Display method and apparatus for load and capacity for chillers

• US 5,761,916 A
• Filed: 06/21/1996
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advantage Engineering, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advantage Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: Oswalt, Philip D., Wash, Steven E., Wolfe, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US08/664,443
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 62/125, 62/126, 62/127, 62/129, 62/130, 62/299, 62/448, 62/434, 62/435, 62/201, 62/185, 116/274, 340/610, 73/273, 73/861.77, 73/861.89
• US Class Current: 62/127
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/007 Tempering units for temperature control of moulds or cores, e.g. comprising heat exchangers, controlled valves, temperature-controlled circuits for fluids B29C35/0294 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/02 for circulating liquids, e.g. brine
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/10 using rotating vanes with axial admission
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/115 with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device

Abstract

A portable, wheel-mounted, mechanically-refrigerated chiller for water used to cool a heat generating manufacturing process machine, has a process cooling water flow sensor assembly with conventional connections into the process water circulation portion of the chiller. The assembly includes a magnetically impregnated plastic vane operated by water flow through it, and a Hall-effect motion sensor responsive to vane operation to provide a signal to a computer. Water temperature to the process and from the process is monitored by sensors producing signals to the computer. The computer combines this information to produce a front panel digital read-out of the percent of capacity at which the chiller is operating or, upon selection, the refrigeration tonnage applied by the chiller to the process water.

Claims

1. A chiller apparatus comprising:

a refrigeration circuit having a refrigerant evaporator;

a coolant reservoir associated with the evaporator for transfer of heat from coolant in the reservoir to the evaporator;

an outlet for connection to a machine external to the chiller to supply coolant to the machine;

an inlet for coolant return from the machine;

plumbing for conducting coolant from the inlet to the reservoir and for conducting coolant from the reservoir to the outlet;

a coolant flow responder in the plumbing;

a computer; and

a display device coupled to the computer and coupled through the computer to the responder and responsive to flow of coolant to provide a real-time active display of coolant flow measurement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

a first temperature sensor associated with the coolant inlet and coupled to the computer and providing a coolant inlet temperature signal to the computer;

a second temperature sensor associated with the coolant outlet and coupled to the computer and providing a coolant outlet temperature signal to the computer;

the computer being arranged to produce a display in tonnage of refrigeration applied to the coolant in the chiller.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein:

the computer is arranged to produce a display in percent of refrigeration capacity of the chiller.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein:

the responder includes a vane mounted in the path of flow of coolant through the plumbing.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 and wherein the responder includes:

a sensor operably associated with the vane and responsive to passage of a portion of the vane to produce a signal to the computer.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 and wherein the responder includes:

first and second fittings upstream and downstream, respectively, in series conducting flow of the coolant, the vane being located in the first fitting.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 and wherein:

the fittings have flanged ends fastened together,

each fitting having a threaded opening remote from the flanged end and receiving piping in the coolant conducting plumbing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 and wherein:

there is a circular recess in each flanged end;

there is a circular ring clamped in the recesses;

there is a post mounted to the ring; and

the vane is rotatably mounted to the post.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 and wherein:

the first fitting has a wall with a boss having a threaded hole therein; and

the responder further includes a Hall effect device received in the hole and responding to passage of the vane to produce a signal to the computer.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 and wherein:

the second fitting is identical to the first fitting except that the second fitting omits the threaded hole in the boss.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 and wherein:

there is a circular seal between the flanged ends outboard of the circular ring and contacting each flanged end.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 and wherein:

fasteners are mounted to the flanged ends to fasten them together.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 and wherein:

the fasteners are bolts pulling the flanged ends toward each other and into tight sealing engagement with the seal.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 and wherein:

the fasteners clamp the circular ring in the recesses between the fittings.

15. A molding machine process coolant temperature control apparatus comprising:

a heat exchanger for cooling the process coolant;

a coolant reservoir associated with the heat exchanger for transfer of heat from coolant in the reservoir to the heat exchanger;

an outlet connected to a molding machine external to the reservoir and supplying coolant to the machine;

an inlet connected to the machine and receiving coolant returned from the machine;

plumbing for conducting coolant from the inlet to the reservoir and for conducting coolant from the reservoir to the outlet;

a first temperature sensor for sensing temperature of coolant flowing to the outlet;

a second temperature sensor for sensing temperature of coolant flowing from the inlet toward the reservoir;

a coolant flowmeter in the plumbing;

a computer coupled to the flowmeter; and

a display device coupled to the computer and displaying real-time coolant flow rate.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 and wherein:

the heat exchanger is a refrigerant evaporator in a refrigeration circuit;

the temperature sensors are coupled to the computer; and

the computer is arranged to produce a display in tonnage of refrigeration applied to the coolant in the reservoir.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 and wherein:

the heat exchange is a refrigerant evaporator in a refrigeration circuit; and

the computer is arranged to produce a display in percent of refrigeration capacity of the chiller refrigeration circuit.