Refrigerant evacuation and charge adjustment mechanism

Abstract

A cooling system for charging and discharging fluid is disclosed. The system includes a main fluid circuit and a secondary fluid circuit. The secondary fluid circuit includes: a receiver configured to receive and discharge fluid flowing through the main fluid circuit and the secondary fluid circuit; a pump configured to communicate with the receiver; a receiving valve selectively open to direct fluid to the receiver; and a returning valve selectively open to discharge fluid from the receiver. The system further includes a controller communicating with the main fluid fircuit and the secondary fluid circuit and a sensor detecting sensing value within the cooling system.

1 . A cooling system for charging and discharging fluid, the cooling system comprising:
 a main fluid circuit;   a secondary fluid circuit comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive and discharge fluid flowing through the main fluid circuit and the secondary fluid circuit; 
 a pump configured to communicate with the receiver; 
 a receiving valve selectively open to direct fluid to the receiver; and 
 a returning valve selectively open to discharge fluid from the receiver; 
   a controller configured to communicate with the main fluid circuit and the secondary fluid circuit; and   a sensor configured to detect a sensing value within the cooling system and to communicate with the controller.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving valve includes:
 a first valve configured to be selectively open and closed to allow fluid flow from the main fluid circuit to the pump through the secondary fluid circuit; and   a second valve configured to be selectively open and closed to allow fluid flowing from the pump to flow to the receiver on the secondary fluid circuit.   
     
     
         3 . The cooling system of  claim 2 , wherein the returning valve includes:
 a third valve configured to be selectively open and closed to allow fluid flow out from the receiver to the pump; and   a fourth valve configured to be selectively open and closed to allow fluid flow from the secondary fluid circuit to the main fluid circuit.   
     
     
         4 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein, when the controller determines a fluid leak based on the sensing value, the receiving valve is open and the returning valve is closed. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein, when the controller determines no leak based on the sensing value, the receiving valve is closed and the returning valve is open. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling system of  claim 5 , wherein, when the controller determines that an amount of fluid in the main fluid circuit is less than a target amount based on the sensing value, the receiving valve is closed and the returning valve is open. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary fluid circuit further includes a scale arranged below the receiver, the scale configured to measure a fluid weight inside the receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the main fluid circuit is configured to connect an indoor unit disposed inside a building and an outdoor unit disposed outside the building. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling system of  claim 8 , wherein the outdoor unit includes a condenser and a condenser fan. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling system of  claim 9 , wherein the outdoor unit further includes a fluid pump, a check valve, and a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling system of  claim 8 , wherein the indoor unit includes an evaporator, an evaporator fan, a compressor, and an expansion device. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, or a humidity sensor. 
     
     
         13 . A method of controlling fluid flow of a cooling system, the method comprising steps of:
 detecting, by a sensor, a sensing value;   determining, by a controller, whether there is a fluid leak based on the sensing value;   upon determining there is no leak, operating the cooling system in a steady state;   measuring, by the sensor, a subcooling value;   determining whether the subcooling value is within a threshold;   upon determining the subcooling value is outside the threshold, controlling a receiving valve to open and a returning valve to close to direct fluid flowing from a condenser to a receiver;   waiting for a predetermined period of time; and   repeating the steps.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, upon determining that there is leak in the step of determining whether there is fluid leak, controlling the receiving valve to open and the returning valve to close to direct fluid to the receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, upon determining that the subcooling value is within the threshold, closing the receiving valve and opening the returning valve to flow fluid to a main fluid circuit from the receiver. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, upon determining that the cooling system is not in the steady state, performing the method from the step of determining whether there is fluid leak. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the determining whether the subcooling value is within a threshold comprises determining whether the subcooling value greater than or less than the threshold. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising, upon determining that the subcooling value is less than than the threshold, closing the receiving valve and opening the returning valve. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising, upon determining that the subcooling value is greater than the threshold, opening the receiving valve and closing the returning valve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, after determining there is no leak but the cooling system is not operated in the steady state, performing the step of determining whether there is fluid leak based on the sensing value and repeating the steps.