System and method for compressor motor protection

• US 9,876,346 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2017
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Wallis, Frank S., Rozsnaki, Joseph James
• Primary Examiner(s): Leykin, Rita
• Application Number:
  US15/450,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20170179709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 361 24
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0201 Current
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0205 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/04 the means being electric
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/02 Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/10 Other safety measures
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/07 Electric current
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/86 Detection
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 23/02 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/06 specially adapted for stopping, starting, idling or no-load operation
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/28 Safety arrangements; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/0085 Prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/06 the pump being electrically driven F04D25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/008 Stop safety or alarm devices, e.g. stop-and-go control; Disposition of check-valves
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/165 Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/08 responsive to excess current responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/041 additionally responsive to excess current H02H5/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/08 for dynamo-electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0833 for electric motors with control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A refrigerant compressor includes an electric motor. A current sensor measures current to the electric motor. A switching device is configured to close and open to allow and prevent current flow to the electric motor, respectively. A maximum continuous current (MCC) device generates an output that one of: (i) is an MCC for the electric motor and (ii) is a value indicative of the MCC for the electric motor. A motor protection module: is remote from the MCC device; receives the output wirelessly from the MCC device via an antenna; one of sets a first MCC to the MCC for the electric motor and determines the first MCC based on the value indicative of the MCC for the electric motor; selectively sets a predetermined MCC to the first MCC; and controls the switching device based on a comparison of the current to the electric motor and the predetermined MCC.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a refrigerant compressor including an electric motor;

a current sensor that measures current flow to the electric motor;

a switching device configured to close and open to allow and prevent current flow to the electric motor, respectively;

a maximum continuous current (MCC) device that generates an output that is one of;

(i) an MCC for the electric motor and (ii) a value indicative of the MCC for the electric motor;

a motor protection module that;

is remote from the MCC device;

receives the output wirelessly from the MCC device via an antenna;

one of;

(i) sets a first MCC to the MCC for the electric motor; and

(ii) determines the first MCC based on the value indicative of the MCC for the electric motor;

selectively sets a predetermined MCC to the first MCC; and

controls the switching device based on a comparison of the current flow to the electric motor and the predetermined MCC.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor protection module opens the switching device when the current flow to the electric motor is greater than the predetermined MCC.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor protection module closes the switching device when the current flow to the electric motor is less than the predetermined MCC.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor protection module a second MCC device that includes a resistance corresponding to a second MCC for the electric motor,

wherein the motor protection module:

determines a second MCC for the electric motor as a function of the resistance; and

selectively sets the predetermined MCC to the second MCC.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the motor protection module sets the predetermined MCC equal to a lesser one of the first MCC and the second MCC.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the MCC device is integrated with the refrigerant compressor and remote from the motor protection module.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the motor protection module outputs a signal; and

the MCC device generates the output in response to the motor protection module outputting the signal.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor protection module receives the output wirelessly from the MCC device using near field communication.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor protection module receives the output wirelessly from the MCC device using radio frequency identification (RFID).

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor protection module receives the output wirelessly from the MCC device using a Bluetooth communication protocol.

11. A method comprising:

measuring, using a current sensor, current flow to an electric motor of a refrigerant compressor;

selectively opening and closing a switching device to allow and prevent current flow to the electric motor, respectively;

wirelessly receiving, from a maximum continuous current (MCC) device via an antenna, an output that is one of;

(i) an MCC for the electric motor and (ii) a value indicative of the MCC for the electric motor;

one of;

(i) setting a first MCC to the MCC for the electric motor; and

(ii) determining the first MCC based on the value indicative of the MCC for the electric motor;

selectively setting a predetermined MCC to the first MCC; and

controlling the switching device based on a comparison of the current flow to the electric motor and the predetermined MCC.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein controlling the switching device includes opening the switching device when the current flow to the electric motor is greater than the predetermined MCC.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein controlling the switching device includes closing the switching device when the current flow to the electric motor is less than the predetermined MCC.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving, from a second MCC device, a resistance corresponding to a second MCC for the electric motor;

determining a second MCC for the electric motor as a function of the resistance; and

selectively setting the predetermined MCC to the second MCC.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein selectively setting the predetermined MCC includes setting the predetermined MCC equal to a lesser one of the first MCC and the second MCC.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the MCC device is integrated with the refrigerant compressor.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

outputting a signal; and

wherein wirelessly receiving the output includes wirelessly receiving the output, from the MCC device via the antenna in response to the output of the signal.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein wirelessly receiving the output includes wirelessly receiving the output from the MCC device using near field communication.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein wirelessly receiving the output includes wirelessly receiving the output from the MCC device using radio frequency identification (RFID).

20. The method of claim 11 wherein wirelessly receiving the output includes wirelessly receiving the output from the MCC device using a Bluetooth communication protocol.