A thermal management system includes an integrated open-circuit refrigeration system and closed-circuit heat pump system. The thermal management system includes a receiver having a first receiver port and a second receiver port, the receiver configured to store a refrigerant fluid, an evaporator having a first evaporator port and a second evaporator port, the heat pump circuit having a closed-circuit fluid path with the receiver and the evaporator and an open-circuit refrigeration system configured to receive refrigerant from the receiver, with the open-circuit refrigeration system having an open-circuit fluid path that includes the receiver and the evaporator.

A gas-liquid separation device includes a heat exchange member having a heat exchange tube spirally wound around a first cylinder body. The heat exchange tube includes a first flow passage, a tube wall surrounding the first flow passage, and a first extension portion protruding from the tube wall. A second flow passage is formed between the first cylinder body, the second cylinder body, and the heat exchange tube. The first extension portion is located in the second flow passage. A heat exchange area between the heat exchange tube and a fluid in the second flow passage is increased. The heat exchange effect between a fluid in the first flow passage and the fluid in the second flow passage is improved. A thermal management system having the gas-liquid separation device is also disclosed.

A cooling device using a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant is circulated through a heat receiver, a compressor, a heat radiator, and an expansion valve includes: a gas-liquid separator configured to perform gas-liquid separation on the refrigerant supplied from the expansion valve; a pump configured to send a liquid phase refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator to the heat receiver; and a control unit configured to control opening and closing of a refrigerant flow path of the refrigeration cycle, and an operation and stop of the compressor and the pump, wherein the control unit starts the operation of the pump on condition that a net positive suction head of the pump has reached a predetermined value or more.

A cooling system drains oil from low side heat exchangers to vessels and then uses compressed refrigerant to push the oil in the vessels back towards a compressor. Generally, the cooling system operates any number and combination of three different modes of operation: a normal mode, an oil drain mode, and an oil return mode. During the normal mode, a primary refrigerant is cycled to cool one or more secondary refrigerants. As the primary refrigerant is cycled, oil from a compressor may mix with the primary refrigerant and become stuck in a low side heat exchanger. During the oil drain mode, the oil in the low side heat exchanger is allowed to drain into a vessel. During the oil return mode, compressed refrigerant is directed to the vessel to push the oil in the vessel back towards a compressor.

A spacer for a body of a refrigerant tank—such as a modulator—in an automotive HVAC device is provided. In embodiments, the spacer is flexible to enable it to be inserted into the modulator, and expanded out against the walls of the modulator when released therein. The spacer inhibits a desiccant bag from contacting the inner wall of the modulator, namely the location where a hole (e.g., for an inlet or outlet) is provided. The spacer can be a cage that surrounds a lower portion of the desiccant bag. And end of the desiccant bag can wrap around a flange of the cage, and be attached to the flange by mechanical fastening (e.g., through a slot), or by welding, or other means.

A circulation system of an air conditioner, an air conditioner, and an air conditioner control method. The circulation system of the air conditioner includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a gas-liquid separation assembly. The gas-liquid separation assembly, together with the compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger, forms a loop; the gas-liquid separation assembly includes two or more gas-liquid separators which are connected in series; the gas-liquid separation assembly is configured to perform gas-liquid separation for refrigerant. Further, two or more-staged gas-liquid separation can be performed for the refrigerant flowing back to the compressor, so that a problem that return oil containing liquid in the compressor can be effectively solved.

A continuous heating control system and method, and an air-conditioning device. The system includes a defrosting solenoid valve (1) arranged on a bypass pipeline, wherein one end of the bypass pipeline is connected to an oil separator (2), and the other end of the bypass pipeline is connected to an outdoor heat exchanger (3); and a heating structure which is arranged at the bottom of a gas separator (4) and used for heating the gas separator (4).

A heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop includes a compressor, a first condenser, a vapor generator having a first region and a second region, a first expansion valve, a second expansion valve, and a first evaporator. A branching point is positioned between the first condenser and the vapor generator. The branching point diverts a portion of a first heat exchange fluid circulating through the refrigerant loop to the vapor generator. The first expansion valve is positioned between the branching point and the vapor generator. An outlet vapor generator is coupled to a mid-pressure inlet port of the compressor.

A heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop includes a compressor, a first condenser, a vapor generator having a first region and a second region, a first expansion valve, a second expansion valve, and a first evaporator. A branching point is positioned between the first condenser and the vapor generator. The branching point diverts a portion of a first heat exchange fluid circulating through the refrigerant loop to the vapor generator. The first expansion valve is positioned between the branching point and the vapor generator. An outlet vapor generator is coupled to a mid-pressure inlet port of the compressor.

A thermal management system includes a receiver configured to store a refrigerant fluid; a refrigeration system having a refrigerant fluid path that includes the receiver, and at least one evaporator disposed in the refrigerant fluid path. The refrigeration system is configured to receive the refrigerant fluid from the receiver through the refrigerant fluid path. The at least one evaporator is configured to receive the refrigerant fluid and to extract heat from at least one heat load having a specified thermal inertia that is in at least one of thermal conductive or convective contact with the at least one evaporator.