Liquid slugging detection and protection

A method comprising:

• sensing, with a sensor, a temperature of a compressor of a refrigeration or HVAC system during operation of the compressor;
• determining, with a controller, a rate of change of the temperature relative to time;
• performing, with the controller, one or more procedures to protect the compressor based on the rate of change of the temperature;
• in response to the rate of change of the temperature being negative, which triggers an inverse time algorithm, integrating using the inverse time algorithm, with the controller, a function of a temperature gradient of the compressor, wherein a value of the integrated function depends on the rate of change of the temperature, and shutting down the compressor by comparing the value of the integrated function to a predetermined threshold;
• and
• receiving, with the controller, feedback from the compressor and adjusting the predetermined threshold and one or more terms of the function based on the feedback.