The present invention is directed to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. In particular, the present invention is directed to methods and systems that automatically sense the type of compressor present in the HVAC system.
Controllers are used to provide control to the various components of an HVAC or refrigerant system, including one or more compressors incorporated in the system. Compressors are connected to the controller using one or more terminals that supply power to the compressor and control the operation of the compressor in order to operate the system. While a controller activates the compressors, it does not detect what type of compressor is present in the system.
Detection of the specific type of compressor allows the system to take advantage of special features of the compressor. For example, a system able to detect the presence of a multiple capacity reciprocating compressor allows the system to provide the appropriate control scheme to take advantage of the multiple capacities present in the compressor.
One known system used for sensing the presence of components in the system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,310 (the '310 Patent). The '310 Patent is a thermostat for an HVAC system that includes a sensing transformer to confirm that a load has been applied to a preselected circuit. The sensing transformer is coupled to the load and generates a first indicator signal indicative of power being applied to the component. The thermostat controls the HVAC system by pulses to a latching relay to control a temperature load to an operating state selected by the thermostat. Current sensors indicate current flow through a particular temperature load, corresponding to an operating state. If the indication from the current sensors does not match the operating state selected by the thermostat, the process is repeated with a pulsing of the latch relays and comparison of the current sensors. Since the thermostat senses the load to the cooling or heating units, the thermostat is able to determine whether the heating or cooling unit has actually been turned on or off in response to a signal from the thermostat. However, the '310 Patent system has the drawback that it merely determines whether a system is on or off and does not determine what type or system or what type of compressor is present in the system. Further, the '310 system does not configure the controller to the type of system or compressor in response to the signal.
What is needed is a controller for an HVAC system that can automatically sense the type of compressor that is installed in the system and configures the controller output from the controller for the corresponding compressor attached to the system.
The present invention includes a method for configuring a controller to control a compressor including a detection system provided to determine a type of compressor. The detection system includes a processor; and a load sensing circuit connected between the processor and a controller. The controller has a plurality of output connections connectable to a compressor. The load sensing circuit senses whether a load is present on each output connection of the plurality of output connections and provides a load signal to the processor indicating whether a load is present on each output connection. The load signals are processed with the processor to determine the type of compressor connected to the controller. The controller is configured to control the compressor in response to the determined type of compressor.
The present invention also includes an HVAC system having an evaporator, a condenser, and a compressor connected in a closed loop refrigerant system. The system includes a control system to control the closed loop refrigerant system including a controller having a plurality of output connections capable of being electrically connected to a compressor. The compressor is electrically connected to the controller by at least one electrical connection. The system also includes a load sensing circuit and a processor electrically connected to at least two of the plurality of output connections of the controller. The load sensing circuit is configured to generate a load signal for the processor in response to a load being present on the at least two of the plurality of output connections of the controller. The processor is configured to determine a type of compressor based on load signals from the load sensing circuit. The processor provides instructions to configure the controller to operate with the determined compressor type in response to the type of compressor determined by the processor.
An advantage of the present invention is that the controller is able to detect the type of compressor attached to the system. Knowing the type of compressor that is connected allows the HVAC controller to apply an operating mode that has been designed for the specific type of compressor present.
Another advantage of the present invention is that wiring errors may also be detected by the controller. For example, if a detected load/no load combination is not a permissible combination, the HVAC control can prevent operation of the unit and display a wiring error message through an output such as a thermostat LED.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
The refrigerant vapor delivered by the compressor 130 to the condenser 120 enters into a heat exchange relationship with a first heat transfer fluid 150 heating the fluid 150 while undergoing a phase change to a refrigerant liquid as a result of the heat exchange relationship with the fluid 150. Suitable fluids for use as the first heat transfer fluid 150 include, but are not limited to, air and water. In a preferred embodiment, the refrigerant vapor delivered to the condenser 120 enters into a heat exchange relationship with air as the first heat transfer fluid 150. The first heat transfer fluid 150 is moved by use of a fan (not shown), which moves the first heat transfer fluid 150 through condenser 120 in a direction perpendicular the cross section of the condenser 120. Although a fan or blower is discussed as the fluid moving means, any fluid moving means may be used to move fluid through the condenser.
The refrigerant leaves the condenser 120 through the evaporator inlet line 140 and is delivered to an evaporator 110. The evaporator 110 includes a heat-exchanger coil. The liquid refrigerant in the evaporator 110 enters into a heat exchange relationship with a second heat transfer fluid 155 and undergoes a phase change to a refrigerant vapor as a result of the heat exchange relationship with the second fluid 155, which lowers the temperature of the second heat transfer fluid 155. Suitable fluids for use as the second heat transfer fluid 155 include, but are not limited to, air and water. In a preferred embodiment, the refrigerant vapor delivered to the evaporator 110 enters into a heat exchange relationship with air as the second heat transfer fluid 155. The second heat transfer fluid 155 is moved by use of a blower (not shown), which moves the second heat transfer fluid 155 through evaporator 110 in a direction perpendicular to the cross section of the evaporator 110.
The vapor refrigerant in the evaporator 110 exits the evaporator 110 and returns to the compressor 130 through a compressor suction line 145 to complete the cycle. It is to be understood that any suitable configuration of condenser 120 and/or evaporator 110 can be used in the system 100, provided that the appropriate phase change of the refrigerant in the condenser 120 and evaporator 110 is obtained. The conventional refrigerant system includes many other features that are not shown in
Processor 217 is a device that processes combinations of loads present on load sensor lines 209, 211 and 213. The combination of loads is determined by sensing voltages or other electrical signals from a load sensing circuit 215 and the load sensing circuit 215 provides the sensed loads to the processor 217 via load sensor lines 209, 211 and 213. Electrical devices connected to the controller 201, including, but not limited to, the compressor and the compressor related components (e.g., solenoids, indicator lights, etc.) create a load (e.g., an electrical resistance or impedance) that may be sensed by the load sensing circuit 215. As shown in the embodiment of
The outputs from the controller 201 are provided as a function of the inputs from the thermostat or a sensor device. For example, the thermostat may provide a signal (e.g., a signal on “Y1”) that provides an instruction to the controller 201 that additional refrigerant compression (i.e., activation of the compressor or compressors) is required. The controller 201 then provides output signals “M”, “M1” and “M2,” as appropriate, to the compressor on output lines 207, 205 and 203, respectively. Preferably, the controller 201 is configured to the type of compressor 130 attached to the system in order to provide safe and efficient operation of the compressor 130. The output signals correspond to the appropriate terminals attached to the compressor 130. The specific arrangement of the terminals attached to the compressor 130 is dependent upon the type of compressor 130 present in the system. One type of compressor 130 may be a single-stage compressor that has a load, and a corresponding output signal during operation, on M only (i.e., a connection to line 207). The single-stage compressor has no connection to output lines 203 and 205. Another type of compressor 130 may be two-stage reciprocating compressor, which has loads on M1 and M2 (i.e., connections on lines 205 and 203), having corresponding output signals during operation. The two-stage reciprocating compressor has no connection to output line 207. Another type of compressor 130 may be a two-stage scroll compressor, which has a load on M and M2 (i.e., connections on lines 207 and 203), having corresponding output signals during operation. The two-stage scroll compressor has no connection to output line 205.
In order to configure the controller 201 to operate the particular compressor 130, the controller 201 receives a signal from the processor 217 via line 219 indicating the type of compressor and the controller 201 is configured to the corresponding type of compressor. Although
Although Table 1 shows the connections for a single stage compressor, a two-stage scroll compressor and a two-stage reciprocating compressor, any compressor having a predetermined combination of connections may be used with the system of the present invention.
If determination step 309 determines that there is no load on line 203, then the controller 201 determines that there is a wiring error and displays a “FAULT” to the system user. If determination step 309 determines that there is a load on line 203, then the processor 217 determines that the compressor 130 attached to the system is a two-stage reciprocating compressor and configures the controller 201 in step 311 to operate a two-stage reciprocating compressor 130. If the determination step 307 determines that there is no load present on line 205, a determination step 313 is made. If determination in step 307 determines that there is a load present on line 205, then a determination step 315 is made. If determination step 313 determines that there is no load present on line 203 then the processor 217 determines that the compressor 130 attached to the system is a single stage compressor and configures the controller 201 in step 317 to operate as a single stage compressor 130. If determination step 313 determines that there is a load present on line 203, then the processor 217 determines that the compressor 130 attached to the system is a two-stage scroll compressor and configures the controller 201 in step 319 to operate a two-stage scroll compressor 130.
If determination step 315 determines that there is no load present on line 203, then the controller 201 determines that there is a wiring error and displays a “FAULT” to the system user. If determination step 315 determines that there is a load present on line 203, then the processor 217 determines that the compressor 130 attached to the system is a two-stage reciprocating compressor with a compressor “ON” indicator and configures the controller 201 in step 321 to operate a two-stage reciprocating compressor 130. In each of steps 311, 317, 319 and 321, where the controller 201 is configured, the processor 217 communicates the type of compressor to the controller 201 by way of line 219.
Although
As shown in
If determination step 507 determines that there is a load on line 205, then the processor 217 determines that there is a wiring error and displays a “FAULT” to the system user. If determination step 507 determines that there is no load on line 205, then the processor 217 determines that the compressor 130 attached to the system is a single stage compressor or a two-stage scroll compressor and configures the controller 201 in step 511 as a two-stage scroll compressor 130. Operation in a two-stage scroll stage permits the compressor 130 to operate safely without harming the system if the system is a single stage. Controller 201 operation either in the two-stage scroll or the single stage compressor includes signals on M and/or M2. The activation of M2 in a single stage compressor does not damage or effect operation of the single stage compressor because the compressor would not have wiring connected to the M2 output line (i.e., output line 203) and would simply involve activating a line that is not connected to any component. However, if the compressor is a scroll compressor, the signals on M and M2 permit proper operation of that type of compressor. Therefore, the configuration for a load detected on “SM” and no load detected on “SM1” is a two-stage scroll compressor.
Although
Although the embodiment shown in
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/327,084, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS TO SENSE AND CONTROL COMPRESSOR OPERATION IN AN HVAC SYSTEM,” filed on Jan. 6, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,562,536, which claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/657,938, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS TO SENSE AND CONTROL COMPRESSOR OPERATION IN AN HVAC SYSTEM,” filed Mar. 2, 2005.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11327084 | Jan 2006 | US |
Child | 12501075 | US |