CONTROLLING AIR CONDITIONER MODES

• US 20140165612A1
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Qu, Yi, Berg, Eric, Hrejsa, Pete
• Granted Patent: US 9,810,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/56
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 13/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0253 with variable speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/112 of evaporator fans
• 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: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

In various implementations, a request for operation of an air conditioner may be received. The air conditioner may include a cooling mode and/or a dehumidifying mode. In some implementations, a compressor speed for a compressor of the air conditioner may be determined, and which mode(s) of the air conditioner to allow may be determined based at least partially on the determined compressor speed.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an air conditioner, the method comprising:

receiving a request for operation of an air conditioner comprising at least two modes, wherein at least two of the modes comprise a cooling mode and a dehumidifying mode;

determining a compressor speed for a compressor of the air conditioner; and

determining which one or more of the modes of the air conditioner to allow based at least partially on the determined compressor speed, wherein determining which one or more of the modes to allow comprises;

allowing the cooling mode if the compressor speed is greater than a predetermined first speed;

allowing the cooling mode and the dehumidifying mode if the compressor speed is less than the predetermined first speed and if the compressor speed is greater than a predetermined second speed; and

allowing the dehumidifying mode if the compressor speed is less than the predetermined second speed and a relative humidity is greater than a predetermined high relative humidity value; and

allowing the cooling mode if the compressor speed is less than the predetermined second speed and a relative humidity is less than or equal to the predetermined high relative humidity value.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the air conditioner to operate based at least partially on the one or more modes of the air conditioner determined to be allowed.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the request for operation includes a set point temperature, and wherein the compressor speed is less than the predetermined second speed, and further comprising reducing the set point temperature if an overcool mode selection has been received.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein reducing the set point temperature comprises reducing the set point temperature by approximately two degrees Fahrenheit.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a request for operation comprises a set point temperature, and wherein the predetermined high relative humidity value comprises approximately 60% relative humidity, and further comprising determining a relative humidity proximate an air conditioner.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined first speed comprises approximately 90 percent of a maximum compressor speed, and wherein the predetermined second speed comprises a minimum compressor speed.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the request for operation comprises a set point, and wherein the set point comprises at least one of a set point temperature or a set point relative humidity;

and further comprising;

monitoring at least one of a temperature or a relative humidity proximate the air conditioner;

wherein determining a compressor speed for the compressor comprises selecting a compressor speed adapted to reduce at least one of the monitored temperature or the monitored relative humidity to the set point of the received request for operation.

8. An article comprising machine-readable medium storing instructions for managing an air conditioner, the instructions operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request for operation of an air conditioner comprising at least two modes, wherein at least two of the modes comprise a cooling mode and a dehumidifying mode;

determining a compressor speed for a compressor of the air conditioner; and

determining which one or more of the modes of the air conditioner to allow based at least partially on the determined compressor speed.

9. The article of claim 8 wherein determining which one or more of the modes to allow comprises allowing the cooling mode if the compressor speed is greater than a predetermined first speed.

10. The article of claim 8 wherein determining which one or more of the modes to allow comprises allowing the cooling mode and the dehumidifying mode if the compressor speed is less than a predetermined first speed and if the compressor speed is greater than a predetermined second speed.

11. The article of claim 8 wherein determining which one or more of the modes to allow comprises allowing the dehumidifying mode if the compressor speed is less than a predetermined second speed and a relative humidity proximate the air conditioner is greater than a predetermined high relative humidity value.

12. The article of claim 8 wherein determining which one or more of the modes to allow comprises allowing the cooling mode if the compressor speed is less than a predetermined second speed and a relative humidity is less than or equal to a predetermined high relative humidity value.

13. An air conditioner comprising:

a compressor comprising at least two speeds;

an evaporator fan; and

a controller comprising one or more modules, wherein at least one of the modules comprises a priority module, and wherein the priority module is adapted to;

determine a compressor speed for a compressor of the air conditioner; and

determine which one or more operating modes of the air conditioner to allow based at least partially on the determined compressor speed;

wherein the air conditioner comprises at least two operating modes, and wherein at least two of the operating modes comprise a cooling mode and a dehumidifying mode.

14. The air conditioner of claim 13 wherein the priority module is further adapted to allow the cooling mode if the compressor speed is greater than a predetermined first speed.

15. The air conditioner of claim 13 wherein the priority module is further adapted to allow the cooling mode and the dehumidifying mode if the compressor speed is less than a predetermined first speed and if the compressor speed is greater than a predetermined second speed.

16. The air conditioner of claim 13 wherein the priority module is further adapted to allow the dehumidifying mode if the compressor speed is less than a predetermined second speed and a relative humidity is greater than a predetermined high relative humidity value.

17. The air conditioner of claim 13 wherein the priority module is further adapted to allow the cooling mode if the compressor speed is less than a predetermined second speed and a relative humidity is less than or equal to a predetermined high relative humidity value.

18. The air conditioner of claim 13 wherein the priority module is further adapted to allow the air conditioner to operate based at least partially on at least one of the modes determined to be allowed.

19. The air conditioner of claim 16 wherein the priority module is further adapted to:

receive a request for an overcool mode;

receive a request for operation comprising a set point temperature; and

reduce the set point temperature by a predetermined value.

20. The air conditioner of claim 13 wherein the priority module is further adapted to:

receive a request for an overcool mode;

receive a request for operation comprising a set point temperature; and

inhibit reduction of the set point temperature by a predetermined value if the cooling mode is allowed.