PatentsALERT XI

temperature generator GH, which does not require any moving parts and air-tight and/or liquid-tight seal portions, with the result that reliable detection of the liquid level can be achieved indefinitely. The liquid level detecting heat exchanger XC comprises an effective heat transfer area variable according to a level of liquid in a solution piping which connects an outlet portion of the high temperature generator GH and the high temperature heat exchanger XH.

5551255

ACCUMULATOR DISTILLATION INSERT FOR ZEOTROPIC

REFRIGERANT MIXTURES

Rothfleisch Peter Gaithersburg, MD, UNITED STATES assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce

An accumulator distillation insert is provided for allowing the composition of a zeotropic reliigerant to be adjusted based upon a building heat load. The accumulator distillation insert comprises an accumulator, the accumulator having a two-phase input and a vapor output&e accumulator having a refrigerant mixture, in liquid form, disposed at a bottom of the accumulator; an immersion heater is provided in communication with the refrigerant mixture, in liquid form; and a distillation column is disposed in the accumulator, the distillation column is maintained above the refrigerant mixture in liquid form, the distillation column is provided for changing the chemical composition of the refrigerant mixture by decreasing the amount of volatile components in the refrigerant mixture, stored in the accumulator and thereby increasing the capacity of the heat pump system.

5551256

PROCESS FOR LIQUEFACTION OF NATURAL GAS

Schmidt Hans Wolfkatshausen, GERMANY assigned to Linde Aktiengesellschaft

A pressurized natural gas flow, from which CO2

and H20 are first removed using an adsorptive separation device, is subjected to liquefaction. The pre-purified natural gas flow is brought into heat exchange with at least one refrigerant routed in a refrigeration circuit and liquefied. The adsorptive separation device is regenerated by means of a regeneration gas containing a partial flow of the pre-purified natural gas flow and optionally additional residual gas flows such as a flash gas flow. During the cooling and liquefaction process of the natural gas flow at least the partial natural gas flow needed-for regeneration of the adsorptive separation device is separated when the temperature of the partial flow is such that the efficiency of cold use can be maximized by throttling to the regeneration gas pressure.

5551991

COMPACT SOLAR ENERGY COLLECTOR

Avero Manuel B Santa Cruz de Tenerife, SPAIN

Compact solar energy collector that incorporates into the same housing the collector itself and an accumulator in the shape of a parallelepiped and divided by walls to better withstand water pressure, being then complemented with the remaining conventional elements such as pump, differential thermostat, purges and valves, the housing being fitted with a transparent cover and a heat exchanger inside that is connected to the pump and to the collector and at the other end to valve and lip, the rest of the interior of the housing containing insulating material. The water pumping rate is controlled by supplying the pump with electrical power generated by a photovoltaic panel in proportion to the intensity of available sunlight.

5551992

THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC GENERATOR WITH LOW

BANDGAP CELLS AND HYDROCARBON BURNER

Fraas Lewis M Issaquah, WA, UNITED STATES assigned to JX Crystals Inc