Heat exchanger contamination monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016146487-A1
Application number	US-201414554333-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 26, 2014
Priority date	Nov 26, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments relate to heat exchanger contamination monitoring in an air conditioning system. An aspect includes receiving, by a contamination monitoring logic from a primary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a first temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a primary heat exchanger. Another aspect includes receiving, from a secondary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a second temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a secondary heat exchanger. Another aspect includes receiving, from a compressor outlet temperature sensor, a third temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a compressor. Another aspect includes determining, based on the first, second, and third temperature, a heat exchanger contamination value. Another aspect includes comparing the heat exchanger contamination value to a predetermined contamination threshold. Another aspect includes based on the heat exchanger contamination value being greater than the predetermined contamination threshold, sending a maintenance warning.

First claim

1 . A method for heat exchanger contamination monitoring in an air conditioning system, the method comprising:
receiving, by a contamination monitoring logic from a primary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a first temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a primary heat exchanger of the air conditioning system; receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a secondary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a second temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a secondary heat exchanger of the air conditioning system; receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a compressor outlet temperature sensor, a third temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a compressor of the air conditioning system, wherein the compressor receives airflow from the outlet of the primary heat exchanger, and wherein the secondary heat exchanger receives airflow from the outlet of the compressor; determining, by the contamination monitoring logic, based on the first temperature, the second temperature, and the third temperature, a heat exchanger contamination value; comparing the heat exchanger contamination value to a predetermined contamination threshold; based on the heat exchanger contamination value being greater than the predetermined contamination threshold, sending a maintenance warning to an operator of the air conditioning system.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system inlet temperature sensor, a fourth temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of the air conditioning system; receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a condenser inlet temperature sensor, a fifth temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of a condenser of the air conditioning system; and receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system outlet temperature sensor, a sixth temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of the air conditioning system; wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the fourth temperature, the fifth temperature, and the sixth temperature.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a second stage turbine inlet temperature sensor, a seventh temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of a second stage turbine of the air conditioning system; wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the seventh temperature.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a low limit valve (LLV) position sensor, a first valve position comprising a position of a LLV of the air conditioning system; wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the first valve position.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a flow control valve (FCV) position sensor, a second valve position comprising a position of a FCV of the air conditioning system; receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from an economy cooling valve (ECV) position sensor, a third valve position comprising a position of a ECV of the air conditioning system; and receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a turbine bypass valve (TBV) position sensor, a fourth valve position comprising a position of a TBV of the air conditioning system; wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the second valve position, the third valve position, and the fourth valve position.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a ram fan flow sensor, a first flow value comprising an amount of airflow at a ram fan of the air conditioning system; and receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system inlet or outlet flow sensor, a second flow value comprising an amount of airflow at the outlet of the air conditioning system; wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the first flow value and the second flow value.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after sending the maintenance warning to an operator of the air conditioning system:
comparing the heat exchanger contamination value to a reduced operating mode threshold, wherein the reduced operating mode threshold is higher than the predetermined contamination threshold; and based on the heat exchanger contamination value being greater than the reduced operating mode threshold, controlling the air conditioning system to a reduced operating mode.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from an ambient air outlet temperature sensor, an eighth temperature value comprising a temperature at an ambient air outlet of the air conditioning system; and determining an amount of airflow at a ram fan of the air conditioning system based on the eighth temperature value.

9 . A system for heat exchanger contamination monitoring in an air conditioning system, comprising:
a heat exchanger contamination monitoring logic configured to: receive, from a primary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a first temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a primary heat exchanger of the air conditioning system; receive, from a secondary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a second temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a secondary heat exchanger of the air conditioning system; receive, from a compressor outlet temperature sensor, a third temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a compressor of the air conditioning system, wherein the compressor receives airflow from the outlet of the primary heat exchanger, and wherein the secondary heat exchanger receives airflow from the outlet of the compressor; determine, based on the first temperature, the second temperature, and the third temperature, a heat exchanger contamination value; compare the heat exchanger contamination value to a predetermined contamination threshold; based on the heat exchanger contamination value being greater than the predetermined contamination threshold, send a maintenance warning to an operator of the air conditioning system.

10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system inlet temperature sensor, a fourth temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of the air conditioning system; receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a condenser inlet temperature sensor, a fifth temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of a condenser of the air conditioning system; and receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system outlet temperature sensor, a sixth temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of the air conditioning system; wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the fourth temperature, the fifth temperature, and the sixth temperature.

11 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a second stage turbine inlet temperature sensor, a seventh temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of a second stage turbine of the air conditioning system; wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the seventh temperature.

12 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a low limit valve (LLV

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Zywiak Thomas M
• Yim Jason S

Classifications

• F24F11/32 Primary

  Responding to malfunctions or emergencies · CPC title

• G01N25/00

  Investigating or analyzing materials by the use of thermal means (G01N3/00 - G01N23/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• F24F11/006

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F24D2220/04

  Sensors · CPC title

• F24F2011/0052

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic