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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9377230-B2
Application number	US-201213627438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2012
Priority date	Sep 26, 2011
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

A controller, a water source heat pump and a computer useable medium are disclosed herein. In one embodiment the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive operating data and monitoring data from the water source heat pump and transmit control signals to components of thereof and (2) a processor configured to respond to the operating data or the monitoring data by operating at least one motor-operated valve of the water source heat pump via a control signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water source heat pump, comprising:
a compressor;
a condenser being fluidly coupled to said compressor by refrigerant tubing;
an output conduit coupled to said condenser and being couplable to a distal location;
a modulating motor-controlled valve interposed said output conduit, said modulating motor-controlled valve configured to alter a flow of water through said condenser; and
a water source heat pump controller configured to perform an automated condenser coil freeze protection procedure wherein, during the automated condenser coil freeze protection procedure, the water source heat pump controller is configured to:
receive a first temperature reading of a water in the condenser;
compare the first temperature reading to a first set point;
if the first temperature reading is below the first set point, transmit a first control signal to the modulating motor-controlled valve, the first control signal configured to open the modulating motor-controlled valve to allow water circulation through the condenser;
receive a second temperature reading of the water in the condenser;
compare the second temperature reading to a second set point, the second set point lower than the first set point;
if the second temperature reading is below the second set point:
transmit a second control signal to the modulating motor-controlled valve, the second control signal configured to close the modulating motor-controlled valve to prevent water circulation through the condenser; and
transmit a third control signal to the compressor, the third control signal configured to cause the compressor to transfer heat from the compressor to the water in the condenser.

2. The water source heat pump as recited in claim 1 further comprising a drain pan located underneath said condenser and said output conduit, wherein said drain pan includes a recessed area having a first moisture sensor and an angled area having a second moisture sensor.

3. The water source heat pump as recited in claim 1 further comprising an air-to-air heat exchanger.

4. The water source heat pump as recited in claim 1 further comprising another modulating motor-controlled valve.

5. The water source heat pump as recited in claim 1 wherein in response to the second temperature reading being below the second set point, the controller is further operable to transmit a low temperature coil reading to a management system.

6. A controller for a water source heat pump, comprising:
an interface configured to:
receive, from a condenser, a first temperature reading of water in the condenser;

a processor communicatively coupled to the interface, the processor configured to perform an automated condenser coil freeze protection procedure, wherein during the automated condenser coil freeze protection procedure, the processor is configured to:
compare the first temperature reading to a first set point;
if the first temperature reading is below the first set point, transmit a first control signal to a modulating motor controlled valve interposed between the condenser and an output conduit, the first control signal configured to open the modulating motor controlled valve to allow water circulation through the condenser; the interface further configured to:
receive a second temperature reading of the water in the condenser;

the processor further configured to:
compare the second temperature reading to a second set point, the second set point lower than the first set point;
if the second temperature reading is below the second set point:
transmit a second control signal to the modulating motor controlled valve, the second control signal configured to close the modulating motor controlled valve; and
transmit a third control signal to a compressor, the third control signal configured to cause the compressor to transfer heat from the compressor to the water in the condenser, wherein the condenser is fluidly coupled to the compressor by refrigerant tubing.

7. The controller as recited in claim 6 wherein said processor directs the operation of said modulating motor-operated valve by varying a voltage of said control signal.

8. The controller as recited in claim 6 wherein said first control signal partially opens the modulating motor controlled valve to allow water circulation through the condenser.

9. The controller as recited in claim 6 wherein said interface is configured to receive operating data and monitoring data from components of said water source heat pump and from monitoring devices associated therewith.

10. The controller as recited in claim 6 wherein said interface is further configured to receive remote control signals and said processor is further configured to operate said at least one motor-operated valve based on a remote control signal.

11. The controller as recited in claim 6 wherein said processor is configured to operate multiple motor-operated valves of said water source heat pump.

12. The controller as recited in claim 6 wherein said processor is configured to increase, decrease, stop or bypass fluid flowing through said water source heat pump via the control signal.

13. The controller as recited in claim 6 wherein the motor-operated valve is operable through a range from fully open to fully closed based on a voltage of said control signal.

14. The controller as recited in claim 6 wherein in response to the second temperature reading being below the second set point, the interface is further operable to transmit a low temperature coil reading to a management system.

15. A computer-usable medium having non-transitory computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform an automated condenser coil freeze protection method by operating a water source heat pump having a motor-operated control valve, said method comprising:
receiving, from a condenser, a first temperature reading of water in the condenser;
comparing the first temperature reading to a first set point;

in response to the first temperature reading being below the first set point, transmitting a first control signal to a modulating motor controlled valve interposed between the condenser and an output conduit, the first control signal configured to open the modulating motor controlled valve to allow water circulation through the condenser;
receiving a second temperature reading of the water in the condenser;
comparing the second temperature reading to a second set point, the second set point lower than the first set point;
in response to the second temperature reading being below the second set point:
transmitting a second control signal to the modulating motor controlled valve, the second control signal configured to close the modulating motor controlled valve; and
transmit a third control signal to a compressor, the third control signal configured to cause the compressor to transfer heat from the compressor to the water in the condenser, wherein the condenser is fluidly coupled to the compressor by refrigerant tubing.

16. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 15 wherein said processor directs the operation of said modulating motor-operated valve by varying a voltage of said control signal.

17. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 15 wherein said control signal partially opens the modulating motor controlled valve to allow water circulation through the condenser.

18. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 15 further comprising transmitting a low temperature coil reading to a management system.

19. The com

Assignees

• Lennox Ind Inc

Inventors

• Perez Eric
• Schneider Steve
• Havard Jr Harold Gene

Classifications

• F24D17/02

  using heat pumps · CPC title

• F24D2200/123

  Compression type heat pumps · CPC title

• F25B2400/06

  Several compression cycles arranged in parallel · CPC title

• Y02B10/70

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

• F25B49/02 Primary

  for compression type machines, plants or systems · CPC title