A compressor may include a shell, a compression mechanism, first and second temperature sensors, and a control module. The shell may define a lubricant sump. The compression mechanism may be disposed within the shell and may be operable to compress a working fluid. The first temperature sensor may be at least partially disposed within the shell at a first position. The second temperature sensor may be at least partially disposed within the shell at a second position that is vertically higher than the first position. The control module may be in communication with the first and second temperature sensors and the pressure sensor and may determine whether a liquid level in the lubricant sump is below a predetermined level based on data received from the first and second temperature sensors.

A compressor may include a shell, a compression mechanism, first and second temperature sensors, and a control module. The shell may define a lubricant sump. The compression mechanism may be disposed within the shell and may be operable to compress a working fluid. The first temperature sensor may be at least partially disposed within the shell at a first position. The second temperature sensor may be at least partially disposed within the shell at a second position that is vertically higher than the first position. The control module may be in communication with the first and second temperature sensors and the pressure sensor and may determine whether a liquid level in the lubricant sump is below a predetermined level based on data received from the first and second temperature sensors.

A deposit detection device for an exhaust pump is provided, which can be easily put into operation without the burdens of, for example, installing equipment for flowing a gas, or adding or changing operation modes in apparatuses. The device is configured to include: a means for detecting motor current values a motor that rotates a rotating body; a current value storage portion that stores only motor current values that are equal to or greater than a preset value from among detected motor current values; an average value calculation portion that calculates an average value per unit time of the stored motor current values; an average value storage portion that stores the calculated average value; an approximation calculation portion that determines a linear approximation of the stored chronologically ordered average values; and a difference value calculation portion that determines a difference value between a predicted motor current value calculated by using the linear approximation and an initial motor current value at a start of use of the exhaust pump. A time when the difference value exceeds a predetermined threshold is determined as a time for maintenance of the exhaust pump.

Techniques are provided for protecting a rotary positive displacement pump, e.g., using a signal processor that receives signaling containing information about power, torque, speed, viscosity and specific gravity related to the operation of a pump; and determines whether to enter an enhanced pump protection mode for the rotary positive displacement pump based at least partly on a relationship between an actual corrected tune ratio and a tuned ratio set point (Tune Ratio SP). The signal processor may determine if the actual corrected tune ratio is less than or equal to the actual corrected tune ratio set point (Tune Ratio SP), and if so, then to enter the enhanced pump protection mode, else continues to use a basic pump protection mode, and also determines the actual corrected tune ratio based upon a ratio of an actual corrected power (PAcorr) divided by a tuned corrected power (PTcorr) at a specific operating speed.

Techniques are provided for protecting a rotary positive displacement pump, e.g., using a signal processor that receives signaling containing information about power, torque, speed, viscosity and specific gravity related to the operation of a pump; and determines whether to enter an enhanced pump protection mode for the rotary positive displacement pump based at least partly on a relationship between an actual corrected tune ratio and a tuned ratio set point (Tune Ratio SP). The signal processor may determine if the actual corrected tune ratio is less than or equal to the actual corrected tune ratio set point (Tune Ratio SP), and if so, then to enter the enhanced pump protection mode, else continues to use a basic pump protection mode, and also determines the actual corrected tune ratio based upon a ratio of an actual corrected power (PAcorr) divided by a tuned corrected power (PTcorr) at a specific operating speed.

A hermetic compressor is provided that may include a casing having an inner space, an orbiting scroll provided in the inner space, a non-orbiting scroll engaged with the orbiting scroll to form compression chambers, a high/low pressure dividing plate that divides the inner space into high and low pressure portions, and an overheat preventing unit coupled to a surface of the dividing plate at the high pressure portion, the overheat preventing unit having a communication hole formed through the dividing plate to communicate the high and low pressure portions, and having a valve spaced from the dividing plate by a predetermined interval to selectively open/close the communication hole according to a temperature variation of the high pressure portion, whereby transfer of a refrigerant temperature of the low pressure portion to the overheat preventing unit through the dividing plate may be prevented, and the compressor may be quickly stopped upon being overheated, thereby being protected from damage.

A climate-control system may include a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a first sensor, a second sensor, a third sensor, and a control module. The compressor may include a motor and a compression mechanism. The condenser receives compressed working fluid from the compressor. The evaporator is in fluid communication with the compressor and disposed downstream of the condenser and upstream of the compressor. The first sensor may detect an electrical operating parameter of the motor. The second sensor may detect a discharge temperature of working fluid discharged by the compression mechanism. The third sensor may detect a suction temperature of working fluid between the evaporator and the compression mechanism. The control module is in communication with the first, second and third sensors and may determine whether a refrigerant floodback condition is occurring in the compressor based on data received from the first, second and third sensors.

A climate-control system may include a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a first sensor, a second sensor, a third sensor, and a control module. The compressor may include a motor and a compression mechanism. The condenser receives compressed working fluid from the compressor. The evaporator is in fluid communication with the compressor and disposed downstream of the condenser and upstream of the compressor. The first sensor may detect an electrical operating parameter of the motor. The second sensor may detect a discharge temperature of working fluid discharged by the compression mechanism. The third sensor may detect a suction temperature of working fluid between the evaporator and the compression mechanism. The control module is in communication with the first, second and third sensors and may determine whether a refrigerant floodback condition is occurring in the compressor based on data received from the first, second and third sensors.

A system includes a plurality of compressors, an evaporator, an expansion device, and a system controller. The compressors may be linked in parallel. The system controller may: determine a saturated evaporator temperature, a saturated condensing temperature, and a target capacity demand; determine an estimated system capacity and an estimated power consumption for each compressor operating configuration; compare the estimated system capacity with the target capacity demand and an error tolerance value; select an optimum operating mode based on the comparisons and based on the estimated power consumption; and command activation and deactivation of the plurality of compressors to achieve the selected optimum operating mode. The optimum operating mode may be selected after the normal system logic achieves a steady state and may be selected from a group having the estimated system capacity within the error tolerance of the target capacity demand and a lowest associated power consumption value.

A system includes a plurality of compressors, an evaporator, an expansion device, and a system controller. The compressors may be linked in parallel. The system controller may: determine a saturated evaporator temperature, a saturated condensing temperature, and a target capacity demand; determine an estimated system capacity and an estimated power consumption for each compressor operating configuration; compare the estimated system capacity with the target capacity demand and an error tolerance value; select an optimum operating mode based on the comparisons and based on the estimated power consumption; and command activation and deactivation of the plurality of compressors to achieve the selected optimum operating mode. The optimum operating mode may be selected after the normal system logic achieves a steady state and may be selected from a group having the estimated system capacity within the error tolerance of the target capacity demand and a lowest associated power consumption value.