Initialising system for a refrigerant compressor unit and method for initialising a refrigerant compressor unit

Abstract

In order to an initialising system for a refrigerant compressor unit, including a refrigerant compressor, an electrical drive motor for the refrigerant compressor and a compressor controller that determines the voltage and speed of the drive motor on the basis of sets of configuration parameters loaded into this compressor controller and controls the drive motor accordingly, wherein the initialising system has a compressor data memory, in which compressor data relating to respectively possible refrigerant compressors are stored, and a motor data memory, in which motor data relating to possible drive motors are stored, wherein the initialising system has a processor for performing the initialisation, a display unit and an input unit, wherein during initialisation the display unit and the input unit serve to determine the refrigerant compressor and the drive motor, and wherein the processor uses the compressor data of the determined refrigerant compressor and uses the motor data of the determined drive motor to generate compressor configuration parameters and motor configuration parameters and loads them into the compressor controller for the purpose of operating the drive motor.

Claims

1. A method for initializing operation of a refrigerant compressor unit, which initialized refrigerant compressor unit shall include a refrigerant compressor, an electrical drive motor for the refrigerant compressor and a compressor controller that determines the voltage and speed of the drive motor on the basis of sets of configuration parameters loaded into this compressor controller and controls the drive motor accordingly, said method by use of an initializing system for the purpose of installation in said refrigerant compressor unit comprising the step of determining the refrigerant compressors from a compressor data memory, in which compressor data for a selection of potential refrigerant compressors is stored, and the step of determining the drive motor, operative together with the determined compressor from a motor data memory, in which motor data for a selection of potential drive motors are stored, and for the purpose of initialisation, and the step of generating compressor configuration parameters and motor configuration parameters by an initialising system using the compressor data of the determined refrigerant compressor and using the motor data of the determined drive motor and loading these data into the compressor controller for the purpose of operating the drive motor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a list of compressors is generated from the stored compressor data and displayed on the display unit.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein one of the refrigerant compressors in the compressor list is determined using the input unit.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compressor configuration parameters that belong to the determined refrigerant compressor are generated using the compressor data.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the compressor configuration parameters are loaded into the compressor controller after confirmation thereof using the input unit.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a list of motors is compiled from the motor data and displayed on the display unit.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein suitable drive motors are selected from the motor data using the compressor data for the determined refrigerant compressor and are displayed in the motor list on the display unit.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein a drive motor from the motor list is determined using the input unit.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the motor configuration parameters that belong to the determined drive motor are generated using the motor data.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the motor configuration parameters are loaded into the compressor controller after confirmation thereof using the input unit.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a list of refrigerants is generated from refrigerant data stored in a refrigerant data memory and is displayed on the display unit.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a refrigerant from the refrigerant list is determined using the input unit.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant configuration parameters that belong to the determined refrigerant are compiled using the refrigerant data.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein selection parameters are extracted from the refrigerant configuration parameters and displayed on the display unit.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the displayed selection parameters are determined using the input unit.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the refrigerant configuration parameters, in particular together with the marked selection parameters, are loaded into the compressor controller after a confirmation thereof using the input unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a refrigerant circuit with a refrigerant compressor unit and an initialising unit;

(2) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary illustration of possible compressor configuration parameters;

(3) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary illustration of possible motor configuration parameters;

(4) FIG. 4 shows an illustration of possible refrigerant configuration parameters;

(5) FIGS. 5a, b show an exemplary flow chart for the mode of operation of a first exemplary embodiment of an initialising system according to the invention; and

(6) FIGS. 6a, b show a flow chart of a second exemplary embodiment of an initialising system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) In a refrigerant circuit, which is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is designated 10 as a whole, there is arranged a refrigerant compressor 12 that compresses refrigerant guided in the refrigerant circuit 10 and supplies it to a heat exchanger unit 14 in which the refrigerant, which is heated by being compressed in the refrigerant compressor 12, undergoes cooling by the discharge of heat W.

(8) The refrigerant that has then been cooled by the heat exchanger unit 14 is supplied therefrom to an expansion member 16 in which the refrigerant is expanded, wherein the refrigerant is thereafter supplied to a heat exchanger unit 18 in which the expanded refrigerant is able to take up heat W and thus cool the heat-discharging medium.

(9) The refrigerant that is heated in the heat exchanger 18 is then supplied to the refrigerant compressor 12 again.

(10) The refrigerant compressor 12 is part of a refrigerant compressor unit, which is designated 20 as a whole and has, in addition to the refrigerant compressor 12, a drive motor 22, which drives the refrigerant compressor 12 by a mechanical coupling; moreover, the refrigerant compressor unit 20 includes a compressor controller 24 that, for its part, has a converter 26 for controlling the drive motor 22 by speed control, and in particular where appropriate a control unit 28 is also controlled, wherein the control unit 28 may be an integral or a separate unit.

(11) The control unit 28 uses for example one or more sensors 32 to 38 to detect a pressure and/or temperature in the refrigerant circuit 10, wherein for example the sensors 32 and 24 are pressure sensors or indeed temperature sensors, for example for detecting the initial pressure or input pressure, or the initial temperature or input temperature, of the refrigerant compressor 12, and wherein for example the sensors 36 and 38 are temperature sensors, for example for detecting the temperature of the heat exchanger unit 14 and the temperature of the heat exchanger unit 18 respectively.

(12) It is also possible for the control unit 28 to operate on the basis of an external control signal, however.

(13) So that the refrigerant compressor 12 and the drive motor 22 can be driven optimally and in an operationally reliable manner by the compressor controller 24, in particular the converter 26, with optimal speed control and optimised energy, the voltage provided by the converter 26, the current generated by the converter 26 and also the time characteristic thereof—that is to say the frequency or speed of rotation—in relation to the speed-controlled operation of the drive motor 22 have to be adapted on the one hand to the configuration of the refrigerant compressor 12 and on the other to the configuration of the drive motor 22.

(14) Here, the refrigerant compressor 12 is defined by so-called compressor configuration parameters VKx, which include for example at least one or more of the following parameters: minimum speed, maximum speed, interval from start to start, interval from stop to start, maximum temperature of compressed gas, minimum operating pressure, maximum operating pressure, maximum possible gradients of the possible speed increases, and refrigerant data (FIG. 2).

(15) Moreover, it is necessary to predetermine motor configuration parameters MKx for the drive motor 22, which include for example at least one or more of the following parameters: maximum current, rated voltage, rated frequency, in particular ratio of voltage to frequency, and where appropriate winding layout and characteristic, for example represented by the motor equivalent circuit diagram, number of pole pairs, commenting method, and auto, fixed and acceleration boost (FIG. 3).

(16) Moreover, refrigerant configuration parameters KKx are preferably predetermined for the compressor controller 24, which include for example at least one or more of the following parameters: refrigerant type, critical pressure, critical temperature, coefficients for converting pressure to temperature, and parameters relating to the system or plant, such as evaporation point, condensation point, temperature limit values and pressure limit values (FIG. 4).

(17) The compressor configuration parameters VKx, motor configuration parameters MKx and refrigerant configuration parameters KKx have to be loaded into the compressor controller 24 such that the compressor controller 24 having the converter 26 corresponding to these configuration parameters is able to operate the refrigerant compressor 12 optimally in the respective operating states, in particular within provided usage limits, using the drive motor 22.

(18) So that one and the same compressor controller 24 can be used for the most diverse combinations of drive motor 22 and refrigerant compressor 12 of the respective refrigerant compressor unit 20, according to the invention an initialising system, designated 50 as a whole in FIG. 1, and including a processor 52, a data memory unit 54, a display unit 56 and an input unit 58 is provided.

(19) Preferably, the data memory unit 54 includes a compressor data memory 54V, a motor data memory 54M and a refrigerant data memory 54K, which may either be separate memories or are grouped into a single memory unit.

(20) Here, the data memory unit 54 may be a hard disk on a computer, or a memory card holding these data.

(21) For the purpose of storing and/or updating the compressor data, the motor data MD and/or the refrigerant data KD, preferably a connection is establishable over the internet between the data memory unit 54 and a server 60, wherein the data are kept continuously updated on the server 60, for example by the manufacturer of the refrigerant compressor 12 and/or the drive motor 22.

(22) The initialising system 50 may be provided as a separate system that communicates with the compressor controller 24 only for the purpose of initialisation, or it is conceivable to group the initialising system 50 and the compressor controller 24 together permanently to form one unit.

(23) An initialising system 50 of this kind makes it possible to determine the compressor configuration parameters VKx, the motor configuration parameters MKx and where appropriate refrigerant configuration parameters KKx in accordance with the refrigerant compressor 12 used in the refrigerant compressor unit 20, the electrical drive motor 22 used, and the refrigerant used in the refrigerant circuit 10 and to load them into the compressor controller 24 such that the compressor controller 24 is able to operate the refrigerant compressor unit 20 on the basis of these parameters.

(24) A first exemplary embodiment of a method executed by the processor 52 is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 5.

(25) After the start, in a first step 62 the processor 52 uses compressor data VD stored in a compressor data memory 54V of the data memory unit 54 to generate a compressor list VL, which contains the possible refrigerant compressors that may be used as a refrigerant compressor 12 in the refrigerant compressor unit 20.

(26) In a second step 64, the compressor list VL is displayed on the display unit 56, and a person operating the system has the option, using the input unit 58 and by marking it, of determining the refrigerant compressor 12 that is used or is to be used in the refrigerant compressor unit 20.

(27) In a third step 66, the processor 52 detects which refrigerant compressor Vx out of the compressor list VL has been determined by input through the input unit 58, and is thus able in the next step 68, using the compressor data VDx that belong to this refrigerant compressor Vx, to determine the compressor configuration parameters VKx, which are either part of the compressor data VDx or are stored separately in the data memory unit 54.

(28) In the next step 72, the processor 52 generates, from the motor data MD that are stored in a motor data memory 54M of the data memory unit 54, a motor list ML which, in the next step 74, is displayed on the display unit 56 as a motor list ML, wherein a person operating the system has the option, using the input unit 58, of determining from the motor list ML a drive motor Mx that is used or is to be used in the refrigerant compressor unit 20, wherein the motor data MDx belong to this motor Mx from the motor list ML.

(29) In the next step 78, the processor 52 generates the motor configuration parameters MKx using the motor data MDx.

(30) If no refrigerant data are required or are to be input, in the next step 82 there is displayed on the display unit 56 either the prompt as to whether the compressor configuration parameters VKx and the motor configuration parameters MKx are to be loaded into the compressor controller 24, or, for the sake of additional confirmation, the compressor configuration parameters VKx and the motor configuration parameters MKx are displayed on the display unit 56, and after confirmation by the person operating the system using the input unit 58, in the step 84 the compressor configuration parameters VKx and the motor configuration parameters MKx are loaded into the compressor controller 24, such that the compressor controller 24 is provided with the configuration parameters required for operating the refrigerant compressor unit 20 with the respective refrigerant compressor 12 and the respective drive motor 22.

(31) In a variant of the first exemplary embodiment of the method performed by the processor 52, the processor 52 takes a form such that it is able to reload the compressor configuration parameters and motor configuration parameters that are stored in the compressor controller 24 into the initialising system 50, in order to check them and where appropriate to display them on the display unit 56.

(32) As an additional step for this purpose, for example in this variant in step 82, it is provided for the processor 52 to compare the compressor configuration parameters VKx with compressor configuration parameters stored in the compressor controller 24 and, in the event of discrepancies, to indicate the discrepancies by a warning signal on the display unit 56 and for example to list them on the display unit 56, wherein for the purpose of performing the comparison the compressor configuration parameters stored in the compressor controller 24 are reloaded from the compressor controller 24 by the processor.

(33) Similarly, for example in this variant in step 82, it is provided for the processor 52 to compare the motor configuration parameters MKx with motor configuration parameters stored in the compressor controller 24 and, in the event of discrepancies, to indicate the discrepancies by a warning signal on the display unit 56 and for example to list them on the display unit 56, wherein for the purpose of performing the comparison the motor configuration parameters stored in the compressor controller 24 are reloaded from the compressor controller 24 by the processor.

(34) This solution has the advantage that that it allows erroneous configurations to be discovered in a simple manner and eliminated, so it can further improve user friendliness.

(35) In a second exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention, illustrated in FIG. 6, the steps 62 to 78 are identical to those of the first exemplary embodiment, according to FIG. 5.

(36) However, in the second exemplary embodiment, the step 78 is followed in a step 92 by loading refrigerant data KD from a refrigerant data memory 54K of the data memory unit 54 and generating a refrigerant list KL.

(37) In a subsequent step 94, the refrigerant list KL is displayed on the display unit 56, and the person operating the system has the option, using the input unit, of selecting the refrigerant Kx from the refrigerant list 94.

(38) This is detected in the step 96, and the refrigerant data KDx are associated with the selected refrigerant Kx.

(39) In the next step 98, the refrigerant configuration parameters KKx that belong to the refrigerant data KDx are determined.

(40) If the refrigerant configuration parameters KKx for the respective refrigerant are complete, then, analogously to the steps 82 and 84 in the first exemplary embodiment, they can be displayed on the display unit 56 and, once a person operating the system makes an appropriate input in the input unit 58, the compressor configuration data VKx, the motor configuration data MKx and the refrigerant configuration data KKx can be loaded into the compressor controller 24.

(41) If, however, there are still open or incomplete parameters—so-called selection parameters—among the refrigerant configuration parameters KKx, then in the step 102 the selection parameters of the refrigerant configuration parameters KKx are displayed on the display unit 56, and there is an option, using the input unit 58, to complete the refrigerant configuration parameters KKx.

(42) In the step 104, the processor 52 detects the refrigerant configuration parameters KKx′ completed using the input unit 58.

(43) In the step 112, the processor 52 then displays the compressor configuration parameters VKx, the motor configuration parameters MKx and the completed refrigerant configuration parameters KKx′ on the display unit 58, either individually or in summary form, such that the person operating the system has the option of giving the instruction to release loading of these configuration parameters, using the input unit 58, such that in the step 144 the compressor configuration parameters VKx, the motor configuration parameters MKx and the completed refrigerant configuration parameters KKx′ are loaded into the compressor controller 24.

(44) Moreover, in a variant of the second exemplary embodiment of the method executed by the processor 52, the processor takes a form such that it is able to reload the compressor configuration parameters that are stored in the compressor controller 24, the motor configuration parameters and the refrigerant configuration parameters into the initialising system 50, in order to check them and where appropriate to display them on the display unit 56.

(45) As an additional step for this purpose, for example in this variant of the second exemplary embodiment in step 112, it is provided for the processor 52 to compare the compressor configuration parameters VKx with compressor configuration parameters stored in the compressor controller 24 and, in the event of discrepancies, to indicate the discrepancies by a warning signal on the display unit 56 and for example to list them on the display unit 56, wherein for the purpose of performing the comparison the compressor configuration parameters stored in the compressor controller 24 are reloaded from the compressor controller 24 by the processor.

(46) Similarly, for example in this variant in step 112, it is provided for the processor 52 to compare the motor configuration parameters MKx with motor configuration parameters stored in the compressor controller 24 and, in the event of discrepancies, to indicate the discrepancies by a warning signal on the display unit 56 and for example to list them on the display unit 56, wherein for the purpose of performing the comparison the motor configuration parameters stored in the compressor controller 24 are reloaded from the compressor controller 24 by the processor 52.

(47) Further, for example in this variant in step 112, it is provided for the processor 52 to compare the refrigerant configuration parameters KKx′ with refrigerant configuration parameters stored in the compressor controller 24 and, in the event of discrepancies, to indicate the discrepancies by a warning signal on the display unit 56 and for example to list them on the display unit 56, wherein for the purpose of performing the comparison the refrigerant configuration parameters stored in the compressor controller 24 are reloaded from the compressor controller 24 by the processor 52.

(48) This solution has the advantage that it allows erroneous configurations to be discovered in a simple manner and eliminated, so it can further improve user friendliness.