A controller, a water source heat pump and a computer useable medium are disclosed herein. In one embodiment the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive operating data and monitoring data from the water source heat pump and transmit control signals to components of thereof and (2) a processor configured to respond to the operating data or the monitoring data by operating at least one motor-operated valve of the water source heat pump via a control signal.

Controlling heating and cooling in a conditioned space utilizes a fluid circulating in a thermally conductive structure in fluid connection with a hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and a ground heat exchanger. Air is moved past the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger, the air having fresh air supply and stale air exhaust. Sensors located throughout the conditioned space send data to a controller. User input to the controller sets the desired set point temperature and humidity. Based upon the set point temperature and humidity and sensor data, the controller sends signals to various devices to manipulate the flow of the fluid and the air in order to achieve the desired set point temperature and humidity in the conditioned space. The temperature of the fluid is kept less than the dew point at the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and the temperature of the fluid is kept greater than the dew point at the thermally conductive structure.

The present invention provides a liquid level sensor and an automatic calibration process which removes the need for prior manual calibration of the liquid level sensor, as this happens dynamically during installation and use of the pump. Further, by frequently monitoring the calibration of the sensor and correcting for long term drift or contamination on the sensing surface, the reliability of the liquid level sensor is considerably better than those of the prior art. By operating a solid state sensor, there are no moving parts in the liquid level sensor described above.

Controlling heating and cooling in a conditioned space utilizes a fluid circulating in a thermally conductive structure in fluid connection with a hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and a ground heat exchanger. Air is moved past the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger, the air having fresh air supply and stale air exhaust. Sensors located throughout the conditioned space send data to a controller. User input to the controller sets the desired set point temperature and humidity. Based upon the set point temperature and humidity and sensor data, the controller sends signals to various devices to manipulate the flow of the fluid and the air in order to achieve the desired set point temperature and humidity in the conditioned space. The temperature of the fluid is kept less than the dew point at the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and the temperature of the fluid is kept greater than the dew point at the thermally conductive structure.

A liquid filter, for example for a condensate reservoir (1), formed of a printed circuit board (8) comprising a plurality of holes (9) forming a filter screen through the printed circuit board. A first set of capacitive elements (16, 17) are formed in the printed circuit board (8) forming a first capacitive sensor (12) capable of measuring the depth of the liquid adjacent to the filter. The capacitive elements (16,17) may be shielded (19) on one side such that they measure the depth on one side of the filter. A second set of capacitive elements (16′, 17′) may be provided to measure the depth of the liquid on the opposite side of the filter.

A water level control method of an air conditioner and the air conditioner are provided. The air conditioner includes a first fan, a condenser, a compressor, a water tank, a rotating wheel, and a motor. The first fan is configured to dissipate heat from the condenser and the compressor. The motor is configured to drive the rotating wheel to rotate, so as to spray condensed water in the water tank onto the condenser. The method includes: if a water level of the condensed water reaches a first preset water level, controlling the first fan to operate at a minimum rotational speed and the motor to operate at a maximum rotational speed, and obtaining a condenser temperature, and controlling at least one of a rotational speed of the first fan, a rotational speed of the motor, or an operating frequency of the compressor according to the condenser temperature.

A heat pump includes a working fluid circuit configured to circulate a working fluid therethrough. The working fluid circuit includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a compressor, and an expansion valve. The first heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between the working fluid and a supply air flow, and the second heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between the working fluid and an ambient air flow. The heat pump also includes a bypass circuit configured to direct a portion of the working fluid from the compressor to the second heat exchanger, a bypass valve configured to control a flow of the portion of the working fluid along the bypass circuit, and a controller configured to receive data indicative of a measured value of an operating parameter associated with formation of frost on the second heat exchanger and to control a position of the bypass valve based on a comparison of the measured value with a baseline value of the operating parameter.

A sensor device for detection of water, comprising an elongate sensor body with a proximal end and a distal end. At least two sensor elements are arranged at different longitudinal positions along the length of the sensor body. The sensor body comprises at least one elastically flexible section.

A sensor device for detection of water, having an inlet connector with an inlet opening, and at least one sensor element, wherein the inlet connector is exposed to or connected to a source of water, the inlet opening forms at least a part of a reservoir for reception of the water from the source of water, the reservoir is in fluid communication with a vent that vents the reservoir to the surrounding air and the sensor element is positioned within or adjacent to the inlet opening and/or the reservoir, such that it protrudes into the reservoir or forms an interface of the reservoir.

An HVAC system includes an evaporator. The evaporator includes a sensor configured to measure a property value (i.e., a saturated suction temperature or a saturated suction pressure) associated with saturated refrigerant flowing through the evaporator. The system includes a variable-speed compressor configured to receive the refrigerant and compress the received refrigerant. The system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and the variable-speed compressor. The controller monitors the property value measured by the sensor and detects a system fault, based on the monitored property value. In response to detecting the system fault, the controller operates the compressor in a freeze-prevention mode, which is configured to maintain the property value above a setpoint value by adjusting a speed of the variable-speed compressor. This prevents or delays freezing of the evaporator during operation of the system during the detected system fault.