An air-conditioning apparatus includes: a plurality of heat source units each including a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, a flow control valve, and an accumulator; a use-side load connected to the heat source units by pipes, and including a use-side heat exchanger that causes heat exchange to be performed between refrigerant supplied from each of the heat source units and a use-side heat medium; and a controller that controls an operation of each of the heat source units. The controller includes a determination unit and a liquid equalization unit. The determination unit determines whether or not a current operation is a non-normal operation in which the heat source units and the use-side load operate in a different manner from that in a heating operation or a cooling operation. The liquid equalization unit equalizes the amounts of liquid refrigerant that flows in the heat source units, when the determination unit determines that the current operation is the non-normal operation.

An air conditioner is provided that may include an outdoor unit having a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; at least one indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger, in which the refrigerant is heat exchanged, an indoor expansion valve that expands the refrigerant by adjusting an opening thereof, and a leak sensor that senses leakage of the refrigerant; a gaseous line that connects the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit and through which gaseous refrigerant flows; a liquid line that connects the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit and through which liquid refrigerant flows; a first shut-off valve disposed adjacent to the at least one indoor unit that opens and closes the gaseous line; a second shut-off valve disposed adjacent to the at least one indoor unit that opens and closes the liquid line; a supercooling pipe branched from the liquid line and connected to an inlet of the compressor; a supercooling expansion valve that expands refrigerant, flowing through the supercooling pipe, by adjusting an opening thereof; and a controller configured to control operation of the compressor and to control opening and closing of the first shut-off valve, the second shut-off valve, the indoor expansion valve, and the supercooling expansion valve. When the leak sensor senses the leakage of the refrigerant, the controller closes the first shut-off valve and the second shut-off valve.

A refrigeration system includes a receiver, a gas bypass valve, a parallel compressor, and a controller. The gas bypass valve and the parallel compressor are fluidly coupled to an outlet of the receiver in parallel and configured to control a pressure of a gas refrigerant in the receiver. The controller is configured to switch from operating the gas bypass valve to operating the parallel compressor to control the pressure of the gas refrigerant in the receiver in response to a value of a process variable crossing a switchover setpoint. The value of the process variable depends on an amount of the gas refrigerant produced by the refrigeration system. The controller is configured to automatically adjust the switchover setpoint in response to the amount of the gas refrigerant produced by the refrigeration system being insufficient to sustain operation of the parallel compressor.

A refrigerant leakage determination system capable of detecting leakage of refrigerant without requiring complicated processing is provided. A refrigerant leakage determination system is a refrigerant leakage determination system of a refrigeration cycle apparatus that includes a refrigerant circuit including a heat-source-side heat exchanger and has, as operating modes, a normal mode in which the heat-source-side heat exchanger is caused to function as an evaporator and a defrosting mode in which the heat-source-side heat exchanger frosted during a normal operation is defrosted. The refrigerant leakage determination system includes a processor configured to acquire defrosting information regarding a relationship between a normal operation period and the number of defrosting operations, and memory that stores the defrosting information. The processor is further configured to determine, based on the acquired defrosting information, leakage of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigeration cycle circuit, a liquid receiver, a first valve and a second valve. The refrigeration cycle circuit includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger. The liquid receiver is provided in a second section located in the refrigeration cycle circuit. The second section is a section extending between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger without extending through the compressor. The first valve is provided in a first section in the refrigeration cycle circuit, and is a solenoid valve or a motor valve. The first section is a section extending between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger through the compressor. The second valve is provided in the second section and between the liquid receiver and the indoor heat exchanger, and is an electronic expansion valve, a solenoid valve or a motor valve.

A vehicle, a refrigerator for a vehicle, and a method for controlling a refrigerator for a vehicle are provided. The method for controlling the refrigerator for the vehicle includes turning on a switch of the refrigerator for the vehicle, measuring a temperature of an interior of the refrigerator for the vehicle a first time, measuring a temperature of the interior of the refrigerator for the vehicle again a second time after a predetermined time has elapsed from the first time, determining a temperature change of the interior of the refrigerator from the first time to the second time, and operating the refrigerator for the vehicle in a quench mode in which the temperature in the interior of the refrigerator is rapidly lowered, unlike a normal mode, if the temperature change in the interior of the refrigerator is in a positive direction.

A method for controlling a refrigerator comprises: as a first refrigeration cycle for refrigeration of a first storage chamber is operated, operating a compressor and operating a first cold air supply; when the first refrigeration cycle has been operated for a first run time, converting to a second refrigeration cycle for refrigeration of a second storage chamber, and operating a second cold air supply; and if the second refrigeration cycle has been operated for a second run time, stopping the second refrigeration cycle. A first reference time is determined using a representative value obtained based on the temperature of the first storage chamber during a single run cycle, which includes a previous first refrigeration cycle and a previous second refrigeration cycle. A second reference time period is determined using a representative value obtained on the basis of the temperature of the second storage chamber during the single run cycle.

The method for controlling the refrigerator includes operating a first cooling cycle for cooling the first storage compartment to operate the compressor and operating a first fan for the first storage compartment, and switching the first cooling cycle to a second cooling cycle for cooling the second storage compartment to operate the compressor and operating a second fan when a stop condition of the first cooling cycle is satisfied. A temperature of each storage compartment is sensed at sampling time intervals in each cooling cycle. Further, a cooling power of the compressor is determined for each sampling time based on a sensed current temperature of the storage compartment, and the compressor is operated at the determined cooling power.

A thermal system for an electrified vehicle including a thermal loop and a controller is provided. The thermal loop may include a rear evaporator and a compressor fluidly connected thereto, a conduit to distribute oil throughout the thermal loop, and an evaporator valve. The controller may be programmed to, responsive to receipt of a signal indicating evaporator valve shut-off and detection of a vehicle plug-in event, cycle the compressor to promote oil movement through the compressor. The controller may be further programmed to, responsive to receipt of the signal, open the evaporator valve to force oil back to the compressor. The thermal loop may further include a first expansion valve up stream of a chiller fluidly connected to the compressor, a second expansion valve between the evaporator valve and the rear evaporator, and a third expansion valve up stream of a front evaporator fluidly connected to the compressor.

A refrigerator cooling system, comprising a pipe forming a loop and, sequentially provided on the pipe, a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant amount regulator, a capillary tube, and an evaporator. The refrigerant amount regulator comprises a storage device and an adjustor provided within the storage device. The storage device is provided therein with a storage cavity for holding a refrigerant. The storage device is provided with an opening for the storage cavity to be in communication with the pipe. The adjustor comprises a sealer used for opening or closing the opening.