Method and system for compressor modulation in non-communicating mode
AssigneeLennox Industries Inc.
InventorsUmesh Gokhale, Eric Berg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An HVAC system includes a pressure sensor is disposed in a suction line between a compressor and an indoor heat-exchange coil. The pressure sensor is electrically coupled to a compressor controller. An HVAC controller is electrically coupled to the compressor controller. The HVAC controller is configured to transmit a signal to the compressor controller to activate and de-activate the compressor. The compressor controller is configured to receive a signal from the HVAC controller to activate the compressor, determine a start speed of the compressor, monitor a run time of the compressor, and modulate a speed of the compressor.
Claims20
A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
- an indoor unit comprising:
- an indoor heat-exchange coil;
- an indoor circulation fan arranged to circulate air through the indoor heat-exchange coil;
- a metering device fluidly coupled to the indoor heat-exchange coil;
- an outdoor unit comprising:
- an outdoor heat-exchange coil;
- an outdoor circulation fan arranged to circulate air through the outdoor heat-exchange coil;
- a compressor fluidly coupled to the outdoor heat-exchange coil and fluidly coupled to the indoor heat-exchange coil;
- a compressor controller electrically coupled to the compressor;
- a pressure sensor disposed in a suction line between the compressor and the indoor heat-exchange coil, the pressure sensor being electrically coupled to the compressor controller;
- an HVAC controller electrically coupled to the compressor controller, the HVAC controller configured to transmit a signal to the compressor controller to at least one of activate and de-activate the compressor;
- the compressor controller configured to:
- receive a signal from the HVAC controller to activate the compressor;
- determine a start speed of the compressor;
- monitor a run time of the compressor relative to a minimum run time and a desired cycle time;
- modulate a speed of the compressor to maintain a desired suction pressure;
- and
- responsive to a determination that the desired cycle time has been reached, increase the speed of the compressor to lower the desired suction pressure.
A compressor system comprising:
- an outdoor heat-exchange coil;
- an outdoor circulation fan disposed arranged to circulate air through the outdoor heat-exchange coil;
- a compressor fluidly coupled to the outdoor heat-exchange coil;
- a compressor controller electrically coupled to the compressor, the compressor controller configured to:
- receive a signal from an HVAC controller to activate the compressor;
- determine a start speed of the compressor;
- monitor a run time of the compressor relative to a minimum run time and a desired cycle time;
- modulate a speed of the compressor to maintain a desired suction pressure;
- and
- responsive to a determination that the desired cycle time has been reached, increase the speed of the compressor to lower the desired suction pressure.
A method of modulating a speed of a compressor, the method comprising:
- receiving a signal from an HVAC controller to at least one of activate and de-activate a compressor;
- determining a start speed of the compressor;
- activating the compressor at the determined start speed;
- monitoring a run time of the compressor;
- comparing the run time of the compressor to a minimum run time and a desired cycle time of an HVAC system;
- modulate a speed of the compressor to maintain a desired suction pressure;
- and
- responsive to a determination that the desired cycle time has been reached, increase the speed of the compressor to lower the desired suction pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.