Abstract: A heat pump system and a control method thereof. The heat pump system includes: a major heat exchange loop (100), including at least one compressor (110), a flow-path switching valve (120), a condenser (130), a first throttling element (140), an economizer (150), and an evaporator (160) that are connected sequentially to form a loop; and an air supply branch (200), which is connected from a flow path between the first throttling element and the economizer to an air supply inlet of the compressor, the air supply branch being provided with a switch valve (231) for preventing a gas-phase refrigerant from flowing back; where a pressure balance branch (300) is further included, which is connected from the air supply branch at the upstream of the switch valve to a low-pressure gas-phase refrigerant side of the major heat exchange loop.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an outdoor unit for an air conditioner including a blowing apparatus for reducing suction loss of a propeller fan generated in corners of a housing and achieving high efficiency of blowing and low noise. The blowing apparatus includes a housing including a wall in which an outlet is formed, a propeller fan positioned in the inside of the housing, the propeller fan facing the outlet, and a diffuser positioned at a discharging side of the propeller fan, and forming the outlet, wherein the diffuser includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to a rotation axis of the propeller fan, and an inclination angle of the inclined surface to the rotation axis of the propeller fan changes according to a circumferential direction of the diffuser.

Abstract: A machine for making liquid and/or semi-liquid products of the ice cream sector comprises a processing container forming a processing chamber for making an ice cream product, a stirrer mounted inside the processing chamber, a cooling system equipped with at least one heat exchanger associated with the processing container, for exchanging heat with the container and cooling the processing container and a unit for receiving and treating a capsule containing a basic preparation for an ice cream product, configured to allow the capsule to be compressed in such a way so as to deform lateral walls of the capsule and to squeeze the basic preparation out of the capsule and transfer it to the processing container.

Abstract: A representative system includes: an exterior housing defining an interior compartment; a water tank disposed within the interior compartment; a filtration system configured to receive a flow of water from outside the exterior housing, filter the flow of water and provide filtered water to the water tank; an ice maker, disposed along a first flow path from the water tank, configured to produce ice from the filtered water provided from the first flow path; an ice bin configured to receive the ice from the ice maker; a user interface configured to receive a user input corresponding to a request for chilled water; a water control valve, disposed along a second flow path from the water tank, configured to receive the filtered water provided from the second flow path and provide a controlled flow of the filtered water to the ice bin in response to the user input such that the controlled flow of the filtered water is cooled by the ice in the ice bin to form chilled water; and a water dispenser fluidly communicating

Abstract: A chest insert for a freezer is disclosed. The chest insert is placed inside a freezer and food is placed inside the chest insert. Several sides of the chest insert comprise a gap which is partially filled with a refrigerant gel. These gaps are slanted such that the gel can expand into a wider gap as it expands while freezing, lessening the risk of uneven freezing causing the refrigerant gel to press against the walls of the chest insert. The use of the disclosed subject matter reduces freezer burn by stabilizing humidity. Further, the chest insert maintains the temperature inside the chest insert for extended periods if the freezer fails or the power to the freezer is interrupted.

Abstract: An air-conditioner, adapted to be fitted to a roof/wall of a vehicle, comprises: an external unit containing a compressor and at least one heat exchanger element and having air channels respectively for supplying conditioned air and for receiving return air through an opening in a roof or wall of the vehicle, the opening being either of two types of different sizes; a frame to be installed in the opening and between the external unit and the roof/wall and having locating elements, on each of two opposite sides of the frame, configured to locate the frame in the opening and to locate the frame in the external unit, wherein the frame is to be installed with the first side facing the roof or wall for the first type of opening and is to be installed with the first side facing the external unit for the second type of opening.

Abstract: A refrigerator to be installed in a storage space defined by a wall of an object includes a contact mechanism so that the refrigerator makes contact with the wall, and thus the refrigerator can be installed.

Abstract: An actively cooled waste receptacle comprises an insulated container including (i) an inner wall defining a chamber having an opening for receiving the waste, and (ii) an outer wall surrounding the inner wall and joined to the inner wall at the opening. The receptacle also includes a cover configured to prevent access to the chamber via the opening in a closed position, and to allow access to the chamber via the opening in an open position; and a heat pump including an interior heat exchanger exposed to the chamber, the heat pump configured to cool the chamber by absorbing heat from air within the chamber via the interior heat exchanger, and transferring the heat outside the insulated container.

Abstract: An indoor cooling system kit can include aluminum beverage cans, flexible hoses, a fan, and instructions for forming the indoor cooling system. Further kit materials can include containers, dehumidifying material, a filter, and further instructions. A method of cooling an indoor region can include cutting tops and bottoms away from aluminum beverage cans, coupling the cans together in series to form two elongated airflow passages, coupling a flexible hose to open ends of both airflow passages, adjusting the hose so that both airflow passages and hose form a U-shaped airflow passage, forming a hole in the ground beneath the indoor region, inserting the U-shaped airflow passage into the hole with its inlet and outlet elevated out of the hole into the indoor region, and operating a fan to force air through the inlet. The air is cooled geothermally as it travels through the overall U-shaped airflow passage.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser has an actuation lever which is mounted in a dispenser recess in such a way as to be able to pivot about an axis, at least one lighting device, and at least one optical waveguide, which extends from the lighting device, for illuminating the dispenser recess. A light exit is provided on the actuation lever, and the optical waveguide connects the lighting device to the light exit on the actuation lever.

Abstract: An insulated cold pack for cooling a product, the cold pack including a viscous cooling agent that may serve as a plant fertilizer when discarded. The cooling agent encapsulated in at least one sealed flexible walled package, the one or more flexible walled packages located on the first side of the insulated cold pack. In addition, the cold pack includes biodegradable loose-fill insulation covering the second side of the insulated cold pack. An encapsulating barrier surrounds both the viscous cooling agent on the first side of the insulated cold pack as well as the loose-fill insulation on the second side. The loose-fill insulation secured in position within the encapsulating barrier and the insulation positioned in contact with the product or optionally closely spaced from the product to be cooled.

Abstract: An ice making assembly, a provided herein, may include a conductive ice mold, a sealed refrigeration system, and a water dispenser. The conductive ice mold may define a mold cavity. The sealed refrigeration system may include an evaporator in thermal communication with the ice mold. The water dispenser may be positioned below the ice mold to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity. The water dispenser may include a dispenser base and a spray cap selectively secured to the dispenser base. The spray cap may include a nozzle head defining an outlet aperture and an attachment wing extending radially from the nozzle head into the dispenser base.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a door, a dispensing assembly, an icemaker, and an ice storage bin. The door may define a bin opening and a dispenser recess. The dispensing assembly may be positioned within the dispenser recess and define an ice delivery passage. The ice storage bin may define a storage cavity. The ice storage bin may be slidably mounted to the door to move through the bin opening between a mounted position and a removed position. The ice storage bin may include an insulated front wall positioned across the bin opening in the mounted position. The storage cavity may be in communication with the icemaker in the mounted position to receive ice therefrom. The storage cavity may further be in communication with the dispensing assembly in the mounted position to direct ice to the ice delivery passage.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus capable of performing pump down operation while suppressing degradation in performance is provided. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor including an inlet side and an outlet side, at least one indoor heat exchanger, a four-way valve, a check valve including an inlet side and an outlet side, a pipe serving as a first flow path connecting the outlet side of the check valve to the inlet side of the compressor, a first on-off valve, and a refrigerant leak detection device. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured such that, when a refrigerant leak is detected by the refrigerant leak detection device, pump down operation is performed as refrigerant transfer operation of transferring the refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger.

Abstract: Injection devices are provided for injecting additives into a refrigeration or air conditioning systems, which include a tubular element defining an inner chamber, the inner chamber having a volume at least equal to the volume of the quantity of additive to be injected. An inlet fitting is attached to a first end of the tubular element; an outlet fitting is attached to a second end of the tubular element. The devices are also provided with an additive inlet port, distinct from the inlet and outlet ducts, fluidically communicating with the inner chamber and configured for removable connection to an additive injection device. The inlet port is engaged by a one-way valve suitable for allowing the passage of the additive only from the injection device to the inner chamber. Kits and methods are also provided.

Abstract: An ice making system includes: a tank that stores a medium to be cooled; an ice making machine that cools the medium and makes ice; a pump that circulates the medium between the tank and the ice making machine; a de-icing mechanism that performs a de-icing operation of heating and melting the medium in the ice making machine; and a control device that controls operations of the ice making machine, the pump, and the de-icing mechanism. The ice making machine includes: a cooling chamber in which the medium is cooled; a blade mechanism that rotates in the cooling chamber and disperses the ice; a detector that detects a locked state of the blade mechanism; and a first temperature sensor that is disposed at a discharge port of the cooling chamber and detects a temperature of the medium discharged from the cooling chamber.

Abstract: A centralized energy module for a vehicle includes a base plate, a compressor mounted on the base plate, a first condenser mounted on the base plate at a location spaced part from the compressor and configured for condensing the refrigerant through heat-exchange with a first coolant supplied from a high temperature radiator while firstly passing the refrigerant supplied from the compressor, a second condenser connected with the first condenser and configured for condensing the refrigerant through heat-exchange with a second coolant supplied from a low temperature radiator while secondly passing the refrigerant supplied from the compressor, an expansion valve connected with the second condenser, and an evaporator mounted on the base plate, evaporating the refrigerant supplied from the expansion valve through heat-exchange with a third coolant which flows into the evaporator and supplying the evaporated refrigerant to the compressor.

Abstract: A thermal conditioning wall panel 10 for use in a thermally insulating container comprises a panel body (22) having a channel (26) formed therein along one face thereof for receiving one or more thermal conditioning elements (12). At least one foot (32) is formed at the lower end of the body (22) for engagement within a socket provided on the thermally insulating container. The panel further comprises thermal conditioning element retaining elements (40) provided adjacent the longitudinal edges (29) of the channel (26), the retaining elements (40) projecting over a peripheral portion of the channel (26) for retaining the thermal conditioning elements (12) within the channel (26).

Abstract: A fan housing (184) is provided for accommodating a fan (154) rotating about a central axis (500). The fan housing comprises: an inlet (212); a diffuser (202); an inner diameter (ID) surface (200, 210) facing the central axis; and an outer diameter (OD) surface (240) facing away from the central axis. A rim (220) at the inlet has a plurality of apexes (231) and a plurality of nadirs (233).

Abstract: Provided is a refrigerating and freezing device. The refrigerating and freezing device comprises a cabinet body with a first storage space defined therein, an oxygen-enriched membrane assembly and an air extraction device. A storage container in which an atmosphere-controlled freshness-keeping space is formed is disposed in the first storage space. The oxygen-enriched membrane assembly is provided with at least one oxygen-enriched membrane and an oxygen-enriched gas collection chamber. The air extraction device is communicated with the oxygen-enriched gas collection chamber through a pipeline to extract and discharge the gas that permeates into the oxygen-enriched gas collection chamber out of the storage container. The refrigerating and freezing device not only has good freshness-keeping performance, but also has relatively low requirements on the rigidity and strength of the storage container. Besides, it is small in size and low in noise, and it is suitable for household and individual use.