Universal refrigerant controller
OwnerLyman W. Wycoffinventor
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Abstract
In general the present invention provides a refrigeration system and a method of controlling the refrigeration system. The system includes a coolant circuit having in series a compressor, a metering device, an evaporator coil, and sensors for determining the coolant temperature and pressure within the circuit. The system also includes a defrost system that includes a fan and/or a resistive heating element. The present invention also provides a method of operating the refrigeration system to protect the individual components such as the compressor from damage from flooding with liquid coolant. Additionally, the operating method provides a more efficient operation by using a self-adaptive defrost sequence and rapid startup sequences after the defrost periods.
Claims18
A method of controlling a refrigeration system comprising a compressor, a coolant in a coolant circuit, a metering device, an evaporator coil, and a fan proximate to the evaporator coil, said method comprising:
- defrosting the evaporator coil for a selected defrost period;
- determining a load difference on the fan measured before and after said selected defrost period;
- and
- adjusting one or more of:
- a defrost sequence, a defrost delay period, a defrost time period, or an amount of heat transferred to said evaporator coil in response to the load difference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.