Abstract: A control system and a method for controlling a centrifugal chiller through which a fluid to be chilled passes includes a chilling apparatus having at least one of each of the following components; an evaporator, a compressor, preferably a magnetic bearing compressor, a condenser and an expansion device. A plurality of sensors measure and generate signals representing operating conditions within the chilling apparatus. A chiller control unit including a signal processor receives the signals generated by the plurality of sensors. The chiller control unit further includes a memory device that stores information relating to thermodynamic properties of specific fluids and a comparison device programmed with a comparison algorithm that compares the received signals generated by the plurality of sensors to thermodynamic properties of the specific fluid contained in the memory device.
Abstract: A device for controlling an engine for a vehicle and an air-conditioning device for a vehicle capable of suitably controlling the blow-out rate of an air-conditioning compressor at the time when the fuel supply has been cut by estimating a load torque of the air-conditioning compressor under a condition of resuming the fuel supply. The air-conditioning device for vehicles according to an embodiment of the invention comprises blow-out rate varying means for varying the blow-out rate of the compressor driven by a vehicle engine, and load torque estimating means for estimating a physical quantity related to the load torque of the compressor under a condition of resuming the fuel supply after the fuel supply has been cut. The blow-out rate of the compressor is changed by controlling the blow-out rate varying means depending upon the estimated value of physical quantity.
Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi-compartment type refrigerator and method for controlling the same. The refrigerator includes a plurality of storage compartments. A plurality of evaporators are each positioned in each of the storage compartments, respectively. A compressor supplies refrigerant to the evaporators through a branched refrigerant conduit. A plurality of opening/closing valves are each positioned on a refrigerant conduit upstream of each of the evaporators for selectively controlling supply of refrigerant to the evaporators. Reference compartment defining means defines as a reference storage compartment one of the storage compartments that has a relatively great load. Control means controls starting of the compressor depending on a change of a temperature of the reference storage compartment.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 22, 2001
Publication date:
September 26, 2002
Inventors:
Yong-Bo Shim, Hee-Soo Lee, Cheol-Hee Kim
Abstract: A method for controlling an electronically commutated motor (ECM) using an air moving system including a controller and an interface board, the interface board electrically coupled to the controller. The ECM electrically coupled to the interface board. The ECM includes a motor controller having an ECM program and the interface board includes a mode signal circuit and a tap signal circuit. The method includes transmitting control signals to the interface board, translating the signals into signals suitable for controlling the ECM, and operating the ECM based on the translated signals.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 8, 2001
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2002
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Roger C. Becerra, Dirk van der Duim, Mark A. Brattoli
Abstract: Apparatus for detecting low charge of a working fluid in a heat transfer system of the type having a fluid circuit comprising a compressor for pressurizing working fluid received from an evaporator, a condenser and condenser fan for cooling the working fluid received from the compressor, and an expansion device for controlling flow of the working fluid between the condenser and the evaporator, the apparatus comprising: a working fluid state sensor operative in response to a control signal and disposed in the fluid circuit on the outlet side of the evaporator to produce a working fluid state signal; and a control circuit for providing the control signal to the sensor and for controlling operation of the heat transfer system based on a comparison of the working fluid state signal with a state set point; the control circuit detecting a low charge condition of the working fluid when the state signal indicates the working fluid superheat exceeds a first predetermined threshold over a first predetermined time with
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 2, 2001
Publication date:
September 5, 2002
Inventors:
Roy M. Yabuki, Derek Y. Kamemoto, Virender Jain, Richard L. Kenyon
Abstract: A system is provided that provides the operator of a refrigeration package, such as a water-chilling package, with both short term and long term economic and quantitative analyses of the operating chiller, comparing the existing performance to the hypothetical design rated performance of other chillers, using actual operating conditions and parameters under which the existing package operates. The system economically differentiates the future use of the existing chiller with respect to the future use of one or more prospective replacement chillers. The system performs such analyses using either historical evaporator tonnage and actual power usage data, or works in real time to provide a “snapshot” economic forecast, based on the immediate conditions. During real time monitoring of a wide variety of performance data, the system can also identify unsatisfactory performance conditions, i.e.
Abstract: An all electric transport refrigeration system receives its compressor drive motor power and all other electrical power from a single on-board engine driven non-synchronous power system consisting of an engine driven synchronous generator. The generator is able to power refrigeration system electrical components at varying predetermined controlled output frequencies that are regulated by an electronic control system and independent of engine speed and generator output frequencies. The incorporation of the non-synchronous power system in the transport refrigeration system results in a system that meets space limitations while at the same time flexibly achieves the desired system performance.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 15, 2001
Publication date:
August 15, 2002
Applicant:
Carrier Corporation
Inventors:
James C. Wilson, Kenneth B. Barrett, Robert A. Chopko
Abstract: A brine cooling apparatus is provided which addresses an environmental problem by not contributing to global warming and can prevent brine from freezing within a heat exchanger. The apparatus is structured such that a screw compressor, a condenser, a main expansion valve and an evaporator are connected by a pipe so as to cool brine flowing through the evaporator. The refrigerant is an ammonia refrigerant, the evaporator is a plate type heat exchanger constructed by laying a plural sheets of plates, and capacity control means is provided in such a manner as to control a capacity of the screw compressor in accordance with the flow amount of the brine.
Abstract: An improved continuous capacity modulation system for scroll-type compressors is disclosed in which a valve body of a solenoid valve assembly is secured to the inner wall of the hermetic shell and the actuating coil is mounted on the outer surface thereof. The actuating coil includes a plunger/valve member which cooperates with passages provided in the valve body to selectively actuate the capacity modulation arrangement utilizing compressed fluid. The construction offers the advantage that all fluid pressure lines are located within the hermetic shell and thus protected from potential damage, the solenoid coil may be easily changed/replaced to accommodate different available operating voltages and/or malfunction thereof and the system can be easily tested prior to final welding of the outer shell. The actuating coil is controlled by Pulse Width Modulation to reduce the load demand of the compressor during times when load shedding is required.
Abstract: A device for controlling an engine for a vehicle and an air-conditioning device for a vehicle capable of suitably controlling the blow-out rate of an air-conditioning compressor at the time when the fuel supply has been cut by estimating a load torque of the air-conditioning compressor under a condition of resuming the fuel supply. The air-conditioning device for vehicles according to an embodiment of the invention comprises blow-out rate varying means for varying the blow-out rate of the compressor driven by a vehicle engine, and load torque estimating means for estimating a physical quantity related to the load torque of the compressor under a condition of resuming the fuel supply after the fuel supply has been cut. The blow-out rate of the compressor is changed by controlling the blow-out rate varying means depending upon the estimated value of physical quantity.
Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus having a refrigerant circuit including a condenser, a pressure reducing device, an evaporator, and a variable displacement compressor. The air-conditioning apparatus has a torque detecting device and an external information detecting device. The torque detecting device directly or indirectly detects the reaction torque acting on the compressor, and the external information detecting device detects various external information other than the torque. The air-conditioning apparatus further has a control device for determining a target torque in accordance with the external information provided by the external information detecting device. The control device executes a feedback control program for controlling the displacement of the compressor such that the torque detected by the torque detecting device approaches the target torque.
Abstract: A refrigerator includes a first compartment, a second compartment, a compressor compressing and discharging refrigerant, a first evaporator connected to the compressor to cool the first compartment, the first evaporator having an outlet, a second evaporator connected to the compressor in parallel with the first evaporator to cool the second compartment, the second evaporator having an outlet, a check valve connected between the outlets of the first and second evaporators to prevent the refrigerant out of the first evaporator from entering the second evaporator, a flow-path switching element for switching a cooling mode between a first cooling mode in which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is caused to flow through the first evaporator to thereby cool the first compartment and a second cooling mode in which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is caused to flow through the second evaporator to thereby cool the second compartment, and a control device provided for controlling the compres
Abstract: A valve fastening structure of a reciprocating compressor is provided. The valve fastening structure of the reciprocating compressor includes a piston, which is combined with a moving magnet of a driving motor and is in a linear reciprocating motion inside a cylinder and in which a refrigerant channel is formed in the direction of the reciprocating motion, a suction valve arranged in the leading end of the piston, the suction valve for opening and shutting the refrigerant channel of the piston, and magnets inserted into and fixed to the leading end of the piston, the magnets for fixing the suction valve by magnetic force. It is possible to minimize dead volume in the cylinder and to easily control the stroke of the piston by establishing the suction valve as the cardinal point during the controlling of the stroke of the piston. Accordingly, the efficiency of the compressor is improved.
Abstract: A heat pump air conditioner has a heat exchanger, a separator for separating refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and a compressor. Gas refrigerant in the separator is sucked into the compressor through a gas suction pipe. Oil-dissolved liquid refrigerant in the separator is also sucked through an oil return hole formed at a bottom of the gas suction pipe into the compressor. At the time of starting the air conditioner, when it is judged that a surface of liquid refrigerant in the separator is rapidly lowered to the oil return hole, a rotational speed of the compressor is controlled so that an amount of refrigerant discharged from the compressor is decreased. As a result, the surface of liquid refrigerant is kept higher than the oil return hole, and oil shortage of the compressor is restricted.
Abstract: An air-conditioner, an outdoor unit and an refrigeration device each using a refrigeration cycle which can reduce power consumption so as to be highly efficient, which can be operated by a commercially available power source, and which is highly reliable. An air-conditioner comprises a motor and a refrigeration cycle including a compressor driven by the motor, an outdoor heat-exchanger and an indoor heat-exchanger, the motor being located in a motor chamber within a closed container, and refrigerant gas in the refrigeration cycle flows through the motor chamber, wherein the motor has a core of a rotor in which a cage type conductor and permanent magnets magnetized in bipolar state are embedded, and said motor is driven by a commercially available electric power source.
Abstract: An air conditioning system includes compressor protective means for protecting a compressor. The compressor protective means includes first and second protective values. The first protective value is set for preventing a failure of a compressor. The second protective value is lower than the first protective value in order to prevent a high pressure in a refrigerant cycle system from reaching the first protective value. The compressor protective means sets the second protective value such that the second protective value used before an elapse of a predetermined time period from startup of the compressor is lower than the second protective value used after the elapse of the predetermined time period.
Abstract: A variable displacement compressor air conditions a compartment and includes a suction chamber, a discharge chamber and a crank chamber. A controller controls the pressure in the crank chamber to vary the compressor displacement. Two pressure monitoring points are located in a refrigerant circuit. The pressure in the crank chamber is controlled by a control valve. The control valve operates based on the pressure difference between the monitoring points such that a target pressure difference is maintained. A temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the compartment. A detection circuit compares the monitored temperature with reference values. When the monitored temperature surpasses one reference value or falls below another, the detection circuit outputs a detection signal. When receiving the detection signal, a pressure difference changer gradually increases or decreases the target value of the pressure differences accordingly.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 5, 2001
Publication date:
July 12, 2001
Inventors:
Kazuya Kimura, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Ken Suitou, Ryo Matsubara
Abstract: A brine cooling apparatus is provided which addresses to an environmental problem by not contributing to global warming and can prevent brine from freezing within a heat exchange. The apparatus is structured such that a screw compressor, a condenser, a main expansion valve and an evaporator are connected by a pipe so as to cool brine flowing through the evaporator. The refrigerant is an ammonia refrigerant, the evaporator is a plate type heat exchanger constructed by laying a plural sheets of plates, and capacity control means is provided in such a manner as to control a capacity of the screw compressor in accordance with the flow amount of the brine.
Abstract: An air conditioning system for a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprises a first heat exchanger (14) positionable outside the passenger compartment; a second heat exchanger (18) positionable inside the passenger compartment; a first fluid passage (22) between the first and second heat exchangers; a second fluid passage (24) between the first and second heat exchangers; an expansion device (16) positioned in the first fluid passage; an accumulator/dryer (20) fluidly connected with the second fluid passage; an electronically controlled variable stroke compressor (12) for pumping fluid into the second fluid passage and either in a first direction (X) sequentially through the first heat exchanger, the expansion device, the second heat exchanger and the accumulator/dryer, or in a second direction (Y) sequentially through the second heat exchanger, the expansion device, the first heat exchanger and the accumulator/dryer; reverse flow means (32) in the second fluid passage for controlling the direction of
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 20, 1999
Date of Patent:
February 27, 2001
Assignee:
Delphi Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Michael Runk, Theodore R. Cochran