An embodiment of method used to control operation of a screw compressor of a refrigeration system may include receiving status signals regarding operation of the screw compressor of the refrigeration system. The method may further include determining an operating point of the screw compressor based upon the received status signals, and selecting a torque profile for the screw compressor based upon the operating point. The method may also include driving the screw compressor per the selected torque profile. Refrigeration systems and compressor systems suitable for implementing the method are also presented.

Unique apparatuses, methods, and systems of opposing, limiting, and/or preventing undesired or un-commanded compressor rotation are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is an HVACR system comprising a variable frequency drive configured to drive an electric motor to rotate a screw compressor or scroll compressor. A controller is configured to monitor various aspects of the system and to control the drive. When a condition indicative of potential undesired or un-commanded compressor rotation is identified, the controller commands the variable frequency drive to control the motor to limit and preferably prevent compressor rotation. One technique comprises shorting switches of the drive to a DC bus rail to allow back EMF induced current in the motor windings to be dissipated through winding resistance thus providing a damping force. Another technique comprises controlling the inverter to insert a DC current into the motor to cause the motor to align to and hold a particular position.

An electric compressor includes a compression mechanism that compresses refrigerant, an electric motor that drives the compression mechanism, a drive circuit that drives the electric motor, a housing that forms therein a motor chamber in which the electric motor is accommodated, a cover that is attached to the housing, a rotary shaft, and a relay terminal portion. The cover is configured to cooperate with the housing to form a drive circuit chamber in which the drive circuit is accommodated. Rotation of the electric motor is transmitted to the compression mechanism through the rotary shaft. The relay terminal portion provides electrical connection between a wire of the drive circuit and a wire of the electric motor. The housing includes a partition wall that separates the motor chamber and the drive circuit chamber from each other. The relay terminal portion is disposed between the partition wall and the rotary shaft.

In order to improve a refrigerant compressor, including a compressor unit having a compressor housing and at least one compressor element that is arranged in the compressor housing, for compressing refrigerant, and further including a drive unit having a drive housing and an electric motor that is arranged in the drive housing and connector terminals that are arranged on the drive housing, for the electric motor, and further including an electronic functional unit, such that the connection between the refrigerant compressor and the electronic functional unit is achievable as simply as possible, it is proposed that the connector terminals should be provided in a housing that is arranged on the drive housing, and that an electronic functional unit which performs at least one compressor function should be provided in the housing.

Detection of reverse rotation or operation of a refrigerant compressor is provided. In one aspect, a detection technique includes starting the compressor and determining the compressor is rotating in a reverse direction if a dome temperature of the compressor fails to exceed a first predetermined threshold at or before expiration of a first predetermined period of time following starting, the refrigerant pressure at a refrigerant inlet of the compressor remains constant for a second predetermined period of time following starting, and/or the frequency of pressure oscillations of the refrigerant at the refrigerant inlet exceeds a second predetermined threshold. Another technique for determining the compressor is rotating in the reverse direction involves analyzing a waveform associated with motor current, motor torque, or refrigerant pressure. Further embodiments, forms, features, and aspects shall become apparent from the description and drawings.

A power conversion apparatus includes: an inverter to drive a motor, using a first carrier signal; an inverter connected in parallel to the inverter, to drive a motor, using a second carrier signal; respective phase lower arm shunt resistors to detect a first current flowing inside the inverter; respective phase lower arm shunt resistors to detect a second current flowing in the inverter; and a control unit to control the inverters. A phase difference is set between the first carrier signal and the second carrier signal to prevent a detection period for the first current in the first carrier signal and a detection period for the second current in the second carrier signal from overlapping each other when the inverters are controlled.

A motor-driven compressor that includes a compression unit, an electric motor, a housing, a cover, and a motor driving circuit. A metal terminal electrically connects the electric motor to the motor driving circuit. A coupling base is coupled to the housing, and the motor driving circuit is coupled to the coupling base. Each of the coupling base and the housing includes an insertion portion through which the metal terminal is inserted. At least one of the coupling base and the housing includes a protrusion. The protrusion is separated from the insertion portions. At least the other of the coupling base and the housing includes a receiving portion that receives the protrusion. The coupling base is positioned relative to the housing by connection of the insertion portion of the coupling base and the insertion portion of the housing and by engagement of the protrusion and receiving portion.

A variable speed drive (VSD) can be used to vary the voltage-to-frequency ratio (V/f) supplied to a compressor motor of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning or refrigeration (HVAC&R) system to make the motor stronger or weaker to compensate for varying conditions in the HVAC&R system. The VSD and corresponding control system or algorithm can monitor an operating parameter of the HVAC&R system, such as the kW absorbed by the motor, and then raise or lower the V/f of the VSD to obtain the lowest possible power consumption from the motor.

A control device that controls a target vacuum pump including a motor, including: a decision unit that decides, using at least one of target state quantities at a time of a past stop process of the target vacuum pump or another vacuum pump wherein the target state quantities are state quantities which fluctuate in accordance with a load at a time of a process of stopping a vacuum pump, a normal fluctuation range or a normal time fluctuation behavior of the target state quantity at the time of the stop process; and a control unit that controls the motor, wherein the control unit compares the target state quantity at the time of the process of stopping the target vacuum pump with the normal fluctuation range or the normal time fluctuation behavior, and changes a method of controlling the motor during the stop process depending on the comparison result.

A method of operating a vacuum pump system, the method including the steps of: operating a primary vacuum pump having a variable speed motor; connecting at least two secondary vacuum pumps in parallel with said primary vacuum pump; dividing the secondary vacuum pumps in groups, each group including at least one secondary vacuum pump; and assigning a priority for each of said groups. The method further includes the steps of measuring the inlet pressure p1, comparing the measured inlet pressure p1 with a predetermined pressure value p0, and if p1 is higher than p0, starting the secondary vacuum pump at a first predetermined startup load S.sub.startup,1 if it includes a fixed speed motor, and/or starting the secondary vacuum pump at a second predetermined startup load S.sub.startup,2, if it includes a variable speed motor.