A system and method for controlling a refrigeration system is disclosed. The system includes a cooled compartment, at least one heat source selectively activated to provide heat, at least one sensor, and a controller. The sensor detects a temperature and a relative humidity of ambient air that surrounds the cooled compartment. The controller is in communication with the at least one heat source and the at least one sensor. The controller includes logic for calculating a dew point temperature based on the temperature and the relative humidity. The controller also includes logic for selecting a region of operation based on at least one of the dew point temperature and the relative humidity, where the region of operation is representative of ambient conditions that surround the cooled compartment. The controller further includes logic for determining if the at least one heat source is activated based on the region of operation.

A system and a method for defrosting/de-icing an air-conditioner are provided, the system comprising: a 3D depth sensor disposed inside an air-conditioner outdoor unit casing, for acquiring information regarding outer diameters of pipes of an outdoor heat exchanger, distances between the pipes, and distances between the respective pipes and an air-conditioner outdoor unit casing side plate; and a controller connected to the 3D depth sensor, for receiving the information acquired by the 3D depth sensor and controlling the air conditioner to enter or exit a defrosting-deicing mode. The system and method for defrosting/de-icing an air-conditioner provided by the present disclosure can effectively and timely perform defrost/de-ice operation on the outdoor heat exchanger to prevent freezing; besides, it can prevent the impact on the air-conditioner's heating function to the utmost extent so as to significantly improve user experience.

A dual redundant cooling system for a container is provided. The dual redundant cooling system includes a first cooling unit and a second cooling unit. The first cooling unit is positioned in a first cabinet attached to the container. The first cooling unit includes a first controller operating a first cooling loop to cool an interior of the container. The second cooling unit is positioned in a second cabinet attached to the container and adjacent the first cabinet. The second cooling unit includes a second controller operating a second cooling loop to cool the interior of the container. The first cooling unit and the first cooling loop are separate from the second cooling unit and the second cooling loop. The first controller and the second controller communicate a switch signal between each other so that either the first cooling unit is a primary cooling unit operating the first cooling loop or the second cooling unit is the primary cooling unit operating the second cooling loop. The switch signal switching the primary cooling unit. The system interface box positioned in the second cabinet and connected to the first cooling unit and the second cooling unit. The system interface box has a first switch adapted to power on or power off the first cooling unit and a second switch adapted to power on or power off the second cooling unit.

An ice making system includes a tank that stores a medium to be cooled, an ice making machine that cools the medium and makes ice, a pump that circulates the medium between the tank and the ice making machine, a de-icing mechanism that heats the medium and melts the ice in the ice making machine, and a control device that controls operations of the ice making machine, the pump, and the de-icing mechanism. The ice making machine includes a cooling chamber that cools the medium, an inflow port through which the medium flows into the cooling chamber, and a discharge port through which the medium is discharged from the cooling chamber. The control device activates the de-icing mechanism when a pressure difference between a pressure of the medium at the inflow port and a pressure of the medium at the discharge port exceeds a predetermined value.

A refrigerator includes: a main body having a storage chamber; a door for opening and closing the storage chamber; a thermoelectric module for cooling the storage chamber; an outside temperature sensor for detecting an outside temperature; a storage chamber temperature sensor for detecting the storage chamber temperature; and a control unit for applying a voltage within a range between the maximum voltage and the minimum voltage to the thermoelectric module. The control unit applies the set voltage, not the maximum voltage, to the thermoelectric module when the outside temperature is the uppermost outside temperature range among the plurality of outside temperature ranges and thus the temperature of the control is lowered and power consumption is reduced.

A heat pump system includes a refrigerant circuit, at least one compressor, an evaporator, and a controller programmed to defrost the evaporator in a defrost mode, wherein in the defrost mode the controller is programmed to monitor the evaporator to detect frost creation thereon, and reduce the speed of the at least one compressor and/or reduce the number of some, but not all operating compressors of the at least one compressor, if frost creation is detected on the evaporator. In some embodiments, the controller is programmed to defrost the evaporator in a second defrost mode. In the second defrost mode the controller is programmed to monitor the evaporator to detect frost creation thereon, turn off the at least one compressor when frost is detected on the evaporator, and operate a fan to force ambient air over the evaporator to defrost the evaporator.

A sensing module according to an embodiment includes: a substrate; a sensing electrode formed on a first surface of the substrate; a reaction layer formed on the first surface of the substrate and burying an upper surface of the substrate and the sensing electrode; a driving unit electrically connected to the sensing electrode formed on the first surface of the substrate and processing a sensing signal transmitted through the sensing electrode; and a protective layer formed surrounding the driving unit, wherein an impedance value of the reaction layer is changed by an external contact material, and the sensing electrode transmits the sensing signal with respect to the impedance value of the reaction layer to the driving unit.

A method of initiating a defrost cycle using a controller of a heat pump system includes measuring a temperature of an evaporator coil and determining whether the temperature of the evaporator coil is less than a freezing temperature. Responsive to a determination that the temperature of the evaporator coil is less than the freezing temperature, determining whether a current dew point temperature of air is greater than the temperature of the evaporator coil. Responsive to a determination that the current dew point temperature of air is greater than the temperature of the evaporator coil, calculating a frost-collection rate. Determining whether the frost-collection rate is greater than a frost-collection-rate threshold, and, responsive to a determination that the frost-collection rate is greater than the frost-collection-rate threshold, initiating a defrost cycle.

A method of initiating a defrost cycle using a controller of a heat pump system includes measuring a temperature of an evaporator coil and determining whether the temperature of the evaporator coil is less than a freezing temperature. Responsive to a determination that the temperature of the evaporator coil is less than the freezing temperature, determining whether a current dew point temperature of air is greater than the temperature of the evaporator coil. Responsive to a determination that the current dew point temperature of air is greater than the temperature of the evaporator coil, calculating a frost-collection rate. Determining whether the frost-collection rate is greater than a frost-collection-rate threshold, and, responsive to a determination that the frost-collection rate is greater than the frost-collection-rate threshold, initiating a defrost cycle.

A cooling and heating system for a motor vehicle comprises a heat pump, a controller, a low temperature radiator in thermal communication with the heat pump, a passenger cabin heat exchanger in thermal communication with the heat pump, and a defrost system comprising a bypass coolant loop in selective fluid communication with the low temperature radiator. When in the heating mode, the controller opens a solenoid valve and activates a coolant heater in the bypass coolant loop upon detecting operation of the heat pump outside of a predetermined normal operating range and upon detecting an ambient temperature below a predetermined temperature. The controller de-activates the coolant heater upon detecting operation of the heat pump within the predetermined normal operating range. The controller may also de-activate close the solenoid upon detecting operation of the heat pump within the predetermined normal operating range.