Shared Variable Speed Drive Switching in Refrigerant Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerant systems require multiple expensive variable speed drives for various components, leading to complex circuitry and increased space requirements, making it costly and inefficient to operate multiple components at variable speeds.
Innovation Solution
A single variable speed drive with a switching device that can selectively provide variable frequency power to motors of distinct components in the refrigerant system, such as compressors, fans, or pumps, based on changing conditions, allowing flexible control without the need for multiple drives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent variable speed drives are used to control different components (compressor, fans, pumps), then each component can operate at optimal variable speeds for efficiency and capacity control, but the system becomes expensive, complex, and requires more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single variable speed drive that can serve multiple functions by selectively controlling different components (compressor, indoor fan, outdoor fan, pumps) through a switching device. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate variable speed drives for each component, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining the ability to optimize each component's operation independently when needed
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent variable speed drives are installed for each component, then flexible control of capacity and head pressure is achieved, but the cost and space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple variable speed control functions into a single variable speed drive unit. By combining the control capabilities for compressor, fans, and pumps into one shared device with selective switching, the system achieves the same capacity and head pressure control flexibility as multiple separate drives would provide, but with significantly reduced space requirements and lower cost
3Device complexity
If a single variable speed drive is used with selective switching between components, then cost and complexity are reduced, but the ability to simultaneously control multiple components at variable speeds is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a switching device that can dynamically reconfigure the connection between the single variable speed drive and different system components based on operating conditions. This dynamic switching capability allows the system to adapt and provide variable speed control to the most needed component at any given time, maintaining versatility while using a simplified single-drive architecture
Data Source
AI summary
Variable speed drives are utilized in refrigerant systems to operate motors of the system components at varying speeds, typically for the purposes of capacity adjustment, efficiency enhancement, reliability improvement or power consumption limitation. However, variable speed controls are expensive. The present invention offers flexibility to utilize a variable speed drive to provide variable speed functionality between compressor and fans (or other rotating components having electric motors) within a refrigerant system depending on operational and environmental conditions and external load demands. The switching device switches the variable speed drive between component motors as indicated by a control for the refrigerant system.