An interactive system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system is provide that comprises a thermostat for initiating the operation of the HVAC system in either a full capacity mode of operation or at least one reduced capacity mode of operation, and a controller for an outside condenser unit having a condenser fan motor and a compressor motor, the controller being capable of operating the compressor in a full capacity mode and at least one reduced capacity mode. The system also comprises a controller for an indoor blower unit having a blower fan motor, the controller being capable of operating the blower fan motor in a full capacity mode an at least one reduced capacity mode. The system further includes a communication means for transmitting information between the outside condenser unit controller and at least the indoor blower controller, where the information relates to the operation of the indoor blower and the outdoor condenser unit. The indoor blower controller responsively controls the operation of the blower fan motor in a full capacity mode or a reduced capacity mode based on the information received from the outdoor unit controller, and the outdoor unit controller responsively controls the operation of the compressor in a full capacity mode or a reduced capacity mode based on the information received from the indoor blower controller.

Interactive control system for an HVAC system

A control for a refrigeration system serviced by a special pulse width modulated compressor (30) coupled to a condenser (32)and evaporator (42). The system can be of the distributed type wherein the condenser (32) and compressor (30) may be coupled to service a group of adjacent refrigeration cases, wherein each case would have its own evaporator (42). A controller (52) is coupled to a load sensor (58) for producing a variable duty cycle control signal (54) in which the duty cycle is a function of demand for cooling. Moreover, fuzzy logic technique may be utilized in order to provide self adaptive tuning control for the system.

An adaptive control for a refrigeration system using pulse width modulated duty cycle scroll compressor

A heat pump type water heater, comprising a hot water storage tank (3), a circulating passage (12) connected to the hot water storage tank (3), and a refrigerant circulation circuit for a heat pump heating source having a defroster circuit (38) for feeding hot gas from a compressor (25) to an air heat exchanger (28), whereby low temperature water flowing out from the lower part of the hot water storage tank (3) to the circulating passage (12) can be heated by the heat pump heating source for boiling and fed to the upper part of the hot water storage tank (3), by a defrost operation, the hot gas can be fed to the air heat exchanger (28) with a water circulation pump (13) in the circulating passage (12) stopped, and a specified time or longer after the defrost operation is started, the water circulation pump (13) is driven.

Heat pump type water heater

A thermostat is provided that receives one or more inputs from at least one heating system of a climate control system, and initiates an appropriate action in response to the input. The thermostat can turn off a heat pump providing substandard heat and responsively turn on a fuel-fired auxiliary furnace. The thermostat may discontinue further operation of the auxiliary furnace upon receiving an operating error signal associated with the auxiliary furnace, and responsively turn on the heat pump to provide for continued heating. The thermostat may also discontinue operation of the fuel-fired furnace and turn on a circulating fan in response to an input signal indicating a furnace high-temperature or a carbon monoxide presence.

Climate control system including responsive controllers

A pulsed modulated capacity modulation system for refrigeration, air conditioning or other types of compressors is disclosed in which suitable valving is provided which operates to cyclically block flow of suction gas to a compressor. A control system is provided which is adapted to control both the frequency of cycling as well as the relative duration of the on and off time periods of each cycle in accordance with sensed system operating conditions so as to maximize the efficiency of the system. Preferably the cycle time will be substantially less than the time constant of the load and will enable substantially continuously variable capacity modulation from substantially zero capacity to the full capacity of the compressor. Additional controls may be incorporated to modify one or more of the motor operating parameters to improve the efficiency of the motor during periods of reduced load.

Compressor capacity modulation

A controller for a gas heat pump system wherein the controller has a variable capacity control capability that responds to thermostat output signals. The variable capacity controller computes real-time performance parameters at variable capacity heating/cooling load conditions of the gas heat pump system. A defrost controller calculates a maximum heat pump operating time period between successive defrost cycles and a minimum heat pump operating time period of each defrost cycle, during a heating mode of the gas heat pump. Such values are calculated as a function of sensed time, temperature and variable capacity operating conditions which are calculated by the variable capacity controller. The controller preferably has a manual mode for verifying correct operation of each actuator of the gas heat pump system, as a function of a sequenced input signal, while the gas heat pump system is in a shutdown mode. The manual mode control also computes and generates an output signal for controlling each actuator to achieve efficient operation control of the gas heat pump system in various operational states, based upon predetermined operating parameters.

Kerry E. Ober

Papers

Microprocessor-based controller