IP Library Granted Patent US 8,924,181
Granted Patent B2
US 8,924,181 · App. 13/247,591 · Granted Dec 30, 2014

Operating refrigeration systems

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,924,181
App. No.
13/247,591
Granted
Dec 30, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Operating refrigeration systems is described herein. One method includes receiving operating information associated with a refrigeration system, and determining a probability of liquid slugging occurring in the refrigeration system before liquid slugging occurs in the refrigeration system based, at least in part, on the operating information.

Claims (36)

1. A method of operating a refrigeration system, comprising:

receiving operating information associated with a refrigeration system, wherein at least a portion of the operating information is received from a sensor associated with an inlet of a compressor rack of the refrigeration system;

determining a respective probability of liquid slugging caused by each of a plurality of components of the refrigeration system before liquid slugging occurs in the refrigeration system based, at least in part, on the operating information; and

providing a notification responsive to at least one determined probability of the plurality of probabilities meeting or exceeding a particular threshold probability, wherein the notification includes a display of a hierarchy of the plurality of components according to the respective probability of liquid slugging caused by each of the plurality of components.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating information is received from a number of sensors associated with the refrigeration system while the refrigeration system is operating.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the operating information is received from a sensor associated with a compressor rack of the refrigeration system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the operating information is received from a sensor associated with an electronic expansion valve of the refrigeration system.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes aggregating the operating information.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes determining whether the probability of liquid slugging occurring in the refrigeration system meets or exceeds a particular probability.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes displaying the determined probability of liquid slugging occurring in the refrigeration system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes providing a notification if the determined probability of liquid slugging occurring in the refrigeration system meets or exceeds a particular probability.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes recommending a corrective action if the determined probability of liquid slugging occurring in the refrigeration system meets or exceeds a particular probability, wherein the corrective action is based, at least in part, on the operating information.

10. A system for operating a refrigeration system, comprising:

a first sensor associated with an inlet of a compressor rack of a refrigeration system;

a second sensor associated with an evaporator of the refrigeration system; and

a computing device configured to:

receive operating information associated with the compressor rack and/or evaporator from the first and/or second sensors while the refrigeration system is operating;

determine a number of faults based, at least in part, on the operating information;

detect liquid slugging associated with the refrigeration system based, at least in part, on the determined number of faults and/or the operating information;

determine a respective probability of liquid slugging caused by each of a plurality of components of the refrigeration system based, at least in part, on the determined number of faults and/or the operating information; and

provide a notification responsive to at least one determined probability of the plurality of probabilities meeting or exceeding a particular threshold probability, wherein the notification includes a display of a hierarchy of the plurality of components according to the respective probability of liquid slugging caused by each of the plurality of components.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the operating information associated with the evaporator includes an evaporating temperature of a refrigerant in the evaporator.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the operating information associated with the evaporator includes a temperature of discharged air from the evaporator.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the operating information associated with the compressor rack includes a suction temperature associated with the compressor rack.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the operating information associated with the compressor rack includes a suction pressure associated with the compressor rack.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the operating information includes a suction superheat associated with the compressor subsystem.

16. A computing device for operating a refrigeration system, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory;

wherein the processor is configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to:

receive evaporator data and compressor rack data associated with a refrigeration system, wherein the compressor rack data includes data determined by a sensor associated with an inlet of a compressor rack;

determine a number of aggregated faults based, at least in part, on the evaporator data and the compressor rack data;

determine a respective probability of liquid slugging caused by each of a plurality of components of the refrigeration system based, at least in part, on the aggregated faults; and

provide a notification responsive to at least one determined probability of the plurality of probabilities meeting or exceeding a particular threshold probability, wherein the notification includes a display of a hierarchy of the plurality of components according to the respective probability of liquid slugging caused by each of the plurality of components.

17. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the aggregated faults and the determined probability are determined based on a set of adjustable rules.

18. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to determine a severity of each of the number of aggregated faults.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 12, 2025
From: ADEMCO INC.
To: RESIDEO LLC
Reel/Frame 071546/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
To: ADEMCO INC.
Reel/Frame 056522/0420 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2018
From: ADEMCO INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 047337/0577 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2014
From: HRNCAR, MARTIN; FISERA, RADEK
To: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 034477/0585 →