Web-based, plug and play wireless remote monitoring diagnostic and system health prediction system

• US 9,881,478 B1
• Filed: 07/09/2015
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mainstream Engineering Coporation
• Original Assignee: Mainstream Engineering Coporation
• Inventors: Scaringe, Robert P., Roth, Robert Paul, Lambert, Daniel, Thomas, Erik P., Carff, Chad L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradford, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US14/795,401
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 48/00 Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy
• 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 11/36 to leakage of heat-exchange fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 Control inputs relating to system states
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2345/003 Control issues for charging or collecting refrigerant to or from a cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/07 Exceeding a certain pressure value in a refrigeration component or cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/08 Exceeding a certain temperature value in a refrigeration component or cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/222 Detecting refrigerant leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/24 Low amount of refrigerant in the system
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/05 Refrigerant levels
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/19 Refrigerant outlet condenser temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/04 Refrigerant level
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/151 of the compressor motor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2102 at the outlet of the gas cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2106 of fresh outdoor air
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21151 : at the suction side of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21152 : at the discharge side of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2116 : of a condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21162 : of the refrigerant at the inlet of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21163 : of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 : of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• 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: F25B 49/027 : Condenser control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 : Inference or reasoning models
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/187 : Machine fault alarms

Abstract

A diagnostic monitoring system and method is employed for one or more vapor compression systems such as air conditioners and heat pumps having a compressor, an indoor air handler fan coil and an outdoor condensor. Temperature, voltage and current sensors are provided at the outdoor condensor to determine that at least one vapor compression system is operating properly. Data obtained from the sensors is wirelessly transmitted to a receiving-device for use by the systems'"'"' custodian or repair service provider and includes information concerning an occurrence of periods when one or more of the vapor compression systems are operating at an abnormal state.

Claims

1. An end device useable in a monitoring system for at least one vapor compression system having outdoor components that include an outdoor compressor and an outdoor condenser, the end device having an outside air temperature sensor, a temperature sensor operatively arranged at one of the inlet side and the discharge side of the outdoor compressor and means for comparing data of the temperature sensors with data that has been previously obtained during normal operation of the at least one vapor compression system, wherein the end device is configured to determine solely on the basis of the compared data that the at least one vapor compression system is or is not subsequently in normal operation.

2. The end device of claim 1, wherein the comparing means is configured to wirelessly transmit the compared data to a receiving device.

3. The end device of claim 1, wherein the compared data includes information concerning an occurrence of periods when the at least one vapor compression system is operating at an abnormal state and is wirelessly transmitted to at least one of the system'"'"'s custodian and a repair service provider.

4. A method of monitoring performance of at least one vapor compression system, consisting of measuring values of only outdoor air temperature, compressor discharge line temperature, outlet line temperature, current draw, and ratio of start-winding voltage to run-winding voltage, and comparing the measured values with values of the outdoor air temperature, compressor discharge line temperature, condenser outlet line temperature, current draw, and ratio of start-winding voltage to run-winding voltage that have been previously obtained during proper system operation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the comparing step is performed at comparable outdoor air temperature values obtained during normal operation.

6. A method of monitoring performance of at least one vapor compression or heat pump system, consisting of measuring outdoor air temperature and temperature at one of an inlet side and a discharge side of a compressor of each of the at least one system, and comparing values of the measured outdoor and compressor temperatures with one of measured and predicted values that have been previously obtained during proper system operation at the same outdoor ambient temperature for determining that the at least one system is or is not subsequently operating properly.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein results of the compared values are wirelessly transmitted to at least one of a custodian and a repair service provider for the at least one system.

8. A method of monitoring performance of an evaporator of a vapor compression system, consisting of measuring outdoor ambient temperature and temperature at one of a discharge side and an inlet side of a compressor of the system, and comparing values of the measured temperatures with measured or predicted values previously obtained during proper system operation at the same outdoor ambient temperature.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein results of the compared values are wirelessly transmitted to at least one of a custodian and a repair service provider for the system.