Control method for vapor compression system

• US 8,353,174 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Jadric, Ivan, Wu, Zhiqiao, Todd, Michael S., Warner, Justin Drew, Adiga Manoor, Shreesha, Borisov, Konstantin, Slothower, Scott Victor, Dubey, Kanishk, Hansen, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang, Chen Wen
• Application Number:
  US12/572,975
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 622/284, 624/98, 318/801, 429/427, 429/428, 700/28
• US Class Current: 62/228.4
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0253 with variable speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/025 Motor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/085 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A chiller system is provided with a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant loop. A motor is connected to the compressor to power the compressor. A variable speed drive is connected to the motor. The variable speed drive is arranged to receive an input AC power at a fixed input AC voltage and a fixed input frequency and provide an output power at a variable voltage and variable frequency to the motor. The variable voltage has a maximum voltage greater in magnitude than the fixed input AC voltage and the variable frequency has a maximum frequency greater than the fixed input frequency. The variable speed drive includes a converter connected to an AC power source providing the input AC voltage, the converter is arranged to convert the input AC voltage to a DC voltage. A DC link is connected to the converter. The DC link is arranged to filter and store the DC voltage from the converter. An inverter is connected to the DC link. A controller is arranged to reference a first operating map associated with the compressor, a second operating map associated with the motor, and a third operating map associated with the variable speed drive. The controller further is arranged to analyze the first operating map second operating map and third operating map concurrently to select an operating point for the chiller system.

Claims

1. A vapor compression system comprising:

a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant loop;

a permanent magnet synchronous motor connected to the compressor to power the compressor; and

a variable speed drive connected to the motor, the variable speed drive being configured to receive an input AC power at a fixed input AC voltage and a fixed input frequency and provide an output power at a variable voltage and variable frequency to the motor, the variable voltage having a maximum voltage greater in magnitude than the fixed input AC voltage and the variable frequency having a maximum frequency greater than the fixed input frequency, the variable speed drive comprising;

a converter connectable to an AC power source providing the input AC voltage, the converter being configured to convert the input AC voltage to a DC voltage;

a DC link connected to the converter, the DC link being configured to filter and store the DC voltage from the converter;

an inverter connected to the DC link; and

a controller configured to reference a first operating map associated with the compressor, a second operating map associated with the motor, and a third operating map associated with the variable speed drive;

the controller further configured to analyze the first operating map, second operating map and third operating map concurrently to select an operating point for the vapor compression system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to model the vapor compression system to achieve the greatest combined efficiency.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the motor, compressor and VSD is selected to correspond in rating with one or more common operating conditions associated with the vapor compression system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet synchronous motor further comprises a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in multiple pole arrangements in a rotor portion.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets being adhesively affixed to a rotor cage, the plurality of permanent magnets enveloped by a sleeve to maintain the plurality of permanent magnets on the rotor cage when centrifugal forces act on rotor portion during rotation.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the rotor cage is a cylindrical steel rotor cage.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sleeve comprises a flexible, high strength, magnetically non-permeable material.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the material is carbon fiber tubular sheet material or stainless steel.

9. A chiller system comprising:

a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant loop;

a permanent magnet synchronous motor connected to the compressor to power the compressor; and

a variable speed drive connected to the motor, the variable speed drive being configured to receive an input AC power at a fixed input AC voltage and a fixed input frequency and provide an output power at a variable voltage and variable frequency to the motor, the variable voltage having a maximum voltage greater in magnitude than the fixed input AC voltage and the variable frequency having a maximum frequency greater than the fixed input frequency, the variable speed drive comprising;

a converter connectable to an AC power source providing the input AC voltage, the converter being configured to convert the input AC voltage to a DC voltage;

a DC link connected to the converter, the DC link being configured to filter and store the DC voltage from the converter stage; and

an inverter connected to the DC link; and

a controller configured with adaptive controls to apply a fuzzy logic algorithm for optimization of the motor, the compressor and the variable speed drive;

wherein the fuzzy logic algorithm is based on a plurality of operational factors of the chiller system, the plurality of operational systems including an effect of a rotor saturation, and an effect of a stator teeth flux density saturation of the permanent magnet synchronous motor.

10. The chiller system of claim 9, wherein optimization is accomplished by taking into account the plurality of operational factors of the chiller system.

11. The chiller system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of operational factors further includes motor efficiency, and operating parameters that change with motor temperature.

12. The chiller system of claim 11, each of the motor, compressor and VSD selected to correspond in rating with one or more operating conditions associated with the chiller system.