Managing supplementary heat during defrost on heat pumps
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a current defrost cycle for an outdoor coil of a heat pump system, the heat pump system having a plurality of supplemental heating elements for heating an air stream passing from an indoor coil to an air supply duct during defrost operation, wherein an initial quantity of supplemental heating elements energized is a function of a most recent previous defrost cycle, comprising the steps of:
- energizing the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements upon initiation of a defrost cycle;
determining whether the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements provided is excessive;
holding the heat pump on during an overshoot condition to allow completion of the defrost cycle;
deactivating at least one of the supplemental heating elements if the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements being provided is excessive;
determining whether the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements provided is insufficient;
activating, if the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements being provided is insufficient, at least one additional supplemental heating element if said element is available; and
retaining information as to an initial quantity of supplemental heating elements to be activated for a following defrost cycle, wherein said initial quantity of supplemental heating elements to be activated for a following defrost cycle is equal to a number of supplemental heating elements activated upon termination of the current defrost cycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of controlling a current defrost cycle for an outdoor coil of a heat pump system, the heat pump system having a plurality of supplemental heating elements for heating an air stream passing from an indoor coil to an air supply duct during defrost operation, wherein an initial quantity of supplemental heating elements energized is a function of a most recent previous defrost cycle. The initial quantity of supplemental heating elements is energized upon initiation of a defrost cycle. Whether the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements provided is insufficient or excessive is determined. At least one of the supplemental heating elements is deactivated if the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements being provided is excessive. At least one of the supplemental heating elements is activated if the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements being provided is if the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements being provided is insufficient, and at least one additional supplemental heating element is available. Information as to an initial quantity of supplemental heating elements to be activated for a following defrost cycle is retained. The initial quantity of supplemental heating elements to be activated for a following defrost cycle is equal to a number of supplemental heating elements activated upon termination of the current defrost cycle. The heat pump is kept on to complete the defrost cycle during an overshoot condition.
20 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a current defrost cycle for an outdoor coil of a heat pump system, the heat pump system having a plurality of supplemental heating elements for heating an air stream passing from an indoor coil to an air supply duct during defrost operation, wherein an initial quantity of supplemental heating elements energized is a function of a most recent previous defrost cycle, comprising the steps of:
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energizing the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements upon initiation of a defrost cycle; determining whether the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements provided is excessive; holding the heat pump on during an overshoot condition to allow completion of the defrost cycle; deactivating at least one of the supplemental heating elements if the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements being provided is excessive; determining whether the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements provided is insufficient; activating, if the initial quantity of supplemental heating elements being provided is insufficient, at least one additional supplemental heating element if said element is available; and retaining information as to an initial quantity of supplemental heating elements to be activated for a following defrost cycle, wherein said initial quantity of supplemental heating elements to be activated for a following defrost cycle is equal to a number of supplemental heating elements activated upon termination of the current defrost cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification