The present invention is directed at a thermal expansion valve for a residential refrigeration application, including a valve body with a high pressure inlet, a low pressure outlet, a first suction gas port and a second suction gas port. The valve further includes a superheat defining mechanism with a diaphragm, a pushpin and a charge.

Described is a regulation apparatus for a refrigeration plant having defined therein a refrigerant fluid path and a plurality of devices arranged along the refrigerant fluid path. The regulation apparatus includes a first sensor arranged in a first point (P1), and preferably a second sensor arranged in a second point (P3), both along the refrigerant fluid path. The control unit controls a first value measured by the first sensor and obtains a first regulation request of a device deriving from the first measured value as well as a second value measured by the second sensor, or calculated for the second point, and derives a second regulation request of the device deriving from the second measured value, compares the first and second regulation requests and establishes which regulation request is greater. A control unit commands an actuation device to actuate the most effective regulation request of the refrigeration plant devices.

A temperature sensitive rod is communicated with a diaphragm that is displaceable in response to a pressure difference between an internal pressure of a sealed space, in which a temperature sensitive medium is sealed, and a pressure of a low pressure refrigerant outputted from an evaporator. A blind hole, which opens to the sealed space, is formed in an inside of the temperature sensitive rod. The temperature sensitive medium is a mixture gas of the refrigerant and an inert gas. A mixing ratio of the inert gas in the temperature sensitive medium corresponds to a ratio of an equivalent diameter of the blind hole relative to a depth of the blind hole in such a manner that a time constant of heat conduction from the temperature sensitive rod to the temperature sensitive medium is kept within a desired time constant range.

A thermal sensing bulb (102) for an expansion valve (104) in a refrigerant system, the bulb containing a ballast material (108), the ballast material including alumina. More particularly, the ballast material (108) includes alpha alumina, which may be in the form of a plurality of discrete particles having a desired surface area, particle size, and/or particle size distribution.

A method for controlling a refrigerator comprises: as a first refrigeration cycle for refrigeration of a first storage chamber is operated, operating a compressor and operating a first cold air supply; when the first refrigeration cycle has been operated for a first run time, converting to a second refrigeration cycle for refrigeration of a second storage chamber, and operating a second cold air supply; and if the second refrigeration cycle has been operated for a second run time, stopping the second refrigeration cycle. A first reference time is determined using a representative value obtained based on the temperature of the first storage chamber during a single run cycle, which includes a previous first refrigeration cycle and a previous second refrigeration cycle. A second reference time period is determined using a representative value obtained on the basis of the temperature of the second storage chamber during the single run cycle.

A bulbless expansion valve including a valve body, a valve member, a power element, and a thermal sensor including an enclosure operatively mounted to the valve body. The power element includes a diaphragm having a first side operatively coupled to the valve member, and a second side that together with the sensor enclosure forms at least part of a sensing chamber containing sensing fluid such that the sensing fluid is in communication with the second side of the diaphragm. The first side of the diaphragm may be fluidly coupled to an operating line, such as a suction line, to communicate temperature and pressure to the first side of the diaphragm, thereby providing heat transfer with the sensing fluid on the opposite side. Temperature changes of the sensing fluid results in pressure changes applied to the diaphragm causing movement of the valve member to control flow of the operating fluid.

A bulbless expansion valve including a valve body, a valve member, a power element, and a thermal sensor including an enclosure operatively mounted to the valve body. The power element includes a diaphragm having a first side operatively coupled to the valve member, and a second side that together with the sensor enclosure forms at least part of a sensing chamber containing sensing fluid such that the sensing fluid is in communication with the second side of the diaphragm. The first side of the diaphragm may be fluidly coupled to an operating line, such as a suction line, to communicate temperature and pressure to the first side of the diaphragm, thereby providing heat transfer with the sensing fluid on the opposite side. Temperature changes of the sensing fluid results in pressure changes applied to the diaphragm causing movement of the valve member to control flow of the operating fluid.

A method for controlling a refrigerator comprises: as a first refrigeration cycle for refrigeration of a first storage chamber is operated, operating a compressor and operating a first cold air supply; when the first refrigeration cycle has been operated for a first run time, converting to a second refrigeration cycle for refrigeration of a second storage chamber, and operating a second cold air supply; and if the second refrigeration cycle has been operated for a second run time, stopping the second refrigeration cycle. A first reference time is determined using a representative value obtained based on the temperature of the first storage chamber during a single run cycle, which includes a previous first refrigeration cycle and a previous second refrigeration cycle. A second reference time period is determined using a representative value obtained on the basis of the temperature of the second storage chamber during the single run cycle.

An air conditioning system and a startup control method. The air conditioning system includes: a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve and an evaporator connected via a pipeline; and a thermal temperature sensing bulb disposed on an outlet pipeline of the evaporator and associated with the thermal expansion valve; the air conditioning system further includes a thermal power source which is thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb and controlledly cools or heats the thermal temperature sensing bulb. The thermal temperature sensing bulb is cooled or heated, as needed, by a thermal power source thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb, thereby enabling the thermal expansion valve associated with the thermal temperature sensing bulb to be opened and closed more smoothly.

A refrigerating system of the present invention includes a plurality of parallel type refrigerators each of which has a plurality of compressors, and a host control device having a compressor start/stop permission output unit which is configured to output a compressor activation permission or a compressor stop permission to one of the plurality of parallel type refrigerators which is activated according to a predetermined permission condition. Each of the parallel-type refrigerators has a compressor activation control unit which is configured to a stopped compressor included in a certain refrigerator when a load factor of the certain refrigerator is equal to or greater than a first specified value and the compressor activation permission is received, and a compressor stop control unit which is configured to stop an activated compressor included in a certain refrigerator when the load factor of the certain refrigerator is less than a second specified value and the compressor stop permission is received.