Abstract: System and methods for oil circulation ratio (OCR) sensing with a suction-line accumulator are provided. The accumulator may include a sensor configured to detect the level of oil. The accumulator may further include a valve which opens when oil is at a high-level and closes when oil is at a low-level. The accumulator may measure a mass flow rate of oil in the vapor compression cycle system based on an amount of time taken to fill a portion of the accumulator. The accumulator may further determine an oil circulation ratio based on the measured time taken to fill the portion of the accumulator. The smart accumulator may output the oil circulation ratio.

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: An apparatus for providing an optimized amount of refrigerant to a refrigeration system includes three valves coupled with a fluid coupling, the first valve being coupled between the fluid coupling and an inlet of a refrigerant source, the second valve being coupled between the fluid coupling and an outlet of the refrigerant source, the third valve being coupled between the fluid coupling and the refrigeration system, the fluid coupling having a refrigerant chamber operable to store a volume of refrigerant to selectively provide the volume of refrigerant to the refrigeration system upon operation of the first, second, and third valves.

Abstract: A method for operating and controlling a vapor-compression cycle includes providing a system comprising an evaporator with a fan, a compressor, a condenser with a fan, an integrated expander, and a flash tank device with a vapor/liquid two-phase inlet and two outlets wherein a first outlet is a vapor outlet and a second outlet is a liquid outlet, and a metering valve; bringing a vapor-compression cycle up to steady-state at a fixed operating condition; opening the metering valve until the desired compressor suction superheat is achieved; and maintaining the desired degree of superheat by selectively increasing and decreasing superheat by reducing and increasing metering valve flow rate respectively.

Abstract: System and methods for OCR sensing with a suction-line accumulator are provided. The accumulator may include a sensor configured to detect the level of oil. The accumulator may further include a valve which opens when oil is at a high-level and closes when oil is at a low-level. The accumulator may measure a mass flow rate of oil in the vapor compression cycle system based on an amount of time taken to fill a portion of the accumulator. The accumulator may further determine an oil circulation ratio based on the measured time taken to fill the portion of the accumulator. The smart accumulator may output the oil circulation ratio.

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: The present disclosure relates to a novel method for operating and controlling a vapor-compression cycle. The method of the present disclosure provides that a turbine-based expander in a heat pump model can achieve greater COP benefit in cooling than heating. Further, phase separation and an evaporator bypass are implemented within the turbine-based expander. Phase separation leads to successful energy recovery and compressor superheat control.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel portable apparatus suitable for providing an optimized amount of refrigerant to a refrigeration system, and to methods of using the novel portable apparatus.