System for control of superheat setpoint for hvac system

Abstract

A refrigeration system includes a variable capacity compressor system configured to pressurize refrigerant within a refrigerant circuit and a controller configured to receive data indicative of an operating capacity of the variable capacity compressor system and configured to adjust a superheat target setpoint of the refrigerant within the refrigerant circuit based on the data.

1 . A refrigeration system, comprising:
 a variable capacity compressor system configured to pressurize refrigerant within a refrigerant circuit; and   a controller configured to receive data indicative of an operating capacity of the variable capacity compressor system and configured to adjust a superheat target setpoint of the refrigerant within the refrigerant circuit based on the data.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a condenser disposed along the refrigerant circuit, wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the condenser in response to adjustment of the superheat target setpoint. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 2 , wherein the condenser comprises a fan, wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the fan to adjust operation of the condenser. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 3 , wherein the condenser comprises a plurality of fans comprising the fan, wherein the controller is configured to reduce a speed of the fan or suspend operation of the fan to adjust operation of the condenser. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the superheat target setpoint comprises a target amount of superheat of the refrigerant between an evaporator disposed along the refrigerant circuit and the variable capacity compressor system. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the superheat target setpoint of the refrigerant based on a saturation temperature of the refrigerant at the operating capacity. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the superheat target setpoint comprises a target superheated temperature of the refrigerant between an evaporator disposed along the refrigerant circuit and the variable capacity compressor system. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the variable capacity compressor system comprises a plurality of compressors, wherein the operating capacity of the variable capacity compressor system is based on a respective capacity of each compressor of the plurality of compressors in operation. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 8 , wherein a first compressor of the first plurality of compressors has a first capacity, a second compressor of the plurality of compressors has a second capacity, and the first capacity and the second capacity are different from one another. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the operating capacity based on a detected ambient temperature. 
     
     
         11 . A control system configured to control operation of a vapor compression system, wherein the control system comprises a memory device and a processor, and wherein the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 adjust an operating capacity of a variable capacity compressor system disposed along a refrigerant circuit of the vapor compression system; and   adjust a superheat target setpoint of a refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit based on the operating capacity.   
     
     
         12 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the superheat target setpoint comprises a target superheated temperature of the refrigerant at a location along the refrigerant circuit between the variable capacity compressor system and an evaporator disposed along the refrigerant circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the superheat target setpoint comprises a target amount of superheat of the refrigerant at a location along the refrigerant circuit between the variable capacity compressor system and an evaporator disposed along the refrigerant circuit. 
     
     
         14 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to adjust operation of the vapor compression system based on the superheat target setpoint. 
     
     
         15 . The control system of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to adjust operation of a condenser fan of a condenser disposed along the refrigerant circuit based on the superheat target setpoint. 
     
     
         16 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the variable capacity compressor system comprises a plurality of compressors, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to suspend operation of a first compressor of the plurality of compressors and initiate operation of a second compressor of the plurality of compressors to adjust the operating capacity of the variable capacity compressor system. 
     
     
         17 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to adjust the operating capacity of the variable capacity compressor system based on a cooling demand of the vapor compression system. 
     
     
         18 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to adjust the superheat target setpoint based on feedback from sensors disposed along the refrigerant circuit, wherein the feedback is indicative of an operating parameter of the refrigerant. 
     
     
         19 . A vapor compression system, comprising:
 a condenser disposed along a refrigerant circuit and configured to condense a refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit;   a variable capacity compressor system disposed along the refrigerant circuit and configured to pressurize the refrigerant supplied to the condenser; and   a controller configured to adjust a superheat target setpoint of the refrigerant based on an operating capacity of the variable capacity compressor system.   
     
     
         20 . The vapor compression system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the condenser based on the superheat target setpoint. 
     
     
         21 . The vapor compression system of  claim 20 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of a condenser fan of the condenser based on the superheat target setpoint. 
     
     
         22 . The vapor compression system of  claim 21 , wherein the controller is configured to reduce a speed of the condenser fan or suspend operation of the condenser fan based on the superheat target setpoint. 
     
     
         23 . The vapor compression system of  claim 19 , further comprising a sensor disposed along the refrigerant circuit, wherein the sensor is configured to detect an operating parameter of the refrigerant, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the operation of the vapor compression system based on the operating parameter and based on the superheat target setpoint. 
     
     
         24 . The vapor compression system of  claim 19 , wherein the superheat target setpoint comprises an amount of superheat of the refrigerant at a location along the refrigerant circuit between the variable capacity compressor system and an evaporator disposed along the refrigerant circuit. 
     
     
         25 . The vapor compression system of  claim 19 , wherein the superheat target setpoint comprises a superheated temperature of the refrigerant at a location along the refrigerant circuit between the variable capacity compressor system and an evaporator disposed along the refrigerant circuit.