Abstract: A system is described herein for repurposing waste heat from a refrigeration cycle to improve the efficiency of the cycle and power electronic devices. The system may include a compressor, a turbine, an accumulator, a condenser, a throttle, and an evaporator. The accumulator may include a high-pressure chamber connected between the turbine and condenser, and a low-pressure chamber connected between the evaporator and the compressor. The high-pressure chamber may be segregated from the low-pressure chamber such that high-pressure refrigerant in the high-pressure chamber is prevented from mixing with low-pressure refrigerant in the low-pressure chamber. The high-pressure chamber and low-pressure chamber may be thermally coupled such that liquid refrigerant in the low-pressure chamber is vaporized by heat exchange with the high-pressure chamber. The turbine may power an electronic component of the refrigerator or may feed electricity back into a community grid power system.

Abstract: A system is described herein for repurposing waste heat from a refrigeration cycle to improve the efficiency of the cycle and power electronic devices. The system may include a compressor, a turbine, an accumulator, a condenser, a throttle, and an evaporator. The accumulator may include a high-pressure chamber connected between the turbine and condenser, and a low-pressure chamber connected between the evaporator and the compressor. The high-pressure chamber may be segregated from the low-pressure chamber such that high-pressure refrigerant in the high-pressure chamber is prevented from mixing with low-pressure refrigerant in the low-pressure chamber. The high-pressure chamber and low-pressure chamber may be thermally coupled such that liquid refrigerant in the low-pressure chamber is vaporized by heat exchange with the high-pressure chamber. The turbine may power an electronic component of the refrigerator or may feed electricity back into a community grid power system.