Oil management system for a compressor
First Claim
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1. An oil management system for a compressor in a refrigeration system comprising:
- a heater arranged to heat oil in a crank case of the compressor;
an oil temperature sensor located within the crank case of the compressor and measuring a temperature of the oil within the crank case of the compressor;
a pressure sensor which measures crank case pressure of the compressor; and
,a controller operatively associated with the temperature sensor, the pressure sensor, and the heater, the controller arranged to;
calculate a saturation temperature (Tsat) of refrigerant used in the refrigeration system from the measured crank case pressure,determine a min temperature (Tmin) based on the saturation temperature (Tsat), the min temperature (Tmin) being greater than the saturation temperature (Tsat), andcontrol operation of the heater on the basis of ambient air temperature and oil temperature to maintain the oil temperature measured by the oil temperature sensor within a range Tmax≧
R≧
Tmin where Tmax>
Tmin, the control including;
disabling the heater when the ambient air temperature is above the range; and
when the ambient air temperature is less than the min temperature (Tmin) and the oil temperature measured by the oil temperature sensor is within the range, beginning operation of the heater before the oil temperature measured by the oil temperature sensor becomes less than or equal to the min temperature (Tmin).
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Abstract
The invention relates to an oil management system for a compressor in a refrigeration system comprising: an oil temperature sensor; a heater arranged to heat oil in a crank case of the compressor; and a controller operatively associated with the temperature sensor and the heater, the controller arranged to control operation of the heater on the basis of ambient air temperature and oil temperature to maintain the oil temperature within a range Tmax≧R≧Tmin where Tmax>Tmin.
54 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An oil management system for a compressor in a refrigeration system comprising:
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a heater arranged to heat oil in a crank case of the compressor; an oil temperature sensor located within the crank case of the compressor and measuring a temperature of the oil within the crank case of the compressor; a pressure sensor which measures crank case pressure of the compressor; and
,a controller operatively associated with the temperature sensor, the pressure sensor, and the heater, the controller arranged to; calculate a saturation temperature (Tsat) of refrigerant used in the refrigeration system from the measured crank case pressure, determine a min temperature (Tmin) based on the saturation temperature (Tsat), the min temperature (Tmin) being greater than the saturation temperature (Tsat), and control operation of the heater on the basis of ambient air temperature and oil temperature to maintain the oil temperature measured by the oil temperature sensor within a range Tmax≧
R≧
Tmin where Tmax>
Tmin, the control including;disabling the heater when the ambient air temperature is above the range; and when the ambient air temperature is less than the min temperature (Tmin) and the oil temperature measured by the oil temperature sensor is within the range, beginning operation of the heater before the oil temperature measured by the oil temperature sensor becomes less than or equal to the min temperature (Tmin). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification