Compressor crankcase heating control systems and methods

• US 9,879,894 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Ramayya, George J.
• Primary Examiner(s): FREAY, CHARLES GRANT
• Application Number:
  US15/167,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20160273818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/04 the means being electric
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/02 Lubrication of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/0207 with lubrication control systems
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/06 Cooling; Heating; Prevention of freezing
• 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: F04C 18/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2240/30 Casings or housings
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/005 Means for transmitting movement from the prime mover to driven parts of the pump, e.g. clutches, couplings, transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/0085 Prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/04 Heating; Cooling of machines or engines in general F01P; Heat insulation heat insulation in general F16L59/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 13/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/01 Heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/02 Compressor control
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/021 Inverters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/111 of condenser fans
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2106 of fresh outdoor air
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21152 at the discharge side of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 31/002 Lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 31/023 with compressor of reciprocating-piston type
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 31/026 : with compressor of rotary type
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/025 : Motor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 : Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A compressor crankcase heating control method for a heat pump system includes selectively actuating a first switching device to connect and disconnect first and second power lines to and from second and third switching devices, respectively, the first and second power lines receive a first voltage. The compressor crankcase heating control method further includes, when the first and second power lines are disconnected from the second and third switching devices via the first switching device, actuating the second and third switching devices thereby connecting third and fourth power lines to ends, respectively, of at least one winding of a stator of an electric motor of a compressor. The at least one winding of the stator of the electric motor heats the crankcase of the compressor. The third and fourth power lines receive a second voltage that is less than the first voltage.

Claims

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

selectively actuating a first switching device to connect and disconnect first and second power lines to and from second and third switching devices, respectively,

the first and second power lines configured to receive a first voltage; and

when the first and second power lines are disconnected from the second and third switching devices via the first switching device, actuating the second and third switching devices thereby connecting third and fourth power lines to ends, respectively, of at least one winding of a stator of an electric motor of a compressor,

the at least one winding of the stator of the electric motor configured to heat the crankcase of the compressor, and

the third and fourth power lines configured to receive a second voltage that is less than the first voltage.

2. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 1 wherein the actuating the second and third switching devices includes, when the first and second power lines are disconnected from the second and third switching devices via the first switching device, actuating the second and third switching devices thereby connecting third and fourth power lines to ends, respectively, of at least one winding of the stator of the electric motor of the compressor based on a temperature of the compressor.

3. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 1 wherein the actuating the second and third switching devices includes, when the first and second power lines are disconnected from the second and third switching devices via the first switching device, actuating the second and third switching devices thereby connecting third and fourth power lines to ends, respectively, of at least one winding of the stator of the electric motor of the compressor based on an ambient temperature.

4. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 1 wherein the actuating the second and third switching devices includes, when the first and second power lines are disconnected from the second and third switching devices via the first switching device, actuating the second and third switching devices thereby connecting third and fourth power lines to ends, respectively, of at least one winding of the stator of the electric motor of the compressor based on a current date.

5. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 1 wherein the actuating the second and third switching devices includes, when the first and second power lines are disconnected from the second and third switching devices via the first switching device, actuating the second and third switching devices thereby connecting third and fourth power lines to ends, respectively, of at least one winding of the stator of the electric motor of the compressor based on a current time.

6. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 1 wherein the selectively actuating the first switching device includes, by a thermostat, actuating the first switching device based on a temperature within a space and a predetermined temperature.

7. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 6 further comprising:

generating, by a transformer of an indoor unit, the second voltage based on a third voltage and outputting the second voltage to the thermostat,

the indoor unit further including an evaporator and a blower; and

by the thermostat, supplying the second voltage to the third and fourth power lines.

8. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 7 wherein third voltage is less than the first voltage.

9. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 7 wherein third voltage is greater than the first voltage.

10. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 7 wherein the second voltage is approximately 24 Volts.

11. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating by a transformer of an indoor unit, a third voltage based on a fourth voltage and outputting the third voltage to a thermostat,

the indoor unit further including an evaporator and a blower;

outputting, by the thermostat, the third voltage to a compressor crankcase heating control module; and

generating, by the crankcase heating control module, the second voltage based on the third voltage and supplying the second voltage to the third and fourth power lines.

12. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 11 wherein the third voltage is less than the fourth voltage.

13. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 11 wherein the third voltage is greater than the fourth voltage.

14. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 1 wherein the at least one winding includes a start winding of the stator.

15. The compressor crankcase heating control method of claim 1 wherein the at least one winding includes a run winding of the stator.

16. A method for a heat pump system, the method comprising:

selectively actuating a first switching device to connect and disconnect first and second inputs of the first switching device to and from first and second nodes, respectively, the first input of the first switching device connected to a first power line, the second input of the first switching device connected to a second power line, the first and second power lines configured to receive a first voltage;

when the first and second inputs are disconnected from the first and second nodes, respectively;

actuating a second switching device to connect a third input of the second switching device to a first output of the second switching device, the third input connected to a third power line, and the first output of the second switching device connected to at least one of 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; and

actuating a third switching device to connect a fourth input of the third switching device to a second output of the third switching device, the fourth input connected to a third power line, the third power line configured to receive a second voltage that is less than the first voltage, and the second output of the third switching device connected to second ends of the first and second windings; and

when the first and second inputs are connected to the first and second nodes, respectively;

actuating the second switching device to connect a fifth input of the second switching device to the first output of the second switching device, the fifth input connected to the first node; and

actuating the third switching device to connect a sixth input of the third switching device to the second output of the third switching device, the sixth input connected to the second node.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the actuating the second and third switching devices includes, when the first and second power lines are disconnected from the second and third switching devices via the first switching device, actuating the second and third switching devices based on a temperature of the compressor.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the actuating the second and third switching devices includes, when the first and second power lines are disconnected from the second and third switching devices via the first switching device, actuating the second and third switching devices based on an ambient temperature.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the actuating the second and third switching devices includes, when the first and second power lines are disconnected from the second and third switching devices via the first switching device, actuating the second and third switching devices based on at least one of a current date and a current time.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the selectively actuating the first device includes, by a thermostat, actuating the first switching device based on a temperature within a space and a predetermined temperature.