Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a plurality of sensors for sensing temperature and/or pressure conditions of the system which collectively indicate the actual refrigerant charge level in the system. This level is then compared with optimum level values that are stored in memory, and the difference between the two is used to indicate whether the system is properly charged. If not, the difference is applied to open a charge valve or a purge valve to automatically install additional refrigerant or to remove refrigerant so as to establish an optimum volume of refrigerant in the system.

Abstract: The sufficiency of refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system is determined by a comparison of two sensed temperatures in the system, one being the liquid line temperature and the other being either the outdoor temperature or the condenser coil temperature. In one embodiment the two sensed temperatures are displayed on respective thermochromic strips which are so calibrated and juxtaposed as to provide a visual indication, by the relative positions of the two displayed sensed temperatures, as to whether the refrigerant charge is adequate. In another embodiment, the sensed liquid line temperature is displayed by way of a plurality of LEDs and the other temperature is displayed by way of a marker on a temperature scale. If the two displayed temperatures are aligned, then the refrigerant charge is optimized, and if they are not aligned, the system is undercharged or overcharged.

Abstract: A braze-free connector for joining a pair of flow lines in leak tight manner. The connector has a tubular body with entranceways at each end face of the body that converge inwardly and open into the central passage of the body. A flow line is inserted into the body through each entranceway so that the lines meet in abutting contact at about the midsection of the body. A collapsible metal ferrule surrounds each of the lines and is at least partially housed within each entranceway. Members having internal threads that are mated with external threads on the body are arranged to advance the ferrules into the entranceway whereupon the ferrules are forces radially into metal to metal sealing contact with the tubes by the converging wall surfaces of the entranceways.

Abstract: In a residential furnace having a layered insulation material on the inner walls of the heat exchanger compartment, the inner aluminum foil layer has a plurality of holes formed therein in order to allow for the outer layer to absorb the sound within the heat exchanger compartment and thereby reduce the noise emanating from the furnace. Both the density and size of the holes are optimized to maximize the sound absorption performance over the particular frequency ranges that are characteristic of the furnace.

Abstract: A transcritical refrigeration system includes a compressor, a gas cooler, an expansion device, and an evaporator. Refrigerant is circulated though the closed circuit system. Preferably, carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant. A fan moves outdoor air that exchanges heat with the refrigerant across the evaporator. The speed of the fan is regulated to regulate the evaporator pressure and to adapt the evaporator to different environmental conditions to achieve the optimal coefficient of performance. During high ambient conditions, the fan speed is decreased, decreasing the refrigerant mass flowrate in the system. The energy exchange per unit mass of the refrigerant in the gas cooler increases and the work of the fan decreases, increasing the coefficient of performance of the system. During low ambient conditions, the mass flowrate of the system is low and there is more heat transfer thermal resistance on the refrigerant side at the evaporator. The speed of the fan is lowered to decrease the work of the fan.

Abstract: A transcritical refrigeration system includes a compressor, a gas cooler, an expansion device, and an evaporator. Refrigerant is circulated though the closed circuit system. Preferably, carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant. A fan moves outdoor air that exchanges heat with the refrigerant across the evaporator. The speed of the fan is regulated to regulate the evaporator pressure and to adapt the evaporator to different environmental conditions to achieve the optimal coefficient of performance. During high ambient conditions, the fan speed is decreased, decreasing the refrigerant mass flowrate in the system. The energy exchange per unit mass of the refrigerant in the gas cooler increases and the work of the fan decreases, increasing the coefficient of performance of the system. During low ambient conditions, the mass flowrate of the system is low and there is more heat transfer thermal resistance on the refrigerant side at the evaporator. The speed of the fan is lowered to decrease the work of the fan.

Abstract: The efficiency of a vapor compression system is increased by coupling the evaporator with either the intercooler of a two-stage vapor compression system or the compressor component. The refrigerant in the evaporator accepts heat from the compressor component or the refrigerant in the intercooler, heating the evaporator refrigerant. As pressure is directly related temperature, the low side pressure of the system increases, decreasing compressor work and increasing system efficiency. Additionally, as the heat from the compressor component or from the refrigerant in the intercooler is rejected to the refrigerant in the evaporator, the compressor is cooled, increasing the density and the mass flow rate of the refrigerant to further increase system efficiency.

Abstract: The expansion of a high pressure or intermediate pressure refrigerant in an expansion device in a transcritical vapor compression system converts the potential energy into usable kinetic energy. The kinetic energy provides work which is employed to fully or partially drive an expansion motor unit which is coupled to rotating auxiliary machinery. By providing work to the rotating auxiliary machinery, system efficiency is improved. The auxiliary rotating machinery can be an evaporator fan or a gas cooler fan to pull the refrigerant through the evaporator and gas cooler, respectively. Alternatively, the auxiliary rotating machinery can be a water pump or an oil pump.

Abstract: The expansion of a high pressure or intermediate pressure refrigerant in an expansion device in a transcritical vapor compression system converts the potential energy into usable kinetic energy. The kinetic energy provides work which is employed to fully or partially drive an expansion motor unit which is coupled to rotating auxiliary machinery. By providing work to the rotating auxiliary machinery, system efficiency is improved. The auxiliary rotating machinery can be an evaporator fan or a gas cooler fan to pull the refrigerant through the evaporator and gas cooler, respectively. Alternatively, the auxiliary rotating machinery can be a water pump or an oil pump.

Abstract: The efficiency of a vapor compression system is increased by coupling the evaporator with either the intercooler of a two-stage vapor compression system or the compressor component. The refrigerant in the evaporator accepts heat from the compressor component or the refrigerant in the intercooler, heating the evaporator refrigerant. As pressure is directly related temperature, the low side pressure of the system increases, decreasing compressor work and increasing system efficiency. Additionally, as the heat from the compressor component or from the refrigerant in the intercooler is rejected to the refrigerant in the evaporator, the compressor is cooled, increasing the density and the mass flow rate of the refrigerant to further increase system efficiency.

Abstract: A conduit for transporting non-volatile liquids is provided in which the conduit's internal surfaces have a surface energy lower than that of the nonvolatile liquid.

Abstract: A conduit for transporting non-volatile liquids is provided in which the conduit's internal surfaces have a surface energy lower than that of the nonvolatile liquid.

Abstract: A conduit for transporting non-volatile liquids is provided in which the conduit's internal surfaces have a surface energy lower than that of the non-volatile liquid.