Heat exchanger contamination monitoring

• US 9,816,720 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Zywiak, Thomas M., Yim, Jason S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jagan, Mirellys
• Application Number:
  US14/554,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20160146487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 374110, 374142, 374 45, 374165, 374166
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/06 the air being conditioned pressurising B64D13/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0618 with arrangements for reducing or managing bleed air, using another air source, e.g. ram air
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2220/04 Sensors
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• 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 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/20 Heat-exchange fluid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/00 Investigating or analyzing materials by the use of thermal means G01N3/00 - G01N23/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

Embodiments relate to heat exchanger contamination monitoring in an air conditioning system. An aspect includes receiving, by a contamination monitoring logic from a primary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a first temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a primary heat exchanger. Another aspect includes receiving, from a secondary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a second temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a secondary heat exchanger. Another aspect includes receiving, from a compressor outlet temperature sensor, a third temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a compressor. Another aspect includes determining, based on the first, second, and third temperature, a heat exchanger contamination value. Another aspect includes comparing the heat exchanger contamination value to a predetermined contamination threshold. Another aspect includes based on the heat exchanger contamination value being greater than the predetermined contamination threshold, sending a maintenance warning.

Claims

1. A method for heat exchanger contamination monitoring in an air conditioning system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a contamination monitoring logic from a primary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a first temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a primary heat exchanger of the air conditioning system;

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a secondary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a second temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a secondary heat exchanger of the air conditioning system;

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a compressor outlet temperature sensor, a third temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a compressor of the air conditioning system, wherein the compressor receives airflow from the outlet of the primary heat exchanger, and wherein the secondary heat exchanger receives airflow from the outlet of the compressor;

determining, by the contamination monitoring logic, based on the first temperature, the second temperature, and the third temperature, a heat exchanger contamination value;

comparing the heat exchanger contamination value to a predetermined contamination threshold;

based on the heat exchanger contamination value being greater than the predetermined contamination threshold, sending a maintenance warning to an operator of the air conditioning system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a ram fan flow sensor, a first flow value comprising an amount of airflow at a ram fan of the air conditioning system; and

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system inlet or outlet flow sensor, a second flow value comprising an amount of airflow at the outlet of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the first flow value and the second flow value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after sending the maintenance warning to an operator of the air conditioning system:

comparing the heat exchanger contamination value to a reduced operating mode threshold, wherein the reduced operating mode threshold is higher than the predetermined contamination threshold; and

based on the heat exchanger contamination value being greater than the reduced operating mode threshold, controlling the air conditioning system to a reduced operating mode.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from an ambient air outlet temperature sensor, an eighth temperature value comprising a temperature at an ambient air outlet of the air conditioning system; and

determining an amount of airflow at a ram fan of the air conditioning system based on the eighth temperature value.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system inlet temperature sensor, a fourth temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of the air conditioning system;

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a condenser inlet temperature sensor, a fifth temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of a condenser of the air conditioning system; and

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system outlet temperature sensor, a sixth temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the fourth temperature, the fifth temperature, and the sixth temperature.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a second stage turbine inlet temperature sensor, a seventh temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of a second stage turbine of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the seventh temperature.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a low limit valve (LLV) position sensor, a first valve position comprising a position of a LLV of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the first valve position.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a flow control valve (FCV) position sensor, a second valve position comprising a position of a FCV of the air conditioning system;

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from an economy cooling valve (ECV) position sensor, a third valve position comprising a position of a ECV of the air conditioning system; and

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a turbine bypass valve (TBV) position sensor, a fourth valve position comprising a position of a TBV of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the second valve position, the third valve position, and the fourth valve position.

9. A system for heat exchanger contamination monitoring in an air conditioning system, comprising:

a heat exchanger contamination monitoring logic configured to;

receive, from a primary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a first temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a primary heat exchanger of the air conditioning system;

receive, from a secondary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a second temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a secondary heat exchanger of the air conditioning system;

receive, from a compressor outlet temperature sensor, a third temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a compressor of the air conditioning system, wherein the compressor receives airflow from the outlet of the primary heat exchanger, and wherein the secondary heat exchanger receives airflow from the outlet of the compressor;

determine, based on the first temperature, the second temperature, and the third temperature, a heat exchanger contamination value;

compare the heat exchanger contamination value to a predetermined contamination threshold;

based on the heat exchanger contamination value being greater than the predetermined contamination threshold, send a maintenance warning to an operator of the air conditioning system.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a ram fan flow sensor, a first flow value comprising an amount of airflow at a ram fan of the air conditioning system; and

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system inlet or outlet flow sensor, a second flow value comprising an amount of airflow at the outlet of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the first flow value and the second flow value.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system inlet temperature sensor, a fourth temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of the air conditioning system;

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a condenser inlet temperature sensor, a fifth temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of a condenser of the air conditioning system; and

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system outlet temperature sensor, a sixth temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the fourth temperature, the fifth temperature, and the sixth temperature.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a second stage turbine inlet temperature sensor, a seventh temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of a second stage turbine of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the seventh temperature.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a low limit valve (LLV) position sensor, a first valve position comprising a position of a LLV of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the first valve position.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a flow control valve (FCV) position sensor, a second valve position comprising a position of a FCV of the air conditioning system;

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from an economy cooling valve (ECV) position sensor, a third valve position comprising a position of a ECV of the air conditioning system; and

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a turbine bypass valve (TBV) position sensor, a fourth valve position comprising a position of a TBV of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the second valve position, the third valve position, and the fourth valve position.

15. A computer program product for implementing a contamination monitoring logic for a heat exchanger in an air conditioning system, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to perform a method comprising;

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a primary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a first temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a primary heat exchanger of the air conditioning system;

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a secondary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a second temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a secondary heat exchanger of the air conditioning system;

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a compressor outlet temperature sensor, a third temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a compressor of the air conditioning system, wherein the compressor receives airflow from the outlet of the primary heat exchanger, and wherein the secondary heat exchanger receives airflow from the outlet of the compressor;

determining, by the contamination monitoring logic, based on the first temperature, the second temperature, and the third temperature, a heat exchanger contamination value;

comparing the heat exchanger contamination value to a predetermined contamination threshold;

based on the heat exchanger contamination value being greater than the predetermined contamination threshold, sending a maintenance warning to an operator of the air conditioning system.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a ram fan flow sensor, a first flow value comprising an amount of airflow at a ram fan of the air conditioning system; and

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system inlet or outlet flow sensor, a second flow value comprising an amount of airflow at the outlet of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the first flow value and the second flow value.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system inlet temperature sensor, a fourth temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of the air conditioning system;

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a condenser inlet temperature sensor, a fifth temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of a condenser of the air conditioning system; and

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a system outlet temperature sensor, a sixth temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the fourth temperature, the fifth temperature, and the sixth temperature.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a second stage turbine inlet temperature sensor, a seventh temperature comprising an air temperature at an inlet of a second stage turbine of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the seventh temperature.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a low limit valve (LLV) position sensor, a first valve position comprising a position of a LLV of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the first valve position.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a flow control valve (FCV) position sensor, a second valve position comprising a position of a FCV of the air conditioning system;

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from an economy cooling valve (ECV) position sensor, a third valve position comprising a position of a ECV of the air conditioning system; and

receiving, by the contamination monitoring logic from a turbine bypass valve (TBV) position sensor, a fourth valve position comprising a position of a TBV of the air conditioning system;

wherein the heat exchanger contamination value is further determined based on the second valve position, the third valve position, and the fourth valve position.