A heat pump system includes a compressor, a fluid switching device, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger, a fourth heat exchanger, a flow regulating device and a throttle element. The second heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange portion and a second heat exchange portion. An outlet of the first heat exchange portion communicates with the throttle element. An inlet of the first heat exchange portion communicates with at least one of a second port of the third heat exchanger and an outlet of the fourth heat exchanger. An inlet of the second heat exchange portion communicates with the outlet of the first heat exchanger. An outlet of the second heat exchange portion communicates with an inlet of the compressor. In a heating mode, the function of the second heat exchanger is reduced, thereby the heating capacity of the heat pump system is improved.

A heat medium temperature adjustment system includes a heat medium circuit configured to circulate heat medium having a temperature controlled by a heat exchange with a heat source.

The heat medium circuit includes a pump configured to pump the heat medium, and a plurality of heat exchangers for temperature-adjustment subjects configured to perform heat exchanges with temperature-adjustment subjects. The heat medium circuit is configured to form a series flow path to connect the pump to the plurality of heat exchangers for temperature-adjustment subjects when a system malfunction occurs.

A valve assembly for a refrigerant circuit, having at least two ball valves, which each have a ball as a control element and an actuator for adjusting the associated ball, and also a refrigerant circuit having heat pump functionality for a vehicle having such a valve assembly.

An air conditioning system for a vehicle. The air conditioning system includes a cooling line adapted to transport a coolant fluid and a first heat-exchanging arrangement connected to the cooling line. The air conditioning system includes a first liquid container being arranged to hold a first liquid heat exchange medium and the first heat-exchanging arrangement is arranged inside the first liquid container for exchanging heat between the coolant fluid and the first liquid heat exchange medium.

An integrated thermal management system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for a vehicle, including a cabin thermal management loop; an energy storage system thermal management loop; a power electronics thermal management loop; and a multi-port valve assembly coupled to the cabin thermal management loop, the energy storage system thermal management loop, and the power electronics thermal management loop, adapted to, responsive to an operating state of the vehicle, selectively isolate and couple the cabin thermal management loop, the energy storage system thermal management loop, and the power electronics thermal management loop from and to one another.

A method for heating and/or air conditioning the passenger compartment of an automobile using a reversible cooling loop containing a refrigerant including 2,3,3,30-tetrafluoropropane and at least one compound chosen from among propane, propylene and ethylene. Said method is particularly suitable when the outside temperature is lower than ?20? C. The method is also suitable for hybrid automobiles, which are designed to operate in alternation between a heat engine and an electric engine, as well as for electric vehicles. A composition including 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropane and at least one compound chosen from among propylene and ethylene, suitable for being used for refrigeration, air conditioning and heating.

A refrigeration cycle device includes a compressor, an air-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between air and refrigerant, an expansion valve decompressing the refrigerant, a heat medium-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a heat medium and the refrigerant, a cold-heat utilization device that utilizes cold heat of the heat medium, and a hot-heat utilization device that utilizes hot heat of the heat medium. A refrigerant flow switching valve is provided to switch between a heat-medium cooling mode of cooling the heat medium in the heat medium-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a heat-medium heating mode of heating the heat medium in the heat medium-refrigerant heat exchanger. In addition, a heat medium flow switching device is provided such that, in the heat-medium cooling mode, the heat medium circulates between the heat medium-refrigerant heat exchanger and the cold-heat utilization device, and that in the heat-medium heating mode, the heat medium circulates between the heat medium-refrigerant heat exchanger and the hot-heat utilization device.

A heat pump cycle includes a first usage side heat exchanger that heats a target fluid via heat exchange with refrigerant discharged from a compressor. The refrigerant flowing out of the first usage side heat exchanger is reduced in pressure by a first pressure reducing unit, and then separated into gas and liquid by a gas-liquid separation unit. The separated gas-phase refrigerant flows toward an intermediate-pressure port of the compressor. The separated liquid-phase refrigerant is reduced in pressure by a second pressure reducing unit. An additional heat exchanger performs heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing from the second pressure reducing unit and a heat medium, and allows the refrigerant to flow toward an intake port of the compressor. A second usage side heat exchanger performs heat exchange between the separated liquid-phase refrigerant and a counterpart fluid, and allows the refrigerant to flow toward the second pressure reducing unit.

A method for the heating and/or air conditioning of the passenger compartment of an automobile using a reversible cooling loop in which flows a coolant containing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. The method is particularly useful when outdoor temperature is lower than 15 C. The method can be used for hybrid automobiles designed for operating alternatively with a thermal engine and an electric motor.

In a vehicular air conditioner in which a cooling operation and a heating operation are switched by switching a four-way valve, a pressure accumulator is provided in which a coolant, which is related to an aspiration pressure of a compressor, is accumulated when the compressor is operated, and a differential pressure, which is required for switching the four-way valve, between piston rooms is maintained, and the differential pressure, which is required for switching the four-way valve, is generated between the piston rooms of the four-way valve even after the compressor is stopped.