Abstract:
The disclosed airconditioner has a refrigerant compressor connected to a refrigerant circuit through a four-way valve in each of the room cooling mode and a first room warming mode of operation. The refrigerant circuit has an indoor heat exchanger, an externally heated heat exchanger, a piping, a first electromagnetic valve and an outdoor heat exchanger connected in series. A second electromagnetic valve is connected in parallel to the outdoor heat exchanger between the piping and the four-way valve to form the refrigerant circuit along with the indoor heat exchanger, the externally heated heat exchanger and the piping for the second room warming mode of operation. During the room cooling mode and first room warming mode of operation, the first electromagnetic valve is opened and the piping and the externally heated heat exchanger hold an amount of liquid refrigerant equal to the volume of the outdoor heat exchanger, while in the second room warming mode of operation in which the second electromagnetic valve and an electromagnetic valve connected across the compressor are open the outdoor heat exchange is filled with liquid refrigerant.
Abstract:
A method of operating an air conditioning system including a refrigeration circuit having a compressor and a thermostat for sensing heating and cooling needs together with an indoor fan is disclosed. The indoor fan operation is controlled based upon a microprocessor control remembering whether or not the unit was in continuous fan operation prior to the compressor operating to satisfy a heating or cooling need. Through the setting of a flag the microprocessor remembers the previous inputs such that operation of the fan may be controlled regardless of the condition of the compressor especially as concerns operation of the fan when the compressor is prevented from operating due to a safety, overload or timed off condition.
Abstract:
The cooling performance of an air conditioning apparatus is controlled by a selective combination of three methods of regulation, in accordance with the required degree of cooling. A first stage of regulation controls the volume of air delivered by a fan 6, a second stage controls the amount of refrigerant flowing through a pressure reduction means 7, and a third stage controls the amount of refrigerant circulating in a compressor feedback circuit 9. Any one of or combination of these three controls may be employed in accordance with the prevailing temperature condition and the required cooling performance.
Abstract:
A forced air heating and cooling system employs a water source heat pump as the primary heating source and as a back-up or supplementary source of cooling. Supplementary heating is supplied by an electrical heater such as resistance heater, while primary cooling is provided by a water coil heat exchanger. Separate thermostats control the heat pump on the one hand, and the resistance heater and water coil heat exchanger on the other hand; the two thermostats can be combined in a simple unit. The thermostats automatically control two valves which control system water flow. For cooling, a first valve opens to permit water flow in series through first the water coil and then the heat pump. For heating, only the second valve is opened to bypass the water coil and deliver water directly to the heat pump. The water is ground water derived from a well, spring or lake. The thermostats automatically switch on the heat pump, heater and/or heat exchanger to effect the necessary heating or cooling.
Abstract:
An automotive air conditioning apparatus is provided which, in raising the temperature inside a vehicle cabin from a low level to a preset higher level in a maximum cooling mode or in lowering the cabin temperature from a high level to a preset lower level in a maximum heating mode, suitably controls in an initial stage of the procedure the revolution speed of a blower but does not drive an air mix door at all to keep it at an existing opening degree. When the revolution speed of the blower reaches a predetermined lowest speed, the air mix door begins to be driven to vary its opening degree progressively and suitably while, at the same time, a first reference temperature level for deactivating a compressor associated with a cooler is shifted to a second reference temperature level.
Abstract:
Microprocessor controlled apparatus is provided for automatically diagnosing faults in a heat pump system. Temperature sensors located at strategic points in the system are read periodically in accordance with a preprogrammed diagnostic routine. Temperature measurements preferably representing comparison of two temperature readings that produce temperature differentials outside pre-established tolerance limits are stored with a fault identification representative of the corresponding fault measurement. A service technician can read the fault data from storage by activation of control means for that purpose whereby the nature of the causative fault or faults can readily be determined.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a method of operating an air conditioner having a plurality of indoor units connected to a common outdoor unit as heat source machine. When operation of a plurality of indoor units is dictated depending upon the temperature differences between the room temperatures and the set temperatures therefor, the indoor unit having the smallest temperature difference is determined among those indoor units which are to operate, and the amount of heat exchange is limited in the indoor unit having the smallest temperature difference to advantageously perform air conditioning in respective rooms in which the indoor units are provided.
Abstract:
An air conditioning system furnishing temperature conditioned air to a plurality of zones each of which has its own zone damper controlled by its own space thermostat. The system has an air discharge temperature sensor downstream of the temperature conditioning heat exchanger which is connected to a microprocessor controller for controlling a plurality of stages of temperature conditioning apparatus such as heating or cooling apparatus and a damper motor control for controlling the entry of outdoor air into the system. A reset thermal comfort sensor located in a representative zone or area is connected to the microprocessor controller for varying the controlled temperature of the supplied discharge air by operating the outdoor air damper motor and the multi-stage temperature conditioning apparatus to maintain the best use of outdoor air for cooling and the most efficient operation of refrigeration cooling apparatus by ensuring maximum air delivery to the heat exchangers during the operation of the mechanical cooling apparatus.
Abstract:
A reverse air cycle type heat pump is provided that utilizes a refrigeration system having a unidirection refrigerant flow wherein the condenser and evaporator retain their functions, but the air directed across them is redirected for different operations. The refrigeration system is provided with a secondary defrost circuit including a first conduit between the upper portion of the evaporator and the compressor casing and a second conduit having a valve which permits refrigerant flow to by-pass the expansion device only when compresssor operation terminates and the system pressure differential is equalized. This defrost circuit causes the relatively warm refrigerant in gaseous phase in the compressor to displace the relatively cold refrigerant in liquid phase in the evaporator with the flow continuing until the defrost process is completed.
Abstract:
A controller (10) for air conditioning units, heating units, and the like is disclosed. The controller (10) regulates the activation and deactivation of an energy consuming component of the unit, such as a compressor (12) or heating coil (14). The controller (10) includes a switch means (42, 66) operatively connected to the component and its energy source, the switch means (42, 66) being operable in a first mode wherein it interrupts the connection between the energy source and the component, a second mode wherein the connection between the energy source and the component is uninterrupted by the switch means (42, 66). The controller also includes control means (20, 54) operatively connected to the switch means (42, 66) for (a) operating the switch means (42, 66) in one mode when the space temperature exceeds a first predetermined temperature, (b) operating the switch means (42, 66) in the other mode when the space temperature is less than a second predetermined temperature and (c) cycling the switch means (42, 66) between its first and second modes according to a predetermined duty cycle when the space temperature is between the first and second predetermined temperatures.