Apparatus for controlling driving of reciprocating compressor and method thereof

• US 7,408,310 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Hong, Eon-Pyo, Song, Gye-Young, Lee, Myung-Ryul, Choi, Ki-Chul, Park, Kyeong-Bae, Yoo, Jae-Yoo, Lee, Chel-Woong
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan; Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRANDT, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US11/396,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20060228224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 318/119
• US Class Current: 318/119
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2201/0206 Length of piston stroke
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0401 Current
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0402 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/045 using solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers

Abstract

Disclosed are an apparatus for controlling a driving of a reciprocating compressor capable of enhancing an efficiency by differently controlling a frequency and a stroke voltage according to a load size and capable of reducing consumption power, and a method thereof. The apparatus comprises a controlling unit for judging a load size by comparing a phase difference between a detected current and a stroke with a reference phase difference, and outputting a frequency control signal and a stroke control signal according to the judged load size.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a driving of a reciprocating compressor, comprising:

a controlling unit which judges a size of a load by comparing a phase difference between a detected current and a stroke with a reference phase difference, the controlling unit being configured to output a frequency control signal and a stroke control signal according to the judged load size, wherein when the phase difference between the detected current and the stroke is less than the reference phase difference, the controlling unit outputs a frequency control signal to vary a current driving frequency into a driving frequency larger than a resonance frequency.

2. An apparatus for controlling a driving of a reciprocating compressor, comprising:

a controlling unit which judges a load size by comparing a phase difference between a current and a stroke with a reference phase difference, and outputting a frequency control signal and a stroke control signal according to the judgment result;

a driving frequency command value determining unit which determines a driving frequency command value according to the frequency control signal;

a stroke command value determining unit which determines a stoke command value according to the stroke control signal;

a first comparing unit which compares the driving frequency command value with a current driving frequency, the first comparing unit outputting a frequency compensation signal according to the comparison result;

a second comparing unit which compares the stroke command value with a current stroke, the second comparing unit outputting a stroke compensation signal according to the comparison result;

a PWM controlling unit which outputs a PWM control signal to vary a driving frequency and a stroke according to the frequency compensation signal and the stroke compensation signal; and

an inverter which varies a voltage and a driving frequency applied to

a motor according to the PWM control signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein when the phase difference between the detected current and the stroke is less than the reference phase difference, the controlling unit outputs a frequency control signal to vary a current driving frequency into a driving frequency larger than a resonance frequency.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the PWM control signal includes a PWM duty ratio varying signal which varies a stroke voltage.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the PWM control signal includes a PWM period varying signal which varies a frequency of a stroke voltage applied to the reciprocating compressor.

6. A method for controlling a driving of a reciprocating compressor, comprising:

driving a reciprocating compressor with a capacity corresponding to a certain stroke command value;

detecting a current and a voltage applied to a motor of the reciprocating compressor, and calculating a stroke by the detected current and voltage;

detecting a phase difference between the calculated stroke and the detected current; and

comparing the detected phase difference with a reference phase difference, and varying a stroke command value and a driving frequency command value according to the comparison result,

wherein the varying a stroke command value and the driving frequency command value, when the detected phase difference between the current and the stroke is less than the reference phase difference, comprises varying a current driving frequency into a driving frequency larger than a resonance frequency.

7. A method for controlling a driving of a reciprocating compressor, comprising:

driving a reciprocating compressor with a capacity corresponding to a certain stroke command value;

detecting a current and a voltage applied to a motor of the reciprocating compressor, and calculating a stroke by the detected current and voltage;

detecting a phase difference between the calculated stroke and the current;

comparing the detected phase difference with a reference phase difference, and varying a stroke command value and a driving frequency command value according to the comparison result;

comparing the varied driving frequency command value with a current driving frequency, and generating a frequency compensation signal according to the comparison result;

comparing the varied stroke command value with a current command value, and generating a stroke compensation signal according to the comparison result;

generating a PWM control signal to vary a stroke voltage and a driving frequency according to the frequency compensation signal and the stroke compensation signal; and

varying a stroke voltage and a driving frequency applied to a motor of the reciprocating compressor according to the PWM control signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the PWM control signal comprises a PWM duty ratio varying signal for varying a stroke voltage, and a PWM period varying signal which varies a frequency of a stroke voltage applied to the reciprocating compressor.