Abstract: A system and method for calculating parameters for a refrigeration system having a variable speed compressor is provided. A compressor is connected to a condenser and an evaporator. An evaporator sensor outputs an evaporator signal corresponding to at least one of an evaporator pressure and an evaporator temperature. An inverter drive modulates electric power delivered to the compressor to modulate a speed of the compressor. The control module is connected to the inverter drive and receives the evaporator signal, monitors electrical power data and compressor speed data from the inverter drive, and calculates at least one of a condenser temperature and a condenser pressure based on the evaporator signal, the electrical power data, and the compressor speed data.

Abstract: A system is provided and may include a compressor having a motor and a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator and a condenser fluidly coupled to the compressor. The system may further include a first sensor producing a signal indicative of one of current and power drawn by the motor, a second sensor producing a signal indicative of a saturated condensing temperature, and a third sensor producing a signal indicative of a liquid-line temperature. Processing circuitry may processes the current or power signal to determine a derived condenser temperature and may compare the derived condenser temperature to the saturated condensing temperature received from the second sensor to determine a subcooling associated with a refrigerant charge level of the refrigeration circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting various system conditions in a fluid delivery system (such as an HVAC system) based on a motor parameter are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting: filter condition, frozen coil condition, register condition, energy efficiency, system failure, or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting fluid delivery system conditions based on motor parameters including system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, motor efficiency, and/or a change (or rate of change) in motor parameters. Techniques for responding to a clogged filter and a frozen coil are also disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques for characterizing a fluid delivery system off-site, prior to system installation.

Abstract: A fluid compression circuit may include a compression mechanism, a volume, a heat exchanger, a fluid conduit, a thermoelectric device, and a heat-transfer device. The compression mechanism includes first and second members cooperating to form a fluid pocket. The volume receives discharge fluid from the fluid pocket. The heat exchanger is in communication with the volume. The fluid conduit is connected to at least one of the volume and the heat exchanger. The thermoelectric device may include a first side in heat-transfer relation with a member at least partially defining the volume and a second side in heat-transfer relation with ambient air and cooperating with the first side to define a temperature gradient generating electrical current in the thermoelectric device. The heat-transfer device may receive electrical current generated by the thermoelectric device and may be in heat-transfer relation with at least one of the heat exchanger and the fluid conduit.

Abstract: A controller for a system having at least one variable-capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor and at least one fixed-capacity compressor is provided. The controller may include processing circuitry that modulates the at least one variable-capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor to any capacity substantially between ten percent capacity and one hundred percent capacity. The processing circuitry may determine a desired capacity of the at least one variable capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor based on a load sensor signal and a current run percentage of the at least one variable capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor and may toggle the at least one fixed-capacity compressor between a run mode and a shutdown mode based on the desired capacity of the at least one variable-capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor.

Abstract: A heat pump system of the type which re-circulates refrigerant through a fluid circuit between a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger includes a compressor coupled to the fluid circuit and a vapor injection system including a vessel fluidly coupled to the first and second heat exchangers and to a vapor injection port of the compressor. The vessel is operable as a receiver in a cooling mode of the heat pump system and is operable as a flash tank in a heating mode of the heat pump system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting various system conditions in a fluid delivery system (such as an HVAC system) based on a motor parameter are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting: filter condition, frozen coil condition, register condition, energy efficiency, system failure, or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting fluid delivery system conditions based on motor parameters including system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, motor efficiency, and/or a change (or rate of change) in motor parameters. Techniques for responding to a clogged filter and a frozen coil are also disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques for characterizing a fluid delivery system off-site, prior to system installation.

Abstract: A flash tank is provided and may include a shell having an inner volume. A first port may be in fluid communication with the inner volume and may be positioned relative to a surface of the inner volume such that fluid flows therebetween in a direction that is substantially tangent to the surface.

Abstract: A method is provided and may include generating a high-side signal indicative of an operating condition of a high-pressure side of a refrigeration circuit and generating a low-side signal indicative of an operating condition of a low-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit. The method may further include processing by a processor the high-side signal and the low-side signal to determine a non-measured system condition and determining by the processor an efficiency of the refrigeration circuit based on the non-measured system condition.

Abstract: A fluid compression circuit may include a compression mechanism, a volume, a heat exchanger, a fluid conduit, a thermoelectric device, and a heat-transfer device. The compression mechanism includes first and second members cooperating to form a fluid pocket. The volume receives discharge fluid from the fluid pocket. The heat exchanger is in communication with the volume. The fluid conduit is connected to at least one of the volume and the heat exchanger. The thermoelectric device may include a first side in heat-transfer relation with a member at least partially defining the volume and a second side in heat-transfer relation with ambient air and cooperating with the first side to define a temperature gradient generating electrical current in the thermoelectric device. The heat-transfer device may receive electrical current generated by the thermoelectric device and may be in heat-transfer relation with at least one of the heat exchanger and the fluid conduit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting various system conditions in a fluid delivery system (such as an HVAC system) based on a motor parameter are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting: filter condition, frozen coil condition, register condition, energy efficiency, system failure, or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting fluid delivery system conditions based on motor parameters including system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, motor efficiency, and/or a change (or rate of change) in motor parameters. Techniques for responding to a clogged filter and a frozen coil are also disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques for characterizing a fluid delivery system off-site, prior to system installation.

Abstract: A compressor control system includes at least one variable compressor, at least one fixed-capacity compressor, and a controller. The controller modulates the variable compressor based on a suction pressure reading of the variable compressor. In addition, the controller selectively toggles the fixed-capacity compressor between a run mode and a shutdown mode based on an operating parameter of the variable compressor.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for minimizing visual artifacts, such as ROS skew and laserbeam bow, in a brick-layer halftone structure. The present method involves determining a line pattern from ROS skew and laserbeam bow profiles which traverses through successive halftone cells displacing pixels along scanlines in the process direction. The amount of displacement is varied as a function of the cross-process location as determined by the line pattern. Pixels along scanlines are shifted in a direction defined by the error profiles. In each halftone cell within which the line pattern traverses, extra pixels (empty pixel spaces created in the halftone cell by the shifting operation) are filled with lost pixels (pixels bumped from the halftone cell during the shifting operation) such that overall density of the halftone cell is maintained. The lost pixels are buffered such that lost pixels are preserved.

Abstract: A system and method includes a compressor operable in a refrigeration circuit and including a motor, a current sensor providing a high-side signal indicative of an operating condition of a high-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit, a discharge line temperature sensor providing a low-side signal indicative of an operating condition of a low-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit, and processing circuitry processing the high-side signal and the low-side signal to indirectly determine a non-measured operating parameter of the refrigeration circuit.

Abstract: A system and method includes a compressor operable in a refrigeration circuit and including a motor, a current sensor detecting current supplied to the motor, a discharge line temperature sensor detecting discharge line temperature of the compressor, and processing circuitry receiving current data from the current sensor and discharge line temperature data from the discharge line temperature sensor and processing the current data and the discharge line temperature data to determine a capacity of the refrigeration circuit.

Abstract: A controller for a system having at least one variable-capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor and at least one fixed-capacity compressor is provided. The controller may include processing circuitry that modulates the at least one variable-capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor to any capacity substantially between ten percent capacity and one hundred percent capacity. The processing circuitry may determine a desired capacity of the at least one variable capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor based on a load sensor signal and a current run percentage of the at least one variable capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor and may toggle the at least one fixed-capacity compressor between a run mode and a shutdown mode based on the desired capacity of the at least one variable-capacity, pulse-width modulated compressor.

Abstract: A compressor is provided and may include a shell, a compression mechanism, a motor, and a diagnostic system that determines a system condition. The diagnostic system may include a processor and a memory and may predict a severity level of the system condition based on at least one of a sequence of historical-fault events and a combination of the types of the historical-fault events.

Abstract: A method includes operating a compressor with a vapor injection system and selectively supplying vapor to the compressor during compressor operation through actuation of a first control valve. The method further includes closing the first control valve to prevent vapor from entering the compressor for a first predetermined time period leading up to stopping operation of the compressor and stopping the compressor with the first control valve in the closed position. The compressor is started with the first control valve in the closed position and the first control valve is maintained in the closed position for a second predetermined time period following starting of the compressor. The first control valve is opened to supply vapor to the compressor after the second predetermined time period.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting various system conditions in a fluid delivery system (such as an HVAC system) based on a motor parameter are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting: filter condition, frozen coil condition, register condition, energy efficiency, system failure, or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting fluid delivery system conditions based on motor parameters including system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, motor efficiency, and/or a change (or rate of change) in motor parameters. Techniques for responding to a clogged filter and a frozen coil are also disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques for characterizing a fluid delivery system off-site, prior to system installation.

Abstract: A diagnostic system includes a controller adapted for coupling to a compressor or electronic stepper regulator valve. The controller produces a variable duty cycle control signal to adjust the capacity of the compressor or valve position of the electronic stepper regulator valve as a function of demand for cooling. The diagnostic system further includes a diagnostic module coupled to the controller for monitoring and comparing the duty cycle with at least one predetermined fault value indicative of a system fault condition and an alert module responsive to the diagnostic module for issuing an alert signal when the duty cycle bears a predetermined relationship to the fault value.