Hvac systems and controls

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015292762-A1
Application number	US-201514683359-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 10, 2015
Priority date	Apr 11, 2014
Publication date	Oct 15, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

The embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods to control a HVAC system based on a state of an unloader of a compressor of the HVAC system.

First claim

1 . A method of controlling a HVAC system, comprising:
obtaining an unloader state of a compressor of the HVAC system; obtaining a control parameter based on the unloader state; and controlling the HVAC system based on the control parameter.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the unloader state has an association with a measurable parameter of the compressor during operation, and obtaining the unloader state of the compressor of the HVAC system includes:
obtaining the measurable parameter during operation; and estimating the unloader state based on the association between the measurable parameter of the compressor and the obtained measurable parameter.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the HVAC system includes, controlling a fan operation speed, an operation of a compressor, an orifice size of an expansion device, or a combination thereof.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the measurable parameter is a current draw by the compressor.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining an unloader state of a compressor of the HVAC system includes:
obtaining a compressor operation condition; obtaining a measurable parameter of the compressor; and estimating the unloader state based on the compressor operation condition and the measurable parameter of the compressor.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the compressor operation condition includes a saturated suction temperature at an inlet of the compressor, a saturated discharged temperature at an outlet of the compressor, or a combination thereof.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the measurable parameter of the compressor includes a current draw by the compressor, a torque of the compressor, a power of the compressor, or a combination thereof.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the control parameter is an actual mass flow rate, a rated mass flow rate, or a combination thereof.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
controlling the unloader state to adjust to a target unloader state; obtaining a second unloader state after the adjustment; comparing the second unloader state to the target unloader state; and providing an error message when the second unloader state is different from the target unloader state.

Assignees

• Trane Int Inc

Inventors

• Clanin Thomas J
• Munns Scott A
• Sibik Lee L

Classifications

• F25B2600/111

  of condenser fans · CPC title

• F25B2700/13

  Mass flow of refrigerants · CPC title

• F25B49/02 Primary

  for compression type machines, plants or systems · CPC title

• F04C18/16

  with helical teeth, e.g. chevron-shaped, screw type {(for non-parallel axes of movement F04C18/48)} · CPC title

• F04C28/12

  using sliding valves · CPC title