Sound level control in an HVAC system

• US 10,551,086 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2017
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Mehta, Pavak, Smith, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Landrum, Edward F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comings, Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US15/837,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20180163989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/24 Means for preventing or suppressing noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/12 Sound
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0253 with variable speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/172 of the condenser fan
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/173 of the evaporator fan
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/02 for compression type machines, plants or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a sound level in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system are disclosed. The system includes a refrigeration unit including a compressor, a condenser fan, a controller, and a sound controller. The sound controller is configured to maintain a sound level of the refrigeration unit within a sound level operating range. A method of controlling a refrigeration unit for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is described. The method includes determining, by a controller, a cooling requirement of a conditioned space. The controller also determines a sound level operating range for the refrigeration unit. The method further includes the controller applying a cooling setting based on the cooling requirement and the sound level operating range.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a refrigeration unit for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

determining, by a controller, a cooling requirement of a conditioned space;

determining, by the controller, a sound level operating range for the refrigeration unit;

applying a cooling setting based on the cooling requirement and the sound level operating range;

calculating, by the controller, a maximum capacity of the refrigeration unit based on the sound level operating range for the refrigeration unit; and

excluding a compressor speed at which a structural resonance causes the refrigeration unit to operate outside the sound level operating range from the sound level operating range for the refrigeration unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating the maximum capacity comprises:

determining, by the controller, a maximum allowable compressor speed based on the sound level operating range for the refrigeration unit.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

limiting the sound level operating range based on a time of day.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

calculating, by the controller, a capacity range of the refrigeration unit based on the sound level operating range for the refrigeration unit, the calculating including determining an operating condition of a compressor of the refrigeration unit, wherein the operating condition is determined such that the refrigeration unit outputs a sound level within the sound level operating range.

5. A method of controlling a refrigeration unit for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

determining, by a controller, a sound level operating range for a refrigeration unit;

determining, by a controller, a cooling requirement of a conditioned space;

determining an operating condition range of the compressor;

applying a cooling setting based on the cooling requirement that is within the operating condition range of the compressor; and

excluding a compressor speed at which a structural resonance causes the refrigeration unit to operate outside the sound level operating range from the sound level operating range for the refrigeration unit.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the operating condition range of the compressor comprises a compressor speed range.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein applying a cooling setting comprises reducing a capacity of the refrigeration unit.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the applying comprises decreasing an efficiency of the refrigeration unit.

9. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

limiting the sound level operating range based on a time of day.

10. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a refrigeration unit comprising;

a compressor, a condenser fan, a controller, and a sound controller,

wherein the sound controller is configured to maintain a sound level of the refrigeration unit within a sound level operating range, the sound controller configured to;

determine a cooling requirement of a conditioned space;

determine, by the controller the sound level operating range for the refrigeration unit;

apply a cooling setting based on the cooling requirement and the sound level operating range;

calculate a maximum capacity of the refrigeration unit based on the sound level operating range for the refrigeration unit and

exclude a compressor speed at which a structural resonance causes the refrigeration unit to operate outside the sound level operating range from the sound level operating range for the refrigeration unit.

11. The HVAC system according to claim 10, wherein the compressor is a variable speed compressor.

12. The HVAC system according to claim 11, wherein the sound controller is configured to reduce a speed of the variable speed compressor when the cooling setting includes one or more settings outside the sound level operating range.

13. The HVAC system according to claim 11, wherein the sound controller is configured to reduce a capacity of the refrigeration unit when the cooling setting includes one or more settings outside the sound level operating range.