Refrigerant pressure relief in hvac systems

An HVAC system, comprising:

• a receptacle;
• a first tube comprising a first end and a second end, the first tube coupled to a manifold at the first end and coupled to the receptacle at the second end, the manifold coupled to a condenser of the HVAC system and configured to receive refrigerant from at least one outlet of a first pass of tubing for routing refrigerant through the condenser;
• wherein the receptacle is in fluid communication with the at least one outlet of the first pass of tubing through the condenser via the first tube, the first tube configured to form a conduit for refrigerant migration into the receptacle in response to, at least, one or more high refrigerant pressures within the HVAC system, and the first tube configured to form a conduit for refrigerant draining from the receptacle in response to, at least, one or more low refrigerant pressures within the HVAC system;
• a first valve coupled to the first tube, the first valve configured to permit refrigerant to migrate into or drain from the receptacle when open, the first valve further configured to prevent refrigerant to migrate into or drain from the receptacle when closed;
• and
• a controller operable to:
• determine whether at least one condition indicating a likelihood of one or more high refrigerant pressures within the HVAC system is present;
• generate a first control signal configured to, at least, switch the first valve from an open to a closed position in response to determining that at least one condition indicating a likelihood of one or more high refrigerant pressures within the HVAC system is present and upon expiration of a defined first period of time;
• and
• generate a second control signal configured to, at least, switch the first valve from a closed to an open position following generation of the first control signal and upon expiration of a defined second period of time.

A method for reducing refrigerant pressure within an HVAC system, the method comprising:

• determining, using a controller, whether at least one condition indicating a likelihood of one or more high refrigerant pressures within the HVAC system is present;
• generating, using the controller, a first control signal configured to, at least, switch a first valve from an open to a closed position in response to determining that at least one condition indicating a likelihood of one or more high refrigerant pressures within the HVAC system is present and upon expiration of a defined first period of time;
• wherein the first valve is coupled to a first tube, the first valve configured to permit refrigerant to flow through the first tube when open and configured to prevent refrigerant to flow through the first tube when closed, the first tube coupled to a manifold of a condenser, the manifold configured to receive refrigerant from at least one outlet of a first pass of tubing of the condenser;
• wherein the first tube is coupled to a first receptacle, the first receptacle configured to be in fluid communication with the first pass of tubing through a condenser via the first tube and the manifold for receiving refrigerant exiting the first pass of the condenser at times when one or more high refrigerant pressures are present within the HVAC system;
• generating, using the controller, a second control signal configured to, at least, switch the first valve from a closed to an open position following generation of the first control signal and upon expiration of a defined second period of time.