Abstract: In a refrigeration cycle apparatus having an expansion mechanism, a method to swiftly generate a pressure difference upstream and downstream of the expansion mechanism of, thereby enhancing the starting performance of the refrigeration cycle apparatus The apparatus has a compression mechanism, a utilizing-side heat exchange, an expansion mechanism for recovering power, and a heat source-side heat exchanger. The revolution number of the heat source fluid transfer means is made smaller than a target revolution number or the heat source fluid transfer means is stopped during a predetermined time after the compression mechanism is started. When the compression mechanism is started, the pressure difference can be generated upstream and downstream of the expansion mechanism for a short time, the operation of the expansion mechanism does not become unstable, vibration and noise can be prevented, and the refrigeration cycle apparatus can swiftly be started.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle air conditioning system has air introduced into an air conditioning case. The introduced air is always discharged to both sides of a passenger compartment regardless of the air conditioner mode while the air conditioning system maintains the amount of air discharged through defrost openings in a defrost mode. Air leakage between both sides of a mode door and the air conditioning case is effectively prevented by a cover carried by the mode door without additional sealing to improve air conditioning performance.

Abstract: A soft freeze assembly for a refrigerator including a freezer storage compartment having a first temperature includes a second storage compartment positioned within the freezer storage compartment. A heat source is positioned with respect to the second storage compartment and configured to heat air within the second storage compartment to a second temperature greater than the first temperature within the freezer storage compartment. A controller is in operational control communication with the heat source and configured to operate the heat source.

Abstract: An air conditioner has a heat source unit with a compressor and a heat source heat exchanger and utilization units with utilization expansion valves and utilization heat exchangers. The heat source unit and the utilization unit are interconnected via refrigerant communication pipes. The air conditioner is capable of switching and operating between a normal operation mode in which control of the respective devices is performed depending on the operation loads of the utilization units and a refrigerant quantity judging operation mode in which the utilization units perform cooling operation. The utilization expansion valves are controlled such that degrees of superheating at outlets of the utilization heat exchangers become a positive value, and an operation capacity of the compressor is controlled such that evaporation pressures in the utilization heat exchangers become constant.

Abstract: An air conditioning monitoring and control system includes an air conditioner, a first air conditioning monitoring and control device and a second air conditioning monitoring and control device. The first air conditioning monitoring and control device communicates with the air conditioner via a first communication line. The first air conditioning monitoring and control device includes a first monitoring and control function and a second monitoring and control function. The second air conditioning monitoring and control device communicates with the air conditioner via a second communication line. The second air conditioning monitoring and control device includes the first monitoring and control function and a third monitoring and control function.

Abstract: A control device for an air-conditioning system of a vehicle comprises an evaporator, a compressor with externally controlled variable displacement, and an expansion valve. The control device comprises a control block that receives a reference temperature indicating a desired temperature of the air downstream of the evaporator, and an effective temperature of the air present downstream of the evaporator. The control device-supplies a control signal for the compressor to bring the effective temperature substantially equal to the reference temperature. An observer module receives the control signal and supplies a temperature disturbance indicating an estimate of the oscillatory effect generated by an expansion valve on the temperature of air downstream of the evaporator when a compressor is driven by the control signal. An adder block removes from the effective temperature the temperature disturbance so as to eliminate the oscillatory effect on the effective temperature downstream of the evaporator.

Abstract: A controller for a two-stage heat source is provide, which may be connected to either a single stage or a two-stage thermostat to provide low stage heating for a variable time period before switching to high stage heating. The controller includes at least a first terminal for receiving a signal requesting heating from a single-stage thermostat or a two-stage thermostat connected to the first terminal. A microcontroller in communication with the first terminal determines a duty cycle value for a heating cycle based on the duration in which a signal at the first terminal is present relative to the duration of the heating cycle. The microcontroller determines a low stage time limit from the duty cycle, and provides low stage heating when a signal is present at the first terminal for a time period not more than the time limit, and switches to high stage heating after the time limit.

Abstract: An outdoor heat exchanger (23), an indoor heat exchanger (24), a compression/expansion unit (30), and other circuit components are connected in a refrigerant circuit (20). The compression/expansion unit (30) includes a compression mechanism (50), an electric motor (45), and an expansion mechanism (60). In addition, the refrigerant circuit (20) has an injection pipeline (26). When an injection valve (27) is opened, a portion of high pressure refrigerant after heat dissipation flows into the injection pipeline (26) and is introduced into an expansion chamber (66) of the expansion mechanism (60) in the process of expansion. In the expansion mechanism (60), power is recovered from both high pressure refrigerant introduced into the expansion chamber (66) from an inflow port (34) and high pressure refrigerant introduced into the expansion chamber (66) from the injection pipeline (26).

Abstract: Energy is stored in the compression of a metastable degenerate Fermi electron gas contained in a compressed metallic base material subjected to a magnetic field in a high pressure cell. Heat energy is introduced to increase the energy of the compressed metastable degenerate Fermi electron gas. The increase in energy causes the magnetic field to increase so that the metastable degenerate Fermi electron gas is further compressed. Absorption of heat results in a decrease in the temperature. Energy can be withdrawn from The system by allowing the metastable degenerate Fermi electron gas to expand against the compressing magnetic field. To prevent development of fissures, the metallic base material is precompressed to provide an allowance for the volume of a metastable Fermi electron gas bubble to be created later.