Abstract: A method for estimating refrigerant charge for an HVACR system is provided. The method includes obtaining one or more system parameters during operation. The one or more system parameters include at least one of compressor suction superheat, system mass flow, expansion device mass flow or opening degree, compressor suction saturated temperature, and compressor discharge saturated temperature. The method also includes conducting a regression analysis on the one or more system parameters to determine one or more predictive parameters for estimating the refrigerant charge. The method further includes determining a predictive model based on regression analysis. The predictive model establishes a relationship between the refrigerant charge and the one or more predictive parameters. Also the method includes estimating the refrigerant charge based on the predictive model.

Abstract: A geothermal system having a flow station connected to a heat pump that is connected to a heat pump that is connected to a flow vector assembly. The flow vector assembly is connected to a heating coil and a cooling coil disposed within the ductwork of a furnace. The flow vector assembly may also be connected to a flow helix heat exchanger assembly.

Abstract: An intelligent water outlet device includes a water-temperature regulating valve, a water-output control valve, a power source unit, an input unit, a motor drive unit, a first step motor, a second step motor and a control unit. The power source unit energizes the water outlet device. The input unit selects a temperature value for the water output. The motor drive unit drives the first step motor and second step motor, to rotate an adjusting bar of the water-temperature regulating valve and to push a valve bar of the water-output control valve, respectively. The control unit receives a temperature option and an expected water volume from the input unit, and then controls the first step motor and the second step motor to output warm water with the inputted temperature value and the expected water volume.

Abstract: A method for operating a brushless electric motor of a motor vehicle, particularly an electromotive refrigerant compressor, with two sub-motors arranged in sections and each comprising n-phases, by means of a converter corresponding to the number of phases of the electric motor. On the basis of a performance requirement, first switching points are determined for the n-phases, of one of the sub-motors, and on the basis of the performance requirement, second switching points are determined for the n-phases of the other sub-motor. The second switching points are shifted by a first phase angle and the converter is controlled on the basis of the first switching points and the second switching points. The first phase angle is selected such that a resulting current flow over the converter is smaller than a first threshold value. A unit of a motor vehicle, comprising a brushless electric motor is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for smart multi-zone control are provided. The system can include a plurality of sensors, a plurality of dampers, and a controller. The plurality of sensors can be configured to sense temperatures of a plurality of zones. The plurality of dampers can be configured to control the temperatures of the plurality of zones. The controller can be configured to obtain a first array associated with the plurality of sensors. Each element in the first array can represent a difference between a measurement value of a respective sensor and a setpoint associated with the respective sensor. The controller can be configured to obtain a second array associated with the plurality of dampers. Each element in the second array can represent a damper position of a respective damper. The controller can be configured to determine values of entries of a matrix using the first array and the second array.

Abstract: A method, and related refrigerated device, is provided for controlling a heater element of a refrigerated device having a compartment including an access door engageable with a perimeter of a compartment opening when the door is closed and a refrigeration circuit for cooling the compartment to a set point temperature, wherein the heater element heats a surface of the perimeter of the compartment opening to inhibit formation of condensation on the surface. The method involves: determining a temperature and relative humidity of ambient air surrounding the refrigerated device; determining a dew point temperature of the ambient air based upon the temperature and the relative humidity of the ambient air; and defining an energization level for the heater element based at least in part upon each of (i) the determined dew point temperature, (ii) the temperature of the ambient air and (iii) the set point temperature of the compartment.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a compressor configured to circulate a refrigerant through a refrigerant loop of the HVAC&R system, a heat recovery heat exchanger configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor and to place the refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with a process fluid, and a condenser configured to receive the refrigerant from the heat recovery heat exchanger, the compressor, or both, in which the condenser is configured to cool the refrigerant. The HVAC&R system further includes a fan configured to direct air across the condenser and an evaporator configured to place the refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with a cooling fluid. A speed of the fan is configured to be adjusted based on an operating parameter of the HVAC&R system.

Abstract: A food delivery system configured for transportation of a food product from a production site to a consumer site is disclosed having a chamber configured for housing a packaged ready-to-eat meal. The chamber defines an internal environment wherein the food product is received. The system also includes environmental temperature and humidity sensors associated with the chamber, one or more conditioning devices, associated with the chamber in such a way to condition one or more parameters of said internal environment, and a control unit, configured so that the parameters of the internal environment are continuously and adaptively adjusted so as to preserve the food product between the production site and the consumer site.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vapour compression system (1) is disclosed. A mass flow of refrigerant along a part of the refrigerant path is estimated, based on measurements performed by one or more pressure sensors (10, 12, 13) for measuring a refrigerant pressure at selected positions along the refrigerant path and one or more temperature sensors (11, 14) for measuring a refrigerant temperature at selected positions along the refrigerant path. A refrigerant pressure or a refrigerant temperature at a selected position a pressure sensor (10, 12, 13) or temperature sensor (11, 14) along the refrigerant path is derived, based on the estimated mass flow. The vapour compression system (1) is allowed to continue operating, even if a sensor (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is malfunctioning or unreliable.

Abstract: A vehicle cooling system includes a circulation flow path section which has a first flow path section and a second flow path section, and a solenoid valve which can switch between an open state in which the first flow path section and the second flow path section are connected and a closed state in which the first flow path section and the second flow path section are blocked. The circulation flow path section includes a valve body accommodating section configured to include a first accommodating section and a second accommodating section which connects the first flow path section and the second flow path section in the open state, and a connection flow path section whose one end is connected to the first flow path section. The other end of the connection flow path section opens to the first accommodating section.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for active vehicle cabin occupant protection system. The method includes detecting a vehicle cabin temperature using a cabin thermal sensor, engaging a vehicle fan and opening a vehicle outside air ventilation duct in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a first threshold temperature, and starting a vehicle engine and engaging a vehicle air conditioning system in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature wherein the second threshold temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature.

Abstract: A leak detection system of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a sensor configured to detect a UV tracer in a monitored gas volume of the HVAC system. The leak detection system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The controller is configured to modify operation of the HVAC system in response to the sensor detecting the UV tracer in the monitored gas volume.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an outdoor air conditioner formed outside of a structure, the method including: drawing outdoor air into the outdoor air conditioner; cooling the outdoor air to a dehumidification temperature to provide dehumidified air in the outdoor air conditioner; determining whether an air conditioning load exists in an air conditioning space inside the structure; heating the dehumidified air to generate supply air if it is determined that no air conditioning load exists in the air conditioning space; passing the dehumidified air at the dehumidification temperature as the supply air if it is determined that an air conditioning load exists in the air conditioning space; and providing the supply air to the air conditioning space.

Abstract: A system for air-conditioning and hot-water supply is configured to selectively perform a cooling operation and a heating operation. The system includes: an outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger; at least one or more indoor units each of which is connected to the outdoor unit and includes an indoor heat exchanger; a hot-water supply unit connected to the outdoor unit so as to be arranged in parallel to the at least one or more indoor units and including a refrigerant-water heat exchanger; and a controller configured to monitor an occurrence of a request for hot-water supply from the hot-water supply unit during the cooling operation performed at at least one of the indoor units, and then to start the heating operation. The controller is further configured to determine a time point to resume the cooling operation based on at least one of an outdoor temperature and a target temperature of at least one indoor unit in the heating operation.

Abstract: Leakage of a heating medium from a condenser or an evaporator can be quickly detected by a simple structure. A refrigeration apparatus 1 according to the present invention is formed by connecting a compressor 11, a condenser 12, an expansion valve 13 and an evaporator 14 by a pipe 15 such that a heating medium circulates therethrough in this order. The refrigeration apparatus 1 further includes a pressure detection unit 31, 32 that detects a pressure of the heating medium flowing through the pipe 15, and a control unit 41 that determines that leakage of the heating medium from the condenser 12 or the evaporator 14 has occurred, when a pressure detected by the pressure detection unit 31, 32 becomes not more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a plurality of outdoor units. Each of the plurality of outdoor units includes an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and a sensor to detect the quantity of refrigeration oil in the outdoor unit. A controller has a first operation mode in which a part of the plurality of outdoor units is operated and another outdoor unit is stopped; and a second operation mode in which all of the plurality of outdoor units are operated. In the first operation mode, when the operating time of an operating outdoor unit exceeds a prescribed time and the quantity of refrigeration oil in the compressor of the operating outdoor unit is equal to or larger than a prescribed quantity, the controller stops the operating outdoor unit and makes a switch to bring a stopped outdoor unit of the plurality of outdoor units into operation.

Abstract: A system and method for providing heating to a seat of a mobile hydraulic equipment. The system includes a heat exchanger disposed in or adjacent the seat for recycling the heat from a return hydraulic fluid received from a diverter manifold to heat the operator's seat. A valve disposed within the diverter manifold routes the return fluid to one or more of the heat exchanger or a return fluid reservoir based on a control signal received from a controller.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for managing power in a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) installed on a trailer, having: a TRU controller configured to execute a range extender mode of operation to manage operations of the TRU and TRU components, wherein the TRU controller: selects a power management strategy from a plurality of demand-side power management strategies; determines, from the selected power management strategy, operational parameters for a TRU; and executes the generated operational parameters.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a storage compartment, a door, an air outlet, an imaging unit, and a determination unit. The storage compartment has a storage region that stores a stored object. The door opens and closes the storage compartment. The air outlet is provided in a rear wall of the storage region and blows cold air into the storage region. The imaging unit is provided at an inner side of the door at a position higher than or equal to a height of the air outlet and acquires an image of the storage region from the door. The determination unit determines an arrangement state of the stored object stored in the storage region based on the image acquired by the imaging unit.

Abstract: An insulated chamber having an interior region for storing items therein includes a phase change material to facilitate controlling the temperature of the interior region and the items. A heating device or cooling device may be used to melt or freeze the phase change material. The phase change material (PCM) may be in various locations such as the walls of the chamber in the form of packets or in the form of containers that serve as shelves and may be removable from the interior region. The packets may have recesses for receiving the items. The phase change material may be within capsules that may be within a liquid or a solid matrix. Controls may be provided to control humidity, oxygen, and carbon dioxide within the interior chamber.