u/Independent-Pound-26

When the heat load in an apartment increases, do the refrigerant state points in the refrigeration cycle (modified reverse Rankine cycle) shift, or does the system try to maintain its design conditions?

To clarify, is the mass flow rate of the refrigerant always adjusted to meet the cooling load demand, or is it kept constant and the state points of the refrigeration cycle shift to adjust to the demand?

For example, does the refrigerant temperature or pressure rise with higher indoor load, or is the refrigerant flow/compressor operation adjusted to keep things near design conditions? I’m also wondering how this depends on the type of unit.

How does this compare with a commercial building chiller? Since chilled-water and condenser-water temperatures are more controlled, does a chiller hold the refrigeration cycle state points more tightly, or do they still float with load and water conditions?

When the heat load in an apartment increases, do the refrigerant state points in the refrigeration cycle (modified reverse Rankine cycle) shift, or does the system try to maintain its design conditions?

For example, does the refrigerant temperature or pressure rise with higher indoor load, or is the refrigerant flow/compressor operation adjusted to keep things near design conditions? I’m also wondering how this depends on the type of unit.

How does this compare with a commercial building chiller? Since chilled-water and condenser-water temperatures are more controlled, does a chiller hold the refrigeration cycle state points more tightly, or do they still float with load and water conditions?

Edit: To clarify, is the mass flow rate of the refrigerant always adjusted to meet the cooling load demand, or is it kept constant and the state points of the refrigeration cycle shift to adjust to the demand?

Newbie here.

I’m not sure I fully understand what “training to failure” physically means in practice.

- Sometimes when I increase the weight from the previous session, the first set feels really difficult, but by the last set I feel like I could’ve done more reps.

- Other times, when I increase the weight, I stop early because I feel like I might injure my joints (which has happened before).

- There are also exercises like Bulgarian split squats that completely exhaust me, so when I move on to leg extensions, I end up lowering the weight just because I’m still fatigued from the previous exercise.

- Another issue is local failure. For example, sometimes my forearms give out way before my back does, so I stop even though the target muscle probably had more left.

I feel like I may be limiting myself too much, but I’m also worried about injury if I push harder with reps/weight.

What’s the best way to approach training to failure safely and effectively?

Are there any solid male barbers in B/CS that charge reasonable prices?

I’m honestly fed up with Great Clips. Every single visit it’s a different stylist, and it turns into a whole process trying to re-explain the same haircut, even though it’s saved in their system and I show a photo of a good previous cut. Some of them just seem completely uninterested in giving a good cut and end up doing whatever they want instead of actually listening.

And then on top of that, they still expect a tip for a straight-up bad cut.

At this point, the only reason to go is the coupons, but it almost feels like the quality drops when you use one, like they know it’s mostly students coming in for the discount.

I never had this issue before moving here. I just want a reliable male barber (NOT a cosmetologist/stylist) who knows what they’re doing and doesn’t make every haircut feel like a gamble. Any recommendations?

25M Beginner here, at first I was seeing pretty solid workout progress (strength going up, muscles filling out, etc.). Lately though, it feels like my progress has slowed down a lot (muscle size might have even decreased a little), even though I’ve been consistent with my workouts and diet.

The main issue I can think of is my sleep. It’s been pretty fragmented. I wake up multiple times during the night and don’t feel fully rested most mornings. I’m still getting around 6.5-7.5 hours total, but it’s definitely not continuous.

So I’m wondering:

\- Can poor/fragmented sleep actually slow down or “kill” muscle growth and progress?

\- Has anyone else experienced a plateau mainly due to sleep issues?

\- Any tips for improving sleep quality that actually worked for you?

I know beginner gains slow down after a few months, but this feels a bit more sudden than that.

Appreciate any advice or experiences 🙏

25M Beginner here, at first I was seeing pretty solid progress (strength going up, muscles filling out, etc.). Lately though, it feels like my progress has slowed down a lot (muscle size might have even decreased a little), even though I’ve been consistent with my workouts and diet.

The main issue I can think of is my sleep. It’s been pretty fragmented. I wake up multiple times during the night and don’t feel fully rested most mornings. I’m still getting around 6.5-7.5 hours total, but it’s definitely not continuous.

So I’m wondering:

- Can poor/fragmented sleep actually slow down or “kill” muscle growth and progress?

- Has anyone else experienced a plateau mainly due to sleep issues?

- Any tips for improving sleep quality that actually worked for you?

I know beginner gains slow down after a few months, but this feels a bit more sudden than that.

Appreciate any advice or experiences 🙏

I’m an international student in the US who recently finished an MS in Mechanical Engineering (thermal-fluids focus). I’ve got a strong academic background (rank 1 in undergrad), some research experience during my master’s (non-thesis), and 1 year of industry experience in power plant auxiliary systems design before starting my master's.

I was originally aiming for a PhD, but even after 2 cycles, it hasn’t worked out (mostly due to funding issues, despite being in touch with prospective professors). The US job market has also been pretty rough, especially for international candidates, so I’m seriously considering moving out instead of continuing to push here.

I’m interested in roles like thermal engineering, CFD, cooling systems, etc., but I’m trying to be realistic.

Main questions:

1. How feasible is it to land a job in Europe or the Middle East with my profile?

2. Do these regions hire international candidates at the entry level, or is it just as difficult as the US?

3. What kind of roles should I realistically target first (R&D vs test vs general mechanical)?

4. Are there specific skills I should build (CFD depth, hands-on testing, coding, HVAC, etc.) before applying abroad, and how to find resources for them?

5. How do people usually find these roles: just LinkedIn/applications, or is networking/referrals equally critical?

6. If you were in my position, would you keep trying in the US or pivot out sooner?

Would really appreciate honest input, especially from anyone who has made a similar move.

Edit: I’m from India. I initially hesitated to include this given some recent online sentiment, but sharing in case it helps provide better context.

I’m an international student in the US who recently finished an MS in Mechanical Engineering (thermal-fluids focus). I’ve got a strong academic background (rank 1 in undergrad), some research experience during my master’s (non-thesis), and 1 year of industry experience in power plant auxiliary systems design before starting my master's.

I was originally aiming for a PhD, but even after 2 cycles, it hasn’t worked out (mostly due to funding issues, despite being in touch with prospective professors). The US job market has also been pretty rough, especially for international candidates, so I’m seriously considering moving out instead of continuing to push here.

I’m interested in roles like thermal engineering, CFD, cooling systems, etc., but I’m trying to be realistic.

Main questions:

1. How feasible is it to land a job in Europe or the Middle East with my profile?

2. Do these regions hire international candidates at the entry level, or is it just as difficult as the US?

3. What kind of roles should I realistically target first (R&D vs test vs general mechanical)?

4. Are there specific skills I should build (CFD depth, hands-on testing, coding, HVAC, etc.) before applying abroad, and how to find resources for them?

5. How do people usually find these roles: just LinkedIn/applications, or is networking/referrals equally critical?

6. If you were in my position, would you keep trying in the US or pivot out sooner?

Would really appreciate honest input, especially from anyone who has made a similar move.

Edit: I’m from India. I initially hesitated to include this given some recent online sentiment, but sharing in case it helps provide better context.