An air conditioner includes: a heat-source-side unit including a compressor and a heat-source-side heat exchanger; use-side units each including a use-side heat exchanger; an intermediate unit that causes the use-side heat exchanger of each of the use-side units to individually function as an evaporator or a radiator of a refrigerant; and three or more connection pipes that connect the heat-source-side unit to the intermediate unit. The intermediate unit includes: an ejector that pressurizes the refrigerant; and a gas-liquid separator into which the refrigerant flowing out from the ejector flows. The refrigerant that has released heat in any of the use-side units that perform a heating operation is not pressurized by the ejector.

Thermal energy systems for managing, distribution and recovery of thermal energy. A single-pipe loop circulating a two-phase refrigerant is provided. The single-pipe loop is spread through the entire system and interconnects a plurality of local heat exchange stations, each having different thermal energy loads. A central circulation mechanism (CCM) is also provided for circulating the refrigerant for distribution of thermal energy within the system.

According to one embodiment, in a low speed drive of outdoor fans, a first flow rate adjusting valve in a main outdoor heat exchanger side is narrowed to a closing degree or a close range thereof, and an opening degree of a second flow rate adjusting valve is controlled such that a supercooling degree of refrigerant in auxiliary outdoor heat exchangers becomes constantly a target value.

A cooling system drains oil from low side heat exchangers to vessels and then uses compressed refrigerant to push the oil in the vessels back towards a compressor. Generally, the cooling system operates any number and combination of three different modes of operation: a normal mode, an oil drain mode, and an oil return mode. During the normal mode, a primary refrigerant is cycled to cool one or more secondary refrigerants. As the primary refrigerant is cycled, oil from a compressor may mix with the primary refrigerant and become stuck in a low side heat exchanger. During the oil drain mode, the oil in the low side heat exchanger is allowed to drain into a vessel. During the oil return mode, compressed refrigerant is directed to the vessel to push the oil in the vessel back towards a compressor.

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 heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop includes a compressor, a first condenser, a vapor generator having a first region and a second region, a first expansion valve, a second expansion valve, and a first evaporator. A branching point is positioned between the first condenser and the vapor generator. The branching point diverts a portion of a first heat exchange fluid circulating through the refrigerant loop to the vapor generator. The first expansion valve is positioned between the branching point and the vapor generator. An outlet of the vapor generator is coupled to a mid-pressure inlet port of the compressor.

A thermal management system includes a receiver configured to store a refrigerant fluid; a refrigeration system having a refrigerant fluid path that includes the receiver, and at least one evaporator disposed in the refrigerant fluid path. The refrigeration system is configured to receive the refrigerant fluid from the receiver through the refrigerant fluid path. The at least one evaporator is configured to receive the refrigerant fluid and to extract heat from at least one heat load having a specified thermal inertia that is in at least one of thermal conductive or convective contact with the at least one evaporator.

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 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 casing is provided with a partition portion extending in a vertical direction so as to partition an outdoor space and an accommodation chamber from each other. The partition portion has an opening for providing communication between the outdoor space and the accommodation chamber. An eaves portion is provided above the opening.