Method of managing a refrigeration system
View Patent ↗A method of managing a refrigeration system includes transmitting energy consumption, maintenance indicator, and food condition data from the refrigeration system to a management center; analyzing the energy consumption, maintenance indicator, and food condition data at the management center; and monitoring, diagnosing and prognosing the performance of the refrigeration system in response to the analysis. The method may also include altering a configuration of the refrigeration system in response to the analysis. The refrigeration system may be located at a retail location and the management center may be located remotely to the retail location.
1. A method of managing a refrigeration system, said method comprising:
monitoring an energy consumption of said refrigeration system;
accessing a source of weather data;
calculating an energy consumption projection based on weather data;
comparing said energy consumption with said energy consumption projection; and
determining refrigeration system performance based on said comparing.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
accessing maintenance indicator data of said refrigeration system;
analyzing said maintenance indicator data; and
determining refrigeration system performance based on said analyzing.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting said maintenance indicator data to a management center wherein said determining refrigeration system performance occurs at said management center.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said transmitting said maintenance indicator data includes transmitting through a communication gateway to said management center.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising post-processing said maintenance indicator data at said communication gateway.
6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising altering a configuration of said refrigeration system based on said analyzing.
7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising outputting a work order based on said analyzing.
8. The method of claim 2 , further comprising advising manipulation of the refrigeration system based on said analyzing.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing condenser condition data.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing compressor condition data.
11. The method of claim 2 , wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing liquid refrigerant flood back data.
12. The method of claim 2 , wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing relay output data.
13. The method of claim 2 , wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing contactor count data.
14. The method of claim 2 , wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing compressor run-time data.
15. The method of claim 2 , wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing oil check data.
16. The method of claim 2 , wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing air filter data.
17. The method of claim 2 , wherein said analyzing said maintenance indicator data includes analyzing light bulb change data.
18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
accessing food condition data of said refrigeration system;
analyzing said food condition data; and
determining refrigeration system performance based on said analyzing.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising transmitting said food condition data to a management center wherein said determining refrigeration system performance occurs at said management center.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said transmitting said food condition data includes transmitting through a communication gateway to said management center.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising post-processing said food condition data at said communication gateway.
22. The method of claim 18 , further comprising altering a configuration of said refrigeration system based on said analyzing.
23. The method of claim 18 , further comprising outputting a work order based on said analyzing.
24. The method of claim 18 , further comprising advising manipulation of the refrigeration system based on said analyzing.
25. The method of claim 18 , wherein said analyzing said food condition data includes calculating a food quality index.
26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising alarming as a function of said food quality index.
27. The method of claim 18 , wherein said analyzing includes calculating a food safety index.
28. The method of claim 27 , further comprising alarming as a function of said food safety index.
29. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining refrigeration system performance comprises at least one of monitoring, diagnosing and prognosing refrigeration system performance.
30. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting said energy consumption to a management center wherein said determining refrigeration system performance occurs at said management center.
31. The method of claim 30 , wherein said transmitting includes transmitting through a communication gateway to said management center.
32. The method of claim 31 , further comprising post-processing said energy consumption at said communication gateway.
33. The method of claim 30 , further comprising locating said refrigeration system at a retail location and locating said management center at a remote location located remotely to said retail location.
34. The method of claim 1 , further comprising altering a configuration of said refrigeration system based on said comparing.
35. The method of claim 1 , wherein said weather data is historical weather data.
36. The method of claim 1 , wherein said weather data is actual weather data.
37. The method of claim 1 , further comprising outputting a work order based on said comparing.
38. The method of claim 1 , further comprising advising manipulation of said refrigeration system based on said comparing.