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Title: A Universal Refrigerant Charge Fault Detection and Diagnostics Method Based on Pump Down Operation

Abstract

The performance of the heat pump system varies greatly depending on the refrigerant charge amount. Improving the refrigerant charge fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) method of vapor compression systems have the potential for increasing energy efficiency and reducing service cost. Previous studies to predict refrigerant charge amount are mostly empirical methods which require significant amount of experimental data for high accuracy. The primary goal of this research is to develop a universal charge fault detection method which requires only a few experimental data with high prediction accuracy.Currently, pump down operations are typical practices by HVAC technicians when they need to open the refrigerant circuit to make a repairment. In addition, compressors have a built-in low-pressure cut-off protection function, and the compressor performance maps are commonly available from manufacturers. The proposed method innovatively utilizes the typical pump down operation, the compressor low-pressure cut-off protection, and the compressor performance map. It does not require any geometry information of heat exchangers, refrigerant lines, or charge buffers.The new charge prediction method is firstly formulated through theoretical analysis, then verified and calibrated by a quasi-steady-state simulation of the pump down process for a residential heat pump system. The quasi steady-state simulation uses an HVAC systemmore » simulation framework driven by DOE/ORNL Heat Pump Design Model (HPDM). Preliminary experiment validations with heat pump refrigerant leakage tests demonstrate the deviation of the proposed charge prediction method compared with measurement is within 8%. This technology makes refrigerant charge amount available at the technician’s fingertips and leads to shorter maintenance time and fewer site visits.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. ORNL
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
1885328
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 19th International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference at Purdue - West Lafayatte, Indiana, United States of America - 7/9/2022 4:00:00 AM-7/14/2022 4:00:00 AM
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Li, Zhenning, Shen, Bo, and Gluesenkamp, Kyle. A Universal Refrigerant Charge Fault Detection and Diagnostics Method Based on Pump Down Operation. United States: N. p., 2022. Web.
Li, Zhenning, Shen, Bo, & Gluesenkamp, Kyle. A Universal Refrigerant Charge Fault Detection and Diagnostics Method Based on Pump Down Operation. United States.
Li, Zhenning, Shen, Bo, and Gluesenkamp, Kyle. 2022. "A Universal Refrigerant Charge Fault Detection and Diagnostics Method Based on Pump Down Operation". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1885328.
@article{osti_1885328,
title = {A Universal Refrigerant Charge Fault Detection and Diagnostics Method Based on Pump Down Operation},
author = {Li, Zhenning and Shen, Bo and Gluesenkamp, Kyle},
abstractNote = {The performance of the heat pump system varies greatly depending on the refrigerant charge amount. Improving the refrigerant charge fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) method of vapor compression systems have the potential for increasing energy efficiency and reducing service cost. Previous studies to predict refrigerant charge amount are mostly empirical methods which require significant amount of experimental data for high accuracy. The primary goal of this research is to develop a universal charge fault detection method which requires only a few experimental data with high prediction accuracy.Currently, pump down operations are typical practices by HVAC technicians when they need to open the refrigerant circuit to make a repairment. In addition, compressors have a built-in low-pressure cut-off protection function, and the compressor performance maps are commonly available from manufacturers. The proposed method innovatively utilizes the typical pump down operation, the compressor low-pressure cut-off protection, and the compressor performance map. It does not require any geometry information of heat exchangers, refrigerant lines, or charge buffers.The new charge prediction method is firstly formulated through theoretical analysis, then verified and calibrated by a quasi-steady-state simulation of the pump down process for a residential heat pump system. The quasi steady-state simulation uses an HVAC system simulation framework driven by DOE/ORNL Heat Pump Design Model (HPDM). Preliminary experiment validations with heat pump refrigerant leakage tests demonstrate the deviation of the proposed charge prediction method compared with measurement is within 8%. This technology makes refrigerant charge amount available at the technician’s fingertips and leads to shorter maintenance time and fewer site visits.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1885328}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2022},
month = {Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2022}
}

Conference:
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