Detecting blockage of air conditioner unit based on fan speed

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10830481-B2
Application number	US-201816169106-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2018
Priority date	Oct 24, 2018
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

Air conditioner units and methods for operating air conditioner units are provided. A method includes determining a steady state speed of a blower fan of the air conditioner unit. The method further includes receiving a call for heating and activating the blower fan in response to the call for heating. The method further includes measuring a speed of the blower fan after activating the blower fan and comparing the measured speed of the blower fan to the steady state speed of the blower fan. When the measured speed of the blower fan is greater than the steady state speed of the blower fan, the method includes disabling one of a plurality of heater banks of a heating unit of the air conditioner unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating an air conditioner unit, the method comprising:
determining a steady state speed of a blower fan of the air conditioner unit, wherein the step of determining the steady state speed of the blower fan comprises:
supplying a control signal to the blower fan;
measuring a steady state speed of the blower fan after supplying the control signal to the blower fan;
estimating a voltage supplied to the blower fan based on the measured steady state speed of the blower fan;
storing the estimated voltage in a memory of the air conditioner unit; and
determining the steady state speed of the blower fan based on the stored estimated voltage;

receiving a call for heating;
activating the blower fan in response to the call for heating by supplying the control signal to the blower fan;
measuring a speed of the blower fan after activating the blower fan in response to the call for heating;
comparing the measured speed of the blower fan to the steady state speed of the blower fan; and
disabling one of a plurality of heater banks of a heating unit of the air conditioner unit when the measured speed of the blower fan is greater than the steady state speed of the blower fan.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a pulse width modulation signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the steady state speed of the blower fan comprises determining an average speed of the blower fan over time and wherein measuring the speed of the blower fan after activating the blower fan in response to the call for heating comprises determining an average speed of the blower fan over time.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of measuring the speed of the blower fan after activating the blower fan in response to the call for heating comprises measuring the speed of the blower fan following a delay after activating the blower fan.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of disabling one of the plurality of heater banks comprises disabling one of the plurality of heater banks when the measured speed of the blower fan is greater than the steady state speed of the blower fan by at least twenty-five rotations per minute.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising decreasing the speed of the blower fan when the measured speed of the blower fan is greater than the steady state speed of the blower fan.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heater banks comprises a low power heater bank, a medium power heater bank, and a high power heater bank.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of disabling one of the plurality of heater banks comprises disabling the high power heater bank and the medium power heater bank when the measured speed of the blower fan is greater than the steady state speed of the blower fan.

9. An air conditioner unit comprising:
a blower fan, the blower fan comprising a blade assembly and a motor connected to the blade assembly;
a heating unit, the heating unit comprising a plurality of heater banks;
a power source in electrical communication with the blower fan motor and the plurality of heater banks; and
a controller in operable communication with the motor and the plurality of heater banks, the controller operable for:
determining a steady state speed of the blower fan, wherein determining the steady state speed of the blower fan comprises:
supplying a control signal to the blower fan;
measuring a steady state speed of the blower fan after supplying the control signal to the blower fan;
estimating a voltage supplied to the blower fan from the power source based on the measured steady state speed of the blower fan;
storing the estimated voltage in a memory of the air conditioner unit; and
determining the steady state speed of the blower fan based on the stored estimated voltage when the call for heating is received;

receiving a call for heating;
activating the blower fan after receiving the call for heating by supplying the control signal to the blower fan;
measuring a speed of the blower fan after activating the blower fan;
comparing the measured speed of the blower fan to the steady state speed of the blower fan; and
disabling one of the plurality of heater banks when the measured speed of the blower fan is greater than the steady state speed of the blower fan.

10. The air conditioner unit of claim 9 , wherein the control signal is a pulse width modulation signal.

11. The air conditioner unit of claim 9 , wherein measuring the steady state speed of the blower fan comprises determining an average speed of the blower fan over time and wherein measuring the speed of the blower fan after activating the blower fan comprises determining an average speed of the blower fan over time.

12. The air conditioner unit of claim 9 , wherein the step of measuring the speed of the blower fan after activating the blower fan comprises measuring the speed of the blower fan following a delay after activating the blower fan.

13. The air conditioner unit of claim 9 , wherein the step of disabling one of the plurality of heater banks comprises disabling one of the plurality of heater banks when the measured speed of the blower fan is greater than the steady state speed of the blower fan by at least twenty-five rotations per minute.

14. The air conditioner unit of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further operable for decreasing the speed of the blower fan when the measured speed of the blower fan is greater than the steady state speed of the blower fan.

15. The air conditioner unit of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of heater banks comprises a low power heater bank, a medium power heater bank, and a high power heater bank.

16. The air conditioner unit of claim 15 , wherein the step of disabling one of the plurality of heater banks comprises disabling the high power heater bank and the medium power heater bank when the measured speed of the blower fan is greater than the steady state speed of the blower fan.

17. A method for operating an air conditioner unit, the method comprising:
determining a steady state speed of a blower fan of the air conditioner unit;
receiving a call for heating;
activating the blower fan in response to the call for heating;
measuring a speed of the blower fan after activating the blower fan in response to the call for heating;
comparing the measured speed of the blower fan to the steady state speed of the blower fan;
disabling one of a plurality of heater banks of a heating unit of the air conditioner unit when the measured speed of the blower fan is greater than the steady state speed of the blower fan; and
decreasing the speed of the blower fan when the measured speed of the blower fan is greater than the steady state speed of the blower fan.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of measuring the speed of the blower fan after activating the blower fan in response to the call for heating comprises measuring the speed of the blower fan following a delay after activating the blower fan.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of disabling one of the plurality of heater banks comprises disabling one of the plurality of heater banks when the measured speed of the blower fan is greater than the steady state speed of the blower fan by at least twenty-five rotations per minute.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc
• Haie Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Shaffer Timothy Scott

Classifications

• F24H4/06

  Air heaters · CPC title

• F24F1/0093

  with additional radiant heat-discharging elements, e.g. electric heaters · CPC title

• F24F1/027

  mounted in wall openings, e.g. in windows · CPC title

• F24F11/87 Primary

  by controlling absorption or discharge of heat in outdoor units · CPC title

• F24F2221/54

  Heating and cooling, simultaneously or alternatively · CPC title