the walls having an inlet for the low-boiling liquefied gas and a drain pipe for the evaporated gas, with at least one blow-in opening for the low-boiling liquefield gas being in the zone of the intake opening of the cooling pipe; a movable ice scraper is arranged at the intake opening and is periodically movable over the blow-in opening for the low-boiling liquefied gas.

Abstract: An air cooling apparatus having a cooler including a plurality of fins arranged in substantially parallel relationship with a predetermined spacing therebetween and heat transfer tubes extending through the fins in a plurality of positions in the fins is further provided with at least one defrosting device having a plurality of projecting members of a width slightly smaller than the spacing between the fins which projecting members are each located between the adjacent two fins. The defrosting device is mounted for rotation about the heat transfer tubes and operative to remove frost from the surfaces of the cooler while rotating which frost has been formed during the operation of the air cooler.