The present paper proposes an extensive review of the published works on new trends in thermodynamics modeling of 3 or 4 reservoirs reverse cycle machines. Evolution from three reservoirs modeling to fourth reservoirs has been enlightened
Focus has been put on standard absorption or adsorption configurations of the machines, but considering three main applications (refrigerating machine; heat pump; heat transformer). More particular system configurations have not been examined; nevertheless they are important and could be exemplified by some papers: combined engine and absorption unit