Method and control system for a refrigeration system and refrigeration appliance including compressor associated with suction line and refrigerated compartment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current refrigeration systems with multiple compartments using a compressor with multiple suction lines fail to independently control temperatures in each compartment, leading to cross-temperature effects when disturbances occur, as they lack a robust mechanism to isolate control actions between compartments.
Innovation Solution
A control method and system that models a single compressor with multiple suction lines as independent virtual compressors, allowing for independent temperature control in each compartment by establishing reference temperatures and adjusting compressor rotation and valve opening times for each suction line, thereby preventing temperature variations in unaffected compartments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single compressor with multiple suction lines is used to cool multiple compartments, then device complexity is reduced, but independent temperature control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single compressor's control into multiple independent virtual compressors, each associated with a specific suction line and compartment. This segmentation allows independent temperature control for each compartment while using a single physical compressor, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and control independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces virtual compressors as intermediary control entities between the single physical compressor and multiple compartments. These virtual compressors act as mediators that enable independent control of each compartment without requiring multiple physical compressors, thus maintaining device simplicity while achieving independent temperature control.
2Reliability
If compressor control is activated in one compartment to correct temperature disturbance, then temperature control in that compartment is improved, but temperature stability in other compartments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the control system into multiple virtual compressors, each responsible for a specific compartment, the patent enables localized temperature correction. When one compartment experiences a disturbance, only its associated virtual compressor is activated, preventing temperature fluctuations in other compartments and thus resolving the contradiction between control responsiveness and system stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality control by assigning specific control characteristics to each virtual compressor based on its associated compartment's needs. Each virtual compressor operates independently with its own control parameters, allowing localized temperature correction without affecting other compartments, thereby maintaining overall system stability while responding to local disturbances.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single compressor serves multiple suction lines, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but control precision between compartments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies (virtual compressors) of the single physical compressor for each compartment. These virtual compressors are software-based control entities that replicate the functionality of separate physical compressors, enabling precise independent control of each compartment without the manufacturing cost of multiple actual compressors. This resolves the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and control precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A control method for a refrigeration system (10), with the refrigeration system (10) including at least one compressor (1) associated with at least one pair of suction lines (L2, L3, . . . LN), with each of the suction lines (L2, L3, . . . LN) respectively associated with at least one refrigerated environment (C1, C2, . . . CN). The method includes generating a system equivalent (Seq) to the refrigeration system, with the equivalent system (Seq) comprising at least one control parameter (PC1, PC2, . . . PCN) associated with each of the refrigerated environments (C1, C2, . . . CN). A control system for a refrigeration system and a refrigeration appliance are also described.