Energy analyzer for a refrigeration system
First Claim
1. A method for comparing costs associated with operating a refrigeration system using a first drive type versus a second drive type, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a refrigeration system using a first drive type;
providing an equation to calculate operating cost of the refrigeration system using a second drive type, the equation incorporating at least one operating parameter of the refrigeration system;
measuring the at least one operating parameter of the refrigeration system;
determining a cost associated with operation of the refrigeration system using the first drive type;
calculating a cost associated with operation of the refrigeration system using the second drive type with the equation and the measured at least one operating parameter; and
comparing the cost associated with operating the refrigeration system using the first drive type with the cost associated with operating the refrigeration system using the second drive type.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An energy analyzer for a refrigeration system includes a refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, and a first drive type. A memory device contains an equation correlating refrigeration system operating performance using a first drive type to that of a second drive type without requiring the second drive type. The equation defines a polynomial expression having different combinations of two variables, the temperature of water entering the condenser, and the ratio defined by the second drive type input power divided by the design second drive type power. Each of these values is continuously calculated during operation of the refrigeration system. The equation solution correlates to the second drive type input power divided by the design second drive type input power. Energy costs associated with operation of the refrigeration system using the second drive type can then be calculated for comparison with the first drive type.
36 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A method for comparing costs associated with operating a refrigeration system using a first drive type versus a second drive type, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a refrigeration system using a first drive type;
providing an equation to calculate operating cost of the refrigeration system using a second drive type, the equation incorporating at least one operating parameter of the refrigeration system;
measuring the at least one operating parameter of the refrigeration system;
determining a cost associated with operation of the refrigeration system using the first drive type;
calculating a cost associated with operation of the refrigeration system using the second drive type with the equation and the measured at least one operating parameter; and
comparing the cost associated with operating the refrigeration system using the first drive type with the cost associated with operating the refrigeration system using the second drive type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A refrigeration system comprising:
-
a refrigeration circuit having a compressor driven by a motor, a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed loop;
a first drive type to drive the compressor motor;
at least one sensor to measure at least one operating parameter of the refrigeration circuit;
a computer system comprising a microprocessor and a memory device and at least one computer program, the at least one computer program comprising;
means for calculating operating costs of the refrigeration circuit using the first drive type and a second drive type;
means for calculating an amount of energy used by the first drive type in the refrigeration circuit for a predetermined time;
means for calculating a first ratio based on the amount of energy used by the first drive type divided by a predetermined amount of energy required by the first drive type;
means for calculating a second ratio based on the amount of energy required by the second drive type divided by a predetermined amount of energy required by the second drive type; and
wherein the second ratio is determined from an equation having the first ratio and the at least one operating parameter as inputs to the equation. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A method for comparing costs associated with operating a refrigeration system using a constant speed drive versus a variable speed drive, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a refrigeration system using a constant speed drive;
providing an equation to calculate operating cost of the refrigeration system using a variable speed drive, the equation incorporating at least one operating parameter of the refrigeration system;
measuring the at least one operating parameter of the refrigeration system;
determining a cost associated with operation of the refrigeration system using the constant speed drive;
calculating a cost associated with operation of the refrigeration system using the variable speed drive using the equation and the measured at least one operating parameter; and
comparing the cost associated with operating the refrigeration system using the constant speed drive with the cost associated with operating the refrigeration system using the variable speed drive.
-
Specification