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US 12,716,630 B2Granted
Method of varying defrost trigger for heat pump
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorCharles A. Cluff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for determining when to initiate a defrost mode of a heat pump includes monitoring a heating capacity of an evaporator of the heat pump during operation of the heat pump in a heating mode, determining a threshold associated with the heating capacity, and initiating a defrost mode when the heating capacity of the evaporator is less than or equal to the threshold.
Claims17
A method for determining when to initiate a defrost mode of a heat pump, the method comprising:
- monitoring a heating capacity of an evaporator of the heat pump during operation of the heat pump in a heating mode via monitoring at least one parameter or operating condition of the heat pump associated with the heating capacity, wherein monitoring at least one parameter or operating condition of the heat pump associated with the heating capacity includes measuring at least one of a temperature and pressure at an outlet of an expansion device, at an inlet of the evaporator, or at any location between the outlet of the expansion device and the inlet of the evaporator;
- determining a threshold associated with the heating capacity, wherein determining the threshold includes identifying a reference value associated with the at least one parameter or operating condition and deriving the threshold from the reference value by applying an offset to the reference valve, the offset being based on the at least one parameter or operating condition being monitored;
- and
- initiating a defrost mode when the heating capacity of the evaporator is less than or equal to the threshold.
1 more element
A system for conditioning air comprising:
- a refrigeration circuit including a compressor, and expansion valve, and a heat exchanger;
- a controller configured to:
- monitor a heating capacity of the system during operation in a heating mode via monitoring at least one parameter or operating condition of the heat pump associated with the heating capacity, wherein monitoring at least one parameter or operating condition of the heat pump associated with the heating capacity includes measuring at least one of a temperature and pressure at an outlet of an expansion device, at an inlet of the evaporator, or at any location between the outlet of the expansion device and the inlet of the evaporator;
- determine a threshold associated with the heating capacity by identifying a reference value associated with the at least one parameter or operating condition and deriving, via a controller, the threshold from the reference value by applying an offset to the reference valve, the offset being based on the at least one parameter or operating condition being monitored;
- and
- initiate operation in a defrost mode when the heating capacity of the heat exchanger is less than or equal to the threshold.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.