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Title: Fault detection and diagnosis for refrigerator from compressor sensor

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1503302

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.

Research Organization:
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
EE0003910
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation (Benton Harbor, MI)
Patent Number(s):
10,208,993
Application Number:
15/343,391
OSTI ID:
1503302
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2016 Nov 04
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (9)

Apparatus with method and means for diagnosing failure of a pressure sensor patent July 1989
Compressor diagnostic system patent September 2003
Air conditioning apparatus with cross control means therein patent June 1995
System and method for monitoring a compressor of a refrigeration system patent December 2010
Compressor diagnostic system patent July 2004
Driving apparatus of a linear motor patent November 2005
Refrigeration monitor patent July 2006
Compressor diagnostic system patent January 2010
Refrigeration unit and diagnostic method therefor patent August 2010