IP Library Granted Patent US 10,684,053
Granted Patent B2
US 10,684,053 · App. 15/902,082 · Granted Jun 16, 2020

Vapor compression system with compressor control based on temperature and humidity feedback

Inventor: Jay C. Walser (Norman, OK)
Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
F25B49/02F25B13/00F25B41/046F24F3/1405F24F3/153F24F11/30F24F11/83F24F11/85F24F11/86F24F2110/20F25B2600/2501F25B2700/02F25B2700/2104
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,684,053
App. No.
15/902,082
Granted
Jun 16, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vapor compression system that includes a controller. The controller includes instructions for switching between first and second modes of operation of the vapor compression system. The controller activates a first compressor and a second compressor of the vapor compression system in the first mode of operation in response to a temperature level and a humidity level exceeding a threshold temperature and a threshold humidity level, respectively. And in the second mode of operation, the controller activates the first compressor in response to only the humidity level exceeding the threshold humidity level.

Claims (34)

1. A vapor compression system, comprising a controller having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, wherein the controller is configured in the first mode of operation to activate a first compressor and a second compressor in response to a temperature level and a humidity level exceeding a threshold temperature and a threshold humidity level, respectively, and the controller is configured in the second mode of operation to activate only the first compressor in response to the humidity level exceeding the threshold humidity level.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control a valve to control a flow of a refrigerant to a reheat coil of the vapor compression system coupled to the first compressor.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the valve comprises a solenoid valve.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate the valve to block the flow of the refrigerant to the reheat coil in a third mode of operation, and wherein the controller is configured to switch to the third mode of operation in response to the temperature level exceeding a second threshold temperature.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate the valve to block the flow of the refrigerant to the reheat coil in a third mode of operation, and wherein the controller is configured to switch to the third mode of operation in response to the temperature level exceeding a second threshold temperature and the humidity level being less than the threshold humidity level.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising the first compressor and the second compressor.

7. The system of claim 1 , comprising a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor configured to detect the respective humidity level and the temperature level.

8. A vapor compression system, comprising:

a first vapor compression loop comprising a first compressor, a first evaporator coil, and a reheat coil fluidly coupled to the first evaporator coil;

a second vapor compression loop comprising a second compressor and a second evaporator coil;

a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature in an enclosed space and to transmit a first signal indicative of the temperature;

a humidity sensor configured to detect a humidity level in the enclosed space and to transmit a second signal indicative of the humidity level; and

a controller coupled to the first compressor, the second compressor, the temperature sensor, and the humidity sensor, wherein the controller comprises a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, and wherein the controller is configured in the first mode of operation to activate the first compressor and the second compressor in response to the temperature and the humidity level exceeding a threshold temperature amount and a threshold humidity level, respectively, and wherein the controller is configured in the second mode of operation to activate the first compressor and not the second compressor in response to only the humidity level exceeding the threshold humidity level.

9. The system of claim 8 , comprising a valve configured to control a flow of a refrigerant to the reheat coil.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the valve comprises a solenoid valve.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate the valve to block the flow of the refrigerant to the reheat coil in a third mode of operation, and wherein the controller switches to the third mode of operation in response to the temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate the valve to block the flow of the refrigerant to the reheat coil in a third mode of operation, and wherein the controller is configured to switch to the third mode of operation in response to the temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature and the humidity level being less than the threshold humidity level.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second vapor compression loop comprises a second reheat coil.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to alternate between activating the first compressor and the second compressor in the second mode of operation each time the humidity level exceeds the threshold humidity level.

15. A method of controlling a vapor compression system, comprising:

receiving a first signal from a temperature sensor indicative of a temperature in an enclosed space;

receiving a second signal from a humidity sensor indicative of a humidity level in the enclosed space;

comparing the temperature to a threshold temperature amount;

comparing the humidity level to a threshold humidity level;

activating a first mode in response to the temperature exceeding a threshold temperature amount, wherein a first compressor and a second compressor of the vapor compression system are activated; and

activating a second mode in response to the humidity level exceeding the threshold humidity level and not the temperature exceeding the threshold temperature amount such that only the first compressor is activated.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising a first valve configured to control a flow of a refrigerant to a first reheat coil coupled to the first compressor.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first valve comprises a solenoid valve.

18. The method of claim 16 , comprising activating a third mode of operation of the vapor compression system wherein the third mode of operation comprises actuating the first valve to block the flow of the refrigerant to the first reheat coil, and wherein a controller is configured to activate the third mode of operation in response to the temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature.

19. The method of claim 16 , comprising activating a third mode of operation of the vapor compression system wherein the third mode of operation comprises actuating the first valve to block the flow of the refrigerant to the first reheat coil in a third mode of operation, and wherein a controller is configured to switch to the third mode of operation in response to the temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature and the humidity level being less than the threshold humidity level.

20. The method of claim 16 , comprising a second valve configured to control the flow of the refrigerant to a second reheat coil coupled to the second compressor.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second valve comprises a solenoid valve.

22. The method of claim 20 , comprising activating a third mode of operation of the vapor compression system, wherein the third mode of operation comprises actuating the first valve or the second valve to block the flow of the refrigerant to the first reheat coil or the second reheat coil, respectively, and wherein a controller is configured to activate the third mode of operation in response to the temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature.

23. The method of claim 20 , comprising activating a third mode of operation of the vapor compression system wherein the third mode of operation comprises actuating the first valve or the second valve to block the flow of the refrigerant to the first reheat coil or the second reheat coil, respectively, in a third mode of operation, and wherein a controller is configured to switch to the third mode of operation in response to the temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature and the humidity level being less than the threshold humidity level.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2025
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
Reel/Frame 072298/0096 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2025
From: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS LIGHT COMMERCIAL IP GMBH
Reel/Frame 070179/0435 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2024
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
To: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
Reel/Frame 067832/0947 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2022
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
Reel/Frame 058959/0764 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2018
From: WALSER, JAY C.
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 045003/0760 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62621972 · Jan 25, 2018
Related Publication 20190226736A1 · Jul 25, 2019