System and method for a compressor dome temperature sensor location verification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10371395-B2
Application number	US-201514721721-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2015
Priority date	Jun 3, 2014
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein that include controlling operation of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system that utilizes information from a plurality of temperature sensors to monitor, verify, determine, and/or discover whether a temperature sensor is properly located in proximity to a dome of a compressor of the HVAC system. When the HVAC system determines that the temperature sensor associated with the dome of the compressor is not properly located, the HVAC system may initiate a shutdown of the compressor and/or other components of the HVAC system, generate a signal, present a message, and/or otherwise provide a notification of the improper temperature sensor placement, and/or reduce a runtime of the compressor, operate the compressor at a lower speed, reduce a power consumption of the compressor, and/or otherwise control the compressor and/or associated components to effectuate a reduced compressor dome temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
a compressor;
a compressor dome temperature sensor;
a plurality of additional temperature sensors; and
a controller configured to (i) control operating of the HVAC system in response to comparisons, by the controller, of information from the compressor dome temperature sensor and the plurality of additional temperature sensors indicating a likelihood that the compressor dome temperature sensor is not properly located, and (ii) track, with counting rules, a number of comparison rules that indicate that the compressor dome temperature sensor is improperly located, wherein at least two counts indicate that the compressor dome temperature sensor is improperly located.

2. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to provide a notification in response to determining the compressor dome temperature sensor is improperly located.

3. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate a shutdown of the compressor in response to determining the compressor dome temperature sensor is improperly located.

4. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to reduce a runtime of the compressor in response to determining the compressor dome temperature sensor is improperly located.

5. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the compressor at a lower speed in response to determining the compressor dome temperature sensor is improperly located.

6. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to reduce a power consumption of the compressor in response to determining the compressor dome temperature sensor is improperly located.

7. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of other temperature sensors comprise an outdoor ambient temperature sensor, an outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor, and a suction line temperature sensor.

8. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to monitor each of the plurality of temperature sensors.

9. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the HVAC system in response to at least two temperature comparisons not being satisfied.

10. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the HVAC system to reduce a temperature of the compressor.

11. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the compressor dome temperature sensor is located on the compressor or a compressor discharge line.

12. A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
providing a compressor;
measuring a compressor dome temperature;
measuring a plurality of other temperatures;
comparing, using the controller, the compressor dome temperature to the plurality of other temperatures;
controlling operation of the HVAC system in response to the comparing the compressor dome temperature to the other temperatures indicating a likelihood that the compressor dome temperature sensor is not properly located; and
tracking, with counting rules, a number of comparison rules that indicate that the compressor dome temperature sensor is improperly located, wherein at least two counts indicate that the compressor dome temperature sensor is improperly located.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
providing a notification that the compressor dome temperature sensor is improperly located.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
initiating a shutdown of the compressor in response to the likelihood that the compressor dome temperature sensor is not properly located.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
reducing a runtime of the compressor in response to the likelihood that the compressor dome temperature sensor is not properly located.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
operating the compressor at a lower speed in response to the likelihood that the compressor dome temperature sensor is not properly located.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
reducing a power consumption of the compressor in response to the likelihood that the compressor dome temperature sensor is not properly located.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of other temperatures comprise an outdoor ambient temperature, an outdoor heat exchanger temperature, and a suction line temperature.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the controlling operation of the HVAC system in response to the comparing the compressor dome temperature to the other temperatures indicating a likelihood that the compressor dome temperature sensor is not properly located is in response to at least two temperature comparisons not being satisfied.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the controlling operation of the HVAC system in response to the comparing the compressor dome temperature to the other temperatures indicating a likelihood that the compressor dome temperature sensor is not properly located is to adjust operation of the HVAC system to reduce a temperature of the compressor.

21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the compressor dome temperature sensor is located on the compressor or a compressor discharge line.

22. A controller for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
at least one processor configured to:
monitor a compressor dome temperature using a compressor dome temperature sensor, wherein the compressor dome temperature sensor is located on a compressor of the HVAC system or a compressor discharge line;
monitor a plurality of other temperatures;
compare the compressor dome temperature to the plurality of other temperatures;
control operation of a compressor of the HVAC system in response to the comparison of the compressor dome temperature to the other temperatures indicating a likelihood that the compressor dome temperature sensor is not properly located; and
track, with counting rules, a number of comparison rules that indicate that the compressor dome temperature sensor is improperly located, wherein at least two counts indicate that the compressor dome temperature sensor is improperly located.

Assignees

• Trane Int Inc

Inventors

• Rite Raymond Walter
• Schuster Don Alan

Classifications

• F24F11/30

  for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring · CPC title

• F24F11/62

  characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values · CPC title

• F24F5/001 Primary

  Compression cycle type · CPC title

• F24F1/08

  Compressors specially adapted for separate outdoor units · CPC title

• F24F2110/00

  Control inputs relating to air properties · CPC title