Abstract: In order to cool a room, a cooling element fitted in the ceiling region is cooled to below the freezing point, preferably to about -40.degree. C., during the cooling phases so that condensate forming thereon freezes immediately. During regeneration phases when the room is not in use, the cooling element is defrosted and the melted condensate is caught in a condensate tray beneath the cooling element and drained via a discharge. The great temperature difference between the room to be cooled and the cooling element also makes it possible to obtain a strong cooling effect with a small cooling element, especially by indirect radiation exchange between the room and the cooling element via an intermediate ceiling. In addition, the air in the room is dehumidified since water vapour is deposited on and bonded to the cooling element in the form of ice.

Abstract: In order to cool a room, a cooling element fitted in the ceiling region is cooled to below the freezing point, preferably to about -40.degree. C., during the cooling phases so that condensate forming thereon freezes immediately. During regeneration phases when the room is not in use, the cooling element is defrosted and the melted condensate is caught in a condensate tray beneath the cooling element and drained via a discharge. The great temperature difference between the room to be cooled and the cooling element also makes it possible to obtain a strong cooling effect with a small cooling element, especially by indirect radiation exchange between the room and the cooling element via an intermediate ceiling. In addition, the air in the room is dehumidified since water vapor is deposited on and bonded to the cooling element in the form of ice.

Abstract: A suspended ceiling (C) comprises one or more panels (P) containing water (W) arranged so that the water is in contact with substantially all of the lower surface (10) of the panels (P).

Abstract: An air conditioning system in accordance with the present invention is disclosed which has a radiation plate including a radiation surface facing a room area. A column of air that is either cooled or heated by a heat exchanger in an indoor unit of the present air conditioning system, is directed to flow along the radiation surface of the radiation plate. The room area is then either cooled or heated by radiant energy using the radiation properties of the radiation surface.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, both of which are arranged outside a room to be air-conditioned, to communicate with an indoor heat exchanger and a radiant heat exchanger, both of which are arranged inside the room, and are operated simultaneously in a heating operation mode. A fan delivers air to the indoor heat exchanger. A temperature sensor detects the temperature of the radiant heat exchanger. A controller controls the indoor heat exchanger fan speed so as to control the radiant heat temperature from the radiant heat exchanger in accordance with a temperature detection signal from the sensor.

Abstract: A closed Rankine-cycle power unit 10 for powering a turbine 16. The unit comprises a single closed loop in which a working fluid is circulated. The fluid, in liquid phase, is brought to gaseous phase by passing it through a heat exchanger 14 and the gas is used to drive a turbine 16. The gas is then passed through supersonic condenser 20 of supersonic condenser-radiator 18. Supersonic condenser 20 comprises a supersonic DeLaval nozzle 30 connected to a long barrel 38 which converts the gas stream into liquid droplets. The droplets are formed into a droplet beam 22 by a spray nozzle 40, the droplets radiating away a large amount of their heat energy. The beam 22 is collected as a liquid by a collector 24 and pumped through a compressor 26 which raises its pressure. The liquid from the compressor 26 is then circulated through the heat exchanger 14 again.

Abstract: Cold generating apparatus, wherein it comprises a cold storage enclosure filled with a material having a solid-liquid transmission in the vicinity of the operating temperature of the apparatus, a first panel forming a radiating surface, whose radiation drops into at least one of the atmospheric windows, a substantially vertical second panel immersed in the material of the cold storage enclosure, a pipe in the form of a coil on each of the first and second panels, said pipes being connected by plastically deformable couplings to form a closed circuit and a certain quantity of a fluid which is vaporizable under the operating conditions of the apparatus within the closed circuit, the assembly constituted by the first and second panels, the closed circuit and the heat transfer fluid forming a device of the heat pipe type serving as a thermal diode which only transmits heat in the direction from the storage enclosure to the radiating surface.

Abstract: A method and radiative cooling device 10 for use in passively cooling spaces, applicable to any level of thermal radiation in vacuum and to high-intensity thermal radiation in non-vacuum environments. The device includes an enclosure 12 nested in a multiplicity of thin, low-emittance, highly-reflective shields 13 and 13' suspended in a casing 14 in mutual angular relation and having V-shaped spaces defined therebetween for redirecting, by reflection, toward the large openings of the V-shaped spaces, thermal radiation entering the sides of the shields, and emitted to the spaces, whereby successively reduced quantities of thermal radiation are reflected by the surfaces along substantially parallel paths extended through the V-shaped spaces to a common heat sink such as the cold thermal background of space.

Abstract: Covering element having selective optical properties, suited as a protective screen for refrigerating devices by radiation, consisting of at least one film or sheet of a material, transparent to infrared radiation comprised between 8 and 13.mu.m, and selected among polyethylene and ethylene copolymers, additioned with coloring materials selected among pigments and dyes so as to make this film reflecting in a prevailingly diffusive way (white) on the face to be turned to the direct solar radiation and absorbent, that is dark, for wave lengths below 3.mu.m on the opposite face, said film thus additioned showing a mean weighted reflectance in the solar spectrum greater than 0.6 on the upper face exposed to the sun and less than 0.3.mu.m on the opposite face, as well as a mean weighted transmittance in the solar spectrum not exceeding about 0.1.

Abstract: Intensified infrared cooling of a restricted region is achieved by locating the region in the path defined by a geometric configuration, in which a small infrared radiation sink and a large infrared radiation condenser are axially related.

Abstract: The invention provides a heat absorptive panel which has coolant circulation passages within it and is provided with means for reducing or preventing surface condensation of moisture from a humid atmosphere. The condensation is reduced by providing a panel covering of bleached cotton fabric which retains a uniform wet film of initial condensate which inhibits further condensation.

Abstract: An apparatus for intensified infrared cooling of a restricted region includes a small infrared radiation sink and a large infrared radiation condenser that are axially related. In various embodiments, the apparatus predeterminedly positions an object to be cooled with respect to the apparatus and/or includes a controller for sensing and maintaining the temperature of the object.

Abstract: Intensified infrared cooling of a restricted region is achieved by locating the region in the path defined by a geometric configuration, in which a small electrostatic infrared radiation sink and a large infrared radiation condenser are axially related.

Abstract: The improved passive radiation shielding means for radiant coolers as illustrated and described herein involves a device wherein one or more radiation shields having open, externally viewing end areas are positioned in a housing between stages of a radiant cooler. Mechanical low conductive supports hold the various elements, including the device to be cooled, the cooling stages and the radiant shields in place. In one practical embodiment of the device of this invention for use in cooling detector means aboard a satellite, the housing includes first radiant cooler stage is composed of a radiator surface, an optically polished and aluminized cone, two gold plated radiation shields and eight tubular low conductance insulating supports which mount the first stage to the vacuum housing. In addition there is hinged earth shield which may be deployed on command, whether the device is being tested or its in position in orbit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring frozen sections from a microtome or ultramicrotome to a microscope or the like without the deleterious effects of the ambient conditions. The apparatus includes a temperature regulated cooling means and protective enclosure to protect the frozen specimen during the transfer. The apparatus can be plugged into the vacuum chamber of an electron microscope and then the protective enclosure removed to present the frozen specimen for examination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sound-absorbing radiating screen. One side of the screen is coated with a heat-insulating material, whereas on the other side perforations of optional shape are formed. The entire curve, or a part thereof, formed by the edge limiting the rims of the openings lay outside the unperforated surface of the plate of the screen.The sound-absorbing capacity of the radiating screen is increased and at the same time, the punching and perforation does not impede or interrupt the heat flow in the screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for reducing the moisture content of air in a room prior to cooling by a pipeline in a structural element of the room. The moisture content is reduced by passing the air through a heat exchanger which lowers the temperature to below the condensation point thus condensing the moisture in the air. The condensed moisture is removed and the air is then cooled by ordinary room cooling means.