Controlling HVAC speed of condenser fans using pressure sensors

• US 9,809,088 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hovel, Douglas J., Njos, Erick A., Spurgeon, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CIRIC, LJILJANA V
• Application Number:
  US13/912,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20140360211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00828 Ventilators, e.g. speed control B60H1/00864 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3205 Control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3277 to control the air flow

Abstract

A controller for a heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit may comprise a compressor control signal output; a condenser fan control signal output; a pressure sensor input that receives information regarding an output pressure of the compressor; a temperature input that receives information regarding ambient temperature; a processor coupled to the compressor control signal output, the condenser fan control signal output, the first pressure sensor input, and the temperature input; and a computer-readable memory that stores instructions. The processor may cause the controller to: turn on the compressor via the compressor control signal output based on a request for air conditioning, select a condenser fan speed, from condenser fan control data stored in the computer readable memory, based on the ambient temperature and an output pressure of the compressor, and set a speed of the condenser fan to the selected condenser fan speed via the condenser fan control signal.

Claims

1. A heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit operated in an earthmoving machine, the HVAC unit comprising:

a compressor that is selectively operable, responsive to a compressor control signal;

a condenser fluidly coupled to the compressor;

an expansion valve fluidly coupled to the condenser;

an evaporator fluidly coupled to the expansion valve and the compressor;

a first pressure sensor that measures an output pressure of the compressor;

a second pressure sensor that measures a suction pressure between the expansion valve and the compressor;

an ambient temperature sensor that measures ambient temperature;

a condenser fan that provides cooling to the condenser, the condenser fan having variable speed and reversible direction responsive to a condenser fan control signal; and

a controller electrically coupled to the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, the ambient temperature sensor, and the fan, the controller including;

a processor;

a compressor control signal output;

a condenser fan control signal output;

a first pressure sensor input coupled to the first pressure sensor;

a second pressure sensor input coupled to the second pressure sensor;

an ambient temperature input coupled to the ambient temperature sensor;

a computer-readable memory that stores instructions that when executed by the processor cause the controller to;

turn on the compressor via the compressor control signal output based on a request for air conditioning;

select a condenser fan speed, from condenser fan control data stored in the computer readable memory, responsive to the ambient temperature and the output pressure of the compressor;

set a speed of the condenser fan to the selected condenser fan speed via the condenser fan control signal;

send an alarm signal via an alarm output when the suction pressure is less than a threshold suction pressure level and the ambient temperature is above a threshold temperature,

wherein a direction of the condenser fan is reversed, via the condenser fan control signal output, based on;

the condenser fan control data indicating a reverse direction based on the ambient temperature and the output pressure of the compressor, and

a previous reverse operation of the condenser fan occurred outside a minimum reverse cycle time.

2. The HVAC unit of claim 1 wherein the computer-readable memory has further instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the controller to send an alarm signal via the alarm output when the output pressure of the compressor is less than approximately 28 pounds per square in gauge (PSIG) and the ambient temperature is above approximately 5 degrees Celsius.

3. The HVAC unit of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable memory has further instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the controller to turn off the compressor via the compressor control signal output when the suction pressure is less than the threshold suction pressure level and the ambient temperature is above the threshold temperature.

4. The HVAC unit of claim 3, wherein the threshold suction pressure is less than 5 pound per square inch gauge (PSIG) and the ambient temperature is above approximately 18 degrees Celsius for a duration of greater than approximately 8-12 seconds.

5. The HVAC unit of claim 1, wherein the minimum reverse cycle time is in a range of 25 minutes to 30 minutes.

6. A heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit operated in an earthmoving machine, the HVAC unit comprising:

a compressor;

a condenser fluidly coupled to the compressor;

a condenser fan that provides cooling to the condenser,

the condenser fan having variable speed and reversible direction responsive to a condenser fan control signal; and

a controller electrically coupled to an ambient temperature sensor and the condenser fan, the controller including;

a processor,

a compressor control signal output that outputs a compressor signal to control the compressor,

a condenser fan control signal output that outputs the condenser fan control signal to control the condenser fan,

an ambient temperature input coupled to an ambient temperature sensor that measures ambient temperature, and

a computer-readable memory that stores instructions that when executed by the processor cause the controller to;

turn on the compressor via the compressor control signal output based on a request for air conditioning,

select a condenser fan speed, from condenser fan control data stored in the computer readable memory, based on the ambient temperature and an output pressure of the compressor,

set a speed of the condenser fan to the selected condenser fan speed via the condenser fan control signal, and

reverse a direction of the condenser fan is reversed, via the condenser fan control signal output, based on;

the condenser fan control data indicating a reverse direction based on the ambient temperature and the output pressure of the compressor, and

a previous reverse operation of the condenser fan occurred outside a minimum reverse cycle time.

7. The HVAC unit of claim 6, further comprising:

an expansion valve fluidly coupled to the condenser,

a second pressure sensor that measures a suction pressure between the expansion valve and the compressor,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to send an alarm signal when the suction pressure is less than a threshold suction pressure level and the ambient temperature is above a threshold temperature.

8. The HVAC unit of claim 7, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to turn off the compressor via the compressor control signal output when the suction pressure is less than the threshold suction pressure level and the ambient temperature is above the threshold temperature.

9. The HVAC unit of claim 6, wherein the minimum reverse cycle time is based on maintaining a cooling capacity.

10. The HVAC unit of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to operate the condenser fan in the reverse direction for a period of time.

11. The HVAC unit of claim 6, further comprising:

a first pressure sensor that measures the output pressure of the compressor,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to send an alarm signal when the output pressure of the compressor is less than a particular pressure and the ambient temperature is above a particular temperature.

12. A controller for a heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit operated in an earthmoving machine, the controller comprising:

a compressor control signal output operatively coupled to a compressor of the HVAC unit;

a condenser fan control signal output operatively coupled to a condenser fan of the HVAC unit;

a pressure sensor input that receives information regarding an output pressure of the compressor;

a temperature input that receives information regarding ambient temperature;

a processor coupled to the compressor control signal output, the condenser fan control signal output, the first pressure sensor input, and the temperature input; and

a computer-readable memory that stores instructions that when executed by the processor cause the controller to;

turn on the compressor via the compressor control signal output based on a request for air conditioning,

select a condenser fan speed, from condenser fan control data stored in the computer readable memory, based on the ambient temperature and an output pressure of the compressor,

set a speed of the condenser fan to the selected condenser fan speed via the condenser fan control signal,

wherein a direction of the condenser fan is reversed, via the condenser fan control signal output, based on;

the condenser fan control data indicating a reverse direction based on the ambient temperature and the output pressure of the compressor, and

a previous reverse operation of the condenser fan occurred outside a minimum reverse cycle time.

13. The controller of claim 12, further comprising:

another pressure sensor input that receives a suction pressure between an evaporator of the HVAC unit and the compressor,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to turn off the compressor via the compressor control signal output when the suction pressure is less than a threshold suction pressure level and the ambient temperature is above a second threshold temperature.

14. The controller of claim 13, wherein the threshold suction pressure level is a compressor minimum effective suction pressure.

15. The controller of claim 13, wherein the second threshold temperature is an ambient temperature above a particular temperature for a minimum time duration.

16. The controller of claim 12, wherein the minimum reverse cycle period is based on maintaining a cooling capacity.

17. The controller of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to operate the condenser fan in the reverse direction for a period of time.