Compressor crankcase heating control systems and methods

• US 9,181,939 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Pham, Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Namay, Daniel E
• Application Number:
  US14/079,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20140138451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 237/12, 237/2.B, 237/13, 237/81
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/04 the means being electric
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/0094 crankshaft
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/06 Cooling; Heating; Prevention of freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/121 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/128 Crankcases
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/14 Pistons, piston-rods or piston-rod connections
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2240/81 Sensor, e.g. electronic sensor for control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/701 Cold start
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/045 of the electric motor in hermetic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 31/002 Lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/022 Compressor control arrangements

Abstract

A crankcase heating control system for a heat pump system includes a data receiving module and a power control module. The data receiving module receives data indicative of a temperature of a compressor of the heat pump system, data indicative of an ambient temperature, and data indicative of a current date and a current time. The power control module selectively applies power to a heater of a crankcase of the compressor and selectively disables the heater based on the temperature of the compressor, the ambient temperature, the current date, and the current time.

Claims

1. A crankcase heating control system for a heat pump system, the crankcase heating control system comprising:

a data receiving module that receives data indicative of a temperature of a compressor of the heat pump system, data indicative of an ambient temperature, and data indicative of a current date and a current time;

a power control module that selectively applies power to a heater of a crankcase of the compressor and that selectively disables the heater based on the temperature of the compressor, the ambient temperature, the current date, and the current time; and

a difference module that sets a temperature difference equal to the temperature of the compressor minus the ambient temperature,

wherein the power control module disables the heater of the crankcase when the temperature difference is greater than a predetermined temperature.

2. The crankcase heating control system of claim 1 wherein the power control module applies power to the heater of the crankcase when the temperature difference is less than a second predetermined temperature that is less than the predetermined temperature.

3. A crankcase heating control method for a heat pump system, the crankcase heating control method comprising:

receiving data indicative of a temperature of a compressor of the heat pump system;

receiving data indicative of an ambient temperature;

receiving data indicative of a current date and a current time;

selectively applying power to a heater of a crankcase of the compressor;

selectively disabling the heater based on the temperature of the compressor, the ambient temperature, the current date, and the current time;

setting a temperature difference equal to the temperature of the compressor minus the ambient temperature; and

disabling the heater of the crankcase when the temperature difference is greater than a predetermined temperature.

4. The crankcase heating control method of claim 3 further comprising applying power to the heater of the crankcase when the temperature difference is less than a second predetermined temperature that is less than the predetermined temperature.