Abstract:
A method for controlling an opening degree of a valve arranged in a vapour compression system, such as a refrigeration system or a heat pump. The vapour compression system comprises a compressor, a condenser, a valve and an evaporator arranged in a refrigerant flow path. According to a first aspect, the method comprises the steps of obtaining a superheat value for the system and comparing it to a reference superheat value, determining a maximum opening degree of the valve, and controlling the opening degree of the valve in accordance with the comparing step, and in such a manner that the opening degree does not exceed the maximum opening degree. The maximum opening degree is determined dynamically as a function of a mean temperature difference across the evaporator. Thereby the it is ensured that it is possible to open the valve as much as possible, while keeping the operation of the system safe in the sense that the risk that liquid refrigerant is allowed to pass through the evaporator is minimised due to the maximum opening degree. According to a second aspect, an adjustment value is calculated on the basis of the superheat value, the reference superheat value and a generated control signal. Thereby a faster response to changes in the operating conditions for the vapour compression system is obtained.
Abstract:
A method and a device for detecting an abnormality of a heat exchanger exchanging heat between a first fluid flow flowing in a conduit and a second fluid flow flowing along a flow path, said conduit and said flow path each having an inlet and an outlet, whereby the method comprises the steps of: establishing at least one parameter representative of the temperature conditions of the heat exchanger, establishing a second fluid inlet temperature, establishing a parameter indicative of expected heat exchange between the heat exchanger and the second fluid, processing the heat exchanger temperature, the second fluid temperature and the parameter indicative of expected heat exchange for establishing an estimated second fluid outlet temperature, employing the estimated second fluid outlet temperature for evaluating the heat exchange between the first and second fluids by comparing the estimated second fluid outlet temperature, or a parameter derived therefrom, with a reference value.