Compressor crankcase heating control systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9353738-B2
Application number	US-201414461796-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2014
Priority date	Sep 19, 2013
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A first switching device includes a first and second inputs connected to first and second power lines, respectively, the first and second power lines for receiving a first voltage. The first switching device selectively connects and disconnects the first and second inputs to and from first and second nodes, respectively. A second switching device includes a third input connected to the first node, includes a fourth input connected to a third power line, and includes a first output connected to a first end of a stator winding. A third switching device includes a fifth input connected to the second node and includes a sixth input connected to a fourth power line, the third and fourth power lines for receiving a second voltage that is less than the first voltage. The third switching device further includes a second output connected to a second end of the stator winding. A compressor crankcase heating control module controls the second and third switching devices to control compressor crankcase heating.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A compressor crankcase heating control system for a heat pump system, the compressor crankcase heating control system comprising:
a first switching device that includes a first input connected to a first power line, that includes a second input connected to a second power line, the first and second power lines for receiving a first voltage, and that selectively connects and disconnects the first and second inputs to and from first and second nodes, respectively;
a second switching device that includes a third input that is connected to the first node, that includes a fourth input that is connected to a third power line, and that includes a first output that is connected to a first end of a stator winding of an electric motor of a compressor;
a third switching device that includes a fifth input that is connected to the second node, that includes a sixth input that is connected to a fourth power line, the third and fourth power lines for receiving a second voltage that is less than the first voltage, and that includes a second output that is connected to a second end of the stator winding of the electric motor of the compressor; and
a compressor crankcase heating control module that controls the second and third switching devices.

2. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 1 wherein, when the first and second inputs are disconnected from the first and second nodes, respectively, the compressor crankcase heating control module selectively:
actuates the second switching device to connect the fourth input to the first output; and
actuates the third switching device to connect the sixth input to the second output.

3. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 2 wherein, when the first and second inputs are disconnected from the first and second nodes, respectively, the compressor crankcase heating control module selectively actuates the second and third switching devices based on at least one of a temperature of the compressor, an ambient temperature, a current date, and a current time.

4. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 2 wherein, when the first and second inputs are connected to the first and second nodes, respectively, the compressor crankcase heating control module:
actuates the second switching device to connect the third input to the first output; and
actuates the third switching device to connect the fifth input to the second output.

5. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 1 further comprising a thermostat that actuates the first switching device based on a temperature within a space and a predetermined temperature.

6. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 5 further comprising an indoor unit that includes an evaporator, a blower, and a transformer,
the transformer generating the second voltage based on a third voltage and outputting the second voltage to the thermostat.

7. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 6 wherein third voltage is:
less than the first voltage; and
greater than the second voltage.

8. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 5 wherein the second voltage is approximately 24 Volts.

9. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 1 further comprising:
an indoor unit that includes an evaporator, a blower, and a transformer, the transformer generating a third voltage based on a fourth voltage and outputting the third voltage; and
a thermostat that outputs the third voltage to the compressor crankcase heating control module,
wherein the compressor crankcase heating control module generates the second voltage based on the third voltage and outputs the second voltage.

10. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 9 wherein:
the third voltage is less than the fourth voltage; and
the second voltage is greater than the third voltage.

11. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 1 wherein the stator winding is a start winding.

12. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 1 wherein the stator winding is a run winding.

13. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 1 further comprising an electric motor of a condenser fan that is connected to the first and second nodes.

14. A compressor crankcase heating control system for a heat pump system, the compressor crankcase heating control system comprising:
a first switching device that includes a first input connected to a first power line, that includes a second input connected to a second power line, the first and second power lines for receiving a first voltage, and that selectively connects and disconnects the first and second inputs to and from first and second nodes, respectively;
a second switching device that includes a third input that is connected to the first node, that includes a fourth input that is connected to a third power line, and that includes a first output that is connected to:
a first end of a first winding of a stator of an electric motor of a compressor; and
a first end of a second winding of the stator of the electric motor of the compressor;

a third switching device that includes a fifth input that is connected to the second node, that includes a sixth input that is connected to a fourth power line, the third and fourth power lines for receiving a second voltage that is less than the first voltage, and that includes a second output that is connected to second ends of the first and second windings of the stator of the electric motor of the compressor; and
a compressor crankcase heating control module that controls the second and third switching devices.

15. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 14 wherein, when the first and second inputs are disconnected from the first and second nodes, respectively, the compressor crankcase heating control module selectively:
actuates the second switching device to connect the fourth input to the first output; and
actuates the third switching device to connect the sixth input to the second output.

16. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 15 wherein, when the first and second inputs are disconnected from the first and second nodes, respectively, the compressor crankcase heating control module selectively actuates the second and third switching devices based on at least one of a temperature of the compressor, an ambient temperature, a current date, and a current time.

17. The compressor crankcase heating control system of claim 15 wherein, when the first and second inputs are connected to the first and second nodes, respectively, the compressor crankcase heating control module:
actuates the second switching device to connect the third input to the first output; and
actuates the third switching device to connect the fifth input to the second output.

18. A heat pump system comprising:
first and second heat exchangers;
an expansion valve;
a compressor that includes an electric motor including a stator, the stator including a first winding and a second winding;
a first switching device that includes a first input connected to a first power line, that includes a second input connected to a second power line, the first and second power lines for receiving a first voltage, and that selectively connects and disconnects the first and second inputs to and from first and second nodes, respectively;
a second switching device that includes a third input that is connected to the first node, that includes a fourth input that is connected to a th

Assignees

• Emerson Climate Technologies

Inventors

• Ramayya George J

Classifications

• F04B49/06

  Control using electricity (regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04) · CPC title

• Y02B30/741

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F25B2700/2106

  of fresh outdoor air · CPC title

• F25B2600/111

  of condenser fans · CPC title

• F04B39/06 Primary

  Cooling; Heating; Prevention of freezing · CPC title