A refrigeration cycle apparatus uses a sensor that measures temperature of a plurality of refrigerant pipes in a contactless manner. A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and a use-side heat exchanger are connected in sequence. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a temperature detector that detects temperatures at a plurality of points in a contactless manner, and a heat-source-side controller. At least one heat-source-side heat exchanger and the use-side heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant pipes through which refrigerant to be heat-exchanged flows, and a flow rate adjuster. The flow rate adjuster adjusts flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through each of the plurality of refrigerant pipes. The temperature detector detects respective temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant pipes. The heat-source-side controller controls the flow rate adjustment unit based on the temperatures detected by the temperature detector.

A method for controlling an operation of a refrigeration appliance includes controlling a first cooling routine for a first compartment via a flow of a thermal exchange media to a first evaporator. The method further includes controlling a heating routine in response to a setpoint temperature being greater than the temperature of the first compartment. The heating routine includes activating a heating element and a fan in the first compartment over a first interval and deactivating the heating element and the fan over a second interval. The heating routine continues by activating the first interval and the second interval over alternating time periods. In response to the temperature of the first compartment being greater than or equal to a target temperature associated with the setpoint, the method may control the operation of the appliance by returning to the cooling routine.

A heat transfer apparatus includes a plurality of “n” number of control valves, each of the plurality of “n” number of control valves including a control valve inlet and a control valve outlet; a like plurality of “n” number of evaporator sections, each of the like plurality of “n” number of evaporator sections including an evaporator section inlet and an evaporator section outlet, each evaporator section inlet fluidly coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of “n” number of control valve outlets, each evaporator section configured to extract heat from at least one heat load that is in thermal conductive or convective contact or proximate to the evaporator section; a refrigerant fluid inlet fluidly coupled to the like plurality of evaporator sections; and a refrigerant fluid outlet fluidly coupled to the like plurality of evaporator sections.

A refrigeration appliance, especially domestic refrigeration appliance, includes a compressor, a condenser, at least a first evaporator, a suction line from the first evaporator to the compressor, at least one heat exchanger switchable between condenser operation and evaporator operation, and a valve arrangement switching the heat exchanger between an evaporator operating state, having a switchable heat exchanger inlet connected to the condenser through a first choke point and a switchable heat exchanger outlet connected to the first evaporator, and a condenser operating state, having the switchable heat exchanger outlet connected to the evaporator through a second choke point. A first supply line for supplying refrigerant in the evaporator operating state and a second supply line, separate therefrom, for supplying refrigerant in the condenser operating state, are associated with the switchable heat exchanger. Only the first supply line is connected with the suction line, forming an external heat exchanger.

A refrigerating system may include a compressor configured to compress a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the compressed non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant, a three-way valve configured to branch the non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant condensed by the condenser, a first evaporator configured to supply cold air to a first interior space, a second evaporator configured to supply cold air to a second interior space at a temperature higher than at a temperature of the first interior space, and a capillary tube configured to expand the non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant branched by the three-way valve and supply the expanded non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant to at least one of the first evaporator or the second evaporator. With such features, a high-efficiency refrigerating system to which the non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant is applied may be implemented.

A heat exchanger of an HVAC system including an inlet header, an outlet header, and tubes configured to extend between the inlet header and the outlet header. The system also includes a first interchangeable refrigerant distributor segment of the inlet header, where the first interchangeable refrigerant distributor segment includes first orifices configured to fluidly couple with the tubes to facilitate distribution of refrigerant from the inlet header to the tubes in a first configuration. The system also includes a second interchangeable refrigerant distributor segment of the inlet header, where the second interchangeable refrigerant distributor segment includes second orifices configured to fluidly couple with the tubes to facilitate distribution of refrigerant from the inlet header to the tubes in a second configuration. The first orifices include a first characteristic of an orifice cross-sectional internal boundary size or shape, and the second orifices include a second characteristic of the orifice cross-sectional internal boundary size or shape different than the first characteristic.

A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment having a target temperature above 0° C., a freezer compartment for storing food items in a sub-freezing environment having a target temperature below 0° C., a system evaporator for providing a cooling effect to at least one of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, and an ice maker disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice maker includes an ice mold with an upper surface comprising a plurality of cavities formed therein for the ice pieces, a heater disposed on the ice mold and an ice maker refrigerant tube abutting at least one lateral side surface of the ice mold and cooling the ice mold to a temperature below 0° C. via thermal conduction.

A refrigerating apparatus may include a main body having an interior space in which an article is accommodated, a door configured to open and close an opening of the main body, a compressor configured to compress a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the compressed non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant, a hotline provided at a contact portion between the main body and the door through which the condensed non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant flows, an expander configured to expand the non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant, heat of which is radiated by the hotline, and an evaporator configured to evaporate the expanded non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant to supply cold air to the interior space. According to such structure, even when the non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant is used, a function of the hotline to prevent dew formation may be normally performed with hot refrigerant.

A multi-type air conditioner is provided including an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit by a liquid pipe and a gas pipe. The plurality of indoor units includes a first indoor unit including first and second heat exchangers and first and second heat exchanger connecting pipes, and a second indoor unit. An indoor heat exchanger connecting pipe connects the first and second indoor units, and a liquid pipe connecting tube connects the first indoor unit and the liquid pipe. Opening amounts of a first indoor expansion valve, and first and second bypass expansion valves provided in the first indoor unit are opened selectively to operate the first heat exchanger as a condenser and the second heat exchanger as an evaporator to continuously drive a dehumidification mode while maintaining a room temperature within a predefined range.

A method for controlling a refrigerator, includes turning off a cold air transmission unit as a temperature of a storage compartment becomes equal to or less than a second reference temperature while a cold air generator is operated, turning on the cold air transmission unit, upon determining that the temperature of the storage compartment is equal to or greater than a first reference temperature which is greater than the second reference temperature, and calculating, by a controller, an operating ratio of the cold air transmission unit based on ON and OFF time of the cold air transmission unit, determining an output of the cold air transmission unit based on the operating ratio of the cold air transmission unit, and operating the cold air transmission unit with the determined output, upon determining that the temperature of the storage compartment is equal to or less than the second reference temperature.