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Evaporator apparatus and method for modulating cooling

a technology of evaporator and cooling surface, which is applied in the direction of refrigeration machines, light and heating apparatuses, refrigeration components, etc., can solve the problems of single-stage air conditioning systems, ineffective inability to effectively facilitate the heat transfer between the refrigerant and the evaporator surface, etc., to achieve greater turndown capability and increase energy efficiency

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-11-12
VARIDIGM CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]A general object of the invention is met at least in part by a modulating air conditioning system having increased energy efficiency and greater turndown capabilities than conventional air conditioning systems. The improved air conditioning system may include control based on actual and / or real time cooling loads and / or demands.

Problems solved by technology

When the refrigerant state change in the evaporator has completed, the refrigerant is no longer capable of effectively facilitating heat transfer between itself and the evaporator surface.
Single stage air conditioning systems are sized only for peak cooling requirements and operate less efficiently when under partial load.
Known modulating air conditioning systems available for the residential and commercial air conditioning marketplace undesirably make use of an inverter-driven three phase motor with variable-frequency control to increase and / or decrease a rotational speed of the attached compressor.
Inverter-driven compressors require the use of specialized and costly electronics to control the output frequency of the three phase power supplied to the motor.
Furthermore, additional phase conversion hardware is needed since three phase power is not generally available in most residential and light commercial installations.
The design of known modulating air conditioning systems cannot be used with conventional furnaces, evaporator coils and / or thermostat controls.
Undesirably, the motor speed controller is expensive and efficiency gains are limited by frictional losses from the piston moving throughout a stroke during turndown.
The frictional losses increase as a percentage of output power when the compressor is slowed, necessitating a significant increase in heat exchanger surface area.
When the motor is turned down, heat of compression is still high but the lubricating oil pump in the compressor also slows down, so the heat of compression is not removed resulting in premature compressor failure.
Other methods and / or attempts for modulating the scroll compressor, such as dynamically off-setting the vanes, has proved effective for capacity control, but does not result in higher efficiency ratings.
Heat generated by the motor is added to the refrigerant cooling load and removed in the refrigeration cycle resulting in more work for the compressor, more energy usage by the system and a lower system efficiency.
Known hermetic and semi-hermetic compressor designs result in increased heat load on the cooling system.

Method used

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  • Evaporator apparatus and method for modulating cooling
  • Evaporator apparatus and method for modulating cooling
  • Evaporator apparatus and method for modulating cooling

Examples

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example 1

[0130]A computer simulation showed the benefits of a modulating compressor design in an air conditioning system. A simulation was written in the Engineer Equation Solver compiler to accurately model the operation of a reciprocating compressor at different speeds and compression ratios. In the simulation, the compressor powered a refrigeration cycle with a variety of refrigerant types, air temperatures, coil heat transfer coefficients, coil sizes, fan speeds and / or expansion pressure drops. This simulation was developed to test and / or compare modulating air conditioning system designs to conventional systems.

[0131]A set of experimental parameters were refined to include air conditioning systems ranging from 2.5 to 3 tons of refrigeration capacity, with an indoor temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21.1 degrees Celsius) and an outdoor temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.7 degrees Celsius). The coil sizes, heat transfer coefficients, compressor speed, compression ratio, physical...

example 2

[0132]A variable displacement modulating air conditioner was fabricated and used for testing. A Denso 7SEU16C swashplate compressor was mounted on a test platform and was driven by a 5 HP Dayton motor with a variable speed pulley drive. The compressor was controlled by a Labview console developed specifically for the modulating air conditioner test. The test included refrigerant compatibility, oil compatibility, power requirements, system state temperatures, system state pressures and / or control response.

[0133]Initial testing was performed on an R-22 based system, with a mineral oil lubricant having a light viscosity. The test was conducted with rubber quick-disconnect hose and suction line filters. After satisfactory results were achieved on the variable speed test platform, a direct coupling from the motor to the compressor was engineered and machined. The compressor utilized a screw-on pulley with a set screw on the attaching hub. A converting shaft replaced the pulley with a ⅝″ ...

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Abstract

This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for a modulating air conditioning system having increased energy efficiency and greater turndown capabilities. A modulating air conditioning system includes modulating at least one of the following components: a compressor, a compressor driver, a condenser fan, an evaporator fan, an effective evaporator surface area, an effective condenser surface area and / or an expansion device.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 61 / 049,457, filed on 1 May 2008. The co-pending provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and is made a part hereof, including but not limited to those portions which specifically appear hereinafter.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for modulating cooling in air conditioning and cooling systems, particularly for residential and commercial buildings.[0004]2. Discussion of the Related Art[0005]There is a general desire for a modulating air conditioning system with increased energy efficiency and greater turndown capabilities.[0006]In a typical closed-loop vapor compression cycle, a heat transfer fluid (refrigerant) either absorbs or rejects heat to the environment by changing state between a liquid and a vapor. A compressor is used to pump and c...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): F25B1/00F25B39/02F28F9/00
CPCF25B39/028F25B2600/025F25B2600/111F25B2600/112Y02B30/743F25B2700/195F25B2700/21163F25B2700/21173F25B2600/2511Y02B30/70
Inventor GAMBIANA, DENNIS S.BLANKENSHIP, BRADFORD L.MAIELLO, DENNIS R.DIMUNATION, MICHAEL J.
Owner VARIDIGM CORP
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