Compressor diagnostic and protection system and method

1. A system comprising:

a compressor operable in a refrigeration circuit, said compressor having a shell and a motor disposed within said shell;

a first sensor detecting high-side data indicative of an operating condition of a high-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit;

a second sensor detecting low-side data indicative of an operating condition of a low-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit; and

processing circuitry receiving said high-side data and said low-side data from said first and second sensors and processing said high-side data and low-side data to determine at least one of a low-side fault and a high-side fault, said processing circuitry operating said compressor in one of a normal mode, a reduced-capacity mode, and a shutdown mode, said processing circuitry operating said compressor in said normal mode in the absence of a low-side fault and a high-side fault, operating said compressor in said reduced-capacity mode if a low-side fault or a high-side fault is determined, or operating said compressor in said shutdown mode if said low-side fault or said high-side fault is identified by said processing circuitry as being a severe low-side fault or a severe high-side fault.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry processes said low-side data and said high-side data as a cumulating parameter to identify said at least one of said low-side fault and said high-side fault.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry intermittently restricts power to said compressor if a low-side fault is detected.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first sensor is selected from the group comprising: a current sensor, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said second sensor is selected from the group comprising a suction pressure sensor and a temperature sensor.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said temperature sensor is a discharge line temperature sensor disposed proximate to a discharge port of said compressor.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a power interruption device operable to selectively restrict power to said motor to provide system protection in response to a signal from said processing circuitry.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a diagnostics system in communication with said processing circuitry to log and store operating conditions of said compressor.

9. A controller for a compressor in a refrigeration circuit, said controller comprising:

a first sensor detecting high-side data indicative of an operating condition of a high-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit;

a second sensor detecting low-side data indicative of an operating condition of a low-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit; and

processing circuitry receiving said high-side data and said low-side data from said first and second sensors and processing said high-side data and low-side data to determine at least one of a low-side fault and a high-side fault, said processing circuitry operating the compressor in one of a normal mode, a reduced-capacity mode, and a shutdown mode, said processing circuitry operating the compressor in said normal mode in the absence of a low-side fault and a high-side fault, operating the compressor in said reduced-capacity mode if a low-side fault or a high-side fault is determined, or operating the compressor in said shutdown mode if said low-side fault or said high-side fault is identified by said processing circuitry as being a severe low-side fault or a severe high-side fault.

10. The controller of claim 9 , wherein said processing circuitry processes said low-side data and said high-side data as a cumulating parameter to identify said at least one of said low-side fault and said high-side fault.

11. The controller of claim 9 , wherein said processing circuitry intermittently restricts power to the compressor if a low-side fault is detected.

12. The controller of claim 9 , wherein said first sensor is selected from the group comprising: a current sensor, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor.

13. The controller of claim 12 , wherein said pressure sensor is a discharge pressure sensor.

14. The controller of claim 12 , wherein said temperature sensor is a condenser temperature sensor.

15. The controller of claim 9 , wherein said second sensor is selected from the group comprising a suction pressure sensor and a temperature sensor.

16. The controller of claim 15 , wherein said temperature sensor is a suction line temperature sensor disposed proximate to a suction port of the compressor.

17. The controller of claim 15 , wherein said temperature sensor is a discharge line temperature sensor disposed proximate to a discharge port of the compressor.

18. The controller of claim 9 , further comprising a power interruption device operable to selectively restrict power to said motor to provide controller protection in response to a signal from said processing circuitry.

19. The controller of claim 9 , further comprising a diagnostics controller in communication with said processing circuitry to log and store operating conditions of the compressor.

20. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the compressor includes a plurality of light emitting devices operable to indicate operation of the compressor in said normal mode, said reduced-capacity mode, and said shutdown mode.