COMPRESSOR DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM

• US 20100101250A1
• Filed: 01/06/2010
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Jayanth, Nagaraj, Pham, Hung
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,085 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: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• 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 28/28 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/08 for dynamo-electric motors

Abstract

A system is provided and may include logic circuitry in communication with an intelligent device. The logic circuitry may process a refrigeration system operating parameter as a function of time and at least one of the logic circuitry and the intelligent device may diagnose a refrigeration system status based on the processing. The intelligent device may output the diagnosis.

Claims

1. A system comprising logic circuitry in communication with an intelligent device, said logic circuitry processing a refrigeration system operating parameter as a function of time, at least one of said logic circuitry and said intelligent device diagnosing a refrigeration system status based on said processing, said intelligent device outputting said diagnosis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said refrigeration system operating parameter is at least one of a status of a motor protector, a current drawn by a compressor, and a demand signal.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said logic circuitry determines an average ON time of said compressor to determine said refrigeration system status.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said refrigeration system status is a specific fault cause of said compressor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said logic circuitry diagnoses said refrigeration system status.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said intelligent device diagnoses said refrigeration system status.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said refrigeration system status includes at least one of a trip frequency, an ON time of a compressor, and an OFF time of said compressor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said intelligent device is one of a compressor controller, a system controller, and a controller located remotely from said logic circuitry.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said logic circuitry outputs a coded sequence of electrical pulses to communicate said refrigeration system status to said intelligent device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said refrigeration system status is a specific fault cause.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said logic circuitry communicates said refrigeration system status by selectively illuminating at least one light-emitting device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said refrigeration system status is a specific fault cause.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said logic circuitry is integrated into an electrical plug.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said electrical plug is received on a compressor housing.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said refrigeration system status is determined based upon said refrigeration system operating parameter and a moving window time average of a compressor operating in an ON condition.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said refrigeration system status is a status of a motor protector.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said refrigeration system status is a fault condition and said refrigeration system operating parameter is a status of a motor protector, said fault condition determined based on a moving window time average of a compressor operating in an ON condition when said motor protector is in a tripped condition.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a compressor receiving fluid from a low-pressure side of a circuit and outputting fluid to a high-pressure side of said circuit.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising at least one high-side sensor operable to measure fluid properties of said high-pressure side of said circuit and at least one current sensor operable to monitor a current drawn by said compressor.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said logic circuitry receives fluid property information and current information from said at least one high-side sensor and said at least one current sensor and comparing one of said fluid property and current information to the other of said fluid property and current information to determine said refrigeration system status.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said logic circuitry communicates said refrigeration system status to said intelligent device.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said refrigeration system operating parameter is a status of a motor protector and said refrigeration system status is a specific fault cause, said logic circuitry operable to determine a trip frequency of said motor protector to identify said specific fault cause.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said intelligent device is operable to indicate said fault cause.

24. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein said logic circuitry communicates said refrigeration system status to said intelligent device.