A method for defrosting an evaporator of a sealed system includes determining that a defrost cycle is needed to remove frost from the evaporator and initiating such a defrost cycle. The method further includes determining that the defrost cycle failed to defrost the evaporator and repeating the defrost cycle until the defrost cycle is successful or until a predetermined number of defrost cycles have been performed. After a predetermined number of successive failed defrost cycles, the method includes preventing further operation of the sealed system, e.g., by locking out compressor, until the frost and/or ice build-up is removed.

A temperature controller for a sorption system having an evaporator to produce a gas, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the gas during a sorption phase, a flow channel extending between the evaporator and sorber to provide a gas pathway connecting them, a valve to control the rate of gas flow in the flow channel, and a temperature sensor positioned to measure the temperature of an evaporator surface or the air adjacent thereto indicative of an evaporator surface temperature, and generate a temperature signal. The controller includes an inflatable member having first and second inflation states, and a control unit configured to evaluate the temperature signal and in response control the state of inflation of the inflatable member and thereby the operation of the valve to control the rate of gas flow between the evaporator and sorber through the gas pathway.

A method for terminating defrosting of an evaporator (104) is disclosed. The evaporator (104) is part of a vapour compression system (100). The vapour compression system (100) further comprises a compressor unit (101), a heat rejecting heat exchanger (102), and an expansion device (103). The compressor unit (101), the heat rejecting heat exchanger (102), the expansion device (103) and the evaporator (104) are arranged in a refrigerant path, and an air flow is flowing across the evaporator (104). When ice is accumulated on the evaporator (104), the vapour compression system (100) operates in a defrosting mode. At least two temperature sensors (306, 307) monitor an evaporator inlet temperature, T.sub.e,in, at a hot gas inlet (304) of the evaporator (104) and an evaporator outlet temperature, T.sub.e,out, at a hot gas outlet (305) of the evaporator (104). A difference between T.sub.e,in and T.sub.e,out, is monitored and defrosting is terminated when the rate of change of the difference between T.sub.e,in and T.sub.e,out approaches zero.

A heat exchanger, in particular a chiller, includes a heat exchanger block with a first fluid duct for a refrigerant and a second fluid duct for a coolant, an inlet and an outlet for the refrigerant, which are formed at a connecting flange and which are fluidically connected to the first fluid duct, a sensor for detecting a measured variable of the refrigerant, and an electronic expansion valve arranged in the inlet including an integrated regulating unit, wherein the expansion valve regulates a flow rate of the refrigerant in the inlet as a function of the detected measured variable. The sensor and the regulating unit are connected via a cable to transfer data. A port is formed at the expansion valve. The cable is further secured releasably or non-releasably in the respective port at the expansion valve. In addition, a method for controlling or regulating the heat exchanger is provided.

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 method for operating a refrigeration unit that includes controlling overall compressor output of the refrigeration unit having at least one state variable. The method includes operating the compressor unit either in a first mode with a first overall compressor output in which the state variable decreases or in a second mode with a second overall compressor output in which the state variable increases, wherein the first and second modes alternate. The method further includes transitioning from the second mode to the first mode when the measured state variable reaches or exceeds a first threshold, and transitioning from the first mode to the second mode when the measured state variable reaches or falls below a second threshold. The difference between the first value and the second value corresponds to the greatest of the state variable differences that result over the respective minimum duration in the first or second mode.

A thermal management system for a vehicle includes a heating refrigerant circulation circuit, a heat pump cycle and a heat-discharge refrigerant circulation circuit A heating circulation section of the heating refrigerant circulation circuit, a recovery circulation section of the heat pump cycle, and a heat-discharge circulation section of the heat-discharge refrigerant circulation circuit are integrally configured as a combined heat exchanger that is capable of performing heat transfers at least between the cycle refrigerant and the heating refrigerant and between the heat-discharge refrigerant and the heating refrigerant. Furthermore, the heating refrigerant, the cycle refrigerant and the heat-discharge refrigerant are heat mediums each of which has a phase change during the heat transfer.

An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system and a controller. The refrigeration system includes a freeze plate in which ice is formed and a hot gas valve for harvesting the ice therefrom. A harvest sensor is triggered when at least a portion of the ice is harvested from the freeze plate and at least one temperature sensor measures a temperature that indicates that all of the ice has been harvested from the freeze plate. The temperature sensors may include a temperature sensor for measuring the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator outlet, the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator inlet, and/or the temperature of the freeze plate. The controller closes the hot gas valve in response from the triggering of the harvest sensor and the temperature measured by the temperature sensor(s) indicating that all of the ice has been harvested from the freeze plate.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, by pipes, connecting a compressor, a flow switching device, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a second heat exchanger. As refrigerant to be circulated through the refrigerant circuit, any one of a refrigerant having saturated gas temperature under standard atmospheric pressure that is higher than that of R32 and a refrigerant mixture mainly composed of the refrigerant is used. The refrigerant circuit includes an internal heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant-inlet side of the second heat exchanger and the refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant-outlet side of the second heat exchanger.

An air conditioning system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine includes a condenser configured to receive refrigerant output by an electric compressor and transfer heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser. A first evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a first control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator. A first blower is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle. A second evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a second control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator. A second blower is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle.