Oil management in multi-compressor system

A heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

• a plurality of compressors arranged in a fluidly parallel relationship;
• a suction header to direct a flow a refrigerant to the plurality of compressors;
• and
• a suction valve disposed at the suction header, the suction valve including:
• a valve housing including:
• a valve inlet conduit to direct a flow of refrigerant into the suction valve;
• and
• a plurality of valve outlet conduits, each valve outlet conduit of the plurality of valve outlet conduits configured to direct the flow of refrigerant from the suction valve to a different compressor of the plurality of compressors;
• a valve seat disposed in the valve cylinder, the valve seat having a plurality of valve passages extending therethrough;
• wherein the valve seat is one or more of movable along a valve axis and rotatable about the valve axis to selectably direct the flow of refrigerant to one or more compressors of plurality of compressors depending on a position of the valve seat in the valve housing.

A method of operating a suction valve of a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a plurality of compressors, comprising:

• determining a load condition of the HVAC system;
• directing a flow of refrigerant to the suction valve, the suction valve including:
• a valve housing including:
• a valve inlet conduit to direct a flow of refrigerant into the suction valve;
• and
• a plurality of valve outlet conduits, each valve outlet conduit of the plurality of valve outlet conduits configured to direct the flow of refrigerant from the suction valve to a different compressor of the plurality of compressors;
• a valve seat disposed in the valve housing, the valve seat having a plurality of valve passages extending therethrough;
• and
• moving the valve seat of the suction valve to selectably direct the flow of refrigerant through one or more valve passages of plurality of valve passages to one or more compressors of the plurality of compressors based on the determined load condition of the HVAC system.