Sensor validation

A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:

• determining, based on an operational history of a compressor of the HVAC system, that pre-requisite criteria are satisfied for entering a sensor validation mode, the prerequisite criteria comprising a requirement that the compressor has been inactive for at least a minimum time;
• in response to determining the pre-requisite criteria are satisfied, determining an initial sensor measurement value, based on a signal from a sensor of a first compressor circuit of the HVAC system;
• following determining the initial sensor measurement value, operating the compressor according to a sensor-validation mode, wherein operating according to the sensor-validation mode comprises operating the compressor at a maximum recommended capacity, wherein operating according to the sensor-validation mode further comprises one or both of decreasing a speed of an outdoor fan configured to provide the first flow of air across the condenser, and closing dampers of an economizer of the HVAC system such that outdoor air is not included in the second flow of air across the evaporator;
• following operating the compressor according to the sensor-validation mode for at least a minimum time, determining a current sensor measurement value;
• determining whether validation criteria are satisfied for the current sensor value, based on a comparison of the current sensor measurement value to the initial sensor measurement value;
• in response to determining that the validation criteria are satisfied, determining that the sensor is validated;
• and
• in response to determining that the validation criteria are not satisfied, determining that the sensor failed validation.

A controller of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the controller comprising a processor configured to:

• determine, based on an operational history a compressor of the HVAC system, that prerequisite criteria are satisfied for entering a sensor validation mode, the prerequisite criteria comprising a requirement that the compressor has been inactive for at least a minimum time;
• in response to determining the pre-requisite criteria are satisfied, determine, using a sensor of a first compressor circuit of the HVAC system, an initial sensor measurement value;
• following determining the initial sensor measurement value, operate the compressor according to a sensor-validation mode, wherein operating according to the sensor-validation mode comprises operating under cooling conditions, wherein operating according to the sensor-validation mode further comprises one or more of decreasing a speed of an outdoor fan configured to provide the first flow of air across the condenser, and closing dampers of an economizer of the HVAC system such that outdoor air is not included in the second flow of air across the evaporator;
• following operating the compressor according to the sensor-validation mode for at least a minimum time, determine, using the sensor, a current sensor measurement value;
• determine whether validation criteria are satisfied for the current sensor value, based on a comparison of the current sensor measurement value to the initial sensor measurement value;
• in response to determining that the validation criteria are satisfied, determine that the sensor is validated;
• and
• in response to determining that the validation criteria are not satisfied, determine that the sensor failed validation.