US20100050673A1 - Oil return algorithm for capacity modulated compressor - Google Patents

Oil return algorithm for capacity modulated compressor Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100050673A1
US20100050673A1 US12/203,164 US20316408A US2010050673A1 US 20100050673 A1 US20100050673 A1 US 20100050673A1 US 20316408 A US20316408 A US 20316408A US 2010050673 A1 US2010050673 A1 US 2010050673A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
compressor
oil
capacity
set forth
motor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/203,164
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English (en)
Inventor
Gregory W. Hahn
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Danfoss Scroll Technologies LLC
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Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US12/203,164 priority Critical patent/US20100050673A1/en
Assigned to SCROLL TECHNOLOGIES reassignment SCROLL TECHNOLOGIES ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HAHN, GREGORY W.
Assigned to DANFOSS SCROLL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC reassignment DANFOSS SCROLL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SCROLL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Priority to KR1020090042416A priority patent/KR20100027946A/ko
Priority to EP09251462A priority patent/EP2161519A1/en
Priority to CN200910147499.8A priority patent/CN101666305B/zh
Priority to JP2009164618A priority patent/JP2010059962A/ja
Publication of US20100050673A1 publication Critical patent/US20100050673A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C18/00—Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids
    • F04C18/02—Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids of arcuate-engagement type, i.e. with circular translatory movement of co-operating members, each member having the same number of teeth or tooth-equivalents
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B31/00—Compressor arrangements
    • F25B31/002—Lubrication
    • F25B31/004—Lubrication oil recirculating arrangements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C28/00—Control of, monitoring of, or safety arrangements for, pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for elastic fluids
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C29/00—Component parts, details or accessories of pumps or pumping installations, not provided for in groups F04C18/00 - F04C28/00
    • F04C29/12—Arrangements for admission or discharge of the working fluid, e.g. constructional features of the inlet or outlet
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F25B49/02—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for compression type machines, plants or systems
    • F25B49/022—Compressor control arrangements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25B2500/16—Lubrication

Definitions

  • This application relates to an algorithm for ensuring adequate oil return in a refrigerant system including a capacity modulated compressor.
  • Compressors are utilized as an integral part of a refrigerant system.
  • a compressor compresses a refrigerant and passes it downstream to a condenser.
  • Refrigerant from the condenser passes through an expansion device, and then through an evaporator. From the evaporator, the refrigerant returns to the compressor.
  • Lubricant is included in the refrigerant system, typically an Air Conditioner, Heat Pump or refrigeration application, and is particularly important to lubricate moving parts in the compressor.
  • the lubricant becomes entrained in the refrigerant, and can flow with the refrigerant throughout the refrigerant system. As such, there may sometimes be an inadequate supply of lubricant returned to the compressor. Lubricant can sit in other areas of the refrigerant system, and in particular in the condenser and evaporator.
  • compressor and refrigerant systems being of a variable capacity.
  • Typical applications of the compressor's ability to vary capacity include variable speed, multi-stepped modulation, PWM of compression element engagement, or other means of affecting capacity and the mass flow rates of the compressor.
  • the compressor may be operated at a lower capacity to improve energy efficiency. While operating at a higher capacity, the refrigerant may well drive sufficient lubricant back from the condenser and evaporator to the compressor such that there is an adequate lubricant supply. However, at lower capacities, it may sometimes be difficult to adequately drive the lubricant back.
  • One known system periodically provides an increase in speed when the compressor is operating at the lower speed.
  • the increased speed is maintained for a short period of time to drive lubricant back to the compressor.
  • the increase in speed is not tied to any existing conditions in the refrigerant system, and thus may be operated too frequently, or not frequently enough.
  • operating at the increased speed too frequency somewhat defeats the purpose of operating the compressor at the lower speed.
  • running at the higher speed to return lubricant too infrequently would be even more undesirable.
  • system conditions are monitored to predict an amount of oil migration from the compressor during low capacity operation.
  • an increased compressor capacity is run for a period of time.
  • a variable speed compressor is used as an example of a particular application of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows a refrigerant system.
  • FIG. 2 is a chart showing oil loss per hour at various compressor speeds.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart.
  • a refrigerant system 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • a compressor shell 23 includes a lubricant sump 22 , which maintains a quantity of lubricant.
  • a compressor pump unit 24 compresses refrigerant and delivers the refrigerant to a discharge tube 26 . From the discharge tube 26 , the lubricant passes through a condenser 28 , an expansion device 30 , an evaporator 32 , and back through a suction tube 33 into the compressor shell 23 .
  • a control 36 for a compressor motor 37 may operate the compressor motor 37 at various speeds.
  • the compressor may be operating at a relatively low speed to increase energy efficiency when a cooling demand is also low.
  • Sensors 34 and 35 monitor a condition, such as pressure, at the evaporator 32 and condenser 28 , respectively.
  • sensors that monitor temperature or an estimated saturated refrigerant temperature can be used to detect the conditions the compressor is operating at, These conditions may be sent to the control 36 to assist in quantifying the amount of oil which has likely migrated outwardly of the compressor shell 23 into other system components at low speed operation.
  • a curve may be developed which equates oil loss for a period of time for various low compressor speeds.
  • the oil loss no longer occurs.
  • the present invention integrates the amount of oil loss over time based upon a relationship such as shown in FIG. 2 , and actuates the motor control 36 to increase the speed of the motor for a short period of oil return time when that integrated amount passes a particular limit.
  • the amount of oil loss is calculated and the speed is increased when the amount passes a limit.
  • the compressor speed may be ramped up from the low energy efficiency speed to a predetermined amount, e.g., 2400 rpm in a compressor having the characteristics as shown below, for a short period of time (e.g. 3 seconds).
  • the point at which the oil return speed-up will occur can be defined as a function of the pressure at the suction and discharge of the compressor, as a function of compressor capacity or based upon other variables.
  • a ten coefficient map can be utilized to set a curve similar to that shown in FIG. 2 .
  • oil loss rate may be calculated as:
  • oil loss rate (oz/hr) a 1 +a 2( PE )+ a 3( PC )+ a 4( PE ) 2 +a 5( PE )( PC )+ a 6( PC ) 2 +a 7( PE ) 3 +a 8( PE ) 2 ( PC )+ a 9( PE )( PC ) 2 +a 10( PC ) 3 .
  • the oil loss rate shown above is based upon the pressure at the evaporator and the pressure at the condenser.
  • the same form of equation could be applied to evap and condensing temperatures. It could also be multiplied by a multiplier which brings in a capacity level factor.
  • variable speed compressors this would be the current rpm/max RPM.
  • the quantity of oil which is “lost” or which has migrated from the compressor is calculated, or integrated, over time while the compressor is operating at a low capacity. Once that quantity exceeds a predetermined limit, then the compressor capacity is ramped up to the oil return speed for a short period of time.
  • the amount of oil lost is calculated in a plurality of discrete time units when the compressor is operating at a lower speed. As an example, this can occur every five seconds.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Control Of Positive-Displacement Pumps (AREA)
  • Compressor (AREA)
  • Applications Or Details Of Rotary Compressors (AREA)
US12/203,164 2008-09-03 2008-09-03 Oil return algorithm for capacity modulated compressor Abandoned US20100050673A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/203,164 US20100050673A1 (en) 2008-09-03 2008-09-03 Oil return algorithm for capacity modulated compressor
KR1020090042416A KR20100027946A (ko) 2008-09-03 2009-05-15 용량 조절 압축기용 오일 반송 알고리즘
EP09251462A EP2161519A1 (en) 2008-09-03 2009-06-01 Oil return algorithm for capacity modulated compressor
CN200910147499.8A CN101666305B (zh) 2008-09-03 2009-06-16 用于容量调节压缩机的回油方法
JP2009164618A JP2010059962A (ja) 2008-09-03 2009-07-13 容量可変圧縮機に用いる返油アルゴリズム

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/203,164 US20100050673A1 (en) 2008-09-03 2008-09-03 Oil return algorithm for capacity modulated compressor

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20100050673A1 true US20100050673A1 (en) 2010-03-04

Family

ID=41202660

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/203,164 Abandoned US20100050673A1 (en) 2008-09-03 2008-09-03 Oil return algorithm for capacity modulated compressor

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20100050673A1 (zh)
EP (1) EP2161519A1 (zh)
JP (1) JP2010059962A (zh)
KR (1) KR20100027946A (zh)
CN (1) CN101666305B (zh)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10473377B2 (en) 2016-09-26 2019-11-12 Carrier Corporation High outdoor ambient and high suction pressure oil pump out mitigation for air conditioners
US11247534B2 (en) * 2017-10-12 2022-02-15 Hanon Systems Method of controlling compressor

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2853742B1 (en) * 2013-09-27 2016-04-20 Emerson Climate Technologies GmbH Method and apparatus for oil sensing in a compressor
CN110986430B (zh) * 2019-12-31 2020-11-10 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 一种有效回油控制方法、装置及空调机组
DE102021210048A1 (de) * 2021-09-10 2023-03-16 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Betreiben eines drehzahlgesteuerten Verdichters eines Haushalts-Kältegeräts

Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4722196A (en) * 1985-10-31 1988-02-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Device for controlling refrigeration cycle capacity
US5067326A (en) * 1979-07-31 1991-11-26 Alsenz Richard H Method and apparatus for controlling capacity of a multiple-stage cooling system
US5263822A (en) * 1989-10-31 1993-11-23 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Scroll compressor with lubrication passages to the main bearing, revolving bearing, back-pressure chamber and compression chambers
US5417078A (en) * 1994-06-13 1995-05-23 Carrier Corporation Refrigerator flow control apparatus
US20030051494A1 (en) * 2001-09-20 2003-03-20 Shigeki Ohya Refrigerant cycle system including two evaporators
US20050103035A1 (en) * 2003-11-19 2005-05-19 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Oil circulation observer for HVAC systems
US20050204756A1 (en) * 2004-03-22 2005-09-22 Dobmeier Thomas J Monitoring refrigerant charge
US20070130973A1 (en) * 2005-05-04 2007-06-14 Scroll Technologies Refrigerant system with multi-speed scroll compressor and economizer circuit
US20080008614A1 (en) * 2006-07-07 2008-01-10 Takao Mizuno Horizontal type scroll compressor
US7370487B2 (en) * 2004-07-20 2008-05-13 Denso Corporation Refrigerating cycle device capable of ensuring oil return
US20080134701A1 (en) * 2006-12-12 2008-06-12 Ole Moelgaard Christensen Variable Compressor Oil Return
US20090324426A1 (en) * 2008-06-29 2009-12-31 Moody Bruce A Compressor speed control system for bearing reliability
US20100175396A1 (en) * 2006-08-22 2010-07-15 Carrier Corporation Oil return in refrigerant system
US7854137B2 (en) * 2005-06-07 2010-12-21 Carrier Corporation Variable speed compressor motor control for low speed operation

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5067326A (en) * 1979-07-31 1991-11-26 Alsenz Richard H Method and apparatus for controlling capacity of a multiple-stage cooling system
US4722196A (en) * 1985-10-31 1988-02-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Device for controlling refrigeration cycle capacity
US5263822A (en) * 1989-10-31 1993-11-23 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Scroll compressor with lubrication passages to the main bearing, revolving bearing, back-pressure chamber and compression chambers
US5417078A (en) * 1994-06-13 1995-05-23 Carrier Corporation Refrigerator flow control apparatus
US20030051494A1 (en) * 2001-09-20 2003-03-20 Shigeki Ohya Refrigerant cycle system including two evaporators
US20050103035A1 (en) * 2003-11-19 2005-05-19 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Oil circulation observer for HVAC systems
US20050204756A1 (en) * 2004-03-22 2005-09-22 Dobmeier Thomas J Monitoring refrigerant charge
US7370487B2 (en) * 2004-07-20 2008-05-13 Denso Corporation Refrigerating cycle device capable of ensuring oil return
US20070130973A1 (en) * 2005-05-04 2007-06-14 Scroll Technologies Refrigerant system with multi-speed scroll compressor and economizer circuit
US7854137B2 (en) * 2005-06-07 2010-12-21 Carrier Corporation Variable speed compressor motor control for low speed operation
US20080008614A1 (en) * 2006-07-07 2008-01-10 Takao Mizuno Horizontal type scroll compressor
US20100175396A1 (en) * 2006-08-22 2010-07-15 Carrier Corporation Oil return in refrigerant system
US20080134701A1 (en) * 2006-12-12 2008-06-12 Ole Moelgaard Christensen Variable Compressor Oil Return
US20090324426A1 (en) * 2008-06-29 2009-12-31 Moody Bruce A Compressor speed control system for bearing reliability

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10473377B2 (en) 2016-09-26 2019-11-12 Carrier Corporation High outdoor ambient and high suction pressure oil pump out mitigation for air conditioners
US11247534B2 (en) * 2017-10-12 2022-02-15 Hanon Systems Method of controlling compressor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101666305B (zh) 2014-12-03
EP2161519A1 (en) 2010-03-10
CN101666305A (zh) 2010-03-10
JP2010059962A (ja) 2010-03-18
KR20100027946A (ko) 2010-03-11

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AS Assignment

Owner name: SCROLL TECHNOLOGIES,ARKANSAS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HAHN, GREGORY W.;REEL/FRAME:021471/0532

Effective date: 20080902

AS Assignment

Owner name: DANFOSS SCROLL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC,ARKANSAS

Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:SCROLL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC;REEL/FRAME:022664/0098

Effective date: 20080815

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO PAY ISSUE FEE