A method for controlling a refrigerator includes providing an initial input value to a heater configured to supply heat to an evaporator, performing a continuous operation of the heater based on the initial input value to increase a temperature of the evaporator to a predetermined temperature, determining a period of time taken to increase the temperature of the evaporator to the predetermined temperature, determining whether the period of time is within a reference period of time, operating the heater based on a first input value that is equal to the initial input value based on a determination that the period of time is outside of the reference period of time, and operating the heater based on a second input value that is less than the initial input value based on a determination that the period of time is within the reference period of time.

A refrigeration system having a refrigerant circuit including a condenser, a flow control device, an evaporator, and a compressor connected in series. The compressor is configured to circulate a cooling fluid through the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit has an inlet line fluidly connecting the condenser to the evaporator and a suction line fluidly connecting the evaporator to the compressor. A heater is positioned to heat the cooling fluid during a defrost mode, and a pressure control is coupled to the refrigerant circuit downstream of the evaporator. In the defrost mode, the pressure control apparatus is configured to increase system pressure during the defrost mode to maintain flow of refrigerant into the evaporator and to control flow of cooling fluid to the compressor.

A refrigeration system having a refrigerant circuit including a condenser, a flow control device, an evaporator, and a compressor connected in series. The compressor is configured to circulate a cooling fluid through the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit has an inlet line fluidly connecting the condenser to the evaporator and a suction line fluidly connecting the evaporator to the compressor. A heater is positioned to heat the cooling fluid during a defrost mode, and a pressure control is coupled to the refrigerant circuit downstream of the evaporator. In the defrost mode, the pressure control apparatus is configured to increase system pressure during the defrost mode to maintain flow of refrigerant into the evaporator and to control flow of cooling fluid to the compressor.

A method for operating a refrigerator appliance includes receiving a user inquiry signal at a controller of the refrigerator appliance in response to an inquiry input at a user interface of the refrigerator appliance, obtaining a status of at least one operable component of the refrigerator appliance with the controller of the refrigerator appliance, and sending the status of the at least one operable component of the refrigerator appliance from the controller of the refrigerator appliance to the user interface of the refrigerator appliance. A related refrigerator appliance is provided.

An air conditioning and water producing system includes a heat pumping unit and a membrane contactor in thermal communication with the heat pumping unit. The membrane contactor is configured such that a first brine flow is cooled by the heat pumping unit and diluted at the membrane contactor. A distiller is in thermal communication with the heat pumping unit and the membrane contactor such that a second brine flow is heated by the heat pumping unit and conveyed through the distiller. Thermal interaction between the second brine flow and the first brine flow flowing through the distiller extracts water from the second brine flow.

A method for retrofitting an aircraft air conditioning unit drainage system comprises the step of removing drain pipe from the unit housing. A hole from which the drain pipe extends is plugged. A first location within a unit housing is determined where during operation of the unit air pressure is lower than at a second location. A second location below the first location is also determined where pooling occurs. A first and a second conduit with first and second internal diameters are respectively located at the first and the second locations. The first conduit and the second conduit are connected to a third conduit which extends generally vertically and which has a third internal diameter that is generally equal to the first internal diameter. A fourth conduit with a fourth internal diameter that is less than the second internal diameter is connected to the third conduit below the second location.

A defrost or thaw measuring device has a dumbbell or hourglass-shaped rotatable compartment with a cavity, the cavity being partly filled with at least two phase change materials having different melting points. The measuring device may determine the time period of thawing at two or more temperature intervals in the refrigeration space.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus including a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, an outdoor heat exchanger, an outside air temperature sensor, and a controller configured to perform a hot gas defrosting operation and a reverse-defrosting operation based on a temperature obtained by the outside air temperature sensor. In the hot gas defrosting operation, hot gas discharged from the compressor without passing through the indoor heat exchanger is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger. In the reverse-defrosting operation, refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger is supplied from the compressor to the outdoor heat exchanger. The controller has at least a mixed defrosting operation mode in which the hot gas defrosting operation and the reverse-defrosting operation are performed in sequence. The controller is configured to start the mixed defrosting operation mode when the temperature obtained by the outside air temperature sensor satisfies a preset condition.

A defrosting apparatus includes: a heating unit including a heater case and a heater, where the heater case defines an inner flow path having an inlet and an outlet at ends thereof, and the heater is mounted in the heater case to heat a working fluid within the inner flow path; and a heat pipe inserted into the inside of the heater case through the inlet and the outlet, and which has at least a part thereof disposed to be adjacent to a cooling pipe of an evaporator such that heat is radiated to the cooling pipe of the evaporator by means of the working fluid at a high temperature that is heated by the heater and then is transferred, where the heater is configured to stop emit heat at a preset temperature or higher since an electric current is suppressed due to a sharp increase in resistance.

An apparatus that includes a vessel. The vessel is partially filled with a product to be defrosted. The vessel rotates about an inclined axis. The vessel includes means to move the product during defrosting. The apparatus includes a temperature-measurement-means located at partially inside the vessel to determine a surface temperature of the product and a temperature of liquid surrounding the product without contacting the product and without contacting the liquid. The temperature-measurement-means remain stationary while the vessel rotates.