Compressor configuration system and method

• US 20050235662A1
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Pham, Hung M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,458,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/26 heat exchangers or the like making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/18 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/19 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/00 Control of, monitoring of, or safety arrangements for, pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for elastic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 1/04 with compressor of rotary type F25B1/005, F25B1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/06 Damage
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/19 Calculation of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/151 of the compressor motor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1931 Discharge pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1933 Suction pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2106 of fresh outdoor air
• 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 2700/2116 of a condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49353 Heat pipe device making

Abstract

A system and method including a compressor operable in a refrigeration circuit and including a motor, a current sensor detecting current drawn by the motor and providing a high-side condition signal, a discharge line temperature sensor detecting a discharge line temperature of the compressor and providing a low-side condition signal, and processing circuitry processing the high-side condition signal and the low-side condition signal during installation of the compressor to initially configure the compressor based on a non-measured condition of the refrigeration circuit.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a compressor operable in a refrigeration circuit and including a motor;

a current sensor detecting current drawn by said motor and providing a high-side condition signal;

a discharge line temperature sensor detecting a discharge line temperature of said compressor and providing a low-side condition signal; and

processing circuitry processing said high-side condition signal and said low-side condition signal during installation of said compressor to initially configure said compressor based on a non-measured condition of said refrigeration circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said non-measured system operating parameters include at least one of condenser temperature, evaporator temperature, suction superheat, and discharge superheat.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a system controller in communication with said processing circuitry.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said system controller receives said high-side condition signal and said low-side condition signal and is operable to verify said compressor configuration determined by said processing circuitry.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said system controller includes at least one hand-held computer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said hand-held computer is at least one of a personal data assistant and a cellular telephone.

7. A method comprising:

generating a high-side signal indicative of an operating condition of a high-pressure side of a refrigeration circuit;

generating a low-side signal indicative of an operating condition of a low-pressure side of said refrigeration circuit;

processing said high-side signal and said low-side signal to indirectly determine a non-measured operating parameter of said refrigeration circuit; and

configuring a compressor based on said non-measured operating parameter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said generating a high-side signal includes detecting current.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said generating a low-side signal includes detecting a discharge line temperature.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said determining said non-measured operating parameter includes determining at least one of condenser temperature, evaporator temperature, suction superheat, and discharge superheat.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said configuring includes determining a condenser temperature difference.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said configuring includes checking for an overcharge condition or a condenser fan blockage if said condenser temperature difference is higher than a predetermined value.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said configuring includes checking said discharge superheat if said condenser temperature difference is within a predetermined range.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said configuring includes checking for an undercharge condition or for an evaporator fan blockage if said discharge superheat is higher than a predetermined value.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said configuring includes checking for an overcharge condition or for a condenser fan blockage if said discharge superheat is lower than a predetermined value.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said configuring includes declaring a successful compressor installation if said discharge superheat is within a predetermined range.

17. The method of claim 7, further comprising communicating said non-measured operating parameter to a system controller.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising verifying said non-measured operating parameter determination received from said processing device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said verifying includes calculating said non-measured operating parameter based on said high-side fault condition and said low-side fault condition, as reported to said system controller by said processing circuitry.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said verifying includes calculating said non-measured operating parameter based on said high-side fault condition and said low-side fault condition, as detected by said system controller.