Compressor Or Its Drive Controlled Patents (Class 62/228.1)
  • Patent number: 8240162
    Abstract: A fuel-powered engine is provided to drive a mobile air conditioning or refrigeration unit such as a portable chiller, a container refrigeration unit, a portable packaged system, a transport tractor-trailer or truck refrigeration unit, etc. A control rapidly changes the engine speed between the predefined set of discreet engine speeds to precisely adjust the capacity of the refrigerant system. If the engine operates only at a single speed, then the control cycles the engine between this operating speed and a zero speed (the engine is shut off). If the engine can operate at multiple discreet speeds, then the control can cycle the engine between any of these speeds (including a zero speed). When a lower capacity is desirable, the engine operates for a longer time interval at a lower speed, and when a higher capacity is desirable, the engine operates for a longer period of time at a higher speed. The cycle rate is selected to control the comfort (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Alexander Lifson
  • Patent number: 8234879
    Abstract: A motor controlling method and apparatus of an air conditioner are disclosed. It is checked whether or not an operation frequency of a compressor motor is the same as or greater than a certain frequency and it is also checked whether or not a detected velocity of a fan motor is the same as or lower than a certain velocity during a certain time period. If the operation frequency is the same as or greater than the certain frequency and the detected velocity is the same as or lower than the certain velocity during a certain time period, the compressor motor is temporarily stopped. Because the compressor motor operates according to operational conditions of the fan motor, an overload can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sun Ho Hwang, Sug Mun Choung
  • Patent number: 8234878
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system (1) for an environment, in particular for the passenger compartment of a vehicle, is provided with an evaporator (13) and a compressor (18) coupled to the evaporator (13). In a system (30) for controlling the air-conditioning system (1), a control electronics (33) switches an operating condition of the compressor (18) when the temperature of the air leaving the evaporator (13) has a pre-set relation with a threshold temperature (Tthresh). The control electronics varies the value of the threshold temperature (Tthresh) as a function, in at least certain operating conditions, of a set-point temperature (Tsp), required by a user of the air-conditioning system (1), so as to reduce the energy consumption associated to the air-conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Stefano Mola, Carloandrea Malvicino
  • Publication number: 20120192582
    Abstract: A heat pump interoperating hot water feeding apparatus is provided that may determine whether to activate only the first coolant circulation circuit along which the first coolant is circulated or the first coolant circulation circuit as well as the second coolant circulation circuit along which the second coolant is circulated depending on an external air temperature or target water temperature, thus providing the optimal performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Hyoungsuk Woo, Donghyuk Lee
  • Publication number: 20120186284
    Abstract: A refrigerant system, includes: an air conditioner configured to condition air in a building by using a first refrigerant cycle; a cooler configured to cool air in a storage compartment of the building by using a second refrigerant cycle; and a refrigerant heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant of the air conditioner and a refrigerant of the cooler, wherein the cooler includes a main compressor and an auxiliary compressor configured to backup the main compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Jaeheuk CHOI, Taehee Kwak, Yoonho Yoo, Doyong Ha
  • Publication number: 20120186283
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vapor cycle system having first and second compressors includes operating the first compressor to compress refrigerant while the second compressor is idle, sensing a motor temperature of the second compressor, activating a preheating mode in which the motor of the second compressor is powered to generate heat when the motor temperature of the second compressor is below a lower temperature threshold, turning off the preheating mode when the sensed motor temperature of the second compressor is above an upper temperature threshold, and limiting the maximum duration of the preheating mode to a preheating time period, such that the preheating mode is turned off after being activated for the preheating time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph A. Giunta, Robert M. DeRoy, Richard Rusich
  • Patent number: 8225621
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting and correcting unintended reverse or backward operation of an electric motor driven scroll compressor of a refrigeration system is characterized by monitoring the pressure at a suction side of the compressor during operation of the refrigeration and determining whether the pressure, after a first time interval following startup of the compressor, exceeds and remains in excess of a predetermined upper pressure limit for at least a second time interval. If it does, the compressor is turned off for a third time interval and is then restarted. The foregoing is repeated and if the compressor is turned off a selected number of times because of successive occurrences of high suction side pressures during operation of the refrigeration system in a chilling cycle, an error indication is generated and the refrigeration system is shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: IMI Cornelius, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincenzo DiFatta, Daniel D. Prochaska, Sr., Christopher J. Knight, Wali Li, Nikolay V. Popov
  • Publication number: 20120167602
    Abstract: A refrigerant system includes at least one compressor (54, 56) that compresses refrigerant and delivers it downstream to a heat rejection heat exchanger (26). The heat rejection heat exchanger is a microchannel heat exchanger. Refrigerant passes from the heat rejection heat exchanger downstream to an expansion device (60), from the expansion device through an evaporator (66), and from the evaporator back to the at least one compressor. A control (58) operates at least one compressor and the expansion device to reduce pressure spikes at transient conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Alexander Lifson
  • Publication number: 20120151950
    Abstract: A heat transfer system includes a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between a first fluid and a second fluid. The heat exchanger includes an outer sleeve and a microchannel unit. The outer sleeve has an interior surface defining a cavity and an exterior surface configured to be in direct thermal communication with the first fluid. The microchannel unit is received in the cavity. The microchannel unit has a plurality of microchannels configured to receive the second fluid therein and be in direct thermal communication with the second fluid. The microchannel unit has an exterior surface in direct thermal communication with the interior surface of the outer sleeve to transfer heat therebetween. At least one of the interior surface of the outer sleeve and the exterior surface of the microchannel unit has grooves defining breach channels for the first fluid or the second fluid should a breach in the outer sleeve or the microchannel unit occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: GRUNDFOS HOLDING A/S
    Inventor: TADEUSZ FRANK JAGUSZTYN
  • Publication number: 20120144852
    Abstract: When a compressor is in a stopped state and an outside air temperature change rate Tah exceeds zero, a first heating operation is started, and a heating capacity of a compressor heating portion is set in a range not more than a heating capacity upper limit Pmax based on the outside air temperature change rate Tah. A remaining refrigerant liquid amount Ms condensed in the compressor that had not been evaporated is acquired based on the outside air temperature change rate Tah and the heating capacity. If the outside air temperature change rate Tah is zero or below and the remaining refrigerant liquid amount Ms exceeds zero while the compressor is in a stopped state, a second heating operation is started, the compressor heating portion 10 is controlled based on the remaining refrigerant liquid amount Ms, and the refrigerant condensed in the compressor 1 is evaporated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki WAKUTA, Yohei Kato, Shinya Matsushita, Takanori Omori, Hirokuni Shiba
  • Publication number: 20120137713
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods can control conditions such as temperature within a container of a transport refrigeration system. Embodiments can include a controller for controlling the transport refrigeration system to reduce power consumption. Embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods for operating the same can control cycling of a transport refrigeration unit to conserve power where a subsequent cycle time in a power savings mode is based on at least one previous cycle time. In addition, components can be enabled based on monitored conditions to reduce power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Suresh Duraisamy, Kenneth Cresswell
  • Publication number: 20120131933
    Abstract: An air conditioner according to the present invention comprises an air handling unit comprising a fan for supplying the air mixed the indoor air with the outdoor air to the indoor space and a heat exchanger for exchanging the mixed air blowing by the fan with the chilled water and a temperature sensor for sensing temperature, and a chiller which includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator and supplies the chilled water from the evaporator to the heat exchanger through a water pipe connecting the evaporator with the heat exchanger, wherein the chiller communicates with the air handling unit and sets a chilled water set temperature of the chilled water supplied from the evaporator to the heat exchanger according to the result sensed by the temperature sensor and changes the driving capacity of the compressor according the chilled water set temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Hong Ryeol Kim
  • Publication number: 20120125028
    Abstract: A space-saving, high-density modular data pod system and an energy-efficient cooling system for cooling electronic equipment and method of cooling are disclosed. The cooling system includes a free-cooling system cooling a first fluid in thermal communication with the electronic equipment using atmospheric air and a mechanical sub-cooling system coupled to the free-cooling system. The mechanical system cools a second fluid flowing in the free-cooling system as a function of an amount by which the free-cooling system has exceeded its maximum cooling capacity. The method of cooling includes using a first fluid, enabling heat transfer from the first fluid to a second fluid that has been cooled using atmospheric air, and mechanically cooling the second fluid to the extent that free cooling the first fluid is insufficient to cool the first fluid. The cooling system operates by the wet bulb temperature exceeding a first predetermined wet bulb temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Earl Keisling, John Costakis, Gerald McDonnell
  • Publication number: 20120111032
    Abstract: A hot water supply apparatus for combined use with an air conditioner is provided that may include an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger to heat exchange a first refrigerant with indoor air, and a cascade hot water heater connected to the indoor unit to receive the first refrigerant and to provide a second refrigerant to heat water. The cascade hot water heater may perform a heat exchange between the first refrigerant and a second refrigerant. The cascade hot water heater may include a capacity variable compressor to limit a maximum flowing amount of the second refrigerant and increase a flowing amount of the first refrigerant to flow to the indoor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Hyoungsuk WOO, Jongchul Ha
  • Patent number: 8156751
    Abstract: A system includes a power source, a compressor that operates in a reduced-capacity mode and a full-capacity mode, and an actuation assembly that modulates the compressor between the reduced-capacity mode and the full-capacity mode. A controller reduces the power source to a predetermined level prior to the power source being supplied to the actuation assembly for use by the actuation assembly in controlling the compressor between the reduced-capacity mode and the full-capacity mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Nagaraj Jayanth
  • Publication number: 20120085112
    Abstract: A heat pump system for conditioning air supplied to a space is provided. The system includes a pre-processing module that pre-conditions supply air. A supply air heat exchanger is in flow communication with the pre-processing module. The supply air heat exchanger receives air from the pre-processing module and at least one of heats or cools the air from the pre-processing module. A processing module is in flow communication with the supply air heat exchanger. The processing module receiving and conditioning air from the supply air heat exchanger. A regeneration air heat exchanger is provided to at least one of heat or cool regeneration air. The regeneration air heat exchanger and the supply air heat exchanger are fluidly coupled by a refrigerant system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: VENMAR CES, INC.
    Inventor: David Martin Wintemute
  • Patent number: 8151581
    Abstract: Systems and methods to control an engine configured to drive a compressor of a vehicle air conditioning system having a desired temperature are provided. A time until a threshold is reached is determined based on an environment condition and a vehicle interior condition. A request for the engine to run is removed if the time is greater than a minimum time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Elaine Y. Chen, William Treharne, Wayne Buescher, Thomas Fox, Shailesh Kozarekar
  • Patent number: 8151584
    Abstract: When during a first action of a refrigeration system the internal cold storage temperature is held at a desired temperature by an evaporator, the refrigeration system performs a second action of increasing the cooling capacity of the evaporator to decrease the internal cold storage temperature. When during the second action the internal cold storage temperature reaches a minimum temperature Tmin, the refrigeration system stops a compressor and performs a third action. When during the third action the internal cold storage temperature reaches a maximum temperature Tmin, the refrigeration system drives the compressor and performs the first action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeto Tanaka, Noriyasu Kawakatsu
  • Publication number: 20120073316
    Abstract: A transcritical vapor compression system includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a first heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant, an expansion device for decreasing the pressure of the refrigerant, a second heat exchanger for absorbing heat into the refrigerant, and a controller programmed to calculate a first energy difference across the second heat exchanger and a second energy difference across the compressor, to calculate an energy ratio by dividing the first energy difference by the second energy difference, to compare the energy ratio to a previously calculated energy ratio, and to adjust operating parameters of the system based on the comparison of the energy ratio with respect to the previously calculated energy ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michal Hegar, Michal Kolda, Marketa Kopecka, Vaclav Rajtmajer
  • Publication number: 20120073317
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a compressor to compress refrigerant, a condenser to liquefy the refrigerant supplied from the compressor, a capillary tube to decompress and expand the refrigerant supplied from the condenser, an evaporator to vaporize the refrigerant supplied from the capillary tube, a shutoff valve installed at an inlet of the capillary tube so as to prevent the refrigerant in the condenser during stoppage of the compressor from being moved to the evaporator, and a control unit to enable the shutoff valve to be blocked together so as to prevent movement of the refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator during stoppage of the compressor, and to enable the shutoff valve to be opened together so as to move the refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator during starting of the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jee Hoon LEE, Sang Gyu Jung, Seung Yong Yang, Jae Sek Oh, Kae Hum Lee, Sung Cheul Park, Jong Nam Lee, Ho June Jeon
  • Publication number: 20120067070
    Abstract: A reverse cycle heat pump system having an indoor heat exchange coil, an outdoor heat exchange coil, a compressor, and a compressor discharge line, and operable in an indoor heating mode and an indoor cooling mode. The outdoor coil is substantially larger than the indoor coil, and the compressor is a variable capacity compressor. The system also includes a sensor for determining one or more characteristics of the refrigerant in the compressor discharge line when the system is operating in its indoor heating mode, and a controller that adjusts the capacity of the compressor to maintain a sensor output value within a desired range of values when the system is operating in its indoor heating mode. The variable capacity compressor may be continuously variable, and may use a piston pump. The sensor determines one or more physical parameters of the refrigerant, such as pressure, temperature or density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: Luther D. Albertson
  • Patent number: 8136365
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus such as a refrigerator includes a refrigeration cycle including a compressor driven by an electric motor, a condenser, a throttle valve and an evaporator, a first physical amount detector capable of detecting a physical quantity representing a temperature of an object to be cooled by the cooling operation of the evaporator, a temperature control device capable of controlling a rotating speed of the motor based on the physical quantity detected by the first physical quantity detector so that the object is cooled approximately to a target temperature, a second physical quantity detector capable of detecting a physical quantity corresponding to a performance margin of the refrigeration cycle, and a rotating speed limiter capable of limiting the rotating speed of the motor to or below a predetermined speed based on a physical quantity detected by the second physical quantity detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Kaga, Takeshi Ueda, Yoshiyasu Suzuki, Akihiko Hirano
  • Publication number: 20120060533
    Abstract: A depressurization system includes a plurality of depressurization devices, each of which includes a cooling; and a compression device. The compression device includes a compression unit, which is provided with an AC electric motor, and supplies a compressed coolant to each cooling unit at a flow rate corresponding to a rotation speed of the AC electric motor. Each cooling unit supplements gas when adiabatically expanding the compressed coolant. The depressurization system also includes a temperature detection unit, which detects the temperature of each cooling unit, an inverter device, which is capable of changing a frequency of AC power supplies to the AC electric motor, and a frequency controller, which controls an output frequency of the inverter device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: ULVAC, INC.
    Inventor: Kouichi Takizawa
  • Patent number: 8132421
    Abstract: There is provided a turbo chiller that can be operated at high efficiency within an adequate chilling capacity range even when the cooling water temperature changes during the operation. The adequate chilling capacity range is obtained by using a flow coefficient and a pressure coefficient at a specific operating point of a turbo compressor as well as a predetermined coefficient to determine an arithmetic expression representing the relationship between a head and a chilling capacity, using a chilling capacity that can lead to a substantially highest coefficient of performance at a single head to obtain the predetermined coefficient as an optimum coefficient, computing an adequate operation coefficient range having a predetermined range and including the optimum coefficient, and substituting the adequate operation coefficient range and a head at the time of operation into the arithmetic expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Ueda
  • Publication number: 20120055184
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifugal-chiller including one variable-speed centrifugal-compressor and one constant-speed centrifugal-compressor and capable of high-efficiency operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Ueda
  • Patent number: 8127563
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool S.A.
    Inventors: Marcio Roberto Thiessen, Paulo Sergio Dainez
  • Publication number: 20120047932
    Abstract: When an internal temperature of a freezing compartment becomes lower than a lower limit temperature during R-compartment F-compartment alternate cooling, starting R-individual overcool preventing control is requested. Then, the rotational speed of a compressor is decreased by one stage and, subsequently, a three-way valve enters “R-side open state”, and individual cooling of the refrigerating compartment is executed. Thereafter, every 30 seconds, the rotational speed of the compressor is decreased by one stage. When the refrigerating compartment becomes lower than a lower limit temperature, stopping R-individual overcool preventing control is requested. Then, the process shifts to individual cooling of the freezing compartment and then, after the freezing compartment to again become lower than the lower limit temperature, the compressor is stopped. When shifted to the individual cooling of the refrigerating compartment, the rotational speed of the compressor is drastically decreased in a short time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Shinya YANAGIDA, Naoshi Kondou, Akira Suyama
  • Patent number: 8113789
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring a system pressure to infer whether a high pressure cut out (HPCO) switch has opened disabling a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) compressor. A system and method are also provided for determining whether to disable the HVAC compressor based on a status of a low pressure cut out (LPCO) switch, an ambient temperature, and system mode state. The systems and methods may be used interchangeably with the appropriate adjustments to decision limits, such as where the LPCO may be monitored to infer status and the HPCO status may be directly used with temperature and system mode state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Douglas, John R. Edens, Carl L. Garrett, Alan D. Marble, Kevin B. Mercer, Gary L. Sapp, Kristin L. Schaefer, Brett R. Schneider, Steven A. Tice
  • Publication number: 20120035773
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus control the temperature of an electronic component of a computer. A temperature sensor is read that measures a temperature of an electronic component of a computer. The speed of a compressor is adjusted based on the read temperature to maintain a pre-defined temperature range for the electronic component. The compressor compresses a refrigerant. The refrigerant is sent to a condenser that condenses the refrigerant. The refrigerant is sent to a heat exchanger that is thermally coupled to the electronic component and that transfers thermal energy from the electronic component to the refrigerant. Finally, the refrigerant is sent back to the compressor. Solenoid valves can be used to control the flow of refrigerant to heat exchangers for one or more additional electronic components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Daren Stabinski, Joe Arnold, Patrick Zuili, Todd Stabinski
  • Patent number: 8109103
    Abstract: After the power source to the control substrate is turned on, power is supplied to the compressor driver and the fan driver. Then, when it is determined that an indoor unit is in operation, the compressor driver and the fan driver are operated. Meanwhile, when it is determined that the indoor unit is not in operation, after the lapse of ten minutes or twenty minutes under a predetermined setting, the power to the compressor driver and the fan driver is cut. When the operation of the indoor unit is started again, power is supplied to the compressor driver and the fan driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Morikuni Natsume, Satoshi Yagi, Takuya Kotani, Yasuaki Miyaba, Hirotaka Saruwatari, Hiroyuki Matsuura, Mario Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20120023985
    Abstract: A preconditioned air unit for supplying preconditioned air to an aircraft parked on the ground, the preconditioned air unit comprising a housing accommodating a flow duct with an air inlet for ambient air and an air outlet for connection to the parked aircraft, a blower connected with the flow duct for generation of an air flow from the air inlet toward the air outlet, at least one refrigeration system, each of which includes at least one compressor, at least one condenser, at least one expansion valve, and at least one evaporator connected in a flow circuit containing a refrigerant, and wherein the at least one evaporator interacts with the air flow in the flow duct, and at least one variable frequency driver for power supply of at least one of the at least one compressor of the at least one refrigeration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: AXA POWER APS
    Inventors: Soren Risgaard Dahl, Bo Vork Nielsen, Henrik Olsson, Lars Schroder
  • Publication number: 20120023979
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method for cooling includes providing a controller in communication with an auxiliary cooling unit and a primary refrigeration unit. A first chamber temperature measurement associated with an environmental test chamber is received, and the heat load associated with a target temperature is determined. Based on the first chamber temperature measurement and the heat load, it is determined that the auxiliary cooling unit can sustain the target temperature. In response to the determination, the controller is used to transmit a signal to power on the auxiliary cooling unit and a signal to time out the primary refrigeration unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Taylor, Don R. Tolbert
  • Publication number: 20120023980
    Abstract: Disclosed are a refrigerator and a controlling method of the same. A change amount of a refrigerating chamber temperature, or a change amount of a freezing chamber temperature may be calculated per time period, and a load corresponding driving may be executed based on the calculated change amount. This may allow the load corresponding driving to be executed more precisely, reduce power consumption, and enhance stability and efficiency of a system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hoyoun LEE, Sung JHEE, Sunam CHAE
  • Patent number: 8104300
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a natural refrigeration cycle rate of an air conditioner includes monitoring a time between at least two sequential refrigeration “off” events or at least two sequential refrigeration “on” events, and determining whether the time is below or above a predetermined time. If the time is below the predetermined time, the method further includes increasing a refrigeration “on” temperature threshold. If, however, the time is above the predetermined time, the method further includes decreasing the refrigeration “on” temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Climate Control Corp.
    Inventor: Jonathan Trevor Atwater
  • Publication number: 20120006040
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigeration cycle, a magnetic field generator, a detector and a control part. The refrigeration cycle has a compression element, a refrigerant tube in thermal contact with a refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant tube and/or a heat-generating member in thermal contact with a refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant tube. The magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field to inductively heat a heating target portion. The detector detects a state quantity in a state quantity detection portion of the refrigeration cycle. The control part performs startup magnetic field generation control during startup of an air-warming operation in which maximum magnetic field output is initiated until the state quantity detected reaches a first target state quantity, and post-startup magnetic field generation control in which the magnetic field output is restricted after the startup magnetic field generation control has ended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kinoshita, Tsuyoshi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120000210
    Abstract: A method for controlling a compressor of vehicles improves fuel efficiency by accumulating a cold air energy when a speed-reducing condition occurs and using the accumulated cold air energy when a release condition occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jae Woong Kim, Chang Won Lee, Ki Lyong Jang
  • Publication number: 20120000211
    Abstract: A device and a method for a controlling compressor of vehicles improves acceleration performance and fuel efficiency and maintains comfort of a cabin by decreasing an operation of the compressor when accelerating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Choon Gyu Kwon, Jae Woong KIM, Chang Won LEE
  • Patent number: 8090454
    Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, a computer readable medium is encoded with instructions for directing a processor to receive at least one model defining the energy consumption of at least one vending machine as a function of at least one parameter, receive at least one goal comprising a plurality of parameter values within which the at least one vending machine is to operate, and utilize the at least one model and the at least one goal to determine an operation regime for the at least one vending machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Vendmore Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Paul T. Breitenbach, Paul Signorelli, Matthew D. Breitenbach, Colin Marr, Igor Zhuk, Daniel Signorelli
  • Publication number: 20110314845
    Abstract: A refrigerant system operates with tandem compressors. As is known, one or more of the tandem compressors can be shut down at part-load operating conditions when lower refrigerant system capacity is required. A control periodically engages at least one shut down tandem compressor for a short period of time. This increases the refrigerant mass flow of refrigerant throughout the refrigerant system to ensure that oil travels through the system and is not retained in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
  • Publication number: 20110314847
    Abstract: A compression machine includes a refrigerant condenser, an expansion device, a refrigerant evaporator, a first compressor and a second compressor. Each compressor is arranged to receive lower pressure refrigerant vapor from the evaporator and to deliver higher pressure vapor to the condenser independently of the other compressor. The first compressor operates when the compression machine is operating in a first duty mode, for example a water-cooling mode. The second compressor operates when the compression machine is operating in a second duty mode, for example one of a water-heating mode or a brine cooling. The first compressor is selected for optimal performance in the first duty only and the second compressor is selected for optimal performance in the second duty mode only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haiping Ding, Michael A. Stark
  • Patent number: 8082746
    Abstract: In a refrigeration cycle device for a vehicle, a weak-inflammability refrigerant that does not ignite at a high-temperature heat source mounted in an engine compartment of the vehicle in a refrigerant single state is circulated in a refrigerant cycle. The refrigerant cycle includes a compressor for compressing and discharging the refrigerant. The compressor includes an oil separator that is located at a refrigerant discharge side of the compressor to separate a lubrication oil from the refrigerant and to return the separated lubrication oil to an interior of the compressor, a shutting portion configured to shut a reverse flow of the refrigerant at a refrigerant suction side of the compressor, and a driving portion located to drive the shutting portion. Furthermore, the driving portion causes the shutting portion to shut the reverse flow of the refrigerant when the refrigerant cycle is damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Yamanaka, Shin Nishida
  • Patent number: 8082747
    Abstract: A refrigerant compressor assembly for a refrigeration circuit controls the temperature within a temperature controlled space. The refrigerant compressor assembly includes a first unloading valve, a first valve actuator, and a first valve control system that adjusts the first valve actuator via a pulse-width-modulated signal, a second unloading valve, a second valve actuator, and a second valve control system that adjusts the second valve actuator via a pulse-width-modulated signal. The refrigerant compressor assembly also includes a third unloading valve. The first valve actuator is coupled to the first and third unloading valves and controlled by the first valve control system. The unloading valves selectively allow or resist fluid flow from higher to lower pressure areas within the refrigerant compressor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Lars I. Sjoholm, Panayu R. Srichai
  • Patent number: 8079227
    Abstract: A method of controlling the frequency of a compressor in a chiller system is disclosed. The method includes determining a nominal minimum frequency of a compressor, and providing a control algorithm for controlling the period of time and the deviation of the actual operating frequency below the nominal minimal frequency that the compressor may operate without shutting down the chiller system. The time period of operation below nominal minimum frequency may be predetermined as a fixed time period of operation below nominal minimum frequency, or as a variable time period based on the amount by which the frequency deviates below nominal minimum frequency. Also, an absolute minimum operating frequency is provided that results in the control algorithm shutting down the chiller system and the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Curtis Christian Crane
  • Publication number: 20110301762
    Abstract: A method of operating a transport refrigeration unit that is operable to regulate a temperature of a cargo space. The method includes providing a controller, driving a refrigerant compressor of the transport refrigeration unit with an internal combustion engine to compress a refrigerant defining an engine operating state of the transport refrigeration unit, and driving the refrigerant compressor of the transport refrigeration unit with an electric motor to compress the refrigerant defining a motor operating state of the transport refrigeration unit. The method further includes sensing the temperature of the cargo space, receiving into the controller a signal indicative of the temperature of the cargo space, determining the temperature of the cargo space using the controller, and switching between the engine operating state and the motor operating state in response to a signal generated by the controller based on the temperature of the cargo space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy A. Walker, Luis Camacho
  • Patent number: 8069685
    Abstract: Provided is an air conditioning system comprised of a plurality of indoor units connected to each other in parallel, each having an expansion valve, and an outdoor unit including a plurality of compressors, in which at least one of the compressors provided to the outdoor unit is a capacity modulation compressor including an electromotive driving unit for driving a plurality of compression units capable of selectively compressing a working fluid, and the electromotive driving unit for the capacity modulation compressor has a stator with a coil wound around thereon and a rotor rotating inside the stator, the rotor being an LSPRM including a rotor core, flux barriers, permanent magnets and conductive bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyuk Nam, Kang-Wook Lee, Seung-Hyoung Ha, Geun-Hyoung Lee
  • Publication number: 20110283723
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus (100A) is provided with: a first compressor (1) including a first compression mechanism (11), an expansion mechanism (13), and a first motor (12); a second compressor (2) including a second compression mechanism (21), and a second motor (22); and a control device (6). The control device (6) reduces a rotation frequency of the second motor (22) at a reduction speed greater than a rotation frequency of the first motor (12) in a stop operation for stopping the first motor (12) and the second motor (22) while reducing the rotation frequencies of the first motor (12) and the second motor (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Yakumaru
  • Publication number: 20110277488
    Abstract: A pool heating system is disclosed. The pool heating system includes, in some embodiments, an immersed condenser coil. In some embodiments, the immersed condenser coil is immersed in pool of water receiving hot refrigerant gas at high pressure from an outdoor unit, transferring heat to water in the pool, condensing the gas and transmitting condensed refrigerant to the outdoor unit. The system also includes an outdoor unit. In some embodiments, the outdoor unit includes a compressor, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: David Peretz
  • Patent number: 8047018
    Abstract: An ejector cycle system with a refrigerant cycle through which refrigerant flows includes an ejector disposed downstream of a radiator, a first evaporator located to evaporate refrigerant flowing out of the ejector, a branch passage branched from a branch portion between the radiator and a nozzle portion of the ejector and coupled to a refrigerant suction port of the ejector, a throttling unit located in the branch passage, and a second evaporator located downstream of the throttling unit to evaporate refrigerant. In the ejector cycle system, a variable throttling device is located in a refrigerant passage between a refrigerant outlet of the radiator and the branch portion to decompress the refrigerant flowing out of the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Ikegami, Hiroshi Oshitani, Etsuhisa Yamada, Naohisa Ishizaka, Hirotsugu Takeuchi, Takeyuki Sugiura, Takuo Maehara
  • Patent number: 8042348
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided in which an integrated controller 10 controls the compressor for compressing a refrigerant and at least one constituent device which is a separate device from the compressor and that constitutes a refrigerant circulation circuit together with the compressor. The integrated controller 10 has a control data generation unit 16 that controls the compressor using a compressor sensor for detecting a first physical value, which is a physical value of the refrigerant at the time of normal operations, and an abnormality detection unit 13 for detecting an abnormality of the compressor sensor. The control data generation unit 16 controls the compressor using a constituent device sensor for detecting a second physical value that is a physical value having a close correlation with the first physical value in place of the compressor sensor when the abnormality was detected by the abnormality detection unit 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Nishikawa, Atsushi Ouchi
  • Patent number: 8042347
    Abstract: A compressor inlet pressure estimation apparatus for a refrigeration cycle system is disclosed. An electronic control unit 14 uses Tefin_lag(N) as an actual corrected temperature Tefin_AD(N) during a period Tp1 included in the timing t1 to t2. During a period Tp2 included in the timing t1 to t2, Tefin_fwd(N) is used as the actual corrected temperature Tefin_AD(N). Thus, a highly accurate corrected temperature Tefin_AD(N) can be determined over the on period (t1 to t2) of a compressor 2. In addition, Tefin_fwd(N) is used as the actual corrected temperature Tefin_AD(N) during the off period (t2 to 3) of the compressor 2. As a result, a highly accurate corrected temperature Tefin_AD(N) can be determined over the whole period including the on and off periods of the compressor 2. In this way, a highly accurate estimated value Ps_es(N) of the refrigerant inlet pressure of the compressor 2 can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikatsu Sawada, Yasutane Hijikata