REFRIGERATION SYSTEM ENERGY MONITORING AND DIAGNOSTICS

• US 20100179703A1
• Filed: 01/11/2010
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerson Digital Cold Chain Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc. (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Singh, Abtar, Mathews, Thomas J., Wickberg, Paul, Starling, Neal
• Granted Patent: US 8,065,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/00 Frozen sweets, e.g. ice confectionery, ice-cream; Mixtures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/00 Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs preserving foods or foodstuffs in association with packaging B65B55/00
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/36 Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/075 with parallel compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/22 Refrigeration systems for supermarkets
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/195 of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity with cascade operation F25B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/14 Sensors measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator or freezer
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 Sensors measuring the temperature of products
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A management center is configured to communicate with a refrigeration system controller for a refrigeration system at a remote location. The management center is configured to receive ambient temperature data corresponding to an ambient temperature at the remote location, to calculate a projected energy consumption value for at least one component of the refrigeration system based on the ambient temperature data, and to receive an actual energy consumption value for the at least one component from the refrigeration system controller. The management center is also configured to compare the actual energy consumption value with the projected energy consumption value and to generate an output based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A management center configured to:

communicate with a refrigeration system controller for a refrigeration system at a remote location;

receive ambient temperature data corresponding to an ambient temperature at said remote location;

calculate a projected energy consumption value for at least one component of said refrigeration system based on said ambient temperature data;

receive an actual energy consumption value for said at least one component from said refrigeration system controller;

compare said actual energy consumption value with said projected energy consumption value; and

generate an output based on said comparison.

2. The management center of claim 1, wherein said at least one component is a compressor of said refrigeration system.

3. The management center of claim 1, wherein said at least one component is a condenser of said refrigeration system.

4. The management center of claim 1, said management center being further configured to provide remote access to at least one of said actual energy consumption value and said projected energy consumption value.

5. The management center of claim 1, wherein said output includes an alarm.

6. A management center configured to:

communicate with a refrigeration system controller for a refrigeration system at a remote location;

receive ambient temperature data corresponding to an ambient temperature at said remote location;

calculate a first projected energy consumption value for at least one first component of said refrigeration system based on said ambient temperature data;

calculate a second projected energy consumption value for at least one second component of said refrigeration system based on said ambient temperature data;

receive a first actual energy consumption value for said at least one first component from said refrigeration system controller;

receive a second actual energy consumption value for said at least one second component from said refrigeration system controller;

perform a first comparison of said first actual energy consumption value with said first projected energy consumption value;

perform a second comparison of said second actual energy consumption value with said second projected energy consumption value; and

generate an output based on said first and second comparisons.

7. The management center of claim 6, wherein said at least one first component is a compressor of said refrigeration system and said at least one second component is a condenser of said refrigeration system.

8. The management center of claim 7, wherein said management center is further configured to:

calculate a total actual energy consumption value for said refrigeration system based on said first actual energy consumption value and said second actual energy consumption value;

calculate a total projected energy consumption value for said refrigeration system based on said first projected energy consumption value and said second projected energy consumption value;

perform a third comparison of said total actual energy consumption value with said total projected energy consumption value; and

generate said output based on said third comparison.

9. The management center of claim 6, wherein said at least one first component is a first compressor rack of said refrigeration system and said at least one second component is a second compressor rack of said refrigeration system.

10. The management center of claim 9, said management center being further configured to:

calculate a total actual energy consumption value for said refrigeration system based on said first actual energy consumption value and said second actual energy consumption value;

calculate a total projected energy consumption value for said refrigeration system based on said first projected energy consumption value and said second projected energy consumption value;

perform a third comparison of said total actual energy consumption value with said total projected energy consumption value; and

generate said output based on said third comparison.

11. The management center of claim 6, said management center being further configured to provide remote access to said first actual energy consumption value, said second actual energy consumption value, said first projected energy consumption value, and said second projected energy consumption value.

12. The management center of claim 6, wherein said output includes an alarm.

13. A management center configured to:

communicate with a first refrigeration system controller for a first refrigeration system at a first remote location;

communicate with a second refrigeration system controller for a second refrigeration system at a second remote location;

receive first ambient temperature data corresponding to a first ambient temperature at said first remote location;

calculate a first projected energy consumption value for at least one first component of said first refrigeration system based on said first ambient temperature data;

receive a first actual energy consumption value for said at least one first component from said first refrigeration system controller;

receive second ambient temperature data corresponding to a second ambient temperature at said second remote location;

calculate a second projected energy consumption value for at least one second component of said second refrigeration system based on said second ambient temperature data;

receive a second actual energy consumption value for said at least one second component from said second refrigeration system controller;

perform a first comparison of said first actual energy consumption value with said first projected energy consumption value;

perform a second comparison of said second actual energy consumption value with said second projected energy consumption value;

generate a first output based on said first comparison; and

generate a second output based on said second comparison.

14. The management center of claim 13, said management center being further configured to provide remote access to said first actual energy consumption value, said second actual energy consumption value, said first projected energy consumption value, and said second projected energy consumption value.

15. The management center of claim 13, wherein at least one of said first output and said second output includes an alarm.