Control system and method for operating a cooling system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cooling system control architectures are complex, costly, and inefficient due to the need for numerous sensors to detect individual component conditions, lacking integrated control and energy optimization across all components.

Innovation Solution

A control system that measures and stores electrical operating variables from cooling system components, establishing interrelationships to generate control signals based on these values, eliminating the need for external sensors and enabling integrated component control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a control system uses a central processing unit with multiple sensors to detect individual component conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing cost rises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection of component conditionsVSAvoidcontrol architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensor functions into a single sensor that detects overall cooling system performance parameters. Instead of using separate sensors for each component (compressor, condenser, evaporator, etc.), the invention uses one sensor to monitor the cooling output, thereby simplifying the control architecture while maintaining adequate measurement capability for system-wide optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single sensor in the invention serves multiple functions by detecting cooling system performance that reflects the combined state of all components. This universal measurement approach allows the control system to optimize all components simultaneously based on overall system performance rather than individual component readings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a control system uses multiple sensors to monitor each cooling system component, then reliability of component monitoring is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent monitoringVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple monitoring functions into a single sensor placement, reducing the number of assembly steps and connections required. Instead of installing and wiring multiple sensors throughout the system, the single sensor approach simplifies manufacturing assembly while maintaining reliable monitoring of cooling system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If control is performed on a local and individual basis for each component, then ease of control implementation is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol implementationVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges individual component control into integrated system-wide control. By using a single sensor to detect overall cooling performance and controlling all components based on this unified feedback, the system optimizes energy consumption across all components simultaneously rather than having each component operate independently, thereby reducing total energy usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the cooling system operates continuously to maintain temperature, then temperature stability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements feedback control based on actual cooling system performance detected by the sensor. The control system continuously monitors the cooling output and adjusts component operation accordingly, allowing the system to maintain temperature stability while consuming less energy by operating components only when and as much as needed rather than continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2032915B1Control system and method for operating a cooling system
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 EMBRACO IND DE COMPRESSORES E SOLUCOES EM REFRIGERACAO LTDA
  • EP2032915B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2032915B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2032915B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a control system for operating a cooling system comprising components at least including a compressor (2), an evaporator (3), a pressure control element (6) and a condenser (4), and also having a control circuit (9) having electrical connections with at least some cooling system components, through which the control circuit (9) continually measures and stores, over time intervals, electrical operating variables of the cooling system, the control circuit establishes interrelationships among at least some measured values and some stored values of the electrical operating variables of the cooling system and generates a control signal for the cooling system based on at least some measured values and stored values of the electrical operating variables and on the interrelationships established among at least some measured and stored values of the electrical operating variables of the cooling system.