US 12,085,295 B2
Heat pump fault detection system
Don A. Schuster, Lindale, TX (US); Prabakaran Chezhian, Tamil Nadu (IN); and Logenthiran Vazhmuni, Tamil Nadu (IN)
Assigned to Trane International Inc., Davidson, NC (US)
Filed by Trane International Inc., Davidson, NC (US)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/705,849.
Prior Publication US 2023/0304686 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. F24F 11/32 (2018.01); F24F 11/84 (2018.01); F24F 11/86 (2018.01)
CPC F24F 11/32 (2018.01) [F24F 11/84 (2018.01); F24F 11/86 (2018.01); F24F 2203/02 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat pump comprising:
a compressor, a metering device, a first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger positioned in fluid communication with an indoor environment for selectively conditioning the indoor environment;
a refrigerant circuit comprising a refrigerant fluid arranged to circulate between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger;
a first refrigerant sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a first refrigerant parameter, the first refrigerant parameter being a parameter of refrigerant fluid flowing away from the compressor;
a second refrigerant sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a second refrigerant parameter, the second refrigerant parameter being a parameter of refrigerant fluid flowing into the compressor;
a third refrigerant sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a third refrigerant parameter, the third refrigerant parameter being a parameter of refrigerant fluid proximate the second heat exchanger;
a switch over valve coupled to the refrigerant circuit configured to adjust a path of the refrigerant fluid between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger in the refrigerant circuit, wherein the switch over valve comprises a heating mode position that directs the refrigerant fluid in a heating mode cycle to heat the indoor environment, and a cooling mode position that directs the refrigerant fluid in a cooling mode cycle to cool the indoor environment; and
control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
send or receive a call, the call indicative of whether to heat the indoor environment or cool the indoor environment;
determine a first refrigerant input indicative of a difference in parameters of the refrigerant fluid based on at least one difference between the signal from the first refrigerant sensor and the signal from the third refrigerant sensor;
determine a second refrigerant input indicative of a difference in parameters of the refrigerant fluid based on at least one difference between the signal from the second sensor and the signal from the third refrigerant sensor;
determine whether the switch over valve is in the heating mode position or the cooling mode position by comparing the first refrigerant input to the second refrigerant input; and
declare a switch over valve fault if the determined switch over valve position is inconsistent with the call.