Abstract: A water heating system includes: a refrigerant circuit that includes a compressor and in which a refrigerant flows; and a water circuit in which water flows. The refrigerant circuit shares with the water circuit a water heat exchanger that heats the water using the refrigerant discharged from the compressor. The water heat exchanger includes a first heat-exchanging unit in which the refrigerant exchanges heat with the water at a water outlet portion. The refrigerant circuit further includes a heat radiator that is disposed between the compressor and the first heat-exchanging unit and that radiates heat of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor. The heat radiator is configured to radiate heat of the refrigerant to water that flows on an upstream side of the water outlet portion.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a heat transfer tube. The heat transfer tube includes a first tube portion, and second tube portions connected in parallel with each other with respect to the first tube portion. The first tube portion has a first inner circumferential surface, and first grooves recessed relative to the first inner circumferential surface and arranged side by side in a circumferential direction of the heat transfer tube. The second tube portions each have a second inner circumferential surface, and a plurality of second grooves recessed relative to the second inner circumferential surface and arranged side by side in the circumferential direction. The first grooves are less than the second grooves in one or more of a number of grooves, a depth of each groove, and a lead angle of each groove.

Abstract: A heat exchanger, a heat pump system, and a heat exchange method. The heat exchanger operates in a cooling mode or a heating mode. A heat exchange medium flows through via a first flow path within the heat exchanger in the cooling mode, and flows through via a second flow path within the heat exchanger in the heating mode. A diversion component is disposed within the heat exchanger. The diversion component is configured such that the length of the first flow path is different from the length of the second flow path; moreover, a partial segment of the first flow path and a partial segment of the second flow path overlap with each other, and flow directions of the heat exchange medium therein are identical.

Abstract: An ice making machine having a refrigeration system designed for hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants, and particularly propane (R-290), that includes dual independent refrigeration systems and a unique evaporator assembly comprising of a single freeze plate attached to two cooling circuits. The serpentines are designed in an advantageous pattern that promotes efficiency by ensuring the even bridging of ice during freezing and minimizing unwanted melting during harvest by providing an even distribution of the heat load. The charge limitations imposed with flammable refrigerants would otherwise prevent large capacity ice maker from being properly charged with a single circuit. The ice making machine includes a single water circuit and control system to ensure the proper and efficient production of ice. Material cost is conserved as compared to a traditional dual system icemaker.

Abstract: A heat exchanging thermal liquid container system that comprises a main body at least partially defining a liquid reservoir structured and operable to retain a liquid, and a phase change material (PCM) liner comprising a PCM liner PCM having a selected melting temperature, and/or at least one PCM pod. Each of the at least one PCM pod(s) comprising a respective PCM pod PCM having a respective selected melting temperature. Wherein the PCM liner and/or the at least one PCM pod are disposable within the liquid reservoir such that when a liquid is disposed within the liquid reservoir the liquid will contact at least one of the PCM liner and the at least one PCM pod such that thermal energy can be exchanged between the liquid and the respective at least one of the PCM liner PCM and the at least one PCM pod PCM.

Abstract: A cooling system includes a compressor operable to compress refrigerant, an accumulator upstream from the compressor. The accumulator is operable to collect liquid from the refrigerant. A sensor is located upstream from the accumulator. The sensor is operable to detect information including a temperature and a pressure of the refrigerant. The controller is in communication with the sensor. The controller is operable to determine a rate of accumulation of liquid in the accumulator based on the information from the sensor. A method of operating a cooling system is also disclosed.

Abstract: It provides an operation part calculating an energy recovered by the heat exchanger in the heat exchanger and energies consumed by the air blower for absorption and the air blower for discharge and determining which of the energy recovered by the heat exchange and the energies consumed by the air blower for absorption and the air blower for discharge is greater, and a control part controlling at least one of the air blower for absorption and the air blower for discharge so that the energy consumed by the air blower for absorption and the air blower for discharge becomes small when the operation part determines that the energy consumed by the air blower for absorption and the air blower for discharge is greater than the energy recovered by the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit includes a storage compartment, an evaporator compartment, an evaporator disposed within the evaporator compartment, a drain pan beneath the evaporator and having first and second sloped surfaces, and a panel between the storage and evaporator compartments that defines an opening. The storage compartment is in fluid communication with the evaporator compartment via the opening. The refrigeration unit also includes an evaporator fan that delivers air from the evaporator compartment to the storage compartment via the opening, and an evaporator fan grille coupled to the panel and extending outward therefrom into the storage compartment. The evaporator fan grille includes a body that extends over the opening and that is in a spaced-relationship with the panel, and at least one spacer feature extending from the panel to the body.

Abstract: An air conditioner system is provided that may include an air conditioner including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger that performs heat exchange using refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a camera module that photographs the outdoor heat exchanger, a sensor unit including a plurality of sensors, and a communication unit that transmits an image of the outdoor heat exchanger photographed by the camera module and sensor data detected by the sensor unit, and a server including a communication unit that receives the image of the outdoor heat exchanger photographed by the camera module and the sensor data detected by the sensor unit, and a defrosting controller that determines whether the outdoor heat exchanger is frosted based on image data of the outdoor heat exchanger photographed by the camera module, and predicts a frosting timing based on the sensor data detected by the sensor unit.

Abstract: An air conditioner includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, an indoor heat exchanger, and a noise reduction device configured to reduce flow noise of a refrigerant. The noise reduction device includes a housing including a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, and a plurality of baffles disposed inside the housing. The baffles include a first baffle and a second baffle that partition an inside of the housing into a plurality of spaces in a flow direction of the refrigerant. Each of the first baffle and the second baffle includes a hole through which the refrigerant passes. The holes of the first and second baffles are respectively disposed at centers of the first and second baffles at positions corresponding to each other in the flow direction of the refrigerant.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a reheater, a first valve, a second heat exchanger, a four-way valve, a cap tube, and a blower. The compressor compresses a refrigerant. The blower moves air proximate the second heat exchanger to the reheater. During a heating mode of operation, the four-way valve is configured to direct refrigerant from the compressor to the second heat exchanger; the second heat exchanger is configured to use the refrigerant from the compressor to heat air proximate the second heat exchanger; and the cap tube is configured to allow refrigerant to bypass the reheater.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes an air system including a first interlaced microchannel heat exchanger and a second interlaced microchannel heat exchanger. The air system can include a plurality of fluidly separated refrigerant circuits, and each of the refrigerant circuits can be configured to flow through the first interlaced microchannel heat exchanger and the second interlaced microchannel heat exchanger. The first interlaced microchannel heat exchanger can be located indoors, and the second interlaced microchannel heat exchanger can be located outdoors. Each of the refrigerant circuits can include its own compressor and expansion valve.

Abstract: A dynamic refrigeration system may include an ultrasonic transducer attached to a refrigerant flow sight glass, an expansion valve, and an evaporator coil in a refrigerant line. The ultrasonic transducer may be placed in a refrigerant flow of the refrigerant line before or after the expansion valve and before the evaporator coil, wherein sound waves of the ultrasonic transducer may break up large globules of refrigerant molecules into smaller globules of refrigerant molecules, thereby increasing total surface area of the refrigerant molecules to increase heat transfer capacity and total system efficiency. The system may provide 3-5 percent higher efficiency overall due to the presence of the ultrasonic transducer in the refrigerant line before or after the expansion valve.

Abstract: A system for measuring oil circulation ratio in a vapor-compression refrigeration system (VCRS) is provided. The system may include an oil separator configured to receive the refrigerant and oil flow from the low-pressure line of the VCRS and output a oil flow and a refrigerant flow. The system may further include an oil collector configured to receive the separated oil flow provided by the oil separator. A valve may control an oil flow from the oil collector to the low-pressure line. A level sensor may measure oil level in the oil collector. The system may close, in response to the oil being at or less than a first level, the valve to collect oil in the oil collector. The system may open, in response to the oil being at or greater than a second level, the valve to release oil from the oil collector to the low-pressure line.

Abstract: Techniques for generating coordination maps for energy efficient chilled water and condenser water temperature resets in a chiller plant system. A controller is configured to control and set thresholds for one or more parameters of the chiller system, the chiller system includes one or more cooling tower, one or more pumps, and one or more water chillers, and one or more sensors operably coupled to the controller, the one or more sensors are configured to measure values for one or more parameters. A processor is coupled to the controller, the processor is configured to generate a coordination map based on the measured values and the thresholds for the one or more parameters, configure an operating setpoint for the chiller system based on the coordination map, and control the chiller system based at least in part on the configured operating setpoint.

Abstract: A general purpose enclosure is provided. A general purpose enclosure for housing an internal unit and providing complete protection against an ingress of dust and water, comprising a first housing and a second housing. A plurality of cooling fins and one or more pressure ports along an exterior surface of the first housing and the second housing. One or more pressure ports comprising a pneumatic valve, pressure sensor cap and a vent membrane such that pressure venting, and pressure testing may be performed by the one or more pressure ports. A method of assembling a general purpose enclosure to an internal unit, comprising applying the first housing and the second housing to the internal unit such that the first housing and the second housing encompass the internal unit and fastening the first housing to the second house.

Abstract: A relay includes a first relay unit and a second relay unit provided between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit to allow refrigerant to circulate between the first relay unit and the outdoor unit and between the second relay unit and the outdoor unit, and a heat medium circuit connecting the first relay unit and the second relay unit to the indoor unit to allow a heat medium to circulate through the heat medium circuit. The second relay unit is installed above or on a top of the first relay unit.

Abstract: Coating compositions are provided that eject droplets of condensed fluid from a surface. The coatings include a nanostructured coating layer and in some embodiments, also include a hydrophobic layer deposited thereon. The coating materials eject droplets from the surface in the presence of non-condensing gases such as air and may be deployed under conditions of supersaturation of the condensed fluid to be ejected. A heat exchanger design utilizing the coating is described herein.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes outdoor units each including a compressor and outdoor heat exchanger, refrigerant flowing through the outdoor units; an indoor unit including an indoor heat exchanger, a heat medium flowing through the indoor unit; relay devices to which the outdoor units are connected, and to which the indoor unit is connected, each relay device includes a heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the heat medium; and a controller. The controller controls action of the outdoor units, the indoor unit, and the relay devices. The controller determines necessity for a defrosting operation; responsive the defrosting operation being necessary, compares an indoor unit total load with an outdoor unit total capacity; and controls an operating frequency of the compressor of an outdoor unit other than the outdoor unit on which the defrosting operation is to be performed to increase the outdoor unit total capacity.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: a first refrigerant route; and a second refrigerant route. In the first refrigerant route, refrigerant flows in order of a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first pipe, a second heat exchanger, a low pressure receiver and the compressor. The second refrigerant route is connected to the first pipe and the low pressure receiver, the first pipe being connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger in the first refrigerant route. The second refrigerant route includes an electric pump. The electric pump is configured to flow the refrigerant from the low pressure receiver to the first pipe.