Abstract: An embodiment of an outdoor unit for a climate control system includes a refrigerant compressor. In addition, the outdoor unit includes a plurality of refrigerant lines coupled to the refrigerant compressor. Further, the outdoor unit includes an enclosure positioned around the refrigerant compressor, wherein the enclosure includes an inner jacket and an outer jacket, the inner jacket being engaged with the outer jacket such that the inner jacket is configured to deform independently from the outer jacket to dissipate vibration emitted from the refrigerant compressor.

Abstract: Methods and related systems for controlling an indoor air temperature for a heat pump system are disclosed. The method includes (a) determining an outdoor coil temperature of an outdoor heat exchanger and a speed of a compressor of a heat pump system, (b) determining a target indoor coil temperature of the indoor coil based on the outdoor coil temperature and the speed of the compressor, and (c) adjusting a speed of air flowing across the indoor coil based on a difference between a current indoor coil temperature and the target indoor coil temperature to reduce the difference between the current indoor coil temperature and the target indoor coil temperature.

Abstract: Methods and related systems for controlling indoor relative humidity include (a) determining a target dew point temperature based on desired indoor conditions for the indoor space, and (b) determining an initial dew point temperature based on an initial set of current indoor conditions of the indoor space. The method includes (c) determining a target coil temperature of a coil of an indoor heat exchanger of the climate control system based on the target dew point temperature and the initial dew point temperature, and (d) adjusting a speed of air flowing across the coil or a speed of a compressor of the climate control system after (c) based on the target coil temperature to reduce a difference between a coil temperature of the coil and the target coil temperature.

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for controlling the positioning of a modulating valve of a heat pump based on a discharge temperature setpoint of a compressor during periods of low ambient outdoor temperatures. A supervisory switching controller may determine that the climate control system should use a discharge temperature controller or a superheat controller to control the modulating valve. Upon detection of ambient outdoor temperatures below a minimum threshold and the detection of discharge temperatures of a compressor above a maximum threshold a discharge temperature controller may control the modulating valve. The discharge temperature controller may control the positioning of the modulating valve based on a discharge temperature setpoint and a map-based controller. The map-based controller may map a calculated discharge temperature error to a position of the modulating valve as a function of a calculated superheat value and a measured suction pressure.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heat pump including a system or method for detecting a fault in the heat pump. Some embodiments include a method for detecting a switch over valve fault where the heat pump includes a refrigerant cycle, a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a switch over valve, and the method includes operating the HVAC system in one of a heating mode or a cooling mode, monitoring first, second, and third refrigerant parameters associated with the refrigerant circuit using first, second, and third refrigerant sensors, determining first and second refrigerant inputs based on the first, second, and third second refrigerant parameters, and determining a refrigerant circulation mode by comparing the first refrigerant input to the second refrigerant input to provide an indication of whether the refrigerant is circulating in the heating mode or the cooling mode.

Abstract: A sound level control system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The sound level control system comprises an outdoor unit with a compressor, an outdoor fan, and an outdoor controller and a communication device located at a predefined distance from the outdoor unit. The communication device measures sound levels in response to operating the outdoor unit. The outdoor controller is configured to receive a first noise level limit for a predefined time period, receive an instruction related to selective control of the outdoor unit, selectively control both of the compressor to rotate at a first compressor speed and the outdoor fan to rotate at a first fan speed based on the noise level limit for the predefined time period, and receive information related to whether a sound pressure level at a predefined location exceeds the first noise level limit for the predefined time period.

Abstract: Embodiments of vibration damping clips for use within a climate control system are disclosed. In an embodiment, a vibration damping clip is engaged with three fluid lines of an outdoor unit of the climate control system, such as, for instance, a suction line of a compressor of the climate control system, a discharge line of the compressor, and a fluid line coupled to a pressure equalization valve (PEV) within the outdoor unit.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heat pump including a system or method for detecting a fault in the heat pump. Some embodiments include a method for detecting a switch over valve fault where the heat pump includes a refrigerant cycle, a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a switch over valve, and the method includes operating the HVAC system in one of a heating mode or a cooling mode, monitoring first, second, and third refrigerant parameters associated with the refrigerant circuit using first, second, and third refrigerant sensors, determining first and second refrigerant inputs based on the first, second, and third second refrigerant parameters, and determining a refrigerant circulation mode by comparing the first refrigerant input to the second refrigerant input to provide an indication of whether the refrigerant is circulating in the heating mode or the cooling mode.

Abstract: Methods and related systems for controlling superheat in a climate control system are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes (a) determining a superheat of a refrigerant downstream of a coil of a heat exchanger of the climate control system. In addition, the method includes (b) determining that an expansion valve upstream of the heat exchanger is fully open. Further, the method includes (c) adjusting a speed of air flowing across the coil or a speed of a compressor of the climate control system after (b) based on the determination in (a) to control the superheat of the refrigerant.

Abstract: Embodiments of vibration damping clips for use within a climate control system are disclosed. In an embodiment, a vibration damping clip is engaged with three fluid lines of an outdoor unit of the climate control system, such as, for instance, a suction line of a compressor of the climate control system, a discharge line of the compressor, and a fluid line coupled to a pressure equalization valve (PEV) within the outdoor unit.

Abstract: A sound level control system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The sound level control system comprises an outdoor unit with a compressor, an outdoor fan, and an outdoor controller and a communication device located at a predefined distance from the outdoor unit. The communication device measures sound levels in response to operating the outdoor unit. The outdoor controller is configured to receive a first noise level limit for a predefined time period, receive an instruction related to selective control of the outdoor unit, selectively control both of the compressor to rotate at a first compressor speed and the outdoor fan to rotate at a first fan speed based on the noise level limit for the predefined time period, and receive information related to whether a sound pressure level at a predefined location exceeds the first noise level limit for the predefined time period.

Abstract: A sound level control system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The sound level control system comprises an outdoor unit with a compressor, an outdoor fan, and an outdoor controller and a communication device located at a predefined distance from the outdoor unit. The communication device measures sound levels in response to operating the outdoor unit. The outdoor controller is configured to receive a first noise level limit for a predefined time period, receive an instruction related to selective control of the outdoor unit, selectively control both of the compressor to rotate at a first compressor speed and the outdoor fan to rotate at a first fan speed based on the noise level limit for the predefined time period, and receive information related to whether a sound pressure level at a predefined location exceeds the first noise level limit for the predefined time period.

Abstract: A method for determining system subcooling in a vapor compression system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator operatively connected in a serial relationship in a refrigerant flow circuit, the method including receiving information indicative of a compressor torque or compressor current; and determining a degree of system subcooling in response to the receiving of the information.

Abstract: A sound level control system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The sound level control system comprises an outdoor unit with a compressor, an outdoor fan, and an outdoor controller and a communication device located at a predefined distance from the outdoor unit. The communication device measures sound levels in response to operating the outdoor unit. The outdoor controller is configured to receive a first noise level limit for a predefined time period, receive an instruction related to selective control of the outdoor unit, selectively control both of the compressor to rotate at a first compressor speed and the outdoor fan to rotate at a first fan speed based on the noise level limit for the predefined time period, and receive information related to whether a sound pressure level at a predefined location exceeds the first noise level limit for the predefined time period.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the health of a compressor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a prognostic-diagnostic unit (PDU) compares expected compressor power consumption, based on current operating conditions of the HVAC system, to actual compressor power consumption. If the actual power consumption is within a predefined range of the expected power consumption under current operational conditions, the HVAC system is determined to be operating properly. If the actual power consumption deviates from the expected power consumption, a fault is indicated. An appropriate action is taken, such as displaying a fault alert, transmitting a fault message to another device, and storing information relating to the fault for later retrieval to assist troubleshooting.

Abstract: A power factor optimized variable speed drive unit for an electric motor of an HVAC device is disclosed. In an embodiment, the unit includes a selectively-activatable power factor correction unit operatively associated with a switched mode power supply unit. A power measurement unit measures the input power of the electric motor. A comparator unit compares the motor input power to a predetermined threshold. The comparator unit activates the power factor correction unit when the input power of the electric motor is above the threshold, and deactivates the power factor correction unit when the input power of the electric motor falls below the threshold. In an embodiment, motor input power is determined by the product of motor load current and motor speed.

Abstract: A method for determining system subcooling in a vapor compression system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator operatively connected in a serial relationship in a refrigerant flow circuit, the method including receiving information indicative of a compressor torque or compressor current; and determining a degree of system subcooling in response to the receiving of the information.

Abstract: A method for determining discharge pressure for a compressor operatively connected to a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator in a serial relationship, includes receiving information indicative of a compressor torque or compressor current; and determining a discharge pressure in response to the receiving of the information.

Abstract: A method for determining a level of refrigerant charge in a vapor compression system having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator operatively connected in serial relationship in a refrigerant flow circuit having a refrigerant, includes receiving information indicative of at least one of a compressor torque or compressor current; and determining whether the refrigerant charge is within a defined tolerance or whether the refrigerant is to be added or recovered in response to the receiving of the information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for indicating the status of the refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system based upon the degree of subcooling present in the condensed refrigerant system temperature measurements. The status of the refrigerant charge in the system is indicated in real-time on a service panel for access by a field service technician. The status of the refrigerant charge in the system on a time-average basis for a specified period of operation is presented on an indicator panel. The indicator panel includes a first indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is low, a second indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is high, and a third indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is correct.