A system and terminal unit are provided for efficiently and effectively conditioning indoor air. Some embodiments address temperature control, humidity control, air quality control, while also introducing conditioned outdoor air. One aspect relates to a terminal unit that monitors and controls sensible and latent cooling rates to simultaneously meet temperature and humidity setpoints for the conditioned space. A sensor suite provides measurements for monitoring cooling rates and a control system controls actuators to meet the sensible and latent cooling requirements. The terminal unit may have a secondary recirculation air intake that bypasses the cooling coil to warm supply air prior to exiting the terminal unit. The terminal unit may be part of an air conditioning system where it is connected to a main branch of a hybrid branch controller which avoids having a home run to the HBC for each terminal unit.

An outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a first header pipe and a second header pipe. The first header pipe and the second header pipe are connected to a heat-source-side heat exchanger. The outdoor unit further includes a refrigerant distributor pipe. The refrigerant distributor includes an inflow pipe into which refrigerant discharged from a compressor flows, a splitter pipe connected to the inflow pipe, a first feed pipe connected to the splitter pipe and to a first body portion of a first main pipe of the first header pipe, and a second feed pipe connected to the splitter pipe and to a second body portion of a second main pipe of the second header pipe.

An outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a first header pipe and a second header pipe. The first header pipe and the second header pipe are connected to a heat-source-side heat exchanger. The outdoor unit further includes a refrigerant distributor pipe. The refrigerant distributor includes an inflow pipe into which refrigerant discharged from a compressor flows, a splitter pipe connected to the inflow pipe, a first feed pipe connected to the splitter pipe and to a first body portion of a first main pipe of the first header pipe, and a second feed pipe connected to the splitter pipe and to a second body portion of a second main pipe of the second header pipe.

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 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 heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) system includes an evaporator coil and a compressor fluidly coupled to the evaporator coil via a suction line. A condenser coil is fluidly coupled to the compressor via a discharge line and fluidly coupled to a metering device via a liquid line. A charge compensator is fluidly coupled to the liquid line via a connection line. A charge compensator re-heat valve is disposed in the connection line.

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) system includes an evaporator coil and a compressor fluidly coupled to the evaporator coil via a suction line. A condenser coil is fluidly coupled to the compressor via a discharge line and fluidly coupled to a metering device via a liquid line. A charge compensator is fluidly coupled to the liquid line via a connection line. A charge compensator re-heat valve is disposed in the connection line.

A refrigeration system includes a main fluid loop and a secondary fluid loop. The main fluid loop includes a compressor and a heat exchanger that circulate a first working fluid. The secondary fluid loop circulates a second working fluid. The secondary fluid loop is in thermal communication with the main fluid loop at the heat exchanger. The secondary fluid loop includes a pump, a thermal energy storage, and a coil fluid line. The secondary fluid loop includes a multi-position valve configured to move between positions that selectively fluidly connect the heat exchanger, the pump, the thermal energy storage, and the coil fluid line.

A refrigeration system includes a main fluid loop and a secondary fluid loop. The main fluid loop includes a compressor and a heat exchanger that circulate a first working fluid. The secondary fluid loop circulates a second working fluid. The secondary fluid loop is in thermal communication with the main fluid loop at the heat exchanger. The secondary fluid loop includes a pump, a thermal energy storage, and a coil fluid line. The secondary fluid loop includes a multi-position valve configured to move between positions that selectively fluidly connect the heat exchanger, the pump, the thermal energy storage, and the coil fluid line.

A retrofit heat pump system for a water heater is disclosed. The heat pump system includes a plurality of evaporators to increase the efficiency of heat exchange for the system. The system can also include a plurality of condenser circuits used to heat the water of an existing water tank. A fan disposed in a housing of the heat pump system can draw air across the plurality of evaporators and exhaust cool air external to the heat pump system. The cool air can be exhausted into duct work associated with an air conditioning system of the home. The disclosure also describes a refrigerant distributor for providing uniform liquid refrigerant to the plurality of evaporators.