Refrigeration system and method of operating the same

#The invention relates to a refrigeration system and, more particularly, a refrigeration system including a system controller and one or more devices having respective control modules, where the refrigeration system is adapted to be reconfigured, at least in part, automatically when an alarm is generated in one of the control modules.

#Intelligent electronic control for refrigeration systems (e.g., a commercial refrigeration system such as can be found at a supermarket) requires extensive configuration of the operating and safety parameters of the system. The configurable parameters are specific to the subsystems and devices to which the controls are attached and vary according to the application. In order to properly protect both equipment and refrigerated product, electronic controls applied to commercial refrigeration systems employ an alarm condition action and notification strategy. These alarm conditions can be categorized as control and safety. Control alarm conditions exist when a monitored or control parameter exists outside predetermined operational limits. Safety alarm conditions result when a monitored or calculated parameter traverses a predetermined safety limit.

#Existing electronic controls for commercial refrigeration systems require installing personnel to determine all alarm limits and are manually configured in the system controller. Subsequent to installation and start-up of the refrigeration system, operating and service personnel can modify these limits. Each of these scenarios provides opportunity for the implementation of erroneous operational and/or safety alarm limits. These errors will go unnoticed until they result in product loss, catastrophic equipment failure, or property damage.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a refrigeration system.

#FIG. 1A is an schematic flow diagram of a second refrigeration system suitable for use in connection with a distributed intelligence control system.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of one construction of a bus compatible compressor safety and control module.

#Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “coupled” and “communication” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, couplings and communications. Further, “connected,” “coupled,” and “communication” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections, couplings, or communications.

#Referring now to FIG. 1, one construction of a refrigeration system (e.g., a commercial refrigeration system for use in a food store) is shown to comprise one or more fixtures (which are illustrated as food display merchandisers 10A and 10B in the shopping arena of a food store). The merchandisers 10A and 10B each incorporate at least one evaporator coil 12A and 12B (or like heat exchanger unit), respectively, disposed for cooling the merchandiser. Three multiplexed compressors (designated 14A, 14B, and 14C, respectively) are connected by way of a suction header 16 and a low side return pipe 18 in fluid communication with the low side of the evaporators 12A and 12B for drawing refrigerant away from the evaporators. A condenser (generally indicated at 20) including a fan 22 and heat exchanger 24 is in fluid communication on the high discharge side of the compressors 14A, 14B, 14C for removing heat and condensing refrigerant pressurized by the compressors. Although an air-cooled condenser 20 is shown, other types of condensers, such as those liquid cooled from a ground source water supply, may be used. Moreover, it is to be understood that the single illustrated fan 22 represents one or more fans typically used in a condenser for commercial refrigeration applications.

#Refrigerant from the condenser 20 is stored in a receiver 26 in communication with expansion valves 28A and 28B by way of a high side liquid delivery line 30. The expansion valves 28A and 28B meter refrigerant into respective evaporators 12A and 12B and induce a pressure drop for absorbing heat, to complete the refrigeration circuit. The compressors 14A, 14B, and 14C, and usually also the suction header 16 and receiver 26, are mounted on a compressor (or condensing unit) rack (not shown) prior to shipment to the store location where the refrigeration system is to be installed.