Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a refrigeration loop comprising an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor for circulating refrigerant, and an electronic expansion valve. A controller performs a first operating cycle of the air conditioner unit with the compressor at a first compressor speed and the electronic expansion valve in a first valve position, receives a command to perform a second operating cycle at a target compressor speed, determines that the target compressor speed of the second operating cycle corresponds to the first compressor speed, and initiates the second operating cycle with the electronic expansion valve positioned at the first valve position. The controller is further configured to determine that the first valve position is below a predetermined position threshold at an end of the first operating cycle and open the electronic expansion valve to the predetermined position threshold after the first operating cycle.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit and method of operating the same includes performing an operating cycle in a feedback control mode, including adjusting the an electronic expansion valve (EEV) to minimize an error between a measured superheat and a target superheat using a PI controller, determining that a target compressor speed has changed by greater than a predetermined speed threshold, and initiating a linear control mode of the operating cycle, including adjusting the EEV using a valve position equation that is a function of the target compressor speed, an indoor temperature, and an outdoor temperature. The controller may also start a transition timer upon initiation of the linear control mode, transition back into a feedback control mode upon expiration of the transition timer, and initialize the integral term of the PI controller based on the EEV position from the linear control mode.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a refrigeration loop including an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor for circulating refrigerant, and an electronic expansion valve. A controller receives a command to perform an operating cycle at a target compressor speed, determines a starting position of the electronic expansion valve using a valve position equation that is a function of the target compressor speed, an indoor temperature, an outdoor temperature, and empirically determined constants, and initializes the operating cycle with the electronic expansion valve at the starting position.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a refrigeration loop including a condenser and an evaporator, a compressor for circulating refrigerant, and an electronic expansion valve. A controller monitors an operating superheat of the refrigerant across the evaporator, identifies a superheat fault condition based on at least one of the operating superheat, a target valve position of the electronic expansion valve, or a compressor speed, stops the compressor in response to identifying the superheat fault condition, and initiates a calibration process of the electronic expansion valve.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a compressor for circulating refrigerant through refrigeration loop, an indoor fan, and an outdoor fan. A controller is configured to operate the air conditioner unit in a standard mode of operation to heat a room, determine that an occupant is present in the room, and operate the air conditioner unit in an occupant mode of operation in response to determining that the occupant is present in the room. The occupant mode of operation includes adjusting at least one operating parameter of the air conditioner unit to increase a discharge temperature of a flow of indoor air relative to the standard mode of operation.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a refrigeration loop, a variable speed compressor coupled to the refrigeration loop, an indoor temperature sensor, an electric heater, and a controller operably coupled to the variable speed compressor, the indoor temperature sensor, and the electric heater. The controller is configured to operate the variable speed compressor at a target speed, identify an auxiliary heating trigger of the air conditioner unit, and operate the electric heater according to the auxiliary heating trigger.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a refrigeration loop, a variable speed compressor urging refrigerant through the refrigeration loop, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature within a room, and a controller operably coupled to the variable speed compressor. The controller is configured to initiate the compressor at a fixed speed, determine an estimated target temperature of the room, determine an actual temperature of the room, generate a target compressor speed, and initiate the compressor at the target speed.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a variable speed compressor for circulating refrigerant through refrigeration loop and a controller configured to initiate an operating cycle, start a compressor transition timer, and determine an unfiltered compressor speed. The unfiltered compressor speed is fixed based on the selected operating mode until the compressor transition timer reaches a predetermined transition delay time, after which the unfiltered compressor speed is determined using a closed loop feedback control algorithm. The controller is further configured to operate the variable speed compressor at a target compressor speed that is modified from the unfiltered compressor speed based on the identification of a speed modification condition, such as a dehumidification deficiency, a speed restriction, or the identification of one or more resonance avoidance zones.

Abstract: An air conditioning appliance or a make-up air (MUA) assembly may include an intake conduit and a secondary air duct. The intake conduit may be attachable to a housing of the air conditioning appliance. The intake conduit may define an intake passage upstream from the indoor inlet. The intake conduit may further define a secondary inlet upstream from the intake passage to permit air thereto. The secondary air duct may extend from the intake conduit outside of the housing upstream from the secondary inlet to direct air thereto.

Abstract: A single-package air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and an intake conduit. The housing may define an outdoor portion and an indoor portion. The compressor may be in fluid communication with an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The intake conduit may extend from the housing. The intake conduit may define an intake passage upstream from the indoor heat exchanger assembly. The intake conduit may further define a primary inlet and a secondary inlet spaced apart from the primary inlet in fluid parallel thereto. The primary inlet and the secondary inlet may be defined upstream from the intake passage to separately permit air thereto.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit is configured for automatically detecting a restricted duct and adjusting fan speed schedules in response. The air conditioner unit includes an indoor fan including a drive motor for selectively rotating the indoor fan to urge a flow of air through the indoor portion and a controller is configured for sending a control signal to the drive motor to rotate the indoor fan to an actual fan speed. Based on the actual fan speed and a unit voltage, the controller obtains a target control signal, e.g., via a lookup table, and determines that a restricted duct condition exists if the control signal is different than the target control signal. The controller adjusts the operation of the indoor fan in response to determining that the restricted duct condition exists.

Abstract: A method of operating an air conditioner unit, as provided herein, includes initiating a first heat pump cycle, the first heat pump cycle comprising sending a control signal to the fan to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed, and detecting an actual rotational speed of the fan, calculating a first flow rate of air through the first heat exchanger based on the control signal and the actual rotational speed, storing the first flow rate as a first reference flow rate, stopping the first heat pump cycle, initiating a second heat pump cycle, calculating a second flow rate of air through the first heat exchanger, comparing the calculated second flow rate to the first reference flow rate, and directing the air conditioner unit based on the comparison of the calculated second flow rate to the first reference flow rate.

Abstract: A single-package air conditioner unit, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and a controller. The cabinet may define an outdoor portion and an indoor portion. The outdoor heat exchanger may be disposed in the outdoor portion. The indoor heat exchanger may be disposed in the indoor portion. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant therebetween. The controller may be in operative communication with the compressor. The controller may be configured to initiate a conditioning operation. The conditioning operation may include receiving a demand response signal corresponding to electric power access, determining occupancy of an indoor environment, and initiating a responsive conditioning cycle in response to receiving the demand response signal, the responsive conditioning cycle being based on the determined occupancy.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit is configured for automatically detecting a restricted duct and adjusting fan speed schedules in response. The air conditioner unit includes an indoor fan including a drive motor for selectively rotating the indoor fan to urge a flow of air through the indoor portion and a controller is configured for sending a control signal to the drive motor to rotate the indoor fan to an actual fan speed. Based on the actual fan speed and a unit voltage, the controller obtains a target control signal, e.g., via a lookup table, and determines that a restricted duct condition exists if the control signal is different than the target control signal. The controller adjusts the operation of the indoor fan in response to determining that the restricted duct condition exists.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a heater bank array, and a controller. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The heater bank array may include a plurality of heater banks mounted within the indoor portion. The controller may be in operative communication with the compressor and the heater bank array. The controller may be configured to initiate a heating operation. The heating operation may include detecting objectionable heating unit performance of the heater bank array, reducing an electric power load of the heater bank array in response to detecting objectionable heating unit performance, and directing a modified heat cycle based on detecting objectionable heating unit performance.

Abstract: A method for defrosting an evaporator of a sealed system includes determining that a defrost cycle is needed to remove frost from the evaporator and initiating such a defrost cycle. The method further includes determining that the defrost cycle failed to defrost the evaporator and repeating the defrost cycle until the defrost cycle is successful or until a predetermined number of defrost cycles have been performed. After a predetermined number of successive failed defrost cycles, the method includes preventing further operation of the sealed system, e.g., by locking out compressor, until the frost and/or ice build-up is removed.

Abstract: A method for defrosting an evaporator of a sealed system includes determining that a defrost cycle is needed to remove frost from the evaporator and initiating such a defrost cycle. The method further includes determining that the defrost cycle failed to defrost the evaporator and repeating the defrost cycle until the defrost cycle is successful or until a predetermined number of defrost cycles have been performed. After a predetermined number of successive failed defrost cycles, the method includes preventing further operation of the sealed system, e.g., by locking out compressor, until the frost and/or ice build-up is removed.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit and thermostat assembly are provided herein. The air conditioner unit may include an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, a bulkhead, a first resettable thermostat, a second resettable thermostat, and a one-shot thermostat. The first resettable thermostat may be positioned within an indoor portion. The first resettable thermostat may be configured to regulate a temperature within the air conditioner unit. The second resettable thermostat may be positioned within the indoor portion. The second resettable thermostat may be spaced apart from the first resettable thermostat along a lateral direction. The one-shot thermostat may be positioned within the indoor portion between the first resettable thermostat and the second resettable thermostat along a lateral direction.