DETECTING BLOCKAGE OF AIR CONDITIONER UNIT BASED ON CONTROL SIGNAL

• US 20200132320A1
• Filed: 10/24/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Timothy Scott
• Granted Patent: US 11,193,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0093 with additional radiant heat-discharging elements, e.g. electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2203/021 Compression cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/20 mounted in or close to a window
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/34 Heater, e.g. gas burner, electric air heater
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/54 Heating and cooling, simultaneously or alternatively

Abstract

Air conditioner units and methods for operating air conditioner units are provided. A method includes determining a benchmark control signal corresponding to a predetermined speed of a fan of the air conditioner unit. The method further includes activating a heating unit of the air conditioner unit. The heating unit includes a plurality of heater banks. The method also includes activating the fan while the heating unit is active and measuring a control signal to the fan after activating the fan. The method further includes comparing the measured control signal to the benchmark control signal, and disabling one of the plurality of heater banks when the measured control signal is less than the benchmark control signal.

Claims

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

determining a benchmark control signal corresponding to a predetermined speed of a fan of the air conditioner unit;

activating a heating unit of the air conditioner unit, the heating unit comprising a plurality of heater banks;

activating the fan while the heating unit is active;

measuring a control signal to the fan after activating the fan;

comparing the measured control signal to the benchmark control signal; and

disabling one of the plurality of heater banks when the measured control signal is less than the benchmark control signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of disabling one of the plurality of heater banks comprises disabling all of the plurality of heater banks, further comprising providing heat pump heating when the measured control signal is less than the benchmark control signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the benchmark control signal and the measured control signal are pulse width modulation signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of measuring the control signal comprises measuring the control signal to the fan following a delay after activating the fan.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of disabling one of the plurality of heater banks comprises disabling one of the plurality of heater banks when the measured control signal is less than the benchmark control signal by at least three-quarters of a percent.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a count to a counter when the measured control signal is less than the benchmark control signal.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting an alert when the counter reaches ten.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising removing a count from the counter when the measured control signal is greater than the benchmark control signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of heater banks comprises a low power heater bank, a medium power heater bank, and a high power heater bank.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of disabling one of the plurality of heater banks comprises disabling the high power heater bank and the medium power heater bank when the measured control signal is less than the benchmark control signal.

11. An air conditioner unit comprising:

a blower fan, the blower fan comprising a blade assembly and a motor connected to the blade assembly;

a heating unit, the heating unit comprising a plurality of heater banks;

a power source in electrical communication with the blower fan motor and the plurality of heater banks; and

a controller in operable communication with the motor and the plurality of heater banks, the controller operable for;

determining a benchmark control signal for a predetermined speed of the blower fan;

activating the heating unit;

activating the blower fan while the heating unit is active;

measuring a control signal to the blower fan after activating the blower fan;

comparing the measured control signal to the benchmark control signal; and

disabling one of the plurality of heater banks when the measured control signal is less than the benchmark control signal.

12. The air conditioner unit of claim 11, further comprising a reversing valve, the controller operable for disabling all of the plurality of heater banks and actuating the reversing valve, whereby the air conditioner unit provides heat pump heating, when the measured control signal is less than the benchmark control signal.

13. The air conditioner unit of claim 11, wherein the benchmark control signal and the measured control signal are pulse width modulation signals.

14. The air conditioner unit of claim 11, wherein the step of measuring the control signal comprises measuring the control signal to the fan following a delay after activating the blower fan.

15. The air conditioner unit of claim 11, wherein the step of disabling one of the plurality of heater banks comprises disabling one of the plurality of heater banks when the measured control signal is less than the benchmark control signal by at least three-quarters of a percent.

16. The air conditioner unit of claim 11, wherein the controller is further operable for adding a count to a counter when the measured control signal is less than the benchmark control signal.

17. The air conditioner unit of claim 16, wherein the controller is further operable for transmitting an alert when the counter reaches ten.

18. The air conditioner unit of claim 16, wherein the controller is further operable for removing a count from the counter when the measured control signal is greater than the benchmark control signal.

19. The air conditioner unit of claim 11, wherein the plurality of heater banks comprises a low power heater bank, a medium power heater bank, and a high power heater bank.

20. The air conditioner unit of claim 19, wherein the step of disabling one of the plurality of heater banks comprises disabling the high power heater bank and the medium power heater bank when the measured control signal is less than the benchmark control signal.