Sealed system multiple speed compressor and fan control
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsZiqiang Hu, Richard Dana Brooke, Alexander Pinkus Rafalovich, Anil Kumar Tummala
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling a sealed system including a variable speed compressor coupled to a controller is described. The method includes establishing a control grid having at least one axis corresponding to a temperature at a specified location, and the axis is divided into a plurality of operating states of the sealed system. Each of the states correspond to a sensed temperature condition at the specified location, and each of the states includes a designated compressor speed parameter. The compressor speed parameter in some of the states is different from the compressor speed parameter in other of the states.
Claims18
A method for controlling a sealed system for forcing cold air through a first and a second compartment, the sealed system including a variable speed compressor, a condenser fan, an evaporator fan and a second compartment fan, the sealed system further including a controller operatively coupled to the variable speed compressor, the condenser fan, the evaporator fan and the second fan, said method comprising:
- establishing a control grid having at least one axis corresponding to a temperature at the first compartment, the axis divided into a plurality of operating states of the sealed system, each of the states corresponding to a sensed temperature condition at the first compartment, and each of the states including a designated compressor speed parameter, the compressor speed parameter in some of the states different from the compressor speed parameter in other of the states;
- operating each of the compressor and the condenser fan in a first complementary speed in at least a first one of the states;
- operating each of the compressor and the condenser fan in a second speed complementary in at least a second one of the states, the second speed less than the first speed;
- and
- operating each of the compressor and condenser fan in a third speed in at least a third one of the states in the control grid, the third speed in between the first speed and the second speed, wherein operating each of the compressor and condenser fan at disparate speeds in at least a second one of the states of the control grid comprises operating the condenser fan in the third speed and operating the condenser fan at a fourth speed, the fourth speed greater than the first speed.
A method for controlling a scaled system including a controller operatively coupled to a compressor operable at a multiplicity of speeds, a condenser fan operable at a multiplicity of speeds, and an evaporator fan operable at a multiplicity of speeds, said method comprising:
- coupling the controller to at least a first thermistor in a first location;
- coupling the controller to at least a second thermistor in a second location, when the first and second location are in flow communication via damper therebetween;
- sensing a temperature at the first location with the at least one thermistor;
- selecting optimum control parameters for the compressor, condenser fan and evaporator fan from one of a plurality of state corresponding to the sensed temperature in a control grid;
- and
- operating the compressor, condenser fan, and evaporator fan according to the control parameters.
A method for controlling a refrigeration system, the refrigeration system including a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment with a damper establishing flow communication therebetween, a sealed system for forcing cold air through the refrigerator compartments, the sealed system including a compressor, a condenser fan, an evaporator fan and a fresh food compartment fan, the refrigerator further including a controller operatively coupled to the compressor, the condenser fan, the damper, the evaporator fan and the fresh food fan, said method comprising the steps of:
- reading data corresponding to a fresh food compartment condition;
- reading data corresponding to a freezer compartment condition;
- determining a state of the refrigeration system in a two-dimensional logic control grid based upon the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment data;
- and
- executing an optimal control algorithm for the determined state of the refrigeration system, the optimal control algorithm including one of a plurality of compressor speeds corresponding to the determined state.
A control system for a refrigeration system, the refrigeration system including a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment with a damper establishing flow communication therebetween, a sealed system for forcing cold air through the refrigerator compartments, the sealed system including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator fan and a fresh food compartment fan, said control system comprising:
- a controller operatively coupled to the damper, the compressor, the condenser fan, the evaporator fan and the fresh food fan, said controller configured to:
- determine an applicable state of the refrigeration system in a two-dimensional logic control grid;
- execute an optimal control algorithm for the determined state of the refrigeration system;
- and
- adjust control parameters as the determined state changes over time, at least one of the parameters corresponding to a compressor speed.
A refrigerator comprising
- a cabinet;
- a first refrigeration compartment within said cabinet;
- a second refrigeration compartment within said cabinet;
- a damper establishing flow communication between said first and second refrigeration compartment;
- a sealed system for forcing cold air through said first and second refrigerator compartments, said sealed system comprising a compressor, a condenser fan, an evaporator fan and a fresh food compartment fan;
- a controller operatively coupled to said damper, said compressor, said condenser fan, said evaporator fan and said fresh food fan, said controller configured to:
- determine an applicable state of the refrigeration system in a two-dimensional logic control grid corresponding to temperature conditions of said first refrigeration compartment and said second refrigeration compartment;
- and
- adjust control parameters for said sealed system as said determined state changes over time, at least one of the parameters corresponding to a compressor speed value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.