System and method for managing subcooling in cooling system

Abstract

A cooling system for charging and discharging fluid is disclosed. The system includes: a main fluid circuit through which a fluid flows between an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve; a bypass fluid circuit configured to communicate with the main fluid circuit; one or more sensors configured to detect sensing values within the cooling system; and a controller configured to communicate with the one or more sensors. The bypass fluid circuit includes: a first valve disposed between the compressor and condenser, the first valve configured to control fluid flow to the condenser on the main fluid circuit; and a receiver configured to receive fluid flowing from the compressor via the bypass fluid circuit and fluid flowing from the condenser via the main fluid circuit, the receiver further configured to discharge fluid therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling system for managing subcooling, the cooling system comprising: 
 a main fluid circuit through which a fluid flows between an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve;   a bypass fluid circuit configured to communicate with the main fluid circuit, the bypass fluid circuit comprising: 
 a first valve disposed between the compressor and the condenser, the first valve configured to control the fluid flow to the condenser on the main fluid circuit; and 
 a receiver configured to receive fluid flowing from the compressor via the bypass fluid circuit and fluid flowing from the condenser via the main fluid circuit, the receiver further configured to discharge fluid therefrom; 
   one or more sensors configured to detect one or more sensing values within the cooling system; and   a controller configured to communicate with the one or more sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive fluid passed through the condenser.  
     
     
         3 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve comprises a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening,  
       wherein, based on the one or more sensing values detected via the one or more sensors, the controller is configured to selectively open each of the first opening, the second opening, and the third opening of the first valve.  
     
     
         4 . The cooling system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more sensing values include:  
       a first pressure value of fluid measured on the main fluid circuit after passing through the condenser; and 
       a second pressure value of fluid measured at the receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling system of  claim 4 , wherein, when the first pressure value is higher than the second pressure value, the first valve is controlled to increase an opening amount of the third opening of the first valve and decrease an opening amount of the second opening of the first valve. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling system of  claim 4 , wherein, when the first pressure value is less than the second pressure value, the first valve is controlled to decrease an opening amount of the third opening of the first valve and increase an opening amount of the second opening of the first valve. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling system of  claim 4 , wherein the bypass fluid circuit further comprises:  
       a fluid receiving circuit, wherein the fluid receiving circuit comprises a second valve configured to communicate with the receiver, wherein the second valve is configured to selectively open and close to control fluid flow between the condenser and the receiver based on the one or more sensing values; and 
       a fluid discharge circuit, wherein the fluid discharge circuit comprises a third valve configured to communicate with the receiver, wherein the third valve is configured to selectively open and close to control fluid flow between the receiver and the expansion valve. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein, when the first pressure value is higher than the second pressure value, the second valve is open and the third valve is closed.  
     
     
         9 . The cooling system of  claim 8 , wherein, when the first pressure value is less than or equal to the second pressure value, the second valve and third valve are open.  
     
     
         10 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include at least one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, or a humidity sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is in parallel with the compressor.  
     
     
         12 . A method for controlling a cooling system, the method comprising steps of: 
 detecting, by one or more sensors, a first pressure value of fluid measured on a main fluid circuit after passing through a condenser;   detecting, by the one or more sensors, a second pressure value of fluid measured at a receiver;   comparing, by a controller, the first pressure value and the second pressure value; and   based on the comparison, selectively controlling an opening amount of each of a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening of a first valve.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the detecting a first pressure value comprises: 
 measuring the first pressure value of fluid on the main fluid circuit after passing through the condenser.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the detecting a second pressure value comprises: 
 measuring the second pressure value of fluid at the receiver.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the selectively controlling an opening amount comprises: 
 upon determining that the first pressure value is higher than the second pressure value, increasing the opening amount of the third opening of the first valve and decreasing the opening amount of the second opening of the first valve.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the selectively controlling an opening amount comprises: 
 upon determining that the first pressure value is less than the second pressure value, decreasing the opening amount of the third opening of the first valve and increasing the opening amount of the second opening of the first valve.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 upon determining that the first pressure value is higher than the second pressure value, opening a second valve and closing a third valve,    wherein the second valve is configured to selectively open and close to control fluid flow between the condenser and the receiver based on one or more sensing values, and the third valve is configured to selectively open and close to control fluid flow between the receiver and an expansion valve.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 upon determining that the first pressure value is less than or equal to the second pressure value, opening the second and third valves,    wherein the second valve is configured to selectively open and close to control fluid flow between the condenser and the receiver based on one or more sensing values, and the third valve is configured to selectively open and close to control fluid flow between the receiver and an expansion valve.