A transport refrigeration system is configured to set a first path, a second path, a third path, and fourth path selectively. The first path connects compressors in series. In the first path, interior heat exchangers each serve as an evaporator. The second path connects the compressors in series. In the second path, the interior heat exchangers each serve as a condenser. The third path connects the compressors in parallel. In the third path, at least one of the interior heat exchangers serve as the evaporator and the rest of the interior heat exchangers serve as the condenser. The fourth path connects the compressors in parallel. In the fourth path, the interior heat exchangers each serve as the condenser.

A air conditioning control device is configured to estimate whether or not the temperature of refrigerant on a high-pressure side in a heat pump device is equal to or lower than a predetermined low temperature and to switch a flow path switching device to an air-heating start-up mode when it is estimated that the temperature of refrigerant on the high-pressure side in the heat pump device is equal to or lower than the predetermined low temperature and switch the flow path switching device to a normal air-heating mode when it is estimated that the temperature of refrigerant on the high-pressure side in the heat pump device is higher than the predetermined low temperature.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger, an expansion device, a gas-liquid separator, a first flow rate control device, and a switch device configured to switch a route in which refrigerant circulates between a first route and a second route. In the first route, the refrigerant flows in order of the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the expansion device, the second heat exchanger, and the gas-liquid separator, and then, the refrigerant in liquid state discharged from the gas-liquid separator flows into the third heat exchanger. In the second route, the refrigerant flows in order of the compressor, the second heat exchanger, and the gas-liquid separator, and then, the refrigerant in gaseous state discharged from the gas-liquid separator flows through the first flow rate control device into the third heat exchanger.

A heat pump system can be reversed to either heat or cool a controlled space, such as environment in a building. In a typical use, such as heat pump system extracts heat or cold energy from the surrounding air around the building. A water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger is added to the refrigerant loop of the heat pump system along with a control system to operate water flow and a thermal energy exchange process. Addition of the water heat exchanger can add the heat or cold energy stored in a pool, or other external water reservoir, into the heat or cold exchanging process. Depending upon surrounding conditions, the automatic control system can switch in-between the energy sources, or use a combination of them, to improve efficiency the heat pump system.

An air conditioner has a refrigerant circuit and a blower. A refrigerant flow path switching mechanism is configured to switch to a first switching state to allow refrigerant to flow through a reheater, a second expansion valve, and a cooler in this order in a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant flow path switching mechanism is configured to switch to a second switching state to allow refrigerant to flow through the reheater, the second expansion valve, and the cooler in this order in the refrigerant circuit. The reheater and the cooler are configured to allow air blown by the blower to pass through the cooler and then pass through the reheater during either of the first switching state and the second switching state.

The invention presents air-conditioning system with chiller that provides, when operated in the cooling mode, cooling hardware for conditioning space and a heat exchanger for cooling and dehumidification of ambient air in supply air stream with cold liquid. In addition, the invention offers a method and design of a heat utilization system. The method incorporates refrigeration cycle with two consecutive expansions, two expansion devices, and a heat exchanger operating as a second condenser. The method can be used for air conditioners and chillers reheating over-chilled for dehumidification indoor and supply air. The method and design allow energy efficient heat utilization with variable amount of utilized heat.

An air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit including a compressor configured to compress a first-side refrigerant and a heat-source-side heat exchanger configured to cause heat exchange between air and the first-side refrigerant, plural indoor units including indoor heat exchangers configured to cause heat exchange between the air and a second-side refrigerant, plural intermediate heat exchangers configured to cause heat exchange between the first-side and second-side refrigerants and connected to the outdoor unit by a first-side refrigerant pipe and connected to the indoor units by a second-side refrigerant pipe, and a flow switching device configured to switch combination of connection between the indoor units and the intermediate heat exchangers. The indoor units include convective indoor units and radiant indoor units, the convective indoor units include a convective indoor heat exchanger, and the radiant indoor units include a radiant indoor heat exchanger.

Air conditioner units are provided. An air conditioner unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger including a coil assembly through which refrigerant is flowable, and an indoor heat exchanger, the indoor heat exchanger comprising a coil assembly through which refrigerant is flowable. The air conditioner unit further includes an auxiliary heat exchanger disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a refrigerant flow path, the auxiliary heat exchanger including a coil assembly through which refrigerant is flowable and further including a phase change material. The air conditioner unit further includes a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger, the indoor heat exchanger and the auxiliary heat exchanger, and a bulkhead disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction, the bulkhead defining the indoor portion and the outdoor portion.

An air conditioning system includes: first and second utilization side heat exchangers and a heat source side heat exchanger respectively connected in series; a compressor connected between the first utilization side heat exchanger and the heat source side heat exchanger; an expansion valve connected between the first utilization side heat exchanger and the second utilization side heat exchanger; a pressure control device connected between the second utilization side heat exchanger and the heat source side heat exchanger; and a bypass valve connected between the expansion valve and the heat source side heat exchanger. The bypass valve provides a variable amount of liquid refrigerant flowing from the expansion valve to the heat source side heat exchanger. The pressure control device and the bypass valve cooperate with each other to keep a temperature of the compressor below a maximum allowable temperature predetermined for the compressor.

An electric vehicle thermal management system includes a dynamic heat dissipating unit, an air conditioner unit, a heat exchange unit, and a control unit. The heat exchange unit is connected to the dynamic heat dissipating unit and the air conditioner unit for transferring heat therebetween. The control unit adjusts the flow rate of a coolant in the dynamic heat dissipating unit for controlling and adjusting the heat dissipating ability of the dynamic heat dissipating unit to meet the heat dissipation of the system, thereby improving distribution and management of heat energy in the system.