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A method for reducing perceived defrost noise in a heat pump is provided. The method may include energizing a fan configured to urge a heat transfer medium across a heat exchanger, and initiating a defrost cycle to warm the heat exchanger. Initiating the defrost cycle may include de-energizing a com

A method for reducing perceived defrost noise in a heat pump is provided. The method may include energizing a fan configured to urge a heat transfer medium across a heat exchanger, and initiating a defrost cycle to warm the heat exchanger. Initiating the defrost cycle may include de-energizing a compressor fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger, and delaying for a first delay period with the fan energized and the compressor de-energized. Initiating the defrost cycle may also include energizing a reversing valve after the first delay period, to reverse a flow of a refrigerant flow between the compressor and the heat exchanger, and delaying for a second delay period with the fan energized, the compressor de-energized, and the reversing valve energized. Initiating the defrost cycle may also include de-energizing the fan. The method may also include defrosting the heat pump during the defrost cycle, and terminating the defrost cycle.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for reducing defrost noise in a heat pump, comprising: energizing a fan configured to urge a heat transfer medium across a heat exchanger; initiating a defrost cycle to warm the heat exchanger, comprising: de-energizing a compressor fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger;delaying for a fi

1. A method for reducing defrost noise in a heat pump, comprising: energizing a fan configured to urge a heat transfer medium across a heat exchanger; initiating a defrost cycle to warm the heat exchanger, comprising: de-energizing a compressor fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger;delaying for a first delay period with the fan energized and the compressor de-energized;energizing a reversing valve after the first delay period, to reverse a flow of a refrigerant flow between the compressor and the heat exchanger, such that the refrigerant warms the heat exchanger;delaying for a second delay period with the fan energized, the compressor de-energized, and the reversing valve energized;energizing the compressor after the second delay period and then de-energizing the fan;defrosting the heat pump during the defrost cycle; andterminating the defrost cycle. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the defrost cycle further comprises energizing an auxiliary heater configured to warm a heat transfer medium urged across another heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor, before completing delaying for the first delay period. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaporating the refrigerant with the heat exchanger prior to initiating the defrost cycle. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second delay period is between about 1 second and about 60 seconds. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second delay period is between about 10 seconds and about 15 seconds. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing defrost conditions, the defrost conditions including at least one of expiration of a defrost interval timer and a temperature of the heat exchanger falling below a minimum value. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein defrosting the heat exchanger comprises energizing the compressor after delaying for the second delay period so as to warm the heat exchanger. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein terminating the defrost cycle comprises: energizing the fan;de-energizing the compressor;delaying for a third delay period with the fan energized and the compressor de-energized;de-energizing the reversing valve after the third delay period;delaying for a fourth delay period with the reversing valve de-energized and the fan energized; andenergizing the compressor after the fourth delay period. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein terminating the defrost cycle further comprises de-energizing an auxiliary heater before and/or during the third delay period. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the third delay period is between about 5 seconds and about 100 seconds. 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the third delay period is about 30 seconds. 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing a defrost cycle termination condition to determine when to terminate the defrost cycle, the defrost cycle termination condition comprising a temperature of the heat exchanger exceeding a target temperature, an expiration of a defrost cycle timer, or both. 13. A method for reducing defrost noise in a heat pump, comprising: energizing a fan configured to urge a heat transfer medium across a heat exchanger; initiating a defrost cycle to warm the heat exchanger, comprising: de-energizing a compressor fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger;delaying for a first delay period with the fan energized and the compressor de-energized;energizing a reversing valve after the first delay period, to reverse a flow of a refrigerant flow between the compressor and the heat exchanger, such that the refrigerant warms the heat exchanger;delaying for a second delay period with the fan energized, the compressor de-energized, and the reversing valve energized;de-energizing the fan;defrosting the heat pump during the defrost cycle; andterminating the defrost cycle wherein the first delay period is between about 5 seconds and about 100 seconds. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first delay period is about-60 seconds. 15. A method for reducing defrost noise in a heat pump, comprising: energizing a fan configured to urge a heat transfer medium across a heat exchanger; initiating a defrost cycle to warm the heat exchanger, comprising: de-energizing a compressor fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger;delaying for a first delay period with the fan energized and the compressor de-energized;energizing a reversing valve after the first delay period to reverse a flow of a refrigerant flow between the compressor and the heat exchanger, such that the refrigerant warms the heat exchanger;delaying for a second delay period with the fan energized, the compressor de-energized, and the reversing valve energized;energizing the compressor after the second delay period;de-energizing the fan;defrosting the heat pump during the defrost cycle; andterminating the defrost cycle; wherein terminating the defrost cycle comprises: energizing the fan;de-energizing the compressor;delaying for a third delay period with the fan energized and the compressor de-energized;de-energizing the reversing valve after the third delay period;delaying for a fourth delay period with the reversing valve de-energized and the fan energized; andenergizing the compressor after the fourth delay period;wherein the fourth delay period is between about 5 seconds and about 100 seconds. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the fourth delay period is about 10 seconds. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the fourth delay period is about 30 seconds. 18. A method for reducing defrost noise in a heat pump, comprising: energizing a fan configured to urge a heat transfer medium across a heat exchanger; initiating a defrost cycle to warm the heat exchanger, comprising: de-energizing a compressor fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger;delaying for a first delay period with the fan energized and the compressor de-energized;energizing an auxiliary heater configured to warm a heat transfer medium urged across another heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor, before completing delaying for the first delay period;energizing a reversing valve after the first delay period, to reverse a flow of a refrigerant flow between the compressor and the heat exchanger, such that the refrigerant warms the heat exchanger;delaying for a second delay period with the fan energized, the compressor de-energized, and the reversing valve energized;energizing the compressor after the second delay period and then de-energizing the fan;defrosting the heat pump during the defrost cycle; andterminating the defrost cycle, comprising:energizing the fan;de-energizing the compressor;delaying for a third delay period with the fan energized and the compressor de- energized;de-energizing the reversing valve after the third delay period;de-energizing the auxiliary heater before and/or during the third delay period;delaying for a fourth delay period with the reversing valve de-energized and the fan energized; andenergizing the compressor after the fourth delay period. 19. A method for reducing defrost noise in a heat pump, comprising: energizing a fan configured to urge a heat transfer medium across a heat exchanger; initiating a defrost cycle to warm the heat exchanger, comprising: de-energizing a compressor fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger;delaying for a first delay period with the fan energized and the compressor de-energized;energizing an auxiliary heater configured to warm a heat transfer medium urged across another heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor, before completing delaying for the first delay period;energizing a reversing valve after the first delay period to reverse a flow of a refrigerant flow between the compressor and the heat exchanger, such that the refrigerant warms the heat exchanger;delaying for a second delay period with the fan energized, the compressor de-energized, and the reversing valve energized; andde-energizing the fan;defrosting the heat pump during the defrost cycle; andterminating the defrost cycle, comprising:energizing the fan;de-energizing the compressor;delaying for a third delay period with the fan energized and the compressor de-energized;de-energizing the reversing valve after the third delay period;de-energizing the auxiliary heater before and/or during the third delay period;delaying for a fourth delay period with the reversing valve de-energized and the fan energized; andenergizing the compressor after the fourth delay periodwherein:the first delay period is about 60 seconds;the second delay period is between about 10 seconds and about 15 seconds;the third delay period is about 30 seconds; andthe fourth delay period is about 10 seconds or about 30 seconds.