Oil circulation observer for HVAC systems
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a parameter related to lubricant in a first component of a vapor compression cycle system, comprising:
- estimating a parameter related to retained lubricant in a plurality of other components of the vapor compression cycle system; and
subtracting the estimate of the parameter related to retained lubricant from a parameter related to a known total lubricant in the vapor compression system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An innovative oil observer for estimating oil concentration and oil amount in a refrigerant compressor in a vapor compression cycle is described. The invention ensures the safe operation of the compressor by ensuring that adequate lubricant is present in the compressor. This oil observer is based on oil models for components of air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Oil models for HVAC components estimate oil mass and refrigerant mass in each component. With all component oil models and heat exchanger observers which provide the estimation of inner geometric lengths of two-phase flow heat exchangers, a system-level oil observer is established by integrating all component models. Experimental testing has been conducted to verify the performance of this oil observer for steady state operation and dynamic processes. The invention has direct applications in residential and commercial air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a parameter related to lubricant in a first component of a vapor compression cycle system, comprising:
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estimating a parameter related to retained lubricant in a plurality of other components of the vapor compression cycle system; and
subtracting the estimate of the parameter related to retained lubricant from a parameter related to a known total lubricant in the vapor compression system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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- 5. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a device for monitoring a parameter related to lubricant in a first component of the refrigeration apparatus, the device estimating a parameter related to retained lubricant in a plurality of other components of the refrigeration apparatus and subtracting the estimate of the parameter related to retained lubricant from a parameter related to a known total lubricant in the refrigeration apparatus.
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9. A method of monitoring a parameter related to lubricant in a component of a vapor compression cycle system, comprising:
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detecting a parameter related to a state of the component; and
using the parameter related to the state of the component, estimating the parameter related to lubricant in the component. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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10. The method of clam 9, further comprising using the parameter related to lubricant in the component to determine an amount of lubricant in the component.
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11. The method of clam 9, further comprising using the parameter related to lubricant in the component to determine a concentration of lubricant in the component.
- 13. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a device for monitoring a parameter related to lubricant in a component of the refrigeration apparatus, the device detecting a parameter related to a state of the component and, using the parameter related to the state of the component, estimating the parameter related to lubricant in the component.
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14. The refrigeration apparatus of clam 13, wherein the apparatus uses the parameter related to lubricant in the component to determine an amount of lubricant in the component.
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15. The refrigeration apparatus of clam 13, wherein the apparatus uses the parameter related to lubricant in the component to determine a concentration of lubricant in the component.
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17. A method of monitoring a parameter related to lubricant in a heat exchanger of a vapor compression cycle system, comprising:
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determining a length of a two-phase portion of the heat exchanger; and
using the length of the two-phase portion of the heat exchanger, estimating the parameter related to lubricant in the heat exchanger.
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18. An apparatus for monitoring a parameter related to lubricant in a heat exchanger of a vapor compression cycle system, the apparatus determining a length of a two-phase portion of the heat exchanger and, using the length of the two-phase portion of the heat exchanger, estimating the parameter related to lubricant in the heat exchanger.
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19. A method of monitoring a parameter related to lubricant in a heat exchanger of a vapor compression cycle system, comprising:
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determining a length of a single-phase portion of the heat exchanger; and
using the length of the single-phase portion of the heat exchanger, estimating the parameter related to lubricant in the heat exchanger.
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20. An apparatus for monitoring a parameter related to lubricant in a heat exchanger of a vapor compression cycle system, the apparatus determining a length of a single-phase portion of the heat exchanger and, using the length of the single-phase portion of the heat exchanger, estimating the parameter related to lubricant in the heat exchanger.
Specification