A monitoring and/or control device for an environmental control unit such as a heat pump determines the performance status and whether maintenance is required of a component of the unit for example a compressor during operation of the component. The device includes sensors configured to be situated relative to the compressor so as to receive and signal data from the compressor during operation of the component. In some embodiments, the device includes a vibration detector and a controller coupled to the vibration detector. The controller is configured to (i) receive electrical signals from the vibration detector, (ii) compare the electrical signals to a reference signal, (iii) determine the performance characteristic of the component based on the results of the comparison, and (iv) output a signal corresponding to the performance characteristic of the component to a user display. The controller may also request maintenance and/or order parts automatically.

A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX). The PX is coupled to a motor that controls an operating speed of the PX. The system further includes a condenser. An outlet of the condenser is fluidly coupled to a first inlet of the PX. The system further includes a pressure gauge. The pressure gauge is configured to provide first pressure data. The first pressure data is indicative of a pressure of a fluid of the condenser. The system further includes a first controller configured to cause the motor to adjust the operating speed of the PX. The first controller causes the motor to adjust the operating speed of the PX based on the first pressure data.

A compressor fault diagnostic apparatus including a current sensing unit to sense a current flowing through a motor of the compressor, a fault diagnostic unit to determine whether or not the motor performs a reverse rotation based on the current flowing through the motor, and a cut-off unit to remove power based on a determination of the fault diagnostic unit.

Systems and methods for monitoring an HVAC&R system employ a monitoring agent that uses observations of evaporator and condenser intake temperatures, evaporator discharge temperature, and a compressor input power parameter to learn operating characteristics of the HVAC&R system in newly maintained condition. Thereafter, the agent continuously or regularly computes a relative coefficient of performance (COP) for the system under subsequent observed ambient conditions, and relates the present instantaneous efficiency of the HVAC&R system under the observed ambient conditions to the instantaneous efficiency when the system was in newly maintained condition. The relative COP can be used to detect system degradation and quantify the energy usage and cost attributable to the degradation. The agent can take appropriate actions to prevent/minimize damage based on the degree of degradation detected, including shutting off power to the HVAC&R system. The monitoring agent can also be extended to other types of systems besides HVAC&R system.

A cooling system includes: a first cooling apparatus electrically driven to supply a first heat transfer medium cooled to a first set temperature or lower; a plurality of second cooling apparatuses each of which includes a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the first heat transfer medium supplied from the first cooling apparatus and a second heat transfer medium, and is electrically driven to supply a third heat transfer medium cooled to a second set temperature or lower, the second set temperature being changed individually with lapse of time; and a processor that obtains second set temperatures of the second cooling apparatuses and sets the first set temperature based on the obtained second set temperatures.

A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid at a first pressure and a second fluid at a second pressure and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid. The system further includes a condenser configured to provide corresponding thermal energy from the first fluid to a corresponding environment. The system further includes a first ejector to receive a first gas and increase pressure of the first gas to form the second fluid at the second pressure. The first ejector is further to provide the second fluid at the second pressure to the PX.

A method controls a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a compressor using that includes a piston and uses refrigerant as lubricant for the piston, and the method includes determining an end time point of a refrigerant recovery operation based on a driving input value of the compressor to thereby reduce abrasion of the piston and power consumption.

A selection apparatus according to an aspect of the disclosure includes a calculation unit configured to calculate, based on data correlated with power consumption of portable cold-energy equipment and data related to a set temperature of the cold-energy equipment, an amount of power consumption expected during transportation of the cold-energy equipment to a predetermined destination; and a selection unit configured to select, based on the amount of power consumption calculated by the calculator, a rechargeable battery to be mounted on the cold-energy equipment.

System and method for monitoring and detecting potential problems early in a VCC based HVAC&R system employs a monitoring application or agent that uses continuous machine learning and a temperature map to derive or “learn” a relation between a measured input power parameter of one or more system compressors, and condenser and evaporator intake fluid temperatures, based on observations of the temperatures and the input power parameter when the HVAC&R system is new or in a “newly maintained” condition. The monitoring agent can then use the learned relation to determine, based on subsequent observations of the condenser and evaporator intake fluid temperatures, the input power parameter values that should be expected if the HVAC&R system were operating in the “newly maintained” condition. The agent can thereafter compare the expected compressor input power parameter values with observed input power parameter values to determine early whether the system is experiencing performance degradation.

Air conditioner units and methods of operating the same are provided. A method of operating an air conditioner unit includes determining a fan speed as a function of a compressor speed of a variable speed compressor of the air conditioner unit. The method also includes activating a variable speed fan of the air conditioner unit at the fan speed. An air conditioner unit may include a controller, and the controller may be configured for performing the method.