A transport refrigeration system (20) has a compartment (22) and a vapor compression refrigeration system (30). The vapor compression refrigeration system (30) has: a compressor (32); a first heat exchanger (34) downstream of the compressor along a refrigerant flowpath in a cooling mode; an expansion device (36); a second heat exchanger (38) downstream of the expansion device along the refrigerant flowpath; and a fan (42) for driving air along an air flowpath across the second heat exchanger for cooling the compartment in the cooling mode. A thermochemical refrigeration system (100) is coupled to the vapor compression refrigeration system downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the second heat exchanger along the refrigerant flowpath in the cooling mode.

A transport refrigeration system (20) has a compartment (22) and a vapor compression refrigeration system (30). The vapor compression refrigeration system (30) has: a compressor (32); a first heat exchanger (34) downstream of the compressor along a refrigerant flowpath in a cooling mode; an expansion device (36); a second heat exchanger (38) downstream of the expansion device along the refrigerant flowpath; and a fan (42) for driving air along an air flowpath across the second heat exchanger for cooling the compartment in the cooling mode. A thermochemical refrigeration system (100) is coupled to the vapor compression refrigeration system downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the second heat exchanger along the refrigerant flowpath in the cooling mode.

Systems and methods of continuous cooling at cryogenic temperatures. One exemplary aspect involves a refrigeration system that includes: a chamber adapted to hold liquid and gaseous coolant received from a cooling pot; a first adsorption pump having an inlet end in fluid communication with the chamber, the first adsorption pump configured to capture gas from the liquid and gaseous coolant when the first adsorption pump is enabled; a second adsorption pump having an inlet end in fluid communication with the chamber, the second adsorption pump configured to capture gas from the liquid and gaseous coolant when the second adsorption pump is enabled; a means for desorbing the gas captured by the first adsorption pump; and a means for desorbing the gas captured by the second adsorption pump.

According to certain embodiments, a method comprises determining a liquid outlet temperature setpoint for refrigerant discharged from a liquid outlet of a subcooler. The liquid outlet corresponds to a hot-side path of the subcooler that receives refrigerant directly from a tank, cools the refrigerant by an exchange of heat with a cold-side path of the subcooler that receives the refrigerant from the tank via an inlet expansion valve, and discharges the refrigerant to an evaporator via an outlet expansion valve. The method further comprises determining a superheat setpoint for the refrigerant discharged to a compressor via a vapor outlet of the cold-side path. The superheat setpoint is determined based on the liquid outlet temperature setpoint. The method further comprises adjusting a temperature of the refrigerant discharged to the compressor based on the superheat setpoint.

According to certain embodiments, a method comprises determining a liquid outlet temperature setpoint for refrigerant discharged from a liquid outlet of a subcooler. The liquid outlet corresponds to a hot-side path of the subcooler that receives refrigerant directly from a tank, cools the refrigerant by an exchange of heat with a cold-side path of the subcooler that receives the refrigerant from the tank via an inlet expansion valve, and discharges the refrigerant to an evaporator via an outlet expansion valve. The method further comprises determining a superheat setpoint for the refrigerant discharged to a compressor via a vapor outlet of the cold-side path. The superheat setpoint is determined based on the liquid outlet temperature setpoint. The method further comprises adjusting a temperature of the refrigerant discharged to the compressor based on the superheat setpoint.

Methods, systems, and device for cycle enhancement are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Various embodiments generally pertain to refrigeration and heat pumping. Different embodiments may be applied to a variety of heat pump architectures. Some embodiments may integrate with vapor compression heat pumps in industrial, commercial, and/or residential applications. Some embodiments include a method that may include at least: removing a first heat from a vapor compression cycle; utilizing the first removed heat from the vapor compression cycle to drive a thermally driven heat pump; or removing a second heat from the vapor compression cycle utilizing the thermally driven heat pump to reduce a temperature of a refrigerant of the vapor compression cycle below an ambient temperature.

Methods, systems, and device for cycle enhancement are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Various embodiments generally pertain to refrigeration and heat pumping. Different embodiments may be applied to a variety of heat pump architectures. Some embodiments may integrate with vapor compression heat pumps in industrial, commercial, and/or residential applications. Some embodiments include a method that may include at least: removing a first heat from a vapor compression cycle; utilizing the first removed heat from the vapor compression cycle to drive a thermally driven heat pump; or removing a second heat from the vapor compression cycle utilizing the thermally driven heat pump to reduce a temperature of a refrigerant of the vapor compression cycle below an ambient temperature.

A cooling system is provided and includes a compressor, an expansion valve, a gas cooler through which a refrigerant received from the compressor passes toward the expansion valve in a supercritical state, an evaporator interposed between the expansion valve and the compressor and a vapor sorption subcooling system. The vapor sorption subcooling system includes a desorber disposed to remove heat from refrigerant flowing from the gas cooler toward the expansion valve.

A cooling system is provided and includes a compressor, an expansion valve, a gas cooler through which a refrigerant received from the compressor passes toward the expansion valve in a supercritical state, an evaporator interposed between the expansion valve and the compressor and a vapor sorption subcooling system. The vapor sorption subcooling system includes a desorber disposed to remove heat from refrigerant flowing from the gas cooler toward the expansion valve.

A bottoming cycle power system includes an expander disposed on a crankshaft. The expander being operable to receive a flow of exhaust gas from a combustion process and to rotate the crankshaft as the exhaust gas passes through. An absorption chiller system has a generator section having a first heat exchanger to receive the flow of exhaust gas from the expander and to remove heat from the exhaust gas after the exhaust gas has passed through the expander. An evaporator section has a second heat exchanger to receive the flow of exhaust gas from the generator section and to remove heat from the exhaust gas after the exhaust gas has passed through the generator section. A compressor is disposed on the crankshaft and connected to the flow of exhaust gas. The compressor is operable to compress the exhaust gas after the exhaust gas has passed through the second heat exchanger.