A condenser includes a shell having a vapor refrigerant inlet, a first tube bundle and a liquid refrigerant outlet. A second tube bundle is positioned in a subcooler component. The subcooler component has a center channel and at least two outer channels and conforms to the shell.

A PFC circuit is provided. A first bridge rectifier receives an AC voltage. A power converter includes a switch and receives an output of the first bridge rectifier, converts the output to a first DC voltage, and supplies the first DC voltage to a DC bus to power a compressor. A second bridge rectifier receives the AC voltage and bypasses at least one of the first bridge rectifier, a choke and a diode of the PFC circuit to provide a rectified AC voltage out of the second bridge rectifier to the DC bus to power the compressor. A control module controls operation of a driver to transition the switch between open and closed states to adjust a second DC voltage on the DC bus, where the second DC voltage, depending on the AC and second DC voltages, is based on the first DC voltage or the rectified AC voltage.

A PFC circuit is provided. A bridge rectification circuit receives an AC voltage and generates a rectified AC voltage. A power converter converts the rectified AC voltage to a first DC voltage, where the power converter includes a switch and supplies the first DC voltage to a DC bus to power a compressor. A current sensor detects an amount of current. A control module, while operating in a correction mode: based on the rectified AC voltage, a phase angle of the rectified AC voltage, a second DC voltage of the DC bus, or the detected amount of current, control operation of the switch to transition between operating in a high activity mode and an inactive or low activity mode; transition the switch between open and closed states while in the high and low activity modes; and maintain the power converter in an OFF state while in the inactive mode.

A refrigeration system includes a compressor, one or more sensors, and a controller. The one or more sensors are operable to sense data associated with the operation of the refrigeration system. The controller is operable to receive the data associated with the operation of the refrigeration system from the one or more sensors, determine an ideal output value of the compressor based at least on data associated with the operation of the refrigeration system, and determine, based at least on the data associated with the operation of the refrigeration system and the ideal output variable, that the performance of the compressor is abnormal.

A refrigeration system includes compressors and a controller. The controller is operable to receive information associated with a load of the refrigeration system and information associated with the compressors. The controller is also operable to determine a first efficiency value and a second efficiency value based on the information associated with the compressors, wherein the first efficiency value is associated with allocating the load among one or more of the compressors according to a first compressor staging and the second efficiency value is associated with allocating the load among one or more of the compressors according to a second compressor staging. The controller is also operable to operate the compressors with the load allocated according to the compressor staging associated with the more efficient efficiency value.

A heat pump circuit including a compressor that compresses a working fluid from a gas in a low pressure, low temperature first state to a high pressure, a high temperature second state. A first subflow of the working fluid is condensed into a gaseous/liquid mixture and assumes a third state by the working fluid delivering heat to a first medium. The first subflow of the working fluid is expanded and returns to a gas in the first state by absorbing heat from a second medium, whereupon the working fluid completes the cycle again. A second subflow of the compressed working fluid is expanded from the second state and the energy contents in the second subflow converted into electrical energy, whereafter the expanded working fluid is returned to the compressor after passage of the evaporator, or after expansion in the energy converter from the second to the first state.

A method of positioning an inlet guide vane assembly before start-up of a chiller system including a compressor, a condenser, and a cooler is provided including receiving a first input form sensors located in the cooler and the condenser. A saturation temperature is calculated based on the input from the sensors. A second input indicative of a minimum speed of a motor coupled to the compressor at start-up is received. Using the calculated saturation temperature and the second input, an allowable position of the inlet guide vane assembly is determined. The inlet guide vane assembly is then moved to the determined allowable position.

A compressor control apparatus, and a refrigerator including the same are provided. The operation of two compressors may be controlled using an alternating current (AC) switch, thereby minimizing a number of components, as well as increasing compressor capacity and enhancing operation efficiency. A plurality of operation modes may be used to correspond to a load or freezing capacity using two compressors, and the two compressors may be operated in a separate or simultaneous manner using a drive including two (AC) switches, thereby simplifying the configuration of the system.

Disclosed herein are a cooling apparatus and a control method thereof. The cooling apparatus using latent heat of a refrigerant includes evaporators evaporating the refrigerant, a compressor compressing the evaporated refrigerant to a high pressure, defrosting heaters removing frost accumulated on the evaporators, a driving unit providing driving current selectively to the compressor or the defrosting heaters, and a control unit controlling the driving unit to provide driving current to the compressor in a cooling operation mode and controlling the driving unit to provide driving current to the defrosting heaters in a defrosting operation mode. The cooling apparatus controls the defrosting heaters using a driving circuit controlling the compressor, and thus lowers the manufacturing costs of a refrigerator operated at DC power.

A method controls a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a compressor that includes a piston and uses refrigerant as lubricant for the piston, and the method includes determining an end time point of a refrigerant recovery operation based on a driving input value of the compressor to thereby reducer abrasion of the piston and power consumption.