A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, a secondary condenser, and a water pump. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the flow of refrigerant and outputs the flow of refrigerant at a lower temperature through heat transfer with a flow of fluid. The flow of fluid is directed, by the water pump, to a heat exchanger or an external source, where heat is rejected from the flow of fluid.

A refrigerant-amount determination kit includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor is mounted at least temporarily on at least one of a portion of a refrigeration cycle apparatus and the periphery of the refrigeration cycle apparatus. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is an apparatus having a refrigerant circuit that includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The processor determines the amount of a refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit based on a detection result detected by the sensor during operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus.

A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, a secondary condenser, a modulating valve, and an alternate condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the modulating valve. The modulating valve directs the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser and to the alternate condenser. The alternate condenser receives a portion of the flow of refrigerant for heat rejection, where the primary condenser receives the remaining portion of the flow of refrigerant.

A cooling system includes a compressor operable to compress refrigerant, an accumulator upstream from the compressor. The accumulator is operable to collect liquid from the refrigerant. A sensor is located upstream from the accumulator. The sensor is operable to detect information including a temperature and a pressure of the refrigerant. The controller is in communication with the sensor. The controller is operable to determine a rate of accumulation of liquid in the accumulator based on the information from the sensor. A method of operating a cooling system is also disclosed.

A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, a secondary condenser, a modulating valve, and a liquid-cooled alternate condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the modulating valve. The modulating valve directs the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser and to the alternate condenser. The alternate condenser receives a portion of the flow of refrigerant and transfers heat from the refrigerant to a flow of fluid.

A cooling system includes a compressor operable to compress refrigerant, an accumulator upstream from the compressor. The accumulator is operable to collect liquid from the refrigerant. A sensor is located upstream from the accumulator. The sensor is operable to detect information including a temperature and a pressure of the refrigerant. The controller is in communication with the sensor. The controller is operable to determine a rate of accumulation of liquid in the accumulator based on the information from the sensor. A method of operating a cooling system is also disclosed.

A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, a secondary condenser, and a water pump. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the flow of refrigerant and outputs the flow of refrigerant at a lower temperature through heat transfer with a flow of fluid. The flow of fluid is directed, by the water pump, to a heat exchanger or an external source, where heat is rejected from the flow of fluid.

A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, a secondary condenser, a modulating valve, and an alternate condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the modulating valve. The modulating valve directs the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser and to the alternate condenser. The alternate condenser receives a portion of the flow of refrigerant for heat rejection, where the primary condenser receives the remaining portion of the flow of refrigerant.

A refrigerant-amount determination kit includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor is mounted at least temporarily on at least one of a portion of a refrigeration cycle apparatus and the periphery of the refrigeration cycle apparatus. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is an apparatus having a refrigerant circuit that includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The processor determines the amount of a refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit based on a detection result detected by the sensor during operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus.

A heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) system includes an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device between the condenser and the evaporator, a superheat controller between the evaporator and the compressor, and a mass flow meter between the condenser and the expansion device. The superheat controller is configured to measure refrigerant fluid pressure and temperature and calculate superheat therefrom, to receive and analyze a mass flow rate of the refrigerant fluid traveling out of the condenser and measured by the mass flow meter, and further configured to provide a control signal to the expansion device.