Bergstrom, Inc.

Brett J Herrmann

Terry A Zeigler

Brett Sean Connell

Aaron D Sullivan

Yevgeniy Beygel

Alexander Victor Puzin

Ian Boyes

Terry Zeigler

Disclosed are climate systems and methods for control the climate systems. A climate system includes a refrigerant circuit, a first compressor, a second compressor, a first refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger, a second refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger, and a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second compressors. Respective outlets of the first and second compressors are fluidically coupled to the first refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger, the first refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger is fluidically coupled to the second refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger, and the second refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger is fluidically coupled with respective inlets of the first and second compressors. The fluidic connection between the second refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger and the first and second compressors includes a vertical split that is configured to mitigate or reduce the amount of compressor oil that migrates to dormant components.

Multi-compressor oil migration mitigation climate system

Disclosed are climate systems for vehicles and methods for controlling the climate systems. In some implementations, a climate system includes: (1) a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the compartment of the vehicle; (2) a first compressor powered by an engine of the vehicle to compress a refrigerant; (3) a second compressor driven by an electric motor to compress the refrigerant; and (4) a controller electrically coupled to the first compressor and the second compressor. The controller configured to: (1) calculate a thermal load of the compartment based on a difference between a desired temperature and a measured temperature; and, (2) based on the calculated load, selectively activate: (i) the engine, (ii) the first compressor, and/or (iii) the second compressor.

Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle HVAC system

An HVAC system includes a refrigerant liquid-gas separator. The liquid-gas separator is thermally coupled to electronics to transfer heat away from the electronics, and assist in vaporizing liquid refrigerant. The liquid-gas separator device includes a refrigeration section configured to couple to a refrigeration loop, and electronics thermally coupled to the refrigeration section. The refrigeration section includes: (a) a refrigerant inlet configured to receive refrigerant from the refrigeration loop; (b) a refrigerant outlet configured to release vapor refrigerant to the refrigeration loop; and (c) a cavity coupled to the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet, the cavity configured to separate liquid refrigerant from vapor refrigerant. During use of the HVAC system, heat from the electronics board is transferred to the refrigerant. The liquid-gas separator includes a check valve configured to inhibit flow of refrigerant into the liquid-gas separator device via the refrigerant outlet.

Refrigerant liquid-gas separator

Disclosed are climate systems and methods for control the climate systems. A climate system includes a plurality of compressors, a first heat exchanger disposed downstream of the compressors and a second heat exchanger disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger. The compressors and heat exchangers are fluidly connected by refrigerant lines to form a refrigerant circuit. The climate system also includes a controller that controls the operation of the compressors to draw back lubricant to the compressors without use of an oil equalization system.

Multi-compressor climate system

Refrigerant liquid-gas separator having an integrated check valve

Disclosed are climate systems for vehicles and methods for controlling the climate systems. In some implementations, a climate system includes: (1) a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the compartment of the vehicle; (2) a user interface configured to receive a desired temperature from a user; (3) a first compressor powered by an engine of the vehicle to compress a refrigerant; (4) a second compressor driven by an electric motor to compress the refrigerant; and (5) a controller electrically coupled to the first compressor and the second compressor. The controller configured to: (1) calculate a thermal load of the compartment based on a difference between a desired temperature and a measured temperature; and, (2) based on the calculated load, selectively activate: (i) the engine, (ii) the first compressor, and/or (iii) the second compressor.

The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for determining refrigerant charge level. In one aspect, a refrigeration system includes: (1) a compressor to compress a refrigerant; (2) a condenser disposed downstream of the compressor to condense the refrigerant; (3) an evaporator disposed downstream of the condenser to vaporize the refrigerant; (4) refrigerant lines fluidly connecting the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator in series to form a refrigerant circuit for circulating the refrigerant; (5) at least one sensor configured to measure temperature and pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit; and (6) a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to: (a) determine a sub-cooling level or super-heating level based on the temperature and/or pressure measured by the at least one sensor; and (b) facilitate operation of the refrigeration system based on the sub-cooling level or the super-heating level.

Refrigeration system with superheating, sub-cooling and refrigerant charge level control

The refrigerant liquid-gas separator is thermally coupled to electronics to transfer heat away from the electronics, and assist in vaporizing the liquid refrigerant. The liquid-gas separator device includes a refrigeration section configured to couple to a refrigeration loop, and an electronics board thermally coupled to the refrigeration section. The refrigeration section includes: (a) a refrigerant inlet configured to receive refrigerant from the refrigeration loop; (b) a refrigerant outlet configured to release vapor refrigerant to the refrigeration loop; and (c) a cavity coupled to the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet, the cavity configured to separate liquid refrigerant from vapor refrigerant. In use, heat from the electronics board is transferred to the refrigerant.

Refrigerant liquid-gas separator with electronics cooling

Disclosed are climate systems and methods for control the climate systems. A climate system includes a plurality of compressors arranged in parallel, a condenser disposed downstream of the compressors and an evaporator disposed downstream of the condenser. The compressors, the condenser, and the evaporator are fluidly connected by refrigerant lines to form a refrigerant circuit. The climate system also includes a controller that controls the operation of the compressors to draw back lubricant to the compressors without use of an oil equalization system.

Parallel compressors climate system

An air conditioning system for use in a vehicle includes at least one compressor, a condenser disposed downstream of the at least one compressor and a plurality of evaporators disposed downstream of the condenser with first and second evaporators fluidly coupled to each other in parallel. The at least one compressor, the condenser, and the plurality of evaporators are fluidly connected by refrigerant lines to form a refrigerant circuit. The air conditioning system also includes a plurality of shut-off valves, with one shut-off valve installed at a refrigerant inlet and another shut-off valve installed at a refrigerant outlet of the first evaporator. The shut-off valves are controlled to prevent undesired collection of refrigerant in the first evaporator.

Air conditioning system for use in vehicle

The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, one or both of a receiver drier unit and an accumulator unit fluidly connected by refrigerant lines to form a refrigerant circuit. The receiver drier unit includes a receiver drier and a first sensor, and the accumulator unit includes an accumulator and a second sensor. A controller is electrically connected to the first and second sensors and in some cases electrically connected to an electrical valve. The electrical valve is fluidly connected to a refrigerant reservoir. The controller determines the refrigerant charge level, and selectively controls the electrical valve to allow the refrigerant to flow from the refrigerant reservoir to the refrigerant circuit when the refrigerant charge level is below the predetermined refrigerant charge level.

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Rochelle, IL, United States of America

Brett J Herrmann