US6601397B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital scroll condensing unit controller
Assignee: Copeland Corp LLC
•
Filing: 2001-03-16
•
Granted: 2003-08-05
•
Expires: 2021-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A cooling system controller controls the capacity of a variable capacity compressor based upon the temperature of a housing being cooled, the suction pressure of the compressor or both of these criteria. The cooling system controller is capable of controlling either single-evaporator or multiple-evaporator refrigeration systems. The multiple-evaporator systems can have evaporators of similar temperatures or of mixed temperatures. The controller also allows the use of one or more condenser fans that are operated in a lead/lag fashion to control the cooling capability of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Hung M. Pham
- 👤 Richard P. Vogh, III
- 👤 Nagaraj Jayanth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:02
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04C; F04C28/00; F04C28/18; F04C23/00; F04C23/008; F04C27/00; F04C27/005; F04C28/24; F04C28/26; F04C28/265; F04C28/28; F04C29/00; F04C29/04; F04C29/042; F25; F25B; F25B1/00; F25B1/04; F25B49/00; F25B49/02; F25B49/022; F04C18/00; F04C18/02; F04C18/0207; F04C18/0215; F25B2400/00; F25B2400/07; F25B2400/075; F25B2400/13; F25B2400/22; F25B2400/23; F25B2600/00; F25B2600/02; F25B2600/026; F25B2600/11; F25B2600/111; F25B2700/00; F25B2700/19; F25B2700/193; F25B2700/1933; F25B2700/21; F25B2700/2115; F25B2700/21152; F25B2700/2117; F25B5/00; F25B5/02; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A compressor control system comprising: a compressor that is selectively operable while energized in at least two states including a first state corresponding to a first capacity and a second state corresponding to a second capacity lower than said first capacity, said compressor operable to compress a gas between a suction pressure and a discharge pressure; a pressure sensor for sensing said suction pressure; and a controller including motor start logic and coupled to said pressure sensor for producing a variable duty cycle control signal in which said duty cycle control signal is a function of said suction pressure, said controller being coupled to said compressor for unloading said compressor when initially energized and causing said compressor to selectively alternate between said first and second states in response to said variable duty cycle control signal, thereby adjusting capacity of said compressor based upon said suction pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A compressor control system comprising: a compressor that is selectively operable while energized in at least two states including a first state corresponding to a first capacity and a second state corresponding to a second capacity lower than said first capacity, said compressor operable to compress a gas between a suction pressure and a discharge pressure; a pressure sensor for sensing said suction pressure; and a controller including motor start logic and coupled to said pressure sensor for producing a variable duty cycle control signal in which said duty cycle control signal is a function of said suction pressure, said controller being coupled to said compressor for unloading said compressor when initially energized and causing said compressor to selectively alternate between said first and second states in response to said variable duty cycle control signal, thereby adjusting capacity of said compressor based upon said suction pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The compressor control system according to claim 1 , wherein said controller determines an average suction pressure over a specified period of time within a control cycle time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The compressor control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a vapor injection system for injecting vapor into said compressor at a position intermediate said suction pressure and said discharge pressure, said controller being coupled to said vapor injection system for controlling injection of said gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The compressor control system according to claim 3 , further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of said gas at said discharge pressure, said controller being coupled to said temperature sensor for controlling injection of said vapor based on said temperature of said gas at said discharge pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The compressor control system according to claim 1 , wherein said compressor is a scroll compressor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The compressor control system according to claim 1 , wherein said compressor has two mechanical elements separated by a seal, said mechanical elements being movable relative to one another to develop fluid pressure and wherein said compressor includes mechanism to selectively break said seal in response to said control signal to thereby alter said fluid pressure developed while allowing said mechanical elements to maintain substantially constant relative movement with one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The compressor control system according to claim 6 , wherein said compressor is a scroll compressor and said two mechanical elements are scroll members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The compressor control system according to claim 1 , wherein said motor start logic selects said second state of said compressor when said compressor is energized.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
156 words
A cooling system comprising: a housing; an evaporator disposed in said housing; a condenser coupled in fluid communication with said evaporator; a compressor coupled in fluid communication with said evaporator and said condenser, said compressor comprising a gas between a suction pressure and a discharge pressure; a temperature sensor for sensing temperature; a pressure sensor for sensing said suction pressure; and a controller responsive to said suction pressure sensor, said controller being coupled to said condensation fan for controlling said fan based on a temperature sensed by said temperature sensor, a percent duty cycle, and a calculated minimum pressure differential, and said controller being coupled to said compressor for providing a variable duty cycle control signal to said compressor whereby said compressor is modulated between a first capacity state and a second capacity state while operating to thereby adjust the operating capacity of said compressor based on said suction pressure to maintain a specified suction pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
156 words
A cooling system comprising: a housing; an evaporator disposed in said housing; a condenser coupled in fluid communication with said evaporator; a compressor coupled in fluid communication with said evaporator and said condenser, said compressor comprising a gas between a suction pressure and a discharge pressure; a temperature sensor for sensing temperature; a pressure sensor for sensing said suction pressure; and a controller responsive to said suction pressure sensor, said controller being coupled to said condensation fan for controlling said fan based on a temperature sensed by said temperature sensor, a percent duty cycle, and a calculated minimum pressure differential, and said controller being coupled to said compressor for providing a variable duty cycle control signal to said compressor whereby said compressor is modulated between a first capacity state and a second capacity state while operating to thereby adjust the operating capacity of said compressor based on said suction pressure to maintain a specified suction pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The cooling system according to claim 9 , further comprising a vapor injection system for injecting vapor into said compressor at a position intermediate a suction pressure and a discharge pressure, said controller being coupled to said vapor injection system for controlling injection of said gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The cooling system according to claim 10 , further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of gas at said discharge pressure, said system controller being coupled to said temperature sensor for controlling injection of said vapor based on said temperature of said gas at said discharge pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cooling system according to claim 9 , wherein said compressor is a scroll compressor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
The cooling system according to claim 9 , wherein said compressor has two mechanical elements separated by a seal, said mechanical elements being movable relative to one another to develop fluid pressure and wherein said compressor includes mechanism to selectively break said seal in response to said control signal to thereby alter said fluid pressure developed while allowing said mechanical elements to maintain substantially constant relative movement with one another.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cooling system according to claim 13 , wherein said compressor is a scroll compressor and said two mechanical elements are scroll members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cooling system according to claim 9 , wherein said controller determines an average suction pressure over a specified period of time within a control cycle time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cooling system according to claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of housings each having a respective evaporator disposed therein, and a temperature sensor disposed in one of said plurality of housings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
121 words
A compressor control system for a multiple compressor rack with at least one compressor having a pulse-width modulated capacity, said compressor control system comprising: a pressure sensor for sensing a suction pressure of a gas; and a system controller responsive to said suction pressure sensor including motor start logic and coupled to the at least one compressor for unloading said compressor when initially energized and providing a variable duty cycle control signal to the at least one compressor, whereby said at least one compressor is modulated between a first capacity state and a second capacity state while operating to thereby adjust the operating capacity of the at least one compressor based on said suction pressure to maintain a specified suction pressure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
121 words
A compressor control system for a multiple compressor rack with at least one compressor having a pulse-width modulated capacity, said compressor control system comprising: a pressure sensor for sensing a suction pressure of a gas; and a system controller responsive to said suction pressure sensor including motor start logic and coupled to the at least one compressor for unloading said compressor when initially energized and providing a variable duty cycle control signal to the at least one compressor, whereby said at least one compressor is modulated between a first capacity state and a second capacity state while operating to thereby adjust the operating capacity of the at least one compressor based on said suction pressure to maintain a specified suction pressure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The compressor control system according to claim 17 , further comprising a vapor injection system for injecting vapor into the at least one compressor at a position intermediate a suction pressure and a discharge pressure, said system controller being coupled to said vapor injection system for controlling injection of said gas.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The compressor control system according to claim 18 , further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of said gas at said discharge pressure, said controller being coupled to said temperature sensor for controlling injection of said vapor based on said temperature of said gas at said discharge pressure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The compressor control system according to claim 17 , where in said system controller is coupled to a condenser fan to control the fan.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The compressor control system according to claim 17 , wherein said system controller includes start logic, said start logic selecting said second capacity state of said at least one compressor when said at least one compressor is energized.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The compressor control system according to claim 17 , further comprising an evaporator controller for controlling an evaporator and a temperature sensor connected to said evaporator controller, said temperature sensor communicating temperature data to said evaporator controller, and said evaporator controller communicating said temperature data to said system controller.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The compressor controller system according to claim 22 , wherein said evaporator controller further communicates demand loading state data to said system controller.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cooling system according to claim 17 , wherein said system controller determines an average suction pressure over a specified period of time within a control cycle time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
157 words
A compressor control system comprising: a multiple compressor rack with at least one compressor selectively operable while energized in at least two states including a first state corresponding to a first capacity and a second state corresponding to a second capacity lower than said first capacity, said at least one compressor operable to compress a gas between a suction pressure and a discharge pressure; a pressure sensor for sensing said suction pressure; and a controller including motor start logic and coupled to said pressure sensor for producing a variable duty cycle control signal in which the duty cycle control signal is a function of said suction pressure, said controller being coupled to said compressor for unloading said compressor when initially energized and causing said compressor to selectively alternate between said first and second states in response to said variable duty cycle control signal, thereby adjusting capacity of said at least one compressor based upon said suction pressure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
157 words
A compressor control system comprising: a multiple compressor rack with at least one compressor selectively operable while energized in at least two states including a first state corresponding to a first capacity and a second state corresponding to a second capacity lower than said first capacity, said at least one compressor operable to compress a gas between a suction pressure and a discharge pressure; a pressure sensor for sensing said suction pressure; and a controller including motor start logic and coupled to said pressure sensor for producing a variable duty cycle control signal in which the duty cycle control signal is a function of said suction pressure, said controller being coupled to said compressor for unloading said compressor when initially energized and causing said compressor to selectively alternate between said first and second states in response to said variable duty cycle control signal, thereby adjusting capacity of said at least one compressor based upon said suction pressure.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The compressor control system according to claim 25 , wherein said controller determines an average suction pressure over a specified period of time within a control cycle time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
47 words
The compressor control system according to claim 25 , further comprising a vapor injection system for injecting vapor into said compressor at a position intermediate said suction pressure and said discharge pressure, said controller being coupled to said vapor injection system for controlling injection of said gas.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
50 words
The compressor control system according to claim 27 , further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of said gas at said discharge pressure, said controller being coupled to said temperature sensor for controlling injection of said vapor based on said temperature of said gas at said discharge pressure.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The compressor control system according to claim 25 , wherein said compressor is a scroll compressor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
71 words
The compressor control system according to claim 25 , wherein said compressor has two mechanical elements separated by a seal, said mechanical elements being movable relative to one another to develop fluid pressure and wherein said compressor includes mechanism to selectively break said seal in response to said control signal to thereby alter said fluid pressure developed while allowing said mechanical elements to maintain substantially constant relative movement with one another.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The compressor control system according to claim 30 , wherein said compressor is a scroll compressor and said two mechanical elements are scroll members.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The compressor control system according to claim 25 , wherein said motor start logic selects said second state of said compressor when said compressor is energized.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
150 words
A cooling system comprising: a housing; an evaporator disposed in said housing; a condenser coupled in fluid communication with said evaporator; a compressor rack coupled in fluid communication with said evaporator and said condenser, said compressor rack including at least one compressor having a pulse-width modulated variable capacity and being operable between two states; a pressure sensor for sensing a suction pressure of a gas; a system controller responsive to said suction pressure sensor including motor start logic and coupled to the at least one compressor for unloading said compressor when initially energized and providing a variable duty cycle control signal to the at least one compressor, whereby said at least one compressor is modulated between a first capacity state and a second capacity state while operating to thereby adjust the operating capacity of the at least one compressor based on said suction pressure to maintain a specified suction pressure.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
150 words
A cooling system comprising: a housing; an evaporator disposed in said housing; a condenser coupled in fluid communication with said evaporator; a compressor rack coupled in fluid communication with said evaporator and said condenser, said compressor rack including at least one compressor having a pulse-width modulated variable capacity and being operable between two states; a pressure sensor for sensing a suction pressure of a gas; a system controller responsive to said suction pressure sensor including motor start logic and coupled to the at least one compressor for unloading said compressor when initially energized and providing a variable duty cycle control signal to the at least one compressor, whereby said at least one compressor is modulated between a first capacity state and a second capacity state while operating to thereby adjust the operating capacity of the at least one compressor based on said suction pressure to maintain a specified suction pressure.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
68 words
The cooling system according to claim 33 , wherein said at least one compressor compresses said gas between a suction pressure and a discharge pressure, and said cooling system further comprises a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature in said housing, said system controller being coupled to said temperature sensor for controlling said capacity of said compressor based on said suction pressure and said temperature within said housing.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cooling system according to claim 33 , wherein said at least one compressor is a scroll compressor.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
76 words
The cooling system according to claim 33 , wherein said at least one compressor has two mechanical elements separated by a seal, said mechanical elements being movable relative to one another to develop fluid pressure and wherein said at least one compressor includes mechanism to selectively break said seal in response to said control signal to thereby alter said fluid pressure developed while allowing said mechanical elements to maintain substantially constant relative movement with one another.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cooling system according to claim 36 , wherein said at least one compressor is a scroll compressor and said two mechanical elements are scroll members.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cooling system according to claim 33 , wherein said system controller determines an average suction pressure over a specified period of time within a control cycle time.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cooling system according to claim 33 , further comprising a plurality of housings each having a respective evaporator disposed therein, said temperature sensor being disposed in at least one of said housings.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
65 words
The cooling system according to claim 33 , further comprising a plurality of housings, each having an evaporator, an evaporator controller, and a temperature sensor in each of said plurality of housings, each said temperature sensor connected to said evaporator controller in said each of said plurality of housings, each said evaporator controller communicating temperature sensor and demand loading state values to said system controller.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
112 words
A compressor control system, comprising: a multiple compressor rack with at least one compressor having a pulse-width modulated capacity; a pressure sensor for sensing suction pressure of gas; and a system controller responsive to said suction pressure sensor including motor start logic and coupled to said at least one compressor for unloading said compressor when initially energized and providing a variable duty cycle control signal to said at least one compressor, said at least one compressor being modulated between a first capacity state and a second capacity state while operating to adjust the operating capacity of the at least one compressor based on said suction pressure to maintain a specified suction pressure.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
112 words
A compressor control system, comprising: a multiple compressor rack with at least one compressor having a pulse-width modulated capacity; a pressure sensor for sensing suction pressure of gas; and a system controller responsive to said suction pressure sensor including motor start logic and coupled to said at least one compressor for unloading said compressor when initially energized and providing a variable duty cycle control signal to said at least one compressor, said at least one compressor being modulated between a first capacity state and a second capacity state while operating to adjust the operating capacity of the at least one compressor based on said suction pressure to maintain a specified suction pressure.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
The compressor control system according to claim 41 , wherein said multiple compressor rack includes at least two compressors having a pulse width modulated capacity.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
51 words
The compressor control system according to claim 41 , further comprising a vapor injection system for injecting vapor into the at least one compressor at a position intermediate a suction pressure and a discharge pressure, said system controller being coupled to said vapor injection system for controlling injection of said gas.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
50 words
The compressor control system according to claim 42 , further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of said gas at said discharge pressure, said controller being coupled to said temperature sensor for controlling injection of said vapor based on said temperature of said gas at said discharge pressure.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
The compressor control system according to claim 41 , wherein said system controller is coupled to a condenser fan to control the fan.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
33 words
The compressor control system according to claim 1 , wherein said motor start logic selects said second capacity state of said at least one compressor when said at least one compressor is energized.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
49 words
The compressor control system according to claim 41 , further comprising an evaporator controller for controlling an evaporator and a temperature sensor connected to said evaporator controller, said temperature sensor communicating temperature data to said evaporator controller, and said evaporator controller communicating said temperature data to said system controller.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
23 words
The compressor controller system according to claim 47 , wherein said evaporator controller further communicates demand loading state data to said system controller.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cooling system according to claim 41 , wherein said system controller determines an average suction pressure over a specified period of time within a control cycle time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-08-04 | 2007-02-03 | 2007-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-04 | 2011-02-03 | 2011-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-04 | 2015-02-03 | 2015-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |