System and method for calculating parameters for a refrigeration system with a variable speed compressor

• US 8,418,483 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: McSweeney, Daniel L., Seibel, Stephen M., Pham, Hung M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyler, Cheryl J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Paolo
• Application Number:
  US12/246,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20090095002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,652 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 700/275, 700/276, 700/277, 700/278, 700/279, 700/280, 700/282, 700/286, 700/301, 702/142
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/19 Calculation of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/021 Inverters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2117 of an evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/02 for compression type machines, plants or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/022 Compressor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A system and method for calculating parameters for a refrigeration system having a variable speed compressor is provided. A compressor is connected to a condenser and an evaporator. An evaporator sensor outputs an evaporator signal corresponding to at least one of an evaporator pressure and an evaporator temperature. An inverter drive modulates electric power delivered to the compressor to modulate a speed of the compressor. The control module is connected to the inverter drive and receives the evaporator signal, monitors electrical power data and compressor speed data from the inverter drive, and calculates at least one of a condenser temperature and a condenser pressure based on the evaporator signal, the electrical power data, and the compressor speed data.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a compressor connected to a condenser and an evaporator;

a condenser sensor that outputs a condenser signal corresponding to at least one of a condenser pressure and a condenser temperature;

a discharge temperature sensor that outputs a discharge temperature signal corresponding to a temperature of refrigerant exiting said compressor;

an inverter drive that modulates electric power delivered to said compressor to modulate a speed of said compressor;

a control module that is connected to said inverter drive, that receives said condenser signal and said discharge temperature signal, that monitors electrical power data and compressor speed data from said inverter drive, and that calculates at least one of an evaporator temperature and an evaporator pressure based on said condenser signal, said discharge temperature signal, said electrical power data, and said compressor speed data.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said discharge temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple located external to said compressor on a discharge tube extending from said compressor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said discharge temperature sensor comprises a thermistor mounted within said compressor on a non-orbiting scroll of said compressor.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical power data includes compressor current data for said compressor.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a suction temperature sensor that outputs a suction temperature signal corresponding to a temperature of refrigerant entering said compressor wherein said control module calculates a suction superheat temperature of said compressor based on said suction temperature signal and at least one of said calculated evaporator temperature and said calculated evaporator pressure.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said control module monitors at least one of an overheat condition and a flood back condition of said compressor based on said calculated suction superheat temperature.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said control module calculates at least one of a compressor capacity, a compressor power, an energy efficiency ratio, a compressor load, and a power consumption (Kwh/Day) based on said condenser temperature and at least one of said evaporator temperature and said evaporator pressure.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a condenser signal corresponding to at least one of a condenser pressure and a condenser temperature of a condenser connected to a compressor and an evaporator;

modulating a speed of said compressor with an inverter drive configured to modulate electric power delivered to said compressor;

receiving electric power data and compressor speed data from said inverter drive;

receiving a discharge temperature signal from a discharge temperature sensor, said discharge temperature signal corresponding to a temperature of refrigerant exiting said compressor;

calculating at least one of an evaporator temperature and an evaporator pressure based on said condenser signal, said discharge temperature signal, said electrical power data, and said compressor speed data.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said receiving said electric power data includes receiving compressor current data for said compressor.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising receiving a suction temperature signal from a suction temperature sensor, said suction temperature signal corresponding to a temperature of refrigerant entering said compressor, and calculating a suction superheat temperature of said compressor based on said suction temperature signal and at least one of said calculated evaporator temperature and said calculated evaporator pressure.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising monitoring at least one of an overheat condition and a flood back condition of said compressor based on said calculated suction superheat temperature.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising calculating at least one of a compressor capacity, a compressor power, an energy efficiency ratio, a compressor load, and a power consumption (Kwh/Day) based on said condenser temperature and at least one of said evaporator temperature and said evaporator pressure.

13. A system comprising:

a compressor connected to a condenser and an evaporator;

a condenser sensor that outputs a condenser signal corresponding to at least one of a condenser pressure and a condenser temperature;

a discharge temperature sensor that outputs a discharge temperature signal corresponding to a temperature of refrigerant exiting said compressor;

an inverter drive that modulates electric power delivered to said compressor to modulate a speed of said compressor;

a control module that is connected to said inverter drive, that receives said condenser signal and said discharge temperature signal, that monitors electrical power data and compressor speed data from said inverter drive, and that, to protect said compressor from floodback and overheat conditions, calculates at least one of an evaporator temperature and an evaporator pressure based on said condenser signal, said discharge temperature signal, said electrical power data, and said compressor speed data.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a condenser signal corresponding to at least one of a condenser pressure and a condenser temperature of a condenser connected to a compressor and an evaporator;

modulating a speed of said compressor with an inverter drive configured to modulate electric power delivered to said compressor;

receiving electric power data and compressor speed data from said inverter drive;

receiving a discharge temperature signal from a discharge temperature sensor, said discharge temperature signal corresponding to a temperature of refrigerant exiting said compressor; and

to protect said compressor from floodback and overheat conditions, calculating at least one of an evaporator temperature and an evaporator pressure based on said condenser signal, said discharge temperature signal, said electrical power data, and said compressor speed data.