17449results about "Fluid circulation arrangement" patented technology

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.

Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising pentafluoropropene (HFO-1225) and a fluid selected from the group consisting of 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (“HFO-1243zf”), 1,1-difluoroethane (“HFC-152a”), trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (“HFO-1234ze”), and combinations of two or more thereof. Also provided are uses thereof including as refrigerants, blowing agents, sprayable compositions, flame suppressant, and the like.

In an air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle, a water / refrigerant heat exchanger is disposed at a refrigerant discharge side of a compressor of a refrigerant cycle, and a cooling unit for cooling a heat-generating unit with refrigerant having an intermediate pressure of the refrigerant cycle is disposed at a downstream refrigerant side of the water / refrigerant heat exchanger. The air conditioning apparatus includes an evaporator and a hot-water type heater core disposed in an air conditioning duct. In a cooling water circuit, an engine, a radiator and an electrical pump are disposed in addition to the water / refrigerant heat exchanger and the hot-water type heater core. Thus, refrigerant absorbs heat generated in the heat-generating unit, and is heat-exchanged with cooling water in the water / refrigerant heat exchanger after passing through the compressor. As a result, the heat-generating unit can be cooled sufficiently even when outside air temperature is high in the summer, and heating capacity can be effectively improved using heat generated from the heat-generating unit in the winter.

A method of calculating net sensible cooling capacity of a cooling unit includes measuring a discharge pressure from of fluid from a compressor and a suction pressure from an evaporator, calculating a condensing temperature of fluid flowing from the compressor and an evaporating temperature of fluid flowing from the evaporator, calculating a mass flow rate of fluid flowing from the compressor, calculating enthalpy of fluid flowing from the compressor, of fluid flowing from the thermal expansion valve, and of fluid flowing from the evaporator, calculating a mass flow rate of fluid flowing through the hot gas bypass valve, and calculating net sensible cooling capacity. Embodiments of cooling units and other methods are further disclosed.

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 climate control system having two or more stages of cooling operation or heating operation is provided for supplying conditioned air to a plurality of zones within a space, where the climate control system comprises a plurality of controllable zone dampers for controlling the supply of conditioned air to each of the plurality of zones, and a plurality of zone temperature sensors for periodically sensing temperature at preset intervals and transmitting sensed temperature information when the temperature of the zone has changed by more than a predetermined amount. The climate control system further comprises a thermostat that is adapted to initiate operation of the circulating air blower and the cooling system at less than full capacity when at least one zone temperature sensor transmits a sensed temperature that differs from the set point temperature by more than a specific amount, wherein the thermostat switches the circulating air blower and cooling system to full capacity operation when either the cooling system has operated at less than full capacity for more than a predetermined time or when more than a predetermined number of zone temperature sensors transmit sensed temperatures that differ from the set point temperature by more than a specific amount.

Techniques for controlling the position of a charged polymer inside a nanopore are provided. For example, one technique includes using electrostatic control to position a linear charged polymer inside a nanopore, and creating an electrostatic potential well inside the nanopore, wherein the electrostatic potential well controls a position of the linear charged polymer inside the nanopore.

A thermoelectric system and method provides distributed localized heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling. The thermoelectric system includes a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies. Each thermoelectric assembly comprises a plurality of thermoelectric elements, and each thermoelectric assembly is in thermal communication with a first working fluid and in thermal communication with a region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly. Each thermoelectric assembly is selectively operable either to heat the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the first working fluid to the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly or to cool the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly to the first working fluid. Each thermoelectric assembly is operable independently from operation of other thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies.

The present invention relates to a hybrid vapor compression-absorption cooling or heating system and apparatus containing a refrigerant pair comprising at least one refrigerant and at least one ionic liquid. The present invention also provides for the performance of a hybrid vapor compression-absorption cycle that utilizes refrigerants and absorbents such as fluorocarbon gases in fluorinated ionic liquids. The present invention also provides a method of cooling by the execution of a hybrid vapor compression-absorption cycle using a refrigerant pair comprising at least one refrigerant and at least one ionic liquid. The present invention also provides a method of heating by the execution of a hybrid vapor compression-absorption cycle using a refrigerant pair comprising at least one refrigerant and at least one ionic liquid.

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.

The integrated automotive HVAC / PTC system of the present invention includes a bi-fluidic heat exchanger between an air conditioning subsystem and a heating subsystem which enables heat extracted during dehumidification of the ventilation air to be transferred into dehumidified ventilation air. The HVAC / PTC system includes reconfigurable coolant loops and reconfigurable refrigerant loops, some of which act in concert and some of which may be isolated. Power train components, including the power supply, may be grouped by heat transfer requirements and may be cooled or heated as needed. Power train cooling is accomplished with coolant in the heating subsystem chilled by the air conditioning system.

A method for determining airflow through an evaporator coil in a vapor compression cycle by measuring the moist air conditions entering and leaving the coil, and various temperatures and pressures in the refrigerant of the vapor compression cycle. The mass airflow rate and the volumetric airflow rate are then determined.

A dual mode, thermal management system for use in a vehicle is provided. At a minimum, the system includes a first coolant loop in thermal communication with a battery system, a second coolant loop in thermal communication with at least one drive train component (e.g., electric motor, power electronics, inverter), and a dual mode valve system that provides means for selecting between a first mode where the two coolant loops operate in parallel, and a second mode where the two coolant loops operate in series.

A method for detecting and predicting refrigerant level includes the steps of determining an estimated value for a parameter indicative of refrigerant level and comparing that estimated value to an actual value. The difference between the actual and estimated value provides a refrigerant charge indicator value. The charge indicator value is indicative of the amount of refrigerant contained within the system. A change value is combined with the charge indicator value to provide a prediction for the future value of the charge indicator value. This future value is determined based on a rate of change and charge indicator value over a selected period of time.

An accumulator for an air-conditioning (refrigeration or heat pump) system is designed to reduce flooding due to greater effective internal volume while at the same time incorporating an internal heat exchanger for better system performance, and providing better evaporation and controlled thermal properties. The accumulator embodies an outer housing that co-axially surrounds an inner liner. The inlet directs the refrigerant into the inner volume formed by the liner, wherein the liquid refrigerant and compressor oil are contained and insulated from the wall of the outer housing. A heat exchanger is arranged in the annular space between the outer housing and the inner liner and circulates a flow of condensate therethrough before delivering it to the expansion device. In this way the condensate is cooled for higher performance and at the same time refrigerant passing out of the accumulator is vaporized more completely.

A first evaporator is arranged on a downstream side of an ejector, and a second evaporator is connected to a refrigerant suction inlet of the ejector. A refrigerant evaporation temperature of the second evaporator is lower than that of the first evaporator. The first and second evaporators are used to cool a common subject cooling space and are arranged one after the other in a flow direction of air to be cooled.

A first evaporator evaporates refrigerant, which is outputted from an ejector. A refrigerant outlet of the first evaporator is connected to a suction inlet of a compressor, which is connected to a radiator. A branched passage branches a flow of the refrigerant at a corresponding branching point located between the radiator and the ejector. The branched passage conducts the branched flow of the refrigerant to a suction inlet of the ejector. A flow rate control valve is arranged in the branched passage between a radiator and an ejector on a downstream side of the radiator to depressurize refrigerant outputted from the radiator. A second evaporator is arranged in the first branched passage.

The present invention concerns an automotive HVAC system for use in a vehicle having a vehicle body that includes an engine and a battery. The HVAC system has a predetermined design cooling capacity and includes a condenser and one of an orifice tube and an expansion valve in fluid communication with the condenser. A first compressor is adapted to be mechanically driven by the engine and is in fluid communication from the evaporator and in fluid communication to the condenser. A second compressor is electrically connected to and driven by the battery bank and is in fluid communication from the evaporator and in fluid communication to the condenser. Each of the compressors is selectively operable to compress refrigerant in the HVAC system during operation of the HVAC system.

An air conditioner capable of enhancing responsivity of a blowout temperature of conditioned air while preventing occurrence of an overshoot or undershoot condition of the blowout temperature when a user gives an instruction to change the blowout temperature in a dehumidifying operation mode. In a control state, if a set temperature level is adjusted to increase a blowout temperature of conditioned air by increasing the target condenser outlet temperature, the rotating speed of the refrigerant compressor is increased, while the restriction opening of the heating expansion valve is maintained. Thus, the condenser outlet temperature is regulated to the target temperature with minimal undershoot or overshoot of the target temperature.

An HVAC system for a vehicle having a battery pack, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The HVAC system may comprise a refrigerant loop having a first leg and a second leg, and a refrigerant compressor in the refrigerant loop. In the first leg, an evaporator provides cooling to a passenger cabin of the vehicle, an evaporator shut-off valve selectively blocks the flow of refrigerant through the evaporator, and an evaporator thermal expansion valve is upstream from the evaporator. In the second leg, a battery heat exchanger receives the refrigerant, a battery thermal expansion valve is located upstream from the battery heat exchanger, and a battery cooling shut-off valve selectively blocks the flow of refrigerant through the battery heat exchanger. The shut-off valves and compressor are controlled to control the cooling of the passenger cabin and the battery pack.

The present application relates to a system for dynamic control of the operation of a heat exchanger, the system comprising a heat exchanger, a plurality of injector arrangements, a local sensor arrangement, and a controller, wherein the local sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of local temperature sensors being arranged to measure temperature values; and wherein the controller is arranged to determine a difference between the measured temperature values and is further arranged to communicate with the valves of the plurality of injector arrangements to adjust the local amount of first fluid supplied by at least one of the injector arrangements in order to even out the determined difference. The application also relates to a method for the dynamic control of the operation of a heat exchanger in such a system.

A system and method for controlling the temperature of a process tool uses the vaporizable characteristic of a refrigerant that is provided in direct heat exchange relation with the process tool. Pressurized refrigerant is provided as both condensed liquid and in gaseous state. The condensed liquid is expanded to a vaporous mix, and the gaseous refrigerant is added to reach a target temperature determined by its pressure. Temperature corrections can thus be made very rapidly by gas pressure adjustments. The process tool and the operating parameters will usually require that the returning refrigerant be conditioned and processed for compatibility with the compressor and other units, so that cycling can be continuous regardless of thermal demands and changes.

A method is provided including installing a variable frequency drive unit to drive a previously non-variable air handler fan of an HVAC system. The method includes setting a control strategy for the variable frequency drive. The control strategy includes a drive speed for each mode of the HVAC system. The method includes operating the HVAC system in each mode and monitoring the HVAC system. The method includes adjusting the HVAC system or the control strategy of the variable frequency drive to increase drive speed based on monitoring the HVAC system.

In an ejector cycle device having an ejector, an evaporator is arranged in a refrigerant branch passage connected to a refrigerant suction port of the ejector, an opening / closing member for opening and closing a refrigerant passage is disposed to prevent refrigerant from flowing into the evaporator, and a control unit intermittently controls operation of the compressor. In the ejector cycle device, the control unit brings the opening / closing member into a closing state in a time period for which the operation of the compressor is stopped. Accordingly, it can restrict liquid refrigerant from collecting in the evaporator while the compressor is stopped.

An HVAC system for a vehicle having a battery pack, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The HVAC system may comprise a refrigerant loop having a first leg and a second leg, and a refrigerant compressor in the refrigerant loop. In the first leg, an evaporator provides cooling to a passenger cabin of the vehicle, an evaporator shut-off valve selectively blocks the flow of refrigerant through the evaporator, and an evaporator thermal expansion valve is upstream from the evaporator. In the second leg, a battery heat exchanger receives the refrigerant, a battery thermal expansion valve is located upstream from the battery heat exchanger, and a battery cooling shut-off valve selectively blocks the flow of refrigerant through the battery heat exchanger. The shut-off valves and compressor are controlled to control the cooling of the passenger cabin and the battery pack.

In an air conditioner for a vehicle, in a heating operation for heating a vehicle compartment, when heating capacity is obtained by flowing a coolant through an inside of an indoor heat exchanger, the coolant flows directly in the inside of the indoor heat exchanger to heat air to be supplied to the vehicle compartment. In contrast, when the heating capacity is not obtained by flowing the coolant through the inside of the indoor heat exchanger, the coolant flows through a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and a refrigerant in a heat pump cycle circulates so that heat of the coolant is absorbed by the refrigerant in the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the air is heated in the indoor heat exchanger by using heat of the refrigerant that has absorbed the heat of the coolant.

A method for configuring a controller for an HVAC system. The method comprises providing a closed loop refrigerant system and a control system to control the closed loop refrigerant system. The control system comprises a controller, an input device, and a processor including a signal sensing circuit. The input device is activated to provide one or more signals to the controller to control the components of the closed loop refrigerant system. One or more signals are sensed with the signal sensing circuit to determine whether signals are present between the input device and the controller. The signals are processed with the processor to determine what type of closed loop refrigerant system is present. The controller is then configured to control the type of system determined by the processor.