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US 12,691,731 B2Granted
Variable speed compressor control scheme for lubricant control
AssigneeThermo King Corporation
InventorEric S. Mlsna
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transport climate control system includes a controller. When a pulldown operation is scheduled or performed, the controller can incorporate operation in a lubricant recovery mode into the pulldown operation, and operate the transport climate control system to perform the pulldown operation including the operation in the lubricant recovery mode. The lubricant recovery mode can include operation under conditions such as mass flow rates, compressor speed and/or compressor capacity supporting lubricant circulation, so as to return lubricant to the sump.
Claims18
A controller for a transport climate control system, the controller communicatively coupled to a sensor and a compressor, the controller configured to:
- receive current climate control data of a climate controlled space from the sensor and desired operation data for the climate controlled space;
- generate a first prediction of a first time to achieve the desired operation data based on the current climate control data of the climate controlled space and operation of the transport climate control system at or near a maximum capacity;
- generate a second prediction of a second time to achieve the desired operation data based on the current climate control data of the climate controlled space and operation of the transport climate control system including a lubricant recovery operation, the lubricant recovery operation including operating the transport climate control system at a selected capacity, the selected capacity being less than the maximum capacity and the selected capacity selected to return lubricant to a sump of the transport climate control system;
- determine, based on the first prediction and the second prediction, whether to perform the lubricant recovery operation;
- and
- when it is determined to perform the lubricant recovery operation, direct operation of the transport climate control system including the lubricant recovery operation.
3 more elements
A transport climate control system, comprising:
- a sensor;
- a compressor;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and the compressor, the controller configured to:
- receive a temperature of a climate controlled space from the sensor and a set point for the climate controlled space;
- generate a first prediction of a first time to achieve the set point based on the temperature of the climate controlled space and operation of the transport climate control system at or near a maximum capacity;
- generate a second prediction of a second time to achieve the set point based on the temperature of the climate controlled space and operation of the transport climate control system including a lubricant recovery operation, the lubricant recovery operation including operating the transport climate control system at a selected capacity, the selected capacity being less than the maximum capacity and the selected capacity selected to return lubricant to a sump of the transport climate control system;
- determine, based on the first prediction and the second prediction, whether to perform the lubricant recovery operation;
- and
- when it is determined to perform the lubricant recovery operation, direct operation of the transport climate control system including the lubricant recovery operation.
7 more elements
A method of controlling a transport climate control system, comprising:
- receiving, at a controller, a temperature of a climate controlled space and a set point for the climate controlled space;
- generating, using the controller, a first prediction of a first time to achieve the set point based on the temperature of the climate controlled space and operation of the transport climate control system at a maximum capacity;
- generating, using the controller, a second prediction of a second time to achieve the set point based on the temperature of the climate controlled space and operation of the transport climate control system including a lubricant recovery operation, the lubricant recovery operation including operating the transport climate control system at a selected capacity, the selected capacity being less than the maximum capacity and the selected capacity selected to return lubricant to a sump of the transport climate control system;
- determine, based on the first prediction and the second prediction, whether to perform the lubricant recovery operation;
- and
- when it is determined to perform the lubricant recovery operation, direct operation of the transport climate control system including the lubricant recovery operation.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.