Rapid compressor cycling

Abstract

A single speed compressor is provided with a switching device and control for turning the compressor drive motor ON and OFF in repeated succession at a selected ON time / OFF time ratio within a selected cycle time interval. The ON / OFF ratio and cycle time interval are selected to maintain desired temperature and / or humidity control within a conditioned space.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]This invention relates generally to rapid cycling of single speed compressors, and more particularly, to a precise control of temperature and humidity in a conditioned space by utilizing such rapidly cycled single speed compressors.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]During operation of air conditioning and refrigeration systems, it is desirable to vary the capacity of the compressor in an effort to match thermal load demands in a climate-controlled space to provide tight temperature and / or humidity control. This is frequently done by way of a variable speed drive (VSD) which controls the supply voltage and frequency by utilizing an inverter. While a variable speed drive permits continuously varying compressor speed, which in turn allows for a continuous adjustment of the capacity delivered by the variable speed compressor, thereby giving the advantage of smooth operation and better part-load performance, it is relatively expensive. The cost of variable speed drive...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is about a compressor system that can rapidly cycle between ON and OFF positions to control the temperature and humidity of the conditioned air being delivered to a space. This is done by using a switching device and control to selectively sequence the electrical power to the compressor motor. The compressor is designed to cycle quickly, so that the refrigerant system has enough time to respond to changes in mass flow variations. This ensures that the temperature of the air being delivered to the conditioned space remains constant, regardless of the compressor's position. This results in a more comfortable environment for the occupants of the conditioned space. The heat rejection heat exchanger can be either a condenser or a gas cooler depending on the refrigerant cycle used. The compressor is expected to cycle millions of times during its lifetime, and the system can be modified and constructed in different ways without changing the main idea.

Problems solved by technology

The compressor is cycled in a rapid fashion such that the relatively large thermal inertia of the refrigerant system would not allow the refrigerant system to respond in a timely fashion to changes introduced by refrigerant mass flow variations as compressor alternates between ON to OFF positions.

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