HVACR Unit Integrated Control for Adaptive Heating and Cooling Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current HVACR systems face challenges in simultaneously maintaining targeted cooling and heating temperatures, requiring complex control logic and external building automation systems, which leads to inefficiencies, increased costs, and variability in installation and operation.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a controller in the HVACR system that allows for adaptive and balanced cooling and heating modes, using temperature sensors and flow control valves to manage the compressor and fluid flow, enabling the system to prioritize cooling or heating based on demand and maintain target temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a building automation system (BAS) is used to monitor unit temperatures and control heat recovery or heating, then the system can achieve targeted cooling and heating temperatures, but the system complexity increases and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the BAS control functions directly into the HVACR unit itself, merging the unit control and heat recovery control into a single integrated system. This eliminates the need for separate external BAS control while maintaining the ability to achieve targeted temperatures for both cooling and heating processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated controller in the HVACR unit performs multiple functions: it controls the compressor, monitors temperatures, manages heat recovery, and coordinates auxiliary equipment. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for separate dedicated BAS control systems while achieving the same temperature control objectives.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual programming of the BAS is done at each site, then the system can be customized to specific building needs, but installation time increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The HVACR unit is delivered with pre-programmed control logic and factory-set parameters that provide immediate operational capability. This preliminary configuration allows the system to function correctly upon installation without requiring extensive on-site programming, significantly reducing installation time and costs while maintaining adaptability through selectable operating modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated controller offers multiple pre-configured operating modes (adaptive cooling, adaptive heating, balanced cooling, balanced heating) that can be selected based on specific building needs. This dynamic configurability allows customization without requiring complex individual programming at each site, as installers can simply select the appropriate mode for the application.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution simplifies installation, improves interoperability, and enhances operational efficiency by allowing the HVACR system to respond to multiple demands, ensuring optimized, reliable, and repeatable performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the working fluid and a first process fluid, where the first process fluid further exchanges heat with a heating load, a second heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the working fluid and a second process fluid, where the second process fluid exchanges heat with a cooling load
Data Source
AI summary
Control systems and methods for control of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) systems that include cooling and one or both of heating and heat recovery can include adaptive and balanced modes for each of heating and cooling operations. The adaptive heating and cooling modes each respectively include controlling the HVACR system to achieve a target temperature for the respective heating or cooling process fluid and to unload or stop the compressor when the temperature of a the other of the cooling or heating process fluid exceeds a threshold. The balanced heating and cooling modes respectively include controlling a quantity of flow of the cooling or heating process fluids to meet balanced heating or cooling target temperatures for the respective heating or cooling process fluids and also the other of the cooling or heating process fluid.