Reversible, I.e., Heat Pump Patents (Class 62/324.1)
  • Patent number: 9939181
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that may include recovering heat from a generator to defrost the heat exchanger by passing a heat transfer fluid from the generator through a recovery heat exchanger that is configured to promote heat transfer between the heat transfer fluid and a refrigerant flowing therethrough, reducing a restriction of the refrigerant, reducing an airflow through the heat exchanger, and delivering the heated refrigerant to the heat exchanger. Systems and methods may also include recovering heat from an exhaust of the generator to deter the formation of frozen condensate on the outdoor heat exchanger by diverting at least a portion of a hot exhaust fluid discharged by the generator onto the outdoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Stewart Hancock
  • Patent number: 9909784
    Abstract: An outdoor unit of an air conditioner coupled to an indoor unit by a liquid pipe and a gas pipe, includes: a compressor; an outdoor heat exchanger; a discharge pipe coupled to a refrigerant discharge side of the compressor; an intake pipe coupled to a refrigerant intake side of the compressor; an outdoor-unit high-pressure gas pipe coupled to the discharge pipe; an outdoor-unit low-pressure gas pipe coupled to the intake pipe; an outdoor-unit liquid pipe that couples a first refrigerant entry/exit opening of the outdoor heat exchanger and the liquid pipe together; a bypass pipe coupled to the outdoor-unit liquid pipe; a first flow-passage switcher coupled to a second refrigerant entry/exit opening of the outdoor heat exchanger, the discharge pipe, the intake pipe, and the bypass pipe; and a second flow-passage switcher coupled to the gas pipe, the outdoor-unit high-pressure gas pipe, and the outdoor-unit low-pressure gas pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Kotaro Toya, Makoto Shimotani, Hideya Tamura, Takahiro Matsunaga, Shinju Watanabe, Koji Ogata, Masaki Arai, Yasuhiro Oka, Ken Nakashima, Toshihiro Takahashi, Masakazu Sato
  • Patent number: 9869315
    Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided that may include a casing, an orbiting scroll and a non-orbiting scroll that suctions in a refrigerant from a suction space of the casing, compresses the suctioned refrigerant in a plurality of compression chambers, and discharges the compressed refrigerant into a discharge space of the casing, and a capacity varying device having a first valve and at least one second valve coupled with each other inside of the casing to selectively bypass a portion of the refrigerant in the plurality of compression chambers. With this structure, it is possible to prevent, in advance, refrigerant from being leaked outside of the scroll compressor, reduce pressure loss as a bypass flow path is shortened, reduce a size, weight, and manufacturing costs of the scroll compressor, and vary a capacity of the scroll compressor with a small operating force, and small power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kitae Jang, Jaesang Lee, Inho Won, Byeongchul Lee
  • Patent number: 9821625
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly for cooling of air includes a blower, an air duct and a heat exchanger integrated in a coolant circuit designed to allow coolant to flow therethrough and air to be applied to it. Heat from the air is transferred to the vaporizing coolant. The blower is arranged upstream of the heat exchanger in the airflow direction so that waste from the blower heats the air before reaching the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is designed as tubular heat exchanger with tubes arranged in rows having a double-row design. A method for operating a climate control system for a combined refrigeration system and heat pump operation for cooling and for heating, and a method for identifying and prevention of icing of the evaporator of the climate control system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Marc Graaf, Roberto Della Rovere, Navid Durrani
  • Patent number: 9719706
    Abstract: An accumulator arrangement for use in a cooling system suitable for operation with two-phase refrigerant includes a condenser having a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet. The accumulator arrangement further includes an accumulator for receiving the two-phase refrigerant therein, the accumulator having a refrigerant inlet connected to the refrigerant outlet of the condenser and a refrigerant outlet. Finally, the accumulator arrangement includes a subcooler having a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, the refrigerant inlet of the subcooler being connected to the refrigerant outlet of the accumulators, and the subcooler being arranged at least partially within the interior of the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Piesker, Martin Sieme, Johannes Chodura, Ahmet Kayihan Kiryaman
  • Patent number: 9709287
    Abstract: An air handler apparatus includes at least one heat exchanger device with a cooling fluid region separated from a temperature transfer fluid region, an evaporator device comprising an evaporator housing and at least one evaporator coil, and a pump. The cooling fluid region has a cooling fluid input and a cooling fluid output and the temperature transfer fluid region has a temperature transfer fluid input and a temperature transfer fluid output. The evaporator housing defines an air passage having an air input and an air output. The evaporator coil has an evaporator coil input coupled to the temperature transfer fluid output and an evaporator output coupled to temperature transfer fluid input of the temperature transfer fluid region in the heat exchanger device. The pump is coupled to the temperature transfer fluid region in the heat exchanger device to pump temperature transfer fluid between the temperature transfer fluid region and the evaporator coil when activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventors: Gerald McDonnell, Jeffrey Cheesman
  • Patent number: 9605883
    Abstract: A heat pump cycle includes a refrigerant circuit and a coolant circuit. A first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger are disposed between the refrigerant circuit and the coolant circuit. The first heat exchanger includes an exterior heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator in a heating operation, and a radiator for radiating heat of a coolant. The second heat exchanger transmits a heat of high-pressure refrigerant to the coolant in the heating operation. A temperature of refrigerant within the second heat exchanger is higher than a temperature of refrigerant within the first heat exchanger. The heat obtained from the second heat exchanger is supplied to the first heat exchanger through the coolant. Further, the heat obtained from the second heat exchanger is stored in the coolant. In defrosting operation, the coolant that has stored the heat therein is supplied to the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiki Katoh, Kota Sakamoto, Yuuichi Kami
  • Patent number: 9528769
    Abstract: A ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit includes an indoor heat exchanger disposed on an outer peripheral side of a centrifugal blower. The indoor heat exchanger includes plural heat transfer tubes arranged in multiple stages in a vertical direction and in three rows in a flow direction of air blown out from the blower and are connected to a refrigerant inlet of the indoor heat exchanger in a case where the indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator of the refrigerant during cooling, plural liquid refrigerant tubes connected to the heat transfer tubes in a first row on a most upwind side, second row-side gas refrigerant tubes connected to a refrigerant outlet of the indoor heat exchanger during cooling and connected to the heat transfer tubes in a second row, and third row-side gas refrigerant tubes connected to the heat transfer tubes in a third row on a most downwind side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Sakashita, Shun Yoshioka, Yoshiharu Michitsuji
  • Patent number: 9513033
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes: a compressor arrangement for compressing gaseous refrigerant from a first pressure to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure comprises a condensing pressure; a plurality of condenser evaporator systems, wherein each condenser evaporator system comprises: (1) a condenser for receiving gaseous refrigerant at a condensing pressure and condensing the refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant; (2) a controlled pressure receiver for holding the liquid refrigerant from the condenser; and (3) an evaporator for evaporating liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver to form gaseous refrigerant; a first gaseous refrigerant feed line for feeding the gaseous refrigerant at the second pressure from the compressor arrangement to the plurality of condenser evaporator systems; and a second gaseous refrigerant feed line for feeding gaseous refrigerant from the plurality of condenser evaporator systems to the compressor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ARESCO Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fred Lingelbach, John Lingelbach
  • Patent number: 9410752
    Abstract: Controlling heating and cooling in a conditioned space utilizes a fluid circulating in a thermally conductive structure in fluid connection with a hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and a ground heat exchanger. Air is moved past the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger, the air having fresh air supply and stale air exhaust. Sensors located throughout the conditioned space send data to a controller. User input to the controller sets the desired set point temperature and humidity. Based upon the set point temperature and humidity and sensor data, the controller sends signals to various devices to manipulate the flow of the fluid and the air in order to achieve the desired set point temperature and humidity in the conditioned space. The temperature of the fluid is kept less than the dew point at the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and the temperature of the fluid is kept greater than the dew point at the thermally conductive structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventor: Albert Reid Wallace
  • Patent number: 9377225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an outdoor heat exchanger and air conditioner in which the passage of a refrigerant is varied in an air cooling operation and an air heating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Chiwoo Song, Yongcheol Sa
  • Patent number: 9360011
    Abstract: A heat pump system may be operable to circulate fluid between first and second heat exchangers in a first direction in a heating mode and in a second direction in a cooling mode. The heat pump system may include a suction conduit, a low-side compressor and a high-side compressor. The low-side and high-side compressors may both be in fluid communication with the suction conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael M. Perevozchikov, Kirill M. Ignatiev
  • Patent number: 9322600
    Abstract: A thermosyphonic heat recovery unit for thermosyphonic heat transfer of heat from a hotter first fluid to a cooler second fluid comprising a heat exchanger including a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, optimized means for connecting fluids to the two conduits to optimize heat transfer and fluid flow, a pressurized cold fluid input and hot fluid output, whereby the second fluid thermosyphonically flows through said second conduit as the first fluid flows through said first conduit. Said system having an optimized heat exchanger tube-on tube spirally wound, with wind direction to take advantage of the Coriolus force effect, for optimized refrigerant and other fluid turbulence and therefore optimized heat transfer, and optimum location of said heat exchanger and sizes of connecting tubes to minimize refrigerant friction related pressure loss, and to optimize heat transfer, refrigerant flow and thermosyphonic second fluid flow through said heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Olive Tree Patents 1 LLC
    Inventor: Thomas H. Hebert
  • Patent number: 9273898
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device and method for detecting an abnormality in a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator that is capable of detecting whether connection pipes disposed between a refrigerant passage valve and a freezer evaporator and between the refrigerant passage valve and a cold room evaporator are blocked and switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Won Joo Kwon
  • Patent number: 9249997
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, a usage-side heat exchanger, an intercooler, an intercooler bypass tube and an intake return tube. The compression mechanism has a plurality of compression elements configured so that refrigerant discharged from a first-stage compression element is sequentially compressed by a second-stage compression element. The intercooler is connected to an intermediate refrigerant tube configured to draw refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element into the second-stage compression element to cool the refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element and drawn into the second-stage compression element. The intercooler bypass tube is connected to the intermediate refrigerant tube so as to bypass the intercooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Fujimoto, Atsushi Yoshimi
  • Patent number: 9217587
    Abstract: There is disclosed an air conditioner including a compressor to compress refrigerant, an indoor heat exchanger to cool or heat a room, using the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger to heat-exchange the refrigerant with outdoor air, the outdoor heat exchanger comprising a front heat exchange member and a rear heat exchange member, and a defrosting module to adjust an opening degree of a passage of the refrigerant drawn into the front heat exchange member and the rear heat exchange member, wherein the defrosting module includes a first expansion valve to adjust an opening of a passage of the refrigerant introduced into the front heat exchange member and a defrosting unit to adjust an opening degree of a passage of the refrigerant between the front heat exchange member and the rear heat exchange member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Eunjun Cho, Cheolmin Kim
  • Patent number: 9188375
    Abstract: An arrangement includes a housing defining a first and second ports. A first passageway provides communication between the ports; a second passageway provides communication with the first port. An element is disposed in the housing and positioned by a balance of forces, the element is positionable to throttled positions for controlling flow through the first passageway in a first direction and to an open position to permit unrestricted flow in a second direction. A check valve is disposed in the second passageway for preventing flow therein from the first port when pressure in the first port is greater than pressure in the second port, and permitting flow through the second passageway to the first port when pressure in the first port is less than the pressure in the second port thereby affecting the balance of forces acting on the element so the element is urged toward the fully open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG DUNAN HETIAN METAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gengxun Kara Gurley, Edward Nelson Fuller, Parthiban Arunasalam
  • Patent number: 9170038
    Abstract: An air conditioning unit for a combined refrigeration plant and heat pump mode of operation for vehicles is disclosed, wherein the air conditioning unit includes a primary circuit and a secondary passage, and a power consumption required by the air conditioning unit to heat the passenger compartment is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Halla Visteon Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Roman Heckt, Marc Graaf, Tobias Haas
  • Patent number: 9109845
    Abstract: An outdoor heat exchanger in cooling operation includes: a first header pipe into which a refrigerant compressed by a compressor flows; a first heat exchanging unit connected with the first header pipe and allowing a refrigerant to exchange heat with the air; a bypass pipe through which the refrigerant exchanging heat in the first heat exchanging unit flows; a first distribution pipe connected with the bypass pipe; a distribution pipe check valve that is disposed in the first distribution pipe and preventing the refrigerant exchanging heat in the first heat exchanging unit from passing through the first distribution pipe; a second header pipe into which the refrigerant passing through the bypass pipe flows; a second heat exchanging unit connected with the second header pipe and allowing a refrigerant to exchange heat with the air; and a second distribution pipe through which the refrigerant exchanging heat in the second heat exchanging unit passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kakjoong Kim, Donghwi Kim, Yongcheol Sa
  • Patent number: 9062892
    Abstract: A ventilation system (S) includes: a first ventilation device (10a) and a second ventilation device (10b) each including an air supply fan (26) and an exhaust fan (25); a booster fan (1) placed upstream in supply air of the air supply fan (26) of each of the ventilation devices (10a, 10b); and a controller (100) configured to control actuation of the ventilation devices (10a, 10b) and the booster fan (1). The controller (100) determines whether actuation of the ventilation device (10a, 10b) is requested or not, and outputs an actuation signal to the air supply fan (26) to the ventilation device (10a, 10b) whose actuation has been requested such that the booster fan (1) is actuated after the air supply fan (26) has been actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 9046286
    Abstract: In a heat pump pool heater, undesirable compressor-created pressure spikes resulting from start-up of the heater after extended idle periods thereof are substantially eliminated by the incorporation in the heat pump refrigerant circuit of a specially designed pressure spike eliminator structure. The spike eliminator structure includes an enclosed hollow wall structure extending around a first refrigerant tubing portion disposed between the heat pump circuit compressor and condenser and forming a cavity around the first refrigerant tubing portion, and a transfer tube directly connected to a second refrigerant tubing portion disposed between the condenser and expansion valve and intercommunicating the interiors of the cavity and the second refrigerant tubing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy B. Hawkins, Paul D. McKim
  • Publication number: 20150143828
    Abstract: A system for recycling heat or energy of a working medium of a heat engine for producing mechanical work is described. The system may comprise a first heat exchanger (204) for transferring heat from a working medium output from an energy extraction device (202) to a heating agent to vaporise the heating agent; a second heat exchanger (240) for transferring further heat to the vaporised heating agent; a compressor (231) coupled to the second heat exchanger (240) arranged to compress the further-heated heating agent; and a third heat exchanger (211) for transferring heat from the compressed heating agent to the working medium. A heat pump is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Naji Amin ATALLA
  • Publication number: 20150143835
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) of a heat pump system (2) having a main core part (6), a subcool core part (10), and a receiver tank (8), the main core part (6) and the subcool core part (10) having: a first flow channel comprising a pair of header tanks (12) arranged separated from each other in the vertical direction, a plurality of tubes (14) arranged so as to extend vertically between the header tanks (12), the tubes (14) passing through the pair of header tanks (12), and a fin (16) arranged between adjacent tubes (14), the first flow channel allowing the coolant to pass through in the sequence of the main core part (6), the receiver tank (8), and the subcool core part (10); and a second flow channel for allowing the coolant to pass through the main core part (6) only, in the direction opposite that of the first flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Yuuichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9027358
    Abstract: A vehicle heat pump system includes a compressor, a first valve coupled to an outlet of the compressor, a cooling circuit between the first valve and the inlet of the compressor, a heating circuit between the first valve and the inlet of the compressor and a controller. The heating circuit includes a heating circuit evaporator and a second valve between the heating circuit evaporator and the inlet of the compressor. The controller is configured to operate the first valve to switch between a cooling mode and a heating mode, cycle the second valve opened and closed in the heating mode, such that when closed, the compressor draws refrigerant out of the cooling circuit and refrigerant pressure builds up within the heating circuit, and maintain the second valve open upon the controller determining that sufficient refrigerant has been drawn out of the cooling circuit during the cycling of the second valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Eisenhour
  • Publication number: 20150114019
    Abstract: A heat pump system is disclosed comprising a heat-exchanger extracting latent heat from liquid stored in a reservoir, thereby forming an ice slurry. The heat pump also includes a device for delivering the heat to a heat consumer. The heat pump system includes a random input of extrinsic liquid into the reservoir and a device for removing ice slurry stored in the reservoir outward the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Carl Van Gysel
  • Patent number: 9003818
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hwanjong Choi, Noma Park, Heewoong Park
  • Patent number: 8999190
    Abstract: The invention provides a heat transfer composition comprising R-1234ze (E), R-32 and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Mexichem Amanco Holding S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: Robert E Low
  • Publication number: 20150075198
    Abstract: An engine driven heat pump is such that when a self-sustaining switch is turned on during power failure, and a self-sustaining signal is received, it switches to a self-sustaining mode and start an engine and a generator, and when output power from an inverter is received, it supplies the output power to a power supply circuit and a battery charging circuit by means of an independent power supply relay, and it supplies the output power to the outside via an independent output unit, and during the supply of the output power, it maintains cutoff with respect to connection between a system, and the power supply circuit and the battery charging circuit by means of a system cutoff relay and maintain the output of the output power until the self-sustaining signal is interrupted, and it recovers the connection when power is restored and the output power is interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Shohei Amakawa, Masaya Horibe, Kyoko Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8973382
    Abstract: An air heating, air conditioning and water heating system includes a multi-communicative valve unit, a compressor arranged for compressing the refrigerant in a state of superheated vapor, a condenser communicated with the compressor through the multi-communicative valve unit, a heat exchanger communicated with the condenser through the multi-communicative valve unit, an expansion valve, and a water heater communicated with the heat exchanger and the compressor through the multi-communicative valve unit, wherein the multi-communicative valve unit is arranged to be operated to selectively establish at least an air conditioning route, an air heating route, and a water heating route for the refrigerant so that the air heating, air conditioning and water heating system is capable of selectively providing air conditioning, heating and delivering hot water for a predetermined premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Lee Wa Wong
  • Patent number: 8966916
    Abstract: A two-stage air source heat pump having an extended operational temperature range combines intercooling, regeneration, and inter-stage vapor recirculation. Cooling a working gas in between the lower and higher-pressure stages decreases the work required to compress the working gas. The entire system may be computer controlled using sensors to monitor flows, temperatures, and pressures in and around the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Streamline Automation, LLC
    Inventor: Stelu S. Deaconu
  • Patent number: 8961811
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises E-1,2-difluoroethylene. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and power cycle working fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Barbara Haviland Minor, Robert L. Waterland
  • Patent number: 8961812
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises Z-1,2-difluoroethylene (Z-HFO-1132a). The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and power cycle working fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Barbara Haviland Minor, Robert L. Waterland
  • Publication number: 20150047963
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a modular humidification-dehumidification (HDH) apparatus and system for concentrating a solution including a plurality of internal modules coupled to each other. The plurality of internal modules includes a humidification module and a dehumidification module in gas flow communication with the humidification module. The humidification module includes humidification media facilitating evaporation of liquid from the solution to gas as the solution passes through the humidification media thereby producing a concentrated solution and a humidified gas. The dehumidification module includes a condensing heat exchanger for condensing vapour from the humidified gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Roch, Benjamin Stuart Sparrow
  • Publication number: 20150040603
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly including a heat exchanger and a mounting on which the heat exchanger is mounted. The heat exchanger including a first channel for circulating a coolant supplied by a first collector provided with a first pipe in which the coolant can circulate. The heat exchanger also including a second channel for circulating the coolant supplied by a second collector provided with a second pipe in which the coolant can circulate. The first and second channels define a heat-exchange surface that extends in a substantially vertical plane. The first pipe is located in a lower half of the first collector along a first axis parallel to the plane of the heat-exchange surface, with the second pipe located above the first pipe along the first axis. The invention further relates to an air-conditioning loop including the above-described assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Isabelle Citti, Regis Beauvis, Jugurtha Benouali
  • Publication number: 20150000324
    Abstract: A water tank may include an inner tank and a condenser. The condenser may have a liquid inlet tube, a liquid outlet tube, first and second condensing tubes wound around respectively an outer wall of an upper and lower part of the inner tank, first ends of the first and second condensing tubes being in fluid communication with the second end of the liquid inlet tube, and a third condensing tube wound around an outer wall of a bottom part of the inner tank beneath the lower part. A first end of the third condensing tube may be in fluid communication with second ends of the first and second condensing tubes respectively. A second end of the third condensing tube may be in fluid communication with a first end of the liquid outlet tube. A heat pump water heater comprising the water tank may be further provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Mingwen LUO
  • Patent number: 8919139
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, an operation controlling device and a liquid refrigerant accumulation determining device. The refrigerant circuit has an accumulator. The operation controlling device performs normal operation control where each device of the heat source unit and the utilization unit are controlled in accordance with operating load of the utilization unit, and refrigerant quantity determination operation control where properness of quantity of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is determined while performing the cooling operation. The liquid refrigerant accumulation determining device determines whether or not liquid refrigerant is accumulating in the accumulator. When it has been determined that liquid refrigerant is accumulating in the accumulator, liquid refrigerant accumulation control is performed to eliminate liquid refrigerant accumulation in the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takurou Yamada, Masato Kotake, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Tadafumi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8904667
    Abstract: A drying device comprising a titano-alumino-phosphate with thermal management for the more efficient drying of objects and appliances, and its production. Further, a drying method for obtaining dried objects and appliances, as well as a method for regeneration accompanied by the desorption of water from water-containing titano-alumino-phosphate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH
    Inventors: Silke Sauerbeck, Rolf Kurzhals, Arno Tissler
  • Publication number: 20140331708
    Abstract: A heat pump unit (1) comprises at least one main circuit (2) adapted to perform a main heat pump cycle with a respective operating fluid, which comprises: a main condenser (S4) adapted to perform the condensation of the operating fluid of the main heat pump cycle and intended to be connected to an external circuit of a first thermal user plant (10) in a heating operating mode of said heat pump unit (1); a first heat exchanger (S3), connected downstream of the main condenser (S4) and upstream of expansion means (L2) of said the main circuit (2), adapted to perform an undercooling of the operating fluid of the main heat pump cycle after the condensation of the same in the main condenser (S4), and a main evaporator (S8) adapted to perform the evaporation of the operating fluid of the main heat pump cycle and intended to be connected to an external circuit of a heat sink (20) in a heating operating mode of said heat pump unit (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Gianfranco Pellegrini
  • Publication number: 20140298824
    Abstract: An aircraft cooling system including a cooler having a cold transfer circuit, in which a cold transfer medium circulates. The cooler supplies cooling energy to an aircraft device to be cooled. The aircraft cooling system further includes a heat transfer arrangement having a heat transfer circuit, in which a heat transfer medium circulates and which is thermally coupled to the cold transfer circuit of the cooler via a heat exchanger, in order to absorb waste heat generated by the cooler and transfer it to a cabin air extraction system. The heat transfer arrangement further includes at least one heat pump which brings about an increase of the heat energy transfer from the cold transfer medium circulating in the cold transfer circuit of the cooler to the heat transfer medium circulating in the heat transfer circuit, at least in certain operating phases of the aircraft cooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Truemper, Matthias Reiss
  • Patent number: 8839640
    Abstract: To provide an air-conditioning apparatus capable of achieving energy saving. The air-conditioning apparatus capable of executing an oil collection mode that collects a refrigerating machine oil stagnating in heat exchangers related to heat medium into a compressor by changing a flow velocity or a flow direction of the refrigerant flowing in the heat exchangers related to heat medium depending on each operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Yuji Motomura
  • Patent number: 8833101
    Abstract: Apparatus for use as a heat pump includes compression chamber means, inlet means for allowing gas to enter the compression chamber means, compression means for compressing gas contained in the compression chamber means, heat exchanger means for receiving thermal energy from gas compressed by the compression means, expansion chamber means for receiving gas after exposure to the heat exchange means, expansion means for expanding gas received in the expansion chamber means, and exhaust means for venting gas from the expansion chamber means after expansion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Isentropic Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Sebastian Howes, James Macnaghten
  • Patent number: 8820394
    Abstract: An energy transfer system for transferring energy between the earth and a facility comprising a well bore at least partially filled with groundwater, a center pipe having a top end and a bottom end disposed in the well bore and having a plurality of apertures for allowing the ingress and egress of groundwater, a pump disposed within the center pipe for facilitating a flow of groundwater through the apertures, and a closed source loop disposed in the well bore, the source loop including at least one source loop pipe extending adjacent the center pipe in said well bore and containing a working fluid for absorbing or transmitting thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Aztech Engineers, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean H. Azzam
  • Patent number: 8806882
    Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein are directed to managing the heat content of two vehicle subsystems through a single coolant loop having parallel branches for each subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Alliance for Substainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Bennion, Matthew Thornton
  • Publication number: 20140223949
    Abstract: A mode controller shifts, along with increase in an electric power in first and second of chopper circuits and, operation modes of the first and the second of the chopper circuits from a first mode to a third mode via a second mode. An operation controller causes, in the first mode, the first of chopper circuit to perform an chopping operation, and the second of chopper circuit to suspend the chopping operation, in the second mode, causes the first and the second of chopper circuits to alternatively perform the chopping operations, and in the third mode causes both of the first and the second of chopper circuits to perform the chopping operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Norio Sakae, Kazuhiro Ohshita, Toshio Yabuki, Junya Mitsui
  • Patent number: 8800280
    Abstract: A generator comprising heat differential, pressure, and conversion modules, and a heat recovery arrangement; the differential module comprising a first high temperature reservoir containing a work medium at high temperature, a second low temperature reservoir containing a work medium at low temperature and a heat mechanism in fluid communication with the reservoir(s). The heat mechanism maintains a temperature difference therebetween by providing heat to and/or removing heat from the reservoirs; the pressure module comprises a pressure medium in selective fluid communication with the reservoirs for alternately performing a heat exchange process with the work medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Gershon Machine Ltd.
    Inventor: Gershon Harif
  • Patent number: 8789382
    Abstract: A heat pump including at least two refrigerant injection flow paths into a scroll compressor and a main circuit. The main circuit includes a scroll compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, a phase separator, and an evaporator for evaporating refrigerant. The scroll compressor is provided with a first refrigerant injection port between an inlet of the scroll compressor and an outlet of the scroll compressor, and a second refrigerant injection port between the inlet and the first refrigerant injection port. A first refrigerant injection flow path is bypassed from the phase separator. An internal heat exchanger is installed between the phase separator and the evaporator. A second refrigerant injection flow path is bypassed between the phase separator and the internal heat exchanger. The second refrigerant injection flow path is passed through the internal heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Younghwan Ko, Sangkyoung Park, Yonghee Jang, Bumsuk Kim
  • Patent number: 8783048
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for returning oil in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by determining when an ambient zone temperature is equal to or less than a temperature limit and reversing a direction of refrigerant flow of the HVAC system based on the length of time. Also, a system and a method are provided for monitoring the length of operation in a first and a second heating mode and for reversing a direction of refrigerant flow based on the length of time operation occurs in the first and second heating modes. A system and a method having a first compressor, a first heating mode, a second heating mode, a defrost mode, and a controller is disclosed. The controller selectively controls initiation of the defrost mode in response to an HVAC system operating in a heating mode of operation for a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Edens, Alan D. Marble, Kevin B. Mercer, Gary L. Sapp, James Thomas Schaefer, Kristin L. Schaefer, Steven A. Tice
  • Publication number: 20140190189
    Abstract: Disclosed is a unitary heat pump air conditioner (HPAC) system having a refrigerant diversion loop configured to supply sufficient heat to defrost an external heat exchanger while not materially affecting the supply of heat to the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The HPAC system includes a refrigerant loop configured to pump heat from a cold coolant loop that scavenges heat from the external heat exchanger to a hot coolant loop that supplies heat to the passenger compartment. The refrigerant loop includes a condenser in thermal communication with the hot coolant loop, evaporator in thermal communication with the cold coolant loop, and a compressor to cycle the refrigerant through the refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop further includes means to selectively divert at least a portion of the hot compressed refrigerant exiting the compressor directly to the evaporator to heat the cold coolant loop sufficient to defrost the external heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: CARRIE M. KOWSKY, PRASAD S. KADLE, FREDERICK V. ODDI, LINDSEY L. LEITZEL
  • Publication number: 20140182322
    Abstract: Heat transfer plates each include, in a portion thereof forming a heat-exchanging passage, a corrugated portion including a plurality of top parts and a plurality of bottom parts provided alternately from a side thereof having a first inlet toward a side thereof having a first outlet. The heat transfer plate also includes a corrugated portion connected to the corrugated portion, the corrugated portion being provided on a side of a second inlet that faces the heat-exchanging passage. The top parts of the corrugated portion and the top parts of the corrugated portion each have a planar shape. The top parts of the corrugated portion has a larger width than the top parts of the corrugated portion in a direction perpendicular to ridges of the corrugated portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Ito
  • Patent number: 8763419
    Abstract: A motor-operated valve configured to control the flow rate during a normal flow and pass the fluid so as to minimize pressure loss during a reverse flow, and a refrigeration cycle using the same, are provided. It is configured such that during a normal flow, the fluid is made to flow only from between the main valve member and the orifice to perform flow rate control, and during a reverse flow, all or a majority of the fluid is made to flow to a bypass channel without being passed through the orifice to decrease pressure loss as much as possible. A check valve member which closes the bypass channel during a normal flow and opens it during a reverse flow is provided in the valve main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Suganama