Patent ID: 7895846
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: F25B

Abstract:
1. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a device for monitoring a parameter related to lubricant in a first component of the refrigeration apparatus, the device estimating a first parameter which indicates a first amount of retained lubricant in a first other component of the refrigeration apparatus using a dynamic, non-linear observer model to generate an estimated first parameter, estimating a second parameter which indicates a second amount of retained lubricant in a second other component of the refrigeration apparatus to generate an estimated second parameter, summing the estimated first parameter and the estimated second parameter to generate a summed estimated parameter, and subtracting the summed estimated parameter from a parameter related to a known total lubricant in the refrigeration apparatus to generate a difference parameter, the difference parameter indicating an amount of lubricant retained in the first component of the refrigeration apparatus.