Systems and methods for starting-up a vehicular air-conditioning system

• US 10,562,372 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2016
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bergstrom Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bergstrom Incorporated
• Inventors: Hansson, Bjorn M., Elias, Eric A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Keith M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Babaa, Nael N
• Application Number:
  US15/256,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20180065446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00978 Control systems or circuits characterised by failure of detection or safety means; Diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3232 particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles B60H1/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3238 related to the operation of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3272 to control the revolving speed of a compressor
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3277 to control the air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3282 to control the air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3292 Compressor drive is electric only
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/26 characterised by the startup of the refrigeration cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/00 Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy F25B30/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1352 at the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/15 Power, e.g. by voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/195 of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/197 of the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21163 of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21175 of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/02 for compression type machines, plants or systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for starting-up a vehicle air-conditioning system. In one aspect, a method is performed at a vehicle air-conditioning system including a blower fan, a condenser fan, and a compressor electrically coupled to a battery system. The method includes: (1) starting the blower fan; (2) after starting the blower fan, measuring a first current drawn from the battery system, the first current indicative of current drawn by the blower fan; (3) in accordance with a determination that the first current meets predefined criteria, starting the condenser fan; (4) after starting the condenser fan, measuring a second current drawn from the battery system, where the difference between the second current and the first current is indicative of current drawn by the condenser fan; and (5) in accordance with a determination that the second current meets predefined second criteria, starting the compressor.

Claims

1. A method for starting-up a vehicle air-conditioning system, comprising:

at the vehicle air-conditioning system including a blower fan, a condenser fan, and a compressor, all of which are electrically coupled to a battery system;

while the condenser fan and compressor are off, starting the blower fan;

after starting the blower fan, measuring a first current drawn from the battery system, wherein the first current is indicative of current drawn by the blower fan;

and in accordance with a determination that the first current meets one or more predefined condenser fan starting criteria, which indicate that the blower fan is operating properly;

starting the condenser fan while leaving the compressor off, after starting the condenser fan, measuring a second current drawn from the battery system, wherein the difference between the second current and the first current is indicative of current drawn by the condenser fan;

and in accordance with a determination that the second current, or the difference between the second current and the first current, meets one or more predefined compressor starting criteria, which indicate that the condenser fan is operating properly, starting the compressor, wherein the one or more predefined condenser fan starting criteria differ from the one or more predefined compressor starting criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after starting the compressor, measuring a third current drawn from the battery system, wherein the difference between the third current and the second current is indicative of current drawn by the compressor; and

in accordance with a determination that the third current, or the difference between the third current and the second current, does not meet one or more predefined additional criteria, generating an error condition.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the first current drawn from the battery system comprises measuring the first current drawn from the battery system in accordance with a determination that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since starting the blower fan.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in accordance with a determination that the first current does not meet the one or more predefined condenser fan starting criteria, generating an error condition.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein generating the error condition comprises one or more of:

disabling the vehicle air-conditioning system;

alerting a user of the vehicle air-conditioning system of the error condition; and

initiating a repair procedure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predefined condenser fan starting criteria comprise a criterion that the first current is between an upper current threshold and a lower current threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle air-conditioning system further includes a current sensor, wherein measuring the first current comprises measuring the first current at the current sensor, and wherein measuring the second current comprises measuring the second current at the current sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein starting the blower fan comprises ramping up power provided to the blower fan over a predetermined amount of time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein starting the blower fan comprises starting the blower fan in response to one of:

a signal received from a thermostat; and

a command received from a user of the vehicle air-conditioning system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein starting the blower fan comprises starting the blower fan in accordance with a determination that the vehicle air-conditioning system is in a particular operating state.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the first current comprises monitoring the first current for a particular time interval.

12. A vehicle air-conditioning system, comprising:

a blower fan;

a condenser fan;

a compressor; and

a battery system electrically coupled to the blower fan, condenser fan, and the compressor;

wherein the vehicle air-conditioning system is configured to;

while the condenser fan and compressor are off, start the blower fan;

after starting the blower fan, measure a first current drawn from the battery system, wherein the first current is indicative of current drawn by the blower fan; and

in accordance with a determination that the first current meets one or more predefined condenser fan starting criteria, which indicate that the blower fan is operating properly;

start the condenser fan while leaving the compressor off;

after starting the condenser fan, measure a second current drawn from the battery system, wherein the difference between the second current and the first current is indicative of current drawn by the condenser fan; and

in accordance with a determination that the second current, or the difference between the second current and the first current, meets one or more predefined compressor starting criteria, which indicate that the condenser fan is operating properly, start the compressor, wherein the one or more predefined condenser fan starting criteria differ from the one or more predefined compressor starting criteria.

13. The vehicle air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle air-conditioning system is further configured to:

after starting the compressor, measure a third current drawn from the battery system, wherein the difference between the third current and the second current is indicative of current drawn by the compressor; and

in accordance with a determination that the third current, or the difference between the third current and the second current, does not meet one or more predefined additional criteria, generate an error condition.

14. The vehicle air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle air-conditioning system is further configured to generate an error condition in accordance with a determination that the first current does not meet the one or more predefined condenser fan starting criteria.

15. The vehicle air-conditioning system of claim 14, wherein generating the error condition comprises one or more of:

disabling the vehicle air-conditioning system;

alerting a user of the vehicle air-conditioning system of the error condition; and

initiating a repair procedure.

16. The vehicle air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the one or more predefined condenser fan starting criteria comprise a criterion that the first current is between an upper current threshold and a lower current threshold.

17. The vehicle air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the battery system includes a current sensor, and wherein measuring the first current comprises measuring the first current at the current sensor, and wherein measuring the second current comprises measuring the second current at the current sensor.

18. The vehicle air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein starting the blower fan comprises starting the blower fan in response to one of:

a signal received from a thermostat; and

a command received from a user of the vehicle air-conditioning system.

19. The vehicle air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein starting the blower fan comprises starting the blower fan in accordance with a determination that the vehicle air-conditioning system is in a particular operating state.

20. The vehicle air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein measuring the first current comprises monitoring the first current for a particular time interval.