With Reheating Patents (Class 62/90)
  • Patent number: 11958332
    Abstract: A vehicle cooling/heating system includes a coolant line in which coolant is circulated between a heat source component of a vehicle that provides waste heat and a chiller and a refrigerant line in which refrigerant is circulated through a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The refrigerant line performs indoor cooling through the evaporator. A controller controls the coolant line such that, during a drying mode in which it is necessary to dry the evaporator, the coolant in the coolant line is circulated or not circulated through the heat source component and the chiller, and such that the refrigerant in the refrigerant line flows, in order, through the compressor, the evaporator, and the chiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jong Won Kim, Sang Shin Lee, Uk Il Yang
  • Patent number: 11885524
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate a refrigerant to condition an air flow within an air flow conduit and a reheat system fluidly separate from the refrigerant circuit, wherein the reheat system is configured to utilize a waste fluid from a waste heat source to reheat the air flow conditioned by the refrigerant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Mislak, Ryan L. Snider, Karla D. Alvarez Cavazos
  • Patent number: 11808205
    Abstract: A method and system for enhancing power generated by a gas turbine system. The system may include a turbine inlet cooling system and a wet compression air fogging system. Air entering the gas turbine system is cooled by the turbine inlet cooling system and the wet compression air fogging system. The wet compression air fogging system may increase the mass flow rate of the air entering the gas turbine system at the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: STELLAR ENERGY AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Brady
  • Patent number: 11747053
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes a refrigerant circuit that has a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a reheat heat exchanger, a modulating valve, and a reversing valve. The reversing valve is configured to transition between a first configuration to direct refrigerant from the compressor toward the modulating valve and a second configuration to direct the refrigerant from the compressor toward the first heat exchanger. The heat pump system also includes control circuitry configured to concurrently maintain the reversing valve in the first configuration and adjust a position of the modulating valve to direct a first portion of the refrigerant from the modulating valve to the second heat exchanger and a second portion of the refrigerant from the modulating valve to the reheat heat exchanger based on an operating mode of the heat pump system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen Blake Pickle, Kerry Lyman Shumway, Thinh Huy Nguyen, Bradford Graham Briley
  • Patent number: 11613153
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for an electric vehicle includes: a housing having an air conditioning passage connecting an air inlet port to an air discharge port; an evaporator, an air heater, and an electric heater, which are positioned in series in the air conditioning passage in the housing; and a bypass door positioned after the evaporator in the air conditioning passage in the housing and configured to selectively allow some of air passing through the evaporator to bypass the air heater and the electric heater to the air discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gee Young Shin, Seung Sik Han, Dong Ho Kwon, Myung Hoe Kim
  • Patent number: 11499759
    Abstract: An air-conditioning device includes a heater unit that heats the air to be lead to a vehicle cabin using the heat of the refrigerant compressed by a compressor, a liquid receiver arranged at the downstream side of an outside heat exchanger, a liquid receiver separating the refrigerant lead from the outside heat exchanger into a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gaseous-phase refrigerant and storing the liquid-phase refrigerant, and a restrictor mechanism provided between the heater unit and the outside heat exchanger, the restrictor mechanism decompressing and expanding the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Marelli Cabin Comfort Japan Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 11248809
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for latent heat extraction of an air stream eliminates the need for recirculation pumps and uses the pressure in the chilled water supply to the primary chilled water cooling coil to motivate the water through the precooling and reheat coils of a run-around system. The energy transfer lowers the air temperature entering the primary coil so that the primary coil can provide a greater amount of latent heat extraction from the air stream. Both the precooling and the primary coils can share the primary cooling function for periods of peak cooling demand when precooling is not required thereby reducing the required primary cooling coil size. Enhancements combine the function of the precooling coil and the primary cooling coil into a single coil which is specially circuited for installation in the space of a standard chilled water coil eliminating the need for larger equipment rooms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Eiermann
  • Patent number: 11204197
    Abstract: A temperature-adjustable four-effect dehumidifying and drying system, having at least two sets of dehumidification heat pump assemblies and a set of auxiliary heat exchange assembly, wherein the dehumidification heat pump assemblies have at least two refrigerant modules and an air module, the auxiliary heat exchange assembly is formed by connecting at least two heat exchangers (4, 12) in series by means of a circulation pipeline, and the circulation pipeline is provided with a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventor: Zengkuang Shi
  • Patent number: 11156373
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for latent heat extraction of an air stream eliminates the need for recirculation pumps and uses the pressure in the chilled water supply to the primary chilled water cooling coil to motivate the water through the precooling and reheat coils of a run-around system. The energy transfer lowers the air temperature entering the primary coil so that the primary coil can provide a greater amount of latent heat extraction from the air stream. Both the precooling and the primary coils can share the primary cooling function for periods of peak cooling demand when precooling is not required thereby reducing the required primary cooling coil size. Enhancements combine the functions of a precooling coil, a primary cooling coil, and a reheat coil into precooling, cooling, and reheat coil portions in a single integrated housing comprising the coil portions sharing the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Eiermann
  • Patent number: 11073318
    Abstract: Provided is a method for adaptive control of a refrigeration system, the method including calculating a Number of Transfer Units (NTU) rate or an indicator representing the ease of variation of temperature (FVT) of an evaporator of the refrigeration system, to detect a frost level in the evaporator, to define the most suitable defrosting time, the energization of the drainage resistors and the adaptive management of the evaporator fan combining different operating modes, including an ice-free mode that uses only the cooling capacity of the refrigerant, and different modes with ice, which take advantage of the latent heat stored in the ice to save energy, depending on the frost level in the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignees: Universitat de Lleida, Ako Electromecanica S.A.L.
    Inventors: Xavier Albets Chico, Pere Moreno Argiles, Miguel Angel González Sánchez, Luisa Fernanda Cabeza Fabra, Gabriel Zsembinszki, Jose Miguel Maldonado Jimenez, Alvaro de Gracia Cuesta
  • Patent number: 10295204
    Abstract: A dehumidizer includes an upper air passage, a lower air passage, a rotary heat storage device, an evaporator, a condenser, a motor, and a fan. The upper air passage and the lower air passage are separated by a partition, and the right end of the upper air passage has an air inlet, and the right end of the lower air passage has an air outlet, and the left end of the upper air passage and the left end of the lower air passage are communicated with each other. The upper end of the rotary heat storage device is disposed in the upper air passage, and the lower end of the rotary heat storage device is disposed in the lower air passage, and the motor drives the rotary heat storage device to rotate. The evaporator, condenser and fan are installed sequentially from left to right into the lower air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: NINGBO FREE TRADE ZONE REFINE MOULD TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Rui Zhou
  • Patent number: 9976822
    Abstract: An energy exchange system includes a supply flow path including a central sub-path connected to a bypass sub-path that is, in turn, connected to a delivery sub-path that connects to the enclosed structure. A sensible heat exchanger configured to condition the supply air is disposed within the central sub-path. The bypass sub-path connects to the central sub-path upstream from the sensible heat exchanger within the central sub-path. A first coil configured to further condition the supply air is disposed within the central sub-path downstream from the sensible heat exchanger. A bypass damper is disposed within the bypass sub-path. The bypass damper is configured to be selectively opened and closed. The bypass damper allows at least a portion of the supply air to pass through the bypass sub-path into the delivery sub-path and bypass the sensible heat exchanger and the first coil when the bypass damper is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: David Martin Wintemute, Remi Fortin
  • Patent number: 9086230
    Abstract: In order to provide a refrigeration cycle device that is compact and efficiently utilizing an expansion machine and reduced in manufacturing cost through the use of a first compressor and second compressor driven by an expansion machine, a heat radiator and an on-off valve are disposed between the first and the second compressors and the second heat radiator is utilized irrespective of the operating mode such as the cooling or heating operation. Also, the heat transfer area ratio, which is a ratio of the heat transfer area of the second heat source side heat exchanger relative to the total heat transfer area of the heat transfer areas of said first and second heat source side heat exchangers, is set, according to the air speed distribution, within a range at which the COP is at its peak. Thus, the second heat source side heat exchanger can be utilized even during the heating operation, providing a high efficiency refrigeration cycle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Okazaki, Mihoko Shimoji, Shin Sekiya, Masayuki Kakuda, Takeshi Hatomura
  • Publication number: 20150114015
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an air inlet configured to receive an inlet airflow. The inlet airflow comprises a process airflow and a bypass airflow. An evaporator unit receives a flow of refrigerant and is cools the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the process airflow to the flow of refrigerant. A condenser unit receives the flow of refrigerant and (1) reheats the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the process airflow, and (2) heats the bypass airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the bypass airflow. The process airflow is discharged via a process airflow outlet and the bypass airflow is discharged via a bypass airflow outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Steven S. Dingle, Marco A. Tejeda, Timothy S. O'Brien, Todd R. DeMonte, Vincent Yu
  • Patent number: 8938981
    Abstract: A dehumidification apparatus comprises an air inlet configured to receive an inlet airflow that is separated into a process airflow and a bypass airflow. An evaporator unit is operable to cool the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the process airflow to a flow of refrigerant as the process airflow passes through the evaporator unit. A condenser unit operable to (1) reheat the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the process airflow as the process airflow passes through a first portion of the condenser unit, and (2) heat the bypass airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the bypass airflow as the bypass airflow passes through a second portion of the condenser unit. The process airflow is discharged into the structure via a process airflow outlet and the bypass airflow is discharged into the structure via a bypass airflow outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Steven S. Dingle, Marco A. Tejeda, Timothy S. O'Brien, Todd R. DeMonte, Vincent Yu
  • Publication number: 20150013356
    Abstract: A stepped approach to cooling capacity control and the HGRH status logic to achieve the requisite control of humidity and temperature provided to an interior area or building space receiving conditioned air. The system includes at least two independent circuits, each circuit having at least one compressor. At least one of the independent circuits includes hot gas reheat hardware thereby providing HGRH capability. The logic provides an efficient method for maintaining both humidity and temperature in the interior area comfortable for occupants within limits as determined by psychrometrics. The system and method match the sensible capacity and latent capacity of the system match to the sensible and latent loads of the conditioned space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Rajiv KARKHANIS, Curtis Wayne CASKEY
  • Patent number: 8910488
    Abstract: A refrigerated case includes a housing including an interior display volume and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a circuit defined by a heat exchanger section including a plurality of tubes that define a flow path, a reheat section including a reheat tube, and a connecting tube fluidly connecting the flow path of the heat exchanger section with the reheat tube. Air flows over the plurality of tubes of the heat exchanger section and rejects heat to a refrigerant flowing through the plurality of tubes to heat the refrigerant. The heated refrigerant then flows through the reheat tube. As the air passes over the reheat tube, the air accepts heat from the heated refrigerant flowing through the reheat tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventor: Kwok Kwong Fung
  • Publication number: 20140290287
    Abstract: A method and architecture for recovery of energy in an aircraft, both at altitude and on the ground, and recovering thermal energy from an exhaust. An architecture for recovery of energy includes an auxiliary power unit APU including an exhaust nozzle and a gas generator including a shaft transmitting power to a load compressor. The compressor supplies compressed air via a supply duct to an ECS air conditioning system of a passenger cabin. A recovery turbocharger is connected, directly or via a transmission case, to the shaft of the APU. The turbocharger includes a recovery turbine powered by a downstream branch of a conduit mounted on a heat exchanger fitted to the nozzle. The conduit includes an upstream branch connected to channels connecting air outlets of the cabin and the compressor. A second exchanger can be mounted between the supply duct and the cabin outlet channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: TURBOMECA
    Inventor: Laurent Houssaye
  • Patent number: 8769970
    Abstract: A refrigerated case (20) has a housing containing an interior volume (36) for storing items. Along an air flow path (510) through the case, a refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger (60) has an evaporator section (112) and a reheat section (114). A preconditioning section (110) may be upstream of the evaporator section (112) and the evaporator section is upstream of the reheat section (114). Along a refrigerant flow path (520), the reheat section (114) is downstream of the preconditioning section (110) (if any) and upstream of the evaporator section (112) and an expansion device (62) is between the reheat (114) and evaporator (112) sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwok K. Fung, Neelkanth S. Gupte
  • Patent number: 8640472
    Abstract: Recuperation systems and methods are applied to vapor compression cycles in dehumidification, such as in air conditioning. In some embodiments, a method for dehumidification includes introducing a refrigerant from a heating unit to a cooling unit along a first path; introducing the refrigerant from the cooling unit to the heating unit along a second path different from the first path; introducing the refrigerant from the heating unit to the cooling unit along a third path different from the first path; and contacting the cooling unit and the heating unit with a first gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: TIAX LLC
    Inventors: John T. Dieckmann, Detlef Westphalen
  • Publication number: 20130340448
    Abstract: An electric re-heat dehumidification apparatus to dehumidify a conditioned space is provided and includes a conditioning unit to produce an output airstream including overcooled air to be provided to the conditioned space to overcool the conditioned space during the dehumidifying of the conditioned space, a resistive element disposed within an output airstream of the conditioning unit, which, when activated, heats the overcooled air of the output airstream and a controller, operably coupled to the resistive element, to activate the resistive element in accordance with information of the conditioning unit, the resistive element and a temperature of the conditioned space to limit the overcooling of the conditioned space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chris Puranen, Rajendra K. Shah
  • Patent number: 8584481
    Abstract: An integrated air conditioner that controls the operation of a water feed device according to the mode of use. The air conditioner includes a control section that determines whether or not exhaust heat from a condenser 3 is being released outdoors through an exhaust duct 7 according to whether or not an air intake duct 26 or an exhaust duct 7 is fitted, operates a water feed device 8 for leading drain wafer collected in the drain pan to the condenser 3 during both of a cooling operation and a dehumidifying operation if it determines that the heat to be released from the condenser 3 is being released outdoors, and operates the water feed device 8 during the cooling operation and stops the operation of the water feed device 8 during the dehumidifying operation if it determines that the exhaust heat from the condenser 3 is not being released outdoors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tohru Ariga
  • Publication number: 20130298579
    Abstract: A dehumidification apparatus comprises an air inlet configured to receive an inlet airflow that is separated into a process airflow and a bypass airflow. An evaporator unit is operable to cool the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the process airflow to a flow of refrigerant as the process airflow passes through the evaporator unit. A condenser unit operable to (1) reheat the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the process airflow as the process airflow passes through a first portion of the condenser unit, and (2) heat the bypass airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the bypass airflow as the bypass airflow passes through a second portion of the condenser unit. The process airflow is discharged into the structure via a process airflow outlet and the bypass airflow is discharged into the structure via a bypass airflow outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Steven S. Dingle, Marco A. Tejeda, Timothy S. O'Brien, Todd R. DeMonte, Vincent Yu
  • Publication number: 20130171920
    Abstract: A conditioning system that conditions exterior air for use in a spray booth. The exterior air is conditioned and subsequently used to carry away coating mist, dust, and contaminants from a spray area. The conditioning system heats, cools, humidifies, and dehumidifies the exterior air to a variable set point. The variable set point, while bounded by dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity constraints, is selected based upon cost and/or energy minimization. Additionally, the set point selection may be based upon future predicted weather conditions that are determined with a mathematical profile of previous weather conditions and weather trends in a localized domain, where the localized domain is a geographic area surrounding a manufacturing plant that includes a spray booth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shubho Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 8453474
    Abstract: A vehicle air handling system includes an air handler, a desiccant assembly and a regeneration mechanism. The air handler has an air inlet configured to receive airflow into the air handler and an air outlet configured to direct the airflow from the air handler to a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The desiccant assembly is installed in a fixed non-movable orientation within the air handler. The desiccant assembly is configured to absorb moisture from the airflow and is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. The desiccant assembly includes a first flow path and a second flow path separated from one another such that the airflow passes through the first flow path. The regeneration mechanism is in fluid communication with the second air flow path of the desiccant assembly and is configured to remove moisture from the airflow passing through the desiccant assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Eisenhour
  • Patent number: 8365542
    Abstract: The present invention provides an energy efficient air conditioner that can provide a continuous supply of air at dew point that is several degrees Celsius below zero, without requiring a defrost cycle. The air conditioner in accordance to present invention comprises a plurality of cooling coils with interconnecting refrigerant piping, refrigeration circuit consisting of compressor and condenser coils, control circuit and one or more electric motor driven centrifugal fan. The present invention uses two cooling systems. The first cooling system having single coil cools the air to a temperature just above zero deg. C., say four deg. C. so that the second stage gets a steady supply of cold air. The second stage has two coils, each being half the size of the first stage coil, thus taking half the air from it so that all the air from stage 1 passes through stage 2. In operation, only one coil of the second stage is active arid chills the air going through it to say minus 14 Deg. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Surendra Himatlal Shah
  • Patent number: 8220277
    Abstract: Recuperation systems and methods are applied to vapor compression cycles in dehumidification, such as in air conditioning. In some embodiments, a method for dehumidification includes introducing a refrigerant from a heating unit to a cooling unit along a first path; introducing the refrigerant from the cooling unit to the heating unit along a second path different from the first path; introducing the refrigerant from the heating unit to the cooling unit along a third path different from the first path; and contacting the cooling unit and the heating unit with a first gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tiax LLC
    Inventors: John T. Dieckmann, Detlef Westphalen
  • Patent number: 8185247
    Abstract: In the present invention, a method and a system for controlling a compressor are provided. The method includes the steps of: providing a condenser connected to the compressor, and at least one evaporator connected to the condenser; measuring an inlet pressure and an outlet pressure of the compressor to obtain a flow rate of the condensate; determining a secure flow rate and a demanding flow rate based on a total number of the at least one evaporator; comparing at least two of the flow rate, the demanding flow rate and the secure flow rate with each other to obtain a compared result; and controlling the compressor based on the comparing result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ling-Yu Chao, Chung-Che Liu, Hsu-Cheng Chiang
  • Patent number: 8151579
    Abstract: A cooling recover system and method are disclosed. A fluid, such as water, is chilled and provided to a cooling coil to cool and dehumidify air passing over the cooling coil. The fluid is output from the cooling coil through an outlet, and at least a portion of the fluid from the outlet of the cooling coil is provided to an inlet of a heat transfer coil to reheat air passing over the heat transfer coil. The fluid is warmed as it passes through the cooling coil, which warmer temperature serves to reheat the air passing over the heat transfer coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Scot M. Duncan
  • Patent number: 8117855
    Abstract: Modernized refrigeration cycle includes two consecutive expansions with two expansion devices and two condensers, wherein the first condenser liquefies refrigerant after compressor and the second condenser liquefies refrigerant after the first expansion device. The cooling medium for the second condenser is either air to be conditioned in the refrigeration system or another available medium. Invention presents sealed systems of air conditioners, dehumidifiers and heat pumps operating per aforementioned refrigeration cycle that allows enhanced dehumidification with efficiency improvement in cooling mode and heating capacity and efficiency increase in heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventor: Alexander P Rafalovich
  • Patent number: 8033122
    Abstract: A dehumidifier unit includes a first coil in fluid communication with a source of cooling fluid, a second coil in fluid communication with the source of cooling fluid, a third coil in fluid communication with the source of cooling fluid, and a thermal unit disposed between the source of cooling fluid and the second and third coils. The thermal unit may be adapted to remove heat from cooling fluid flowing to the second coil and adapted to heat cooling fluid flowing to the third coil. A fan may be configured to move air across the first, second and third coils. The first coil may be configured to pre-cool air moving over the first coil, the second coil may be configured to dehumidify the air moving over the second coil, and the third coil may be configured to warm the air moving over the third coil. Other embodiments and methods of cooling are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110203300
    Abstract: Modernized refrigeration cycle includes two consecutive expansions with two expansion devices and two condensers, wherein the first condenser liquefies refrigerant after compressor and the second condenser liquefies refrigerant after the first expansion device. The cooling medium for the second condenser is either air to be conditioned in the refrigeration system or another available medium. Invention presents sealed systems of air conditioners, dehumidifiers and heat pumps operating per aforementioned refrigeration cycle that allows enhanced dehumidification with efficiency improvement in cooling mode and heating capacity and efficiency increase in heating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventor: Alexander P. Rafalovich
  • Patent number: 7980087
    Abstract: A refrigerant system for cooling a comfort zone is selectively operable in a cooling-only mode and a reheat mode. The system operates in the cooling mode to meet sensible and latent cooling demands of a room or area in a building when the room temperature is appreciably above a target temperature. The reheat mode is for addressing the latent cooling or dehumidifying demand when the room temperature is near or below the target temperature. In some embodiments, a generally inactive condenser stores excess refrigerant during the reheat mode, thereby avoiding the need for a separate liquid refrigerant receiver. To maintain a desired level of subcooling in the reheat coil, refrigerant can be transferred accordingly between the inactive condenser and the reheat coil. In some embodiments, the system's evaporator and reheat coil can be connected in a series or parallel flow relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Justin M. Anderson, James P. Crolius, Robert F. Schult, Roger J. Voorhis
  • Publication number: 20110126562
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for an aircraft for the individual air conditioning of regions of a cabin of an aircraft includes a central air conditioning device, which provides a pressurized and temperature-controlled central air flow. A part of the central air flow is supplied to a first cabin region. Another part of the central air flow is heated in a heating device or cooled in a cooling device and supplied to another cabin region. Water evaporates in the cooling device, in order to cool the air flow to be supplied to the cabin region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Jan Dittmar, Christian Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20110100035
    Abstract: A refrigerant system has a refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor for compressing a refrigerant and delivering it downstream to a condenser. A bypass line is provided around the condenser for selectively allowing at least a portion of refrigerant to bypass the condenser. Valves are provided on a line leading to the condenser and on the bypass line to individually control the flow of refrigerant. An expansion device is located downstream of the condenser, and an evaporator is located downstream of the expansion device. A reheat cycle is incorporated into the system. The reheat cycle includes a valve for selectively delivering at least a portion of refrigerant through a reheat heat exchanger, which is positioned in the path of air downstream of the evaporator. A control is provided for the system to achieve a desired level of dehumidification and temperature control to air being delivered into the environment to be conditioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Alexander Lifson, Michael L. Balistreri
  • Patent number: 7913501
    Abstract: A water-cooled air conditioning system using a regenerative condenser water circuit to reheat the supply air during a dehumidification mode. The air conditioning system may be any type of water-cooled system, including a water source heat pump or water-cooled air conditioner. The reheat circuit circulates water leaving the condenser through the reheat heat exchanger and then returns the water to the condenser inlet. Thus, the reheat circuit ensures that water leaving the condenser is warm enough to provide sufficient reheating for the supply air, regardless of the water source temperature. In addition, a modulation assembly controls the amount of water flowing through the reheat circuit, and thereby its temperature, so that the temperature of the reheated supply air can be maintained within a narrow range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Climate Master, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Ellis, Laxmikant N. Nerurkar
  • Publication number: 20110056457
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an apparatus for the condensation of a liquid suspended in a gas, and more specifically, to an apparatus for the condensation of water from air with a geometry designed to emphasize adiabatic condensation of water using either the Joule-Thompson effect or the Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube effect or a combination of the two. Several embodiments are disclosed and include the use of a Livshits-Teichner generator to extract water and unburned hydrocarbons from exhaust of combustion engines, to collect potable water from exhaust of combustion engines, to use the vortex generation as an improved heat process mechanism, to mix gases and liquid fuel efficiently, and an improved Livshits-Teichner generator with baffles and external condensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: TURBULENT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: David Livshits, Lester Teichner
  • Publication number: 20110030397
    Abstract: A refrigerant system has a condenser of microchannel design and construction and includes a reheat cycle. The reheat cycle includes a refrigerant flow control device, such as a three-way valve, for selectively routing at least a portion of refrigerant through a reheat heat exchanger from a location between a compressor and expansion device. A control for the refrigerant system selectively actuates this refrigerant flow control device to route at least a portion of refrigerant through the reheat heat exchanger at system start-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Eric B. Fraser
  • Patent number: 7856833
    Abstract: A new apparatus, which may be referred to as a “cool cap,” for use with an outdoor heat exchanger (e.g., a heat pump or an air conditioning condenser) having an air inlet vent and an air outlet vent, the apparatus comprising a top having an exhaust vent complementary to the air outlet vent; and a surrounding wall attached to the top, wherein the surrounding wall is at least about eight inches from the outdoor heat exchanger upon installation, and wherein the surrounding wall has an intake opening having an airflow being equal to or greater than the exhaust vent and forming a substantially unimpeded air pathway through the apparatus through the outdoor heat exchanger and out the exhaust vent; wherein the surrounding wall and top are thermally insulating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventor: Gerald A. Young
  • Patent number: 7845185
    Abstract: An HVAC system including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator arrangement connected in a closed refrigerant loop. The evaporator arrangement includes a plurality of refrigerant circuits. The evaporator arrangement also includes at least one distributor configured to distribute and deliver refrigerant to each circuit of the plurality of circuits. The plurality of circuits are arranged into a first and second set of circuits. The evaporator arrangement also includes a valve configured and disposed to isolate the first set of circuits from refrigerant flow from the condenser and provide flow of refrigerant from the compressor in a dehumidification operation of the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: John Terry Knight, Anthony William Landers, Patrick Gordon Gavula, Stephen Blake Pickle
  • Publication number: 20100303605
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure may provide an exemplary method for operating a compressor system, wherein the method may include cooling a process gas containing water vapor to a first temperature. The water vapor may form a condensate at the first temperature, and cooling the process gas may produce residual heat. At least a portion of the condensate is removed from the process gas, wherein any portion of the condensate that is not removed is a remaining condensate. The remaining condensate may be heated to a second temperature with the residual heat, wherein the remaining condensate in the process gas evaporates at the second temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert R. Odle, David C. Seib
  • Patent number: 7789128
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plate-type heat exchanger for drying a gaseous medium, especially air, comprising a stack of plates which are interconnected to define flow spaces between the plates, a gas-gas heat exchanger being formed in one portion of the stack, with a moist inlet gas stream flowing away from an inlet gas connection and a dried outlet gas stream flowing towards an outlet gas connection, both flowing next to each other through separate flow spaces to exchange thermal energy, and a gas-coolant heat exchanger being formed in another portion of the stack, with a coolant and the moist inlet gas stream flowing next to each other through further separate flow spaces for cooling purposes, and a flow connection being formed between an outlet of the gas-coolant heat exchanger and the gas-gas heat exchanger, in-cluding an overflow member to guide the dried outlet gas stream through the overflow member from the gas-coolant heat exchanger to the gas-gas heat exchanger The overflow member is formed of a stac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Gea WTT GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Rehberg
  • Patent number: 7762090
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger with a condensed fluid separating function, which includes a reheater having plural laminated wrinkled plates and introduction and discharge holes connected to different compressed air channels therein; a chiller having plural laminated wrinkled plates, working fluid inlet and outlet holes connected to a working fluid channel therein, and compressed air channels formed therein; and a wall-shaped pipe configured for partitioning the reheater and the chiller with providing a flow line to communicate a compressed air with he reheater and the chiller. An adiabatic expansion chamber is formed in a lower portion of the chiller on a flow line for the compressed air cooled in the chiller to move toward the reheater. A condensation chamber is formed in a lower portion of the reheater connected to the adiabatic expansion chamber. A condensation mesh sieve and a drainage hole are formed in the condensation hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Inventor: Byeong-Seung Lee
  • Patent number: 7694527
    Abstract: A system and humidity control method is provided for a multi-stage cooling system having two or more refrigerant circuits that balances humidity control and cooling demand. Each refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a vessel and an evaporator. A hot gas reheat circuit having a heat exchange coil is connected to one of the refrigerant circuits and is placed in fluid communication with the output airflow from the evaporator of that refrigerant circuit to provide additional dehumidification to the air when humidity control is requested. The hot gas reheat circuit bypasses the vessel of the refrigerant circuit during humidity control. Humidity control is performed during cooling operations and ventilation operations. During a first stage cooling operation using only one refrigerant circuit and having a low cooling demand, the request for humidity control activates the hot gas reheat circuit for dehumidification and activates a second refrigerant circuit to provide cooling capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: John Terry Knight
  • Publication number: 20100064701
    Abstract: An environmental conditioning system has a compressor for compressor air in an air flow path. A turbine drives the compressor and is coupled to the compressor. An evaporator is in communication with the compressor. The evaporator is configured to cool air from the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Louis J. Bruno, Douglas L. Chrisitans
  • Patent number: 7644590
    Abstract: A control system for a refrigeration system having a refrigeration compartment and a quick chill/thaw pan. A main controller board, electrically connected to a temperature adjustment board and a dispenser board through the serial communications bus, controls the temperature of the refrigeration compartment and the quick chill/thaw pan. The control system accepts a plurality of inputs to determine a refrigeration mode and to execute a plurality of software algorithms to control the refrigeration compartment as both a chill pan to rapidly chill food and beverage items without freezing and a thaw pan to timely thaw frozen items at controlled temperature levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John S. Holmes, Jerry J. Queen, II, Rollie R. Herzog, Mark Robert Mathews, Robert M. Bultman, Tim Holder, Wolfgang Daum
  • Publication number: 20090217681
    Abstract: Aircraft air-conditioning system (1) for an aircraft having a plurality of zones (2, 4), comprising a first line (6) for feeding cold air at an actual temperature T1act., a second line (14) which branches off a portion of the air from the first line (6) at a branching point (10) and feeds the air to a plurality of zones (2, 4) of an aircraft, wherein warm air is fed through a first trim valve (12) into the second line (14) so that the air in the second line (14) is heated to the actual temperature T2act., and a first zone feed line (24) feeding the air downstream of the first trim valve (12) to a first zone (2), wherein a second trim valve (26) is arranged in the first zone feed line (24), through which valve warm air is fed into the first zone feed line (24) so that the air in the first zone feed line (24) is heated to the actual temperature Tzf1act., and the first line (6) downstream and/or upstream of the branching point (1) feeds cold air at least to one further zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Alexander Solntsev, Johannes Eichholz, Holger Bammann
  • Patent number: 7559211
    Abstract: An air tower is provided for a refrigeration appliance that has a first cooled compartment and a second cooled compartment. The air tower has a diffuser section with a plurality of vent outlets to communicate with the first cooled compartment. A central duct section is defined by walls extending away from the diffuser section. An outlet is located at an end of the central section opposite the diffuser section to communicate with the second cooled compartment. A heat trap compartment is formed along one of the walls defining the central duct section. The heat trap compartment may communicate with a defrost heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Johnny R. Revlett, Matthew P. Deig, Daryl L. Reuter, Matthew W. Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20080229764
    Abstract: A condenser in a refrigerant system is provided with a plurality of refrigerant circuits, with at least one of the plurality of circuits being equipped with a shut off device. A reheat coil is also incorporated into the refrigerant system to provide enhanced dehumidification functionality. By selectively shutting off at least one of the active refrigerant circuits in the condenser, the amount of heat rejected by the condenser as well as by the reheat coil can be controlled shifting the heat load between the condenser and reheat coil. In this manner, and in combination with operation of the reheat cycle, incremental dehumidification and cooling/heating can be provided and humidity and temperature can be precisely controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Alexander Lifson
  • Patent number: 7389813
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of controlling local environment. In one embodiment, incoming air enters a contactor such the Direct Contact Cooler-Condenser (DCCC) where the air contacts water distributed on the contact media. After passing through the DCCC, the air is saturated at a temperature equal or close to that of the water. Depending on the state of the incoming air, in the DCCC will be humidified or dehumidified to yield saturated air at the desired humidity ratio. In one embodiment, a blower draws air through the DCCC and blows into the heater. The heater heats the air to the desired dry-bulb temperature. Before exiting, the air may pass through a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Dikran S. Babikian, Bryan H. Wade