Compressor diagnostic system

• US 20020170299A1
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Jayanth, Nagaraj, Pham, Hung
• Granted Patent: US 6,758,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1687 Assembly, peg and hole, palletising, straight line, weaving pattern movement
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/07 Electric current
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/784 Light
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/86 Detection
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/90 Remote control, e.g. wireless, via LAN, by radio, or by a wired connection from a central computer
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 23/008 Hermetic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/06 specially adapted for stopping, starting, idling or no-load operation
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/28 Safety arrangements; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/0085 Prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/151 of the compressor motor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1931 Discharge pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2106 of fresh outdoor air
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2116 of a condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/025 Motor control arrangements

Abstract

A refrigeration/air conditioning system includes a compressor having a motor protector which stops the compressor'"'"'s motor when it senses an out of specification condition. A diagnostic system of the refrigeration/air conditioning system monitors the status of the motor protector. The diagnostic system includes logic circuitry that diagnoses the type of problem the compressor or the system is having based upon the running times and status of the motor in conjunction with the times and status of the tripped motor protector. The diagnostic system also includes either a discharge pressure sensor or a condenser temperature sensor, an ambient air sensor and a voltage sensor. The sensors provide information to the diagnostic system which enables it to determine where a system fault has occurred.

Claims

1. A compressor assembly comprising:

a compressor;

a motor attached to said compressor for powering said compressor;

a motor protector associated with said motor, said motor protector actuatable between a first position when said motor is within specified operating parameters, and a second position when said motor is outside of said specified operating parameters;

a diagnostic system associated with said motor protector, said diagnostic system being able to diagnose a compressor assembly problem based upon the status of said motor protector; and

a sensor in communication with said diagnostic system, said sensor monitoring an operating characteristic of said compressor.

2. The compressor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said diagnostic system includes an indicator which shows the status of said motor protector.

3. The compressor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said diagnostic system includes an indicator which shows a system problem.

4. The compressor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said diagnostic system monitors when said compressor is operating and when said compressor is idle.

5. The compressor assembly according to claim 4, wherein said diagnostic system monitors the length of time said motor protector stays in said second position.

6. The compressor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said diagnostic system monitors the length of time said motor protector stays in said second position.

7. The compressor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one current sensor for determining said status of said motor protector.

8. The compressor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a demand signal, said demand signal in conjunction with said status of said motor protector being used to diagnose said compressor problem.

9. The compressor assembly according to claim 1 wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor which monitors a discharge pressure of said compressor.

10. The compressor assembly according to claim 9, further comprising at least one current sensor which monitors electrical current being supplied to said motor.

11. The compressor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor which monitors ambient temperature.

12. The compressor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage sensor which monitors electrical voltage being supplied to said motor.

13. The compressor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said compressor operates between a suction pressure side and a discharge pressure side, said compressor assembly problem being diagnosed by said diagnostic system being associated with said suction pressure side.

14. The compressor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said compressor operates between a suction pressure side and a discharge pressure side, said compressor assembly problem being diagnosed by said diagnostic system being associated with said discharge pressure side.

16. The cooling system according to claim 15, wherein said diagnostic system includes an indicator which shows the status of said motor protector.

17. The cooling system according to claim 15, wherein said diagnostic system includes an indicator which shows a system problem.

18. The cooling system according to claim 15, wherein said diagnostic system monitors when said compressor is operating and when said compressor is idle.

19. The cooling system according to claim 18, wherein said diagnostic system monitors the length of time said motor protector stays in said second position.

20. The cooling system according to claim 15, wherein said diagnostic system monitors the length of time said motor protector stays in said second position.

21. The compressor assembly according to claim 15, further comprising at least one current sensor for determining said status of said motor protector.

22. The compressor assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a demand signal, said demand signal in conjunction with said status of said motor protector being used to diagnose said compressor problem.

23. The compressor assembly according to claim 15 wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor which monitors a discharge pressure of said compressor.

24. The compressor assembly according to claim 23, further comprising at least one current sensor which monitors electrical current being supplied to said motor.

25. The compressor assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a temperature sensor which monitors ambient temperature.

26. The compressor assembly according to claim 15 wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor which monitors a temperature of said condenser.

27. The compressor assembly according to claim 26, further comprising a temperature sensor which monitors ambient temperature.

28. The compressor assembly according to claim 27 wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor which monitors a temperature of said condenser.

29. The compressor assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a voltage sensor which monitors electrical voltage being supplied to said motor.

30. The compressor assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a control system and a voltage sensor which monitors electrical voltage being supplied to said control system.

31. The compressor assembly according to claim 15, wherein said compressor operates between a suction pressure side and a discharge pressure side, said compressor assembly problem being diagnosed by said diagnostic system being associated with said suction pressure side.

32. The compressor assembly according to claim 15, wherein said compressor operates between a suction pressure side and a discharge pressure side, said compressor assembly problem being diagnosed by said diagnostic system being associated with said discharge pressure side.

15. A cooling system comprising:

a condenser;

an expansion device in communication with said condenser;

an evaporator in communication with said expansion device;

a compressor in communication with said evaporator and said condensor;

a motor attached to said compressor for powering said compressor;

a motor protector associated with said motor, said motor protector actuatable between a first position when said motor is within specified operating parameters, and a second position when said motor is outside of said specified operating parameters;

a diagnostic system associated with said motor protector, said diagnostic system being able to diagnose a compressor problem based upon the status of said motor protector; and

a sensor in communication with said diagnostic system, said sensor monitoring an operating characteristic of said cooling system.