Enhanced economy refrigeration control system
First Claim
1. A controller for controlling a refrigeration unit, the controller configured for:
- storing instructions for a first refrigeration setting having a first average power consumption and a first range of temperature variation;
storing instructions for a second refrigeration setting having a second average power consumption and a second range of temperature variation, wherein the first average power consumption is lower than the second average power consumption, and the second range of temperature variation is smaller than the first of temperature variation;
tracking a cumulative average temperature in a refrigeration element; and
activating either the first refrigeration setting or the second refrigeration setting, wherein the controller activates the first refrigeration setting while the cumulative average temperature is within a selected temperature range having a lower threshold and an upper threshold, and once the cumulative average temperature is less than the lower threshold or greater than the upper threshold of the selected temperature range, the controller activates the second refrigeration setting until the cumulative average temperature is within a target temperature range that has a second lower threshold that is greater than the lower threshold of the selected temperature range and a second upper threshold that is less than the upper threshold of the selected temperature range.
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Abstract
A controller for controlling a refrigeration unit, a method, and a refrigeration system are disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, a controller stores instructions for a first refrigeration setting and a second refrigeration setting, tracks a cumulative average temperature in a refrigeration element, and activates either the first refrigeration setting or the second refrigeration setting. The first refrigeration setting has a lower average power consumption and a higher range of temperature variation than the second refrigeration setting. The controller activates the first refrigeration setting until the cumulative average temperature goes outside a selected temperature range; then the controller activates the second refrigeration setting until the cumulative average temperature is within a target temperature range that has a lower threshold that is greater than the lower threshold of the selected temperature range and an upper threshold that is less than the upper threshold of the selected temperature range.
21 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A controller for controlling a refrigeration unit, the controller configured for:
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storing instructions for a first refrigeration setting having a first average power consumption and a first range of temperature variation; storing instructions for a second refrigeration setting having a second average power consumption and a second range of temperature variation, wherein the first average power consumption is lower than the second average power consumption, and the second range of temperature variation is smaller than the first of temperature variation; tracking a cumulative average temperature in a refrigeration element; and activating either the first refrigeration setting or the second refrigeration setting, wherein the controller activates the first refrigeration setting while the cumulative average temperature is within a selected temperature range having a lower threshold and an upper threshold, and once the cumulative average temperature is less than the lower threshold or greater than the upper threshold of the selected temperature range, the controller activates the second refrigeration setting until the cumulative average temperature is within a target temperature range that has a second lower threshold that is greater than the lower threshold of the selected temperature range and a second upper threshold that is less than the upper threshold of the selected temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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providing a first refrigeration control mode and a second refrigeration control mode for operating a refrigeration unit, wherein an average power consumption in the first refrigeration control mode is lower than an average power consumption in the second refrigeration control mode, and the second refrigeration control mode maintains the refrigeration unit within a smaller range of temperature variation than the first refrigeration control mode; operating the refrigeration unit in the first refrigeration control mode; monitoring a cumulative average temperature in the refrigeration element since beginning operating the refrigeration unit in the first refrigeration control mode; and once the cumulative average temperature in the refrigeration element is outside a selected temperature range, switching to operating the refrigeration unit in the second refrigeration control mode, until the cumulative average temperature in the refrigeration element is within a target temperature range around a setpoint temperature, wherein the target temperature range has a second upper limit that is lower than an upper limit of the selected temperature range, and a second lower limit that is higher than a lower limit of the selected temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A refrigeration system comprising:
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a refrigeration unit comprising a compressor, a condenser comprising one or more condenser fans, an expansion device, and an evaporator comprising one or more evaporator fans; a refrigerated air supply leading from the evaporator to a refrigeration chamber; and a controller with a communicative link to the compressor, the one or more condenser fans, the expansion device, and the one or more evaporator fans, wherein the controller is configured to; operate the refrigeration unit alternately in a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first mode has a lower average power consumption than the second mode, and the second mode maintains the refrigeration unit within a smaller range of temperature variation than the first mode; track a cumulative average temperature in the refrigerated air supply; and once the cumulative average temperature is outside a selected temperature range, switches the refrigeration unit from operating in the first mode to the second mode until the cumulative average temperature is within a target temperature range around a setpoint temperature, wherein the target temperature range has a second upper limit that is lower than an upper limit of the selected temperature range, and a second lower limit that is higher than a lower limit of the selected temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A controller for controlling a refrigeration unit comprising an evaporator having at least one evaporator fan, the controller configured for alternately activating a first phase and a second phase in the refrigeration unit, wherein the controller activates the first phase when an upper temperature threshold is detected in the refrigeration element, and the controller activates the second phase when a lower temperature threshold is detected in the refrigeration element, wherein the at least one evaporator fan is activated during a majority of each of the first phase and the second phase, and the at least one evaporator fan is inactivated an interval of time prior to the end of each of the first phase and the second phase;
wherein the first phase and the second phase are comprised in a first refrigeration setting, the first refrigeration setting having a first average power consumption and a first range of temperature variation, and the controller is further configured for alternately activating the first refrigeration setting and a second refrigeration setting having a second average power consumption and a second range of temperature variation, wherein the first average power consumption is lower than the second average power consumption, and the second range of temperature variation is smaller than the first range of temperature variation. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification