A distributor distributes fluid to plural fluid outlets, the fluid flowing from a fluid inlet. The distributor includes plural branching flow paths having an upstream branching flow path, and downstream branching flow paths located closer to the fluid outlets than is the upstream branching flow path, and an intermediate flow path provided between the upstream branching flow path and one or more of the downstream branching flow paths, the intermediate flow path connecting the upstream branching flow path and the at least one of the downstream branching flow paths. The intermediate flow path has one end connected to the upstream branching flow path at a position facing one of the ends of the upstream branching flow path and the other end connected to one or more of the downstream branching flow paths at a center of the downstream branching flow path, and causes the fluid flowing from the one end to change a flow direction of the fluid and then flow out of the other end.

A distributor distributes fluid to plural fluid outlets, the fluid flowing from a fluid inlet. The distributor includes plural branching flow paths having an upstream branching flow path, and downstream branching flow paths located closer to the fluid outlets than is the upstream branching flow path, and an intermediate flow path provided between the upstream branching flow path and one or more of the downstream branching flow paths, the intermediate flow path connecting the upstream branching flow path and the at least one of the downstream branching flow paths. The intermediate flow path has one end connected to the upstream branching flow path at a position facing one of the ends of the upstream branching flow path and the other end connected to one or more of the downstream branching flow paths at a center of the downstream branching flow path, and causes the fluid flowing from the one end to change a flow direction of the fluid and then flow out of the other end.

A thermal management system includes a refrigerant receiver configured to store a refrigerant fluid, an evaporator arrangement that removes heat from a heat load converting a portion of the refrigerant fluid to refrigerant vapor and a liquid separator having an inlet, a liquid side outlet, and a vapor side outlet. The system also includes a pump that pumps refrigerant liquid received from the liquid side outlet of the liquid separator and a closed-circuit refrigeration system having a closed-circuit fluid path that includes the refrigerant receiver, the liquid separator, the pump, and the evaporator arrangement, the closed-circuit refrigeration system further including a compressor and a condenser. The system also including an open-circuit refrigeration system having an open-circuit fluid path that includes the refrigerant receiver, the liquid separator, the pump, and the evaporator arrangement, and further including a back-pressure regulator configured to receive refrigerant vapor from the vapor side outlet of the liquid separator and an exhaust line coupled to the outlet of the back-pressure regulator, with refrigerant vapor from the exhaust line not returning to the refrigerant receiver.

In order to provide climate control system for heating or cooling a space, in particular a vehicle interior, having a compressor for conveying a refrigerant, which can efficiently use the refrigerant CO.sub.2 for heat pump applications as well, it is proposed to arrange a high-pressure chiller for cooling the refrigerant downstream of the compressor and a low-pressure chiller for heating the refrigerant upstream of the compressor, wherein a refrigerant exiting from the high-pressure chiller can be supplied to a motive mass inlet of a first ejector and a refrigerant exiting from the low-pressure chiller can be supplied to a suction mass inlet of the first ejector, and wherein an outlet of the first ejector is connected directly or indirectly to a liquid separator.

A system has: a compressor having a suction port and a discharge port; an ejector having a motive flow inlet, a suction flow inlet, and an outlet; a separator having an inlet, a vapor outlet, and a liquid outlet; a first heat exchanger; an expansion device; and a second heat exchanger. Conduits and valves are positioned to provide alternative operation in: a cooling mode and a heating mode. In the cooling mode, a needle of the ejector is closed. In the heating mode refrigerant passes sequentially from a first section of the second heat exchanger to a second section. In the cooling mode refrigerant passes in parallel through the first section and the second section.

A system has: a compressor having a suction port and a discharge port; an ejector having a motive flow inlet, a suction flow inlet, and an outlet; a separator having an inlet, a vapor outlet, and a liquid outlet; a first heat exchanger; an expansion device; and a second heat exchanger. Conduits and valves are positioned to provide alternative operation in: a cooling mode and a heating mode. In the cooling mode, a needle of the ejector is closed. In the heating mode refrigerant passes sequentially from a first section of the second heat exchanger to a second section. In the cooling mode refrigerant passes in parallel through the first section and the second section.

A CO.sub.2 cooling system includes a compression stage in which CO.sub.2 refrigerant is compressed; a cooling stage in which the CO.sub.2 refrigerant releases heat; a CO.sub.2 liquid receiver in which the CO.sub.2 refrigerant is accumulated in liquid and gaseous states; an evaporation stage in which the CO.sub.2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat. The evaporation stage has first and second evaporation sectors; a first metering device for feeding CO.sub.2 refrigerant into the first evaporation sector at a first pressure; and a second metering device for feeding CO.sub.2 refrigerant into the second evaporation sector at a second pressure. The first metering device and the second metering device are operated independently from one another. A plurality of CO.sub.2 transfer lines connects the compression stage, the cooling stage, the CO.sub.2 liquid receiver and the evaporation stage. The CO.sub.2 refrigerant is circulable in a closed-loop circuit.

Thermal management systems are described. These systems include a refrigerant receiver configured to store a refrigerant fluid, an evaporator, a closed-circuit refrigeration system having a closed fluid circuit path, with the refrigerant receiver and evaporator disposed in the closed fluid circuit path, and the closed fluid circuit path including a condenser and compressor. These systems also include a modulation capacity control circuit configured to selectively divert refrigerant vapor flow to the condenser from the compressor by diverting a portion of refrigerant vapor flow (diverted flow) from the compressor to the refrigerant receiver in accordance with cooling capacity demand. These systems also include an open-circuit refrigeration system having an open fluid circuit path with the refrigerant receiver and the evaporator, and an exhaust line that discharges the refrigerant fluid from the exhaust line so that the discharged refrigerant fluid is not returned to the open-circuit and the closed-circuit refrigerant fluid flow paths.

A refrigeration system operable in cooling mode and defrosting mode is provided. The refrigeration system includes a defrost line connecting a first reservoir to an evaporation stage for conveying at least part of the flash gas from the first reservoir to the evaporation stage when the refrigeration system is operating in defrosting mode. The flash gas thereby releases heat in the evaporation stage for defrosting the evaporation stage. The refrigeration system can also include a discharge line connecting the evaporation stage to a second reservoir.

A refrigeration system operable in cooling mode and defrosting mode is provided. The refrigeration system includes a defrost line connecting a first reservoir to an evaporation stage for conveying at least part of the flash gas from the first reservoir to the evaporation stage when the refrigeration system is operating in defrosting mode. The flash gas thereby releases heat in the evaporation stage for defrosting the evaporation stage. The refrigeration system can also include a discharge line connecting the evaporation stage to a second reservoir.