A control system for controlling the flow of refrigerant includes: an inlet valve configured to selectively isolate or couple a supply path for supplying refrigerant from a refrigeration system with an inlet of a cooling loop; an outlet valve configured to selectively isolate or couple a return path for returning refrigerant to the refrigeration system with an outlet of the cooling loop; a refrigerant collection valve configured to selectively isolate or couple a refrigerant collection path for collecting refrigerant for the refrigeration system with the cooling loop; a pressure sensor for determining a pressure of refrigerant in the cooling loop; an input for receiving cooling loop disconnect and connect commands; and control circuitry configured to receive signals from the pressure sensor and the commands from the input and to generate control signals for controlling the opening and closing of the inlet, outlet and refrigerant collection valves in response thereto.

When there exists in an outdoor unit a second refrigerant path which enables circulation of refrigerant in the outdoor unit even if circulation of the refrigerant through a first refrigerant path is blocked by closure of a first valve provided in the first refrigerant path which circulates the refrigerant between an indoor unit and the outdoor unit of an air conditioner, a signal transmission unit transmits to the outdoor unit, a command signal commanding the outdoor unit to close a second valve which is provided in the second refrigerant path and closure of which blocks the circulation of the refrigerant through the second refrigerant path. A determination unit determines whether the first valve is closed or not after the command signal is transmitted from the signal transmission unit to the outdoor unit.

A fluid injection device (10) for injecting a dispensible fluid such as a liquid sealant (24) into an air conditioning or refrigeration system or the like, includes a tube (12, 12, 12) containing the fluid sealant in a storage chamber (26, 26, 26). Outlet valves conventionally used at the tube outlet are replaced with a rupturable membrane (28, 28, 66). Means to rupture the membrane may comprise a puncture tool (32, 50), or the membrane may be designed to burst under pressure imposed on it in use. Use of membrane (28, 28, 66) at the outlet of device 10 avoids problems caused by even very slight leakage of fluid sealant past an outlet valve. The fluid injection device (10) is used by connecting the tube inlet to a high pressure zone of the system and connecting the tube outlet to a low pressure zone of the system.

Distributed Climate-Control Systems and Methods with Distributed Protection against Refrigerant Loss: the system includes a central condenser unit in combination with a distributed network of air handling units. Each air handler includes an evaporator, in which condensed refrigerant can undergo a phase change while absorbing heat of vaporization, plus a heat exchanger (e.g. a coil) which permits the heat absorption of the evaporator to be coupled to a forced airflow. Preferably the evaporator includes a metering device to provide variable refrigerant flow, and hence variable rates of heat transfer. The individual evaporators also include a sensor to detect ambient levels of the refrigerant, electrically operable cutoff valves which permit the evaporator to be isolated from both the liquid-phase and the gas-phase refrigerant flows. Local control logic is preferably connected to shut the cutoff valves whenever an ambient refrigerant concentration is found to exceed a tolerable level.

Systems, devices, and methods for recovering mixed refrigerant and/or nitrogen within liquefaction systems are provided. The systems, devices, and methods facilitate recovering mixed refrigerant (MR) and/or nitrogen vapor that can leak from a compressor, separating the MR from the nitrogen, and reusing the MR and/or the nitrogen within the liquefaction system. Recovering and reusing MR and/or nitrogen can minimize loss of MR and nitrogen which can lower the total operating cost of a liquefaction system. Additionally, recovering the MR, rather than burning it, can reduce environmental emissions by reducing the amount of MR that is burned.

An Air Conditioning Service kit and method for producing the same, wherein the kit contains a compatible selection of the most commonly needed parts for servicing the air conditioner in a vehicle or consolidated group of vehicles including one or more Expansion Devices, an Accumulator or Receiver Dryer, a Lubricant Oil such as compressor PAG oil, A Measuring Cup, and a Rapid Seal Kit.

A heat-pump circuit may include an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor adapted to circulate a working fluid between the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers, and an expansion device disposed between the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. A monitor for the heat-pump system may include a return-air temperature sensor, a supply-air temperature sensor, and a processor. The return-air temperature sensor may be adapted to measure a first air temperature of air upstream of the indoor heat exchanger. The supply-air temperature sensor may be adapted to measure a second air temperature of air downstream of the indoor heat exchanger. The processor may be in communication with the return-air temperature sensor and the supply-air temperature sensor. The processor may be programmed to determine a working-fluid-charge condition of the heat-pump system based on the first and second air temperatures.

A sealing mechanism (40) includes: a ring-shaped sealing body (41) which surrounds a rotating shaft (24) when viewed from an axial direction; a sealing-body support part (42) which supports the sealing body (41) so as to be movable in a radial direction of the rotating shaft (24); and an elastic member (44) which is interposed between the sealing body (41) and the sealing-body support part (42).

A compressor is configured to increase the pressure of a vapor. The compressor includes one or more labyrinth seals configured to prevent leakage of the vapor. Each of the one or more labyrinth seals includes a first stepped portion and a second stepped portion. Each of the first stepped portion and the second stepped portion includes a plurality of canted teeth.

A refrigeration cycle system includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus and a refrigerant storage portion. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a gas-side connection pipe, and a liquid-side connection pipe. The refrigerant storage portion stores the refrigerant present inside a refrigerant circulation path. The refrigerant storage portion communicates with the refrigerant circulation path through a first storage portion pipe and a second storage portion pipe. The first storage portion pipe causes a first refrigerant pipe of an outdoor refrigerant flow path and the refrigerant storage portion to communicate with each other, or causes the gas-side connection pipe and the refrigerant storage portion to communicate with each other. The second storage portion pipe causes the second refrigerant pipe of the outdoor refrigerant flow path and the refrigerant storage portion to communicate with each other.