Demand side management enabling of electro mechanically controlled refrigerators and refrigeration systems

• US 9,976,792 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2013
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: Besore, John K
• Primary Examiner(s): Ciric, Ljiljana
• Application Number:
  US13/949,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20130305749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,763 Days
• Field of Search: 62158
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/006 with electronic control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/06 Removing frost defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2600/02 Timing
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

An energy saving defrost control system for an electromechanically controlled refrigerator. The system includes a defrost timer adapted to control a compressor according to an established run time, a defrost heater control operatively connected to the defrost timer and configured to activate a defrost heater in response to a timeout by the defrost timer, a demand side management module responsive to demand state signals from an associated utility indicative of at least a peak demand and an off peak demand state, and a time delay latching relay having a timer and configured to switch to one of a low position and a high position based on the demand state signal.

Claims

1. An energy saving defrost control system for reducing power consumption of an electromechanically controlled refrigerator, comprising:

a defrost timer adapted to control a compressor according to an established run time;

a defrost heater control operatively connected to said defrost timer and configured to activate a defrost heater in response to a timeout by said defrost timer;

a demand side management module responsive to demand state signals from an associated utility indicative of at least a peak demand and an off peak demand state;

a time delay latching relay having a timer and configured to switch to one of a low position and a high position based on the demand state signal.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said time delay latching relay further includes first and second contacts configured to open when said relay is at a low position.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second contacts are configured to close upon switching to the high position.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said demand side management module is configured to switch said time delay latching relay to the low position based on a signal indicative of a peak demand period.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the defrost cycle is disabled when said first and second contacts are open.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said defrost cycle is configured to remain disabled until the relay is switched to the high position.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said time delay latching relay is configured to switch to said high position in response to a timeout by said time delay latching relay timer.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said time delay latching relay is a single throw, double pole relay.

9. A method for reducing power consumption of an electronically controlled refrigeration system by disabling a defrost cycle during periods of peak demand, said method comprising:

controlling a compressor according to the established run time of a defrost timer;

activating a defrost heater in response to a timeout by said defrost timer, wherein said activation initiates a defrost cycle;

operatively associating a demand side management module with said defrost timer, wherein said demand side management module is responsive to demand state signals from an associated utility indicative of at least a peak demand and an off-peak demand state;

providing said demand side management module with a time delay latching relay with first and second contacts; and

switching said time delay latching relay into one of a high and low position based on the signal indicative of a peak demand period.

10. The method according to claim 9, further including switching said time delay latching relay into a low position in response to a signal indicative of a peak demand period.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein switching said relay into the low position opens the first and second contacts.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein opening said contacts pauses said defrost timer and disables the defrost cycle.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said defrost cycle remains disabled until said time delay latching relay switches back to the high position.

14. The method according to claim 13, further including switching said time delay latching relay to the high position in response to a timeout by the time delay latching relay timer.

15. The method according to claim 9, further including receiving a signal indicative of a peak demand period while a defrost cycle is in progress and switching said time delay latching relay to the low position to suspend the defrost cycle.

16. A demand side management enabled defrost control system capable of reducing peak power consumption in an electromechanically controlled refrigeration system, said defrost control system comprising:

a defrost timer operatively associated with a compressor, said compressor configured to operate said defrost timer according to an established run time;

a defrost heater control configured to activate and deactivate a defrost heater based on said compressor run time;

a demand side management module associated with said defrost timer and responsive to demand state signals from an associated utility indicative of at least a peak demand and an off peak demand state;

a time delay latching relay having first and second contacts, wherein said demand side management module is configured to switch said time delay latching relay to one of a high and low position based on the demand state.

17. The defrost control system according to claim 16, wherein said demand side management module is configured to switch said time delay latching relay to the low position based on s signal indicative of a peak demand state.

18. The defrost control system according to claim 16, wherein said first and second contacts are configured to open when said time delay latching relay is in the low position.

19. The defrost control system according to claim 18, wherein the defrost cycle is disabled when said first and second contacts are open.

20. The defrost control system according to claim 16, said time delay latching relay includes a timer configured to of time out after a period of time and automatically return the relay to the high position.

21. The defrost control system according to claim 20, wherein said period of time is about 4 hours.

22. The defrost control system according to claim 16, wherein said time delay latching relay is configured to switch to the high position in response to a signal indicative of a non-peak demand period.