Abstract: A thermal management system and methods for thermal management include selective use of heat exchange between thermal loops for heating, cooling, battery, and refrigerant in order to increase temperature control and efficiency of the thermal management system.

Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system includes selective use of a liquid cooled gas cooler (LCGC) and conductive heat exchangers between heating, cooling, battery, and powertrain thermal management loops to increase temperature control and efficiency of the system.

Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system includes selective use of a liquid cooled gas cooler (LCGC) and conductive heat exchangers between heating, cooling, battery, and powertrain thermal management loops to increase temperature control and efficiency of the system.

Abstract: A Rankine cycle system and method is described and illustrated, and in some embodiments includes an expander, a pump, a condenser, and a receiver comprising a variable fluid volume at least partially defined by a movable member, wherein the variable fluid volume defines at least a portion of the working fluid flow path between the condenser and the inlet of the pump. Also, a method of charging a Rankine cycle system with working fluid is described and illustrated, and can include applying a regulated pressure to a chamber located within a receiver, introducing the working fluid to the Rankine cycle system, the working fluid being separated from the chamber by a movable member of the receiver, monitoring displacement of the movable member, and stopping the introduction of working fluid into the Rankine cycle system when the movable member reaches a predetermined position.

Abstract: A heat exchanger module configured for use in a vapor compression based climate control system including a suction line heat exchanger having a plurality of stacked plates configured to accommodate two separate fluid flow paths for heat exchange therebetween. The heat exchanger also includes a first inlet for flow of a high pressure subcooled fluid from a condenser to the module along a first fluid flow path, a first outlet for flow of a low pressure superheated fluid from the module to a compressor along a second fluid flow path, a second outlet for flow of the subcooled fluid from the module to an evaporator along a third fluid flow path, and a second inlet for flow of the low pressure superheated fluid from the evaporator to the module along a fourth fluid flow path. The module also includes a port block with a first conduit for the third fluid flow path and a second conduit for the fourth fluid flow path.

Abstract: A header/manifold construction (14) is adapted to receive a plurality of flattened tube ends (42) in a heat exchanger (10) having a plurality of flattened tubes (12). The header/manifold construction (14) includes first and second pieces (20, 22) extending along a longitudinal axis (24). The first piece (20) has a C-shaped transverse cross defined by an elongate opening (44) extending along the longitudinal axis (24), with a plurality of tube slots (40) spaced along the axis (24) opposite from the opening (44). The second piece (22) has a T-shaped transverse cross section with two side legs (48, 50) extending from opposite sides of a center leg (46), with the legs (46, 48, 50) being bonded to surfaces of the first piece (20).

Abstract: An ice cube tray evaporator (10) includes a back plate (12) and a grid (14) of rectangular-shaped ice cube forming compartments (16) on the back plate (12). Each of the compartments (16) is defined by a back wall (18), and four side walls (20,22,24,26), with two of the side walls (20,22) being defined by parallel microchannel tube legs (28) spaced opposite from each other and the other two of the side walls (24,26) being defined by heat conductive strips (30).