US 2026/0146772 A1Published application

System and method for decoupling compressors and switching refrigerant flow based on ambient temperature

AssigneeHeatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC

InventorsDaqing Li, Shitong Zha

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Abstract

A method for switching the flow path of refrigerant with decoupled compressors is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a detected ambient temperature from a temperature sensor circuit. The method further comprises determining whether the detected ambient temperature is less than a threshold ambient temperature. The method further comprises communicating a first electronic signal to a switching valve to direct a flow path of the refrigerant from the switching valve toward an outdoor heat exchanger in response to determining that the detected ambient temperature is less than the threshold ambient temperature. The method further comprises communicating a second electronic signal to the switching valve to direct the flow path of the refrigerant from the switching valve toward a flash tank in response to determining that the detected ambient temperature is more than or equal to the threshold ambient temperature.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A refrigeration system comprising:

a temperature sensor circuit configured to detect an ambient temperature within a vicinity of the refrigeration system;
a first indoor heat exchanger positioned downstream of a flash tank, and configured to absorb heat from surrounding environment via refrigerant received from the flash tank;
a first compressor positioned downstream of the first indoor heat exchanger, and configured to compress the refrigerant received from the first indoor heat exchanger;
an oil separator positioned downstream of the first compressor, and configured to:
separate oil from the refrigerant received from the first compressor;
and
return the separated oil to the first compressor;
a switching valve positioned downstream of the oil separator, and configured to selectively switch a flow path of the refrigerant between the flash tank and an outdoor heat exchanger depending on the detected ambient temperature;
and
a controller, communicatively coupled with the temperature sensor circuit and the switching valve, comprising a processor configured to:
receive the detected ambient temperature from the temperature sensor circuit;
determine whether the detected ambient temperature is less than a threshold ambient temperature;
in response to determining that the detected ambient temperature is less than the threshold ambient temperature, communicate a first electronic signal to the switching valve to direct the flow path of the refrigerant from the switching valve toward the outdoor heat exchanger;
and
in response to determining that the detected ambient temperature is more than or equal to the threshold ambient temperature, communicate a second electronic signal to the switching valve to direct the flow path of the refrigerant from the switching valve toward the flash tank.

12 more elements

A method for operating a refrigeration system comprising:

receiving a detected ambient temperature from a temperature sensor circuit;
determining whether the detected ambient temperature is less than a threshold ambient temperature;
in response to determining that the detected ambient temperature is less than the threshold ambient temperature, communicating a first electronic signal to a switching valve to direct a flow path of the refrigerant from the switching valve toward an outdoor heat exchanger;
and
in response to determining that the detected ambient temperature is more than or equal to the threshold ambient temperature, communicating a second electronic signal to the switching valve to direct the flow path of the refrigerant from the switching valve toward a flash tank.

2 more elements

A controller of a refrigeration system, the controller comprising a processor configured to:

receive a detected ambient temperature from a temperature sensor circuit;
determine whether the detected ambient temperature is less than a threshold ambient temperature;
in response to determining that the detected ambient temperature is less than the threshold ambient temperature, communicate a first electronic signal to a switching valve to direct a flow path of a refrigerant from the switching valve toward an outdoor heat exchanger;
and
in response to determining that the detected ambient temperature is more than or equal to the threshold ambient temperature, communicate a second electronic signal to the switching valve to direct the flow path of the refrigerant from the switching valve toward a flash tank.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.