Method and Apparatus for Monitoring A Refrigeration-Cycle System

• US 20140000294A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 8,974,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/56
• 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 11/39 Monitoring filter performance
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/90 Cleaning of purification apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/19 Calculation of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/02 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/133 through the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1351 of the cooled fluid upstream or downstream of the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/15 Power, e.g. by voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/151 of the compressor motor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/172 of the condenser fan
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1931 Discharge pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1933 Suction pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/195 of the condenser
• 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 2700/21161 : of the fluid heated by the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21163 : of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21172 : at the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21173 : at the outlet
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21174 : of the refrigerant at the inlet of the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21175 : of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/00 : Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 : of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 : Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 : Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2201/00 : Application of thermometers in air-conditioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0826 : and measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. permeation rate or pressure change
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/084 : Testing filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0846 : by use of radiation, e.g. transmitted or reflected light
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1928 : sensing the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 : to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/25 : Air filter condition indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/42 : Oil filter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/34 : Indicator and controllers

Abstract

A monitoring system for monitoring operation of a refrigerant-cycle system is disclosed. An electrical sensor measures an electrical quantity indicative of power consumption of a component of the refrigerant-cycle system. A processing system selectively identifies a condition indicative of an airflow restriction through the refrigerant-cycle system based on the power consumption of the component.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring operation of a refrigerant-cycle system, the method comprising:

measuring, using an electrical sensor, an electrical quantity indicative of power consumption of a component of the refrigerant-cycle system; and

using a processing system, selectively identifying a condition indicative of an airflow restriction through the refrigerant-cycle system based on the power consumption of the component.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the component is an electric motor of a fan that outputs air to an evaporator of the refrigerant-cycle system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition indicative of an airflow restriction is a restriction of airflow through an air filter of the refrigerant-cycle system.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising identifying a restriction of airflow through the air filter in response to the power consumption of the component being greater than a predetermined value.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising identifying a restriction of airflow through the air filter in response to the power consumption of the component being less than a predetermined value.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition indicative of an airflow restriction is a restriction of airflow through vents of the refrigerant-cycle system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition indicative of an airflow restriction is a restriction of airflow through an evaporator of the refrigerant-cycle system.

8. A method of monitoring operation of a refrigerant-cycle system, the method comprising:

tracking, using a timer, a first period of an air handler outputting air and a second period of the air handler not outputting air; and

using a processing system;

applying a first weighting value to the first period to produce a first weighted period, wherein the first weighting value is greater than zero;

applying a second weighting value to the second period to produce a second weighted period; and

determining a period of use of an air filter of the refrigerant-cycle system based on the first and second weighted periods; and

notifying an owner to replace the air filter in response to the period of use of the air filter being greater than a predetermined period.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

using a thermostat;

controlling operation of the refrigerant-cycle system; and

receiving user input indicative of the predetermined period; and

setting, using the processing system, the predetermined period based on the user input.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the first weighting value is greater than the second weighting value.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising setting the period of use of the air filter based on a sum of the first and second weighted periods.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising, using the processing system:

receiving data indicative of an amount of atmospheric dust; and

determining the period of use of the air filter further based on the amount of atmospheric dust.

13. A monitoring system for monitoring operation of a refrigerant-cycle system, the monitoring system comprising:

an electrical sensor measuring an electrical quantity indicative of power consumption of a component of the refrigerant-cycle system; and

a processing system that selectively identifies a condition indicative of an airflow restriction through the refrigerant-cycle system based on the power consumption of the component.

14. The monitoring system of claim 13 wherein the electrical sensor measures the electrical quantity indicative of power consumption of an electric motor of a fan that outputs air to an evaporator of the refrigerant-cycle system.

15. The monitoring system of claim 13 wherein the condition indicative of an airflow restriction is a restriction of airflow through an air filter of the refrigerant-cycle system.

16. The monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the processing system identifies a restriction of airflow through the air filter in response to the power consumption of the component being greater than a predetermined value.

17. The monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the processing system identifies a restriction of airflow through the air filter in response to the power consumption of the component being less than a predetermined value.

18. The monitoring system of claim 13 wherein the condition indicative of an airflow restriction is a restriction of airflow through vents of the refrigerant-cycle system.

19. The monitoring system of claim 13 wherein the condition indicative of an airflow restriction is a restriction of airflow through an evaporator of the refrigerant-cycle system.

20. A monitoring system for monitoring operation of a refrigerant-cycle system, the monitoring system comprising:

a timer tracking a first period of an air handler outputting air and a second period of the air handler not outputting air; and

a processing system that;

applies a first weighting value to the first period to produce a first weighted period, wherein the first weighting value is greater than zero;

applies a second weighting value to the second period to produce a second weighted period;

determines a period of use of an air filter of the refrigerant-cycle system based on the first and second weighted periods; and

notifies an owner to replace the air filter in response to the period of use of the air filter being greater than a predetermined period.

21. The monitoring system of claim 20 further comprising a thermostat that controls operation of the refrigerant-cycle system and that receives user input indicative of the predetermined period,

wherein the processing system sets the predetermined period based on the user input.

22. The monitoring system of claim 20 wherein the first weighting value is greater than the second weighting value.

23. The monitoring system of claim 20 wherein the processing system sets the period of use of the air filter based on a sum of the first and second weighted periods.

24. The monitoring system of claim 20 wherein the processing system receives data indicative of an amount of atmospheric dust and determines the period of use of the air filter further based on the amount of atmospheric dust.