A thermal management system is described. The thermal management system includes a receiver configured to store a refrigerant, the receiver having a receiver inlet and a receiver outlet, a closed-circuit refrigeration system including a vapor compression closed-circuit system that includes the receiver, and a closed-circuit system that includes the receiver, wherein the closed-circuit refrigeration system is configurable to receive refrigerant from the receiver through one or both of the vapor compression closed-circuit system and the closed-circuit system.

A climate-control system may include a first compressor, a second compressor, a suction manifold, and a flow restrictor. The first and second compressors each include a shell and a compression mechanism. The shells define suction chambers from which the compression mechanisms draw working fluid. The shells include suction inlet fittings through which working fluid is drawn into the suction chambers. The suction inlet fittings are fluidly connected to the suction manifold. The suction manifold provides suction-pressure working fluid to the suction inlet fittings of the first and second compressors. The flow restrictor may be at least partially disposed within the suction manifold.

An gas-driven generator system for generating electric power from movement of a working liquid. The system includes a gas-driven generator that includes a liquid turbine system fluidically interposed between the lower end of an elongated gravitational distribution conduit and the lower ends of plural elongated buoyancy conduits. A heavy working liquid flows from the upper ends of the buoyancy conduits and is fed into the upper end of the elongated gravitational distribution conduit. Working liquid flows down the elongated gravitational distribution conduit to actuate the liquid turbine system. An injection of refrigerant gas into the working liquid in the plural elongated buoyancy conduits induces upward flow of the working liquid. The system includes a solar thermal heating system fluidically coupled to heat exchangers that transfer heat collected by the solar thermal heating system to the working liquid through a thermal transfer fluid circuit.

The disclosed technology includes devices, systems, and methods for heat pump systems configured to operate in low ambient temperatures. The disclosed technology can include a heat pump water heater system having an evaporator, a first compressor configured to compress refrigerant to a first pressure, and a second compressor configured to compress the refrigerant to a second pressure. The second pressure can be greater than the first pressure. The heat pump water heater system can include a preheater configured to receive the refrigerant at the first pressure and heat water and a condenser configured to receive the refrigerant at the second pressure and heat water. The water can be passed through the preheater before being passed through the condenser.

An integrated system floods an air conditioning low side heat exchanger such that the air conditioning low side heat exchanger does not evaporate all the liquid refrigerant entering the air conditioning low side heat exchanger. As a result, both liquid and vapor refrigerant leave the air conditioning low side heat exchanger. The system includes an additional receiver that stores the refrigerant leaving the air conditioning low side heat exchanger. To prevent the liquid refrigerant in the receiver from overflowing, the liquid refrigerant in the receiver is used in a refrigeration system when the level of liquid refrigerant in the receiver exceeds a threshold (e.g., as detected by a sensor in the receiver).

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 compressor system for a cryocooler includes a compressor unit that includes a compressor main body compressing a refrigerant gas of the cryocooler and a liquid-cooled heat exchanger cooling, through heat exchange with a cooling liquid, at least one of the refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor main body and an oil lubricating the compressor main body, a supply line through which the cooling liquid is supplied from a main chiller to the liquid-cooled heat exchanger, a collecting line through which the cooling liquid is collected from the liquid-cooled heat exchanger to the main chiller, and a backup chiller that is provided outside the compressor unit, circulates the cooling liquid to the liquid-cooled heat exchanger in place of or together with the main chiller, and includes a circulation pump and a cooler cooling the cooling liquid on an inlet side or outlet side of the pump.

An air conditioning system includes a first compressor and a second compressor arranged in parallel with the first compressor. The first compressor is a first type of compressor and the second compressor is a second type of compressor different from the first type of compressor. A valve is arranged upstream from both the first compressor and the second compressor relative to a flow of a fluid. The valve is operable to selectively supply the fluid to the first compressor, the second compressor, or both the first compressor and the second compressor.

An exemplary system is for a facility including a first heating/cooling zone and a water delivery system configured to deliver domestic water to a point of water use. The system generally includes a facility loop having a facility loop refrigerant flowing therethrough, a first zone heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy between the facility loop refrigerant and the first heating/cooling zone, and a first water-source heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy between domestic water upstream of the point of water use and the facility loop refrigerant.

An air conditioning unit includes: a first refrigeration system including a first evaporator, a first compressor, a first condenser, a first one-way valve, and a first throttling element connected in sequence in a loop as well as a second one-way valve connected in parallel with the first compressor, and a first fluorine pump connected in parallel with the first one-way valve; and a second refrigeration system including a second evaporator, a second compressor, a second condenser, a third one-way valve, and a second throttling element connected in sequence in a loop as well as a fourth one-way valve connected in parallel with the second compressor, and a second fluorine pump connected in parallel with the third one-way valve, where the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged front and rear in sequence along a return air cooling duct.