Micro-electromechanical system based switching in heating-ventilation-air-conditioning systems

• US 7,612,971 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2007
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Nakano, Daniel Takashi, Premerlani, William James, Subramanian, Kanakasabapathi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro; Bentsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): GLASS, ERICK DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/763,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20080308254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 361/33, 361/2, 318/723
• US Class Current: 361/33
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits

Abstract

HVAC systems implementing micro-electromechanical system based switching devices. Exemplary embodiments include a HVAC system, including a load motor, a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch, and a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed between and electrically coupled to the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch.

Claims

1. A HVAC system, comprising:

a load motor;

a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch;

a voltage snubber circuit electrically coupled to the main breaker MEMS switch; and

a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed between and electrically coupled to the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch.

2. A HVAC system, comprising:

a load motor;

a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch;

a soft-switching circuit to synchronize a change in state of the main breaker MEMS switch; and

a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed between and electrically coupled to the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a drive MEMS switch electrically coupled to and disposed between the load motor and the VFD.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising control circuitry electrically coupled to the main breaker MEMS switch, the control circuitry configured to facilitate switch conditions triggered in the main breaker MEMS switch.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a Hybrid Arcless Limiting Technology (HALT) arc suppression circuit disposed in electrical communication with the main breaker MEMS switch to receive a transfer of electrical energy from the main breaker MEMS switch in response to a switch condition that triggers the main breaker MEMS.

6. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the drive MEMS switch is configured to be triggered by a switch condition including at least one of a closed state to drive the VFD and an open state to bypass the VFD.

7. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the drive MEMS switch and the VFD are electrically in series.

8. The system as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a bypass MEMS switch electrically parallel to the VFD and the drive MEMS switch.

9. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the VFD is disposed between the drive MEMS switch and an isolate MEMS switch.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the bypass MEMS switch is configured to be triggered by a switch condition including at least one of a closed state to bypass the VFD and an open state to drive the VFD.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the drive and isolate MEMS switches are configured to be triggered into an open state to electrically de-energize the VFD.

12. A HVAC system, comprising:

a load motor;

a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch;

a soft-switching circuit to synchronize a change in state of the main breaker MEMS switch;

a first MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch;

a second MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch, and electrically arranged in parallel to the first MEMS switch branch;

a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed on the first MEMS switch branch;

a drive MEMS switch disposed on the first MEMS switch branch and in electrical series with the VFD; and

a bypass MEMS switch disposed on the second MEMS switch branch.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a control circuit further coupled to each of the MEMS switches, the control circuit configured to facilitate switch conditions triggered in MEMS switches.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the switch conditions include at least one of short circuits and VFD control.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a Hybrid Arcless Limiting Technology (HALT) arc suppression circuit disposed in electrical communication with the main breaker MEMS switch to receive a transfer of electrical energy from the main breaker MEMS switch in response to a switch condition that triggers the main breaker MEMS.

16. A HVAC system, comprising:

a load motor;

a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch;

a soft-switching circuit to synchronize a change in state of the main breaker MEMS switch;

a first MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch;

a drive MEMS switch disposed on the first MEMS switch branch;

an isolate MEMS switch disposed on the first MEMS switch branch;

a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed on the first MEMS switch branch and between and in electrical series with the drive and isolate MEMS switches;

a second MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch, and electrically arranged in parallel to the first MEMS switch branch; and

a bypass MEMS switch disposed on the second MEMS switch branch.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a control circuit further coupled to each of the MEMS switches, the control circuit configured to facilitate switch conditions triggered in MEMS switches.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the switch conditions include at least one of short circuits and VFD control.

19. The system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a Hybrid Arcless Limiting Technology (HALT) arc suppression circuit disposed in electrical communication with the main breaker MEMS switch to receive a transfer of electrical energy from the main breaker MEMS switch in response to a switch condition that triggers the main breaker MEMS.

20. A HVAC system, comprising:

a load motor;

a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch;

a voltage snubber circuit electrically coupled to the main breaker MEMS switch;

a first MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch;

a second MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch, and electrically arranged in parallel to the first MEMS switch branch;

a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed on the first MEMS switch branch;

a drive MEMS switch disposed on the first MEMS switch branch and in electrical series with the VFD; and

a bypass MEMS switch disposed on the second MEMS switch branch.

21. A HVAC system, comprising:

a load motor;

a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch;

a voltage snubber circuit electrically coupled to the main breaker MEMS switch;

a first MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch;

a drive MEMS switch disposed on the first MEMS switch branch;

an isolate MEMS switch disposed on the first MEMS switch branch;

a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed on the first MEMS switch branch and between and in electrical series with the drive and isolate MEMS switches;

a second MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch, and electrically arranged in parallel to the first MEMS switch branch; and

a bypass MEMS switch disposed on the second MEMS switch branch.