Variable refrigerant flow system with sub-cooling temperature optimization using extremum-seeking control
US10655878B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 6, 2018 |
| Grant date | May 19, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF24F2140/60
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system for a building. The VRF system includes at least one outdoor VRF unit configured to heat or cool a refrigerant for use in heating or cooling the building. The at least one outdoor VRF unit includes a sub-cooler and a bypass expansion valve configured to control a flow of the refrigerant through the sub-cooler and an extremum-seeking controller configured to generate a sub-cooling temperature setpoint for the at least one outdoor VRF unit. The extremum-seeking controller is configured to determine a total power consumption of the at least one outdoor VRF unit, generate a sub-cooling temperature setpoint for the at least one outdoor VRF unit using an extremum-seeking control technique that drives the total power consumption toward an extremum, and use the sub-cooling temperature setpoint to operate the at least one outdoor VRF unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.