Fault detection and diagnosis for refrigerator from compressor sensor

Keres, Stephen L.; Gomes, Alberto Regio; Litch, Andrew D.

Title: Fault detection and diagnosis for refrigerator from compressor sensor

Abstract

A refrigerator, a sealed refrigerant system, and method are provided where the refrigerator includes at least a refrigerated compartment and a sealed refrigerant system including an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, a controller, an evaporator fan, and a condenser fan. The method includes monitoring a frequency of the compressor, and identifying a fault condition in the at least one component of the refrigerant sealed system in response to the compressor frequency. The method may further comprise calculating a compressor frequency rate based upon the rate of change of the compressor frequency, wherein a fault in the condenser fan is identified if the compressor frequency rate is positive and exceeds a condenser fan fault threshold rate, and wherein a fault in the evaporator fan is identified if the compressor frequency rate is negative and exceeds an evaporator fan fault threshold rate.

Inventors:: Keres, Stephen L.; Gomes, Alberto Regio; Litch, Andrew D.

Issue Date:: 2016-12-06

Research Org.:: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1334649

Patent Number(s):: 9513043

Application Number:: 13/531,707

Assignee:: Whirlpool Corporation (Benton Harbor, MI)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F04 - POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS F04B - POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS

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F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F04 - POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS F04B - POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS
F04B51/00 - Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS
F25B2500/19 - Calculation of parameters
F25B2600/02 - Compressor control
F25B2600/021 - Inverters therefor
F25B2600/111 - of condenser fans
F25B2600/112 - of evaporator fans
F25B2600/2507 - Flow-diverting valves
F25B2700/171 - of the compressor
F25B2700/172 - of the condenser fan
F25B2700/2117 - of an evaporator
F25B2700/21171 - of the fluid cooled by the evaporator
F25B49/005 - {of safety devices

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02B - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
Y02B30/70 - Efficient control or regulation technologies

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DOE Contract Number:: EE0003910

Resource Type:: Patent

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 2012 Jun 25

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats


                    Keres, Stephen L., Gomes, Alberto Regio, and Litch, Andrew D.. Fault detection and diagnosis for refrigerator from compressor sensor.  United States: N. p., 2016. 
        Web.

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                    Keres, Stephen L., Gomes, Alberto Regio, & Litch, Andrew D.. Fault detection and diagnosis for refrigerator from compressor sensor.  United States.

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                    Keres, Stephen L., Gomes, Alberto Regio, and Litch, Andrew D.. Tue .  
        "Fault detection and diagnosis for refrigerator from compressor sensor".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1334649.

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@article{osti_1334649,

  title        = {Fault detection and diagnosis for refrigerator from compressor sensor},

  author       = {Keres, Stephen L. and Gomes, Alberto Regio and Litch, Andrew D.},

  abstractNote = {A refrigerator, a sealed refrigerant system, and method are provided where the refrigerator includes at least a refrigerated compartment and a sealed refrigerant system including an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, a controller, an evaporator fan, and a condenser fan. The method includes monitoring a frequency of the compressor, and identifying a fault condition in the at least one component of the refrigerant sealed system in response to the compressor frequency. The method may further comprise calculating a compressor frequency rate based upon the rate of change of the compressor frequency, wherein a fault in the condenser fan is identified if the compressor frequency rate is positive and exceeds a condenser fan fault threshold rate, and wherein a fault in the evaporator fan is identified if the compressor frequency rate is negative and exceeds an evaporator fan fault threshold rate.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2016},

  month        = {12}

}

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Works referenced in this record:

Apparatus with method and means for diagnosing failure of a pressure sensor
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Funahashi, Nobuhiro; Yamashita, Toshio
US Patent Document 4,848,096
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Buck, Gilbert Walter
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Title: Fault detection and diagnosis for refrigerator from compressor sensor

Abstract

Citation Formats

Apparatus with method and means for diagnosing failure of a pressure sensor patent, July 1989

Air conditioning apparatus with cross control means therein patent, June 1995

Compressor diagnostic system patent, September 2003

Compressor diagnostic system patent, July 2004

Driving apparatus of a linear motor patent, November 2005

Refrigeration monitor patent, July 2006

Refrigeration unit and diagnostic method therefor patent, August 2010

System and method for monitoring a compressor of a refrigeration system patent, December 2010

Apparatus with method and means for diagnosing failure of a pressure sensor
patent, July 1989

Air conditioning apparatus with cross control means therein
patent, June 1995

Compressor diagnostic system
patent, September 2003

Compressor diagnostic system
patent, July 2004

Driving apparatus of a linear motor
patent, November 2005

Refrigeration monitor
patent, July 2006

Refrigeration unit and diagnostic method therefor
patent, August 2010

System and method for monitoring a compressor of a refrigeration system
patent, December 2010