Method of managing a refrigeration system

• US 7,024,870 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Digital Cold Chain Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc. (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Singh, Abtar, Mathews, Thomas J., Wickberg, Paul, Starling, Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US10/675,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20040060305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 236/51, 165/11.1, 165/11.2, 702/130, 702/182, 702/188, 340/585
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/00 Frozen sweets, e.g. ice confectionery, ice-cream; Mixtures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/00 Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs preserving foods or foodstuffs in association with packaging B65B55/00
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/36 Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/075 with parallel compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/22 Refrigeration systems for supermarkets
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/195 of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity with cascade operation F25B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/14 Sensors measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator or freezer
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 Sensors measuring the temperature of products
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/06 Remote monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0286 Modifications to the monitored process, e.g. stopping operation or adapting control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method of managing a refrigeration system includes transmitting energy consumption, maintenance indicator, and food condition data from the refrigeration system to a management center; analyzing the energy consumption, maintenance indicator, and food condition data at the management center; and monitoring, diagnosing and prognosing the performance of the refrigeration system in response to the analysis. The method may also include altering a configuration of the refrigeration system in response to the analysis. The refrigeration system may be located at a retail location and the management center may be located remotely to the retail location.

Claims

1. A method of managing a refrigeration system, said method comprising:

monitoring an energy consumption of said refrigeration system;

accessing a source of weather data;

calculating an energy consumption projection based on weather data;

comparing said energy consumption with said energy consumption projection; and

determining refrigeration system performance based on said comparing.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing maintenance indicator data of said refrigeration system;

analyzing said maintenance indicator data; and

determining refrigeration system performance based on said analyzing.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting said maintenance indicator data to a management center wherein said determining refrigeration system performance occurs at said management center.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said transmitting said maintenance indicator data includes transmitting through a communication gateway to said management center.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising post-processing said maintenance indicator data at said communication gateway.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising altering a configuration of said refrigeration system based on said analyzing.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising outputting a work order based on said analyzing.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising advising manipulation of the refrigeration system based on said analyzing.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing condenser condition data.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing compressor condition data.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing liquid refrigerant flood back data.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing relay output data.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing contactor count data.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing compressor run-time data.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing oil check data.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing air filter data.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing light bulb change data.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing food condition data of said refrigeration system;

analyzing said food condition data; and

determining refrigeration system performance based on said analyzing.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising transmitting said food condition data to a management center wherein said determining refrigeration system performance occurs at said management center.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said transmitting said food condition data includes transmitting through a communication gateway to said management center.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising post-processing said food condition data at said communication gateway.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising altering a configuration of said refrigeration system based on said analyzing.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising outputting a work order based on said analyzing.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising advising manipulation of the refrigeration system based on said analyzing.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein said analyzing said food condition data includes calculating a food quality index.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising alarming as a function of said food quality index.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein said analyzing includes calculating a food safety index.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising alarming as a function of said food safety index.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining refrigeration system performance comprises at least one of monitoring, diagnosing and prognosing refrigeration system performance.

30. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting said energy consumption to a management center wherein said determining refrigeration system performance occurs at said management center.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said transmitting includes transmitting through a communication gateway to said management center.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising post-processing said energy consumption at said communication gateway.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising locating said refrigeration system at a retail location and locating said management center at a remote location located remotely to said retail location.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising altering a configuration of said refrigeration system based on said comparing.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein said weather data is historical weather data.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein said weather data is actual weather data.

37. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting a work order based on said comparing.

38. The method of claim 1, further comprising advising manipulation of said refrigeration system based on said comparing.