Process for refrigerant charge level detection using a neural net having one output neuron
First Claim
1. A process for determining the charge level of a vapor cycle environmental control system, having a condenser, evaporator, compressor, and an expansion valve comprising the steps of:
- providing a neural network having four input neurons, two hidden neurons and one output neuron;
determining the number of degrees below the saturation temperature of the liquid refrigerant exiting the condenser and providing this measurement to the first input neuron;
sensing the condenser sink temperature and providing the measurement to the second input neuron;
sensing either the refrigerant outlet temperature from the condenser or the evaporator exhaust air temperature and providing the measurement to the third input neuron;
sensing the evaporator air inlet temperature and providing the measurement to the fourth input neuron;
training the neural network by providing known refrigerant charge levels to the system and operating the system under varying operating conditions, such that weighting factors for the neural network are determined; and
using the trained neural network to monitor the charge level in the system.
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Abstract
The invention is a process for determining the charge level of a vapor cycle environmental control system, having a condenser, evaporator, and an expansion valve, comprising the steps of providing a neural network having four input neurons, two hidden neurons and one output neurons; determining the number of degrees below the saturation temperature of the liquid refrigerant exiting the condenser and providing this measurement to the first input neuron; sensing the condenser sink temperature and providing the measurement to the second input neuron; sensing either the refrigerant outlet temperature from the condenser or the evaporator exhaust air temperature and providing the measurement to the third input neuron, sensing the evaporator inlet temperature and providing the measurement to the fourth input neuron; and using the trained neural network to monitor the charge level in the system.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A process for determining the charge level of a vapor cycle environmental control system, having a condenser, evaporator, compressor, and an expansion valve comprising the steps of:
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providing a neural network having four input neurons, two hidden neurons and one output neuron; determining the number of degrees below the saturation temperature of the liquid refrigerant exiting the condenser and providing this measurement to the first input neuron; sensing the condenser sink temperature and providing the measurement to the second input neuron; sensing either the refrigerant outlet temperature from the condenser or the evaporator exhaust air temperature and providing the measurement to the third input neuron; sensing the evaporator air inlet temperature and providing the measurement to the fourth input neuron; training the neural network by providing known refrigerant charge levels to the system and operating the system under varying operating conditions, such that weighting factors for the neural network are determined; and using the trained neural network to monitor the charge level in the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A process for determining the charge level of a vapor cycle environmental control system, having a condenser, evaporator, compressor, and an expansion valve comprising the steps of:
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determining the number of degrees below the saturation temperature of the liquid refrigerant exiting the condenser; sensing the condenser sink temperature; sensing either the refrigerant outlet temperature from the condenser or the evaporator exhaust air, and sensing the evaporator air inlet and providing these inputs to a neural network; training the neural network by providing known refrigerant charge levels to the system and operating the system under varying operating conditions, such that weighting factors for the neural network are determined; and using the trained neural network to monitor the charge level in the system. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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Specification