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US 11,768,019 B2Granted
Controls and related methods for mitigating liquid migration and/or floodback
AssigneeCopeland Comfort Control LP
InventorsThomas P. Buescher, Gregory E. Sisk, Charles P. Ketterer, Frank S. Wallis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to controls and related methods for mitigating liquid (e.g., compressor refrigerant, etc.) migration and/or floodback.
Claims17
A method relating to liquid migration within a compressor, the method comprising:
- (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- and
- (b) if liquid is sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor, running a compressor bump start routine a predetermined number of times, and after completion of the predetermined number of times of the compressor bump start routine, using the liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor;
- (i) stopping liquid migration mitigation efforts and indicating an error if liquid is sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor after completion of the predetermined number of times of the compressor bump start routine;
- or
- (ii) turning on the compressor if liquid is not sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor after completion of the predetermined number of times of the compressor bump start routine;
- (c) if liquid is not sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor, then determining whether the call for cool is the first call after power up;
- (iii) turning on the compressor if it is determined that the call for cool is not the first call for cool after power up;
- or
- (iv) running a compressor bump start routine if it is determined that the call for cool is the first call for cool after power up, and turning on the compressor after completion of the compressor bump start routine;
- wherein after turning on the compressor, the method further comprises measuring suction temperature at predetermined time intervals and determining whether the suction temperature is greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature.
8 more elements
A method relating to liquid migration within a compressor, the method comprising:
- (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- and
- (b) if liquid is sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor, running a compressor bump start routine a predetermined number of times, and after completion of the predetermined number of times of the compressor bump start routine, using the liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor;
- (i) stopping liquid migration mitigation efforts and indicating an error if liquid is sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor after completion of the predetermined number of times of the compressor bump start routine;
- or
- (ii) turning on the compressor if liquid is not sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor after completion of the predetermined number of times of the compressor bump start routine;
- (c) if liquid is not sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor, then determining whether the call for cool is the first call after power up;
- (iii) turning on the compressor if it is determined that the call for cool is not the first call for cool after power up;
- or
- (iv) running a compressor bump start routine if it is determined that the call for cool is the first call for cool after power up, and turning on the compressor after completion of the compressor bump start routine;
- wherein after turning on the compressor, the method further comprises:
- (d) determining whether the compressor has been on for a predetermined amount of time;
- (e) if it is determined that the compressor has not been on for the predetermined amount of time, the method returns to (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- (f) if is determined that the compressor has been on for the predetermined amount of time, the method includes measuring suction temperature at predetermined time intervals and determining whether the suction temperature is greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature;
- (v) if it is determined that the suction temperature is not greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature then the method returns to (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- or
- (vi) if it is determined that the suction temperature is not greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature then the method includes:
- turning off the compressor;
- indicating an error;
- determining whether one or more reset conditions are met;
- and
- if it is determined that the one or more reset conditions are met, then the method returns to (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool.
19 more elements
A method relating to liquid migration within a compressor, the method comprising:
- (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- and
- (b) if liquid is sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor, running a compressor bump start routine a predetermined number of times, and after completion of the predetermined number of times of the compressor bump start routine, using the liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor;
- (i) stopping liquid migration mitigation efforts and indicating an error if liquid is sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor after completion of the predetermined number of times of the compressor bump start routine;
- or
- (ii) turning on the compressor if liquid is not sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor after completion of the predetermined number of times of the compressor bump start routine;
- (c) if liquid is not sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor, then determining whether the call for cool is the first call after power up;
- (iii) turning on the compressor if it is determined that the call for cool is not the first call for cool after power up;
- or
- (iv) running a compressor bump start routine if it is determined that the call for cool is the first call for cool after power up, and turning on the compressor after completion of the compressor bump start routine;
- wherein after turning on the compressor, the method further comprises:
- (g) measuring suction temperature at predetermined time intervals;
- (h) determining whether the suction temperature is at steady state;
- (i) if it is determined that the suction temperature is at steady state, the method includes using the suction temperature to update the suction temperature average;
- (j) after using the suction temperature to update the suction temperature average and if the suction temperature average is determined, the method includes determining whether the suction temperature is greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature;
- (vii) if it is determined that the suction temperature is not greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature then the method returns to (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- or
- (viii) if it is determined that the suction temperature is greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature then the method includes:
- turning off the compressor;
- indicating an error;
- determining whether one or more reset conditions are met;
- and
- if it is determined that the one or more reset conditions are met, then the method returns to (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool.
20 more elements
A method relating to liquid migration within a compressor, the method comprising:
- (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- and
- (b) if liquid is sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor, running a compressor bump start routine a predetermined number of times, and after completion of the predetermined number of times of the compressor bump start routine, using the liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor;
- (i) stopping liquid migration mitigation efforts and indicating an error if liquid is sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor after completion of the predetermined number of times of the compressor bump start routine;
- or
- (ii) turning on the compressor if liquid is not sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor after completion of the predetermined number of times of the compressor bump start routine;
- (c) if liquid is not sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor, then determining whether the call for cool is the first call after power up;
- (iii) turning on the compressor if it is determined that the call for cool is not the first call for cool after power up;
- or
- (iv) running a compressor bump start routine if it is determined that the call for cool is the first call for cool after power up, and turning on the compressor after completion of the compressor bump start routine;
- wherein after turning on the compressor, the method further comprises:
- (k) measuring suction temperature at predetermined time intervals;
- (l) determining whether the suction temperature is at steady state;
- (m) if it is determined that the suction temperature is at steady state, the method includes determining whether a call for cool counter is within a predetermined range;
- (ix) if it is determined that the call for cool counter is within the predetermined range, then the method includes using the suction temperature to update the suction temperature average and the method returns to (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- or
- (x) if it is determined that the call for cool counter is not within the predetermined range and that the call for cool counter exceeds the predetermined range, then the method returns to (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- or
- (xi) if it is determined that the call for cool counter is not within the predetermined range and that the call for cool counter does not exceed the predetermined range, then the method includes:
- determining whether the suction temperature is greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature;
- if it is determined that the suction temperature is not greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature then the method returns to (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- and
- if it is determined that the suction temperature is greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature, then the method includes:
- turning off the compressor;
- indicating an error;
- determining whether one or more reset conditions are met;
- and
- if it is determined that the one or more reset conditions are met, then the method returns to (A) using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool.
25 more elements
A method relating to liquid floodback within a compressor, the method comprising:
- using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- if liquid is sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor, inhibiting energizing of the compressor for normal operation, thereby allowing for liquid migration mitigation before the compressor is energized for normal operation;
- wherein after turning on the compressor, the method further comprises:
- (A) measuring suction temperature at predetermined time intervals;
- (B) determining whether the suction temperature is greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature;
- and
- (C) if it is determined that the suction temperature is not greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature then the method includes:
- turning off the compressor;
- indicating an error;
- and
- determining whether one or more reset conditions are met.
8 more elements
A method relating to liquid floodback within a compressor, the method comprising:
- using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- if liquid is sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor, inhibiting energizing of the compressor for normal operation, thereby allowing for liquid migration mitigation before the compressor is energized for normal operation;
- wherein after turning on the compressor, the method further comprises:
- (A) measuring suction temperature at predetermined time intervals;
- (B) determining whether the suction temperature is at steady state;
- (C) if it is determined that the suction temperature is at steady state, the method includes using the suction temperature to update the suction temperature average;
- (D) after using the suction temperature to update the suction temperature average and if the suction temperature average is determined, the method includes determining whether the suction temperature is greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature;
- and
- (E) if it is determined that the suction temperature is greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature then the method includes:
- turning off the compressor;
- indicating an error;
- and
- determining whether one or more reset conditions are met.
10 more elements
A method relating to liquid floodback within a compressor, the method comprising:
- using a liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- if liquid is sensed within the compressor by the liquid detection sensor, inhibiting energizing of the compressor for normal operation, thereby allowing for liquid migration mitigation before the compressor is energized for normal operation;
- wherein after turning on the compressor, the method further comprises:
- (A) measuring suction temperature at predetermined time intervals;
- (B) determining whether the suction temperature is at steady state;
- (C) if it is determined that the suction temperature is at steady state, the method includes determining whether a call for cool counter is within a predetermined range;
- (D) if it is determined that the call for cool counter is not within the predetermined range and that the call for cool counter does not exceed the predetermined range, determining whether the suction temperature is greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature;
- (E) if it is determined that the suction temperature is greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature, then the method includes:
- turning off the compressor;
- indicating an error;
- and
- determining whether one or more reset conditions are met.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.