Heat pump control

Abstract

A control is provided that includes a sensor that provides an output indicative of a sensed temperature of a condenser coil of the heat pump, and a controller for controlling activation of at least a compressor of the heat pump. The controller is configured to compare the output of the sensor to a representation of sensed ambient temperature to determine whether the reversing valve is in heat mode where the sensed ambient temperature exceeds the sensed temperature of the condenser coil, or in cool mode where the sensed ambient temperature is less than the sensed temperature of the condenser coil. The controller is further configured to deactivate at least the compressor of the heat pump when the reversing valve is determined to be in a mode that is inconsistent with the heat pump's heating operation or cooling operation.

1 . A control for a heat pump having a reversing valve that is switchable between a heat mode and a cool mode corresponding to heating operation and cooling operation of the heat pump, the control comprising:
 a sensor that provides an output indicative of a sensed temperature of a condenser coil of the heat pump; and   a controller for controlling activation of at least a compressor of the heat pump, the controller being configured to compare the output of the sensor to a representation of sensed ambient temperature to determine whether the reversing valve is in heat mode where the sensed ambient temperature exceeds the sensed temperature of the condenser coil, or in cool mode where the sensed ambient temperature is less than the sensed temperature of the condenser coil, wherein the controller is configured to cause deactivation of at least the compressor of the heat pump when the reversing valve is determined to be in a mode that is inconsistent with the heat pump's heating operation or cooling operation.   
     
     
         2 . The control of  claim 1 , wherein the representation of sensed ambient temperature is obtained from the output of the sensor before the compressor is activated, which output is indicative of ambient temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The control of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the representation of sensed ambient temperature to the output of the sensor after a predetermined time following activation of the compressor, which is indicative of the sensed temperature of the condenser coil after a minimum period of operation. 
     
     
         4 . The control of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to compare a first output of the sensor before the compressor is activated, which is representative of ambient temperature, to a second output of the sensor after a predetermined time following activation of the compressor, which second output is indicative of the sensed temperature of the condenser coil. 
     
     
         5 . The control of  claim 2 , wherein the representation of sensed ambient temperature is obtained from a second sensor that provides an output indicative of an ambient temperature of air adjacent the condenser coil. 
     
     
         6 . The control of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the representation of sensed ambient temperature obtained from the second sensor to the sensed temperature of the condenser coil after a predetermined time following activation of the compressor. 
     
     
         7 . The control of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is a processor of a unitary control for controlling operation of at least a compressor of a heat pump in response to an activation signal from a thermostat. 
     
     
         8 . The control of  claim 1 , wherein the control is a communication control for communicating a malfunction of the reversing valve to a thermostat when the reversing valve is determined to be in a mode that is inconsistent with the heat pump's heating operation or cooling operation, wherein the thermostat responsively switches off the compressor to cause deactivation of at least the compressor of the heat pump. 
     
     
         9 . The control of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is a processor of a thermostat that is configured to wirelessly receive information indicative of the temperature of the condenser coil and of ambient temperature, the thermostat being configured to determine whether the reversing valve is in heat mode where the sensed ambient temperature exceeds the sensed temperature of the condenser coil, or in cool mode where the sensed ambient temperature is less than the sensed temperature of the condenser coil, and to cause deactivation of at least the compressor of the heat pump when the reversing valve is determined to be in a mode that is inconsistent with the heat pump's heating operation or cooling operation. 
     
     
         10 . A control for a heat pump having a reversing valve that is switchable between a heat mode and a cool mode corresponding to heating operation and cooling operation of the heat pump, the control comprising:
 a sensor that provides an output indicative of a sensed temperature of a condenser coil of the heat pump; and   a controller for controlling activation of at least a compressor of the heat pump, the controller being configured to compare a first output of the sensor indicative of a first sensed temperature of the condenser coil before the compressor is activated to a second output of the sensor indicative of a second sensed temperature of the condensor coil after the compressor is activated to determine whether the reversing valve is in heat mode where the first sensed temperature of the condenser coil exceeds the second sensed temperature of the condenser coil, or in cool mode where the first sensed temperature of the condenser coil is less than the second sensed temperature of the condenser coil, wherein the controller is configured to deactivate at least the compressor of the heat pump when the reversing valve is determined to be in a mode that is inconsistent with the heat pump's heating operation or cooling operation.   
     
     
         11 . The control of  claim 10 , wherein the first output of the sensor that is obtained before the compressor is activated is a representation of sensed ambient temperature of air adjacent the condenser coil. 
     
     
         12 . The control of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to obtain the second output of the sensor after a predetermined time following activation of the compressor. 
     
     
         13 . The control of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is a processor of a unitary control for controlling operation of at least a compressor of a heat pump in response to an activation signal from a thermostat. 
     
     
         14 . The control of  claim 10 , wherein the control is a communication control for communicating a malfunction of the reversing valve to a thermostat when the reversing valve is determined to be in a mode that is inconsistent with the heat pump's heating operation or cooling operation, wherein the thermostat responsively switches off the compressor to cause deactivation of at least the compressor of the heat pump. 
     
     
         15 . The control of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is a processor of a thermostat that is configured to wirelessly receive information indicative of the temperature of the condenser coil and of ambient temperature, the thermostat being configured to determine whether the reversing valve is in heat mode where the sensed ambient temperature exceeds the sensed temperature of the condenser coil, or in cool mode where the sensed ambient temperature is less than the sensed temperature of the condenser coil, and to cause deactivation of at least the compressor of the heat pump when the reversing valve is determined to be in a mode that is inconsistent with the heat pump's heating operation or cooling operation. 
     
     
         16 . A control for a heat pump having a reversing valve that is switchable between a heat mode and a cool mode corresponding to heating operation and cooling operation of the heat pump, the control comprising:
 a first sensor that provides an output indicative of a sensed temperature of a condenser coil of the heat pump;   a second sensor that provides an output indicative of a sensed ambient temperature of air adjacent the condenser coil; and   a controller for controlling activation of at least a compressor of the heat pump, the controller being configured to compare the outputs of the first and second sensors to determine whether the reversing valve is in heat mode where the sensed ambient temperature exceeds the sensed temperature of the condenser coil, or in cool mode where the sensed ambient temperature is less than the sensed temperature of the condenser coil, wherein the controller is configured to deactivate at least the compressor of the heat pump when the reversing valve is determined to be in a mode that is inconsistent with the heat pump's heating operation or cooling operation.   
     
     
         17 . The control of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the output of the second sensor to the output of the first sensor indicative of the sensed temperature of the condenser coil after a predetermined time following activation of the compressor. 
     
     
         18 . The control of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is a processor of a unitary control for controlling operation of at least a compressor of a heat pump in response to an activation signal from a thermostat. 
     
     
         19 . The control of  claim 16 , wherein the control is a communication control for communicating a malfunction of the reversing valve to a thermostat when the reversing valve is determined to be in a mode that is inconsistent with the heat pump's heating operation or cooling operation, wherein the thermostat responsively switches off the compressor to cause deactivation of at least the compressor of the heat pump. 
     
     
         20 . The control of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is a processor of a thermostat that is configured to wirelessly receive information indicative of the temperature of the condenser coil and of ambient temperature, the thermostat being configured to determine whether the reversing valve is in heat mode where the sensed ambient temperature exceeds the sensed temperature of the condenser coil, or in cool mode where the sensed ambient temperature is less than the sensed temperature of the condenser coil, and to cause deactivation of at least the compressor of the heat pump when the reversing valve is determined to be in a mode that is inconsistent with the heat pump's heating operation or cooling operation.