An air conditioner has a refrigerant circuit and a blower. A refrigerant flow path switching mechanism is configured to switch to a first switching state to allow refrigerant to flow through a reheater, a second expansion valve, and a cooler in this order in a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant flow path switching mechanism is configured to switch to a second switching state to allow refrigerant to flow through the reheater, the second expansion valve, and the cooler in this order in the refrigerant circuit. The reheater and the cooler are configured to allow air blown by the blower to pass through the cooler and then pass through the reheater during either of the first switching state and the second switching state.

A refrigeration cycle device includes a compressor, a radiator, a first decompression unit, a first evaporator, a second decompression unit, and a second evaporator. A refrigerant joining portion joins refrigerant having passed through the first evaporator and the second evaporator, on a refrigerant suction side of the compressor. The first decompression unit regulates a degree of superheating of the refrigerant between the first evaporator and the refrigerant joining portion on the basis of a first physical quantity having a correlation with the degree of superheating of the refrigerant flowing between the first evaporator and the refrigerant joining portion. The second decompression unit regulates a degree of superheating of the refrigerant between the refrigerant joining portion and the compressor on the basis of a second physical quantity having a correlation with the degree of superheating of the refrigerant flowing between the refrigerant joining portion and the compressor.

When a shaft is not supported contactlessly by a support portion, a touchdown bearing comes into contact with the shaft and supports the shaft such that the shaft is rotatable. In a starting process that is performed before the shaft is supported contactlessly by the support portion, a controller detects the rotational angle of the shaft in a state in which the shaft is in contact with the touchdown bearing.

A system or a method for performing capacitive sensing of humidity/liquid, primarily in conductive or non-conductive liquid/gas mixtures, having a control unit and at least first and second sensor electrodes, the capacity between the first and the second electrodes being measured,. To measure humidity/liquid in a circulating gas/liquid mixture at least one of the sensor electrodes is formed as a tube which is placed in the liquid/gas mixture. Based on the capacitive measurements, a calculation of at least one dataset for control of a second system is performed. The tube can be more or less filled up with liquid or gas and the capacity can be measured as it depends on the content around or inside the tube, and if a dry gas is there will be one value of capacity and in a situation where the gas is being replaced by liquid, the capacity value will change rapidly.

A system or a method for performing capacitive sensing of humidity/liquid, primarily in conductive or non-conductive liquid/gas mixtures, having a control unit and at least first and second sensor electrodes, the capacity between the first and the second electrodes being measured. To measure humidity/liquid in a circulating gas/liquid mixture at least one of the sensor electrodes is formed as a tube which is placed in the liquid/gas mixture. Based on the capacitive measurements, a calculation of at least one dataset for control of a second system is performed. The tube can be more or less filled up with liquid or gas and the capacity can be measured as it depends on the content around or inside the tube, and if a dry gas is there will be one value of capacity and in a situation where the gas is being replaced by liquid, the capacity value will change rapidly.

A method and apparatus are provided for indicating the status of the refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system based upon the degree of subcooling present in the condensed refrigerant system temperature measurements. The status of the refrigerant charge in the system is indicated in real-time on a service panel for access by a field service technician. The status of the refrigerant charge in the system on a time-average basis for a specified period of operation is presented on an indicator panel. The indicator panel includes a first indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is low, a second indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is high, and a third indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is correct.

A system attachable to a refrigeration circuit includes a recovery pump attachable to the refrigeration circuit to remove refrigerant. The recovery pump includes a pump, an electric motor, a battery pack, and a recovery pump controller for controlling the operation of the electric motor. The recovery pump controller has a first communication interface. The system further includes an accessory attachable to the refrigeration circuit concurrently with the recovery pump. The accessory includes a sensor for detecting a characteristic value of the refrigeration circuit, and an accessory controller electrically connected with the sensor to receive a signal corresponding with the characteristic value of the refrigeration circuit. The accessory controller has a second communication interface to communicate the signal to the recovery pump controller via the first and second wireless interfaces. The recovery pump controller controls the operation of the electric motor based upon the signal received from the accessory.

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) unit includes a first sensor disposed adjacent to an inlet of an evaporator configured to receive an airflow. The HVAC unit includes a second sensor disposed adjacent to an outlet of a reheat coil positioned downstream of the evaporator and configured to expel the airflow. The HVAC unit also includes a controller configured to regulate operation of a modulating reheat valve to adjust flow of a working fluid in thermal communication with the airflow to control a difference between a measurement of the first sensor and a measurement of the second sensor.

A system attachable to a refrigeration circuit, the system including a vacuum pump assembly attachable to the refrigeration circuit to remove fluid therefrom, the vacuum pump assembly including a pump, an electric motor for driving the pump, and a vacuum pump controller for controlling the operation of the electric motor, the vacuum pump controller having a first communication interface, and an accessory attachable to the refrigeration circuit concurrently with the vacuum pump assembly, the accessory including a fluid valve coupled between the pump and the refrigeration circuit to selectively place the pump in fluid communication with the refrigeration circuit.

A refrigerant quality sensor includes an elongated sensor housing comprising a first end wall and a second end wall and at least one side wall extending between the first end wall and the second end wall. A refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet are disposed in the at least one side wall. A light source is disposed at the first end wall. A photosensor is disposed at the second end wall. The photosensor generates an electrical signal corresponding to a quality of refrigerant within the elongated sensor housing.