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US 12,422,177 B2Granted
Mitigating compressor liquid migration and/or floodback using suction temperature sensor and/or liquid level sensor
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.
Claims23
A control configured for connection with one or more line voltage sources and one or more components including a compressor, the control comprising:
- a processor;
- a relay operable by the processor to electrically connect or disconnect the one or more line voltage sources;
- and
- a control circuit configured to be coupled for communication with and/to transmit control signals to the processor;
- wherein the processor is configured to be coupled for communication with:
- a temperature sensor configured to be operable for obtaining temperature readings of a suction line;
- and
- a liquid detection sensor configured to be operable for detecting liquid within the compressor;
- wherein the temperature sensor is a single negative temperature coefficient (NTC) temperature sensor configured to be operable for obtaining temperature readings of the suction line, and the processor is configured to receive analog signals of the temperature readings of the suction line obtained by the single NTC temperature sensor;
- wherein the liquid detection sensor is a single optical liquid detection sensor configured to be operable for detecting liquid within the compressor, and the processor is configured to receive digital signals from the single optical liquid detection sensor;
- whereby the control is configured to be operable for providing liquid migration protection for the compressor during an OFF cycle of system demand and/or liquid floodback protection for the compressor during the ON cycle of system demand.
8 more elements
A control configured for connection with a compressor, the control comprising:
- a processor;
- a control circuit configured to be coupled for communication with and/to transmit control signals to the processor;
- wherein the processor is configured to be coupled for communication with:
- a temperature sensor configured to be operable for obtaining temperature readings of a suction line;
- and
- a liquid detection sensor configured to be operable for detecting liquid within the compressor;
- wherein the temperature sensor is a single negative temperature coefficient (NTC) temperature sensor configured to be operable for obtaining temperature readings of the suction line, and the processor is configured to receive analog signals of the temperature readings of the suction line obtained by the single NTC temperature sensor;
- wherein the liquid detection sensor is a single optical liquid detection sensor configured to be operable for detecting liquid within the compressor, and the processor is configured to receive digital signals from the single optical liquid detection sensor;
- whereby the control is configured to be operable for controlling the compressor by using the liquid detection sensor for determining if liquid is within the compressor and by using the temperature readings of the suction line obtained by the temperature sensor for determining if suction temperature is greater than a predetermined error threshold away from a user defined average suction temperature.
6 more elements
A control configured for connection with a compressor, the control comprising:
- a processor;
- and to
- a control circuit configured to be coupled for communication with and to transmit control signals to the processor;
- wherein the processor is configured to be coupled for communication with:
- a temperature sensor configured to be operable for obtaining temperature readings of a suction line;
- and
- a liquid detection sensor configured to be operable for detecting liquid within the compressor;
- wherein the temperature sensor is a single negative temperature coefficient (NTC) temperature sensor configured to be operable for obtaining temperature readings of the suction line, and the processor is configured to receive analog signals of the temperature readings of the suction line obtained by the single NTC temperature sensor;
- wherein the liquid detection sensor is a single optical liquid detection sensor configured to be operable for detecting liquid within the compressor, and the processor is configured to receive digital signals from the single optical liquid detection sensor;
- whereby the control is configured to be operable for:
- using the liquid detection sensor to determine if liquid is sensed within the compressor in response to a call for cool;
- and
- inhibiting energizing of the compressor for normal operation if liquid is sensed within the compressor after a call for cool, thereby allowing for liquid migration mitigation before the compressor is energized for normal operation;
- wherein after turning on the compressor, the control is configured to be operable for:
- using the temperature sensor for 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.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.