A heat pump water heater has a tank, a heat source, and a heat pump system. The heat pump system has a refrigerant path, at least a portion of which is in thermal communication with the water tank volume so that heat transfers from refrigerant to the water tank volume. A fan causes air to flow through a housing, and another portion of the refrigerant path includes an evaporator in the housing. The fan is within the housing and may further be within a second housing. The first housing may comprise a baffle to direct air flow. The fan may be a variable speed fan in communication with a controller, so that the controller controls the fan speed depending on a temperature of the refrigerant.

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A damper controls air flow between the fresh food and freezer compartments. The control system can direct heat to the damper if the damper becomes frozen.

A two temperature electronic expansion valve control for variable speed compressors that utilizes a correlation between airflow percentage and heat exchanger pressure drop to control the operation of an expansion valve. An indoor airflow percentage request may be communicated from an outdoor controller to an air handler controller. Using a correlation between airflow percentage and pressure drop across the heat exchanger, the airflow percentage may be used in predicting an outlet pressure of refrigerant exhausted from the heat exchanger. The predicted pressure drop may be used in determining a saturated temperature for the exhausted refrigerant. The determined saturated temperature may be compared to a sensed temperature of the refrigerant at the outlet of the heat exchanger to determine a superheat value, which is compared to a reference superheat value in determining the degree to open or close the expansion valve.

A trolley compartment for an on-board kitchen intended for installation in a transport vehicle comprises a frontal access aperture as well as a rear wall that lies opposite the access aperture. A worktop forms an upper boundary of the trolley compartment. A first cooling fluid duct, which is connectable to an interior space of the trolley compartment via at least one first cooling fluid aperture, is integrated into or arranged adjacent to the worktop. At least one first removable cooling fluid aperture cover is selectively mountable in the first cooling fluid duct over the first cooling fluid aperture to separate the first cooling fluid duct from the interior space of the trolley compartment, or demountable from the first cooling fluid duct to connect the first cooling fluid duct to the interior space of the trolley compartment via the first cooling fluid aperture.

A method and system for improving energy efficiency of a refrigeration system include system components such as a condenser, one or more expansion valves, an evaporator, one or more compressors, and a system controller electrically coupled to the one or more of the system components, according to one embodiment. The system controller is configured to selectively actuate, directly or indirectly, the one or more expansion valves, the condenser, and/or the one or more compressors, at least partially based on temperatures and/or pressures of the system fluid at various points of the system, to control a temperature of a refrigerated area.

A refrigeration appliance includes a freezer compartment. An ice maker return duct fluidly couples an ice maker compartment and the freezer compartment. A pressure sensor is positioned within the freezer compartment and is configured to detect a pressure differential between the freezer compartment and an external environment. A fan is positioned within the ice maker return duct and is configured to be activated when the pressure within the freezer compartment is lower than the external environment.

A refrigerator includes a control module which controls a first compressor, a second compressor, a first fan, a second fan, and a third fan, in which the control module performs a high-temperature initial simultaneous operation when the outside air temperature is at the outside air set temperature or more, performs a high-temperature initial alternation operation when the freezing compartment temperature is at the freezing compartment set temperature or less and the refrigerating compartment temperature is at the refrigerating compartment set temperature or less during the high-temperature initial simultaneous operation. The control module drives the first compressor and the second compressor together during the high-temperature initial simultaneous operation, and alternately drives the first compressor and the second compressor during the high-temperature initial alternation operation.

A refrigerator, including a sealed refrigeration system, is provided herein. The sealed refrigeration system may include a compressor, a phase separator, and a rotatable heat exchanger. The phase separator may be in fluid communication with the compressor and include a separator body defining an inner face and an outer face. The inner face may define a refrigerant cavity. The outer face may be directed away from the refrigerant cavity opposite the inner face. The rotatable heat exchanger may include a thermally conductive body and a plurality of spaced planar fins. The thermally conductive body may be positioned about the outer face along a rotation axis. The planar fins may extend from the thermally conductive body in a radial direction away from the phase separator. The plurality of spaced planar fins may define an axial intake channel extending parallel to the rotation axis through one or more planar fins.

A refrigerator appliance may be provided that includes a housing, a first fluid-motivating unit (FMU), a second FMU, and a controller. The housing may define a chilled chamber. The first FMU may be mounted to the housing. The second FMU may be mounted to the housing apart from the first FMU. The controller may be in operable communication with the first FMU and the second FMU. The controller may be configured to initiate a cooling operation. The cooling operation may include activating the first FMU to generate a first fluid flow, increasing a speed setting of the first FMU gradually at a first predetermined ramp rate, activating the second FMU subsequent to activating the first FMU to generate a second fluid flow, and increasing a speed setting of the second FMU gradually.

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.