Refrigeration system and method of operating the same

• US 20040016253A1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Street, Norman E., Sunderland, Ted W.
• Application Number:
  US10/461,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20040016253A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/228.5
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/075 with parallel compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/22 Refrigeration systems for supermarkets
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 25/005 using primary and secondary systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/06 Damage
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/111 of condenser fans
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/03 Oil level
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1931 Discharge pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1933 Suction pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21151 at the suction side of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21152 at the discharge side of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21157 at the coil or rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/22 between evaporator and compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/02 for compression type machines, plants or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/022 Compressor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/02 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 6/04 arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A refrigeration system comprises a condenser, an evaporator, and a plurality of compressors in fluid communication. The plurality of compressors has a current run pattern with a current run capacity. The refrigeration system further comprises a controller operable to control the plurality of compressors. One method of operating the refrigeration system includes, at the controller, determining whether to increase or decrease the current run capacity and, when an increase or decrease in the current run capacity is required, creating a new run pattern to replace the current run pattern.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a refrigeration system comprising

a condenser, an evaporator, and a plurality of compressors in fluid communication, and

a controller operable to control the plurality of compressors, the method comprising the acts of:

at the controller,

controlling the plurality of compressors with a current run pattern and resulting in a current run capacity;

determining whether to increase or decrease the current run capacity; and

when an increase or decrease in the current run capacity is required, creating a new run pattern to replace the current run pattern.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the act of monitoring run times for the plurality of compressors, and wherein the creating a new run pattern is based in part on the monitored run times.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the refrigeration system further includes a suction group and wherein the suction group includes the plurality of compressors.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the refrigeration system further includes a second suction group including a second plurality of compressors, wherein the controller is operable to control the second plurality of compressors, and wherein the method further comprises:

controlling the second plurality of compressors with a second current run pattern and resulting in a second current run capacity

determining whether to increase or decrease the second current run capacity for the second suction group; and

when an increase or decrease in the second current run capacity is required, creating a second new run pattern to replace the second current run pattern.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the method further comprises the act of monitoring run times for the second plurality of compressors, and wherein the creating a second new run pattern is based in part on the monitored run times for the second plurality of compressors.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the suction group includes a plurality of operable compressors and at least one inoperable compressor, and wherein the new run pattern is selected from the group of operable compressors.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein creating a new run pattern comprises

determining a total capacity for the plurality of compressors,

determining a percentage of the total capacity for each compressor,

determining a current run capacity for the plurality of compressors, and

determining a next available run capacity percentage combination for the plurality of compressors.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the plurality of compressors includes a plurality of operable compressors and at least one inoperable compressor, and wherein the determining acts are performed for the operable compressors.

9. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein creating a new run pattern comprises

determining a total capacity for the plurality of compressors,

determining a percentage of the total capacity for each compressor,

determining a current run capacity for the plurality of compressors, and

determining a next available run capacity percentage combination for the plurality of compressors.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein creating a new run pattern comprises

prior to determining a next available run capacity percentage combination, determining a plurality of capacity percentage combinations;

and

optimizing the next run pattern if the next available run capacity percentage combination results in two compressor combinations having the same run capacity percentage.

11. A method of controlling a refrigeration system comprising

a condenser, an evaporator, and a plurality of compressors in fluid communication, and

a controller operable to control the plurality of compressors, the method comprising the acts of:

at the controller,

controlling the plurality of compressors with a current run pattern and resulting in a current run capacity;

determining a total capacity for the plurality of compressors;

determining a percentage of the total capacity for each compressor;

determining a next available run capacity percentage; and

determining a new run pattern to replace the current run pattern, the new run pattern including the next available run capacity percentage.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the method further comprises determining a current run capacity percentage for the plurality of compressors, determining whether to increase the current run capacity, and wherein the next available run capacity percentage is greater than the current run capacity percentage when the current run capacity percentage is less than one hundred percent.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the method further comprises determining a current run capacity percentage for the plurality of compressors, determining whether to decrease the current run capacity, and wherein the next available run capacity percentage is less than the current run capacity percentage when the current run capacity percentage is greater than zero percent.

14. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the method further comprises the act of monitoring run times for the plurality of compressors, and wherein determining a new run pattern includes creating a new run pattern based on the monitored run times.

15. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the plurality of compressors includes a plurality of operable compressors and at least one inoperable compressor, and wherein the determining acts are performed for the operable compressors.