Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080209925 | PROTECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FOR A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM - A system includes a compressor and a compressor motor functioning in a refrigeration circuit. A sensor produces a signal indicative of one of current and power drawn by the motor and a liquid-line temperature sensor provides a signal indicative of a temperature of liquid circulating within the refrigeration circuit. Processing circuitry processes the current or power signal to determine a condenser temperature of the refrigeration circuit and a subcooling value of the refrigeration circuit from the condenser temperature and the liquid-line temperature signal. | 09-04-2008 |
20080216494 | COMPRESSOR DATA MODULE - A compressor includes a shell, a compression mechanism, a motor, a data module, and a compressor controller. The data module includes a processor and a memory. The compressor controller includes a processor and a memory. The data module receives sensed data, stores sensed data in the memory, and communicates sensed data to the compressor controller. The compressor controller controls a capacity of the compressor based on the sensed data and is operable to communicate with a system controller of a refrigeration system. | 09-11-2008 |
20080307819 | REFRIGERATION MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A heat-pump system may include a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger including an outdoor coil, an indoor heat exchanger including an indoor coil, and a sensor assembly including a first sensor disposed in the outdoor coil, a second sensor disposed in the indoor coil, and a third sensor disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. A controller may receive data from the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor and may determine a first system operating parameter when the heat-pump system is operating in a cooling mode and a second system operating parameter when the heat-pump system is operating in a heating mode. | 12-18-2008 |
20090071175 | REFRIGERATION MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system is provided and may include a compressor having a motor and a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator and a condenser fluidly coupled to the compressor. The system may further include a first sensor producing a signal indicative of one of current and power drawn by the motor, a second sensor producing a signal indicative of a saturated condensing temperature, and a third sensor producing a signal indicative of a liquid-line temperature. Processing circuitry may processes the current or power signal to determine a derived condenser temperature and may compare the derived condenser temperature to the saturated condensing temperature received from the second sensor to determine a subcooling associated with a refrigerant charge level of the refrigeration circuit. | 03-19-2009 |
20090090118 | VARIABLE SPEED COMPRESSOR PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for a compressor may include an inverter drive connected to the compressor that receives electric power and modulates a speed of the compressor by modulating a frequency of the electric power. A control module connected to the inverter drive monitors compressor power data and compressor speed data from the inverter drive, and calculates a saturated condenser temperature of a refrigeration system associated with the compressor based on the compressor power data and the compressor speed data. | 04-09-2009 |
20090095002 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING PARAMETERS FOR A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM WITH A VARIABLE SPEED COMPRESSOR - A system and method for calculating parameters for a refrigeration system having a variable speed compressor is provided. A compressor is connected to a condenser and an evaporator. An evaporator sensor outputs an evaporator signal corresponding to at least one of an evaporator pressure and an evaporator temperature. An inverter drive modulates electric power delivered to the compressor to modulate a speed of the compressor. The control module is connected to the inverter drive and receives the evaporator signal, monitors electrical power data and compressor speed data from said inverter drive, and calculates at least one of a condenser temperature and a condenser pressure based on the evaporator signal, the electrical power data, and the compressor speed data. | 04-16-2009 |
20100204945 | System and Method for Detecting Fluid Delivery System Conditions Based on Motor Parameters - Systems and methods for detecting various system conditions in a fluid delivery system (such as an HVAC system) based on a motor parameter are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting: filter condition, frozen coil condition, register condition, energy efficiency, system failure, or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting fluid delivery system conditions based on motor parameters including system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, motor efficiency, and/or a change (or rate of change) in motor parameters. Techniques for responding to a clogged filter and a frozen coil are also disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques for characterizing a fluid delivery system off-site, prior to system installation. | 08-12-2010 |
20100293397 | DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM - A compressor is provided and may include a shell, a compression mechanism, a motor, and a diagnostic system that determines a system condition. The diagnostic system may include a processor and a memory and may predict a severity level of the system condition based on at least one of a sequence of historical-fault events and a combination of the types of the historical-fault events. | 11-18-2010 |
20110008181 | FIXED AND VARIABLE COMPRESSOR SYSTEM CAPACITY CONTROL - A controller for a system having at least one variable-capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor and at least one fixed-capacity compressor is provided. The controller may include processing circuitry that modulates the at least one variable-capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor to any capacity substantially between ten percent capacity and one hundred percent capacity. The processing circuitry may determine a desired capacity of the at least one variable capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor based on a load sensor signal and a current run percentage of the at least one variable capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor and may toggle the at least one fixed-capacity compressor between a run mode and a shutdown mode based on the desired capacity of the at least one variable-capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor. | 01-13-2011 |
20110120145 | Vapor Compression Circuit and Method Including A Thermoelectric Device - A fluid compression circuit may include a compression mechanism, a volume, a heat exchanger, a fluid conduit, a thermoelectric device, and a heat-transfer device. The compression mechanism includes first and second members cooperating to form a fluid pocket. The volume receives discharge fluid from the fluid pocket. The heat exchanger is in communication with the volume. The fluid conduit is connected to at least one of the volume and the heat exchanger. The thermoelectric device may include a first side in heat-transfer relation with a member at least partially defining the volume and a second side in heat-transfer relation with ambient air and cooperating with the first side to define a temperature gradient generating electrical current in the thermoelectric device. The heat-transfer device may receive electrical current generated by the thermoelectric device and may be in heat-transfer relation with at least one of the heat exchanger and the fluid conduit. | 05-26-2011 |
20110139794 | FLASH TANK DESIGN AND CONTROL FOR HEAT PUMPS - A flash tank is provided and may include a shell having an inner volume. A first port may be in fluid communication with the inner volume and may be positioned relative to a surface of the inner volume such that fluid flows therebetween in a direction that is substantially tangent to the surface. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144944 | COMPRESSOR DIAGNOSTIC AND PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method is provided and may include generating a high-side signal indicative of an operating condition of a high-pressure side of a refrigeration circuit and generating a low-side signal indicative of an operating condition of a low-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit. The method may further include processing by a processor the high-side signal and the low-side signal to determine a non-measured system condition and determining by the processor an efficiency of the refrigeration circuit based on the non-measured system condition. | 06-16-2011 |
20110178773 | System and Method for Detecting Fluid Delivery System Conditions Based on Motor Parameters - Systems and methods for detecting various system conditions in a fluid delivery system (such as an HVAC system) based on a motor parameter are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting: filter condition, frozen coil condition, register condition, energy efficiency, system failure, or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting fluid delivery system conditions based on motor parameters including system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, motor efficiency, and/or a change (or rate of change) in motor parameters. Techniques for responding to a clogged filter and a frozen coil are also disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques for characterizing a fluid delivery system off-site, prior to system installation. | 07-21-2011 |
20130174588 | REFRIGERATION MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system is provided and may include a refrigeration circuit having a condenser, a first sensor producing a signal indicative of a detected condenser temperature of the condenser, and processing circuitry in communication with the first sensor. The processing circuitry may determine a derived condenser temperature independent from information received from the first sensor and may compare the derived condenser temperature to the detected condenser temperature to determine a charge level of the refrigeration circuit. | 07-11-2013 |
20130240043 | Variable Speed Compressor Protection System And Method - A system and method for a compressor includes a compressor connected to a condenser, a discharge line temperature sensor that outputs a discharge line temperature signal corresponding to a discharge line temperature of refrigerant leaving the compressor, and a control module connected to the discharge line temperature sensor. The control module determines a saturated condenser temperature, calculates a discharge superheat temperature based on the saturated condenser temperature and the discharge line temperature, and monitors a flood back condition of the compressor by comparing the discharge superheat temperature with a predetermined threshold. The control module increases a speed of the compressor or decreases an opening of an expansion valve associated with the compressor when the discharge superheat temperature is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold. | 09-19-2013 |
20130294933 | COMPRESSOR DIAGNOSTIC AND PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system is provided and may include a compressor operable in a refrigeration circuit. A first sensor may detect high-side data indicative of an operating condition of a high-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit and a second sensor may detect low-side data indicative of an operating condition of a low-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit. Processing circuitry may receive the high-side data and the low-side data from the first and second sensors and may process the high-side data and low-side data to determine at least one of a low-side fault and a high-side fault. The processing circuitry may operate the compressor in a normal mode in the absence of a low-side fault and a high-side fault and may operate the compressor in a reduced-capacity mode or a shutdown mode based on a severity of the at least one of the low-side fault and the high-side fault. | 11-07-2013 |
20140069121 | PROTECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FOR A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM - A system is provided and may include a compressor functioning in a refrigeration circuit. An ambient temperature sensor may produce a signal indicative of an ambient temperature. Processing circuitry may calculate an energy efficiency rating of the refrigeration circuit and may generate a relationship of the calculated energy efficiency rating and ambient temperature. The processing circuitry may compare the calculated energy efficiency rating to a base energy efficiency rating to determine if a fault condition exists. | 03-13-2014 |
20140084836 | COMPRESSOR HAVING A CONTROL AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE - A system and method includes a power supply that generates an alternating current power for powering a compressor with a capacitor, a voltage sensor that measures voltage values based on the alternating current power, a current sensor that measures current values based on the alternating current power, and a controller. The controller communicates with the voltage sensor and the current sensor, determines a power factor value based on at least one of the voltage values and at least one of the current values, and determines a fault in the capacitor based on the power factor and at least one of the current values. | 03-27-2014 |
20140123692 | System And Method For Calculating Parameters For A Refrigeration System With A Variable Speed Compressor - A system and method for calculating parameters for a refrigeration system having a variable speed compressor is provided. A compressor is connected to a condenser and an evaporator. An evaporator sensor outputs an evaporator signal corresponding to at least one of an evaporator pressure and an evaporator temperature. An inverter drive modulates electric power delivered to the compressor to modulate a speed of the compressor. A control module is connected to the inverter drive that receives the evaporator signal. The control module monitors electrical power data and compressor speed data from the inverter drive and calculates at least one of a condenser temperature and a condenser pressure based on the evaporator signal, the electrical power data, and the compressor speed data. | 05-08-2014 |
20140260342 | SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERANT CHARGE VERIFICATION - A charge-verification system for a circuit including a condenser having an inlet, an outlet, and a coil circuit tube extending between the inlet and the outlet is provided. The charge-verification system may include a first of coil temperature sensor located on the coil circuit tube a first distance from the inlet and a second of coil temperature sensor located on the coil circuit tube a second distance from the inlet. The charge-verification system may also include a controller receiving a first signal from the first temperature sensor indicative of a first temperature and a second signal from the second temperature sensor indicative of a second temperature. The controller may determine which of the first signal and the second signal is closer to an actual saturated condensing temperature of the condenser. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260390 | SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERANT CHARGE VERIFICATION - A diagnostic system for a refrigeration system including a condenser is provided. The diagnostic system may include a controller determining a subcooling temperature of the refrigeration system, an approach temperature of the condenser, and a condenser temperature difference of the condenser. The controller may determine at least one of a fault condition of the refrigeration system and a charge of the refrigeration system based on the subcooling temperature, the approach temperature, and the condenser temperature difference. | 09-18-2014 |
20140308138 | COMPRESSOR WITH FLOODED START CONTROL - A system and method for flooded start control of a compressor for a refrigeration system is provided. A temperature sensor generates temperature data corresponding to at least one of a compressor temperature and an ambient temperature. A control module receives the temperature data, determines an off-time period since the compressor was last on, determines an amount of liquid present in the compressor based on the temperature data and the off-time period, compares the amount of liquid with a predetermined threshold, and, when the amount of liquid is greater than the predetermined threshold, operates the compressor according to at least one cycle including a first time period during which the compressor is on and a second time period during which the compressor is off. | 10-16-2014 |