Outdoor fan control for variable speed heat pump
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorsEugene L. Mills, Jr., James P. Sodo, John M. Palmer, Peter G. Pierret
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an outdoor unit of a heat pump having a variable speed compressor, the fan speed is controlled in response to both the speed of the compressor and the temperature of the outdoor refrigerant such that the operating efficiency of the fan and its driving motor can be optimized over a full range of compressor operating speeds.
Claims7
An improved outdoor assembly for a heat pump system of the type having a variable speed compressor, an outdoor coil, and a fan with a variable speed motor, comprising;
- sensing means for sensing the speed of the compressor over a range of operating speeds;
- sensing means for sensing the temperature of the refrigerant in the outdoor coil;
- and
- control means for controlling the speed of the fan in response to both the compressor speed and the refrigerant temperature in such a manner as to optimize the operating efficiency of the fan operation over the full range of operating speeds.
An improved heat pump system as set forth in claim when said temperature sensing means comprising a thermistor installed on a surface of tubing within the outdoor coil.
A method of controlling the fan speed in the heat pump system of a type having a variable speed compressor, an outdoor coil and a variable speed fan motor comprising the steps of:
- sensing the speed of the compressor over a range of operating speeds;
- sensing the temperature of the refrigerant in the outdoor coil;
- and
- controlling the speed of the fan in response to the both sensed compressor speed and the sensed refrigerant temperature so as to optimize the operating efficiency of the fan operation over the full range of compressor operating speeds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.