Method and apparatus for monitoring air-exchange evaporation in a refrigerant-cycle system
View Patent ↗A real-time monitoring system that monitors various aspects of the operation of a refrigerant-cycle system is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a processor that measures power provided to the refrigerant-cycle system and that gathers data from one or more sensors and uses the sensor data to calculate a figure of merit related to the efficiency of the system. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more of the following sensors: a suction line temperature sensor, a suction line pressure sensor, a suction line flow sensor, a hot gas line temperature sensor, a hot gas line pressure sensor, a hot gas line flow sensor, a liquid line temperature sensor, a liquid line pressure sensor, a liquid line flow sensor. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more of an evaporator air temperature input sensor, an evaporator air temperature output sensor, an evaporator air flow sensor, an evaporator air humidity sensor, and a differential pressure sensor. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more of a condenser air temperature input sensor, a condenser air temperature output sensor, and a condenser air flow sensor, an evaporator air humidity sensor. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more of an ambient air sensor and an ambient humidity sensor.
1. A monitoring system for monitoring an evaporator in a refrigerant-cycle system, comprising:
a first temperature sensor configured to measure input air temperature to an evaporator;
a second temperature sensor configured to measure output air temperature from said evaporator;
one or more ambient sensors configured to measure one or more ambient conditions;
a sensor to sense when air is flowing through said evaporator; and
a processing system configured to calculate a performance criteria of said evaporator using at least a portion of the data from said first temperature sensor, at least a portion of the data from said one or more ambient sensors, and at least a portion of the data from said sensor to sense when air is flowing through said evaporator and at least a portion of the data from said second temperature sensor.
2. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to calculate efficiency.
3. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to calculate energy costs due to inefficient operation of said evaporator.
4. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to identify performance problems due to low airflow based at least in part on said performance criteria and data measured by said sensor to sense when air is flowing through said evaporator.
5. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising an airflow sensor.
6. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a tachometer for a fan provided to said evaporator.
7. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a third temperature sensor configured to measure evaporator refrigerant input temperature and a third temperature sensor configured to measure evaporator refrigerant output temperature.
8. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more pressure sensors configured to measure a pressure differential across said evaporator.
9. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising at lease one humidity sensor.
10. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more electrical sensors to measure electrical power provided to a fan motor of a fan that provides air to said evaporator.
11. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a refrigerant flow sensor.
12. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to provide data for plots of energy usage and costs.
13. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to provide data related to operation of said evaporator to a remote monitoring center.
14. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to provide data related to operation of said evaporator system to a remote monitoring center using power line networking.
15. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said processing system is configured to provide data related to operation of said evaporator to a remote monitoring center using broadband over powerline networking.
16. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising an electronically-controlled metering device to allow control of refrigerant into said evaporator.
17. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said monitoring system is configured with data regarding a maximum expected efficiency for said evaporator.
18. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said monitoring system is configured with data regarding a type of refrigerant used in said evaporator.
19. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said monitoring system is configured with data regarding one or more physical characteristics of the evaporator.
20. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said monitoring system is configured with data regarding a cross-sectional area of a duct provided to said evaporator.
21. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the refrigerant in a refrigerant line provided to said evaporator.
22. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor to measure refrigerant pressure in an output line of said evaporator.
23. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one refrigerant contaminant sensor.
24. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a differential pressure sensor.
25. A monitoring system for monitoring an evaporator in a refrigerant-cycle system, comprising:
means for measuring one or more inputs to said evaporator, said inputs comprising at least an input temperature;
means for measuring one or more outputs from said evaporator, said outputs comprising at least an output air temperature;
programmed data parameters related to operation of said evaporator; and
a processing system configured to calculate one or more performance criteria of said evaporator using at least a portion of the data from said means for measuring one or more inputs, at least a portion of the data from said means for measuring one or more outputs, and said programmed data parameters, said processing system configured to provide a performance history of said performance criteria and to calculate an operational efficiency of said evaporator using in part said performance criteria.
26. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said data parameters comprise a type of refrigerant.
27. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said data parameters comprise one or more properties of a refrigerant.
28. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said data parameters comprise one or more calibration values.
29. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said data parameters comprise one or more calibration values obtained from said evaporator during a calibration process.
30. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said data parameters comprise one or more physical properties of said evaporator.
31. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said data parameters comprise one or more dimensional properties of said evaporator.
32. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more inputs comprise input air temperature.
33. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more inputs comprise input refrigerant temperature.
34. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more inputs comprise electrical power provided to an evaporator fan.
35. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more inputs comprise electrical power provided to a compressor.
36. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more outputs comprise output air temperature.
37. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more outputs comprise output refrigerant temperature.
38. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more outputs comprise output air humidity.
39. The monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein said one or more outputs comprise air flow.