Systems and methods for confirming pump operation

Abstract

A method can include fluidically coupling a pump between at least two heat exchangers, confirming that an expansion valve is at least partially open, starting a compressor, beginning a first preselected time period, starting the pump, stopping the compressor once the first preselected time period ends, at least partially closing the expansion valve, beginning a second preselected time period, monitoring a differential pressure across a first point downstream of the pump and a second point upstream of the pump, indicating improper pump installation if the differential pressure does not exceed a first threshold before the second preselected time period has ended, stopping the pump, or any combination thereof. The expansion valve can be fluidically coupled between the pump and one of the heat exchangers. The compressor can be fluidically coupled between the two heat exchangers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of confirming operation of a pump in a cooling system, the method comprising:
 fluidically coupling a pump between at least two heat exchangers;   confirming that an expansion valve, fluidically coupled between the pump and at least one of the heat exchangers, is at least partially open;   starting a compressor fluidically coupled between the at least two heat exchangers, wherein starting the compressor includes beginning a first preselected time period;   starting the pump;   stopping the compressor once the first preselected time period ends;   closing, at least partially, the expansion valve, wherein closing the expansion valve includes beginning a second preselected time period;   monitoring a differential pressure across a first point downstream of the pump and a second point upstream of the pump;   indicating improper pump installation if the differential pressure does not exceed a first threshold before the second preselected time period has ended; and   stopping the pump.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein confirming that the expansion valve is at least partially open comprises opening, at least partially, the expansion valve. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein confirming that the expansion valve is at least partially open comprises confirming that the expansion valve is at least half open. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein closing the expansion valve comprises closing the expansion valve to at most half open. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein closing the expansion valve comprises closing the expansion valve to at most one third open. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein closing the expansion valve comprises closing the expansion valve to at most one quarter open. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein stopping the pump comprises stopping the pump once the differential pressure exceeds the first threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein stopping the pump comprises stopping the pump once the second preselected time period ends. 
     
     
         9 . A method of confirming operation of a pump in a cooling system, the method comprising:
 fluidically coupling a pump between at least two heat exchangers;
 confirming that an expansion valve, fluidically coupled between the pump and at least one of the heat exchangers, is at least partially open; 
 starting a compressor, fluidically coupled between the at least two heat exchangers, wherein starting the compressor includes beginning a first preselected time period; 
 stopping the compressor once the first preselected time period ends; 
 closing, at least partially, the expansion valve; 
 starting the pump, wherein starting the pump includes beginning a second preselected time period; 
 monitoring a differential pressure across the pump; 
 indicating improper pump installation if the differential pressure does not exceed a first threshold before the second preselected time period ends; 
 increasing, once the differential pressure exceeds the first threshold, the differential pressure beyond a set point, wherein increasing the differential pressure includes beginning a third preselected time period; and 
 indicating pump failure if the pump does not stop before the third preselected time period ends. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second time period begins before the first time period ends, such that the first and second time periods overlap. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pump is started before the compressor is stopped, such that the pump and the compressor are run simultaneously for at least a fourth time period. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein confirming that the expansion valve is at least partially open comprises opening, at least partially, the expansion valve. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein confirming that the expansion valve is at least partially open comprises opening the expansion valve to at least half open. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein closing the expansion valve comprises closing the expansion valve to at most half open. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein closing the expansion valve comprises closing the expansion valve to at most one third open. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein closing the expansion valve comprises closing the expansion valve to at most one quarter open. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein increasing the differential pressure comprises increasing, once the differential pressure exceeds the first threshold, the differential pressure beyond the set point. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein increasing the differential pressure comprises further closing the expansion valve. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein increasing the differential pressure comprises increasing a speed of the pump. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 9 , further including stopping the pump once the third preselected time period ends.