One embodiment of a method for operating an internal combustion engine under a pressure less than atmospheric pressure includes the steps of positioning a vacuum pump such that said vacuum pump is in fluid communication with a crankcase of said internal combustion engine, connecting a discharge of said vacuum pump to a separator, wherein a portion of said discharge of said vacuum pump condenses in said separator, connecting a vapor discharge of said separator to a filter, wherein said filter removes a portion of volatile organic compounds from said vapor discharge, and venting said filter to an ambient atmosphere.

An arrangement of a variable capacity vane pump for an automobile is provided that includes a pump housing having an outlet and inlet. A pump control ring is provided having a cavity. The control ring is positioned within the housing to move about a pivot. A vane pump rotor is positioned within the cavity of the pump control ring. A position of the pump control ring determines an offset between a center of the pump control ring cavity and an axis of rotation of the vane pump rotor. Vanes are provided that are driven by the rotor and which engage an interior surface of the pump control ring. The vanes and the engaged surface defining working fluid chambers. A first control chamber is provided. The first control chamber is exposed to a first side of the pivot between the pump housing and the outer surface of the pump control ring. The first control chamber is operable to receive pressurized fluid to create a force to move the pump control ring to reduce a volumetric capacity of the pump. A second control chamber, positioned between the pump inlet and outlet is provided that provides a hydraulic force to increase the volumetric capacity of the pump.

A compressor includes a shell, a first scroll member, a second scroll member and a sealing assembly. The shell defines a first pressure region and a second pressure region. The first scroll member is disposed within the shell and includes a first end plate and a first scroll wrap. The second scroll member includes a second end plate and a second scroll wrap. The second scroll wrap meshingly engages the first scroll wrap to define a compression chamber therebetween. The seal assembly fluidly separates the first and second pressure regions from each other. The seal assembly includes a first plate, a second plate, a sealing member. The sealing member is sealingly engaged with the first plate and the second plate.

A control system comprising: a suction line; an exhaust line; an operating liquid line; a liquid ring pump comprising a suction input coupled to the suction line, an exhaust output coupled to the exhaust line, and a liquid input coupled to the operating liquid line; a motor configured to drive the liquid ring pump; a first sensor configured to measure a first parameter of an exhaust fluid of the liquid ring pump; a second sensor configured to measure a second parameter of a gas being received by the liquid ring pump via the suction line; and a controller operatively coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the motor, and configured to control the motor based on sensor measurements of the first sensor and the second sensor.

A variable displacement vane pump that includes a biasing assembly that applies a first biasing force to a pump control ring when the pump control ring is located a first position and a second position and applies a second biasing force when the pump control ring is located between the second position and a third position. The first position of the pump control ring corresponds to a maximum volumetric capacity of the pump, the second position corresponds to an intermediary volumetric capacity of the pump, and the third position corresponds to a minimum volumetric capacity of the pump. Fluid pressure within a control chamber urges the pump control ring toward the third position.

A thermal energy recovery device includes: a circulating flow path connected to a heater, an expander, a condenser and a circulating pump for circulating a working medium; a bypass valve in a bypass path connecting the upstream side region and the downstream side region of the expander in the circulating flow path; a power recovery machine connected to the expander; a circulating pump sending the working medium condensed in the condenser to the heater; a cooling medium pump sending a cooling medium to the condenser; an upstream side sensor detecting the pressure/temperature of the working medium on the expander upstream side in the circulating flow path; and a controller controlling the bypass valve and the cooling medium pump. The controller opens the bypass valve after stopping the circulating pump, and drives the cooling medium pump if the pressure/temperature of the working medium on the expander upstream side exceeds a threshold.

A method for controlling a compressor device (1) with a compressor element (2) and oil circuit (14) with oil (15) that is injected into the compressor element (2) by a fan (19) via a cooler (18), with a bypass pipe (20) across the cooler (18), whereby when the temperature (T) of the compressor element (2) is less than a value (T.sub.set), the method including the following steps: switching the fan (19) off; when the temperature (T) is still less than T.sub.set, driving the oil (15) via the bypass pipe (20); when the temperature (T) is still less than T.sub.set, decreasing the quantity of oil (15) that is injected into the compressor element (2) until the temperature (T) is equal to T.sub.set

A method for controlling a compressor system comprising a plurality of compressors, wherein the compressor system is intended to maintain a predefined excess pressure in a pressurized fluid system, wherein decisions are met at fixed or variable intervals as to switching operations for adapting the system to current conditions, wherein —in a pre-selecting step, switching alternatives are excluded from the plurality of combinatorially available switching alternatives, —in a main selecting step, remaining switching alternatives are weighed against one another while referring to one or more optimization criterion (criteria) and optimum switching alternatives are selected from among the given criteria, and —in a control step, the selected switching alternative is output for implementation in the compressor system.

A compressor module for a refrigerant circuit of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system, exhibiting a modular multi-part housing with a low-pressure refrigerant inlet, a high-pressure refrigerant outlet and a compressor, characterized in that an inner heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit is produced such that it is integrated into the compressor module, wherein the housing of the compressor module fully encloses the inner heat exchanger.

A pump device includes a flow control valve that returns a part of working fluid discharged from a pump to the suction side, and the flow control valve includes a valve body, a first fluid pressure chamber that is provided so as to face against a first-side end surface of the valve body and that is communicated with a discharge channel, a second fluid pressure chamber that is provided so as to face against a second-side end surface of the valve body and that is communicated with the discharge channel, a biasing member that is accommodated in the second fluid pressure chamber for biasing the valve body in the valve-closing direction, and a pressure regulator that is provided in a communicating passage through which the discharge channel is communicated with the second fluid pressure chamber and that adjusts pressure in the second fluid pressure chamber.