Thermo King Corporation

Martin Galansky

Pavel Houdek

Michal Kolda

Petra Stavova

Diego Cearra

Michal Hegar

Scott A Waters

Petr Trutnovsky

Brad A Wilke

Martin Soukup

Frank Ruemenap

Martin Maska

Esteban Canade Tarquini

Andreu Vidal Clos

An environmental control system for thermally conditioning air within an enclosed space is provided. The system includes a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an outdoor heat exchanger. The system also includes an exhaust flowpath having a first inlet for receiving an exhaust flow of thermally conditioned air from the enclosed space and an outlet for discharging the exhaust flow to an external environment. A heat transfer section of the outdoor heat exchanger is located in the exhaust flowpath The exhaust flowpath is configured to direct the exhaust flow of thermally conditioned air through the heat transfer section of the outdoor heat exchanger.

Environmental control system

An environmental control system for thermally conditioning air within an enclosed space comprising: a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an outdoor heat exchanger. The system further comprises an intake flowpath for directing an intake flow of fresh air to the enclosed space, wherein a heat-transfer section of the indoor heat exchanger is located within the intake flowpath to thermally condition the intake flow of fresh air before entering the enclosed space. The system further comprises an exhaust flowpath for directing an exhaust flow of thermally conditioned air to an external environment. A recovery heat exchanger is configured to transfer thermal energy between the exhaust flow and the intake flow at a location within the intake flowpath that is upstream of the heat-transfer section of the indoor heat exchanger.

Recovery heat exchanger in an environmental control system

There is disclosed heat pump, comprising: an internal heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from refrigerant in a liquid line pathway to refrigerant in a suction line pathway, to superheat the refrigerant upstream of a compressor; and a controller configured to: control an expansion valve to maintain a target superheat of refrigerant at a control location. The target superheat is variable and is determined based on one or more operating conditions of the heat pump. There is also disclosed a method of operating a heat pump and a simulation method to determine a variable superheat.

Heat pump, methods of operation and simulation

An evaporator apparatus for a refrigeration cycle of an HVAC system or a refrigeration system is disclosed that includes: a primary evaporator pathway for a working fluid of the refrigeration cycle extending through a primary expansion device and a primary evaporator; a secondary evaporator pathway for the working fluid in parallel with the primary evaporator pathway and extending through a secondary expansion device and a secondary evaporator; a coolant circuit for cooling a device, the secondary evaporator configured for heat exchange between the working fluid and process fluid of the coolant circuit; and a controller configured to control: the primary expansion device to maintain a target superheat of working fluid at a primary control location downstream of the primary evaporator; and the secondary expansion device based on monitoring a temperature of process fluid to maintain a target temperature of process fluid at a coolant control location in the coolant circuit.

Evaporator apparatus

There is disclosed an environmental control system for heating at least one enclosed space. The system comprises a heat-pump circuit that includes a compressor, a heat-output stage, an expansion device and an evaporator arranged in series along a flow path for a refrigerant. The heat-output stage comprises a primary heat exchanger and a secondary heat exchanger that are both configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to one or more external mediums in thermal communication with the at least one enclosed space. The primary heat exchanger and the secondary heat exchanger are connected in series along the flow path, such that the secondary heat exchanger will transfer excess heat energy remaining within the refrigerant after passing through the primary heat exchanger to the one or more external mediums.

Heat utilisation in an environmental control system

A transport climate control system for a climate controlled transport unit includes a main heat transfer circuit and a chiller heat transfer circuit. The main heat transfer circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, a main expansion valve, a main evaporator, a chiller expansion valve, and a chiller evaporator. The main evaporator and a chiller evaporator positioned are in parallel to each other downstream of the condenser. Working fluid and a second process fluid flowing through the main evaporator. Working fluid and a third process fluid flowing through the chiller evaporator. The chiller heat transfer circuit includes the chiller evaporator and the third process fluid is configured to provide auxiliary cooling. A method of operating a transport climate control system for a climate controlled transport unit includes operating in a HVACR and chiller mode, operating in a HVACR mode, and operating a chiller mode.

Transport climate control system with auxilary cooling

A method for defrosting a heat exchanger of a refrigeration circuit is provided. The method includes monitoring a compressor suction parameter at a suction line to a compressor of the refrigeration circuit. The method also includes determining a compressor suction parameter threshold. Also, the method includes initiating a defrost mode of the refrigeration circuit when the compressor suction parameter is less than or equal to the compressor suction parameter threshold.

Growing community of inventors

Rakovnik, Czechia

Martin Galansky