Remote data acquisition system and method

• US 6,823,680 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Jayanth, Nagaraj
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US10/280,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20030051490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 621/30, 622/30, 165/11.1, 165/11.2, 236/51, 236/94, 700/276, 700/277, 700/278
• US Class Current: 62/127
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/12 Heat-exchange fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/06 Damage
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence

Abstract

A data acquisition system and method includes monitoring a cooling system having a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condensor, and employs a number of sensors to monitor various operating parameters of the system. A database stores predefined operating parameters for a plurality of cooling systems. The operating parameters are provided to a computer, which compares the provided operating parameters of the monitored cooling system with the predefined operating parameters to provide diagnostic results for the monitored cooling system.

Claims

1. A data acquisition system for monitoring a cooling system including a microcontroller, a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condenser, said data acquisition system comprising:

a database including predefined operating parameters for a plurality of cooling systems, said predefined operating parameters including compressor type and refrigerant type;

a computer having an input for receiving a monitored operating parameter, in communication with the microcontroller to receive said monitored operating parameter and in communication with said database to compare said monitored operating parameter with said predefined operating parameters of one of the plurality of cooling systems; and

a first sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a superheat value of the cooling system;

wherein said monitored operating parameter includes at least said superheat, said computer being operable to diagnose the cooling system based on comparing said monitored operating parameter to said predefined operating parameters.

2. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a second sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a second operating parameter of the cooling system.

3. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a third sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a motor operating parameter of the cooling system.

4. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said monitored operating parameter includes said motor operating parameter and at least one of said first operating parameter and said second operating parameter.

5. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said second operating parameter includes a low side pressure of the cooling system and a high side pressure of the cooling system, and said motor operating parameter is a supply voltage to the compressor of the cooling system.

6. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said second operating parameter includes a low side pressure of the cooling system and a high side pressure of the cooling system, and said motor operating parameter is a supply amperage to the compressor of the cooling system.

7. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said second operating parameter includes a low side pressure of the cooling system and a high side pressure of the cooling system, and said motor operating parameter is a rotational speed of the compressor of the cooling system.

8. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said monitored operating parameter includes said superheat value, said second operating parameter, and said motor operating parameter.

9. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said second operating parameter includes a supply amperage to the compressor and a supply voltage to the compressor, and the motor operating parameter is a rotational speed of the compressor.

10. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a master computer disposed remote from said computer; and

a wireless connection between said computer and said master computer.

11. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said wireless connection includes a connection to the Internet.

12. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computer outputs instructions for repairing the cooling system.

13. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computer is a hand held computer.

14. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said predefined operating parameters are selected from a group including:

expansion device type;

unloading scheme; and

condenser cooling scheme.

15. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said monitored operating parameters are selected from a group including:

super cooling;

condensing temperature;

evaporating temperature;

motor current;

suction pressure; and

discharge pressure.

16. A data acquisition system for monitoring a cooling system including a microcontroller, a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condenser, said data acquisition system comprising:

a database including predefined operating parameters for a plurality of cooling systems, said predefined operating parameters including compressor type and refrigerant type;

a computer having access to said database and input for receiving a monitored operating parameter, said computer in communication with the microcontroller to receive said monitored operating parameter;

a first sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a superheat value of the cooling system; and

wherein said monitored operating parameter includes at least said superheat value, and said computer being operable to compare said monitored operating parameter to said predefined operating parameters to diagnose the cooling system.

17. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 16, further comprising a second sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a second operating parameter of the cooling system.

18. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 17, further comprising a third sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a motor operating parameter of the cooling system.

19. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said monitored operating parameter includes said motor operating parameter and at least one of said first operating parameter and said second operating parameter.

20. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said memory of said computer includes a data base of predefined operating parameters for a plurality of cooling systems, said computer being operable to compare said monitored operating parameter with said predefined operating parameters of one of the plurality of cooling systems to diagnose the cooling system.

21. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said second operating parameter includes a low side pressure of the cooling system and a high side pressure of the cooling system, and said motor operating parameter is a supply voltage to the compressor of the cooling system.

22. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said second operating parameter includes a low side pressure of the cooling system and a high side pressure of the cooling system, and said motor operating parameter is a supply amperage to the compressor of the cooling system.

23. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said second operating parameter includes a low side pressure of the cooling system and a high side pressure of the cooling system, and said motor operating parameter is a rotational speed of the compressor of the cooling system.

24. A data acquisition system for monitoring a cooling system including a microcontroller, or refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condenser, said data acquisition system comprising:

a database including predefined operating parameters defined by compressor type, refrigerant type and expansion device type, said database disposed at a location remote from the microcontroller;

a computer having an input for receiving a monitored operating parameter and in communication with said database via the Internet to receive said predefined operating parameters;

a first sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted the sense of first operating parameter of the cooling system; and

a diagnostic module operable by said computer to compare said monitored operating parameter to said predefined operating parameters and output a diagnosis for the cooling system.

25. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 24 wherein said database includes said predefined operating parameters for a plurality of cooling systems, wherein said computer is in communication with said data base to compare said monitored operating parameter with said predefined operating parameters of one of the plurality of cooling systems.

26. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 24 further comprising a second sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a second operating parameter of the cooling system.

27. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 26, a further comprising third sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a motor operating parameter of the cooling system.

28. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 27, wherein said monitored operating parameter includes said motor operating parameter and at least one of said first operating parameter and said second operating parameter.

29. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 28, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said motor operating parameter is a supply voltage to the compressor of the cooling system.

30. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 28, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said motor operating parameter is a supply amperage to the compressor of the cooling system.

31. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 28, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said motor operating parameter is a rotational speed of the compressor of the cooling system.

32. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 27, wherein said monitored operating parameter includes said first operating parameter, said second operating parameter, and said motor operating parameter.

33. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 32, wherein said first operating parameter is a supply amperage to the compressor, said second operating parameter is a supply voltage to the compressor, and the motor operating parameter is a rotational speed of the compressor.

34. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 32, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said motor operating parameter is a supply voltage to the compressor of the cooling system.

35. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 32, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said motor operating parameter is a supply amperage to the compressor of the cooling system.

36. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 32, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said motor operating parameter is a rotational speed of the compressor of the cooling system.

37. A method for monitoring a system including a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condenser, said method comprising:

measuring a superheat value of the monitored system;

measuring a motor current value of the monitored system;

selecting a set of predefined operating parameters for a model system based on compressor type and refrigerant type from a database including predefined operating parameters for a plurality of model systems;

comparing said set of predefined operating parameters with said measured superheat and motor current values of the monitored system; and

outputting diagnostic results from said comparison.

38. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 37, further comprising the step of measuring another motor operating parameter of the monitored system wherein said inputting step includes inputting said motor operating parameter to said computer.

39. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 37, wherein said selecting step includes manually inputting an identifier of the monitored system.

40. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 37, wherein said selecting step includes inputting an identifier of the monitored system with a barcode reader.

41. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 37, wherein said selecting step includes communicating between said computer and a master computer using a wireless connection.

42. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 37, wherein said communicating between said computer and said master computer includes communicating through the Internet.

43. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 37, wherein said outputting diagnostic results includes providing instructions for repairing the monitored system.

44. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 37, further comprising performing a test session prior to comparing said set of predefined operating parameters with said superheat and motor current values of the monitored system.

45. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 37, further comprising updating said data base from a master computer.