An evaporator apparatus for a refrigeration cycle of an HVAC system or a refrigeration system is disclosed that includes: a primary evaporator pathway for a working fluid of the refrigeration cycle extending through a primary expansion device and a primary evaporator; a secondary evaporator pathway for the working fluid in parallel with the primary evaporator pathway and extending through a secondary expansion device and a secondary evaporator; a coolant circuit for cooling a device, the secondary evaporator configured for heat exchange between the working fluid and process fluid of the coolant circuit; and a controller configured to control: the primary expansion device to maintain a target superheat of working fluid at a primary control location downstream of the primary evaporator; and the secondary expansion device based on monitoring a temperature of process fluid to maintain a target temperature of process fluid at a coolant control location in the coolant circuit.

A refrigerant distributor 1 includes: a reducing portion 12a extending straight from a downstream end of a supply path 11b to which a refrigerant supply pipe 100b is connected and having a diameter smaller than that of the supply path 11b; a refrigerant stirring chamber 22 configured to stir refrigerant from the reducing portion 12a; a refrigerant strike surface 24 to be struck by refrigerant, and first and second branch channels 25 and 26 communicating with the refrigerant stirring chamber 22.

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 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 of the 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.

A heat pump system with a refrigerant flow path comprising, in the heating mode of operation: a compressor coupled to receive refrigerant from a heating mode first refrigerant stream and a heating mode second refrigerant stream of the refrigerant flow path; the condenser coupled to receive refrigerant from the compressor; and a heat exchanger for transferring heat between the heating mode first refrigerant stream and the heating mode second refrigerant stream, wherein the heating mode first refrigerant stream comprises: the first expansion valve coupled to receive refrigerant from the condenser; the first evaporator coupled to receive refrigerant from the first expansion valve; and the heat exchanger coupling the heating mode first refrigerant stream from the first evaporator to the compressor, wherein the heating mode second refrigerant stream comprises: the second expansion valve; the heat exchanger coupling the heating mode second refrigerant stream from the condenser to the second expansion valve; and the second evaporator being coupled to communicate refrigerant from the second expansion valve to the compressor, wherein the first evaporator is in a first air flow conduit with a first air inlet for receiving a first air flow, and the second evaporator is in a second air flow conduit coupled to receive the first air flow.

A thermal management system includes a closed-circuit refrigeration system that includes a closed-circuit refrigerant fluid path configured to store a refrigerant fluid; and an absorber/desorber including a bidirectional port coupled to the closed-circuit refrigerant fluid path to regulate an amount of refrigerant vapor at a compressor inlet of the closed-circuit refrigeration system. The absorber/desorber is configured to store an ionic liquid that is configured to absorb or desorb at least a portion of the refrigerant vapor based on a mode of operation of the absorber/desorber.

A thermal management system includes a closed-circuit refrigeration system that includes a vapor cycle system (VCS) and a liquid pumping system (LPS). The VCS includes a receiver that stores a refrigerant fluid and a liquid separator. The vapor cycle system is configured to operate in one or more operational modes including at least one of a TES cooling mode, a heat load cooling mode, or a pump-down mode. The LPS includes a thermal energy storage (TES) that stores a phase change material (PCM) and a pump fluidly coupled to at least one evaporator. The evaporator is configured to extract heat from a heat load that is in thermal conductive or convective contact to the evaporator to transfer heat to the refrigerant fluid and provide the refrigerant fluid from an evaporator outlet to the TES.

An ejector refrigeration cycle includes a compressor, a radiator, a branch portion, an ejector, a suction side decompressor, a windward evaporator, and a leeward evaporator. The ejector includes a nozzle portion and a pressure increasing portion. The windward evaporator and the leeward evaporator include at least one outflow side evaporation portion. The leeward evaporator includes a suction side evaporation portion. An outflow side evaporation temperature is a refrigerant evaporation temperature in the at least one outflow side evaporation portion of the leeward evaporator. A suction side evaporation temperature is a refrigerant evaporation temperature in the suction side evaporation portion of the leeward evaporator. At least one of the nozzle portion or the suction side decompressor is configured to adjust a refrigerant passage area such that a temperature difference between the outflow side evaporation temperature and the suction side evaporation temperature is at or below a predetermined reference temperature difference.