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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:
; ;
Issue Date:
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
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.
Keres, Stephen L., Gomes, Alberto Regio, & Litch, Andrew D. Fault detection and diagnosis for refrigerator from compressor sensor. United States.
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.
@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}
}

Works referenced in this record:

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


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