Heat pump output indicator
OwnerJames L. Cornaire, Phillip R. Crabbsinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for measuring the relative efficiency of a heat pump whose design efficiency increases in proportion to the outdoor temperature. Temperature sensitive diodes connected to a differential amplifier are inserted in the return air stream and supply air stream of a heat pump in order to measure the air temperature increase across the indoor coil. A third temperature sensitive diode connected to a second differential amplifier is placed outdoors in order to measure the outdoor temperature. The outputs of the first two differential amplifiers are combined and then subtracted from a fixed value signal by a third amplifier in order to produce an output which is proportional to the relative efficiency of the heat pump at the outdoor temperature.
Claims18
A device for measuring the operating efficiency relative to its design efficiency at a given outdoor temperature, said heat pump or refrigeration device or air conditioning device having a supply air stream, a return air stream, an indoor coil, and a design efficiency which varies according to the outdoor temperature, comprising:
- first means for generating a first output having a characteristic which is proportional to the air temperature difference across said indoor coil;
- second means for generating a second output having a characteristic which increases and decreases in proportion to changes in the outdoor temperature;
- and
- means connected to said first and second generating means, for combining said first and second outputs to generate a third output having a characteristic directly proportional to the actual operating efficiency of said heat pump or refrigeration device or air conditioning device relative to the design efficiency of said heat pump or refrigeration device or air conditioning device at said given temperature.
A device for measuring the relative efficiency of a heat pump having a supply air stream, a return air stream, an indoor coil, and a design efficiency which varies according to the outdoor temperature, comprising:
- means for generating a first electrical signal, the magnitude of which is proportional to the air temperature difference across said indoor coil;
- means for generating a second electrical signal, the magnitude of which increases and decreases in proportion to changes in the outdoor temperature;
- and
- means, responsive to said first signal and said second signal, for generating a third electrical signal, the magnitude of which is a function of the magnitude of said first signal and the magnitude of said second signal, such that said third signal has a magnitude directly proportional to the actual operating efficiency of said heat pump relative to the design efficiency of said heat pump at said outdoor given temperature.
A device for measuring the operating efficiency of a heat pump or refrigeration device or air conditioning device relative to its design efficiency at a given outdoor temperature, said heat pump or refrigeration device or air conditioning device having a supply air stream, a return air stream, an indoor coil, and a design efficiency which varies according to the outdoor temperature, comprising:
- first means for generating a first output having a characteristic which increases and decreases in proportion to changes in the air temperature in said supply air stream;
- second means for generating a second output having a characteristic which increases and decreases in proportion to changes in the air temperature in said return air stream;
- third means for generating a third output having a characteristic which increases and decreases in proportion to changes in the outdoor temperature;
- and
- fourth means, connected to said first, second, and third generating means, for combining said first;
- second, and third outputs to generate a fourth output having a characteristic directly proportional to the actual operating efficiency of said heat pump or refrigeration device on air conditioning device at said given temperature.
A device for measuring the relative efficiency of a heat pump having a supply air stream, a return air stream, an indoor coil, and a design efficiency which varies according to the outdoor temperature, comprising:
- means for generating a first electrical signal whose magnitude increases and decreases in proportion to changes in the air temperature in said supply air stream;
- means for generating a second electrical signal whose magnitude increases and decreases in proportion to changes in the air temperature in said return air stream;
- means for generating a third electrical signal whose magnitude increases and decreases in proportion to changes in outdoor temperature;
- and
- means, responsive to said first signal, said second signal and said third signal, for generating a fourth electrical signal, the magnitude of which is a function of the magnitudes of said first, second and third signals, the magnitude of said fourth signal being proportional to the actual operating efficiency of said heat pump relative to the design efficiency of said heat pump at said given temperature.
A method for measuring the operating efficiency of a heat pump or refrigeration device or air conditioning device relative to its design efficiency at a given outdoor temperature, said heat pump refrigeration device or air conditioning device having a supply air stream, a return air stream, an indoor coil, and a design efficiency which varies according to the outdoor temperature, said method comprising the steps of:
- generating a first output, representing the air temperature difference across the indoor coil;
- generating a second output, representing the given outdoor temperature;
- and;
- producing, in response to said first output and said second output, a third output having a characteristic directly proportional to the actual operating efficiency of said heat pump or refrigeration device or air conditioning device relative to the design efficiency of said heat pump or refrigeration device or air conditioning device at said given outdoor temperature.
A method for measuring the relative efficiency at a given outdoor temperature of a heat pump having a supply air stream, a return air stream, an indoor coil, and a design efficiency which varies according to the outdoor temperature, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating a first electrical signal, representing the magnitude of the air temperature difference across said indoor coil;
- generating a second electrical signal, representing the magnitude of said given outdoor temperature;
- and
- producing in response to said first signal and said second signal, a third electrical signal which is a function of the magnitude of said first signal and the magnitude of said second signal, such that said third signal has a magnitude directly proportional to the actual operating efficiency of said heat pump relative to the design efficiency of said heat pump at said given temperature.
A method for measuring the efficiency at a given outdoor temperature of a heat pump having a supply air stream, a return air stream, an indoor heat pump coil, and a design efficiency which varies according to the outdoor temperature, comprising the steps of:
- generating a first electrical signal whose magnitude increases and decreases in proportion to changes in the air temperature in said supply air stream;
- generating a second electrical signal whose magnitude increases and decreases in proportion to changes in the air temperature in said return air stream;
- generating a third electrical signal whose magnitude increases and decreases in proportion to the outdoor temperature;
- and
- generating a fourth electrical signal whose magnitude is a function of the magnitudes of said first, second and third signals, the magnitude of said fourth signal being proportional to the actual operating efficiency of said heat pump relative to the design efficiency of said heat pump at said given temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.