A refrigeration system or heat pump is provided that includes: a compressor, a condenser, a liquid line, an expansion device, an evaporator, and a suction line to the compressor. A power converter or module supplies electrical power. A first thermal coupling is formed between a first portion of a heat pipe and the power converter module. A second thermal coupling is formed between a second portion of the heat pipe and a component of the refrigeration system or heat pump. The heat pipe receives heat from the power converter or module at the first portion, transfer the heat from the first portion to the second portion and transfer the heat from the second portion to the component of the refrigeration system or heat pump so as to cool the power converter or module.

A transcritical R-744 refrigeration system with a medium temperature section having a plurality of circuits, at least one evaporator receiving an R-744 refrigerant in a medium-pressure liquid state from a receiver and feeding at least one transcritical compressor to compress the R-744 refrigerant from a low-pressure gaseous state into a high-pressure gaseous state to feed a gas cooler and a throttling device to partially condense the R-744 refrigerant into a medium-pressure gaseous-liquid state, the system comprising a pressure reducing valve connected to a discharge conduit of the at least one transcritical compressor and feeding hot gas to a defrost manifold to defrost one of the plurality of circuits of the medium temperature section, wherein the hot gas being fed to the defrost manifold has a pressure value less than or equal to a maximum operating pressure of the at least one evaporator.

A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX). The PX is coupled to a motor that controls an operating speed of the PX. The system further includes a condenser. An outlet of the condenser is fluidly coupled to a first inlet of the PX. The system further includes a pressure gauge. The pressure gauge is configured to provide first pressure data. The first pressure data is indicative of a pressure of a fluid of the condenser. The system further includes a first controller configured to cause the motor to adjust the operating speed of the PX. The first controller causes the motor to adjust the operating speed of the PX based on the first pressure data.

A liquid-vapor separator includes a housing, an inlet disposed on the housing and configured to receive a working fluid into the housing, a vapor stream outlet disposed on the housing and configured to release a vapor stream of the working fluid, and a demister disposed in the housing and configured to transfer thermal energy between the working fluid and the vapor stream. In some embodiments, the working fluid absorbs thermal energy and evaporates to provide the vapor stream that includes entrained droplets. At least a portion of the entrained droplets absorbs thermal energy from the working fluid to evaporate when the vapor stream flows through the demister. In some embodiments, the liquid-vapor separator includes a passive demisting portion that demists by obstructing at least a portion of the entrained droplets.

A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid at a first pressure and a second fluid at a second pressure and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid. The system further includes a condenser configured to provide corresponding thermal energy from the first fluid to a corresponding environment. The system further includes a first ejector to receive a first gas and increase pressure of the first gas to form the second fluid at the second pressure. The first ejector is further to provide the second fluid at the second pressure to the PX.

A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid at a first pressure, receive a second fluid at a second pressure, and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid. The first fluid is to exit the PX at a third pressure and the second fluid is to exit the PX at a fourth pressure. The system further includes a first heat exchanger configured to provide the first fluid to the PX and provide corresponding thermal energy from the first fluid to a third fluid. The system further includes a turbine configured to receive the third fluid output from the first heat exchanger. The turbine is further configured to convert corresponding thermal energy of the third fluid into kinetic energy.

A fluid handling system includes a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid at a first pressure and a second fluid at a second pressure and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid. The system further includes a condenser configured to provide corresponding thermal energy from the first fluid to a corresponding environment. The system further includes a receiver to receive the first fluid output by the PX. The receiver forms a chamber to separate the first fluid into a first gas and a first liquid. The system further includes a first booster to increase pressure of a portion of the first gas to form the second fluid at the second pressure and provide the second fluid at the second pressure to the PX.

A heat transfer system for controlling two or more heat loads, including a high transient heat load, is provided. The heat transfer system may include sensible-heat thermal energy storage. A method of transferring heat from two or more heat loads to an ambient environment is further provided.

A packaged, pumped liquid, recirculating refrigeration system with charges of 10 lbs or less of refrigerant per ton of refrigeration capacity. The compressor and related components are situated in a pre-packaged modular machine room, and in which the condenser is mounted on the machine room and the evaporator is close coupled to the pre-packaged modular machine room. Prior art large receiver vessels may be replaced with a single or dual phase cyclonic separator also housed in the pre-packaged modular machine room.

Embodiments of the present invention reduce the amount of energy required to operate air-conditioners and refrigerators by providing a vapor-compression system that harnesses a low- or no-cost source of energy, namely, heat, and uses the harnessed heat to power a new kind of compressor, called a “burst compressor” and a new kind of pump, called a “vapor pump.” The heat-driven burst compressor pressurizes the refrigerant, while also providing “push and pull” vapor refrigerant to the vapor pump. The vapor pump, actuated by the high pressure refrigerant in gaseous form provided by the burst compressor, is configured to pump a combination of gaseous, vaporous and liquid refrigerant out of the receiver tank and inject that low pressure refrigerant mix into the burst compressor, where it is heated to change the state of the refrigerant to a heated, pressurized gas. Then the heated, pressurized gas is released in bursts into the other components of the vapor compression cycle. Thus, embodiments of the present invention use heat to provide cold. Because of this arrangement, vapor-compression systems constructed and arranged to operate according to embodiments of the present invention are able to provide air-conditioning and/or refrigeration much more efficiently and with much less expense than traditional vapor compression systems for air-conditioning and refrigeration.