Controller, method of operating a water source heat pump and a water source heat pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10495248-B2
Application number	US-201815861881-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2018
Priority date	Sep 26, 2011
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

In one embodiment, a water system includes a compressor, a condenser fluidly coupled to the compressor by refrigerant tubing, a modulating motor-controlled valve configured to alter a flow of water through the condenser, an accelerometer mechanically coupled to the water system, and a water system controller. The water system controller may be configured to perform an automated anti-water hammer procedure. During the automated anti-water hammer procedure, the water system controller may be configured to activate an operating procedure for the water system, transmit a control signal to the modulating motor-controlled valve, receive vibrational measurements received from the accelerometer, compare the vibrational measurements measured by the accelerometer to a predetermined vibration level associated with the operating procedure, and adjust the opening position and opening speed of the modulating motor-controlled valve for the operating procedure if the vibrational measurements exceed the predetermined vibration level associated with the operating procedure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water source heat pump, comprising:
a compressor;
a condenser being fluidly coupled to the compressor by refrigerant tubing;
an output conduit coupled to the condenser;
a modulating motor-controlled valve interposed between the condenser and the output conduit, the modulating motor-controlled valve configured to alter a flow of water through the condenser; and
a water source heat pump controller configured to perform an automated freeze protection procedure wherein, during the automated freeze protection procedure, the water source heat pump controller is configured to:
receive a first temperature reading of a water entering the condenser, the first temperature reading taken before the water enters the condenser;
determine that the water source heat pump is operating in a heat mode;
open the modulating motor-controlled valve to allow water circulation through the condenser;
compare the first temperature reading to a set point; and
if the first temperature reading is below the first set point:
start a gas-tired heat exchanger; and
initialize a discharge air temperature control mode.

2. The water source heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the water source heat pump controller is further configured to:
determine that the gas-fired heat exchanger is online;
switch into a cooling mode;
receive a second temperature reading of the water entering the condenser;
compare the second temperature reading to the set point; and
if the second temperature reading is below the set point, terminate a boiler mode of the water source heat pump.

3. The water source heat pump of claim 1 , further comprising one or more evaporator coils, the one or more evaporator coils fluidly coupled to the compressor.

4. The water source heat pump of claim 1 , wherein to open the modulating motor-controlled valve the controller is configured to transmit one or more control signals to the modulating motor-controlled valve.

5. The water source heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the first temperature reading of the water entering the condenser is provided by one or more temperature sensors operably coupled to the water source heat pump.

6. The water source heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the first temperature reading as a wireless signal from a temperature sensor.

7. The water source heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to open the modulating motor-controlled valve using a wireless control signal transmitted to the modulating motor-controlled valve.

8. A controller for a water source heat pump, comprising:
an interface configured to:
receive a first temperature reading of a water entering a condenser of the water source heat pump, the first temperature reading taken before the water enters the condenser;

a processor communicatively coupled to the interface, the processor configured to:
determine that the water source heat pump is operating in a heat mode;
open a modulating motor-controlled valve to allow water circulation through the condenser;
compare the first temperature reading to a set point; and
if the first temperature reading is below the first set point:
start a gas-fired heat exchanger; and
initialize a discharge air temperature control mode.

9. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine that the gas-fired heat exchanger is online;
switch the water source heat pump into a cooling mode;
the interface is further configured to:
receive a second temperature reading of the water entering the condenser;

the processor is further configured to:
compare the second temperature reading to the set point; and
if the second temperature reading is below the set point, terminate a boiler mode of the water source heat pump.

10. The controller of claim 8 , wherein to open the modulating motor-controlled valve the controller is configured to transmit, via the interface, one or more control signals to the modulating motor-controlled valve.

11. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the first temperature reading of the water entering the condenser is received from one or more temperature sensors operably coupled to the water source heat pump.

12. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the interface is configured to receive the first temperature reading via a wire from a temperature sensor.

13. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the interface is configured to receive the first temperature reading as a wireless signal from a temperature sensor.

14. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to open the modulating motor-controlled valve using a wireless control signal transmitted via the interface to the modulating motor-controlled valve.

15. A method for operating a water source heat pump, the method comprising:
receiving, at a water source heat pump controller, a first temperature reading of a water entering a condenser of the water source heat pump, the first temperature reading taken before the water enters the condenser;
determining that the water source heat pump is operating in a heat mode;
opening a modulating motor-controlled valve to allow water circulation through the condenser;
comparing the first temperature reading to a set point; and
if the first temperature reading is below the first set point:
starting a gas-fired heat exchanger; and
initializing a discharge air temperature control mode.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining, via the controller, that the gas-fired heat exchanger is online;
switching, via the controller, the water source heat pump into a cooling mode;
receiving a second temperature reading of the water entering the condenser;
comparing the second temperature reading to the set point; and
if the second temperature reading is below the set point, terminate a boiler mode of the water source heat pump.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein opening the modulating motor-controlled valve comprises transmitting, via the controller, one or more control signals to the modulating motor-controlled valve.

18. The method of claim 15 , receiving the first temperature reading of the water entering the condenser is received from one or more temperature sensors operably coupled to the water source heat pump.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving the first temperature reading comprises receiving the first temperature reading as a wireless signal from a temperature sensor.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein opening the modulating motor-controlled valve comprising transmitting a wireless control signal to the modulating motor-controlled valve.

Assignees

• Lennox Ind Inc

Inventors

• Perez Eric
• Schneider Steve
• Havard Jr Harold Gene

Classifications

• F04B49/20

  by changing the driving speed · CPC title

• F24F1/36

  Drip trays for outdoor units · CPC title

• Y02B30/12

  Hot water central heating systems using heat pumps · CPC title

• F25B30/02 Primary

  of the compression type · CPC title

• Y02B10/70

  Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies · CPC title