| 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 |
