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US 12,595,947 B2Granted
System and method of monitor quality of a refrigerant in a cooling system
AssigneeFca US LLC
InventorsAlexander J. George, Michael Wiland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A refrigerant quality sensor includes an elongated sensor housing comprising a first end wall and a second end wall and at least one side wall extending between the first end wall and the second end wall. A refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet are disposed in the at least one side wall. A light source is disposed at the first end wall. A photosensor is disposed at the second end wall. The photosensor generates an electrical signal corresponding to a quality of refrigerant within the elongated sensor housing.
Claims15
A refrigerant quality sensor comprising:
- an elongated cylindrical sensor housing comprising a first end wall comprising a first transparent window and a second end wall comprising a second transparent window and a cylindrical side wall extending between the first end wall and the second end wall;
- a refrigerant inlet disposed in the cylindrical side wall;
- a refrigerant outlet disposed in the cylindrical side wall;
- a light source disposed at the first end wall adjacent the first transparent window;
- and
- a photosensor disposed at the second end wall adjacent the second transparent window, said photosensor generating a sensed quality signal corresponding to a quality of refrigerant within the elongated sensor housing.
3 more elements
A method of operating a cooling system comprising:
- communicating refrigerant into an elongated sensor housing comprising a first end wall comprising a first transparent window and a second end wall comprising a second transparent window and a cylindrical side wall extending between the first end wall and the second end wall;
- directing light from a light source through the first transparent window, the refrigerant in the elongated sensor housing;
- generating a sensed quality signal at a photodetector disposed adjacent to the second transparent window corresponding to a quality of the refrigerant within the elongated sensor housing;
- determining a target quality based on a heat load;
- and
- generating an actuator control signal based on a difference between the sensed quality signal and the target quality.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.