Abstract: A heat-pump system includes a compressor, an outdoor heating exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a supplemental heater. The outdoor heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the compressor. The indoor heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the compressor. The expansion device is in fluid communication with the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. The supplemental heater includes a burner and a working-fluid conduit. The burner is configured to burn a fuel and heat the working-fluid conduit. When the heat-pump system is operating in a heating mode, the indoor heat exchanger receives working fluid from the working-fluid conduit such that the working fluid flows from an outlet of the working-fluid conduit to an inlet of the indoor heat exchanger.

Abstract: A cooling system that may include a source of liquid natural refrigerant, a heat exchanger in communication with the source of liquid natural refrigerant that is configured to convert the liquid natural refrigerant into a gaseous natural refrigerant, a compressor in communication with the heat exchanger and configured to increase a temperature and pressure of the gaseous natural refrigerant received from the heat exchanger, and an exhaust device in communication with the compressor and configured to expel the gaseous natural refrigerant received from the compressor to air of an external ambient environment. The exhaust device includes a membrane that permits the gaseous natural refrigerant to exit the exhaust device while preventing or at least minimizing the air of the external ambient environment from entering the exhaust device.

Abstract: A climate-control system may include a compressor, a thermal storage device, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a first expansion device, and a second expansion device. The compressor may include an intermediate-pressure inlet, an intermediate-pressure outlet, a discharge outlet, a suction-pressure pocket, and a plurality of compression pockets. The thermal storage device may include a conduit and a phase-change material surrounding the conduit. The first expansion valve, the second expansion valve, the outdoor heat exchanger, the indoor heat exchanger, and the thermal storage device may be in fluid communication with the compressor. The climate-control system is operable in a charging mode and a discharging mode, and is operable in a cooling mode and a heating mode. The thermal storage device may be configured to absorb heat from a working fluid or to transfer heat to the working fluid.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a pair of end plates, a plurality of flow plates sandwiched between the pair of end plates, and a plurality of heat transfer films that are respectively positioned between adjacent flow plates, and between each of the end plates and an immediately adjacent flow plate.

Abstract: A conditioning system for a conditioned interior space includes a vapor compression system, an evaporative cooling system, and a controller. The vapor compression system includes an evaporator, a condenser, a refrigerant active fluid for flowing between the evaporator and the condenser, a first fan to produce a first airflow toward the conditioned interior space, and a second fan for producing a second airflow from the condenser toward an exterior space. The evaporative cooling system includes a first tank containing a non-refrigerant active fluid, and a heat exchange device fluidically coupled to the first tank to receive the non-refrigerant active fluid. The first fan is positioned to produce the first airflow through the heat exchange device toward the conditioned interior space. The controller is programmed to control cooperative operation of the vapor compression system and the evaporative cooling system to condition the conditioned interior space.

Abstract: A heating system of a building includes: a solar heater configured to receive sunlight and to at least one of absorb heat into a refrigerant and augment heat absorbed into the refrigerant; a compressor configured to compress the refrigerant that vaporized via absorption of heat; a first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to water; an expansion valve configured to reduce at least one of a temperature and a pressure of the refrigerant after the transfer of heat from the refrigerant to water; a second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from water output from the first heat exchanger to air passing the second heat exchanger before flowing into the building; a pump configured to pump the water from the solar heater to the second heat exchanger; and a blower configured to blow air past the second heat exchanger and into the building.

Abstract: A refrigerant control system includes: a reversing valve including: a first inlet configured to receive refrigerant output from a condenser; a first outlet configured to output refrigerant to an inlet of an evaporator located inside of a building; a second inlet configured to receive refrigerant output from the evaporator; and a second outlet configured to output refrigerant to an inlet of a compressor that pumps refrigerant to the condenser; a reversing module configured to: selectively actuate the reversing valve to a first position such that: refrigerant flows directly from the second inlet to the second outlet; and refrigerant flows directly from the first inlet to the first outlet; and selectively actuate the reversing valve to a second position such that: refrigerant flows directly from the second inlet to the first outlet; and refrigerant flows directly from the first inlet to the second outlet.

Abstract: A refrigerant control system includes: a charge module configured to determine an amount of refrigerant that is present within a first portion of a refrigeration system within a building; and an isolation module configured to selectively open and close an isolation valve of the refrigeration system and to, via the isolation valve, maintain the amount of refrigerant within the first portion within the building below a predetermined amount of the refrigerant.

Abstract: A refrigerant control system includes: a charge module configured to determine an amount of refrigerant that is present within a refrigeration system of a building; a leak module configured to diagnose that a leak is present in the refrigeration system based on the amount of refrigerant; and at least one module configured to take at least one remedial action in response to the diagnosis that the leak is present in the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A conditioning system includes a vapor compression system and a humidity control system. The vapor compression system includes an evaporator, a condenser, a first fan that produces a first airflow across the evaporator toward a conditioned interior space, and a second fan that produces a second airflow from the condenser toward an exterior space. The humidity control system includes a first mass exchange device positioned in the first airflow, a second mass exchange device positioned in the second airflow, and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with both mass exchange devices. The heat exchanger includes a first path and a second path that are thermally coupled and that provide liquid desiccant between the first and second mass exchange devices. The first and second mass exchange devices each include a plurality of cavities configured to permit liquid desiccant to flow therethrough.

Abstract: An example refrigeration system includes an indoor fluid loop, an outdoor fluid loop, and a heat exchanger assembly. The indoor fluid loop circulates a first working fluid. The outdoor fluid loop circulates a second working fluid that is different from the first working fluid and is separated from the indoor fluid loop by a wall of a structure. The heat exchanger assembly is mounted within the wall of the structure. The heat exchanger assembly includes a heat exchanger and a housing, where the heat exchanger is disposed within an internal space defined by the housing. The housing supports the heat exchanger within the internal space and is mounted to a structure of the wall.

Abstract: A heating and cooling (HVAC) system that includes a compressor; a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger; a first expansion valve positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; a first reversing valve that permits the system to operate in a first mode and a second mode; and a thermal battery including a phase change material therein that is configured to selectively store and release thermal energy received from a working fluid.

Abstract: Climate control systems and methods of operating them are provided that circulate a working fluid including a high glide refrigerant blend having first and second refrigerants with a difference in boiling points ?about 25° F. at atmospheric pressure. The system includes a gas-liquid separation vessel that generates a vapor stream and a liquid stream. A compressor receives the vapor stream and generates a pressurized vapor stream. A liquid pump receives the liquid stream and generates a pressurized liquid stream. A condenser is disposed downstream of the compressor and liquid pump and receives and cools the pressurized mixed vapor and liquid stream. An evaporator receives and at least partially vaporizes the multiphase working fluid and directs it to the gas-liquid separating vessel. An expansion device between the condenser and the evaporator processes the multiphase working fluid stream. Lastly, a fluid conduit for circulating the working fluid through the components is provided.

Abstract: A method of HVAC system performance monitoring using a computing device connected to at least one thermostat of an HVAC system in a building includes receiving thermostat data from the thermostat, the thermostat data including temperature setpoint data, measured building temperature data, and HVAC operation data for a time period. Weather data is received from a weather service for the time period, and the thermostat data is synchronized with the weather data with respect to time. At least one machine learning model is trained using the synchronized thermostat and weather data, and performance of the HVAC system over time is monitored using the trained machine learning model.

Abstract: A cooling system that may include a source of liquid natural refrigerant, a heat exchanger in communication with the source of liquid natural refrigerant that is configured to convert the liquid natural refrigerant into a gaseous natural refrigerant, a compressor in communication with the heat exchanger and configured to increase a temperature and pressure of the gaseous natural refrigerant received from the heat exchanger, and an exhaust device in communication with the compressor and configured to expel the gaseous natural refrigerant received from the compressor to air of an external ambient environment. The exhaust device includes a membrane that permits the gaseous natural refrigerant to exit the exhaust device while preventing or at least minimizing the air of the external ambient environment from entering the exhaust device.

Abstract: A climate-control system may include a vapor-compression circuit and an air handler assembly. The vapor-compression circuit may include a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and first and second working-fluid-fluid flow paths. The first and second working-fluid-flow paths are in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger. The first working-fluid-flow path may include a first expansion device and a first indoor heat exchanger. The second working-fluid-flow path may include a second expansion device and a second indoor heat exchanger. The first and second indoor heat exchangers are disposed within the air handler assembly. The air handler assembly includes a return-air-inlet duct, first and second airflow paths, and a supply-air-outlet duct. The first airflow path may receive air from the return-air-inlet duct and houses the first indoor heat exchanger. The second airflow path may receive air from the return-air-inlet duct.

Abstract: An example refrigeration system includes an indoor fluid loop, an outdoor fluid loop, and a heat exchanger assembly. The indoor fluid loop circulates a first working fluid. The outdoor fluid loop circulates a second working fluid that is different from the first working fluid and is separated from the indoor fluid loop by a wall of a structure. The heat exchanger assembly is mounted within the wall of the structure. The heat exchanger assembly includes a heat exchanger and a housing, where the heat exchanger is disposed within an internal space defined by the housing. The housing supports the heat exchanger within the internal space and is mounted to a structure of the wall.

Abstract: A heat-pump system may include a compressor, an outdoor heating exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a supplemental heater. The outdoor heat exchanger may be in fluid communication with the compressor. The indoor heat exchanger may be in fluid communication with the compressor. The expansion device may be in fluid communication with the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. The supplemental heater may include a burner and a working-fluid conduit. The burner may be configured to burn a fuel and heat the working-fluid conduit. When the heat-pump system is operating in a heating mode, the indoor heat exchanger may receive working fluid from the working-fluid conduit such that the working fluid flows from an outlet of the working-fluid conduit to an inlet of the indoor heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat-pump system may include an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and a multiway valve. The expansion device is in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the expansion device. The compressor circulates working fluid through the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. The multiway valve may be movable between a first position corresponding to a cooling mode of the heat-pump system and a second position corresponding to a heating mode of the heat-pump system. The working fluid flows in the same direction through the outdoor heat exchanger in the cooling mode and in the heating mode, and the working fluid flows in the same direction through the indoor heat exchanger in the cooling mode and in the heating mode.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a pair of end plates, a plurality of flow plates sandwiched between the pair of end plates, and a plurality of heat transfer films that are respectively positioned between adjacent flow plates, and between each of the end plates and an immediately adjacent flow plate.