US 2006/0048531 A1 · Control logic for HVAC heat management

Abstract

An air conditioner has a controller that controls the operation of a refrigerant circuit that has a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve or orifice tube, and an evaporator. The condenser receives a compressed refrigerant from the compressor and condenses the refrigerant to either a liquid phase or a saturated liquid-vapor phase. The condensed refrigerant is then passed through the expansion valve or orifice tube to expand the refrigerant and to delivery the refrigerant to the evaporator. The controller is operatively coupled to the compressor to operate the compressor to change an average condenser temperature of the condenser from a first temperature to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature based on at least one control signal indicative of thermal requirements of a vehicle component influenced by the average condenser temperature of the condenser.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An air conditioner comprising:

a condenser configured to receive a refrigerant in a compressed state and remove heat from at least a portion of the refrigerant;
an evaporator in fluid communication with the condenser to receive the refrigerant, and configured to evaporate at least a portion of the refrigerant;
a compressor in fluid communication with the evaporator, and configured to compress the refrigerant and deliver the refrigerant in the compressed state to the condenser;
and
a controller operatively coupled to the compressor to operate the compressor to change an average condenser temperature of the condenser from a first temperature to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature based on at least one control signal indicative of thermal requirements of a vehicle component influenced by the average condenser temperature of the condenser.

2 more elements

A method of operating an air conditioner comprising:

operating a compressor to substantially maintain an average temperature of a condenser at a first temperature when a vehicle component influenced by the average temperature of the condenser is operating within a predetermined operating condition;
determining when the vehicle component can be favorably influenced by lowering the average temperature of the condenser;
and
subsequently operating the compressor to substantially maintain the average temperature of a condenser at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature upon a determination that the vehicle component can be favorably influenced by lowering the average temperature of the condenser.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Control logic for HVAC heat management

Life of this patent

Control logic for HVAC heat management

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28