Retrofit device to improve vapor compression cooling system performance by dynamic blower speed modulation
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25D-017/04
F25B-041/04
F25B-001/00
F25B-049/00
출원번호
US-0538441
(2012-06-29)
등록번호
US-9207001
(2015-12-08)
발명자
/ 주소
Roth, Robert Paul
Hahn, David C.
Scaringe, Robert P.
출원인 / 주소
MAINSTREAM ENGINEERING CORPORATION
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
11
초록▼
A device and method are provided to improve performance of a vapor compression system using a retrofittable control board to start up the vapor compression system with the evaporator blower initially set to a high speed. A baseline evaporator operating temperature with the evaporator blower operatin
A device and method are provided to improve performance of a vapor compression system using a retrofittable control board to start up the vapor compression system with the evaporator blower initially set to a high speed. A baseline evaporator operating temperature with the evaporator blower operating at the high speed is recorded, and then the device detects if a predetermined acceptable change in evaporator temperature has occurred. The evaporator blower speed is reduced from the initially set high speed as long as there is only a negligible change in the measured evaporator temperature and therefore a negligible difference in the compressor's power consumption so as to obtain a net increase in the Coefficient of Performance.
대표청구항▼
1. A method for reducing net electrical power consumption of a vapor compression system having a compressor, a condenser and associated condenser fan, and an evaporator motor-driven evaporator blower, comprising operating the compressor and the condenser and the associated condenser fan with the eva
1. A method for reducing net electrical power consumption of a vapor compression system having a compressor, a condenser and associated condenser fan, and an evaporator motor-driven evaporator blower, comprising operating the compressor and the condenser and the associated condenser fan with the evaporator blower motor initially set to a high speed, recording a baseline evaporator operating temperature with the evaporator blower motor operating at the high speed during the operation of the compressor and condenser, then temporarily operating the evaporator blower motor at a reduced speed while the compressor and the condenser are still operating, detecting if a predetermined acceptable decrease in evaporator temperature from the baseline evaporator operating temperature has not been exceeded, and thereupon keeping the evaporator blower motor at the reduced speed from the initially set high speed as long as the predetermined acceptable decrease has not been exceeded and, if exceeded, returning the evaporator blower motor to the initially set high speed. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the magnitude of the predetermined acceptable decease in evaporator temperature is a decrease of up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined acceptable decrease in evaporator temperature is determined by a decrease in the surface temperature of the evaporator. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined acceptable decrease in evaporator temperature is represented by a detected change in one of the evaporator's saturation temperature and the evaporator's saturation pressure. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein a time period for the temporary operation of the evaporator blower motor is between about 30 seconds to 10 minutes. 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising rechecking a setting of the evaporator blower motor speed each time the system cycles on or at a predetermined frequency between greater than 6 minutes and less than 24 hours. 7. A method for reducing net electrical power consumption of a vapor compression air conditioning or heat pump system having a compressor, an outdoor coil with an associated fan, an indoor coil, and an indoor blower with an associated blower motor, comprising operating the compressor, the outdoor coil fan, and the indoor blower with the indoor blower motor initially set to a high speed, recording a baseline indoor coil operating temperature with the indoor blower motor operating at the high speed during operation of the compressor, outdoor coil fan and indoor blower, then temporarily operating the indoor blower motor at a reduced speed while the compressor and the condenser fan are still operating, detecting if a predetermined acceptable change in the indoor coil temperature from the baseline temperature has not been exceeded, and thereupon keeping the indoor blower motor speed at the reduced speed from the initially set high speed as long as the predetermined acceptable change has not been exceeded and, if exceeded, returning the indoor blower motor to the initially set high speed. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the magnitude of the predetermined acceptable change in indoor coil temperature is up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined acceptable change in indoor coil temperature is determined by a change of the indoor coil's surface temperature. 10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined acceptable change in the indoor coil temperature is represented by a change in one of saturation temperature and saturation pressure of refrigerant in the indoor coil. 11. The method according to claim 7, wherein a time period for the temporary operation of the indoor blower motor is between about 30 seconds to 10 minutes. 12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising rechecking a setting of the indoor blower motor speed each time the system cycles on or at a predetermined frequency between greater than 6 minutes and less than 24 hours. 13. A vapor-compression system having a compressor, a condenser and associated fan and an evaporator and associated blower motor, comprising a control board for reducing the system's net electrical power consumption being operatively associated with the blower motor and configured such that, when operating the compressor, the condenser fan and the evaporator with the evaporator blower initially set to a high speed, a baseline evaporator operating temperature is recorded and thereafter temporarily operates the evaporator blower at a reduced speed with the compressor and the condenser fan still operating and detecting if a predetermined acceptable decrease in evaporator temperature from the baseline evaporator operating temperature has not been exceeded, wherein the control board is further configured to keep the evaporator blower at the reduced speed from the initially set high speed as long as the predetermined acceptable decrease has not been exceeded and, if exceeded, returning the evaporator blower motor to the initially set high speed. 14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the circuitry is configured such that a time period for the temporary operation of the evaporator blower is between about 30 seconds to 10 minutes. 15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined acceptable decrease in evaporator temperature is a temperature decrease of up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. 16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the control board is further configured to recheck a setting of the evaporator blower motor speed each time the system cycles on or at a predetermined frequency between greater than 6 minutes and less than 24 hours. 17. A control board configured to carry out the method according to claim 13, wherein the control board is inserted into the blower motor power circuit and is powered by electrical energy supplied to the blower motor and is unpowered when the electrical energy is not being supplied to the blower motor. 18. A vapor compression system having a compressor and an indoor coil with an associated indoor blower and blower motor, comprising a control board for reducing the system's net electrical power consumption being operatively associated with the blower motor and having circuitry configured such that, when operating the compressor and the indoor blower with the indoor blower motor initially set to a high speed, a baseline indoor coil operating temperature is recorded and then temporarily operates the indoor blower motor at a reduced speed while the compressor and the condenser are still operating, wherein the control board is further configured to detect if a predetermined acceptable change in the indoor coil temperature from the baseline temperature has not been exceeded, thereupon keep the indoor blower motor speed at the reduced seed from the initially set high speed as long as the predetermined acceptable change has not been exceeded and, if exceeded, returning the indoor blower motor to the initially set high speed. 19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the circuitry is configured such that a time period for the temporary operation of the indoor blower motor is between about 30 seconds to 10 minutes. 20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the magnitude of the predetermined change in coil temperature is up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. 21. The system according to claim 18, wherein the control board is further configured to recheck a setting of the indoor blower motor speed each time the system cycles on or at a predetermined frequency between greater than 6 minutes and less than 24 hours. 22. A control board configured to carry out the method according to claim 18, wherein the control board is inserted into the blower motor power circuit and is powered by electrical energy being supplied to the blower motor and is unpowered when the electrical energy is not being supplied to the blower motor. 23. A vapor compression system having a compressor, an evaporator and a fluid transporter for providing energy to the evaporator, comprising a control board configured to be retrofittable into the vapor compression system for reducing the system's net power consumption and being operatively associated with a motor of the fluid transporter for controlling speed of the fluid transporter, the control board having circuitry configured such that, when operating the compressor and the evaporator with the fluid transporter initially set to a high speed, a baseline evaporator operating temperature is recorded and then the fluid transporter motor is operated at a reduced speed with the compressor still operating, wherein acceptable decrease in evaporator temperature from the baseline evaporator operating temperature has not been exceeded, thereupon keep the fluid transporter at the reduced speed from the initially set high speed as long as the predetermined acceptable decrease has not been exceeded and, if exceeded, returning the fluid transporter motor to the initially set high speed. 24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the fluid transporter is a pump operative to supply a liquid fluid to be cooled by the evaporator. 25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the fluid transporter is a blower. 26. The system according to claim 23, wherein the control board is configured such that a time period for the temporary operation of the fluid transporter is between about 30 seconds to 10 minutes. 27. The system according to claim 23, wherein the predetermined acceptable decrease in evaporator temperature is a decrease of up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. 28. The system according to claim 23, wherein the control board is further configured to recheck a setting of the fluid transporter motor speed each time the system cycles on or at a predetermined frequency between greater than 6 minutes and less than 24 hours. 29. A control board configured to carry out the method according to claim 23, wherein the control board is inserted into the blower motor power circuit and is powered by electrical energy being supplied to the blower motor and is unpowered when the electrical energy is not being supplied to the blower motor. 30. A method for reducing net electrical power consumption of a vapor compression system having a compressor, a condenser and associated condenser fan, and an evaporator associated with a blower and blower motor capable of running at high, medium and low speeds, comprising (a) operating the compressor and the condenser fan with the evaporator blower motor initially set to the high speed,(b) determining the evaporator operating temperature with the evaporator blower motor operating at the high speed during the operation of the compressor and the condenser fan,(c) operating the evaporator blower motor at the medium speed during operation of the compressor and the condenser fan and determining if a decrease in evaporator temperature occurs when operating at the medium speed,(d) if, during operation of the compressor and condenser fan, an acceptable decrease in an evaporator temperature has been exceeded at the medium speed, operating the evaporator blower motor at the high speed,(e) if, during operation of the compressor and condenser fan, the acceptable decrease in an evaporator temperature has not been exceeded at the medium speed, operating the evaporator blower motor at the low speed, and determining if any decrease in evaporator temperature occurs when operating at the low speed, and(f) if, during the continued operation of the compressor and condenser fan, the acceptable decrease in an evaporator temperature when operating at the low speed has been exceeded, returning the evaporator blower motor to the medium speed. 31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the acceptable decrease in evaporator temperature is a decrease of up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. 32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the acceptable decrease in evaporator temperature is a decrease in the surface temperature of the evaporator. 33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the acceptable decrease in evaporator temperature is represented by a detected change in one of the evaporator's saturation temperature and the evaporator's saturation pressure. 34. The method of claim 30, wherein a time period for the operation of the evaporator blower motor between the speeds is between about 30 seconds to 10 minutes. 35. The method according to claim 30, wherein, with the evaporator blower motor being configured to operate at more than three speeds, steps (a)-(e) are repeated for each of the motor speeds from highest to lowest so that the motor runs at its lowest speed as long as the acceptable decrease has not been exceeded but is returned to a higher speed if the acceptable decrease has been exceeded. 36. The method according to claim 30, further comprising rechecking a setting of the evaporator blower motor speed each time the system cycles on or at a predetermined frequency between greater than 6 minutes and less than 24 hours. 37. A method for reducing net electrical power consumption of a vapor compression air conditioning or heat pump system having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger coil and associated outdoor coil fan, and an indoor heat exchanger coil associated with an indoor coil blower and indoor blower motor capable of running at high, medium and low speeds, comprising (a) operating the compressor and the outdoor coil fan with the indoor coil blower motor initially set to the high speed,(b) determining the indoor coil operating temperature with the indoor coil blower motor operating at the high speed during the operation of the compressor and outdoor coil fan,(c) operating the indoor coil blower motor at the medium speed during operation of the compressor and the outdoor coil fan, and determining if an acceptable change in the indoor coil operating temperature occurs when operating at the medium speed,(d) if, during operation of the compressor and outdoor coil fan, the acceptable change in an indoor coil temperature has been exceeded, operating the indoor coil blower motor at the high speed,(e) if, during operation of the compressor and outdoor coil fan, the acceptable change in the indoor coil temperature has not been exceeded, operating the indoor coil blower motor at the low speed, during operation of the compressor and the outdoor fan and determining if an acceptable change in the indoor coil temperature occurs when operating at the low speed, and(f) if, during the continued operation of the compressor and outdoor coil fan, the acceptable change in the indoor coil temperature has been exceeded when running at the low speed, returning the indoor coil blower motor to the medium speed. 38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the acceptable change in indoor coil temperature between each of the speeds is up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. 39. The method according to claim 37, wherein the acceptable change in indoor coil temperature is the change in the surface temperature of the indoor coil. 40. The method according to claim 37, wherein the acceptable change in the indoor coil temperature is represented by a detected change in one of the indoor coil's saturation temperature and the indoor coil's saturation pressure. 41. The method of claim 37, further comprising rechecking a setting of the indoor blower motor speed each time the system cycles on or at a predetermined frequency between greater than 6 minutes and less than 24 hours. 42. The method according to claim 37, wherein, with the indoor coil blower motor being configured to operate at more than three speeds, steps (a)-(e) are repeated for each of the motor speeds from highest to lowest so that the motor runs at its lowest speed as long as the acceptable change has not been exceeded but is returned to a higher speed if the acceptable decrease has been exceeded. 43. A method for reducing net power consumption of a vapor compression system having a compressor, a condenser with an associated condenser fan, and an evaporator with an associated evaporator blower driven by a motor configured to produce two or more air flows, comprising during operation of the compressor and condenser fan, running the evaporator blower motor at the lowest air flow where an acceptable change in evaporator temperature has not been exceeded and, if exceeded, returning the evaporator blower motor to an initially set high speed. 44. A method for reducing net power consumption of a vapor compression system having a compressor, an outdoor coil with an associated fan, an indoor coil and an indoor blower with an associated blower motor configured to produce two or more air flows, comprising during operation of the compressor and outdoor coil fan, running the indoor blower motor at the lowest air flow where an acceptable change in evaporator temperature has not been exceeded and, if exceeded, returning the indoor blower motor to an initially set high speed. 45. A retrofitable control board for reducing net power consumption of a vapor compression system having a compressor, a condenser with an associated condenser fan, and an evaporator with an associated evaporator blower driven by a motor configured to produce two or more air flows, comprising control circuitry configured to run the evaporator blower motor at the lowest air flow during operation of the compressor and condenser fan where an acceptable change in evaporator temperature has not been exceeded and, if exceeded, returning the evaporator blower motor to an initially set high speed. 46. A retrofitable control board for reducing net power consumption of a vapor compression system having a compressor, an outdoor coil with an associated fan, an indoor coil and an indoor coil blower with an associated blower motor configured to produce two or more air flows comprising control circuitry configured to run the indoor coil blower motor at the lowest air flow during operation of the compressor and outdoor coil fan where an acceptable change in evaporator temperature has not been exceeded and, if exceeded, returning the indoor blower motor to an initially set high speed.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (11)
Curtis,Morton, Air conditioning system with moisture control.
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