A sensor device, system, and method for monitoring the internal pressure and temperature of a refrigerant tank during a recovery operation to control a purge operation of the tank based on the conditions thereof during the recovery operation. The sensor device, system, and method further utilize an external temperature sensor, the external temperature sensor operable to indicate that it is properly positioned on the surface of the tank.

A refrigerant recovery management system includes a first generation unit and a second generation unit. The first generation unit generates first information to send a refrigerant recovered from refrigerant-use equipment to a refrigerant treatment practitioner that conducts refrigerant treatment on the refrigerant. The second generation unit generates second information on the refrigerant treatment, to report the refrigerant treatment to a manager that manages refrigerant recovery.

A method for determining a level of refrigerant charge in a vapor compression system having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator operatively connected in serial relationship in a refrigerant flow circuit having a refrigerant, includes receiving information indicative of at least one of a compressor torque or compressor current; and determining whether the refrigerant charge is within a defined tolerance or whether the refrigerant is to be added or recovered in response to the receiving of the information.

An apparatus for recovering refrigerant from an air conditioning system includes an evaporator arranged to receive the refrigerant from the air conditioning system and to separate it from impurities present in it, obtaining purified refrigerant, a compressor for circulating the purified refrigerant, a condenser, and a storage container arranged to contain the condensed refrigerant. The storage container defines a storage chamber arranged to contain a liquid phase of the refrigerant and a gaseous phase including a vapor component of the refrigerant and an air component. The apparatus also includes a measuring means configured to measure operating parameters of the refrigerant present in the storage chamber, purge device arranged at a purge opening configured to purge the gaseous phase present in the storage chamber responsive to the operating parameters, and at least one first separation chamber connected to the storage container.

The present application provides a vacuum pump (15) for use during maintenance or commissioning of an HVAC-R system (1). The vacuum pump (15) has a pump (17) having a pump intake (22) for connection to the HVAC-R system (1), in particular one or more of a high pressure service port (14) and a low pressure service port (13) of the HVAC-R system (1). The vacuum pump (15) also includes a communications unit (19) that is configured to connect to a mobile communications network. The vacuum pump (15) also includes a pressure sensor arranged to detect a pressure in the HVAC-R system (1). The vacuum pump (15) also includes a control unit (18) configured to receive pressure data from the pressure sensor (21), control operation of the pump (17), and communicate with a remote device via the communication unit (19) and the mobile communications network. In examples, the remote device (20) may be a mobile phone or a tablet computer, or any device that can connect to a mobile communications network. Therefore, the vacuum pump (15) can remotely communicate updates to the remote device (20) over a mobile communications network, and can optionally also receive instructions or requests from the remote device (20) over a mobile communications network.

A dynamic receiver is included in parallel to an expander of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system. The dynamic receiver allows control of the refrigerant charge of the HVACR system to respond to different operating conditions. The dynamic receiver can be filled or emptied in response to the subcooling observed in the HVACR system compared to desired subcooling for various operating modes. The HVACR system can include a line directly conveying working fluid from compressor discharge to the dynamic receiver to allow emptying of the dynamic receiver to be assisted by injection of the compressor discharge.

The present application provides apparatus (15) for connection to an HVAC-R system during maintenance or commissioning. The apparatus includes a plurality of ports (16, 17, 18) for fluid connection to the HVAC-R system and to maintenance apparatus, for example a refrigerant tank, a refrigerant recovery unit and/or a vacuum pump. The apparatus also includes a plurality of fluid connections (20) between the plurality of ports, each of the plurality of fluid connections having an electrically actuatable valve (21) to open and close the fluid connection. The apparatus also includes a control unit configured to control each of the electrically actuatable valves to configure the plurality of fluid connections.

A method for operating a refrigeration system for a motor vehicle. The method includes setting an operating mode of the refrigeration system having active primary line and inactive secondary line or having active secondary line and inactive primary line; detecting the pressure in the inactive line; and activating and extraction of refrigerant from the inactive line into the active line by lowering the pressure in the active line to a value below the pressure in the inactive line and by opening the relevant valve device.

Methods for forming an improved, centralized refrigeration systems comprising: (a) providing an existing refrigeration circuit with an existing high GWP refrigerant; (b) disconnecting the fluid connection between the existing liquid refrigerant from the condenser and the evaporators; (c) disconnecting the fluid connection between the existing refrigerant vapor from the evaporators and the compressor suction; (d) establishing a new first refrigeration circuit comprising the compressor and the condenser; (e) establishing a new second refrigeration circuit comprising the evaporators by removing existing refrigerant from the evaporators and the disconnected conduits and replacing the removed refrigerant with a second refrigerant comprising at least 50% of R1234ze(E) and being Class A1 and having an OEL greater than 400 and a GWP of about 150 or less; and thermally interconnecting the new first refrigeration circuit and the new second refrigeration circuit with an inter-circuit heat exchanger.

A system and method for delivering a refrigerant to a refrigerant system. The system includes a distribution system comprising a distribution vessel, a transfer line, at least one pump, a distribution line and a distribution line branch arranged and disposed to transfer refrigerant from the distribution vessel to the refrigerant system. The system additionally includes a monitoring system comprising one or more sensors arranged and disposed to measure at least one distribution parameter within the distribution system and a recovery system arranged and disposed to selectively receive refrigerant based upon the refrigerant suitability for use in the refrigerant system.