Abstract: Systems and method for operating a sensor system located in, on or proximate to equipment. The sensor system is configured to: generate heat to ionize nearby flammable gasses such that the ionization products can be absorbed by a conductive sensing material which causes a change in resistance on the conductive sensing material; measuring the resistance on the sensor system to obtain an indication of a presence or absence of a flammable gas in a surrounding environment; assign a severity level to an operational state of the equipment based on the resistance measurement; select an action from a plurality of different actions based on the severity level which was assigned to the operational state of the equipment; and control operations of a robotic actuator or electronic device to perform the action.

Abstract: A heat pump including an integrated system for the management of refrigerant charge is provided. The heat pump includes an indoor line and an outdoor line that are connected to a compressor through a reversing valve. Refrigerant charge is managed by coupling the inactive line to the suction side of the compressor. For example, the heat pump can include an expansion valve to couple the inactive line to the compressor to supplement the flow-rate of refrigerant. The heat pump is operable in a dedicated water heating mode and a space cooling and water heating mode in some embodiments, while other modes of operation are contemplated in other embodiments.

Abstract: A heat pump including an integrated system for the management of refrigerant charge is provided. The heat pump includes an indoor line and an outdoor line that are connected to a compressor through a reversing valve. Refrigerant charge is managed by coupling the inactive line to the suction side of the compressor. For example, the heat pump can include an expansion valve to couple the inactive line to the compressor to supplement the flow-rate of refrigerant. The heat pump is operable in a dedicated water heating mode and a space cooling and water heating mode in some embodiments, while other modes of operation are contemplated in other embodiments.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method for preparing salt solutions which exhibit desired thermodynamic properties. The method enables prediction of the value of the thermodynamic properties for single and multiple salt solutions over a wide range of conditions from activity data and constants which are independent of concentration and temperature. A particular application of the invention is in the control of salt solutions in a process to provide a salt solution which exhibits the desired properties.