Refrigeration Producer Patents (Class 62/467)
  • Publication number: 20140208776
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system has a first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, a first ducted variable speed indoor unit configured to selectively exchange refrigerant with the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, and a second indoor unit configured to selectively exchange refrigerant with the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Yi Hu, Mark Eldo Groskreutz, Nicholas Shin
  • Publication number: 20140202189
    Abstract: A pumped-loop cooling system for cooling a plurality of heat-generating components that includes a plurality of first heat-generating components and at least one heat exchanger in thermal contact with the first heat-generating components for absorbing heat from the first heat-generating components via refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger. The system also includes a plurality of second heat-generating components, a chiller for air-cooling the second heat-generating components, and a condenser for receiving and condensing refrigerant received from the heat exchanger and the chiller. A pump circulates refrigerant through the system. The pump receives refrigerant that has been condensed by the condenser and pumps the refrigerant to the heat exchanger and the chiller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Abhijit Sathe, Scott Gill
  • Publication number: 20140190202
    Abstract: A service valve assembly that is designed to minimize leakage by reducing the number of leakage paths from the valve assembly. In addition, the service valve assembly is designed to permit connection to many different refrigeration systems and has higher flow capacity. The valve assembly is engageable by current servicing tools so that purchase of new service tools is not required. In the valve assembly, the service connection is designed as part of the shut-off valve and communicates with the condenser side port. Therefore, initial processing through the condenser side port and subsequent processing through the evaporation side port occur through the combined service connection and shut-off valve structure. Once installed, the described valve assembly has one leak path versus two leak paths in known valve assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Fas Test, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanlee MEISINGER
  • Patent number: 8774999
    Abstract: A detector detects a remaining power of a battery. A calculator calculates a demand load of air-conditioning based on at least one of a preset temperature set for air in a passenger compartment of an electric vehicle and an outside temperature of air outside of the electric vehicle. A switching portion switches a mode of air-conditioning between a battery mode and an engine mode based on the calculated demand load and the detected remaining power of the battery. The battery mode causes the battery to supply electric power for air-conditioning, and the engine mode causes an engine of the electric vehicle to supply combustion energy for air-conditioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hideto Takeda, Hironori Asa, Keiichi Uno, Tomoki Fujino
  • Patent number: 8769972
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Xergy Inc
    Inventor: Bamdad Bahar
  • Publication number: 20140157818
    Abstract: A power generating system includes a power generation portion. The power generation portion includes a permanent magnet (PM) generator configured to operate in at least two speeds, and a voltage regulator in communication with the PM generator. The voltage regulator is disposed to regulate power output from the PM generator by configuring the PM generator to operate at a desired speed of the at least two speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Burchill
  • Publication number: 20140144176
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes an air conditioning portion configured to condition a volume of air flowing there-through and an exhaust portion configured to exchange heat with the air conditioning portion through a working fluid. A portion of the volume of air exiting the air conditioning portion is mechanically diverted into the exhaust portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Dong Luo
  • Publication number: 20140090411
    Abstract: A heat pump system, including a main heat pump system and a directly expanded strong cool-heat radiation plate provided on the building surface and serving as the terminal of the main heat pump system. The directly expanded strong cool-heat radiation plate enables refrigerant in the main heat pump system to circulate therein. Since the heat pump system of the present application adopts the directly expanded strong cool-heat radiation plate as the terminal of the main heat pump system, refrigerant in the main heat pump system may exchange heat with air by means of the directly expanded strong cool-heat radiation plate directly, instead of secondary heat exchange of the refrigerant loop and the water circulation loop, thereby reducing loss in intermediate heat exchange, improving the heat exchange efficiency and heat utilization, and omitting the circulating pump for water circulation. An air-conditioner with the heat pump system is further disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: GUANGXI UNIVERSITY, GUANGXI JUNFUHUANG GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yingning HU, Biao LI, Jun LIN, Chengyong WANG
  • Patent number: 8683815
    Abstract: A magnetocaloric element (1) made by an alignment of at least two adjacent sets (MC1-10) of magnetocaloric materials having different Curie temperatures. The magnetocaloric materials within a same set (MC1-10) have the same Curie temperature. The sets (MC1-10) are arranged according to an increasing Curie temperature, and the magnetocaloric element (1) comprises elements (MA1-2) for initiating a temperature gradient between a hot end (6) and an opposed cold end (7) of the magnetocaloric element (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Cooltech Applications Societe par actions simplifiee
    Inventors: Christian Muller, Jean-Claude Heitzler, Jean-Luc Hamm
  • Publication number: 20140083130
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a single screw gas compressor having a housing including a cylindrical bore, a primary and secondary gate rotors mounted for rotation in the housing, each gate rotor having a plurality of gear teeth, a main rotor rotatably mounted in the bore and having a plurality of grooves and a plurality of threads, wherein each groove meshingly engages at least one of the gear teeth from each gate rotor, a primary economizer port in communication with the cylindrical bore, and a secondary economizer port in communication with the cylindrical bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Vilter Manufacturing LLC
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Picouet
  • Publication number: 20140041410
    Abstract: The condensing apparatus 71 includes: a compressor 10 which has a compression part 20 compressing a working fluid; a condenser 13 which condenses the working fluid compressed by the compression part 20; and a spray mechanism 81 including a nozzle 82 which sprays a cooling fluid into a fluid passage 91 to cool the working fluid flowing through the fluid passage 91 between a discharge opening CS2 of the compression part 20 and an inlet 13a of the condenser 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicants: TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER COMPAY, INCORPORATED, CHUBU ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INCORPORATED, JOHNSON CONTROLS DENMARK APS, KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd), DANISH TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, THE KANSAI ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC.
    Inventors: Ryo Fujisawa, Masatake Toshima, Yoshihiro Nakayama, Yoshitaka Baba, Satoshi Ide, Koichiro Ilzuka, Kunihiko Suto, Hiroshi Egawa, Ichirou Sakuraba, Daisuke Hayashi, Keiji Sugano, Hans Madsboll, Klaus Damgaard Kristensen
  • Patent number: 8640492
    Abstract: A heat transfer system defines a closed loop that contains a working fluid that is circulated through the closed loop. The heat transfer system includes an electrochemical compressor including 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. The heat transfer system also includes a tubular system that receives at least one electrochemically-active component of the working fluid from an output of the electrochemical compressor and, if present, other components of the working fluid that bypass the electrochemical compressor. The tubular system has a geometry that enables at least a portion of the received working fluid to be imparted with a gain in kinetic energy as it moves through the tubular system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Xergy Inc
    Inventor: Bamdad Bahar
  • Publication number: 20140007597
    Abstract: A pumped refrigerant cooling system having multiple pumping units for providing working fluid to a load to enable cooling of a space via the load. The pumped refrigerant cooling system operates the pumping units at less than capacity. When a pumping unit is deactivated, the output of the remaining pumping units is increased to maintain fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: LIEBERT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas E. HARVEY, Stephen SILLATO
  • Patent number: 8616009
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of making a magnetic regenerator for an active magnetic refrigerator, the method comprising: forming a magnetic regenerator from a slurry or a paste containing a magnetocaloric material the magnetic regenerator being formed to have plural paths therethrough for the flow of a heat transfer fluid; and varying the composition of the magnetocaloric material so that the magnetic transition temperature of the magnetic regenerator varies along the paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: The Technical University of Denmark
    Inventors: Anders Reves Dinesen, Soren Linderoth, Nini Pryds, Anders Smith
  • Patent number: 8596077
    Abstract: The thermal generator (1) which comprises at least one thermal module (10) constituted from many thermal elements (40), stacked and arranged in order to delimit channels therebetween for circulation of heat transfer fluid. These channels are divided into hot channels, in which the heat transfer fluid of the hot circuit flows, and cold channels, in which the heat transfer fluid of the cold circuit flows. The hot and cold channels are alternated between the thermal elements (40) and the thermal elements have fluid inlet and outlet orifices which communicate with one another so as to distribute the flow of heat transfer fluid of each hot and cold collector circuit, respectively, in the corresponding hot and cold channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Cooltech Applications Societe par Actions Simplifiee
    Inventors: Christian Muller, Jean-Louis Dupin, Jean-Claude Heitzler, Georges Nikly
  • Publication number: 20130312446
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerant composition having a reduced amount of comprehensive environmental load, in which the refrigerant composition has low GWP (direct impact on global warming is low), and has good energy efficiency (indirect impact on global warming is low) when used in a device. The present invention provides a refrigerant composition comprising 30 to 50 mass % of difluoromethane (HFC32) and 70 to 50 mass % of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO1234yf).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi SHIBANUMA, Yasufu YAMADA
  • Patent number: 8584471
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic apparatus includes multiple thermoacoustic device stages, such as individual thermoacoustic refrigerators, connected in a looped series such that excess acoustic energy from a first stage forms a part of the input energy to the next successive stage. Each stage includes an acoustic source, a regenerator, and a plurality of heat exchangers. The stages are interconnected by transmission lines. The dimensions of the transmission lines, materials used, and the operating parameters are selected so that that excess acoustic power is communicated to a succeeding stage with a pressure phase at the back of an acoustic source of the succeeding stage such that the electric power required by the acoustic source of the succeeding stage is minimized for a given acoustic power produced by the second stage. Improved operating efficiency of the thermoacoustic apparatus is thereby provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research
    Inventors: David Eric Schwartz, Sean Garner
  • Publication number: 20130298593
    Abstract: An integrated CO2 refrigeration and air conditioning (AC) system for use in a facility includes one or more CO2 compressors configured to discharge a CO2 refrigerant at a higher pressure for circulation through a circuit to provide cooling to one or more refrigeration loads in the facility and a receiver configured to receive the CO2 refrigerant at a lower pressure through a high pressure valve. The integrated system further includes an AC module configured to deliver a chilled AC coolant to AC loads in the facility. The AC module includes an AC evaporator and an AC compressor. The AC evaporator has an inlet configured to receive CO2 liquid and an outlet configured to discharge a CO2 vapor. The AC compressor is arranged in parallel with the one or more CO2 compressors and is configured to receive CO2 vapor from both the AC evaporator and the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventor: Kim G. Christensen
  • Patent number: 8555670
    Abstract: A power consumption economizer for refrigerating machines of the chiller type, comprising, on a same line, a pump for a heat transfer fluid, an evaporator of an associated refrigeration system for refrigerating the heat transfer fluid, sensors for detecting the flow and temperature of the heat transfer fluid and flow-rate adjustment means being associated with the pumping means. The system comprises bypass elements adapted to exclude reversibly the evaporator from the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Network Power S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Furlan
  • Publication number: 20130264353
    Abstract: A smoothie dispenser (20, 20S, 20A) comprises a frame (22); a smoothie receptacle storage section (24); and a receptacle conformed chiller section (26). The smoothie receptacle storage section (24) is provided within the frame (22) and configured to house plural smoothie receptacles (30) at a first temperature. The chiller section (26) is arranged to receive a selected smoothie receptacle released from the smoothie receptacle storage section and configured to crystallize contents of the selected smoothie receptacle. The receptacle conformed chiller section (26) is “receptacle conformed” in the sense that a surface of the chiller section is configured to conform to (e.g., have a surface of shape to mate with or to form substantially greater than linear contact with) at least a portion an exterior profile or periphery of the selected smoothie receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: Michael MILAN
  • Publication number: 20130255307
    Abstract: An evaporator system that includes: a first evaporator coil at a first evaporator temperature and pressure; a second evaporator coil at a second evaporator temperature and pressure that is less than the first evaporator temperature and pressure where the first evaporator and second evaporator are configured to be thermally disjointed; and a plurality of thermally conductive spaced apart evaporator fins having a plurality of spaced apart thermal break portions positioned between the first evaporator coil and the second evaporator coil that thermally disjoin the first evaporator and the second evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Kuehl, Nihat Cur, Guolian Wu
  • Publication number: 20130247602
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition including 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene and 3,3,4,4,4-pentafluorobut-1-ene, as well as to use thereof, in particular as a heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Boutier, Wissam Rached
  • Patent number: 8539772
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a mechanical leverage system using refrigerants in conjunction with temperature differences found in the environment is utilized for air conditioning, energy generation and other applications. The mechanical leverage system provides a means for altering boiling point temperatures of refrigerants in which the system is enabled to absorb and expel heat within the temperature differentials found in the environment. The mechanical leverage system is capable of saving or generating energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Arthur F. Hurtado
  • Publication number: 20130219929
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing cooling comprising evaporating a liquid refrigerant comprising (a) E-CF3CH?CHF and (b) at least one tetrafluoroethane of the formula C2H2F4; provided that the weight ratio of E-CF3CH?CHF to the total amount of E-CF3CH?CHF and C2H2F4 is from about 0.05 to 0.99, in an evaporator, thereby producing a refrigerant vapor. Also disclosed herein is a method for replacing HCFC-124 or HFC-134a refrigerant in a chiller designed for said refrigerant comprising providing a replacement refrigerant composition comprising (a) E-CF3CH?CHF and (b) at least one tetrafluoroethane of the formula C2H2F4; provided that the weight ratio of E-CF3CH?CHF to the total amount of E-CF3CH?CHF and C2H2F4 is from about 0.05 to 0.99.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: E.I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventor: Konstantinos Kontomaris
  • Publication number: 20130199237
    Abstract: An outdoor unit allows the position of the service valve to be changed in order to adapt the outdoor unit to various environments in which the outdoor unit is installed. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner includes a body, a compressor disposed inside the body to compress a refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger to cause heat exchange between the refrigerant compressed by the compressor and outdoor air, at least one service valve to regulate the refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat exchanger, and a guide portion provided at the body to guide a positional shift of the service valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130193369
    Abstract: The invention provides a heat transfer composition comprising: (i) trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze(E)); (ii) a second component selected from difluoromethane (R-32), propene (R-1270)propane (R290) and mixtures thereof; (iii) a third component selected from pentafluoroethane (R-125), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), and mixtures thereof; and optionally (iv) a fourth component selected from fluoroethane (R-161), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a) and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Mexichem Amanco Holding C.V. de S.A.
    Inventor: Robert Elliott Low
  • Publication number: 20130186115
    Abstract: Heat transfer compositions and methods including (a) HFC-32; (b) HFO-1234ze; and (c) either or both of HFC-152a and/or HFC-134a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
  • Publication number: 20130167659
    Abstract: A drive torque estimation device secures accuracy of a drive torque of a compressor by accurately grasping a flow rate of refrigerant in a cycle. The pressure difference is detected by a condenser as a resistor for calculating the flow rate. The pressure difference between two portions based on physical quantities relating to refrigerant pressures is detected using first and second sensors arranged at two portions in the cycle. A flow rate is calculated based on the detected pressure difference. The first sensor may be an upstream-side pressure sensor arranged at an inlet of the condenser or at a high-pressure side pipe upstream of the inlet and detects a pressure of the refrigerant flowing therethrough, and the second sensor may be a downstream-side pressure sensor arranged at a gas/liquid mixed phase region of the condenser and detects a pressure of the refrigerant flowing therethrough or may be a temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: VALEO JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Valeo Japan Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130167558
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dry cleaning apparatus comprising an arrangement for cooling fluid being used as solvent in the apparatus, and a method for cooling the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX LAUNDRY SYSTEMS SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Ahmed Al Jassani, Hakan L. Karlsson
  • Publication number: 20130160469
    Abstract: This invention relates to method for producing cooling in a chiller having an evaporator wherein a refrigerant composition is evaporated to cool a heat transfer medium and the cooled heat transfer medium is transported out of the evaporator to a body to be cooled, wherein said chiller is a centrifugal chiller. The method comprises evaporating a composition comprising E-HFO-1438mzz and optionally HFC-245eb as a refrigerant composition in the evaporator. This invention also relates to a composition comprising: (1) a refrigerant component consisting essentially of HFC-245eb and E-HFO-1438mzz; and (2) a lubricant suitable for use in a chiller; wherein the E-HFO-1438mzz in the refrigerant is at least 1 weight percent. This invention also relates to a centrifugal chiller apparatus containing a refrigerant composition, characterized by said refrigerant comprising E-HFO-1438mzz and optionally HFC-245eb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventor: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20130152624
    Abstract: A power converter includes step-up means for varying a voltage applied by a power supply to a predetermined voltage, commutating means for performing a commutation operation for allowing a current flowing through the step-up means to flow through a second path, smoothing means for smoothing a voltage related to outputs of the step-up means and the commutating means to produce power and supplying the power to a load side, and control means for performing control related to voltage varying, such as stepping up, by the step-up means and controlling the commutation operation of the commutating means on the basis of at least one of a voltage and a current related to the step-up means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: MitsubishiI Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Arisawa, Takuya Shimomugi, Yosuke Shinomoto, Masato Handa, Mitsuo Kashima, Shigeo Umehara, Katsuhiko Saito, Norikazu Ito, Hitoshi Tanifuji, Makoto Tanikawa, Tomomi Higashikawa
  • Publication number: 20130126777
    Abstract: The invention provides a heat transfer composition comprising (i) a first component selected from trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze(E)), cis-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze(Z)) and mixtures thereof; (ii) carbon dioxide (R-744); and (iii) a third component selected from 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), fluoroethane (R-161), and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Mexichem Mnco Holding S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: Robert E. Low
  • Patent number: 8444873
    Abstract: A composition which comprises or consists of more than 75 to less than 80 wt. % of pentafluoroethane (HFC-125); more than 17 to less than 22.7 wt. % of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a); and more than 2.3 to less than 3.0 wt. % of n-butane (R600).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Solvay Fluor GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Meurer, Felix Flohr, Helge Rau
  • Publication number: 20130111930
    Abstract: A system (170) has a compressor (22). A heat rejection heat exchanger (30) is coupled to the compressor to receive refrigerant compressed by the compressor. A non - controlled ejector (38) has a primary inlet coupled to the heat rejection exchanger to receive refrigerant, a secondary inlet, and an outlet. The system includes means (172, e.g., a nozzle) for causing a supercritical-to-subcritical transition upstream of the ejector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas D. Radcliff, Parmesh Verma, Jinliang Wang, Frederick J. Cogswell
  • Publication number: 20130108531
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for purifying a natural gas stream comprising: 1) removing the bulk of CO2 by at least one non-membrane gas separation means; and 2) removing oxygen and other impurities by at least one additional gas separation means, wherein the final natural gas product has low level of CO2 and oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Guild Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Mitariten
  • Patent number: 8429920
    Abstract: A magnetic refrigeration device for cooling a thermal load including a magnetic screening cage containing means for generating at least one magnetic field, first and second elements made from magnetocaloric material placed fixedly in said magnetic field, thermal conductors connecting one of said elements made from magnetocaloric material to a cold source, and means for suspending elements made from magnetocaloric material. The second element made from magnetocaloric material is housed in a cavity delineated internally by the first element made from magnetocaloric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Duval
  • Patent number: 8428817
    Abstract: Vehicle cooling fan control system and method which prevent an occupant from hearing peculiar sounds from a cooling fan due to a decrease in rotation speed are provided. The vehicle cooling fan control system according to the present invention is configured not to stop the rotation of a fan motor for a predetermined time even upon satisfaction of an air conditioner stoppage condition as long as a vehicle interior is quiet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutaka Yamaguchi, Satoshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8418476
    Abstract: A generator comprising at least one thermal stage having magnetocaloric elements (2) arranged around an axis and a magnetic arrangement (3) supported by a drive shaft (30) that rotates about the axis to subject the elements to a variation in magnetic field. The generator comprises pistons (70) to force heat transfer fluid through the elements with the pistons being driven in reciprocating translation within chambers (73) by at least one cam (71) that is rotationally driven the drive shaft (30). The generator comprises a forced circulation unit (8a) having planet gears (80) arranged around the central axis, supported by the body (72) of the generator and meshing with an inner crown gear (81) integral with the cam (71). Each gear (80) forms a gear pump that mixes the heat transfer fluid and places the fluid in forced circulation in the tanks (74) and the chambers (73).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Cooltech Applications S.A.S.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Heitzler, Christian Muller
  • Publication number: 20130074530
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling food on board an aircraft includes a cooling circuit adapted to supply cooling energy to at least one cooling station, a refrigerant circulating in the cooling circuit selected such that it is convertible at least partially from the liquid to the gaseous state of aggregation on releasing its cooling energy to the at least one cooling station and subsequently convertible back at least partially to the liquid state of aggregation again by an appropriate pressure and temperature control in the cooling circuit, and a refrigerant container including a receiving space arranged in an interior space of the refrigerant container which receives the refrigerant circulating in the cooling circuit, the receiving space of the refrigerant container connected to the cooling circuit by a flow line for discharging the refrigerant from the receiving space and by a return line for returning the refrigerant into the receiving space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Piesker, Ahmet Kayihan Kiryaman, Sebastian Roering
  • Publication number: 20130067952
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling a superconducting device by a low-temperature fluid is provided. A flow generator for producing a flow in the low-temperature fluid is provided in the cooling system. The low-temperature fluid flowing through the superconducting device is heated. The flow generator is used to produce a flow in the heated low-temperature fluid. The low-temperature fluid is cooled and supplied to the superconducting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Zui Rl, Tatsuo Koizumi
  • Publication number: 20130061613
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for cooling or heating a fluid or a body by means of a vapour compression circuit comprising a centrifugal compressor and containing a heat-transfer fluid, the heat-transfer fluid comprising at least two compounds selected from 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropene, 1,1-difluoroethane and 3,3,3-trifluoropropene, in which: the ratio of the Mach number of the centrifugal compressor to the Mach number which the centrifugal compressor has under the same operating conditions if the heat-transfer fluid is replaced with 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane in the vapour compression circuit is greater than or equal to 0.97 and less than or equal to 1.03; the compression ratio of the centrifugal compressor is less than or equal to the compression ratio which the centrifugal compressor has under the same operating conditions if the heat-transfer fluid is replaced with 1,1,12-tetrafluorethane in the vapour compression circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Arkema France
    Inventor: Wissam Rached
  • Publication number: 20130061627
    Abstract: A device for regulating a temperature of a plurality of components of a vehicle is provided. The device has a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, which are connected to one another in order to form a closed refrigerant circuit. The device furthermore has a first multiway valve, a second multiway valve, a third multiway valve and a fourth multiway valve for connecting the first and the second heat exchanger to a first component and a second component of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Dirk NEUMEISTER, Matthias Stripf, Manuel Wehowski
  • Publication number: 20130065766
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first section of high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable configured to receive a first flow of coolant and to permit the first flow of coolant to flow therethrough. The system may further include a second section of high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable configured to receive a second flow of coolant and to permit the second flow of coolant to flow therethrough. The system may further include a cable joint configured to couple the first section of HTS cable and the second section of HTS cable. The cable joint may be in fluid communication with at least one refrigeration module and may include at least one conduit configured to permit a third flow of coolant between said cable joint and said at least one refrigeration module through a coolant line separate from said first and second sections of HTS cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jie Yuan, James Maguire
  • Publication number: 20130055749
    Abstract: Provided is an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, an evaporator, and a supercooling device configured to supercool a refrigerant passing through the condenser. The supercooling device includes a supercooling main body in which the refrigerant passing through the condenser and a refrigerant to be injected into the compressor are introduced, a first passage disposed within the supercooling main body so that the refrigerant passing through the condenser flows in one direction, a second passage disposed on a side of the first passage so that the refrigerant passing through the condenser flows in the other direction, and a third passage in which the refrigerant to be injected into the compressor flows, the third passage being heat-exchanged with at least one of the first and second passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Beomchan Kim, Byoungjin Ryu, Yonghee Jang, Younghwan Ko, Byeongsu Kim
  • Publication number: 20130055729
    Abstract: Acid gas is removed from a high pressure feed gas that contains significant quantities of CO2 and H2S. In especially preferred configurations and methods, feed gas is contacted in an absorber with a lean and an ultra-lean solvent that are formed by flashing rich solvent and stripping a portion of the lean solvent, respectively. Most preferably, the flash vapors and the stripping overhead vapors are recycled to the feed gas/absorber, and the treated feed gas has a CO2 concentration of less than 2 mol % and a H2S concentration of less than 10 ppmv, and more typically less than 4 ppmv.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 8375729
    Abstract: In a thermoacoustic refrigerator, operating temperatures, ambient temperature, and selected user input are utilized to control frequency and/or input power in order to optimize the efficiency of the thermoacoustic refrigerator operation. In a thermoacoustic heat engine, operating temperatures, ambient temperature, and selected user input are utilized to control impedance of a load to optimize the efficiency of the thermoacoustic heat engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: David Eric Schwartz, Sean Garner
  • Publication number: 20130036760
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor includes a housing providing in inlet, an impeller, a diffuser and a volute or collector. An electric motor is provided in the housing and is configured to drive at least one impeller via a shaft about an axis. The impeller includes an outlet end aligned with a diffuser and arranged at the throat. A variable fluid injector device is arranged downstream from the outlet end of the impeller in one example. The variable fluid injector device is configured to introduce high pressure fluid downstream from the impeller in response to a compressor regulation command. The injected fluid energizes the low momentum boundary layer, which provides compressor stability. A compressor controller is in communication with the variable fluid injection device to obtain a desired compressor operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Lin Sun, Joost Brasz
  • Patent number: 8333901
    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: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Mexichem Amanco Holding S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: Robert E. Low
  • Publication number: 20120260676
    Abstract: Cooling via acceleration of a compressible fluid is disclosed. The fluid is accelerated by a rotatable body to a velocity that may be equal to or greater than the speed of sound in the fluid. No conventional mechanical pump is required to accelerate the fluid. A phase change of the fluid may be utilized to transfer heat from an element to be cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: Serguei Charamko
  • Publication number: 20120204594
    Abstract: Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising difluoromethane and trifluoroiodomethane and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, and aerosol propellants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: RAJIV R. SINGH, HANG T. PHAM, DAVID P. WILSON