Apparatus for controlling operation of reciprocating compressor

• US 20050053471A1
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ki, Sung-Hyun, Hong, Eon-Pyo, Choi, Ki-Chul, Park, Kyeong-Bae, Kwak, Tae-Hee
• Granted Patent: US 7,385,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/44.110
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2201/0206 Length of piston stroke
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0401 Current
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0402 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/045 using solenoids

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor includes a inductance increasing device connected to a motor of the reciprocating compressor, so that a surge current generated when power is applied to the reciprocating compressor at an initial stage is reduced and thus an initial stroke of the reciprocating compressor is reduced. Accordingly, operational efficiency of the reciprocating compressor is improved.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor comprising:

an inductance increasing device connected to a motor of the reciprocating compressor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inductance increasing device increases an inductance in order to cut off a surge current generated when power is applied to a motor of the reciprocating compressor at an initial stage.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inductance increasing device is a reactor, wherein the reactor is connected in parallel to a capacitor that countervails an inductance of a coil wound in a motor of the reciprocating compressor, and cuts off a surge current applied to the motor at an initial stage, by increasing the inductance.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an overcurrent cutting-off device connected to the inductance increasing device for increasing an inductance in series and for cutting off an overcurrent applied to the motor.

5. An apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor comprising:

an overcurrent cutting-off device connected in parallel to a capacitor that countervails an inductance of a coil wound in a motor of the reciprocating compressor and for cutting off an overcurrent applied to the motor; and

a surge current cutting-off device connected to the overcurrent cutting-off device in series and for cutting off a surge current which is applied to the motor at an initial stage, by increasing an inductance.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the surge current cutting-off device is a reactor.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the overcurrent cutting-off device is a positive temperature coefficient thermistor or a relay.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a voltage detecting unit for detecting a voltage applied to the reciprocating compressor according to the variation of a stroke of the reciprocating compressor;

a current detecting unit for detecting a current applied to the reciprocating compressor according to the variation of a stroke of the reciprocating compressor;

a microcomputer for calculating a stroke based on a voltage value detected by the voltage detecting unit and a current value detected by the current detecting unit, comparing the calculated stroke and a stroke reference value, and generating a switching control signal according to the comparison result; and

a power supply unit for supplying a stroke voltage to the reciprocating compressor by on-off controlling AC power supplied to the reciprocating compressor with an internal triac controlled by the switching control signal generated by the microcomputer.

9. An apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor having a capacitor that countervails an inductance of a coil wound in a motor of the reciprocating compressor for controlling cooling capacity further comprising:

an overcurrent cutting-off device connected to the capacitor in parallel and for cutting off an overcurrent generated when the reciprocating compressor is initiated at an initial stage; and

a surge current cutting-off device connected to the overcurrent cutting-off device in series and for cutting off a surge current generated when the reciprocating compressor is initiated at the initial stage, by increasing an inductance.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the surge current cutting-off device is a reactor.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the overcurrent cutting-off device is a positive temperature coefficient thermistor or a relay.