A refrigeration system includes a heat exchanger configured to provide superheat control for the low temperature low pressure gas refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator and through the first side of the heat exchanger by transferring heat from the high pressure high temperature superheated gas refrigerant flowing through a second side of the heat exchanger. A modulating solenoid valve is located at the inlet of the second side of the heat exchanger and configured to modulate the flow of high pressure high temperature superheated gas refrigerant flowing through the second side of the heat exchanger. A temperature sensor is located in such a way as to measure the temperature of the gas refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator and through the first side of the heat exchanger. A controller is configured to calculate the superheat of the gas refrigerant based on the measured temperature and measured pressure of the gas refrigerant and may compare the calculated superheat to a superheat threshold. If the calculated superheat is less than the superheat threshold, the controller will modulate the flow the high pressure high temperature gas refrigerant flowing through the second side of the heat exchanger. The refrigeration system may be activated in a variety of methods by appropriate control of the valves and other system components.

A refrigeration system includes a heat exchanger configured to provide superheat control for the low temperature low pressure gas refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator and through the first side of the heat exchanger by transferring heat from the high pressure high temperature superheated gas refrigerant flowing through a second side of the heat exchanger. A modulating solenoid valve is located at the inlet of the second side of the heat exchanger and configured to modulate the flow of high pressure high temperature superheated gas refrigerant flowing through the second side of the heat exchanger. A temperature sensor is located in such a way as to measure the temperature of the gas refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator and through the first side of the heat exchanger. A controller is configured to calculate the superheat of the gas refrigerant based on the measured temperature and measured pressure of the gas refrigerant and may compare the calculated superheat to a superheat threshold. If the calculated superheat is less than the superheat threshold, the controller will modulate the flow the high pressure high temperature gas refrigerant flowing through the second side of the heat exchanger. The refrigeration system may be activated in a variety of methods by appropriate control of the valves and other system components.

An ice making system includes: a refrigerant circuit that performs a vapor compression refrigeration cycle and that includes a compressor, a condenser that condenses refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a first expansion valve with an adjustable opening degree that decompresses the refrigerant from the condenser, a flooded evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the first expansion valve, and a superheater that imparts a degree of superheating to the refrigerant discharged from the flooded evaporator; a circulation circuit that circulates a medium that is cooled by the flooded evaporator; and a control device that controls the adjustable opening degree of the first expansion valve such that the superheater imparts to the refrigerant discharged from the flooded evaporator a degree of superheating at which dryness of the refrigerant is kept within a predetermined range of less than 1.

A heat releasing unit includes heat releasing constituents which are stacked and are joined together while heat releasing flow passages are formed in the heat releasing constituents, respectively. An evaporating unit includes evaporating constituents which are stacked and are joined together, while evaporating flow passages are formed in the evaporating constituents, respectively. The evaporating unit and the heat releasing unit are arranged one after another in a direction along a side plate portion. A heat releasing unit outlet is formed at an outlet-side heat releasing constituent that is one of the heat releasing constituents placed at an end thereof. An evaporating unit inlet is formed at an inlet-side evaporating constituent that is one of the evaporating constituents placed at an end thereof. All of the heat releasing flow passages are connected to the evaporating flow passages through the heat releasing unit outlet and the evaporating unit inlet.

Disclosed is a refrigerant processing unit (1) for evaporating a refrigerant. The refrigerant processing unit (1) comprises a recirculation container (2) and a refrigerant inlet (3) connected to the recirculation container (2) for leading liquid refrigerant into the recirculation container (2). The refrigerant processing unit (1) also comprises a flooded evaporator heat exchanger (4) arranged to heat the liquid refrigerant to generate a phase change of the refrigerant from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase and a standpipe (5) extending between a liquid refrigerant outlet (6) of the recirculation container (2) and an evaporator inlet (28) of the flooded evaporator heat exchanger (4). Further, the refrigerant processing unit (1) comprises a return pipe (7) arranged to guide gaseous refrigerant from the flooded evaporator heat exchanger (4) back into the recirculation container (2) and a superheater heat exchanger (8) located below the recirculation container (2), wherein the superheater heat exchanger (8) is arranged to heat the gaseous refrigerant to generate a superheated gaseous refrigerant. Furthermore, the refrigerant processing unit (1) comprises a guide pipe (9) arranged to guide gaseous refrigerant from the recirculation container (2) into the superheater heat exchanger (8), and an outlet pipe (10) arranged to guide the superheated gaseous refrigerant out of the superheater heat exchanger (8) and thereby out of the refrigerant processing unit (1), wherein the flooded evaporator heat exchanger (4) and the superheater heat exchanger (8) are formed as a single heat exchanger unit (11) located below the recirculation container (2). A method for evaporating a refrigerant and use of a refrigerant processing unit (1) is also disclosed.

Disclosed is a refrigerant processing unit (1) for evaporating a refrigerant. The refrigerant processing unit (1) comprises a recirculation container (2) and a refrigerant inlet (3) connected to the recirculation container (2) for leading liquid refrigerant into the recirculation container (2). The refrigerant processing unit (1) also comprises a flooded evaporator heat exchanger (4) arranged to heat the liquid refrigerant to generate a phase change of the refrigerant from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase and a standpipe (5) extending between a liquid refrigerant outlet (6) of the recirculation container (2) and an evaporator inlet (28) of the flooded evaporator heat exchanger (4). Further, the refrigerant processing unit (1) comprises a return pipe (7) arranged to guide gaseous refrigerant from the flooded evaporator heat exchanger (4) back into the recirculation container (2) and a superheater heat exchanger (8) located below the recirculation container (2), wherein the superheater heat exchanger (8) is arranged to heat the gaseous refrigerant to generate a superheated gaseous refrigerant. Furthermore, the refrigerant processing unit (1) comprises a guide pipe (9) arranged to guide gaseous refrigerant from the recirculation container (2) into the superheater heat exchanger (8), and an outlet pipe (10) arranged to guide the superheated gaseous refrigerant out of the superheater heat exchanger (8) and thereby out of the refrigerant processing unit (1), wherein the flooded evaporator heat exchanger (4) and the superheater heat exchanger (8) are formed as a single heat exchanger unit (11) located below the recirculation container (2). A method for evaporating a refrigerant and use of a refrigerant processing unit (1) is also disclosed.

A multimode system for cooling and desalination includes a humidification-dehumidification (HDH) system, an ejector cooling cycle (ECC) system and valves. The HDH system includes a heater, a humidifier and a dehumidifier. The ECC system includes a generator, an evaporator, an ejector and a condenser. The valves are configured to connect to inlets and outlets of the heater, the generator and a heat source so that by selectively opening and closing the valves, the heat source is connected to the heater while disconnected from the generator, or connected to the generator while disconnected from the heater, or connected to both the heater and the generator, or disconnected from both the heater and the generator. The ECC system and the HDH system are connected at the condenser for heat exchange.

A multimode system for cooling and desalination includes a humidification-dehumidification (HDH) system, an ejector cooling cycle (ECC) system and valves. The HDH system includes a heater, a humidifier and a dehumidifier. The ECC system includes a generator, an evaporator, an ejector and a condenser. The valves are configured to connect to inlets and outlets of the heater, the generator and a heat source so that by selectively opening and closing the valves, the heat source is connected to the heater while disconnected from the generator, or connected to the generator while disconnected from the heater, or connected to both the heater and the generator, or disconnected from both the heater and the generator. The ECC system and the HDH system are connected at the condenser for heat exchange.

Apparatus and method for heating and cooling a refrigerant are described. The refrigerant, which may be contained in the core of a jacketed container, is cooled by depressurization and evaporation of a portion of the refrigerant also contained in the jacket of the container. The vapor resulting from the evaporation is directed to the inlet of a compressor for pressurizing the vapor, which is then passed through a condenser where heat is removed causing the high-pressure refrigerant vapor to transition to hot vapor, warm liquid, and cold vapor. Heat generated by compression of the hydrocarbon refrigerant vapor to a state of super-heated vapor may be directed to the jacket of a vessel requiring heating.

Apparatus and method for heating and cooling a refrigerant are described. The refrigerant, which may be contained in the core of a jacketed container, is cooled by depressurization and evaporation of a portion of the refrigerant also contained in the jacket of the container. The vapor resulting from the evaporation is directed to the inlet of a compressor for pressurizing the vapor, which is then passed through a condenser where heat is removed causing the high-pressure refrigerant vapor to transition to hot vapor, warm liquid, and cold vapor. Heat generated by compression of the hydrocarbon refrigerant vapor to a state of super-heated vapor may be directed to the jacket of a vessel requiring heating.