System and method for operating an air conditioner unit having an auxiliary electric heater
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorJoshua Duane Longenecker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air conditioner unit includes a refrigeration loop, a variable speed compressor coupled to the refrigeration loop, an indoor temperature sensor, an electric heater, and a controller operably coupled to the variable speed compressor, the indoor temperature sensor, and the electric heater. The controller is configured to operate the variable speed compressor at a target speed, identify an auxiliary heating trigger of the air conditioner unit, and operate the electric heater according to the auxiliary heating trigger.
Claims19
An air conditioner unit comprising:
- a refrigeration loop comprising an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger;
- a variable speed compressor operably coupled to the refrigeration loop and being configured to urge a flow of refrigerant through the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger;
- an indoor temperature sensor configured to detect an indoor temperature of a room;
- an electric heater provided within the air conditioner unit and configured to selectively produce heat to be supplied to the room according to a first power level or a second power level, the second power level being greater than the first power level;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the variable speed compressor, the indoor temperature sensor, and the electric heater, the controller being configured to:
- operate the variable speed compressor at a target compressor speed;
- identify an auxiliary heating trigger of the air conditioner unit, wherein the auxiliary heating trigger is based on at least one of a setpoint error, the setpoint error being a difference between an actual indoor temperature and a setpoint temperature, a compressor limit speed, or a dew point temperature of the room;
- determine the setpoint error is greater than a first setpoint threshold;
- maintain the variable speed compressor at the target compressor speed;
- and
- operate the electric heater at the first power level.
A method of operating an air conditioner unit, the air conditioner unit comprising a refrigeration loop, a variable speed compressor operably coupled to the refrigeration loop and being configured to urge a flow of refrigerant through the refrigeration loop, a temperature sensor operably coupled to the refrigeration loop, and an electric heater provided within the air conditioner unit, the method comprising:
- operating the variable speed compressor at a target compressor speed;
- identifying an auxiliary heating trigger of the air conditioner unit;
- operating the electric heater at one of a first power level or a second power level greater than the first power level according to the auxiliary heating trigger of the air conditioner unit, wherein the auxiliary heating trigger is at least one of a setpoint error, a compressor limit speed, or a dew point temperature of a room;
- determining that the target compressor speed is the compressor limit speed;
- maintaining the variable speed compressor at the target compressor speed;
- and
- directing the electric heater at the first power level.
An air conditioner unit comprising:
- a refrigeration loop comprising an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger;
- a variable speed compressor operably coupled to the refrigeration loop and being configured to urge a flow of refrigerant through the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger;
- an indoor temperature sensor configured to detect an indoor temperature of a room;
- an electric heater provided within the air conditioner unit and configured to selectively produce heat to be supplied to the room according to a first power level or a second power level, the second power level being greater than the first power level;
- an outdoor fan configured to direct air over the outdoor heat exchanger;
- an indoor fan configured to direct air over the indoor heat exchanger and into the room;
- an indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the indoor heat exchanger;
- and
- a humidity sensor configured to detect an indoor humidity of the room;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the variable speed compressor, the indoor temperature sensor, and the electric heater, the controller being configured to:
- operate the variable speed compressor at a target compressor speed;
- identify an auxiliary heating trigger of the air conditioner unit, wherein the auxiliary heating trigger is based on at least one of a setpoint error, the setpoint error being a difference between an actual indoor temperature and a setpoint temperature, a compressor limit speed, or a dew point temperature of the room;
- determine that the dew point temperature is above a first dew point threshold and below a second dew point threshold;
- increase a compressor speed above the target compressor speed;
- increase a speed of the outdoor fan;
- and
- decrease a speed of the indoor fan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.