A method is disclosed for generating and distributing electric power for localized use. The method entails providing an enclosed building having an air conditioning and ventilation unit for supplying cooled air within the building, the unit including a closed loop circuit configured to operate a closed loop refrigeration cycle, including a compressor operable to compress a working fluid of the closed loop circuit. The method further includes engaging an internal combustion engine with the compressor and operating the internal combustion engine to drive the compressor, thereby transferring energy to the refrigeration cycle. The method may also involve engaging an electric motor with the compressor and operating the electric motor to drive the compressor, thereby transferring energy to the refrigeration cycle.

A system and method for power generation and/or distribution and for providing air conditioning is disclosed, that is particularly suitable for localized consumption. Power generation includes a combined cooling, heating and power system (CCHP) containing a gas or liquid fueled internal combustion engine with a generator and heat recovery system for providing electrical power and heat for local consumption. The CCHP system includes an integrated cooling system for cooling a local environment, using either vapor compression and/or heat pump and/or evaporative cooling technology. The CCHP system also contains an energy management unit allowing CCHP system and local area electrical needs in whole or in part to be powered by either the CCHP generator and/or a communal electrical grid and/or renewable energy sources and/or a battery storage network.

A method of controlling a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a variable speed condenser fan is provided. The method includes determining if a change in an ambient temperature or a compressor suction pressure is greater than a predetermined threshold, determining a near-optimal condensing pressure/temperature if the change in the ambient temperature or the compressor suction pressure is above the predetermined threshold, setting a condensing pressure setpoint based on the determined near-optimal condensing pressure/temperature, and setting a speed of the variable speed condenser fan based on the condensing pressure setpoint.

A unit, such as a transport refrigeration unit 12, may include a plurality of components arranged in multiple stages. At least a portion of the components 18,20 may be arranged in a serial or parallel manner. A position associated with the plurality of components may be selected to control a load on a power source, such as an engine 30. For example, a position for each of the components may be selected so as to maximize a delivery of available power from the power source to the unit. In some embodiments, one or more controllers 32,34 may measure a parameter associated with the power source and select a position for one or more of the components. In some embodiments, an economized refrigeration cycle may be used. Capacity may be staged from a single stage compression cycle or mode to a multistage compression cycle or mode, with a corresponding increase in capacity via subcooling.

In an ejector, a passage formation member is disposed inside a body forming a space therein. Provided between an inner peripheral surface of the body and the passage formation member are a nozzle passage functioning as a nozzle, a mixing passage in which an ejection refrigerant ejected from the nozzle passage and a suction refrigerant drawn through a suction passage are mixed together, and a diffuser passage that converts a kinetic energy of the refrigerant that has flowed out of the mixing passage into a pressure energy. The mixing passage has a shape gradually reducing in cross-sectional area toward a downstream side in the refrigerant flow.

A refrigeration system for a selected space includes a regeneration heat exchanger containing a volume of heat transfer fluid and a cargo heat exchanger located at the selected space. The cargo heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the regeneration heat exchanger to circulate the volume of heat transfer fluid therethrough. The selected space is conditioned to a selected cargo temperature via thermal energy exchange between the heat transfer fluid and a flow of air at the selected space. A fuel line extends through the regeneration heat exchanger and toward an engine and directs a flow of fuel to the engine to power the engine. The flow of fuel is regenerated via thermal energy exchange with the heat transfer fluid at the regeneration heat exchanger. The heat transfer fluid reaches a selected heat transfer fluid temperature via thermal exchange with the flow of fuel.

A transport refrigeration system (10) includes a refrigerant vapor compression transport unit (12) including a compressor (14). A drive unit is utilized to provide power to the compressor. The drive unit includes a diesel powered engine (32) and a diesel particulate filter in operable communication with the diesel powered engine to filter combustion particulates from an exhaust gas output from the diesel powered engine. An air control valve is in operable communication with the diesel powered engine to control a flow of air into an air inlet of the diesel powered engine, thereby controlling an exhaust gas temperature of the diesel engine to aid in regeneration of the diesel particulate filter.

An ejector has a swirling space, a pressure reducing space, a suction passage, a pressure increasing space, a nozzle passage, a diffuser passage, a passage forming member that forms the nozzle passage and the diffuser passage, and a vibration suppressing portion that suppresses a vibration of the passage forming member. The vibration suppressing portion has (i) a first elastic member that applies a load to the passage forming member in a direction in which an area of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of the central axis of the nozzle passage and the diffuser passage decreases and (ii) a second elastic member that applies a load to the passage forming member in a direction opposite from the direction in which the first elastic member applies the load to the passage forming member.

An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner may include at least one indoor device, an electric heat pump (EHP) outdoor device connected with the at least one indoor device, and having a first compressor driven using electric power and a first outdoor heat exchanger, and a gas heat pump (GHP) outdoor device connected with the at least one indoor device, and having an engine portion driven through a combustion gas, a second compressor driven by receiving a driving force from the engine portion, and a second outdoor heat exchanger. The GHP outdoor device may include an engine circulation pipe in which a refrigerant flowing through the EHP outdoor device may be introduced and then supplied to the engine portion.

A vehicle having an integrated function of assisting an engine and compressing a refrigerant includes a motor unit and a compression unit coupled within a housing, and a first clutch unit coupled to a rotation shaft of the motor unit or a rotation shaft of the compression unit and that connects or releases a driving force of an engine and a driving force of the motor unit.