Abstract: A thermostat is provided that is capable of reliably reducing the operation of an air conditioner and other systems to provide energy cost savings to the consumer and load reduction to a utility provider. The thermostat includes at least one sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the temperature within the space, and a memory for storing at least one temperature offset value associated with a request for reduced heating or reduced cooling operation. The thermostat further includes a controller in communication with the at least one sensor, which is configured to periodically determine a temperature value for the space and to control heating or cooling of the space until the determined temperature value has substantially reached the set-point temperature.

Abstract: A refrigerator control method is disclosed which ensures efficient operation of a compressor. To control a refrigerator including a compressor, a first evaporator and a second evaporator connected to the compressor, and a refrigerant control valve that controls introduction of a refrigerant into the first evaporator and the second evaporator, the refrigerator control method includes operating the compressor, and controlling the opening and closing of the refrigerant control valve, to reduce not only consumption of electricity by the compressor, but also a pressure difference between an entrance and an exit of the compressor upon starting of the compressor.

Abstract: A vapor compression refrigeration system including components capable of determining the superheat at a compressor inlet is provided. The vapor compression refrigeration system may include sensors capable of making measurements from which the superheat at the compressor inlet may be determined. The vapor compression refrigeration system may be operable to compare the determined superheat level at the inlet to the compressor to a desired superheat level and generate a new evaporator discharge superheat level target for one or more evaporators operatively interconnected to the compressor to affect the superheat at the compressor inlet. The vapor compression refrigeration system may be operable to broadcast the new evaporator discharge superheat level target to the one or more evaporators over a communications bus. The vapor compression refrigeration system may update and broadcast the evaporator discharge superheat level target at programmed intervals.

Abstract: An air conditioning system including an outdoor heat-exchanging unit, at least one indoor heat-exchanging unit, a gaseous refrigerant line connected between the outdoor heat-exchanging unit and the indoor heat-exchanging unit, to allow a refrigerant in a gaseous state to flow between the outdoor heat-exchanging unit and the indoor heat-exchanging unit, and a pressure compensation device for increasing a pressure of the gaseous refrigerant flowing through the gaseous refrigerant line. The pressure compensation device is located along the gaseous refrigerant line at a position closer to the indoor heat-exchanging unit than to the outdoor heat-exchanging unit. A pressure compensation device for use in an air conditioning system is also provided.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system and associated method for air-conditioning an aircraft cabin including a first zone and a second zone of variable length and at least one intermediate zone is provided. The intermediate zone is selectively associated with the first zone or the second zone. Air at a first set temperature is supplied to the first zone, and air at a second set temperature is supplied to the second zone. Likewise, air at a third set temperature is supplied to the intermediate zone. A regulating device regulates the third set temperature such that if the intermediate zone is associated with the first zone, the third set temperature corresponds substantially to the first set temperature; but if the intermediate zone is associated with the second zone, the third set temperature.

Abstract: A linear compressor control system includes an electronic circuit controlling an electric motor that drive a piston of the compressor, such that the motor is operated intermittently with an on-time (tL) and an off-time (tD) to keep the compression capacity of the compressor substantially constant. The compressor is associated with a closed cooling circuit having an evaporator and a condenser. The off-time (tD) is shorter than the time necessary for the evaporation pressure (PE) in the evaporator and the condensation pressure (Pc) in the condenser to equalize each other after the compressor has been turned off.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a malfunction preventing device and a method thereof, which ignores an input signal produced by electricity capacity variation because of moisture to prevent a malfunction of a refrigerator. A malfunction preventing device for a refrigerator includes an inputting part in which a static electricity switch is provided to produce an input signal, and a controlling part that ignores a first input signal inputted in a wait mode, wherein there is no inputted signal from the inputting part for a predetermined delaying time period in the wait mode. A method for preventing a malfunction of a refrigerator includes performing a wait mode in that there is no input signal produced by static electricity for a predetermined delay time period, and ignoring a first input signal inputted in the wait mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerant valve control device and a control method thereof, which adjusts eccentricity of a refrigerant valve during an operation of a refrigerator to prevent overcooling. A refrigerant valve control device of a refrigerator includes a temperature sensing part that senses temperature inside the refrigerator; a refrigerant valve that selectively opens and closes a refrigerant path; and a controlling part that controls the refrigerant valve based on temperature differences between the sensed temperature inside the refrigerator and a predetermined control temperature. In another aspect of the present invention, a control method of a refrigerant valve for a refrigerator includes determining whether refrigerant is leaked at a refrigerant valve based on temperature differences between the temperature inside the refrigerator and a predetermined control temperature; and controlling the refrigerant valve based on the result of the determination.

Abstract: A system for controlling a fan in a vehicle comprises an ambient temperature module that generates an ambient temperature enable signal when ambient temperature is within a vaporization window. An engine component monitoring module that generates a vaporization temperature enable signal when an engine component in an engine compartment has an estimated outer surface temperature that greater than a water vaporization temperature. A vehicle speed module generates a speed enable signal when the vehicle speed is less than a first vehicle speed. A fan turn-on module that selectively turns on a fan based on the temperature enable signal, the vaporization temperature enable signal and the speed enable signal.

Abstract: A refrigerant system (10, 100, 200) is provided with a power control system (30, 130, 230). The power control system adjusts the speed of the motors driving the refrigerant system components such as a compressor, a fan or a pump via a variable speed device (75, 175, 275) or bypasses the variable speed device (75, 175, 275) for normal operating speeds. A single power control system may be provided for the entire refrigerant system or each component may be independently controlled.

Abstract: Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment units are provided with controllers which may be interconnected to a third or common controller, such as a communicating thermostat, and provide information in a process to determine if two or more of such air conditioning units may be operated as twinned units. Information is transmitted over a data bus between the controllers for the respective air conditioning units and the common controller to determine if the air conditioning units are the same type, of a same family and of essentially the same capacity before permitting twinned operation. If one of the air conditioning units is not twinnable, an alarm signal is generated to prevent operation of the air conditioning units in a multiple-unit configuration.

Abstract: An air conditioner is arranged so as to be able to accurately judge a refrigerant filling state within the air conditioner regardless of environmental and installation conditions.

Abstract: Refrigeration circuit (2) for circulating a refrigerant in a predetermined flow direction, having in flow direction a heat rejecting heat exchanger (4), an evaporator throttle valve (8), an evaporator (10), a compressor (22), an internal heat exchanger (16) placed with its “cool side” between the evaporator (10) and the compressor (22), an inlet temperature sensor (24) located between the evaporator (10) and the internal heat exchanger (16) and an outlet temperature sensor (26) located between the internal heat exchanger (16) and the compressor (22), and a control (28) for controlling the evaporator throttle valve (8) based on the inlet and outlet temperature sensor measurement, wherein the control is adapted for controlling the evaporator throttle valve (8) based on an inlet temperature setpoint at the inlet temperature sensor (24); and shifting the inlet temperature setpoint based on the outlet temperature sensor measurement (26).

Abstract: A thermostatic expansion valve includes a valve body having an evaporator inlet port, an evaporator outlet port, a suction line port, and a liquid line port. A sensor chamber formed within the valve body is disposed between the evaporator outlet port and the suction line port. A valve is disposed within the valve body controls a flow of refrigerant from the liquid line port to the evaporator inlet port. A diaphragm separates a charge chamber and a pressure chamber where a pressure differential between a charge chamber and a pressure chamber controls the positioning of the valve. A restriction flow passage located to provide fluid communication between the sensor chamber and the pressure chamber is configured to limit a flow rate from the pressure chamber to sensor chamber, thereby slowing the opening of the valve resulting in a reduction of noise generated following an initial startup of a compressor.

Abstract: A refrigerant system for cooling a comfort zone is selectively operable in a cooling-only mode and a reheat mode. The system operates in the cooling mode to meet sensible and latent cooling demands of a room or area in a building when the room temperature is appreciably above a target temperature. The reheat mode is for addressing the latent cooling or dehumidifying demand when the room temperature is near or below the target temperature. In some embodiments, a generally inactive condenser stores excess refrigerant during the reheat mode, thereby avoiding the need for a separate liquid refrigerant receiver. To maintain a desired level of subcooling in the reheat coil, refrigerant can be transferred accordingly between the inactive condenser and the reheat coil. In some embodiments, the system's evaporator and reheat coil can be connected in a series or parallel flow relationship.

Abstract: A resettable thermal pressure relief device (TPRD) is disclosed. The TPRD includes a piston, a housing adapted to receive the piston and allow movement between an open and a closed position. The housing includes an actuator having a temperature sensitive material disposed therein. The temperature sensitive material volumetrically expands, increasing a length of the actuator and forcing a lever from a first position to a second position. The piston is held in the closed position by the lever in the first position. When the lever moves to the second position, the piston is allowed to move to the open position, allowing a fluid to flow through the TPRD from a high pressure vessel in communication therewith.

Abstract: A defrosting and chilling compartment that can be incorporated into the fresh food compartment of a refrigerator includes separate and independent pathways for selectively conducting warming or cooling air, respectively, to a holding section in the compartment where an item to be defrosted or chilled is located. Certain of the pathways are used to conduct warming air and certain other pathways are used to conduct cooling air. A heating device is associated with the pathways that conduct warming air, and the pathways that conduct cooling air are associated with a source of cooling air. Separate air-moving devices, such as fans for example, can be provided for the separate pathways. The pathways can include a closure device for selectively and variably opening and closing the pathways.

Abstract: Control systems for recovery wheels, ventilation systems with recovery devices, buildings having ventilation, and methods of controlling recovery wheels and controlling or modifying ventilation systems. A parameter of ventilation systems or recovery devices, such as the speed of a recovery wheel, may be controlled as a function of pressure, differential pressure, flow rate, or fan speed, for example, to provide appropriate purge flow to maintain purge effectiveness and limit the carry-over of contaminants from a return/exhaust airstream to an outside/supply airstream, for instance, in a variable air-volume system. A purge angle may be set at a minimum position commensurate with a maximum flow rate and recovery-wheel speed may be reduced at lower flows to maintain purge effectiveness. In some embodiments, temperature and humidity are measured, and wheel speed is also controlled as a function of these measurements.

Abstract: A cut-out circuit for an air conditioner protects the air conditioning system components when subjected to low pressure conditions, without manually resetting the system after low pressure cut-out. The cut-out circuit preferably includes a relay, connectable to a voltage source through a normally closed low pressure switch to a compressor clutch, the relay operable in a closed state to output a voltage from the voltage source through the low pressure switch to the clutch, and in an open state to interrupt the voltage. The low pressure switch may open responsive to a low pressure condition interrupting voltage flow to the clutch. The circuit includes a normally open high pressure switch, connected to the relay and a voltage source, operable to close responsive to a high pressure condition, to output a voltage from a voltage source to the relay for changing the relay operating state to open.

Abstract: A controller for an HVAC system having a plurality of zones and having a multiple stage fluid temperature conditioning device. The controller is configured to receive a plurality of thermostat signals and to transmit a signal to control one of a plurality of flow control devices in response to a call for conditioning in one of the plurality of zones. The controller also includes one or more timers that are connected to the thermostat terminals, where the one or more timers are configured to initiate a separate timing count upon each call for conditioning in any one of the plurality of zones. In addition, the controller includes one or more staging terminals for transmitting staging signals to control a multiple stage fluid temperature conditioning device, where the transmission of the staging signals determines whether the conditioning device will operate at a relatively higher output stage.