Abstract: Carbon dioxide refrigerant is circulated through a vapor compression system including a compressor, a gas cooler, an expansion device, and an evaporator. Carbon dioxide is extracted from a vehicle exhaust stream that includes combustion products of burned hydrocarbon fuel. The extracted carbon dioxide is used to supplement the initial supply of carbon dioxide refrigerant to maintain a desired (or predetermined) level of refrigerant in the system. The system includes a sensor assembly that measures and monitors the amount of refrigerant in the system. In one example, the extracted carbon dioxide is automatically added to the system from a storage tank when a sensor detects that the amount of carbon dioxide refrigerant in the system is below a threshold value. In another example, the extracted carbon dioxide is directly added to the system, and the carbon dioxide refrigerant is purged from the system when a sensor detects that the amount of carbon dioxide in the system exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: A heat pump system includes a compressor, a heat rejecting heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a heat accepting heat exchanger. A storage tank stores the water that cools the refrigerant in the heat rejecting heat exchanger. A mechanical interface plate positioned between a hot water reservoir and a cold water reservoir in the storage tank reduces heat transfer between the hot water and the cold water. During a water heating mode, cold water from the cold reservoir flows into the heat sink to cool the refrigerant in the heat rejecting heat exchanger. As the water exchanges heat with the refrigerant, the water is heated in the heat sink, exits the heat sink, and flows into the hot reservoir of the storage tank. During a water discharge mode, the hot water in the hot reservoir is removed from the storage tank and flows into a hot water discharge. Cold water from a water source flows into the cold reservoir of the storage tank to refill the storage tank.

Abstract: The expansion machine flowrate of a vapor compression system is regulated to directly control the supercritical pressure in the high pressure component of the transcritical system. The expansion machine is directly linked to a recompressor which recompresses the vapor phase of the expanded flow. By controlling the flowrate of the recompressor with a first valve, the flowrate of the expansion machine can be controlled to control the massflow rate through the expansion machine and therefore the high pressure of the system.

Abstract: The expansion machine flowrate of a vapor compression system is regulated to directly control the supercritical pressure in the high pressure component of the transcritical system. The expansion machine is directly linked to a recompressor which recompresses the vapor phase of the expanded flow. By controlling the flowrate of the recompressor with a first valve, the flowrate of the expansion machine can be controlled to control the massflow rate through the expansion machine and therefore the high pressure of the system.

Abstract: Refrigerant is circulated through an economized refrigeration system including a compressor, a gas cooler, a main expansion device, an economizer heat exchanger and an evaporator. After cooling, the refrigerant splits into an economizer flow path and a main flow path. Refrigerant in the economizer flow path is expanded to a low pressure and exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the main flow path in the economizer heat exchanger. The refrigerant in the main flow path is then expanded and heated in the evaporator and enters the compressor, completing the cycle. An accumulator positioned between the economizer heat exchanger and the compressor stores excess refrigerant in the system, regulating the amount of refrigerant in the system and the high pressure in the system. The amount of refrigerant in the accumulator is controlled by regulating the economizer expansion device.

Abstract: A heat pump system includes a compressor, a heat rejecting heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a heat accepting heat exchanger. A storage tank stores the water that cools the refrigerant in the heat rejecting heat exchanger. A mechanical interface plate positioned between a hot water reservoir and a cold water reservoir in the storage tank reduces heat transfer between the hot water and the cold water. During a water heating mode, cold water from the cold reservoir flows into the heat sink to cool the refrigerant in the heat rejecting heat exchanger. As the water exchanges heat with the refrigerant, the water is heated in the heat sink, exits the heat sink, and flows into the hot reservoir of the storage tank. During a water discharge mode, the hot water in the hot reservoir is removed from the storage tank and flows into a hot water discharge. Cold water from a water source flows into the cold reservoir of the storage tank to refill the storage tank.

Abstract: Refrigerant is circulated through a vapor compression system including a compressor, a gas cooler, an expansion device, and an evaporator. Preferably, carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant. The expansion device is a work recovery device which extracts energy from the expansion process and is coupled with a fluid pumping device that cools the refrigerant flowing through the gas cooler. The fluid pumping device pumps fluid through the gas cooler at a flow rate related to the energy extracted from the expansion process. The system provides a self-controlling mechanism to regulate the pressure in the gas cooler. If the pressure in the gas cooler increases, more energy is extracted from the expansion process, increasing the flowrate of the fluid pumping device, and decreasing the pressure of the refrigerant in the gas cooler.

Abstract: The efficiency of a vapor compression system is increased by coupling the evaporator with either the intercooler of a two-stage vapor compression system or the compressor component. The refrigerant in the evaporator accepts heat from the compressor component or the refrigerant in the intercooler, heating the evaporator refrigerant. As pressure is directly related temperature, the low side pressure of the system increases, decreasing compressor work and increasing system efficiency. Additionally, as the heat from the compressor component or from the refrigerant in the intercooler is rejected to the refrigerant in the evaporator, the compressor is cooled, increasing the density and the mass flow rate of the refrigerant to further increase system efficiency.

Abstract: Efficiency of a transcritical vapor compression system is increased by compressor cooling. In one embodiment, a stream of cooling fluid accepts compressor motor heat. The heated cooling fluid merges with the fluid medium which accepts heat from the refrigerant in the gas cooler and exits the system, usefully transferring the heat out of the system. Additionally, as the refrigerant in the compressor is cooled, the density and the mass flow rate of the suction gas in the compressor is increased, increasing efficiency. Alternatively, an intercooler positioned between stages of a multi-stage compressor exchanges heat with the same fluid medium which accepts heat from the refrigerant in the gas cooler. After accepting heat from the refrigerant in the intercooler, the heated fluid medium exits the system, usefully transferring heat from the system.

Abstract: Efficiency of a transcritical vapor compression system is increased by compressor cooling. In one embodiment, a stream of cooling fluid accepts compressor motor heat. The heated cooling fluid merges with the fluid medium which accepts heat from the refrigerant in the gas cooler and exits the system, usefully transferring the heat out of the system. Additionally, as the refrigerant in the compressor is cooled, the density and the mass flow rate of the suction gas in the compressor is increased, increasing efficiency. Alternatively, an intercooler positioned between stages of a multi-stage compressor exchanges heat with the same fluid medium which accepts heat from the refrigerant in the gas cooler. After accepting heat from the refrigerant in the intercooler, the heated fluid medium exits the system, usefully transferring heat from the system.

Abstract: The efficiency of a vapor compression system is increased by coupling the evaporator with either the intercooler of a two-stage vapor compression system or the compressor component. The refrigerant in the evaporator accepts heat from the compressor component or the refrigerant in the intercooler, heating the evaporator refrigerant. As pressure is directly related temperature, the low side pressure of the system increases, decreasing compressor work and increasing system efficiency. Additionally, as the heat from the compressor component or from the refrigerant in the intercooler is rejected to the refrigerant in the evaporator, the compressor is cooled, increasing the density and the mass flow rate of the refrigerant to further increase system efficiency.

Abstract: A suction line heat exchanger storage tank for use in a vapor compression system to increase the efficiency and capacity of the system. Carbon dioxide is preferably used as the refrigerant. The high pressure of the system (gas cooler pressure) is regulated by adding charge to or removing charge from the system and storing it in a storage tank. The suction line heat exchanger exchanges heat internally between the high pressure hot refrigerant fluid discharged from the gas cooler and the low pressure cool refrigerant vapor discharged from the evaporator. The high pressure is regulated by adjusting valves. A first valve allows excess charge from the system to enter the storage tank if the pressure in the gas cooler is too high. If the pressure in the gas cooler is too low, a second valve is opened to allow excess charge from the storage tank to reenter the system. By regulating the high pressure of the system, the evaporator inlet enthalpy can be controlled to achieve optimal efficiency and/or capacity.

Abstract: A valve located at the exit of at least one of two circuits in a gas cooler in a vapor compression system controls the high pressure of the system. The high pressure of the system can be regulated by controlling the actuation of the valve. Closing the valve will accumulate and store charge in the gas cooler, increasing the pressure in the gas cooler. Opening the valve will release charge and reduce the gas cooler pressure. By controlling the actuation of the valve, the high pressure component of the system can be regulated, also regulating the enthalpy of the system to achieve optimal efficiency and/or capacity. Carbon dioxide is preferably used as the refrigerant.

Abstract: A flash tank employing valves for use in transcritical cycles of a vapor compression system to increase the efficiency and/or capacity of the system. Carbon dioxide is preferably used as the refrigerant. The high pressure of the system (gas cooler pressure) is regulated by controlling the amount of charge in the flash tank by actuating valves positioned on the expansion devices located at the entry and exit of the flash tank. If the pressure in the gas cooler is too high or too low, the valves can be adjusted to either store charge in or release charge from the flash tank. By regulating the amount of charge in the flash tank, the high pressure of the system can be controlled to achieve optimal efficiency and/or capacity.

Abstract: A heat pump system, utilizing a multi-component refrigerant blend in which a low pressure component is zeotropic with respect to the remainder of the blend, separates the low pressure component by rectification to enhance heating capability in low ambient temperatures. Vapor is separated from liquid in the effluent of the condenser of a heat pump, at a pressure in equilibrium at a temperature midway between the evaporator and condenser effluent temperatures, the vapor being applied to an auxiliary inlet at a mid pressure point in the compression stroke of the compressor.

Abstract: A system for the in situ destruction of compressible refrigerant from a refrigerant containing apparatus includes a refrigerant recovery apparatus (30) for receiving refrigerant from the refrigerant containing apparatus (20) and a refrigerant disposal apparatus (100) for destroying refrigerant received from the recovery apparatus. The disposal apparatus (100) includes a storage tank (110) for collecting refrigerant received from the recovery apparatus (30) and a reactor device (130) for receiving refrigerant collected in said storage tank and destroying the refrigerant received from the storage tank. The reactor device includes a reaction chamber (135) housing a replaceable reactor core (140) containing a reagent functional to chemically react with the received refrigerant. A heater device (138) is provided in operative association with the reaction chamber for heating the reactor core (140) to a desired temperature at which the reagent will most effectively react with the refrigerant.

Abstract: A heat pump system, utilizing a multi-component refrigerant blend in which a low pressure component is zeotropic with respect to the remainder of the blend, separates the low pressure component by rectification to enhance heating capability in low ambient temperatures. Vapor is separated from liquid in the effluent of the condenser of a heat pump, at a pressure in equilibrium at a temperature midway between the evaporator and condenser effluent temperatures, the vapor being applied to an auxiliary inlet at a mid pressure point in the compression stroke of the compressor.

Abstract: A heat pump system has a separate outdoor coil which is mounted below the primary outdoor coil and connected in parallel with it by valves. On system start up in the heating mode, the inlet of the auxiliary coil is closed, and the outlet is opened so that compressor vacuum will boil off the more volatile, high pressure components thus filling the system. The outlet valve is then closed trapping the low pressure component in the auxiliary coil. In a second embodiment, the accumulator is utilized to assist the auxiliary coil in vacuum separation of the refrigerant blend. Variants include blocking flow through the expansion valve on start up.