System and method for defrost of an HVAC system

• US 8,417,386 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Douglas, Jonathan D., Denton, Darryl E., Marble, Alan D., Mercer, Kevin B., Sapp, Gary L., Schaefer, Kristen L., Tice, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US12/272,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20100125369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 236/10, 236/14, 236/15.R, 62/80, 621/15, 621/50, 621/51, 621/56, 621/75, 621/88, 621/85
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/41 Defrosting; Preventing freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/11 Sensor to detect if defrost is necessary
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 47/02 Defrosting cycles

Abstract

A system and a method are provided for monitoring a condition and selectively executing a certification defrost algorithm for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in response to the status of the monitored condition. A system and a method are provided for selectively operating a certification defrost algorithm in parallel to a field defrost algorithm. A system and a method are also provided for causing a controller to execute a first algorithm and for causing the controller to selectively execute a second algorithm while also executing the first algorithm where each of the first algorithm and the second algorithm are configured to selectively cause the HVAC system to operate in a defrost mode.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

executing a field defrost algorithm;

monitoring whether a condition meets a criteria, wherein the condition meeting the criteria comprises an ambient zone temperature being determined to be within a predetermined range;

executing a certification defrost algorithm in parallel with the field defrost algorithm in response to the condition meeting the criteria;

performing a certification defrost cycle if demanded by the certification defrost algorithm;

performing a field defrost cycle if demanded by the field defrost algorithm; and

exiting the certification defrost algorithm in response to the field defrost algorithm demanding a field defrost cycle while the ambient zone temperature is determined to be outside the predetermined range;

wherein the predetermined range comprises (1) a low temperature in a range of about 30 degrees Fahrenheit to about 34 degrees Fahrenheit and (2) a high temperature in a range of about 34 degrees Fahrenheit to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition meets the criteria when a compressor has been power cycled.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition meets the criteria when performing a defrost cycle is allowed after having been disallowed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition meets the criteria when a continuous call for a heating mode has occurred for a predetermined length of time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the HVAC system is operating in a high heating mode or a low heating mode.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining whether the high heating mode has been operating for a first predetermined period time if the HVAC system is operating in the high heating mode; and

determining whether the low heating mode has been operating for a second predetermined period of time if the HVAC system is operating in the low heating mode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first predetermined period of time is about 135 minutes and the second predetermined period of time is about 375 minutes.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first predetermined period of time is within a range of about 90-180 minutes and the second predetermined period of time is within a range of about 240-375 minutes.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

performing a certification defrost cycle if the high heating mode has been operating for the first predetermined period of time; and

performing a certification defrost cycle if the low heating mode has been operating for the second predetermined period of time.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

after performing a certification defrost cycle, determining whether the HVAC system is operating in a high heating mode or a low heating mode, determining whether the high heating mode has been operating for a first predetermined period time if the HVAC system is operating in the high heating mode, and determining whether the low heating mode has been operating for a second predetermined period of time if the HVAC system is operating in the low heating mode; and

performing another certification defrost cycle if the high heating mode has been operating for the first predetermined period of time and performing another certification defrost cycle if the low heating mode has been operating for the second predetermined period of time.

11. A method of improving an efficiency rating of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system during certification comprising:

executing a field defrost algorithm; and

selectively executing a certification defrost algorithm in parallel with the field defrost algorithm;

exiting the certification defrost algorithm in response to the field defrost algorithm demanding a field defrost cycle while an ambient zone temperature is determined to be outside a predetermined range;

wherein the predetermined range comprises (1) a low temperature in a range of about 30 degrees Fahrenheit to about 34 degrees Fahrenheit and (2) a high temperature in a range of about 34 degrees Fahrenheit to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the certification defrost algorithm is executed in response to a monitored condition meeting a criteria.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the certification defrost algorithm is exited if the monitored condition fails to meet the criteria.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitored condition is an ambient zone temperature.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitored condition is whether a continuous call for a heating mode has persisted for a predetermined length of time.

16. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a controller configured to execute a first algorithm and the controller also being configured to selectively execute a second algorithm while also executing the first algorithm;

wherein each of the first algorithm and the second algorithm are configured to selectively cause operation of the HVAC system in a defrost mode; and

exiting the second algorithm in response to the first algorithm demanding operation in the defrost mode while an ambient zone temperature is determined to be outside a predetermined range;

wherein the predetermined range comprises (1) a low temperature in a range of about 30 degrees Fahrenheit to about 34 degrees Fahrenheit and (2) a high temperature in a range of about 34 degrees Fahrenheit to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

17. The HVAC system according to claim 16, wherein the controller selectively executes the second algorithm in response to the HVAC system being operated under conditions that indicate that the HVAC system is being tested in an energy efficiency certification environment.

18. The HVAC system according to claim 16, wherein the controller selectively executes the second algorithm in response to an ambient zone temperature being within a predetermined range.

19. The HVAC system according to claim 16,

wherein the second algorithm selectively causes operation of the HVAC system in a defrost mode when the HVAC system has been operated in a first heating mode for a first predetermined period;

wherein the second algorithm selectively causes operation of the HVAC system in a defrost mode when the HVAC system has been operated in a second heating mode for a second predetermined period of time; and

wherein the first predetermined period of time is different than the second predetermined period of time.