Refrigeration device control system
First Claim
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1. A refrigeration device, comprising:
- a control device;
a plurality of cooling elements;
a supply header configured to deliver refrigerant to the cooling elements;
a return header configured to return refrigerant from the cooling elements;
a single pressure sensor operable to provide a signal representative of a pressure of the refrigerant in the return header to the control device;
a single temperature sensor operable to provide a signal representative of a temperature of the refrigerant in the return header to the control device;
the control device operable to provide an output signal to control each of the cooling elements, responsive to the signals from the single temperature sensor and the single pressure sensor;
a circuit board operable to convert the output signal into a plurality of branch signals corresponding to each of the cooling elements;
a superheat valve associated with each of the cooling elements and configured to operate in response to the branch signals.
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Abstract
A refrigeration device includes a control device and a multiple cooling elements. A supply header delivers refrigerant to the cooling elements and a return header returns refrigerant from the cooling elements. A single pressure sensor provides a signal representative of a pressure of the refrigerant in the return header to the control device, and a single temperature sensor provides a signal representative of a temperature of the refrigerant in the return header to the control device. The control device provides an output signal to control each of the cooling elements, in response to the signals from the single temperature sensor and the single pressure sensor.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A refrigeration device, comprising:
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a control device; a plurality of cooling elements; a supply header configured to deliver refrigerant to the cooling elements; a return header configured to return refrigerant from the cooling elements; a single pressure sensor operable to provide a signal representative of a pressure of the refrigerant in the return header to the control device; a single temperature sensor operable to provide a signal representative of a temperature of the refrigerant in the return header to the control device; the control device operable to provide an output signal to control each of the cooling elements, responsive to the signals from the single temperature sensor and the single pressure sensor; a circuit board operable to convert the output signal into a plurality of branch signals corresponding to each of the cooling elements; a superheat valve associated with each of the cooling elements and configured to operate in response to the branch signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A refrigeration device, comprising:
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an enclosure defining a space configured for storage of temperature-controlled objects; a plurality of cooling elements operable to provide cooling to the space; a refrigeration system including a return header configured to return refrigerant from the cooling elements to a compressor, and a condenser configured to condense the refrigerant, and a supply header configured to deliver the refrigerant to the cooling elements; a single pressure sensor operable to provide a signal representative of a pressure of the refrigerant in the return header; a single temperature sensor operable to provide a signal representative of a temperature of the refrigerant in the return header; a control device operable to receive the signal representative of temperature and the signal representative of pressure and provide an output signal to control a superheat valve for each of the cooling elements; and a signal splitting device operable to split the output signal into separate branch signals for each superheat valve. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling a refrigeration device having a plurality of cooling elements, comprising:
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providing a supply header configured to deliver refrigerant to the cooling elements; providing a return header configured to return refrigerant from the cooling elements; providing a single pressure sensor operable to generate a signal representative of a pressure of the refrigerant in the return header; providing a single temperature sensor operable to generate a signal representative of a temperature of the refrigerant in the return header; providing a control device operable to receive the signals representative of pressure and temperature and to provide an output signal to control each of the cooling elements; and splitting the output signal into branch signals for controlling a superheat valve associated with each cooling element. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A refrigeration device, comprising:
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a control device; a plurality of cooling elements; a supply header configured to deliver refrigerant to the cooling elements; a return header configured to return refrigerant from the cooling elements; a single pressure sensor operable to provide a signal representative of a pressure of the refrigerant in the return header to the control device; a single temperature sensor operable to provide a signal representative of a temperature of the refrigerant in the return header to the control device; the control device operable to provide an output signal to control each of the cooling elements, responsive to the signals from the single temperature sensor and the single pressure sensor; a superheat valve associated with each of the cooling elements; and a circuit board operable to convert the output signal into a plurality of branch signals corresponding to each of the cooling elements and to defrost the cooling elements by using the branch signals to close the superheat valves in a predetermined order. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification