Defrost control using fan data

• US 10,352,611 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2017
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Qu, Yi, Havard, H. Gene, Douglas, Jon, Mangum, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradford, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US15/794,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20180045453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/41 Defrosting; Preventing freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/42 of outdoor units
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 13/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/0294 related to the outdoor fan, e.g. controlling speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/11 Sensor to detect if defrost is necessary
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/15 Power, e.g. by voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/173 of the evaporator fan
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/19 Pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21174 of the refrigerant at the inlet of the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 47/02 Defrosting cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/06 by forced circulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/002 Defroster control
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/006 with electronic control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/02 Detecting the presence of frost or condensate

Abstract

In various implementations, frost in a vapor compression system may be controlled. A property of a fan may be determined. A determination may be made whether a frost event and/or a nonfrost event has occurred based at least partially on the determined fan property.

Claims

1. A method of distinguishing between a frost condition and a nonfrost condition in a vapor compression system, the method comprising:

determining a change in a fan property;

determining a time period in which the change in the fan property occurred;

determining if an event has occurred based at least partially on the change in the fan property and the time period;

determining that the event is a frost condition if the time period is within a predetermined frost period of time;

determining that the event is a slow nonfrost condition if the time period is greater than a predetermined slow amount of time;

determining that the event is a sudden nonfrost condition if the time period is less than a predetermined sudden amount of time; and

initiating a defrost cycle if the event is a frost condition.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the vapor compression system to operate in response to a request.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the fan property comprises fan speed, air flow rate, external static pressure, input power, change in fan speed, change in air flow rate, change in external static pressure, or change in input power.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more fan properties comprises temperature.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the nonfrost condition comprises soiling of a heat exchanger coil in the vapor compression system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the fan property comprises a temperature.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the fan property comprises a change in pressure.

8. A vapor compression system comprising:

a fan;

sensors that measure one or more system properties, the one or more system properties comprising at least a change in a fan property and a time period in which the change occurred; and

a controller that determines if an event has occurred and whether the event is a frost condition, slow nonfrost condition, or a sudden nonfrost condition based at least in part upon the change in the fan property and the time period, wherein the controller is configured to;

determine that the event is a frost condition if the time period is within a predetermined frost period of time;

determine that the event is a slow nonfrost condition if the time period is greater than a predetermined slow amount of time;

determine that the event is a sudden nonfrost condition if the time period is less than a predetermined sudden amount of time; and

initiate a defrost cycle if the event is a frost condition.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the fan comprises an outdoor fan of an air conditioner.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the fan comprises a fan of a refrigeration unit.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the fan property comprises fan speed, air flow rate, external static pressure, input power, change in fan speed, change in air flow rate, change in external static pressure, or change in input power.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising a memory storing one or more predetermined property values.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the fan property comprises temperature.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the fan property comprises a change in pressure.