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Method for determining refrigerant charge

  • US 8,290,722 B2
  • Filed: 12/20/2006
  • Issued: 10/16/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for indicating the level of refrigerant charge in a refrigerant vapor compression system having a compressor, a condenser coil, an expansion device and an evaporator coil connected in serial relationship in refrigerant flow circuit, comprising the steps ofsensing the pressure of the refrigerant at a location in the refrigerant flow circuit whereat the refrigerant is near or above normally full charge in a liquid state only and generating a first signal indicative of the sensed refrigerant pressure;

  • sensing the temperature of the refrigerant at the same location in the refrigerant flow circuit and generating a second signal indicative of the sensed refrigerant temperature;

    calculating in real-time an instantaneous value for the degrees of subcooling present based upon the sensed refrigerant pressure and the sensed refrigerant temperature;

    storing the calculated instantaneous value for the degrees of subcooling in a dedicated data location associated with the sensed refrigerant temperature;

    accumulating the calculated instantaneous value for the degrees of subcooling associated with each respective sensed refrigerant temperature within the respective data location associated with the respective sensed refrigerant temperature;

    calculating an average value for the degrees of subcooling present based upon the accumulated instantaneous values for the degrees of subcooling;

    determining a system refrigerant charge status based upon a consideration of both the instantaneous value for the degree of subcooling and the average value for the degree of subcooling;

    outputting an indication of the system refrigerant charge status.

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