Portable method and apparatus for monitoring refrigerant-cycle systems
First Claim
1. A portable monitoring system for monitoring operation of a refrigerant-cycle system, the portable monitoring system comprising:
- a temperature sensor configured to generate ambient air temperature data for air provided to an evaporator of the refrigerant-cycle system;
a humidity sensor configured to generate ambient air humidity data for air provided to the evaporator;
a processing system configured to;
determine a present maximum expected efficiency of the refrigerant-cycle system based on a present value of the ambient air temperature data and a present value of the ambient air humidity data; and
compute a present efficiency of the refrigerant-cycle system based on a present measured value of airflow flowing through the evaporator and a present measured value of power consumption by the refrigerant-cycle system;
a network interface, wherein the processing system is configured to use the network interface to query and receive expected efficiency data regarding the refrigerant-cycle system;
an input device configured to receive input from a user; and
a screen configured to display a relationship between the present efficiency and the present maximum expected efficiency to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable monitoring system that monitors various aspects of the operation of a refrigerant-cycle system is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a processor that measures power provided to the refrigerant-cycle system and gathers data from one or more sensors and uses the sensor data to calculate a figure of merit related to the efficiency of the system. In one embodiment, the measurements performed by the monitoring system include one or more of: an evaporator input air temperature, an evaporator output air temperature, evaporator air flow, evaporator air humidity, condenser air input temperature, condenser air output temperature sensor, electrical power. In one embodiment, the portable monitoring system receives information about the refrigerant-cycle system from either the system itself or from a computer network.
1550 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A portable monitoring system for monitoring operation of a refrigerant-cycle system, the portable monitoring system comprising:
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a temperature sensor configured to generate ambient air temperature data for air provided to an evaporator of the refrigerant-cycle system; a humidity sensor configured to generate ambient air humidity data for air provided to the evaporator; a processing system configured to; determine a present maximum expected efficiency of the refrigerant-cycle system based on a present value of the ambient air temperature data and a present value of the ambient air humidity data; and compute a present efficiency of the refrigerant-cycle system based on a present measured value of airflow flowing through the evaporator and a present measured value of power consumption by the refrigerant-cycle system; a network interface, wherein the processing system is configured to use the network interface to query and receive expected efficiency data regarding the refrigerant-cycle system; an input device configured to receive input from a user; and a screen configured to display a relationship between the present efficiency and the present maximum expected efficiency to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of measuring performance of a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:
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connecting a temperature sensor of a portable monitoring system to the central HVAC system, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to generate ambient air temperature data for air provided to an evaporator of the HVAC system and wherein the portable monitoring system further includes; a humidity sensor configured to generate ambient air humidity data for air provided to the evaporator; a processing system configured to; determine a present maximum expected efficiency of the HVAC system based on a present value of the ambient air temperature data and a present value of the ambient air humidity data; and compute a present efficiency of the HVAC system based on a present measured value of airflow flowing through the evaporator and a present measured value of power consumption by the HVAC system; a network interface, wherein the processing system is configured to use the network interface to query and receive expected efficiency data regarding the HVAC system; an input device configured to receive input from a user; and a screen configured to display a relationship between the present efficiency and the present maximum expected efficiency to the user; connecting the humidity sensor of the portable monitoring system to the central HVAC system; and controlling the processing system of the portable monitoring system using the input device of the portable monitoring system.
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19. A method of measuring performance of a self-contained heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:
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connecting a temperature sensor of a portable monitoring system to the self-contained HVAC system, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to generate ambient air temperature data for air provided to an evaporator of the self-contained HVAC system and wherein the portable monitoring system further includes; a humidity sensor configured to generate ambient air humidity data for air provided to the evaporator; a processing system configured to; determine a present maximum expected efficiency of the self-contained HVAC system based on a present value of the ambient air temperature data and a present value of the ambient air humidity data; and compute a present efficiency of the self-contained HVAC system based on a present measured value of airflow flowing through the evaporator and a present measured value of power consumption by the self-contained HVAC system; a network interface, wherein the processing system is configured to use the network interface to query and receive expected efficiency data regarding the self-contained HVAC system; an input device configured to receive input from a user; and a screen configured to display a relationship between the present efficiency and the present maximum expected efficiency to the user, connecting the humidity sensor of the portable monitoring system to the self-contained HVAC system; and controlling the processing system of the portable monitoring system using the input device of the portable monitoring system.
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Specification