49058 results about "Refrigeration" patented technology

A build-up monitoring system in combination with a refrigerated enclosure comprises a refrigerated enclosure having a drain, a drain basin and a refrigeration unit adapted to maintain refrigerating conditions in the refrigerated enclosure. A build-up detector is positioned with respect to the refrigerated enclosure so as to monitor a level of build-up in the drain / drain basin. A condition analyzer receives detection data from the build-up detector, the condition analyzer identifying from the detection data a build-up in the drain / drain basin requiring an intervention. An interface indicates the requirement for the intervention. A method is provided to identify a build-up requiring an intervention in a drain / drain basin of a refrigerated enclosure.

The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a fluoroolefin and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.

A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. In recent years, the preferred method of separating a hydrocarbon gas stream generally includes supplying at least portions of the gas stream to a fractionation tower having at least one reboiler, and often one or more side reboilers, to supply heat to the column by withdrawing and heating some of the tower liquids to produce stripping vapors that separate the more volatile components from the desired components. The reboiler and side reboilers (if any) are typically integrated into the feed stream cooling scheme to provide at least a portion of the refrigeration needed to condense the desired components for subsequent fractionation in the distillation column. In the process disclosed, the tower reboiling scheme is modified to use one or more tower liquid distillation streams from a point higher in the column than is used in the conventional reboiling scheme, providing colder stream(s) for the reboiler(s) that allow more effective cooling of the feed streams and thereby improve the efficiency with which the desired components are recovered. In addition, the tower liquid streams withdrawn from a higher point in the column contain larger quantities of the more volatile components, which when vaporized provide better stripping of undesirable components like carbon dioxide without reducing the recovery of the desired components. The heated distillation stream is returned to a lower point on the fractionation tower that is separated from the withdrawal point by at least one theoretical stage.

The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a fluoroolefin and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.

The invention describes devices for performing thermodynamic work on a fluid, such as pumps, compressors and fans. The thermodynamic work may be used to provide a driving force for moving the fluid. Work performed on the fluid may be transmitted to other devices, such as a piston in a hydraulic actuation device. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to perform thermodynamic work on the fluid. The devices may be designed to efficiently operate at a plurality of operating conditions, such as operating conditions that produce an acoustic signal above or below the human hearing range. The devices may be used in thermal control systems, such as refrigeration system, cooling systems and heating systems.

A high-powered lighting assembly includes an easily sealed continuous thermal barrier and a solid-state actively controlled closed-loop refrigeration system to maximize operational efficiencies and increase unit life. The thermal barrier prevents thermal back-flow from a heat sink plate or a housing to a lighting array while insulating a control module and a thermal sensor with improved sealing geometry. The refrigeration system is optimally positioned to controllably pump heat from the lighting array to the heat sink plate.

The shaft (20) of an engine (19) is coupled to a turbine (28) of an organic Rankine cycle subsystem which extracts heat (45-48, 25) from engine intake air, coolant, oil, EGR and exhaust. Bypass valves (92,94, 96, 99) control engine temperatures. Turbine pressure drop is controlled via a bypass valve (82) or a mass flow control valve (113). A refrigeration subsystem having a compressor (107) coupled to the engine shaft uses its evaporator (45a) to cool engine intake air. The ORC evaporator (25a) may comprise a muffler including pressure pulse reducing fins (121, 122), some of which have NOx and / or particulate reducing catalysts thereon.

An expansion valve of the present invention has a structure which integrates a refrigerant flow divider. The expansion valve includes a refrigerant flow dividing chamber 6 on the downstream side of a first throttle 10. Flow dividing tubes 12 are connected to the refrigerant flow dividing chamber 6. In the expansion valve, refrigerant which has passed through the first throttle 10 is sprayed into the refrigerant flow dividing chamber 6, so that the flow dividing characteristic of the refrigerant is improved. Also, due to an enlargement of the passage in the refrigerant flow dividing chamber 6, the ejection energy of a flow of the refrigerant ejected from the first throttle 10 is dispersed, whereby a discontinuous refrigerant flow noise is reduced.

The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a tetrafluoropropene and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.

The present invention provides a temperature control unit for an electrostatic adsorption electrode that is capable of controlling the wafer temperature rapidly over a wide temperature range without affecting in-plane uniformity while high heat input etching is conducted with high wafer bias power applied. A refrigerant flow path provided in the electrostatic adsorption electrode serves as an evaporator. The refrigerant flow path is connected to a compressor, a condenser, and a first expansion valve to form a direct expansion type refrigeration cycle. A second expansion valve is installed between the electrostatic adsorption electrode and the compressor to adjust the flow rate of a refrigerant. This makes it possible to compress the refrigerant in the refrigerant flow path of the electrostatic adsorption electrode and adjust the wafer temperature to a high level by raising the refrigerant evaporation temperature. Further, a thin-walled cylindrical refrigerant flow path is employed so that the thin-walled cylinder is deformed only slightly by the refrigerant pressure.

A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. In recent years, the preferred method of separating a hydrocarbon gas stream generally includes supplying at least portions of the gas stream to a fractionation tower having at least one reboiler, and often one or more side reboilers, to supply heat to the column by withdrawing and heating some of the tower liquids to produce stripping vapors that separate the more volatile components from the desired components. The reboiler and side reboilers (if any) are typically integrated into the feed stream cooling scheme to provide at least a portion of the refrigeration needed to condense the desired components for subsequent fractionation in the distillation column. In the process disclosed, the tower reboiling scheme is modified to use one or more tower liquid distillation streams from a point higher in the column than is used in the conventional reboiling scheme, providing colder stream(s) for the reboiler(s) that allow more effective cooling of the feed streams and thereby improve the efficiency with which the desired components are recovered. In addition, the tower liquid streams withdrawn from a higher point in the column contain larger quantities of the more volatile components, which when vaporized provide better stripping of undesirable components like carbon dioxide without reducing the recovery of the desired components. The heated distillation stream is returned to a lower point on the fractionation tower that is separated from the withdrawal point by at least one theoretical stage.

An apparatus and method for monitoring the operation of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and / or refrigeration (HVAC / R) system includes a first computer located on or near the HVAC / R system and a plurality of sensors positioned to sense various operating parameters of the HVAC / R system. The sensors communicate the sensed parameters to the first computer. When the first computer detects a condition of the HVAC / R system that requires attention, based on parameters sensed by the sensors, the first computer communicates with a second computer located remote from the first computer and transmits a message related to the condition.

An efficient thermal management system (100) that utilizes a single heat exchanger (133) is provided. A refrigeration subsystem (103) cools the heat exchanger (133). A first coolant loop (139) in thermal communication with the heat exchanger (133) is used to cool the energy storage system (137). A second coolant loop (151) corresponding to the HVAC subsystem (107) is also in thermal communication with the heat exchanger (133). Preferably a third coolant loop (109) corresponding to the drive motor cooling subsystem (101) is coupleable to the HVAC coolant loop (151), thus providing an efficient means of providing heat to the HVAC subsystem (107).

A system and method for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communication network. The management center receives performance information of the refrigeration system at a remote location. The management center employs software modules to analyze the performance information, diagnose system conditions, and provide alarms for food safety and quality issues, refrigeration system component failure, and indicate maintenance conditions.

The use to e of tetrafluoropropenes, particularly (HFO-1234) in a variety of applications, including refrigeration equipment, is disclosed. These materials are generally useful as refrigerants for heating and cooling, as blowing agents, as aerosol propellants, as solvent composition, and as fire extinguishing and suppressing agents.

A method for providing refrigeration such as to an insulated enclosure wherein a defined multicomponent refrigerant fluid undergoes a phase change coupled with Joule-Thomson expansion to generate refrigeration over a wide temperature range which may comprise from ambient to low temperatures.

The present invention relates to heat transfer compositions comprising 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, difluoromethane, pentafluoroethane, and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, heat pump systems, and other heat transfer applications. The inventive heat transfer compositions can possess reduced global warming potential while providing good capacity and performance.

A lighting system for low temperature environments includes a plurality of light emitting diodes attached to a support member mounted within a refrigeration unit or the like for illuminating contents thereof. A reflector is disclosed adjacent to the light emitting diodes for dispersing the light therefrom. A light transmitting cover overlies the light emitting diodes, and preferably includes non-planar surfaces for dispersing light onto objects within the refrigeration unit. A power supply converts alternating current voltage to a lower direct current voltage for powering the light emitting diodes in a safe manner.

A refrigerated truck has a power management system for optimally distributing power between one or more energy sources, energy sinks, or energy storage components on the refrigerated truck. One such power consuming component includes a refrigeration unit that cools a refrigerated compartment of the refrigerated truck. Particularly with regard to this refrigeration unit, the power management system is operative to direct power from multiple power sources to the refrigeration unit so as to efficiently use available power. To do so, the power management system dynamically determines the availability of certain power sources and selects a preferred power source based on availability and a defined order of power source preference. For example, one defined order of power source preference may include, in order of preference upon availability, a shore power source, a truck engine generator drivingly connected to the refrigerated truck's engine, one or more auxiliary power sources, and a stand alone refrigerator unit engine.

The invention discloses a control method of an air conditioner. The control method comprises the following steps: S1, detecting current indoor temperature, current outdoor temperature and current indoor relative humidity; S2, acquiring indoor temperature grade corresponding to the current indoor temperature and acquiring relation grade between the current indoor temperature and the current outdoor temperature; S3, determining a current operation mode of the air conditioner according to the indoor temperature grade and the current indoor relative humidity and relation grade. According to the method provided by the embodiment of the invention, operation of setting temperature by a user is not required for the air conditioner in the entire operation process of the air conditioner, so automatic switching in a refrigeration mode, a heating mode, an air supply mode, a dehumidification mode and the like of the air conditioner is realized, the operation steps of the user are simplified, the comfort is improved, and the user experience is improved. The invention also discloses a control device of the air conditioner and the air conditioner with the control device.

A reciprocating gas compressor is described operating according to an extended cycle of 4,6 or more strokes, wherein the first two strokes are sequential induction and compression strokes using a low pressure gas as working fluid and compressing it to a high pressure gas, and the remaining strokes are pairs of sequential filling and emptying strokes using more of the low pressure gas as heat transfer fluid for transferring heat from inside the gas compressor to outside the gas compressor. The gas compressor also contains an in-cylinder heat regenerator for absorbing heat from the compressed gas and releasing heat to the heat transfer fluid thus achieving near-isothermal compression. Using parallel principles, a reciprocating gas expander is also described for achieving near-isothermal expansion. Also described are reciprocating machines using the near-isothermal gas compressor and near-isothermal gas expander in combination according to the Ericsson heat engine cycle, the Stirling heat engine cycle and the Stirling refrigeration cycle.

The invention provides a constant-temperature, constant-humidity and constant-cleanliness silent indoor air system, belongs to the field of indoor intelligent adjustment, and relates to multiple techniques including indoor air pressure control, indoor air purification, an indoor central dedusting system, supercharging and compensation functions for interlayers of double windows and double doors, an outdoor haze isolating system, an indoor air internal-circulation cleaning method, air heat exchange, air heating, refrigeration, dehumidification and the like. According to the constant-temperature, constant-humidity and constant-cleanliness silent indoor air system, the pressure of fresh air is made positive through the interlayers of the double doors and the double windows, the air pressure in the interlayers of the double doors and the double windows is made higher than outdoor air pressure, and outdoor air is prevented from invading indoor air; a small primary-efficiency, medium-efficiency and high-efficiency filtering system is used for filtration, various types of automatic adjustment and control including heating, refrigerating, dehumidifying and the like are conducted on air, pollutant dust generated indoors is removed through the central dedusting system, and the constant-temperature, constant-humidity and constant-cleanliness silent indoor air system is an omnidirectional intelligent air control system.

A heat engine (10) achieves operational efficiencies by: 1) recovering waste heat from heat engine expander (14) to preheat heat-engine working fluid, 2) using super-heated working fluid from compressor (402) to pre-heat heat-engine working fluid, and 3) using reject heat from condenser (93) and absorber (95) to heat the heat-engine boiler (12). A dual heat-exchange generator (72) affords continuous operation by using gas-fired heat exchanger (212) to heat generator (72) when intermittent heat source (40), e.g., solar, is incapable of heating generator (72). The combination of heat engine (10) and absorption and compression heat transfer devices (60, 410) allows use of low-temperature heat sources such as solar, bio-mass, and waste heat to provide refrigeration, heating, work output including pumping and heating of subterranean water and electrical generation.

A modular system comprises an appliance and an adaptive adapter configured to alternately couple two consumer electronic devices to the appliance and to supply a different electrical service between the appliance and the consumer electronic devices depending on the device selected. The adaptive adapter supplies a first category of electrical service to a first consumer electronic device and a second category of electrical service to a second consumer electronic device. The appliance may comprise a refrigeration appliance and the adaptive adapter can couple the consumer electronic devices to the appliance.

A vehicle temperature control apparatus for controlling temperature of a temperature control object, which is at least one of inside air of a vehicle compartment and a vehicle component, includes a heat capacitive element capable of storing heat, a refrigeration cycle in which heat is absorbed from a low temperature side and is dissipated to a high temperature side, a heat exchanger that causes the heat capacitive element to exchange heat with refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, and a heat dissipation portion which dissipates heat in the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle to the temperature control object. Thus, a temperature control by using the heat capacitive element can be effectively performed.

The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises E-1,2-difluoroethylene. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and power cycle working fluids.

The present invention 10 discloses a device for making, bagging, and delivering a sealed bag of ice 12 to a consumer 22. The user 22 merely deposits a specified amount of money into the coin operated 18 vending machine and the user thereafter receives the completely sealed bag of ice 12. The present invention 10 has refrigeration means 30 which supplies ice 34 into a hopper area 32 having outfeed means 36 for dispensing ice into a bagging means 39. The ice bagging means 39 has a replaceable roll 48 of plastic material which is conveyed through the machine having a cutting and heat sealing means 41 and 43 which cuts out a bag and produces sealed ends on the bag of ice. Thereafter the sealed bag of ice 50 is delivered to the customer access area 20 where the customer 22 can pick up and access the frozen bag of ice.

A system for remotely monitoring operations of an HVAC system such as a chiller system having a control center, or a rooftop unit. The system utilizes a remote monitoring unit (RMU) located on-site. The RMU is in one-way communication with the component of the air conditioning system and receives data indicative of the operation of the component and determines whether the component is operating outside the normal operating parameters. When the RMU determines, from the data, that there is a problem that is within a critical parameter range, then a critical alarm is generated and the RMU opens a line of communication with a remote monitoring diagnostics device (RMD) located at the facility of the HVAC or refrigeration manufacturer and downloads the information to the RMD which determines whether remedial action is required and initiates remedial action if required.

An exemplary refrigeration system for cooling food or beverages may use a liquid cooling system of a vehicle. The refrigeration system may include a compartment in which the food or beverages may be placed and removed, a chilled liquid coolant system having a connection through which liquid coolant is received from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle, and a heat exchanger operationally coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system and the compartment to transfer heat from the compartment into the liquid coolant. The refrigeration system may also include a second chilled coolant system through which a second coolant flows and a second heat exchanger operationally coupled with the second chilled coolant system and the compartment to transfer heat from the compartment. The chilled liquid coolant system and the second chilled coolant system may operate together as a cascade cooling system.