The following invention relates to a dual loop conventional chiller plant, hereafter referred to as the enhanced air conditioning chiller. Where the first loop, primary circuit, typifies refrigeration compression closed loop containing the air conditioning companion stabilizer (“aka” stabilizer); establishing efficiency enhancements. The refrigeration loop is configured to provide refrigerant at a set point temperature amenable to the charging, ice production or freezing brine solution, contained within the ice storage tank static reservoir. The enhanced air conditioning chiller air handler(s) provides space/zones climate control via a fluid at a prescribed temperature, hereafter referred to as a hydronic solution, maintaining the air temperature to the space/zones.

The following invention relates to a dual loop conventional chiller plant, hereafter referred to as the enhanced air conditioning chiller. Where the first loop, primary circuit, typifies refrigeration compression closed loop containing the air conditioning companion stabilizer (“aka” stabilizer); establishing efficiency enhancements. The refrigeration loop is configured to provide refrigerant at a set point temperature amenable to the charging, ice production or freezing brine solution, contained within the ice storage tank static reservoir. The enhanced air conditioning chiller air handler(s) provides space/zones climate control via a fluid at a prescribed temperature, hereafter referred to as a hydronic solution, maintaining the air temperature to the space/zones.

A flange-mounted inline valve arrangement includes a flange having an internal fluid passage, and an inline electrically-operable valve coupled to the flange. The inline valve includes a valve body and a valve member movable relative to the fluid passage in the flange for controlling flow. The valve arrangement also includes an electrical feed that connects to the electrically-operable valve through the flange for enabling an electrical connection external to the flange and other system piping. At least part of the electrical feed may be in a flow path and is fluidly sealed to prevent electrical shorts. The valve arrangement may be installed into the system as a single unit with an exterior coupling of the electrical feed on an exterior part of the flange to easily make the external electrical connection. The valve arrangement may be used in a chiller, where the inline valve is an electronic expansion valve.

A flange-mounted inline valve arrangement includes a flange having an internal fluid passage, and an inline electrically-operable valve coupled to the flange. The inline valve includes a valve body and a valve member movable relative to the fluid passage in the flange for controlling flow. The valve arrangement also includes an electrical feed that connects to the electrically-operable valve through the flange for enabling an electrical connection external to the flange and other system piping. At least part of the electrical feed may be in a flow path and is fluidly sealed to prevent electrical shorts. The valve arrangement may be installed into the system as a single unit with an exterior coupling of the electrical feed on an exterior part of the flange to easily make the external electrical connection. The valve arrangement may be used in a chiller, where the inline valve is an electronic expansion valve.

A combined heat exchanger, a heat exchange system, and an optimization method thereof are provided. The heat exchange system includes: an enhanced vapor injection compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, which are located in a main circuit; wherein the heat exchange system further includes a first branch branched from the main circuit to an vapor injection port of the compressor at a branch point P downstream of the condenser, and a first heat exchange unit and a second heat exchange unit are further provided in the main circuit between the branch point P and the expansion valve; and wherein a refrigerant leaving the condenser is divided at the branch point P into a first portion passing through the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit from the main circuit, and a second portion passing through the first branch to the vapor injection port.

A combined heat exchanger, a heat exchange system, and an optimization method thereof are provided. The heat exchange system includes: an enhanced vapor injection compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, which are located in a main circuit; wherein the heat exchange system further includes a first branch branched from the main circuit to an vapor injection port of the compressor at a branch point P downstream of the condenser, and a first heat exchange unit and a second heat exchange unit are further provided in the main circuit between the branch point P and the expansion valve; and wherein a refrigerant leaving the condenser is divided at the branch point P into a first portion passing through the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit from the main circuit, and a second portion passing through the first branch to the vapor injection port.

A method of detecting electrical failure in a refrigeration system is provided. The method includes determining whether a present superheat of the refrigeration system is between a maximum superheat and a minimum superheat for the refrigeration system, the maximum superheat and the minimum superheat defining a normal operating range. The method also includes detecting an electrical property of an expansion valve assembly of the refrigeration system responsive to the superheat being outside the normal operating range. The method further includes determining whether the expansion valve assembly as experienced an electrical failure based on at least the electrical property. A signal indicating that the expansion valve has experienced an electrical failure is generated based on a determination that the expansion valve assembly has experienced the electrical failure.

A refrigeration system configured for controlling operation of a compressor is disclosed. The refrigeration system comprises an electronic expansion device operatively coupled with the compressor. The refrigeration system comprises a controller operatively coupled with the electronic expansion device. The controller is configured to control the electronic expansion valve based on a superheat setpoint range. The controller is further configured to adjust the superheat setpoint range in response to an operating point of the compressor being within a threshold distance from a boundary of an operational envelope for the compressor.

A refrigeration system configured for controlling operation of a compressor is disclosed. The refrigeration system comprises an electronic expansion device operatively coupled with the compressor. The refrigeration system comprises a controller operatively coupled with the electronic expansion device. The controller is configured to control the electronic expansion valve based on a superheat setpoint range. The controller is further configured to adjust the superheat setpoint range in response to an operating point of the compressor being within a threshold distance from a boundary of an operational envelope for the compressor.

A thermal management system includes a receiver configured to store a refrigerant fluid; a refrigeration system having a refrigerant fluid path that includes the receiver, and at least one evaporator disposed in the refrigerant fluid path. The refrigeration system is configured to receive the refrigerant fluid from the receiver through the refrigerant fluid path. The at least one evaporator is configured to receive the refrigerant fluid and to extract heat from at least one heat load having a specified thermal inertia that is in at least one of thermal conductive or convective contact with the at least one evaporator.