US20110203538A1 - Condenser fan control system - Google Patents

Condenser fan control system Download PDF

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Publication number
US20110203538A1
US20110203538A1 US13/124,142 US200913124142A US2011203538A1 US 20110203538 A1 US20110203538 A1 US 20110203538A1 US 200913124142 A US200913124142 A US 200913124142A US 2011203538 A1 US2011203538 A1 US 2011203538A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
fan
compressor
air conditioning
conditioning system
cooling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/124,142
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Gabriel Menier
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AGCO SA
Original Assignee
AGCO SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AGCO SA filed Critical AGCO SA
Assigned to AGCO SA reassignment AGCO SA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MENIER, GABRIEL
Publication of US20110203538A1 publication Critical patent/US20110203538A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
    • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
    • B60H1/00642—Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices
    • B60H1/00814—Control systems or circuits characterised by their output, for controlling particular components of the heating, cooling or ventilating installation
    • B60H1/00821—Control systems or circuits characterised by their output, for controlling particular components of the heating, cooling or ventilating installation the components being ventilating, air admitting or air distributing devices
    • B60H1/00828—Ventilators, e.g. speed control
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
    • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
    • B60H1/00642—Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F25B49/02—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for compression type machines, plants or systems
    • F25B49/027—Condenser control arrangements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2600/00—Control issues
    • F25B2600/02—Compressor control
    • F25B2600/025—Compressor control by controlling speed
    • F25B2600/0251—Compressor control by controlling speed with on-off operation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2600/00—Control issues
    • F25B2600/11—Fan speed control
    • F25B2600/111—Fan speed control of condenser fans
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
    • F25B2700/21—Temperatures
    • F25B2700/2117—Temperatures of an evaporator
    • F25B2700/21175—Temperatures of an evaporator of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator

Definitions

  • the invention relates to air conditioning systems and in particular, but not exclusively so, to a closed loop method of control of a cooling fan for blowing relatively cool air over a condenser within a fluid circuit of an air conditioning system.
  • Air conditioning systems for use in buildings and vehicles are well developed and typically comprise a thermodynamic heat pump which removes heat from a low temperature source and expels it to a high temperature sink with the help of external mechanical work.
  • thermodynamic heat pump removes heat from a low temperature source and expels it to a high temperature sink with the help of external mechanical work.
  • Air conditioning systems typically comprise a condenser in a fluid circuit through which a refrigerant flows such as Freon. Air is passed over the condenser so as to exchange heat from the fluid circuit to the air. The air is driven through the evaporator by a fan which, in modern systems is driven by an electric motor or, in the case of vehicle applications, by a viscous friction coupling to the engine drive shaft.
  • a refrigerant flows such as Freon. Air is passed over the condenser so as to exchange heat from the fluid circuit to the air.
  • the air is driven through the evaporator by a fan which, in modern systems is driven by an electric motor or, in the case of vehicle applications, by a viscous friction coupling to the engine drive shaft.
  • the fan often serves also to pass air over a water-filled radiator for the cooling of an engine and/or over an oiled-filled radiator for cooling of transmission oil for example. Therefore, depending on the operating conditions of the vehicle the demands on the various cooling systems can vary enormously.
  • a cooling fan in an air conditioning system which comprises a fluid circuit having a compressor and a condenser cooled by the fan, the method comprising the steps of:
  • the invention includes the recognition that the utilisation ratio of the compressor within the air conditioning system is directly representative of the air conditioning demand on the cooling fan which forces air through a cooling package. Therefore, by calculating the on-to-off ratio of the compressor over a preset duration the minimum fan speed requirement for the air conditioning system can be determined
  • the ratio can be measured by sensing an electrical current supplied to the compressor.
  • the current supplied to the compressor is representative of the activity state, that is whether the compressor is on or off. Therefore, by simply monitoring this current the periods of activation and deactivation can be determined and thus the utilisation ratio can be calculated.
  • the corresponding minimum fan speed can be stored in a look up table.
  • Any air conditioning system may operate to the method of the invention.
  • a vehicle such as tractor comprising an air conditioning system can implement the method in accordance with the invention.
  • the fan may also serve to cool the engine cooling radiator and/or an oil cooling device.
  • FIG. 1 is a tractor
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning system fitted to the tractor of FIG. 1 and operating in accordance with the method of the invention.
  • a tractor 10 comprises a cab 11 in which the driver sits during operation.
  • the tractor comprises an air conditioning system which serves to cool the air within the volume of the cab 11 .
  • the tractor further comprises a hood 12 which encloses an engine (not shown) together with a cooling system.
  • the tractor cooling system comprises the air conditioning system 14 , an oil cooler 15 and an engine cooling radiator 22 .
  • a fan 18 driven by electric motor 19 forces air in the direction represented by the arrow 20 in through the front grill of the tractor and in a rearward direction.
  • the fan may alternatively be driven by other propulsive means which can vary the output speed.
  • a viscous clutch may replace the electric motor 19 .
  • a fluid circuit 21 filled with a refrigerant material comprises a condenser 16 .
  • the refrigerant is passed through the fluid circuit in the direction of arrow 24 and through the condenser 16 under a pressure created by compressor 25 .
  • the condenser 16 serves to cool and condense super heated vapour passing there through.
  • the fan 18 serves to draw air from the front of the tractor 10 , in through the engine cooling radiator 22 , the oil cooling radiator 15 and the condenser 16 .
  • the refrigerant passes through the fluid circuit on to an expansion valve (not shown) and an evaporator (also not shown), the latter being located within the roof structure of the cab 11 .
  • the relatively cool liquid vapour mixture which passes through the evaporator is heated by the relatively warm air of the cab 11 thereby cooling the operator's environment.
  • Heated vapour exiting the evaporator is then passed on to the compressor 25 where the fluid circuit continues over.
  • the hardware of the air conditioning system 14 is well known and that the invention relates to a method of driving the fan 18 .
  • the compressor operates periodically so as to maintain the cab temperature within a predetermined desired range set by the driver.
  • a temperature sensor 30 which is physically located within the fluid circuit senses the temperature of the heated vapour which exits the evaporator. This is representative of the thermal load on the AC circuit 14 .
  • the temperature sensor 30 may be located in within the cab.
  • the temperature readings are communicated to a compressor control unit 40 .
  • a control dial (not shown) is adjusted by the driver to set a desired temperature. This dictates upper and lower threshold temperatures at which the compressor switches on and off respectively. For example, if the drive sets the target temperature at 20° C., the compressor control unit 40 activates the compressor 25 when the sensed temperature exceeds 21° C. and deactivates the compressor 25 when the sensed temperature falls below 25° C.
  • the temperature within the cab 11 can be maintained within the desired range.
  • the rate at which energy can be dissipated from the condenser 22 is dependant upon the relative temperature of the air in the flow and upon the speed of the air flow driven by the fan 18 .
  • the former is affected by the temperature of the environment.
  • the fan speed is controlled by a fan control unit 50 .
  • the speed set is sufficient to deliver the rate of cooling demanded by the various elements to be cooled.
  • the inventor has recognised that the activity of the compressor 25 is directly related to the cooling requirements demanded by the air conditioning system 14 .
  • the heat dissipation achieved by the condenser 16 is dependent upon the temperature and speed of the air being forced over the condenser by the fan 18 .
  • the heat dissipation required from the condenser is dependent upon the activity of the compressor and the temperature within the cab driving the heat transfer into the AC system 14 .
  • the utilisation ratio of the compressor 25 is calculated and exploited by the fan control unit 50 .
  • the fan control unit 50 measures the ratio of the time that the compressor is active to the time that the compressor is inactive over a predetermined period of time.
  • each ratio, or range of ratios there is associated a minimum fan speed requirement of the air conditioning system 14 .
  • the fan speed requirement may be 1500 rpm.
  • the fan speed requirement may be 2200 rpm.
  • the demands of the oil cooling radiator 15 and water cooling radiator 22 may also be taken into account by appropriate sensing of the parameters involved, for example oil and water temperature. Therefore the fan control unit 50 operates motor 19 at a speed which is dependant upon a number of sensed parameters. In this example the component which demands the greatest air flow from the fan 18 dictates the speed at which the fan is actually driven.
  • the tractor is hauling a light load on hot day in which the cooling demands of the air conditioning system are high and the cooling demands of the oil and engine coolers 15 , 22 are relatively low.
  • the fan 18 is driven at a speed determined in accordance with the invention.
  • a compressor serves to drive a refrigerant around a fluid circuit which includes the condenser.
  • the duty cycle of the compressor is measured over a period of time to determine a utilisation ratio which reflects the demand on the air conditioning system at that time.
  • the fan is driven at a speed which is no lower than a minimum fan speed which is associated with the calculated utilisation ratio. Therefore, the demand on the system is determined and exploited without any additional sensors.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
US13/124,142 2008-10-24 2009-10-13 Condenser fan control system Abandoned US20110203538A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0819471A GB2464712A (en) 2008-10-24 2008-10-24 Air conditioning control system
GB0819471.4 2008-10-24
PCT/EP2009/063357 WO2010046280A1 (en) 2008-10-24 2009-10-13 Condenser fan control system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20110203538A1 true US20110203538A1 (en) 2011-08-25

Family

ID=40133723

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/124,142 Abandoned US20110203538A1 (en) 2008-10-24 2009-10-13 Condenser fan control system

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20110203538A1 (de)
EP (1) EP2349754B1 (de)
GB (1) GB2464712A (de)
WO (1) WO2010046280A1 (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150322934A1 (en) * 2014-05-09 2015-11-12 Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation "Compressor Cooled By a Temperature Controlled Fan"
US20160153686A1 (en) * 2013-05-27 2016-06-02 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Air-conditioning apparatus
US20170211869A1 (en) * 2016-01-27 2017-07-27 General Electric Company Sealed System for An Appliance
US10337964B2 (en) * 2010-03-15 2019-07-02 Klatu Networks, Inc. Systems and methods for monitoring, inferring state of health, and optimizing efficiency of refrigeration systems
US20220194167A1 (en) * 2019-09-13 2022-06-23 Denso Corporation Connection module

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108068575A (zh) * 2016-11-11 2018-05-25 郑州宇通客车股份有限公司 一种车辆空调压缩机控制系统和方法

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4644756A (en) * 1983-12-21 1987-02-24 Daikin Industries, Ltd. Multi-room type air conditioner
US5647533A (en) * 1995-05-23 1997-07-15 Carrier Corporation Run time criteria to control indoor blower speed
US20020026801A1 (en) * 2000-09-07 2002-03-07 Suzuki Motor Corporation Air conditioner used in electric vehicle
US20030141049A1 (en) * 2002-01-29 2003-07-31 Kennedy Gino W. Load management auxiliary power system
US6711909B2 (en) * 2000-06-09 2004-03-30 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Outdoor fan control system of air conditioner and control method thereof
US6889511B2 (en) * 2002-02-02 2005-05-10 Lg Electronics Inc. Temperature control device for refrigerating apparatus and method thereof
US20070266719A1 (en) * 2006-05-20 2007-11-22 Lg Electronics Inc. Air conditioner and method of controlling the same

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0599484A (ja) * 1991-07-12 1993-04-20 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 空気調和機の運転制御装置

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4644756A (en) * 1983-12-21 1987-02-24 Daikin Industries, Ltd. Multi-room type air conditioner
US5647533A (en) * 1995-05-23 1997-07-15 Carrier Corporation Run time criteria to control indoor blower speed
US6711909B2 (en) * 2000-06-09 2004-03-30 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Outdoor fan control system of air conditioner and control method thereof
US20020026801A1 (en) * 2000-09-07 2002-03-07 Suzuki Motor Corporation Air conditioner used in electric vehicle
US20030141049A1 (en) * 2002-01-29 2003-07-31 Kennedy Gino W. Load management auxiliary power system
US6889511B2 (en) * 2002-02-02 2005-05-10 Lg Electronics Inc. Temperature control device for refrigerating apparatus and method thereof
US20070266719A1 (en) * 2006-05-20 2007-11-22 Lg Electronics Inc. Air conditioner and method of controlling the same

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10337964B2 (en) * 2010-03-15 2019-07-02 Klatu Networks, Inc. Systems and methods for monitoring, inferring state of health, and optimizing efficiency of refrigeration systems
US20160153686A1 (en) * 2013-05-27 2016-06-02 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Air-conditioning apparatus
US20150322934A1 (en) * 2014-05-09 2015-11-12 Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation "Compressor Cooled By a Temperature Controlled Fan"
US9951763B2 (en) * 2014-05-09 2018-04-24 Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation Compressor cooled by a temperature controlled fan
US20170211869A1 (en) * 2016-01-27 2017-07-27 General Electric Company Sealed System for An Appliance
US10247464B2 (en) * 2016-01-27 2019-04-02 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Sealed system for an appliance
US20220194167A1 (en) * 2019-09-13 2022-06-23 Denso Corporation Connection module

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2464712A (en) 2010-04-28
WO2010046280A1 (en) 2010-04-29
GB0819471D0 (en) 2008-12-03
EP2349754A1 (de) 2011-08-03
EP2349754B1 (de) 2013-03-20

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: AGCO SA, FRANCE

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MENIER, GABRIEL;REEL/FRAME:026124/0220

Effective date: 20110308

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION