An outdoor device for an air conditioner is provided that may include a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressed in the compressor, an expansion device that decompresses the refrigerant condensed in the condenser, an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant decompressed in the expansion device, and a refrigerant storage that bypasses at least a portion of the refrigerant condensed in the condenser to store the bypassed refrigerant therein. The refrigerant storage may include a first storage that stores the bypassed refrigerant, and a second storage in which the refrigerant passing through the evaporator is introduced. The second storage may discharge a gaseous refrigerant of the introduced refrigerant to the compressor. The first storage may be provided above the second storage to supply the refrigerant stored therein into the second storage.

A pumped heat storage apparatus has a prime mover, a power take off, first and second fluid working machines functioning as a compressor (8) and as an expander (10), a working fluid circulation pathway with high and low pressure sides, and high and low temperature heat exchangers (18A-B). The heat exchangers operate using direct contact between gaseous working fluid and solid thermal storage media, such as glass beads, which move in opposite directions, typically using an augur (44). The system is reversible between energy storage and energy recovery modes and when it reverses, the direction of movement of the working fluid and the thermal storage media reverses. The apparatus may very rapidly swap between energy storage and energy recovery while having a high capacity and energy throughout.

An air conditioner and a method of operating an air conditioner are provided. The air conditioner may include a heat pump having a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that condenses or evaporates a refrigerant by heat exchange with heat source water; a heat source water flow path connected to the water-refrigerant heat exchanger; a pump installed on the heat source water flow path; a variable flow valve installed on the heat source water flow path; and a variable flow valve controller that controls an opening degree of the variable flow valve. The variable flow valve controller may include a heat source water minimum flow manipulator that manipulates a minimum flow rate of the heat source water and regulates the opening degree of the variable flow valve according to the manipulation of the heat source water minimum flow manipulator. Accordingly, a user or installation personnel may selectively regulate power consumption and efficiency as desired.

A heat pump in which an increased temperature rise is achieved, including heat accumulators behind one another in a cascade; caloric accumulator elements positioned alternatingly in thermally conducting contact with one of the heat accumulators; and at least one drive method or mechanism for changing the position of the accumulator elements between the heat accumulators, at least one of the heat accumulators is in contact with a component to control the temperature of this component, a last one of the heat accumulators in the cascade is in heat exchange with surroundings. An intermediate accumulator is formed from at least one of the heat accumulators for transmitting heat between a heat accumulator in contact with a component to be temperature-controlled and the last heat accumulator.

The application relates to a cooling system, the cooling system having: an evaporator, a first compressor, a second compressor, a cooling component, an expansion device and a line system that connects the evaporator, the first compressor, the second compressor, the cooling component and the expansion device to one another. The cooling system includes a refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant comprises carbon dioxide. The first compressor and the second compressor are arranged in series with one another. The application also relates to a corresponding laboratory instrument.

The application relates to a cooling system, the cooling system having: an evaporator, a first compressor, a second compressor, a cooling component, an expansion device and a line system that connects the evaporator, the first compressor, the second compressor, the cooling component and the expansion device to one another. The cooling system includes a refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant comprises carbon dioxide. The first compressor and the second compressor are arranged in series with one another. The application also relates to a corresponding laboratory instrument.