US7114343B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for monitoring a condenser unit in a refrigerant-cycle system
Assignee: Copeland LP
•
Filing: 2005-05-17
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Granted: 2006-10-03
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Expires: 2025-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A real-time monitoring system that monitors various aspects of the operation of a refrigerant-cycle system is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a processor that measures power provided to the refrigerant-cycle system and that gathers data from one or more sensors and uses the sensor data to calculate a figure of merit related to the efficiency of the system. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more of the following sensors: a suction line temperature sensor, a suction line pressure sensor, a suction line flow sensor, a hot gas line temperature sensor, a hot gas line pressure sensor, a hot gas line flow sensor, a liquid line temperature sensor, a liquid line pressure sensor, a liquid line flow sensor. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more of an evaporator air temperature input sensor, an evaporator air temperature output sensor, an evaporator air flow sensor, an evaporator air humidity sensor, and a differential pressure sensor. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more of a condenser air temperature input sensor, a condenser air temperature output sensor, and a condenser air flow sensor, an evaporator air humidity sensor. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more of an ambient air sensor and an ambient humidity sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence Kates
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:30
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1927; G05D23/193; G05D23/1932; F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/30; F24F11/32; F24F8/00; F24F8/90; F25; F25B; F25B49/00; F25B49/005; G01; G01K; G01K13/00; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/08; G01N15/082; G01N15/0826; G05B; G05B15/00; G05B15/02; G05D23/1917; G05D23/1928; F24F11/39; F24F11/46; F24F11/47; F24F11/50; F24F11/56; F25B2500/00; F25B2500/19; F25B2600/00; F25B2600/07; F25B2700/00; F25B2700/02; F25B2700/13; F25B2700/133; F25B2700/135; F25B2700/1351; F25B2700/15; F25B2700/151; F25B2700/17; F25B2700/172; F25B2700/19; F25B2700/193; F25B2700/1931; F25B2700/1933; F25B2700/195; F25B2700/21; F25B2700/2106; F25B2700/2115; F25B2700/21151; F25B2700/21152; F25B2700/2116; F25B2700/21161; F25B2700/21163; F25B2700/2117; F25B2700/21171; F25B2700/21172; F25B2700/21173; F25B2700/21174; F25B2700/21175; F25D; F25D2400/00; F25D2400/36; G01K2201/00; G01N2015/084; G01N2015/0846; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S116/00; Y10S116/25; Y10S116/42; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A monitoring system for monitoring a condenser unit in a refrigerant-cycle system, comprising: a first temperature sensor configured to measure input refrigerant temperature to a condenser unit; a second temperature sensor configured to measure output refrigerant temperature from said condenser unit; one or more ambient sensors configured to measure one or more ambient conditions; an electrical sensor to sense power provided to sense electrical power provided to a compressor of said condenser unit; and a processing system configured to calculate a performance criteria of said condenser using at least a portion of the data from said first temperature sensor, at least a portion of the data from said second temperature sensor, at least a portion of the data from said ambient sensors, and at least a portion of the data from said electrical sensor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A monitoring system for monitoring a condenser unit in a refrigerant-cycle system, comprising: a first temperature sensor configured to measure input refrigerant temperature to a condenser unit; a second temperature sensor configured to measure output refrigerant temperature from said condenser unit; one or more ambient sensors configured to measure one or more ambient conditions; an electrical sensor to sense power provided to sense electrical power provided to a compressor of said condenser unit; and a processing system configured to calculate a performance criteria of said condenser using at least a portion of the data from said first temperature sensor, at least a portion of the data from said second temperature sensor, at least a portion of the data from said ambient sensors, and at least a portion of the data from said electrical sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to calculate efficiency.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to calculate energy costs due to inefficient operation of said condenser unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to identify performance problems due to refrigerant undercharge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to identify performance problems due to refrigerant overcharge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising an airflow sensor for a fan provided to said condenser unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to measure output air temperature of a condenser coil in said condenser unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more pressure sensors configured to measure a refrigerant pressure differential across said compressor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one humidity sensor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more electrical sensors to measure electrical power provided to a fan motor of said condenser unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a refrigerant flow sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to provide data for plots of energy usage and costs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to provide data related to operation of said condenser to a remote monitoring center.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to provide data related to operation of said condenser system to a remote monitoring center using powerline networking.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to provide data related to operation of said condenser to a remote monitoring center using broadband over powerline networking.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of refrigerant provided to said compressor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of refrigerant output from said compressor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of refrigerant output from a condenser coil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said monitoring system is configured with data regarding a maximum expected efficiency for said condenser unit under various ambient temperatures.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said monitoring system is configured with data regarding a type of refrigerant used in said condenser unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of the refrigerant in a refrigerant line provided to said compressor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor to measure refrigerant pressure in an output line of said condenser unit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one refrigerant contaminant sensor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising an ambient humidity sensor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
142 words
A monitoring system for monitoring a condenser unit in a refrigerant-cycle system, comprising: means for measuring one or more inputs to said condenser; means for measuring one or more outputs from said condenser; means for measuring one or more inputs to the compressor; programmed data parameters related to operation of said condenser; and a processing system configured to calculate one or more performance criteria of said condenser using at least a portion of the data from said means for measuring one or more inputs to said condenser, said means for measuring one or more outputs from said condenser, said means for measuring one or more inputs to the compressor, and said programmed data parameters, said processing system configured to provide a performance history of said performance criteria and to calculate an operational efficiency of said condenser using in part said performance criteria.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
142 words
A monitoring system for monitoring a condenser unit in a refrigerant-cycle system, comprising: means for measuring one or more inputs to said condenser; means for measuring one or more outputs from said condenser; means for measuring one or more inputs to the compressor; programmed data parameters related to operation of said condenser; and a processing system configured to calculate one or more performance criteria of said condenser using at least a portion of the data from said means for measuring one or more inputs to said condenser, said means for measuring one or more outputs from said condenser, said means for measuring one or more inputs to the compressor, and said programmed data parameters, said processing system configured to provide a performance history of said performance criteria and to calculate an operational efficiency of said condenser using in part said performance criteria.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said data parameters comprise a type of refrigerant.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said data parameters comprise a property of a refrigerant.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said data parameters comprise one or more calibration values.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , further comprising a pressure sensor to measure refrigerant pressure.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said data parameters comprise one or more calibration values obtained from said condenser during a calibration process.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said data parameters comprise one or more physical properties of said condenser.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said data parameters comprise one or more dimensional properties of said condenser.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more inputs comprise input air temperature.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more inputs comprise input refrigerant temperature.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more inputs comprise electrical power provided to a condenser fan.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more inputs comprise electrical power provided to a compressor.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more outputs comprise output refrigerant pressure.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more outputs comprise output refrigerant temperature.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more outputs comprise refrigerant flow.
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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) | 2009-10-02 | 2010-04-03 | 2010-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-10-02 | 2014-04-03 | 2014-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-10-02 | 2018-04-03 | 2018-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |