If we knew everything, we wouldn't need a site like this. I do have an engineering background. It's my nature to make things better; as it as been said on another ACforum; "AC system performance is dependant on the vehicle it's in" some vehicles run better on a different system. I'm looking to make a hybrid, and have found out that Bentleys have done this in the past. Anyway, here's some AC info for you Moneypit......the author uses the term "starve" I believe. Maybe you should email him.
http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/march2003/mech.cfm