Scroll unloading detection system

#The present disclosure relates to scroll unloading detection systems and methods and, more particularly, to systems and methods for detecting and remediating scroll unloading.

#This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art.

#Scroll compressors are used in climate-control systems such as, for example, heat-pump systems, refrigeration systems, air conditioning systems, and the like. Under certain operating conditions, however, scroll compressors can be subject to unintentional unloading, including axial and radial unloading, of the scroll compression mechanism. Such unintentional unloading of the scroll compression mechanism can result in increased noise, interruptions in compression, decreased efficiency, and premature wear of the scroll compression mechanism.

#The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a compressor according to the present disclosure.

#FIG. 2 is a graph of an operating envelope of a compressor according to the present disclosure.

#Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

#Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#With reference to FIG. 1, a compressor 10 includes a hermetic shell assembly 12, a bearing housing assembly 14, a motor assembly 16, a compression mechanism 18, and a floating seal assembly 20. The shell assembly 12 may generally form a compressor housing and may include a cylindrical shell 22, an end cap 24 at the upper end thereof, a transversely extending partition 26, and a base 28 at a lower end thereof. The end cap 24 and partition 26 may generally define a discharge chamber 30. A discharge fitting 32 may be attached to the shell assembly 12 at an opening in the end cap 24. A suction gas inlet fitting 34 may be attached to the shell assembly 12 at another opening and may communicate with a suction chamber 35 defined by the shell 22 and the partition 26. The partition 26 may include a discharge passage 36 therethrough providing communication between the compression mechanism 18 and the discharge chamber 30.