Abstract: A refrigerated transport system comprises: an engine. A vapor compression system comprises: a compressor for compressing a flow of a refrigerant; a first heat exchanger along a refrigerant flowpath of the refrigerant; and a second heat exchanger along the refrigerant flowpath of the refrigerant. A heat recovery system has: a first heat exchanger for transferring heat from the engine to a heat recovery fluid along a heat recovery flowpath; and a second heat exchanger along the heat recovery flowpath. The heat recovery system second heat exchanger and the vapor compression system first heat exchanger are respective portions of a shared tube/fin package.

Abstract: An ejector refrigeration system, comprising: a compressor, a heat-extraction heat exchanger, an ejector, a separator, a first throttling element, and a heat-absorption heat exchanger that are connected through pipelines, the ejector having a main flow inlet connected to the heat-extraction heat exchanger, and further having a secondary flow inlet and an ejector outlet; the separator having a separator inlet connected to the ejector outlet, a separator liquid outlet connected to the first throttling element, and a separator gas outlet connected to a gas inlet of the compressor, wherein turn-on and turn-off of a first flow path connecting the heat-absorption heat exchanger and the secondary flow inlet of the ejector and a second flow path connecting the heat-absorption heat exchanger and the gas inlet of the compressor are controllable.

Abstract: An electrocaloric module includes an electrocaloric element that includes an electrocaloric film, a first electrode on a first surface of the electrocaloric film, and a second electrode on a second surface of the electrocaloric film. A support is attached along an edge portion of the electrocaloric film, leaving a central portion of the electrocaloric film unsupported film. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes a patterned disposition of conductive material on the film surface. The electrocaloric module also includes a first thermal connection configured to connect to a first thermal flow path between the electrocaloric element and a heat sink, a second thermal connection configured to connect to a second thermal flow path between the electrocaloric element and a heat source, and a power connection connected to the first and second electrodes and configured to connect to a power source.

Abstract: An air conditioning system and a control method thereof. The air conditioning system includes a main circuit and a first subcooling circuit, wherein the main circuit has: a main compressor and an injector; a gas cooler and a gas-liquid separator connected between the main compressor and the injector; and a main throttling element and an evaporator connected between the gas-liquid separator and the injector; and wherein the first subcooling circuit has: a first subcooling compressor, a first condenser, a first subcooling throttling element and a first subcooler connected in sequence; wherein the first subcooler is further disposed in a flow path between the outlet of the injector and the gas-liquid separator.

Abstract: A heat transfer system cycles between a first mode where a heat transfer fluid is directed to a first electrocaloric module and from the first electrocaloric module to a heat exchanger to a second electrocaloric module while one of the first and second electrocaloric modules is energized, and a second mode where the heat transfer fluid is directed to the second electrocaloric module and from the second electrocaloric module to the heat exchanger to the first electrocaloric module, while the other of the first and second electrocaloric modules is energized. The modes are repeatedly cycled in alternating order directing the heat transfer fluid to cause a temperature gradient in each of the first and second electrocaloric modules, and heat is rejected to the fluid from the heat exchanger or is absorbed by the heat exchanger from the fluid.

Abstract: A system has a first compressor and a second compressor. A heat rejection heat exchanger is coupled to the first and second compressors to receive refrigerant compressed by the compressors. The system includes an economizer for receiving refrigerant from the heat rejection heat exchanger and reducing an enthalpy of a first portion of the received refrigerant while increasing an enthalpy of a second portion. The second portion is returned to the compressor. The ejector has a primary inlet coupled to the means to receive a first flow of the reduced enthalpy refrigerant. The ejector has a secondary inlet and an outlet. The outlet is coupled to the first compressor to return refrigerant to the first compressor. A first heat absorption heat exchanger is coupled to the economizer to receive a second flow of the reduced enthalpy refrigerant and is upstream of the secondary inlet of the ejector. A second heat absorption heat exchanger is between the outlet of the ejector and the first compressor.

Abstract: An electrocaloric element for a heat transfer system includes an electrocaloric material of a copolymer of (i) vinylidene fluoride, (ii) an addition polymerization monomer selected from tetrafluoroethylene, trifluoroethylene, vinyl fluoride, or combinations thereof, and (iii) a halogenated addition polymerization monomer larger than vinylidene fluoride. It is also provided that: (a) the monomer (ii) includes an addition polymerization monomer smaller than trifluoroethylene, (b) at least one of the addition polymerization monomers (ii) or (iii) is a chiral monomer, and the copolymer includes syndiotactic ordered segments of chiral monomer units, and/or (c) at least one of the addition polymerization monomers (ii) or (iii) comprises chlorine, and the copolymer includes an ordered distribution of monomer units comprising chlorine along the copolymer polymer backbone.

Abstract: A refrigerated transport system (20) comprises: an engine (30). A vapor compression system (50) comprises: a compressor (40) for compressing a flow of a refrigerant; a first heat exchanger (60) along a refrigerant flowpath (52) of the refrigerant; and a second heat exchanger (66) along the refrigerant flowpath of the refrigerant. A heat recovery system (56) has: a first heat exchanger (110) for transferring heat from the engine to a heat recovery fluid along a heat recovery flowpath (58); and a second heat exchanger (112; 63) along the heat recovery flowpath. The heat recovery system second heat exchanger and the vapor compression system first heat exchanger are respective portions of a shared tube/fin package.

Abstract: A separator for removing contamination from a fluid of a heat pump includes a housing having a hollow interior, a header plate arranged within the hollow interior and having at least one mounting hole, and a separation module mounted within the hollow interior. The separation module includes a connector for forming an interface with the at least one mounting hole. A sealant is located at the interface between the connector and the mounting hole.

Abstract: A system has a first compressor and a second compressor. A heat rejection heat exchanger is coupled to the first and second compressors to receive refrigerant compressed by the compressors. The system includes an economizer for receiving refrigerant from the heat rejection heat exchanger and reducing an enthalpy of a first portion of the received refrigerant while increasing an enthalpy of a second portion. The second portion is returned to the compressor. The ejector has a primary inlet coupled to the means to receive a first flow of the reduced enthalpy refrigerant. The ejector has a secondary inlet and an outlet. The outlet is coupled to the first compressor to return refrigerant to the first compressor. A first heat absorption heat exchanger is coupled to the economizer to receive a second flow of the reduced enthalpy refrigerant and is upstream of the secondary inlet of the ejector. A second heat absorption heat exchanger is between the outlet of the ejector and the first compressor.

Abstract: A heat transfer system is disclosed that includes a plurality of electrocaloric elements including an electrocaloric film, a first electrode on a first side of the electrocaloric film, and a second electrode on a second side of the electrocaloric film. A fluid flow path is disposed along the plurality of electrocaloric elements, formed by corrugated fluid flow guide elements.

Abstract: A method of purging contaminants from a refrigerant of a heat pump via a purge system includes generating a driving force across a separator, providing refrigerant including contaminants to the separator, separating the contaminants from the refrigerant within the separator, monitoring one or more parameters of the purge system and the heat pump, and actively controlling an operational parameter of the purge system in response to monitoring one or more parameters of the purge system and the heat pump.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a vapor compression loop and a purge system in communication with the vapor compression loop. The purge system includes at least one separator including a sorbent material to separate contaminants from a refrigerant purge gas provided from the vapor compression loop when the sorbent material is pressurized.

Abstract: A system has a compressor, a heat rejection heat exchanger, first and second ejectors, first and second heat absorption heat exchangers, and first and second separators. The heat rejection heat exchanger is coupled to the compressor to receive refrigerant compressed by the compressor. The first ejector has a primary inlet coupled to the heat rejection exchanger to receive refrigerant, a secondary inlet, and an outlet. The first separator has an inlet coupled to the outlet of the first ejector to receive refrigerant from the first ejector. The first separator has a gas outlet coupled to the compressor to return refrigerant to the compressor. The first separator has a liquid outlet coupled to the secondary inlet of the ejector to deliver refrigerant to the first ejector. The first heat absorption heat exchanger is coupled to the liquid outlet of the first separator to receive refrigerant and to the secondary inlet of the first ejector to deliver refrigerant to the first ejector.

Abstract: An ejector refrigeration system, comprising: a compressor, a heat-extraction heat exchanger, an ejector, a separator, a first throttling element, and a heat-absorption heat exchanger that are connected through pipelines, the ejector having a main flow inlet connected to the heat-extraction heat exchanger, and further having a secondary flow inlet and an ejector outlet; the separator having a separator inlet connected to the ejector outlet, a separator liquid outlet connected to the first throttling element, and a separator gas outlet connected to a gas inlet of the compressor, wherein turn-on and turn-off of a first flow path connecting the heat-absorption heat exchanger and the secondary flow inlet of the ejector and a second flow path connecting the heat-absorption heat exchanger and the gas inlet of the compressor are controllable.

Abstract: A method for operating a heat pump (20; 300) includes operating in a cooling mode wherein heat is absorbed by refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger (26) and rejected by refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger (24). The heat pump switches to operation in a heating mode wherein heat is rejected by refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger, heat is absorbed by refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger, and there is an ejector (60) motive flow and ejector secondary flow. In the heating mode a refrigerant pressure (PH) or temperature (TL) is measured and, responsive to the measured refrigerant pressure or temperature, at least one of a fan speed is changed and a needle (132) of the ejector is actuated.

Abstract: A heat transfer system includes first (62) and second (64) electrocaloric module with aligned first and second sides. First and second prime movers (80,82) are arranged to direct a working fluid in opposite directions along flow paths through the electrocaloric modules. A rotary fluid control device (92,98) including a plurality of openings (94,96,100,102) is disposed around the electrocaloric modules, and is configured to rotate between positions relative to the modules. In a first position, the first module is in operative fluid communication through the openings with the first prime mover, and the second module is in operative fluid communication through the openings with the second prime mover. In a second position, the first module is in operative fluid communication through the openings with the second prime mover, and the second module is in operative fluid communication through the openings with the first prime mover.

Abstract: A HVAC system includes a compressor having a low pressure input and a high pressure output. The compressor is driven by a motor having a liquid coolant flowpath configured to cool and lubricate the motor. The motor has a coolant input and a coolant output. An evaporator is in communication with the compressor, and includes a coolant input and a coolant output. A condenser is in fluid communication with the evaporator and the compressor. A first coolant flowpath, includes a coolant drive system connecting the output of the condenser to a valve switching device. A second coolant flowpath connects the output of the condenser to the input of the evaporator and to a second input of the valve switching device. A third coolant flowpath connects the valve switching device to the inputs of the motor. A fourth coolant flowpath connects outputs of the motor to the input of the evaporator.

Abstract: A mitigation damper operably coupled to a return conduit. The return conduit includes an opening. The mitigation damper is positioned adjacent to the opening. The mitigation damper is configured to selectively allow airflow through the opening in response to a detected refrigerant leak.

Abstract: A separator for removing contamination from a fluid of a heat pump includes a housing having a hollow interior, a separation component mounted within the hollow interior, and at least one turbulence-generating element positioned within the hollow interior adjacent the separation component.