Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a chamber main body, a stage, a cooling device and a local loop. The stage is provided in an internal space of the chamber main body and a coolant path is formed in the stage. The cooling device is provided at an outside of the chamber main body. The cooling device includes a cooling loop having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. The local loop is provided at a position closer to the chamber main body than the cooling device is. The local loop includes a receiver, a flow velocity controller and an evaporator pressure regulating valve. The receiver stores therein the coolant supplied from the cooling device. In this substrate processing apparatus, the coolant stored in the receiver can be circulated within the local loop.

Abstract: A fan drive circuit for a variable speed fan motor in a cooling system, includes an inverter configured to supply a current signal to stator windings of the variable speed fan motor, a frequency detection circuit coupled to an output stage of an inverter of a compressor motor of the cooling system and configured to detect a first frequency of a compressor current signal at the output stage of a variable speed compressor drive circuit and generate a frequency signal, and a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled to the inverter and the frequency detection circuit. The DSP is configured to receive the frequency signal corresponding to the first frequency from the frequency detection circuit, select a second frequency corresponding to the first frequency at which to operate the variable speed fan motor, and transmit control signals to the inverter to supply current to the stator windings at the second frequency.

Abstract: A system and method are provided including a system controller for a refrigeration or HVAC system having a compressor rack with a compressor and a condensing unit with a condenser fan. The system controller monitors and controls operation of the refrigeration or HVAC system. A rack controller monitors and controls operation of the compressor rack and determines compressor rack power consumption data. A condensing unit controller monitors and controls operation of the condensing unit and determines condensing unit power consumption data. The system controller receives the compressor rack power consumption data and the condensing unit power consumption data, determines a total power consumption of the refrigeration or HVAC system, determines a predicted power consumption or a benchmark power consumption for the refrigeration system, compares the total power consumption with the predicted power consumption or the benchmark power consumption, and generates an alert based on the comparison.

Abstract: Improved energy conservation, including realization of a ZNET (Zero Net Energy including Transportation) paradigm, can be encouraged by providing energy consumers with a holistic view of their overall energy consumption. Current energy consumption in terms of space heating, water heating, other electricity, and personal transportation can be modeled by normalizing the respective energy consumption into the same units of energy. In addition, the passive always-on electricity consumption caused by inactive devices that contributes to the baseload of a building can be identified and addressed by the consumer, as appropriate by expressing baseload as a compound value that combines constant always-on loads and regularly-cycling loads. The baseload is estimated as the peak occurrence in a frequency distribution of net load data, after which the always-on load can be determined by subtracting out any regularly-cycling loads.

Abstract: An apparatus providing Fault Detection Diagnostics (FDD) for a Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning (HVAC) system comprising a permanent magnet attached to a movable damper and a magnetometer attached to a stationary frame to provide a magnetic field measurement of the permanent magnet. The apparatus converts the magnetic field measurement into a damper position measurement and determines a difference between the damper position measurement and a damper position actuator voltage command, and if the difference is greater than a damper actuator voltage tolerance, then the apparatus generates a FDD alarm signal. The apparatus calculates a com puted Outdoor Air Fraction (OAF) damper position based on a measured HVAC parameter, and if the difference between the computed OAF damper position and the OAF damper position command is greater than a damper position tolerance, then the apparatus generates a FDD alarm signal or an actuator voltage signal to correct the movable damper position.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a refrigerator, and a method for diagnosing a fault of the refrigerator are presented. More specifically, a power consumption of a refrigerator may be measured, and a fault of a plurality of loads included in the refrigerator may be diagnosed based on the measured power consumption. Accordingly, all of the plurality of loads included in the refrigerator may be diagnosed whether they have a fault or not. Further, among the plurality of loads included in the refrigerator, one or more loads having feedback uncontrollable may be diagnosed whether they have a fault of not.

Abstract: A refrigerator and an air purifier for a refrigerator are provided. The air purifier may include a case configured to be mounted on an upper surface of a cabinet of a refrigerator and in which inlet holes and an outlet hole are formed, a plurality of fan motor assemblies provided inside of the case to force a flow of air, a plurality of filter assemblies mounted in the case to partition a space between the inlet holes and the plurality of fan motor assemblies and purify suctioned air, a controller that controls driving of the plurality of fan motor assemblies, and a gas sensor connected to the controller to detect harmful gas in a kitchen space. The controller may control driving of the plurality of fan motor assemblies through detection of the harmful gas by the gas sensor.

Abstract: An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a header main pipe to which an indoor pipe is connected at a brazed portion and header branch pipes. The header branch pipes are connected to first ends of heat-transfer pipes included in an indoor heat exchanger at brazed portions. The indoor pipe is connected to indoor refrigerant branch pipes at brazed portions. The indoor refrigerant branch pipes are connected to second ends of the heat-transfer pipes. A first leaked refrigerant receiver is disposed under the brazed portions. A first temperature sensor is disposed in the first leaked refrigerant receiver. A second leaked refrigerant receiver is disposed under flare joints connecting the indoor pipes to extension pipes, respectively. A second temperature sensor is disposed in the second leaked refrigerant receiver.

Abstract: The cooling system is provided with an internal passage for circulating the cooling water inside an internal combustion engine, a water pump provided in an one end side external passage connected to the one end portion of the internal passage, and an ECU configured to execute a water flow switching control that switches a cooling water flow in the internal passage between a forward flow directed from the one end portion of the internal passage to the other end portion and a reverse flow directed from the other end portion to the one end portion.

Abstract: When refrigerant gas leaks in an indoor unit, the leaked refrigerant gas locally accumulates in an area of the indoor space. This air conditioner includes an indoor unit having one or more outlets, and an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit, wherein a flammable refrigerant or a mildly flammable refrigerant is used. The air conditioner includes a refrigerant gas sensor disposed in the indoor unit. When refrigerant gas is detected by the refrigerant gas sensor, a control is performed such that air is blown from the one or more outlets at a minimum air speed or higher, said minimum air speed being preset in accordance with the rated cooling capacity of the air conditioner.

Abstract: An air conditioner of the present invention includes: a compressor; an outdoor fan; a temperature sensor configured to detect an outside temperature; a memory configured to store the outside temperature detected by the temperature sensor; and a controller configured to conduct holding control of not updating the outside temperature stored in the memory, when the compressor is being driven and the outdoor fan is stopped or is repeatedly started and stopped after the outside temperature detected by the temperature sensor is stored in the memory while the outdoor fan is being driven.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an atomizer with a first flow member defining a first flow path and a second flow member defining a second flow path such that a solution and an inlet gas can flow in the first and second flow path to a mixing volume defined by the first flow member. A vane of the second flow member redirects a portion of at least one of a tangential velocity component or a circumferential velocity component of the flow to produce a rotational velocity component therein. The solution and the inlet gas mix within the mixing volume to produce a mixture. A separator is fluidically coupled to the second flow member to receive the mixture. The separator produces a first flow including a vaporized portion of a solvent from the solution and a second flow including a liquid portion of the solvent and a solute from the solution.

Abstract: An air conditioner includes a refrigerant circuit which connects an outdoor circuit and a plurality of indoor circuits connected in parallel. The air conditioner includes a leak detection section which detects leak of a refrigerant from the indoor circuits, and a control section which circulates the refrigerant to perform a refrigeration cycle when the leak detection section detects leak of the refrigerant such that the refrigerant in the indoor circuits of the refrigerant circuit is at a low pressure. Providing the control section in the air conditioner can reduce the leak of the refrigerant from the indoor circuit at low cost.

Abstract: A method and system for temperature control of a microclimate device are disclosed. The temperature control can be integrated into a reservation system for the microclimate device. A user interface can receive a user input of a temperature control setting. The user interface can be integrated into the microclimate device. A processor can receive the user input and control a heating and/or cooling device to execute the temperature control setting.

Abstract: Methods and systems for leak detection in a fluid compression system using a purge system are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a method for detecting leaks includes determining, during a period of vacuum, a purge exhaust rate of non-condensables from a purge system integrated with a chiller unit. The method includes determining a differential pressure, the differential pressure based on a vacuum side pressure of the chiller unit, where the vacuum side pressure includes at least one of a pressure of a condenser and pressure of an evaporator. The method includes calculating, via a controller, the purge exhaust rate and the differential pressure to identify a leak size based at least in part on the purge exhaust rate.

Abstract: A heat recovery system and methods of their use that include a liquid separator, which allows for relatively less refrigerant charge needed for operation of the heat recovery system, e.g. in a cooling and/or heat recovery mode. The liquid separator separates the liquid and vapor from fluid exiting the heat recovery exchanger, which can ensure that the inlet of the condenser coil is sourced with vapor and minimizes liquid entering the condenser coil. The liquid separator does not receive liquid refrigerant from the condenser coil, such as in a regular operating mode (e.g. cooling and/or heat recovery mode). Use of the liquid separator and its arrangement within the fluid circuit can thereby reduce the operating refrigerant charge needed for the system. A flow control device can control the heat recovery and/or cooling capacity of the heat recovery system.

Abstract: This application discloses an installation check system used for checking installation of an air conditioner before a start of a trail run of the air conditioner. The installation check system includes a display portion for displaying work instruction information about the installation, an input means configured to be operated for entering a check result based on the work instruction information, a determination portion configured to determine whether the start of the trail run is allowed based on the check result, and a signal generator which generates a drive signal to execute the trail run. The signal generator generates the drive signal under condition of the determination portion allowing the start of the trail run.

Abstract: The present invention provides a molding machine that can easily detect viscosity of resin in a cylinder without advance preparations. An injection molding machine (10) includes an ultrasonic viscosity sensor (20), and the ultrasonic viscosity sensor (20) includes an ultrasonic vibration portion in contact with resin filled in a cylinder (12).

Abstract: A portable monitoring system that monitors various aspects of the operation of a refrigerant-cycle system is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a processor that measures power provided to the refrigerant-cycle system and gathers data from one or more sensors and uses the sensor data to calculate a figure of merit related to the efficiency of the system. In one embodiment, the measurements performed by the monitoring system include one or more of: an evaporator input air temperature, an evaporator output air temperature, evaporator air flow, evaporator air humidity, condenser air input temperature, condenser air output temperature sensor, electrical power. In one embodiment, the portable monitoring system receives information about the refrigerant-cycle system from either the system itself or from a computer network.

Abstract: A method for compressor surge detection to enable model based air estimation includes determining if an intake air compressor pressure ratio is within a predetermined surge pressure range. Then the differences between mass air flow sensor signals measured at a start and finish of each count of a predetermined string length counter when the compressor pressure ratio is within the predetermined surge pressure range. Next, a transition is made to an air mass estimation model output signal from a mass air flow sensor signal when a sum of the air flow differences is greater than a predetermined compressor surge threshold.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device uses a refrigerant having a higher concentration than air under atmospheric pressure, and is capable of preventing a region having a certain refrigerant concentration or higher from being formed even if the refrigerant leaks in a casing of the refrigeration cycle device in a nonenergized state. The refrigeration cycle device includes: a casing having a first opening and a second opening, one of which is an inlet and the other of which is an outlet, and having therein an air course providing communication between the first opening and the second opening; and a refrigerant circuit provided in the air course in the casing and filled with a refrigerant having a higher concentration than air under atmospheric pressure, the casing having a third opening providing communication between the air course and outside of the casing.

Abstract: The air conditioner has: an outdoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the air and a refrigerant flowing in the interior of this heat exchanger; an outdoor fan that blows air into the outdoor heat exchanger; an outdoor fan motor that rotationally drives the outdoor fan; an outdoor fan inverter that supplies a desired current to the outdoor fan motor; a current detector that detects the current flowing in the outdoor fan motor; and a control unit that controls the outdoor fan inverter such that the rotational frequency of the outdoor fan motor reaches a target rotational frequency. The control unit starts a defrosting operation of the outdoor heat exchanger on the basis of a detection value from the current detector during the heating operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for distributing articles made by series production is configured to deliver articles to selected storage positions in side-by-side rows of adjacent storage positions for stacked articles in a storage compartment. After selection of a storage position, a transport platform movably mounted on a horizontally movable carriage above the rows is driven to a location above the selected storage position with the platform moved between two possible positions for dispensing articles into the respective rows, an article conveyor on the platform is actuated to transport the article off the platform into the underlying storage position, where it is stacked on top of any previously stacked articles, and the platform is driven back to a start position to receive the next article. The procedure is repeated to distribute subsequent articles to selected storage positions in the storage area.

Abstract: A method for controlling multi-stage centrifugal compressors is provided. The method includes, for each stage of the compressor, defining a Mach ratio and impeller diameter, calculating a minimum required motor drive frequency to operate free from surge conditions for a current head factor and flow reduction device position, and adjusting the flow reduction device position while maintaining an actual motor drive frequency at a acceptable level to achieve a leaving chilled water temperature set point. The method also includes measuring a suction pressure and a discharge pressure and calculating a saturated suction temperature and a saturated discharge temperature for each stage of the compressor. The method further includes calculating an actual minimum motor drive frequency that is the greater of a first actual minimum motor drive frequency and a second actual minimum motor drive frequency associated with a first compressor stage and a second compressor stage of the compressor, respectively.

Abstract: A heat exchanger may include a heat radiating part, in which a plurality of plates is stacked and a plurality of first flow paths and a plurality of second flow paths disposed while crossing each other are formed inside the plurality of plates, the heat exchanging part being configured to mutually heat-exchange working fluids passing through the first and second flow paths, respectively, and a sub-expansion part integrally formed with an inner side of the heat radiating part, connected with the second flow path, and configured to bypass a part of one working fluid among the working fluids flowing into the heat radiating part and heat-exchange the bypassed working fluid with the working fluid passing through the first flow path.

Abstract: A heat transfer system includes a first two-phase heat transfer fluid vapor/compression circulation loop including a compressor, a heat exchanger condenser, an expansion device, and a heat absorption side of a heat exchanger evaporator/condenser. A first conduit in a closed fluid circulation loop circulates a first heat transfer fluid therethrough. A second two-phase heat transfer fluid circulation loop transfers heat to the first heat transfer fluid circulation loop through the heat exchanger evaporator/condenser, including a heat rejection side of the heat exchanger evaporator/condenser, a liquid pump, a liquid refrigerant reservoir located upstream of the liquid pump and downstream of the heat exchanger evaporator/condenser, and a heat exchanger evaporator. A second conduit in a closed fluid circulation loop circulates a second heat transfer fluid therethrough having an ASHRAE Class A toxicity and a Class 1 or 2L flammability rating.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for primary frequency regulation of an electric network based on large building air conditioning loads cluster. The method includes the use of a two layer control structure with a central coordinating layer and a local control layer. Each local controller performs a thermal model parameter identification and a local air conditioning autonomous control, and uploads local information to the central controller at the end of each communication interval tgap, the central controller broadcasts coordinating information to each local controller. Based on the coordinating information sent from the central controller, each local controller determines whether a power deviation is beyond an action dead zone at the beginning of each action period tact, if beyond, then perform a frequency regulation control action, else, perform no action and estimate operation states of all the air conditionings at the beginning of the next action period.

Abstract: An air conditioner which is able to prevent leaked refrigerant gas from disadvantageously stagnating at a part of a room space when leakage of refrigerant gas occurs in an indoor unit is provided. An air conditioner of the present invention includes an indoor unit having an upper outlet port and a lower outlet port and uses flammable refrigerant, the air conditioner including: a shutter provided at the lower outlet port and is configured to switch between a blowout capable state in which wind is blown out and a blowout incapable state in which no wind is blown out; a refrigerant gas sensor provided in the indoor unit, and a controlling unit configured to control the shutter. In a driving state in which the lower outlet port is in the blowout incapable state, when the refrigerant gas sensor detects the refrigerant gas, the controlling unit switches the lower outlet port from the blowout incapable state to the blowout capable state.

Abstract: A remote controller power supply method for an air-conditioning apparatus, configured to control a plurality of indoor units divided into groups with different remote controllers, is provided that allows exclusion of a supply current monitoring circuit from a circuit board of the indoor units. In the air-conditioning apparatus including an outdoor unit and the plurality of indoor units, the plurality of indoor units are divided into two or more groups, and the indoor units in each of the groups are connected to a different remote controller. The indoor units are each allocated with an address having a ranking given according to a predetermined rule, and the outdoor unit instructs the indoor unit having the address of a first rank, out of the plurality of indoor units in each of the groups, to supply power to the remote controller.

Abstract: A zone control panel that is easy and intuitive to use and to program. In some embodiments, a zone control panel may be configured to have an easy to use, single level menu structure with, for example, a configuration mode and/or a checkout mode. The configuration mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. Likewise, the checkout mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. A mode selector may be provided to select a particular mode, after which, the menu screens that correspond to the selected mode may be sequentially displayed to the user. Other features and aspects are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate refrigerant, a heat exchanger unit accommodating a heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit, and a controller configured to control the heat exchanger unit, in which the heat exchanger unit includes an air-sending fan, and an electric refrigerant detection unit, the controller is configured to operate the air-sending fan when the controller detects leakage of the refrigerant on the basis of a detection signal from the electric refrigerant detection unit, and the controller is configured to stop electric supply to the electric refrigerant detection unit when a rotation speed of the air-sending fan becomes equal to or larger than a first threshold value under a state in which the electric refrigerant detection unit is supplied with electricity.

Abstract: An outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a case; and a control box installed in the case, wherein a stepped portion protrudes from an upper surface of the control box, and a plurality of air outlet ports are formed at the stepped portion.

Abstract: An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a casing including an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air passage communicating between the air inlet and the air outlet, the air inlet being located lower than the air outlet, an indoor heat exchanger disposed inside the casing, an indoor fan disposed inside the casing and configured to supply air to the indoor heat exchanger, a refrigerant leakage sensor disposed in the air passage between the air inlet and the air outlet at a position lower than the indoor heat exchanger and the air outlet, and configured to detect refrigerant leakage, and a controller configured to determine whether refrigerant leakage occurs according to a detection result of the refrigerant leakage sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring and maintaining thermal exhaust temperatures for monitored servers may include a processor in communication with an exhaust temperature control system. The processor may implement various control loops to monitor inlet and exhaust temperatures for one or more servers, and the processor may monitor temperatures of various hardware components within those one or more servers. When the processor determines that a hardware component for a given server is overheating, the processor may take steps to decrease the temperature of the overheating hardware component for the given server. To determine whether a hardware component is overheating, the processor may leverage the hardware component's operating temperature margin.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device circulates a refrigerant, which is a zeotropic refrigerant mixture. In a refrigeration cycle, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator are connected by a refrigerant pipe. The refrigeration cycle device calculates a circulation composition value of the refrigerant based on states before and after the refrigerant temperature and the refrigerant pressure change during the operation of the refrigeration cycle, calculates dT for calibrating a second temperature sensor and dP for calibrating a pressure sensor, based on a reference composition value and the circulation composition value of the refrigerant, corrects the value of the temperature of the refrigerant on an outlet side based on dT, corrects the value of the pressure of the refrigerant based on dP, and operates the refrigeration cycle.

Abstract: A purge system for removing contamination from a chiller system includes a purge chamber including a degassing membrane, the degassing membrane dividing the purge chamber into an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion for fluid communication with the chiller system, the degassing membrane to pass contamination from the inlet portion to the outlet portion; a valve coupled to the outlet portion of the purge chamber, the valve providing an exit for contamination from the outlet portion of the purge chamber; and a controller to open or close the valve in response to pressure in the outlet portion of the purge chamber.

Abstract: A gas sensor configured to be discolored in response to a pH change upon reaction with a target gas, a refrigerator including the gas sensor, and a method of controlling the refrigerator includes a hydrogel support discolored through reaction with the target gas, and the hydrogel support includes dye provided to be discolored in response to a pH change upon reaction with the target gas.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing an HVAC/R system includes a receiver for receiving signals from sensors, a memory for storing a pressure-enthalpy relationship for refrigerant of the HVAC/R system, a processor in communication with the receiver and the memory, the processor configured to determine a first energy transfer value associated with an air handler of the HVAC/R system based on the received signals from the sensors, determine a second energy transfer value associated with the refrigerant of the HVAC/R system based on the pressure-enthalpy relationship and the received signals from the sensors; and verify the determined first and second energy transfer values by comparing the first energy transfer value with the second energy transfer value.

Abstract: A specially designed electronic expansion valve control system is provided for use with a refrigerant-based air conditioning circuit having a compressor, a condenser coil, an electronic expansion valve and an evaporator coil fluid coupled in series. The control system includes a unit control and an expansion valve control. The unit control is operative to receive compressor operation-related signal information and responsively generate at least one output signal representative of the received compressor operation-related signal information. The expansion valve control is operative to receive from the unit control only the at least one output signal, and to receive from one of the coils coil operation-related signal information, and to responsively output a control useable to control the expansion valve, the control signal being related in a predetermined manner to the signals received by the expansion valve control.

Abstract: A computing device calculates a quality of a refrigerant flowing out of a second expansion device on the basis of an inlet liquid enthalpy calculated on the basis of a temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the second expansion device and a saturated gas enthalpy and a saturated liquid enthalpy calculated on the basis of a temperature of the refrigerant flowing out of the second expansion device or a pressure of the refrigerant sucked into a compressor; calculates a liquid-phase concentration and a gas-phase concentration of the refrigerant flowing out of the second expansion device on the basis of the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out of the second expansion device and the pressure of the refrigerant sucked into the compressor; and calculates a composition of the refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle on the basis of the calculated quality, liquid-phase concentration, and gas-phase concentration.

Abstract: A system (20) and method (100) using decentralized trace gas sensors (44a, 44b, 44c) and a central control element (46) to detect smoldering material in particulate material processing equipment (26) with continuous air flow (22, 24, 34). First and second sensors (44a, 44c) measure gas concentrations at an air inlet (22) and an air outlet (34), respectively. The control element (46) receives the measurements from the sensors (44a, 44c) simultaneously, considers the first and second concentrations simultaneously to determine an amount of gas being produced in the processing equipment (26), determines whether the amount of gas being produced exceeds a threshold value indicative of smoldering, and if so, activates an alarm.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly including a heat exchanger and a mounting on which the heat exchanger is mounted. The heat exchanger including a first channel for circulating a coolant supplied by a first collector provided with a first pipe in which the coolant can circulate. The heat exchanger also including a second channel for circulating the coolant supplied by a second collector provided with a second pipe in which the coolant can circulate. The first and second channels define a heat-exchange surface that extends in a substantially vertical plane. The first pipe is located in a lower half of the first collector along a first axis parallel to the plane of the heat-exchange surface, with the second pipe located above the first pipe along the first axis. The invention further relates to an air-conditioning loop including the above-described assembly.

Abstract: Provided is a first unit including a first unit including a compressor and a first heat exchanger; a plurality of second units each including a second heat exchanger and each being connected to the first unit via a plurality of branched pipes; a plurality of valves configured to open to permit refrigerant flows and close to not permit the refrigerant flows; a storage unit configured to store connection information indicating a relationship of connection between the plurality of second units and the plurality of pipes; a closed path pipe that is any of the plurality of branched pipes to which no second unit is connected, and a control unit configured to detect whether the closed path pipe is included in the connection information.

Abstract: A compressor is provided and includes a shell, a compression mechanism, a motor, a data module, and a compressor controller. The data module includes a data module processor and a data module memory. The compressor controller includes a controller processor and a controller memory distinct from the data module processor and the data module memory. The data module receives sensed data, stores the sensed data in the data module memory, determines a first diagnosis of the compressor based on the sensed data, and communicates the sensed data and the first diagnosis to the compressor controller. The compressor controller determines a second diagnosis of the compressor based on the sensed data and verifies the first diagnosis by comparing the first diagnosis to the second diagnosis.

Abstract: A modular refrigeration system includes a refrigeration loop having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion assembly, and a chiller interconnected by a first piping loop cycling hydrocarbon refrigerant. A high side cooling loop includes a first heat exchanger and a first pump interconnected with the condenser by a second piping loop cycling a cooling fluid, the cooling fluid exchanges heat with the hydrocarbon refrigerant at the condenser. A low side cooling loop includes a second heat exchanger and a second pump interconnected with the chiller by a third piping loop cycling a chilled fluid, the chilled fluid exchanges heat with the hydrocarbon refrigerant at the chiller. A space supports the second heat exchanger and is configured to be maintained within a predetermined temperature range, wherein the total charge of hydrocarbon refrigerant associated with the space does not exceed 150 grams.

Abstract: A fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) system is provided for a refrigeration circuit having an evaporator and a compressor configured to circulate a refrigerant through the evaporator. The FDD system includes a communications interface configured to receive a measurement of a thermodynamic property affected by the refrigeration circuit and a processing circuit having a processor and memory. The processing circuit is configured to use the measured thermodynamic property to determine an expected suction entropy of the refrigerant at a suction of the compressor, use the expected suction entropy to determine an expected thermodynamic discharge property of the refrigerant at a discharge of the compressor, determine an actual thermodynamic discharge property of the refrigerant at the discharge of the compressor, and detect a fault in the refrigeration circuit by comparing the expected thermodynamic discharge property with the actual thermodynamic discharge property.

Abstract: A system is provided and may include a refrigeration circuit having a condenser, a first sensor producing a signal indicative of a detected condenser temperature of the condenser, and processing circuitry in communication with the first sensor. The processing circuitry may determine a derived condenser temperature independent from information received from the first sensor and may compare the derived condenser temperature to the detected condenser temperature to determine a charge level of the refrigeration circuit.

Abstract: In a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a controller for controlling an expansion valve, a process for controlling compressor discharge during a cooling cycle includes monitoring a compressor discharge temperature, operating the expansion valve in a base mode wherein the expansion valve is controlled in response to a difference between actual superheat and desired superheat of the evaporator; and controlling the expansion valve in response to a difference between a set point and a compressor discharge parameter when the ambient air temperature, the return air temperature and the compressor discharge temperature meet respective limits.

Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle is provided with: a compressor that compresses a heat exchange medium; an external heat exchanger that receives the heat exchange medium and that exchanges heat with the outside of a vehicle compartment; and an evaporator that receives the heat exchange medium and exchanges heat with the inside of a vehicle compartment, and the air conditioner for a vehicle is able to perform: a defrosting cooling operation in which the heat exchange medium that has been compressed by the compressor is made to flow into the evaporator and absorb heat, and to then flow into the external heat exchanger and release heat; and a hot gas operation in which the heat exchange medium that has been compressed by the compressor is made to flow into the external heat exchanger and release heat without being made to absorb heat in the evaporator, and, by switching between performing the defrosting cooling operation and performing the hot gas operation, the air conditioner for a vehicle performs a defrostin

Abstract: A method for converting a refrigerant recovery unit from use with a first refrigerant to use with a second refrigerant includes the steps of opening, with a controller, solenoids along a refrigerant path to remove residue of the first refrigerant into a holding vessel, operating a vacuum pump, as indicated by the controller, to further remove the residue of the first refrigerant from the refrigerant path, introducing, via the controller, an amount of the second refrigerant into the refrigerant path, determining, with a refrigerant identifier, a purity of the second refrigerant in the refrigerant path. A kit is also provided to convert the refrigerant recovery unit for use with the first refrigerant to the second refrigerant.