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US 9,068,771 B2Granted
Method for automatically adjusting the defrost interval in a heat pump system
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorRajendra K. Shah
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a method for automatically adjusting the interval of time between defrost cycles in a heat pump system. The method includes tracking the duration of the previous defrost cycle or cycles, and dynamically adjusting the length of time before initiating the next defrost cycle.
Claims17
A method for dynamically adjusting a defrost interval in a heat pump system, the method comprising:
- (a) initiating a defrost cycle;
- (b) terminating the defrost cycle when a condenser coil reaches a threshold temperature or when a maximum duration time limit is reached;
- (c) detecting the duration of the defrost cycle;
- (d) dynamically adjusting the duration of the defrost interval as a function of the duration of the defrost cycle and a schedule of defrost cycles and defrost intervals, such that the duration of the defrost interval is inversely related to the duration of the defrost cycle;
- (e) automatically initiating a next defrost cycle based solely upon completion of the duration of the defrost interval;
- and
- (f) repeating steps (b)-(e).
4 more elements
A method for dynamically adjusting the defrost interval in a heat pump system based on a duration of at least one prior defrost cycle, the method comprising:
- (a) presetting an initial defrost interval;
- (b) running an initial defrost cycle;
- (c) terminating the defrost cycle by a predetermined temperature or predetermined maximum duration;
- (d) detecting the duration of the defrost cycle;
- (e) dynamically adjusting the duration of the defrost interval as a function of the duration of the defrost cycle and a schedule of defrost cycles and defrost intervals;
- (f) automatically initiating a next defrost cycle based solely upon completion of the duration of the defrost interval;
- and
- (g) repeating steps (c)-(f).
5 more elements
A heat pump system comprising:
- condenser coils;
- and
- a control device,
- wherein the control device is a timer that monitors a duration of a defrost cycle, establishes a defrost interval as a function of the duration of the defrost cycle and a schedule of defrost cycles and defrost intervals, automatically initiates a next defrost cycle upon completion of the defrost interval, and continuously repeats the steps of monitoring the duration of the defrost cycle, establishing a defrost interval as a function of the duration of the defrost cycle and a schedule of defrost cycles and defrost intervals, and automatically initiating a next defrost cycle based solely upon completion of the defrost interval.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.