METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SCROLL COMPRESSOR, AND CONTROLLER FOR A SCROLL COMPRESSOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a method used to control a scroll compressor having a first and a second spiral, in particular that are arranged one inside the other. The first spiral can be moved by a motor relative to the second spiral for a decompression or compression operation of the scroll compressor. The invention reduces vibration (actual acceleration forces) in the scroll compressor to allow for a longer service life by adapting a torque curve of the motor on the basis of measured acceleration forces on the scroll compressor which, in turn, is based on the position and/or positional angle of the first spiral relative to the second spiral such that the acceleration forces are reduced below a threshold or minimized.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A method for controlling a scroll compressor having first and second spirals arranged one inside the other, wherein the first spiral moves by operation of a motor relative to the second spiral for one of a decompression and compression operation of the scroll compressor, comprising: operating the motor to move the first spiral; measuring a plurality of acceleration forces on the scroll compressor, wherein the acceleration forces depend on one of a relative position and a positional angle of the first spiral to the second spiral; and adjusting a torque progression of the motor based on the measured acceleration forces to reduce actual acceleration forces on the motor.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein adjusting the torque progression of the motor further comprises: shifting a torque phase of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in the measured acceleration forces, shifting the torque phase of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the measured acceleration forces, continue shifting the torque phase of the motor in the first direction until a minimum for the measured acceleration forces has been reached.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein adjusting the torque progression of the motor further comprises: shifting a torque amplitude of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in re-measured acceleration forces, shifting the torque amplitude of the motor in the second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the re-measured acceleration forces, continue shifting the torque amplitude of the motor in the first direction until a threshold for the measured acceleration forces has been reached.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein adjusting the torque progression of the motor further comprises: shifting a torque phase of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in the measured acceleration forces, shifting the torque phase of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the measured acceleration forces, continue shifting the torque phase of the motor in the first direction until the measured acceleration forces no longer exceed a pre-determined threshold.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein adjusting the torque progression of the motor comprises: shifting a torque amplitude of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in the measured acceleration forces, shifting the torque amplitude of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the measured acceleration forces, continue shifting the torque amplitude of the motor in the first direction until a minimum for the measured acceleration forces has been reached.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein adjusting the torque progression of the motor comprises: shifting a torque amplitude of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in the measured acceleration forces, shifting the torque amplitude of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the measured acceleration forces, continue shifting the torque amplitude of the motor in the first direction until the measured acceleration forces no longer exceed a pre-determined threshold.

15. A controller for a scroll compressor having first and second spirals arranged one inside the other, wherein the first spiral moves by operation of a motor relative to the second spiral, comprising: a processor configured to execute instructions for operating the motor, the instructions configured to, move the first spiral; measure a plurality of acceleration forces on the scroll compressor, wherein the acceleration forces depend on one of a relative position and a positional angle of the first spiral to the second spiral; and adjust a torque progression of the motor based on the measured acceleration forces to reduce actual acceleration forces on the motor.

16. The controller according to claim 15, wherein the processor configured to execute instructions for operating the motor configured to adjust the torque progression of the motor include instructions further configured to: shift a torque phase of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in the measured acceleration forces, shift the torque phase of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the measured acceleration forces, continue to shift the torque phase of the motor in the first direction until a minimum for the measured acceleration forces has been reached.

17. The controller according to claim 16, wherein the processor configured to execute instructions for operating the motor configured to adjust the torque progression of the motor include instructions further configured to: shift a torque amplitude of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in the measured acceleration forces, shift the torque amplitude of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the measured acceleration forces, continue to shift the torque amplitude of the motor in the first direction until a threshold for the measured acceleration forces has been reached.

18. The controller according to claim 15, wherein the processor configured to execute instructions for operating the motor configured to adjust the torque progression of the motor include instructions further configured to: shift a torque phase of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in the measured acceleration forces, shift the torque phase of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the measured acceleration forces, continue to shift the torque phase of the motor in the first direction until the measured acceleration forces no longer exceed a pre-determined threshold.

19. The controller according to claim 15, wherein the processor configured to execute instructions for operating the motor configured to adjust the torque progression of the motor include instructions further configured to: shift a torque amplitude of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in the measured acceleration forces, shift the torque amplitude of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the measured acceleration forces, continue to shift the torque amplitude of the motor in the first direction until a minimum for the measured acceleration forces has been reached.

20. The controller according to claim 15, wherein the processor configured to execute instructions for operating the motor configured to adjust the torque progression of the motor include instructions further configured to: shift a torque amplitude of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in the measured acceleration forces, shift the torque amplitude of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the measured acceleration forces, continue to shift the torque amplitude of the motor in the first direction until a threshold for the measured acceleration forces has been reached.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium including program instructions for execution on a processor, the program instructions configured to: operate a motor to move a first spiral of scroll compressor, wherein the scroll compressor has the first spiral and a second spiral arranged one inside the other, wherein the first spiral moves by operation of the motor relative to the second spiral for one of a decompression and compression operation of the scroll compressor; measure a plurality of acceleration forces on the scroll compressor, wherein the acceleration forces depend on one of a relative position and a positional angle of the first spiral to the second spiral; and adjust a torque progression of the motor based on the measured acceleration forces to reduce actual acceleration forces on the motor.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the program instructions configured to adjust the torque progression of the motor include program instructions further configured to: shift a torque phase of the motor in a first direction; re-measure the plurality of acceleration forces; in response to an increase in the re-measured acceleration forces, shift the torque phase of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the re-measured acceleration forces, continue to shift the torque phase of the motor in the first direction until a minimum for the measured acceleration forces has been reached.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the program instructions configured to adjust the torque progression of the motor include program instructions further configured to: shift a torque amplitude of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in the re-measured acceleration forces, shift the torque amplitude of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the re-measured acceleration forces, continue to shift the torque amplitude of the motor in the first direction until a threshold for the re-measured acceleration forces has been reached.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the program instructions configured to adjust the torque progression of the motor include program instructions further configured to: shift a torque amplitude of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in the measured acceleration forces, shift the torque amplitude of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the measured acceleration forces, continue to shift the torque amplitude of the motor in the first direction until a threshold for the measured acceleration forces has been reached.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the program instructions configured to adjust the torque progression of the motor include program instructions further configured to: shift a torque phase of the motor in a first direction; re-measure the plurality of acceleration forces; in response to an increase in the re-measured acceleration forces, shift the torque phase of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the re-measured acceleration forces, continue to shift the torque phase of the motor in the first direction until a minimum for the measured acceleration forces has been reached.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the program instructions configured to adjust the torque progression of the motor include program instructions further configured to: shift a torque amplitude of the motor in a first direction; in response to an increase in the measured acceleration forces, shift the torque amplitude of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and in response to a decrease in the measured acceleration forces, continue to shift the torque amplitude of the motor in the first direction until a threshold for the re-measured acceleration forces has been reached.

Description

[0037] The figures described below essentially relate to preferred exemplary embodiments of the controller according to the invention and of the method according to the invention, wherein these figures serve not to limit, but essentially to illustrate the invention.

[0038] Shown on:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a torque characteristic diagram for a scroll compressor with an inlet and outlet pressure ratio of 3/20;

[0040] FIG. 2 is a torque characteristic diagram for a scroll compressor with an inlet and outlet pressure ratio of 3/25;

[0041] FIG. 3 is a torque characteristic diagram for a scroll compressor with an inlet and outlet pressure ratio of 4/15;

[0042] FIG. 4 is a shaft speed diagram of a scroll compressor at a pressure ratio of 3/20;

[0043] FIG. 5A is a side view of the housing of a scroll compressor;

[0044] FIG. 5B is an acceleration force diagram on the fastening points mount 1 and 2 of the scroll compressor on FIG. 5A;

[0045] FIG. 6 is a torque diagram of a scroll compressor at a pressure ratio of 3/20 with a phase offset of 30°;

[0046] FIG. 7 is a torque diagram of a scroll compressor at a pressure ratio of 3/20 with a phase offset of 60°;

[0047] FIG. 8 is a torque diagram of a scroll compressor at a pressure ratio of 3/20 with a phase offset of 10°;

[0048] FIG. 9 is a torque diagram of a scroll compressor at a pressure ratio of 3/20 and an amplitude error or offset;

[0049] FIG. 10 is a torque diagram of a scroll compressor as a function of the pressure ratio;

[0050] FIG. 11 is a diagram about the torque deviation as a function of the pressure ratio; and

[0051] FIG. 12 is a torque diagram of a scroll compressor with a plurality of different characteristics as a function of the orbiting angle.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a torque characteristic diagram for a scroll compressor with an inlet and outlet pressure ratio of 3/20; i.e., a 3 bar inlet pressure and a 20 bar outlet pressure. The average required torque for the scroll compressor measures approx. 3.2 nm (see dashed line), so as to realize the mentioned pressure ratio. Depending on the orbiting angle (English orbiting angle), the actual torque (see solid line) begins with approx. 2.8 nm at 0 degrees and continuously drops to a minimum of approx. 2.4 nm at 60 degrees. The required torque then continuously rises to a maximum of approx. 4.5 nm at approx. 200 degrees and continuously drops to approx. 2.8 nm at 360 degrees. This characteristic repeats with each orbit.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a torque characteristic diagram for a scroll compressor with an inlet and outlet pressure ratio of 3/25. The average required torque for the scroll compressor measures approx. 3.6 nm (see dashed line), so as to realize the mentioned pressure ratio. Depending on the orbiting angle, the actual torque (see solid line) begins with approx. 3.4 nm at 0 degrees and continuously drops to a minimum of approx. 2.5 nm at 70 degrees. The required torque then continuously rises to a maximum of approx. 5.3 nm at approx. 230 degrees and continuously drops to approx. 3.4 nm at 360 degrees. As on FIG. 1, this characteristic repeats with each orbit.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a torque characteristic diagram for a scroll compressor with an inlet and outlet pressure ratio of 4/15. The average required torque for the scroll compressor measures approx. 3.0 nm (see dashed line), so as to realize the mentioned pressure ratio. Depending on the orbiting angle, the actually required torque (see solid line) begins with approx. 2.6 nm at 0 degrees and continuously rises to a maximum of approx. 3.7 nm at 110 degrees. The required torque then continuously drops to a minimum of approx. 2.6 nm at approx. 360. As on FIG. 1, this characteristic repeats with each orbit.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a shaft speed diagram of a scroll compressor at a pressure ratio of 3/20. The average rotation measures 1500 revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm). Depending on the varying required torques as shown on FIGS. 1 to 3, the shaft rotation or movable spirals are accelerated or delayed, depending on the orbiting angle, or depending on whether the required torque lies above or below the average value of the scroll compressor.

[0056] FIG. 5A shows a side view of the housing of a scroll compressor, illustrating the fastening points mount 1 and mount 2 for fastening the housing, e.g., in a vehicle.

[0057] FIG. 5B shows an acceleration force diagram on the fastening points mount 1 and 2 of the scroll compressor on FIG. 5A. Vibrations of the scroll compressor cause acceleration forces to act on the fastening points, which can be measured with corresponding sensors. The characteristic of the acceleration forces for mount 1 is mirror inverted or mirrored on the X-axis relative to the characteristic of mount 2.

[0058] FIG. 6 shows a torque diagram of a scroll compressor at a pressure ratio of 3/20 with a phase or angle offset of 30°. This angle offset lies between the characteristic of the required torque (see solid line, hereinafter abbreviated as “RT”—required torque) and the characteristic of the actually available torque (see dashed line, hereinafter abbreviated as “AT”—actual torque). The angle offset between the maximum of RT and maximum of AT is marked in a readily discernible manner. As soon as the values of RT lie above the values of AT, the vibrations rise (see third solid line and thin line). The vibrations are at 0 Newtons when RT and AT intersect. The vibrations have a maximum amplitude value (between the maximum and minimum) of 15 N.

[0059] FIG. 7 shows a torque diagram of a scroll compressor at a pressure ratio of 3/20, similarly to FIG. 6, but in this case with a phase offset of 60°. The vibrations have a maximum amplitude value (between the maximum and minimum) of 28 N.

[0060] FIG. 8 shows a torque diagram of a scroll compressor at a pressure ratio of 3/20, similarly to FIG. 6, but in this case with a phase offset of 10°. The vibrations have a maximum amplitude value (between the maximum and minimum) of 5 N.

[0061] FIG. 9 shows a torque diagram of a scroll compressor at a pressure ratio of 3/20 and an amplitude offset (English amplitude error). The vibrations have a maximum amplitude value (between the maximum and minimum) of 7 N. In this case, the characteristics RT and AT are in-phase, and not phase-shifted or offset like on FIGS. 6 to 8. This means that the minimums and maximums each lie at the same orbiting angles, i.e., in this case at 60 degrees and at 200 degrees. The vibration is also at zero if RT and AT intersect.

[0062] FIG. 10 shows a torque diagram of a scroll compressor as a function of the ratio between the outlet pressure p.sub.out and inlet pressure p.sub.in, wherein five characteristics are shown for various outlet pressures. The maximum of all five characteristics lies at approx. 2.8 p.sub.out to p.sub.in.

[0063] FIG. 11 shows a torque diagram of a scroll compressor as a function of the ratio between the outlet pressure p.sub.out and inlet pressure p.sub.in, wherein five characteristics are shown for various outlet pressures. The maximum of all five characteristics lies at approx. 12 p.sub.out to p.sub.in.

[0064] FIG. 12 shows a torque diagram of a scroll compressor with a plurality of different characteristics as a function of the orbiting angle of 0 degrees to 360 degrees. The different characteristics 1 to 15 stand for the compression rate of the inlet pressure to outlet pressure. While the low characteristics 1 to 4 reveal mostly a continuous progression, very pronounced maximum and minimum values with regard to the required torque are evident at the higher characteristics, e.g., 11 to 15.