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.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of chiller systems including thermoelectric modules, and corresponding control methods. In an exemplary embodiment, a compressor chiller system generally includes a refrigerant loop having a refrigerant fluid, a compressor connected in the refrigerant loop to compress the refrigerant fluid, and a condenser connected in the refrigerant loop to receive the compressed refrigerant fluid from the compressor and to condense the compressed refrigerant fluid. The system also includes a heat transfer component connected in the refrigerant loop to receive the condensed refrigerant fluid from the condenser, and a coolant loop having a coolant fluid. The heat transfer component is connected in the coolant loop to transfer heat from the coolant fluid to the condensed refrigerant fluid. The system further includes a thermoelectric module connected in the coolant loop. The thermoelectric module is adapted to transfer heat into and/or out of the coolant fluid.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of chiller systems including thermoelectric modules, and corresponding control methods. In an exemplary embodiment, a compressor chiller system generally includes a refrigerant loop having a refrigerant fluid, a compressor connected in the refrigerant loop to compress the refrigerant fluid, and a condenser connected in the refrigerant loop to receive the compressed refrigerant fluid from the compressor and to condense the compressed refrigerant fluid. The system also includes a heat transfer component connected in the refrigerant loop to receive the condensed refrigerant fluid from the condenser, and a coolant loop having a coolant fluid. The heat transfer component is connected in the coolant loop to transfer heat from the coolant fluid to the condensed refrigerant fluid. The system further includes a thermoelectric module connected in the coolant loop. The thermoelectric module is adapted to transfer heat into and/or out of the coolant fluid.

A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, and a secondary condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser.

A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, and a secondary condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser.

A thermal management system includes a closed-circuit refrigerant system to circulate a refrigerant fluid. The system includes a compressor to compress a flow of the refrigerant fluid. The system includes a condenser coupled to the compressor. The system includes a receiver to store at least a portion of the refrigerant fluid. The receiver is coupled to the condenser. The system includes a pump to circulate the refrigerant fluid through at least a portion of the system. The pump is coupled to the receiver. The system includes a flow control device to control the flow of the refrigerant fluid to an evaporator. The flow control device is coupled to the pump. The evaporator extracts heat from at least one heat load that is in thermal conductive or convective contact with the evaporator.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a first refrigerant circuit including a first compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first refrigerant flow path of a second heat exchanger, a first expansion device, a third heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant flow path of a fourth heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant circuit including a second compressor, a fifth heat exchanger, a second expansion device, a third refrigerant flow path of the second heat exchanger, and a fourth refrigerant flow path of the fourth heat exchanger, a first refrigerant flows through, in order, the first compressor, the first heat exchanger, the first refrigerant flow path, the first expansion device, the third heat exchanger, and the second refrigerant flow path, the second refrigerant flows through, in order, the second compressor, the fifth heat exchanger, the second expansion device, the third refrigerant flow path, and the fourth refrigerant flow path.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a first refrigerant circuit including a first compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first refrigerant flow path of a second heat exchanger, a first expansion device, a third heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant flow path of a fourth heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant circuit including a second compressor, a fifth heat exchanger, a second expansion device, a third refrigerant flow path of the second heat exchanger, and a fourth refrigerant flow path of the fourth heat exchanger, a first refrigerant flows through, in order, the first compressor, the first heat exchanger, the first refrigerant flow path, the first expansion device, the third heat exchanger, and the second refrigerant flow path, the second refrigerant flows through, in order, the second compressor, the fifth heat exchanger, the second expansion device, the third refrigerant flow path, and the fourth refrigerant flow path.

A refrigerating system may include a compressor configured to compress a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the compressed non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant, a three-way valve configured to branch the non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant condensed by the condenser, a first evaporator configured to supply cold air to a first interior space, a second evaporator configured to supply cold air to a second interior space at a temperature higher than at a temperature of the first interior space, and a capillary tube configured to expand the non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant branched by the three-way valve and supply the expanded non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant to at least one of the first evaporator or the second evaporator. With such features, a high-efficiency refrigerating system to which the non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant is applied may be implemented.