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US 10,746,176 B2Granted
Compressor control for increased efficiency
AssigneeTrane International Inc.
InventorsJay H. Johnson, Alberto Scala
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Control systems and methods for increasing efficiency of a compressor while the compressor capacity exceeds compressor load, by using a mechanical unloader such as a slide valve to reduce the internal volume ratio of the compressor and allow a more efficient speed to be maintained by a variable frequency drive (VFD) while reducing the compressor capacity based on the load. Control systems include the VFD, a controller for the VFD and the mechanical unloader, and temperature sensors. Compressor embodiments further include one or more compressors and mechanical unloaders operated by the control systems.
Claims23
A compressor system, comprising:
- a compressor, wherein the compressor includes one or more mechanical unloaders;
- a variable frequency drive, connected to the compressor and controlling the speed of the compressor;
- a mechanical unloader control connected to the one or more mechanical unloaders;
- at least one sensor measuring operational parameters;
- a memory configured to store a map of compressor efficiency based on compressor speed and mechanical unloading;
- and
- a processor that:
- receives the operational parameters,
- first, determines a desired compressor speed from the map of compressor efficiency based on energy consumption to operate the compressor at the desired compressor speed across mechanical unloading levels under the received operational parameters, and
- directs the variable frequency drive to operate the compressor at the desired compressor speed,
- then, when operating the compressor at the desired compressor speed, determines whether a compressor capacity exceeds a compressor load, and
- when the compressor capacity exceeds the compressor load, directs the mechanical unloader control to operate the one or more mechanical unloaders to reduce the capacity of the compressor.
9 more elements
A control system for a compressor, comprising:
- a variable frequency drive;
- at least one sensor measuring operational parameters;
- an actuator connected to a mechanical unloader of the compressor;
- a memory configured to store a map of compressor efficiency based on compressor speed and mechanical unloading;
- and
- a processor, connected to the variable frequency drive, the at least one sensor, the actuator, and the memory, wherein the processor:
- receives operational parameters,
- first, determines a desired compressor speed from the map of compressor efficiency based on energy consumption to operate the compressor at the desired compressor speed across mechanical unloading levels under the received operational parameters, and
- provides the desired compressor speed to the variable frequency drive,
- then, determines whether a compressor capacity exceeds a compressor load, and
- commands the actuator to reduce the capacity of the compressor using the mechanical unloader when the compressor capacity exceeds the compressor load.
8 more elements
A compressor system, comprising:
- a compressor, wherein the compressor includes one or more mechanical unloaders;
- a variable frequency drive, connected to the compressor and controlling the speed of the compressor;
- a mechanical unloader control connected to the one or more mechanical unloaders;
- at least one sensor measuring operational parameters;
- a memory configured to store a map of compressor efficiency based on compressor speed and mechanical unloading;
- and
- a processor that:
- receives the operational parameters,
- determines a desired compressor speed from the map of compressor efficiency based on energy consumption without respect to the mechanical unloading component of the map to operate the compressor at the desired compressor speed under the received operational parameters,
- directs the variable frequency drive to operate the compressor at the desired compressor speed,
- determines whether a compressor capacity exceeds a compressor load when operating the compressor at the desired compressor speed, and
- directs the mechanical unloader control to operate the one or more mechanical unloaders to reduce the capacity of the compressor when the compressor capacity exceeds the compressor load.
9 more elements
A control system for a compressor, comprising:
- a variable frequency drive;
- at least one sensor measuring operational parameters;
- an actuator connected to a mechanical unloader of the compressor;
- a memory configured to store a map of compressor efficiency based on compressor speed and mechanical unloading;
- and
- a processor, connected to the variable frequency drive, the at least one sensor, the actuator, and the memory, wherein the processor:
- receives operational parameters,
- determines a desired compressor speed from the map of compressor efficiency based on energy consumption without respect to the mechanical unloading component of the map to operate the compressor at the desired compressor speed under the received operational parameters,
- provides the desired compressor speed to the variable frequency drive,
- determines whether a compressor capacity exceeds a compressor load, and
- commands the actuator to reduce the capacity of the compressor using the mechanical unloader when the compressor capacity exceeds the compressor load.
8 more elements
A method for controlling the capacity of a compressor, comprising:
- receiving operational parameters;
- based on the operational parameters, retrieving a map of compressor efficiency based on compressor speed and mechanical unloading;
- first, determining a desired compressor speed from the map of compressor efficiency based on energy consumption to operate the compressor at the desired compressor speed across mechanical unloading levels under the received operational parameters;
- and
- commanding a variable frequency drive to operate the compressor at the desired compressor speed;
- then, when the compressor is operating at the desired compressor speed, comparing a compressor capacity to a compressor load;
- and
- when the compressor capacity exceeds the compressor load, increasing the extent to which one or more mechanical unloaders reduce the capacity of the compressor.
5 more elements
A method for controlling the capacity of a compressor, comprising:
- receiving operational parameters;
- based on the operational parameters, retrieving a map of compressor efficiency based on compressor speed and mechanical unloading;
- determining a desired compressor speed from the map of compressor efficiency based on energy consumption without respect to the mechanical unloading component of the map to operate the compressor at the desired compressor speed under the received operational parameters;
- commanding a variable frequency drive to operate the compressor at the desired compressor speed;
- comparing a compressor capacity to a compressor load when the compressor is operating at the desired compressor speed;
- and
- increasing the extent to which one or more mechanical unloaders reduce the capacity of the compressor when the compressor capacity exceeds the compressor load.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.