US 11,635,238 B2Granted

Systems and methods for controlling a purge unit of a vapor compression system

AssigneeJohnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP

InventorsDavid Andrew Bradshaw, Andrew Michael Welch, Curtis C. Crane, Calvin Andrew Nelson

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Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward purge units of vapor compression systems, and methods of control thereof, that improve efficiency by selectively activating and deactivating the purge unit in response to one or more conditions to, for example, enable refrigerant-to-air ratios within the purge unit within certain industry standards while still minimizing the durations of the purge cycles. For example, in certain embodiments, these conditions may include conditions within the chiller condenser, time since last purge activation, time since last venting of non-condensables, and combinations thereof. By reducing an amount of time that the purge unit would be active without removing a substantial amount non-condensables from the vapor compression system, present embodiments reduce the power consumption of the purge unit, as well as the vapor compression system as a whole.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A vapor compression system comprising a purge unit fluidly coupled to a condenser of the vapor compression system, wherein the vapor compression system comprises one or more sensors and a control panel comprising a controller having a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to control operation of the purge unit, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to:

receive data signals from the one or more sensors;
initiate a purge mode of operation of the purge unit by sending control signals to one or more components of the purge unit to activate the purge unit for a purge duration equal to a first predetermined period of time based at least in part on the received data signals;
determine whether one or more evacuations of non-condensables from the purge unit occur during the purge duration;
reset a purge cycle count and a number of time periods since a last evacuation of non-condensables from the purge unit when one or more evacuations of non-condensables from the purge unit occur during the purge duration;
increment the purge cycle count and send control signals to the one or more components of the purge unit to deactivate the purge unit for a first wait duration equal to a second predetermined period of time when the processor determines that no evacuations of non-condensables from the purge unit occur during the purge duration;
send control signals to the one or more components of the purge unit to activate the purge unit after the first wait duration if the purge cycle count is not greater than a predetermined value;
increment the number of time periods since the last evacuation of non-condensables from the purge unit and send control signals to the one or more components of the purge unit to deactivate the purge unit for a second wait duration if the purge cycle count is greater than the predetermined value;
and
repeat execution of the purge cycle a predetermined number of time periods, and then send control signals to the one or more components of the purge unit to deactivate the purge unit for a third wait duration equal to a third predetermined period of time when no evacuations of non-condensables from the purge unit occur during the predetermined number of time periods.

6 more elements

(A) initiate a purge mode of operation of the purge unit by sending control signals to one or more components the purge unit to activate the purge unit for a purge duration equal to a predetermined purge duration based at least in part on data signals received from the one or more sensors;
then
(B) proceed back to step (A) in response to determining that at least one purge unit evacuation of non-condensables from the purge unit occurred during step (A), or send control signals to the one or more components of the purge unit to deactivate the purge unit for a first predetermined wait time in response to determining that no purge unit evacuations of non-condensables from the purge unit occurred during step (A);
then
(C) proceed back to step (A) a first predetermined number of times, and then send control signals to the one or more components of the purge unit to deactivate the purge unit for a second predetermined wait time in response to determining that no evacuations of non-condensables from the purge unit occurred;
and then
(D) proceed back to step (A) a second predetermined number of times, and then send control signals to the one or more components of the purge unit to deactivate the purge unit for a third predetermined wait time in response to determining that no evacuations of non-condensables from the purge unit occurred).

4 more elements

A method of operating a purge unit fluidly coupled to a condenser of a vapor compression system, comprising:

(A) initiating, via a processor of the vapor compression system, a purge mode of operation of the purge unit by activating the purge unit with a purge duration of one hour;
and then
(B) proceeding back to step (A) in response to the processor determining that at least one purge unit evacuation of non-condensables from the purge unit occurred during step (A), or deactivating, via the processor, the purge unit for four hours in response to determining that no purge unit evacuations of non-condensables from the purge unit occurred during step (A);
and then
(C) proceeding back to step (A) two times, and then deactivating, via the processor, the purge unit for 24 hours in response to determining that no evacuations of non-condensables from the purge unit occurred during the two times;
and then
(D) proceeding back to step (A) six times, and then deactivating, via the processor, the purge unit for one week in response to determining that no evacuations of non-condensables from the purge unit occurred during the six times.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/652,581Filed 4 Oct 2018 · us provisional application
Priority: 10 Oct 2017
Published: US 2020/0240685 A130 Jul 2020
Granted: 25 Apr 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

F25B 39/04
Evaporators; Condensers: condensers
F25B 43/043
For withdrawing non-condensible gases: for compression type systems
F25B 49/02
Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices: for compression type machines, plants or systems
F25B 2339/047
Details of condensers: water-cooled condensers