Heat Exchange Between Diverse Function Elements Patents (Class 62/513)
  • Publication number: 20040144130
    Abstract: An integrated-type suction pipe module for refrigerators, and a refrigerator having the integrated-type suction pipe module allow a suction pipe to be completely isolated from an interior of the refrigerator and an atmosphere. The integrated-type suction pipe module includes a suction pipe, and a foam body. The suction pipe defines a refrigerant path between an evaporator and a compressor. The suction pipe has an exposed part placed in a machine room which is exposed to an atmosphere, and an embedded part which is placed to be isolated from the atmosphere. The embedded part is disposed in the foam body. The construction enhances work efficiency while producing a refrigerator, and simplifies a design of a machine room to provide a better appearance. Further, the suction pipe is completely isolated from the atmosphere, thus preventing dew from being formed on the suction pipe. A heat exchanging effect between a capillary tube and the suction pipe is maximized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Gyu Jung
  • Publication number: 20040134225
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerant circuit which comprises a compressor (15), a water heat exchanger (16), a receiver (18), an expansion valve (19), and an evaporator (20). In the refrigerant circuit, a refrigerating cycle is carried out by compressing refrigerant to above a critical pressure in the compressor (15). A cooling section (17) for cooling refrigerant flowing out of the water heat exchanger (16) is provided on the upstream side of the receiver (18). A part of the evaporator (20) functions as an air heat exchanger which operates as the cooling section (17). The cooling section (17) exchanges heat with refrigerant on the outlet side of the evaporator (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Shinichi Sakamoto, Hiroshi Nakayama, Mikihiko Kuroda, Yasuhiko Oka
  • Publication number: 20040134215
    Abstract: Multi-type air conditioner including an outdoor unit having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a flow path control valve for controlling a flow path of the refrigerant from the compressor, an outdoor expansion device for expanding liquid refrigerant introduced thereto in a condensed state via indoor units and providing to the outdoor heat exchanger when the room is heated, and an outdoor unit piping system, a plurality of indoor units each having an indoor expansion device, an indoor heat exchanger, and an indoor piping system, a distributor for selectively distributing the refrigerant from the outdoor unit to the indoor units and returning to the outdoor unit again proper to respective operation modes, and means for super cooling the refrigerant condensed at the outdoor heat exchanger or the indoor heat exchangers and flowed to the indoor expansion devices or to the outdoor expansion device, thereby super cooling the refrigerant supplied to the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Han Park, Young Min Park, Chang Seon Lee, Sung Oh Choi, Sung Chun Kim, Seung Yong Chang, Seok Ho Yoon
  • Patent number: 6758054
    Abstract: A dual evaporator air conditioning system and method for use therewith is provided to cool air in front and rear portions of a cabin of a vehicle. The dual evaporator air conditioning system includes primary and auxiliary HVAC units having primary and auxiliary evaporators, respectively, to cool the air in the front and rear portions of the cabin. A heat exchanger near the auxiliary evaporator warms the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to maintain a minimum temperature. The heat exchanger warms the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to prevent accumulation of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the auxiliary evaporator when the auxiliary HVAC unit is in a non-cooling mode while the primary HVAC unit is in a cooling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jing Zheng, Prasad Shripad Kadle
  • Publication number: 20040123621
    Abstract: To prevent heat transfer inhibition and an increase in pressure loss due to refrigerating machine oil discharged into a cycle, and to provide a compact and highly efficient refrigerating cycle apparatus using carbon dioxide gas (CO2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Noriho Okaza, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki, Yuji Yoshida, Mitsuhiro Ikoma, Hidenobu Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20040118138
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to reduce the constraint that the density ratio is constant as small as possible, and to obtain high power recovering effect in a wide operation range by using an expander which is operated in accordance with a flowing direction of refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo Nakatani, Yoshikazu Kawabe, Noriho Okaza, Yuji Inoue, Akira Hiwata
  • Patent number: 6751983
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air conditioning unit with a coolant circuit which consists of a compressor, an evaporator, a collector located at the low pressure side between the evaporator and the compressor and an inner heat transfer unit with a beat transfer channel located at the high pressure side and a low pressure side beat transfer channel. According to the invention, the inner heat transfer unit has an at least segmentally spiraling and/or spiral-shaped steps between the outer and inner pipe of a coaxial pipe system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Bernd Dienhart, Hans-Joachim Krauss, Hagen Mittelstrass, Karl-Heinz Staffa, Christoph Walter, Bernd Kallfass
  • Publication number: 20040112073
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle for a vehicle air conditioning system allows the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger to exchange heat between a high-pressure liquid refrigerant, which is delivered from the sub-cooling condenser and directed to the evaporator, and a low-pressure refrigerant having a liquid and gas phase, which is delivered from the evaporator and directed to the compressor. The refrigeration cycle also allows the amount of the refrigerant circulating through the refrigeration cycle to be adjusted in response to the level of sub-cooling upstream of a throttle hole of a reverse sub-cooling control valve to thereby indirectly control the level of superheating on the outlet side of the evaporator. This provides improvements both in the amount of heat to be exchanged between refrigerants in the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and the cooling performance of the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Shigeki Ito, Yoshiaki Takano, Teruyuki Hotta, Yasushi Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20040107720
    Abstract: A refrigerant cycling device is provided. The refrigerant cycling device comprises a compressor, an intermediate cooling circuit and a three-way valve device. The compressor is connected to a heat exchanger and a depressurizing means, for performing a cooling operation and a heating operation. The compressor further comprises a first and a second rotary compression elements within a sealed container, and a refrigerant that is compressed and discharged by the first rotary compression element is introduced to the second rotary compression element. The intermediate cooling circuit is used for radiating heat of the refrigerant discharged from the first rotary compression element. The three-way valve device for opening a passage of the intermediate cooling circuit during the cooling operation. In this way, the coefficient of production (COP) during the cooling operation can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Kenzo Matsumoto, Masaji Yamanaka, Haruhisa Yamasaki, Kazuya Sato, Kentaro Yamaguchi, Kazuaki Fujiwara, Akifumi Tomiuka
  • Publication number: 20040104018
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) is provided to transfer heat between a first and second fluid flow. The heat exchanger 10 includes a flow path (20) provided in the form of one or more heat exchange tubes (40, 40A-C), and a second flow path (30) provided in the form of one or more serpentine heat exchange tubes (42, 42A-C). The tube(s) (40, 40A-C) is (are) “woven” together with the tube(s) (42, 42A-C) such that they are perpendicular to each other. The heat exchanger (10) can provide particular advantages when used as a suction line heat exchanger in a transcritical cooling system (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: Modine Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Gregory Hughes, Stephen Memory
  • Publication number: 20040103681
    Abstract: Method for defrosting of a heat exchanger (evaporator) in a vapor compression system including, beyond a heat exchanger (evaporator) (3) to be defrosted, at least a compressor (1), a second heat exchanger (condenser/heat rejecter) (2) and an expansion device (6) connected by conduits in an operable manner to form an integral closed circuit. The heat exchanger (3) to be defrosted is subjected to essentially the same pressure as the compressor's (1) discharge pressure whereby the heat exchanger (3) is defrosted as the high-pressure discharge gas from the compressor (1) flows through to the heat exchanger, giving off heat to the said heat exchanger (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Kare Aflekt, Einar Brendeng, Armin Hafner, Petter Neksa, Jostein Pettersen, Havard Rekstad, Geir Skaugen, Gholam Reza Zakeri
  • Publication number: 20040093880
    Abstract: A dual evaporator air conditioning system and method for use therewith to cool air in front and rear portions of a cabin of a vehicle. The dual evaporator air conditioning system includes primary and auxiliary HVAC units having primary and auxiliary evaporators, respectively to cool the air in the front and rear portions of the cabin. A heat exchanger near the auxiliary evaporator warms the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to maintain a minimum temperature of the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator. The heat exchanger warms the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to prevent accumulation of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the auxiliary evaporator when the auxiliary HVAC unit is in the non-cooling mode while the primary HVAC unit is in the cooling mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Jing Zheng, Prasad Shripad Kadle
  • Publication number: 20040089439
    Abstract: A tube-to-tube heat exchanger for use in an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle has a unitary tube, which is internally longitudinally divided into a first passage and a second passage by a heat conductive primary web. One warm fluid line is directly connected to each end of the first passage, without the need for a separate connector. One cold fluid return line is directly connected to each end of the second passage, without the need for a separate connector. The fluid lines are connected to the heat exchanger by brazing. In one embodiment, the web is substantially planar and the cross-section of each of the first passage and the second passage is substantially D-shaped. The heat exchanger may further include a support web, extending perpendicularly from approximately mid-way along the primary web. In another embodiment, the cross-sections of the first and second passages may be substantially circular, with the primary web being shaped accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Andrew Clare Treverton, Wayne Louis Whittle, Timothy Russell Dickson, Steve Murray Rhodes
  • Patent number: 6718781
    Abstract: A method for controlling at least one electronic expansion valve coupled to an economizer in a refrigeration system in order to dynamically control the refrigeration system operating conditions and in order to accommodate more than one set of operating conditions. The system can also be used to control the capacity of the system. More specifically, the method can include determining the required capacity of the system and adjusting the flow of refrigerant through the electronic expansion valve to adjust the actual capacity of the system toward the required capacity of the system. In another aspect of the invention, the system is operated to maintain the power of the system below a threshold value (e.g., below a max rated horsepower).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Peter W. Freund, Lars I. Sjoholm
  • Publication number: 20040055327
    Abstract: In an ejector cycle having an ejector, a throttle is provided inside a passenger compartment adjacent to an evaporator so that a length of a refrigerant passage between the throttle and the evaporator is shortened. Therefore, it can restrict a part of liquid refrigerant after being decompressed in the throttle from being evaporated in the refrigerant passage, before being introduced into the evaporator. In addition, a refrigerant inlet is provided at a lower header tank of an evaporator. Therefore, a gas-liquid refrigerant distribution difference due to the density difference between gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant can be effectively restricted. Thus, refrigerant distributed into the plural tubes from the lower header tank can be made uniform, even if the refrigerant flow speed is low in the ejector cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Hiromi Ohta, Masayuki Takeuchi, Motohiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6701730
    Abstract: In a refrigerating apparatus using an HFC group refrigerant, the performance is improved by increasing the refrigerating capacity and a stable operation is made possible. In order to achieve this, a cycle system in a refrigerator is structured so as to connect a compressor, a condenser, a liquid receiver and a supercooler in this order. In an air-cooled separation type refrigerator, the liquid receiver is disposed within an air-cooled type condenser unit. Further, in the case where a flush gas is liable to be generated in a liquid pipe, a vapor-liquid separator is disposed within the compressor unit integral with an accumulator and separated therefrom by a partition plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sakurai, Hideo Takemoto
  • Publication number: 20040040339
    Abstract: A refrigerant cycling device is provided, wherein a compressor comprises an electric motor element, a first and a second rotary compression elements in a sealed container. The first and the second rotary compression elements are driven by the electric motor element. The refrigerant compressed and discharged by the first rotary compression element is compressed by absorbing into the second rotary compression element, and is discharged to the gas cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Kenzo Matsumoto, Kazuya Sato, Kentaro Yamaguchi, Kazuaki Fujiwara, Masaji Yamanaka, Haruhisa Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 6698234
    Abstract: The efficiency of a vapor compression system is increased by coupling the evaporator with either the intercooler of a two-stage vapor compression system or the compressor component. The refrigerant in the evaporator accepts heat from the compressor component or the refrigerant in the intercooler, heating the evaporator refrigerant. As pressure is directly related temperature, the low side pressure of the system increases, decreasing compressor work and increasing system efficiency. Additionally, as the heat from the compressor component or from the refrigerant in the intercooler is rejected to the refrigerant in the evaporator, the compressor is cooled, increasing the density and the mass flow rate of the refrigerant to further increase system efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan, Tobias H. Sienel, Lili Zhang
  • Publication number: 20040035122
    Abstract: The refrigeration system of the present invention includes multiple economizer circuits. After flowing through the condenser, a first path of refrigerant is split from the main path. The refrigerant in the first path is expanded to a lower pressure and cools the refrigerant in the main path in the high pressure economizer heat exchanger. The refrigerant in the first path then returns to the compressor in a high pressure economizer port. A second path of refrigerant is then split from the main path. The refrigerant in the second flow path is expanded to a lower pressure and cools the refrigerant in the main path in the low pressure economizer heat exchanger. The refrigerant in the second path then return to the compressor in a low pressure economizer port. The refrigerant in the main path is then evaporated. The dual stage economizer refrigeration system can be employed with a screw compressor or a scroll compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Yan Tang
  • Patent number: 6694750
    Abstract: The refrigeration system of the present invention includes multiple economizer circuits. After flowing through the condenser, a first path of refrigerant is split from the main path. The refrigerant in the first path is expanded to a lower pressure and cools the refrigerant in the main path in the high pressure economizer heat exchanger. The refrigerant in the first path then returns to the compressor in a high pressure economizer port. A second path of refrigerant is then split from the main path. The refrigerant in the second flow path is expanded to a lower pressure and cools the refrigerant in the main path in the low pressure economizer heat exchanger. The refrigerant in the second path then return to the compressor in a low pressure economizer port. The refrigerant in the main path is then evaporated. The dual stage economizer refrigeration system can be employed with a screw compressor or a scroll compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Yan Tang
  • Publication number: 20040025526
    Abstract: Reversible vapor compression system including a compressor (1), an interior heat exchanger (2), an expansion device (6) and an exterior heat exchanger (3) connected by means of conduits in an operable relationship to form an integral main circuit. A first means is provided in the main circuit between the compressor and the interior heat exchanger, and a second means is provided on the opposite side of the main circuit between the interior and exterior heat exchangers to enable reversing of the system from cooling mode to heating mode and vice versa. The first and second means for reversing of the system include a first and second sub-circuit (A respectively B) each of which is connected with the main circuit through a flow reversing device (4 and 5 respectively) Included in the system solution is a reversible heat exchanger for refrigerant fluid, particularly carbon dioxide. It includes a number of interconnected sections arranged with air flow sequentially through the sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Kare Aflekt, Einar Brendeng, Armin Hafner, Petter Neksa, Jostein Pettersen, Havard Rekstad, Geir Skaugen, Gholam Reza Zakeri
  • Patent number: 6681596
    Abstract: A dryer for a refrigerant circuit of a refrigerator includes a housing with a first and a second passage orifice. The cross-section of the first passage orifice includes a circular main portion, which is provided for receiving an evacuating line, and a lateral bulge, which is provided for receiving a capillary tube. A method for mounting the dryer is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kentner, Helmut Steichele
  • Patent number: 6681597
    Abstract: An integrated unit (10) in a refrigeration system (100) wherein a low-pressure conduit (18) and high-pressure conduit (36) are in conductive heat exchange relation to each other within an accumulator housing (12). The low pressure conduit (18) and high-pressure conduit (36) may be flat tubes wherein broad sides of the flat tubes are in conductive heat exchange relation to each other. The low-pressure conduit (18) and high-pressure conduit (36) or tubes have longitudinal axes (40, 42, respectively) that extend parallel to one another over a length (44) within the integrated unit (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jian-Min Yin, Stephen Memory, Richard M. DeKeuster
  • Patent number: 6679320
    Abstract: Refrigerant fluid such as CO2, compressed to the supercritical pressure by a compressor, is delivered selectively through a three-way valve, either into a branch of the circuit containing a cooler, an expansion device and an evaporator for cooling the cabin of a vehicle, or into a branch containing another expansion device and a heat exchanger for the purpose of heating the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventor: Karl Stefan
  • Patent number: 6675590
    Abstract: A refrigerator or freezer includes a compressor with an electrical drive motor. The drive motor is activated by a rotational speed controller. The compressor is connected to a cooling medium circuit which contains a condenser, an evaporator and an expansion means arranged therebetween. The cooling device comprises a cooling space closable with a door as well as a temperature control for the cooling space. The rotational speed controller and the temperature control are grouped together to a constructional unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Grunfos A/S
    Inventor: Jan Caroe Aarestrup
  • Publication number: 20040003624
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle includes an accumulator/dehydrator (A/D) disposed in the suction fluid line for accumulating refrigerant and a heat transfer jacket surrounds the A/D for exchanging heat with the A/D and the refrigerant therein. The heat transfer jacket may define a space between an inner wall of the A/D and an outer wall spaced therefrom with a heat transfer media disposed in the space for cooling by extracting heat from the refrigerant in the A/D. Alternatively, the jacket is defined by a double walled sleeve surrounding the A/D and defining the space for the heat transfer media. Yet another alternative is for the heat transfer jacket to comprise a thermoelectric device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventors: Prasad Shripad Kadle, James Allen Baker, Mahmoud Ghodbane
  • Patent number: 6666046
    Abstract: A refrigeration system particularly useful with a multicomponent refrigerant fluid wherein the refrigerant fluid is cooled in an upward leg of a first vertically oriented heat exchanger section and further cooled in a downward leg of a second vertically oriented heat exchanger section prior to refrigeration generation and serial recycle flow through the two heat exchanger sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Lockett, Richard J. Jibb, Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan Chakravarthy
  • Patent number: 6644068
    Abstract: A refrigeration system comprises a compressor for increasing a temperature and a pressure of a refrigerant vapor, a condenser fluidly coupled to the compressor for condensing the refrigerant vapor, an expansion device for decreasing the temperature and pressure of a refrigerant liquid, and an evaporator fluidly coupled to the expansion device for evaporating the refrigerant liquid by transferring thermal energy between the refrigerant liquid and a second fluid. The refrigeration system also comprises a heat exchanger having a first flow path fluidly coupled to the compressor and the evaporator and a second flow path fluidly coupled to the condenser and the expansion valve. The heat exchanger is adapted to superheat the refrigerant vapor in the first flow path and subcool the refrigerant liquid in the second flow path by transferring thermal energy between the refrigerant in the first and second flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: E-Pak Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian E. Guckin
  • Patent number: 6644067
    Abstract: A closed circuit refrigeration system of successive coalescent/depth filters provides the almost total removal of liquid refrigerants from a refrigeration gas stream. The liquid refrigerant so extracted is then be returned to the suction side through a metering device such as a capillary line to provide intermediate cooling of the oncoming discharge gas. The auto cascade system utilizes short path plate heat exchangers. The properties of coalescent/depth filters place a physical barrier between the differing temperature/pressure regimes on the discharge side of the system. The provision of a start valve in a line connecting the gas discharge path and the return path close to the cryo-coil enables the use of hermetic compressors and eliminates the requirement for supplementary pressure vessels within auto-cascade cryogenic refrigeration systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Telmark Cryogenics Limited
    Inventor: James Stenhouse
  • Patent number: 6640567
    Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide an air conditioning system with low compression load. This air conditioning system consists of an expansion unit for adiabatically expanding refrigerant, an indoor unit having a heat exchanger, a compressor for adiabatically compressing the refrigerant, and an outdoor unit having a heat exchanger, and circulates refrigerant through the compressor, outdoor unit, expansion unit, and indoor unit to heat or cool a target area using the phase change of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventors: Young Ho Kim, Shin Hee Ryu
  • Patent number: 6637219
    Abstract: A fluid collector of a cooling device, which collects fluid carried along by the coolant in a reservoir, is arranged upstream of the compressor. The return of the fluid coolant, which can also contain oil, into the section leading to the compressor takes place via an inlet conduit. A control device regulates the reintroduction of the fluid via a regulating valve in such a way, that the vapor conveyed to the compressor does not contain any large fluid particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Fluid Power GmbH
    Inventors: Bert Leisenheimer, Holger Ullrich
  • Patent number: 6631625
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a refrigeration heat exchanger section useful in circulating a substantially non-HCFC refrigerant mixture which comprises: a compressor means, an auxiliary condenser, a first condenser, a second condenser, a third condenser, a subcooler and a liquid/gas separator, wherein a subcooled refrigerant liquid mixture taken as bottoms from the liquid/gas separator is distributed and expanded by a first expansion means and a second expansion means to form first and second expanded streams, respectively, such that the first expanded stream is returned to the auxiliary condenser and compressor in order to avoid overheating of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: GSLE Development Corporation (DE Corp)
    Inventor: Chuan Weng
  • Publication number: 20030167792
    Abstract: A refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator connected in a closed circuit through which a refrigerant is circulated. Liquid refrigerant is injected between an outlet of the compressor and an inlet of the condenser using a vacuum generator in which the vacuum is created by the geometry of the device and the dynamic properties of fluid flow therein, thereby allowing the refrigerant to be cooled at a temperature close to its saturation temperature when it enters the condenser without the need for a costly pump having moving parts. The vacuum may be produced by vortex flow of the superheated vapor output of the compressor, by flow of the superheated vapor through the throat of a venturi device, or in any other comparable manner. The refrigeration system may employ a single refrigerant or a mixture of refrigerants such as R-134a, R-32 and R-125.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: VIA HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Young I. Cho, Cheolho Bai
  • Patent number: 6615610
    Abstract: A concentric tubing apparatus prevents heat gain in an air conditioning system. The heat gain results from heat generated in an engine compartment of a vehicle. To accomplish this, the tubing apparatus includes a first and second refrigerant tubes. The first refrigerant tube is in fluid communication with a receiver and an evaporator of the air conditioning system to accommodate the flow of the refrigerant from the receiver to the evaporator, and the second refrigerant tube is in fluid communication with the receiver and the evaporator to accommodate the flow of the refrigerant from the evaporator to the receiver. The second refrigerant tube is disposed concentrically about the first refrigerant tube such that the second refrigerant tube insulates the refrigerant flowing in the first refrigerant tube from the heat generated in the engine compartment. Thus, heat gain in the refrigerant flowing in the first refrigerant tube to the evaporator is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Douglas Pettitt, John Paul Telesz, Jing Zheng
  • Patent number: 6612128
    Abstract: Accumulator (10, 100) for an air-conditioning system. The inlet (58) fluid separation can be controlled, and there is control of the amount of compressor oil in circulation through an adjustable coupling between the interior and the outlet passage (56). Desiccating material (48) can be accommodated in many orientations, and can be made of various materials. The accumulator (10, 100) embodies an outer housing (12, 14) of two or more pieces and an inner liner (16) that is of one or more pieces. The inlet (58) directs the refrigerant into the inner volume formed by the liner (16), wherein the liquid refrigerant and compressor oil are contained and insulated from the wall (12, 14) of the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Russell Dickson, Kenneth Peter Luke Cram, Matthew Bryan Nuss, Steven Murray Rhodes, Ki-Sun Jason Ryu, Michelle Marie Stobbart
  • Patent number: 6606867
    Abstract: A suction line heat exchanger storage tank for use in a vapor compression system to increase the efficiency and capacity of the system. Carbon dioxide is preferably used as the refrigerant. The high pressure of the system (gas cooler pressure) is regulated by adding charge to or removing charge from the system and storing it in a storage tank. The suction line heat exchanger exchanges heat internally between the high pressure hot refrigerant fluid discharged from the gas cooler and the low pressure cool refrigerant vapor discharged from the evaporator. The high pressure is regulated by adjusting valves. A first valve allows excess charge from the system to enter the storage tank if the pressure in the gas cooler is too high. If the pressure in the gas cooler is too low, a second valve is opened to allow excess charge from the storage tank to reenter the system. By regulating the high pressure of the system, the evaporator inlet enthalpy can be controlled to achieve optimal efficiency and/or capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Tobias H. Sienel
  • Publication number: 20030140650
    Abstract: A dryer for a refrigerant circuit of a refrigerator includes a housing with a first and a second passage orifice. The cross-section of the first passage orifice includes a circular main portion, which is provided for receiving an evacuating line, and a lateral bulge, which is provided for receiving a capillary tube. A method for mounting the dryer is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kentner, Helmut Steichele
  • Publication number: 20030126875
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus (1) has a compressor (2), a condenser (3), an expansion valve (5), an evaporator (6) and an electric valve (10), all connected to each other in this order by a piping line to form a refrigeration circuit. The apparatus further has a heating section (11) and a bypass (12), and a thermosensitive tube (13) of the expansion valve is disposed between the heating section (11) and the electric valve (10) so that temperature of a refrigerant having left this section is detected before entering this valve (10). The refrigerant remains as a gas-liquid mixture until it leaves the evaporator (6) such that temperature of the refrigerant is uniform within the evaporator and equal to the saturation vapor temperature of this refrigerant, and therefore fluctuation in the refrigerant temperature is diminished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Shinichi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 6584796
    Abstract: Heat exchange is performed between a discharge side refrigerant and a suction side refrigerant also at the time of a heating operation. By this, a liquid phase refrigerant containing lubricating oil in the suction side refrigerant is heated by the discharge side refrigerant, and the liquid phase refrigerant is vaporized also at the time of the heating operation, so that the amount of the liquid phase refrigerant sucked into a compressor is decreased. Accordingly, the increase of compression work of the compressor is prevented, and an opening area of an oil return hole can be expanded to such a degree that an optimum amount of lubricating oil is attained at the time of the heating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Itoh, Yoshitaka Tomatsu, Motohiro Yamaguchi, Yasushi Yamanaka, Toshio Hirata
  • Patent number: 6584784
    Abstract: A compressor-pump unit for use in a vapor-compression refrigeration system is provided. The compressor-pump unit comprises a driving device including a rotatable shaft. A compressor is coupled with a first portion of the shaft for compressing gaseous refrigerant within the vapor-compression refrigeration system. A liquid pump is coupled with a second portion of the shaft for receiving liquid refrigerant having a first pressure and for discharging the received liquid refrigerant at a second pressure with the second pressure being higher than the first pressure by a predetermined amount such that the discharged liquid refrigerant is subcooled. A pre-cooling circuit is connected to the liquid pump with the pre-cooling circuit being exposed to the gaseous refrigerant whereby the gaseous refrigerant absorbs heat from the liquid refrigerant, prior to the liquid refrigerant entering the liquid pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Midwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Christopher J. Gaul
  • Patent number: 6581408
    Abstract: Refrigerant exiting a condenser (1) is diverted into first and second parts, with the first part passed to a first intercooler (6) via a first decompression means (3) while the second part is passed to an evaporator (8) via a second decompression means (7). The refrigerant passed to the second decompression means (7) undergoes heat exchange with the intercooler (6). The refrigerant discharged from the evaporator (8) is fed to a first stage low-pressure compression means (32). In the multi-stage compression apparatus, the refrigerant discharged-from the low-pressure compression means (32) is mixed or merged with the refrigerant exiting the intercooler (6) at a merging point (106), and then fed to a second stage high-pressure compression means (34). The displacement volume of the low-pressure compression means (32) is larger than that of the high-pressure compression means(34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Tadano, Atsushi Oda, Toshiyuki Ebara, Takashi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 6581397
    Abstract: A refrigerating device has a refrigerant circuit having a compressor (1), an indoor heat exchanger (3), a main motor operated valve (EV1), and an indoor heat exchanger (5) connected in a loop, and uses, as a working medium, an R32 refrigerant or a mixed refrigerant containing R32 at at least 70 wt %. A supercooling heat exchanger (11) is disposed between the indoor heat exchanger (3) and the main motor operated valve (EV1), and the liquid side of the refrigerant circuit are connected to the gas side by by-pass pipes (33, 34) through the supercooling heat exchanger (11). A supercooling motor operated valve (EV2) is disposed at the by-pass pipe (33) upstream of the supercooling heat exchanger (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeharu Taira, Junichirou Tanaka, Koji Shibaike
  • Patent number: 6571576
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for injecting a liquid/vapor into compression chambers at an intermediate pressure utilizes the economizer injection ports already found in the compressor. By selectively communicating a liquid to be injected into the compression chambers to the economizer return line, the economizer return line and its ports are utilized for this liquid/vapor injection. In this way, no additional flow connections at the compressor are necessary. Moreover, by injecting the liquid at an intermediate pressure point, the other benefits are provided. In general, the liquid is injected to reduce the discharge temperature of the refrigerant under certain operational conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, James W. Bush, Michael F. Taras, Howard H. Fraser, Jr., Russell G. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20030089493
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner selectively switches one of a cooling mode in which an interior heat exchanger of a refrigerant cycle is operated as an evaporator for cooling air, and a heating mode in which the interior heat exchanger is operated as a radiator for heating air. In the vehicle air conditioner, an accumulator, for separating gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant from each other and for storing the separated liquid refrigerant therein, is disposed between an outlet of the interior heat exchanger and a suction port of a compressor. Further, the accumulator includes a heating device for heating the liquid refrigerant stored in the accumulator in the heating mode. Therefore, heating performance for heating air in heating mode can be efficiently improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Takano, Toshitaka Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6539731
    Abstract: A humid gas stream is dehumidified by bringing that stream into contact with the front surface of a hydrophilic capillary condenser layer that captures the water and moves it adjacent the rear surface of the capillary layer. An osmotic layer, such as a semi-permeable membrane, is disposed on the rear surface of the condenser layer, and an osmotic fluid having a low concentration of water therein, is disposed adjacent the osmotic layer. An osmotic driving force, resulting from the water concentration gradient across the osmotic layer, transports the condensed water from the condensing layer through the thickness of the osmotic layer and into an osmotic fluid. The osmotic layer also inhibits the osmotic fluid from flowing into the condenser layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventors: Arthus S. Kesten, Sunita Satyapal, James D. Freihaut, Carol M. Hawk
  • Patent number: 6539746
    Abstract: A high pressure gas cooler for a motor-vehicle air-conditioning system, the refrigerant circuit having, in the flow direction of the refrigerant, a compressor, the gas cooler, an inner heat exchanger exchanging heat between the high-pressure and low-pressure sides, a throttle device, an evaporator and a manifold on the low-pressure side, which communicates via the low-pressure side of the inner heat exchanger with the intake side of the compressor. The gas cooler is combined with the inner heat exchanger and/or the manifold on the low-pressure side to form a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Klimatechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Haussmann
  • Patent number: 6539733
    Abstract: A thermosiphon is provided of low cost and simple construction and having a condenser which can reliably discharge a condensed working fluid from an outlet pipe even if the apparatus is somewhat inclined. A thermosiphon 1 comprises a condenser 2 connected to a cold part B of a refrigeration apparatus A, and a capillary 3a and a large diameter pipe 3b connected to the condenser 2 and which can pass a working fluid thereinside. The condenser 2 comprises; an attachment part 4 attached to the cold part B for conducting cold from the cold part B, and a condensing part 5 provided at an end of the attachment part 4 for condensing the working fluid. The condensing part 5 has a cavity portion 6 thereinside, and an inside bottom part 6a of the cavity portion 6 is formed descending towards an outlet hole 12 communicating with the capillary 3a for the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Twinbird Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Sone
  • Patent number: 6523360
    Abstract: A cooling cycle with a high-pressure side operating in a supercritical area of refrigerant includes a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of cooled refrigerant between a gas cooler and an internal heat exchanger, a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of cooled refrigerant between the two, and a controller for controlling at least one of a compressor and a throttling device in accordance with the sensed temperature and the sensed pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Watanabe, Torahide Takahashi, Yoshihiro Sasaki, Masahiro Iguchi, Kojiro Nakamura, Yasuhito Okawara
  • Patent number: 6523365
    Abstract: An accumulator with an internal heat exchanger for use in an air conditioning or refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator is disclosed. In operation, the accumulator is placed in the system so high pressure, high temperature refrigerant flowing from the condenser and low pressure, low temperature refrigerant flowing from the evaporator simultaneously enter and flow through the heat exchanger disposed in the accumulator whereby the low pressure, low temperature refrigerant absorbs heat and thereby cools the high pressure, high temperature refrigerant. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises a tube having at least one high temperature channel and one low temperature channel extending through the interior of the tube. In a second embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises a single spirally wound coaxial tube having an outer tube and an inner tube positioned within the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao A. Zhang, Henry Mehraban, Richard G. Gibbons, Jr., Teodor Urdea
  • Publication number: 20030024266
    Abstract: An accumulator with an internal heat exchanger for use in an air conditioning or refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator is disclosed. In operation, the accumulator is placed in the system so high pressure, high temperature refrigerant flowing from the condenser and low pressure, low temperature refrigerant flowing from the evaporator simultaneously enter and flow through the heat exchanger disposed in the accumulator whereby the low pressure, low temperature refrigerant absorbs heat and thereby cools the high pressure, high temperature refrigerant. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises a tube having at least one high temperature channel and one low temperature channel extending through the interior of the tube. In a second embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises a single spirally wound coaxial tube having an outer tube and an inner tube positioned within the outer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao A. Zhang, Henry Mehraban, Richard G. Gibbons