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 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: 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 heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control system generates a request to replace a first air filter installed in an air handler of an HVAC system with a second air filter. The second air filter has a particulate matter removal efficiency rating that is greater than a particulate matter removal efficiency rating of the first filter. The system delays for a predetermined period of time and then obtains (i) a first temperature of air downstream of the air handler and (ii) a second temperature of air upstream of the air handler. The system then calculates a temperature difference between the f temperatures and determines whether the temperature difference is within an acceptable range. In response to the temperature difference being within the acceptable range, the system (i) operates the HVAC system using the second air filter and (ii) generates an alert indicating compatibility of the second air filter.

Abstract: A system for charging an outdoor unit with refrigerant includes a sensor configured to measure a refrigerant concentration and a user device configured to receive the measured refrigerant concentration. The system includes that the user device is configured to, in response to the measured refrigerant concentration exceeding a threshold, generate and display an alert on a user interface of the user device indicating the measured refrigerant concentration exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A compressor may include first and second scrolls and a capacity modulation assembly. The capacity modulation assembly may include a valve ring and a modulation control valve. The valve ring is movable relative to the first scroll between a first position corresponding to a first capacity mode and a second position corresponding to a second capacity mode. The modulation control valve includes a valve body and a valve member that is movable relative to the valve body to cause corresponding movement of the valve ring. The valve body includes a cavity in which the valve member is movably disposed. The valve body includes passages in fluid communication with the cavity. A first pressure differential between fluid in one of the passages and fluid in another of the passages causes movement of the valve member to cause corresponding movement of the valve ring between the first and second positions.

Abstract: An indoor air quality (IAQ) system for a building includes an IAQ sensor that is located within the building and that is configured to measure an IAQ parameter, the IAQ parameter being one of: an amount of particulate of at least a predetermined size present in air; an amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in air; and an amount of carbon dioxide present in air. A control module is configured to selectively turn a mitigation device on and off based on the IAQ parameter. A change module is configured to, in response to a determination that the mitigation device has been on, determine a change in the IAQ parameter over time. An alert module is configured to selectively generate an alert indicative of a fault in the mitigation device based on the change.

Abstract: An IAQ sensor module includes: a sensor configured to measure an amount of an item in air, the item being one of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide; a minimum module configured to selectively store the amount of the item as a minimum value of the amount when a mitigation device has been on for at least a predetermined period, the mitigation device being configured to decrease the amount of the item in the air when on; a storing module configured to selectively store the minimum value as an initial minimum value; an offset module configured to determine a drift offset for the sensor based on a difference between the minimum value and the initial minimum value; and an adjustment module configured to determine an adjusted amount of the item in the air at the IAQ sensor module based on the amount and the drift offset.

Abstract: An indoor air quality (IAQ) system for a building includes an IAQ sensor that is located within the building and that is configured to measure an IAQ parameter, the IAQ parameter being one of: a relative humidity (RH) of air; an amount of particulate of at least a predetermined size present in air; an amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in air; and an amount of carbon dioxide present in air. A mitigation module is configured to: selectively turn on a mitigation device based on a comparison of the IAQ parameter with a first threshold; and selectively turn off the mitigation device based on a comparison of the IAQ parameter with a second threshold. A thresholds module is configured to: set the first and second thresholds to predetermined default values; and selectively adjust at least one of the first and second thresholds.

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: An IAQ sensor module includes: a sensor configured to measure an amount of an item in air, the item being one of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide; a minimum module configured to selectively store the amount of the item as a minimum value of the amount when a mitigation device has been on for at least a predetermined period, the mitigation device being configured to decrease the amount of the item in the air when on; a storing module configured to selectively store the minimum value as an initial minimum value; an offset module configured to determine a drift offset for the sensor based on a difference between the minimum value and the initial minimum value; and an adjustment module configured to determine an adjusted amount of the item in the air at the IAQ sensor module based on the amount and the drift offset.

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 refrigeration system of a building includes: a compressor module configured to, in response to a determination that an amount of a refrigerant of the refrigeration system that is present outside of the refrigeration system and within the building is greater than a first predetermined amount, maintain a compressor off continuously for a predetermined period; and a fan module configured to, in response to the determination, maintain a fan on continuously for at least the predetermined period, and where the compressor module is further configured to, without receiving input indicative of a reset of the refrigeration system, after the compressor has been off for the predetermined period and the amount of refrigerant that is present outside of the refrigeration system within the building is less than a second predetermined amount, selectively turn the compressor on.

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 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 system for charging an outdoor unit with refrigerant includes a sensor configured to measure a refrigerant concentration and a user device configured to receive the measured refrigerant concentration. The system includes that the user device is configured to, in response to the measured refrigerant concentration exceeding a threshold, generate and display an alert on a user interface of the user device indicating the measured refrigerant concentration exceeds the threshold.