Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods are related to a positive displacement compression for use in various applications including gas processing, air conditioning, refrigeration, etc., to produce an isothermal compression to enhance the compression efficiency. The heat exchange enhanced compression is conducted by the use of cylinders partially filled with incompressible fluid (e.g., oil) acting as a piston compressing working fluid (e.g., CO2). The isothermal compression is contemplated in various modifications. A variety of heat exchange (cooling) techniques may be arranged either within the compression chamber or the compression process may be embedded in the heat exchanger to cool down the working fluid (for example, CO2).

Abstract: A heat exchanger has first and second manifold portions and an array of substantially-parallel heat-transfer tubes extending between the first and second manifold portions. Each heat-transfer tube has an outer surface and an inner surface defining a conduit. In a cross-sectional view, the outer surface of each heat-transfer tube can form a first shape that is non-circular, and the inner surface of heat-transfer tube can form a second shape different than the first shape. Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the first shape and the second shape lacks reflectional symmetry in the cross-sectional view. Methods for fabricating such heat exchangers are also provided.

Abstract: Despite otherwise uncomfortable conditions in a surrounding environment, a customizable microenvironment can be created around a user to maintain a comfortable temperature and/or humidity level using a comfort unit. For example, the environment may be an office building where conditions are out of the comfortable range to save on energy or for other reasons, a factory/shop environment that is poorly conditioned, or an outdoor location with little to no conditioning. A sensing unit can monitor biometric and environmental data and can determine a comfort level of the user. The comfort unit can then dynamically respond to the determined comfort level and adjust the microenvironment to improve the user's comfort level. The comfort unit can follow the user as the user moves within the macro-environment, or can otherwise move within the macro-environment to achieve certain functions, such as recharging or spatial shifting of thermal load within the overall macro-environment.

Abstract: Despite otherwise uncomfortable conditions in a surrounding environment, a customizable microenvironment can be created around a user to maintain a comfortable temperature and/or humidity level using a comfort unit. For example, the environment may be an office building where conditions are out of the comfortable range to save on energy or for other reasons, a factory/shop environment that is poorly conditioned, or an outdoor location with little to no conditioning. A sensing unit can monitor biometric and environmental data and can determine a comfort level of the user. The comfort unit can then dynamically respond to the determined comfort level and adjust the microenvironment to improve the user's comfort level. The comfort unit can follow the user as the user moves within the macro-environment, or can otherwise move within the macro-environment to achieve certain functions, such as recharging or spatial shifting of thermal load within the overall macro-environment.