Abstract: Oleophobic and/or philic surface(s) are utilized for oil separation, direction, and/or collection in a refrigeration system. Surfaces of component(s) of a refrigeration system (compressor, oil separator, evaporator, etc.) are produced to be oleophobic or philic. The oleophobic and/or philic surfaces are utilized to direct a flow path of oil within the refrigeration system or to prevent oil connection in an area. Refrigerant phobic and/or lubricant phobic material(s) also may be utilized to help promote separation of refrigerant vapor from refrigerant liquid and/or from oil in refrigeration systems.

Abstract: A refrigerant displacement device is used to reduce subcooler refrigerant charge while enhancing heat transfer performance, e.g. by maintaining and/or increasing subcooler performance. The refrigerant displacement device physically takes up volume of the subcooler that would normally be occupied by refrigerant. The refrigerant displacement device can be a baffle structure with orifices through which the subcooler's heat exchange tubes are allowed to be inserted. Refrigerant is still allowed, however, to flow through the remaining volume of the subcooler and through openings constructed as, e.g. annuluses, between the tube(s) and the refrigerant displacement device, so as to allow refrigerant flow from an inlet of the subcooler to an outlet of the subcooler.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to methods, systems and apparatuses configured to form and/or configure hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic surface features on the workpieces to enhance a brazing process. The hydrophilic and/or the hydrophobic surface features can be arranged to facilitate directing a melted filler material to where the filler material may be desired, and may also help prevent/reduce the filler material flowing to where the filler material may not be desired. The surface features can be micro milled on a surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: Generally, management of refrigerant in an evaporator of an HVAC chiller is described. Methods, systems, and apparatuses to manage refrigerant in an evaporator can include one or combination of the following approaches: (1) by use of a refrigerant displacement array to physically prevent refrigerant from residing where the array is positioned; (2) by control of the interstitial velocity of refrigerant flow within the volume of the shell of an evaporator; (3) by a phase biased distribution of the refrigerant mixture, so that a gaseous portion is uniformly distributed into the evaporator shell, while liquid refrigerant and oil is distributed into the evaporator shell at a designated area; and (4) by preventing or reducing the occurrence of foaming inside the evaporator through anti-foaming surfaces, such as by the use of refrigerant phobic and lubricant phobic material(s). Refrigerant management can in turn improve the thermal performance and overall efficiency of the evaporator.