US 2019/0170404 A1 · MULTI-CAPACITY COMPRESSOR WITH VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract

An HVAC system including a multi-capacity compressor, and a control system for the multi-capacity compressor are described herein. The control system includes an AC line voltage source, a variable-voltage variable-frequency drive, and a processor. The AC line voltage source is configured to operate the multi-capacity compressor. The variable-voltage variable-frequency drive is coupled to the AC line voltage source and is configured to operate the multi-capacity compressor at a variable speed. The processor is coupled to the AC line voltage source and the variable-voltage variable-frequency drive, and is configured to selectively couple the AC line voltage source and the variable-voltage variable-frequency drive to the multi-capacity compressor to operate the multi-capacity compressor. The processor is further configured to transmit a capacity control signal to the multi-capacity compressor. The capacity control signal is instructive to operate the multi-capacity compressor in one of a plurality of capacity settings.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a multi-capacity compressor configured to operate selectively at a high-capacity setting, a medium-capacity setting, and a low-capacity setting to provide a compressor output;
a variable-voltage variable-frequency drive coupled to said multi-capacity compressor and configured to operate said multi-capacity compressor at a variable speed;
and
a processor coupled to said multi-capacity compressor and said variable-voltage variable-frequency drive, said processor configured to:
select one of the high-capacity setting, the medium-capacity setting, or the low capacity setting at which said multi-capacity compressor should operate based on a load determined for said multi-capacity compressor,
employ said variable-voltage variable-frequency drive to operate said multi-capacity compressor at the variable speed to match the compressor output to the load;
and
bypass said variable-voltage variable-frequency drive when operating said multi-capacity compressor at the high-capacity setting for a compressor heating output based on a heating load.

5 more elements

A control system for a multi-capacity compressor, said control system comprising:

an alternating current (AC) line voltage source configured to operate the multi-capacity compressor;
a variable-voltage variable-frequency drive coupled to said AC line voltage source and configured to operate the multi-capacity compressor at a variable speed;
and
a processor coupled to said AC line voltage source and said variable-voltage variable-frequency drive, said processor configured to:
selectively couple said AC line voltage source and said variable-voltage variable-frequency drive to the multi-capacity compressor to operate the multi-capacity compressor, and
transmit a capacity control signal to the multi-capacity compressor, the control signal instructive to operate the multi-capacity compressor in one of a high-capacity setting, a medium-capacity setting, or a low-capacity setting, while the multi-capacity compressor is being powered by the selectively coupled one of said AC line voltage source or said variable-voltage variable-frequency drive.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-capacity compressor with variable speed drive and method of use

Life of this patent

Multi-capacity compressor with variable speed drive and method of use

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22